Donabate Local V7I12-JAN 2024 by Irish Media Group

DONABATE Your Community News

FREE

LOCAL

& Portrane €50 crosswor d competiti on inside

2024

Volume 7 Issue 12 January 2024

ITEMPLE N F I N GBAR AL 2 4 JAN - 2 824-28 JAN

5 DAYS OF TRAD & FOLK THROUGHOUT FINGAL

Attic Packages From Just €320

SEAI GRANT REGISTERED FOR INSULATION

For a full list of package prices go to: AtticStorageSolutions.ie Ronan@AtticStorageSolutions.ie

Donacarney, Co. Meath Call: 087 283 1822

Respecting the roots but always branching out…

tickets at tradfest.com

Mayor of Fingal ADRIAN HENCHY TF24_Fingal_Print165wx187h_v2.indd 1

Tel: 087 681 4485

Email:Adrian.Henchy@cllrs.fingal.ie

04/12/2023 15:

@adrianhenchy

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

Donabate & Portrane Local Magazine Email: communitylocalseditor @gmail.com www.facebook.com/ DonabatePortraneLocal

Designated Pick up Points: Donabate Community Centre SuperValu Donabate Published by

IRISHMEDIAGROUP publishing | design | print | web

A New Year full of opportunities!

A happy New Year to each and every one of you! Every year brings with it highs and lows but most of all an opportunity to make things better. Sporting Groups are planning for greater success than the previous year and how to get and keep fit. Charitable groups are planning more services and more fundraising activities. Health campaigning groups are planning new ways to publicise the plight of suffering people. Community and voluntary groups are becoming more active in local areas every year. We have said it before and we say it again, those who give up their time to volunteer in such groups deserve the highest of praise and thanks from each and every one of us. As this year begins let us all make one resolution, to give up a little of our time, or money or both to a worthy cause, community group, sporting or charitable organisation or church group which benefits our community as a whole. Each of us have had the best of intentions with our past new year’s resolutions when we said to ourselves, “I must do more to help.” However, for many of us, our good intentions have not been carried through as other commitments have gotten in the way. This year, let us resolve to pick one worthy group to commit to in the coming year. Let us not talk the talk, but walk the walk and instead of looking at worthy causes and groups, let us actively get involved. When some community, voluntary, sporting or charitable organisation in our area needs a hand, let it be our hand that helps. Every year we all make resolutions at this time of the year and as we are only human, many of us fail. This magazine is dedicated to promote all those groups in our area. We have been here to promote these groups for many years and with the continued support of our brilliant advertisers, committed contributors and these wonderful groups, we will continue to promote them in the year ahead. A happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to you all! The Local Team.

Donabate & Portrane Local Disclaimer

Every effort is made by Donabate & Portrane Local Magazine to ensure that the information is correct and will not be held responsible for any advertisement or editorial errors. Donabate & Portrane Local reserves the right to decline, suspend or omit any advertisement or article submitted. No liability can be accepted by Donabate & Portrane Local for any printing errors in advertisements or otherwise.

STRICT DEADLINE FOR NEXT EDITION: Submissions by the 12th for inclusion in next months edition

www.irishmediagroup.ie

Eoghan

DOCKRELL

An e xperienced, new voice for Fingal 087 618 3774 eoghandockrellfg@gmail.com Eoghan Dockrell Eoghan_dockrell EoghanDockrell_HalfPageAdvert_Dec23.indd 1 Contact us:communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

05/12/2023 15:07 3 DONABATE LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

Local News

Johnston labouring hard for you in 2023! Hi everyone, Corina here, just a note to wish you all a Happy New Year. In reviewing my past year, I want to thank you all for your support. At very short notice I contested the local elections in 2019 and narrowly missed out for the final seat. Although unelected I decided to continue to work and represent the people of the area given the lack of real progress on the provision of vital infrastructure, public transport and public services. I am pleased that on foot of our representations and campaigns we have delivered a number of projects in 2023 all of which we proposed and pursued including: • New bus stop and shelter Donabate Village • Resurfacing of Graveyard car park lining and painting of walls • Permanent resurfacing, lining of the Car park at Ballymastone Sports Grounds. The car Park is now included in Sports Hub Project as per our motion passed by FCC • New Pedestrian Access into Newbridge Park off Hearse Road • Early morning 33B bus service on Sundays and Public Holidays from Marsh Lane • Last 33B bus to Marsh Lane rescheduled to meet with last train daily • First 33B bus from Marsh Lane

OCEAN CHILD’ World Premiere for St Patrick’s Church Donabate

The musical narrative of ‘OCEAN CHILD’, is composed by Neil Martin, and is wrought from the tragic sinking of the RMS Tayleur off Lambay Island on January 21st, 1854. This is the world premiere of this newly commissioned work and it will be performed in St Patrick’s Church Donabate for the very first time ever on Sunday 28th January 2024. In this suite, a spoken narrative, drawn from contemporaneous newspaper reports and witness accounts, marries with an original score 4

DONABATE LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

embracing string quartet, uilleann pipes, harp, flute and concertina. The performers include the worldfamous actor Stephen Rea, The West Ocean String Quartet, Louise and Michelle Mulcahy. It was Commissioned by Templebar Trad Fest and made possible through the generosity of Fingal County Council. Remember the time and date: The Concert is at 6pm on the Sunday January 28th in St Patrick’s Church Donabate, tickets on sale Thursday November 16th on tradfest.com

rescheduled to connect with train • 33B bus from Swords will connect on Saturdays with last train from Malahide. • 33B bus service rescheduled to connect with secondary school closing time • Provision of Teen Hangout Spaces which is now Council Policy following my proposal to the Council’s Space for Play Policy consultation. Duncan Smith TD and I held well attended public meetings on public transport and the need for a Cultural/Arts/Youth Centre. Our proposal will be debated in FCC chamber soon. I have been successful in raising these issues and many more with the assistance of my colleagues. I am keenly aware that while the area will grow in population to over 20,000 in the coming years the necessary infrastructure, school and childcare places and services are not coming quick enough to meet the needs of the people and will continue to campaign at local and national level for these vital facilities. I can be even more effective on behalf of our growing community if elected a councillor in the upcoming elections.

Cllr. Cathal BOLAND INDEPENDENT, NON-PARTY

For advice or representation contact me by phone on 086 257 7672 or by email: cathal.boland@cllrs.fingal.ie Appointments available if required Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

2024

IN FINGAL

24 - 28 JAN

JAN 24-28

Janis Ian Ralph McTell

Stockton’s Wing Freddie White Brian Kennedy OceanwithChild

Stephen Rea, Neil Martin, Ocean String Quartet, Michelle & Louise Mulcahy Liam Ó Maonlaí

Phelim Drew and Songs of Ronnie Drew & The Dubliners

Gerry O’Connor and Friends Cathy Jordan & Feargal Murray Bríd Harper Laoise Kelly Nuala Kennedy / Tara Breen / Tony Byrne Zoë Conway & John McEntyre Síle Denvir

Brenda Castles Erin Hennessy Timothy O’Grady: I Could Read the Sky Sive The Remedy Club Shane Hennessy Farah Elle Aisling Lyons Niamh Bury Anna Tavnir & Maninder Singh Niwel Tsumbu

/TradFest

tradfest.com /tradfesttdublin

/trad_fest

@tradfest

Local News

Circle VHA Cost Rental Tenancy Homes at Donabate

Circle VHA is proud to announce its entrance into the Cost Rental sector, commencing with the tenancy of 29 homes at Lanestown View, Donabate, situated in North County Dublin. This partnership focuses on providing long-term, secure rental options, contributing significantly to the provision of high-quality homes in the region. In a significant expansion of its affordable housing initiatives, Circle VHA, a prominent Approved Housing Body, is set to scale up its housing delivery, aiming to provide over 3000 social and affordable homes in the next four years. This ambitious goal builds upon the success of the recently launched rental homes with an

additional 700 cost rental homes set to commence construction in 2024. The strategic move solidifies Circle VHA’s commitment to addressing mixed tenure housing needs through innovative solutions. The inaugural Cost Rental homes at Lanestown View represent a pivotal moment for Circle VHA, marking its entrance into the Cost Rental market. This development, in partnership with Cairn Homes, will deliver 29 high-quality Cost Rental homes, forming part of a larger project comprising a total of 72 homes. The mixed-tenure scheme, encompassing both social and Cost Rental homes, offers a diverse range of

Memories of yesteryear - A childhood challenge

DONABATE LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

housing options, including 2-bedroom homes, duplex homes, and apartments, complete with contemporary amenities such as private balconies and communal spaces, enhancing its appeal to prospective residents. This development not only represents Circle VHA’s groundbreaking entry into Cost Rental but also holds the distinction of being the first development along the new Donabate ring road. This road is anticipated to usher in thousands of new homes on the peninsula, marking a significant stride toward meeting the burgeoning housing demand in the region.

By Jonathan Kavanagh Ah January, large bills, a grand stretch in the evenings and an on-going struggle with those New Year resolutions. Bad habits are hard to break. A very early memory sees me face a tough challenge. It appears to be an ordinary day. I play with my toys as my mother goes about her household chores. All seems well but I am about to be taught one of life’s harshest lessons; that we live in a transient world where nothing lasts forever. My everpresent emotional crutch, a bright blue soother/pacifier is attached to my jumper by a piece of string. I reach for it as many times before whereupon it disintegrates into a collection of particles, leaving me with nothing but the string and a broken heart. There isn’t a spare one in the house and due to a health issue, my mother is unable to take me for a new one. The day

seems to last forever as all house rules are suspended and I am bribed with biscuits, red lemonade and stories in a failed attempt to quell my tears and ease my withdrawal symptoms. After a hard day toiling in the fields of Fingal my father arrives home to the unexpected turmoil. He is practically forced fed his dinner and despatched forthwith into Swords town on his bicycle to procure a replacement for my great loss. In a record time that makes the leader of the Tour De France look like the winner of a slow bicycle race, he is back with an expression of achievement and an outstretched hand containing a new shiny soother. I rise to my full height, look at the soother with distain, display an expression of disbelief and say I don’t want THAT! I have inadvertently gone cold turkey and overcome the first of many vices I will encounter along the path of life. Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

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

DONABATE LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

Local News

EggHeadz Youth Mental Health and Well-being

National Schools Activity

DCC Boys Group

DCC Group1

Sophie and Thomas speaking to Senior Students in Swords

DONABATE LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

Sean Collins performing in St Patrick’s Church Donabate

EggHeadz CLG is delivering programmes and support services across Fingal and Dublin. Here is some of what we’re doing… School Engagement: -Secondary School: Our ‘Shape Your Life Through Sport’ programme continues across Fingal and Dublin. Pictured recently at Donabate Portrane Community College as part of Mental Health Month and at St. Finian’s Community College Swords as part of Careers Week. In-school Primary: programmes have continued to grow and now includes Dublin South Central as well as Fingal and Dublin City. Pictured are children learning basic Physical Literacy skills. After-school Primary: Yoga & Art programmes are enjoyed by primary school children 5-7 and 9-12yrs. Pictured are children learning Strength, Agility, Relaxation and Winter Crafts at Donabate Portrane Educate Together. EggHeadz dropin evening and weekend classes take place in Donabate Parish Hall and Donabate Portrane Community Centre. See eggheadz.ie for timetable and join us! Community Engagement: EggHeadz and Cycle Against Suicide took part and supported an evening of live music in St. Patrick’s Church, Donabate in November.

The night was in memory of Conor Culleton, the theme of the music focused on mental health and was performed by the extremely talented Sean Collins, with local special guests Andrew O’Sullivan and Eve Doorley. EggHeadz volunteers have completed the Peer Buddy training programme with Cycle Against Suicide. 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. For a second year running we collected and delivered Christmas presents to children and families living in Direct Provision. Thank you to everyone who donated. EggHeadz Youth Counselling Service - A FREE of charge and confidential service for young people (aged 12-25) by appointment. It takes place on Mondays in Donabate Portrane Community Centre by appointment between 9.30am and 3.30pm. Contact Mairead on 086-329 6812 or by email eggheadzcounselling@gmail. com to book an appointment. For more follow us on social media or visit our website.

Finance

Can Changes Improve Your Health and Wealth? By Dave Kavanagh This time of year, is traditionally when people set out to make some positive changes or improvements in their lives. The most recognisable of these is the ‘losing weight/ getting healthier” one. To give people more of an incentive to maintain what they start, it’s worth noting that if done properly, losing weight can have the added bonus of leaving you with more money at the end of each month. So how does that work?? Well, by “doing it properly” I refer to NOT going on a diet, or buying products with magic properties that will make the weight just fall off. Instead, making small, sustainable lifestyle changes. It can be adding some exercise in week 1, drinking more water (and less alcohol/sugar laden drinks) in week 2, reducing portion sizes in week 3, substituting things like chips for wholegrain rice or pasta in week 4, breaking the association of biscuits/cakes whenever you have a coffee or tea in week 5, etc., etc. Doing it this way, makes it sustainable and when weight is dropped slower over a longer period of time, it is far more likely to be kept off. So how does that help my finances? When I analyse people’s spending budgets, it’s clear that takeaways, alcohol, sweets, cakes biscuits etc. pop up quite frequently. If you keep

track of the savings when you cut down on many of these things, it’s easy to see how much you can save. One person I was helping used to enjoy her “treat” of a chocolate eclair most days. When she accepted that she felt bad after eating it and conceded that it was not helping her goal to lose weight, I suggested it was more of a punishment than a treat. I proposed that she put the money into a jar each day and when there was enough, to treat herself to a back massage, which can positively reinforce the good changes someone has made. Make the right choices, one day at a time.

Dave Kavanagh QFA has been advising people financially for over 25 years. For quotes or information (with no cost or obligation) he can be contacted by emailing 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.

Corina Johnston

Labour Party Local Area Representative for Donabate and Portrane LEA Working with Duncan Smith TD and Cllr Robert O’Donoghue Labour Party Local

Elections Candidate for Rush-Lusk LEA

Phone: 086 352 2828 E: corinajohnstonlabour@gmail.com /corinajohnstonlabour /JohnstonCorina1

Working with Brendan Ryan TD and Cllr Robert O’Donoghue

Local News

Donabate Parish Hall - Special & Daily Events

Through the Lens Photography Exhibition

Donabate Portrane Dramatic Society Plays

Men’s Shed Music Makers The Plonkers

Christmas Lights Annual Craft Fair

The Parish Hall programme provides for a variety of activities and events to satisfy as many needs as possible. During the normal week e.g.: Seniors meet twice - on a Wednesday and Friday mornings and enjoy bingo and other activities and a cup of tea and chat. There are also in the Parish Hall, Cards, Bridge, Pilates, Irish Dancing, Drama Classes and Leithinis Trad Music on different days. The special events range from Photo Exhibitions, to Drama Productions, to

various Camps, to Music Makers and Craft Fairs! At present the Parish Office is confirming all activities and events from January to July. In 1923 the hall was described as cold and cheerless. Locals organised a football tournament, Cinderella dances and gift sales resulting in a new floor and new piano. The hall became so busy that bookings were hard to get. In 2023 the Parish Hall after refurbishment and a makeover, courtesy of FCC and the Parish Committee is

now busy again and bookings are hard to get! We still have no piano but plenty of music is taking place anyway with Leithinis & the Music Makers Men’s Shed! If you wish to book a time and space for weekly or special events including camps, please contact the Parish Office on 01 8434574 immediately to check if there is still any availability. The Parish Hall Committee wishes all their users and the entire community a very happy and peaceful New Year.

Malahide resident publishes book in aid of the Samaritans The book “Becoming Your Best Possible Self ” by

Books, Malahide Village, Co Dublin, (3.) Amazon.

is living in Malahide and would like to inform locals

with the adult education course “Becoming Your Best

Gerard Morgan has recently been published. Gerard

of this book and provide an opportunity to fundraise for a very worthy cause. The book was initially

written as a legacy for his two sons and provides a

timely transformative personal growth strategy for all readers. The book is now available in the following places; (1.) Hodges Figgis /Waterstones, Dawson Street, Dublin (near Trinity College) (2.) Manor 10

DONABATE LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

com and Amazon.co.uk, (4.) The book is included

Possible Self ” in Malahide Community School based on the book in the new year. (It is a 7-week course)

Information is on this link malahidecsadulted.ie/bestpossible-self/.

Please note all profits from the sale of the book will

go to the charity Samaritans Ireland.

Local News

Newly formed Community Singing Group in Donabate

The newly formed Community Singing Group rocked around Donabate Villages Christmas Tree in early December, as Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Adrian Henchy turned on the Christmas lights. The group only began singing together in October and entertained everyone with a medley of Christmas Favourites, under the musical direction of Aine Daly. Meeting

every Wednesday evening in Donabate Community Centre, the group welcomes everyone who enjoys a sing song, no auditions or talent required just a willingness to have fun and meet new friends The group also helped to raise funds for the Simon community by singing in Powerscourt Townhouse and St, Stephens Green Shopping Centre later in December.

First-time local candidate looking to bring new energy to County Council I am Eoghan Dockrell, a first-time local election candidate and I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and set out my priorities. I grew up on the Portrane - Donabate peninsula and have recently moved back to Donabate. I count myself very fortunate to have grown up here; however, many of the problems we now face should have been foreseen by those planning the development of our community. Fingal County Council has a central role to play in how our peninsula is developed. I believe too much emphasis has been put on the development of large-scale housing estates, yet we still don’t have adequate social and cultural infrastructure. For a population our size, we should have better, more reliable transportation links. We should have better childcare facilities and not have young families traveling long journeys to drop off their children. We should have a dedicated cultural centre and performance space for local groups to use (musicians, artists, our drama society). We should have more Community Gardaí given Contact us:communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

how rapidly our area is growing. These are the issues that I’m prioritising. Our elected councillors are responsible for holding the executive of our local authority to account and this includes pushing for developing our community in a balanced and sustainable way. In my view, that hasn’t happened; In other areas of Fingal, outside of Portrane and Donabate, you see towns with similar populations that have more social and cultural infrastructure. If elected, I promise to bring new energy to the Council. I’ve already started working on the issues I’ve mentioned by making representations to the Council on behalf of residents of Donabate and Portrane. I have also been in contact with An Garda Síochána to discuss policing matters on the peninsula and how we can have more community Gardaí assigned to our area. In the coming months I will continue to meet as many people on the peninsula as possible in the hope of earning your support. Please contact me at: eoghandockrellfg@gmail.com if you have any issues, you need help with. DONABATE LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

Local News

Peninsula Pacers – Really is Fit and Fun!

Happy New Year to all our walkers! Most of our walks are between 8-12km and mainly on the flat. We do once a month walks for about 8 months of the year, we try hard to use public transport mainly trains but sometimes we must use cars. We repeat walks as it is as much about - fitness & fun as the route taken! We have been to e.g. Poolbeg, Bull Island, Howth, Virginia, Boyne Board Walk, Rush Beach, Donabate Portrane Peninsula & the recent walk below in Clogherhead. Our next walk is Carlingford on Sat 6th Jan 2024!

Cllr. Paul Mulville SOCIAL DEMOCRATS

0863787395

Paul.Mulville@cllrs.fingal.ie The Burrow, Portrane, Donabate, Co. Dublin

CommunityLocals.ie 12

DONABATE LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

Local News

Commnuity News

Caintóirí Fitness Class 1

Fitness Class 2

Croquet in the Summer

What a busy year this has been. A full year without Covid or Lock downs. We started the year on a sad note with the death of our Chairperson Philippa Coady RIP. Her wisdom and kindness were sorely missed. A new Committee was elected and we Registered members for classes. What a response, we had queues out the door, everyone anxious to get back to normal. Here are some of the highlights of the year: the first would be our Bealtaine Celebration – The Bealtaine Miscellany - our choir the Caintóirí gave a short concert with the Rosemount Singers from Julianstown followed by readings from the Chinkwell writing group and Peig McManus who read from her brilliant memoir I Will Be Good. It was a most

enjoyable celebration. We had a wonderful Fun Croquet Day with The Men’s Shed in the summer, refreshments were served and a rematch has been promised. Then in October we had Positive Aging Day where we invited people to come and sing with the Caintóirí and we were joined by Gerry & the Men’s Shed Plonkers and writers from Chinkwell & Peig McManus. The Ukulele group also played. Inclusion Day in November was a great success. A Dementia Friendly Coffee Morning. It was organised with DPCC with presentations from The Alzheimer Society who gave a most informative talk. Followed by music from The Cáintoiri and the Plonkers and refreshments were served. Our Carol Concert as usual was a welcome start to

the Christmas Celebrations with a Raffle in aid of St Francis Hospice. It was standing room only! The non-alcoholic Mulled Wine and Mince Pies were much appreciated. So Happy 2024, and we have some dates for your diary: ONLINE REGISTRATION for current members will open from the 5th to the 8th of January for those who wish to register early. REGISTRATION for everyone will be DPCC on the 10th & 11th of January from 11.00 to 14.00 AGM is on the 19th of January at 11.00 a.m. I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and New Year and we look forward to 2024. For any information about Active Age email activeageforall@gmail.com.

facebook.com/DonabatePortraneLocal www.facebook.com/BalbrigganLocal

DONABATE LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

Local News

Men’s Shed Music Group Plays Free Concert in Donabate Parish Hall

At the end of November, Gerry and the Plonkers (the Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed music group) played a free lunch-time concert in Donabate Parish Hall. All who attended enjoyed the music, the sambos and the tea. Many thanks to the Parish Hall Committee for sponsoring the wonderful sandwiches from Cate’s Café and to Evaleen, Tatiana, Breda, Kay and Martina, who made and served the tea and coffee. Although between 30 and 40 people attended, we trust these lunch-concerts will become regular events and for bigger audiences next time. Great oaks from little acorns grow. Last month, the Men’s Shed had their once yearly

Christmas Dinner in Keeling’s pub. A great night was had by all, a hearty meal followed by a fabulous after-dinner sing-song of all our old favourites, ably led by Peter Cooney, Tony McArdle and Willie Cahill. Although things are relatively quiet at our allotments, our usual weekly activities continue - our exercise classes, croquet, musical jam sessions and our regular Thursday morning get-togethers in Donabate Scouts’ Den. Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed wishes our community and all who have supported us over the past year, a peaceful and healthy New Year. If you’d like to join us, please call our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316. New members are always welcome.

CommunityLocals.ie 14

DONABATE LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

Local News

Leithinis preparing for another successful year in 2024

Leithinis Donabate Portrane CCE held their Annual General Meeting on November 20th. We would like to thank the members who attended and who also volunteered to join the Committee. We are a small branch and are delighted with the extra help. The meeting was also attended by Mary Whelan, outgoing Cathaoirleach of Dublin County Board CCE. Mary was presented with a bouquet of flowers as a thank you for all the guidance and advice she gave us since our very first meeting and over the past few years. We wish Mary the very best of luck. Some of our Junior and Adult Members played at the Annual Christmas Fete in the Educate Together National School on the 26th of November. It was a great opportunity for us to showcase our branch and for our members to play some tunes

together. We also played a few tunes at the turning on of the Christmas Tree Lights on Portrane Green. Well Done to all the volunteers involved, the tree looked fantastic. The Dublin ‘Tradfest’ will be held on the 24th to the 28th of January. Some of Ireland’s best traditional musicians will be playing in venues across Dublin including our Parish Hall on the 28th when our very own Donabate Portrane local Gerry O’Connor, Banjo player with the Dublin Legends will be playing in the Parish Hall on the 28th. Our classes are back up and running in January. If you are interested in learning to play a traditional Irish instrument such as the Fiddle, the Tin Whistle .and the Bodhran, Banjo, Flute, Concertina, and Accordion. You can please contact us on line at leithinis@comhaltas. net and we will get back to you.

Donabate & Portrane Local Magazine NEEDS YOU!

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

PHOTOGRAPHERS , LOCAL WRITERS, LOCAL REPORTERS NEEDED!! If you’re a Local and have some free time please email us on: communitylocals@gmail.com

DONABATE LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

Healt

Home Cook Recipes

New Year Super Fish Supper Following the festive period, some of us may not want to see turkey or ham on the menu for quite a while! With the new year comes new years resolutions and a lot of people make goals to enhance their health. Fish is full of lots of nutritional goodness. Yet, despite being an island, our intakes of fish in Ireland are quite low. Some people say it’s the smell that fish may leave in the kitchen that turns them off or that they’re just not sure how to make it tasty. But the great news is that fish is quite easy and quick to cook. And a top tip to get rid of any unwanted odours is to place 1/2 lemon in water in a cup (cut side up) and heat in the oven/microwave for 4-6minutes. Burning a nice scented candle also helps! Ingredients: Serves 2 • • • • •

2 Salmon fillets 200g Tenderstem broccoli 250g Asparagus 2 teaspoons black pepper 1 tablespoon rapeseed oil

• • •

2 cloves garlic 1 tablespoon minced parsley leaves Juice of 1/2 of a lemon Sweet potato chips:

• • • • •

260g sweet potatoes 1 tablespoon rapeseed oil 1 teaspoon chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon black pepper Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200’c. 2.The sweet potato chips take longer to cook, so do these first. Wash, peel and slice the sweet potato into chips. 3. Place the remaining ingredients for the sweet potato chips in a large bowl and stir well to combine. Then add the sliced sweet potatoes and coat in this mixture. 4. Place the sweet potato onto a baking tray and bake in the oven for 40-45minutes at 180’c. Turn them halfway through baking to

ensure they cook evenly. 5. Place the salmon onto a baking tray that is pre-greased or lined with parchment paper. 6. Mix the lemon juice, parsley leaves, oil and garlic together and brush the top and sides of the salmon with this mixture. Bake in the oven at 180’c for 12-15minutes (depending on the thickness of the salmon). When cooked through, the salmon will look opaque and flake easily with a fork. 7.Brush the remainder of the mixture from step 6 onto the broccoli and asparagus on a foil lined baking tray and sprinkle with black pepper. Bake in the oven at 180’c for 10-15minutes or until tender. 8.Serve up with a lemon wedge. For workplace, preschool, primary and secondary school or community group talks and workshops, please email: niamh@ biabites.net See my ‘Fun food’ and ‘Recipes’ albums on ‘Biabites’ Facebook for other food ideas.

Local News

Lambay Sports and Athletics Club looking forward to 2024

2023 was another successful year for LSA. We are an Athletics club based on the Donabate/Portrane peninsula, founded in 2011. We now have almost 460 members, over half of those are children and teenagers. Last year our athletes competed in Dublin, Leinster, Schools and National Championships; European U20 Championships; World and European Masters Championships; numerous road races, mountain races, and marathons at home and across the world. We also have a National Record Holder Under 20. Other notable events were a successful road race in May, a Summer Camp in July, and the first sod turned on our future home in August. We are a friendly growing club, run by volunteers. Our members log thousands of kilometres across the peninsula and beyond, at a wide range Contact us:communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

of paces and there is a big welcome for everyone who likes to keep active. We always welcome new members and volunteers. If you would like to get involved please contact us - details below: For any Adult memberships queries please contact us lambaysportsathletics@gmail.com Little Athletics and Juvenile athletes (from age 7-18) please contact lsajuvenilereg@ gmail.com Keep up to date on all the events by following LSA on our social media pages! On Facebook please contact us on .facebook.com/ lambaysportsacademy or contact us on Instagram at our Instagram site on instagram.com/lsadonabateportrane/ Twitter twitter.com/LSARunning Please also visit our website lambaysportsathletics.ie/ DONABATE LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

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. It gets you high. (6) 5. Traditional German dress. (6) 10. Stood against something. (7) 11. Insistent requests, made as of right. (7) 12. Parts of circles. (4) 13. Oppose an established government by force. (5) 15. Cook pastry in an oven. (4) 17. A thin straight bar. (3) 19. Stands for artists. (6) 21. Made a sound like a pig. (6) 22. A lamp with a transparent case and a handle. (7) 23. Take with a promise to return. (6) 25. Type of caviar. (6) 28. Traditional Turkish headgear. (3) 30. The central part of a church. (4) 31. Strongly wanting to do something. (5) 32. An arm, leg, or branch. (4) 35. Wrinkle due to loss of moisture. (7) 36. Large public meetings in support of, or against, a cause. (7) 37. Members of the violin family. (6) 38. Curved swords used by cavalry. (6)

2. South American mammals closely related to llamas. (7) 3. The darker stage of twilight. (4) 4. It steers a boat or a plane. (6) 5. Avoided something through sudden quick movement. (6) 6. Male sheep. (4) 7. Nordic kingdom. (7) 8. Give money to a good cause. (6) 9. Go upwards. (6) 14. A product that is illegally made and sold. (7) 16. Permit. (5) 18. Cloth made from flax. (5) 20. Hand tool for cutting wood. (3) 21. Sphere, globe. (3) 23. Send someone away from a place as an official punishment. (6) 24. Drive backwards. (7) 26. Use. (7) 27. A surprise attack by people waiting in a concealed position. (6) 28. A short story conveying a moral. (6) 29. There are three species of this animal - Grey’s, Plains, and Mountain. (6) 33. Profoundly immoral and wicked. (4) 34. An association dedicated to a particular interest or activity. (4)

“PUTTING THE COMMUNITY FIRST” Tel: 087 681 4485 Email:Adrian.Henchy@cllrs.fingal.ie @adrianhenchy

DONABATE LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

SUDOKU ANSWERS

Cllr. ADRIAN HENCHY

2024 ACTS NOW AVAILABLE TO BOOK!

SCAN QR CODE FOR MORE INFO

AMERICAN DRIFTERS SAT 13TH JAN 2024 DINNER & SHOW TICKET €55.00 PP

JERSEY BOYS

WITH SPECIAL GUESTS THE BOOTLEG BEACH BOYS

SAT 20TH JAN 2024 DINNER & SHOW TICKET €55.00 PP

PLUS BOOKING FEE

FOREVER YOUNG - SONGS & STORIES OF ROD STEWART

ABBAESQUE

SAT FEB 3RD 2024

SUN FEB 4TH 2024

DINNER & SHOW TICKET €55.00 PP

PLUS BOOKING FEE

TAKE THE LIFT HOME - BEDROOM RATES AVAILABLE TEL: +353 1 690 6666 BOOK NOW AT WWW.CITYNORTHHOTEL.COM/EN/MUSIC-EVENTS