The recent Lusk 4 mile Virtual race was a tremendous success with over 700 registrations including over 200 Juvenile entries of the Thomas Ashe Dash. This was the highest number of juvenile entries in a Virtual race since lockdown began. We really appreciate the support of local athletes, other club runners and sponsors in making the event so successful. Thanks also to Annette Foy and Nicole Hodson for organising the event. There were some fantastic times recorded with Darren Ryan and Alex Bell retaining their titles as fastest male and female Lusk AC athletes.We would like to congratulate members for continuing their own training during this extended lockdown. Some of the times recorded over the last few months have been phenomenal and show the hard work being put in is really paying dividends. We are very excited to resume group training once allowed.The 40 day Sunrise Challenge is almost at an end. Well done to everyone who took part.

There is an old saying – the secret to getting ahead is getting started and that’s what we at Junsa have done, instead of waiting for lockdown to finish, and an end to restrictions so we can train together safely , we have gone training , online, and separately but together.Even though our students are safely training at home they are training together where they can still see and chat ( but not too much !) to each other over our Zoom training sessions.While it’s still not the same the students are still keeping their fitness and Taekwondo skills up to date.The club made their kick pads available to the students for home training, which means they need someone to hold the pads,and in steps the mams and dadsw to help out.It’s great to see the parents and guardians getting involved in the students sport.Well done to everyone , and huge thank you to all for the support. Here are some of our students training at home via Zoom.A huge thank you to everyone who has kept up their training online and we hope to see everyone back for training face to face as soon as it’s safe to do so.

At the March area meeting of Fingal County Council Cllr Brian Dennehy raised the issues of works required to be carried out at the Open Space at Chapel Farm Drive, Lusk and also the need for bollards at Rogerstown Estuary . Having previously allocated 100,000 Euro for the works in the 2021 – 2013 budget the Manager outlined the planned works to be carried out. “The additional area of land was acquired by Fingal County Council in 2016 when the remainder of public open space in Chapel Farm was taken in charge from the Receiver. It remains the intention of the Council to merge this additional area of land which is fenced off and not landscaped, with the adjacent developed Class 1 Public Open Space. There is provision in the 2021-2023 Capital Programme to commence landscaping works to facilitate the incorporation and merging of the two pieces of land. Initial works planned for 2021 /2022 are to remove the railings and reposition them to the rear boundary of the site. This will be followed with some earth moving to level and grass seed the new land. When these works settle it will be possible to start planning a perimeter pathway and a more detailed layout for the site. A corner of the site is currently being used as a Pyrite remediation holding area, so once that is vacated the council will be free to commence further works.” Mr Dennehy also welcomed Fingal County Councils positive response to erecting lockable bollards at the access points to Rogerstown Estuary as a measure to combat the large escalation of fly tipping in the area. He said, “ The stretch of the estuary which is accessible from both Lusk and Rush has witnessed in recent months, what can be only described as fly tipping on an industrial scale as rogue dumpers are taking advantage of the ready access to the area. Only the usage of trucks or other large vehicle would explain the volume of material dumped on occasions. Having chased after the implementation of the bollards over a long period of time it is great that the Council also see the benefit by having restricted access to the area while at the same time accommodation of local landowners as they work their lands. Removable bollards are listed on the general works list for installation at the entry points of Rogerstown Estuary from the access point at Rogerstown Park, and between the ramparts leading onto the Channel Road. However, discussion will have to take place with the landowner who utilises this area to access his lands.”

Our 1st AGM was held via Zoom on the 1st March. It was well attended and there was good cross party public representation, attended by our own committee member, Cllr Rob O’Donoghue, Cllr Brian Dennehy, Cllr Adrian Henchy, Louise O’Reilly TD, Duncan Smith TD and Senator Regina Doherty. Minister Joe O’Brien continues to meet us frequently. We are grateful of their support and will be in continuing need of it over the coming years to deliver Lusk’s 2030 plan. We are pleased to note the repair of the road at the Rush Roundabout. We continue to communicate with Fingal County Council regarding the narrowing of the pathway on the Station Road. It has become very dangerous, and we have been requesting a repair of this for 6 months. We would like to hear from anyone who has interest in being involved in a Lusk Men’s Shed. You can contact us on 0863017842 . The Fingal Development Plan public consultation period is now open until the 12th May. Submissions and observations are invited on what is to be included in the draft of the new plan. This is a critical time for the community to be engaged. All land rezoning takes place during the development plan. Once land is rezoned for residential, there is very little the community can do to stop housing development taking place. We want to avoid this happening in this development plan as any more housing would be simply unsustainable in Lusk. So we need as many voices as possible to be very clear about what Lusk does and does not need. We need clear opposition to any more zoning for residential. The building and completion of schools, the provision of amenity, the improvement of road infrastructure, a strategic plan for traffic management at Blake’s Cross, the improvement of rail and bus services and the provision of leisure amenity for our young people. And, importantly, the maintenance of the green space between Rush and Lusk.You can make a submission at the County Council’s website.