As reported last month, Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed had a fascinating visit to Leinster House in October, arranged for us by Senator Clifford-Lee. Our guide, Fidelma, related the history of the building from its use as a townhouse for the Fitzgerald family to its acquisition by the state for use as the seat of the Oireachtas and explained the rules and working of both houses of the Oireachtas. In November, the Men’s Shed continued its visits of historical buildings with a tour of Dublin’s GPO, where our guide, Caitríona, told us about the details of the use of the GPO as the headquarters for the 1916 Rising and we watched a short film which graphically presented the rising from the reading of the proclamation to the execution of its leaders. In early December, the Men’s Shed will be holding its annual Christmas dinner for its members. And speaking of Christmas, Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed wishes all its members and the wider Donabate Portrane community who have supported our activities over the year a very happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. Anyone who is interested in joining us, please contact our PRO, Jim, on 0863694316.

Donabate Parish Hall is almost 220 years old. For the first 100 years it was the Catholic Church, then the new red brick Catholic Church, St Patrick’s was built opposite and the Parish Hall became a community hall just 120 years ago. Since then a number of dedicated volunteers have assisted in the day to day running of the hall as caretakers of the building & the grounds. In the past, about 50 years ago there were the two Gavin sisters, Kathleen & Bridget who ably looked after the day to day running of the hall.Some of the most recent caretakers who work or have worked tirelessly for the Parish Hall and by extension for the community include, Martin Naughton from Portrane & Vincent Kearns from Donabate As the oldest working hall in the Dublin area, so many people have been involved with its running & caretaking. If you have old photographs or information of the Parish Hall & the centre of Donabate and or of any people who may have been caretakers etc please contact Parish Office.The Parish Hall wish all of their users a Happy & Healthy Christmas and look forward to seeing you all in the New Year.

Our regular Traditional Irish Music Slow Session for Leithinis members, led by Erin, continued every second Friday evening in Donabate Parish Hall (shown in photo) and has become very popular with new members. The regular Fast Sessions for experienced musicians continued on the first Tuesday of the month in the Brook Pub in Portrane (shown in photo). This event is attracting musicians from all over the North County. The Leithinis AGM took place on November 13th and we were glad to welcome Mary Whelan from the Dublin County Board. Leithinis members, both adults and children, played a number of music sets at the annual Winter Fete in Donabate Portrane Educate Together National School which was very well received. The Leithinis Christmas Slow Session for members takes place on the 15th December. Our last music lessons before Christmas are on the 11th December and resume on the 8th January. The Leithinis Committee would like to wish Nollaig Shona to all our members.

Labour party local area representative Corina Johnston said recently that she and her party are monitoring the proposed travel infrastructure for Donanabte. She said, “As the population of Donabate is projected to grow to over 20,000 over the next 10 years it is imperative that the necessary infrastructure be prioritised and delivered. The Council received the following update at a recent meeting: “FCC recently appointed consultants for a number of schemes on the Donabate-Portrane Peninsula: (1.) Phase 2 of the Donabate Distributor Road project to improve access to Donabate and Portrane from the M1-Lissenhall Interchange for all road users especially pedestrians and cyclists; (2.) Active Travel Routes to increase local connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists. (3.) Traffic study to examine efficiencies and safety issues at the M1 Lissenhall Interchange. (4.) A new greenway scheme alongside the existing Donabate Distributor Road. Preliminary design work is commencing on these schemes with further progress expected in subsequent years. Johnston went on to say “ A Works contract for the Broadmeadow Way Greenway have been finalised with other elements being procured and tendered shortly. Tender for the Pill River Bridge Kilcrea junction section of the greenway will go to tender in early 2024. -A tender process is underway to appoint a works contractor on the Donabate Pedestrian Bridge linking new residential developments at Corballis East and West with Donabate Train Station,Donabate Village and Newbridge Demesne. Work to commence early in 2024. -A CPO is under consideration by An Bord Pleanala for the Portrane Road Enhancement scheme from Carrs Mill to the National Schools. The tender process is completed for the Turvey Avenue Enhancement scheme where no footpath currently exists on Turvey Avenue with works to commence in the coming weeks. -The design report for walking and cycling infrastructure on R126 from the end of the Donabate Distributor Road to Seaview Park Portrane have been prepared. Subject to land take agreements and environmental screening, it is intended to proceed to planning in 2024. -Consultation and route option design continues on the Fingal Coastal Way and the Donabate Urban Framework Plan will be progressed by the Planning & Strategic Infrastructure Department.”
Corina Johnston added, “It is my firm belief that vital infrastructure should be delivered either prior to or in tandem with development in our towns and villages. While I welcome the necessary design and planning work that has been carried out it will be of no benefit to the people of Donabate if they are not delivered. We in the Labour party intend to pursue these matters.”

Over the last months, Balbriggan Rugby Club adult players have been volunteering with our youth and mini teams. Our aims are to foster relationships across the teams within the club, to grow our internal support structures, and to highlight the pathway for within the club for our young players.

Join us for a Christmas Bingo night at The Milestone, 27 Drogheda St, Balbriggan K32 RD98 on Wednesday 6th Dm 8pm to 10 pm hosted by Balbriggan LGBT+ Peer Support Group and proudly sponsored by Outcomers LGBT Support Service. Embrace the festive cheer as we gather together the vibrant LGBT+ community of Balbriggan and its neighbouring areas. Newcomers, outcomers, and their allies are warmly invited to join us for an enjoyable evening of gay bingo and delicious finger food. Admission is free! Participate in 3 games of bingo for just €5. Let’s make it merrier by dressing in our most festive Christmassy clothes! Come along and celebrate with us in a welcoming and joyful atmosphere …see you there! Also do not forget….the Balbriggan group meets twice per month in the Flemington Centre. For any queries please contact Annie Blake, Regional LGBT Community Outreach Worker, Outcomers Office 042 932 9816.

The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) provides grant support to Sustainable Energy Communities (SECs) to improve local energy efficiency and help with the transition from fossil fuels to renewables. We are working on a voluntary basis with ORS energy consultants on an Energy Master Plan for Balbriggan, which consists of an online Home Energy Survey, community building and business energy audits, a baseline energy use assessment and energy action plan. We are the link between the community and ORS and our main role is to encourage participation in the Energy Master Plan process. In the future, we hope to pursue further energy related projects in Balbriggan. Thanks to everyone who has completed the Home Energy Survey so far. We’ve had 70 responses but we would like to get to a 100 so please fill out the 5-minute survey and help inform the assessment of energy needs in the community. You can contact us on balbrigganclimateclub@gmail.com if you need help with it or would like further information. Five homes representative of different house types will be energy audited by ORS, along with three community buildings. ORS are also supporting a number of local businesses to apply for Support Scheme for Energy Audits (SSEA) vouchers worth €2,000. Please do visit us at this website for any and all further look up balbrigganclimateclub.wordpress.com. Balbriggan Climate Club is a sub-committee of Balbriggan Tidy Towns and a few members set up the Balbriggan SEC to avail of the grant to develop the Balbriggan Energy Master Plan. We wish everyone a lovely break. The Energy Master Plan should be finished in spring 2024, when we will have a public launch so keep an eye out for further updates in the New Year!

I am delighted that Fingal Co Council have confirmed in reply to my formal question that consultants will be procured for a site specific feasibility study at Castlelands Balbriggan with a view “to guide the Council’s next steps in terms of timelines and route through the planning process.” for a Balbriggan Public Swimming Pool and that €75,000 Hs been set aside in the Fingal Capital Plan for that purpose. “The previous swimming pool projects In Skerries and Balbriggan were complicated public private partnerships and failed for that reason. This public swimming pool will be built on council land by Fingal Co Council. The council must build and fund a Public Swimming Pool in Balbriggan for Balbriggan residents and the North Fingal catchment area including nearby Skerries. “ said Cllr Tom O’Leary. There are various Funding sources possible, Fingal Co Council, Government National Funding, and levies from new homes to be built in Balbriggan. The ongoing review of the options to deliver Swimming Pools in Ireland may present some new interest value for money models already in use in England and energy efficient models that make running costs of a public swimming pool more sustainable and affordable said Balbriggan Ward. Councillor Tom O’Leary said, “I look forward to more progress on this project, engaging with the consultants on the proposal for a public swimming pool in Balbriggan and also engaging with the North Fingal Swimming Pool group.” The Housing and Community Dept will be commencing the procurement process to engage a consultant for this study with an appointment likely in Q1 2024. “ said Fingal Co Council on 13th November 2023.

Speaking at a recent meeting of the Balbriggan Branch of the Labour Party, Cllr Brendan Ryan encouraged the people of Balbriggan to shop local as much as possible this Christmas. He said that local businesses are an integral part of our town. They offer local employment and by supporting them we are ensuring that the money generated within their businesses is being reinvested directly into the town. He particularly called on people to support those businesses which are still surviving on Balbriggan Main Street in a very difficult trading environment and to actively consider buying at least one Christmas gift in the town Centre. “Let’s support our Main Street and Town Centre businesses as much as possible to help them survive” he said.

This message would equally apply to all our towns, but Balbriggan Main Street has had its own particular challenges. In a follow up, at the November Council meeting, Cllr Ryan called on the Chief Executive, AnnMarie Farrelly, and her economic development team, to initiate a strong Shop Local campaign across all its media channels to drive home the message. Cllr Ryan stated that he was delighted with her very positive response and looks forward to the roll out in the coming weeks.

EggHeadz CLG is delivering programmes and support services across Fingal and Dublin. Here is some of what we’re doing…

School Engagement: The recommencement of EggHeadz in-school, after-school programmes, drop-in evening and weekend classes is in full swing since September in Primary and Secondary schools throughout Fingal and Dublin City.

Youth Recovery Programmes: EggHeadz launched a Recovery through Activity Programme. A six-week program for teenagers living in Fingal who are having difficulties with their mental health which started in October and is currently underway. The programme is supported by the Health Service Executive and CAMHS.

Community Engagement: EggHeadz supporters and volunteers took part in the King of the Castle, Cycle Against Suicide event in August. October was World Mental Health month and we marked in distributing Green Ribbon’s throughout the community.

EggHeadz Youth Camps: Our Halloween Mid-term Sport4All camp was a great success and we’re really looking forward to our future camps where we will bring more fun, fitness, outdoor activity, relaxation, sport and therapeutic supports.

EggHeadz Activities and Events: Water Sports: Weekly kayaking, and Paddleboarding was enjoyed by teenagers during the summer. HER Outdoors was celebrated with Yoga, Dip, Paddle-boarding in Donabate, Portrane and Malahide Estuary.

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.

FREE Youth Counselling in Donabate: This is available free of charge to young people (aged 12-25) by appointment. It is available on Mondays in Donabate Portrane Community Centre and appointments are available 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 visit our website or scan the QR code.