Under the umbrella of the Parish Hall Committee, a very special event was held in Donabate Parish Hall in late February 2023. The Parish Hall became an old style Picture House for the screening of Angel (1982) featuring Stephen Rea in his very first film and starring in the lead acting role. Part of it was shot in The Burrow on the Portrane Beach, which made the occasion extra special and nostalgic for all present. Stephen, as our special guest, came on the night to watch the film and did a very enlightening and entertaining Q&A session afterwards with the well versed and prepared Leticia Agudo, who is film director herself and also tutors on the Film & Production Degree Course in Coláiste Dhúlaigh College of Further Education. It was a community event, all the main Cultural and Creative groups were invited first; then some tickets were extended to other Community groups - people who do or have enriched our Parish. On the night, a huge thanks was extended to FCC for their part in refurbishing our Parish Hall, especially the acoustic panels which make it an ideal venue for cultural and creative activities eg Drama, Film, Music, Dance, Craft. There was no Eventbrite, no Facebook, no Instagram, no Posters, no Advertising and we still were sold out of tickets for the night and there was a full house. On the night, we went down Memory Lane for a few minutes about places that use to show films in the parish. Do you remember John’s Club (now gone) or Dockery’s (upstairs in what’s now Grogan’s Shop) in The Burrow? Both places showed films once a week or month in the 1950’s and 1960, fond memories for many people present.

Now we have a great new film club in the Parish. Recently, Larry Carolan and Breda Maguire set up The Lambay Cinema Club and they and their team show a great selection of films once a month on a Thursday in the Church of Ireland at The Square, Donabate. Without Larry’s enthusiasm, expertise and experience in the screening of Angel (1982) in the Parish Hall, nothing could have taken place on the night; the film and the equipment were borrowed from the Bleeding Pig and Larry did the set up and showing. A huge thanks also to Country Crest Farm Shop who sponsored some of the refreshments for all of the people on the night. Also, a big thanks to Stephen from Keelings Pub who sponsored delicious sandwiches for all the volunteers who were working hard on the night and well before the night The Parish Hall Programme tries to co-ordinate and cater for, in a workable way, as many needs as possible, daily/weekly eg Senior Citizens, Cards, Irish Dance, Youth Wellbeing etc and blocks of cultural and creative activities eg Drama, Camps, Exhibitions etc.To that end the Dramatic Society are back again with one of their twice yearly fantastic productions at the end of April, beginning of May. Also coming up is an inclusion of some camps to cater for the children of the Parish. Lastly, a special thanks to the Parish Hall Committee and a massive thanks to all of the volunteers who helped to make it such a memorable evening, caretakers, cleaners, film showers, ticket takers, ushers, reception team, parking attendants, gift maker, photographers, video maker, setter uppers & washer uppers! for, without them all, it would not have happened. A very very special thanks to Stephen Rea; we are sincerely honoured that not alone did you come to our community event as our special guest but took such a big part in it. We hope it can be repeated again in the future!