Our first feature this month is about Marram Grass planting on our Sand Dunes. On Sunday the 3rd of March 30 volunteers from Rush Clean Coasts group and from further afield planted Marram grass on part of the Sand Dunes on South Beach in Rush. Coastal Erosion is a constant issue, with the sand dunes disappearing bit by bit. The Marram grass however helps tie the sand together and provides at least some form of barrier to erosion. Aine Lawless from Clean Coast Ireland oversaw the planting process with the volunteers transplanting the grass from densely populated areas to the bare section of dunes. Rush Clean Coasts plan to have a further event later in Spring.

Next is a timely reminder regarding our very popular seed swap event. That is: we will be holding the first of our community seed and plant swap events for 2024 in early April. See our Seed Event flyer for details. Also we remind you of our Sunday Morning Litter Picking - Thank you to Rush Sailing Club for doing a super clean up around their area, and to our usual Sunday morning litter picking volunteers who cover the town. We also had some of the Tiny Towns gang out and about litter picking in the sunshine. If you would like to get involved in any of the above activities or have any questions in general, please drop us a line on tidytownsrush@gmail.com.

The Let’s Play Rush group have announced their programme of events for 2024. Following on from the incredible series of events over 2023, Let’s Play Rush will kick- off their 2024 programme with an Easter themed event in Kenure Woods on Sunday 24th of March. Other events across the year include the very popular family sports day at Tayleur’s Point in August, the Halloween Spooktacular and the Christmas family event. This is the fourth year of Let’s Play Rush events which is a European Union initiative under the Urbact banner. As Councillor Brian Dennehy, chair of the Let’s Play Rush liaison group explained, “A few years ago Fingal County Council, who help fund and organise the programme, invited representatives of the Urbact initiative to deliver a presentation in Rush on what is called the playful paradigm. The idea behind it is essentially to help the community by providing opportunities for all to come together and play. Once we saw what was happening in other places like Cork, we just grabbed it and ran with it and it has been a huge success.” Rush Tidy Towns Chairperson Brendan O’Reilly said, “We have been building on each successful event year on year. We now have a large stock of toys and fun activities for all ages and each event gives us an opportunity to showcase the community spirit in Rush. There really is something for everyone.” Chair of Rush Scouts Davey Clarke said, “To organise a Let’s, Play Rush requires planning, energy and the ability to adapt and think on your feet. It also requires behind the scenes work done by dozens of volunteers. That’s why we think it’s tailor made for the Rush 38 th Scout troop and it’s been great for us to be involved.” Let’s Play Rush is not confined to the show- stopping events, they host throughout the year, as Brendan O’Reilly explained, “We have a stock of toys and games that other community groups, schools or estates can borrow. If anyone is hosting a community event Let’s Play Rush are happy to help”

Rush Community First Responders have been putting the UNITY into CommUNITY in recent months. In late February they held a joint training session on Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)with our neighbours in Lusk for the fledgling Community Responders Group. The training was delivered by Aidan Langley an Instructor for Rush Responders and Donal Behan an Instructor for Swords Responders. Rush Community First Responders is a group made up entirely of volunteers who work hard to not only respond to Cardiac Emergencies ahead of the ambulance arriving but also to provide free training to community groups on life saving techniques including how to use a defibrillator.

Community First Responder initiatives are set up under the HSE First Responder Scheme. They have recently provided training to Rush 38th Scouts Group, the staff of St Catherine’s National School as well as hosting a St Patrick’s Weekend public training event.

Jock Jordan-coordinator said “Due to the ability of our trained Rush Community First Responders to respond to Cardiac emergencies quickly, we can provide vital assistance and assurance to patients before an ambulance even arrives. It is no exaggeration to say that our Volunteers can make the difference between life and death. We are always looking for new volunteers and are constantly fundraising”.
In 2023 Rush Community First Responders responded to as many as 50 Cardiac Arrest, Heart Attack, Chest Pain and Stroke incidents, that’s almost one a week.

Volunteers dedicated over 2225 volunteer minutes to those lifesaving calls alone.

On the 6th of March, St. Catherine’s N.S. hosted the annual Interschools Primary Debating Competition between some of the schools in the locality. Rush N.S., St. Brendan’s Loughshinny and Lusk S.N.S along with the hosts St. Catherine’s N.S. all entered two teams into the competition. The day was a huge success!

The teams debated the motions “Fairytales are not good for children” and “Teachers should be replaced by technology”. It was an excellent morning of debating, rebuttals and questions and the audience were kept very entertained. Fortunately, all schools came away with one win each, so it was smiles all round!
Well done to all the children involved in the debates. It takes such courage and bravery to stand up in front of a crowd and present their arguments. We are looking forward to next year already!
St. Catherine’s take a trip to Space – to infinity and beyond!

Also recently, the boys and girls in St. Catherine’s N.S have been learning about Space as part of the Geography and Science Curriculums. The senior classes have also been doing extensive work on the Moon Landing as part of Disciplinary Literacy. To further their learning, the school arranged to have the Planetarium visit for all the children to experience. The Planetarium Dome was supplied by Exploration Dome. The mobile planetarium is designed to explore science, astronomy, geology, and geography in a fun and interactive way. It uses state-of-the-art Full Dome 360° 3D digital projection technology, stunning graphics, and advanced computer simulations. The children in St. Catherine’s got to lie back and travel to space from the comfort of the Sports Hall. It was an unforgettable experience for all the children in St. Catherine’s N.S.

Rush Community Council and Rush Parent and Toddler Group were delighted to jointly host an event celebrating International Women’s Day .The event, which was made possible through funding from Fingal County Council, saw women from around the community gather for a tea/ coffee morning followed by a Pilates session led by Louisa from the Pilates Lounge. The group were also treated to a display by Avon followed by a raffle for a wonderful Avon Hamper and some Irish Cream Liqueur Chocolates with all proceeds going to Women’s Aid. Rush Community Council Vice Chairperson Erin Cartlidge said of the event, “With all of us being so busy running around all the time, International. Women’s Day gives us all a real opportunity to take a bit of time out of our day to pause and reflect on all the wonderful achievements of all of the women in our community. We were especially delighted to be joined by some of our Polish friends and hear from them about the vibrant Polish community in Rush.” Rush Community Centre Manager Debbie Donnelly said, “It was a great event and we were delighted to be able to host it with Rush Parent and Toddler Group and it was great of Fingal County Council to provide the funding. We were also grateful to the TY students from St Joseph’s who came along to help out.”

Rush Senior Citizens, a long-standing pillar of the Rush community, faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, dedicated individuals refused to let it falter. A call for help resulted in a new committee, volunteers, and fresh ideas. While the name remained unchanged, the tagline Nifty Over Fifty was added, symbolizing the organisation’s energy, and celebrating the wisdom that comes with age. Weekly meetings at the community centre became a lively hub of activity, with planned outings and events. Despite the early stage of the year, several exciting excursions have already been organized, with more in the pipeline. These outings aim to create lasting memories, foster friendships, and allow members to explore their surroundings. Inside the community centre, a cozy corner transforms into a mini movie theatre on designated days. Members enjoy carefully selected films, sparking conversations and a shared sense of joy. Additionally, Rush Senior Citizens invite speakers to educate and inspire. Topics included Fire Safety, personal security from the Gardai, and guidance from Citizens Advice. Councillors and TDs deliver insights on local governance and community initiatives. The organization’s meetings go beyond informative sessions, providing a warm and welcoming space for members to gather for tea and sandwiches. Conversations flow effortlessly as attendees share stories, cherished memories, and support one another. The meetings often culminate in a lively game of bingo, fostering a sense of friendship, and belonging. Rush Senior Citizens strive to create a community where members can connect, grow, and thrive. For those interested in joining upcoming events or seeking further information, contact Rush Senior Citizens via phone or email or you can call 0892711406 or contact them on the email rushseniorcitizens@gmail.com. The team remain committed to welcoming anyone yearning for meaningful connections. As Rush Senior Citizens embraces the spirit of Nifty Over Fifty, the organization has set the stage for a new chapter filled with joy and endless possibilities. With the support of dedicated volunteers and community members, it continues to enhance the lives of older individuals, proving that age does not limit one’s potential for a vibrant and fulfilling life.

Daffodil Day on March 22nd saw the village of Rush turn yellow when Rush Daff Committee and volunteers took to the streets to raise funds for the Irish Cancer Society. For over 36 years this community voluntary group has worked for a common cause, heightened in most cases by their own experiences of cancer with family or friends. We are conscious that it is the supporters and not the organisers who really deserve the praise, the people of Rush are generous beyond belief. Their amazing hard work and the generosity of the community over the years means that over ONE MILLION EURO has been raised by the group to date. Rush Daff Day group started in 1988 with members of Rush Badminton club who held a raffle raising a sum of £189. In 1990 the group took to the streets, selling silks, pins and merchandise and this tradition together with the annual coffee morning has continued to date. In 1998 the Paddy Cole Dance Night was started to raise funds, and this became a huge success and ran for six years. In 1999 the Golf Classic started, bringing in large sums of money for the cause. The annual Christmas Swim which is now in its 15th year and the Ladies Lunch which started in 2006 are two more fundraising events. Tickets for the ladies’ lunch are usually the most sought-after item during the months of April/May, this event is hugely popular and raises not only awareness but much needed funds for the Irish Cancer Society. The Garden of Hope in Rush Library, Michelle’s Fun Run as well as our Dash and Splash event are some of the other events run over the weekend. Local schools support the fundraising event and St Joseph’s Secondary school transition year students support us year on year. We hope that this will encourage the younger members of our community to continue the fight against cancer and join the Daff Day Committee. We will continue to fundraise, and our moto is ‘we won’t give up til cancer does.’

Classic Rock, giant rabbits, pirates, mobile GAA pitches, glamourous make-overs and of course, Big Bird doing wheelies on the main street, this year’s Rush St. Patrick’s Day Parade had it all. Rush Community Council and community groups from across the town worked together to put on a packed weekend of events for all. Kicking off with the Music Jamboree at St Catherine’s School on the Friday afternoon, Saturday then saw a community clean up led by Rush Tidy Towns, followed by free self-defence lessons for courtesy of Rush Boxing Club and then Rush Community First Responders held a demonstration and information centre on CPR and life saving techniques at the Community Centre. Saturday was topped off with a Let’s Play Rush pop up event where kids and adults could engage in some free play, battle with giant Jenga’s or try their luck at the card table. St. Patrick’s Day started early with the Leprechaun Park Run event with congratulations to Bobby Sheridan who came in first. Then leaning into this year’s theme of Let’s Hear it for Rush local band The Upstrokes played some rock hits to entertain the crowds gathering for the parade. They were followed by the truly excellent Home Harmonies group from Rush Musical Society who played some choice tunes from their extensive repertoire. In a special treat, the two groups then came together to really blow people away, finishing their set with a fist pumping rendition of Rainbow’s ‘Since You’ve Been Gone’. As the parade participants were readying their drums, whistles and flags Rush Senior Citizens Group were hosting tea and sandwiches at the centre for all local seniors. The parade itself was a riot of colour and a symphony of raucous noise and fun. Top prizes in the annual parade competition went to St. Maur’s GAA who literally brought their best game with them … on the back of a flatbed truck. Following the parade I12 Nails treated all to a free St. Patrick’s Manicure and then the Rush Sensational Swimmers hosted a swim at the North Beach.