Another key milestone in the ‘Our Balbriggan’ rejuvenation programme, which is set to transform the town with public investment of over €50m, has been reached with the granting of planning permission for a €3.3m creative hub. .Fingal County Council has approved plans for works at 2-4 Dublin Street, which are expected to be completed by mid-2025. Ensuring Balbriggan becomes a nationally renowned destination for arts and culture is a key part of the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation programme, and the creative hub will be central to this. The vision for the listed building includes the development of creative art spaces with adjoining digital learning facilities, a courtyard and gallery. The project will now move to the design stage before the appointment of a contractor. Welcoming the move, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy, said: “The creative hub is another key piece of the rejuvenation programme which will shape the development of Balbriggan and ensure it is regarded as a great place to live, work and do business.” Under the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation programme, the council has made a number of strategic property acquisitions as well as completing preliminary works for the redevelopment of the Harbour as part of a massive urban regeneration project. “Four years on from the launch of the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation programme 2019-2025, the bricks and mortar transformation of Ireland’s youngest town is now beginning to take shape,” said the Chair of the Our Balbriggan Leadership Group, Professor Brian MacCraith .“The ambitious vision contained in the rejuvenation plan was the result of an historic community engagement which saw more than 25 per cent of Balbriggan’s residents outline their preferences for the future of the town .”Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, was pleased to note an important milestone in the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation programme. “Fingal County Council is strongly committed to delivering the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation programme for the benefit of the people of the town. The creative hub is a key piece of the planned infrastructural development,” she said. The move is complementary to Balbriggan’s designation by the Arts Council as a truly Creative Place. It is to receive Arts Council funding of €330,000 over three years, under the Creative Places programme, to provide local people access to the arts in their own community. That funding was also secured by the Our Balbriggan rejuvenation programme, led by the Council’s Economic, Enterprise, Cultural and Tourism Department. Ireland’s youngest town now plays host to a number of festivals and cultural events in partnership with the locally-based Irish Institute of Music and Song (IIMS) which is due to open a 400-seater state of the art concert venue.

Culture Night in Balbriggan provided another stunning example of how the town is becoming a major centre for all things creative. It filled the town with colour, music, song, film, stories and wonderful events. Culture Night marked the climax of the ‘How it’s Made’ Festival, facilitated by the local Scéal Arts collective, in partnership with the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme, led by Fingal County Council, and the locally based Irish Institute of Music and Song (IIMS). ‘How it’s Made’ ran over three weekends in the run-up to Culture Night on Friday and was supported by the Arts Council and Creative Ireland. Culture Night venues included The Warehouse on Vauxhall Street, The Vault at the old bank on George’s Square, The Boathouse under the Viaduct on Quay Street, The Our Balbriggan Hub on George’s Square, The Window at 4 Dublin Street, and significantly the IIMS which will shortly open a new state of the art 400-seater concert hall, The Lark. As well as documentary film screenings, there were art and photographic exhibitions, reading and musical tours, performances and recitals with local businesses including Molly’s Coffee Shop and The Central Bar joining as hosts. Cultural organisations, castles and historic houses, extended their opening hours to the public, highlighting the wealth of facilities and talented people in the locality. Hundreds of people turned out for events in wonderful Balbriggan to mark Culture Night. Amongst other events, the Our Balbriggan Hub welcomed visitors to George’s Square where local musicians, artists and the local photographers gathered. “Culture Night in Balbriggan celebrated the superbly unique community spirit and talents of its people,” said the chair of the ‘Our Balbriggan Leadership Group’, Professor Brian MacCraith. “There was a wonderful programme of events, each of which celebrated Balbriggan’s appetite for culture.” He said, “Most importantly of all, Culture Night showcased the bonds which tie the community together and make it such a special place. “Culture Night was another wonderful example of how the town is bursting with creativity. “It was fantastic to see so many events showcasing local talent, bringing acclaimed artists to Balbriggan and also people together through the arts. “Now designated as a ‘Creative Place’ by the Arts Council, the long-term aim is that 10 years from now people from all creative disciplines will want to spend time in Balbriggan.”

The Balbriggan Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) CLG is developing an Energy Master Plan for Balbriggan, County Dublin, in partnership with the ORS Energy Management team. The Energy Master Plan (EMP) is funded by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), which supports community-led climate action in the transition to a low-carbon future. As a community, the Balbriggan SEC is committed to actively engaging all residents in the initiative, by sharing knowledge and encouraging input from all residents, businesses, clubs, volunteer groups and community representatives in the Energy Master Plan process. “We are delighted to be working with ORS on this important initiative for Balbriggan and we welcome feedback from everyone in the community to help us better understand local energy needs,” said Sarah Zimmermann, Secretary of the Balbriggan SEC.-Balbriggan has also recently been announced as a Decarbonising Zone in the Fingal County Council Draft Climate Action Plan 2024-2029, which is open for public consultation at the moment and brings welcome attention and focus on the town. As one of the youngest towns in Ireland with an average age of 31, combined with the fact that around 30% of residents are born outside of Ireland, Balbriggan has distinctive qualities. Building a climate resilient community for the long-term is a top priority given our high proportion of our young people. “Balbriggan is a unique town with a mixture of long-term residents and people newer to the area, a great opportunity exists for the people of the town to come together to help shape what a sustainable town looks like in the 21st century,” said Eamonn Donlyn, Chairperson of the Balbriggan SEC. There is currently a Home Energy Survey for residents of Balbriggan to provide input into the Energy Master Plan. Please scan the QR code to fill in the 5–10-minute survey. The community is also invited to speak with members of the Balbriggan SEC at the Climate Action Street Party on Railway Street in Balbriggan on Saturday October 21st, from 10a-5pm.

About the Balbriggan Sustainable Energy Community CLG: Balbriggan Sustainable Energy Community CLG is a community organisation working to ensure a just transition to a low carbon society in Balbriggan. The Balbriggan SEC has adopted a whole of society, inclusive approach by promoting the SEC widely and encouraging participation from all residents, businesses, clubs, volunteer groups and community representatives. By actively engaging with the SEC Network and SEAI to provide feedback, the group works to share knowledge and support the SEC national mission.

Councillor Brendan Ryan (Labour) has called for a special project team to be set up within the Council to ensure that Balbriggan Beach achieves at least a “Sufficient” rating for bathing water quality in 2024. Speaking during a debate on the matter in the Council this week he stated that business as usual is not an option. “The issue of consecutive “Poor” classifications is very serious because if any beach gets five “Poor” classifications in a row there will be automatic de-designation and it can be a long road back” he stated. He continued: “The matter is serious enough to make it a special priority. Everything that this local authority is serious about, I see special project groups being set up to deliver. I see project managers; project co-ordinators and dedicated staff being put in place to deliver results. That’s the type of seriousness that I am looking for. That’s the type of seriousness that the people of Balbriggan are asking for and expect.” The Councillor added, “ I know that the current staff are working flat out to bring about improvements, but additional resources, which reflect the seriousness of the situation, must be allocated to help them. A special project team is warranted.”

Mark Saturday November 18th in your diary! We will be having a gala concert to celebrate 140 years of the St Patrick’s Brass and Reed Band. The Band will be joined by Irish National Foresters Brass Band Navan on Nov 18th in the Bracken Court Hotel to celebrate our 140th anniversary Be sure to save the date!

Fingal Arts Office in partnership with the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) are delighted to announce Aoife Dunne as the recipient of the 2023 Fingal County Council and RHA Studio Award. The award offers a funded studio space within the RHA for one year providing valuable support for an artist to develop their artistic practice. The artist will also have access to the ancillary activities of the RHA school such as master classes, seminars, artist talks and drawing groups as well as placing them directly in an environment with other professional visual artists. Sarah O’Neill, County Arts Officer commented, “Fingal Arts Office is proud to support Aoife Dunne through this exciting opportunity at the RHA. This award responds to the Fingal County Council 2019 – 2025 Arts Plan objective to enable the creative and professional development of artists and encourage individuals to excel in their thinking and practice.” Aoife Dunne is a multidisciplinary artist whose work explores the intricacies of contemporary existence through ambitious digital installations, fusing sculpture, video, sound, performance, technology, and costume. Her approach incorporates improvisatory, interactive, and performative elements, harnessing digital technology in innovative ways. Her research centers around the profound impact of technology on our perception of place and the dynamic interplay between physical and virtual spaces. With a dedicated focus on exploring the transformative effects of these influences on reality, identity, and community. Aoife commented on being awarded, “The Fingal County Council and RHA Studio Award holds immense value for me as it provides the ideal space to experiment and continue developing my large-scale immersive works. I am very thankful and excited for the opportunity.” During her time in the Fingal RHA Studio Residency, Aoife will continue her research on the impact of technology, examining concepts of identity, intimacy, and the nature of reality, further exploring the intersection between technology, art, and embodiment. Aoife Dunne (B.1995, Ireland) graduated from NCAD Fine Art Media in 2016 and has since exhibited extensively internationally. Her work has been featured in prominent exhibitions, including shows at The Museum of Contemporary Art Denver USA, The Royal Academy of Arts London, and The Irish Museum of Modern Art..

Fingal County Council is excited to announce the launch of its Festival and Event Funding Scheme for 2024. This initiative aims to encourage groups and organisations to host their upcoming events in Fingal, building on the success of previous years and fostering community engagement and tourism within the region. Fingal has a rich tradition of hosting diverse and vibrant events, from the renowned summer music series at Malahide Castle to Flavours of Fingal, Ireland’s largest County show or the new Unison Festival. Each year, over 100 events captivate audiences across the County, spanning from major music and theatre festivals, seafood celebrations, local summer festivals, community-driven events, and parades. John Quinlivan, Director of Economic Enterprise, Tourism, and Cultural Development at Fingal County Council expressed the council’s commitment to supporting a wide range of events and festivals in the area. He said: “Fingal is already dedicated to supporting a wide array of events and festivals taking place across the County, and we want to ensure other organisations are looking at Fingal as their destination of choice for gigs, festivals, and other events. Not only will this help drive tourism and develop the visitor experience in the area, but we also hope this will help residents connect with their community and bring joy and excitement to people’s lives.” The 2024 Festival and Event Funding Scheme comprises three distinct strands of support, each catering to different event scales and objectives: Strand 1: Designed for smaller-scale events expected to attract audiences of fewer than 1,000 people. Funding of up to €6,000 will be available to eligible applicants. Strand 2: Targeting larger events that draw audiences exceeding 1,000 people and span a minimum of two fully programmed days. Organizers can apply for funding of up to €25,000. Strand 3: Tailored to support groups interested in exploring the feasibility and long-term sustainability of a festival or event. Grants of up to €10,000 are available for this category. For comprehensive information on the various funding strands and application requirements, please visit Fingal County Council’s Festival and Event Funding webpage. Applications for the 2024 Festival and Event Funding Scheme will be accepted from 28 September 2023. The deadline for submission is 31 January 2024 giving organisers ample time to prepare and submit their proposals, Fingal County Council looks forward to collaborating with event organisers to create memorable and impactful experiences for residents and visitors alike in 2024. This initiative reflects the council’s dedication to fostering culture, tourism, and community development within the region.

On September 19th , volunteer and puppy raiser Anne Mulligan and our branch said goodbye to puppy in training Cosmo, who went to Cork to continue her training to be a future Guide Dog/Assistance Dog. We wish Cosmo the best of luck and thank Anne for her hard work and we will of course keep you updated on Cosmo’s progress. Our Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch had a coffee morning fundraiser on the 18th October in the Senior Citizens Centre, High Street, Balbriggan. There were sweet treats provided by our volunteers and also a raffle was held. Among other things, we had a beautiful canvas picture of a sunset over Balbriggan harbour valued at €250 and taken by local photographer Martin McNamara which was kindly donated by Anne Nightingale. We also had a hamper that was raffled. A fun time was had by all and there were some very happy winners.

It is almost that time of year again where we dust off the Christmas decorations from the attic and search for the perfect tree and that means our Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch will soon have our Christmas 2024 calendars and car raffle tickets available. Christmas cards will be €6 a pack or 2 packs for €10, the calendar will be €10 and car raffle tickets will be €5 each. The car draw will take place on the 7th February 2024 and the lucky winner will win a Citroen E-C4 worth €40,000-€43,000, so make sure to get your tickets to be in with a chance to win and you could be the lucky person starting the early new year in style with a new car! Keep an eye on our social media pages in the coming months as our merchandise stands will be set up in SuperValu, Balbriggan and on the 24th and 25th November we will be in Millfield Shopping Centre in Balbriggan. We can’t wait to see you all and get into the festive spirit. If you are interested in volunteering with us, please do feel free to contact us: Balbriggan/North County Dublin branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, you can phone or text us on 085 7663107, email us at GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com or find us on our own Facebook page at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs.

September was a busy month for the Club. Along with our regular 7 hours of training each week we had two special events. Early in the month our Tigers (4 -7yr olds) and our Juniors (7-12yrs old) were challenged to bring a Parent/Adult with them to training. Parents came out in force to support their kids and took part alongside them in training. They had great fun learning punching, kicking, kata and kumite and left with a newfound respect for what their kids do at training each and every week.

We also hosted a JKS Ireland Interclub Competition mid-month and had competitors attend Applewood Community Centre from Limerick, Monaghan and Drogheda as well as closer to home from Tallaght, Blanchardstown and Coolock. The first half of the morning was devoted to Kata competitions where the competitors gave of their best showing off how well they do Kata. After the break saw the competitors don their mitts for Kumite (Fighting). There were some great displays of karate technique on the day and the results for Swords Karate Club were excellent with members winning 7 Gold, 4 Silver and 12 Bronze medals. We take new members (Children, Young People and Adults) all through the year. 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

Fingallians are looking for your help to help them plan their 140th year celebrations next year. The club wish to put a committee together soon. As one of the original GAA Clubs founded in 1884 with the birth of the GAA, Fingallians have a long history and a story to tell. If you are interested in helping Fingallians please contact the club as they need your help to plan their celebrations in their milestone 140th Year They can be contacted at their email address fingallians@gmail.com or pro.fingallians.dublin@gaa.ie as soon as possible.