Rush Community Council is delighted to announce that our annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade will take place on Tuesday 17 March at 1pm.
The theme this year is Pirates, Myths and Legends of Rush!!
Mark your calendars and come out to celebrate our fantastic community with a day full of colour, music, and local pride!
If you are interested in being part of the parade, please either pop into Rush Community Centre or email info@rushcoco.ie for more information and the application form, the closing date for applications is Monday 9 March.
Call for Parade Marshals
We’re currently looking for volunteer marshals to help make the day run smoothly and safely. If you can spare a couple of hours to support this wonderful community event, we’d love to hear from you.
Marshals play a key role in:
Rush is getting ready to sparkle in shades of sunshine as the Rush Daff Day Committee rolls out another unforgettable weekend of community spirit, celebration, and heartfelt support for the Irish Cancer Society.
For an incredible 38 years, this dedicated local committee has been spreading hope — raising a phenomenal €1 million since 1988! That milestone is a glowing tribute to the generosity, kindness, and unstoppable energy of the people of Rush. And if this year is anything to go by, they’re only just getting started.
A Weekend Packed with Heart and Happiness
Festivities burst into life at 6am on Friday, 20th March, when enthusiastic volunteers take to the streets to kick off a jam-packed programme of feel-good events:
Coffee Morning – Rush Community Centre
Pop in for a warm cuppa, indulge in a delicious selection of homemade cakes, and browse Irish Cancer Society merchandise — because cake tastes even better when it’s for a great cause!
Maisie’s Raffle
Get your tickets ready — there are some fantastic prizes up for grabs!
Garden of Hope – Rush Library (from March 16th)
Plant a daffodil in memory of a loved one or leave a message of encouragement for someone bravely facing cancer. A beautiful space filled with remembrance, love, and support.
Michelle’s Fun Run – Friday Evening, Harbour Park
Michelle’s running friends lace up once again to mark her 10th anniversary — a touching tribute filled with strength, solidarity, and smiles.
Dash and Splash Swim – Saturday, Rush South Beach
Feeling brave? Join the sea swimmers for a refreshing (and possibly chilly!) dip in support of Daff Day.
Village Twalk – Sunday Morning - Led by the ever-energetic Declan (CJ), this uplifting community walk promises plenty of chat, cheer, and bright yellow spirit.
Declan has been a driving force behind this year’s mission to truly “turn Rush yellow,” shining a spotlight on the very real and lasting difference fundraising makes for cancer patients and their families.
Most importantly, every single cent raised — 100% — goes directly to the Irish Cancer Society, funding lifesaving research and providing essential support services for those who need it most.
The committee’s powerful message says it all: “We won’t give up till cancer does.”
So dust off your brightest yellow, gather your friends and family, and join in. Let’s make this year’s Daff Day weekend the biggest, brightest, and most joyful celebration of hope yet.
Rush, it’s time to turn yellow!
AGM
Thank you to everyone who took the time to attend the Rush Tidy Towns AGM in January. The meeting wasn’t just a review of the past year—it sparked a lively discussion on how Rush can continue to evolve as a cleaner, greener, and more resilient coastal town.
We were delighted to reappoint all existing committee members and to welcome new member Louise, This year’s priorities reflect both community feedback and the practical needs of a growing town: tackling litter blackspots, progressing biodiversity corridors, improving pedestrian-friendly spaces, and deepening collaboration with local schools and businesses.
As always, Rush Tidy Towns is strongest when more voices are involved. If you’re interested in helping shape these projects. Whether as a committee member or a volunteer for occasional event, we’d love to hear from you at tidytownsrush@gmail.com. Even a single hour a month can make a real difference.
School Beach Clean
A huge thank you to the Community Care class from St. Joseph’s Secondary School, who recently took on one of the less glamorous but most important tasks on South Beach: clearing heavy tidal debris washed in by recent storms. Under the guidance of teacher Kevin, the students rolled up their sleeves and removed large items that pose risks to wildlife, walkers, and the overall health of the coastline.
What made this cleanup stand out wasn’t just the amount collected, it was the attitude of the students. They asked sharp questions about marine pollution, how debris travels along the coast, and why certain items keep appearing. Their curiosity and teamwork showed exactly why involving young people in environmental care has such long term value.
Their efforts have already made the beach safer for everyone who uses it, from families and swimmers to the wildlife whose habitat it is. Well done to all involved—your work has a visible impact on the community.
Rush Tidy Towns: Celebrating Achievements and Looking Ahead
Rush Tidy Towns continues to make a real impact on our community and coastline, with recent milestones highlighting the dedication of volunteers and the strength of local support.
National Recognition for Coastal Care
Rush Tidy Towns was honoured with the Clean Coasts Community Action Award for its outstanding efforts to protect and enhance our beaches. From planting Marram Grass to organising clean-ups and promoting sustainable beach use, these initiatives have helped preserve the natural beauty of our coastline. This award is a testament to the hard work of volunteers and the community spirit that drives these projects.
Tiny Towns – Our Future in Action
Behind every vibrant flowerbed and litter-free street is a team of young volunteers from the Tiny Towns group. These kids have been busy throughout the year. From watering plants, cleaning beaches and woods, helping at local events, and even contributing to the St. Patrick’s Day parade. Their energy and creativity remind us that the future of Rush is in good hands. A special thanks goes to local businesses, including The Salty Blonde and The Little Chip, for supporting the group with gifts and vouchers, and to the 38th Rush Scout Group for their continued involvement.
A Calendar That Captures Rush
The annual Rush Tidy Towns calendar has become a much-anticipated tradition. Launched at a festive event in the Strand Bar, the calendar showcases stunning scenes of Rush, selected from a photography competition open to all residents. The calendar is an important fundraiser that helps sustain Tidy Towns projects. Available in local shops, the calendar is a perfect way to share a piece of Rush with friends and family near and far. A big thank you to our sponsors for making this possible.
Why It Matters
These achievements aren’t just about awards or events, they’re about creating a cleaner, greener, and more connected community. Every beach clean, every flower planted, and every calendar sold contributes to making Rush a better place to live. If you’d like to get involved, whether through volunteering or supporting our initiatives, reach out to Rush Tidy Towns tidytownsrush@gmail.com. Together, we can keep the momentum going in 2026!
The boxing season kicked off in September and our young fighters hit the ground running. We entered several boxers into the Dublin Leagues and came away with great success, strong performances, and invaluable experience for the year ahead.
It was a brilliant year across all disciplines. Louis O’Riordan brought home two gold medals in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, showcasing top-level skill on the mats. In MMA, Dylan Barr and Alex Coveney both claimed gold medals, proving the strength of our rising talent.
To round off the calendar year, we entered the Louth Open Championships and finished in style. Senan Fox, Carson McCarthy, and Ryan Cowzer all won gold in their categories, and Ruby Skelly getting a Silver medal, a fantastic achievement for the club.
Roll on 2026, with even more competitions in Boxing, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and MMA. The future looks bright for Rush Boxing and Martial Arts club.
New members are always welcome, contact Paul Cowzer 0863799603
Search Rush Boxing club on Maps for location
On Friday 5th December the North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind were given permission by the proprietor of the Strand Bar Rush Joe Sherman to sell car raffle tickets, Xmas cards and 2026 calendars inside his premises for a couple of hours. €150 was raised on the day and while the figure of money was small it was money that Irish Guide Dogs did not have that morning when we set out.
All of us involved are total volunteers and we are always looking for more helpers at events like this or elsewhere in the North County so contact us on below details if you want to volunteer.
Local Labour party TD Rob O’Donoghue called to our table on the day. In the picture is Tom O’Neill guide dog owner with his guide dog qeb, Rob O’Donoghue TD and Noeleen Turner from Skerries who was volunteering alongside Tom at that time.
To Contact North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the blind by phone/text 0857663107, email: GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com or find us on Facebook at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs
Returning for its third year, the Christmas Fair at St Catherine’s National School will be taking place on Sunday 7th December from 1pm to 5pm, where you are guaranteed to be met with a warm welcome even if the weather outside is frightful! Over 20 stalls are already confirmed, including the very popular Ros Eó Soap Company, so this is the place to find fantastic stocking fillers and other gifts. Expect to find candles, soaps, face painting, jewellery, paintings and frames and much more.
Also confirmed, Santa Claus will be at the event greeting children (and their parents) in his grotto. As well as the chance to speak with Santa, you will be able to meet his elves, write a Christmas list and watch a Christmas movie. For just €6 per child, you can visit Santa in his grotto and all children will receive a chocolate selection box. There is no charge for parents or grandparents, and the elves will be on hand to take photos of you with Santa. Slots to meet Santa will be available from the St Catherine’s Parents’ Association, on sale outside the school in the week before the fair and via their Facebook page.
The committee and volunteers from Rush Tidy Towns were overjoyed on the announcement that they had secured a bronze medal at the National Tidy Towns awards at Croke Park in October. Committee members Matt and Siobhan were at the event, again a first for this generation of committee.
To qualify for a bronze medal you have to be within 35 points of the winner of your category. This year that was Skerries who had 395 points, so on 364 points, Rush actually had four points to spare. Overall we increased by 19 points in 2025, following on from an increase of 18 points in 2024. Neighbours Lusk increased by 14 points, as did Skerries.
Gaining the medal has been the culmination of work done by the countless volunteers and committees over the years, and it is now our job to push for Silver.
The judging criteria is based on 8 categories with a total of 550 points up for grabs. Community – planning and involvement (80 marks), Streetscape and Public Spaces (80 marks), Green Spaces & Landscaping (80), Nature & Biodiversity (55 marks), Sustainability – doing less with more (55 points), Tidiness & Litter Control (90 points), Residential Streets and Housing Areas (55), Approach Roads Streets and Lanes (55 points)
The judges visited the town on Monday 16th June, and provided some really good feedback. They commented positively on the new notice board advertising many upcoming Tidy Towns events, the mural on the Scout Den, the new landscaped area in front of Tayleurs Point, the new hedging at the side of St. Catherine’s School and the planting on the Whitetown Road. Some feedback was also provided such as, we should use more perennial plants in the hanging baskets and three tiered planters, to remove redundant stakes from trees, to not cut the grass as low in the summer, and some weeds were observed.
Irrespective of the result, residents and visitors get to reap the benefits of our work all year round, and we will continue to work with that objective in mind. Thank you to everybody who has contributed however small to enable us to achieve what we do.
A brand-new housing development for north Dublin has officially been opened, marking an important milestone in the delivery of housing to the local area. The opening of The Paddocks located at Ballygossan Hill, Skerries was celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O’Leary, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, Minister for Housing, James Browne, Minister of State with responsibility for Local Government and Planning, John Cummins, and representatives from Tuath Housing.
The Paddocks, a collaboration between Fingal County Council, Tuath Housing, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the Housing Finance Agency, and the Housing Agency, is a 111 home development in the popular seaside town of Skerries, made up of 97 social homes and 14 Cost Rental homes.The Cost Rental homes provided at The Paddocks will be the first of this tenure type in Skerries, offering an affordable solution to rising rents and supply pressures.
Mayor of Fingal County Council, Cllr Tom O’Leary, said: “The completion of these exceptional new homes highlights Fingal County Council’s commitment to meeting its ambitious housing targets. It is thanks to strategic collaborations with trusted partners like Tuath Housing that we can meet the diverse housing needs of our growing population. The Paddocks is another great example of what can be accomplished by working together. As a long-time resident of Skerries, I know just how appealing the town is. With its beautiful coastline, its vibrant community, and expanding infrastructure, it’s no wonder that developments like The Paddocks have attracted such strong interest.”
The 111 new homes are made up of a mix of one, two, and three bedroom apartments, along with one and two bed duplexes, each with a private balcony. Residents have access to landspaced open spaces, communal gardens as well as excellent transport links.
Sonya Meekel, Tuath Voluntary Board of Directors, added: “We are proud to help deliver this high-quality, affordable housing. It’s an exciting moment for the community and the residents who are settling into their new homes by the sea. It is very gratifying for everyone at Tuath to see the result of the strong collaboration of all stakeholders.”
The Balbriggan\North County Dublin branch of Irish guide dogs for the Blind on December 5th Friday in the Strand Bar rush will be selling Xmas Cards, 2026 calendars, Merchandise and car raffle tickets costing €5 each, from 11am to 5pm.
Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is dedicated to enriching the lives of blind and visually impaired people, and children with autism, by providing them with the freedom to travel safely, thereby assuring greater independence, dignity, and new horizons of opportunity.
