Malahide United were very pleased to become involved in hosting a recent round of Special Olympics Eastern Region league matches on Sat 15th April between 2pm and 5pm. The club hosted 20 teams (200 players) from Division 1, 2,3,4 and 5 including our own Malahide United Football For All team. It was a great day out for the players who really enjoyed competitive football. A good sized crowd dropped along to support the event. Remember if you know anyone who may be interested in joining our team please contact on Steve 087 1950892.

Well done to the 2014 girls who finally had their first under-9 football matches against Skerries and Binn Eadair recently.. A massive thanks to Syl’s players Kate Sullivan, Sinead Aherne, Niamh McEvoy, Clodagh Fox, Danielle Lawless, Mia Roche, Sarah O’Donnell and Kate O’Toole who gave the girls some fantastic training sessions in the run-up to the games.

Syls Cycling Club Malahide is delighted to conclude the third year of the immensely popular Couch to 50k programme with close to twenty new members. The cyclists significantly improved their confidence on the bike and also learned about topics such as bike maintenance, nutrition, safety, gearing and group cycling techniques over the six weeks.Participant feedback was excellent, with some examples included here. One person said, “The couch to 50k is a brilliant way to get into cycling. I wish I had joined something like this years ago! There is a great social aspect to group cycling and everyone is really supportive no matter what your level. I would have never had the confidence to take on much of a road cycle, but the programme and club have helped me gain that through the mix of group cycles around north county Dublin and the very informative classes”. Another said, “I joined Syls Cycling Club after persuading a friend to join the year before, and she raved about it. I joined the 6-week course -couch to 50k. Well, all I can say is it is brilliant. The leaders made sure everyone was kept together and a steady speed - no one ever got left behind”. “It really makes cycling longer distances so much more achievable for all, and it is amazing how far you can go when you have company. One of the highlights was stopping at the many lovely coffee shops in North County Dublin that I never knew existed!” Another added, “A friend recommended The ‘Couch to 50km’ program offered by Syls Cycling Club, and I thought that this was the perfect place to rekindle my interest in cycling. From Day 1, I knew that I had made a great choice.” The class of 2023, have now merged into regular club spins and many are setting new goals. The Club offers spins on Wednesday evenings, Saturday and Sunday mornings. Some of the Couch to 50 class of 2023 are also targeting participation in various sportives around Ireland. Syls CC membership is open for cyclists of all levels, and the club will run a fourth version of the programme in Spring 2024.

A great occasion was held recently with the official opening of our refurbished local history museum at the Steward’s House, Malahide Castle. Over 100 members and friends of Malahide Historical Society turned out to see Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, and local lad, Darragh O’Brien, T.D. unveil a plaque in the presence of the Mayor of Fingal Howard Mahoby and the CEO of Fingal County Council Anne-Marie Farrelly. In a speech, Malahide Historical Society President Paddy Ryan thanked the committee and Minister O’Brien and Councillor Eoghan O’Brien for their support for the project and the management and staff in Fingal County Council without whose unstinting support the project would never have got across the line. The museum is now open on weekend afternoons and will soon open from Tuesday through to Sunday and admission is free. Our Pictures show the event as well as the Steward’s House in the 1960s with members of the Raeburn and O’Neill families who lived there when the estate was still owned by Lord Milo Talbot.

Join us in Malahide Castle and Gardens on the 6th of May for this year’s Darkness into Light Malahide 5k. Get involved with your friends or family, take some photos, raise awareness and come together. Why we walk…well why not join us for the most important sunrise of the year?…Every community in Ireland has been impacted by the devastating affects of suicide. Each year the walk provides an opportunity to bring Hope to people who are suffering from self-harm or in suicidal crisis. Darkness into Light is the flagship fundraiser to provide FREE counselling and support services to those who need it. Your support will help save lives and ensure no one faces their darkest moments alone. €24 will help our caring therapists answer two more calls to our helpline. €45 will fund a crisis counselling session between scheduled sessions. €100 will fund the first session of a dedicated therapy session.€252 will help our caring therapists answer twenty-one more calls to our helpline. To date, our community has raised over €900,000 in support of those in crisis suffering from self-harm and suicide, in 2023 help us Make It A Million! Thank you so much for your support. Learn more or donate at pieta.ie/

This month we acknowledge the marvellous achievements of present and former Malahide Sea who have been recognised for their excellent Seamanship. Firstly we say a huge congratulations to our Boatmaster Colum McCaffrey on winning the Irish Sailing Volunteer Scouts of the Year Award for 2022. Well done Colum and thanks for all your hard work with the Sea Scouts. Secondly we congratulate our own Cadet Oran O’Hirile who recently won the Capt. Cian Timmons Memorial Award in the Rover Scouts Category as part of the Sea Scouting - Ireland Annual Master Mariner Competition. Cadet O’Hirile joined the Naval Service as Cadet in September 2021 and is still an active member of Malahide Sea Scouts as he progresses through his The Irish Naval Cadetship. Congratulatin and best wishes to you Oran in your future career at Sea. For those who may be interested The Naval Competition is open – so why not visit it and apply now before the applications close : for more information go to military.ie/en/careers/current-competitions/

The Parents Association of Malahide Community School are holding their annual Plant Sale on the first weekend in May. The times are as follows: • Friday 5th - 3pm to 6pm - • Saturday 6th - 10am to 5.30pm & • Sunday 7th - 11am to 3pm. It will take place in the school canteen and there will be lots of colourful flowers, window boxes, hanging baskets and more for sale. Everyone is welcome so please come along and support this fundraising event. All profits will be spent by the Parents Association to improve the school facilities and support the students in various ways. We hope to see you there.

Our U8 girls had an experience to remember at Parnell Park when they played at half time during the Dublin Camogie v Kilkenny game. Congratulations to the 2015 girls, fresh out of the Academy this year, who took to the field during the half time break at Parnell Park during the Dublin Camogie v Kilkenny match today! Thanks too to their sponsors The View Malahide for their windbreakers & hats keeping them warm! The girls were buzzing after playing Fingallians GAA Club and then meeting their camogie heroes. The Dublin ladies were phenomenal, chatting with the the girls and signing hurls afterwards.

As part of International Women’s Week the Women’s KickFit groups came together in a game at Gannon Park Malahide Utd recently which saw teams from Malahide Utd V Howth Celtic competing in a Women’s KickFit Game on Sunday 5th March. There was plenty of skills on show on the day. The KF programme is to bring women together from 18+ who don’t play on a team and want the fun and craic in an non-competitive way and use the programme as a social event and maybe get involved in their local club.

The following is a run report from two of our visitors on a Saturday recently: “Long before we were ‘runners’ Claire and I had a lovely break in Malahide and often talked about returning. It is a beautiful location and the people are so friendly. Fast forward 6 years and we are both now parkrun addicts and love visiting events throughout the UK and further afield, so when we knew we would be flying to Dublin for the weekend our first thought was Malahide parkrun !This Saturday was also my 200th parkrun and whilst this may not be an ‘official’ parkrun milestone it is definitely a good enough reason to celebrate with a few pints of the black stuff. So the parkrun day arrived and we were very lucky with the weather. Rain and wind was forecast but it held off for the duration of the run. After arriving early (as is our way) we met Martha the run director and a few more of the volunteers before a small warm up and then we were off. We both loved the course and were both happy with our times. And the breakfast at Avoca cafe in the castle topped it off perfectly (don’t forget to show your barcode for a 10% discount).We would like to thank Martha and the team of volunteers, without whom the event would not take place. There were 251 participants today of which 29 were first timers at Malahide including 11 running their very first parkrun. We hope you all enjoyed your run and have now realised that your Saturday mornings will never be the same again. Congratulations - to the 14 runners who recorded course PBs including Alasdair BROWN who was the first runner home in a time of 17:12. First lady home was Niamh MARKHAM in a time of 17:41. Well done both fantastic running.There were plenty of milestone achievements to applaud including: Maciek MICHALOWSKI, Caitríona FINLAY, Dave WOODS, Ian BRENNAN (25 parkruns) & Michelle GRIMES (50 parkruns). Also worthy of mention Finnbarr O’BRIEN who has completed 400 parkruns. Until the next time we come back thank you Malahide parkrun.” David George (A3162129) Claire George (A1777261) - Cardiff parkrun