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While we await the arrival of Winter, things certainly aren’t slowing down for the many community groups, sporting clubs, resident’s associations etc. Winter can be one of the busiest times of the year with many plans being put together for the following year as well as the weekly activities taking place.
The clocks may be going back this month but that doesn’t mean there’s less to do, how can we forget the truly-Irish festival time of Halloween!
Halloween is a time when children, and the big children, can enjoy themselves in equal measure with kids donning fantastic, and spooky costumes, while some adults will also go all out with decorating their houses to rival that of anywhere in the world. Afterall, Halloween, or Samhain, is a truly Irish event.
Fingal will have many events taking place over the coming weeks that will culminate with the amazing Fingal Festival of Fire that sees amazing firework displays being hosted throughout the county. Be sure to wear your best costume and enjoy the fantastic, and safe, pyrotechnic event!
So as we approach the winter months, be sure to take some time to take advantage of the decent October weather, but also, don’t forget to curl up beside the fire at home and take stock of all that has happened over the past year and make some plans to have an even more eventful 2025!
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The Locals Team
St. Ita’s AFC Gala Night to Celebrate 100 Years of Football
St. Ita’s AFC, based in Donabate and Portrane, Co. Dublin, is proudly celebrating its Centenary in 2025. Founded in 1925, the club has spent the past century at the heart of the community, providing football opportunities for players of all ages and abilities. There are currently 38 soccer teams and 2 futsal teams.
From its earliest days, St. Ita’s AFC has stood for more than just sport. The club prides itself on promoting teamwork, sportsmanship, and respect while offering a welcoming, inclusive environment where everyone can enjoy the beautiful game. With thriving youth coaching sessions, senior fixtures, and the much-loved Mini-Euros tournament, the club continues to inspire the next generation of footballers.
The Mini-Euros, first introduced in the 1980s by Tony Franklin, has grown into one of the club’s flagship annual events. Attracting over 500 children aged 4–16, it brings the Donabate and Portrane community
together each summer in a week-long festival of football. Entirely volunteer-driven, the Mini-Euros reflects the spirit of St. Ita’s: inclusive, community-focused, and built on a passion for the game.
As part of its centenary celebrations, St. Ita’s AFC will host a Centenary Gala Night on Saturday, 18th October 2025, in The Grand Hotel, Malahide. The evening will include a four-course meal, live music, dancing, and a chance for past and present players, parents, volunteers, and supporters to come together and celebrate 100 years of footballing tradition. Tickets are €85 and can be paid in instalments.
For tickets go to https://stitasafc.com/pages/centenary-gala-night.
St. Ita’s AFC looks forward to marking this historic milestone with the community that has supported it for the past 100 years — and to building another century of football memories in Donabate and Portrane.
Active Age for All trip to Howth Castle Commnuity News
On 19th August last a group of 21 Active Age for All members were transported in style to Howth Castle in a Leonards coach. On arrival at the castle, we were greeted by our guide Daniel with whom we explored the castle and gardens hearing about the family history and the architectural evolution from a Norman keep to the grand mansion that it is today.
The castle’s origins date back to 1235 when the St Lawrence family built the original keep, and the property has remained in the same
family until recently. Happily, the new owners plan to preserve the castle and grounds and to remain open to the public.
The most famous story relating to the castle involves the renowned pirate queen of the west of Ireland Granuaile (Grace O’Malley) who in 1576 sought hospitality at the castle and was refused. Much angered by this breach of the Irish tradition of hospitality she abducted the Earls grandson and only released him on condition that the castle gates always remain open and that a
place be set at the table for unexpected guests, a practice that continues to this day.
After a fascinating couple of hours touring the castle and grounds, we all took the short walk to the village of Howth where we all found some lunch and even time for a short ramble in the harbour before the bus back to Donabate. A special thank you to Daniel whose knowledge and obvious enthusiasm for the subject of the castles history made for a very enjoyable trip.
Marathon Season is here once again!
It’s that time of year again! The crisp autumn air is here, and our LSA groups are settling back into their new routines.
Fit4Life: Your Autumn Fitness Journey
For those looking to kickstart their fitness goals, our fit4life group is the perfect fit. We hold training sessions every Monday and Wednesday evening, catering to all abilities. Whether you’re a beginner taking your first steps or an experienced runner looking for a challenge, we have groups for intermediate and advanced levels as well. To help you on your journey, we have a special offer: join us for just €65 from now until December. For more information, please contact us at lsaadultreg@gmail. com.
Marathon Season is Upon Us!
With the days growing shorter, our dedicated marathon runners know exactly what that means: the Dublin City Marathon is just around the corner! On October 26th, members from all our adult groups— from first-timers to seasoned marathoners—will be lacing up their shoes. We wish them the best of luck and hope their training remains injury-free.
Community and Upcoming Events
LSA recently had a fantastic turnout at the Donate Family Fun Day and Community Group Expo, where we saw a tremendous response and great interest from the community.
Last but not least, mark your calendars! The 4th annual LSA Peninsula Road Race is back on Sunday, November 16th. Registration is now open, and you can find all the details you need on our Instagram page, @lsadonabateportrane.
We’re excited for what this new season holds and can’t wait to see both new and familiar faces.
New Options To Future-Proof Cover
By Dave Kavanagh
A difficulty that occurs when 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 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. wellbeing, positivity and motivation. As heard on RTE 2FM , LMFM and TV3.
Film Review: ‘The Long Walk’ (2025)
By Jack Shanley
The Long Walk (2025) is a masterful adaptation of Stephen King’s chilling novel, and director Francis Lawrence has delivered a film that is as relentless and hypnotic as its source material. This isn’t a blockbuster filled with explosive action; instead, it’s a profound, character-driven psychological thriller that explores themes of endurance and conformity.
Set in a dystopian America, the film follows Ray Garaty, a 16-year-old boy who has entered the “Long Walk,” an annual televised event where 100 teenage boys walk non-stop until only one remains. If they drop below a certain pace, they receive a warning; three warnings and they’re “ticketed,” a euphemistic term for being shot dead by the military escort. The film captures the gruelling, almost meditative monotony of the walk, focusing on the subtle shifts in the boys’ mental and physical states. It’s a testament to the powerful performances from its young cast, who perfectly embody the mix of youthful naivete, and hardened resolve required to survive.
Lawrence’s direction is a triumph of atmosphere and restraint. He understands that the horror isn’t in the blood and guts, but in the slow, inevitable psychological toll. The camera often lingers on the boys’ faces, capturing the exhaustion, fear, and
Slí na Sláinte - Healthy Routes!
With regard to Slí na Sláinte routes, Covid and some other delays made it difficult for progress to be made and impediments to be removed, for safe and acceptable routes to be put in place on our Peninsula.
Just before Covid, The Irish Heart Foundation had worked with an ad-hoc local committee, drawn from different groups in the community along with some officials in The Parks Dept in FCC, in identified a suitable Slí na Sláinte route in and around Donabate Village & Newbridge Park.
But there were 3 impediments to the establishment of the route.
Turvey: Had no proper footpath or safe crossing into Newbridge Park on Turvey Avenue. There is now a new wide continuous footpath along the northern side of Turvey Avenue leading to the centre of the village. In addition, traffic lights have been installed and a crossing provided for pedestrians to enter & exit Newbridge Park at the Turvey Gate.
Links: There has been traffic lights installed for pedestrians at the entrance to the Links - to allow safe crossing of the Portrane Rd.
Ballisk & Beaverstown: This junction is known as ‘The Hand’ and over the last few weeks a footpath has been put in there, on the corner extending down into Ballisk & down the Beaverstown Rd. This was the most important junction to be sorted in terms of safety in crossing this road. So, hopefully it is now.
At this point, there have been some changes in personnel in all of these bodies, but one would be confident that with all of the obstacles gone that the new personnel will come together to ensure this Slí na Sláinte route is put in place and will be the start of many for walkers, joggers & runners in the Donabate & Portrane area. All Slí na Sláinte routes are not always suitable for wheelchair & buggy users, but this one is! Hopefully, in the future it will be possible to have some ‘braille trails’ in our area given the number of people living in our community who are visually impaired.
These routes are very pertinent at the moment with the drive toward Get Ireland Active etc. This is a project one trusts that FCC officials & local councillors will support and ensure succeeds!
even moments of strange camaraderie. The sound design is a key player, with the constant, rhythmic thud of feet on asphalt serving as a metronome of impending doom. As a big fan of film scores, the lack of a traditional score in many scenes enhances the stark reality of their situation, making the silence and the sound of breathing even more potent.
The film’s most powerful moments are not in the deaths but in the quiet, poignant interactions between the walkers. The fleeting friendships, the shared jokes, and the desperate attempts to maintain a semblance of humanity in an inhuman contest are what truly resonate. The Long Walk is a thought-provoking, and at times, gut-wrenching experience. It serves as a stark metaphor for the relentless pressures of modern life, and the lengths people will go to for a fleeting chance at glory. It’s a powerful cinematic achievement that will linger in your mind long after the credits have rolled.
I’d recommend checking out ‘The Long Walk’ and see what you think of it; I shall give it a score of Three stars, after my first watch. You can watch it at your local cinema today: Director: Francis Lawrence – Rating: 16 – Genre: Horror/Sci-fi –Run Time: 1h 48m Language: English. For more film content please follow @ movies4fanatics on Instagram.
Happy halloween!
Get ready for a Dazzling Halloween Extravaganza in Fingal!
Get ready for a scorching Halloween night like never before! Events in Fingal proudly presents the “Festival of Fire.” Taking place on Friday 31st October, this thrilling event will ignite your Halloween spirit at four incredible locations across Fingal: Bremore Castle in Balbriggan, Swords Town Park, Malahide Castle, and Millennium Park in Blanchardstown.
Experience the Magic of Music:
The Festival of Fire kicks off with an electrifying musical prelude that will set the mood for an unforgettable night. From spine-tingling tunes to haunting melodies, our musical lineup will captivate your senses and keep you grooving.
Spectacular Fireworks Displays:
As the clock strikes 7:30 PM, brace yourself for an awe-inspiring spectacle! Our breathtaking fireworks displays will light up the night sky, casting vibrant colors and patterns that will leave you mesmerized. It’s the perfect way to celebrate Halloween with friends and family.
Event Locations: Bremore Castle, Balbriggan: Step into the enchanting world of Bremore Castle, where history meets the mystical allure of Halloween. 7pm Enjoy a Scary disco. 7.30pm Fireworks.
Please note No Parking is Available. Please walk or cycle.
Swords Town Park (Behind the Castle): Join us in the heart of Swords for a Halloween celebration like no other. The park will come alive with the spirit of the season. 7pm Enjoy a Scary Disco. 7.30pm Fireworks.
Malahide Castle: Explore the grounds of the magnificent Malahide Castle, surrounded by the magic of Halloween. 7pm Enjoy a Scary Disco. 7.30pm Fireworks.
Millennium Park, Blanchardstown: Get ready for an explosion of Halloween fun in Blanchardstown’s Millennium Park. 7pm Enjoy a Scary Disco. 7.30pm Fireworks.
Don’t miss out on this unforgettable evening of music and fireworks. Bring your family, friends, and a sense of wonder as we light up the Halloween night in Fingal. It’s a celebration you won’t want to skip!
Mark your calendars for Friday, October 31st, and join us at one of our four fantastic locations. Festival of Fire promises to be the highlight of your Halloween season.
There are even more Halloween-themed events planned for the month of October and to see what’s on in your areas please go to fingalcoco.ie.
Halloween in Malahide
Halloween at Bremore Castle
Halloween at Newbridge House
Halloween at Newbridge House
Samhain at Ardgillan
Pumpkin Carving in Ardgillan
Busy September for the Plonkers
September was a busy month for Gerry and the Plonkers (Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed music group), with three gigs. The first was for the ladies of Lusk ICA, where the Plonkers had the pleasure of playing to an appreciative audience who didn’t just listen but got up and danced the night away. Next was at the Community Showcase Afternoon in Donabate Portrane Community Centre. This was an opportunity for local community groups, including the Men’s Shed, to highlight their activity and hopefully recruit new members. Lastly, the Plonkers played in Malahide Castle at the end of September, too close to going to press to include photos.
But as we keep saying, Men’s Shed is more than Gerry and the Plonkers, maybe just not as photogenic (apologies lads!). The plots at the allotments kept many of our members busy right through the summer, but the fruit of their labour was bountiful last month. There was also our weekly exercise classes, croquet at Newbridge and our Thursday morning get-togethers at the Scout’s Den.
Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed is always open to new members and suggestions for new activities. So, if you, or someone close to you, would like to join us, just call our PRO, Jim, on 086-3694316. Don’t be shy!
Parish Hall on the Rise!
Donabate Parish Hall have just received a modular Riser Stage with grant aid from FCC. This is part one of a full large low stage and hopefully part two will come next year in a similar grant application. The stage can be put together relatively easily, if one knows how. So it will require a short course of instruction of a few hours to master the method of assembly for any groups that may be granted permission to use it. The Riser Stage compliments the acquisition,
through grants in recent years, of other equipment to support performances and participation in activities and events of an entertainment and cultural nature.
We have had Céile House, Official Launch of the Parish Hall, Film ‘Angel’, Tayleur Events, Dramatic Productions, TradFest Fingal, Leithinis Inclusion Night, Musical Performances, Peninsula Voices and recently ‘MusicFest’, all of which either benefitted or would have from the use or a Riser Stage. In the past, a riser had to be rented for some events or we had to do without! One group, Music Makers, that was initiated by Breda Dockrell and Jim O Donohoe and run by a group of four Noel Dowling, Sean Collins and the aforementioned, who were brought together under the umbrella of the Parish Hall to see if, over the year of providing a venue to do music, there was interest and commitment. They are now, as planned with the assistance of FCC, setting up under their own structure , organisation and team/ committee with Noel and a new team taking the reins. They will continue to offer a much needed platform for people to develop their musical talents and confidence.
The Parish Hall is in full swing now with Daily Activities. Here is a flavour: Senior Citizens, Pilates, Youth Club, Irish Dancing, Leithinis Irish Music and Cards!
There are also a number of Blocked Events taking place. So put the dates in your diaries.
Donabate Portrane Dramatic Society are putting on their autumn/winter production from Thursday 6th November - Sunday 9th November. (Patrons Night on Friday!)
Through the Lens Photography Group is exhibiting some of their photography work from over the year from Friday 14th NovemberSunday 16th November.
The Farmers Market, which began this summer, took place during August and September in the green space beside the Church. It was a very welcome addition to the amenities and atmosphere in the centre of the village on a Saturday afternoon. We hope that it too will be a regular feature in the future.
If you have any queries to the Parish Hall please contact them on 01 8434574between the hours of 9:30hrs - 12:30hrs and they will help in any way they can.
Midterm and Halloween Family Friendly Things To Do!
It’s October….time for hot chocolates and snuggly pj’s. It’s chilly but not too cold; perfect for strolling in the fields with Andean Alpacas. These beautiful animals are calming and therapeutic. Andean Alpacas, in Westmeath, have packages where you can simply go walking with the Alpacas or you can choose their Halloween package, to spend time with the Alpacas and enjoy pumpkin carving and other Halloween activities. See https://andeanalpacas.ie/
My husband and I spent a few days in Farnham Estate Cavan recently, enjoying woodland strolls and the warm outdoor pool, which is surrounded by green fields. Farnham have great offers on breaks and spa days/treatments. We highly recommend Cedars Steakhouse Tomahawk steak for 2, it’s a memorable dining experience. See https://www.farnhamestate.ie/?src=mams
This month The National Concert Hall has
wonderful family friendly concerts and events, see www.nch.ie Wax Museum Plus has interactive events and kids can make a wax model of their hand to bring home! See https://waxmuseumplus. ie/
Adventure Light returns to Skypark this October. Wander the Magical Trail, Conquer the Maze, Bounce on Skynet, Hunt for clues and Make a Wish and Enjoy delicious street food. Bring the whole family to this interactive experience. See https://skypark.ie/adventurelights/
For a little treat, The Gem Treatery in Balbriggan is a must visit. Fluffy pancakes, yummy crepes, tasty sambos, delicious coffee, acai bowls and so many flavours of ice cream to choose from. Spacious and child/baby friendly, it’s perfect for catching up with family and friends. They also do kids birthday parties! See
https://www.gemtreatery.com/?src=mams
Fancy a scare? The new Conjuring movie is brilliant. Expect screams and popcorn flying everywhere! We saw it with our teens at Arc Cinema and really enjoyed it. There are lots of good kids movies on and kids clubs are excellent value during midterm. See offers at https:// arccinema.ie/
Now is the time when many of us succumb to colds and flus and it’s good to boost your immune system. For adults, Sentro Labs has excellent supplements for gut health and support women in perimenopause. I find them very good to help with sleep. For kiddies, Tonstix are absolutely brilliant. It’s a lollipop they suck that helps enormously with sore throats. Such a clever product range, see https://tonstix.com/
Stay safe and Happy Halloween from mams.ie!
Recipient of the Ardgillan Castle Studio award announced
Dublin-based visual artist, Maria Atanacković, has been named as the recipient of the Ardgillan Castle Studio Award 2025-26. This prestigious award provides a fully funded studio space for a professional artist for a one-year period, commencing on 1st October 2025.
The Studio Award covers all studio rental, utilities, and administration costs, offering the recipient a unique opportunity to develop their practice in a supportive and inspiring environment.
Fingal County Council and Ardgillan Castle
Ltd. currently support 15 studio spaces for artists and designers working across a diverse range of practices. This initiative, which began in 2020, continues to foster creativity and professional development within the local arts community.
Fingal County Council Arts Officer, Sarah O’Neil, commented: ‘We are pleased to announce Maria Atanacković as our Ardgillan studio award recipient. This funded year long residency provides an opportunity for professional artists to explore and refine their work in the historical grounds and castle of Ardgillan.’
Welcoming the studio award, Maria Atanacković said: ‘I’m delighted with this opportunity to scale up and develop my practice. I intend to use the dedicated time and space to translate the geometric visual language that I’ve developed through printmaking into more ambitious sculptural forms.’
Maria is a Dublin-based artist working across printmaking, assemblage and textiles. Through abstraction and experimentation, she constructs pieces that explore space, composition and form.
WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!!
This is easy… we are offering you the chance to win €50. All you have to do is correctly fill in the crossword and discover the name of an area in Fingal spelt out in the coloured squares. Then send the completed crossword and your answer by email, with your name, address and telephone number to communitylocals@ gmail.com before 5pm on October 16. The first correct entry to be drawnwill win €50..Good luck
Across
1. Felt a powerful desire for something. (6)
5. The world’s second largest country by area. (6)
10. Capable of resuming original shape after stretching. (7)
11. Pedal driven vehicle. (7)
12. Thin and fit. (4)
13. Sweet food from nectar. (5)
15. Send via the postal service. (4)
17. Scrape as if to relieve itching. (3)
19. A word or phrase that particular people use in particular situations. (6)
21. Not often. (6)
22. Previously, before now. (7)
23. Country which achieved independence from Sweden in 1905. (6)
25. Ancient Greek oracle. (6)
28. A short day! (3)
30. Youthful males. (4)
31. Take a husband or a wife. (5)
32. An inclined surface connecting two levels. (4)
35. Bring something to a destination. (7)
36. Relating to an area beside the sea. (7)
37. Produced by crossbreeding. (6)
38. Delivered a sharp blow. (6)
Down
2. The state of the world as it really is rather than as you might want it to be. (7)
3. Express one’s preference for a candidate in an election. (4)
4. A licensed medical practitioner. (6)
5. Evidence of a spider. (6)
6. Long part of a guitar or banjo. (4)
7. State emphatically and authoritatively. (7)
8. Beds on a ship or train; usually in tiers. (6)
9. Expression of doubtful interest or surprise. (6)
14. Questionable energy source. (7)
16. A person who is regarded as underhanded and furtive. (5)
18. Challenged to do something. (5)
20. Bright and pleasant; promoting a feeling of cheer. (3)
21. The colour of the Left. (3)
23. A person of little influence. (6)
24. Payment to a copyright holder for use of their work. (7)
26. Generic name for a credit card. (7)
27. African antelope with ridged curved horns. (6)
28. The opposite of profane and ungodly. (6)
29. Rough paths and roads. (6)
33. Finished in cricket. (4)
34. A poker hand with two cards of the same value. (4)
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