Congratulations to Mark Girvin who was presented with his Nidan Diploma 2nd Dan Black Belt recently. Mark is a founding member of Swords Karate Club and has trained regularly since he joined back in 2001. For his Nidan examination Mark had to demonstrate a range of Kumite techniques as well as performing several Kata. He had several Kumite fights against opponents where he put his nidan techniques to good use. He was presented with his Diploma by Dermot O Keeffe Sensei 6th Dan JKS, Chief Instructor of JKS Karate in Ireland. We surprised Sensei Ali at the Spring Seminar with a birthday cake and a rendition of Happy Birthday to celebrate her 21st Birthday which was on the same day. She was shocked but delighted at the surprise and promised not to eat all her cake herself! Sensei Ali teaches our Tigers classes. We welcomed Makita Sensei 6th Dan JKS from Japan for day 1 of our Spring Seminar. Over 70 people from all over Ireland took part as Makita Sensei led the students through several rounds of Japanese style training. He demonstrated dynamic contraction and expansion in techniques followed by teaching of Kashu Kata. The seminar was held in Applewood Community Centre. We hosted Jesper Sensei, 7th Dan JKS on day 2 of our Spring Seminar. He spent his time teaching the intricacies of Kaishu Ippon Kumite with a partner and all the students enjoyed his teaching immensely. Class reports: Tigers and Juniors are preparing for the upcoming JKS Inter-Club Competition as well as for grading examinations. The Competition is being hosted by JKS Swords and gives students an opportunity to demonstrate what they have learned in class in a supportive competition environment. Seniors continue to work on developing real world skills from karate techniques. We take new members (Children, Young People & Adults) all through the year. Contact Dermot on 087-98073885 for details on how to join.Contact us on Facebook: JKS Swords Karate Club or on Instagram: @jks_swords_karate_club

The Mini All Ireland Football tournament is a regular annual feature on the schedule of events at St Donabate. In June 2019 a hurling version of the tournament was introduced. Covid restrictions meant that the inaugural tournament was unable to run in the years after its first launch. Three years since the first event, and with massive development of hurling in the club including a developing camogie section, meant the revival of the Mini All Ireland Hurling and Camogie tournament for 2022 was sure to be a success. Almost 300 kids from Academy age group all the way up to Senior age (U14/U13) entered to compete for the coveted Cup winner’s trophy. With the football tournament launching separate boys and girls sections, the hurling event sought to do the same. With camogie in its infancy in the club, the U11 girls its inaugural team, it is a testament to the rapid development of the sport that well over 100 girls applied to compete in the camogie section across a number of age groups. Despite changeable weather conditions during the week of the tournament, which was held leading up to the June bank holiday weekend, the best of the weather held out to allow all the games to proceed with great support on the side lines as parents and supporters cheered on their temporary county allegiances. The quality of the games meant there were some really exciting group stage games and penalty shoot outs were required in many sections to determine placings for finals day. The sun shone bright on Friday’s finals evening as the competition came to a close. There was a great atmosphere around the grounds as both the cup and shield finals took place after which winners were crowned and goodie bags devoured by all.

LSA Juvenile training has ended for the summer break. If you are interested in signing up your child born in 2015 or older, please contact Heather on lambaysportsathletics@gmail.com Thanks to all our coaches and volunteers during the year and see you all in the Autumn. We have a 3 day summer camp on 19th, 20th and 21st July, check it out at lambaysportsathletics.clubzap.com/pages/summer-camp-2022.Our Adult section continues all year around catering for all abilities from absolute beginner to advanced marathon runners and track and field competition. For more details check out our webpage on lambaysportsathletics.ie.

Some of our younger members put on a sparkling display in the glorious sunshine in Balscadden recently at the tractor run , which was wonderful as it was back to the roots where St. Marys Baton Twirlers began some 43 years ago.The present boys and girls are looking forward to competing in the 2022 ABTI National Championships at the end of June. For further information on classes contact us on Facebook messenger @StMarys Baton Twirlers or 086 3270636.

Fingal County Council and the Football Association of Ireland have recently celebrated the graduation of the class of ’22 on the Football and Fitness TY Course, a joint collaboration based at the Corduff Sports Centre. The only course of its kind in Ireland, Football and Fitness has welcomed the latest graduation of its TY students, providing them with the opportunity to meet their educational requirements whilst also developing a whole range of football, fitness and life skills.The 25 TY students from across Fingal received their certificates in front of an audience that included senior members of the FAI, Fingal County Council officials and those involved in the day-to-day running of the programme. Also on hand to congratulate the latest cohort was Republic of Ireland assistant manager Keith Andrews. He was there alongside Ireland Under-21 and Motherwell star Ross Tierney, who graduated from the TY course in 2017 whilst also playing for Bohemians.While football remains a central focus of the joint Fingal County Council and FAI initiative, students participating in the course also benefit from gaining a highly sought after full Fitness Instructor’s qualification from Litton Lane Training. They also undertake the FAI’s Coach Education pathway that gives them PDP1 and PDP2 qualifications, as well as a gym instructor qualification.Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Daniel Whooley praised the commitment of the new TY graduates and that of the coaching staff: FAI Course coordinator Denis Hyland stated: “This is the sixth year of the course and it has gone from strength to strength. This year they also had an opportunity to gain insights from current Ireland and Everton captain Séamus Coleman, who took the time to share his knowledge and experience as a professional player.Since launching in 2016, the TY course has been run in the Dublin 15 area of Fingal, with Corduff Sports Centre providing a base for the various aspects the course involves. Another important element of the course sees the students giving back some of their new founds skills by conducting lessons at schools and with community groups across Fingal.

Congratulations are in order for Swords local Szymon Kupiec on the award of his JKS Shodan Diploma recently. He was presented with his Diploma by the head of JKS Ireland Dermot O Keeffe Sensei 6th Dan in front of JKS Ireland Brown & Black Belts at this month’s National training session. Szymon took his Black Belt examination in December 2021 after 10 years of training. He had to complete a series of Kihon (Basics), followed by several Kumite (Fighting) matches with other examinees. He finished the examination by performing his Katas (Forms) Bassai Dai, Junro Nidan and Heian Godan. Szymon is continuing his training and working towards his 2nd Dan Black Belt.

We hosted JKS Ireland National Brown & Black Belt training this month. We covered our grading syllabi for 1st and 2nd Dan Black Belt and then studied the Kata Unsu. This is an ancient kata with a lot of complex and demanding moves. The name Unsu translates from Japanese to English as Cloud Hands and explains some of the stranger hand movements of this Kata.We welcomed Makita Sensei 6th Dan JKS Honbu Dojo Instructor from Japan and Jesper Marksvarden Sensei 7th Dan JKS from Denmark for our Spring/Summer Seminar in mid-May. This is the first time since the pandemic began that we have had visiting Instructors and it promises to be a very exciting Seminar over two days. Full report in the next Club News. Class reports: Tigers and Juniors are on course for the summer grading examinations. Everyone is working hard learning their Kata and practicing their Kihon. Seniors continue to work on the technical aspects of Karate with a focus on exploring how it translates into real world self-defence.We take new members (Children, Young People & Adults) all through the year. Contact Dermot on 087-98073885 for details on how to join. Contact us on Facebook: JKS Swords Karate Club or on Instagram: @jks_swords_karate_club

The St Sylvester’s U15 boys have achieved a first in the Club’s living memory by winning both Football and hurling Féile competitions they competed in this year. In Division 2 football, the team coasted through their games meeting Clontarf (Round 1), OPER (Rd 2), St Vincents (Round 3) before a strong challenge of Templeogue away in the semis to qualify for the final v Castleknock at O’Toole Park.The boys showed the benefit of the hard work throughout the season with an impressive display & winning 4-9 to 1-5. It was a well-deserved Championship win for a talented team that has fight to full strength following a huge number of injuries last year that ruled them out of the top division. No doubt that they’ll be back with a vengeance in the Division 1 league!

In Division 3 hurling, the team welcomed a new coaching team of three from the Syls senior team, Daniel Murphy, Conor Hoyne & Sean Murphy who have worked well with the lads to develop their team dynamic. The boys won all 3 rounds versus Kevins (R1) Whitehall (R2), Skerries Harps (Rd 3) to meet Erins Isle in the semifinals and win 4-14 to 1-6. The final, held at Broomfield was a close game until halftime with a draw 0-6 to 1-3 but the Syls boys rallied and triumphed with the final score 2-12 to 2-4. As is tradition, both teams paraded the winning cups over the bridge from Bridgefield and to the Clubhouse after each win to a delighted membership waiting to congratulate them

Recently Junsa Taekwondo took part in a development tournament in Baldoyle organised by our national governing body , Taekwondo Ireland and hosted by Baldoyle Taekwondo. The tournament was an excellent opportunity for all our students to gain experience and was open to all age groups from 5 year old to seniors. It’s was a great tournament where Junsa had numerous wins and great performance’s but most of all a fun afternoon. Junsa Taekwondo trains in Lusk scout den. For more information on class times contact Master Stuart Russell on 087 7775202 or follow us on Facebook @ Junsa Taekwondo.

We were delighted to finally be able to host the Lusk AC 2021 awards and party night on Friday 6th May at the Shoreline Hotel. Thanks to everyone who attended, to the party organisers, to the Shoreline hotel for looking after us and helping to make it a night to remember.

Congratulations to our 2021 Award winners: Fit4Life Award - Paul Kelly - Top Juvenile Female Field Athlete - Ellen Gahan - Top Female Field Athlete - Sarah Derham - Top Juvenile Male Field Athlete - Pádraig Ryan - Top Male Field Athlete - Stephen Fee - Top Juvenile Male Track Athlete - Finn Corcoran - Top Juvenile Female Track Athlete - Kristy Seaton - Most Improved Female Athlete - Una Gaines - Most Improved Male Athlete - Keith Greene - Top Female Road Athlete - Alex Bell - Top Male Road Athlete - Mark Dunne - Juvenile Coach of the Year Female - Orla Smith - Juvenile Coach of the Year Male - Mark Geraghty - Coach of the Year Female – Sheila Bourke - Coach of the Year Male - Dwain Moore - Group of the Year - Post Fit4Life Group - Outstanding Achievement Award - Stephen Brennan - Athlete of the Year - Cara McNally - Club Person of the Year - Aidan McKenna - Club Appreciation Award – Nicole Hodson. During the past month Lusk AC members have taken part in many road races, the Belfast, Boston, Connemara and Limerick marathons, Track and Field events at Santry and Tallaght stadiums, The Templemore AC Throws Festival and Parkrun 5Ks with remarkable success.

We’re delighted to inform you that Lusk United have surpassed the incredible milestone of reaching 1,000 members.At a closer glance the club now consists of the following membership details:

Total members – 1,022 - Juvenile members – 732 - (Female / Male breakdown – 263 (36%): 469 (64%) - Adult active-playing members - 150

Founded in 1969, Lusk United AFC provides an opportunity for the community of Lusk to participate in soccer with well in excess of forty teams now participating in football and associated activities. Outside their core activities, the club has been instrumental in being involved in additional community events in recent years, such as the 24hour football fundraising-match in aid of Pieta House and the continued hosting of the East of Ireland Marathon series.In recent years the clubs growth in girl’s football has been phenomenal, which has been highlighted further with the likes of the club’s partnership with the FAI in delivering a girls only football programme for transition year students from local secondary schools whereby thirteen girls completed the FAI Safeguarding Workshop and the FAI PDP 1 coaching course. They also received some first aid training with St. Johns Ambulance and had a workshop with Jigsaw North Fingal on mental health. Another example of the growth of female participation within the club is as one of the founding members of the ‘Ladies KickFit’ programme – an exemplar of female participation in sports via a FAI & Fingal County Council (Sports Office) partnership.
Congratulations to all involved, a marvellous achievement!