Our Team
Local News
Editor
communitylocalseditor@gmail.com
Advertising
Louise Hogan – 0862249299 louise@irishmediagroup.ie
Sean Maguire (Publisher) - 087 915 9052 seanmaguire@irishmediagroup.ie
Production Tim Evans communitylocalsdesigner@gmail.com
Contact us
Balbriggan Local Magazine www.Facebook.com/BalbrigganLocal Communitylocalseditor@gmail.com
Designated Pick up Points
Supervalu Balbriggan, Lidl Balbriggan Tesco, Millfield S.C, Balbriggan The Lark Theatre Balibriggan
Christmas: A Time for Giving
When we were young and full of wonderment, the magical image of Santa Claus and all the gifts under the tree was all we could think of, with some of us thinking about it for months in advance of the big day.
When we are young, we largely think about what are we going to get, how big will the present be, who will have the best bike on the street? Or nowadays kids will be waking up to brand new TV screens, the latest video game consoles or the newest smartphone or tablets.
When we’re older and are lucky enough to have kids of our own to treat at Christmas time it’s all about the giving, we get such satisfaction, and sometimes massive relief, that we have been able to give our children what they wish for.
But isn’t the giving what Christmas is all about? Yes, it is amazing to get lovely presents but isn’t the feeling of giving infinitely better than receiving. And it doesn’t have to be the giving of gifts either. It would be giving your time to visit elderly relatives, or volunteering at the many wonderful community events taking place throughout the festive seasons.
The act of giving is such an important thing for us. The joy of seeing the look of amazement and excitement of a child opening a present, or an old friend or relative answering their door on Christmas day to greet visitors is a feeling that is unmatched in this world.
You can have all the material goods in the world and still not be happy, the real gift of Christmas is giving to others, we should try to remember this over the next few weeks as we are flying around the place doing last minute shopping or on the many Christmas parties or social gatherings.
The Community Locals team hope that the Christmas season is a wonderful and peaceful time for our readers and we wish you all the best for 2025!
IRISHMEDIAGROUP
publishing | design | print | web Published by www.irishmediagroup.ie
Balbriggan Local Disclaimer Every effort is made by Balbriggan Local Magazine to ensure that the information is correct and will not be held responsible for any advertisement errors. Balbriggan Local reserves the right to decline, suspend or omit any advertisement or article submitted. No liability can be accepted by Balbriggan Local for any printing errors in advertisements or otherwise.
STRICT DEADLINE FOR NEXT EDITION: Submissions by the 6th for inclusion in next months edition
Introducing Rían
After releasing his debut single “The Gift of Freedom” in May of earlier this year, Balbriggan local, Rían has established himself as a singer/ songwriter and recording artist. He featured in one of Ireland’s leading music magazines, Hot Press and was likened to Tracey Chapmans style with his debut track.
From a young age he has often taken the mic in local pubs to sing in front of an audience and has entered local talent shows and show cases. Having a massive vinyl collection, Rian has an interest in every genre from Country to Funk. He has also performed in Balbriggan’s first ever Pride Festival. After gaining attraction from radio nation-wide he was invited on to
Dublin South FM, Lucan Fm and LMFM to promote his music. Taking inspiration from giants like Anastacia, Aslan and Dolly Parton he pens songs from the heart of real situations that he has seen or lived through. This year his second single, a Christmas Charity single, “O’ Holy Night” was released on November 8th through online platforms. Already being booked on local radio stations he will begin to promote his holiday single early December. 2025 promises new material. Physical copies of the CD “O’ Holy Night” have been produced with a portion of the proceeds going to St. Francis Hospice Dublin. Pick up your copy in Golden Discs Drogheda or Golden Discs Swords now!
Busy November for Balbriggan/North County Dublin Guide Dogs
It’s been a busy month for the Balbriggan/North County Dublin branch of Guide Dogs.
On Tuesday, November 5th our branch held a coffee morning in Skinny Batch Bakery in Lusk, Co. Dublin. There was tea, coffee, sweet treats and even doggy gift bags!
A great morning was had by all and a big thank you to anyone who came along and supported us, €535 raised. On Friday the 22nd and Saturday the 23rd November our merchandise stand was set up in Millfield Shopping Centre, Balbriggan where plenty of Christmas cards, car raffle tickets and calendars were sold. Again on Friday the 29th and Saturday the 30th November our merchandise stand was back, but this time in Supervalu, Balbriggan with more festive merchandise to get us
into the Christmas spirit! We want to say a massive thank you to everyone who supported us, donated and purchased any merchandise from us. Your support is greatly appreciated! In the lead up to Christmas, you can expect to see our branch out and about, so make sure to keep an eye on our social media accounts for more information. There will be Christmas cards and calendars in local shops in Balbriggan and Skerries. You can also reach out to us on our social media below if you would like to purchase these, along with car raffle tickets.
You can contact Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs by phone/ text 0857663107, email: GuideDogsBalbriggan@ gmail.com or find us on Facebook at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs.
Tom O’Neill with branch volunteers at coffee morning held at Seamus Ennis Senior Citizens Centre Balbriggan in October.
Can You Reduce Your Christmas Costs?
By Dave Kavanagh
December is the time of year where traditionally we spend the most, is there a way to soften the impact? Of course there is. Firstly, manage expectations: Most people can’t remember what they got 2 years ago, so don’t put yourself under too much pressure for “big” presents. Next, leave the credit card at home: At about 20% interest, adding debt for things you don’t need to overspend on, only starts the new year off in a negative. Be realistic with food shopping: The shops are only closed for 1-2 days, do you really need to stock up so much? In the days/weeks after Christmas, make a list of all the things you bought but didn’t really need or through out, and keep it for next year, so you don’t repeat the same mistakes. Kris Kindle: Talk to family and close friends to agree to pick one person and buy them a present for a set limit, to ease the burden.
There are things you can also do all year round that can save you enough to cover the cost of Christmas: Switch utility providers, the savings can be quite substantial. Compare before you shop for larger items: Just because one store has a sign saying the fridge you want is reduced from €799 to €699, doesn’t mean that another store that does not have a sale on, isn’t selling the same fridge for €649. Take the time to
shop around when your car or house insurance renewals come in, it can be well worth the effort. Review premiums that you pay regularly, such as mortgage protection or life cover, especially if they were taken out directly with a bank who could not compare. Finally, go through a few months’ bank statements: we regularly find people paying for things like subscriptions or gym memberships, that should have been cancelled years before or that they simply no longer require.
Dave Kavanagh QFA has been advising people financially for over 25 years. For quotes or information (with no cost or obligation) he can be contacted by emailing info@financialcompanion. ie or use the contact form on www. financialcompanion.ie or @Davekav_ advice on Twitter and Instagram. Combined with his previous role of gym/ nutrition adviser, he regularly gives talks and workshops at seminars and events for groups, companies and government departments on financial wellbeing, positivity and motivation. As heard on RTE 2FM , LMFM and TV3.
Christmas
Childhood Christmas Past
Hard to believe its December once again. When I was struggling through my tender years Christmases seemed further apart, less hassle and more local. No shopping online or visiting European Christmas markets for us. Months in advance the neighbourhood shops would open their Christmas club; enabling their customers to lodge a few bob every week so that when the time came they had saved enough to cover the extra cost. Our highlight of the season was a trip to the annual sale of work in the local hall, where ladies (who looked ancient to me) wearing hats, and adorned by broaches and string of pearls necklaces, sold homemade jam, sponge cakes and willow pattern delph, whilst exchanging the latest goings on in the parish. Men sometimes fresh from the pub sold bags of potatoes and operated the Wheel of Fortune.
The Christmas play and school concert brought stardom to some and a lesser role to others. Unable to see the blackboard due to need of glasses, and doing daily battle with a cocktail of neurodiversity that wasn’t recognised back then, I was considered not to be the sharpest pencil in the case, and so I was allotted the not so prestigious role of
stage curtain puller. What could possibly go wrong? Surly it would be alright on the night. Well not quite; just as a man who say himself the local Pavarotti, struck the first note of his second number I accidently brought the curtain down, inadvertently turning his polished performance into a comedy act.
In the 60s a light aircraft (maybe a weather plane?) flew over Swords and the surrounding area at night. My mother informed me that the pilot was none other than the man from the north pole himself “keeping an eye out”, so I had better “behave myself”. Thankfully, the spy plane failed to spot anything untoward and I woke up on Christmas mornings to find nice presents including a tricycle, a farm set and a fire engine. The sock I hung on the end of the bed contained a bar of chocolate and an orange that somehow always tasted much nicer than ordinary oranges. But a low inevitably follows a high and on Stephens Day tradition dictated that my mother, father and I (an only child) HAD to visit our relatives. Oh, how I longed to be at home playing with my newly acquired toys, as they took turns giving a detailed description of their health issues, ranging from chronic heartburn to back pain and dry eyes. Having well and truly exhausted their medical records they moved on to their second chosen subject – end of the world predictions. Good old Spot, their playful dog who had not been infected with the malaise of his humans, just about made the day bearable. The years have flown, the relatives are long gone and this Christmas I shall be the one munching on the indigestion tablets. www.facebook.com/BalbrigganLocal
All wrapped up
The Penguin (2024) Series review
By Jack Shanley
The Penguin series kicked off back in September but as it ended last month, I felt why not do a review of a series as appose to a movie for a change. The series for me from start to finish was absolutely fantastic. It slowly unfolded into an edge of your seat gangster series with an extraordinary set of characters. One of our own in Colin Farrell reprised his role as the titular character, delivering a tour-de-force performance that is both menacing and captivating. His transformation into the Penguin is nothing short of remarkable, with his physical appearance and mannerisms perfectly capturing the essence of the character. The supporting cast, including Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone and Rhenzy Feliz as a young Edward Nygma, also deliver very strong performances.
The series excels in its dark and atmospheric tone, immersing viewers in the seedy underbelly of Gotham City. The cinematography
is stunning, capturing the city’s bleak beauty and the characters’ descent into darkness. The writing is sharp and engaging, with plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers hooked. The make-up and costume design is also spectacular with a wonderful score by the great Mick Giacchino.
However, “The Penguin” is not without its flaws. Some will argue the pacing can be uneven at times, with some episodes feeling slower than others, whereas I feel the first couple of episodes are just setting the tone before it kicks off into a big ball of chaos. Additionally, the series can be quite violent and disturbing, which may not be suitable for all viewers.In all truth I’d recommend checking out ‘The Penguin’ and see what you think of it, I shall give it a score of 4 stars. You can watch it today on Sky Atlantic. Creator: Lauren LeFranc–Rating: 15 – Genre: Drama/Crime – Run Time: 55 min per episode. Language: English, Italian. For more film content please follow @ movies4fanatics on Instagram.
Balbriggan at the heart of Our Mental Health and the City
Thrive Balbriggan hosted an Open Table discussion on Our Mental Health and the City on Monday October 14th, 2024, at the Open House Info Hub on Charlemont Walk in Dublin.
Open Table is a series of expert-led lunchtime conversations to encourage people to discuss different issues facing Dublin. These meetings are part of Open House Dublin, Ireland’s largest festival of architecture organised by the Irish Architecture Foundation (IAF) since 2005.
Thrive Balbriggan was invited to host one of the talks and was represented by Joe McKenna, Thrive Balbriggan Chairperson and Team Leader at Empower and Lisa Kelly, Thrive Balbriggan member and the HSE Health Promotion and Improvement Officer.
Alongside Thrive Balbriggan members, two students Paula and Amy from Balbriggan Community College contributed to the discussion on creating a mental health friendly community for all. Both students attended a focus group for young people organised by Thrive Balbriggan the previous week and expressed their interest in participating in today’s event.
The Open Table discussion was led by Caroline Brogan, Development Officer for Mental Health Ireland and Lead for Thrive Ireland who said: “We’re thrilled to be part of the ongoing conversation about mental health and the role our built environment plays, particularly in supporting the wellbeing of young people. It’s encouraging to see growing interest in recognising how the design of our towns can better address mental health needs. When we prioritise mental health in design, we help foster stronger, mentally healthier communities”.
During the conversation, participants explored the character and identity of Balbriggan and shared their insights on the urban planning and its impact on the mental health of the local community. The group also discussed ideas
on how to create mental health friendly workplaces as well as habitual places.
Thrive is a community-led movement to create happier and healthier communities by conducting projects and events aiming at improving mental health and wellbeing. Thrive was introduced to Ireland in 2021 by Mental Health Ireland and currently operates in two locations in County Fingal in Balbriggan and Swords as well as in Connemara.
Thrive Balbriggan is an initiative of Mental Health Ireland and is supported by Fingal County Council. For further information please visit Thrive Ireland – Mental Health Ireland.
Fingal volunteers to be recognised at national awards
Fingal Volunteer Centre is delighted to announce that 3 nominees from Fingal County have been shortlisted for the 17th annual Volunteer Ireland Awards. Those shortlisted will be honoured at the national awards ceremony in Dublin in December, which celebrates the commitment and dedication of volunteers across Ireland.
With 33 nominees across 11 categories, the shortlist includes volunteers aged 20 right up to 75 and showcases the remarkable impact of volunteering across all sections of society.
Garry Wiley from Donabate Sea Scouts has been shortlisted in the Children and Youth category. Kids of all ages look to Garry to provide a safe and exciting environment to learn about outdoor skills and have a bit of fun!
Garry is known to go out of his way to make parents and scouts, of any ability, feel confident and comfortable in scouting. There is hardly a weekend that he is not on camp, running or attending events or at training to keep improving on the high level of scouting he already delivers. Deborah McArdle from Donabate/Portrane Special Olympics Club has been shortlisted in the Sports and Recreation category. Deborah has been with the club since its inception over 8 years ago. She recruited the volunteers needed to form the club and now is the Young Athlete Lead and Head Coach. Donabate/ Portrane club has opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to participate in Basketball, Gymnastics and Athletics. Volunteering has brought Deborah all over the world from America
to Abu Dhabi and most recently Berlin, and she is always encouraging athletes and volunteers to expand their horizons.
Children 4 World Children has been shortlisted in the Small Group category. Children 4 World Children is a group dedicated to the integration and experience of people from different cultures. The group hosts various events for culture sharing, including their Sports Across the World event that exposes young people to fun new ways to exercise and build community. They celebrate the music and dancing of cultures across the globe and this year’s Waka Waka Africa event highlighted the food and games important to different cultures in Africa, complete with hair braiding and beautiful traditional dress.
Balbriggan’s Aisha Alameen Betro wins National Garda Youth Award
On Saturday 16th of November, at the National Garda Youth Awards held at the Midlands Park Hotel, Portlaoise, Balbriggan woman Aisha Alameen Betro was celebrated for her outstanding commitment to community safety. Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris presented the prestigious National Garda Youth Award in the Community Safety category to Aisha for her incredible work in improving access to life-saving Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs).
A member of an Garda Síochána explained: “Aisha took it on herself to research the availability of defibrillators across Balbriggan where she lives. She quickly found that there were incredibly few defibrillators that were accessible 24/7, 365 days a year. To highlight the urgency of this issue, Aisha examined the prevalence of cardiac issues across Ireland, gathering data as she went. When she had all the information she needed, Aisha recruited four young women and established the Aisha AED Initiative. The AED Initiative issued informational leaflets on defibrillators, cardiac events and emergency procedure across North Dublin; helping to educate the public on where their nearest defibrillator is in the event of a crisis. Launching the AED Initiative’s first 24/7 365 defibrillator in Balbriggan Garda
Station in June, with plans to place more accessible defibrillators in her town.”
Speaking of the award Aisha said: “I am absolutely delighted to have received this award from the Garda Commissioner, Drew Harris. This award recognises the work I have been doing in Balbriggan and encourages me to keep going to reach a future where no one passes away due to not being able to access an AED. Our vision is that Aisha AED Initiative will become a cornerstone for community safety, with AED/CPR education and training, and further AED installations in the future.”
Balbriggan Community Council stated: “Aisha Alameen Betro and the four young people Ciara Leonard, Alicia Rice, Mizna Shadid and Zainab Shahid have been an inspiration and have created a collaborative movement within Balbriggan aimed at providing lifesaving AEDs for the entire town and have advocated with community groups, individuals, stakeholders, political representatives, both locally and at Dail Éireann. We’re incredibly proud of Aisha and the other four young women and look forward to continuing to work with these truly exceptional young women” For further information, please contact Aisha AED Initiative on aishaaedinitiative@gmail.com or Balbriggan Community Council on balbriggancoco@gmail.com
Fingal Volunteer Expo Highlights Dublin 15 Opportunities
This month, Fingal Volunteer Centre hosted a Dublin 15 Volunteer Expo during which people interested in volunteering chatted with their local charities. This public gathering in Blanchardstown Library, provided 12 not-for-profits organisations the chance to chat with the public about their missions and what volunteering with them looks like.
Set up in 2007, Fingal Volunteer Centre is an independent charity that promotes the value of volunteering. Events like the Expo offer an opportunity for individuals thinking of volunteering to meet directly with local organisations and have a quick chat about their roles, facilitating the first steps into their volunteer journey.
Everyone can be a volunteer. Most of the roles do not require any specific skills and when necessary, training is provided. Some roles do require specific knowledge and people who have experience in any area are valuable. Roles include befriending, administration, arts & crafts, event stewarding, fundraising, IT, mentoring and tutoring, board positions, coaching and many more.
Dublin 15 hosts over 100 not-for-profits organisations which focus on promoting positive mental health, supporting youth / the elderly / people with disabilities, taking environment & climate actions, encouraging sports, radio broadcasting and much more. Groups at the
Expo represented this diversity of causes and roles: Avista, B.C.I.L., Blanchardstown Village Tidy Towns, Castleknock Tidy Town, Children for World Children, Cycling Ireland, Empower Local Development Company, Foroige, HomeStart Blanchardstown, Millennium Community Garden, and 92.5 Phoenix FM Radio.
On the night, we spoke with one of the local organisations that partners with Fingal Volunteer Centre to find volunteers. Empower Local Development Company is an organisation that offer free services in areas such as English lessons for beginners, quit smoking support, ‘Healthy Food Made Easy’, LGBTQ+ in-person support groups, and social prescribing plus much more. They serve people in Blanchardstown, Mulhuddart and Balbriggan. Empower rely on volunteers to be able to deliver conversational English classes and have opportunities on offer on ivol.ie regularly.
Louise from Empower told us the Expo helps them in several ways: it introduces potential volunteers to the organisation and its aims; it makes local people aware of Empower’s services. The Expo also provides helpful networking opportunities with other Dublin 15 groups. It really is a win-win for not-for-profits and volunteers alike.
Did you miss the event? That’s ok. Fingal Volunteer Centre is part of a nationwide network of 29 Volunteer Centres who share a website
www.i-vol.ie. Here, you can search directly for hundreds of volunteer opportunities that may interest you.
If you would rather have a chat, you can ring or email the volunteer centre about the type of roles that would interest you. Or you can drop in at one of the “Fingal Volunteer Centre Library Pop-Ups” events happening in libraries across Fingal to meet with the team. Dates and times are listed on their website.
So, whether you are interested in once-off or regular volunteering, or part of an organisation that needs volunteers, Fingal Volunteer Centre is the place for you. www.volunteerfingal.ie 01 899 1921 or email info@volunteerfingal.ie for more information.
Shop local & Buy Irish this Christmas!
While the children wish for snow and Santa, parents work frantically behind the scenes to make Christmas happen!
For the day itself, Dunnes Stores has a fantastic range of home and cookware to help prep and serve dinner. The Nevin Maguire collection has charcuterie and cheese boards, roasting tins and knives to slice that turkey perfectly! Check out Dunnes selection of Sheridan cheeses – delicious with crackers, chutney and grapes.
Cooking a big family dinner? Nisbets Moore St Mall, Ilac SC is brilliant. Crockery, glasses, food warmers and our favourite tableware item, the Lazy Susan! These clever turntables allow the gravy boat and condiments to be easily shared around the table. Much better than someone (i.e. kids & teens!) chucking things across the table! When decorating the table for Christmas, Tipperary Crystal have beautiful glasses, place mats and cutlery.
Brooke & Shoals candles and diffusers smell incredible, creating Christmas vibes with their festive scents.
For gifting, we like to keep things Irish! Hampers & Co have hampers to suit everyone and they start at only €14. Nyrah beauty have divine mini skincare sets for only €25
and their hat box sets are really eye catching.
National Concert Hall gift vouchers are a wonderful present. They have fantastic shows and the acoustic are amazing.
SoSu have gorgeous make-up, brush, Dripping Gold tan and Bahama Skin gift sets. Check their website for great offers!
Cocoa Brown has beautiful gift sets, including a cracker with tan and a mitt inside. This could go on the dinner table as an extra surprise!
Ziaja skincare gift sets for babies, kids, women and men are available in Dunnes, Tesco and Chemist Warehouse are lovely and affordable.
On Black Friday, we picked up great value Secret Santa gifts in Town Centre Pharmacy, Dealz & Card Factory in Drogheda Town Centre. So many things for under a tenner! Arc Cinema have gift vouchers offers, buy 2 x €25 gift cards for only €40!
Acapulco Mexican Restaurant is great for get-togethers this festive season. Amazing food, and their flavoured Margaritas are yummy!
One Dame Lane Irish jewellery store make gorgeous pieces, ideal for gifting.
The Lark Panto, Cinderella, is on from 5th December, so still time to book tickets!
Takemusu members make inspirational journey to home of Aikido
Iwama Dojo was built in the 1940s by the Aikido founder.
The members of Takemusu Aikido Society practise at the Iwama Dojo
Raman together with Shigemi Inagaki sensei
Group performance of Iwama Dojo at the Prefectural Aikido Demonstrations
Practice continues until late at night. Raman polishes his techniques after the evening class.
This October, members of Takemusu Aikido Society returned from an inspiring two-week journey to Japan, where they trained intensively at the historic Iwama Dojo. This dojo, established by Aikido founder Morihei Ueshiba, known as O-Sensei, holds a unique place in the world of Aikido, preserving traditional techniques and philosophies. For members of Takemusu Aikido Society, this pilgrimage has become an annual tradition — a chance to deepen their understanding of traditional Aikido under Japan’s most respected instructors and bring that experience back to Ireland.
Raman, the head instructor of the club, spent many years training in Japan before moving to Ireland. Now, he and his dedicated students travel to Iwama Dojo every year, spending a few weeks on each trip to fully immerse themselves in the rigorous and authentic training atmosphere. In Iwama, a serene village in the Japanese countryside, practitioners live the life of uchideshi (live-in students), which includes three daily Aikido sessions, caring for the Aiki Shrine, and helping with farm work around the dojo grounds. This intense routine enhanced by fierce training on the rock-hard mats deeply engages students in the traditional training methods offering a unique opportunity for authentic practice in the Aikido Founder’s Dojo.
Aikido in Iwama is led by Inagaki Sensei, one of O-Sensei’s disciples, who has passed down teachings directly from the founder’s time, maintaining an unbroken lineage. Inagaki Sensei began practising under O-Sensei at the age of 12 and has been practising Aikido for an
astounding 66 years. His dedication and profound knowledge form the heart of Iwama Dojo, creating a unique and unforgettable experience for those who journey from around the world to study under his guidance. This year, Raman and the group met and trained with uchideshi from Spain, Australia, Japan, Argentina, Germany, Israel, and the United States. In Iwama, there is rarely a day when there isn’t a foreign uchideshi present, creating a rich environment for the exchange of skills and experiences.
This year, Raman was honoured to participate in the 39th Demonstrations of the Ibaraki Aikido Federation with the group representing the Founder’s Dojo. “These annual demonstrations showcase the skill, dedication, and spirit of Aikido practitioners from across the prefecture. It was a privilege for me to perform alongside Japan’s most skilled Aikido masters”, said Raman.
Inspired by their experience in Iwama, members of Takemusu Aikido Society bring this dedication and authenticity back to Dublin. The club holds classes every Sunday in Balbriggan and every Monday and Wednesday at Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre in Dublin city centre. Open to all, Takemusu Aikido Society invites newcomers of all ages to discover the benefits of Aikido, including fitness, flexibility, self-discipline, and mindfulness.
If you’re curious about Aikido, visit Takemusu Aikido Society and experience the principles and techniques of Japan’s Iwama Dojo right here in Balbriggan. For more details, visit their website at www. aiki.ie.
care of the
Aiki-Shrine is located just across the road from the dojo.
When the weather is good it is not uncommon to practise outdoors
Taking
Aiki-Shrine
live-in students
WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!!
WE WANT YOUR LOCAL NEWS!!
• Do you run a Local Sports Club or Team?
• Are you a new business or a business celebrating an anniversary?
• Are you running or hosting a Local event or Fundraiser? • Do you have a story to tell?
• A Special Birthday, Christening, Communion..
This is easy… we are offering you the chance to win €50. All you have to do is correctly fill in the crossword and discover the name of an area in Fingal spelt out in the coloured squares. Then send the completed crossword and your answer by email, with your name, address and telephone number to communitylocals@ gmail.com before 5pm on the 16th of this month. The first correct entry to be drawn will win €50..Good luck
Across
1 Holds someone responsible for wrongdoing. (6)
5 Ornamental band worn round the arm. (6)
10 Type of cherry. (7)
11 Reports that are circulating but of doubtful truth. (7)
12 A prolonged dull pain. (4)
13 More than enough, plentiful. (5)
15 Spend time doing nothing. (4)
17 Nervous or timid in the company of other people. (3)
19 A place where dead bodies are kept before burial. (6)
21 A type of light, feathery cloud, (6)
22 A pert toe hides the highest point of a tall woody plant. (7)
23 A tilt built into a road at a bend or curve. (6)
25 A less direct route to somewhere. (6)
28 Concealed something. (3)
30 Decorative container without handles used for displaying cut flowers. (4)
31 Annoyed or frustrated. (5)
32 Edible European mushrooms. (4)
35 The Yellowhammer State. (USA) (7)
36 “Call me ...” (Moby Dick) (7)
37 Cut down a tree. (6)
38 Nests for eagles. (6)
Down
2 Sounds like a dog with a stagger. (7)
3 The offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. (4)
4 Agnes, Ciaran, Debi. (6)
5 Only just; almost not. (6)
6 Deprived of feeling through cold or shock. (4)
7 Wash money illegally. (7)
8 Preserve a corpse from decay. (6)
9 Poplar trees known for trembling. (6)
14 Mythical bird that rose from the ashes. (7)
16 Toned down. (5)
18 An animal with two feet. (5)
20 “To ... is human, to forgive divine” (Alexander Pope) (3)
21 Hoax the fish. (3)
23 The roe of the sturgeon. (6)
24 Blunder, error, slip. (7)
26 Control the functioning of a machine. (7)
27 A consequence or outcome. (6)
28 This newspaper could be a sign that something is about to happen. (6)
29 A piece of electronic or mechanical equipment. (6)
33 Make a long, high cry because of pain or sadness. (4)
34 Hammer-wielding Norse god. (4)
SUDOKU ANSWERS
