Donabate Local V9I5-JUN 2025 by Irish Media Group

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What a start to the Summer in Fingal

We couldn’t have asked for a better start to Summer and although it may not have been completely dry, it’s the best start to the long-awaited warm weather season that we have had in a long time. Summer brings with it so many events taking place in Fingal and we are well and truly into the festival season!

There is always so much to cram into those dry summer days and when they come along things can get pretty hectic; especially when the schools finish and the endless hours of summer activities for the younger ones begin. But we are very lucky to have so much on our doorstep in Fingal. We are never stuck for something to do in this wonderful area of the country.

There’s no need to travel for hours on to find something to make memories that last for a lifetime when we have so much to choose from right on our doorsteps. We have some of the most beautiful beaches in the country; the sheer number of public parks, castle grounds and gardens accessible all year round is unrivalled; the community centres, state of the art libraries, music venues, cafés, restaurants, bars, the list goes on and on.

So while we enjoy all we have in our area, and hopefully along with some good weather, we must give a word of thanks to our wonderful volunteers throughout Fingal who give so much of their time in their respective groups, clubs and organisations to make our communities such beautiful areas to live in. We simply wouldn’t have such beauty in our areas if it wasn’t for our volunteers.

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The Locals Team

‘Music Fest’ Céad Míle

Fáilte to Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich

Join us on Saturday June 28th at Donabate Parish Hall for an intimate concert with Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich. This special event in Fingal is part of a nationwide tour marking the launch of the famous Irish traditional accordion player Breanndán Begley’s autobiography. It is available in English as Of My People and in Irish as Clann na Seanmhuintire.

In this intimate and powerful memoir, Breanndán reflects on a life rooted in the wild beauty of Corca Dhuibhne and shaped by the rich traditions of the Kerry Gaeltacht. Born into a family of musicians, he shares vivid memories of a childhood steeped in song, music, dance, and folklore - and of carrying that tradition to stages around the world.

With warmth, humour, and fierce honesty, he recounts a lifetime of performance, adventure, and cultural activism in defence of language, land, and music.

This is a heartfelt celebration of Irish tradition and the community that shaped and sustained him throughout his life.

Tickets available on eventbrite. This is a unique event, in our Parish Hall, not to be missed!

Thunderbolts (2025) - A Surprisingly Grounded and Gritty Marvel Entry

By Jack Shanley

After a string of increasingly convoluted cosmic sagas, ‘Thunderbolts’ offers a refreshing change of pace for the MCU. Director Jake Schreier smartly grounds this tale of reluctant antiheroes in a gritty, espionage-tinged reality, delivering a film that’s as emotionally resonant as it is actionpacked.

The narrative centres on a group assembled by Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a shadowy figure with her own agenda. Each character is a volatile mix of personalities and skill sets. They also carry their own baggage, making them far more complex and compelling than the average superhero.

The strength of Thunderbolts lies in its character work. Each member of this unlikely team is given ample screen time to develop, showcasing their individual traumas and reluctant camaraderie. The dynamic between Yelena and Bucky, in particular, crackles with a fascinating mix of suspicion and begrudging respect. Harbour’s Red Guardian steals several scenes with his boisterous charm and surprisingly poignant moments of vulnerability.

While the action sequences are

well-choreographed and impactful, they serve the narrative rather than overshadowing it. The film wisely avoids large-scale CGI battles for a more intimate and grounded approach to conflict. The plot, while straightforward, keeps the audience engaged with unexpected twists and turns, exploring themes of redemption, trust, and the blurry lines between good and evil.

However, the film isn’t without its flaws. At times, the sheer number of characters can feel slightly overwhelming, and some subplots could have been explored in more depth. Nevertheless, Thunderbolts ultimately succeeds in delivering a compelling and surprisingly mature entry into the MCU. It proves that superhero stories don’t always need world-ending stakes to be engaging; sometimes, the most captivating battles are fought within. This is a welcome return to form and a promising direction for the future of the franchise.

I’d recommend checking out “Thunderbolts” and see what you think of it; I shall give it a score of 3 and a ½ stars. You can watch it at your local cinema today. Director: Jake Schreier – Rating: 12A –Genre: Action/Sci-fi – Run Time: 2h 6m Language: English. For more film content please follow @ movies4fanatics on Instagram.

Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich

Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed aims to provide a safe environment for men to socialise and connect with one another while participating in activities and projects of mutual interest. Along with our weekly get-togethers on Thursday mornings at Donabate Scouts’ Den on the Portrane Road, we have a wide variety of activities and outings.

We have two plots at Turvey Allotments which require tender loving care at this time of year, with a rota of members tending to watering and weeding to ensure a bumper harvest later in the year.

Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed Always Open to New Members and New Ideas

There are weekly exercise classes using equipment, some of which was donated and more purchased with HSE and Fingal grant-aid. These classes are ably led by our own Fintan Delaney and tailored to suit the needs of our members.

Gerry and the Plonkers, our music group, have weekly practice sessions in the Scouts’ Den. These are obviously paying off, as the Plonkers have created quite a name for themselves with recent gigs in Beaverstown Golf Club and Donabate Portrane Community Centre and up-coming gigs at Swords Castle (as part of Vintage Picnic) and Newbridge House, which is part of Fingal

We also have occasional outings. The most recent late last month was a pitch and putt morning at Deerpark in Howth.

We are always open to new members and new ideas for activities. So, if you or someone you know would like to join us, please call our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316, or drop in to the Scouts’ Den on a Thursday morning. You’ll always get a warm welcome and a cuppa.

CommunityLocals.ie

Men’s Sheds Walk and Talk on Monday 9th June organised by the Irish Men’s Shed Association and Fingal County Council.

The Plonkers at Beaverstown GC

‘Music Fest’ Parish Hall - Line Up!

There will be a variety of musical genres over the two days e.g. pop, rock, trad & folk! something for everyone!

Friday 27th June

‘Peninsula Voices’ - see separate article.

Saturday 28th June

‘Music Makers’ will hold a special event for over 15’s to play & perform under their leaders, Noel Dowling & Seán Collins. From 2 - 4pm the younger performers will play & from 6 – 7:30pm the older performers will play.

These bands and soloists will include e.g.:

• Sophie Victoria & friends

• Either Side of The City

• Reminisce

• Nj & the Makers

• Graham Kenny

• And the one & only Adam Farrelly

From 4 - 5pm

‘Leithinis CCÉ’, our local Comhaltas group will play some Irish traditional tunes.

From 5 - 6pm

‘Festival in a Van’ will take to their outdoor moving stage, with their own performers from outside the area & with some local guests joining them!

From 8 - 10pm

Breanndán Ó Beaglaoich – see separate article.

It should be a great two days of music for a good cause & another chance to display some local talent. There can never be enough opportunities, especially for young people, to participate in Cultural events – e.g. music, singing, dance, drama, photography, art….! School is over … so start the

holidays with a bit of fun for all! Put the dates in your calendar now, on the phone & or at home.

We hope to have food and refreshments available on the day.

We wish to thank FCC in advance for their support for the ‘Music Fest’. We especially would like to thank Niall from The Music Outlet in Swords, near The Plaza, our music equipment supplier who

sponsored extra equipment for the ‘Music Fest’.

Please note the events are aimed at older children, teens and adults. Parents, we ask you please to be present to celebrate your kids and/ or keep an eye on them. Thank you.

We look forward to having a safe and enjoyable day!

‘Music Fest’ Peninsula Voices Charity Concert for UNICEF

Voices & Friends’, led by Áine & Tony, will host a Fundraiser Charity Concert in Aid of UNICEF - in Donabate Parish Hall on: Friday 27th June (Doors Open 7 30pm), starting at 8 00pm

Fingal Scouts Compete for County Shield

Camping season is in full swing with Scouts from all over Fingal just finished their County Shield Event. This is a competition amongst them all to see who can rise to the challenges set for them over a weekend. As well as camping and cooking and being totally self-sufficient for the weekend, this year‘s event was held at the Scout campsite in the Bog of the Ring, with approximately 200 people participating and helping run it, Scouts have spent weeks preparing

for this event.

Training included meal preparation and cooking, camp skills where they must build all their own furniture for the weekend. First aid training is also a priority in the scouts with a very real-life scenario presented to them involving multiple casualties. Each team has eight members, and they work together from 10 o’clock on Friday morning till about 3pm on Sunday this year. Friday’s weather was quite frankly awful, but

they got on with it and no complaints. It’s a great opportunity for young people to mix and see other scouts from the towns around North Fingal.

Friendships were made on the weekend that will last a lifetime. And it was a totally phone free zone. The top 3 teams qualify for the all-Ireland competition held in late August. With up to 1000 participants. This year’s event will be held in Limerick.

Call made for Permanent Gardaí and Station for Donabate

The need for a permanent Gardaí presence and Garda station in Donabate has been raised by Councillor Corina Johnston who recently met with senior Gardaí to raise her concerns.

Johnston said;” Myself and Duncan Smith TD met senior gardai in Ballymun recently following my request to the Garda Commissioner for a meeting in regarding Garda resources in the district and in particular the fastgrowing Donabate area. At the meeting we highlighted the urgent need for permanent Garda resources and the need for a Garda clinic to commence on the peninsula immediately. We also raised the need for the provision of a Garda station in the long term.

“We raised our concerns regarding the increase in Anti Social Behaviour in Donabate and referrals by Gardai/ Juvenile Liasion officers to youth services (Crosscare) who run projects that are community based, multi-agency youth crime prevention initiatives that aim to divert young people from anti-social or criminal behaviour. We believe with the growing young population permanent youth services and a centre must be provided as a priority to support our youth on the peninsula.”

Johnston said; “In response the Gardai

acknowledged our concerns and need for Garda resources and a station on the peninsula and confirmed the following: ongoing issues with recruitment and retention of Gardai which is compounded by increasing retirement numbers. As a result an increase in Garda numbers in the district is not envisaged in the short to medium term.

- No plans for a Garda station in Donabate

- support for Garda Clinic with visibility in and around the town centre - Garda initiatives to police the area will continue within current resources - no decision to relocate Swords station to Lissenhall has been made to date.”

“We thanked the Gardai for their support and acknowledged the ongoing challenges in Garda resourcing. We are pursuing the provision of a Garda clinic with senior Gardai. We also used the opportunity to pass on in person our condolences and the condolences on the tragic death of Garda Kevin Flatley in the line of duty. We are disappointed with the outcome of the meeting and intend to raise the issues of Garda resources and the need for a Garda Station in Donabate with the Minister for Justice. We will keep you informed of developments,” Johnston concluded.

Treating The Dads

Personalised gifts and www. wanapix.ie has brilliant Father’s Day gifting ideas. Use code MAMSIEDAD for 15% off. My hubby’s faves last year were the frosted glasses, apron and tools with his name on. There’s even personalised jigsaw puzzles! Wanapix.ie is fantastic for birthdays too!

If your Dad likes to keep fit or loves comfy clothing, Irish brand Koncept Fitwear has nice tops, shorts and bottoms. Great prices, quick delivery and friendly staff; we’re big fans! Their sports bras are brill for women doing the mini marathon; superb support gals!

The National Concert Hall has lots of concerts and family events throughout summer. Their gift cards are wonderful for Dads! Go to a family concert or let him enjoy a night out, without the kiddies.

Wax Museum Plus has lots on and is wonderful to visit as a family. They also have interactive exhibits which are great for engaging kidsyoung and old!

Thinking of taking Dad out to dinner? Bracken Court Hotel Balbriggan does amazing Sunday dinners. So Yum! They’re great

for staycations too, especially with Flynn Park’s Aqualough and Ziplines just up the road!

If your Dad loves coffee, Irish brand Artessa roast their beans in Ireland, to make delicious coffee fusions. They have keep cups and travel mugs too; ideal for gifting Dads.

If he likes golf or spa, Farnham Estate Cavan is ideal. Their indoor/ outdoor pool is amazing! Their woodland walks, food and spacious rooms are perfect for summer breaks.

If you’re an adventurous family, why not head up to Carlingford. Rent bikes, enjoy stunning hikes, water sports and the quaint village. Four Seasons Hotel Carlingford is family friendly with huge rooms, delicious food, friendly staff and a pool. Nearby Skypark is a must visit too.

If you’re going on summer hols, we recommended labelling everything! MyNametags.ie have amazing personalised labels and stickers for kids clothing, toys etc. They’re not just for back to school, we label everything! Makes it so much easier to get things back if they’re left behind!

Commnuity News

Active Age and Peninsula Pacers Take a Trip to the Island

On a sunny Saturday at the beginning of May a group of Peninsula Pacers and Active Age for All members did a walk to explore Donabate beach and ‘The Island’. We set off from the Shoreline Hotel and walked to the top of the beach, incidentally you are at the top of the beach when you can see the Malahide church steeple ( and nowadays the Marina) down the river. On the way we remarked on the frightening degree of erosion visible at the top half of the beach, it is

very concerning.

At the top of the beach we crossed over into ‘The Island’ so known because of the well-known golf club there of that name. This is an area of marram grass, scrub and tidal inlets which at this time of the year is home to nesting skylarks whose distinctive singing was lovely to hear as we watched them soaring into the blue sky.

Further on we passed the remains of the

Parish Hall Summer Call!

In May & June the Parish Hall will be busy with many daily activities still taking place and some special events also. These take place around the daily activities or when they are suspended to facilitate one-off events!

In May - they had the Dramatic Society with two One Act plays & the Bleeding Pig which was a great success with their Art & Photo Exhibition.

In June - ‘Music Fest’ will take place - on Friday 27th with the Peninsula Voices Fundraiser for UNICEF & Saturday 28th with Music Makers, Leithinis CCÉ, ‘Festival in a Van’ sponsored by FCC &

bridge and landing area of the golfers’’boat which was used to bring golfers over and back from Malahide until the 1970s. The old clubhouse sat above this area on what is now a tee box.

After a trudge down the ‘stoney beach’ we crossed back over to Donabate beach by way of the right of way between the Island and Corballis golf clubs. Then it was back to the Shoreline Hotel for soma welcome food and drink.

Brendan Begley the famous Kerry Trad Musician will play & launch his first book.

In July - we have some Summer Camps - Drama House for the first two weeks.

Our Senior Citizens & a few other groups will continue some activities - some people will take a well deserved rest!

If you want to enquire about running a camp or workshops over the summer please do so ASAP.

If you have any queries with regard to any of the information above please contact Parish Office in the mornings 01 8434574

As included in the last month’s issue, the Parish Office will be in touch with current users in May re their requests from Sept 2025 - Aug 2026 which must be received back by mid June so that all can be worked on & put in place before the end of June.

We wish you a lovely long hot Summer & take care of yourselves & each other.

Have You Future Proofed Your Cover?

By Dave Kavanagh

Something that crops up when people are planning ahead to protect them and their 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 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.

Fingal beaches retain prestigious Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards

As Ireland readies itself for the summer bathing season, Fingal County Council is delighted to announce it has once again been awarded Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards in 2025.

The beaches at Portmarnock (Velvet Strand) and Balcarrick Beach in Donabate have each retained their Blue Flag status, reflecting their outstanding water quality, safety, and environmental management. In addition, Balcarrick Beach has once again received a Green Coast Award, which recognise beaches for their natural beauty, clean environment, and high-quality bathing water.

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Brian McDonagh, welcomed the news, saying: “The Blue Flag

and Green Coast Awards are a reflection of the hard work by council staff and our communities to keep our beaches clean, safe, and welcoming for everyone. As someone who has been swimming on Portmarnock Beach my whole life, I am delighted that we have yet again retained our flag. I want to particularly thank all the Tidy Towns and Clean Coast groups for the work they do on our beaches.”

Director of Operations in Fingal, MaryT Daly, added: “These awards are not only about water quality but also about community engagement, environmental education, and sustainability. I want to sincerely thank all the community groups, volunteers, and residents whose ongoing efforts play such a vital

role in keeping our beaches clean, safe, and environmentally sound. I encourage everyone to enjoy all of our beaches responsibly and continue supporting efforts to protect our natural coastline.”

Fingal would also urge dog owners to clean up after their pets. Just one instance of dog poo can contaminate an area the size of a tennis court, posing a serious risk to public health. To highlight this, see this informative animation that illustrates the real impact of not picking up after your dog: https://youtu. be/7bas6zvBmM4.

For details on locations along Fingal’s 88km of coastline, visit: https://fingal.live/2p8rdrrw.

An Taisce announces 2025 Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards in recognition of Ireland’s Best Beaches and Marinas. Alannah and Farrah celebrate the award of 70 Green Coast Award

Summers past

By Jon Kavanagh

As I turn the calendar page to June, memories of Summers long gone wave from the corridors of my aging mind. Was the weather really better with long days staying bright till nearly midnight? Or has my optician been a bit heavy handed with the rose-coloured tint on my spectacles? Back when we baby boomers were chewing bubble gum, our schools weren’t the embracing places of learning we know today. The long summer break came as a great reprieve from a strict educational system that was not far removed from

Dickensian days. No summer camps or theme parks as we explored the world around us, taking risks that would cause Evel Knivel to shield his eyes. Favourite pastimes included climbing trees, rapidly descending steep hills on our ‘truck’ – a hazardous, breakless Go Car manufactured from the chassis and wheels of an old pram, and fishing for pinkeens on a slippy river bank with a jam jar and length of string. The words health and safety were not in the vocabulary when like proverbial sardines in a tin we were crammed into a Morris Minor, driven by a neighbour who did hand combat with a steering wheel that appeared to have a mind of its own. Destinations included

Skerries, Balbriggan, Donabate, Malahide and Rush beaches where we had soggy sandwiches seasoned with sand, washed down with warm lemonade.

Most towns and village around Fingal had their own summer festival; usually incorporating a field day where the eager tried their hand at tug of war, egg and spoon racing, horseshoe throwing, a glamorous granny competition and a hairy legs contest for the men, to name but a few delights on the day. In the evening crowds would flock to a marquee for a night of music and dancing. I some cases revellers would have spent quality time in the local tavern before deciding to trip the light fantastic. By in large

peace prevailed. But occasionally one word would borrow another, offence would be taken and the ancient battle cry “Step outside!” would be issued, resulting in a melee, that would make the fight scene from The Quiet Man look like The Teddy Bears Picnic. In a pre-computer world, we were easily amused with simple things that broke the mundane routine of those barmy days. All too soon the summer would grow old; the All-Ireland Finals would draw near and it would be time to visit Clarkes and Taylors shops in Swords (both long gone) for a new winter coat, shoes, school bag, copy books and pencil case. We didn’t know then that we were the last of our kind.

Super Summer of Success for LSA Athletes

Our club members have been enjoying the beautiful weather recently. Some of our Juvenile athletes have had the opportunity to have their first experience on a full-size outdoor track facility when they competed with almost one thousand other young athletes in the Dublin Track and Field League at Tallaght Athletics Club, right where Rhasidat Adeleke started training just over ten years ago.

Our athletes competed in Shot Putt, Discus, Turbo Javelin, Javelin, High Jump, Long Jump and track events from 60m to 800m. Very soon we will have our own track and field facility, right here in Ballymastone.

We are very grateful to our volunteer coaches and to the parents who volunteered to help run the events.

Our secondary school aged athletes had great success in the North Leinster Secondary Schools Championships, with a total of six medals and some of them progressing to Leinster Championships. They represented their schools, Donabate Community College and Loreto College Swords. Congratulations also to Sara Dolczak who won the intermediate 400m at the Loreto Games.

Meanwhile our Under 20s, Seniors and Masters athletes have been participating in the Dublin

Graded Meets. Congratulations to Xavier Hubert who won a Senior Dublin Championships Silver Medal in High Jump and Anna Gavigan who won Senior Gold in Discus.

Out on the roads and in the parks, club members have had some incredible performances in the London and Copenhagan marathons, and in the Dublin Race Series. Closer to home we had some notable Park Run milestones with Willie Cahill completing his 200th Park Run in glorious sunshine at the Donabate Park Run. Save the Date for the LSA Peninsula Race on Sunday 16th November 2025. More details will be available shortly on our social media channels.

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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.. Send us your pics.. We Want

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