Swords Local V7I8-OCT 2022

Inflation will rise but we are a united Community!

This month we have all been told to tighten our belts in order to secure a reasonable standard of living for ourselves and those we love. In the past few years we have experienced a pandemic, a war in Europe and now a European wide recession which has caused inflation to rise in most countries including our own. Of course our Government has put some measures in place to help us especially those most in need but we must do our bit to lessen the effect of inflation on us. How we can achieve that is to return to basic values, purchase the necessities with only a few little treats every so often. Be more prudent in what we spend so that we can survive the ever increasing cost of living that is to come. The easiest way we can do that is to support our local products producers, buy Irish if possible and support our local retailers. Put simply the saying, “it is always darkest just before the dawn” springs to mind. In other words, things always seem to get worse before they get better but even in the worst of circumstances there is hope. So let us face whatever lies ahead for us in the future and know that working together as community, just as we did through the worst days of the pandemic, we can and we will overcome. A strong community spirit will always win through when we pull together. Community is and always has been and always will be at the heart of Locals magazines, so please pull together. Continue to support local retailers, our advertisers, community groups, charitable, sporting and voluntary organisations and we will all get through the winter and smile again as a united Community next Summer. Oh and lets begin smiling along with our children as we enjoy a super Halloween this month!

The Locals Team

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Council launches public consultation on draft plan for Swords

Fingal County Council has launched a public consultation on its draft plan to regenerate the centre of Swords through sustainable development. The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, said: “A town is never complete and it never stops changing. The population of Swords has increased ten-fold over the past 50 years and is continuing to expand. In response, Fingal County Council is working to ensure that Swords grows sustainably and develops into well-designed county capital.” The key to this is a plan to facilitate better placemaking and create a more resilient town centre by reversing the historic shift away from Main Street, which commenced in the early 2000s.These projects include a cycle network

that consists of radial routes linking the outer residential areas to Swords Town Centre as well as a greenway network that utilises the green and blue corridors that exist in the area. There is also a Quietways and Home Zones project which will facilitate the sharing of streets by pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles as well a project which will deliver Safe Routes to Schools and School Zones.The final project under the third theme is the Western Distributor Road which will direct vehicular through-traffic away from Swords Town Centre. The projects include the Swords Cultural Quarter as well as two feasibility studies on the creation of a heritage trail around the town and a visitor experience at St Columba’s Church and Round Tower..The final theme

focuses on enhancing the natural environment, supporting community initiatives, and celebrating Swords through promotion and branding which will include a way finding strategy. The draft Sustainable Swords Strategy can be viewed and downloaded through fingal.ie/sustainableswords while copies are available to read at County Hall, Swords Library and the Civic Offices in Blanchardstown. Submissions can made to consult.fingal.ie before Tuesday, October 18, 2022. There will be a static information stand in The Atrium in County Hall until October 18.. Here are Computer Generated Images of how Main Street, Swords will be transformed under the

The Film called ‘NOPE’ fails to fire

By Jack Shanley

With Jordan Peele’s third film hitting cinemas worldwide in early August, I felt it would be a good opportunity to write about this much-anticipated movie. Overall, I was quite disappointed in all honesty. I felt it took an eternity to really kick in and flow luxuriously to its end. It just felt like a film with no soul, one that is so dependent on its ending that that’s all there really is to it. There was nothing more in the material to get lost in, nothing a second watch could do for me. What Peele has in ‘NOPE’ is a situation and not particularly a story. It’s a situation that never develops and just stays where it starts with louder and grander versions of the same scene continually playing for the two hours’ duration. I also didn’t care for the characters. They were so far wrong that it bored me and punctured any excitement I had for the film. There was nothing really that I, as a viewer, could relate to or identify with. There

was no connection to these people on screen. I felt the villain, being a huge UFO, to be so far from scary in any way, to the point of me almost forgetting it was a horror film. It took until the scene midway through, of a violent chimpanzee on a killing spree on the set of a sitcom, for me to remember the genre. That scene was the closest I felt to being uncomfortable for the entire two hours.Jordan Peele is a talented writer/director who certainly knows what he’s doing, and as a huge horror fan I remain ever poised for the next subconscious nightmare he deems fit to make flesh. But

every so often an obviously talented person makes a bad movie, and that’s what we have in ‘NOPE’. The talent is there but the movie is dead on the screen. I’ll give ‘NOPE’ a score of three stars. • You can watch ‘NOPE’ at your local cinema today: Director – Jordon Peele - Rating: 16 - Genre: Horror/Sci-fi - Run Time: 2h15m Language: English. For more film content please follow @movies4fanatics on Instagram.

What people in rented accommodation should consider

By Dave Kavanagh

People who rent privately where they live, compared to home owners, can be a lot more vulnerable. Apart from the obvious points, like rents being increased or having to move out if a property is being sold, there are other potential events that could prove problematic for renters. As we saw in the early part of the pandemic, where many people’s incomes were drastically reduced, those with mortgages were permitted to avail of “payment breaks” with minimal effort. Unfortunately, those renting do not usually have the flexibility of this option. When someone cannot work due to illness or injury, they may suffer a loss of income, either immediately or after a short period, resulting in the inability to pay rent. This could lead to eviction and all of the problems associated with it. While those renting may not have been exposed to the kind of financial advice as someone going through the mortgage process, there are still safeguards that can be put in place. One option is Income Protection, paying them a portion of their income if they were unable to work due to illness or injury. This could be the difference between

affording rent or being evicted. Something not often considered by renters is Life Cover. If one of a couple renting passed away, this could allow the surviving partner (or family) to purchase their own home immediately without the need for a mortgage. Similarly, Serious Illness Cover could pay out a tax free lump sum on diagnosis of one of the illnesses covered, giving another layer of financial security. Better to consider these options earlier rather than later.

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.

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New plan to develop a major park in Swords outlined

Fingal County Council has today confirmed its commitment to explore how best to deliver a new project that will create a vastly enhanced Ward River Valley Regional Park in Swords, as the population in the key town continues to grow rapidly and develops into well-designed county capital.The Council has outlined plans that will see an expansion of the park to some 80 hectares (200 acres) and create a space that will benefit all users on the doorstep of Fingal’s county town. The project will involve extensive consultation with the local community with the goal of developing an ambitious shared vision for the future.The project - led by the Parks & Green Infrastructure Division - aims to deliver a sustainable vision for the development of the park. Protection and enhancement of the existing heritage, ecology and biodiversity is a key element of the park’s future, along with developing new links within the park and with the wider area.The recent acquisition by Fingal of strategically located lands within the River Valley will help unlock the future potential of the park. The project will also identify current recreational needs and uses, providing a framework for development of the park from the present time into the future. Plans for the Ward

River Valley Regional Park will dovetail with the Council’s ambitions as part of Sustainable Swords, which aims to facilitate an accessible, inviting public realm that links with the natural and historic context of the area. Sustainable Swords will also look to improve permeability, with green corridors around the town as well as those linking into the centre of Swords itself. An innovative consultation program is proposed to

inform the public, encouraging people to have their say on the project. The first phase of public consultation will begin on Saturday 8th October with an interactive design workshop at Rivervalley Community Centre where the public will be invited to meet with the design team.Further details on the workshop and how to register interest in attending will be available shortly via the Council’s website and social media channels.

Dublin Climate Action Week a great success!

On Monday, 12th September the Mayors of South Dublin and Fingal County Councils, the Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the Lord Mayor of Dublin City Council officially launched Dublin Climate Action Week in the Round Tower Visitor Centre, Clondalkin. Dublin Climate Action Week ran until Saturday, 17th September. It offered a range of online and in-person events which aimed to inform citizens, increase awareness and highlighted the need for urgent climate action by all sectors of society. From climate festivals to film screenings, biodiversity walks to webinars and talks on a range of interesting climate topics, there was something for everyone. Events highlighted how both systemic change and individual action is required to tackle the climate crisis. Now in its second year, Dublin Climate Action Week was organised and delivered by the partnership of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, South Dublin County Council, Dublin City Council, Fingal County Council, Codema – Dublin’s Energy Agency and the

Dublin Climate Action Regional Office (CARO).Through the ongoing implementation of Climate Change Action Plans, the Dublin Local Authorities are collaborating closely to deliver climate action, working to reduce our impact and are committed to leading by example in tackling this global issue. Well-coordinated regional and local climate action is critical to meeting our national and international climate targets and goals, and through our engagement with members of the public, local authorities are in a unique position to highlight the need for climate action, to communities across Dublin. The Mayors of the four Dublin Local Authorities jointly stated: ‘‘Climate Change continues to impact the Dublin Region, but we are working together to reach our climate targets. We organised Dublin’s second Climate Action Week to showcase our ongoing progress to the people of Dublin and elsewhere. Building on the success of last year we’ve launched another exciting programme of events across a range of themes.Each of us has a valuable contribution to make, it counts if we are all Taking Action, Together!”

The Mayors of South Dublin and Fingal County Councils, the Cathaoirleach of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and the Lord Mayor of Dublin City Council at the official launch of Dublin Climate Action Week in the Round Tower Visitor Centre, Clondalkin.

(Photo Ben Ryan)

A little bit goes a long way to help Guide Dogs

Last month Tesco Express in Ridgewood, Swords, Co. Dublin graciously donated €167 from the Tesco Community Fund to our Balbriggan/North County Dublin branch and we would like to thank the staff for this and the community for their votes. If you are not familiar, the Tesco Community Fund launched in 2014 and is a platform through which each Tesco store can provide financial donations to good causes within the local community. You can now nominate your favourite or a community group or good cause via the Tesco online application form: https:// forms1.thrive-platform.com/tesco/ community_fund_application. Since its introduction, Tesco has donated over €6 million to over 21,000 local community projects nationwide. This has made such a positive difference in communities up and down the country and we want to thank everyone who has voted for us in the past and continues to do so. With Halloween just around the corner, darker evenings approaching and no doubt loud fireworks in the lead up to it, here are some tips to keep your

dogs/Guide Dogs/Assistance dogs safe and comfortable this October. Eoin Slattery, Technical Training Manager for the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind says “Our advice is to keep their dogs away from the front door and windows, play music and background noise to help them to keep calm. Many good pet stores sell products which help to relieve stress and induce calmness.” Some other tips include, keeping your dogs indoors as much as possible after dark, ensure you bring them for a walk during school hours or at meal times to minimise the exposure and tire the dog out so they will be more relaxed and sleep through the evening. Do not scold or fuss over a nervous dog as this can exacerbate the situation and reinforce the behaviour. We wish you all a safe and happy Halloween and remember, no tricks and no treats for your dog as chocolate is not safe for dogs. If you would like to volunteer for your Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch, you can of course contact us on Facebook, by email at GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com or by mobile on 085 766 3107.

&

‘Volunteer Miriam O’Reilly, Tom O’Neill with his Guide Dog Qeb and Rachel, Tesco Community Champion awarding Tom with a cheque for 167 euro.’

MetroLink project cannot come soon enough

The recent announcement that the longawaited MetroLink project will become a reality has been welcomed by Fingal County Council, who believe that the rail project will bring an economic boost to the County and help provide much needed transport infrastructure for one of the fastest growing regions in Ireland. The planned Metrolink route will link locations including Swords and Dublin Airport to the city centre, with trains planned to operate every three minutes during peak periods once the line initially opens. Once fully operational it is anticipated that the network could be capable of carrying up to 20,000 passengers per hour in each direction. Serving major population centres as well as key business and employment points in Fingal, the multi-billion euro project is set to transform North Dublin and unlock new residential and economic lands for the Dublin Region.

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Howard Mahony said: “This is something which has been over 20 years in the making, so it is fantastic news to hear that this is finally going to move forward. “Fingal will be become one of the greatest beneficiaries once it begins service, particularly as the population here is one of the fastest growing in the country and there is huge demand for fast and reliable transport connections for the people who live and work here. What’s more, Metrolink will deliver tremendous gains for the environment and help reduce carbon emissions.” AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal said: “The Council has worked hard over many years to ensure that Fingal is Metrolink ready, so today’s announcement that it is set to progress is welcome news.“Having Metrolink servicing new and existing communities right along the M1 corridor from the city centre through to Swords will support the sustainable development of the Dublin Region unlocking the residential and economic potential of North Dublin.” Given its location, Fingal provides the most daily commuters into Dublin City with 28,641 making the journeys from their homes in Fingal while around 17,000 make the journey in the opposite direction to their place of work.

An impression of the new Metrolink

Mams.ie Little Black Dress Challenge

By Siobhan O’Neill White

On mams.ie we are busy with our Little Black Dress challenge, trying to lose a few pounds and tone up for Christmas. On Wednesday mornings we will be attending fitness classes with Beyond Fitness at Gormanston Park, in the sports hall at 9.30am or 10.15am. It’s €7 a class and they are specially designed with us gals in mind. As well as weekly exercise meet ups, we have recipes, healthy eating tips and lots more advice and support on mams.ie. Join our chat HERE where you can add your own goals and track your progress week by week. This group is not about losing lots of weight or putting yourself on a strict diet, it’s about getting a little healthier and feeling better. And, if you look better in your little black dress this Christmas, then that’s great too! We all know about the importance of stretching before and after exercise but another thing that is very important, is wearing the correct clothes, trainers and underwear. Wearing the correct bra is so very important when walking, running or doing an exercise class. It doesn’t matter

what your cup size is, you need to wear a properly supportive bra. We have tried out several types of sports bras and we can highly recommend the ‘high impact easy on’ sports bras from Runderwear. I’m wearing one in the above pic and can tell you it does the job! They also do anti-chafing pants, which are so good for running. Check out their range and get special mams.ie discounts. Wearing the correct clothing is very important too. Let’s be honest, no-one wants a wedgie in the middle of a Zumba class! Dare2B has a wonderful collaboration with Laura Whitmore and this fantastic range is having a big sale at the moment. From supportive trainers, to sporty raincoats, to comfy leggings, we really like this collection and many of the items are currently half price or less. Colourful, made from sustainable and recycled materials, this is a wonderfully affordable range. Available online and at the Regatta store in Ilac, its such great value and perfect to help get you up and moving! If you need some ideas for healthy snacks and dinner ideas, you can check out the recipe section on mams.ie. There are lots of one pot dinner ideas in there to make dinner time easier for us busy Mammies!

Swords Karate Club News - Congrats Ashish and Sandra

Training returns to normal schedule after the summer in Applewood Community Centre as the club prepares for the new karate season. Classes are on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Congratulations to Ashish Johnston and Sandra Ilasz who won Students of the Month for September. They were presented with the Student of the Month Trophies by their instructor

Dermot O Keeffe Sensei, 6th Dan JKS recently. Ashish and Sandra attend classes regularly and puts huge effort into their training in kihon, kata and kumite. Well done, Ashish and Sandra! 20 members of JKS Ireland gathered in Applewood Community Centre recently for Brown and Bclak Belt training. The 2-hour class consisted of a variety of kihon and kumite techniques and

drills. The class then studied katas Tekki Shodan, Kakyoko Shodan and Gojushiho Sho. Well done to all who took part in this training session.We take new members (Children, Young People & Adults) all through the year. Contact Dermot on 087-98073885 for details on how to join.

Contact us on Facebook: JKS Swords Karate Club or on Instagram: @jks_swords_karate_club

B&B training

Sandra with her trophy

Ashish delighted with his trophy

TRICK OR TREAT

‘Fangtastic’ recipes for Halloween

It’s that time of year again. But we don’t have to wait until October 31 to sink our teeth into some ‘Fangtastic’ foods.

Try out these WICKED ideas to ‘creep’ the fun into every bloody meal!

Bloody Beetroot Buns

Ingredients:

• 160g cooked beetroot

• 20 dates, soaked in a little water

• 100g oats, blitzed into a fine flour

• 100g almond flour

Goooey Green Icing:

• 1 Avocado

• 30g Vanilla protein powder

Use jellies or your imagination for eyes!!

Method:

• 1. Pre-heat oven to 180’c.

• 2. Blitz up beetroot and dates in a blender. Scrape into a mixing bowl.

• 3. Add the blitzed up oats and almond flour and mix until blended together.

• 4. Place into bun cases and

20-25minutes at 180’c.

• 5. For the icing: Scoop out and mash the avocado in a bowl, discarding the seed in the middle.

• Mix the protein powder in until well blended. Allow buns to cool first before icing.

ScaryBerry Ghosts

Ingredients:

• 12 Strawberries, wash & cut the green tops off!

• 130g White chocolate

• 24 Chocolate drops for eyes

Method:

• 1. Melt the white chocolate in a bowl.

• 2. Dip and coat the strawberries inthe melted white chocolate.

• 3. Stick the chocolate drops on as eyes.

• 4. Carve out a ghastly mouth usingthe tip of a sharp knife.

Have a ‘Terror-ific’ ‘Horror-ween’ Follow ‘Biabites’ on Facebook and Twitter for more health and fun foodspiration!!

For workshops at events/festivals, workplaces or community groups please email Niamh at: niamh@ biabites.net

Swords Celtic U15 celebrate League victory

Despite a 2-1 loss against Beechwood FC recently, Swords Celtic U15.4 celebrated last seasons league win after finally receiving their medals and trophy. Both managers are very happy that the team has remained fully

together for another season. A very happy captain Max Savage lifted the trophy to start the celebration with his teammates. Well done to all involved

Fingallians commended for their Irish Language promotion

Fingallians GAA’s Culture Officer, Liam Ó Culbáird, told the Fingal Independent: “The Irish language is a central part of our heritage, as are our national field games. We are working to create an environment where it is not unusual to hear Irish spoken both willingly and enthusiastically. An environment where Irish is not just associated with the classroom. Fingallians GAA are receiving great recognition for this on a national stage. We had visitors this week from each of the main National Irish language promotion organisations; Conradh na Gaeilge, Fóras na Gaeilge and Glór na nGael. All commended Fingallians for the ongoing work. Fins are now regarded as an exemplar club in the promotion of the Irish language outside of An Ghaeltacht.”Games Promotion Officer Naoise

de Bhaldraithe said “I am delighted that the Campa Samhraidh was so successful. We had 102 children playing sport through the Irish language medium. There are not many such camps taking place in Dublin but we are proud to lead the way.”

Fingallians GAA Camp Co-ordinator Donagh Mac Liam commented: “2022 was our second year running the Irish language camp and again it has proved a great success. We have a template established and we look forward to expanding into the future. The Camps are tough work but seeing the enjoyment of the kids makes it a privilege to be involved.” Ní ábhar í an Ghaeilge, is teanga í. Is ár dteanga í. - Irish is not a subject, it is a language. It is our language.

CommunityLocals.ie

WIN

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 drawnwill win €50..Good luck

Across

1. One who likes time with books. (6)

5. Place of pilgrimage in Portugal. (6)

10. Relating to the seaside. (7)

11. Bigger than huge. (7)

12. A very dilapidated building. (4)

13. Less than. (5)

15. Cover something with paper. (4)

17. Provided food for guests. (3)

19. Playground attraction. (6)

21. Put to death. (6)

22. Definite, no doubt. (7)

23. Requested money for nothing. (6)

25. Tripped the light fantastic. (6)

28. This colour is all the rage. (3)

30. An elaborate solo song in an opera. (4)

31. Acres of things to worry about. (5)

32. Work natural fibres into a thread. (4)

35. Popular sauce. (7)

36. Fill up with revolutionary ideas. (7)

37. The person to make beer. (6)

38. Worn away by time and the elements. (6)

Down

2. Look over in detail. (7)

3. Arranged romantic meeting. (4)

4. The feeling you get when trouble goes away. (6)

5. Prevented a crime. (6)

6. A big old book. (4)

7. A merlin is a substance found in nature. (7)

8. Fruit of an oak tree. (6)

9. Took a quick furtive look. (6)

14. We get a lot of it in Ireland. (7)

16. A smooth surface on a cut diamond. (5)

18. Last match in an elimination series. (5)

20. Tied the knot. (3)

21. A young goat. (3)

23. Bullets which pose no danger. (6)

24. Sparkle in the sunlight. (7)

26. Turn over like a ship. (7)

27. Warning that it is unsafe. (6)

28. A talking singer. (6)

29. Want to reside. (6)

33. Dublin-born Nobel Prize winner. (4)

34. Largest city of Norway. (4)

ANSWERS