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Volume 11 Issue 6 September 2026

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Making the Most of the start of Autumn

There is something special about early September in Fingal. The evenings are beginning to draw in, the first hints of autumn are appearing, and families across the county are quietly counting down to the return of school. However, before the uniforms are ironed and the schoolbags are packed, there is still time to make more memories! Some of the most memorable family moments can be found close to home — a walk along the coast, an afternoon in one of Fingal’s parks, a visit to the beach, or a spontaneous stop for an ice cream. These are the ordinary moments that children remember, especially when they involve time with parents, grandparents, friends and neighbours. Local clubs and groups start preparing for another busy year, sports teams return to training, community events bring people together, and the familiar rhythm of school and work gradually resumes. It is a reminder that Fingal is not simply a

Swords Local Disclaimer

place where we live; it is a collection of communities built on people looking out for one another. For parents, these final weeks can feel like a race against the clock. There are books to buy, schedules to organise and routines to restore. But perhaps we should resist the temptation to rush towards September. There is still time for a late evening walk, a picnic, a cycle, a family game or simply sitting together and enjoying a sunny spell when it arrives. Autumn will come soon enough, bringing crisp mornings, changing colours and a new beginning for thousands of Fingal children. Until then, let’s make the most of what remains of summer. Put the phone away. Call a friend. Bring the family outside. Say yes to one more adventure. School will start soon. For now, there is still time to make a few more memories. The Locals Team

Every effort is made by Swords Local Magazine to ensure that the information is correct and will not be held responsible for any advertisement or editorial errors. Swords Local reserves the right to decline, suspend or omit any advertisement or article submitted. No liability can be accepted by Swords Local for any printing errors in advertisements or otherwise.

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SWORDS LOCAL-SEPTEMBER 2026

Local News

The Castle by the Stop Light: The Shepherd Boy and His Flute

Catherine Bacik

When Catherine Bacik made a chance encounter with Swords Castle several years ago little did she know it would lead to something completely unexpected, it became her first published children’s book. The Castle by the Stop Light: The Shepherd Boy and His Flute focuses on Michael who steps inside an ancient castle and discovers a remarkable tale that brings together two lives separated by time. Through Sean, a young shepherd boy from long ago, and the castle itself, the storyteller that binds their worlds, Michael learns that the most ordinary places can become extraordinary when viewed through the eyes of imagination. “I first saw the castle while standing at a bus stop on a cold, rainy night in Swords,”

said Catherine who is a children’s author and photographer from Virginia in the United States. “Across the road was an illuminated stone wall sitting right beside an ordinary modern stop light. As an American who certainly wasn’t accustomed to finding castles beside traffic lights, I was completely captivated. I returned to Ireland the following year and made Swords Castle one of my first stops. I spent time photographing and exploring it, wondering about all the stories those old stone walls might hold”, she explained further. Written for children ages 4–10 and the families who read with them, it invites readers to look beyond the ordinary and discover the stories waiting all around them. “Since publishing the book, one of my goals has

been to bring the story back to the community where it began. I thought the journey from a rainy Swords bus stop to a published children’s book might be a story of interest to your readers. In November 2025, I also had the wonderful opportunity to share my story with Kieran Carrick in a featured segment on Mornings with Kieran on Spirit Radio Ireland,” Catherine added. Whether writing stories, capturing photographs, or speaking about the creative process, Catherine hopes to remind others that there are remarkable stories waiting to be found all around us—if we simply take the time to look. The Castle by the Stop Light: The Shepherd Boy and His Flute, is currently available on Amazon. com.

Community organisations -We are here for you and it’s free! Calling all community and voluntary groups in this area! We are here to facilitate you and help publicise your organisations. We are a community based magazine therefore there will be no charge for publicising your group, whether its a chess club or small pastime group, a support group or a big community or sporting organisation. So if you want to publicise your organisation every month just send us an email to communitylocalseditor@gmail.com..We look forward to hearing from you.

SWORDS LOCAL-SEPTEMBER 2026

Finance

Have You Set Up Your ICE File Yet? By Dave Kavanagh For many years, I have recommended to clients the importance of setting up an “ICE” file (In Case of Emergency). Preferably in either a metal filing cabinet or any container that is fire-resistant (some have even used a strong biscuit tin but only after the biscuits are gone!) Then, make sure at least one (preferably two) trusted friends or family members are aware of where it is kept in the home. This way, in the unexpected event of either a fatality, a severe illness or even early onset dementia, it removes the confusion of trying to establish details, such as, what bank account are there, what cover (if any) is in place and is there a will made? I’ve often heard of situations where a surviving partner says “oh, he/she always dealt with all of that, I haven’t got a clue”. So what kind of things should be kept in it? Consider the kind of information that would be needed at such a time. Details of bank accounts, any loans due to be paid, details of any mortgage and associated cover in place that could clear such a loan. Any life cover details (and any contact names and numbers in connection with them). Details of any regular payments that should be cancelled, such as gym membership, magazine subscriptions, etc. The benefit of having cover plans and wills in place is diluted somewhat if nobody knows that they exist or where the details

are. With all of this in mind, something that is well worth researching, is an Enduring Power of Attorney. While this was formerly associated with someone having reduced mental capacity and therefore needing someone to make decisions on their behalf, the Assisted Decision Making (Capacity) Act 2015, brings a more modern approach to having someone assist in certain decisions. Talk to your solicitor for more information about this service.

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.

SWORDS LOCAL-SEPTEMBER 2026

Film Review

The Odyssey: An Instant Classic from Christopher Nolan

EVERYTHING UNDER THE SUN

By Jack Shanley Christopher Nolan has always been a director who loves grand scales and mind-bending ideas, but his latest epic, The Odyssey, might be his most ambitious project yet. This three-hour spectacle takes Homer’s ancient Greek poem and transforms it into a gritty, stunningly beautiful story about the heavy cost of war. Shot entirely on massive IMAX 70mm cameras, it demands to be seen on the biggest screen possible. The movie follows Odysseus, played by Matt Damon, a battle-weary king trying to sail home to his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and son Telemachus (Tom Holland) after the fall of Troy. While the classic mythical obstacles are all there including a terrifying Cyclops and enchanting Sirens Nolan does something different. He focuses deeply on the psychological toll of the journey. Odysseus isn’t a flawless hero here; he is a man haunted by the violence of his past, whose own pride and guilt keep delaying his homecoming. Matt Damon delivers a career-defining performance. He sheds his usual charming, friendly movie-star persona to play a grizzled, deeply exhausted leader crushed by the weight of his actions. The star-studded supporting cast is equally excellent. Anne Hathaway plays Penelope with a quiet, fierce grace as she defends her home from greedy suitors, while Tom Holland captures the emotional ache of a son growing up without a father. Zendaya also makes a memorable impression as the goddess Athena, acting as Odysseus’s watchful protector. Visually, the film is an absolute masterpiece. Keeping with his signature style, Nolan relies heavily on practical effects rather than computer graphics (CGI). This choice makes the stormy seas and ancient landscapes feel incredibly real, rough, and dangerous. The vast, breathless shots captured by cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema are perfectly paired with Ludwig Göransson’s pounding, intense musical score, keeping the audience glued to their seats. If there is a flaw, it is that the movie’s pacing occasionally slows down during the middle chapters of the sea voyage. However, the emotional payoff and the thrilling final act more than make up for it. Ultimately, The Odyssey is a powerful, thought-provoking blockbuster. It shows us that surviving a war is only half the battle—the hardest part is truly finding your way back to who you used to be. In all truth I’d recommend checking out ‘The Odyssey’ and see what you think of it, I shall give it a score of Four ½ stars. You can watch it at your local cinema today. Director: Christopher Nolan – Rating: 15A – Genre: Action/Fantasy – Run Time: 2h 53m - Language: English. For more film content please follow @screen_.addicts on Instagram. 6

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SWORDS LOCAL-SEPTEMBER 2026

Local News

Swords celebrates its best Business Fronts and Estates for 2026

The Best Business Frontage Competition for 2026 was a collaboration between the Fingal Horticultural Society (FHS) and Swords Tidy Towns (STT). This year it was decided to have two categories; one for the Best Business Front Window and the other for the Best Public House Frontage. The judging and organising was carried out from beginning to end by our own Georgy Hughes (STT) and Matt Cullen (STT) they put in a trojan amount of work from beginning to end. The businesses that were awarded by the judging panel are as follows: Perpectual Cup - Old Schoolhouse; Silver Cert - The Pound; Bronze Cert - The 44; Best Business Front Window 8

SWORDS LOCAL-SEPTEMBER 2026

Perpetual Cup - McNamara’s Pharmacy (Dublin Rd.); Silver Cert for BFF Cake Boutique; Bronze Cert – Greenstraw. Many congratulations to this year’s winners. Georgy and Matt said the judging this year was hard as the standard this year was very high which was wonderful to see. A big thank you to all who entered, we look forward to seeing you all entering again next year. Meanwhile the Swords Tidy Towns Best Presented Estates awards 2026, generously sponsored by Member First Credit Union saw the following estates taking home awards. 1st prize Carlton Court; 2nd prize Rivervalley; 3rd

prize Brackenstown Road & Park Ave ; Best Small Estate: Seatown Terrace; Most Improved Estate: Castlegrange; Best Biodiversity Enhancements: The Nurseries A big thank you to our member Grace Dunne who put in a trojan effort to bring it all together. And not forgetting Mary Maxwell, George Mongey and Michael Connolly for all their input and support. Congratulations to all the winners. A wonderful community effort by all who entered was evident as our judges travelled all around Swords. Hope we will see you all entering again next year. Swords Tidy Towns Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

Local News

SWORDS LOCAL-SEPTEMBER 2026

Local News

Swords mum Manny in bid for Mrs Ireland glory! Local girl Manassanan Chanhiran known to her many friends as Manny has entered the Mrs. Ireland 2026 pageant as Mrs Swords. The competition’s chosen charity this year is Temple Street Children’s Hospital. All donations are very welcome and much needed and can be made using Revolut. When doing so please mention the name of our Swords contestant Manassanan (Mrs Swords). Writing to her supporters on her gofundme page Manny wrote, “I’m a proud mother of two. This year I’m so honoured to be participating in Ireland Pageants as Mrs. Ireland 2026 finalist official Mrs. Swords proudly representing Swords Dublin Ireland. The competition will be held on Saturday 3rd of October 2026 at Canal court hotel Newry and it’s not so long to go. It would mean so much to me to have your support and guidance as I continue my pageant journey. Your help with the preparation costs would be incredibly valuable to me, and I would be truly grateful for your kindness and support. Lastly, I look forward to embracing this Pageants journey with confidence, kindness, creativity and purpose to proudly representing as Mrs. Swords!” To donate to Manny’s bid to become Mrs. Ireland she has set up a gofundme page to help with the costs, locals can visit https://www. gofundme.com/f/to-preparation-for-ireland-pageants-competition2026?attribution_id=sl%3A1fc99fc2-a23c-457f-9136-f948d37d8a2c& ts=1787302086347&utm_campaign=natman_sharesheet_dash&utm_ medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link To keep up to date with Manny view her Instagram account by visiting https://www.instagram.com/manassananchanhiran_ official?igsh=aHpucHhhMDhiNWc0

All GAA Activity is back! We’re excited to announce that ‘Cilles Cubs’ along with all GAA teams, autumn schedule returns at St Colmcille’s, Balheary, Swords (K67H996) Nursery is open to boys and girls aged 4 -6 of all skill levels – whether you’re brand new to Gaelic games or already a budding star, there’s fun, fitness, and skill-building for everyone. Let’s get the kids active, having fun, and enjoying our great games. Spread the word and we’ll see you on the pitch! Contact Cora, for more information 0833741305. Along with our Nursery, we also offer GAA too all age groups- if you

are looking to get involved, joining up is easily done! Just contact the relevant person. Adult Men’s Football: Call Patsy 0857362992 Gaelic for Mothers and Others : Call Deirdre 0879309962 Juvenile Football: (All Ages): Call Marian 0876819540 or email secretary.stcolmcilles. dublin@gaa.ie Gaelic Football is a great way for you to get involved with the community, team building, learning new skills, all the while keeping fit and healthy. Come along, get involved and get behind your local club

ALL CONTRIBUTORS PLEASE NOTE** Due to increasing demand for space in our magazine could all contributors please note OUR STRICT DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES AND PICS IS THE 14TH OF THE MONTH PRIOR TO PUBLICATION ** Thank you. 10

SWORDS LOCAL-SEPTEMBER 2026

The Old Borough School, Swords

By Mike Power

This famous Swords building

attendees, a great incentive to attend

the 18th February 1809, a couple

also intense competition within the

opened its controversial doors on

called Joseph and Anne Carmichael being the first principals. The

name chosen ‘Old Borough’ recalls

for the’ poorer classes. There was

school for both academic and good

conduct prizes, usually being money. The ethos of this school was

the ancient autonomous status of

overwhelmingly Protestant, Irish

town (Borough).) Francis Johnson

the strict Protestant bible used

Swords as a ‘free, self-governing’ (1760-1829) was the architect.

The money to build this school

came from the financial bonanza accruing to Swords at the Act of

Union (1801) in compensation for the loss of its two MP’s (£1,500). The school was specifically set up both to educate the poor of the village, and to prepare them to

become productive members of

the ascendancy-controlled Swords of that day. As well as the 3 Rs,

students were also (frugally) fed,

learned practical skills - needlework (girls) and apprenticeships (boys). The school also provided coal

and free medical care to regular

never having being taught and

for religious instruction. As time went on, however, more and

more Catholic families began

withdrawing their children (1830s -1853) from the school in protest

at the school’s Protestant character. This situation was only finally resolved in 1855 when a new

Catholic school (Seatown Rd.) was opened. It took until 1887 for the

allotted funds to be equitably shared between both religious communities in Swords. An emblematic tale of Sword’s past...?

Email Mike l:mp9211198@gmail.

com.

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SWORDS LOCAL-SEPTEMBER 2026

Feature

Debs, Dresses and Deadlines

September is super busy for Mammies! Kids are back to school, LC exam results are out, JC results are coming, college places are being offered and its Debs season! For Debs (wedding guest/special occasion), we love MyKindOfDress.com Visit their store Unit 1, Fashion City, Ballymount or order online. The dresses are affordable and beautiful; we especially love the lilac pictured above – stunning for debs. Baloot Accessories has bejewelled bags, embellished hair bands and fancy belts. See https://www.baloot-clothing.com/ For our daughters Debs we’re heading to Lynda at Neon Trees Balbriggan for make-up. She is incredible (she did my look above). Lynda is friendly, affordable and you can visit her at PA Salon or message about house calls via her Insta https://www.instagram.com/neon_trees_makeup/ Advanced Hair Design is affordable, and the girls are so friendly. Pop in for a chat with Trisha about styles for your daughter. Corsages are back in fashion and Willow & Wisp Flowers have some gorgeous ones to complete the debs look. Whatever their Leaving Cert results are, they have completed 14 years of school, and that’s worth celebrating! Hopefully they got the results they wanted but if they didn’t, it’s not the end of the world. There are other ways to

their dream course; via a PLC for example. It’s so important they understand these results, from one snapshot in time, do not define them. After all her hard work, we will be treating our daughter! We love to support Irish brands and here are some of our favourites…. Athlone Hampers ‘Cadbury Chocolate and Prosecco’ is our top pick for Leaving Cert gifting (just leave out the bubbles for Junior Cert Gifting!) See https://athlonehampers.ie/ And for the hard-working mammies, we have a fabulous ‘Thank You’ Athlone hamper to give away on mams.ie and our socials Insta @mams.ie & FB @mams.ireland Get entering gals – you deserve it! Fíor make beautiful Irish inspired jewellery, the Grá and Mother & Child sets are perfect ‘Well done’ exam gifts. Absolute Jewellery have beautiful jewellery sets for Debs and exam gifting. Green Angel Skincare have sets for him and her – ideal for gifting. And Cloud10Beuaty do excellent bundles, of beautiful skincare, hair care and make-up – something to suit everyone who deserves a treat! If you fancy a little family getaway, Pillo Hotel Ashbourne has lots of family offers this Autumn. Swimming pool, sensory room, fab food, spacious rooms. Go on, you deserve it!

Badminton club seeks new members Lambay badminton seeks new members to play on Monday mornings from 10am to 12pm in St Maur’s GAA hall Rush. Text or phone 0861049566 for further information. 12

SWORDS LOCAL-SEPTEMBER 2026

Feature

Recovery is for Everyone

For many people, the word recovery is still associated with something private – something that happens behind closed doors, or only after a person has reached a point of crisis. We are trying to change that conversation. The message from RIFE Fingal is that recovery should be visible, celebrated and supported by the whole community. Whether someone is recovering from addiction, trauma, mental health difficulties or simply rebuilding their life after a difficult period, they should be able to feel that they belong within their community rather than outside of it. With a sense of true belonging, there can be lasting wellness for individuals, families and communities. This September, RIFE Fingal is promoting that message into the heart of Fingal through two community events: Rivervalley Recovery parkrun – Saturday, 5 September 2026 A morning centred on movement, connection,

wellness and recovery, bringing people together to walk/run at Rivervalley in a positive and welcoming community setting. RIFE Fingal Holistic Family Festival – Sunday, 27 September 2026 A larger celebration of recovery, wellbeing, family and community, with the aim of creating a space where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together and experience what a recovery-supportive community can look and feel like. These are not simply events that we want people to attend. They are part of something bigger that we are trying to build. We want Fingal to become a place where recovery is spoken about openly, where people seeking a better life are encouraged rather than judged, and where families and communities can participate in recovery alongside individuals. Together we can make recovery possible for everyone.

That is why local media is important to us. A photograph, a short article, an interview, an events listing or a journalist simply coming along and experiencing the atmosphere can help carry this message far beyond the people we are already reaching. We would therefore be delighted if you would consider covering either – or hopefully both – of our September events. I would also be very happy to speak with you personally about RIFE Fingal, why this work matters to us, what we have experienced within the community so far, and where we hope this movement can go in the future. We are learning, building relationships and bringing people together. But there is real energy behind what is happening, and I believe there is a genuinely positive local story developing here. Our message for the people of Fingal is: Recovery is for everyone – and community can be part of the recovery journey.

CommunityLocals.ie Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

SWORDS LOCAL-SEPTEMBER 2026

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 November 16. The first correct entry to be drawnwill win €50..Good luck!

Across

Down

1. The capital of Malta. (8) 2. Very pale with shock, fear or illness. (5) 6. Smaller earthquake following the first. 3. Took the initiative as an example for (10) 13. Suffered from a continuous dull pain. others to follow. (3) 4. Tall beer mug, with a handle and lid. (5) 14. Places for young children, plants and (8) 5. Juicy, soft fruit resembling a small trees. (9) 15. Showing fine personal qualities or peach. (7) high moral principles. (5) 6. Very skilled or proficient at something. 16. A partial or total loss of memory. (7) (5) 18. Clever and cunning, attractive in an 7. Stumble on a journey or excursion. (4) endearing way. (4) 8. Tricks, actions intended to deceive 19. Small vipers. (4) someone. (5) 20. Spirit distilled from molasses or 9. Truthful and sincere. (6) sugar-cane. (3) 10. Tree trunk used in a Scottish 22. Bird of the night. (3) 23. Romantic appointments. (5) Highland sport. (5) 25. A large military force. (4) 11. Type of cherry and a strong, sweet 27. A watch or vigil beside the body of liqueur. (10) someone who has died. (4) 12. Word used to describe something that 30. Ice houses. (6) 31. Fine parchment made originally from has no breaks or gaps or which continues without stopping. (8) the skin of a calf. (6) 17. Type of food poisoning. (10) 33. Appetisers, usually with a savoury 21. Describes something that does not topping. (7) 34. Layer of the upper atmosphere have any bad effects. (8) which blocks most of the sun’s ultraviolet 22. Non-participating observers, radiation. (5) spectators. (9) 35. Take notice of, pay careful attention. 24. Be silent, morose and bad-tempered (4) out of annoyance. (4) 36. Report about something that has 26. Treats with contempt or ridicule. (5) happened recently. (4) 37. Object which splits white light into a 28. An animal that lives on both land and in water. (9) spectrum of colours. (5) 40. Not having as much physical strength 29. Careful examination or scrutiny. (10) as another. (7) 32. The largest living land animal. (8) 41. Make repeated small-scale attacks on 35. Unpleasant, cruel or more severe. (5) an enemy. (6) 38. A wine bottle eight times the 42. The written words of a play. (6) standard size. (10) 44. One of the national symbols of 39. A short university academic! (4) England. (4) 45. Persistently avoid, ignore or reject the 40. The earl flew to say goodbye! (8) 43. A small part broken off something. (8) Huns! (4) 46. The bone of the thigh. (5) 47. Purplish-red colour. (7) 48. A pub, typically one in the country. (3) 49. A person who sells food and small 50. Expressing astonishment or household goods. (6) admiration. (3) 51. He had nothing to declare except his 52. Smell strongly unpleasant, like genius. (5) Edinburgh? (4) 54. Measuring a great distance from end 53. Rub out. (5) 55. Authoritative command to do to end. (4) something. (5) 56. Authentic, the real thing. (7) 59. Widely cultivated European shrub 57. Religious images or statues which and a moderate purple colour. (5) people worship. (5) 60. More than enough of something. (9) 58. Lie or wait in concealment. (4) 61. A distinctive, typically pleasant smell. 61. Open a window to ventilate a room. (5) (3) 62. A sentimental story or song. (10) 63. * (8)

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