Donabate Local V7I7-AUG 2023

Co-operation creates a sense of Community

People have asked how does a successful community operate and the answer really is quite simple. it is one which is built through co-operation. To put it simply it is a case of people cooperating in order to make an area work in every sense. An area where people co-operate with local statutory bodies to create employment, housing,energy, health, commercial, sporting and other facilities in order to improve their lives. A successful caring community which creates voluntary, charitable and sporting organisations to fill the void left by the lack of funding from such governmental agencies who in any society cannot possibly meet all the demands on their finances. However in order for groups to succeed in meeting those demands the vital element is co-operation. Co-operation between individuals, groups and other organisations for the common good of the general population becomes the norm and that leads to a sense of community. Groups and organisations and the individuals who run them become interdependent on each other. For instance local groups have to apply to the voluntary committee who run a community hall to hold their meetings and functions and are granted it. Sporting and other groups also share facilities and the resultant expenses are halved and this co-operation leaves more monies available to run them. Voluntary and charitable groups also benefit from joint fundraising and in this way groups which provide services to the most vulnerable in society have more money to use, to reach more of those in need. This results in the services they provide improving and a sense of pride in their community which encompasses their area in general. Support for all these different sectors including the commercial life of the area becomes the norm and the local economy benefits. Fingal is a prime example of such groups co-operating and creating a great community spirit. So therefore as I said at the start where there is co-operation a community is built. Local retailers and the voluntary/charitable/ sporting and employment and housing sectors work together and all benefit. So there you have the answer- co-operate and create a great community, we have in Fingal!. Have a lovely August.

The Locals Team.

Working with Brendan Ryan TD and Cllr Robert O’Donoghue

Johnston welcomes new pedestrian and cycle access into Newbridge Park

Corina Johnston, Local Area Representative has welcomed the new access into Newbridge Park, off the Hearse Road, Donabate. Johnston said; “I am delighted that the proposed pedestrian and cycle access into Newbridge Park off the Hearse Road Is nearing completion. I first became aware of the need for the entrance in 2020 when I witnessed parents with children and some with buggies trudging along a very narrow footpath and dangerous road to access the Park via Newbridge Ave. As a result we raised this issue with FCC at that time and have continued to do so on a regular basis. The provision of this entrance was also conditioned in the planning permission for the Semple Woods Estate and is an objective in the Donabate Local Area Plan.” Corina Johnston also went on to say;”Regrettably it has taken longer to complete than expected however problems

were identified which had to be resolved. These included the proximity of the animal paddock within the park to the new roadway and the need to prevent animal access to the public road. I wish to compliment all concerned within the council for resolving this important issue and thus enabling the laying of the access.Hopefully this will now facilitate the completion and opening of the entrance as a matter of urgency. Corina added; “This new entrance into Newbridge Park will connect with the proposed pedestrian and cycle route across a new bridge over the railway line which in turn will connect Corballis, Donabate Village and the Railway Station with Newbridge House and Farm. We have been informed by the council that a procurement process for the appointment of a contractor for this work has already commenced. “

Lots to join in Annual Peninsula Pacers Cliff Walk

On Saturday 9th September the Peninsula Pacers will meet at the Parish Hall at 11 30pm for their annual Portrane Donabate Cliff Walk with an extra loop of the Burrow for the longer walkers! This special walk coincides with the Bleeding Pig - Pizza & Trad event in the afternoon at the Brook Pub - this was a great event last year with music and dancing fantastic entertainment at the end of the walk – we hope to have as good a weather this year!

A New Way To Future-Proof Cover

By Dave Kavanagh

One of the issues with planning ahead to protect you and your family’s financial future, is the fact that we don’t know exactly what the future holds. Will jobs and income change? How long will I maintain good health? Will I win the lottery jackpot in the next 3 years? The uncertainty of the future means that we often plan for a variety of occurrences. One important aspect of this planning is deciding on a term for things like Life Cover. A life cover plan can either be done for a specific term or it can be done as a “whole of life” plan. One of the problems with the old way of doing these was that the premiums were reviewed after a few years and could result in constant, substantial increases, often forcing people to either cancel them or accept a much lower level of cover. With “guaranteed whole of life” plans, you at least know exactly what the premium will always be and the level of cover but planning that far ahead can be costly. A relatively new method of dealing with this issue was introduced from one of the life companies, and it is an addition called “Life Changes Option”. This option gives the policy owners a number of choices once they have paid premiums for at least 15 years. They can then choose to either; a) Stop paying premiums and reduce the level of cover which stays in place until the cover is paid out, or

b) Cancel the cover (if it is no longer required) and take a refund of up to 70% of all premiums previously paid, or c) Continue the plan as it is with the same level of cover and premiums. This option has become quite popular when people are looking to future-proof cover as it offers choices that can suit people’s changing circumstances. If they have cleared loans and have sufficient savings, a reduced level of cover might be ideal. If they have strong pensions and savings, they may no longer have a need for cover and can take back a lump sum. For more information on how this type of cover may suit you, ask your advisor or contact me for a free quotation.

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.

Commnuity News

It is that time of year again when one starts to decide what activities and classes to join in September. We have a full programme for you again for this Autumn with limited spaces, so you need to decide early. To help you to decide, Active Age for All will hold an information day in the Shopping Centre on Friday the 25th of August to talk about our programme of classes and activities for the Autumn and to give general information about Active Age. We will have our new brochure and programme with us, so call in and collect one.

Registration for classes will take place on Monday 4th September and Tuesday 5th of September from 11.00 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. each day. By then we should have our new website up and running, and if all goes to plan, it will be possible to book and pay for your classes online for September.

We also had a very enjoyable Ardgillan Castle Trip. On a beautiful sunny morning last month, the AAfA Camera Club went onan outing to Ardgillan castle. The castle was under renovation and covered in scaffolding so not very picturesque,

however there were plenty of other photographic opportunities. We snapped away in the Rose Garden with its background of Victorian glass houses and walled garden. The wildflower meadows with backdrops of woodland and beautiful seascapes gave us plenty of scope for the perfect photograph. For any information about Active Age for All see our website activeageforall. com or email us at activeageforall@gmail.com or TEXT only to 0868806808.

New term with Leithinis Donabate Portrane in September

Leithinis Donabate Portrane CCE’s new term of lessons resume in September. If you are interested in learning a traditional Irish instrument in a relaxed and friendly setting please email us at leithinis@comhaltas.netand we will get back to you with details.

We offer lessons in Tin Whistle, Bodhran Fiddle, Concertina , Accordion and Banjo Classes are small and our teachers are talented and experienced musicians.Classes are held on Monday evenings in the Donabate Portrane Educate Together School.

In addition to classes we have twice monthly ( every 2nd Friday) slow sessions led by Erin in the Parish Hall. This is a fantastic opportunity for our students to practice their tunes. We have recently started meeting with other

Comhaltas branches to play some tunes Cluain Tarbh CCE’s junior members joined us in the grounds of the Parish Hall in June and a great afternoon was had by all. We are looking forward to visiting their branch over the next few months.The Brook Pub in Portrane host a Traditional Irish Music session on the first Tuesday of every month. The session starts at 7.30pm. This has proved to be very popular. Experienced traditional Irish Musicians come from all areas of the North County to play. Everyone is welcome to come along and enjoy a great evening of entertainment. For further information on our branch please see our webpage leithinis.com and our Facebook page Comhaltas Leithinis Donabate Portrane CCE.

The Rose Garden

The Wildflower Meadow

History Lessons for Donabate/Portrane Men’s Shed

Last month members of Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed had two very different history lessons. The warm humid conditions in the earlier part of the month provided the perfect conditions for phytophthora infestans, the potato blight fungus that caused the Famine. So, our entire crop of

potatoes at our plots at Turvey Allotments was lost, despite our best efforts. Thankfully the other plants – onions, scallions, cabbage and tomatoes – were not affected. Obviously, the inconvenience and disappointment of our loss was nothing compared to what our ancestors experienced in

the 1840s. Our second history lesson was at the Irish Military Museum, near Collon Co. Meath, a hands-on exhibition of weapons and uniforms ranging from the Viking raids to the Vietnam War. If you’d like to join us, please contact Jim on 086-3694316.

Fr Pat Celebrated the Golden Jubilee of his ordination

Fr. Pat Reilly celebrated his Golden Jubilee of his Ordination recently in St. Patrick’s Church, Donabate with Mass celebrated by Fr. Pat and concelebrated by Fr. Augustine, Fr. Paddy O’Byrne, Fr. Patrick Hannon and Fr. Richard Sheehy.

Fr. Pat’s family and friends took part in the Readings and Music alongside our Parish Choir.. After Mass refreshments were served in the marquee on the green and the music was provided by our Folk group. It was a wonderful evening of celebration marking Fr. Pat’s 50 years serving God with 17 of those years serving the people of Donabate, Portrane and Balheary. We congratulate Fr. Pat on his 50 years and wish him many more happy and healthy years serving the Lord.

Fr Pat Reilly with his family after the Jubilee Mass

Peninsula Artist Exhibition August 26th & 27th

Donabate Village Open Air Art Exhibition is happening in August! Come take a walk down our open air Art Gallery on Uisce Eireann’s railings at The Hand from 11am to 5pm, Saturday & Sunday. If you are interested in showing your work, there are a few places available. Make contact with Peninsula Art Group by email to mareseart@

www.facebook.com/BalbrigganLocal

eircom.net.

Many thanks for the help, advice and support from Corina Johnston, Labour Party local Area Representative. Duncan Smith, TD, Labour Party. Rafe Costigan, Senior Community Officer, Fingal County Council and Cllr Dean Mulligan,Independent4Change.

facebook.com/DonabatePortraneLocal

Sand Castle Days by Patricia Murphy

Guinness by John McKernan

Cosy Cottage by John Mc Kernan

Pathway to the Sea by Lorraine Carter

Killary Fjord by Patricia Murphy

A brilliant summer for the local Gude Dogs Association

What a successful May and June for the Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs. We are delighted to say that between our merchandise stand on Guide Dog Day the 26th May in the magnificent Millfield Shopping Centre, Balbriggan and also on SuperValu, Balbriggan on 27th May, our branch raised a truly wonderful fundraising total of €1,433.78. Skerries Community College also organised a sponsored dog walk for Guide Dog day on the 26th May where the teachers and students walked and raised a wonderful €330 in aid of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. We also attended Summerfest festival on the 4th June, there was sunshine and smiles all around and we are delighted to say, we actually raised €337.70. On our Guide Dog funding page we also raised €355 throughout the month of May, a massive thank you to Ms Reilly and also Ms O’Neill’s class at Scoil Chormaic CNS who raised €320 of that for our Branch. We also want to say a massively big thank you to those who supported us and continue to do so. We appreciate it.

There will be more events coming up over the following months, so make sure to keep an eye on our social media pages and feel free to contact us if you would like to volunteer or help out. We have a request for an old usable iPhone if anyone has one they would kindly like to donate to the Balbriggan/ North County Dublin Branch. We currently have an iPhone 5 but are looking for an upgrade, preferably sim free. This is used for events which is in conjunction with the Sum Up machine, which makes it possible to tap your card at our own merchandise stands. If you have an old iPhone you would like to donate to us, you can contact us through our own Facebook page at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs or indeed call us or text us on 085 7663107. If you are interested in volunteering with us please feel free to contact our Balbriggan/ North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs by phone/ text 085 7663107, email us at GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail. com or find us on Facebook at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs.

The Mayor of Fingal commends the residents of Donabate/Portrane

The Mayor of Fingal said recently, “As many people across Donabate Portrane will have seen in recent months an appeal went out from a small group of local residents from the peninsula who were anxious to restore and improve the grave in Donabate Cemetery of the late Eddie Guerrini who was affectionally known locally as “ Neddie”. Cllr Henchy said, “ I am delighted to say this appeal has been a wonderful success and the restoration of “ Neddie’s” grave has been completed in recent months. While the local residents behind this wonderful initiative want to remain anonymous, I just wanted to say a massive thanks as a public representative of my local community for completing such a benevolent kind gesture. It is greatly appreciated.

Tom O’Neill with Guide Dog Qeb, volunteer Maura and Puppy Raising Supervisor Lucie, at BalbrigganNorth County Dublin merchandise stand in Tesco, Millfield, Balbriggan on Guide Dog Day.

The grave before restoration Neddie’s grave after restoration

Lego bricks 4 Kids Summer Camp in the Parish hall

Donabate Parish Hall has run a number of successful camps this year to cater for local kids they are generally of a cultural & creative nature. They aim to offer a variety of camps to cater for all interests. The most recent was the Lego bricks 4 Kids Summer Camp which was extremely popular with nearly 30 kids taking part. The organiser Alison Bosonnet was delighted with the turnout and said the hall is fab a great space. Regular classes and activities include Irish dancing, Leithinis, Traditional Music, Mother and Baby Group and Cards to name a few! If you are interested in finding out more about the camps and classes or in using the hall for some community activity or event please contact the Parish Office on 01 8434574.

Coming Soon to a Festival near you! The Bleeding Pig

The Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival people are hard at work putting the preparations in place for the upcoming festival in September. From Thursday 7th to Sunday 17th September, venues across the peninsula will play host to lots of cultural activities for festival-goers of all ages and all cultural tastes. This year, the programme for the festival will include all the tried and tested favourites including: Short Film Festival, a feast of film for fans of the silver screen; Mol an Óige, showcasing some fun-sized talent on the peninsula; PizzaTrad, or Céilí dancing and Pizza in the sun; A Gala Concert, featuring the Young Dublin Symphonia and more;Art and Craft Workshops for children and adults; Casino Night, with gambling fun and music and dancing till late;

Short plays from Donabate/ Portrane Dramatic Society; Guided tour of historic St. Patrick’s Church of Ireland; Sing-a-longs featuring any singer, any song; and lots more.

This year the festival is embracing technology with 2 workshops called “Make a Movie on your Mobile Phone”, one session for 12-18 yearolds and one session for adults. A hand-held Gimble worth €165 will be presented to the best movie in the 12-18 year-old workshop. Most of the events of the Bleeding Pig Festival are free of charge, however

there is a small fee for some of the great workshops and events. The number of attendees for most of the workshops is limited and reserving a place is essential. Booking is through Eventbrite and reservation opens on August 18th

2023. Full details of all the workshops and events that require booking are on the Bleeding Pig website and Facebook page. The first event in the Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival will be a fundraising Pub Quiz in Keelings on Wednesday 23rd August. Tickets are €10 per person. Tickets can be reserved in advance from Emer on 0863691871. A raffle will be held throughout the festival, with prizes of some beautiful works of art by local artists.Tickets for the raffle will be on sale at all festival events. The Bleeding Pig Festival will hold a bag-pack on the weekend of 25th August, and brochures for the festival will be available at that time. Keep an eye on the Bleeding Pig Festival website and Facebook for details of all events. The organisers would like to thank all our generous sponsors, without their support the festival could not happen.Check out bleedingpig.ie and Bleeding Pig Cultural Festival Facebook page for full details about all the events in the festival, and come along in September and enjoy some local culture!

Glamour at Casino Royale

Things to do and enjoy in Ireland this Summer

by Siobhán O’Neill White

Need inspiration for ideas to keep the kids busy this summer? Go to www.mams.ie, follow our socials FB @mams.ireland, Instagram @mams. ie and Twitter, @mams_ie for ideas, discounts and competitions galore.Emerald Park is open for visitors! Whether you’re brave enough to face Cu Chúllain or more comfortable visiting the zoo, it’s a fab day out. We’ve tickets to give away here: instagram.com/mams.ie/ Eddie Rockets want to help parents this summer, so every Tuesday, kids eat free! For every adult meal purchased for €12 or more, get one free child meal. To enter our Eddie’s voucher giveaway, go here: mams. ie/2023/05/16/kids-eat-free-at-eddie-rocketson-tuesday-all-summer-long/ Need staycation inspiration? Farnham Estate is wonderful for family breaks. Nestled in the lush Cavan’s countryside, it’s a haven. We love to walk the grounds and visit the stunning indoor/outdoor pool! My sister got married here and it remains a firm favourite for our family. We heard such rave reviews about Carlingford Adventure Camp from parents last year that we’ve booked our 11yr old in with her best friend for their 3 day/2 night camp. Jam packed with activities and set in beautiful Carlingford, the camps are very well priced and have residential and non- residential options available, see https://carlingfordadventure.com/

For days you want to chill out, ArcCinema. ie kids’ clubs are great value. We also love their family deal which includes cinema passes, popcorn and drinks for a family of 4 (2 adults

and 2 kids or 1 adult and 3 kids) for only €39.95. With so many wonderful movies out this summer, there’s plenty to choose from! We recommend investing in some garden toys for the many summer days the kids will be playing at home or have friends over. Irish company JKC Toymaster are experts in outdoor toys. Our daughters have been on our Berg trampoline non-stop since we got it. See their fab range here: jkctoymaster.ie/. If you fancy a different kind of holiday - how about Glamping?! We’re

Vertigo (1958) A study of obsession

by Jack Shanley

Daunting disturbing and chilling Vertigo remains a masterpiece. 55 years after its original release and with it being shown later this month in the lighthouse Cinema Alfred Hitchcock’s mesmerising fascinating masterpiece still moves audiences today. Arguably Hitchcock’s best film it’s still fascinates me every time I see it. It’s the study of obsession that keeps the material so fresh and new. Its Johns (James Stewart) obsession that drives the story on and keeps us hooked from the second we see the dizzying spirals of the opening credits sequence. Although story was arguably the most important part of a Hitchcock film, with Vertigo its quite different. It’s the emotions, characters, themes that pull a story together. I’ve seen this work with many films and find it quite interesting, as a film it could have a basic story but it lives off its character development etc. This is the film that introduced the World to the famous sequence known as the Vertigo Effect which has gone on to be used in various other films. It;s basically a forward zoom with a reverse dolly meant to achieve a disorienting effect of shifting perspectives. Vertigo also happens to be Hitchcock’s most personal picture, burrowing deep into the directors own darkest wormholes: obsessions with women, the desire to control them, and to mould them into a personal ideal. The psychologically complex material is played off incredibly well by James Stewart who we sympathize with and a chilling Kim Novak performance. With the colours dazzling, and Bernard Herrmann’s extraordinary score as crisp and haunting as ever, its surely a must watch. In all truth I’d recommend checking out Vertigo as its screens in the Lighthouse Cinema on August 20th and see what you think of it, I shall give it a score of five stars. Director: Alfred Hitchcock– Rating: PG – Genre: Mystery/Thriller – Run Time: 2h 8m – Language: English. For more film content please follow @movies4fanatics on Instagram.

heading to Ardmore Glamping Pods in beautiful Waterford. We’ve booked a large pod, which fits 7 people. Right next to the beach and Ardmore Open Farm, it’s a fabulous location. They even rent BBQ’s out so you can cook up a storm while enjoying the beautiful beach views! Inquire at ardmoreglampingpods.ie/. Please make sure to be sun safe this summer. We recommend Irish brand Elave SPF50 suncream. Its brilliant for all ages. Watch our socials for giveaways on this.

The kids love their chocolate!

Cllr Henchy promises to be a Mayor for All

In his inaugural address after his recent election as Mayor Of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy promised to be a “Mayor for All”. This is an excerpt from that speech: “Is mór an onóir dom bheith tofa mar Mhéara Fhine Gall inniú ag sibhse mo chuid comhghleacaithe anseo inniú inár Seomra Comhairle.Buíochas ó chroí le gach duine a thug tacaíocht dom, agus buíochas freisin le gach comhairleoir is gach ball foirne den ár gComhairle a oibreann go dian gach lá ar son na saoránaigh áitiúla.Geallaimse do mhuintir Fhine Gall go ndéanfaidh mé mo dhícheall gach lá ar bhur son, agus mar Mhéara, ní hamháín ar son muitir mo thoghcheantair féin, Port Reachrainn, Domhnach Bat, Rois Eó, Lusca, Baile Bachaille, Baile Gháire, An Seanbhaile, An Aill agus Baile Scadán, ach as son gach duine a chónaíonn, a oibríonn agus a thugann cuairt i gContae Fhine Gall.

It was both humbling and a great honour for me to be elected as the 18th Mayor of Fingal and

to also receive such a strong mandate from my fellow Councillors who entrusted me with their support for this highly respected and prestigious role.

At this time I of course want to especially thank my family for their encouragement and unwavering support at all times.I also want to very much remember the last person who served as Mayor of Fingal from Donabate and that was Gerry McGuire in 2011. Sadly Gerry passed earlier this year and is greatly missed by his family, relatives, friends and wider community. It would be remiss of me not to pay tribute to the first ever Mayor of Fingal, a Portrane man Sean Ryan who went onto be an outstanding public representative and TD for Fingal. I want to welcome Seáns brother Brendan whose first meeting was the election of Mayor in his new role of Councillor within the Skerries/Balbriggan ward having replaced Seána O Rodaigh. It has been one of the privileges of my life to serve the

good people of Portrane, Donabate over the last 9 years within Fingal County Council and I now look forward to serving all of the people of Fingal over the next 12 months.

I fully believe in truly been a Mayor for All where every citizen has a right to not only have their voice heard but to also achieve their dreams & aspirations. I am passionate about making our communities not only better places to live, but to be safe and wonderful to visit. Fingal is an incredible place, full of incredible people which means we can continue to build an incredible future. We have so much to be proud off and yet so many opportunities to build an even brighter future. I promise to give it my very best every day, and as Mayor, not just for the people of my own electoral area, Portrane, Donabate, Rush, Lusk, Ballyboughal, Garristown, Oldtown, the Naul, & Balscadden, but for everyone who lives, works and visits Fingal. Go Raibh Mile Maith Agaibh.

Newly elected Mayor of Fingal Cllr Adrian Henchy chairing his first Council meeting

Council appeals for extreme caution on beaches this summer!

Despite running a rigorous recruitment campaign over the last few months, the Council will be unable to put lifeguards at all its designated bathing areas. This shortage of available lifeguards will leave some beaches exposed during the summer, with patrols not possible on all popular beaches. Beachgoers are reminded that if there’s a red over yellow flag flying from the lifeguard station, a lifeguard is present and it is safe to swim. A red flag means there is a lifeguard on duty, but it is not safe to swim. No flag means there is no lifeguard on duty. A lifeguard is only on duty in the summer months from 11am to 7pm as follows: Every day during July & August (N.B. locations will be dependent on staffing availability), - The first two weekends in September (Blue Flag Beaches only. To maximize beach safety and minimize potential hazards, Fingal wants beach goers to keep the following tips in mind: (1) Swim in designated areas: (2) Keep a close eye on children: (3) Follow lifeguard instructions: (4) Please do not bring inflatable toys to the beach:(5) Avoid alcohol and drugs: Drinking alcohol is forbidden under Fingal County Council beach bye- laws. Remember that alcohol and drugs also impair judgement and coordination, increasing the risk of accidents in the water. Stay sober and alert while enjoying the beach. (6) Be aware of weather conditions: (7) Learn basic water safety: If you’re not a confident swimmer,please consider taking swimming lessons or familiarise yourself with basic water

safety techniques. (8) Stay hydrated and use sun protection: Protect yourself from the sun’s harmful rays by wearing sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and avoid heat-related illnesses.(9) Leave No Trace: Respect the environment by cleaning up after yourself and disposing of trash in designated bins.Take your rubbish home with you, if our bins are full.

Also, please do not bring BBQs to our beaches, as they can lead to serious burns if left behind. (10) Be alert: Where an area is not being lifeguarded and you get into trouble or see someone else in difficulty, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard. By adhering to these guidelines and being responsible beach goers, we can all contribute to a safer and more enjoyable summer experience.

Fingal County Council lifeguard on duty

Home Cook Recipes Healthy

Niamh’s Mouthwatering Beef and Black Bean Sauce

Serves 1

Ingredients

• 50g sliced onions

• 200g sliced beef

• 120 chopped mixed peppers

• 1 cup of whole grain rice

• 40g sliced mushrooms

• 40g black bean sauce

To make homemade black bean sauce:

• 200g black beans

• 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

• 2 shallots

• 2 cloves garlic

• 5cm fresh root ginger

• 1 tablespoon chilli pepper flakes

• 1 & 1/2 teaspoons cornflour dissolved in 1 tablespoon water

Method to make sauce:

1.Mix the beans, shallots, chilli pepper flakes and rice wine vinegar together. Mash the beans well. Set aside.

2. Sauté the garlic and ginger in a small amount of oil on a pan until soft and flavours infuse. Add the mixture from the previous step.

3.Bring the mixture to the boil then simmer for 10-15minutes. To thicken the sauce, stir in the cornflour mixture. Simmer until thickened.

To cook the rice:

Bring 1.5 cups of water to boil before adding a cup of rice and let it simmer before all the water has dissolved. Then it is ready to serve.

To cook the rest of the ingredients:

1.Add 1 tablespoon rapeseed oil into a nonstick pan (preferably). Gently cook stripped beef just to brown it then remove from pan.

2.Add vegetables to pan and lightly cook before adding black bean sauce and beef then cook till sauce begins to bubble and meat is cooked thoroughly.

3.Serve with cooked rice.

For nutrition and healthy eating talks or workshops in preschools, primary or secondary schools, workplaces or community groups please email:niamh@biabites. netSee my ‘Fun food’ and ‘Recipes’ albums on ‘Biabites’Facebook for other food ideas. Niamh Arthurs, Public Health and Clinical Nutritionist www.biabites.net

Donabate Portrane Special Olympics Club 2022/2023 update

Just like that our 5th year in operation has come to an end and what a year! Our Young Athlete Program continues, and we welcomed many new members throughout the year. This group cater to athletes aged 4 years + and focuses on gaining gross motor skills and introducing the basic skills of various sports e.g.,running, throwing, catching, balancing, turn-taking, striking, etc.,all through fun and games. Our three basketball groups started this year, and they have all progressed so well. We have a ‘Come and try’ basketball’ team and a girls’ preteen/teen team training on Thursday

evenings. On Fridays, our teen boys’ team meets up. The athletics club meets on Saturday mornings. Over the past year, their members have been introduced to the rules of athletics meets and have been training hard to master them. They have recently trained on the ALSAA track and in the National Indoor Arena and tried out new events like the high jump and the long jump. Our wonderful gymnastics club has gone from strength to strength and the progress of the gymnasts is very impressive. It is hard to believe that they have only been training for less

than 10 months. They finished off their fantastic year by hosting an interclub gymnastics competition with Tivoli Tigers Special Olympics Club.None of these clubs could exist without our amazing volunteers and coaches. We would like to publicly thank each and every one of them and look forward to seeing them and all our athletes when the club starts back in September. We are always looking for volunteers to give just a few hours a week with our club or if you would like to enquire about your child joining our club, please email us at dpsoclub@gmail,com

Coaches Siobhan and Meadhbh

and volunteers

Nelma and Susan are so proud of all the gymnasts

So many friends made at Young Athletes club

The girls’ basketball team and coaches

The amazing mixed basketball group with their well-deserved medals.

Winners at inter-club Gymnastics competiton

The girls racing at Athletics

Siún and Annie - fab basketballers and great friends

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. Free from roughness. (6)

5. Accept to be true without proof. (6)

10. Capable of reasoning in an orderly fashion. (7)

11. Large champion of the Philistines in the Bible. (7)

12. Wind into rings or spirals. (4)

13. Houses for families. (5)

15. Securely fixed in place. (4)

17. Entered into marriage. (3)

19. A maxim, proverb. (6)

21. Flat-bottomed boats for carrying heavy loads. (6)

22. Rolled and turned smoothly in gymnastics. (7)

23. Come to pass, occur. (6)

25. Large Asian endangered felines. (6)

28. The part of a sofa that supports the elbow. (3)

30. Noisy, clamorous. (4)

31. The food of love. (5)

32. A travelling show. (4)

35. Our second official language. (7)

36. Nationality of a native of Naples. (7)

37. The person in charge of a publication. (6)

38. Breathed noisily, as when one is exhausted. (6)

Down

2. Enlarge in size or significance. (7)

3. Bad guys in Lord of the Rings. (4)

4. Empty inside. (6)

5. Verbally disagreed. (6)

6. The lone fish. (4)

7. The message that is intended. (7)

8. Particular regions. (6)

9. Short poems for children. (6)

14. Projecting body parts. (7)

16. Go into, make a record of. (5)

18. Wireless transmission and reception (5)

20. Portable weapon. (3)

21. Place a stake on an outcome. (3)

23. Aided, assisted. (6)

24. Fell abruptly. (7)

26. Consider in detail, question closely. (7)

27. Reduced in size. (6)

28. Professional writer of books. (6)

29. Blending into one mass. (6)

33. An indirect suggestion. (4)

34. Star rodents. (4)