Balbriggan Local V9I2-DEC 2023 by Irish Media Group

Cllr.Tony

MURPHY INDEPENDENT

086 814 0994

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL FREE Your Community News

Volume 9 Issue 2 December 2023

Merry Christmas!

€50 crosswor d competiti on inside

SHOP LOCAL THIS

OPFINGAL H S # SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

Find out more at

www.fingal.ie/christmas

Balbriggan Millfield Shopping Centre Tel: 01 883 4150

Christmas Gift Vouchers GIFT A CITYNORTH EXPERIENCE CASH VOUCHERS AFTERNOON TEA COUPLES BREAKS FAMILY BREAKS GIFT VOUCHERS AVAILABLE ON-LINE OR FROM RECEPTION WWW.CITYNORTHHOTEL.COM

Our Team Local News

Editor E. communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

Advertising

Sean Maguire T. 087 915 9052 E. seanmaguire@irishmediagroup.ie

Production

Tim Evans E. communitylocalsdesigner@gmail.com

Balbriggan Local Magazine E: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com Facebook.com/BalbrigganLocal

Designated Pick up Points

Supervalu Balbriggan, Lidl Balbriggan Tesco, Millfield S.C, Balbriggan Dunnes Stores, Castlemill S.C Bank of Ireland, Balbriggan Published by

IRISHMEDIAGROUP publishing | design | print | web

Let us all have a caring and sharing Christmas! People all over the world will celebrate the birth of Christ in many different ways this Christmas. In this country and a few others, we will buy presents for our families and friends and sit down to a turkey dinner with all the trimmings on Christmas Day. Every year at this time we look forward to the smiling faces of our children, nieces, nephews and Grandchildren as their little faces light up with smiles that warm our hearts on Christmas morning. This could be because they have received that long awaited and much sought after special present. In this Advent time, young workers plan Christmas parties with their fellow employees or their friends, and share Secret Santa parcels. Couples meet up for their annual get- togethers and exchange stories of the past year and Christmas gifts. Every year the Christian churches, and their charitable groups dream up an ever-increasing number of ways to help those in need and remind us, ‘The poor are always with us.” In our community it is our families that are foremost in our minds but let us not forget our elderly neighbours, or the sick and invalided and those who will not have the Christmas dinner we have all become so used to. So, this year remember support your local retailers, look in on your elderly neighbours, bring them a bite to eat and show your caring side to the charitable groups. Let us support those volunteers from numerous groups who are very active at this time. Let us endeavour to keep our demeanour happy and offer a helping hand to those who need it. After all it is Christmas, when peace and goodwill are the passwords across the globe and the smiles of all of us here show the world what a caring, and sharing community we have in Fingal. We in Local magazine wish you and yours a very happy Christmas and we hope Santa makes all your dreams come true this year. Happy Christmas to you all from The Local Team.

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 8th for inclusion in next months edition

www.irishmediagroup.ie

ϵ ŽƐƚ ŽĨ >ŝǀŝŶŐ >ƵŵƉ ^Ƶŵ WĂǇŵĞŶƚ ĂƚĞƐ

tĞĞŬ ĐŽŵŵĞŶĐŝŶŐ ϮϬƚŚ ŽĨ EŽǀĞŵďĞƌ €400 Cost of Living Payment to those in receipt of Working Family Payment €400 Disability Support Grant to people receiving Disability Allowance, Blind Pension & �nvalidity Pension €300 Fuel Allowance Lump Sum tĞĞŬ ĐŽŵŵĞŶĐŝŶŐ ϮϳƚŚ ŽĨ EŽǀĞŵďĞƌ €400 Carers Allowance €200 payment to people in receipt of Living Alone Allowance €100 lump sum for each child in respect of whom an increase in a Qualified Child is in payment tĞĞŬ ĐŽŵŵĞŶĐŝŶŐ ϰƚŚ ŽĨ ĞĐĞŵďĞƌ Christmas Bonus Double Payment Double Child Benefit Payment � �th of December �anuary Cost of Living Double Payment � Week commencing 2�th of �anuary

Cllr. TOM

O’LEARY Balbriggan Ward Councillor

Call (087) 245 9897 or Email tom.oleary@cllrs.fingal.ie Available by appointment Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-DECEMBER 2023

Local News

Support Local and Shop Local this Christmas!

Speaking at a recent meeting of the Balbriggan Branch of the Labour Party, Cllr Brendan Ryan encouraged the people of Balbriggan to shop local as much as possible this Christmas. He said that local businesses are an integral part of our town. They offer local employment and by supporting them we are ensuring that the money generated within their businesses is being reinvested directly into the town. He particularly called on people to support those businesses which are still surviving on Balbriggan Main Street in a very difficult trading environment and to actively consider buying at least one Christmas gift in the town Centre. “Let’s support our Main Street and Town Centre businesses as much as possible to help them survive” he said. This message would equally apply to all our towns, but Balbriggan Main Street has had its own particular challenges. In a follow up, at the November Council meeting, Cllr Ryan called on the Chief Executive, AnnMarie Farrelly, and her economic development team, to initiate a strong Shop Local campaign across all its media channels to drive home the message. Cllr Ryan stated that he was delighted with her very positive response and looks forward to the roll out in the coming weeks.

Working with you for our community

Cllr. Grainne Maguire Independent 90 Drogheda St., Balbriggan, Co. Dublin 087 9436650 grainne.maguire@cllrs.fingal.ie 4

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-DECEMBER 2023

CEANNAIGH GO HÁITIÚIL

AnNollaig A E C

IGHIBHFINE A N N G

SEO

TACAIGH LE DO GNÓNANNA ÁITIÚLA

Faigh tuilleadh eolais ag:

www.fingal.ie/christmas

Feature

Siobhan’s Christmas gift selection especially for you! By Siobhan Ó Neill White Yay, its December and we’ve curated a fantastic selection of gifts for you! Love a golden glow? TanOrganic has gorgeous gift sets. Use promo code MAMS15 for 15% off at //ie.tanorganic. com/. MyKindOfDress.com has beautiful dresses for partywear, use promo code MAMS30 for 30% off. For curvy girls, yoursclothing.ie has gorgeous clothing, underwear, loungewear and accessories in their Ilac SC store / online. Looking for a special outfit for an event or night out? Quiz Clothing have fabulously festive party wear. Available Ilac SC / online. sculptedbyaimee.com has beautiful gift sets for Christmas, the packaging is gorgeous, so no need to wrap! tipperarycrystal.ie/ has a huge selection of products for gifting, including homewares, handbags, wallets, purses and jewellery. Our favourite is their new Butterly & Bee ranges. Use promo code MAMS20 for 20% off. BaByliss has a fantastic range of hair styling and grooming products for women and men. Available in Boots and stores nationwide. We especially love the cordless products, for easy hair styling. R+Co and Alfaparf have fab hair treatment gift sets, perfect for pampering at home. Available in salons nationwide. For personalised gifts, Stitch A Name are a wonderful Irish company, making gorgeous gifts for babies, children and adults. We love the dressing gowns &amp; teddy bears, so cute!

Available Ilac SC and online. Love skiing? The new Pixie Lott ski collection with Dare2B has landed online and in Regatta stores. Colourful, warm and stylish for hitting the slopes. Malena shirts are a clever gift for guys. With a hidden zip behind the buttons, it’s like a comfy corset for men! See malenashirt. com. Burrenperfumery.com/ hand make beautiful gift sets that smell incredible! A little bit of the Burren in a box! Elave has wonderful skincare gift

sets, perfect for anyone with sensitive skin and they’re made in Ireland! If you want to make gift wrapping extra special? At mynametags.ie/ you can create personalised stickers to put on gifts. They’re wonderful for putting on toys, books etc so they don’t get mixed up or lost! For more gift ideas go to mams.ie and our socials instagram.com/mams. ie/? hl=en, facebook.com/mams.ireland and // twitter.com/mams.ie.

Memories of yesteryear - Christmas in a new house By Jonathan Kavanagh Swords is still a small rural town as the not so swinging sixties draw to a close. But change is on the way as even the world’s greatest futurologist cannot not predict the expansion to come. As Neil Armstrong leaves his footprints in the lunar dust, we too take a giant leap for mankind. We vacate the antiquated gate lodge and move into a newly built council house a few miles from Swords town. As Christmas approaches, I have a serious concern. Our new dwelling does not have an open chimney breast. How will Santa get in? “I’ll leave a key out for him”, my mother reassures me. Meanwhile, the culinary event of the year, operation Christmas pudding begins. My mother builds up the ingredients on a weekly basis; currants, raisins, mixed peel etc. The receipt also contains a bottle of stout and a generous helping of whiskey. We have a new neighbour; a disciple of modern gadgets who takes on the unenviably task of dragging us into the twentieth century. She tells my mother that cooking the pudding in a piece of calico cloth belongs to the era of the penny farthing bicycle and loans her 6

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-DECEMBER 2023

a state-of-the-art bowl. With all the suspicion of the Road Runner viewing an invitation to Wile E Coyote’s barbeque, the new cooking method is reluctantly embarked upon. As always, boiling the pudding is a nine-hour marathon, producing enough steam to power the Titanic. Alas, like the great ship, the pudding is also on course for disaster. The next stage of the process involves removing the annual treat from the cloth and rapping it up to mature. Horror reveals itself; the much-acclaimed bowl has a design flaw. A hidden inner rim, rendering it impossible to remove its contents in one piece. My mother, a god-fearing woman who never uses bad language, expels expletives that would make Mrs Brown blush as she scoops out her pride and joy with a wooden spoon. A valiant attempt to reassemble it has all the success of Mr Magoo trying to thread a needle. Like Humpty Dumpty, all the king’s horses and all the kings’ men can’t put it back together again. On a happier note, Santa finds the key and leaves me my dream present – a pocket transistor radio complete with one ear piece.

Local News

EggHeadz Youth Mental Health and Well-being

EggHeadz CLG is delivering programmes and support services across Fingal and Dublin. Here is some of what we’re doing… School Engagement: The recommencement of EggHeadz in-school, after-school programmes, drop-in evening and weekend classes is in full swing since September in Primary and Secondary schools throughout Fingal and Dublin City. Youth Recovery Programmes: EggHeadz launched a Recovery through Activity Programme. A six-week program for teenagers living in Fingal who are having difficulties with their mental health which started in October and is currently underway. The programme is supported by the Health Service Executive and CAMHS. Community Engagement: EggHeadz

supporters and volunteers took part in the King of the Castle, Cycle Against Suicide event in August. October was World Mental Health month and we marked in distributing Green Ribbon’s throughout the community. EggHeadz Youth Camps: Our Halloween Mid-term Sport4All camp was a great success and we’re really looking forward to our future camps where we will bring more fun, fitness, outdoor activity, relaxation, sport and therapeutic supports. EggHeadz Activities and Events: Water Sports: Weekly kayaking, and Paddleboarding was enjoyed by teenagers during the summer. HER Outdoors was celebrated with Yoga, Dip, Paddleboarding in Donabate, Portrane and Malahide Estuary.

EggHeadz Inclusion Programmes: EggHeadz support services take place in five different centres for Direct Provision in the Fingal area. Our engagement with the migrant community has been vital for integration and inclusion of young people in local sports clubs. FREE Youth Counselling in Donabate: This is available free of charge to young people (aged 12-25) by appointment. It is available on Mondays in Donabate Portrane Community Centre and appointments are available between 9.30am and 3.30pm. Contact Mairead on 086329 6812 or by email eggheadzcounselling@ gmail.com to book an appointment. For more follow us on social media visit our website or scan the QR code.

facebook.com/BalbrigganLocal www.facebook.com/BalbrigganLocal 8

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-DECEMBER 2023

Film Reviews

All wrapped up

BORROW UP TO €3,000 SPECIAL MEMBER RATES 7.9%/8.18% APR*

Apply online - aviatecu.ie or Tel (01) 844 5187

WARNING: If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating, which may limit your ability to access credit in the future. Aviate Credit Union Ltd. is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Terms and conditions apply. Must be an Aviate Credit Union member. *Loans subject to qualifying criteria. Terms & Conditions apply. €3,000 loan for 12 months. 7.9%/8.18%APR. Repay €60.04 per week. Total repayments €3,121.91.

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) – A Christmas Classic Film

By Jack Shanley With Christmas just around the corner its only right to light up your Christmas with this timeless classic by the great Frank Capra. James Stewart astounds us as George Bailey with the beautiful Donna Reed oozing that festive feeling. Regarded as one of finest films ever made, it sure is a good family film and for me it is the pure definition of Christmas. With ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Frank Capra essentially paints the most beautiful picture of life that no matter how many times you look at it its still so powerful bringing you closer to life. Its with this classic that proves how beautifully powerful cinema truly is that no words can speak loud enough to make you feel the way the film does. It’s the journey Capra takes us on from George Bailey ( James Stewart) as a boy to a grown man, with these great plans to conquer the world and essentially live the life of dreams, that just never happens for him and for us all. With this ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ is still so relevant today after all

these years. I’m not shy to say it’s a film that may lead to you shedding a few tears, throughout the film but especially in its final act. With an Angel in Clarence sent to George Bailey ( James Stewart) to make him see his life essentially if he hadn’t been born makes you see your life the same way, with that it makes you happy to exist. The film has its humour romance and its everenduring scenes, from the classic dance scene which starts with the startling look both Donna Reed and James Stewart give each other to the frustration in the bank on their Wedding Day and on to the final act which speaks for itself. This highspirited Christmas classic ranks among fans and critics alike as one of the most loved and celebrated films ever made In all truth I’d recommend checking out ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and see what you think of it, I shall give it a score of Five stars. Director: Frank Capra – Rating: G – Genre: Drama/Comedy – Run Time: 2h 10m Language: English. For more film content please follow @movies4fanatics on Instagram BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-DECEMBER 2023

Local News

Balbriggan Swimming Pool - Consultants to be appointed. – Cllr O’Leary

Cllr Tom O’Leary

I am delighted that Fingal Co Council have confirmed in reply to my formal question that consultants will be procured for a site specific feasibility study at Castlelands Balbriggan with a view “to guide the Council’s next steps in terms of timelines and route through the planning process.” for a Balbriggan Public Swimming Pool and that €75,000 Hs been set aside in the Fingal Capital Plan for that purpose. “The previous swimming pool projects In Skerries and Balbriggan were complicated public private partnerships and failed for that reason. This public swimming pool will be built on council land by

Fingal Co Council. The council must build and fund a Public Swimming Pool in Balbriggan for Balbriggan residents and the North Fingal catchment area including nearby Skerries. “ said Cllr Tom O’Leary. There are various Funding sources possible, Fingal Co Council, Government National Funding, and levies from new homes to be built in Balbriggan. The ongoing review of the options to deliver Swimming Pools in Ireland may present some new interest value for money models already in use in England and energy efficient models that make running costs

of a public swimming pool more sustainable and affordable said Balbriggan Ward. Councillor Tom O’Leary said, “I look forward to more progress on this project, engaging with the consultants on the proposal for a public swimming pool in Balbriggan and also engaging with the North Fingal Swimming Pool group.” The Housing and Community Dept will be commencing the procurement process to engage a consultant for this study with an appointment likely in Q1 2024. “ said Fingal Co Council on 13th November 2023.

The Balbriggan Sustainable Energy Community (SEC) CLG The Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) provides grant support to Sustainable Energy Communities (SECs) to improve local energy efficiency and help with the transition from fossil fuels to renewables. We are working on a voluntary basis with ORS energy consultants on an Energy Master Plan for Balbriggan, which consists of an online Home Energy Survey, community building and business energy audits, a baseline energy use assessment and energy action plan. We are the link between the community and ORS and our main role is to encourage participation in the Energy Master Plan process. In the future, we hope to pursue further energy related projects in Balbriggan. Thanks to everyone who has completed the Home Energy Survey so far. We’ve had 70 responses but we would like to get to a 100 so please fill out the 5-minute survey and help inform the assessment of energy needs in the community. You can contact us on balbrigganclimateclub@gmail.com if you need help with it or would like further information. Five homes representative of different house types will be energy audited by ORS, along with three community buildings. ORS are also supporting a number of local businesses to apply for Support Scheme for Energy Audits (SSEA) vouchers worth €2,000. Please do visit us at this website for any and all further look up balbrigganclimateclub.wordpress. com. Balbriggan Climate Club is a sub-committee of Balbriggan Tidy 10 BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-DECEMBER 2023

Towns and a few members set up the Balbriggan SEC to avail of the grant to develop the Balbriggan Energy Master Plan. We wish everyone a lovely break. The Energy Master Plan should be finished in spring 2024, when we will have a public launch so keep an eye out for further updates in the New Year! Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

Spoil your Pet this Christm as Balbriggan’s Largest Choic e of Christmas presents for yo ur pets! Cupid & e Comet Festiv Filled Santa & 9 Reindeer €3.9

Cupid & Comet Selection or Boxes €7.99 2 for €13.00

Dreamies Gift Box €7.99

Cupid & Comet Chocolate Orange Tr eats €2.99

Pedigree Dog Stockings €6.50 or 2 for €12.00

Cupid & Comet Christmas ings Dinner Stock r €7.99 or 2 fo €13.00

e! r o t S In e r o M h c u And So M

Unit C1 Millfield Shopping Centre, Balbriggan, Co Dublin Tel: 01 6904422, Email: cuddlespetstore@gmail.com web: www.cuddlespetstore.com

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-DECEMBER 2023

Local News

Balbriggan LGBT+ Peer Support Group Christmas Bingo Night

Join us for a Christmas Bingo night at The Milestone, 27 Drogheda St, Balbriggan K32 RD98 on Wednesday 6th Dm 8pm to 10 pm hosted by Balbriggan LGBT+ Peer Support Group and proudly sponsored by Outcomers LGBT Support Service. Embrace the festive cheer as we gather together the vibrant LGBT+

community of Balbriggan and its neighbouring areas. Newcomers, outcomers, and their allies are warmly invited to join us for an enjoyable evening of gay bingo and delicious finger food. Admission is free! Participate in 3 games of bingo for just €5. Let’s make it merrier by dressing in our most festive Christmassy clothes! Come

Reading information supplied by grant providers for everyone By Lusk Community Network On our Facebook and Instagram pages ILoveLusk, we put up quick posts in relation to available grants and then point you back to our main website – lovelusk.ie. Even within the ‘Community Grants’ page, we provide a summary of the grants and a link to the full information. While our web page lovelusk.ie/home/community-grants/ may only give a brief description of the grant, don’t be put off by the wording. Click on the link supplied by us, bringing you to the relevant section of the grant providers’ website. If you need examples of how this grant was used by other groups, most websites provide a list of recipients in prior years and give brief descriptions about their projects. These descriptions are brilliant as you now have examples of accepted projects. You can decide if any of these projects would or could apply to your organisation. If you feel you

12 BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-DECEMBER 2023

along and celebrate with us in a welcoming and joyful atmosphere ...see you there! Also do not forget….the Balbriggan group meets twice per month in the Flemington Centre. For any queries please contact Annie Blake, Regional LGBT Community Outreach Worker, Outcomers Office 042 932 9816.

need extra clarity, most groups have either a website or a Facebook page and so if you need to, you can contact them and from our experience, they are more than happy to talk. On our Facebook and Instagram page, we posted about the Community Water Development Fund, which is currently open. Examples of previous local recipients were provided – Balbriggan Tidy Towns, OWLS (Children’s Nature Charity) and Swords Tidy Towns, as well as the possibility of applying for this grant for a feasibility study into rain water harvesting systems, showing how St. Maur’s GAA received funding from LEADER to help with harvesting rain water from the roof of their clubhouse. In other words, this grant could be a stepping stone for further available grants. It would be very easy to miss this wide ranging grant. So, get into a habit of looking at the grants page on our website, clinking into the links provided and reading the extra information contained there. Don’t be put off by the wording and, with the examples provided of prior approved projects, think within and outside the box. Then don’t forget to apply! Check out our website lovelusk.ie, our Facebook & Instagram pages iLoveLusk

Finance

If you rent you should know this By Dave Kavanagh Those that rent their accommodation privately, compared to home owners, can be a lot more vulnerable. Apart from the obvious points, like rents being increased or having to move out if a property is being sold, there are other potential events that could prove problematic for renters. As we saw in the early part of the pandemic, where many people’s incomes were drastically reduced, those with mortgages were permitted to avail of “payment breaks” with minimal effort. Unfortunately, those renting do not usually have the flexibility of this option. When someone cannot work due to illness or injury, they may suffer a loss of income, either immediately or after a short period, resulting in the inability to pay rent. This could lead to eviction and all of the problems associated with it. While those renting may not have been exposed to the kind of financial advice as someone going through the mortgage process, there are still safeguards that can be put in place. One option is Income Protection, paying them a portion of their income if they were unable to work due to illness

+353 87 187 6646

or injury. This could be the difference between affording rent or being evicted. Something not often considered by renters is Life Cover. If one of a couple renting passed away, this could allow the surviving partner (or family) to purchase their own home immediately without the need for a mortgage. Similarly, Serious Illness Cover could pay out a tax-free lump sum on diagnosis of one of the illnesses covered, giving another layer of financial security. Better to consider these options earlier rather than later.

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 Dave at info@ financialcompanion.ie or use the contact form on 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 well being, positivity and motivation. As heard on RTE 2FM , LMFM and TV3.

Brendan.Ryan@cllrs.ﬁngal.ie

@BrendanRyanNo1

Cllr Brendan Ryan In Combined Clubs, Balbriggan Every Saturday at 10 am

Except Bank Holiday Weekends No appointment necessary

Serving The People of Balbriggan Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-DECEMBER 2023

Fingal News

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from Guide Dogs It’s the most wonderful time of the year and one of the busiest times for our Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Guide Dogs. Our merchandise stand was in SuperValu, Balbriggan on both Friday the 10th and Saturday the 11th November and also up in Millfield Shopping Centre on Friday the 24th and Saturday the 25th November for the arrival of Santa, where we had car raffle tickets, Christmas cards and calendars, all of which are still available and if you missed us at any of the events in November and would like to get the above merchandise, our Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch will be at the Bremore Castle Crafts Fair on the 10th December so you can come along, get your goodies and say hello. If you are not in North County Dublin however and find yourself in Co Cavan at the Ballinagh Tractor Run on the same date, you just might run into Tom O’Neill and his guide dog Qeb who will be attending. Another way to support us this Christmas season is to donate any old Irish coins, old sterling and any other coins and notes from around the world, along with old postage stamps that you might have lying around, as our branch receives the money from everything that comes in.Finally, our counter boxes and large dogs are a very steady fundraiser throughout the year and we want to thank all the premises holders that allow these containers to be placed on their premises. We would love more help to empty these boxes

Anne with puppy in training ‘Cosmo’, Georgina with Assistance Dog ‘Milo’, Sarah with Assistance Dog ‘Kirby’, Tom with his Guide Dog ‘Qeb’ standing with Santa and his elves in the Grotto 2022.

and large dogs especially in the Rush, Lusk and Skerries areas of North County Dublin. If you would like to help, please contact us on the details below. We would also like to say a massive thank you to everyone who has volunteered, donated and supported our Branch throughout the year. We wish you a happy Christmas and a fantastic

new year! If you are interested in volunteering with us, please feel free to contact us: Balbriggan/ North County Dublin branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, you can phone or text us on 085 7663107, email us whenever you can at GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com or find us on Facebook at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs.

County Council budget increased by €28 million Euros An increased Annual Budget has been approved for Fingal County Council, with Councillors agreeing to a €361.9 million budget that will be invested in delivering over 900 different services in one of Ireland’s fastest growing counties. Adoption of the 2024 Budget sees an additional €28.1 million available from that received in the budget for 2023. The single biggest expenditure in this year’s budget remains for housing and building (€117.2m), representing a rise of some 16 per cent from that seen in 2023. Other functional areas that account for significant expenditure includes roads & safety (€43.1m), environmental services (€54.1m) and recreation & amenities (€70.2m). Overall, the 2024 budget means that spend per head of population in Fingal equates to €1,099. Commenting on the 2024 Budget, the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy said: “This marks a significant milestone for the people of Fingal as we welcome the passing of the Council’s new budget for 2024. This includes a substantial increase in funding, allowing us to deliver even more essential services to our community and will help foster greater social, cultural and economic growth across the region. As we continue to significantly invest in a range of initiatives and services, adoption of this budget underscores our commitment to enhancing the quality of life in Fingal and helps ensure that our residents have access to the resources and support they deserve. ” Some of the 2024 Budget highlights include: (1) A €16m increase for the housing department to help with the likes of provision of social housing, preventative maintenance works, homeless services and housing adaptation grants. (2) An increase of €5.5m towards roads maintenance, parks, pitches, opens spaces and burial grounds (3) Around €3m to help develop and maintain libraries, tourism, arts, events and town centres. (4) An additional €1.9m allocated to help invest in new and current community infrastructure and facilities. Also, 1.7m towards planning and strategic infrastructure, including increased funding for biodiversity projects and initiatives. 14 BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-DECEMBER 2023

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-DECEMBER 2023

Healt

Forget the chill with warming Curry. As the weather starts to turn chillier, eating foods with spices can help to warm us up from the inside out! Curries are a great dish for cooking in a batch and leaving it to simmer to develop the flavours of the spices. Curry also freezes quite well, providing a flavoursome, nourishing and warming meal for those busy days that you may not have much time to spend in the kitchen. There are so many variations on curry. My recipe is really colourful, tasty, healthy and lean with all the different vegetables.

Colourful chicken curry Makes 4 portions Ingredients •

3-4 (550g) Chicken fillets, chopped into pieces

Home Cook Recipes

• • • • • • • • • •

Colourful Chicken Curry

1 large spanish onion, cut into chunks 3 Garlic cloves, crushed/chopped finely 1 Red pepper, cut into chunks 1 Yellow pepper, cut into chunks 2 whole Fresh red chillis, diced 100g Spinach leaves 200g Natural flavour greek yogurt 1 tin chopped tomatoes 4 tablespoons curry powder 400mls water

Method 1. Prepare and wash the vegetables. Place aside. 2. Prepare and chop the chicken. 3. Heat a non stick pan on a medium heat. If not using a non-stick pan then heat 4 teaspoons of oil in a high sided pan. 4. Add the onion, garlic and fresh chilies and cook on a medium-high

heat. 5. Add the chicken and curry powder. Allow the chicken to cook thoroughly and absorb the flavours from the curry powder. 6.Add the peppers, tin of chopped tomatoes and 400mls hot water. Stir to mix. 7. Simmer for 1 hour until the liquid reduces. In the mean time the condiment such as rice could be cooked as per instructions on the product label. 9.Finally, stir in the spinach leaves and yogurt. Serve and enjoy.

For 1:1 clinical consultations, public health talks or workshops in preschools, primary or secondary schools and workplaces, please email: niamh@biabites.net See my ‘Fun food’ and ‘Recipes’ albums on ‘Biabites’ Facebook for other food ideas. Niamh Arthurs, Public Health and Clinical Nutritionist”

Local Sports

Balbriggan Rugby Club growing their internal support structures!

Over the last months, Balbriggan Rugby Club adult players have been volunteering with our youth and mini teams. Our aims are to foster relationships across the teams within the club, to grow our internal support structures, and to highlight the pathway for within the club for our young players.

FOR ALL YOUR SHELVING, RACKING & MEZZANINE FLOORS Quote ‘Locals’ for our best price

087 476 2256 | info@azilracking.ie | www.azil.ie Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-DECEMBER 2023

WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!! 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 drawn will win €50..Good luck Across

Down

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)

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)

• 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..

Send us your pics.. We Want it ALL..

SUDOKU ANSWERS

WE WANT YOUR LOCAL NEWS!!

18 BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-DECEMBER 2023

WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED SERVICING • TYRES • PARTS • BODY REPAIRS • VALET • SALES

CALL: 01 843 7100

Visit us, we’re beside Rush/Lusk Train Station

THE AMY WINEHOUSE BAND DATE: FEB 22, 2024