Rush Tidy Towns committee launched their 2024 calendar on Friday the 17th of November in the Strand Bar Rush. Minister Joe O’Brien did the honours and Councillor Rob O’Donohue was also present on the night. The calendar is in its third year now, was put together through a photography competition and depicts scenes from many aspects of Rush from coastal views to agriculture. There were 10 winning photographers each receiving a calendar as a prize. Project manager Diana O’Donohue tells us that the calendar is now available for sale in several shops around the town and also the Community Centre. Diana added that this is an important fundraiser for Rush Tidy Towns and every cent of profit goes back into the community through our projects in the town. Please buy one and maybe one also for friends or family who are abroad as a reminder of the beauty of this part if Fingal,

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.

A New Year, a fresh start, a new challenge or fulfil a New Year’s resolution. At Junsa we help all our students to try and fulfil their Taekwondo aspirations and for anyone wishing to try Taekwondo we’ll do the same for you. With our grading behind us January is the planning month for upcoming tournaments at home and abroad, and we are arranging training sessions with other clubs and seminars to attend. If you are interested in joining us, please contact Stuart on 087 7775202 or on Facebook Junsa Taekwondo. Junsa would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year and we are looking forward to the new Taekwondo season ahead.

Happy New Year to all club members and welcome back to training. New members are welcomed. 2023 was a hugely successful year for our growing club. There were many fantastic achievements across all age groups from Cross Country to Marathons and Track & Field. Congratulations to all our athletes who trained so hard throughout the year. Huge thanks to our club coaches, officers and volunteers for their commitment without which none of this success would be possible. We look forward to further success in 2024 with lots of fun along the way.

In the realm of sport, the birth of a new club is an exciting time and such is the case as Lusk Ravens Basketball embarks on its inaugural season. Six new teams will complete their first ever season in Dublin leagues this year, Men’s senior team, Women’s senior team, Masters team, Boys under 14, Girls under 14, Boys under 13 in addition to an academy catering for younger players. An extraordinary amount of work has gotten the club to this point and we are delighted to be able to provide Basketball to our community. Thank you to all the coaches and volunteers who have made this happen. We would like to thank Lusk National School for hosting the club. Basketball is an expensive sport and none of these teams would be possible without our sponsors: Murray’s Pub - David Mulcahy Engineering - The Top Shop - North County Fitness - KP Windows -Ciuin Wellness - Showbiz Academy - Aidan Cullen Home Renovations - M.R Concrete - Apollo Electrical and Film Equipment Hire Ireland. Thank you so much for your support which is deeply appreciated. Go Ravens Go!

As we say goodbye 2023 it is worthwhile looking back at progress made in the town during the year. There were a number of highlights on the Council side of things. After much turmoil and debate the new Fingal Development Plan came into effect in the Spring. Despite a number of motions that would seek to massively expand the town, with no benefit to social infrastructure for the people of Lusk, I was able to lead the charge in defeating all of these motions and leaving the zoning map as it had been in the previous Development Plan. I couldn’t have done this without the tenacity of our great community organisations in the town coming together to oppose these motions. Following on from this, I was able to advocate for Lusk to be chosen for the Town Centre First Scheme and we have now established the Pillar Groups from community organisations in the town. We will receive the new Town Centre First Plan in January of 2024 and can use this a map for the provision of much needed additional infrastructure for Lusk, which will be guided by Lusk organisations for Lusk people. The Town Plan will allow us to apply for funding streams to deliver a number of projects outlined in the document. It was also great to see the handover of the lands to the north of the Lusk Sports Hub. This land, now that it is in charge of FCC will allow us to finally develop out the long-promised sporting facilities that the Lusk Sports Group have been working diligently towards for many years and I look forward to 2024 to champion this project.
Finally, I would like to pay tribute to our wonderful Community Organisations in the town, based on their hard work and dedication to the town that makes me optimistic for delivering for Lusk in 2024.

2023 saw the Community Council develop and extend its services across its community facilities while also making major strides in Town Centre First planning for our town. Our current activities focus on Health & Wellbeing, Art & Creativity, Biodiversity and Sustainability, Community Networking, Cultural and Historic Events, Education Grinds, Youth Services, Dance, Judo and Martial Arts as well as Corporate Events and Training. The Cottage Community Centre, Saint Macullin’s Centre, the Carnegie Library Community Hall and our newly developed Cultural Centre host this array of activities and we want to thank all our customers for their support and commitment. Activities in our community facilities typically happen 7 days a week. This represents huge commitment and hard work by our staff and volunteer directors who make things happen. Special thanks go to our staff and all our volunteers who deliver when needed. Christmas Tree Lights Ceremony, Halloween, Fingal Inclusion Week, International Women’s Day, Saints & Scholars St. Patrick’s Weekend, St. Brigit’s Day, Africa Day and Culture Night, are just some of the highlight events that the Community Council organised during the year. 2023 saw our Lusk Vision 2030 being updated to create a Town Plan and the establishment of a new Town Team being supported by Community, Enterprise and Public Realm pillars. This new Town Plan will be critically important in driving future investment and development of new facilities for our growing population. The Community Council has developed Phase 2 plans for the Cultural Centre site. The aim is to develop a community campus which will extend from the Cottage Community Centre to Saint Macullin’s Centre and Round Tower complex to the Cultural Centre site. The phase 2 Cultural Centre design includes a multi-purpose performance space and outdoor market courtyard. Moving this project forward to development will be a key 2024 priority. Safety and anti-social issues continue to be a major concern in our community. In 2023 the Community Council applied to a Community Safety Innovation Fund and was successful. This project will look to new ways to address anti-social issues in Lusk.