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.

The Balbriggan\North County Dublin branch of Irish guide dogs for the Blind on December 5th Friday in the Strand Bar rush will be selling Xmas Cards, 2026 calendars, Merchandise and car raffle tickets costing €5 each, from 11am to 5pm.

Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is dedicated to enriching the lives of blind and visually impaired people, and children with autism, by providing them with the freedom to travel safely, thereby assuring greater independence, dignity, and new horizons of opportunity.

Lusk ICA hosted a fun Halloween fancy dress group meeting and invited the Rush, Balbriggan and Donabate guilds with music from Gerry and the Plonkers.

Rosanna Darby presented our National presented Mary D’Arcy with a fresh fruit and vegetable hamper.
All the ICA ladies dressed up for Halloween group meeting, followed with a beautiful supper organized by Alma Farrell, Mary Hagan and team.

We enjoyed a fantastic night out in the Millbank Theatre at the play “Lend me A Tenor” by Ken Ludwig a fast-paced door slamming farce, set in a luxurious Hotel suite - in aid of the Lusk twinning.

Our thanks again to the Lusk choir and father Kevin who celebrated a lovely mass in memory of the deceased members of Lusk ICA.

Soccer Stars – Free Trial alert at Corduff Attention Soccer Stars Lusk!

Football lessons for toddlers aged 1.5 to 5-years-old at Corduff National School – Lusk takes place every Saturday from 10am – 12pm. Come and join us for a morning of fun, engaging, and pressure-free games!
It’s not just about football – it’s about the friendships we build along the way. Why choose Soccer Stars? The only toddler football school that truly understands parents’ needs, flexible make-up classes if you miss a session, safe, fun, and supportive environment for your little star. DM us or email info@soccerstars.ie for a Free Trial this weekend! Don’t miss out – spots fill fast! For more information go to www.soccerstars.ie.

On Tuesday morning 4th of November in skinny batch Coffee Shop Lusk a fundraising coffee morning will be held to raise money for the Balbriggan\North County Dublin Branch of Irish guide Dogs for the blind.
Running from 10.30 am to 12.30 pm, there will be guide dogs Xmas cards, 2026 calendars for sale and a car raffle ticket costing euro5 each to win a Ford Puma later in the year

All money raised goes for the training of guide dogs for blind people and assistance dogs for children with Autism. All involved in this fundraiser are total volunteers and we wish to thank Sharyn Hayden of Skinny Batch Food Ltd Lusk and her team for organizing this lovely event.

Should any reader of this article wish to volunteer with the branch or indeed become a puppy raiser from the readership of this article please contact us on below details. We can never have enough volunteers and without puppy raisers no guide or assistance dog can be trained. We need you.

More details on www.guidedogs.ie To contact our branch of guide dogs’ email guidedogsbalbriggan@gmail.com or call 085-7663107.
Tom O’Neill, guide dog owner and co-chair of the branch

Congratulations to all club members who completed one of the autumn marathons including the Dublin City Marathon. Also well done to all who have represented the club in one of the recent cross-country events. We were thrilled to present some of our athletes with hard fought medals won at Dublin Road Races. Niamh Coughlan won F35 Gold at both the Dublin 10 mile and the F35 Half Marathon while Dara Harford won F40 Silver at the Dublin 5k. There were also team medals for Sarah Farrell, Julie Griffith and Sarah Moore (F50 Bronze at the Dublin Half) and Emma Przymusinska, Dara Harford, Geraldine McHale and Louisa Fahy (F35 Silver at the Dublin 5k). A reminder to members to purchase tickets for our Christmas party on December 12th before they sell out. Finally, we were delighted to help Donabate parkrun celebrate its 10th anniversary last month. The club always has a good presence at parkrun with a large contingent of runners as well as regular volunteers. Here’s to the next 10!