One of our fantastic Balbriggan North County Dublin Guide Dogs volunteers, Anne Mulligan who has puppy raised multiple times, explains that “In 2010, having taken early retirement from the Civil Service I began volunteering with Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind as a Puppy Raiser.” Anne said, “Puppies arrive with the raiser at 9 weeks old and stay until they are 12-14 months old at which time return to Cork for further training. Puppy raising comprises socialisation and taking the pup anywhere they would be going with a Visually Impaired Person or child with Autism. Support is provided through a Puppy Walking Supervisor.” Anne went on and discussed the first pup, she puppy raised, stating, “The first pup I took on was Zak, followed in no particular order by Cinders, Genna, Oscar, Gabbie, Zabbie, Coby, William, Adel, Yarrow and most recently Cosmo. It can sometimes happen that dogs, for various reasons are found to be unsuitable and are withdrawn from the programme. This was the case with Zak, William and Coby who were rehomed as family pets. Zabbie was part of the breeding programme. All of the others became Assistance Dogs for children with Autism. Cosmo, my most recent pup, returned to Cork on 18th September and will be starting her advanced training as an Assistance Dog in early January.” Anne noted that, “Another aspect of volunteering is temporary boarding. Naturally, there are times Puppy Raisers, Guide Dog or Assistance Dog Owners will be going on holidays or for other reasons will need their dogs looked after for short periods. This is where I come in handy. Sometimes, I take a friend’s Guide Dog for a free run in Ardgillan which is very enjoyable both for the human and the dog.” Anne finished by saying that “While puppy raising is hard work, it is also very enjoyable and rewarding especially when you see your pup helping a Visually Impaired Person or a child with Autism. I have made many friends over the years and would certainly recommend it to anyone who is thinking about volunteering.” Also, just to note that the Annual Feis in Naul GAA club is on Saturday 10th /11th February if you would like to attend. The Feis is a fantastic event which has brought in over €25,000 for our branch over the years and for that a massive thank you! If you would like to get involved or are interested in volunteering, please feel free to contact us: Balbriggan/North County Dublin branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. Phone or text us on 085 7663107. Email us at GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com or find us on Facebook at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs. You can visit GuideDogs.ie to find out more about puppy raising.

2023 was a busy and enjoyable year for Swords Karate Club. We hosted members of JKS Ireland from all over Ireland at the National Brown & Black Belt training sessions in April, May, September & November. We also hosted National Squad training sessions in preparation for the JKS World Karate Championships in Japan in 2024. Sophia Guildea and Amelia Miller tested for their Shodan Diploma in May under Kagawa Shihan 9th Dan JKS and both were successful. Members of the club attended 3 competitions, topping the medal table in all 3 JKS Inter-Club competitions in Tyrellstown (June), Swords (September) & Tallaght (October). In May we hosted Kagawa Shihan 9th Dan JKS. We were privileged to have JKS Ireland members from around the country join us in this world class seminar over 3 days.

We held two club gradings, in early July and mid-December, where club members showed off what they have been studying during the year and all members who took the grading examinations progressed to their next coloured belt. Our membership is growing but we are still looking for new members (Children, Young People & Adults). Contact Dermot on 087-8073885 for details on how to join. You can also contact us on Facebook: JKS Swords Karate Club or on Instagram: @jks_swords_karate_club

A major milestone in the Swords Cultural Project has been reached with the publishing of the tender for the iconic building which will include a county library, theatre, gallery, arts spaces, a maker space, and a café. This is the latest stage in the tender process which has been underway for several months and responses are due to be submitted in February. A comprehensive evaluation period will follow before the tender is awarded and contracts are signed. It is hoped that construction will commence in Q2 2024 with the new building due to open in 2026. The necessary enabling works are currently taking place on the site at the junction of North Street and Seatown Road to prepare for the construction phase. Twelve houses on the opposite side of Seatown Road are due for demolition and will be replaced by 36 new homes in two blocks of 20 and 16 respectively. A further 13 new homes are due to be built on North Street as part of the transformation of this part of Swords. The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy, said: “This marks another important step in the Swords Cultural Quarter project. This building with be a centre of knowledge, arts and culture for Swords and Fingal and will have a strong focus on people and experiences which, through the delivery of a modern, dynamic, inspirational and educational programme of events and activities, will become a destination and a focal point for the local community and visitors.” The Swords Cultural Quarter is a 3.89-acre area around the junction of North Street, Seatown Road, Bridge Street and Main Street and the new building, which has been designed by renowned Architects O’Donnell and Tuomey, will include a new 3,000m2 County Library, an art gallery and exhibition space, a café, a civic area, studios and rehearsal rooms, and a Black Box theatre which can cater for audiences of between 165 and 360 depending on the type of event being staged. The new library, which will be seven times bigger than the existing one, will offer the people of Swords a full suite of library services for the first time.

One Voice Singers Swords are a new multicultural community singing group based at St Colmcilles GAA Club in Swords. The group recently took part and gave a few wonderful performances of Christmas music and Carols in this year’s Christmas Market at Swords Castle. They had a wonderful time, were extremely well received and enjoyed every minute of their performances. The Singers thanked the people of Swords for all the support in the past year and also gave a huge message of thanks to their musical directors Aine and Tony. Well done to you all and we wish you continued success in the coming year.

The Swords Woodland Association is an association of volunteers, formed with the aim of researching and advocating for the maintenance of the existing green belt within the greater Swords urban area; while promoting innovative ways to ensure a greater appreciation of green spaces by the population as a whole.

The Swords Woodland Association Calendar for 2024 is now available for purchase at O’Ciobhain’s Super Value, Boroimhe and Hanley’s Card and Party Store on Swords Main Street. Featuring stunning images from local photographers with a focus on our local wildlife. Proceeds from which go to support tree planting and improving biodiversity in our area. Many thanks for your continued support. You can also contact the Association at their email : swordswoodlandassoc@gmail.com

2023 was a very busy year for the hard-working volunteers of Swords Tidy Towns. All eyes were eagerly focused on the 2023 Tidy Towns National Finals, each member did their very best to achieve the Gold Medal that had so far alluded us. Our members had already done the town of Swords proud with five prior National Silver Medals in a row, no mean achievement. Everyone put in a trojan effort to change our medal colour from silver to gold, this was reflected in how close we came to achieving that goal, missing out by only one point. So close and yet so far. We brushed it off in typical Swords Tidy Towns style and celebrated our sixth in a row Silver Medal, just like the Dubs, we are now firmly focused on 2024, fingers crossed. Not a bad run of medals considering Swords was designated a litter black spot in the 2003 IBAL report, we have certainly come a long way.

Swords Tidy Towns also won the 2023 National Tidy Towns Circular Economy Award for our upcycling, recycling, composting, Swop Shop and wild flower meadows etc initiatives. The award came with a thousand-euro cheque, our Silver Medal came with a Seven-Hundred-euro cheque, all prize money will be well spent on improving the aesthetics of our wonderful town. The Swords Cultural Quarter is well under way, Ushers Lake is getting a well-deserved face lift, the old Stairways have been replaced down to the Jacko, the good work goes on. A big thank you to Fingal County Council especially their Operations Dept with whom we have worked very closely with over many years, that cooperation will continue and blossom in 2024.

Swords Tidy Towns would like to wish all of our Followers, Supporters, Sponsors, TY Students and Teachers, Local Businesses, Locally Elected Representatives, and last but by no means least, the staff at FCC a Very Happy New Year and a Prosperous and Healthy 2024.

In early December we celebrated our last social night of 2023. It was such an amazing night of dancing karaoke and lots of laughs. We celebrated with Swords Men’s Shed and presented Ray their chairman with an appreciation certificate, for all the kindness and support they have shown to Swords Women’s Shed in 2023.

With the Food and dancing it was a night to remember. Thank you again to our biggest supporter St Colmcille’s GFC Swords. We can definitely say we raised the roof ha ha. Thank you also to our committee who created such a fantastic night.

An upcoming soccer training camp is being held in the home of Malahide United, Gannon Park for two days on January 4th and 5th 2024.This camp is for boys and girls aged 8-14. The Camp will run 10am-1pm daily and all coaches are FAI accredited and have Garda vetting, If you wish to book a place for your child contact 086 247 7076 , The cost per child is €55.

St Sylvester’s GAA are and were delighted to continue to support GAA games in our local schools with a visit to one local school on December. The club and Executive really appreciate the partnership and were delighted to supply new hurleys, helmets and footballs to St Oliver Plunkett’s School for its football and camogie games! The presentation was held in early December at the school.

At the end of each boating year, the Scouts and Ventures host a ‘Laying Up Supper’, sharing stories of the adventures they got up to, remarking over the safe and successful year, saying thanks to those who have supported and enjoying some good grub with the leaders!

Well done to the Scouts and Ventures for preparing presentations and being part of the nearly 3,000 bums we had on the water in 2023! Heres to calm seas and fair winds in 2024!