Lusk Local V8I12-JULY 2023

Summer is here and lets enjoy it!

Summer is well and truly here having been heralded by that few weeks of really hot weather in June. Now as ever, we are hoping for furthers bouts of gorgeous heat as the workers in our local Community/Voluntary/Charitable organisations prepare for and organise day events, weekend events and festivals across Fingal. Not forgetting of course our sporting organisations who are organising Summer Camps, competitions and challenges and lots of activities raising much needed funds for all the groups. As always every summer brings with it health warnings and words of caution. Fingal County Council have issued their annual caution regarding water safety on our beaches. The HSE have issued warnings regarding sunburn and the Gardai have issued warnings about road safety. All in all a lot of people are involved in trying to ensure we have an enjoyable, happy and safe summer, so let us do our best to stay safe and enjoy it. Some of us are planning to go abroad, others are having a staycation in our own beautiful country and where better to spend it than on the beaches and in the towns and villages of the Fingal area. Picnic days out at Swords or Malahide Castle or on the beach at Balbriggan or Donabate or lazy days exploring the Lusk/Rush area. Wherever you go or whatever you are doing or planning to do this Summer please enjoy yourselves but be careful especially when motoring to and from your venue. Also this Summer we have to remember to look in on and help our elderly and disabled neighbours. We always hear that advice in the wintertime but surely it is just as relevant in the summertime whether they get too cold or too hot does not matter. What does matter is that we continue to stay safe and healthy and support all of our community including our retailers, hoteliers and everyone in our tourist industry. That includes those who sell T shirts, shorts, sun block, sun glasses, after sun, sun hats,etc oh and not forgetting ice cream. So enjoy July with your family and friends, lets hope it has wonderful sunshine, but lets be careful out there.

The Locals Team.

STRICT DEADLINE FOR NEXT EDITION:

083 054 5554

Cllr Adrian Henchy is the new Mayor of Fingal

Fingal has a new leader after Cllr Adrian Henchy (Fianna Fáil) was elected by fellow Councillors recently to become the region’s 18th Mayor. Originally from Portrane, and representing the Rush-Lusk electoral area, he joined Fingal as a Councillor in 2014.

From his role as a Councillor to his involvement in numerous local initiatives, Mayor Henchy’s focus has always been on making a positive difference in the lives of the people he serves. A dedicated health professional with a passion for public service, he said he is ready to usher in a new era of progress, collaboration, and innovative leadership for the County. Henchy succeeds Cllr Howard Mahony, who handed over the chains of office at today’s AGM.

In securing the role as Mayor, Cllr Henchy was nominated by Cllr Eoghan O’Brien (FF) who said it was a privilege and an honour to nominate him for the position.The nomination was seconded by Cllr Brian Dennehy (FF).

“I am humbled to have been elected to serve in this prestigious post,” said Mayor Adrian Henchy. “I am committed to working tirelessly to build a stronger, more inclusive, and vibrant Fingal. Together, with the support of our community, we can achieve great things and help build a

Fingal that thrives economically, socially, and environmentally. I would particularly like to focus on delivering more houses, not just the bricks and mortar of the homes themselves but also ensuring we are building sustainable communities around them.”

Cllr Grainne Maguire (Ind, Balbriggan) will serve as Deputy Mayor of Fingal for the second time. She was nominated by Cllr Tony Murphy (Independent) and seconded by Cllr Karen Power (Green Party Comhaontas Glas). Joining as a Balbriggan Councillor in 2013, Cllr Maguire had previously served on Balbriggan Town Council from 2009. She has extensive experience in local government and is a well-known figure in Ireland’s youngest town for the work she does across many different groups and for her passion around local issues.

At the AGM, praise was given to the outgoing Mayor and also to Deputy Mayor, Cllr Cathal Boland, for their unwavering service to the people of Fingal across the last year.A strong advocate of Dublin 15, former Mayor, Cllr Howard Mahony, has undertaken a large number of activities during his term, attending 365 community and Council related events across the year.

BRIAN DENNEHY Working hard for our community

Balbriggan Cllr and new Deputy Mayor Cllr Grainne Maguire with the New Mayor of Fingal Cllr Adrian Henchy pictured after their election recently.

Cllr O’Donoghue welcomes the opening of the new Hub park

Cllr Rob O’Donoghue has welcomed the opening of the new parkland and playground located at the North of the Lusk Sports Hub. The lands were taken in charge by Fingal County Council in early June and opened to the public. The facility will have an official opening with the Mayor in attendance in the coming weeks. Additionally, the Council have commissioned assessments for the suitability of the site for continued development of the transferred lands as a Sports Hub. The results of these assessments should be available in the near future and will be used to inform the planning process for the development of sporting infrastructure at the Hub.

Cllr O’Donoghue commented, “I warmly greet the transfer of the parklands and playground to the

Council. I have visited the site on a number of occasions since it has opened and the playground is consistently in use by children and parents in the area. Now that we have the lands in Council possession, we can really start to look at the development of sporting facilities in the Hub. The clubs and community groups that have come together under the Lusk 2020 committee have been pushing for this handover for some time and I would like to thank them for the innumerable hours they have put in as representatives of their organisations to date. Their discussions and commitment on the 2020 committee will provide not just Lusk but Fingal with state-of-the-art sporting facilities for the coming years”

Film Review – Ari Asters ‘Beau Is Afraid’ starring Joaquin Phoenix

By Jack Shanley

The masterful A24 director Ari Aster is back on the big screen with yet another strange work of art, perhaps the strangest yet. “Beau is Afraid” from start to finish is about the long whacked out journey of an anxious man on his quest to visit his mother. Joaquin Phoenix stars picking up the role of a very abstract and complex character. Let’s just get it out the bag, this film is a dream like experience first and foremost. It’s quite overwhelming and even suffocating for its audience at times. This plays off so well, as not everything is meant to be taken literally! On the surface, there are generally many black comedy themes, with a melodramatic undertone. It’s been crafted meticulously by Ari Aster at 3 hours, making it feel richer and more detailed. Many of the films moments are left engrained into your thoughts well after the run time. With a bigger budget then his previous works “Hereditary” and “Midsommar” I thought helped with the landscape and wacky scenarios in the film. Overall, “Beau Is Afraid” is Aster’s

most ambitious film to date. Although it’s the not raw and experimental horror we endured in his previous works, it still makes for an unforgettable experience and feeling that is often missed in Arthouse films these days.

This is definitely Ari Asters most complex and allegorical film, everything in this film is strange, the interpersonal relationships, the way the story is told, the dialogues, the universe of the film, everything is very strange without any logic, and in my understanding, all this represents the unbalanced and paranoid mind of our protagonist Beau. I feel the movie is essentially a look at the world through the eyes of a man terrified of his own existence. In all truth I’d recommend checking out Beau Is Afraid at your local cinema today and see what

you think of it, I shall give it a score of three stars. Director: Ari Aster– Rating: 16 – Genre: Horror/Comedy– Run Time: 2h 59m –Language: English. For more film content please follow @movies4fanatics on Instagram.

Lusk Action Group news from the area this month

The Lusk Recreational Hub Phase 2: Phase two opened to the public in June. The Council has commissioned an assessment of the suitability of the site for further development. The results of these assessments will be used in the planning process for the development of a proposed Rathmore Recreational Sports Hub This will be a significant win for the community as local groups continue to advocate for more social amenities for Lusk which has a population the size of towns such as Mallow in County Cork. LAG would like to acknowledge the Lusk 2020 group and its Chairman Leo McKittrick who are behind this initiative and look forward to at last seeing some progress.

The Forge Estate in Lusk, its playground and associated green spaces: It is anticipated that a small number of outstanding works will be

completed by the developer within the next few weeks, in tandem with the completion of the legal taking in Charge Process by Fingal County Council. This has been long overdue and we would urge both parties to ensure this is done as a matter of urgency.

Update on new Restaurant/Bar for Lusk. A bar and restaurant is in the plans for the new town centre however building of this eagerly awaited facility has not yet commenced. The developers, McGarell Reilly’s, have said they are waiting on a tenant to take on the lease before they start.

The plans for new public plaza, village green and playground. appear to have been put back by at least five years, we are seeking clarification from them on the progress for this.

New bin at the Bandstand: LAG has been in touch with the council drawing attention to the

Tidy Towns judging underway – Lets keep Lusky Tidy!

The message this month from Lusk Tidy Towns Association is: It’s that time of year again when the National Tidy Towns Judges will be out and about judging our towns and villages. Lusk is no exception and much work is ongoing. Wildflower seeds have been sewn in Trayen Hill and our flower tubs have been filled and attended to despite the dry weather we had been experiencing in June. Insurance is a necessary and considerable cost and also there is a vast amount of expansion in the ongoing work in progress in Lusk. Thank you to Fingal County Council for the beautiful tubs on the square and the ongoing maintenance in the park areas.

bin at the Bandstand off St MacCullin’s Church on Chapel Road. The location adjacent to this historic bandstand is inappropriate and we have received many complaints from the community regarding it.

Why Making Time For Budgeting Is Important

By Dave Kavanagh

Considering almost every aspect of your life is connected to your finances on some level, it’s important to make time to review your budgeting, especially as it could leave you with more money left over each month. A few practical tips:

(1) 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.

(2) 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.

(3) 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.

(4) 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.

(5) 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.

(6) 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 25 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 Dave at info@financialcompanion.ie or use the contact form on 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 well being, positivity and motivation. As heard on RTE 2FM , LMFM and TV3.

Lusk Ravens your new local Basketball club

Basketball has finally come to Lusk with the establishment of the Lusk Ravens Basketball Club. Playing out of Lusk National School they currently have two mens teams, a ladies team and two Academy classes for 5th and 6th class students.

The Lusk Ravens ladies team had the honour of playing the Ravens first ever game against a very experienced division 3 team - Glasnevin Basketball. In what was a tight game the Ravens lost by only two points in a score of 4850. Sharon O’Toole made history by scoring the Ravens first ever point and going on to play a storming game of Basketball. Coaches Brian Clerkin and Gavin O’Neill were delighted with the teams performance as was director of coaching Bob Hartigan.

The men’s second team recently got off the mark when they proudly welcomed a Killester Special Olympics team in a friendly. Coaches Ty Henry, Jeff Errington and Matteo Deidda were delighted to get a tough game under their belts and much needed game time for the players. Not to be outdone the boys Academy teams traveled to take on St kevins Knights. Although in its early stages of formation the club has made huge strides in a short space of time and will aim to enter some teams for next season leagues. They have a website luskravens.com and YouTube channel.

The Club are looking for sponsorship from local business, interested parties should contact the club to receive a sponsorship pack. They would also like to hear from any coaches or ex-players in the community who like to come on board and help get this wonderful new club off the ground.

Go Ravens Go !

Home Cook Recipes Healthy

Niamh’s Rosemary, Thyme and Black Pepper Summer Chicken

Ingredients: (Serves 2 person)

• x2 Chicken Fillets or Thighs

• Handful of Cherry Tomatoes

• x2 Red Onions

• x1 Red Pepper

• x1 Yellow Pepper

For the Marinade:

• 3 Tablespoons of Freshly Squeezed Lime Juice

• 1 Tablespoon of Olive oil

• 1 Teaspoon of Black Pepper

• Handful of Chopped Thyme and Rosemary

Method:

1. Prepare the marinade first by combining the ingredients as above and mixing well together. Place this marinade in a sealed plastic bag with the chicken fillets/thighs to marinate for at least 2 hours in the fridge. For better results leave chicken to marinade for longer.

2. Remove chicken in marinade from fridge. Preheat the oven at 200’c for 10 minutes.

3. While the oven is preheating, prepare vegetables by chopping the x2 bell peppers and lightly coating a cast iron skillet (as in image) or oven dish in olive oil.

4. Place chicken fillets/thighs, cherry tomatoes, red onions and bell peppers in the iron skillet or oven dish. Add more thyme, rosemary and black pepper over the vegetables and chicken.

5. Place into the hot oven for 35-40 minutes

at 180’c or until the chicken is cooked thoroughly and all the vegetables are roasted with a slight oven char for extra flavour.Tip: to add a burst of flavour to this dish, add a tablespoon of Balsamic vinegar after removing from the oven.

6. Serving Suggestion: Freshly steamed new potatoes or a scrumptious oven baked potato served straight from its foil would make delicious sides to accompany this wonderfully flavoured summer dish.

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

Details on dates, venues and times of home fixtures can be viewed on our website.

Nursery - ALL NEW MEMBER’S WELCOME!!

In June - 2 special guests dropped by our U10s girls for a chat and some pictures. Our own Lile Tully and Niamh Bush of St. Maurs. GAA , both members of the Leinster winning u16 Dublin team with their latest bit of silverware.The team was delighted to welcome both players down to TAP.

Next up the Dubs will face Cork in the All Ireland semi final on July 5th. The venue is TBC

Round Towers Adult Mens football proudly sponsored by Local Solicitors, Liam Fitzgerald, thank you for your continued support. All home games have a new Barista Bandstand with coffee and refreshments on offer. Please do visit our GAA Round Towers Lusk club website to explore many social events and the O’Neills shop.

Entertainment – The TAP Bar in the GAA club in Lusk has got some fantastic events coming over the monthand would be delighted to see you there and enjoy some Live music. - 1 st July 2023 – The Odd Couple – All the best music starts after 8.30pm. Stay posted on Facebook on upcoming events. Enjoy GAA matches and other sports event with light refreshment on large screen in TAP BAR. Outdoor seating area available. Please visit our website on linktr.ee/roundtowerlusk or call in and check our club bar for a refreshment also open for bookings including family events and parties

L C S Group welcomes the full opening of Lusk Recreational Hub

June bank holiday weekend saw another milestone day for Lusk with public access to the Clonrath Phase 2 section of the Lusk Recreational Hub being made available. Lusk Community Sports Group have been working with Fingal County Council for many years to deliver the transfer of this key green strategic infrastructure for our full community to use and enjoy. These lands are now in the Council’s ownership, with parklands (e.g., biodiversity areas) and associated facilities (e.g., an enclosed

children’s playground) now open to the public. Separately, the Council has commissioned assessments of the suitability of the site for development as a Sports Hub. The results of these assessments will inform the (Part 8) planning process for the future development of Lusk Recreational Hub, in tandem with our own master plan for the area – i.e: multi-sport community focussed facilities that can be used all year around.

CommunityLocals.ie

News & Events

It is all action at Lusk AC this summer!

It’s been all action for Lusk AC club members in the glorious June weather. There has been track & field competition, road and trail races as well as triathlons and adventure races. Many of our athletes are now following plans for 5k, 10k and upwards and training plans for the Autumn marathons have just begun. It’s now a well earned break for our juveniles and we will see you all In September. Good luck to all members competing, particularly in the Nationals. Have you been listening to the ‘Lusk AC Talks’ podcasts. They’ve been a real hit so far and the first 7 are live and available to listen to. Links are available on our Facebook page so we would encourage everyone to listen and like. Well done to our podcast team for their excellent work.

Well done to Nicolas Doyle who has reached the milestone of 100 park runs

Congratulations to Stephen Murtagh and John Tindley who reached the milestone of 100 park runs

The Lusk AC contingent who ran the Irish Runner 5 mile

Well done to Gavin Gleeson who completed the Dingle Adventure race

Laura Marini after finishing the Cork City Half Marathon

Claire Davis was one of many Lusk AC members who completed the VHI women’s mini marathon

Annette, Sheila & Karen our fabulous pacers at the Irish Runner 5 mile in Phoenix Park

Junsa Taekwondo Club News

Hot Hot Hot but we are still training!

With the hot weather still beating down on our heads Junsa Taekwondo keeps on training but with a bit more rest time. It’s important during these hot summer days that we keep hydrated and we do. For us at Junsa we ensure that our students stay well hydrated by regular water breaks, and also we ensure training in mixed high and low intensity. Recently one of our long term students Conor who would have fought for Ireland from cadet to senior at European and World championships and still trains and helps coach at the club, tried his hand at an MMA tournament and won. Congratulations Conor! Please take a look at what we are up to at present!

Conor (right ) wins in an MMA tournament. His long term Taekwondo training, dedication and sheer focus brings him another win in a different discipline.

Aidan’s side kick

Senior sparring group

Dominic looks for coaches inspiration.

A guest to the club. Erica (International referee) training with our senior black belt instructor Trisea

Great concentration from Jamie

WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!! WIN €50 !!!

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. Sudden feeling of excitement and pleasure. (6)

5. Wood for a cricket bat. (6)

10. There’s four each year (allegedly). (7)

11. Find by searching a closet. (7)

12. Sound like an owl. (4)

13. Reset the wood-providers. (5)

15. Form of public transport. (4)

17. Showing sorrow or unhappiness.

(3)

19. Have enough money for something. (6)

21. Approval where approval is due.

(6)

22. Radioactive metallic element. (7)

23. Enjoy something enormously, tremendously. (6)

25. They make for hirsute faces. (6)

28. Put into service, employ. (3)

30. A female relative. (4)

31. Up to a time that. (5)

32. Where the air is unconfined. (4)

35. A violent storm of small extent with whirling winds. (7)

36. Of greater weight. (7)

37. The form of a word that is used to denote more than one. (6)

38. Uttered a sudden loud cry. (6)

SUDOKU ANSWERS

Down

luck

2. Prevent from happening. (4,3)

3. Golf club with a relatively narrow metal head. (4)

4. People who consistently fail.. (6)

5. Travelled by shank’s mare. (6)

6. A strand or cluster of hair. (4)

7. Draw out to go away from a place. (7)

8. Common respiratory disorder. (6)

9. Top clothing with a message. (1-5)

14. Not distracted by anything unrelated to the goal. (7)

16. With sincerity, without pretence. (5)

18. Carrying weapons. (5)

20. Remove the moisture from. (3)

21. An awkward and inexperienced youth. (3)

23. Recess at the end of a chimney. (6)

24. Troop leader. (7)

26. Cold-blooded animal. (7)

27. Military watcher in waiting. (6)

28. Spread out a carpet. (6)

29. Fourscore. (6)

33. Just, unbiased and blond. (4)

34. Basic brick structure. (4)