BY Eddie Ó Mórdha

I started with St Sylvesters GAA in 1977 and have had great times playing, coaching, socialising around the town, and in our Club Premises on Church Road since we opened in 1984. Prior to that we spent time in Gibney’s & The Diamond Bar where we served on Committees. The Diamond now Fowlers was owned by Eddie Nolan. The late Jack Gibney a supporter of Syls also served on the Committee with us together with the late Eddie Nolan. I am still around and saw Syls first teams in Men’s football and Hurling get to Championship Finals in the past while. Our Intermediate Woman’s Gaelic Football team also won the Intermediate All Ireland. It is amazing the hard work that has gone on over the years to produce the amazing Michael Gaffney Park in Broomfield. We certainly have come a long way since togging out under a tree for a few months in 1977, until we got portacabin dressing rooms. St Sylvesters have a great history dating back to 1903. I now have a little grandson, Henry. I am looking forward to teaching him the games and bringing him down to Broomfield. Syls Abú.

CASA is planning its upcoming Pilgrimage to Lourdes for approximately 50 of our members. It has become apparent that we will require a piece of equipment called a Sara Steady Standing Aid. The cost is approximately €1,800 and we would be very grateful if we could receive sponsorship to purchase this item. If you feel you could help or know of a company that might support us, please contact Zoë on 087 126 0975. Thank you very much.

The local Malahide Pipe Band is planning to start an Autumn schedule of music lessons, for anyone interested in learning to play the Bagpipes or Drums. The aim is to encourage young people to learn either instrument, who can then play and support local events. Beginners welcome. The music lessons will have a relaxed, inclusive and enjoyable format. To find out more, just email the Band at malahidepipeband@gmail.com for more information. The Band will be happy to answer any questions you may have. The Band was established in the 1950’s. The objective is to maintain the musical tradition in Malahide into the future. If you would like to take part, just email for more details.

Malahide Lawn Tennis junior member, Killian Burke, is gearing up for an incredible adventure later this year. He will be participating in the great Ethiopian run! But that’s not all - Alongside the run, he will be raising funds for Orbis Ireland, a remarkable foundation that provides sight-saving surgery for individuals in the underprivileged southern community of Ethiopia. This is truly admirable for Killian to be doing this during his Transition year in school. Let’s rally together and show our support for Killian by helping him raise the necessary funds. Every contribution, big or small, will make a significant difference in the lives of those in need. Let’s join forces and make a positive impact together! Please use this to contribute orbisirl.enthuse.com/pf/killian-burke

We, staff and students at St Marys Baldoyle were absolutely delighted with our Leaving Cert results this year. Although the results were available online at 10 am on the day, most students and some parents chose to drop down to the school to collect their results. All were met by Dr. Edel Greene, Principal and Mr. John Moore, Deputy Principal. They were all given an envelope with their results to open in school or elsewhere. Envelopes were opened with great anxiety and trepidation. However, once opened, there was great excitement. All were delighted with their results and shouts and tears of joy were common. The customary photograph was then taken. We have dedicated webpages for photos of each Leaving Certificate year. Many had to go around the school to meet their teachers, discuss their results and talk about the next stage of the career – college, plc, work, apprenticeships and travel. The teachers were all as equally happy as there is nothing better than when a student calls to your classroom and displays great delight with their results. It is also a great incentive for those in the classroom as they experience and can actually see the joys of doing well and the rewards that it can bring. It is a great time to re-iterate to your class the need to work hard, study and revise, particularly if you have Fifth or Sixth Years, so that they can end up getting results that they will be proud of. The point calculators later came out as they worked out their CAO point totals and looked at last year’s point requirements for the various courses. Some met or made appointments with the Guidance Counsellor to examine options now on offer and now that CAO preferences were being realised and anew focus was emerging. The newly crowned Sixth Years were given plenty of food for thought as they begin their journey towards the Leaving Cert of 2024. The Class of 2023 had certainly left their mark and as all former students they will always be welcome back to St. Mary’s.

What a wonderful organisation Malahide Lions Club truly is with their presentations and fundraising of monies to help other local charities, sporting groups and community organisations. Our pic show the recent presentation of a cheque to CASA from Malahide Lions, which was the proceeds from their recent Quiz. A great night was had by all. Let’s do it all again next year! Well done to all involved.

Get ready for an unforgettable weekend at the many ParkRun Ireland locations in Fingal County Council! Lace up your running shoes or take a leisurely stroll with our amazing Walk at Parkrun participants. No matter your pace, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Register now at //parkrun.ie and be part of the action-packed fitness event supported by Sport Ireland. Join our vibrant community and connect with like-minded individuals who share your passion for an active lifestyle. Get inspired, make new friends, and conquer personal milestones together. Don’t miss out on the excitement!

Champions of All Ireland! Wow!!!!! Congratulations to Syl’s Kate, Sinéad and Dannielle, with Mick and the Dublin_Ladies Gaelic Football squad on a their recent All-Ireland win! Congratulations also to Sinéad Aherne who now holds the Ladies Gaelic Football record with 6 All-Ireland titles. The Dublin Double is complete in 2023 so well done once again and enjoy the party ladies!

Congratulations to our u9 Boys who won the Claremont Cup in Navan recently Beating a really strong st Kevin’s side in the final. Congratulations also to their coaches, their team management, mentors and their parents, Surely this is a sign of even greater things to come.

Meanwhile the club hosted the Coastal Cup competition in recent weeks and all the competing teams had a fantastic day of football today in Gannon Park, well done to Shelbourne who beat a very good Shamrock Eovers team in the final.

There are still supplies of ‘My Little Library Book Bags’ available in Malahide Library. To help children to navigate starting school, libraries have put together a bag of books just for them that can be collected at any library. If you would like to have one, just ask at the Lending Desk. Further details about the contents of the bags are given below. Each My Little Library Book Bag contains: (1) Three books on starting school, making friends and being comfortable to be yourself (2) A story card on going to the library (3) A postcard the child can write or draw on and send to their new teacher, or bring to give to the teacher on their first day at school (4) Their very own library card and special ‘My Little Library’ cardholder. Malahide Library can’t wait to welcome all the 4 and 5 year old children in to collect their book bags and begin their library membership journey. We hope that once they visit the library to pick up their book bag, our new library members and their families will come back regularly to keep their bag filled up with borrowed books and to take part in story times, classes and all the other events we have to offer at the library.