Swords Local V9I3-MAY 2024

Your Community News

SWORDS LOCAL

WORKING FOR YOU

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

families were facing high costs long

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 resi-

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.

Working in the Community

Floor, Town Centre, Lusk, County Dublin, K45 DC85 Tel. No.: 01 8438138, Fax. No.: 01 8071957, Web.: www.localsolicitor.ie, Email.: liam@localsolicitor.ie

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-

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.

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-

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

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.

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The heralding of springtime with birds singing and the changing of the clocks and longer evenings annually means the emergence of dozens of community organisations engaging in their activities. Whether it is charities running fundraising events or Scouts/Guides or youth/ elderly clubs emerging from their halls, they all enjoy the sunlight. Even on the days when the sun doesn’t shine it still brightens our days early and elongates our evening pursuits. Spring flowers now adorn our gardens, window boxes and hanging baskets and brighten our areas. The springtime period therefore is the time when fun and good health is promoted, and the gloom of Autumn and Winter is dispelled as we look forward to long lazy Summer days. At this time too, groups across Fingal are readying themselves for their outdoor activities. Scouts and Guides practising tent building, sporting teams now able to train outdoors and community groups erecting gazebos and using new innovative ideas to raise money for their worthy causes. Those volunteers in such groups are now invigorated by the brighter days and longer evenings and the smiles on their faces are there for all to see. As people who worked in the community/voluntary sector for many years, we are very aware of the importance of Spring and its benefits. There is not a volunteer who does not greatly value the sense of fulfilment they feel when they achieved their goals and there is no better feeling in this world. This year with the rise in the Cost of Living it is more imperative than ever for volunteers to come forward to help in any way they can. Therefore, we ask you to enjoy the brighter days and longer evenings, but please spare a moment to think how you could help in our community. Everyone has a talent for something and every little helps to create a better place for all of us to live in. So, let us enjoy what spring has brought us and volunteer and brighten someone else’s day. You’ll love it!

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The Locals Team

Summer Camp for Kids in Balbriggan & Malahide

Throughout July and August, the Irish Institute of Music & Song in Balbriggan hosts their Sounds Good Music Camps for kids 4-7 and 7-12. The camp runs in Balbriggan (IIMS) and Malahide (St. Sylvester’s) and is a fun, open environment for children to explore music. The camp runs for a week and siblings receive 10% off.

No previous music experience is necessary as camps focus on enjoying music through songs and games. Kids also get to try out new instruments, experiment with rhythm, and percussion, partake in music workshops and make lots of new friends. Each camp ends with a showcase performance in The Lark Concert Hall where the kids get to show their family and friends what they have learned during the week. During the week, the children get involved in a mixture of musical activities, songs and instruments. These are taught through group activities and musical games. Everything has an educational goal which is fulfilled through fun activities. The team at the Irish Institute of Music and Song are very passionate about providing children with fun-filled musical experiences and each camp is staffed by specialists in various aspects of music. If you are looking to keep the kids entertained during the summer then this is the perfect place for them. Sounds Good Camps also run during Easter and Halloween.

How To Remove Stress From Your Finances

By Dave Kavanagh

Most aspects of your life are connected to your finances, yet most people don’t take the time to plan them effectively. A couple of reasons for this: If you have a problem that needs a plumber, an electrician or a roofer, you will know about it. If you haven’t reviewed your finances for a while, you may not even be aware that you have a problem. The other reason is that some of the main aspects of financial planning are viewed as “negative”. I mean who wants to spend time considering potential occurrences like the impact of a fatality, or give thought to having sufficient income in your retirement when you haven’t reached 30 yet? This perception of “negative” is often why people subconsciously avoid the topic, often citing “not having enough time” as a reason. The same reason explains why people spend regularly on things like the lotto, believing they can win the jackpot, at odds of 10.7million to 1. The same people’s odds of being diagnosed with one of the specified illnesses covered, is 1 in 4 (before age 65!) yet they say “that’ll never happen to me”. This is a natural desire for something very positive to happen and for something negative not to happen. However, these everyday occurrences will happen whether or not someone has the right planning in place. One hour is 4% of your day. Spending that much time even once per year can be hugely

beneficial. You get the peace of mind that you are up to date with your planning. You get the reassurance that anything you have in place is the most appropriate for your current circumstances. You also get the satisfaction that you are not overpaying for something and are getting the best value. Suddenly, the mystery and uncertainty are removed, along with the stress and anxiety often associated with them. In all my years of doing reviews, I’ve never heard anyone regret taking time to go through their finances, but I’ve heard plenty regret not going through them when something unexpected crops up. Remove “money worries”. Make the time.

Dave Kavanagh QFA has been advising people financially for over 25 years. For quotes or information (with no cost or obligation) he can of course also be contacted by you by emailing info@ financialcompanion.ie or you can also 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.

After Hours (1985) –

An Underrated Classic

By Jack Shanley

With this underrated classic hitting cinemas once again last month, it gave a fantastic opportunity to rewatch it and review it. After Hours directed by Martin Scorsese in 1985, is a darkly comedic exploration of one man’s surreal and nightmarish journey through the streets of New York City. With its frenetic pacing, eccentric characters, and Kafkaesque plot, the film immerses viewers in a world where every turn leads to increasingly bizarre and absurd situations. Set over the course of one long, eventful night, the story follows Paul Hackett (played by Griffin Dunne), a mild-mannered office worker who finds himself trapped in a series of misadventures after a chance encounter with a mysterious woman named Marcy (played by Rosanna Arquette). As Paul navigates the surreal landscape of downtown Manhattan, he encounters a colourful cast of characters, including eccentric artists, eccentric bartenders, and a vigilante mob, all of whom seem determined to thwart his attempts to return home. Scorsese’s direction is masterful in its ability to create and sustain a sense of escalating tension and unease. The film’s use of claustrophobic cinematography and

discordant music adds to the feeling of paranoia and disorientation that permeates every scene. As Paul’s night goes from bad to worse, the audience is kept on the edge of their seats, never quite sure what twist or turn the story will take next. At its heart, After Hours is a black comedy that explores themes of alienation, urban isolation, and the absurdity of modern life. Paul’s descent into chaos serves as a darkly humorous commentary on the randomness and unpredictability of fate, as well as the often-absurd nature of human behaviour. The performances in After Hours are uniformly excellent, with Dunne delivering a standout performance as the hapless protagonist. His portrayal of Paul as a man caught in a Kafkaesque nightmare is both sympathetic and darkly funny, and he manages to convey a sense of mounting panic and desperation without ever veering into melodrama. In all truth I’d recommend checking out ‘After Hours’ and see what you think of it, I shall give it a score of Four Stars. You can buy ‘After Hours’ for €3.99 on YouTube. Director: Martin Scorsese – Rating: R – Genre: Comedy/Thriller – Run Time: 1h 37m Language: English. For more film content please follow @ movies4fanatics on Instagram.

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Swords Women’s and Men’s Shed raised over €1000!

Swords Women’s Shed mission is to unite & empower women within the community through creative craft & socialisation. What a gorgeous spring morning it was recently when Swords Women’s Shed at Swords Men’s Shed joined

together for activities. It was an amazing walk and then back to the shed for chats and light refreshments. Congratulations to Grainne with her 10pin bowling and she even picked herself up a medal in the process very well done. And lastly

extremely well done to both Swords Women’s Shed and Swords Men’s Shed who raised a whopping €1,120 which will be lodged into Aoibheann’s Pink Tie Charity. Very well done to the committee for organising an amazing event.

CommunityLocals.ie Swords Tidy Towns to feature on Fingal Council video

There was a great turn out recently and so much work done, what a fantastic group of volunteers, you are all a credit to your community. FCC had a cameraman following us today making a short video of our work in the community. The group adjourned to the Old Schoolhouse for refreshments where they got well looked after by Willie and his wonderful crew. Later in the afternoon some of Swords Tidy Towns members had a cool drink to finish off a long day. Well, done to everyone and look out for that video!

Communion Season is still in full swing!

Communion season is in full swing now and if you’re worrying about hosting a get together at your home, perhaps you could go out for a bite to eat instead. Bracken Court Hotel in Balbriggan has some great Communion menus and offers that are affordable and delicious and they takes so much stress off parents on the big day. Everyone gets fed, you don’t have to cook and you come home to a clean house! That’s a definite win-win! We went to check out the newly refurbished bar and lobby at Bracken Court last weekend and enjoyed a girly Afternoon Tea. As always, the food was fresh and delicious and the staff couldn’t have been more friendly. We had some sandwiches and cakes left over and they were happy to parcel it up

for us to take home. We’ve had family birthdays, retirement parties, weddings and communions there and it is a firm family favourite. If you are still getting the last bits and bobs together for the Communion, here are some helpful tips. Penney’s has a wonderful range of Spring clothing instore now, we particularly love the Rita Ora collection. There are floaty, romantic dresses for Mums, cute outfits for siblings and smart trousers and shirts for Dads and Communion boys. For fancy accessories, check out new Irish company balootclothing.com/ Gorgeous hairbands, bags and wraps to jazz up any outfit. If you would like to get the Communion child a special piece of jewellery, Absolute Jewellery have stunning

bracelets, necklaces and earrings for girls. Tipperary Crystal have nice snazzy silver cross pins for boys, perfect to pop on the lapel of a jacket or waistcoat. They make a lovely keepsake. (Check out our FB page for Communion Jewellery competitions here:facebook.com/mams. ireland If you are hosting people at home, don’t be afraid to ask family and friends to bring along something to help out. Everyone has a special dish, whether its savoury or sweet or even a few bags of crisps and it’s a great help when people contribute! The most important thing is that the child and their whole family has the best possible day. That - and hopefully no rain!!

Latvian State Choir Visits Balbriggan

The State Choir LATVIJA is one of Europe’s most prolific choirs and has collaborated with world-renowned symphony orchestras including the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra, The

Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra and The Singapore Symphony Orchestra. The State Choir LATVIJA is internationally acclaimed and has participated in recordings produced by Warner Brothers as well as numerous recording projects

by both Latvian and foreign music publishers. If you like classical, choral or orchestral music the State Choir LATVIJA will be performing on the 4th of May at the Lark Concert Hall in Balbriggan, Dublin.

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Swords Thunder are the new Division 1 League Trophy winners!

iSecure Swords Thunder took on St Paul’s Killarney on Saturday 13th April as both teams returned to National Basketball Arena or the Div1 League Trophy Final and took home the Trophy. With a Tip Off at 5.45pm there was nothing between the teams at the end of the third quarter with the scoreboard reading 16 -16. The end-to-end plays continued and there still remained parity at the end of the second quarter at 34- 34. After half time the Thunder girls upped their game and went ahead for the first time in the game which left the third quarter scoreline at 54-47. St Pauls fought hard to even the scoring but the Thunder wre not to be bested on the day and came away 69 -63 winners as the new Division 1 Trophy winners. Congratulations to the team and their coaches and mentors.

FCC plan to grow athletics talent in Fingal

An exciting new partnership has been announced between the Fingal Athletics League and Morton Games that will help the growth of athletics in Fingal and help create unparalleled opportunities for young athletes. The collaboration between the Fingal Athletics League - known for its commitment to grassroots development - and Morton Games - a World Athletics Continental Tour International track and field event - brings together two pillars of athletics in one of the countries youngest regions. Morton Games, which takes place in the Morton Stadium, Dublin has since 2011 consistently

attracted top-tier athletes from around the globe to its prestigious events. By partnering with Fingal Athletics League, Morton Games aims to strengthen its commitment to nurturing talent at all levels of the sport. Located in Fingal, Morton Stadium has undergone a significant €3m refurbishment project led by Dublin City University and which sees a new Mondo track installed. The stadium is also home to the iconic Morton Mile event which attracts domestic and international stars. This collaboration signifies a new chapter in athletics, one that is characterised

by unity, collaboration, and a shared passion for the sport. Fingal Athletics League and Morton Games look forward to a bright future of growth, innovation, and success. The Fingal Athletics League Finals Day will take place on 24th April at ALSAA Sports Complex, with 2,700 students from 61 primary schools across Fingal coming together to showcase their talent. Morton Games takes place on Friday July 12th in the Morton Stadium Dublin from 5.30pm with the international programme starting at 7.00pm. For further details visit mortongames.ie/

Currently the club are seeking an experienced person for the role of Bar Manager. There is an excellent package for the right applicant. We are seeking an energetic, enthusiastic Bar Manager. Please call Marian 0876819540 or email. We are also building teams at present. if you are interested in getting involved in playing Gaelic football, come along for a really fun filled football hour every Thursday and also Saturday. Finally, congratulations to Mary who came in to collect her winnings from our club lottery. She was joined by family and friends on the evening. Happy spending Mary and folks please remember our lottery finances our club and your support is most welcome.

Swords Karate Club News

A very busy month at Swords Karate Club

We had a busy month with regular training taking place on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays along with a fundraising Bag Pack, competing in the Piltown Open Championships in Clonmel and Squad training with JKS Ireland. Our fundraising Bag Pack took place in Dunne’s/JCs in Swords. The purpose of the fundraiser was to raise funds for our students who are going to Japan in July to compete in the JKS World Karate Championships. We had two teams who volunteered for this fundraiser, and they spent Friday evening and all-day Saturday packing groceries for the customers of Dunne’s/ JCs. We would like to thank the customers who supported us so magnificently in this fund raiser as we raised over €2000 for our students going to Japan. We hosted JKS Ireland Squad training in Applewood Community Centre this month. Our focus is getting our students ready to compete on the world stage at the World Championships and we covered Kihon, Kata and Kumite as well pushing hard on our general fitness levels. We travelled to Clonmel to compete in the annual Piltown Open Karate Championships. It was a long day as this is an extremely popular competition, but our Squad did very well taking home a number of prizes on the day. Danny, Lola, and Sophia each took third place in Kata while Sophia also took home third place in her kumite section. This is great preparation for the World Championships and our next competition is in early July, a week before we travel. We hosted JKS Ireland Brown & Black Belt training, as well as JKS Ireland Squad training in preparation for the World Championships. Finally, Ava Kane was presented with her Shodan (1 st Black Belt) Diploma and Darragh O’Sullivan was presented with his Nidan (2nd Black Belt) Diploma this month. Our Club is always looking for new members (Children, Young People & Adults). Contact Dermot on 087-8073885 for details on how to join our club. You can also contact us on Facebook: JKS Swords Karate Club or on Instagram: @ jks_swords_karate_club

Darragh – Nidan Ava – Shodan

JKS Squad at Piltown

JKS Squads

Sophia - 3rd Kata

Lola - 3rd Kata

Bag Pack Friday team

Bag Pack Saturday Team

Danny 3rd Kata

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This is easy… we are offering you the chance to win €50. All you have to do is correctly fill in the crossword and discover the name of an area in Fingal spelt out in the coloured squares. Then send the completed crossword and your answer by email, with your name, address and telephone number to communitylocals@ gmail.com before 5pm on the 16th of this mnoth. The first correct entry to be drawn will win €50..Good luck

Across

1. The capital of Turkey. (6)

5. Very close. (6)

10. Books or magazines published once a year under the same title but with different contents. (7)

11. Mythical horse with a single horn. (7)

12. A solemn promise. (4)

13. The world’s longest mountain range. (5)

15. A plucked stringed instrument. (4)

17. This popular beverage comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. (3)

19. South American mammal similar to the Llama. (6)

21. Type of hunting hound. (6)

22. Increased in number or amount over a period of time. (7)

23. An attempt to get rid of a government by using violence. (6)

25. Protect someone or something from attack. (6)

28. Something that has no value or that does not work. (3)

30. Old pubs. (4)

31. Layers of metal in its natural form as ore in the ground. (5)

32. American ten cent coin. (4)

35. Sell sin for a malady. (7)

36. Not having a weapon. (7)

37. Complained all the time like a fish. (6)

38. The first born. (6)

Down

2. Continuous. (7)

3. Not home. (4)

4. Not in the place where you are expected to be. (6)

5. A feeling of loathing or disgust. (6)

6. The world’s largest continent. (4)

7. Strong leather shoes and Irish accents/ (7)

8. Fried South Asian pastry with a savoury filling. (6)

9. Create or design something that has not existed before. (6)

14. Take something illegally from a person or company by deceit. (7)

16. Injure with very hot liquid or steam. (5)

18. A student who is training to be a military officer. (5)

20. Part of a play. (3)

21. Piece of furniture for sleep. (3)

23. A dried grape. (6)

24. Popular flavour of ice cream. (7)

26. Puzzles, mysteries. (7)

27. Fears greatly. (6)

28. Search for water or minerals using a divining rod. (6)

29. Make someone believe something that is not true. (6)

33. WWII 4x4 vehicle still popular today. (4)

34. A stick for a magician. (4)