Freedom FM, the online radio station dedicated to the music of the 90s and noughties, is thrilled to announce its launch on the DAB+ digital radio platform. This expansion allows listeners in Lusk, Rush and surrounding areas of north county Dublin to enjoy the station’s nostalgic mix of chart-toppers, dance anthems, R&B classics, and rock favourites in crystal-clear digital quality.

Reestablished as an online station in August 2020 during the COVID-19 lockdowns, a former Dublin based pirate radio station from the 1990s Freedom FM quickly gained a dedicated following. The station’s online success led to temporary licensed FM broadcasts across major Irish cities, including Dublin, Cork, Limerick, and Galway each year since 2021. Now, with its transition to DAB+, Freedom FM is set to reach Lusk and Rush for the first time.

Freedom FM recently secured a content licence from the broadcast regulator Coimisiún na Meán which allowed it join the new DAB+ digital radio platform, as part of a trail service operated by Fáilte DAB and licensed by the communications regulator COMREG.

From humble beginnings as a pirate station in suburbs of Dublin in 1995, the station has evolved to reflect its geographical reach with presenters hailing from across the island, yet retaining that fun and youthful presentation style.

Freedom FM will be reliving the 90s and noughties with a mixture of Pop, R‘nB, Dance and Rock music as well as specialist music shows around the clock during it’s time on the DAB+ digital radio network. The station will continue its online broadcasts too via www.freedomfm.ie , on smart speakers, and through it’s free online app available on the App Store or the Google Play Store.

We hosted a very successful coffee morning, organized by Antoinette Doran and her team in Murray’s Top Shop, and raised the great sum of €5,385 in aid of Irish Cancer Society.

We wish to thank everybody in the parish in particular Senator Lorraine Clifford Lee and Labour Councillor Mark Boland for their time, and all who generously contributed and supported this very important cause.

We Want to say thank you again to Debbie in Tesco of Rush for the generous donation of €582.00 from the blue tokens Community Fund. Many thanks to everyone who voted for us.

ongratulations to RoseAnna Darby, who has been voted in as president at our recent AGM and she wishes to thank her committee for all their hard work.

Last month, members from LAG met with bus provider, Go Ahead (which delivers the 33 and 33a bus services) to discuss the various issues that the members of the community have raised regarding these services.

Among some of the main points from the meeting include the following:

• Go Ahead services:

o Bus Timetable: Last July an additional 4am service from Skerries was added to the timetable. Go Ahead are now seeking to determine whether an additional 3am service would be feasible. A request was also made to reinstate the 8.10am service to Balbriggan. All decisions regarding the addition of buses are made by the National Transport Authority.

o Service Levels: Only 1.29% of services were cancelled last year. Punctuality is quite poor (at 67%) and there is a department dedicated to improving this. Next Generation AVL (Automatic Vehicle Location) will be rolled out from the end of this year which will give much more accuracy in terms of reliability, which should drive service improvements.

• Complaints: There is one centralised complaints system for bus services on all routes through the Transport for Ireland help centre. Tel. 0818 294015 or use online contact form available on https://www.transportforireland.ie/support. Please continue to raise any issues through either of these contact points as TFI relies on data to update services.

• Bus Connects: The controversial overhaul of existing bus services is due to be rolled out from September this year. It is estimated that the changes for this area will be introduced in September 2027. From then onwards, Dublin Bus will cease to serve this area; instead, Go Ahead will take over the full service. Also, buses serving this area will go as far as Swords and passengers will then have to disembark and get a further bus to the city centre. The existing 33x service will remain apart from a name change. LAG, like many other members of the community have serious concerns about these plans and we will be exploring ways to lobby the NTA to make changes over the coming weeks.

The Lusk 4 mile road race took place in early March and was a huge success with over 1,000 entries for the 4 mile as well as hundreds more for the Thomas Ashe Dash. Many thanks to all sponsors , club members and the local community who helped in any way.

The men’s race was won by John Travers of Donore Harriers in a time of 18:43 with Annemarie McGlynn of Letterkenny AC winning the women’s race in a new course record of 20:30. The Lusk AC winners were Conor McGuirk and Emma Przymusinska.

There was also success for the club in the recent Leinster Indoor Championships and Nationals. Club members continue to clock up the miles with Half Marathons in Lisbon and Marathons in Brescia, Italy as well as events closer to home. The 40-day 6am 5k challenge started on 5th March and is open to everyone in the community from Lusk NS each morning.

Local man Ian Cortina is currently in training to run a 130km ultramarathon in under 24 hours at the Waterville Trail Running Festival in Waterville, County Kerry on May 3rd, in aid of Fingal Additional Needs.
The challenge is very personal to Ian who explained, “My mother sadly passed away on 7th May 2024 from complications of dementia. A cruel, vicious disease for which there is no cure. One of the last things I promised to her was to complete an endurance event and try to fundraise for a worthwhile cause. The Waterville 130km ultramarathon is held close to the anniversary of her passing, which I feel is a prominent event to aim for and commemorate her memory.”

“As a parent to a child with additional needs, initiatives such as Fingal Additional Needs are invaluable and do so much good for local children and young people who I believe ALL have the right to thrive and grow with equal support and opportunities in life and their local communities,” he added.

The race begins at 4pm on Saturday 3rd May and Ian will have 24 hours to finish the race by running 3 laps, continuously across the Kerry Way. Cut off times are 8 hours per lap - so a 4pm start with the first cut-off at 12 midnight. The second lap cut-off is 16 hours (8am Sunday) and the final lap is to be finished before 4pm on Sunday 4th May.

Fingal Additional Needs offers afterschool programs, camps, and sports activities designed to create safe, fun, and structured environments where kids can thrive, while giving families much-needed support.
“By chucking a few bob in to my fundraiser, you will be helping to cover the cost of equipment, rental spaces, and materials that make their sessions engaging and so beneficial. Thank you so much for taking the time to visit my fundraiser. I hope you can help me by donating whatever you can. Simply click the Donate button above. All donations are processed securely,” Ian added.

You can find more information about the race here: https://www.runwtf.com/130km and to donate please go to https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/wtf130

LAG held its annual general meeting on 11 March in the Cottage Community Centre. The AGM was well represented by members of the community and local political representatives, TDs: Robert O’Donoghue and Grace Boland, Councillors: Eoghan Dockrell, Corina Johnston, Cathal Boland and Mark Boland and Senator Lorraine Clifford-Lee.

LAG would like to thank everyone who attended for their participation. If there are members in the community who would like to get involved in whatever capacity you can to help make a positive difference to our community, please do contact us: luskactiongroup@gmail.com

LAG also had its first committee meeting to commence preparing the next summer festival scheduled to take place on 21 June. The Committee would also very much welcome new members to join the committee to help organise the event. It would also like to invite local businesses to get involved in sponsoring this year’s festival. Contact details for both: lusksummerfestival@gmail.com

A meeting of the Town Centre First Team took place on 13 February. It was agreed that individual community groups within Lusk will commence work to implement some of the individual projects contained within the Lusk town plan, Lusk for Life. As work progresses, we will publish more details of these over the coming months.

In the meantime, full details of the town plan are available on the following Fingal County Council webpage: https://www.fingal.ie/news/lusk-town-centre-first-plan-launched

Hexahydrocannabinol, known as HHC, is a man-made drug chemically similar to the active ingredient in cannabis, THC. It is a new cannabis substitute that can cause severe psychosis, and its harms have led to an “explosion” of addiction presentations in Ireland, according to the College of Psychiatrists of Ireland. HHC is already illegal in a number of countries including the UK, France, Germany, Poland (while legislation to ban this is being currently being drafted in Ireland).

We have received information that HHC vapes are easily available to minors in Lusk. This has been reported to the HSE. Given the dangers involved, we are sharing this information to help build awareness.

We enjoyed a very interesting talk from our local Solicitor Liam Fitzgerald, who attended our recent Guild meeting giving us a very interesting talk on the importance of drawing up a Will and a power of attorney among other topics.

Caroline O Malley and Rosanna Darby had a lovely time in the Cultural Centre to celebrate International Women’s Day, a really nice morning with talks by Patricia Langton and Dr Taaffe.

The Lusk ICA Drama ladies did us proud and enjoyed taking part in the ICA Drama Competition, which was held on 9th March in An Grianan, the play “The Big Surprise” was written and directed Anne Smithers.
Frances Devane from Lusk, was proud and honoured to be presented with the 1st prize by the National President Mary Darcy, (out of 25 entries), in the ICA National final of the Dundee Cake Competition, held in An Grianan on 10th March and sponsored by Gempac Food.

The ladies meet everyday Monday to Friday at 10 AM for a brisk walk, and everybody’s welcome.

The Lusk ICA Guild meet on the First Thursday of every month in the Scouts Den (after beavers)at 8:15 PM and we would be delighted to welcome new members to come along.

Spring is in the air and so are our students with their high-flying kicks. The students at Junsa have been practicing hard for upcoming tournaments all the while having fun. Please take look at what we are doing.

The athletics season is in full swing with plenty of events to choose from over the early months of the year. The club took a huge contingent to the Raheny 5 mile and we were well represented at the 10 mile road races in both Trim and Dungarvan. The Lusk vest was also spotted at the Seville Half Marathon and the Donadea 50k. Our Juvenile athletes have been in indoor action and training at the hub has been spiced up with the 6 week winter 3k league. Well done to all and we look forward to the brighter evenings as summer approaches.

Robyn was in fine form at the Dublin Juvenile Championships.

Lusk Action Group’s AGM will take place on Tuesday 11th March at 7.30 in the Cottage Community Centre. All are welcome to attend.

We were very happy to host a meeting last month to facilitate the set up of resident’s associations in Lusk. The Forge estate has been the first of the estates to form and hosted their first committee meeting at the end of February. We wish them the very best of luck. If you would like to get involved with a resident’s association in your estate, please get in touch with us at luskactiongroup@gmail.com and we will direct you.

We received the news in January that Planning permission has been approved for the proposed Recreational Sports Hub at Rathmore Park by An Bord Pleanála. This is the culmination of over ten years of work by Lusk Community Sports Plan 2020 committee, with the support of our public representatives. It will be delivered by Fingal County Council. Work is hoped to be commenced this Spring/Summer. We would like to thank and congratulate Lusk Community Sports Group for their hard work and perseverance over many years to bring these plans finally to fruition, and we look forward to the amazing facilities that are going to be delivered.

A little reminder to all groups and the wider community that the Lusk Autism Friendly Town committee are seeking to have all members of all community groups and businesses trained. This will lead to Lusk becoming an official autism friendly town. Training is very simple to do and takes only an hour or two. Visit www.asiam.ie and search training and accreditation to find out how to make a big difference in the lives of people with autism.

As most of you are aware, construction has starsted on the front of Orlynn Park green by Fingal County Council. This will be called Remount Court and will be an extension of the adjacent estate. It is planned to be completed by March 2026. If there are any issues during the construction site, we are asked to contact construction@fingal.ie