Balbriggan Local V9I5-MAR 2024

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Happy Mother’s Day, St Patrick’s Day and Easter this March!

This March is a particularly peculiar month. Mother’s Day is on the 10th and Christians will celebrate both St Patrick’s Day and Easter, before the end of it. Obviously, Our Mums should always come first so do not forget them. Then, all over the world, those born in Ireland and those of Irish descent will as usual be celebrating St Patrick’s Day on March 17th. However, two weeks later on March 29th it will be Good Friday with Easter Sunday on March 31st. This of course will be a busy and expensive time especially for families. A month when children want to buy Mum a present and youngsters and adults may be joining in on floats depicting factual or imaginary groups, events, or characters. Costumes and the decorating of floats does not come cheap and during these austere times groups and organisations are doing all they can to keep the costs down.. The question is how can we all help? Well, if you think about it there are many ways. Do you have a skill or craft that may help to make costumes, design floats, or make caricatures or floats? Are you experienced in organising events or interested in learning a new skill? All over Fingal help will be needed by all these groups whether it is to celebrate St Patrick’s Day or the Easter Festivities or helping charities for those less fortunate this Easter. Every one of us can do something. Every one of us can help our local economy by shopping locally. Every one of us can give whatever we can to make our less fortunate neighbours happy in March. The rewards are immense no matter how you measure them whether it is the smiles on the kids whose costumes you made, or the satisfaction of viewing the lovely float you designed or painted or indeed the grateful looks given by the Meals on Wheels recipients you helped sponsor. So, in keeping with our theme of caring in the community let us all remember our Mums, enjoy Paddy’s Day and Easter but do so whilst thinking of others so we can all enjoy March together!

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100 New local Jobs - Hannon Pharma Link to locate

Cllr Tom O’Leary has welcomed some good news for Balbriggan population 25,000 with 8000 in school-100 New Jobs and prospects of enticing a major FDI Foreign Direct Investment Business into Balbriggan from the Pharma and Med Tech sector. Cllr Tom O’Leary said, “ I am happy to have played a key role in facilitating the plans of HPL Hannon Pharma Link to establish a key base for this new high tech best practice Pharma Logistics Company HPL that can deliver “ door to door” anywhere in Europe within 72 Hours and door to door in the UK within 24 Hours. I expect this independent company to “ do a Ryanair “ on pharma distribution across Europe and beyond. I hope that with this key lean Pharma Distribution Co HPL located in Balbriggan along the North/South economic corridor that we can land a large Pharmaceutical Company into Balbriggan like the WUXI Vaccination company in Dundalk that employs 600 in top quality jobs. Cllr Tom O’Leary also continued, “Fingal Co Council along with local Councilors and key stakeholders are working on a plan via an EU Collaboration scheme with 8 EU cities as partners to develop a key landbank in Balbriggan for thousands of new jobs there. The location of HPL

Hannon Pharma Link is a key strategic step on that journey to bring local employment opportunities to Balbriggan and Fingal.”

Cllr Tom O’Leary added, “This deal involves a land swap where Fingal Co Council will acquire a key strategic 12 acres at the Blakes Cross Junction R127Lusk Road / R132 Swords Road. I am calling on Fingal Co Council now to fast track the upgrade of this junction and make it safe for everyone. There have been too many accidents at this location.

Ye olde diet in bygone St Patrick’s Days

By Jonathan Kavanagh

Take a stroll around Swords or any local town and one is immediately impressed by the number of restaurants offering fine cuisine from around the globe. We are truly spoiled for choice. In days of yore, dining out has not yet entered our psyche. Our tastebuds go unchallenged. The free-standing kitchen cabinet, complete with drop down work board, contains the basics to quell our hunger and keep us upright. Meat and home-grown vegetables most days of the week. On Fridays, the scent of “fresh” herrings perfumes the air as the fishman roams the district in his Volkswagen pickup truck. On Sundays and special occasions desert: jelly and custard, rice with added raisins boiled to near annihilation, tapioca or semolina are added to the menu. We eat in season; with mushrooms straight from the fields simmered in milk with a generous helping of pepper, blanched new season nettles believed to have health benefits, and blackberries straight from the bush among our favourite treats. A bottle of chicory which tastes like a hybrid of brown sauce and sandpaper is as close as we come to Noel Purcell’s ‘heaven with coffee at eleven’. St Patrick’s Day finds my mother (best described as a chef de rough ‘n’ ready), sporting her green apron, as she unwraps an aesthetically displeasing lump of bacon, she bought in a corner shop. Incidentally, not a health regulation in sight

as the shopkeeper cuts cooked and uncooked meat on the same slicer. Bedecked with a sprig of shamrock in the band of his hat, my father brings in the last of head of winter cabbage from the garden. My mother turns up her ‘How many pair of hands do you think I have?’ expression, as she despatches any squatting insects lurking in the cabbage leaves to a watery grave in the

sink. His contribution made; my father sits down to read the newspaper. Like many men of his generation, he sees domesticity as a dark art best not tampered with. With well loaded plates, new oil cloth on the table and not a mobile phone in sight, we sit down to celebrate our national holiday in an age of simplicity.

Show Mum how much you love her on March 10th!

By Siobhan O’Neill White

This month it’s all about the Mammies! On 10th March, ‘Mother’s Day’, us hard working Mammies are ‘supposed’ to get the day off and have someone else do the cooking, cleaning and the million other things we do daily. Of course, its lovely to give a gift to your Mam or get a gift from your children but for me, the best gifts are usually the ones that don’t cost a thing. One of my best memories is my children bringing me Mother’s Day breakfast in bed.. Because they were too young to boil the kettle, they made the tea with lukewarm water from the tap. This was proudly presented beside a salad sandwich (at 8am!)! There was broken cheese, lettuce and

chunks of tomato. They weren’t able to spread the butter as it was cold from the fridge, so the butter was also in chunks! But you know what – it’s one of my favourite Mother’s Day memories. Their efforts made me feel so loved. Was I able to eat it? Not quite but the gesture was enough to put me in a great mood. And what made me even happier was when my husband offered to take a few bites when the kids left the room so they wouldn’t be disappointed that I didn’t eat it! Another favourite gift was given to me last year. My youngest, who is so good at arts and crafts made me a ticket machine and every time I pulled out a ticket there was a little message on it, like ‘Here’s a hug’ or ‘I Luv U’. I’ve saved some of them in the back of my phone so whenever I turn it over, I am reminded

that my youngest loves me. She will be a teenager before I know so I am relishing these little gestures of love while I can still get them! If your Mam is no longer with you, its ok to feel sad. You may want to be alone or with loved ones – you should do what feels right for you and please be extra kind to yourself if you’re having a hard day. Wishing you all the best for March 10th. Siobhán @mams.ie x

Shortlisted for Golden Spider Award & Infant & Maternity Award

As seen on RTE and Virgin Media Ireland & Weekend AM

As heard on Today FM’s Ian Dempsey & Dermot & Dave; RTE’s Ray D’Arcy Show, 98FM, LMFM Late Lunch, WLRFM & Shannonside FM

Ryan Raises Balbriggan and Balrothery Bus Service with NTA

Councillor Brendan Ryan (Lab) spoke directly to the National Transport Authority (NTA) at a meeting in County Hall in February about the ongoing issues with the 101X/101 service between Balbriggan/Balrothery and the City Centre. “I welcome the improved service on the 101 but there are capacity pinch points at peak times which need to be addressed, particularly on the 101X” he said. “The three issues I want to raise with you today are: commuters waiting for the early morning 101X being regularly left behind, Flemington Lane stop being removed from the service, and the IFSC Stop 101971 being removed from the return service without consultation and without any sense of logic” he continued. “In your press release on 3th May, launching the East Coast Commuter Corridor, you indicated that double decker’s would be introduced on the

101X service but we have yet to see them and they would be the solution to the “leaving behind” problem at Balrothery.” Cllr Ryan also made the case for restoring the 101X stop at Flemington Lane which served the many estates off Flemington Lane before the introduction of the East Coast Corridor. “It’s hardly an enhancement of the service” he said. And, in relation to the IFSC stop being taken off the 101X return service he said: “This makes no sense at all. The majority of people using the service work in the IFSC and they have to leave early from work to walk the 10-12 minute journey to the alternative stops. The IFSC stop 101971 continues to be used for other Bus Eireann services such as the 100X. So, it definitely defies logic” Cllr Ryan urged the NTA to work with Bus Eireann to try to resolve these issues which are affecting commuters from Balbriggan and Balrothery.

The package to make

All of us Strangers (2023) - A Cinematic Exploration of Isolation and Grief

By Jack Shanley

“All of us Strangers,” directed by acclaimed filmmaker Andrew Haigh, is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged drama that delves into the intricate web of human connections. Released in 2023, the film skilfully weaves together the lives of seemingly unrelated characters, exploring themes of loneliness, alienation, and the quest for meaningful connection. All of us strangers is a film that captures the beautiful essence of encountering a lost loved one in a dream. Many films have come along about grief but none like this. It’s a sensual, romantic and yet heartbreaking look at life through the eyes of an everyday man whose life has never really turned out the way he wanted. With extraordinary performances from both Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal the film really shapes out to put you on an emotional Journey. All of us Strangers unravels as a simple yet strange narrative exploring themes of isolation, identity, grief, and the lingering ghosts of one’s past. I found this film to be profoundly captivating,

with its dreamlike atmosphere, heartbreaking moments, and a touch of melancholy adding to its beauty. With 2023 having some impressive films ‘All of us Strangers’ is way up the list amongst the best of 2023. Its with films like this that shall stay with you forever, only be different as you get older with every viewing of it, it shall remain the same film but is only different as you’ve changed, this for me is the pure definition of cinema. In conclusion, “All of us Strangers” is a compelling exploration of the human experience. Andrew Haigh’s directorial prowess, coupled with a stellar cast and a fantastic script, makes this film a poignant and relevant piece of cinema that will leave audiences contemplating the intricate dance of human connection long after the credits roll. In all truth I’d recommend checking out “All of us Strangers” at your local cinema and see what you think of it, I shall give it a score of Four stars. Director Andrew Haigh – Rating: 16 –Genre: Romance/Fantasy – Run Time: 1h 45m Language: English. For more film content please follow @movies4fanatics on Instagram.

Thank you all from the Balbriggan Feis Team

Many thanks to all the dancers, parents and teachers for the wonderful support for Balbriggan Feis 2024. It truly was an amazing Irish Dancing weekend. Thanks to our adjudicating panel - Mr Eugene Smith, Ms Belinda Murphy, Ms Briege Crawford, Mr Damian O’Neill, Ms Catherine Maher and Ms Minette Kieran for working tirelessly

and flexibly through the weekend. We were also delighted to have the wonderful music from Mr Kevin Warren. We had great help from family, friends and teacher colleagueswe couldn’t have done it without ye! Parents and dancers from the Mc FOS School (and former dancers) were also brilliant - thank you all. Clann Mhuire GFC are always great

to work with and volunteers help set up the hall, look after the carpark and the shop and help in every way they can. We look forward to letting you know about the proceeds that go to the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. Thank you one and all and we look forward to seeing you again in 2025. All the best, Damien, Ann and all the team.

Join us and hear how to save energy!

Please join Balbriggan Sustainable Energy Community CLG and the ORS energy team for the launch of the Balbriggan Energy Master Plan on Thursday March 7th 18.00 - 20.00 in

the Bracken Court Hotel. Hear about the home and community building energy audits and the results of our Home Energy Survey. Learn about energy use in Balbriggan and new projects that will help Balbriggan

transition to a low carbon community. The launch is supported by the Progressive Credit Union and thanks to the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland for the grant funding. We hope to see you there.

Balbriggan & District Historical Society / Future Events Guide

Balbriggan & District Historical Society is looking forward to a new year of activities and we would be delighted if you can join us. For our first talk on March 27th, we welcome Skerries native Gerard Shannon for a talk on Liam Lynch titled - To Declare a Republic: The life of Liam Lynch, IRA Chief of Staff, 1892-1923.

General Liam Lynch was one of the most important republican leaders of the Irish revolutionary period. Hailing from rural Limerick, Lynch proved himself an accomplished guerrilla commander of the IRA’s Cork No. 2 Brigade in north Cork, masterminding important operations against British forces during the War of Independence. Following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, Lynch soon established him as a chief opponent to the settlement, seeing it as a betrayal of the Irish republican cause. On becoming leader of the anti-Treaty IRA at the

outset of the Irish Civil War, Lynch was a major driving of republican resistance to the emerging Irish Free State, with his death in April 1923 ultimately signalling an end to the military fighting of the conflict. This talk from Gerard Shannon, author of the most recent biography of Lynch, explores the life of this fascinating figure.

Bio – Gerard Shannon is a public historian of the Irish revolutionary period from Skerries and has a MA in History from the DCU School of History and Geography. His first book, ‘Liam Lynch: To Declare a Republic’, was published in March 2023 from Merrion Press and featured on the non-fiction best seller lists. He is currently developing a biography of IRA leader Rory O’Connor, to see publication in early 2025.

For our April talk on the 24th we welcome local historian and Committee member our

own Jim Walsh for a talk on the tragedy of the Bolingbroke children in 1930. His talk will focus on their death in a fire in Balbriggan, and the impact on the Bolingbroke family and the community of a tragedy remembered in Balbriggan almost a century later.

On May 29th we welcome Aiden Arnold for a talk based on his recent book Barnewall de Berneval - 800 years of a Norman Irish family. As we all know the Barnewall family were associated with Bremore Castle in Balbriggan so this will be of huge interest.

All our talks take place in the Bracken Court Hotel at 8pm on the last Wednesday of the month, and all are welcome. Membership is €15 or €10 for seniors or you can pay €5 for any individual talk. For any information see balbrigganhistory.com

Fianna Fáil’s young gun Sinéad Lucey Brennan to take on the old guard!

Fianna Fáil selected local woman Sinéad Lucey Brennan as its candidate in the Balbriggan LEA, to contest the Local Elections in 2024, following a Selection Convention last June. Since her selection as Fianna Fail’s candidate, Sinéad has been working tirelessly for the people of Balbriggan, Balrothery and the rural areas around those towns. She is a member of many committees and groups in the area. Sinéad comes to her candidacy with a strong background in local issues and a wealth of experience in both the tech sector and disability advocacy. She is originally from Cork and lives locally with her husband, Darran from Donegal, and their young daughter. Commenting on Sinéad’s candidacy, Minister Darragh O’Brien said: “Sinéad is exactly the kind of young, exciting and dynamic candidate Balbriggan needs. She is determined to help build a brighter future for the town as it undergoes unprecedented change and growth. I am excited to support her candidacy and look forward to working with her in the future.” Sinéad said “This is a great honour for me and I want to thank the members for their support and everyone who collaborated to make this happen. As a young working mum, I understand the needs of people and where I can support their future success and growth. My family and I have chosen to put down roots in this beautiful part of the world and I am excited about delivering and working for the people living in Balbriggan and the Local Electoral Area.”

L-R: Minister Darragh O’Brien, Sinéad Lucey Brennan, and Minister Jack Chambers

Host a Street Feast party with your neighbours this May!

Get together with your neighbours to share food and enjoy some conversation and camaraderie this summer. Annual weekend of street parties and communities’ lunches. It doesn’t matter if you live in an apartment or house, all you need is a space to bring people together. Fingal County Council say people have had feasts organised in front gardens, on streets and greens, in car parks, laneways, local parks and community centres and can’t wait to see what you come up with! Registrations with Fingal County Council opened in February 2024. Once you have registered, you’ll receive your FREE Street Feast party pack, complete with bunting, posters, invites and a brilliant DIY guide! Fingal County Council ask that you host your Street Feast on the weekend of 25th – 26th May. So contact the Council now!

Balbriggan Meals on Wheels

Looking for Volunteer Drivers

Would you have an hour to spare on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday morning? If you would like to help out Balbriggan Meals on Wheels as a Volunteer Driver, please get in touch by calling 01 8416743 or emailing mealsonwheelsbalbriggan@gmail.com. Balbriggan Meals on Wheels has been providing meals to the most vulnerable members of our community since 1975 and was awarded the Community Hero of the Year at the recent Balbriggan Town Awards.

Guide Dogs needs postage stamps and Golf Clubs!

Our Balbriggan/North County Dublin branch of Guide Dogs is looking for your old postage stamps and coins which can be turned into money! Recently, Tom O’Neill received €530 of old postage stamps and foreign coins and another supporter of the branch changed sterling coins into sterling notes which resulted in euro value of €160. As Tom has said, what some people might consider rubbish has now resulted in €690 for Guide Dogs. So please contact us if you have any old stamps or coins you would like to donate. A wonderful sum of €1,092.50 has also been raised by Specsavers in Millfield Shopping Centre, Balbriggan, who sponsored Santa’s Grotto in the lead up to Christmas, in aid of our Balbriggan/ North County Dublin branch of Guide Dogs. We would like to take this opportunity to thank Brian Brodigan and everyone in Specsavers for their continued support. Did you have a chance to attend the Annual Feis in Naul GAA club which took place on Saturday the 10th and Sunday the 11th February? All proceeds went to the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. The Feis is a fantastic event which has brought in over €25,000 for our branch over the years. For that we say a massive thank you. We spoke about the fantastic puppy raiser, Anne Mulligan in our last article and we are pleased to let you know that Cosmo, puppy raised by Anne Mulligan began her advanced training as an Assistance Dog in early January. Best of luck to Cosmo and we will keep you

updated with her progression. Are you looking for a new hobby this year? Well, this year Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind is hoping to launch a ‘Summer of Golf’ across the country. There have been great successes with the great Woodbrook Golf Club, and the great Portmarnock/Malahide Team who also have a brilliant annual Golf Event in their calendar. We are looking to make contact with all the local golf club/s to introduce yourself and to (hopefully) look at working with them to support

the Guide Dogsin some way over the course of the year. If you would like to get involved for the Balbriggan/North County Dublin branch, please contact us. If you are interested in volunteering with us please feel free to contact us the Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind by phone/text: 085 7663107, by email: guidedogsbalbriggan@gmail. com or find us on Facebook: Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs

Tourism roadmap launched by Mayor Adrian Henchy!

Fingal County Council recently launched an ambitious strategy which it believes will be the blueprint for transforming the county into a beacon of tourism excellence that will make it a premier destination for both domestic and international visitors. Unveiling the tourism

roadmap, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy, said: “Fingal is blessed with an array of natural wonders, rich heritage, and vibrant communities. From our stunning coastline to our charming villages, we offer a unique Irish experience that we are eager to share with the world. This

new strategic framework will help increase opportunities, enhance the overall visitor experience and help to strengthen our position as a must-see destination.” Key to the strategy are three primary asset themes: - Natural Amenities and Heritage - Arts and Culture and Recreation and Leisure. These will be further augmented by the supporting asset themes of Hospitality, Food and Drink, and the festivals and events for which Fingal is already so wellknown, including Flavours of Fingal, Howth Maritime and Seafood Festival, Malahide Castle Concerts, and more recently, TradFest. The strategy also recognises the crucial role of sustainable tourism in preserving the essence of Fingal for future generations. The approach emphasises responsible practices, prioritising the conservation of our environment, and the celebration of Fingal’s identity. 2024 is the first year of the strategy and will see a focus on delivering the collaborative structures required within the county as well as nationally and internationally to drive success. To that end, the Council will lead the development of a comprehensive marketing and promotional plan which showcases what distinguishes Fingal as a unique tourism destination. The Fingal Tourism Strategy 2024-2029 is now available.

‘Brian and Linda from Specsavers holding the presentation cheque with Tom O’Neill and his Guide Dog Qeb.’

Home Cook Recipes Healthy

Easy Peasy Dark Chocolatey Bark

Some of you may have given up sweet foods for lent. Some of you may be trying to cut back on sweet foods as part of healthy eating plans or goals or new year’s resolutions.Or some of you may just like trying out new food ideas and recipes!!! This recipe is super quick, easy and you can tailor it to your taste preferences or to whatever is in your kitchen cupboards!! I love the crunch that the dried edamame beans or nuts provide in this recipe and the richness of the dark chocolate. It is also very satisfying and filling. Edamame Beans are green soya beans which have become very popular due to their nutritious properties including high levels of protein and fibre which can help to keep us fuller for longer.

Edamame Beans also contain vitamins A, K and folate, and are good sources of calcium, manganese and iron. If you don’t have or like edamame beans, you could use nuts or seeds or dried fruit instead in this recipe!

Ingredients:

• 200g Dried Edamame Beans OR nuts OR seeds OR a combination with some dried fruit!!!

• 200g GOOD Quality dark chocolate

(Please Note: When I state good quality dark chocolate, it does not need

to be expensive. Most supermarkets have good quality dark chocolate at reasonable prices. The difference is how the chocolate melts and reforms. Good quality dark chocolate will melt smoothly and reform into a smooth bark. The not so good quality chocolate may turn lumpy and crumbled!)

Tip: I love the bright green colour of the dried edamame beans which makes them stand out against the dark chocolate but for a variety of colours, use a mixture of different coloured dried fruits, nuts, seeds etc.

You could even do an Irish flag theme for St Patrick’s Day with green pistachios or pumpkin seeds, orange apricots and white coconut chips or flakes!

Method:

1. Spread out a sheet of greaseproof paper on a baking tray or lunchbox.

2. Melt the dark chocolate either: in a heatproof bowl over a pot of gently simmering water and stir intermittently until just about all the chocolate is melted, OR in the microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring after each one.

Please stand by the chocolate whichever way you melt it, have patience, don’t forget to stir and be careful not to overdo it!

3. Pour the melted dark chocolate onto the pre-lined tray/lunchbox and spread it into a rectangle. Do not let any condensation or water droplets fall onto the melted dark chocolate as they do not mix well!

4. Scatter over the dried edamame beans OR nuts OR seeds or fruit. Allow it to cool and set at room temperature for a few hours. 5. When hardened, break up the bark into pieces or use a sharp knife to cut it neatly into squares, triangles or however you like!!

Store within an airtight container and use within 2 weeks. Bain sult as (=Enjoy)!!!!

Please follow ‘Biabites’ on 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 and Researcher.

Do you know what insurance cover you actually have?

By Dave Kavanagh

In the last few claims, I have processed (death claims, serious illness claims and income protection claims) there was something that they all had in common. None of them knew what cover they actually had in place. Some were unsure whether there was sufficient cover in place to clear their mortgage (which is often the case.

Consider all of the people that took 6 months’ payment breaks during Covid. Their mortgage protection cover continued to reduce while their mortgage balances slightly increased.) Some thought they had serious illness cover because we had discussed it a couple of years back, but they never actually got around to commencing it. It was yet another reminder that most people do not know the important details of plans that they pay regularly for. As people’s circumstances change, it’s important to be up to date with knowing what you are actually paying for. Here is the very least that you should know about any protection plans that you have in place:

Life Cover: How much cover is there? When does it expire? Is it dual or joint? Does it have a conversion option? Is it level, increasing or decreasing? How much does it cost?

Income Protection: What is the deferred period? (The length of time you have to be off work due to illness or injury before payments commence). What level of cover do I have? Up to

what age will payments continue if I could never return to work again? How much does it cost? Have I claimed my tax relief? (I.P. premiums are tax deductible).

Serious Illness Cover: A.K.A. Critical Illness Cover or Specified Illness Cover. What level of cover do I have? Is it stand alone or accelerated cover? Is it dual or joint? When does it expire? Do I have the option to extend cover without further medical evidence? If you don’t know those details, it’s time to get out the paperwork and find out. You’ll be glad you did.

Dave Kavanagh QFA has been advising people financially for over 25 years. For quotes or information (with no cost or obligation) he can of course also be contacted by you by emailing info@financialcompanion.ie or you can also 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.

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

1. A piece of confectionery; a sweet (6)

5. A poem or song telling a story in short stanzas. (6)

10. Scuttle the thin cut of meat. (7)

11. Print a book again. (7)

12. The eldest son of Adam and Eve. (4)

13. The de facto capital of Switzerland. (5)

15. Break something thin suddenly and quickly. (4)

17. Break up soil with a shovel or machine. (3)

19. The capital of Greece. (6)

21. Butter that has gone bad. (6)

22. Type of food enjoyed by impoverished students. (7)

23. An old counting machine. (6)

25. Where Kubla Khan build his pleasure dome (Samuel Taylor Coleridge) (6)

28. A shortened short month. (3)

30. Not occurring very often. (4)

31. The criminal act of deliberately setting fire to property. (5)

32. Gratuities that can be brought to the bookies. (4)

35. Excursions or outings for outdoor meals. (7)

36. Enya’s South American river. (7)

37. Egyptian god of the Underworld. (6)

38. Narrow paths between buildings. (6)

Down

2. Rich sot hides the fast-running bird. (7)

3. A complaint about the meat. (4)

4. Similar objects of different sizes placed one inside the other. (6)

5. Not interesting, tedious. (6)

6. The den of a wild animal. (4)

7. Deadly poison. (7)

8. Tree with wood similar to teak. (6)

9. Assisted. (6)

14. Puzzling questions posed as a problem to be solved, or guessed. (7)

16.bDeclare something legally invalid, a marriage perhaps. (5)

18. To do with the nose. (5)

20. Old distress signal. (3)

21. A Latin king. (3)

23. Brief to the point of rudeness. (6)

24. Extinct large wild cattle species. (7)

26. The cost of divorce. (7)

27. Push to the outcomes. (6)

28. Quick police searches of people for weapons or drugs. (6)

29. The capital city of Colombia. (6)

33. Fibber, prevaricator. (4)

34. Raised area lower than a mountain. (4)

SUDOKU ANSWERS