Louise Hogan – 0862249299 louise@irishmediagroup.ie
Sean Maguire (Publisher) - 087 915 9052 seanmaguire@irishmediagroup.ie
Production Tim Evans communitylocalsdesigner@gmail.com
Contact us
Lusk Local Magazine www.Facebook.com/LuskLocal Communitylocalseditor@gmail.com
Designated Pick up Points: Supervalu Lusk
Costcutters (The Village Store) Tesco, Rush
Lidl Lusk
Summer in Fingal has a rhythm all of its own. As the evenings stretch longer and the coastline glows under late sunsets, towns and villages across the county come alive with festivals, markets, concerts and sporting events that showcase the very best of community spirit. From Skerries to Balbriggan, Malahide to Swords, summertime in Fingal is not simply about tourism or entertainment — it is about people.
Every year, local volunteers, community groups and small businesses work tirelessly behind the scenes to create events that bring neighbours together and welcome visitors from across Ireland and beyond. Whether it is organising family fun days, supporting local arts festivals, running charity races or coordinating seaside celebrations, these efforts are driven by pride in place and a genuine commitment to community life.
Events such as the Skerries Traditional Music Weekend, the Flavours of Fingal festival in Newbridge House and Farm, and local summer fairs throughout the county highlight
the creativity and energy that exist in Fingal year-round. They also provide a vital boost for local traders, cafés, musicians, craftspeople and food producers who depend on the busy summer season.
What makes these festivals special is their authenticity. They are not manufactured attractions but community-led celebrations rooted in local identity. The people serving tea at parish halls, stewarding events, decorating streets or coaching children in summer sports camps are the heartbeat of Fingal. Their dedication creates spaces where families gather, friendships grow and traditions are passed from one generation to the next.
Summertime also reminds us of the importance of preserving the unique character of Fingal’s towns, villages and coastal communities. As the county continues to grow and develop, supporting local events and organisations remains essential in maintaining that strong sense of belonging that residents value so deeply.
The Locals Team
IRISHMEDIAGROUP
publishing | design | print | web Published by www.irishmediagroup.ie
Saturday 20th of June - a date
There is huge anticipation for the upcoming Lusk Summer Festival. The Community Event will be held on Saturday 20th of June, at Orlynn Park Green, and will be another fun-filled day for all the family.
Bring along your picnic blankets to enjoy our live music from acts such as Max Turner, Medlife Crisis, Ella Clarke and Eva Campbell. Also, don’t forget your reusable water bottle to get fresh water at our rehydration station.
You can browse our large market for the perfect Father’s Day gift, or even treat him to an early present and buy something at one of our delicious food trucks!
For the kids there will be facepainting, local sporting club events, rides and slides, lots to keep them entertained. Lusk Autism Friendly Town will be there with a calm space for the day if your child needs some quiet time, Please also stop at our Love Lusk stand to get a wristband for your child to keep them safe in case they get separated.
Any little bookworms or magicians will be delighted the Fingal Mobile Library will be returning with their books and magic show. This was one of the highlights of last year’s festival so we recommend not missing it. Keep an eye on social media for more information closer to the time.
This is a Community Event, entirely run by volunteers, and as always, we could do with your support. Please contact volunteers@
lusksummerfestival.ie if you could spare your community even three hours there is still plenty of time on the day to enjoy the festival with your family.
Our event couldn’t happen without the continued support of Progressive Credit Union and Fingal County Council. We also have wonderful support from local businesses
providing sponsorship and prizes for our raffle. We are hugely grateful for all their support. If your business would like to sponsor or provide a prize, please contact donations@ lusksummerfestival.ie.
So mark your calendars, pack up the kids and join your neighbours in celebrating the wonderful community of Lusk! See you all there!
Making Time For Budgeting Is Important
By Dave Kavanagh
Everything you eat, drink, wear, own, where you live, travel to and how you get there, are all connected to your finances. Yet most people don’t give budgeting the time and importance it deserves, especially as it could leave you with more money left over each month. A few practical tips:
Carefully study 3 months’ bank statements. Make sure that you can account for every single transaction. On a regular basis, I encounter people who have been paying for things that they should not be, direct debits they forgot to cancel. Make a detailed list for grocery shopping (and don’t shop while hungry). This leads to only buying what you actually need, a lower bill at the till and less throwing out of food gone off. Compare before you shop for larger items. Just because one store has a fridge you want reduced from €950 to €850 in their “Sale”, does not mean another store nearby that does not currently have a sale on, is not selling the same one for €799. Compare utility providers. Whether it’s electricity, gas, broadband, mobile phone service or similar, there can be substantial savings to be had by switching to better deals.
Check when car/house insurance renewals arrive. Don’t automatically accept a renewal premium without checking around. A few phone
calls could save you hundreds of euro. Review premiums on life cover/mortgage protection/serious illness cover. Especially if you arranged it directly with a bank or insurance company that could not compare. Do an exercise where you track spending for one month. In over 30 years of helping people with their finances, I have never seen anyone NOT make savings by doing the above. If anyone would like the free budget spreadsheet in excel format that will calculate totals as you input them, just email info@financialcompanion.ie with Budget in the subject line. Happy saving!
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.
Bambi’s Land
ASD Pre-School Lusk
Bambi’s ASD Pre-School Lusk, provide early intervention programs for children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The school runs 5 days a week from September to the end of June, for four hours a day under the Home Tuition Grant Scheme (government payments).
Bambi’s Land
We are starting to enroll children already diagnosed with ASD between 3 to 6 years old for September 2019.
Bambi’s ASD Pre-School Lusk encourages a child centered, multidisciplinary environment and works together with each family at every step of child’s education.
We welcome input from other professionals ensuring consistency and a comprehensive service to the child and their family.
For more information and enrollment please contact: Claudia Fitzpatrick, the school manager, Monday to Friday between 9am - 3.30pm.
We enroll children from 3 to 6 years old for 2026 diagnosed with ASD or in process to be diagnosed.
We enroll children from 3 to 6.years old for 2023/2024 and 2024/2025 diagnosed with ASD or in process to be diagnosed .
A24’s ‘The Drama’ is a Beautiful Trainwreck
By Jack Shanley
Directed by Kristoffer Borgli, The Drama (2026) is a brilliantly uncomfortable, darkly funny anti-romance that turns the classic wedding movie upside down. Known for his talent for capturing social anxiety, Borgli delivers an unforgettable ride about what happens when you discover a dark secret about the person you love.
The story follows Emma (Zendaya) and Charlie (Robert Pattinson), a charming, deeply-in-love couple on the fast track to marriage. However, just days before their wedding, a drunken party game with friends changes everything. Emma makes a jaw-dropping confession about her teenager years—revealing that she once planned a school shooting. This bombshell derails the group’s dynamic, and Charlie begins to spiral into an obsessive paranoia, wondering if he ever really knew his fiancée at all.
What makes The Drama so compelling is the incredible chemistry between its two leads. Zendaya gives a powerhouse, nuanced performance as Emma. She brilliantly captures the vulnerability of someone carrying immense guilt, showing a deep emotional weight through her facial expressions alone. Meanwhile, Robert Pattinson excels at playing Charlie with a mix of awkward, everyday charm and creeping desperation. His internal panic is often brought to life through surreal, dreamlike sequences where he literally imagines a younger version of Emma holding a weapon.
The film relies heavily on “second-hand embarrassment” and high-wire tension. Watching Emma and Charlie put on happy faces for their wedding photographer and dance instructor while their relationship is crumbling at home is both hilarious and excruciating. Borgli masterfully balances pitch-black humour with genuine emotional chaos, leading to a wedding reception climax that is spectacularly messy and impossible to look away from. Alana Haim also stands out as the fiercely judgmental maid of honour, delivering a passive-aggressive toast that will go down in cinema history. Visually, the film looks elegant, using a bright, sunny wedding colour palette that contrasts sharply with the psychological horror brewing underneath. It explores heavy themes of radical acceptance, social pressure, and the boundaries of empathy without offering easy answers or a neat moral conclusion.
If you are looking for a standard, feel-good romantic comedy, The Drama is definitely not it. But if you appreciate bold, unconventional storytelling that will leave you squirming in your seat and talking long after the credits roll, it is a must-watch. I’d recommend checking out ‘The Drama’ and see what you think of it; I shall give it a score of FOUR stars. You can watch it at your local cinema today. Director: Kristoffer Borgli – Rating: 15A –Genre: Romance/Drama– Run Time: 1h 46m Language: English. For more film content please follow @screen_.addicts on Instagram.
Facebook: Councillor Mark Boland Instagram: @cllr markboland
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Medicinal Mushrooms: Nature’s Health Powerhouse With Susan
This month we will discuss the benefits and uses of medicinal mushrooms. I was fortunate to train under Martin Powell, author of Medicinal Mushrooms: A Clinical Guide, and here is a brief overview of why medicinal mushrooms can be beneficial when prescribed correctly.
Medicinal mushrooms are certain fungi used as food supplements because they may support health in various ways. They have been used for centuries in traditional medicine and are now growing in popularity with the general public. These mushrooms are not the same as common button mushrooms used in cooking, although some edible mushrooms also provide beneficial nutrients.
Medicinal mushrooms are typically taken as teas, powders, capsules, or extracts. One of the main reasons people use medicinal mushrooms is their possible effect on the immune system. They contain compounds such as Beta glucans, selenium, vitamin D, and vitamin B6, which may help the body defend itself and reduce cell damage. Some species are also studied for their antioxidant and anti inflammatory effects. Medicinal mushrooms can also support general wellness. They may be included in daily routines to help with energy, digestion, or stress support, depending on the type.
Reishi, Turkey tail, Chaga, and Shiitake are among the most well known varieties. Turkey tail is often
linked with immune support, while Chaga is commonly discussed for its antioxidant content. These products are usually sold as supplements rather than as medicines, which means they may support health but are not a cure for serious illness. It is important to choose products from trusted brands and to avoid taking medicinal mushrooms without guidance from a qualified health professional.
Talk to a doctor before using them, especially if you are pregnant, taking medication, or have a long term health condition, since they can cause unwanted side effects or allergies. Professional advice helps ensure they are safe and appropriate for your individual health needs. In simple terms, medicinal mushrooms are a natural option some people use to support immunity, nutrition, and overall wellbeing when used carefully and as part of a healthy lifestyle. The following are generally discussed as functional mushrooms—meaning they are used for wellness support rather than as everyday food.
1. Reishi: Often described as calming and adaptogenic; commonly associated with stress support, sleep, and immune modulation.
2. Lion’s Mane: Best known for cognitive support; often linked to focus, memory, and nerve health.
3. Cordyceps: Commonly used for energy and stamina; associated with
exercise performance and endurance.
4. Chaga: Valued for its antioxidant content; often linked to immune support and anti inflammatory effects.
5. Turkey Tail: Known for immune and gut support; contains compounds often studied for microbiome and immune function.
6. Shiitake: Used for general immune support and heart health related benefits, especially cholesterol management.
7. Maitake: Often associated with
immune support and metabolic health, including blood sugar regulation.
A simple way to think about them: Reishi is the “calming” mushroom, Lion’s mane the “brain” mushroom, Cordyceps the “energy” mushroom, Chaga the “antioxidant” mushroom, and Turkey tail the “immune/gut” mushroom.
In Wellness Susan susangrahamcoaching@gmail.com
The ladies had a very enjoyable night at the movies “The Devil Wears Prada in Balbriggan
The ladies enjoyed a Lovely afternoon for lunch in the Grand Hotel Malahide
Pictured at the Grand Jotel Malahide lunch Eileen O Donoghue, Madeline Clinton, Frances Devane, Mary Hickey, Maria Baird Teresa Killoran Marie O’Sullivan and Gretta Hardy
Pictured all the ladies of Lusk ICA Guild watching Pauline’s demonstration
Pictured At ICA Dublin Federation AGM Patricia Guyett Secretary, Antoinette Rea Federation President, Mary Duffy Treasurer, and RoseAnna Darby, Lusk ICA president
Pictured Teresa Killoran and Marie O’Sullivan at the Grand Hotel in Malahide.
Winner of the lovely “Tea Cosy”competition was Breda Bowen from Bohernabreena Guild
Picture Antoinette Rea and Rosanna Darby
Pictured very proud Teresa Kilmurray who came 2nd in Dublin Federation Brown Bread Competition
Pictured is Pauline McCormack demonstrating reflexology on Marie O Sullivan
My Little Library 2026 Initiative launches for children in Fingal
All children in Fingal who are starting primary school in September are being invited to visit their local library to pick up a free book bag and take the opportunity to join the library.
Minister for Children, Disability and Equality, Norma Foley, T.D., together with Minister of State for Charities, Gaeltacht and the Islands & Rural Transport, Jerry Buttimer, T.D., today announced the launch of this year’s My Little Library free book bag for almost 60,000 children starting primary school.
The My Little Library initiative 2026 is expected to lead to tens of thousands of families picking up their book bags and joining their local library. Since its launch, an average of 20,000 4–5-year-olds have joined their local libraries annually.
The books and resources in the book bag, which is available in both English and ‘as Gaeilge’, support children and their parents in the transition to primary school.
From 11th of May 2026, all children completing the universal Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) pre-school programme and starting primary school are invited to visit their local library and pick up a free book bag. The bags will be available throughout the summer. All families will be invited to join the library if they
are not already members.
Minister Foley said she was pleased to announce the 2026 My Little Library initiative.
“I’m really pleased to announce the launch of the free My Little Library book bags for all children in Fingal who will be starting primary school later this year. I really do encourage all their families to pick up their child’s free book
bag in their local library.
The books are available as Gaeilge and as Bearla. Tá rud ann do gach duine. The books are available in both English and Irish so there really is something for everyone. This is also a great opportunity for young people to join their local library and indeed enjoy the wonder and the gift of reading.”
Minister Foley and Minister Buttimer with children and staff in Pearse St Library
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 July 16. The first correct entry to be drawnwill win €50..Good luck!
Across
1. Declines to vote either for or against a proposal. (8)
6. Earn duvets during exciting experiences. (10)
13. Very light wood used for making models. (5)
14. Find a cheap rasp in the junk pile. (9)
15. Walk at a slow, relaxed pace. (5)
16. People whose behaviour sets them apart from others. (7)
18. The Welsh national emblem. (4)
19. Ran away from danger. (4)
20. Gigantic mythological bird of the Arabian Nights. (3)
22. Golden-brown shade of normally pale skin after exposure to the sun. (3)
23. Wooden frame for an artist. (5)
25. “A .... by any other name would smell as sweet.” (4)
27. The second son of Adam and Eve. (4)
30. A state of confusion or disorder. (6)
31. Cat-sized American mammals with a noxious reputation. (6)
33. Spice made from dried and ground mild red peppers. (7)
34. Imaginary event during sleep. (5)
35. A continuous or prolonged dull pain. (4)
36. The Earth’s largest and most populous continent. (4)
37. Official tests. (5)
40. Home of the Papacy from 1309 to 1376. (7)
41. Put more bullets in a gun. (6)
42. Two-piece bathing suit and an atoll. (6)
44. Very big, enormous. (4)
45. Soft loose flesh on a person’s body, fat. (4)
46. The fourth letter of the Greek alphabet. (5)
48. To ... is human; to forgive, divine. (3)
50. Cut off a limb from the main body of a tree. (3)
52. The fleshy underparts of human fingers. (4)
54. The last bit of a pencil. (4)
56. Layered Italian dish. (7)
59. Strongly wanting to do or have something. (5)
60. Restaurant in which customers serve themselves. (9)
61. Type of bullet used in training or as a signal. (5)
62. Meddled in a situation without invitation or necessity. (10)
63. Famous buccaneer from Rush. (4,4)
Down
2. South American weapon consisting of balls and strong cord. (5)
3. It can be Oolong, Black or Pu-erh. (3)
4. Demanded something forcefully. (8)
5. Walks in a leisurely way. (7)
6. Enough or more than enough, plentiful. (5)
7. Look at or inspect. (4)
8. Asian country with eight of the ten tallest mountains. (5)
9. African country, capital is Kampala. (6)
10. A small piece or glowing fuel in a dying fire. (5)
11. Detested, loathed. (10)
12. A Latin acknowledgement of one’s fault or error. (3,5)
17. Creator of James Bond. (3,7)
21. It separates us from Great Britain. (5,3)
22. Meddling with something in order to cause damage or make unauthorised alterations. (9)
24. Type of wild cat. (4)
26. Reddish-brown colour of early photographs. (5)
28. The air bridge hides a military commander. (9)
29. Food served before meals. (10)
32. Type of cabbage, (8)
35. Declare a marriage to have had no legal existence. (5)
38. Ruined or destroyed vessels. (10)
39. Walk doggedly and slowly with heavy steps like a British police officer. (4)
40. Hero of the Trojan Wars with a dodgy heel. (8)
43. A long queue of slowly-moving or stationary traffic caused by an obstruction on the road. (8)
47. Open to new ideas, favouring individual liberty and social reform. (7)
49. Scanty, in short supply. (6)
51. A person holding beliefs other than those of the main world religions. (5)
53. A short coffee without caffeine. (5)
55. Carried by hand. (5)
57. This country was once known as the Gold Coast. (5)
