We’re delighted to announce the appointment of Paul Farrell and Joe O’Grady as managers of our Junior A and Junior B Ladies football teams respectively. They are looking for players! If you played football before with Syls and would like to return, or you’re new to the area, drop us a line at stsylvesters.dublin@lgfa.ie.

Brilliant effort from A-Team as double door ‘challenge’ is met with a resounding success.

Take a bow John, Frank, Paddy, Noel and Brian for a tremendous day’s work on the allotment canteen. The work involved cutting the shape of double doors out of the existing prefab wall, framing up the opening to accept the double doors and then after lifting them into place, making the doors element proof with expanding foam and weatherproof cladding. Not as simple as it sounds because this required a lot of measuring, cutting, lifting, levelling, spacing, shaving and a little bit of jiggery pokery to ensure that everything lined up and the doors opened and closed as they were meant to do. This was the A-Team performing at its’ best. a tough challenge met with professionalism and no little amount of humour to ensure that despite the challenge, there was plenty of banter and enjoyment. Giving up a day’s work to help improve the lot of everyone demonstrates genuine benevolence and generosity on the part of the A-Team members, however but once again, they delivered a great result for all to see. That’s the A-Team, set them a task and they lap it up and deliver the goods time after time! Well done gents on a stellar day’s work from all of you!

By John Moore, Deputy Principal

The teachers and staff were delighted to welcome the Minister for Education, Norma Foley TD, to St Mary’s recently. Minister Foley came to officially launch our new administration wing ahead of our transition to Co-Ed this September when boys will be welcomed in First Year. During her visit, Minister Foley was given a tour of the school and initially visited our brand-new Pink Home Economics room, which had been officially launched by Celebrity Chef, Donal Skehan. The new kitchen was recently featured on RTE’s Operation Transformation programme when our Transition Year Students cooked a healthy and delicious dish. We were delighted to be able to showcase our brand-new toilets to the Minister and also show her our brand-new Digital Media Room, for which we have received an extremely kind donation of 29 high-spec Apple iMac computers. She then visited various classes to speak to students. In one particular class, she asked a general question – What did students like about St Marys? She received a one-word answer, “Everything”. The Minister was absolutely delighted to hear this answer and the staff couldn’t have been more proud of our students.

Courtesy of Malahide Historical Society

At this time of year in the 1830’s, it was popular in the past to take ‘the pledge’ after the Christmas excesses. The Pledge was a commitment not to take alcohol and was inspired and promoted by The Total Abstinence Society founded by the famous Fr Theobald Matthew in 1838. He paid a high profile visit to Malahide as part of the celebrations for the opening of St. Sylvester’s Church in July 1846, as recounted in the Freeman’s Journal:

“We perceive that the new Catholic church of Malahide will be dedicated upon Sunday next. The ceremony—the most interesting, perhaps, of all those by which the Catholic church stimulates—and elevates the piety of her children, will be performed by the venerated prelate of this diocese, the most Rev. Dr. Murray. The dedication sermon will be preached by the Very. Rev. T. Matthew. We understand that the completion of this holy edifice depends in a great degree upon the amount of the contributions which the congregation on this occasion may be pleased to bestow.The district of Malahide is far from wealthy, and the people have contributed already to the full extent of their means. The Right Hon. Lord Talbot De Malahide, with great liberality, as well of means as of mind, generously contributed one hundred pounds to the building fund, and we understand his Lordship has promised a further subscription at a future period. We have no doubt that the appeal of Sunday next will enable the excellent Catholic rector, the Rev. Mr. Fleming, to proceed in his good and pious work, and to complete a beautiful edifice dedicated to the service of the Almighty Father of all.

A Select Choir will attend, under the management of Mr. Gormley, of Saints Michael and Johns’ Church. Admission to the Sanctuary for a family of Five is £1; Individuals are 5s. each Admission to the body of church, 2s/6d each. The Very Rev. Mr. Matthew will administer the Pledge after the ceremonies of the day. Increased accommodation will be afforded on the Railway”. It is not recorded how many took the pledge in Malahide that day but at its height, just before the Great Famine of 1845–49, his movement enrolled some 3 million people, or more than half of the adult population of Ireland.

Caves Marsh is a very special area in Malahide on the Estuary Road beside the Malahide Dinghy Club. It is an example of a ‘Raised bog’ and very few have survived in Europe. It takes an extra few thousand years for a ‘Bog’ to develop into a ‘Raised Bog’ and most of them have been drained for use in farming etc. Our Caves Marsh is part of a Special Protection Area (SPA) because of the birds that can be found there. Every year the Tidy Towns judges tell us off because we’re not protecting this precious habitat and they are right to do so. We’ve asked the Council to help us to put in measures to better protect this area so that it’s still there for future generations. Unfortunately, that might mean that it is no longer available as a place for walking dogs (or people). The path at the top though is used a lot by pedestrians, especially kids getting to the national school, so we’ve asked that this is kept open. It will mean putting fences around the areas that need protecting - especially near the water. We would beg people to support these changes and respect the need to protect this area from further destruction. We hope to hold some talks over the summer with more information on the rich biodiversity of this small area. We plan to survey it to establish a baseline, compare it to previous surveys with a plan to survey it again in a couple of years to monitor any changes. We are blessed in Malahide with so many beautiful areas, we hope it will be possible to leave this small area aside for nature. As Tidy Towns volunteers, we feel an obligation to attempt to protect this area, people are welcome to disagree but I would ask that they resist the urge to attack members. Thank you.

The Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage and local Fingal TD Darragh O’Brien recently granted approval to Fingal County Council for a foreshore licence, foreshore lease and foreshore consent, paving the way for the full development of the Broadmeadow Way. Enabling works are underway at the Broadmeadow Way, a new greenway between Malahide Demesne and Newbridge Demesne via the railway causeway across the Malahide Estuary, and the Ministers consent concludes a detailed application process by Fingal County Council ensuring the shared footpath and cycleway can be developed. Commenting Minister O’Brien said, “This coastal greenway has been a priority for Cllr Eoghan O’Brien, Cllr Ardian Henchy and I for many years. I’m delighted to see it progressing. “Each of us have seen the potential for this project and having recently visited the site and talked through the plans with Fingal County Council I know it will be a magnificent amenity for locals and tourists alike when completed. “Today’s approval is another boost for the project and follows a detailed application by Fingal County Council who must be commended for all their work on this project. “I look forward to the day when I am walking this greenway alongside the families and individuals from our communities,” he concluded.

By John Moore Deputy Principal.

We were delighted to be the first school to be featured on RTE’s Operation Transformation which aired on Wednesday. Ms. Rachel Flynn and her Transition Year Home Economics students featured and cooked a healthy and delicious Tofu Pad Thai dish. The girls spoke really well and did a fantastic job cooking the dish. Our new Home Economics kitchen, recently opened by celebrity chef, Donal Skehan, looked great as did the new St. Mary’s aprons. Everyone did St. Mary’s proud! Attached are behind-the-scenes photos of the filming process which took place in December. Also, we would like to remind you that our Transition Year students are continuing to run Free Log On Learn classes for Senior Citizens on Tuesdays from 11 am to 12.10 pm. Senior Citizens are welcome to drop in for a tea/coffee and then brush up or learn new IT skills whether on your phone, computer or tablet. Absolute beginners welcome. Learn about emails, social media, buying online, booking flights, WhatsApp etc.For further details, contact Joey Ryan at 01 832 5591 or email him at j.ryan@stmarysbaldoyle.org

Malahide is a coastal town situated on the east of Fingal County. It is a busy town that is a sought-after residential location due to its beach location, Malahide Marina, Malahide Castle Demesne and views overlooking Broadmeadow Estuary. Natural biodiversity features in Malahide include the Gaybrook Stream which is bordered by woodland habitat, Caves Marsh wetland and Dublin Bay. Man made biodiversity features include Malahide Demesne which has important woodland and semi natural grassland habitats. Embryonic sand dunes are forming along Malahide beach and Robswall Park supports hedgerows and meadows. Internationally protected Light bellied Brent Geese (Branta bernicla hrota) feed on grasslands in Robswalls Park each year. The Tidy Towns group in Malahide is very active and involved in biodiversity initiatives locally. It has already implemented many useful biodiversity actions and identified a number of locations that should to be conserved and interpreted. The primary aim of Tidy Towns Malahide is of course to enhance the appearance of Malahide making the town a more attractive place to live work and do business in. Currently the Tidy Towns volunteers meet every Saturday morning at 10.30am in the car park at Malahide Train Station.

Based on the cult classic John Water’s film of the same name, Cry-Baby the Musical is a rebellious teen comedy musical that, as book writer Mark O’Donnell said, is “edgier than Grease, funnier than West Side Story” and full of rockabilly tunes that keep the audience dancing in their seats. The delinquent Drapes and the squeaky-clean Squares can’t see eye to eye on anything. But when Drapes leader Cry-Baby and Square member Allison meet at the Anti-Polio Picnic, their star-crossed love story begins to blossom. Allison longs to shake off her Square identity and join Cry-Baby’s rock n’ roll lifestyle. With rock rhythms and dancing delinquents, Cry-Baby the Musical brings the 1950’s to life with a rockabilly good time. This fantastic musical will be on stage at Malahide Community School from the 13th until the 17th of February. Tickets are on sale now so don’t miss it.

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!