It was an absolute privilege and honour to represent the town of Rush, the wider Rush / Lusk Ward and previously the Balbriggan Ward on Fingal County Council over the last ten years. I would like to thank the residents and voters for the engagement and support during my period as a public representative. I would in particular like to thank my family, team of canvassers and helpers for their support both throughout the years while on the Council, as well as with the recent election campaign which would have started on the Dublin/Meath border a few months ago.
I would like to take the opportunity to wish the recently elected Rush / Lusk Ward Councillors Robert O Donoghue, Corina Johnston, Cathal Boland, Eoghan Dockrell and Paul Mulville all the best as they take up their new positions and in particular the new first time elected Councillors.
Getting elected and failing to get re-elected are just different sides of the same coin in some respects in politics and you have to take the good days with the bad.
I am currently involved in multiple community organisations in and around the town of Rush, it is my intention to remain involved, with the intention of contesting future elections as they arise. In the meantime, I will be monitoring what I would call the several ‘work in progress’ projects which I had been working on in the background, an example of which would be the purchase by Fingal County Council of the 28-acre site as a community resource in Knockdromin House adjacent to the Rush / Lusk train station.
I would also like to take the opportunity to express my commiserations to my hard-working colleague Adrian Henchy current Mayor of Fingal County Council and wish him and his family all the best going forward.
Rush 38th Cubs recently ventured to Roscommon on their annual camp. Roving reporter and Cub Scout “Sixer” Maeve Doherty is here to tell us all about it, “As a member of the Rush 38th cubs I can tell you the camp, which started on the 31st of May and ended on the 3rd of June, was certainly one to remember. On the Friday evening after school, 30 excited cubs boarded a very noisy three-hour bus drive to Lough Key, Roscommon. Then, we walked to our camp site where a delicious bag of chicken nuggets and chips awaited each of us. The theme of the camp for this year was “Pirates of the Caribbean”. Camp lasted for three nights, and every single day was filled with joy, and excitement. We did lots of activities including admiring the peaceful view of Lough Key while we also had the opportunity to get on the water and go rowing with the ducks. We also went on a gorgeous tree canopy walk. On our walk we learned about Rockingham House, which was designed by the same person who designed Buckingham palace. We also learned that the house burned down in a house fire while the owners were away. A tall building has been put up to mark were the house once stood. We got to climb to the top of the building to see the gorgeous view. We also went through the servant tunnels and through basement. After that we went on a boat tour of the lake while also singing karaoke. On the second day of camp, we went to Boda Borg which is a collection of escape rooms. The rooms were very challenging, but we all had a great time there. At the end of the day, we had a super fun disco with lights and great music. We even let other scout troops at the camp site join in. We all had a great time at camp all thanks to our amazing leaders who looked after us and made the camp so fun.”
River Clean-Up
What a National Biodiversity Week project! Well done to the residents of St Catherine’s Estate who along with members of the 38th Rush Scout Group, members of Rush Tidy Towns and our local Councillors Brian and Rob came together to clear a load of debris out of the river which runs along the edge of the Estate and which eventually makes its way into the sea. Fingal County Council were also very prompt at coming to pick up the proceeds of the clean-up.
Anchor Square Clean-Up
Thank you to all the Rush Tidy Towns volunteers who came along to the big clean up of the Anchor Square in June. It was quite the transformation.
Written by Nicole Bermingham
Every Tuesday night, as the streets of Dublin quiet down, a lively scene unfolds within the walls of the Santry Soccer Dome. It’s a gathering like no other, where the love for soccer intertwines with the spirit of camaraderie. Since joining in October 2023, my time at Ball Busters Social Soccer has been nothing short of magical, a weekly highlight that I eagerly anticipate.
Nestled within the heart of our community, the astro pitch transforms into a sanctuary where women of all backgrounds and skill levels come together to celebrate their love for the beautiful game. From the moment I stepped onto the pitch for the first time, I was greeted with smiles and encouragement, instantly feeling a sense of belonging among my fellow players.
One of the most remarkable aspects of Ball Busters Women’s Soccer is the camaraderie that permeates every match. It’s not just about winning or losing; it’s about supporting and uplifting one another, both on and off the field. Whether we’re sharing tips on technique or cheering each other on during a particularly challenging game, there’s a palpable sense of sisterhood that unites us all.
What truly sets Ball Busters apart is its commitment to inclusivity and empowerment. Regardless of our skill level or experience, each of us is valued and respected for the unique strengths we bring to the game. There’s no judgment or competition—just a shared passion for soccer and a determination to have fun while playing.
As the clock strikes 8 p.m. every Tuesday night, I feel a surge of excitement knowing that I’m about to embark on another unforgettable soccer journey. From the exhilarating rush of scoring a goal to the laughter that fills the air during post-match banter, each game is a testament to the resilience and spirit of the women who grace the field.
Beyond the physical benefits of playing soccer, Ball Busters Women’s Social Soccer provides a platform for personal growth and empowerment.
It’s a space where we can challenge ourselves, push our boundaries, and emerge stronger and more confident than ever before. Through the highs and lows of the game, we learn invaluable lessons about teamwork, perseverance, and resilience—lessons that extend far beyond the soccer field and into our everyday lives.
In a world where women’s voices are often silenced or overlooked, Ball Busters Women’s Social Soccer stands as a beacon of empowerment and solidarity. It’s a reminder that when women come together, there’s no limit to what we can achieve. And for that, I am eternally grateful to be a part of this incredible community.
By Matthew Semple
Growing up in a small village in rural north Somerset in the 1980s was definitely not a multi-cultural experience. There was a boy at school in the year below me whose father was from Pakistan and he was probably the only non-white child at the school. But when I was 11 years old my parents bought me a cassette of Paul Simon’s Graceland album for Christmas and that soon became my favourite tape. If you haven’t heard of it, look it up because it is worth a listen. There aren’t many albums that combine the unusual and exotic rhythms of South Africa with a middle-aged man singing cheerfully about going to parties in Manhattan, filing for divorce and negotiating a relationship with his young son.
No-one was expecting much of this album, especially as the singer’s previous two albums had flopped and he hadn’t had a hit for over ten years. But to everyone’s surprise it was a massive hit and sold 16 million copies – proving that success comes from unexpected places and that you can learn a lot from collaborating with people from other cultures.
And so it was that I was asked to compere the Multi-Culture Day at St Catherine’s National School on 24th May 2024 – or rather my wife said to me, “somebody ought to introduce the performers”. It is difficult to describe the atmosphere in the room when hundreds of people are sampling the images, artefacts and, importantly, the food from over a dozen countris representing their countries and cultures – but believe me, it was something very special and rare.
There were varied displays from, in no particular order, Poland, Thailand, Australia, Malaysia, India, Croatia, Latvia, Nigeria, Great Britain, Congo-Kinshasa, the Central African Repulic, Brazil and Ireland.
The school hall at St Catherine’s was almost definitely the only place in Fingal that day where you could sample spring rolls and plum sauce from Thailand, Brazilian brigadeiros, Indian bites and Australian fairy bread. The queue at the Nigeria buffet was particularly large as was the range of dishes they had on offer.
For further international flavour, attendees could purchase a cupcake with a flag and simultaneously enter a raffle. The winner was the holder of the flag pulled out of the hat towards the end of the event. The lucky flag was Canada and the winner, Leslie-Ann, went home with the Hamper of International Treats.
The sampling of international cuisine was punctuated by music and dance from children at St Catherine’s School followed by performances from the wider community, including some former pupils. We started with a gentle dip of the toe in not-so-exotic waters with traditional songs from England, Scarborough Fair and further back in time, Greensleeves.
Local councillor Brian Doherty and his daughter, Tess, stepped up with songs by Irish bands including U2 and took us on a trip across to Galway with the Saw Doctor’s N17. And after the musical ice was broken, members of the community volunteered impromptu performances taking on us on a whirlwind world tour of songs from Brazil, Slovakia and renditions of ‘How Great Thou Art’ in both French and Sango, an indigenous language of the Central African Republic. Keeping up the pace between the impromptu performances, various current and former pupils of the school treated the quite considerable audience to a dollop of Americana with songs from The White Stripes, Nirvana, and Metallica.
Whilst we are unfortunately used to hearing from detractors of multi-culturalism, often on social media, Friday’s event proved there is much joy in meeting and sampling other cultures, particularly when the food and music is so good. The Multi-Cultural Day, here in Rush, was proof indeed that we are stronger together and just like that Paul Simon album that has a depiction of St George on the cover – the patron saint of both England and Ethiopia - we have much more in common than we, at first, would realise until we get to know each other.
Rush Senior Citizens have ‘A Grand Day Out’ planned for mid-July (awaiting confirmation from Tour company).
The itinerary includes leaving Rush at approximately 9.30am, traveling to Bettystown for scones and tea, then heading North to Carlingford Lough for a gentle cruise. Following this, the journey moves further north to the stunning Mourne Mountains, driving through some of Ireland’s most beautiful scenery. The day continues with a stop in Newry for some free time. The return trip circles back to Bettystown for a 4-course evening meal before returning to Rush.
This event has now been opened up as a community event, welcoming all interested individuals. The cost is expected to be around €75, potentially decreasing based on the number of attendees. For those interested, please contact or message 089-2711406 promptly to provide numbers to the travel company
If you felt a disturbance in the force on Saturday May the Fourth 2024, this may have been caused by the large number of Jedis and Siths who gathered at St Catherine’s National School in Rush to celebrate Star Wars Day in what is thought to be the first such event in Fingal County Council.
Over seventy attendees, both young and old, were treated to a Jedi Master Class, lightsabre training and the opportunity to destroy the Death Star and attack an AT-AT Walker. During the party, children and adults alike were treated to a surprise, if maybe unwelcome, appearance by Darth Vader. After a tense stand-off, several of the brave Jedi apprentices engaged in a lightsabre fight with Lord Vader who then retreated to search for the plans to rebuild the Death Star. Master Yoda was also on hand to provide wise words to the young apprentices and Jedi moves were demonstrated by Rey Skywalker, who Star Wars fans will know from the 2015 movie The Force Awakens and 2017’s The Last Jedi.
After the Jedi master class and lightsabre training, the apprentices travelled in the Millennium Falcon to an intergalactic disco featuring a Jedi versus Sith dance-off and partied with members of the Rebel Alliance and The Empire’s Sith Lords.
The force was strong at St Catherine’s on May 4th and after the party, one parent said: “My daughter loved it. Especially loved the lightsabres. Having never watched Star Wars, she’s now a fan!”
Residents in Rush will be happy to learn that the town has been chosen as the next participant in the Town Centre First scheme that will see the approval of funding to develop its Town Centre First plan.
Rush has been included in the project as one of 68 other towns across the country that will receive the Government funding of €10,000, which is primarily aimed at Addressing issues like vacancy and dereliction.
The funding may be used to support the establishment and/or development of town teams where they are not already well established, and to better understand the unique features of towns. The projects will be managed by the DRCD-funded Town Regeneration Officers across the country.
Speaking at the launch announcement of the new plan, Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphries said, “I’m delighted today to announce the first ever dedicated investment in our Town Teams. This is all about tackling vacancy, combatting dereliction and breathe new life into our town centres. Through this initiative, we are recognising the importance of having vibrant towns, which are places to live in, work in, visit, and raise a family in.”
Town Teams consist of local residents, businesspeople, community representatives and other stakeholders who come together to make their area a better place to live, work, visit and invest. They represent diverse sectors and backgrounds.
Local Cllr Rob O’Donoghue warmly welcomed the announcement and commented that, “the town centre first plan offers a unique and timely opportunity to take stock of the current condition and future potential of Rush and to plan in a holistic manner for the future based on the needs of the community.”
Rush Tidy Towns were delighted to attend the 2024 Mayor’s Awards in May where all Tidy Towns groups in Fingal County Council were honoured. Congratulations to all the groups in attendance and thank you to Mayor Councillor Adrian Henchy for hosting such a great night. As part of the awards Fingal visited each town and made a video. To view the Rush Tidy Town video please go to the group’s Facebook page to view it.
St. Catherine - Congratulations to everybody involved in getting the St. Catherine’s Estate Community Garden up and running. This project epitomises perseverance and community spirit in working through a long process with Fingal County Council and with the support of our local Councillors to get it launched yesterday. We look forward to seeing the fruits of your labour in the coming months. Well done all!
Fairy Trail Upgrade - Thanks to our local magical fairy house builder Frank for the latest instalment of houses for our Fairy Trail in St. Catherines Woods. Your skills never fail to astound us. These will now be painted by the kids in our National schools.
Ball Busters women’s football club was formed by Amanda Bracken and Tanya Christie, two friends from Lusk with a passion to play competitive football without the restrictions of playing on an actual team. Two mammies that still wanted the buzz of winning a game but having the craic at the same time. One afternoon after chatting through one of their many notions they decided to start up Ball Busters, a social indoor soccer group, and so it began, February 2023, the beginning of something special. On night one, we thought we would have loads of girls but 6 turned up, we thought all we had to do was organise it and people would show but that was not the case. Through hours of hard work and dedication, we have built a WhatsApp group of over 80 ladies, we rent 3 out of the 5 astros in the Soccer Dome in Santry, with upwards of 40 ladies coming each week. We organise outings, have nights away, we have been to Wexford to play Courtown Hibs and have just come back from Bangor where we played 2 teams and won both matches, we have also done a bungee fitness class, we are very much a social group. We have built something that the ladies look forward to each week and keep coming back. For women in sports week, we will have 60+ ladies in the Dome, who all came together for the same reason, play ball, and have fun. We have built a very supportive environment for everyone, all levels are welcome, if you miss a goal no one is going to shout at you. We are so lucky with the mixture of girls we have, they are such a lovely bunch, there is never a cross word between any of us. It has given us all an outlet, something we can do for ourselves. So why not come and join us. Fancy getting fit, having fun, getting back into football, or trying something new? Then Ball Busters is right up your street. We play every Tuesday in the Soccer Dome in Santry 8-9pm. We have now also added an outdoor session every Monday night 8-9pm in the hope that we will get some fine evenings to enjoy having a kick about outside but hey this is Ireland!
