Balbriggan Local V9I9-JUL 2024 by Irish Media Group

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Summer is here… Well, sort of but when the sun shines in Ireland there’s not many places in the world that will rival its natural beauty. Naturally we all yearn for those balmy, carefree summer evenings that seem to go on forever, but we mostly find ourselves trying to cram everything into the rare few days of endless sunshine!

There are so many plans we make on the run up to summer and naturally enough most of them rely heavily on good weather, so when those rare days come along, we all get a little stir crazy flying from here to there on trips, day outings, sports etc, and while we are, there’s so many things that go under appreciated in the area’s we live in.

The endless hours of hard work put by local people in making their towns and villages look beautiful, not only for summer but all year round, can fly under our radar somewhat when we have the blinkers on in getting to where we’re going. We should take the time to appreciate these things that we take for granted.

We are constantly amazed by the sheer volume of volunteers in the many areas of Fingal that give their time and energy so selflessly to make their area’s look as beautiful and welcoming as possible. Tidy Towns groups, Men Sheds, scouting troops and so many other groups made up of local people should all be given huge praise for their work and the best praise they can be given is by their fellow residents with a simple thank you.

We can also show our gratitude in getting involved ourselves with these groups who are always happy to welcome new members. We simply wouldn’t have such beauty in our areas if it wasn’t for volunteers so if you have some hours to spare get in touch a local volunteer group and ask if they need help. And if you can’t give your time at least give your thanks to them when you see them on the street and show them their work is appreciated.

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Community wellbeing map launched for Balbriggan to thrive

Thrive Balbriggan has officially launched the new Balbriggan Great Places & Spaces Wellbeing Map at the Balbriggan Summerfest on June 1st Bremore Castle.

The Balbriggan Great Places & Spaces Wellbeing Map is intergenerational project which identifies places and spaces that promote good mental health and well-being in Balbriggan. The Map was produced based on survey responses collected from local Transition Year students and community of Balbriggan who indicated in which locations they feel relaxed, happy, energised or calm.

The project was coordinated by Thrive Balbriggan. The Map was created by local artist Lauren Fernandes and designed by local graphic designer Áine O’Beirne who is also Thrive Balbriggan Vice Chairperson. The project was inspired by Wexford Great Places and Spaces Wellbeing Map which was administrated and coordinated by Wexford Mental Health Association.

Speaking at the event, the Project Lead, Séamus Quigley said: “This map is a representation of Balbriggan and what it has to offer to its community in relation to places and spaces. We want this map to further raise awareness of our own mental health and wellbeing and how through interaction; whether that be with other people or their local environment, we can enjoy a more positive experience.”

“We want the people of Balbriggan to create a stronger sense of relatability with regard to the positive impact local places and spaces have on them and to also further explore and identify locations or trails unknown to them beforehand. Our aim for Balbriggan Great Places&Spaces is for it to continue to grow through continual engagement within the community and ensure it becomes even more accessible through means of a digital and interactive platform. We want to sincerely thank the community of Balbriggan for their contributions in creating this map and for the continued support for Thrive Balbriggan”.

Thrive is a community-led movement to create a happy and healthy place to live by conducting projects and events aiming at improving mental health and wellbeing. Thrive was introduced to Ireland in 2021 by Mental Health Ireland and currently operates in two locations in County Fingal in Balbriggan and Swords.

Thrive Balbriggan is an initiative of Mental Health Ireland and is supported by Fingal County Council. For further information please contact thrivebalbriggan@mentalhealthireland.ie or visit Thrive Ireland – Mental Health Ireland.

Joe O’Brien TD for Dublin Fingal and Minister of State for Community Development, Integration & Charities at Thrive Balbriggan Great Places and Spaces project launch from the left: Aga Hutcheson, Séamus Quigley, Joe O’Brien, Áine O’Beirne and Caroline Brogan. Pic by Thaina Whelan

Knowing Your Rights When Goods Are Faulty

By Dave Kavanagh

How often have you reported, for example, a faulty washing machine, dryer or fridge to a store after having it for about 18 months, only to be told “it’s out of warranty”? As a starting point, know your rights and be aware of shop psychology.

Under the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, as a consumer, you have the right that anything you buy should be of “merchantable quality”, that is, suitable for the purpose for which it was designed. So for example, if you buy a fridge and 18 months later it stops working properly, you have the right to have it rectified, by repair, replace or refund (usually in that order). If a shop tries to tell you that the warranty was only for one year, you should point out that the warranty is a manufacturer’s extra and that your contract is with the store, it does not affect your rights under the act. The Retailer is responsible for providing these remedies within a reasonable time.

Keeping your receipt as proof of purchase is important. From the Retailer’s perspective, if a large portion of complainants, simply accept the fob off, they may just buy a new appliance or else pay for a repair. Both good news for the store as they either get an additional sale, or they are relieved of their obligation to provide a repair or

replacement.

When you know your legal entitlements and communicate this firmly, it will usually result in a more favourable and correct response. Some retailers, for example Currys, try to refer you to their “Out Of Warranty” team, based in the UK. If you are not willing to hire your own appliance technician to do a report on the fault (as they appear to have none in Ireland) they then try to refer you to a UK arbitration scheme!? Remember, even if a manufacturer’s warranty has expired, the retailer remains responsible for addressing the issue. If a retailer fails to honour these obligations, consumers can seek assistance from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) or pursue legal action to enforce their rights.

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.

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Fingal’s Finest Beaches Recognised

The annual Blue Flag and Green Coasts awards were announced recently with sandy stretches in both Portmarnock and in Donabate being recognised this year.

Balcarrick Beach in Donabate, with its 3.4km stretch of sand, vibrant rockpools, and healthy sand dunes, has received both a Blue Flag and a Green Coast Award for the third consecutive year, making it one of the few locations in Ireland to achieve this distinction. Only 10 such beaches have been given double recognition.

Further south in Fingal, Velvet Strand in Portmarnock has once again been honoured with a Blue Flag, having first received one in 2014 and maintaining it ever since. Across Ireland there were 94 Blue Flag and 65 Green Coast award sites that have met the stringent criteria set by An Taisce.

The Blue Flag scheme, now in its 37th year in Ireland, is an esteemed international award assuring beachgoers that a beach meets high standards in water quality, facilities, safety, environmental education, and overall management. To earn a Blue Flag, Irish beaches must satisfy these rigorous standards.

The Green Coast Awards highlight beaches with excellent water quality and management practices that protect the natural environment, emphasizing community involvement. These beaches must be managed by local authorities in cooperation with local clean coast groups.

Director for Operations at Fingal County Council, Mary T Daly said: “The Blue Flag and Green Coast recognition we received this year showcase our ongoing efforts to maintain all our natural assets along the 88km of Fingal coastline.

Now, as we come into the busy summer months, we hope that everyone who visits a beach this year will play their part in helping to keep them beautiful by bringing their rubbish home or using the bins provided. Litter left on beaches poses a risk to the environment and wildlife and can have a negative impact on water quality.”

Presenting the 2024 awards, Minister Hildegarde Naughton TD said: “We all know just

how lucky we are to have such beautiful water quality and natural beauty across our shores and this year’s recipients are testament to just how exceptional and rich in diversity that our beaches are. Congratulations to everyone involved and I want to wish a very happy and safe bathing and swimming season to everyone for 2024.”

For more information about Fingal’s beaches go to: https://www.fingal.ie/visitor/trips/find-beach.

New Mayor of Fingal elected as representatives meet for the first time

The 40 newly elected members of Fingal County Council have met for the first time today as the council’s Annual Meeting was held at the County Hall in Swords.

There were 12 new faces in the council chamber, with the Annual Meeting coming exactly two weeks after the local elections took place. They will join the 28 returning Councillors as the public representatives of the people of Fingal over the next five years.

The AGM saw the election of Cllr Brian McDonagh (Labour, Howth-Malahide) as the new Mayor of Fingal, with Cllr JK Onwumereh (Fianna Fáil, Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart) being elected as Deputy Mayor.

A happy resident of Portmarnock, Cllr McDonagh was first elected to the council in

2014. With a professional background in IT & politics, he is fluent in Irish. The new Mayor of Fingal said his priorities would include the issues of housing, community services, active travel and the delivery of community infrastructure.

Mayor McDonagh said it was an honour to be elected as the first Mayor of this Council’s fiveyear term.

“I am extremely proud to represent a County as culturally diverse as the one we have, particularly as it continues to be one of the fastest growing regions in the country in terms of population and the economy. As a group of Councillors, we all bring different life experiences and a healthy mix of professional backgrounds and skills to the table. I am looking forward to now getting to work to help ensure we are delivering the services that the

people of Fingal deserve.

“I’d like to also say how delighted I am to have Cllr JK Onwumereh as Deputy Mayor as he represents the best of a new Ireland.”

At the meeting, the incoming Councillors thanked previous Councillors for their commitment to the community over the past five years.

Fine Gael and Labour with seven councillors each are the largest parties in the new Council and there are also seven councillors with no party affiliations. Fianna Fáil have six councillors, Sinn Féin have four and both Aontú and the Social Democrats have two each. Three parties, Independents4Change, the Green Party and the National Party have one councillor each.

CommunityLocals.ie

Fingal Community Groups Receive Funding Boost

Over €220,000 in funding has been allocated to 130 community groups and organisations across Fingal at an event held ringside at Phoenix of Ballyboughal Boxing Club.

The Department of Rural and Community Development’s Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2024 is administered by Local Community Development Committees, with support from the Local Authority, in each area. The funding provides capital supports essential for the many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged areas in rural and urban areas.

This year also saw additional funding allocated towards many Women’s Groups in Fingal, helping to support the growing number of Women’s Sheds located in the county, as well as providing a welcome boost to local groups which provide

much needed social networks for women.

Announcing the successful projects for Fingal, Minister Joe O’Brien TD said: “The Local Enhancement Programme 2024 provides vital support to community groups in order to help them improve their facilities. It supports smallscale funding for projects which range from purchasing IT equipment to minor renovations to buildings. Ultimately the Programme responds to local needs. These investments allow community groups to carry out the invaluable work they do on behalf of others in local areas throughout the country. The impact of the Local Enhancement Programme is considerable.”

John Quinlivan, Director of Economic Development at Fingal County Council, said: “The LEP represents a substantial funding source that complements other support from Fingal

County Council. We deeply value the essential work of volunteers and community groups who are out there actively making Fingal a better place to live, so it is thanks to Government funding like the LEP that groups can continue to play an important role within our communities.”

LEP funding was made available to support small capital works/improvements, the purchase of equipment for community use, including tables and chairs, tools, signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment. A full list of groups is available here: LEP Recipients 2024

The Local Enhancement Programme 2024 was launched in December 2023 with funding of €6 million available nationally, which included €1 million in funding ring-fenced specifically to support Women’s Groups.

CAR LOANS IN LOTS OF COLOURS

LOAN RATE

TRAINSPOTTING: Still Amazing After All These Years

By Jack Shanley

With Danny Boyle’s 90s classic ‘Trainspotting’ hitting cinemas once again for a stunning new 4k release, it was the fantastic opportunity to watch the Scottish masterpiece once again. While it dives headfirst into the Edinburgh heroin scene with shocking visuals and dark humour, it doesn’t glorify addiction nor drugs.

Instead, it pulsates with a chaotic energy, capturing the highs and the rock-bottom lows of a group of friends entangled in a destructive cycle. It’s this look into the world of drugs and addiction, the reliability of it and it essentially how it completely changes your perspective of life, that just never fails to intrigue me.

Ewan McGregor shines as Mark Renton, our unreliable narrator. He’s a charismatic addict who, despite the encouragement of his equally messed-up friends (hilariously portrayed by Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, and Robert Carlyle), struggles to choose life over heroin.

Trainspotting doesn’t shy away from the grotesque. The infamous toilet scene is a brutal reminder of the physical toll addiction takes. Yet, Boyle masterfully weaves dark humour throughout. Renton’s internal monologue delivers witty social commentary, and the film’s surreal moments. A scene that just

completely captures the essence of the film is when Renton takes his injection of heroin leading him to be dragged down the stairs into a taxi and further on to the hospital. Its just the lack of care and the thought of it being a regular occurrence that just grapples with you and makes you sympathise with him from a non-addict perspective.

The soundtrack throbs with Britpop energy, perfectly complementing the film’s frenetic pace. From Iggy Pop to Underworld, the music becomes another character, driving the narrative forward.

Trainspotting isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a raw and unflinching portrayal of addiction, but it’s also a darkly funny and strangely hopeful film. Boyle’s direction is electric, the performances are phenomenal, the film’s message on choosing life over oblivion is undeniably powerful and the new 4k restoration looks phenomenal. In all truth I’d recommend checking out “Trainspotting” and see what you think of it, I shall give it a score of Five Stars. You can watch it at your local cinema today. Director: Danny Boyle– Rating: R – Genre: Crime/Drama– Run Time: 1h 34m Language: English. For more film content please follow @ movies4fanatics on Instagram

Fingal Honours TY Football Fitness Stars

Fingal County Council has honoured 49 Transition Year Students from across Fingal for their participation in the groundbreaking Football and Fitness Transition Year (TY) Course.

Ran in conjunction with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) the students received their certificates in a ceremony attended by outgoing Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy, the FAI’s Assistant Technical Director Shane Robinson, and Fingal County Council Director of Sport David Storey. Also present were Republic of Ireland Under-21 Manager Jim Crawford and Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team player and Swords native Jamie Finn.

While the joint initiative has heavy focus on football and fitness, it also helps equip students with valuable life skills. Participants gain a full Fitness Instructor’s qualification from Litton Lane Training and complete the FAI’s Coach Education pathway, earning PDP1 and PDP2

qualifications alongside a gym instructor qualification. The students also undertake modules covering maths and English, as well as learning about topics such as sports psychology and nutrition, and there’s even cooking lessons involved on how to produce high-performance meals for athletes.

This year saw 19 of the graduates represent Ireland in both the boys and girls underage international teams. Previous graduates from the course are also now playing for Ireland’s Men’s National Team, as well as seeing many making their own mark across all tiers of football in Ireland, England and Scotland.

Highlighting the introduction of the girls’ TY course this year, Jamie Finn said: “It’s amazing to see a programme like this coming out of Fingal, particularly as it helps open up new opportunities for young women passionate about football and fitness. Along with nurturing talent it also helps

prepare students for future challenges in sports and in other fields.”

FAI President Paul Cooke said: “On behalf of the FAI, I would like to congratulate all the boys and girls who have completed this course and graduated today. The TY course is innovative and a great benefit to all these young players as they look to a career in football at home or abroad. Fingal County Council are again to be congratulated for their commitment to this course and for their commitment to introduce a first TY Football and Fitness Course for girls this year.”

Notable awards were given to standout students on the course. Among the female graduates, Aoibhe Brennan was honoured as Player of the Year, and Ruby Broderick Kinsella was recognized as Student of the Year. For the boys, Chris Conlon was named Player of the Year, and Oscar Shubar Keely received the Student of the Year award.

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Great start to the summer for local Guide Dogs branch

May was a fantastic start to summer for the Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Guide Dogs who fundraised for Guide Dog Day for two days in Millfield Shopping Centre, Balbriggan and a wonderful sum of €1,689.90 was raised.

Tom O’Neill and his guide dog Qeb also joined a sponsored walk with Buíon Peadar agus Pòh Brigins (St Peter & St Paul’s Brigins) Juniors of Girl Guides where €270 was raised. We were lucky enough to also get a donation from two fantastic young children, Alannah (aged 11) and Erin (aged 8) who saved €450 over a year with the help of their family and gave it to Tom for the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, we want to say a big thank you to Alannah and Erin and also to everyone who supported us over Guide Dog Day and the people that continue to do so.

The Branch also attended the sunny Balbriggan Summerfest during the bank holiday weekend in June where Tom O’Neill and his Guide Dog Qeb were set up to meet our lovely supporters and €536.52 was raised, a big thank you to our

volunteers and all who came along to support us. On the day there were raffle tickets for €5 to win a holiday and these can still be purchased by contacting us on the below contact details. You could be jetting off on a holiday worth €5,000, but remember you have to be in it to win it! All money that is raised by the Branch, goes to headquarters in Cork and allows them to train assistance Guide Dogs to help blind people and a children with Autism. At the start of the year there were five Guide Dog partnerships and five Assistance Dog partnerships that graduated and as of March 2024 there are 110 pups being puppy raised.

If you are involved in an event in the area through summer and would allow our branch to put a stand in we would be very grateful for another chance to raise some additional funds! If so, please contact us via the following: Balbriggan/ North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, Phone/text: 085 7663107, Email: guidedogsbalbriggan@gmail.com or find us on Facebook: Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs.

Tom O’Neill and Guide Dog Qeb at sponsored walk for Guide Dog Day with Buíon Peadar agus Pòh Brigins (St Peter & St Paul’s Brigins) Juniors of Girl Guides.

Busy times for Balbriggan Historical Society

We had a very busy and enjoyable time over the last month with our Pop-up Museum, Historical Walk and tours of Bremore Castle as well as our May talk by Aidan Arnold. Thank you to everyone who visited our exhibition in the Pop-Up Museum space on the corner of Bridge Street and Dublin Street over the two weekends. We were delighted to display a small sample of the significant number of our historical Artefacts and photographs and videos which are of huge local and national interest. The exhibition featured The People, Places and Textile Industry of Balbriggan and topics featured included the Linen & textile industry including Smyco, Harry Reynolds, The Sack of Balbriggan, Bremore Castle, and some of our extensive 1893 local Balbriggan photo collection. Many thanks for the wonderful support from all of you in the

Balbriggan community, Fingal Heritage Officer Christine Baker, elected representatives and visitors from other Heritage Groups - we loved the chats. We would like to especially thank those who donated items for our collection and helped us with identifying some of the people in our photos. Remember if you have something of interest or photos to share please contact any of the Committee or send email to balbrigganhistsoc@gmail.com.

We led our usual Historical walk during Summerfest also and were delighted with the huge crowd who joined us and our tours of Bremore Castle were hugely popular also.

We are taking a little break now for the summer but will be back in August, in the meantime we hope you can get out and enjoy the rich heritage we have all around us in Balbriggan during the summer.

Christine Baker at POP UP Museum

Historical walk

Summer is here.....hopefully!!

Summer is here, though, calling it summer is a stretch with so much rain! Luckily, there are fab movies, like IF and Inside Out 2 in cinemas. Kids clubs are great value for money and www. ArcCinema.ie has excellent deals for families too!

Painting stones or seashells to decorate your garden is a cheap and fun way to keep kids busy. You can also let them help plant flowers – it’s lovely when they see what they planted growing. Pyjama days are cosy for watching movies when its rainy outside. Back to the Future, Guardians of the Galaxy and anything Pixar are favourites in our house.

Newbridge Farm is ideal for getting kids outdoors. See the animals and birds on the farm, visit the playground and grab snacks and ice-cream, at the café. Lookout for the peacocks,

they’re magnificent!

Follow the Fairy Trail, explore the Butterfly House and enjoy the beautiful Botanic Gardens at Malahide Castle & Gardens. Pack a picnic or stop at Avoca café. From daytime exploring to nighttime concerts, this has become a very popular place to visit.

Love trains? The Casino Model Railway Museum in Malahide is fascinating. From steam trains to locomotives to diesel trains, find out everything about the history of trains! Ideally located close to Malahide train station, you can also get there by train! Very cool!

Titanic Belfast is a wonderful experience if you haven’t been. Full of interesting facts, it’s a really enjoyable day out for the whole family and Belfast is a lovely city to explore too.

If your children love music and singing, The National Concert Hall has choir and song school summer camps during July, find out more at www. nch.ie

For budget friendly family dining, Shake Dog Diner is brill. Irish, affordable with a great menu from breakfasts to burgers. My favourite combo is onion rings, club sandwich and milkshake! We are blessed with beautiful beaches in North Dublin but please, be careful, especially when swimming with children. Don’t swim out far and always go to beaches with lifeguards. When leaving, please take your rubbish with you. With a little more effort, we can keep our beaches cleaner and safer for everyone.

For more ideas on places to go and things to do this summer, visit www.mams.ie

When our doors were open and welcome on the mat

By Jon Kavanagh

These days it’s all too easy for our homes to become a twentieth century fortress; surrounded by a digital moat, rendering it necessary to make an appointment – preferably by text, when we wish to visit family or friends. The times when people walked in, using the password “Anyone at home?”, belong in the annuals of social history.

Yesteryear, the door was on the latch and the kettle on the hob. Scarcely a day would pass without someone dropping in for a cup of tea and a chat. Now, we drive SUV vehicles along the motorways at speeds that would scare Jeremy Clarkson, as we rush from one crisis to the next. Then, we leisurely travelled along the byroads of Fingal on high nelly bicycles, stopping off to socialise along the way. On seeing a familiar, if unexpected figure approaching, my mother would issue her call to arms, “Run to the shop and get a pound of cooked ham, a loaf and a fruit cake”.

Those delivering goods played an important role in more ways than one. The coalman, milkman, and

postman/woman doubled jobbed as town criers; bringing news of births, deaths and marriages. And yes, the odd bit of gossip and scandal (guess who had one too many and lost his dentures on the way home from the pub on Sunday night) were exchanged. The coalman once took on the additional role of peace envoy, carrying messages of reconciliation between my mother and my aunt who were on nonspeaking terms. Wielding the iconic case the local GP made house calls.

Lest I paint a picture of Utopia, visitors were not always awarded the fatted calf. I recall my father speaking a language I can’t repeat in a family magazine, on hearing the incoming footsteps of a local resident, who held a master’s degree in the art of making a nuisance of themselves. But by in large, those crossing our threshold were a welcome distraction to our day. Life has changed, we can’t, nor would necessarily we want to go back. But at a time when people can pass away, and not be discovered for months or even years, perhaps we all should be just a little more vigilant in our neighbourhoods.

Proud Day as The Lark chosen for prestigious Award!

It was a very proud day for Balbriggan, North Co. Dublin and the Arts in general as The Lark Concert Hall at The Irish Institute of Music & Song was voted as Ireland’s Favourite New Building in the RIAI People’s Choice Award.

“We could not have won this award without the support of everyone who voted for us. Thank you, thank you, thank you,” reads a statement from The Lark.

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.

Balbriggan Aikido event hosted to mark Men’s Health Week

This year’s International Men’s Health Week was marked by Fingal County Council with a number of different activities taking place around the county with various sports clubs including a ‘come and try’ Aikido event hosted in Balbriggan by Takemusu Aikido Society.

International Men’s Health Week took place from Monday 10th until Sunday 16th June. It was a reason to remind the public that regular physical activity helps to improve overall health and prevent heart diseases, strokes, diabetes and even cancer.

Aikido is the art of unbalancing the aggressor making him so weak that even people beyond their prime can do it without applying excessive power. But it is only possible when a person maintains his own physical and mental balance.

Therefore aikido focuses on self-balance, awareness and body coordination enabling one to execute techniques without relying on physical strength. This idea seems attractive to older people as about 70% of aikido practitioners worldwide

are over 40-years-old. Balbriggan’s men became no exception.

Speaking about the discipline and of its benefits, Raman sensei of Takemusu Aikido Society explained, “Middle-aged people who haven’t exercised for years may be sceptical about it and won’t dare to try. Well, football or rugby is not an option for them, but can they do something else during several decades of active life ahead? An unexpected answer could be traditional martial arts, such as aikido.”

“Many never considered the discipline because martial arts are associated with aggressive fighting, only suitable for young strong men. However, aikido focusing on self-development and self-improvement differs from this stereotype,” he added.

The free come-and-try aikido session saw a few local men in their 40s from Balbriggan and Naul even brave and curious enough to show up at the dojo. The class focused on exploring the core elements of the aikido curriculum and its

potential health benefits.

Raman sensei, who spent a decade learning aikido in Japan, began the class with warming-up and core strength exercises, which are essential for maintaining healthy muscles and joints, as well as for developing body balance, stability and coordination. Then he explained safe falling techniques that can prevent injuries caused by slips, trips and falls accidents, which are among the main causes of musculoskeletal injuries in Ireland.

After that, participants delved into Aikido techniques. They tried to replicate basic forms and apply their newly acquired safe-falling skills. After each basic technique, Raman sensei demonstrated how the basic form can evolve into more advanced forms and practical applications.

At the end of the class, all attendees were tired but extremely excited. They enjoyed every second on the mats and hopefully, found their lifelong passion!

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