Lusk Local V12I1-OCT 2025 by Irish Media Group

Our Team

Local News

Editor

communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

Advertising

Louise Hogan – 0862249299 louise@irishmediagroup.ie

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

Production Tim Evans communitylocalsdesigner@gmail.com

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

Designated Pick up Points: Supervalu Lusk Costcutters (The Village Store) Tesco, Rush Lidl Lusk

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!

The Locals Team

IRISHMEDIAGROUP

publishing | design | print | web Published by www.irishmediagroup.ie

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

Lusk Action Group Update

Lusk Village Quarter - Planning Application:

Earlier in the year, Fingal Co Council sought more information on the planning application submitted for the final phase of the Lusk Village Quarter. Among some of the information requested included the crèche location and accessibility and pub/restaurant location.

During the summer, the developers, McGarrell Reilly requested a three-month extension in which to submit the required information. This means that the developer has until 17th December in which to submit the information after which FCC will review and made a decision. Unfortunately, this means that the building on the much-needed amenities will be delayed until the planning application is approved, likely to now be in Quarter 1 2026.

Town Centre First - Regeneration:

During the summer, Fingal County Council hosted three workshop meetings with the

community in preparation for the setting up of a new Town Team structure.

The Team, once in place will work with FCC in allocating various projects contained within the Lusk for Life Plan to community groups to implement. It is hoped that the Town Team structure will be finalised in October.

Summer Festival

On 3rd September, it was agreed to establish a new standalone committee, the Summer Festival Planning team to start planning for the festival for 2026.

Santa Truck – Save the Date!

Lusk has been offered an exciting opportunity to host the Santa Truck in 2025. The truck which travels around Ireland to bring Christmas cheer in aid of the Laura Lynn charity is due to visit Lusk on Friday, 12th December. LAG will be providing support to organise the event. More information will be available next month but for now, save that date!

CommunityLocals.ie

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 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.

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.

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.

Lusk ICA Ladies Enjoy a Fabulous Annual Garden Party

Mary Hagan, Pauline Flynn, Mary Hassett Frances Devane, RoseAnna Darby,, Gertie Kelly and Margaret Finnegan.

Teresa Killoran RoseAnna Darby, Angela O’Brien Mary Hickey, Maria Baird Deirdre Wilson, Madeline Clinton

Mary Hickey, Anne Bailey, Monica Kilety and RoseAnna Darby

Antoinette Doran and Margaret Finnegan

Madeline Clinton

We enjoyed our fantastic annual garden party hosted by Maria Baird and her team, with entertainment by Gerry and the Plonkers.

The Lusk ICA ladies also enjoyed a relaxing Spa Day in the Beautiful Johnstone House Hotel recently.

Our thanks to Mary Hassett and Mary Hagan for hosting the recent coffee morning in aid of Gaza, where she raised over €3,000 and still counting.

We also joined the Lusk Senior Citizens for a great day out to

recently, and the

for organizing.

Our next meeting will be on Thursday 2nd October at 8.15 in the Lusk Scouts new members are very welcome to come along.

Kilkenny Castle

Woodstock Gardens followed by a lovely meal Woodford Dolmen Hotel in Carlow. Thanks to Kitty McCormack and her team

Maria Baird

Alma Farrell

Monica Kielty, Maria Baird, Frances Devane and RoseAnna Darby

Mary Bermingham and Anne Smithers

Celina Tonge, Mary Hassett and Mary Shorthall

Monica Kielty

Teresa Kilmurray and Pat Kelly

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!

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

Samhain at Ardgillan

Pumpkin Carving in Ardgillan

Lusk AC Athletes have Marathon Season in their sights

Wishing club members well in the Dublin City Marathon which takes place on Sunday 26th October. You’ve put in the miles over recent months so it’s time to enjoy the day and the whole marathon experience. As usual we will be organising a Marathon bus to and from the event. Please contact the club to book your seat. Well done to our juveniles on the CrossCountry season to date and to our club members who volunteered at any of the events. Well done also to club athletes who were in race action during recent weeks.

WIN €50 !!! 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