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Moving Forward and Paying it Back
What a year we have had and we at the Community Locals hope all our readers have had a wonderful 2024 and wish you all the best for 2025!
There is so much to look back over the past 12 months and January always brings with it a period of reflection on the many memories we have made; our achievements, successes, losses or bereavements. But January also brings that exciting feeling of what is to come for the next year. It’s the time when we make our plans, book summer holidays, arrange visits with long distance friends – so many possibilities.
For many of our community volunteers and the many employees of the hospitality industry January is also the month where they can have a short, but well-deserved break after the Christmas period when they selflessly looked after the rest of us on our holidays.
The New Year will surely be a great year for Fingal with so many voluntary community organisations planning bigger and better events to take place throughout the county over the coming months. They are the lifeblood of our communities and should be commended for all of their hard work. Voluntary is the main word here, these amazing groups rely on the general public to get involved to make sure all of these wonderful services are available and that their events go ahead each year.
We hear a lot about resolutions for the New Year ranging from the sensible, to the absurd! Placing unreasonable expectations on our shoulders so early on in the year is pressure that we simply don’t need! Instead of putting these expectations on ourselves maybe we should be making smaller, and more achievable goals. Lots of Small goals will add up to those bigger goals.
We do wish you all a prosperous New Year and that it is filled with success, good health and fortune. Let’s make 2025 another great year to remember and something that we can look forward to and also paying it back!
Published by www.irishmediagroup.ie Swords Local Disclaimer Every effort is made by Swords Local Magazine to
STRICT DEADLINE FOR NEXT EDITION: Submissions by the 15th for inclusion in next months edition
Swords 2025 - Looking Back to Go Ahead
By Mike Power
At this time of year, we often take a nostalgic look back on how things panned out for us and for our families, in the year gone past. We’re certainly older but are we any wiser? Looking at how some former residents of Swords lived their lives before us here, might provide some clues as to what the future holds for us.
Whenever someone sinks a spade into Swords, they often uncover dead remains! This happened in 2010 when archaeologists digging where Butlers stands in the Pavillions today, found 68 ancient bodies at a place called Mt Gamble. These folk lived in Swords from 600 - 1,000 ad and were pagan and Christian people buried together. Some of these men suffered a violent death having been hacked to death with swords, many of the women prematurely aged with arthritis. The Swords of that day was violent, and unpredictable, a population tiny compared with today, of maybe of 50/60.
All these people had dental decay, many having
actual abscesses. Imagine living your life every day with constant, unremitting toothache- no dentists for them! These folk had grindingly hard lives, their children inadequate food and suffered premature death as a result. To them, our lives today in Swords would be like living in paradise. Life-Lesson? Appreciate your life.
Later, in medieval times, most people in Swords lived on allotments called ‘burgages’. These radiated off main street on both sides. The houses we see here today stand on exactly the same sites as these old medieval wooden, thatched houses did. What a continuity of over 1000 years of history in our village!
These tenants paid one shilling rent to the authorities, and were also expected to carry swords, bows and spears to defend our town when danger came. The whole area of the East side of main street from the Arches up to the Malahide Road was laid out in 122 of these plots. Forster road runs right over these ancient gardens. These settlers were the first freemen/women of Swords and would have been mainly of English stock. Our village then would have been enclosed by
defensive walls, the main gate of which stood right where the Malahide and Dublin roads join today outside of Weatherspoon’s. Life Lesson? An investment in land always pays off!
Our final bit of nostalgia concerns the medieval abbey which was destroyed to build the current St Columba’s church by Francis Johnson in 1811. Only the tower of this gothic church remains to be seen today. The noted historian John D’Alton visiting Swords in 1838 commented on the fine towers and walls which surrounded this important church, one of the finest Irish gothic abbeys of that day. Like much of ancient Swords, we need imagination to conjure up just what an important and historic place both ecclesiastically and politically, our little village was in times past. Life Lesson? Love the place you grew up in and stand by the kids you played with then. This makes the child , which makes the man , which in turn , makes the family. Is anything more important...?
Wishing you and your family a prosperous, happy and flourishing 2025 !
CommunityLocals.ie
Seven (1995) Hits cinemas once again
By Jack Shanley
David Fincher’s “Se7en” hits its 30-year anniversary this year and with it also coming back to cinemas in a stunning IMAX screening, its sure to be a fantastic cinematic experience. ‘Seven’ is a haunting exploration of morality, sin, and the depths of human depravity. This 1995 neo-noir thriller stars Brad Pitt as Detective David Mills, a hot-headed young cop, and Morgan Freeman as Detective William Somerset, a seasoned veteran on the brink of retirement. Together, they are tasked with hunting down a serial killer whose murders are inspired by the Seven Deadly Sins. The film’s dark, gritty atmosphere is perfectly captured by Fincher’s meticulous direction and Andrew Howard’s stunning cinematography. The rain-soaked streets of a decaying city provide a bleak backdrop for the horrifying crimes committed by the killer, known only as John Doe. Kevin Spacey delivers a chilling performance as Doe, a man who believes he is punishing sinners and cleansing the world of
their corruption.
“Se7en” is a masterclass in suspense, with each new discovery leading to even greater horror. The film’s pacing is deliberate, building tension and dread as the detectives delve deeper into the killer’s twisted mind. The climax is a gut-wrenching confrontation that leaves a lasting impact.
While the film’s violence and disturbing subject matter may not be for everyone, “Se7en” is a powerful and thought-provoking cinematic experience. It is a timeless exploration of the darkness that lurks within humanity, and a testament to the enduring power of storytelling.
In all truth I’d recommend checking out ‘Seven’ and see what you think of it, I shall give it a score of 4 and a ½ stars. You can watch it today at selected cinemas throughout January or rent it off YouTube for €3.99. Director: David Fincher – Rating: R – Genre: Crime/Horror– Run Time: 2h 10m Language: English. For more film content please follow @ movies4fanatics on Instagram.
How Effective Will Your Resolutions Be?
By Dave Kavanagh
It’s a new year, a time when many people embark on making 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 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.
Congratulations to Brian O’Connell from Swords who was recently named as the winner of the Industry and Community Partnership Award for Maker of the Year, sponsored by Thomas Finn & Co. Sheffield. Brian graduated from Atlantic Technology University BSc in Furniture Design and Manufacture in Letterfrack, Connemara. He is now running his own company called Top Dog Tables.
New Year, New Beginnings!
CommunityLocals.ie
It’s January.…often considered the most miserable month of the year but how about enjoying the quiet that January brings and making the most of the calm after the busy and often stressful festive season? Instead of feeling blue about all the fun being over, try to enjoy January. Movie nights snuggled up with a hot chocolate. A brisk walk in the fresh air. Soaking in a relaxing bath. Reading that book you’ve been wanting to get stuck into but haven’t had the time. There is a lot of joy to be found in doing nothing and having time to relax and chill out. January is not all doom and gloom…. especially for those in love! Christmas and New Year are times when many couples get engaged and weddings excitement begins. One of the biggest expenses is often The Dress!! But we know an amazing store called Devotion Dresses, upstairs from My Kind of Dress, at Unit 1, Fashion City, Ballymount, Dublin that has a whole floor dedicated to wedding dresseswhich start at an affordable €600. Downstairs you can get bridesmaids, wedding guest and mother of the bride dresses and upstairs, bridal! Follow them on Instagram
at devotion_dressesireland and book an appointment at dublin@ devotionweddingdresses.com There are some absolutely stunning dresses there and it’s great to buy local, it makes life so much easier for fittings etc. We had a family wedding where the dress was bought in Newry and it was a slog having to traipse up there for fittings and collection. It added extra cost and time, so we really think, shopping local is the way to go! Having been in Devotion Dresses for a look, we can definitely recommend them! The staff are super nice too., which makes a huge difference.
If you are one of the lucky ones going Skiing, Dare2B has a cool pop-up shop in Kildare Village for all things ski wear. They have a huge sale online too, so you can nab really snuggly clothing at knocked down prices. Even for everyday fleeces, we love their range!
Whatever your January looks like, remember, it’s only a few weeks and we can get through it! Be kind to yourself and try to do little nice things as much as you can and soon enough, the daffodils will be popping up for Spring!
TradFest Returns to Fingal For Third Time
Celebrating 20 years this month, experience TradFest everywhere you go, from the Mountains of South Dublin across Dublin City and to the castles and coastline of historic Fingal.
Now in its third year in Fingal the festival will return to the many unique and historic venues across the region: Malahide Castle, Swords Castle Chapel, The Millbank Theatre, Skerries Mill, Draíocht Theatre and the iconic Seamus Ennis Arts Centre, while increasing its musical footprint in additional new venues: The Lark, Ardgillan Castle, The Abbey Tavern and Donabate Community Centre.
Fingal Acts for 2025 include: Karen CaseyThe Women we will rise, Jacqui Martin & Derek Hickey, Tara Breen, Eoghan ó’Ceannabhaín, Mike Hanrahan and Eleanor Shanley, Luka Bloom, Ines Khai, Molly O’Mahony, Paudie O’Connor &
Aoife Ni Chaoimh, Emma Langford, Stockton’s Wing -Voices from Fingal Mick Hanly with Anto Drennan and Eoin O’Neill, The Henry Girls, Bernadette Nic Gabhann, Frank, O’Rourke & John Feely, Molly Donnery, Brídín, Sorcha Costello, Evelyn Kallansee & Declan Sinnott
There will also be a special celebration of the actor, local resident and TradFest patron Stephen Rea. The Oscar-nominated and multi awardwinning actor has for long had a global reputation for his exceptional skills on both stage and screen. Over four nights in The Lark Theatre, Balbriggan, TradFest will honour Stephen through words and music. Joining Stephen over the 4 nights will be poet Paul Muldoon and musicians Neil Martin, Louise Mulcahy, Matt Molloy, Maighread Ní Dhomnaill, Paddy Glackin and Derek Hickey.
TradFest in Fingal will also celebrate the life of Barney McKenna, original member of the Irish band The Dubliners and Fingal resident across two days and nights in The Abbey Tavern, Howth in January 2025.
Mike Hanrahan and Stockton’s Wing will give a special concert in Donabate Community Centre where they will be joined on stage by the voices of Fingal Choir
In line with its audience development objectives, TradFest also will deliver an expanded community programme later this year which will outline a series of new exciting, free communityled events in Fingal.
Whether you’re a fan of live music, or just looking for a night of Irish culture and craic, TradFest is where you want to be in January 2025.
Councillors agree Council budget of €389m
There is extra funding for the Fingal Library service in Fingal County Council’s 2025 Annual Budget.
Fingal County Council’s annual budget for 2025 has risen to €389m after Councillors voted for the 7.5% increase shortly before Christmas.
The increased budget will allow Fingal County Council to continue providing a high level of service to its 330,506 residents and represents an expenditure of €1,181 per head of population.
The overall objective of the 2025 Budget is to sustain and enhance quality services and to increase the funding to deliver the required infrastructure projects in the county.
The Housing budget has increased by €18.5m to €135.7m and this includes €16m of additional expenditure on housing delivery through Approved Housing Bodies and long-term leasing. The funding for housing adaptation grants has increased by €1m and the Council’s contribution to the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive has also increased by €1.5m.
The Operations budget has risen by €1.4m to cover increased expenditure on road maintenance, public lighting, recycling centres, parks, pitches,
open spaces, public conveniences and burial grounds.
Capital projects in community centres, libraries, heritage properties and corporate buildings will see an increase of €1.25m in funding.
An additional €500,000 has been allocated towards the detailed design and planning of a swimming pool in Balbriggan. Increased funding will be required in future budgets to fund the construction and operation of a pool.
The library book fund has been increased by €325,000 which will bring the spend per head of population to €4 in line with the national target.
There is also an additional €150,000 allocated to funding of events run by community groups while an additional €240,000 will be spent on the development of the arts within Fingal.
At the Council meeting in October councillors voted to retain the rate of Local Property Tax at minus 7.5% for 2025 which provided €3.5m for housing, operations, community, and libraries.
The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Brian McDonagh,
said: “This is the first budget passed by the new Council and it is extremely positive that we have been able to increase it by 7.5% at a time when there are a lot of challenges. It will ensure that the Council continues to deliver a high-quality service to the residents and businesses of Fingal.”
The budget includes allocations to the following key areas:
€136m - Housing & Building (35%); €44m - Road Transport & Safety (11%); €19mWater Services (5%); €36m - Development Management (9%); €55m - Environmental Services (14%); €74m - Recreation & Amenity (19%); €2m - Agriculture, Education, Health & Welfare (1%); €23m - Miscellaneous Services (6%)
Councillors also agreed to leave the Annual Rate on Valuation (ARV) unchanged for 2025. The Budget comes on the back of Fingal’s threeyear, €1.57billion Capital Programme which was approved by councillors in October and consists of 331 projects.
Fingal Sports Awards 2025: Celebrating Outstanding Local Sports Clubs
Fingal County Council is delighted to announce the Fingal Sports Club of the Year Awards 2025, an initiative designed to celebrate the remarkable achievements and contributions of sports clubs throughout the county. These awards shine a spotlight on the vital role sports clubs play in fostering community spirit, promoting inclusivity, and encouraging sustainable practices. With over 100 awards available this year, the competition offers clubs a unique opportunity to be recognised for their dedication and hard work.
This is a wonderful opportunity to honour the diverse array of sports that are making a meaningful impact on local communities across Fingal. The county boasts a proud tradition of sporting excellence, with athletes and teams achieving success on local, national, and international stages.
A number of categories are open for nominations. This includes: Green Club of the Year
This award celebrates clubs that have demonstrated a strong commitment to environmental sustainability. The winning club will have taken significant steps such as reducing their carbon footprint, promoting recycling, and encouraging sustainable transport. They may also lead environmental education and awareness initiatives that benefit their community. Club of the Year
Honouring a club that has excelled in community engagement and governance, this award recognises efforts to foster social inclusion, support volunteerism, and promote physical activity. The winning club will have demonstrated best practices in governance and collaborated with local organisations to make a positive impact.
Sports Inclusion Club of the Year
Recognising clubs that break down barriers to participation, this award celebrates those who create accessible and inclusive opportunities for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds. This may include programs for people with disabilities, outreach to underrepresented groups, and ensuring affordability for members.
Along with an award, winning clubs will also receive a €500 sports equipment voucher to further support their growth and success.
Fingal Sports Office are hosting the exclusive awards ceremony on Monday 27th January 2025 at the Carlton Hotel in Tyrrelstown to honour and recognise outstanding clubs in Fingal. The event will also see the announcement of the Fingal Sports Volunteers of the Year.
Clubs are encouraged to submit their nominations by 5pm on Monday, 6th January 2025.
Nominations can be made via: https://bit.ly/sportscluboftheyear2025
Swords Karate Club News
Swords Karate Club – 2024 in Review
2024 will go down as one of the best years the club has had since COVID.
Along with our regular weekly schedule of classes, we also found time to fit in monthly Squad training sessions to prepare members of JKS Ireland for the World Karate Championships which were held in Japan in July 2024. Along with this we also crammed in multiple fund-raising activities to help fund the cost of travelling to the World Championships. We had a total of five members selected as part of the twenty strong Irish team trained and guided by Dermot Sensei 7th Dan JKS for these World Championships and it was a fantastic experience for everyone who travelled.
We hosted several JKS Ireland National Training events with visiting JKS Japan Instructors. We had a visit from Toyama Sensei in January. We had our annual seminar with World Chief Instructor Kagawa Shihan 9th Dan JKS in May and in October Yamaguchi Sensei visited at the beginning of the month, with Watanabe Sensei visiting at the end. All these Japanese Instructors delivered exciting and dynamic sessions, inspiring attendees to develop their Karate Skills further.
We participated in several competitions during the year, Piltown Open Championships, The Kanazawa Cup, the ONAKAI National Kata Championships and the Murakami Open Sheild. We had a mixture of participants at each event, some novices, and some more experienced competitors. We did well at each bringing home medals and competition experience to the club.
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.
2025 promises to be another exciting year for the club as we prepare to take part in the European Karate Championships in Denmark in September. We will have our usual schedule of classes plus additional Squad training sessions, and we will have more visits from Japanese Instructors to help us in our training.
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
Amelia Sophia Lilia
Yamaguchi Sensei Seminar
Portmarnock Beach
JKS Squad at Piltown
Irish Squad at International Seminar Race Night Fundraiser
Amelia Lilia Sophia Harrison
Kagawa
TOYAMA
Watanabe Sensei
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 the 16th of this month. The first correct entry to be drawn will win €50..Good luck
Across
1. Australian marsupial. (6)
5. Saintly home for Napoleon. (6)
10. Huge mass of slowly moving ice. (7)
11. Spoiled, corrupted. (7)
12. The act of going out. (4)
13. Package of bound hay. (5)
15. Mark left after a wound. (4)
17. An ineffective explosive round. (3)
19. People who contribute. (6)
21. Escaped from pursuit. (6)
22. A small Hawaiian four-stringed guitar. (7)
23. Highly seasoned fatty sausage of pork and beef usually dried. (6)
25. A shelter for a dog. (6)
28. The outward flow of the tide. (3)
30. Not the slightest amount, Greek letter. (4)
31. An appliance that removes moisture. (5)
32. Advanced in years. (4)
35. A popular cocktail. (7)
36. Indecent, repugnant to morality. (7)
37. Be agreeable. (6)
38. Not the sheriff but the next in line. (6)
Down
2. Enthusiastic and prolonged applause. (7)
3. A brief departure from the normal. (4)
4. Sewing essential. (6)
5. Intense animosity or hostility. (6)
6. The region of the hips, groin and lower abdomen. (4)
7. Observed, perceived. (7)
8. Consented. (6)
9. Worshipped, loved greatly. (6)
14. A song to put a child to sleep. (7)
16. Small piece of bread or cake. (5)
18. Natural state of rest for the mind and body. (5)
20. Glide over snow for recreation or sport. (3)
21. A large deer, a moose. (3)
23. A mark of shame or discredit. (6)
24. An indirect and creative approach to a problem. (7)
26. Lack of attention and due care. (7)
27. Portable up and down structure. (6)
28. The stoat during winter, when its coat becomes white. (6)
29. On the far side of, past. (6)
33. Capital of Latvia. (4)
34. Used on an invitation to request a response. (4)
22-26 JAN
Stockton’s Wing
Eleanor McEvoy
Celebrating Stephen Rea with Matt Molloy, Maighread Ní Dhomnaill, Paddy Glackin, Derek Hickey, Neil Martin, Louise & Michelle Mulcahy, Sinéad Cusack, Paul Muldoon, Felispeaks, Emily Cullen
Karen Casey - The Women We Will Rise
Mike Hanrahan & Eleanor Shanley
Celebrating Barney McKenna with Gerry O’Connor & Friends
Mick Hanly with Anto Drennan & Eoin O’Neill
Declan Sinnott & Evelyn Kallansee Tara Breen
Eoghan Ó Ceannabhaín Ines Khai
Molly O’Mahony Emma Langford The Henry Girls
Bernadette Nic Gabhann Jacqui Martin & Derek Hickey
Paudie O’Connor & Aoife Ní Chaoimh
Frank O’Rourke & John Feely Molly Donnery
Brídín Macdara Yeats Sorcha Costello plus plenty of free community eventskeep an eye on our socials for more details