Swords Toastmasters is a club that helps people develop their public speaking, listening, and leadership skills, in a fun and supportive environment. Members join for a variety of reasons. Some, to progress their careers, to perform better at interviews, to practice for workplace presentations, or even for that all important wedding speech.

Eileen joined 8 years ago because of a profound and crippling fear of standing up in front of a group to speak.

Thanks to the guidance and support of her local Toastmasters Club, Eileen fulfilled a lifelong dream last month by delivering a speech titled ‘Living beyond your labels’ at TEDx Tralee.

Eileen was selected from thousands of applicants to become one of TEDx Tralee speakers, with her moving speech titled ‘Living beyond your labels’.

Eileen said “Standing on the red dot on the big stage at TEDx was a dream come true for me, something that would never have been possible without the support and encouragement I received from Swords Toastmasters.”

If you would like to see Eileen and her fellow Toastmasters in action, get in touch today, for an obligation-free visit. Perhaps you will be inspired to take the first step towards finding your own voice and changing your life!
Swords Toastmasters - Date: Every 2nd Monday. Location: Forrest Little Golf Club, Forrest Road, Swords, Co. Dublin, K67 K825. Time: 8pm – 10pm

For more information, email swordstm@gmail.com or contact the membership officer on 086 8538048.

Coolmine Lodge and Rivervalley Community Centre were the big winners for Fingal at the 2025 IPB Pride of Place awards. Supporting the Fingal nominees on the evening were Mayor of Fingal Cllr Tom O’Leary, Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly and members of the Community Development team.

Swords’s Rivervalley Community Centre was runner up in the Urban Neighbourhood and Housing Estates category as they showcased the thriving centre and its importance in the local community. Thrive Balbriggan also represented Fingal in the Health and Wellbeing category, centred around the Great Places and Spaces Mapping Project.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Tom O’Leary commented: “It is inspirational to be here at the Pride of Place awards with the fantastic Fingal groups whose dedication and pride in their local areas is being celebrated for making a really positive change in their communities. I want to congratulate everyone involved.”

Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly said: “Huge congratulations to the Coolmine Lodge and Rivervalley Community Centre on their success at this year’s Pride of Place Awards and also to Thrive Balbriggan who represented Fingal. These awards are particularly special as they celebrate the invaluable role of the voluntary and community sector and the fruits of their efforts, with the support of our Community Development team, is very evident to me in the vibrant communities in Fingal.”

The awards, hosted by comedian and broadcaster Dermot Whelan, took place in Limerick’s Strand Hotel on November 7th, with 400 community volunteers in attendance.

2026 will be another year of growth for St Colmcille’s. Full schedule of return dates for 2026 will be posted on our social media.

Cilles cubs: As we come to the end of busy year in nursery, we welcome new children age four years upwards to either start or continue their Gaelic footballing journey with us. We will return Saturday 10th January 2026 at 10.30am with new and exciting games and skill learning.

The academy is completely free of charge for first 2 weeks which allows families to come down and have a go, see if it’s for you!. All our coaches are fully qualified and vetted. We are a growing club and always welcome new children, players, and mentors .

We also are in the planning stages of the “Gaa all-stars Inclusive Club Initiative- “All-Stars Club Program” which we hope to have running in January. Proudly sponsored by Glenveagh Homes

For more information contact Cora 083-3741305. Along with Nursey the under 8’s group will return January 10th.

Swords local Ken Duffy had such a great response his debut into poetry that he has decided to publish a second collection of poems.

“Welcome to my second book of poetry. I write my poems in the main for those of a certain generation, basically, my generation. I have so many wonderful memories of my formative years I felt the urge to share them with those I knew would relate and appreciate them. Since my last publication I have received numerous requests for another collection of my poetry. So here it is, I hope you get as much enjoyment reading my poems as I did writing them,” Ken said.

Ken’s two books, ‘Growing up way back when’, and Finglas way back when
Are both available to purchase on amazon.ie.

Whilst walking around Swords recently a passerby asked, “Do you have the time?”. Once a common question but something seldom heard since we evolved to grow that appendage known as the smart phone. The random encounter with the time seeker got me thinking about how much daily life has changed since we Baby Boomers (1946 – 1964) cast a youthful shadow upon the earth. Not everyone had a watch and those who did had to wind them on a regular basis. The local phone box was our digital hub. To use the facility, the speed of an Olympian runner and the cunning of a wise old fox were mandatory in order to reach its door before a certain neighbour. Should she cross the finish line before you, a battle of the irresistible force and immovable object ensued, as she attempted to break the world record for the longest phone call in history. We didn’t get a landline till the early nineties. Years earlier when my father was in hospital, I rang to enquire how he was doing. Instead of the stock reply “As well as can be expected”, a helpful nurse put him on to me. As he had never heard my voice on the phone before, it took all my diplomatic skills to convince him I wasn’t an imposter.

Today shopping is a leisure activity. Back then it was a necessary chore to replenish the basics. Before self-service, we queued at a high counter and timidly asked the shopkeeper (some could be grumpy and hadn’t the customer is always right) for what we wanted. Food hygiene was not in their vocabulary, as cooked and uncooked meats were cut on the same slicer. School lunches are in the news at the moment. Our mothers sent us forth with jam or soggy tomato sandwiches accompanied by a Tupperware beaker of milk to wash them down. We didn’t carry designer water bottles (that other modern day appendage) and survived drinking water of dubious quality water from the roadside pump. We learned to write with a nib pen and ink, and became highly skilled in the art of ducking - a crucial skill to avoid the incoming blackboard duster on a collision course for our heads.

Perhaps the real answer to the passerby is -A very different time!

With it’s different names over time, the present-day Arch pub has always played a pivotal role in the social life of Swords. Burnt by the Black and Tans in 1920, it’s granite facade still features some bullet-holes dating from that troubled era of Swords history.

The earlier photo shows that another business, a harness-makers shop, was originally attached to the main building, as well as a ‘jostle-stone’ to stop cartwheels striking and damaging its wall. These vertical stones can be found in many of the back lanes of Swords. These particular structures were removed when Chapel Lane was widened for modern traffic.

The eponymous star above gave it’s name to this business in the modern age.In the 80s and 90s, many older Swords folk looked forward to their Sunday roast carried home to them from the Star!

The ad in the left window is for DWD, the Dublin Whiskey Distillery, a famous distiller founded by master distiller John Brannick in 1872.His distillery was located on Jone’s Road and ushered in a golden age of Irish whiskey making. Amazingly, this venerable business was revived in 2017, some 71 years later, continuing a long and honerable tradition of distilling in Dublin.

The modern business here continues Sword’s long and proud tradition of hospitality and friendliness to all customers. Cheers!!

The 18th Annual Valley Walk in aid of Irish Cancer Society took place on Saturday and within just a few days over €8,000 was already raised!

People come from far and wide every year meeting at Peacocks pub car park in River Valley for registration and refreshments, and the scene quickly became a sea of yellow with the walkers’ Irish Cancer Society t-shirts as they started the 5km walk around the lovely park and woods.

The total raised so far since 2008 is 130 thousand. Further details are available from Margaret Harris on 087 221 3605.

By Ken Duffy

Swords Tidy Towns have been up and running for over twenty years now, in that time the face of Swords has changed dramatically. This change is due in no small part to the hard work put in by our volunteers over that twenty-year period who contributed their time and energy to that change. Many volunteers have passed through our doors in that time and many the long-time friendships blossomed.

A town is much more than bricks and mortar, it’s the community that thrives within, they are its heart and soul, they breathe life into it, they give it it’s character. It is their willingness to volunteer and contribute to the betterment of their community that pushes our town forward.

Swords has come a long way since it was designated a litter black spot in 2003, today it is a 2024 national Gold Medal winner. This speaks volumes about the commitment of our Swords Tidy Towns volunteers, and the many other community volunteer organisations who strive to do their best for Swords.

Swords Tidy Towns waits with bated breath for this year’s National Tidy Towns medal results, did we or did we not once again achieve Gold Medal status. All we can do, is keep our fingers crossed.

Swords Tidy Towns offers a friendly welcome to new volunteers, a nice cuppa with biscuits and a chat after each Saturday morning work. We are very well taken care of by Willie and his wonderful team at the Old Schoolhouse.

We meet each Saturday at 10am in the car park of Cove & Co previously known as Colourtrend which is opposite the Swords Garda Station, we would love to see you there, just turn up. If you require any further info contact me Ken Duffy Chairperson on 086-6008313

By Ken Duffy

Swords Tidy Towns have been consulting over the last few months with various companies that manage commercial properties in the town.

The Castle Shopping Centre has undergone a long overdue facelift and is looking so much better for it. Swords based Paul Reddy Property Team worked closely with Swords Tidy Towns during the whole facelift process, this is community teamwork at its best.

Joe Callan Town Mall also worked closely with us. He replaced all the damaged barrel planters and provided the new plants for all the planters. Again excellent community teamwork.

We have been working closely with Cllr Darren Kelly who has communicated on our behalf with the new management company who are to take over shortly at Forest Mews on the Forest Road. This area has been a constant eyesore for a long period and a bone of contention for us, as it was always the Swords Tidy Towns volunteers who cleaned up the mess. The whole area is in need of a major facelift. Soundings from the new management company appear to be in favour of this happening. Yet another great example of community teamwork.

Ian Hunter manager of the Pavilions Shopping Centre has had a close relationship with Swords Tidy Towns for a number of years. As a passerby or shopper, you will be aware of the major improvement works being carried out around the front area of the shopping centre, this will also include creative works on the Pavillion roundabout. Swords Tidy Towns prior to the start of works had been liaising with Ian Hunter who kept us up to date on the type of works and a proposed start date. Swords Tidy Towns are excited about this project and can’t wait to see the finished works, we believe it will enhance the area enormously. Once again it is worth reiterating how important community spirit and teamwork is between business and local voluntary organisations, when we work together, we can move mountains.

Swords Tidy Towns are always looking for new members, just show up on a Saturday morning, we meet in the car park of Cove & Co previously Colourtrend opposite the Garda Station at 10am. Hope to see you there, check out our Facebook page.

The Ward River has powered many water-mills in its time, the volume and flow of the river having been historically much stronger than we see in it today. Before the age of steam, wind and waterpower were the only sources of energy available. In 1847 there were 3 mills working from the Ward. This particular one operated well into the 1940s, many of our older residents remembering it’s nostalgic resonant grumbling and grinding sounds!

The bridge itself dates from 1875 and is made of cut limestone with very distinctive ‘saddleback’ coping. Next time you are down this way, look down into the river to see a string marking the historic levels of water here. Down on the left at riverside you will also see the typical entry-piers I’ve cleaned, placed here to allow access to the river for washing clothes or drawing water. These piers appear all along the Ward to allow safe access to a once powerful and dangerous stream.