Balbriggan Local V11I1-NOV 2025 by Irish Media Group

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Supervalu Balbriggan, Lidl Balbriggan Tesco, Millfield S.C, Balbriggan

The Lark Theatre Balibriggan

Community Coming Together for Christmas

As the crisp November air settles over Fingal, locals in the towns and villages begin to glow with anticipation for the festive season. From the bustling streets of Swords and Balbriggan to picturesque Malahide, Donabate, Rush&Lusk, local businesses and community groups are already gearing up to make this Christmas one to remember.

In towns across Fingal, shopfronts are dressing up with twinkling lights, while markets and craft fairs offer the perfect opportunity to find locally made gifts. Supporting these local traders not only keeps the area’s economy thriving but also strengthens the sense of community that makes Fingal so special.

November is also a time for connection and giving back. Fingal County Council and local community centres host a variety of volunteer and charity initiatives — from food bank collections to Christmas tree planting and tidy-town efforts. Residents are encouraged to get involved, whether by joining a local clean-up, helping decorate village greens, or donating to local causes.

Cultural events add extra sparkle, with choir performances, winter markets, and family-friendly gatherings filling calendars throughout the month. Libraries and arts centres across Fingal also offer festive workshops, story times, and craft sessions, bringing people together in creativity and celebration.

As Fingal prepares for Christmas, the focus remains on community spirit — on neighbours supporting one another, businesses helping local causes, and everyone doing their part to make the season bright. November in Fingal is more than just a prelude to Christmas; it’s a reminder that the heart of the holidays lies in coming together.

The Locals Team

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Balbriggan Youth Bring Irish Traditional Sports and Games to Erasmus+ Project in Turkey

A group of young people from Really Cool Adventure, a local youth organisation based in Balbriggan, recently travelled to Antalya, Turkey, to take part in week long a European Erasmus+ project called Games United.

The project was hosted by the Turkish partner school Antalya Kapez Mahmut Celalettin Okten Anadolu Imam Hatip Lisesi, together with organisations from Ireland, France, and Poland. The aim was to learn and teach traditional games from each country and use them to promote teamwork, inclusion, and friendship among young people from different cultures.

During the week, the Irish participants shared favourite games from home Gaelic Football, Rounders, Bulldog, Duck Duck Goose and

learned many new ones from their international friends. Together, all teams created a booklet of traditional games to be used later in schools and youth groups. The week also included workshops on communication, cooperation, and respect, as well as cultural exchange full of music, dance and traditional food. We also explored the stunning Turkish coast, visiting the ancient city of Side, travelled to Kemer and of course enjoyed the beauty of Antalya beach and Old town.

Really Cool Adventure opened shortly after COVID-19 to create more opportunities for young people in Balbriggan to learn through non-formal education, build confidence, improve social skills, and take part in local and international projects.

So far, the organisation has visited over 15 countries and participated in more than 50 Erasmus+ projects covering a wide range of topics — from climate change and digital skills to art, sport, and healthy living.

Project coordinator Marzena Stronska said:

“Erasmus+ projects give young people the chance to grow, travel, and make real friendships while learning important life skills. It’s inspiring to see their confidence bloom day by day.”

The Games United project was co-funded by the European Union through the Erasmus+ Programme.

For more information or to join future youth exchanges, follow @ReallyCoolAdventure on Facebook and Instagram.

Balbriggan Meals on Wheels November News

Balbriggan Meals on Wheels has lots going on at the moment and is looking forward to the support of our local community with a number of events they are hosting.

Annual General Meeting

All members of the local community are invited to the AGM of Balbriggan Meals on Wheels which will be held on Wednesday 12th November at 7.30pm in 14 Hampton Street, Balbriggan K32 P793. Please come along and learn more about this important community service and see how you can get involved.

Food Drives

Friday 7th November: Food Drive in Millfield Shopping Centre

Friday 7th & Saturday 8th November: Food Drive in Supervalu

Christmas Fair

Saturday 29th November: Christmas Fair at Balbriggan Meals on Wheels, 14 Hampton Street

Please support the work of Balbriggan Meals on Wheels in our local community.

Donate

If you wish to make an online donation to Balbriggan Meals on Wheels, you can do so by visiting: https://www.idonate.ie/cause/ BalbrigganMealsonWheels

Busy November Approaches for Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs

Our Balbriggan/North County Dublin branch held a coffee morning on 23rd of September in the Senior Citizen Hall in Balbriggan. Our raffle last year was a huge success at the event, and this year was no different! We gave away some fantastic spot prizes. Rosie Russell was our first prize raffle winner, Geraldine Keenan was our second prize winner, Ann Walsh was our third prize winner, Catherine Martin was our 4th prize winner and our fifth and final winner was Damien Doyle, a great morning was had by all and we can’t wait for our next coffee morning at Skinny Batch Bakery on Tuesday the 4th November. We hope to see you there.

We want to say a big thank you to Anthony Reilly of the Harvest Inn, Balbriggan who hosted a Quiz Night Fundraiser in support of the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. The first prize winner won a €150 voucher, and a number of spot prizes were given out on the night. Check out our social media pages for more information on this event and make sure to follow us to be up to date with all upcoming

events. We also had a great day at the Pumpkin Patch over the bank holiday weekend on the 25th and 26th October in Bremore Educate Together. Thanks to all who came along and said hello.

As Christmas time approaches, you might want to keep a lookout for our merchandise stand over the next couple of weeks as we will be out and about. Our Balbriggan/ North County Dublin branch will be at SuperValu on both Friday the 14th and Saturday the 15th November. If you miss us there, you can catch us in Millfield Shopping Centre on Friday the 28th and Saturday the 29th November where we will have car raffle tickets available for €5, with the chance to win a 2026 Ford Puma, 2026 calendars, Christmas cards and a host of other merchandise for purchase. We can’t wait to see you.

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 Guide dog supporter Aidan Smith at the annual Irish Guide Dogs coffee morning supported by Balbriggan Senior Citizens Club.

Small Benefit Exemption For Your Staff

By Dave Kavanagh

From 1st January 2025, employers can provide up to five, small, non-cash benefits per employee per year, with a combined value of up to €1,500, free of PAYE, PRSI and USC. To qualify, benefits must not be in cash, must not be redeemable (in part or full) for cash, and must be something used to buy goods or services.

So, what type of options/cards qualify to be used for this? Store-specific or multi-store gift vouchers/cards that are used to buy goods/ services and cannot be exchanged for cash. E.g. a gift card for a department store, or supermarket, or a retailer. Closed-loop gift cards (cards valid in certain stores or groups of stores) used only to purchase goods/services. Tangible non-cash gifts (e.g. objects, hampers, items) which are similar in value to vouchers, again provided they are used to buy goods/services or are themselves goods. Non-cash benefit cards such as gift cards that are structured so that they are not redeemable for cash or usable like a debit card with direct cash extraction capability.

Options that do not qualify include cards that are redeemable for cash (or partially usable as cash). For example, any gift or “card” that allows the holder to withdraw cash, or exchange for cash. Prepaid debit cards or “spend anywhere” cards if their terms allow the card to be used like

cash / cash-equivalent (e.g. ATM withdrawals etc.). If the card is effectively redeemable for or convertible into cash, the revenue rules treat it as a cash benefit and it loses the exemption. Any bonus or benefit provided via payroll or via salary sacrifice. These must be provided outside payroll and not deducted from salary.

With the recent budget not being exceptionally generous to workers, this is a great way to both reward employees without having to tax them further and also benefit employers as gifts are tax deductible.

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.

Balbriggan Company Wins Prestigious Award for Work on Drogheda Landmark

CommunityLocals.ie

Balbriggan-based M & I Lead Contractors Ltd has been honoured with a prestigious award for its craftsmanship on the recently completed restoration of Drogheda town’s historic Tholsel Building. The project, which included intricate work on the building’s dome roof and clock tower, has revitalised one of the town’s most important heritage landmarks and reaffirmed its role as a central feature of the community Presented annually by the Lead Contractors Association, the Murdoch Award honours the finest leadworking projects across the UK and Ireland. The recently completed restoration of Drogheda’s Tholsel Building earned M & I Lead Contractors Ltd this prestigious award. The recognition highlights the company’s commitment to preserving historic architecture and showcases the expertise of its Balbrigganbased team in delivering high-quality, intricate leadwork on heritage buildings.

Commenting on the award, Ian Whelan of M & I Lead Contractors Ltd said:

“As a Balbriggan-based company, we are very proud to bring this award home to our town. The Tholsel is a landmark deeply tied to Drogheda’s history, and we are honoured that our craftsmanship has been recognised at such a prestigious level.”

About M & I Lead: Founded in 1999, M & I Lead is a Balbriggan, North Dublin–based company specialising in the craft of leadwork. The company is renowned for delivering exceptionally high standards of craftsmanship across Europe and has previously won the Murdoch Award for McKee Barracks, Dublin, as well as the Murdoch Sponsors Award for the Lake House, Oakfield Estate, Raphoe, Co. Donegal.

For more information: www.leadroofing.ie, phone 089 983 1940

Ian Whelan Receiving 2025 Murdoch Award

M & I Lead Balbriggan receive 2025 Murdoch Award

Tholsel Building - photo credit Drogheda Independent

One Battle After Another: An Existential Action Epic

By Jack Shanley

Paul Thomas Anderson’s newest sprawling epic, One Battle After Another, is less a film and more a sensory assault. An adaptation of Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland, this actionthriller, masquerading as a deeply melancholic character study, sees the director operating at his most anarchic and kinetic. The film follows Bob Ferguson (Leonardo DiCaprio), a paranoid former revolutionary living off-grid with his daughter Willa (Chase Infiniti), until his past— embodied by the grotesque and obsessive Col. Steven Lockjaw (a career-best Sean Penn)— forces them into a dizzying, nationwide chase.

Anderson’s technical prowess is immediately evident, shooting in the ultra-high-resolution VistaVision, which paradoxically lends a beautiful, painterly quality to scenes of utter desperation and chaos. The film rarely lets up, fueled by Jonny Greenwood’s jangling, nerve-shredding score, which acts like a constant, anxiety-inducing heartbeat. DiCaprio channels a man whose revolutionary fire has curdled into exhaustion, creating a portrayal of paranoia that is at once hilarious and heartbreaking. Penn, meanwhile, is a strange monster, a physical caricature of immense power obsessed with eradicating not just the rebels, but the very idea of dissent. The overall story of the film is interesting, along with some

great cinematography and simple but brilliant costume design, but it’s the performances that make the film as great as it is.

The reason this film stuck with me, weeks after viewing it in a stunning IMAX screening, wasn’t just the spectacular car chases or the political fury; it was the quiet emotional devastation at its core. I felt somewhat unsettled by the film’s central question: when you sacrifice everything for a cause, what do you owe the generation you bring into that unstable world? Willa, played with striking clarity by Chase Infiniti, is the conscience of the movie. Seeing her forced to navigate her father’s crumbling idealism felt like a true gut-punch.

‘One Battle After Another’ is a top-class piece of filmmaking, with PTA showing us once again how much of an incredible filmmaker he truly is. Overall, it’s a messy, essential masterpiece, and for me potentially the best film of the year.

I’d recommend checking out ‘One Battle After Another’ and see what you think of it; I shall give it a score of Five stars, after my first watch. You can watch it at your local cinema today: Director: Paul Thomas Anderson –Rating: 15A – Genre: Comedy/Drama – Run Time: 2h 50m Language: English. For more film content please follow @movies4fanatics on Instagram.

The Lark at The Irish Institute of Music & Song: Enriching the Community Through Music

In just a few short years, the Irish Institute of Music & Song (IIMS) has transformed Balbriggan into one of Ireland’s most exciting cultural hubs. As a not-for-profit organisation, the IIMS is dedicated to making high-quality music education and experiences accessible to everyone of all ages and from beginner to professional. The mission of the IIMS is simple - to enrich lives through music while celebrating creativity, inclusion and community.

At the heart of the IIMS campus is the multi award-winning Lark Concert Hall, which was voted Ireland’s Favourite New Building of 2024.

Since opening in November 2023, The Lark has become a beacon for the arts in Fingal. Through concerts, workshops, and events, it connects local audiences with world-class performers while supporting educational programmes for local and international students.

Each year, the IIMS delivers over 100,000 hours of music tuition and welcomes tens of thousands of visitors through performances, school programmes, and community initiatives. From early-years classes and intergenerational events to the innovative Traditional Music Access

Illegal waste collectors and illegal dumping awareness campaign Launched

Fingal County Council Waste Enforcement Section has initiated a campaign to help raise awareness about illegal waste collectors and illegal dumping.

Illegal waste collectors use social media and advertising sites to offer cheap waste removal services with the waste ending up being dumped in remote areas causing environmental pollution. Every year Local Authorities spend thousands of euro on clean up costs to remove illegally dumped waste, money which could be better spent on improving public services within local communities. Before handing over your

waste, always ask for ID and to see a copy of their waste collection permit which can be checked on the National Waste Collection Permit Office website at www.nwcpo.ie. No permit, then they’re not authorised to collect waste. Don’t risk getting a €150 fine or a criminal conviction if found guilty in Court.

As part of this awareness campaign a short advert has been developed which is being shown across 5 different cinemas over these months (Swords, Balbriggan, Charlestown, Blanchardstown and Santry) to highlight the issues around illegal waste collectors and the damage that’s

caused by illegal dumping.

We all have a responsibility to manage our waste and to protect the environment for future generations. Our key aim is to encourage and educate individuals to make the right choices regarding their waste and to participate in authorised waste collection services.

If householders know of anyone offering these ‘Man in a Van’ services, please contact environment@fingal.ie or Tel: 01 8906799.

Programme, the IIMS strives for music education accessibility.

The Lark’s events play a vital role in sustaining the not-for-profit model of the IIMS, enabling income to fund community outreach, scholarships, and artist residencies. The IIMS has a vibrant vision for arts within the region, a place where music education, performance, and inclusion come together to create lasting cultural and social harmony.

www.irishinstituteofmusic.com www.thelark.ie

Illegal dumping is costly. It threatens our environment. Let’s all take responsibility. #StopIllegalDumping Report Illegal Dumping Call: 01 890 5000 Email: environment@fingal.ie YOUR COUNTY. YOUR

The videos are available on Youtube - https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=H_Hi1hhzPFE and will form part of a Social Media Campaign.

Getting ready for winter!

November is a great time for a clear out and Oxigen has a wide range of skips for getting rid of old Halloween decorations, junk from around the house, and debris from the garden. Ideal for getting your home Christmas decorating ready.

Small accessories like lamps, decorative cushions and rugs can transform a room and we’re very impressed with the colourfully decorative rugs from RugShop.ie An Irish company, they have a huge range of rugs and underlays. We got new rugs for our daughters’ bedrooms and the quality is exceptional. The underlays are brilliant too. The old rugs got bunched up and stuck in the vacuum and under beds but these new ones are gorgeous, and they stay put, ensuring no slipping and sliding! Check them out at www.rugshop.ie

Did you know The Gem Treatery in Balbriggan is not just an ice cream shop? They have delicious coffee, pancakes, crepes, sandwiches. Download their QR code to get every 10th coffee free. Enjoy their weekly parent & baby mornings. Their gift vouchers make excellent gifts for Christmas, perfect for treating teachers!

Adventure Light at Skypark is now open for 2025! Discover the maze, see the dazzling light displays, toast smores and enjoy a fabulous family

night out. Book at www.skypark.ie

Wicklow on Ice, the spectacular ice rink at Avondale House opens 14th November and bookings are now open. You can also enjoy twinkly tree top walks at Avondale, a beautiful location for making family memories

Looking for ideas for Christmas party night ideas? Bracken Court Hotel Balbriggan is now taking bookings for their wonderful party packages and fab festive menu.

Thinking of a winter mini break? Farnham Estate in Cavan is glorious at this time of year – the warm outdoor pool in wintertime is truly special. Their gift vouchers are wonderful for Christmas.

Kids illnesses are rampant at this time of year, and we recommend Tonstix; lollipops kids suck to soothe their sore throats. So clever, so easy and they’re an Irish brand too! See www.tonstix,com

For adults, Sentro Labs customers can save 20% on every order of gut and immune support supplements and get free delivery. Use code MAMS15 for an additional 15% off the first subscription. See https://www.sentrolabs.com/ collections/bundle-save

Stay well this winter!

Saying Goodbye: One of the Hardest Decisions By Dr. Carla Lluch, Veterinary Practitioner

One of the hardest decisions we face as pet parents is knowing when it’s time to let them go. As a veterinary professional who has also gone through this personally, I can tell you: there is no universal answer. Every case, every family, and every pet is different. What matters is that the decision is made in the best interest of the animal. We’re here to guide you through that moment, to help you make the most compassionate and informed choice. So don’t hesitate to reach out once, twice, or 300 times if you need to. We understand how difficult it is, and we are here to help.

Watching our pets grow old is a privilege. And having the power to decide when it’s time to say goodbye is a final act of love.

When we make that decision, it’s for them, but also for us. To be at peace with ourselves, knowing we did everything possible to make their time with us joyful.

We often ask the same questions, but the answers are unique to every animal:

Do they still enjoy walks?

If your dog never really liked walks and preferred the sofa, that’s not a good measure. But if they used to run happily through the park and now refuse to go out, that’s a sign something’s wrong.

Do they still seek affection and company?

Wanting cuddles is a sign of well-being. A cat who hides and wants to be alone may be telling us that something has changed.

Do they still have an appetite?

Food is often a great indicator. At a certain age, and if their health allows, we can bend the rules a bit. If your dog wants fries from McDonald’s and it makes them happy, that’s okay. But if they’re no longer even smelling their food, maybe their body is telling us it’s time.

It’s not just about age or a diagnosis, it’s about their quality of life.

Veterinarians, nurses, and every member of the clinic team are both professionally and personally prepared to support you through this. Please, don’t hesitate to reach out as many times as it takes. We’re here to help you make the most compassionate decision possible.

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Send us your pics.. We Want it ALL.. Contact us today: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com Be Part of Your Community News

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