Swords Local V8I11-JAN 2024 by Irish Media Group

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Volume 8 Issue 11 January 2024

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2024

WORKINGI NFOR YOU FINGAL We are now in the second month of a new year and are all facing into tough times with challenges in a lot of areas. There has been a continued fall in living standards for households, figures released by the CSO at the end of 2022 showed an increased decline reflecting a continued fall in Irish living standards compared to other European countries over the past ten years. This reflects the impact the cost-ofliving crisis has had and continues to have on households. Workers and families were facing high costs long before the energy crisis and many are really struggling. Irish living standards have fallen further behind other European countries over the past decade and are now 10% below the European average and in the bottom half of the EU. This is a reflection of successive bad governments who have failed in improving prospects for Irish households – the current government has failed in areas like housing and healthcare, costs have risen and services are more difficult to access. Housing Sinn Féin is committed to ensuring that we deliver affordable homes to rent or buy for people on ordinary incomes.

There are many families in Fingal who have grown up kids who cannot move out and cannot move on with their lives and they are the generation who have been locked out. We need to build communities that have the necessary infrastructures in place and homes for residents that are affordable to rent or buy. People should decide what type of housing suits their needs, public, private or owner occupied but it needs to be affordable. We’ve seen too many government housing policies that aren’t delivering homes for our residents. Working in the Community Myself and Deputy Louise O’Reilly TD work closely together and with resident’s groups and individuals in our community to deal with local and personal issues. We listen to people’s concerns and do everything in our power to ensure that their interests are met, locally through Fingal County Council and through the Dáil, and through our constituency offices in Swords and Balbriggan. I also work closely with Dessie Ellis TD on issues affecting the Santry area that falls within the Swords boundary and with community groups and indi-

TEMPLE BAR

viduals in this area. We support our communities on many campaigns and issues that affect their daily lives. Sustainable Transport With delays to Metro North I have called for and had a motion passed which calls for a Town Bus for Swords to facilitate those areas that have no direct access. Sinn Féin has supported residents who will be affected by the works in relation to the Metro. Dublin Airport – Noise The current situation with Dublin Airport ignoring noise regulations and agreed flight paths is a significant concern. Sinn Féin have met with groups campaigning against these breaches and I was happy to stand with residents in a recent protest. I’ve raised the matter with FCC and continue to do so. Along with Deputy O’Reilly we have met with the DAA and the IAA, and continue to meet with residents groups in affected aeas. The DAA ignoring noise regulations and agreed flight paths is unacceptable we will continue to raise this with FCC, ANCA (noise regulator) and in the Dáil. Health The current crisis in the health servic-

es is not new, despite promises by government the additional beds have not all been delivered and the numbers on trollies and the delay times for treatments and surgeries is not acceptable. Swords needs a primary care centre, I was delighted to get a motion passed to facilitate this as part of the Fingal Development Plan and we will be working closely with the HSE and the Department of Health to ensure this is delivered. There must be greater collaboration between community healthcare and acute hospitals to ensure that recovery and transitional care beds are available in the community for speedy discharges and the provision of care outside of hospitals where appropriate.

munity Gardaí have had a positive impact in areas in Swords, but realistically the Garda station is not sufficient to meet the needs of a growing community and the resources needed to police the growth in population. This needs to be addressed as a priority to ensure the safety of our residents. Environment I’m a member of the Swords Woodland Association formed with the aim of maintenance of the green belt within the wider Swords area and promoting ways to ensure a greater appreciation of green spaces and promoting the planting of trees – one tree can absorb as much carbon in a year as a car produces driving 20K miles. I also worked closely with the Save Swords Greenbelt group on their campaign to ensure that our environment is protected not just for current but for future generations to come. Representing our Community The Local Property Tax for Fingal was set at a 7.5% deduction, although Sinn Féin asked Councillors to support my motion seeking the full 15% reduction. In 2022 thousands of people took to the streets of Dublin protesting the

2 4 JAN - 2 824-28 JAN

5 DAYS OF TRAD & FOLK THROUGHOUT FINGAL Crime We need to tackle the growing crime and anti-social behaviour. This is a real problem– and there has been a lack of focus on making communities safe for everyone. As a member of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) in Fingal, I have called for additional resources, community policing to be prioritised and for a local task force to deal with crime. The additional number of com-

rising cost of living including members from other political parties. Alleviating hardship is what the council should be striving to do, and not adding to it. The highest number of people who replied to public consultation on LPT requested a figure of 11-15%, and that’s what the people in Fingal wanted, however Sinn Féin were the only party who voted against the lower deduction. Sinn Féin Councillors have worked hard on the Development Plan, representing interests of our communities in areas that will most benefit them. As we come to the final stage we will continue to make our decisions based on what is best for the people we represent. I have worked hard to represent residents since my election in 2019 and before that as a community activist and will continue to do so. I have always worked in the heart of our communities and am available to meet with groups and/or individuals to provide any support or assistance that I can. Since Covid rather than formal clinic times, I have found that pre-arranged meetings work best for people. Please contact me if I can be of any assistance.

Respecting the roots but always branching out…

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Happy New Year! athbhliain faoi mhaise daoibh

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04/12/2023 15:

Our Team Local News Editor E. communitylocalseditor@gmail.com Advertising Sean Maguire T. 087 915 9052 E. seanmaguire@irishmediagroup.ie Production Tim Evans E. communitylocalsdesigner@gmail. com Contact us Swords Local Magazine Email: communitylocalseditor @gmail.com www.facebook.com/SwordsLocal Designated Pick up Points Supervalu, Pavilions JC’s, Swords Lidl, Rathbeale Road Applgreen, Malahide Rd., Swords Published by

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A New Year full of opportunities!

A happy New Year to each and every one of you! Every year brings with it highs and lows but most of all an opportunity to make things better. Sporting Groups are planning for greater success than the previous year and how to get and keep fit. Charitable groups are planning more services and more fundraising activities. Health campaigning groups are planning new ways to publicise the plight of suffering people. Community and voluntary groups are becoming more active in local areas every year. We have said it before and we say it again, those who give up their time to volunteer in such groups deserve the highest of praise and thanks from each and every one of us. As this year begins let us all make one resolution, to give up a little of our time, or money or both to a worthy cause, community group, sporting or charitable organisation or church group which benefits our community as a whole. Each of us have had the best of intentions with our past new year’s resolutions when we said to ourselves, “I must do more to help.” However, for many of us, our good intentions have not been carried through as other commitments have gotten in the way. This year, let us resolve to pick one worthy group to commit to in the coming year. Let us not talk the talk, but walk the walk and instead of looking at worthy causes and groups, let us actively get involved. When some community, voluntary, sporting or charitable organisation in our area needs a hand, let it be our hand that helps. Every year we all make resolutions at this time of the year and as we are only human, many of us fail. This magazine is dedicated to promote all those groups in our area. We have been here to promote these groups for many years and with the continued support of our brilliant advertisers, committed contributors and these wonderful groups, we will continue to promote them in the year ahead. A happy, healthy and prosperous New Year to you all! The Local Team.

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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.

STRICT DEADLINE FOR NEXT EDITION: Submissions by the 12th for inclusion in next months edition

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Wishing everyone a Happy New Year! 083 1162350 sales.kpwl@gmail.com KP Windows KP Windows Ltd

SWORDS LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

Local News

Swords Women’s Shed hosted a wonderful Social Night!

In early December we celebrated our last social night of 2023. It was such an amazing night of dancing karaoke and lots of laughs. We celebrated with Swords Men’s Shed and presented Ray their chairman with an appreciation certificate, for all the kindness and support they have shown to Swords Women’s Shed in 2023. With the Food and dancing it was a night to remember. Thank you again to our biggest supporter St Colmcille’s GFC Swords. We can definitely say we raised the roof ha ha. Thank you also to our committee who created such a fantastic night.

CommunityLocals.ie 4

SWORDS LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

Finance

Can Changes Improve Your Health and Wealth? By Dave Kavanagh This time of year, is traditionally when people set out to make some positive changes or improvements in their lives. The most recognisable of these is the ‘losing weight/ getting healthier” one. To give people more of an incentive to maintain what they start, it’s worth noting that if done properly, losing weight can have the added bonus of leaving you with more money at the end of each month. So how does that work?? Well, by “doing it properly” I refer to NOT going on a diet, or buying products with magic properties that will make the weight just fall off. Instead, making small, sustainable lifestyle changes. It can be adding some exercise in week 1, drinking more water (and less alcohol/sugar laden drinks) in week 2, reducing portion sizes in week 3, substituting things like chips for wholegrain rice or pasta in week 4, breaking the association of biscuits/cakes whenever you have a coffee or tea in week 5, etc., etc. Doing it this way, makes it sustainable and when weight is dropped slower over a longer period of time, it is far more likely to be kept off. So how does that help my finances? When I analyse people’s spending budgets, it’s clear that takeaways, alcohol, sweets, cakes biscuits etc. pop up quite frequently. If you keep

track of the savings when you cut down on many of these things, it’s easy to see how much you can save. One person I was helping used to enjoy her “treat” of a chocolate eclair most days. When she accepted that she felt bad after eating it and conceded that it was not helping her goal to lose weight, I suggested it was more of a punishment than a treat. I proposed that she put the money into a jar each day and when there was enough, to treat herself to a back massage, which can positively reinforce the good changes someone has made. Make the right choices, one day at a time.

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.

SWORDS LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

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2024

IN FINGAL

24 - 28 JAN

JAN 24-28

Janis Ian Ralph McTell

Stockton’s Wing Freddie White Brian Kennedy OceanwithChild

Stephen Rea, Neil Martin, Ocean String Quartet, Michelle & Louise Mulcahy Liam Ó Maonlaí

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Gerry O’Connor and Friends Cathy Jordan & Feargal Murray Bríd Harper Laoise Kelly Nuala Kennedy / Tara Breen / Tony Byrne Zoë Conway & John McEntyre Síle Denvir

Brenda Castles Erin Hennessy Timothy O’Grady: I Could Read the Sky Sive The Remedy Club Shane Hennessy Farah Elle Aisling Lyons Niamh Bury Anna Tavnir & Maninder Singh Niwel Tsumbu

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Local News

2023 - A very busy year again for Swords Tidy Towns

2023 was a very busy year for the hard-working volunteers of Swords Tidy Towns. All eyes were eagerly focused on the 2023 Tidy Towns National Finals, each member did their very best to achieve the Gold Medal that had so far alluded us. Our members had already done the town of Swords proud with five prior National Silver Medals in a row, no mean achievement. Everyone put in a trojan effort to change our medal colour from silver to gold, this was reflected in how close we came to achieving that goal, missing out by only one point. So close and yet so far. We brushed it off in typical Swords Tidy Towns style and celebrated our sixth in a row Silver Medal, just 8

SWORDS LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

like the Dubs, we are now firmly focused on 2024, fingers crossed. Not a bad run of medals considering Swords was designated a litter black spot in the 2003 IBAL report, we have certainly come a long way. Swords Tidy Towns also won the 2023 National Tidy Towns Circular Economy Award for our upcycling, recycling, composting, Swop Shop and wild flower meadows etc initiatives. The award came with a thousand-euro cheque, our Silver Medal came with a Seven-Hundredeuro cheque, all prize money will be well spent on improving the aesthetics of our wonderful town. The Swords Cultural Quarter is well under

way, Ushers Lake is getting a well-deserved face lift, the old Stairways have been replaced down to the Jacko, the good work goes on. A big thank you to Fingal County Council especially their Operations Dept with whom we have worked very closely with over many years, that cooperation will continue and blossom in 2024. Swords Tidy Towns would like to wish all of our Followers, Supporters, Sponsors, TY Students and Teachers, Local Businesses, Locally Elected Representatives, and last but by no means least, the staff at FCC a Very Happy New Year and a Prosperous and Healthy 2024. Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

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Local News

EggHeadz Youth Mental Health and Well-being

National Schools Activity

DCC Boys Group

DCC Group1

Sophie and Thomas speaking to Senior Students in Swords

SWORDS LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

Sean Collins performing in St Patrick’s Church Donabate

EggHeadz CLG is delivering programmes and support services across Fingal and Dublin. Here is some of what we’re doing… School Engagement: -Secondary School: Our ‘Shape Your Life Through Sport’ programme continues across Fingal and Dublin. Pictured recently at Donabate Portrane Community College as part of Mental Health Month and at St. Finian’s Community College Swords as part of Careers Week. In-school Primary: programmes have continued to grow and now includes Dublin South Central as well as Fingal and Dublin City. Pictured are children learning basic Physical Literacy skills. After-school Primary: Yoga & Art programmes are enjoyed by primary school children 5-7 and 9-12yrs. Pictured are children learning Strength, Agility, Relaxation and Winter Crafts at Donabate Portrane Educate Together. EggHeadz dropin evening and weekend classes take place in Donabate Parish Hall and Donabate Portrane Community Centre. See eggheadz.ie for timetable and join us! Community Engagement: EggHeadz and Cycle Against Suicide took part and supported an evening of live music in St. Patrick’s Church, Donabate in November.

The night was in memory of Conor Culleton, the theme of the music focused on mental health and was performed by the extremely talented Sean Collins, with local special guests Andrew O’Sullivan and Eve Doorley. EggHeadz volunteers have completed the Peer Buddy training programme with Cycle Against Suicide. EggHeadz Inclusion Programmes: EggHeadz support services take place in five different centres for Direct Provision in the Fingal area. Our engagement with the migrant community has been vital for integration and inclusion of young people in local sports clubs. For a second year running we collected and delivered Christmas presents to children and families living in Direct Provision. Thank you to everyone who donated. EggHeadz Youth Counselling Service - A FREE of charge and confidential service for young people (aged 12-25) by appointment. It takes place on Mondays in Donabate Portrane Community Centre by appointment between 9.30am and 3.30pm. Contact Mairead on 086-329 6812 or by email eggheadzcounselling@gmail. com to book an appointment. For more follow us on social media or visit our website.

Local News

Swords Woodland Association Calendar for 2024 is now on sale! The Swords Woodland Association is an

association of volunteers, formed with the aim of researching and advocating for the maintenance of the existing green belt within the greater

Swords urban area; while promoting innovative ways to ensure a greater appreciation of green spaces by the population as a whole.

The Swords Woodland Association Calendar

for 2024 is now available for purchase at

O’Ciobhain’s Super Value, Boroimhe and

Hanley’s Card and Party Store on Swords

Main Street. Featuring stunning images from local photographers with a focus on our local

wildlife. Proceeds from which go to support tree planting and improving biodiversity in our area. Many thanks for your continued support. You

can also contact the Association at their email : swordswoodlandassoc@gmail.com

Swords Local Magazine NEEDS YOU!

VOLUNTEERS WANTED

PHOTOGRAPHERS , LOCAL WRITERS, LOCAL REPORTERS NEEDED!! If you’re a Local and have some free time please email us on: communitylocals@gmail.com Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

SWORDS LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

Local News

One Voice Singers Swords had a very successful year!

One Voice Singers Swords are a new multicultural community singing group based at St Colmcilles GAA Club in Swords. The group recently took part and gave a few wonderful performances of Christmas music and Carols in this year’s Christmas Market at Swords Castle. They had a wonderful time, were extremely well received and enjoyed every minute of their performances. The Singers thanked the people of Swords for all the support in the past year and also gave a huge message of thanks to their musical directors Aine and Tony. Well done to you all and we wish you continued success in the coming year.

Tender issued for building within Swords Cultural Quarter A major milestone in the Swords Cultural Project has been reached with the publishing of the tender for the iconic building which will include a county library, theatre, gallery, arts spaces, a maker space, and a café. This is the latest stage in the tender process which has been underway for several months and responses are due to be submitted in February. A comprehensive evaluation period will follow before the tender is awarded and contracts are signed. It is hoped that construction will commence in Q2 2024 with the new building due to open in 2026. The necessary enabling works are currently taking place on the site at the junction of North Street and Seatown Road to prepare for the construction phase. Twelve houses on the opposite side of Seatown Road are due for demolition and will be replaced by 36 new homes in two blocks of 20 and 16 respectively. A further 13 new homes are due to be built on North Street as part of the transformation of this part of Swords. The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy, said: “This marks another important step in 12

SWORDS LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

the Swords Cultural Quarter project. This building with be a centre of knowledge, arts and culture for Swords and Fingal and will have a strong focus on people and experiences which, through the delivery of a modern, dynamic, inspirational and educational programme of events and activities, will become a destination and a focal point for the local community and visitors.” The Swords Cultural Quarter is a 3.89-acre area around the junction of North Street, Seatown Road, Bridge Street and Main Street and the new building, which has been designed by renowned Architects O’Donnell and Tuomey, will include a new 3,000m2 County Library, an art gallery and exhibition space, a café, a civic area, studios and rehearsal rooms, and a Black Box theatre which can cater for audiences of between 165 and 360 depending on the type of event being staged. The new library, which will be seven times bigger than the existing one, will offer the people of Swords a full suite of library services for the first time. Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

Feature

Brisk walks, Yoga, Lego, Basketball and more in 2024! By Siobhan O’Neill White You’ve hopefully had a lovely, relaxing Christmas and peaceful start to 2024. January can be a difficult month; it’s cold, dreary and you may be feeling a bit down now that Christmas is over. But, don’t despair – there are lots of nice things you can do for yourself. If you feel a bit bloated, don’t think you need to rush out and join a gym or sign up for some crazy diet or exercise plan. Instead, be kind to yourself and take it easy. Start with getting out for some brisk walks in the fresh air; that’s a free and easy way to exercise and feel better, plus the whole family can get involved. Doing some simple yoga or stretching at home can help with your physical and mental health. All you need is a mat and 15 minutes and again, you can get the kids involved too! Follow your New Year exercise sessions with a warming bubble bath and fluffy pyjamas! You will definitely feel like you’ve earned it. If the kids are getting bored, there are some activities that you can get them involved with. One of

our favourite activities is Lego, and now is the perfect time to work on those projects. We’ve just finished the Lego Frozen Disney Castle! It took 6 weeks and a lot of patience but was so worth it. Not only is it a calming activity for children but it’s a great way to spend some quality time with them. Baking and cooking are cheap and easy activities to do with the children at home. We picked up the TikTok cookbook for our 12-year-old. who is fantastic at recreating the recipes from that. For quick dinners and baking ideas, we have a dedicated recipe section on mams.ie, go to mams.ie/ category/recipes/ Gormanston Park is running a Basketball Camp from 2nd – 5th January, 10am – 2pm, for ages: 6 – 17 with a T-shirt included. With coaches from America & Europe to encourage and improve skills, contact euroelitebasketball. com or info@euroelitebasketball. com to inquire or book. For more ideas on things to do, places to go and competitions to enter, go to www.mams.ie and our socials facebook.com/mams.ireland instagram.com/mams.ie twitter. com/mams_ie

Community Climate Action Launched in Fingal Community Climate Action Fingal was launched on Wednesday, 6th December during a three-hour period, from 4 – 7 pm in the County Hall Swords. The public from all over Fingal were invited to learn about grants for Tidy Towns groups, community groups, sports clubs and not-for-profit organisations. Above all it was a networking and information evening about applications and grant funding. Light refreshments were served. If you could not attend on the night visit ow.ly/8SXc50Qb1ZK for information and details of other public sessions for this grant funding.

SWORDS LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

Fingal News

Memories of yesteryear - A childhood challenge By Jonathan Kavanagh Ah January, large bills, a grand stretch in the evenings and an on-going struggle with those New Year resolutions. Bad habits are hard to break. A very early memory sees me face a tough challenge. It appears to be an ordinary day. I play with my toys as my mother goes about her household chores. All seems well but I am about to be taught one of life’s harshest lessons; that we live in a transient world where nothing lasts forever. My ever-present emotional crutch, a bright blue soother/pacifier is attached to my jumper by a piece of string. I reach for it as many times before whereupon it disintegrates into a collection of particles, leaving me with nothing but the string and a broken heart. There isn’t a spare one in the house and due to a health issue, my mother is unable to take me for a new one. The day seems to last forever as all house rules are suspended and I am bribed with biscuits, red lemonade and stories in a failed attempt to quell my tears and ease my withdrawal symptoms. After a hard day toiling in the fields of Fingal my father arrives home to the unexpected turmoil. He is practically forced fed his dinner and despatched forthwith into Swords town on his bicycle to procure a replacement for my great loss. In a record time that makes the leader of the Tour De France look like the winner of a

slow bicycle race, he is back with an expression of achievement and an outstretched hand containing a new shiny soother. I rise to my full height, look at the soother with distain, display an expression

of disbelief and say I don’t want THAT! I have inadvertently gone cold turkey and overcome the first of many vices I will encounter along the path of life.

Malahide resident publishes book in aid of the Samaritans The book “Becoming Your Best Possible Self ” by Gerard Morgan has recently been published. Gerard is living in Malahide and would like to inform locals of this book and provide an opportunity to fundraise for a very worthy cause. The book was initially written as a legacy for his two sons and provides a timely transformative personal growth strategy for all readers. The book is now available in the following places; (1.) Hodges Figgis /Waterstones, Dawson Street, Dublin (near Trinity College)

SWORDS LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

(2.) Manor Books, Malahide

Village, Co Dublin, (3.) Amazon. com and Amazon.co.uk, (4.) The book is included with the adult

education course “Becoming Your Best Possible Self ” in Malahide

Community School based on the

book in the new year. (It is a 7-week course) Information is on this link

malahidecsadulted.ie/best-possibleself/.

Please note all profits from

the sale of the book will go to the charity Samaritans Ireland.

Local News

Happy New Year from Balbriggan/N County Dublin Branch of Guide Dogs With the close of 2023, brings the close of another busy year for the Balbriggan/North County Dublin branch of Guide Dogs and we want to thank everyone again who supported us and volunteered throughout the year. Here’s to another year of fundraising and fun still yet to come! We are delighted with the success of our merchandise stand in SuperValu, Balbriggan on the 10th and 11th November which raised a fantastic total of €1,830.20 over the two days and on the 24th and 25th November, which saw the arrival of Santas Grotto at Millfield Shopping Centre, Balbriggan which raised another brilliant total of €1,694 over two days. It’s safe to say the Christmas season well and truly kicked off with the arrival of Santa. On Sunday 10th December our branch continued the run up to Christmas by attending Bremore Castle Food and Craft Village Christmas Market with our Christmas cards, calendars and car raffle tickets. With the start of the new year, while things are a bit quiet, it is also is a time for many people to

make new year’s resolutions and our branch is looking for three or four volunteers specifically, to empty our counter boxes. In 2023 we increased our counter box team in Balbriggan and Dublin city. We badly need help in Skerries, Rush and Lusk and also in rural North County Dublin so why not make a resolution to join our counter box team? You can also still support our Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Guide Dogs by tap to donating €3 at one of our machines at Specsavers in Millfield Shopping Centre, Specsavers in Ashbourne, Skinny Batch Café in Lusk, Pet Stop in Airside and Specsavers in GPO Arcade Dublin. You can also keep an eye on our social media pages for any upcoming events and if you would like to get involved or are interested in volunteering with us, please feel free to contact us: Balbriggan/North County Dublin branch of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, you can phone or text us on 085 7663107, email us at GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail. com or find us on Facebook at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs.

Tom O’Neill and Volunteers at the Merchandise stand

SWORDS LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

Healt

Home Cook Recipes

New Year Super Fish Supper Following the festive period, some of us may not want to see turkey or ham on the menu for quite a while! With the new year comes new years resolutions and a lot of people make goals to enhance their health. Fish is full of lots of nutritional goodness. Yet, despite being an island, our intakes of fish in Ireland are quite low. Some people say it’s the smell that fish may leave in the kitchen that turns them off or that they’re just not sure how to make it tasty. But the great news is that fish is quite easy and quick to cook. And a top tip to get rid of any unwanted odours is to place 1/2 lemon in water in a cup (cut side up) and heat in the oven/microwave for 4-6minutes. Burning a nice scented candle also helps! Ingredients: Serves 2 • • • • • 16

2 Salmon fillets 200g Tenderstem broccoli 250g Asparagus 2 teaspoons black pepper 1 tablespoon rapeseed oil SWORDS LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

• • •

2 cloves garlic 1 tablespoon minced parsley leaves Juice of 1/2 of a lemon Sweet potato chips:

• • • • •

260g sweet potatoes 1 tablespoon rapeseed oil 1 teaspoon chilli powder 1/2 teaspoon paprika 1 teaspoon black pepper Method:

1. Preheat oven to 200’c. 2.The sweet potato chips take longer to cook, so do these first. Wash, peel and slice the sweet potato into chips. 3. Place the remaining ingredients for the sweet potato chips in a large bowl and stir well to combine. Then add the sliced sweet potatoes and coat in this mixture. 4. Place the sweet potato onto a baking tray and bake in the oven for 40-45minutes at 180’c. Turn them halfway through baking to

ensure they cook evenly. 5. Place the salmon onto a baking tray that is pre-greased or lined with parchment paper. 6. Mix the lemon juice, parsley leaves, oil and garlic together and brush the top and sides of the salmon with this mixture. Bake in the oven at 180’c for 12-15minutes (depending on the thickness of the salmon). When cooked through, the salmon will look opaque and flake easily with a fork. 7.Brush the remainder of the mixture from step 6 onto the broccoli and asparagus on a foil lined baking tray and sprinkle with black pepper. Bake in the oven at 180’c for 10-15minutes or until tender. 8.Serve up with a lemon wedge. For workplace, preschool, primary and secondary school or community group talks and workshops, please email: niamh@ biabites.net See my ‘Fun food’ and ‘Recipes’ albums on ‘Biabites’ Facebook for other food ideas. Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

Swords Karate Club News Swords Karate Club – Our Review of 2023 2023 was a busy and enjoyable year for Swords Karate Club. We hosted members of JKS Ireland from all over Ireland at the National Brown & Black Belt training sessions in April, May, September & November. We also hosted National Squad training sessions in preparation for the JKS World Karate Championships in Japan in 2024. Sophia Guildea and Amelia Miller tested for their Shodan Diploma in May under Kagawa Shihan 9th Dan JKS and both were successful. Members of the club attended 3 competitions, topping the medal table in all 3 JKS Inter-Club competitions in Tyrellstown ( June), Swords (September) & Tallaght (October). In May we hosted Kagawa Shihan 9th Dan JKS. We were privileged to have JKS Ireland members from around the country join us in this world class seminar over 3 days. We held two club gradings, in early July and mid-December, where club members showed off what they have been studying during the year and all members who took the grading examinations progressed to their next coloured belt. Our membership is growing but we are still looking for new members (Children, Young People & Adults). Contact Dermot on 0878073885 for details on how to join. You can also contact us on Facebook: JKS Swords Karate Club or on Instagram: @jks_swords_karate_club

May Kagawa Shihan 4

March training

Summer Grading in August

More Inter club training participants

Interclub training participants

April Group

Sophia and Amelia Shodan Diplomas 2023

SWORDS LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

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SWORDS LOCAL-JANUARY 2024

Down

1. It gets you high. (6) 5. Traditional German dress. (6) 10. Stood against something. (7) 11. Insistent requests, made as of right. (7) 12. Parts of circles. (4) 13. Oppose an established government by force. (5) 15. Cook pastry in an oven. (4) 17. A thin straight bar. (3) 19. Stands for artists. (6) 21. Made a sound like a pig. (6) 22. A lamp with a transparent case and a handle. (7) 23. Take with a promise to return. (6) 25. Type of caviar. (6) 28. Traditional Turkish headgear. (3) 30. The central part of a church. (4) 31. Strongly wanting to do something. (5) 32. An arm, leg, or branch. (4) 35. Wrinkle due to loss of moisture. (7) 36. Large public meetings in support of, or against, a cause. (7) 37. Members of the violin family. (6) 38. Curved swords used by cavalry. (6)

2. South American mammals closely related to llamas. (7) 3. The darker stage of twilight. (4) 4. It steers a boat or a plane. (6) 5. Avoided something through sudden quick movement. (6) 6. Male sheep. (4) 7. Nordic kingdom. (7) 8. Give money to a good cause. (6) 9. Go upwards. (6) 14. A product that is illegally made and sold. (7) 16. Permit. (5) 18. Cloth made from flax. (5) 20. Hand tool for cutting wood. (3) 21. Sphere, globe. (3) 23. Send someone away from a place as an official punishment. (6) 24. Drive backwards. (7) 26. Use. (7) 27. A surprise attack by people waiting in a concealed position. (6) 28. A short story conveying a moral. (6) 29. There are three species of this animal - Grey’s, Plains, and Mountain. (6) 33. Profoundly immoral and wicked. (4) 34. An association dedicated to a particular interest or activity. (4)

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SWORDS LOCAL-JANUARY 2024