Balbriggan Local V8I4-FEB 2023

Have

This Valentine’s Day will be yet another one unlike others in the past, whether we are teenage lovers or more mature partners. That is obviously because of the continued threat of the new variant of Covid 19 and the new threat posed by the current virulent flu which is doing the rounds at present. However that does not mean that we cannot show love to those who mean the most to us. Remember, chocolate shops, jewellers shops, florists, restaurants and hotels are all still open. Unlike any other period in history we now have the means to stay in touch and communicate without meeting in person, whether that be through a mobile phone call or Face time or Zoom or whatever technology we have at hand. The worldwide communications structure is so vast now that we need never feel alone and we can send messages of love and support to those we care most about. Mind you, its still nice to get Valentines cards with their quirky rhymes. However,.we should also remember to all shop locally and ensure the local jobs of our neighbours and friends. We all know the dangers of not wearing face coverings, not regularly washing our hands thoroughly and not keeping our distance when meeting others. We all also know how boring our lives were during lockdown so lets continue to meet our family and friends and especially those we love on the 14th but lets be careful and safe. Simply put, we all want this to decrease again as soon as possible. We all want to reduce the number of people in hospital and worse, so lets all pull together once again as we did before and turn this around quickly, get back to as near normal a society as soon as possible and stay safe and enjoy our lives while being responsible. So please stay safe, lets pull together and keep supporting our HSE workers, our local shopping outlets. Our neighbours and most of all our families and those we love.

Have a happy and safe Valentine’s Day from all of us in the Locals team.

STRICT DEADLINE FOR NEXT EDITION:

Submissions by the 15th for inclusion in next months edition

Balbriggan Tidy Towns, which saw a very impressive 12-point jump in last year’s adjudication, is launching its ‘Adopt-a-Patch’ initiative a community scheme aimed at further improving the area.. The Balbriggan SuperValu Tidy Towns adjudication report for 2022 praised the local committee for its work in improving the appearance of the town, its level of volunteerism, partnerships with other community groups and its commitment to biodiversity.

Balbriggan Tidy Towns has now identified thirty-two locations where volunteers can ‘Adopt-aPatch’ and take on the care of an open area. Tasks will include litter removal, dealing with graffiti, weeding, planting and other light works. Residents can sign-up when Balbriggan Tidy Towns Committee launches its ‘Adopt-a-Patch’ scheme at the local SuperValu on Saturday, January 21 and at Millfield Shopping Centre on Saturday February 11, between 1.00pm and 3.00pm on both days. “After our success in 2022 we hope existing volunteers will continue their wonderful work keeping Balbriggan litter free, but we would love to welcome new people through our Adopt-a-Patch scheme,” said Balbriggan Tidy Town Secretary, Terry O’Reilly. “Larger areas can

be divided between a number of volunteers, or a group, and can be cleaned at a time which suits.

“Gloves, bags and a picker can be provided, and Fingal County Council will collect bags from convenient points. “The scheme can work very successfully amongst individuals, families and groups adopting stretches of roadway, lanes, parts of the local beach, bottle banks and litter blackspots. “Those who would like to work differently can join our Saturday Clean Team, Gardening Group, Climate Club, Biodiversity Group or Arts Group. “It would be wonderful to continue Balbriggan’s great progress in the SuperValu Tidy Towns competition and further improve the local environment for all who live in or visit our beautiful seaside town.”Residents can also get in touch with the Balbriggan Tidy Towns Committee through balbriggantidytowns@gmail.com or through its Facebook page or Facebook Messenger. Its annual general meeting takes place in the Bracken Court Hotel on Thursday, February 16 at 7.30pm. Local residents wishing to become involved are welcome. Balbriggan Tidy Towns meet every Saturday at 11.00am on the Front Beach and all are welcome.

So how are those changes going?

By Dave Kavanagh

So, February 2023. The time when many “New year, new me” changes may have faded into memory. So many great intentions of life improvements were planned: get healthier, spend more wisely, have more money, relax more, stress less, start a new hobby. All noble intentions, with one thing in common – they require you to make some changes and make time for those changes. For some aspects, this is easier than it is for others. Relax a bit more? Sure. Spend some “Me Time” in the gym? Absolutely. Do some work on planning the finances? “Errrrr…maybe I’ll start on that next week”! Without realising it, many people subconsciously view dealing with financial planning as “negative”. Understandably, who wants to sit discussing the potential loss in the event of a fatality, or a serious illness, or not being able to work, or thinking forward to the last third of your adult life? If any of these type of events would cause a financial loss to you or those dependent on you, making some time to at least establish what options are available, is the least you should consider. There are so many other benefits to reviewing your finances, not least of which, it can leave you with more money! Two of the tips I constantly tell people is to examine 3 months’ bank statements and to do a monthly spending exercise. Going through the bank

statements can help identify things that maybe you should no longer be paying for, or that you are duplicating. Keeping a spending diary for a month will give you a clear picture of detailed outgoings, allowing you to identify spending that you could possibly do more efficiently and permit you to make any changes necessary. The end result of making the time for such an important topic, will not only usually leave you better off financially, but put you more in control of your finances, thereby reducing the stress/anxiety often associated with money. One hour is 4% of your day. Make the time.

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 him at 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.

Love is in the air – Wedding Planning

by Siobhan O’Neill White

Valentine’s is a popular time for engagements and while weddings can be hugely expensive, with some savvy shopping and careful planning, you need not go bankrupt!

I was recently helped my sister plan her wedding. She shopped local as much as possible, but unfortunately still got scammed on a dodgy wedding website ‘claiming’ to be Irish. It had a .ie Irish domain and looked legit. She spent €200 but after a few days without updates, she discovered this company was fake. Thankfully, her bank was able to refund her the money but the best advice when ordering from a company you have not used before is to research them first. Check Trustpilot, Irish wedding chat boards or our wedding section on mams.ie. For wedding dresses, Alexander Bridal, Parnell St Dublin are wonderful. Tina is professional and experienced, and the dresses are bang on trend without hefty price tags. Our family has bought 3 wedding dresses, 2 bridesmaids dresses and 3 Communion dresses there over the years. Highly recommended for the fellas, Bestwear, Shop St. Drogheda is well known for stylish, affordable suits for men and boys. Excellent quality and superb value, like the one in our

picture. Aisling and Kieron are very helpful and can arrange alterations if necessary. The difference in price between them and some shops we perused in Dublin is drastic. Well worth a visit and to get a further 10% off in store, use promo code Mams.ieBest23 WeddingCreations. ie make personalised products like Bridal Planner boxes, wedding invites and keepsake gifts. Caroline is so helpful and every month she runs a different discount offer. The wedding day personalised bridal robes, as pictured, are beautiful. Another wonderful Irish company is karenedellmillinery.ie for hair accessories and fascinators. We picked a beautiful Mother-of-thebride fascinator from Karen for €79 and it’s very similar (but even nicer) than one we spotted in another store for €400!!! For wedding guest style, the website MyKindOfDress. com is fantastic. Get 20% off when you join their newsletter and check their sale section, its jammed with fabulous items at bargain prices, like wedding guest dresses from €10 and faux fur jackets from €25.Keep an eye on mams.ie and our socials for wedding related competitions including Tan Organic sets, iGlow nail & lash products, Carter Beauty make-up, Belleek Living Gifts and lots more!

Thank you from Balbriggan Meals on Wheels

Balbriggan Meals on Wheels is a local charity which has been serving the Balbriggan community since its foundation in 1975. Balbriggan Meals on Wheels was established to provide meals for people who are ill, recovering from a serious illness, or for some reason are unable to provide meals for themselves.

Balbriggan Meals Ltd still provides meals to the most vulnerable people in our community; they are people who are referred to us by Public

Health Nurses and Social Workers. As well as cooking and delivering meals, we host a Dinner Club three mornings per week which provides an important social outlet to our clients. Balbriggan Meals on Wheels is an essential voluntary service that requires all the support it can get. The organisation depends heavily on fundraising and donations. As such, we would like to express their gratitude to all the local companies, organisations, clubs, individuals etc who have

given donations in recent times; all donations are very much appreciated. Balbriggan Meals on Wheels can be contacted at Balbriggan Meals on Wheels, 14 Hampton Street, Balbriggan. Tel : 01 8416743 Email: mealsonwheelsbalbriggan@ gmail.com. TO DONATE TO BALBRIGGAN MEALS ON WHEELS VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE AND CLICK THE DONATE BUTTON:facebook.com/balbriggan. mealsonwheels/

CommunityLocals.ie

The package to make your debts manageable.

Five stars for the film called ‘8½’

By Jack Shanley

‘8½’ is a strange title but one appropriate for the 1963 classic. Approaching its 60th anniversary, we look back as fondly as ever at the Federico Fellini masterpiece. Gaining its title simply from the number of films in which the Italian maestro had made to date, it really is a must-watch movie. It follows a troubled Italian filmmaker, Guido (Marcello Mastroianni), who struggles with the creative stasis of his next project. Overwhelmed by his struggles, he retreats into a world of fantasy, both past and present, resulting in his next project being very autobiographical. This bonafide classic is a study of male fantasy and fear of the creative mind. Throughout, we are constantly struck with wonderful dream-like imagery from Guido’s mind overlooking the past and present, most of which involves his association with women, the impact of women on his life and his true feelings for them. We also study the true horror of one suddenly losing their creativity for their craft. Fellini at his very best tended to bond a balance between fantasy and reality and never has it

been more evident than in ‘8½’. The film is a messy ball of confusion as our hero (Guido), a self-regarding man, finds himself lost and utterly empty as the film itself. Midway though, a friend of Guido turns to him, speaking the true essence of the film when saying: ‘I’ve figured out what your story is about. It’s a man’s inner confusion.’ This speaks volumes not just for ‘8½’ but for the majority of Fellini’s filmography, films like ‘La Dolce Vita’, ‘La Strada’ and ‘Nights of Cabiria’ which all fall into the themes of fantasy, dreams and desire. ‘8½’, still regarded as one of the finest films ever made, is on many lists and polls as one of the greatest and most influential films of all time. It is truly an astonishing, masterful and electrifying spectacle of optimism as we step into the dreams and world of Fellini. As the material is still so fresh, it’s only right to give it a score of FIVE stars.

•You can watch ‘8½’ on Prime Video or buy it on Blu-Ray for €21.37 on Amazon. Director: Federico Fellini

– Rating:15 – Genre: Fantasy/ Drama – Run Time: 2h 18m –

Language: Italian English. For more film content please follow @ movies4fanatics on Instagram.

Viewpoints touring art exhibition coming to Fingal Libraries!

In partnership with the UCC School of Law, The Glucksman Gallery commissioned seven Irish picture book authors to respond to different themes within the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Artists Mary Murphy, Róisín Hahessy, Niamh Sharkey, Peter Donnelly, Fatti Burke, Chris Haughton and Chris Judge created seven new illustrations focusing on family and identity, education, creativity and play, justice and the right to be heard, equality, climate change and the environment, and migrants and refugees. Fingal Libraries is delighted to host the Viewpoints art exhibition from January to June as it tours around each library, culminating on 10th June at Cruinniú na nÓg, Creative Ireland’s annual day of free creative activity for children and young adults. Viewpoints is part of the Art Library initiative, a loan collection of artworks for sharing to community hubs across Ireland, and is funded by the Arts Council of Ireland. The exhibition was launched in Malahide Library on Saturday 28th January at 11.00am and was a fun morning for all the family. Exhibition tour dates: - (28th January – 19th FebruaryMalahide Library) - (20th February – 3rd March - Baldoyle Library) - (6th March – 19th March - Balbriggan Library) - (20th March – 2nd April - Rush Library) - (3rd April – 16th April - Donabate Library) - (17th April – 30th April

Swords & Skerries Libraries) - (1st May – 14th May - Howth & Garristown Libraries ) - (15th May – 4th June - Blanchardstown Library) - (5th June – 10th June Cruinniú na nÓg 2023. A fun

and interactive programme of creative workshops will take place for children and their families as the exhibition tours each library so watch out for more details!

Balbriggan/ North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs News

In 2022 we held 11 events throughout the year from which a fantastic total amount of €7,602.49 was raised. We would like to thank all who supported us and all the volunteers for their work throughout the year. We would also like to take this opportunity to thank Specsavers, Balbriggan for sponsoring the Santa Grotto in Millfield Shopping centre during November and December, of which a total of €1,119.95 was raised. Would you like to support our local Balbriggan/ North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs this February? Why not attend the Balbriggan Feis being held in Clann Mhuire GAA Hall, Naul, Co. Dublin on the 11th and 12th February with musician Kevin Warren.

Pre-registration through WeFeis is €5 or €8 per family (siblings only) and pre-registration is open on Monday 23rd January until Friday the 3rd of February. Or you can pay on the day for all dances with solos being €5 and Championships, confined and cup competitions being €10. A great time will be had and all proceeds go to our Balbriggan/ North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs. You can also support us by using our ‘Tap to Donate’ machine in Specsavers, Millfield Shopping Centre, Balbriggan, where a tap of your card donates €3 to us. Since July 2022 we also have a new machine in Oakes Pharmacy, Skerries. This one is slightly different than Specsavers, as in it allows for a minimum donation of €2 by the

tap of a phone but when you tap, it prompts you to open an app and select the amount you would like to donate.We are also involved in the current round of Community Fund at Tesco, Millfield Shopping Centre and we would appreciate if you would vote for us using your blue token. We appreciate all your support. If you are interested in volunteering with us please feel free to contact our Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs

Phone/text: 085 7663107Email:GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com or Find us on Facebook: Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs

Anne Mulligan, Gemma Kane with assistance dog Marco, Tom O’Neill with Guide Dog Qeb and John Burke Corporate Manager with Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind outside Specsavers, Millfield Shopping Centre, Balbriggan.

THE FINGAL OLD IRA COMMEMORATIVE SOCIETY

The Society is looking forward to the year ahead, and as Chairman of the Society I would like to thank Swords Local community news for their support for letting groups like ourselves publicise upcoming events and Society news. The Society was formed back in 1944 and was known as the FINGAL OLD IRA WELFARE SOCIETY. AS the then name of the Society would suggest, it was founded mainly to help OLD IRA men and their families who had fallen on hard times as a result of unemployment and illness – in some cases due to hardship endured during the struggle for our National Independence which was not won without a stern fight for our freedom in the period

between 1916 – 1921 throughout Fingal and at the Battle of Ashbourne. The Society also was involved in seeing that events of the struggle for Independence were suitably commemorated and, to this end, it was decided to hold a memorial mass on Easter Sunday in a different Parish in Fingal and also to hold an Annual mass and parade in Ashbourne in September, this tradition has, happily, been maintained up to this present day. In 1990 it was decided by the committee of the day to change from the Welfare to the Commemorative society and for clarity, to include 1916 – 1921 . So now we jump head to the present since 2016 up till the end of last year the Society has held over 100 events throughout

Fingal and Ashbourne and have made our first film Who Shot Sergeant Kirwan directed by Society member Cathal Boland it’s an Award winning Production and available to watch free on YouTube , but we could do our events our make films without the financial support and help from Fingal County council our members and the support of the local community throughout Fingal and Ashbourne. So, the first event this year will be the St Patrick’s Parade in Swords and the Society will also be taking part in Blachardstown’s Parade. So, if you like to get involved with the Society you can contact me on 086 3518927 Paul O’Brien.

ALL CONTRIBUTORS PLEASE NOTE**

Due to increasing demand for space in our magazine could all contributors please note OUR STRICT DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES AND PICS IS THE 16TH OF THE MONTH PRIOR TO PUBLICATION ** Thank you.

Photo supplied by Tommy Kavanagh

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Home Cook Recipes Healthy

Niamh’s Super ‘7 a Day’ Roasted Veg

With Wintry weather and the season for colds and flu, the below recipe is a simple way to help achieve ‘ 7 a day’ for fruit and vegetables and boost intakes of the all important nutrients for our immune systems including Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Make a big batch and use leftovers the following day or to make a ‘veggie’ tasty soup!!! Please feel free to use whatever vegetables you like or are available/in season.Although as the saying goes “Variety is the spice of life”!!!

Ingredients:

• 3 Sweet potatoes

• 2 Carrots

• 1 Courgette

• 2 Red onions

• 4 Cloves of garlic

• 1 Green pepper

• 1 Yellow pepper

• 1 Red pepper

• 10 Cherry tomatoes

• 1 Chilli (or 2 depending on if you want it hot!)

• 4 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar

• 2 tablespoons dried Basil or other herbs

of your liking

• Black pepper to season.

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200’c.

2. Prepare all vegetables by washing, peeling and chopping as appropriate. I diced, sliced and roughly chopped my vegetables into chunks as in the image.

3. Place the sliced sweet potatoes with x2 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar onto a large and long baking tray. Bake in the oven for 20minutes at180’c (160’c fan oven) Gas mark 4.

4. Remove tray from oven. Turn the sliced sweet potatoes around on the tray and add the carrots, red onions, garlic, chilli, herbs, spices and the other x2 tablespoons Balsamic vinegar. Ensure all the vegetables on the tray are coated in the herbs, spices and Balsamic vinegar

5.Place tray back in the oven for another 15minutes.

6. Remove tray from oven. Turn vegetables around to ensure even cooking. Add the

remaining vegetables left (peppers and tomatoes). Place back in the oven for another 15minutes or until the vegetables are cooked how you like them!

(Tip: Some vegetables take longer to cook than others hence the different lengths of baking time for the different vegetables)

Please follow’Biabites’Facebook for other food ideas especially in the ‘Fun food’ and ‘Recipes’ albums.

Please follow @BiaBites on twitter. For nutrition talks/workshops at events or in schools/workplaces/ community groups= please email: niamh@biabites.net.

Niamh Arthurs BSc, Msc

Registered Dietitian

Blasters Cricket starts up again on the 5th of Feb in Castlelands Community Centre !!!! Open to boys and girls aged 5-11. The sessions will run for 8 weeks and it’s just €50 for 1 or €75 for 2 kids for the 8 weeks. To Book go to balbriggancricketclub.com

Across

1. Make a high-pitched, screeching noise, as a rat. (6)

5. Cold seasoned vegetable dishes. (6)

10. Eastern is closest. (7)

11. Suggests something forgotten. (7)

12. Few and far between. (4)

13. Further down. (5)

15. A collection of facts from which conclusions may be drawn. (4)

17. Not worn or used. (3)

19. The colour between green and orange. (6)

21. Made noises like a pig. (6)

22. People who guide and inspire, (7)

23. Worthy of religious veneration. (6)

25. Pass or go by, like time. (6)

28. Social insect who lives in a colony. (3)

30. A list of names showing the order in which people should work. (4)

31. Sweet stuff. (5)

32. Small fragments. (4)

35. A relatively flat highland. (7)

36. Put something back where it belongs. (7)

37. Constituent of concrete and mortar. (6)

38. Vocal artiste. (6)

Down

2. Argue with a crossbow bolt. (7)

3. The original garden. (4)

4. A young domestic cat. (6)

5. Great sadness.. (6)

6. A young sheep. (4)

7. North European country. (7)

8. It’s needed to get up and go.. (6)

9. A land mass that is surrounded by water. (6)

14. Occupying the front in a race. (7)

16. Openings on a golf course. (5)

18. A passage between shelves in a supermarket. (5)

20. Dew get married. (3)

21. A metal-bearing mineral valuable enough to be mined. (3)

23. Discarded food from a kitchen. (6)

24. Quaint Irish dwelling. (7)

26. The lowest rank in the army. (7)

27. Happens as a result. (6)

28. Month named after the first Roman Emperor. (6)

29. The second sign of the Zodiac. (6)

33. An outdoor fundraiser. (4)

34. Peon is a tournament for amateurs and professionals. (4)

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 mnoth. The first correct entry to be drawnwill win €50..Good luck