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Christmas: A Time for Giving
When we were young and full of wonderment, the magical image of Santa Claus and all the gifts under the tree was all we could think of, with some of us thinking about it for months in advance of the big day.
When we are young, we largely think about what are we going to get, how big will the present be, who will have the best bike on the street? Or nowadays kids will be waking up to brand new TV screens, the latest video game consoles or the newest smartphone or tablets.
When we’re older and are lucky enough to have kids of our own to treat at Christmas time it’s all about the giving, we get such satisfaction, and sometimes massive relief, that we have been able to give our children what they wish for.
But isn’t the giving what Christmas is all about? Yes, it is amazing to get lovely presents but isn’t the feeling of giving infinitely better than receiving. And it doesn’t have to be the giving of gifts either. It would be giving your time to visit elderly relatives, or volunteering at the many wonderful community events taking place throughout the festive seasons.
The act of giving is such an important thing for us. The joy of seeing the look of amazement and excitement of a child opening a present, or an old friend or relative answering their door on Christmas day to greet visitors is a feeling that is unmatched in this world.
You can have all the material goods in the world and still not be happy, the real gift of Christmas is giving to others, we should try to remember this over the next few weeks as we are flying around the place doing last minute shopping or on the many Christmas parties or social gatherings.
The Community Locals team hope that the Christmas season is a wonderful and peaceful time for our readers and we wish you all the best for 2025!
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Commnuity News
Active Age for All are busy this autumn
Active Age activities and classes are back in full swing following the half term and we are now preparing for Christmas activities.
As part of Inclusion Week we held a coffee and sing along morning in the Donabate/Portrane Community Centre. It was very well attended and we were royally entertained by our own AAfA singing group led by Ed Mallarky and the Willie Cahill Quartet, a talented foursome otherwise known as Willie Cahill, Brian Andrews, Maurice Buckley and Fran Ryan. Many thanks also due to the many bakers who provided the goodies, and of course all the centre staff who rowed in with the practicalities on the day.
On Tuesday 10th December we are holding our annual Christmas Carol coffee morning fund raiser for St Francis Hospice. This is in memory of our previous, and much missed, chairperson Philippa Coady, and to support the wonderful work that they do. There will be plenty of delicious
goodies including mince pies and nonalcoholic mulled wine; a sing along with our own singing group plus the Willie Cahill quartet and a raffle with lots of wonderful prizes. As special guests we are delighted to include the children from the creche who will sing 1 or 2 Christmas Carols for us. Do come along and join in the fun !
Some dates for the diaries:
Classes finish for Christmas on Friday 13th December.
Mon/Tues 6th & 7th Jan ’25: Online registration for AAfA members, Wed/Thurs 8th & 9th Jan: In person membership and registration.
Friday 17th Jan ’25: AGM
Monday 20th Jan: Spring ’25 programme of classes commences.
Wishing all the Active Age for All members and their families, and the Donabate & Portrane community a very Happy Christmas and a peaceful and prosperous New Year.
Locals Flock to Annual Pink Swim
On Bank Holiday Monday, 28th of October, a large group of people met at Tower Bay Beach, Portrane, for the 3rd Annual Big Pink Breakfast & Swim Fundraiser for the Irish Cancer Society. Olivia Nolan, from Portrane, is a Breast Cancer Survivor & started running this event 3 years ago, while on Chemotherapy treatment. Olivia is a regular sea swimmer since she started it in 2020 during Covid.
This is the 3rd year of the event, and it was the biggest yet - the fundraiser has reached in excess of €5,500.00!
The theme of the event is Pink.. everyone wears something pink, and gathers for a swim all together, turning the sea Pink! Olivia and her husband Francis, along with all of their friends, organise a BBQ on the beach for after the swim. Many of the supporters bring along home bakes
as a welcomed treat for all of the sea swimmers and supporters.
The event will continue to be held at Tower Bay Beach in Portrane on the October Bank Holiday Monday every year.
Here is a link to the fundraiser, which is still open for donations; https://www.justgiving. com/page/olivia-nolan-1727122562160?utm_ source=IG
Santa on the Move!
Childhood Christmas Past
Hard to believe its December once again. When I was struggling through my tender years Christmases seemed further apart, less hassle and more local. No shopping online or visiting European Christmas markets for us. Months in advance the neighbourhood shops would open their Christmas club; enabling their customers to lodge a few bob every week so that when the time came they had saved enough to cover the extra cost. Our highlight of the season was a trip to the annual sale of work in the local hall, where ladies (who looked ancient to me) wearing hats, and adorned by broaches and string of pearls necklaces, sold homemade jam, sponge cakes and willow pattern delph, whilst exchanging the latest goings on in the parish. Men sometimes fresh from the pub sold bags of potatoes and operated the Wheel of Fortune. The Christmas play and school concert brought stardom to some and a lesser role to others. Unable to see the blackboard due to need of glasses, and doing daily battle with a cocktail of neurodiversity that wasn’t recognised back then, I was considered not to be the sharpest pencil in the case, and so I was allotted the not so prestigious role of
This year Santa is using Active Travel to get to Donabate - he will arrive to Dublin by Sleigh then cross over O’Connell St and take a train to Donabate & back to deliver some presents to all the children on our Peninsula. Remember you must
have your letter written & wishes in by now and also that Santa has a lot of children to bring gifts to, so you cannot ask for lots, it is a wish list! Santa will be with you soon so mind yourselves & each other
….xxxx
stage curtain puller. What could possibly go wrong? Surly it would be alright on the night. Well not quite; just as a man who say himself the local Pavarotti, struck the first note of his second number I accidently brought the curtain down, inadvertently turning his polished performance into a comedy act.
In the 60s a light aircraft (maybe a weather plane?) flew over Swords and the surrounding area at night. My mother informed me that the pilot was none other than the man from the north pole himself “keeping an eye out”, so I had better “behave myself”. Thankfully, the spy plane failed to spot anything untoward and I woke up on Christmas mornings to find nice presents including a tricycle, a farm set and a fire engine. The sock I hung on the end of the bed contained a bar of chocolate and an orange that somehow always tasted much nicer than ordinary oranges. But a low inevitably follows a high and on Stephens Day tradition dictated that my mother, father and I (an only child) HAD to visit our relatives. Oh, how I longed to be at home playing with my newly acquired toys, as they took turns giving a detailed description of their health issues, ranging from chronic heartburn to back pain and dry eyes. Having well and truly exhausted their medical records they moved on to their second chosen subject – end of the world predictions. Good old Spot, their playful dog who had not been infected with the malaise of his humans, just about made the day bearable. The years have flown, the relatives are long gone and this Christmas I shall be the one munching on the indigestion tablets.
Music MakersIn collaboration with the Donabate Parish Hall
Calling all Donabate and Portrane music lovers aged 18 and over! If you’re looking for a place to unleash your inner rockstar without your neighbours filing noise complaints, Music Makers is here for you. This local group is a cozy, friendly space where you can jam with fellow music enthusiasts. No real experience? No problem. Tone-deaf? We respect your bravery. Whether you’re a virtuoso or can only manage three chords on a ukulele, Music Makers is all about keeping it real, having a laugh, and sharing the universal language of music. Whether you’re an aspiring musician, a singer / songwriter or just love music, everyone is welcome! So, grab your instrument, come hang out, and let’s make music!
The club meets once or twice a month in Donabate Parish Hall on Friday evenings at 7.45pm.
If you’re interested, please email musicmakersph@gmail.com for dates and more information.
We welcome any donations of musical instruments or equipment in reasonable condition.
Tayleur & Tradfest Raise Funds for RNLI
Earlier this year the Parish Hall & Tradfest along with the help of the Historical Society and Dramatic Society came together to put on a number of events held over a few days to commemorate the tragic sinking of the Tayleur Ship of the coast of Lambay Island with the loss of hundreds of lives.
The events ranged from talks by historians & divers, to a film & play and an exhibition of artefacts. It was all very well received by adults and children in the local community.
None would have been possible without the support & help of the Parish
When all the bills were paid & adding up sponsorship and public donations there was €500 left to Donate to the RNLI.
We are all aware of the wonderful work done by the RNLI in saving lives when people come into difficulty in the water. So, we had great pleasure in making this donation recently to their representative Pauline McGann from RNLI - outside the Parish Hall. Keep safe everyone especially with all the social & charity swims over the Christmas time.
Hall Committee & the CEO of Tradfest Martin Harte.
Fingal volunteers to be recognised at national awards
Fingal Volunteer Centre is delighted to announce that 3 nominees from Fingal County have been shortlisted for the 17th annual Volunteer Ireland Awards. Those shortlisted will be honoured at the national awards ceremony in Dublin in December, which celebrates the commitment and dedication of volunteers across Ireland.
With 33 nominees across 11 categories, the shortlist includes volunteers aged 20 right up to 75 and showcases the remarkable impact of volunteering across all sections of society.
Garry Wiley from Donabate Sea Scouts has been shortlisted in the Children and Youth category. Kids of all ages look to Garry to provide a safe and exciting environment to learn about outdoor skills and have a bit of fun!
Garry is known to go out of his way to make parents and scouts, of any ability, feel confident and comfortable in scouting. There is hardly a weekend that he is not on camp, running or attending events or at training to keep improving on the high level of scouting he already delivers. Deborah McArdle from Donabate/Portrane Special Olympics Club has been shortlisted in the Sports and Recreation category. Deborah has been with the club since its inception over 8 years ago. She recruited the volunteers needed to form the club and now is the Young Athlete Lead and Head Coach. Donabate/ Portrane club has opportunities for people with intellectual disabilities to participate in Basketball, Gymnastics and Athletics. Volunteering has brought Deborah all over the world from America
to Abu Dhabi and most recently Berlin, and she is always encouraging athletes and volunteers to expand their horizons.
Children 4 World Children has been shortlisted in the Small Group category. Children 4 World Children is a group dedicated to the integration and experience of people from different cultures. The group hosts various events for culture sharing, including their Sports Across the World event that exposes young people to fun new ways to exercise and build community. They celebrate the music and dancing of cultures across the globe and this year’s Waka Waka Africa event highlighted the food and games important to different cultures in Africa, complete with hair braiding and beautiful traditional dress.
Happy Christmas to All from Parish Hall
The Parish Hall Committee wishes everyone on the Peninsula a very happy & peaceful Christmas. We hope and trust we are using the resources of the Parish Hall to serve the present and some of the future needs of our growing Parish as best as we can. We are conscious that there are many new people in our community this year and we send you a very special welcome to our Parish. We collaborate & give some support to a few events & activities which are provided for all of the older & younger adults in the community. Pi We support the Men’s Shed - music group ‘Gerry & the Plonkers’ to provide a few midday Wednesdayconcerts a year, in the Parish Hall. Their recent November concert was just great! With the fantastic Edel Dempsey joining them
on her tin whistle and the capable Noel Dowling doing sound.
Please put Wednesday 4th December from 12noon-2pm in your diaries now for their next concert. There will be some very special Christmas tunes included! & of course refreshments.
The 3 dates & times for next years concerts in 2025 are: 12noon-2pm; Wednesday 22nd January; Wednesday 12th February and Wednesday 12th March.
Please put in your diaries; all adults in the area are welcome to come & sing along & dance or just listen & enjoy!
The ‘Music Makers’ led by Noel Dowling & assisted by Sean Collins have also been given
support to get over 18th plus plus plus! Into the Parish Hall about twice a month on a Friday night. (See separate article). They have nearly all the ‘music gear’ funded by FCC through a grant so are well set up. A big thanks to our Community Officer from FCC - Rafe Costigan for all his advice & support.
Thank you to all our users for their support. Also, we now have Maria who is assisting in the running of the Parish Hall & we give her a warm welcome.
Finally, a huge thank you to the Parish Office for the great work done in the running of the Parish Hall. If you need them ph: 01- 8434574 in the mornings - please.
Get into Bridge with Donabate Bridge Club
Have you ever considered playing Bridge?
Why play Bridge?
Bridge is fun!
Bridge is sociable ~ meet lots of lovely people!
Bridge is cheap!
Bridge is great for your mental agility. Omar Shariff gave up horses, women and gambling in favour of Bridge!
Donabate Bridge Club is a group that meets every Wednesday evening, all year round, in St. Patrick’s Parish Hall, to play Bridge. The club currently boasts approximately 45 members at many levels of Bridge prowess, from Beginners, or Novices, to more experienced players. However, here in Donabate, all the different levels plays together, with the emphasis on having fun!
The club is very grateful to Fr. Pat and Bernie, and the Parish Council for accommodating our weekly meetings.
The club are looking for new members to join the club and increase the membership. A 10-week term of lessons for Beginners will be starting in January 2025.
Experienced players of any level are also very welcome to join.
The club regularly holds Improver lessons. Donabate Bridge Club is affiliated to CBAI, the Contract Bridge Association of Ireland, who provide expert support and guidance to the club.
There is a weekly competition held in the club, and some of the members also participate in Regional and National competitions, putting the name of Donabate Bridge Club firmly on the map!
If you think you would be interested in joining Donabate Bridge Club and playing learning to play Bridge, contact Emer on 0863691871, or any club member.
Bernie & Mary
Gerry & the Plonkers Edel Dempsey & Noel Downing!
A Busy Time for Gerry and the Plonkers
Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed was involved in two events on the same day as part of Fingal Inclusion Week.
The first was a gathering in Donabate Portrane Community Centre of members of the Fingal Men’s Sheds, organised by the Irish Men’s Sheds Association and sponsored by Fingal County Council. Entertainment by provided by Gerry and the Plonkers, Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed music group, and a group of musicians from Swords Men’s Shed. There was also a light exercise session led by our own Fintan Delaney and a light-hearted, but insightful, talk by writer and story-teller Michael Harding.
The second event was one of Gerry and the Plonkers’ series of free monthly concerts in Donabate Parish Hall, sponsored by the Parish Hall Committee, where they were joined by local musician, Edel Dempsey, on whistles and flute. Their next free concert will be on Wednesday 4th December from 12 noon to 2pm. All adults are welcome, and light refreshments will be provided.
Gerry and the Plonkers also played at the recent Memory Café in Donabate Portrane Community Centre and will lead the singsong at our Christmas party in Keeling’s on Friday 6th December.
But Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed has more to offer than music. In addition to our music sessions, every week we have an exercise class, croquet at Newbridge House and a gathering for tea and chat. From time to time, we also have outings to places of interest. Our most recent was an interesting visit to the museum at Mountjoy Jail; more about that next month. We also have two plots at Turvey Allotments, which even at this time of year need attention.
So, if you or someone you know would like to join us, please contact our PRO, Jim, on 0863694316.
G&P at Comunity Centre
Micheal Harding
G&P at Parish Hall
Donabate Christmas Lights Festival
The Christmas tree is up and the countdown is on to the most exciting day of the year in Donabate! The Donabate Christmas Lights Festival is on Saturday December 7th.
Many thanks to Fingal County Council for installing the beautiful tree and lights.
All day on Saturday 7th, Karl Harte and his team from CP Electrical will be busy installing all the other festive lights around the village. We are hugely indebted to Karl who has been voluntarily doing this job for 30 years or more now. Huge thanks to Karl’s team who will give up their day on Saturday to help make the village look sparkly and festive.
The Christmas Craft Fair will be on in the
Parish Hall, from 12-6pm, with lots of artisans showcasing their crafts. Drop in and browse and maybe pick up a gift or two!
Santa Claus will arrive in the Parish Hall at 11am and will be there all day in his grotto visiting with the good boys and girls.
Free hot drinks will be on offer outside the Parish Hall from Shirley Higgins and her coffee van, courtesy of Progressive Credit Union.
At 4.30pm the switching-on event will start at the tree in the carpark of St. Patrick’s RC Church. There will be festive entertainment from the Peninsula Voices, under the baton of Áine Daly.
There will be seasonal refreshments, with Mulled Wine and Mince Pies for the adults and
juices and treats for the kids.
We are very grateful to Tesco, SuperValu and the Progressive Credit Union for their ongoing support for this event. Without their generosity, the event would not happen.
Four children have been chosen, one from each of the Primary schools on the peninsula, to lead the countdown and flick the switch to turn on the lights.
After the lights are on, there will be a Christmas Market in the Town Mall, with local businesses showcasing their goods.
So, put on your Santa hat, join us for some of the festivities and help kick-start the Donabate festive season in style!
Can You Reduce Your Christmas Costs?
By Dave Kavanagh
December is the time of year where traditionally we spend the most, is there a way to soften the impact? Of course there is. Firstly, manage expectations: Most people can’t remember what they got 2 years ago, so don’t put yourself under too much pressure for “big” presents. Next, leave the credit card at home: At about 20% interest, adding debt for things you don’t need to overspend on, only starts the new year off in a negative. Be realistic with food shopping: The shops are only closed for 1-2 days, do you really need to stock up so much? In the days/weeks after Christmas, make a list of all the things you bought but didn’t really need or through out, and keep it for next year, so you don’t repeat the same mistakes. Kris Kindle: Talk to family and close friends to agree to pick one person and buy them a present for a set limit, to ease the burden.
There are things you can also do all year round that can save you enough to cover the cost of Christmas: Switch utility providers, the savings can be quite substantial. Compare before you shop for larger items: Just because one store has a sign saying the fridge you want is reduced from €799 to €699, doesn’t mean that another store that does not have a sale on, isn’t selling the same fridge for €649. Take the time to
shop around when your car or house insurance renewals come in, it can be well worth the effort. Review premiums that you pay regularly, such as mortgage protection or life cover, especially if they were taken out directly with a bank who could not compare. Finally, go through a few months’ bank statements: we regularly find people paying for things like subscriptions or gym memberships, that should have been cancelled years before or that they simply no longer require.
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.
GET LOCAL NEWS FROM YOUR COMMUNITY RIGHT
Shop local & Buy Irish this Christmas!
While the children wish for snow and Santa, parents work frantically behind the scenes to make Christmas happen!
For the day itself, Dunnes Stores has a fantastic range of home and cookware to help prep and serve dinner. The Nevin Maguire collection has charcuterie and cheese boards, roasting tins and knives to slice that turkey perfectly! Check out Dunnes selection of Sheridan cheeses – delicious with crackers, chutney and grapes.
Cooking a big family dinner? Nisbets Moore St Mall, Ilac SC is brilliant. Crockery, glasses, food warmers and our favourite tableware item, the Lazy Susan! These clever turntables allow the gravy boat and condiments to be easily shared around the table. Much better than someone (i.e. kids & teens!) chucking things across the table!
When decorating the table for Christmas, Tipperary Crystal have beautiful glasses, place mats and cutlery.
Brooke & Shoals candles and diffusers smell incredible, creating Christmas vibes with their festive scents.
For gifting, we like to keep things Irish! Hampers & Co have hampers to suit everyone and they start at only €14. Nyrah beauty have divine mini skincare sets for only €25
and their hat box sets are really eye catching.
National Concert Hall gift vouchers are a wonderful present. They have fantastic shows and the acoustic are amazing.
SoSu have gorgeous make-up, brush, Dripping Gold tan and Bahama Skin gift sets. Check their website for great offers!
Cocoa Brown has beautiful gift sets, including a cracker with tan and a mitt inside. This could go on the dinner table as an extra surprise!
Ziaja skincare gift sets for babies, kids, women and men are available in Dunnes, Tesco and Chemist Warehouse are lovely and affordable.
On Black Friday, we picked up great value Secret Santa gifts in Town Centre Pharmacy, Dealz & Card Factory in Drogheda Town Centre. So many things for under a tenner! Arc Cinema have gift vouchers offers, buy 2 x €25 gift cards for only €40!
Acapulco Mexican Restaurant is great for get-togethers this festive season. Amazing food, and their flavoured Margaritas are yummy!
One Dame Lane Irish jewellery store make gorgeous pieces, ideal for gifting.
The Lark Panto, Cinderella, is on from 5th December, so still time to book tickets!
All wrapped up
The Penguin (2024) Series review
By Jack Shanley
The Penguin series kicked off back in September but as it ended last month, I felt why not do a review of a series as appose to a movie for a change. The series for me from start to finish was absolutely fantastic. It slowly unfolded into an edge of your seat gangster series with an extraordinary set of characters. One of our own in Colin Farrell reprised his role as the titular character, delivering a tour-de-force performance that is both menacing and captivating. His transformation into the Penguin is nothing short of remarkable, with his physical appearance and mannerisms perfectly capturing the essence of the character. The supporting cast, including Cristin Milioti as Sofia Falcone and Rhenzy Feliz as a young Edward Nygma, also deliver very strong performances.
The series excels in its dark and atmospheric tone, immersing viewers in the seedy underbelly of Gotham City. The cinematography
is stunning, capturing the city’s bleak beauty and the characters’ descent into darkness. The writing is sharp and engaging, with plenty of twists and turns to keep viewers hooked. The make-up and costume design is also spectacular with a wonderful score by the great Mick Giacchino.
However, “The Penguin” is not without its flaws. Some will argue the pacing can be uneven at times, with some episodes feeling slower than others, whereas I feel the first couple of episodes are just setting the tone before it kicks off into a big ball of chaos. Additionally, the series can be quite violent and disturbing, which may not be suitable for all viewers.In all truth I’d recommend checking out ‘The Penguin’ and see what you think of it, I shall give it a score of 4 stars. You can watch it today on Sky Atlantic. Creator: Lauren LeFranc–Rating: 15 – Genre: Drama/Crime – Run Time: 55 min per episode. Language: English, Italian. For more film content please follow @ movies4fanatics on Instagram.
Not-for-Profit Childcare Centre Needed in Donabate - Cllr
Local Labour Cllr Corina Johnston is calling for a Community Non-for-Profit Community Childcare facility in Donabate. Cllr Johnston believes the facility should be provided in the largely populated area of Ballymastone, and the adjacent Lanestown View development with many young families currently living and moving into the who are struggling to pay for private childcare.
Johnston said; “Fingal CYPSC (Children & Young People’s Services Commitees) recently published a report “double disadvantage” which highlights the need for community non for profit childcare facilitates across Fingal. According to the report Fingal has the lowest proportion of Community Based Childcare services in Ireland with current data from the Pobal Annual Early Years Sector Report 2021 highlighting that 6% of all Childcare services in Fingal are community based non for profit while the average country wide is 26%.”
“This is completely unacceptable to me. There are many families struggling to pay childcare fees across Fingal and in my own area of Donabate. There are also many parents who are prohibited from returning to work due to the lack of affordable childcare.”
Cllr Johnston recently tabled a motion calling for the childcare facility to be included in phase 3 of the Ballymastone
development that was tendered by Glenveagh Living Ltd and contains plans for another crèche.
Following the motion, the local council reported, “The tender submitted by Glenveagh Living Ltd. in respect of the delivery of a mixed used residential development on Council lands at Ballymastone proposed the delivery of 2 no. purpose-built crèches on the site. Planning permission has not yet been sought for Phase 3 of the development, which will include the delivery of the second crèche.
The tenure of the crèche in Phase 3 is a matter for Glenveagh as the developer and will require agreement with an operator with suitable financial resources and the required competency.The Council will, however, encourage Glenveagh to consider a community not for profit operational model.”
Councillor Johnston’s motion was subsequently passed at the meeting and she said that she will continue to push for the facility to be provided; “I am pleased my motion for such an important much needed facility was passed at a recent council meeting and intend to pursue the need for such a facility further.”
Fingal Volunteer Expo Highlights Dublin 15 Opportunities
This month, Fingal Volunteer Centre hosted a Dublin 15 Volunteer Expo during which people interested in volunteering chatted with their local charities. This public gathering in Blanchardstown Library, provided 12 not-for-profits organisations the chance to chat with the public about their missions and what volunteering with them looks like.
Set up in 2007, Fingal Volunteer Centre is an independent charity that promotes the value of volunteering. Events like the Expo offer an opportunity for individuals thinking of volunteering to meet directly with local organisations and have a quick chat about their roles, facilitating the first steps into their volunteer journey.
Everyone can be a volunteer. Most of the roles do not require any specific skills and when necessary, training is provided. Some roles do require specific knowledge and people who have experience in any area are valuable. Roles include befriending, administration, arts & crafts, event stewarding, fundraising, IT, mentoring and tutoring, board positions, coaching and many more.
Dublin 15 hosts over 100 not-forprofits organisations which focus on
promoting positive mental health, supporting youth / the elderly / people with disabilities, taking environment & climate actions, encouraging sports, radio broadcasting and much more. Groups at the Expo represented this diversity of causes and roles: Avista, B.C.I.L., Blanchardstown Village Tidy Towns, Castleknock Tidy Town, Children for World Children, Cycling Ireland, Empower Local Development Company, Foroige, Home-Start Blanchardstown, Millennium Community Garden, and 92.5 Phoenix FM Radio.
On the night, we spoke with one of the local organisations that partners with Fingal Volunteer Centre to find volunteers. Empower Local Development Company is an organisation that offer free services in areas such as English lessons for beginners, quit smoking support, ‘Healthy Food Made Easy’, LGBTQ+ in-person support groups, and social prescribing plus much more. They serve people in Blanchardstown, Mulhuddart and Balbriggan. Empower rely on volunteers to be able to deliver conversational English classes and have opportunities on offer on ivol.ie regularly.
Louise from Empower told us the Expo helps them in several ways: it introduces potential volunteers to the organisation and its aims; it makes local people aware of Empower’s services. The Expo also provides helpful networking opportunities with other Dublin 15 groups. It really is a win-win for not-for-profits and volunteers alike.
Did you miss the event? That’s ok. Fingal Volunteer Centre is part of a nationwide network of 29 Volunteer Centres who share a website www.ivol.ie. Here, you can search directly for hundreds of volunteer opportunities that may interest you.
If you would rather have a chat, you can ring or email the volunteer centre about the type of roles that would interest you. Or you can drop in at one of the “Fingal Volunteer Centre Library Pop-Ups” events happening in libraries across Fingal to meet with the team. Dates and times are listed on their website.
So, whether you are interested in once-off or regular volunteering, or part of an organisation that needs volunteers, Fingal Volunteer Centre is the place for you. www.volunteerfingal. ie 01 899 1921 or email info@ volunteerfingal.ie for more information.
Looking forward to an active 2025 and ever closer to our new home
Very best wishes for Christmas and for 2025 from LSA. Do you have running goals to achieve in 2025? This is a great time to join LSA and let us help you achieve those goals through the power of support. Our participation in the recent Dublin Marathon was a great experience for both runners and supporters alike.
We are an Athletics Club based in Donabate/Portrane and affiliated with Athletics Ireland. We are run entirely by volunteers, and our membership ranges from age 7 to 70 and beyond. We aim to provide coaching in all the athletics run, jump and throw events.
We have a number of different adult groups catering for a wide variety of goals and capabilities.
For example, our Fit for Life Group is essentially about being consistent and having a Fit for Life mentality in a fun and social environment. We also have advice
to share on nutrition and strength training. We train on Mondays and Wednesdays at 7pm and a long slow run on Saturday.
The aim of our Developing Group is to learn to control and maintain pace for easy running. It is offered as a progression from our Fit for Life Group, but still aimed at those who want to run a Park Run in under 30 minutes and improve fitness and general health.
We also have Intermediate and Advanced groups, and adult sprint groups. Our new home, a permanent athletics track in Ballymastone, will begin to take shape very soon.In the meantime we always welcome new members. Please check out our social media channels for more up to date information
Adult memberships queries: lambaysportsathletics@gmail.com. Little Athletics and Juvenile athletes (7-18) :lsajuvenilereg@gmail.com
WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!!
WE WANT YOUR LOCAL NEWS!!
• Do you run a Local Sports Club or Team?
• Are you a new business or a business celebrating an anniversary?
• Are you running or hosting a Local event or Fundraiser? • Do you have a story to tell?
• A Special Birthday, Christening, Communion..
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 month. The first correct entry to be drawn will win €50..Good luck
Across
1 Holds someone responsible for wrongdoing. (6)
5 Ornamental band worn round the arm. (6)
10 Type of cherry. (7)
11 Reports that are circulating but of doubtful truth. (7)
12 A prolonged dull pain. (4)
13 More than enough, plentiful. (5)
15 Spend time doing nothing. (4)
17 Nervous or timid in the company of other people. (3)
19 A place where dead bodies are kept before burial. (6)
21 A type of light, feathery cloud, (6)
22 A pert toe hides the highest point of a tall woody plant. (7)
23 A tilt built into a road at a bend or curve. (6)
25 A less direct route to somewhere. (6)
28 Concealed something. (3)
30 Decorative container without handles used for displaying cut flowers. (4)
31 Annoyed or frustrated. (5)
32 Edible European mushrooms. (4)
35 The Yellowhammer State. (USA) (7)
36 “Call me ...” (Moby Dick) (7)
37 Cut down a tree. (6)
38 Nests for eagles. (6)
Down
2 Sounds like a dog with a stagger. (7)
3 The offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. (4)
4 Agnes, Ciaran, Debi. (6)
5 Only just; almost not. (6)
6 Deprived of feeling through cold or shock. (4)
7 Wash money illegally. (7)
8 Preserve a corpse from decay. (6)
9 Poplar trees known for trembling. (6)
14 Mythical bird that rose from the ashes. (7)
16 Toned down. (5)
18 An animal with two feet. (5)
20 “To ... is human, to forgive divine” (Alexander Pope) (3)
21 Hoax the fish. (3)
23 The roe of the sturgeon. (6)
24 Blunder, error, slip. (7)
26 Control the functioning of a machine. (7)
27 A consequence or outcome. (6)
28 This newspaper could be a sign that something is about to happen. (6)
29 A piece of electronic or mechanical equipment. (6)
33 Make a long, high cry because of pain or sadness. (4)
34 Hammer-wielding Norse god. (4)
SUDOKU ANSWERS
