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Louise Hogan – 0862249299 louise@irishmediagroup.ie

Sean Maguire (Publisher) - 087 915 9052 seanmaguire@irishmediagroup.ie

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Lusk Local Magazine www.Facebook.com/LuskLocal Communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

Designated Pick up Points: Supervalu Lusk

Costcutters (The Village Store) Tesco, Rush

Lidl Lusk

Springing into the New Year

Spring has finally arrived after what has felt like a lifetime since we have seen some proper sunshine and some warmer conditions! Slowly but surely the seasons are changing and the time for new beginnings is upon us again. There are so many things to look forward to in Springtime.

Local people throughout Fingal will be busying themselves in the first few weeks of Spring, making plans for the coming months, especially summertime and the annual summer holiday season. In Fingal we don’t have very far to travel to find something to make great memories from. 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. There is so much to do in such a short distance.

There are so many wonderful voluntary organisations out there in Fingal and the work that they do is invaluable to their respective communities. From sporting groups, walking groups, youth groups, Men’s Sheds, ICA groups, Comhaltas groups and the many, many more clubs, societies and organisations – local people rely heavily on them to make a difference to their daily lives.

But these organisations can only survive with the selfless work their volunteers provide who give up their own time after work and on weekends to make our lives more fulfilled. We love seeing more for us to do in our communities and are always looking for something new and exciting; just remember there would hardly be anything to do without these voluntary organisations and their volunteers. There is always room for more people to get involved with their local voluntary organisations and the help is always appreciated.

As a community-based magazine group we really do deeply appreciate all the work done by local volunteers in their respective areas. They are the ones who make our towns and villages look so beautiful and we are so happy that they give their time so selflessly.

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VITAL WELLNESS

STRICT DEADLINE FOR NEXT EDITION: Submissions by the 15th for inclusion in next months edition

ICA Ladies Have Fun Up North

Congratulations to Deirdre Wilson who received a merit Award at the recent ICA Wicklow Drama Festival in their play “our Guild Out” by

The Lusk ICA ladies travelled up to the Flagstaff Bistroe Restaurant in Newry for a lovely meal, following which we received a Cead mile Failte at The Teac Mallen in Slieve Gullion Art Centre in Meigh singing and dancing all night long.

We wish the best of luck to the Drama Group who are entering their play “The Big Surprise” in the ICA National Final of the Eleanora Gibbon cup for drama, on Sunday, 9th March in An Grainan. Keep up the good work, ladies.

We highly recommend you join in with us at the Ramblers night, set dancing and storytelling (free night), which is held at 9.00pm every second Tuesday of the month in Murray’s lounge.

The Lusk ICA Guild meet on the First Thursday every month in the Scouts Den (after beavers) at 8:15 PM and we would be delighted to welcome new members to come along.

Dancing the Kerry Set by the fire

Anne Smithers, also special praise from the Adjudicator went Mary Bermingham for her talented acting.

We were all very lucky in the raffle winning six prizes Between us!

Leslie and Mary Dunne and Peter O Neill multitalented storytelling, acting, and singers who travelled all the way up from Carlow to participate.

A great bowling night out in ALSAA where Alma Farrell won 1st prize Maria Baird 2nd and Mary Hicky came 3rd.

Mary Hickey singing along

Support Your local Guide Dogs Branch

Are you looking for ways to support your local North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind?

Well recently the branch placed a Q.R. code on a large collection dog in Supervalu Lusk so, if you don’t have change to put into the large dog, you can now use your phone to scan the Q.R. code and donate to the North County Dublin Branch of Guide Dogs.

Picture shows Jenny Supervalu Lusk staff at the large dog. Also, receipt shows what was taken from the large dog at Christmas. Thanks to all customers and staff for their support.

You can contact North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs by phone/text 085-7663107, email: GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com

Big Day Planned for Lusk St Patrick’s Day Parade

Lusk Saint Patrick’s Day Parade has been an annual centre piece of the town for decades and 2025 will be same. Applications for entry to the parade need to be submitted to Lusk Community Council by 5th March. For all our businesses and community groups in the town, this is a great opportunity to Fly Your Flag for our town. In addition to the St. Patrick’s Day Parade, Lusk Community Council will also have a programme of music and fun in Lusk Community Cultural Centre on Saturday 15th and Sunday 16th March. Check out our Lusk Community Council social media for details.

What Has Changed with Capital Acquisition Tax?

By Dave Kavanagh

In Ireland, inheritance tax and gift tax are both under Capital Acquisition Tax. In 2022 in Ireland, there was over €600 million collected in Capital Acquisition Tax. It also includes estates that may have been taxed in previous generations. For example, if someone left an estate worth €1,000,000 to an only daughter, she would (in the current tax year) have a tax bill of just under €200,000. After she pays the bill and puts what’s left in the bank, any interest is taxed (DIRT). Guess what happens when she passes and leaves her estate behind? It’s taxed again! So what has changed? Spouses can leave any amount to each other tax free. After that, the three new thresholds are, a) Children - €400,000, b) Other close relatives - €40,000 and c) All others (including cohabiting partners) - €20,000. Everything received above these is taxed at 33%.

So, is there any way to prevent it? There are two main actions that can either reduce or eradicate such a tax bill. The first is to take the time to plan when making a will. Let’s say a value of €900,000 was being left to 2 adult children. (Not a big estate if you combine a house, savings and a life policy). This would create a tax bill of over €16,000. Instead, if €800,000 of it was left to the 2 children and the balance between a few grandchildren (at least 5), there is no tax bill. The

second thing that can be done is for the person leaving the estate to take out a Section 72 plan. This is a type of life policy that is allowed to pay any tax liability without adding to the value of the estate. It becomes particularly important for anybody that does not have children to plan things out, as even other relatives can only receive €40,000 before any balance is taxed. These thresholds are particularly important for anybody in the process of planning or making their will.

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.

Generation Baby Boomer

by Jon Kavanagh

Well, here we are a quarter way through the first century of the new millennium. Tempus Fugit! Reminiscing with an old school friend we marvelled at how quickly we have gone from writing lines in Swords Tech to writing application forms for our bus passes. It got me thinking about the incredible changes we baby boomers (born 1946 – 1964) have lived through. As children we were meant “to be seen and not heard”. We learned to write with nib bens and ink, our calculator was our ten fingers. The teacher’s stick wasn’t just for pointing at the map. In many homes the wooden spoon doubled jobbed as a food mixer and law and

order enforcer. We didn’t appreciate that living history walked amongst us: many who survived the 1916 uprising, two world wars, the war of independence, the civil war, the Spanish flu and a tuberculosis epidemic, were still active in the community, with a generous helping of ‘characters’ filling their ranks.

With hindsight, Tony, who had tales to tell about all the above, became my de factor grandfather (my actual grandfathers had both passed on before I was born). He would regularly give me a half crown coin, (a considerable sum of money back then) and advice on everyday life like “Always leave the wireless on when you are leaving the house to deter robbers”. Paddy, who had served in the British army, took his role of curmudgeon in residence very earnestly, sitting on a wall in the village giving his caustic take on life to all who passed by. He would have made a great keyboard warrior on today’s social media. And then there was Rosie, a would-be entrepreneur,

Lusk Action Group to host AGM

Lusk Action Group’s AGM will take place on Tuesday 11th March at 7.30 in the Cottage Community Centre. All are welcome to attend. We were very happy to host a meeting last month to facilitate the set up of resident’s associations in Lusk. The Forge estate has been the first of the estates to form and hosted their first committee meeting at the end of February. We wish them the very best of luck. If you would like to get involved with a resident’s association in your estate, please get in touch with us at luskactiongroup@gmail.com and we will direct you. We received the news in January that Planning permission has been approved for the proposed Recreational Sports Hub at Rathmore Park by An Bord Pleanála. This is the culmination of over ten years of work by Lusk Community Sports Plan 2020 committee, with the support of our public representatives. It will be delivered by Fingal County Council. Work is hoped to be commenced this Spring/Summer. We would like to thank and congratulate Lusk Community Sports Group for their hard work and perseverance over many years to bring these plans finally to fruition, and we look forward to the amazing facilities that are going to be delivered.

A little reminder to all groups and the wider community that the Lusk Autism Friendly Town committee are seeking to have all members of all community groups and businesses trained. This will lead to Lusk becoming an official autism friendly town. Training is very simple to do and takes only an hour or two. Visit www.asiam.ie and search training and accreditation to find out how to make a big difference in the lives of people with autism.

As most of you are aware, construction has starsted on the front of Orlynn Park green by Fingal County Council. This will be called Remount Court and will be an extension of the adjacent estate. It is planned to be completed by March 2026. If there are any issues during the construction site, we are asked to contact construction@fingal.ie

who used hard sales techniques to impose everything from badly knitted garments to eggs and bales of hay on reluctant locals. I recall her bursting into our gate lodge, plonking a jam jar she had crudely decorated with sea shells, on the kitchen table, whilst loudly proclaiming “Theres a nice flower vase for ten bob!” Being timid in nature my mother unwillingly shed out the said sum for the affront to the arts and crafts movement.

We remember when Swords was a small rural village and the airport (then known as Collinstown) was but a twinkle in the eye of the large international hub we see today. Fingal was as rural as any far-flung corner of Ireland. At heart we were country folks living simple lives. Don’t get me wrong, I love modernity and can wield a mobile phone and paper coffee cup with the best of them. But somehow, I’m glad I was born a baby boomer to experience a world that gave us a resilience that comes in handy during lockdowns, storms, power cuts etc.

CommunityLocals.ie

parÁidÍ fhine gall 2025

Time for Springtime Treats!

Spring is great time to declutter the house and garden. Charity shops are glad of donations but it’s a good idea to get a skip too for those items you need to get rid of. We shopped around and got the same size skip from Oxigen for €120 less than another local skip company! They delivered and picked up when they say they would and the customer service was great. Happy to recommend them!

March is for treating the Mammies on Mother’s day. If you are on a budget, make her breakfast in bed, run her a bubble bath or cook her a nice dinner. If you want to take her somewhere nice, we love Silken Thomas in Kildare. They have an award-winning bar and restaurant and their accommodation is beautiful. Spoil her to a meal or

mini break or surprise her with a Silken Thomas gift voucher. I brought my Mam recently and we loved it; we cannot wait to go back!

For personalised gifts, Wanapix has a great range for Mother’s day. Use CODE MAMSIE for a 15% discount. I love my personalised Wanapix travel bag with my name on, I use it as a tote bag all the time. And my hubby loves his special ‘Dad’ glass!

If your Mam enjoys a pool and spa, Farnham Estate is stunning. It’s worth going for indoor/ outdoor pool alone. Relax in the warm outdoor pool while breathing in the country air. It’s magical! Their spa is fabulous, and accommodation and food are top notch. We love it so much we had a family wedding there!

Need some gift inspo and wanna keep it Irish? Hampers & Co. have hampers to suit every taste and budget. I especially love their wellness hampers. One Dame Lane has beautiful jewellery and gift sets. Cocoa Brown have budget friendly tanning sets. We are loving Wired Irish Crafts quirky candles – especially the coconut and bamboo. Stitch-a-name personalised fluffy robes and silky pyjamas are lovely. For hair lovers, Olaplex or Alfaparf gift sets are in salons and etailers. For theatre lovers, a voucher for National Concert Hall is a wonderful gift. The Design Gallery in Drogheda has lots of gift ideas and they gift wrap free of charge! Follow us on mams. ie in the run up to Mother’s day for more gift ideas and competitions!

CHARTERED PHYSIOTHERAPY

“Companion” (2025) The Future Of A.I.

By Jack Shanley

In a world where technology seamlessly integrates with daily life “Companion” (2025) explores the complex relationship between humans and A.I. The film follows Iris, a young woman who discovers she is a companion android designed for human companionship. As Iris grapples with her identity and the limitations of her programmed existence, the line between human and machine blurs, raising questions about autonomy, control, and the very nature of love.

Sophie Thatcher delivers a captivating performance as Iris, portraying her vulnerability and strength with nuance. Jack Quaid shines as Josh, the man who initially appears to be Iris’s loving companion but whose true motives become increasingly ambiguous. The supporting cast, including Lukas Gage as the enigmatic Patrick, adds depth to the narrative, each character embodying a different facet of the human-AI dynamic.

The cinematography captures the beauty and unease of Iris’s world, while the soundtrack amplifies the film’s emotional core. The script is thought-provoking, exploring themes of identity, free will, and a view of advanced technology.

“Companion” is not without its flaws. Some plot developments

may strain credulity, and the film occasionally relies on familiar tropes of the sci-fi genre. However, its strengths may far outweigh its weaknesses. The film’s exploration of complex themes, combined with its strong performances and compelling visuals, make it a decent watch for fans of science fiction and thoughtprovoking cinema.

Ultimately, “Companion” is a cautionary tale about the potential dangers of unchecked technological advancement. It somewhat of a scary view of the future and with the film being told from an A.I perspective, I naturally felt a bit uneasy. I also understood that the humans were at fault., but It all goes back to Kubrick’s great 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) in which he views it as humans becoming far too comfortable with technology that it would eventually consume us empower A.I and take over. Its with ‘Companion’ that you can kind of feel the same energy.

In all truth I’d recommend checking out ‘Companion’ and see what you think of it; I shall give it a score of three stars. You can watch it at your local cinema today. Director: Drew Hancock– Rating: 16 – Genre: Horror/Sci-fi – Run Time: 1h 37m Language: English. For more film content please follow @movies4fanatics on Instagram.

Great Start to the Season for Lusk AC

The athletics season is in full swing with plenty of events to choose from over the early months of the year. The club took a huge contingent to the Raheny 5 mile and we were well represented at the 10 mile road races in both Trim and Dungarvan. The Lusk vest was also spotted at the Seville Half Marathon and the Donadea 50k. Our Juvenile athletes have been in indoor action and training at the hub has been spiced up with the 6 week winter 3k league. Well done to all and we look forward to the brighter evenings as summer approaches.

Robyn was in fine form at the Dublin Juvenile Championships.

Rosie & Meabh at the Dublin Juvenile Championships

Conor on the podium again

Aidan with his richly deserved award

Peter and Derek at the Donadea 50k

The Lusk 8 at the Trim 10mile

Some of the big Lusk crew who went to the Raheny 5 mile

Fun times at the Seville Half Marathon

A spot of hill running In Howth

Junsa Taekwondo Club News

Spring is in The Air!

Spring is in the air and so are our students with their high-flying kicks. The students at Junsa have been practicing hard for upcoming tournaments all the while having fun. Please take look at what we are doing.

Advanced student Darragh in mid air

Spinning heel kick from Justin and Nikas his partner

Peter in mid flight

Deina flying side kick

S&C kicking training for Fionn, advanced class

Justin finishing off that spinning heel kick

Technical kicking for our intermediate students

Billy’s back kick with the help of Liam

Justin finishing off that spinning heel kick

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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