Balbriggan Local V10I5-MAR 2025 by Irish Media Group

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Supervalu Balbriggan, Lidl Balbriggan Tesco, Millfield S.C, Balbriggan The Lark Theatre Balibriggan

Springing into the New Year

Spring has finally arrived after what has felt like a lifetime since we have seen some proper sunshine and some warmer conditions! Slowly but surely the seasons are changing and the time for new beginnings is upon us again. There are so many things to look forward to in Springtime.

Local people throughout Fingal will be busying themselves in the first few weeks of Spring, making plans for the coming months, especially summertime and the annual summer holiday season. In Fingal we don’t have very far to travel to find something to make great memories from. We have some of the most beautiful beaches in the country; the sheer number of public parks, castle grounds and gardens accessible all year round is unrivalled; the community centres, state of the art libraries, music venues, cafés, restaurants, bars, the list goes on and on. There is so much to do in such a short distance.

There are so many wonderful voluntary organisations out there in Fingal and the work that they do is invaluable to their respective communities. From sporting groups, walking groups, youth groups, Men’s Sheds, ICA groups, Comhaltas groups and the many, many more clubs, societies and organisations – local people rely heavily on them to make a difference to their daily lives.

But these organisations can only survive with the selfless work their volunteers provide who give up their own time after work and on weekends to make our lives more fulfilled. We love seeing more for us to do in our communities and are always looking for something new and exciting; just remember there would hardly be anything to do without these voluntary organisations and their volunteers. There is always room for more people to get involved with their local voluntary organisations and the help is always appreciated.

As a community-based magazine group we really do deeply appreciate all the work done by local volunteers in their respective areas. They are the ones who make our towns and villages look so beautiful and we are so happy that they give their time so selflessly.

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Know More About Guide Dog and Assistance Dog Owners Right to Access

Did you know that Irish equality legislation gives Guide Dog and Assistance Dog owners the right to access businesses and services without discrimination which includes access to all forms of public transport, including bus, train, tram, taxi, plane or ferry. Also, all forms of hospitality accommodation including hotels, Airbnbs, hostels or holiday rental properties establishments that provide food, including cafes, restaurants, pubs, delis and supermarkets.

The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities of which Ireland is a signatory, articles 19,20,29 and 30 on accessibility and participation place an obligation on public and private service providers to be inclusive and the lack of access experienced by Guide Dog and Assistance Dog owners is a clear breach of their human rights under the Convention. You can show your support for access rights by displaying the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind Access window sticker in recognition of Guide and Assistance Dog owners.

You can order your FREE sticker from access@guidedogs. ie. At present in North County

Tom O’Neill with His guide dog ‘Qeb’ and Peter Carey, manager Millfield Shopping Centre Balbriggan in front of PAWs for access window sticker.

Dublin there are several Businesses showing support by displaying the access sticker, including Millfield Shopping Centre, Cuddles Pet Store Millfield, Dempseys BarLounge Balbriggan and McMeel’s Pharmacy, Skerries. Let us know if you want an access sticker and we will get it to you for display. Are you looking for ways to support your local Balbriggan/ North County Dublin Branch of Guide Dogs? Well recently we placed a large collection dog in the Shoreline Hotel, Donabate. This large collection dog has a QR code on it, so if you don’t have change you can now use your phone to scan the Q.R. code and donate to the Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Guide Dogs. A big thank you to Andy O’Neill of the Central Lounge in Balbriggan for making the connection for our Branch and to the hotel manager, Brendan for his support.

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.

Pick up YOUR LOCAL FREE community magazine at designated pick-up points Today! Supervalu, Pavilions, JC’s, Lidl-Rathbeale Road, Applgreen-Malahide Rd.

What Has Changed with Capital Acquisition Tax?

By Dave Kavanagh

In Ireland, inheritance tax and gift tax are both under Capital Acquisition Tax. In 2022 in Ireland, there was over €600 million collected in Capital Acquisition Tax. It also includes estates that may have been taxed in previous generations. For example, if someone left an estate worth €1,000,000 to an only daughter, she would (in the current tax year) have a tax bill of just under €200,000. After she pays the bill and puts what’s left in the bank, any interest is taxed (DIRT). Guess what happens when she passes and leaves her estate behind? It’s taxed again! So what has changed? Spouses can leave any amount to each other tax free. After that, the three new thresholds are, a) Children - €400,000, b) Other close relatives - €40,000 and c) All others (including cohabiting partners) - €20,000. Everything received above these is taxed at 33%.

So, is there any way to prevent it? There are two main actions that can either reduce or eradicate such a tax bill. The first is to take the time to plan when making a will. Let’s say a value of €900,000 was being left to 2 adult children. (Not a big estate if you combine a house, savings and a life policy). This would create a tax bill of over €16,000. Instead, if €800,000 of it was left to the 2 children and the balance between a few grandchildren (at least 5), there is no tax bill. The

second thing that can be done is for the person leaving the estate to take out a Section 72 plan. This is a type of life policy that is allowed to pay any tax liability without adding to the value of the estate. It becomes particularly important for anybody that does not have children to plan things out, as even other relatives can only receive €40,000 before any balance is taxed. These thresholds are particularly important for anybody in the process of planning or making their will.

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.

Celebration of St Brigid in Balbriggan

To celebrate Brigid’s bank holiday the wonderful community of Balbriggan gathered for a spectacular, illuminated procession through the streets of the town

To celebrate the St Brigid’s bank holiday in February 2025, Balbriggan held a spectacular, illuminated procession through the streets of the town and onto the beach. Balbriggan is one of Europe’s most diverse towns and is expanding into a vibrant hub of creative expression and life.

Performers from Luxe Landscape Theatre Company were joined by community groups at

the Lark Concert Hall.

Accompanied by an ethereal soundtrack, they carried lanterns together from the Lark, gathering the community at George’s Square and in a powerful and emotive performance, spread Brigid’s light on a processional journey down Mill Street to a celebration on the beach. This familyfriendly event celebrates the return of Spring with a celebration of light, hope, and the coming together of this wonderful and beautifully diverse community.

This breathtaking procession was developed

through a collaboration between Creative Fingal, Fingal County Council, Our Balbriggan, Community Wellness, Luxe Landscape Theatre, and the entire Balbriggan community. It demonstrates how the Creative Ireland Programme delivers through collaboration and partnership to promote understanding and appreciation of the value of creativity in all its forms. It remains a wonderful and unique opportunity to celebrate community and creativity and to mark the celebration of Lá Fhéile Bríde, St Brigid’s Day.

parÁidÍ fhine gall 2025

Time for Springtime Treats!

Spring is great time to declutter the house and garden. Charity shops are glad of donations but it’s a good idea to get a skip too for those items you need to get rid of. We shopped around and got the same size skip from Oxigen for €120 less than another local skip company! They delivered and picked up when they say they would and the customer service was great. Happy to recommend them!

March is for treating the Mammies on Mother’s day. If you are on a budget, make her breakfast in bed, run her a bubble bath or cook her a nice dinner. If you want to take her somewhere nice, we love Silken Thomas in Kildare. They have an award-winning bar and restaurant and their accommodation is beautiful. Spoil her to a meal or

mini break or surprise her with a Silken Thomas gift voucher. I brought my Mam recently and we loved it; we cannot wait to go back!

For personalised gifts, Wanapix has a great range for Mother’s day. Use CODE MAMSIE for a 15% discount. I love my personalised Wanapix travel bag with my name on, I use it as a tote bag all the time. And my hubby loves his special ‘Dad’ glass!

If your Mam enjoys a pool and spa, Farnham Estate is stunning. It’s worth going for indoor/ outdoor pool alone. Relax in the warm outdoor pool while breathing in the country air. It’s magical! Their spa is fabulous, and accommodation and food are top notch. We love it so much we had a family wedding there!

Need some gift inspo and wanna keep it Irish? Hampers & Co. have hampers to suit every taste and budget. I especially love their wellness hampers. One Dame Lane has beautiful jewellery and gift sets. Cocoa Brown have budget friendly tanning sets. We are loving Wired Irish Crafts quirky candles – especially the coconut and bamboo. Stitch-a-name personalised fluffy robes and silky pyjamas are lovely. For hair lovers, Olaplex or Alfaparf gift sets are in salons and etailers. For theatre lovers, a voucher for National Concert Hall is a wonderful gift. The Design Gallery in Drogheda has lots of gift ideas and they gift wrap free of charge! Follow us on mams. ie in the run up to Mother’s day for more gift ideas and competitions!

“Companion” (2025) The Future Of A.I.

By Jack Shanley

In a world where technology seamlessly integrates with daily life “Companion” (2025) explores the complex relationship between humans and A.I. The film follows Iris, a young woman who discovers she is a companion android designed for human companionship. As Iris grapples with her identity and the limitations of her programmed existence, the line between human and machine blurs, raising questions about autonomy, control, and the very nature of love.

Sophie Thatcher delivers a captivating performance as Iris, portraying her vulnerability and strength with nuance. Jack Quaid shines as Josh, the man who initially appears to be Iris’s loving companion but whose true motives become increasingly ambiguous. The supporting cast, including Lukas Gage as the enigmatic Patrick, adds depth to the narrative, each character embodying a different facet of the human-AI dynamic.

The cinematography captures the beauty and unease of Iris’s world, while the soundtrack amplifies the film’s emotional core. The script is thought-provoking, exploring themes of identity, free will, and a view of advanced technology.

“Companion” is not without its flaws. Some plot developments

may strain credulity, and the film occasionally relies on familiar tropes of the sci-fi genre. However, its strengths may far outweigh its weaknesses. The film’s exploration of complex themes, combined with its strong performances and compelling visuals, make it a decent watch for fans of science fiction and thoughtprovoking cinema.

Ultimately, “Companion” is a cautionary tale about the potential dangers of unchecked technological advancement. It somewhat of a scary view of the future and with the film being told from an A.I perspective, I naturally felt a bit uneasy. I also understood that the humans were at fault., but It all goes back to Kubrick’s great 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) in which he views it as humans becoming far too comfortable with technology that it would eventually consume us empower A.I and take over. Its with ‘Companion’ that you can kind of feel the same energy.

In all truth I’d recommend checking out ‘Companion’ and see what you think of it; I shall give it a score of three stars. You can watch it at your local cinema today. Director: Drew Hancock– Rating: 16 – Genre: Horror/Sci-fi – Run Time: 1h 37m Language: English. For more film content please follow @movies4fanatics on Instagram.

Generation

Baby Boomer

by Jon Kavanagh

Well, here we are a quarter way through the first century of the new millennium. Tempus Fugit! Reminiscing with an old school friend we marvelled at how quickly we have gone from writing lines in Swords Tech to writing application forms for our bus passes. It got me thinking about the incredible changes we baby boomers (born 1946 – 1964) have lived through. As children we were meant “to be seen and not heard”. We learned to write with nib bens and ink, our calculator was our ten fingers. The teacher’s stick wasn’t just for pointing at the map. In many homes the wooden spoon doubled jobbed as a food mixer and law and

order enforcer. We didn’t appreciate that living history walked amongst us: many who survived the 1916 uprising, two world wars, the war of independence, the civil war, the Spanish flu and a tuberculosis epidemic, were still active in the community, with a generous helping of ‘characters’ filling their ranks.

With hindsight, Tony, who had tales to tell about all the above, became my de factor grandfather (my actual grandfathers had both passed on before I was born). He would regularly give me a half crown coin, (a considerable sum of money back then) and advice on everyday life like “Always leave the wireless on when you are leaving the house to deter robbers”. Paddy, who had served in the British army, took his role of curmudgeon in residence very earnestly, sitting on a wall in the village giving his caustic take on life to all who passed by. He would have made a great keyboard warrior on today’s social media. And then there was Rosie, a would-be entrepreneur,

who used hard sales techniques to impose everything from badly knitted garments to eggs and bales of hay on reluctant locals. I recall her bursting into our gate lodge, plonking a jam jar she had crudely decorated with sea shells, on the kitchen table, whilst loudly proclaiming “Theres a nice flower vase for ten bob!” Being timid in nature my mother unwillingly shed out the said sum for the affront to the arts and crafts movement.

We remember when Swords was a small rural village and the airport (then known as Collinstown) was but a twinkle in the eye of the large international hub we see today. Fingal was as rural as any far-flung corner of Ireland. At heart we were country folks living simple lives. Don’t get me wrong, I love modernity and can wield a mobile phone and paper coffee cup with the best of them. But somehow, I’m glad I was born a baby boomer to experience a world that gave us a resilience that comes in handy during lockdowns, storms, power cuts etc.

Connecting the Chain of Survival

The Balbriggan Chain of Survival is a programme managing multiple projects for emergency volunteer responders within the community of Balbriggan. The purpose of each project is to reduce avoidable fatalities.

CRITICAL Balbriggan Community Responders is a project that is now separately run and managed by the esteemed charity CRITICAL https://criticalcharity.ie/. Volunteers from Balbriggan have undergone online training, Garda vetting and are now in the process of their practical training with a vision of launching mid-2025. As a CRITICAL Balbriggan Community Responder, we will be an extension to the National Ambulance Service, and will be actively responding to emergency dispatch calls for heath attack, cardiac arrest, stroke and choking incidents.

According to the Irish Heart Foundation, over 70% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur at the home. The COMMUNITY HEARTS project is in partnership with Smart Medical and Re-turn as a national pilot for residential defibrillators being installed, enabling residents to be within 3-5 minutes, or, 400-500 metres of their closest accessible defibrillator. The overall ambition of the project is to have 24/7 AED coverage for 95% of Balbriggan’s population.

Orange Bins are placed all across Balbriggan to collect returnable bottles and cans to raise the required funds for the COMMUNITY HEARTS project. In addition to residential defibrillator instalations, an installation has been carried out at Bracken Cabs, open 24/7 to the public, and an ideal

location with both residential and commercial activity being 24/7 in that area. Westbrook Grove, Clonard Street, Tara Court residential installations are complete, with Clonard Court, Tara Cove, and many more estates in the planning. Planning is in place to install a 24/7 defibrillator at the Balbriggan Court House, and to support Balbriggan 34th/161st Scouts with their installation at Market Green.

Orange Bins are placed all across Balbriggan, from the Rugby Club, through the town at The Lark Concert Hall, Glebe North Football Club, the Senior Citizens Hall, St. Peter’s and Paul’s Primary School, to the other side of the community at Balbriggan Football Club.

There are hundreds of residents collecting and donating their bottles and cans for the cause. To support national pilot for residential defibrillators a Go Fund Me Campaign has been setup to run 5km daily to bring awareness to the Balbriggan Chain of Survival programme.

To date, there’s been 432 daily 5km runs in a row, over 60 contributors and €1,816 raised which as supported the purchase of the first four defibrillator and cabinets. For details of the Go Fund Me click here https://gofund. me/917253f0

There are several ongoing projects within the programme, to find out more, please check out our social pages BalbrigganCOS or contact BalbrigganCOS@gmail.com”

Town Hall Meeting

Defibrilator Night

Defibrillators

Orange Bin and Sticker

Return Bins

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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