Lusk Local V8I10-MAY 2023

Appreciating the beauty of nature and life in general!

Once again May has brought forth its flowers in all their glory and once again we can but wonder at the beauty of our area. Whether you are rambling with the Penninsula Pacers from Donabate on one of their many short or long range hikes or taking to the briny with the wonderful Sea Scouts of Malahide. Maybe you are appreciating the beauty of the countryside as you keep pace along with the award winning Lusk Athletic Club or maybe enjoying the craic in the sunshine with other members of the Aer Lingus outdoor bowls club. On the other hand you may be enjoying other physical activities such as participating in or coaching at Fingallians GFC in Swords or Balbriggan Rugby Club. Whatever gets you out and about across Fingal, I know you will agree this area rivals and sometimes surpasses many other districts in our beautiful country. The flowers and plants add a lush carpet of colour at this time of the year that brightens the mornings and add spectacular odours as we walk near flower beds, gardens and fields. After the darkness and gloom of winter we are treated to the warm sunshine and brightness which announces to us all that summer is on the way. The longer evenings mean more time to appreciate nature as the young farm animals frolic in the meadows and the ponds are filled with life. All in all May is a time to generally appreciate being alive and all that entails. It is a month which technically is stuck between the end of spring and the beginning of Summer but in reality it is the month before the midsummer solstice when the longest day and the shortest night of the year signify summer has arrived. So this month let us appreciate every facet of nature and life in general. Let us appreciate our family, our friends and all those people who work hard to help our community. Finally let us appreciate the beauty of life itself and all the good things which at times we take for granted. Enjoy the month of May, its beauty and life in general!

The Locals Team.

Lusk Action group – Garda meeting- Summer Festival and Tree planting!

Last month, we had a meeting with An Garda Siochana and Foroige, to discuss issues of concern in Lusk. We would like to thank the community for their feedback regarding this. We discussed the growing need for more visible Garda presence, better and clearer opening hours of the Garda Station, the growing drugs issue in the town, concerns regarding break-ins and car theft, speeding issues, anti-social behaviour, especially at weekends, and vandalism, among other issues. The Gardaí share our concerns and we await further information from them regarding actions to be taken. They continue to advise the community to dial 999 if there are concerns. This ensures that all issues are linked to the Garda PULSE system, thereby creating essential data as regards the volume of issues in the town. This is the one thing that will ensure more Gardai in the future. To put this simply, if it is not reported officially, then it did not officially happen, and then nothing can be officially done about it. Reporting issues is essential to getting what we need in Lusk. We would like to extend our immense gratitude to The Progressive Credit Union for their sponsorship of Lusk Summer Festival. Last month we received an amazing €8000 from them, which makes running this great event so much easier for Lusk Action Group. Don’t forget to keep the day in your diary! Saturday 24th June. We have a fantastic music line up, a bigger and better children’s entertainment section, our Market stalls, food galore and much more! We are all looking forward to it. We are also delighted to see the new Ladies Shed up and running successfully. They meet in The Cultural Centre Mondays 10am till 12pm and Wednesdays 7 till 8pm. Wishing them every success! The first official community tree planting

day happened last month and we would like to thank the tree sub-committee from the 2030 group, Fingal County Council, and the whole community for making this happen. Approximately 700 saplings were planted, the first of 2030 trees that will be planted as part of the Lusk Vision 2030 plan.

Well done to all for a wonderful Community Tree Planting Day

Thank you to everyone who came out to support Lusk’s Community Tree Planting Day last Saturday. Three varieties of bare root whips and Holly shrub saplings were planted along the boundary fencing between the Hub and Lusk Community School. Students from Lusk Community College also helped to plant some bare root whips last Friday too. Thank you to

Fingal County Council for supplying over 300 bare root whips and for helping to pre-dig so many holes in the ground, it made the job so much easier! In addition to the hedge planting at the HUB, Fingal County Council also planted: Six mature trees along Minister’s Road, Six mature trees along Dun Emer Drive, Bare root whips at the end of Minister’s Park, and Bare root

whips along the railings between Orlynn Park and Remount Estate.The Spring Community Tree Planting Event was a first for Lusk and Fingal County Council hope to facilitate another one in the autumn. Thanks to the sub committee from Lusk Vision 2030, Fingal County Council and Councillor Robert O’Donoghue for coordinating the day.

Lusk Community Council Celebrates Africa Day on May 25th

Africa Day is an annual celebration of the people and cultures of this wonderful continent. On 25th May Lusk Community Council will celebrate Africa Day in its Cultural Centre in conjunction with the Redeemed Christian Church, Lusk Community College, Fingal County Council and

the community of Lusk. Africa Day celebrates the vibrancy, diversity and potential of Africa. In Ireland it is an opportunity to recognise the growing cultural, trade and political links we have with various countries right across Africa.

The Department of Foreign Affairs organises a programme of events each year to mark Africa Day. Lusk Community Council is working with Fingal County Council to have a very special celebration in Lusk.

Local Solicitor has moved but still a great service!

Local Solicitor has moved but we are still in your corner. Our bright spacious modern office is located on the Top Floor of the Town Centre in Lusk. The office is wheelchair accessible via the lift from the lobby. There is also plenty of free parking nearby. You can find us when you scan the QR code. As a general practice law firm, Local Solicitor provides legal service in relation to a wide range of legal matters including: - buying and selling property, Landlord and Tenant

matters, Personal Injuries, Wills and Probate, Contract Law, Debt Collection, Family Law, Criminal Law, Employment Law and general legal advice. With more people on board, we can provide a broader range of services in a more efficient manner. Talk to us about your legal matter. You can contact us when you scan the QR Code.We look forward to hearing from you soon. Best wishes to you all.

Liam Fitzgerald

Inter-Faith Minister and legal Wedding Solemniser

My name is Brenda King and I live in Lusk, North County Dublin. I am an Inter-Faith Minister and legal Solemniser with the HSE. I’ve had the pleasure of marrying couples for the past few years and I’ve realised that a lot of people are unclear about the different wedding options available and the process that needs to be followed, so I thought I’d offer a quick overview. Firstly, anyone thinking of getting married in Ireland must register their ‘Notice of Intent’ with the HSE, at least three months before their intended wedding day. To start the ball rolling you would need to contact your local civil registration office by phone or email, who will then send you a notification form which must be completed and returned. If you or your partner were not born in Ireland, you may have to have your birth certificate officially authenticated in your country of birth. This is referred to as an ‘Apostille’. Eventually, you will receive ‘The Green Folder’ which must be present and signed on your wedding day for legal purposes. Secondly,

you might consider what type of ceremony you would like. Some couples might choose a religious ceremony in a church, while others may opt for a ceremony officiated by a celebrant. A solemniser is a celebrant who can do the legal signing on the day of your ceremony. There are different types of celebrants such as Inter-Faith, Humanists, and Spiritualists As a multi-faith celebrant, I can offer both non-religious, religious, or blended ceremonies, but ultimately, it is the couple’s choice and together we would craft an inclusive ceremony, in a relaxed atmosphere, that they feel is personal to them, and reflects who they are, while not forgetting to have some fun!

I hope you found this overview helpful but if you have any questions, I’m always happy to help and look forward to hearing from you. You can contact me for more in-depth information on 0874173165, by email at brendaking04@gmail.com or sure we can always have a cuppa and a chat! I can also be found on Facebook and Instagram; ‘Brenda King Celebrant ‘

CommunityLocals.ie

Fingal Libraries Bealtaine Festival ‘23 will be launched in Rush

Welcome to Fingal Libraries Bealtaine Festival 2023, Ireland’s national celebration of the arts and creativity as we age. The festival programme will run for the whole month of May with events across all our branches. We are launching this wonderful festival in Rush Library on Tuesday, 2nd May at 11:30am with a performance from the Forget Me Nots choir, an inclusive community choir for older people. Everyone is welcome to the launch which promises to be an enjoyable and uplifting musical experience. This year’s programme features everything from an empowering talk on life after menopause with author Barbara Scully to an inspiring talk with adventurer Eugene O’Leary. We also have bridge and art classes, talks from Fingal Birdwatch, concerts from the musical ensemble the Mobile Music Machine and much, much more.

Portrait & Landscape Art Workshop with artist Will Nathans

This two-part art workshop will focus on portrait and landscape paintings. Will Nathans is an American born artist who lives in Dublin. He trained in New York City at SVA and studied illustration and cartooning. Participants are requested to bring their own art materials to the class. They will be informed what they need when booking their place at Rush library. Rush Library Wednesday, 24th May Wednesday, 31st May 2:00pm – 4:30pm

Bealtaine Concert with music ensemble Mobile

Music Machine

Join the renowned Mobile Music Machine for a special family themed concert celebrating Bealtine in Fingal. Each concert will feature some of Ireland’s most acclaimed musicians,

performing songs from the musicals, popular and classical eras. Musicians include soprano Sandra Oman, cellist Gerald Peregrine, trumpeter Niall O’Sullivan and pianist Vincent Lynch. An hour of entertainment for all. Rush Library Friday, 26th May 2:30pm – 3:30pm To reserve a place, please contact Rush library who are hosting the event.

Demonstration of Tovertafel tables, also known

Lusk Irish Countrywomens Association

as magic tables, consist of a series of interactive games projected onto a table. The images from the games respond to the user’s hand and arm movements allowing users to play with light. Originally designed for people with dementia, these tables provide fun interactive games for people of all ages. Rush Library Tuesday, 2nd May 12:30pm – 1:30pm No booking required. All welcome!

welcomes new President

Following our recent AGM we are delighted to congratulate Rose Anna Darby who was elected as our new President. We wish her the very best in her new role. We also want to say thank you to our outgoing President Teresa Killoran for her hard work over the past three-years and for keeping us going despite the challenges of Covid. On another note a very successful

fundraiser was held in aid of The Irish Cancer Society on Daffodil day with the Guild raising a massive €5,807, thanks to everyone who supported us. We’re always happy to welcome new members so if you are looking to make new friends and learn new skills why not drop in to our monthly meeting which takes place the first Tuesday of the month. Caroline O’Malley PRO.

How To Calculate Potential Financial Loss

By Dave Kavanagh

Of course, nobody wants to consider that something bad and impactful will happen to them, but most people realise that every week in Ireland there are unexpected fatalities, serious illnesses diagnosed or injuries/illnesses that prevent someone from working. One of the main impacts of any of these occurrences, is the financial loss that can be suffered either by the individual concerned or by any family members dependent on them. The amount of financial loss can vary greatly, and will depend on the event and also the person’s circumstances. The easiest one to consider is the impact of a fatality. Is there an immediate loss of income? Will there be an entitlement to pension benefits? Is there a dependent partner and/or children? If there are children what age are they and how long will they need to be provided for? What protection benefits are already in place? Is there a mortgage that is protected? Are there any death in service benefits with an employer? Giving consideration to these questions can identify what the potential loss would be and help calculate the appropriate levels and types of cover required. Where an accident or illness prevents someone from working, what is the impact? Does an employer pay them for a period of time? If so, for how long? Would some people be forced to use up their savings in order

to make sure that bills are paid and supplies bought? The diagnosis of a serious illness can have a negative impact on finances. In some cases it may just result in a relatively short period off work, a stay in hospital and perhaps a supply of medications. But in others, it could result in never returning to work, needing a downstairs bedroom, a wheelchair accessible shower and a modified car. Having a tax-free lump sum paid out at these times can make a huge difference in someone’s finances. The important thing is for people to consider their own, specific circumstances and the financial impact it would have on them and their family. This will allow them to plan more accurately, but in order to consider these details, you have to make the time to analyse them.

Dave Kavanagh QFA has been advising people financially for over 25 years. For quotes or for information (with no cost or obligation) he can be contacted by emailing Dave directly on info@financialcompanion.ie or you can 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.

Lusk Tidy Towns – please do your bit to help!

Lusk Tidy Towns Association recently met with officials from Fingal County Council to discuss the Tidy Towns works programme for 2023. As the weather improves we encourage everybody to do those little jobs that need doing

such as painting, weeding etc and ask everybody to keep litter at bay. Together we can all do our bit to keep Lusk tidy and a place to be proud of. Thanking you for your continued support.

Lusk Autism-Friendly Towns welcomes new participants

The publication of the AsIAm “Same Chance” report 2023 presented a stark picture of life for many autistic people in Ireland. The report, based on a survey of over 1600 autistic people and family, tells a story of resilience, talent, and pride. It also tells a story of 97 societal barriers to participation in community activities, accessing public services and making friends to name but a few. 90% of those surveyed believe the Irish public do not understand Autism. 91% believe that being autistic is a barrier to making friends. 86% believe that they do not have the same chance in Irish society AsIAm.IE Ireland’s National Autism Charity Same Chance Report 2023).Lusk Autism Friendly Towns is working with local businesses, clubs, and voluntary groups towards becoming an AsIAm Autism-Friendly Town. We were delighted in April to welcome on board this journey towards becoming an AutismFriendly Town, Rush and Lusk Educate Together Parents Guardians and Teachers Association (PGTA), Skinny Batch Bakery, and Butterflies Creche who have committed to becoming Autism Champions for Lusk. RaLET PGTA have outlined to all parents and guardians of children in the school some of the measures that

they will be introducing including participating in autism training, developing social stories for events, and creating sensory activities specific to their events. Staff at Butterflies Creche have already undergone autism training and have created a wonderful social story for children who will be joining them for the first time. Our most recent participant, Skinny Batch Bakery, has been in touch with us to find outwhat they can do to become an autism-friendly café. They are also working directly with AsIAm to spread awareness of autism and to help raise funds for the charity. Finally we would like to say a big thank you to Rush and Lusk Educate Together staff for inviting us to present information about Autism to their senior pupils as part of a wide variety of activities that were organised at the school to mark World Autism Day in April. All of these fantastic initiatives will help towards ensuring that Autistic children will grow up having the same chance as their peers. If you would like to become an Autism Champion for Lusk please get in touch with us at inclusionlusk@gmail.com and we would be delighted to get you started on your journey.

Home Cook Recipes Healthy

Niamh’s Grilled Chicken and Grape Salad

May is officially the first month of the Summer season and hopefully we will have lots of nice sunny weather which ‘May’ entice us to eat more salads! This recipe is quick to throw together but has lots of variety with crunchy and juicy textures and flavours!! Really handy and can help avoid food waste too, especially if you have left over cooked chicken or salad ingredients that need to be used!!!

Ingredients: (Serves 1 person)

• 1 chicken fillet

• 1 handful (approx. x10) grapes (green or red)

• 50g pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds

• 6 cherry tomatoes

• 200g spinach and other leaves (Fresh Basil leaves add a beautiful flavour of Summer!)

• 60g Feta cheese

Feel free to add any other ingredients of your liking such as red onion, scallion, peppers, diced beetroot, shredded carrot, cucumber, slices of apple, Goat’s cheese, couscous, walnuts or pecans.

Tip: For more flavour, toast the seeds by heating them on a dry pan over a medium heat for 1-2minutes until they turn golden brown and produce a rich, toasty fragrance. DON’T take your eye off them though as they burn quite easily and toss them around on the pan to ensure even toasting!

Optional Balsamic Honey Dressing (alternatively use a dressing of your liking) (Makes 4 servings. Store any leftover dressing in an air-tight container in the fridge and use within 3 weeks)

• 3 tablespoonsBalsamic vinega

• 1 tablespoon honey

• 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

• 5 tablespoons olive oil

• Pinch of black pepper.

To make the dressing, place all ingredients into a blender and blend until smooth (approx. 30 seconds). Alternatively whisk all the ingredients together in a bowl until they are well combined. (Although using a blender will result in a smoother consistency). Stir well before serving to ensure the ingredients are combined.

Method:

(1.)Grill the chicken fillet with spices or flavouring of your liking. I like Cajun spices or paprika.(2.) While keeping an eye on the grill, prepare the salad ingredients by washing and chopping/slicing. (3.) Place all of the salad ingredients into a large mixing bowl (spinach, sliced grapes, tomatoes, feta cheese and seeds). When cooked thoroughly, slice the grilled chicken and add into this mixing bowl. Then add a dressing of your choice and toss all the ingredients around in the mixing bowl. Ensure the dressing coats all of the ingredients evenly. (4.) Assemble the salad on your serving dish. Bain sult as (enjoy)!!

Please follow ‘Biabites’ on Facebook for other food ideas especially in the ‘Fun food’ and ‘Recipes’ albums.Please follow @BiaBites on twitter.For nutrition talks/workshops at events or in schools/workplaces/community groups = please email: arthursniamh@gmail.com

Niamh Arthurs BSc, Msc Registered Dietitian and Researcher

CLG Chloigthithe Lusca – Round Towers Lusk GAA Club

Best of luck to all our teams as they set out on their 2023 season. All support is welcome at our fixtures. Details on dates, venues and times of home fixtures can be viewed on our website at roundtowerslusk.ie Nursery every Saturday for all children aged 4 to 7 years. 11.00am to 12.00pm. We have had great attendances and as always, new players are always welcome!

LGFA - April - Well done to members of the Under13 girls’ team visited St Sylvester’s GAA club took part in the Skills4Girls Camp with Dublin Senior footballer Niamh McEvoy as Head Coach.

April – The Round Towers u10s has a trip to Croke park and won all 4 games beating St Brigid’sfrom Co Carlow, Truagh from Co Monaghan, Dromand from Co Longford and

Bray Emmets from Co Wicklow. We are all very proud of the players and thanks to the ladies’ section in the club for all their support. Also in April, Round Towers Robyn Kendellen U14s played for Dublin Championship squad. Congratulations to Robyn and to all coaching staff involved. Well done to Round Towers Lucy Hayes U13 girls who was nominated by the U10 girls to come and referee in Croke Park and Interviewed post-game! All new players are welcome to join across all divisions! In April our Round Towers Hurling had some fantastic achievements that deserve a special mention and a big well done to the players and coaches involved. Big well done to Round Towers Dylan Mulligan (U15 boys) who played for the Dublin U15 hurlers beating Waterford. Big Well done

to Darragh Kilduff from Round Towers U 16’s makes appearances for Dublin Minor Hurling! Great to see the Towers gear proudly worn in Seboka National School, Lesotho, Africa. Pat Codd and Aidan McKenna are down there volunteering with Action Ireland Trust. Many thanks also to Morgan Doran for his donation of Jerseys from Rush National School. Our Round Towers Adult Mens football is proudly sponsored by local solicitors, Liam Fitzgerald, thank you for their continued support. All home games have a new Barista Bandstand coffee and refreshments offerings. Please do visit our GAA Round Towers Lusk club website on the following web address linktr.ee/roundtowerlusk to explore our many social events and the O’Neills shop.

News & Events

Lusk AC representatives running around Ireland and Europe

There has been a wide range of activity in recent weeks for Lusk AC athletes. Peter Doyle completed the Rome Marathon, Colin Browne and Colm Donoghue represented Ireland at the World Masters in Poland. Our 40-Day 6am challenge came to an end with Jackie Moore completing all of them. Liam Halpin registered his 300th parkrun while Aidan Langley volunteered at his 200th parkrun. There were also large numbers from the club competing at the National Championships for both the 10 mile Battle of Clontarf race in St Anne’s Park and the Great Ireland 10k in Phoenix Park. Congratulations also to all juvenile athletes who competed at the recent Nationals. We encourage all our young athletes to take part in the upcoming Dublin Juvenile Outdoor Leagues.

Dates of the Dublin Juvenile Outdoor Leagues

Juveniles at the Indoor Nationals

Juvenile Indoor Nationals

Some of the Lusk AC participants after the Battle of Clontarf 10 mile

Final day of the 40 day 6am 5k challenge

Colm and Colin representing Ireland at the World Masters in Torun, Poland

Peter Doyle at the Rome Marathon

Junsa Taekwondo Club News

A busy time ahead for Junsa Taekwondo

The students at Junsa Taekwondo have been busy preparing for many aspects of our martial art and sport. The summer grading, national development sparring competitions, poomsae training sessions, national and international competitions, referee seminars and the Lusk summer festival all have to be prepared for, and everyone is striving to be the best they can be. That’s why at Junsa we say there is something for everyone in Taekwondo. Our big story this month is one for great celebration. Jack Weldon Murphy has gone from refereeing at local tournaments to international competitions in the UK and Europe. That is outstanding Jack!

Jack (second from right) at the international tournament in Belgium. Stuart is a very proud coach.

Dominic (in blue ) kicks his way to a medal in the peewee competition.

Beginner class training in the traditional side of our martial art.

Advanced sparring training class getting geared up.

Ethan , Connor and Darragh (centre back row) at national development squad training

Intermediate sparring team in preparation for our upcoming tournaments

Thursday beginner crew sparring training

BRIAN DENNEHY

Working hard for our community

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 mnoth. The first correct entry to be drawn will win €50..Good

Across

1. The second largest country in the world. (6)

5. Very young children. (6)

10. European country ruled by a bishop and a president. (7)

11. Sections of longer items. (7)

12. Cloths worn by babies while eating. (4)

13. What holds us upright. (5)

15. Give over; surrender or relinquish to the physical control of another. (4)

17. A small metal block with internal screw thread. (3)

19. Protective leather or steel covering on a boot or shoe. (6)

21. Most recent or most up-to-date. (6)

22. Fell down, as if collapsing. (7)

23. The capital of Croatia. (6)

25. The sex of a person or organism. (6)

28. A great period of time. (3)

30. Silently ill-humoured, gloomy. (4)

31. Out of fashion in French. (5)

32. Having or exerting a malignant influence. (4)

35. A person who disbelieves in a supreme being. (7)

36. Draws breath. (7)

37. One who lends money at an exorbitant rate. (6)

38. Soldiers collectively. (6)

Down

luck

2. Loud enough to be heard. (7)

3. Affected manners intended to impress others. (4)

4. The great river of South America. (6)

5. Upmarket dance performance. (6)

6. Curved section of a road or river. (4)

7. Beyond a norm in views or actions. (7)

8. A deliberate loss of a chess piece at the start of a game. (6)

9. State categorically. (6)

14. 1, 4, 7, 12. (7)

16. H2O. (5)

18. Disappeared gradually. (5)

20. Inn. (3)

21. A human limb. (3)

23. It has twelve signs. (6)

24. Cowboys of the South American pampas. (7)

26. Grow emotionally or mature. (7)

27. Spicy or savoury condiment. (6)

28. A time for eggs. (6)

29. Give a hand. (6)

33. One who can’t tell the truth. (4)

34. A United State. (4)