Swords Women’s Shed has been set up for women of all ages to re-connect with the community. It is a safe place where women can interact with each other and participate in various learning projects. We will offer arts and crafts, flower arranging, crochet and needle skills, and most importantly companionship. This is a new project which gives women a sense of empowerment personal growth, also improving mental health and well being through social interaction. A place to share knowledge and of course a cup of tea. Meetings are held in Colmcilles GAA club on Thursday evenings, and attendance is strictly by registration due to limited space. Registration is posted each Monday evening 7pm sharp, for the following week.

We had our summer grading examinations at the end of June. Over 50 students presented for the belt grading examinations in front of a grading panel of JKS Ireland Senior Sensei’s. They all performed their kihon, kumite and kata very well and everyone passed with flying colours to their next coloured belt. Dermot Sensei was very proud of everyone’s achievement. JKS Swords on Tour: We set all students the challenge of wearing their club hoodie on holidays this year to see how far the club hoodies travelled. We had club hoodies pictured in Slieve Gullion in Northern Ireland, in Dingle in Kerry, in Paris France at the Eiffel Tower and in Disneyland Paris. We also had the club hoodie pictured at the Brandenburg Gate and at Universal Studios in Orlando, USA!

The club continues to train over the summer months with a small break at the beginning of August. The focus is on developing the new techniques, kata and kumite for the next belt grading examination. We take new members (Children, Young People & Adults) all through the year. Contact Dermot on 087-8073885 for details on how to join. Contact us on Facebook: JKS Swords Karate Club or on Instagram: @jks_swords_karate_club

By Ken Duffy

The Main Street and surrounds of Swords are looking vibrant and alive with a multitude of flowering colours, which is a joy to behold. The array of flowering plants was provided by Swords Tidy Towns and planted by our hard-working volunteers. Our partners Fingal County Council have played their part also with their wonderful colourful displays, a big thank you to the hard-working crews within the Operations and Parks Departments.Our preparation works for this year’s National Tidy Towns Competition was well underway as our preparation work started months in advance of the competition, this work will carry on throughout the summer. Our Swords Tidy Towns volunteers work throughout the year only taking a break over the busy Christmas period. These hard working individuals are deserving of everyone’s applause, their trojan work has resulted in Swords winning five National Silver medals in a row.

Preparation works have already started on the new Swords Cultural Quarter, which is great to see. This long-awaited development along with the continuing restoration works at the Castle will only further enhance the beauty of our wonderful town and its surrounds. As stated in previous articles, Swords Tidy Towns are always in need of your help and support in keeping our highways and byways clean and litter free. We know by your many complimentary comments posted over the years on our multimedia pages that we have that support, so please let vigilance be your buzz word.If you have some spare time and would like to get involved in community work, we would be delighted to hear from you. You can contact our Chairperson Ken Duffy at 0866008313 or email us at swordstidytowns@gmail.com Besides the usual skill sets we are always looking for people with other skills that would benefit the group, IT, Gardening, Carpentry, Fund Raising, Art, Machinery Repair, Painting etc. If you feel you have a skill that would benefit the group we would love to hear from you and of course anyone else who would interested in joining us.

St Colmcilles GFC are seeking participants who are eligible under the current Community Scheme Employment. All training will be given. 19.5 hours per week. Weekends or Weekday work optional. Call Marian 0876819540. ALSO PLEASE DO NOT FORGET!!!!!

ST COLMCILLES GFC - FAMILY FUN DAY - AUGUST 19th - Join us for a Fun Filled Day for all the Family. Come along and take part in what is bound to be a great day! We have Paul’s Pet Farm, Children’s Entertainment, DJ, Kiddies Play Area, Slime station, Bubble Station, Face Painting, Mary’s Bottle stall and Games Galore.There will be a BBQ and Ice Cream Van on site also. Admission is free for children and €5 per adult.

Swords Women’s Shed have said recently we should all get ready for an amazing opportunity to boost our fitness levels and have a blast outdoors. Lots of local groups will take part in the Fingal ParkFit 2023, the 10-week outdoor exercise programme designed to help you achieve your health and wellness goals.
What to Expect: Fun-filled outdoor workouts - Engaging group exercises - Certified trainers and fitness experts - Varied supervised training sessions and a supportive community atmosphere. So go on why not Register by clicking: Swords, Holywell Park bit.ly/ParkFit2023Holywell. Also just to ensure as many people as possible get the message why not spread the word? Do you know someone who would love to join Fingal ParkFit 2023? Let them know about this truly fantastic opportunity to get fit, have fun, and enjoy the beautiful outdoors together! For any inquiries, contact Noel.McManus@Fingal.ie.Let’s kickstart our fitness journey together and make 2023 our healthiest year yet! See you at Fingal ParkFit 2023!

Fingal ParkFit programme for Summer 2023. Free Exercise Classes started in Holywell Park on Wednesday 14th June 7pm and are continuing – check out the Fingal County Council website or contact Noel.

The Aer Lingus Social and Athletic Association was originally founded in 1966 by employees in Dublin Airport and is still going strong today, ALSAA Tennis Club is now open to everybody. Membership in the first year was £1.00, which was more expensive than it sounds as the club had no courts. Although no longer at £1.00 the membership is still great value particularly if you are interested in any of the many other sports ALSAA has to offer. In ALSAA Tennis Club, we pride ourselves in having a welcoming and intimate club where everybody is on first name terms. We cater to all levels, from the player who just wants some fun, social tennis to those who want to pit themselves against the very best in other clubs around Leinster. We are an extremely active club, hosting a range of club tournaments and events throughout the year. We’re always open to new membership so come check us out. Our club is located on the grounds of the ALSAA Sports Complex (.alsaa.ie), Swords Road, Swords, Co. Dublin – Eircode: K67 YV06.

So why don’t you join a vibrant Tennis Club? We take pride in having an active social tennis club for all our members, whatever your level. Enjoy club tournaments, social tennis, and our annual club championship. Something for everyone. You can check us out on our website (), on Facebook (https://facebook.com/alsaatennisclub) and our email address is alsaatennisclub@gmail.com.

We would love to have you as a member and all levels are welcome. ALSAA membership is €200 (which you spread out over 12 months), with membership to our tennis club being an additional €110. Please ring John on 087-6526378 if you have any questions or would like to join.

Swords Karate Club would like to welcome two new Shodan (Black Belts) to its ranks. Amelia Miller and Sophia Guildea passed their Black Belt examination recently under the watchful eye of Kagawa Shihan 9th Dan JKS. The two girls had to demonstrate a certain level of ability in Kihon (Basics), Kumite (Fighting) and Kata (Forms) in order to be awarded the prestigious black belt. Both girls have been training in Swords Karate Club since they were very young and reaching this milestone is a big achievement. We are very proud of them both and hope they continue with their training and achieve even greater success in Karate.

Swords Karate Club attended the 3rd JKS Ireland Inter-Club competition recently hosted by JKS Tyrellstown. The 17 strong squad put on a great display of karate at the event and came second in the medal table taking home 6 Gold, 2 Silver and 7 Bronze medals. There were notable performances in Kumite from Sophia Guildea and Danny Aguilar in the Brown & Black Belt divisons, while Amelia Miller was on top form taking Gold in the Girls Brown & Black Belt Kata. Lola Whalley did the double taking Gold in Kata and Kumite in the Girls Green to Purple Belt Section while siblings Harrison Beaumont and Lilia Beaumont took home Bronze medals in their Kata divisions.

Next up for the club is the Summer grading where students will be examined on their Kihon (basics), Kumite (fighting) and Kata (forms) to progress to their next colour belts. It will be the culmination of 6 months hard training.

We are alway happy to take new members (Children, Young People & Adults) all through the year. Contact Dermot on 087-8073885 for details on how to join. Contact us on Facebook: JKS Swords Karate Club or on Instagram: @jks_swords_karate_club

Over 200 Hurls, Helmets , boots and Fingallians wear have found new homes with members of the club in recent times. However, the club needs lots more of all of the above items. Lots of old Hurls, helmets , Clean boots and items of Fingallians wear / Dublin wear needed. All items donated can be bought for €5 each. €1,000 raised to date. All funds raised go towards buying equipment for Fins All Stars which is greatly appreciated and supports this great group on an ongoing basis. Thanks all for supporting us. Contact anyone on the Committee or any club member to see how you can donate or help in any way.

All at Swords Boxing Club are absolutely delighted and proud of the recent success of one of their Junior female boxers recently. It was a brilliant day for Swords boxing club when Danielle Smithers was crowned 32kg National Junior Cadet Irish Champion, Well done Danielle, and congratulations also to all your coaches and clubmates on this wonderful achievement. We are certain everyone at Swords Boxing Club are super proud of you, and rightly so. It seems there is a very bright future ahead for Danielle. Congratulations once again.

Swords Lions Club have recently announced they raised the remarkable sum of €15,937 in their efforts on Daffodil Day this year. Each year Swords Lions Club organises Daffodil Day in Swords for the Irish Cancer Society. Locations included the Pavilions, Swords Central, JCs/Dunnes and Tesco Holywell Supermarkets. Our photos show local Lions/ Volunteers taking part. We thank the donors for their wonderful and generous support for this very worthy cause. We also want you to meet the Swords Lions team who organised our Daffodil Day for the Irish Cancer Society (ICS) sen here handing over the cheque. The Lions wish to thank our group of volunteers who man the desks for the day most of whom join us each year for this excellent charity day.