The races came thick and fast during February as club members were in action in Dundalk, Trim, Murcia and Donadea as well as cross country and indoor competition. Well done to all and to all the juveniles who participated at the Dublin Spraoi Games in the NIA. It’s not too late to take part in the 40-day 5k challenge and we hope you can join us for the Lusk St Patrick’s Day parade.

Local Round Up from last quarter: Coastal Bus Connects Group: On 3rd December, representative members of the communities of Lusk, Rush, Loughshinny and Skerries (Coastal BusConnects Group of which LAG is the Lusk representative) and local TDs Louise O’Reilly TD, Grace Boland FG, (apologies from Robert O’Donoghue TD) and Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee met members of the National Transport Authority and representatives from the Department of Transport to discuss our BusConnects proposal for a continued all day, but improved service to Dublin City Centre. Apologies were made by the Minister for Transport, due to scheduling changes after President Zelensky’s visit. The NTA committed to providing a response in Q1 2026.

Lusk for Life-Lusk Town Regeneration Scheme: In December, the first Town Team meeting with the new community-led committee was held in the Fingal County Council buildings.

Lynne Barker, LAG was elected as the initial Chairperson of the group, and this position will be rotated. Community members currently on the team are Lynne Barker, Brian Arnold, Colin Browne, Frances Byrne and Michael Griffin. Local councillors will also sit on the team - Councillors Mark Boland, Corina Johnston, Eoghan Dockrell, Cathal Boland and Paul Mulville. The team will be supported by the Town Regeneration Office in Fingal County Council.

The committee also hosted the first Community Forum meeting on 18th February with representatives from a wide section of community groups and businesses attending. Both the Town Team and Community Forum are hugely positive steps towards delivering the Lusk for Life, Town Centre First Plan.

Public Consultation for Proposed Variation to Fingal Development Plan 2023-2029: In January, LAG made a submission to FCC regarding the proposed re-zoning of lands for housing development on two sites in Lusk for housing. Among the concerns raised included the volume of development in the town in the last two decades and the lack of accompanying amenities to support existing infrastructure.

Date for the diary! The LAG Annual General Meeting will be held on Tuesday, 3rd March in the Cottage Community Centre at 7pm. All are welcome, especially any members of the community who may be interested in joining and getting involved in supporting local projects.

Congratulations to Lusk ICA drama who are very proud to have been awarded the first place for best Sketch “The Big Surprise” written and directed by Anne Smithers in the ICA Wicklow Drama Festival 2026
We made mobiles valentine trinket boxes and surprise crackers.

We had a truly fantastic and insightful morning at An Grianán Adult Education College. The morning featured an opening address from ICA National President Mary D’Arcy.

We were privileged to hear thought-provoking contributions from:
Anna Ryan from Public Participation Networks
Ejiro Stratton from Hands For Unity
Ivica Milicevic from SOLAS Learning Works
Cynthia Ní Mhurchú, MEP
Alice Doyle of the Irish Farmers’ Association
Katherine O’Leary from the Farmers’ Journal
Siobhán Matthews of Soroptimists
Christine Lodge from Safe Ireland
Mairéad Phelan, ICA National Treasurer and Chartered Engineer

Commoning invites residents of Lusk to take active part in a series of collaborative design and building sessions to create a small social space for, and by, the town of Lusk.

In this project, all members get to be part of the design. No experience in construction or design is necessary, only a willingness to work with and understand others. Join the group, have a cuppa, and be a part of the future of the town! This is an inclusive project and everyone over 18 is welcome. A small pot of funding from the Arts Council and Create has been secured for the initial “research and development” phase, and there are opportunities for more in the near future.

The project is facilitated by architecture[vb] in collaboration with Lusk Community Council.

Architecture[vb] is a partnership between two recent architectural graduates, Jamie and Irene. Our work focuses on collaboration, vernacular materials, sustainability, and shared authorship in architecture. We have both worked with or studied Lusk during the course of our education and are now keen to build on that!

Jamie’s thesis, ‘Understanding the Everyday’, included a workshop with community members in Lusk. He now works for an architecture practice in Dublin that focuses on public architecture. Irene’s recent work includes a collaboration with residents of St Michan’s House in Dublin while specialising in sustainable and vernacular materials, collective ways of building, and permaculture.

The name commoning comes from the Commons - an area of land or resources that belong to and affect a community who manages them collectively. Many of these commons existed in Lusk, as the names of townlands show! commoning builds on this idea and uses ‘bottom-up thinking’ to create something truly by and for the community of Lusk.

Design Sessions: March 28th, April 11th+18th
Prototype Building Sessions: April 25th+26th
Location: Lusk Community Cultural Centre

To let us know about how we can make the sessions more accessible for you or for any questions, please email us at architecture.verb@gmail.com

This project is funded by the Arts Council Artist in the Community Scheme, managed by Create, the national development agency for collaborative arts.

Community Led Project to Transform Historic Passage into Biodiversity & Food-Growing Hub

A once-forgotten laneway in the heart of Lusk is set to become the town’s first Urban Park, with the design unveiled at a public meeting on Saturday 21st February in the Lusk Cultural Centre.

The Forgotten Laneway Project began over two years ago when local resident Mark Boland envisioned transforming the neglected passage into a vibrant community space. He was soon joined by two other Lusk residents, Colin Browne and Tara Ryan, and together they set about turning the idea into a deliverable project with the help of Fingal County Council.

The laneway itself forms part of Lusk’s layered history. Over the decades it served multiple purposes within the town including its use by the British Army to access the local remount farm, where horses were trained and prepared for service across the British Empire. Following the construction of the town’s ring road, the route fell into disuse and gradually became forgotten. Now, it is being reimagined as a future-focused community space.

The project team have worked closely with Fingal County Council community department and were granted a licence for the laneway in 2025. A key element of the initiative is the development of a genuine circular economy model. Food scraps from the adjacent HSE community facility will be converted into nutrient-rich compost and used in the park’s raised growing beds where local families will get to grow food sustainably within their own community. This approach reduces waste, supports soil health and promotes sustainable growing practices. After extensive consultation and planning, the team secured €52,000 from the Climate Action Fund, which will be used to enhance biodiversity and promote food growing within the new park. The Climate Action funding also included €12,000 for sustainable lighting for Lusk Athletics, allowing winter training to continue under energy-e icient floodlights. A further €50,000 was secured under the Community Recognition Fund, providing the capital required to start the transformation of the laneway.

With initial funding in place, the group commissioned award winning garden designer Peter Donegan MSGLD to create a design that is inclusive, accessible and biodiversity-rich. The proposed park includes raised growing beds, native planting, pollinator friendly features and community gathering spaces. Accessibility has been central to the design, ensuring the space can be enjoyed by people of all abilities.
Also, as part of the development, a competition will be launched among local art students in the town of Lusk to design a permanent centrepiece for the new Lusk urban park. A donation of €5,000 from the local Tidy Towns has been allocated to create an installation celebrating their 45 years in Lusk and honouring the extraordinary work of the original committee whose e orts helped shape the town.

The unveiling of the designs was held on the 21st of February in the local Cultural centre in Lusk and gave residents an opportunity to view the design, meet the project team and learn how to become involved. The Forgotten Laneway project team hopes the park will serve not only as a green space, but as a wonderful example of sustainable urban regeneration.

Welcome back to training and a warm welcome to our new members. There is still time to sign up to our Fit4Life & Fit&Fab groups. Calling all club members age 12+ to attend our Women in Sport evening with Catherina McKiernan. The event will take place on Friday 6th February at Corduff NS. Another important date for your diary is Sunday 1st March for the ever popular Lusk 4 mile. We expect the event to sell out again this year so please register before it’s too late. Best of luck to all athletes with upcoming races and training plans.

Thanks to all The ICA Members, including Antonette Rea our ICA Dublin Federation president for turning up at our “Day of Action” along side the Lusk Men’s Shed. Rob O’ Donoghue TD counciller Mark Boland and Senator Lorraine Clifford Lee came out and supported us , as we continue our campaign for a permanent site for our members in the town. It was a bitterly cold day but we receive a very warm response from all who passed by the protest.

Antoinette Rea the ICA federation president held another craft day sponsored by DAA in ALSAA. fabric wreath, baby mobile and a memory box.

Thanks to Anne Smithers for arranging four lovely nights entertainment and
shopping in the beautiful Glen Eagles Hotel Killarney.

Our bowling team enjoyed a great night in ALSAA Teresa Killoran Maria Baird Frances Devane and Caroline O’Malley.

We entered Christmas snowmen entered in the ICA Dublin Federation crafts competition by Lusk members Maria Baird Monica Kilty and Frances Devane (came 3rd)

After all those recent celebrations we sat back and Relaxed in the cinema to the beautiful Music of Andre Rieu.

We held our last meeting of 2025 in the Scouts Den and Instead of Christmas presents, members contributed towards the local St. Vincent de Paul.

We began the new year and celebrated Nollaig Na mBan in the lovely Pasta Castello Donabate. We exchanged and regifted lovely Christmas presents with each other.

The girls recently enjoyed the unforgettable music of Tom Jones in the Lark Theatre brought to life by top tribute artist Danny Roman

We want to send our condolences to our friends Pat Kelly on the recent passing of her husband John Kelly and also Olive Fitzgerald on recent passing of her husband Paddy Fitzgerald.

The ladies, want to wish you all a happy new year and look forward to another wonderful year for 2026.

Congratulations to Graham Sandford Pictured Left on winning 2025 Player of the year with the top shop golf society. Graham was presented with the trophy by out going Captain Dara Fitzpatrick. Tanya Mulligan won Wpmens Player of the year. Well done.

Another hectic and action packed year has come to a close and we’re raring to go again for 2026. The club celebrated 50 years at the recent Christmas party in Rush GC and we look forward to the busy January race schedule ahead. The Cross Country season is in full swing and the usual favourites such as the Raheny 5 mile and Trim 10 mile take place in the coming weeks. A date for the diary is the Lusk 4 mile which will be held on Sunday 1st March. A reminder to all club members to renew your memberships and we welcome new members.

Congratulations to all at the club on our 50th anniversary. The club continues to grow and we look forward to the future with great excitement. The autumn months were full of fantastic achievements with over 60 club members completing a marathon. The Dublin City Marathon was particularly memorable and our runners were grateful for the amazing support. A big thank you to all who volunteered at the event. The cross country season is now in full swing and we encourage athletes to give it a try. We would also like to thank all who have donated prizes for our Christmas raffle. This is an important fundraiser for the club so please buy a ticket if you can.