Swords Local V9I5-JUL 2024 by Irish Media Group

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Summer is here… Well, sort of but when the sun shines in Ireland there’s not many places in the world that will rival its natural beauty. Naturally we all yearn for those balmy, carefree summer evenings that seem to go on forever, but we mostly find ourselves trying to cram everything into the rare few days of endless sunshine!

There are so many plans we make on the run up to summer and naturally enough most of them rely heavily on good weather, so when those rare days come along, we all get a little stir crazy flying from here to there on trips, day outings, sports etc, and while we are, there’s so many things that go under appreciated in the area’s we live in.

The endless hours of hard work put by local people in making their towns and villages look beautiful, not only for summer but all year round, can fly under our radar somewhat when we have the blinkers on in getting to where we’re going. We should take the time to appreciate these things that we take for granted.

We are constantly amazed by the sheer volume of volunteers in the many areas of Fingal that give their time and energy so selflessly to make their area’s look as beautiful and welcoming as possible. Tidy Towns groups, Men Sheds, scouting troops and so many other groups made up of local people should all be given huge praise for their work and the best praise they can be given is by their fellow residents with a simple thank you.

We can also show our gratitude in getting involved ourselves with these groups who are always happy to welcome new members. We simply wouldn’t have such beauty in our areas if it wasn’t for volunteers so if you have some hours to spare get in touch a local volunteer group and ask if they need help. And if you can’t give your time at least give your thanks to them when you see them on the street and show them their work is appreciated.

STRICT DEADLINE FOR NEXT EDITION: Submissions by the 14th for inclusion in next months edition

The Locals Team

New Mayor of Fingal elected as representatives meet for the first time

The 40 newly elected members of Fingal County Council have met for the first time today as the council’s Annual Meeting was held at the County Hall in Swords.

There were 12 new faces in the council chamber, with the Annual Meeting coming exactly two weeks after the local elections took place. They will join the 28 returning Councillors as the public representatives of the people of Fingal over the next five years.

The AGM saw the election of Cllr Brian McDonagh (Labour, Howth-Malahide) as the new Mayor of Fingal, with Cllr JK Onwumereh (Fianna Fáil, Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart) being elected as Deputy Mayor.

A happy resident of Portmarnock, Cllr McDonagh was first elected to the council in

2014. With a professional background in IT & politics, he is fluent in Irish. The new Mayor of Fingal said his priorities would include the issues of housing, community services, active travel and the delivery of community infrastructure.

Mayor McDonagh said it was an honour to be elected as the first Mayor of this Council’s fiveyear term.

“I am extremely proud to represent a County as culturally diverse as the one we have, particularly as it continues to be one of the fastest growing regions in the country in terms of population and the economy. As a group of Councillors, we all bring different life experiences and a healthy mix of professional backgrounds and skills to the table. I am looking forward to now getting to work to help ensure we are delivering the services that the

people of Fingal deserve.

“I’d like to also say how delighted I am to have Cllr JK Onwumereh as Deputy Mayor as he represents the best of a new Ireland.”

At the meeting, the incoming Councillors thanked previous Councillors for their commitment to the community over the past five years.

Fine Gael and Labour with seven councillors each are the largest parties in the new Council and there are also seven councillors with no party affiliations. Fianna Fáil have six councillors, Sinn Féin have four and both Aontú and the Social Democrats have two each. Three parties, Independents4Change, the Green Party and the National Party have one councillor each.

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Fingal Community Groups Receive Funding Boost

Over €220,000 in funding has been allocated to 130 community groups and organisations across Fingal at an event held ringside at Phoenix of Ballyboughal Boxing Club.

The Department of Rural and Community Development’s Local Enhancement Programme (LEP) 2024 is administered by Local Community Development Committees, with support from the Local Authority, in each area. The funding provides capital supports essential for the many small community groups and organisations, particularly those who serve disadvantaged areas in rural and urban areas.

This year also saw additional funding allocated towards many Women’s Groups in Fingal, helping to support the growing number of Women’s Sheds located in the county, as well as providing a welcome boost to local groups which provide

much needed social networks for women.

Announcing the successful projects for Fingal, Minister Joe O’Brien TD said: “The Local Enhancement Programme 2024 provides vital support to community groups in order to help them improve their facilities. It supports smallscale funding for projects which range from purchasing IT equipment to minor renovations to buildings. Ultimately the Programme responds to local needs. These investments allow community groups to carry out the invaluable work they do on behalf of others in local areas throughout the country. The impact of the Local Enhancement Programme is considerable.”

John Quinlivan, Director of Economic Development at Fingal County Council, said: “The LEP represents a substantial funding source that complements other support from Fingal

County Council. We deeply value the essential work of volunteers and community groups who are out there actively making Fingal a better place to live, so it is thanks to Government funding like the LEP that groups can continue to play an important role within our communities.”

LEP funding was made available to support small capital works/improvements, the purchase of equipment for community use, including tables and chairs, tools, signage, laptops and printers, lawnmowers, canopies and training equipment. A full list of groups is available here: LEP Recipients 2024

The Local Enhancement Programme 2024 was launched in December 2023 with funding of €6 million available nationally, which included €1 million in funding ring-fenced specifically to support Women’s Groups.

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TRAINSPOTTING: Still Amazing After All These Years

By Jack Shanley

With Danny Boyle’s 90s classic ‘Trainspotting’ hitting cinemas once again for a stunning new 4k release, it was the fantastic opportunity to watch the Scottish masterpiece once again. While it dives headfirst into the Edinburgh heroin scene with shocking visuals and dark humour, it doesn’t glorify addiction nor drugs.

Instead, it pulsates with a chaotic energy, capturing the highs and the rock-bottom lows of a group of friends entangled in a destructive cycle. It’s this look into the world of drugs and addiction, the reliability of it and it essentially how it completely changes your perspective of life, that just never fails to intrigue me.

Ewan McGregor shines as Mark Renton, our unreliable narrator. He’s a charismatic addict who, despite the encouragement of his equally messed-up friends (hilariously portrayed by Ewen Bremner, Jonny Lee Miller, and Robert Carlyle), struggles to choose life over heroin.

Trainspotting doesn’t shy away from the grotesque. The infamous toilet scene is a brutal reminder of the physical toll addiction takes. Yet, Boyle masterfully weaves dark humour throughout. Renton’s internal monologue delivers witty social commentary, and the film’s surreal moments. A scene that just

completely captures the essence of the film is when Renton takes his injection of heroin leading him to be dragged down the stairs into a taxi and further on to the hospital. Its just the lack of care and the thought of it being a regular occurrence that just grapples with you and makes you sympathise with him from a non-addict perspective.

The soundtrack throbs with Britpop energy, perfectly complementing the film’s frenetic pace. From Iggy Pop to Underworld, the music becomes another character, driving the narrative forward.

Trainspotting isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a raw and unflinching portrayal of addiction, but it’s also a darkly funny and strangely hopeful film. Boyle’s direction is electric, the performances are phenomenal, the film’s message on choosing life over oblivion is undeniably powerful and the new 4k restoration looks phenomenal. In all truth I’d recommend checking out “Trainspotting” and see what you think of it, I shall give it a score of Five Stars. You can watch it at your local cinema today. Director: Danny Boyle– Rating: R – Genre: Crime/Drama– Run Time: 1h 34m Language: English. For more film content please follow @ movies4fanatics on Instagram

Fingal’s Finest Beaches Recognised

The annual Blue Flag and Green Coasts awards were announced recently with sandy stretches in both Portmarnock and in Donabate being recognised this year.

Balcarrick Beach in Donabate, with its 3.4km stretch of sand, vibrant rockpools, and healthy sand dunes, has received both a Blue Flag and a Green Coast Award for the third consecutive year, making it one of the few locations in Ireland to achieve this distinction. Only 10 such beaches have been given double recognition.

Further south in Fingal, Velvet Strand in Portmarnock has once again been honoured with a Blue Flag, having first received one in 2014 and maintaining it ever since. Across Ireland there were 94 Blue Flag and 65 Green Coast award sites that have met the stringent criteria set by An Taisce.

The Blue Flag scheme, now in its 37th year in Ireland, is an esteemed international award assuring beachgoers that a beach meets high standards in water quality, facilities, safety, environmental education, and overall management. To earn a Blue Flag, Irish beaches must satisfy these rigorous standards.

The Green Coast Awards highlight beaches with excellent water quality and management practices that protect the natural environment, emphasizing community involvement. These beaches must be managed by local authorities in cooperation with local clean coast groups.

Director for Operations at Fingal County Council, Mary T Daly said: “The Blue Flag and Green Coast recognition we received this year showcase our ongoing efforts to maintain all our natural assets along the 88km of Fingal coastline.

Now, as we come into the busy summer months, we hope that everyone who visits a beach this year will play their part in helping to keep them beautiful by bringing their rubbish home or using the bins provided. Litter left on beaches poses a risk to the environment and wildlife and can have a negative impact on water quality.”

Presenting the 2024 awards, Minister Hildegarde Naughton TD said: “We all know just

how lucky we are to have such beautiful water quality and natural beauty across our shores and this year’s recipients are testament to just how exceptional and rich in diversity that our beaches are. Congratulations to everyone involved and I want to wish a very happy and safe bathing and swimming season to everyone for 2024.”

For more information about Fingal’s beaches go to: https://www.fingal.ie/visitor/trips/find-beach.

Fingal residents invited to have their say in Bathing Waters annual review

With an 88km coastline stretching from Howth to north of Balbriggan, three large protected estuaries and a large number of major beaches, our natural heritage has a strong conservation and amenity value.

Each year, local authorities must identify official bathing areas in their area every year so that they can be monitored for safety, water quality and their level of use. To help with this process, Fingal County Council would like to hear from people who swim at beaches, lakes and rivers to tell them if they think they should maintain existing bathing waters designations or give a new official bathing area designation to areas that are commonly used for swimming but are not identified at the moment.

Under European and Irish law, Irish local authorities must identify bathing waters annually so that these areas can be monitored to ensure they meet stringent microbiological water quality standards. In some cases, the official bathing areas are also the areas where local authorities focus their resources providing lifeguards during the summer season.

These laws also require that the local authority prepares detailed descriptions or profiles for each of the identified bathing water sites that describe not just the bathing area but also areas in the surface waters catchment area that could be

a source of pollution. The profiles include an assessment the risk of pollution and what action would be taken if pollution occurs.

Fingal has no shortage of stunning swimming spots to enjoy, with current identified bathing areas as follows: Claremont Beach, Howth; Burrow Beach, Sutton; Portmarnock Beach; Balcarrick Beach, Donabate; Brook Beach, Portrane; South Beach, Rush; North Beach, Rush; Loughshinny Beach; South Strand, Skerries; Balbriggan Beach.

Please note that Malahide Beach, while not identified as a bathing area, is lifeguarded as required by a Water Safety Ireland Risk Assessment (Constant Red Flag).

If you are a regular swimmer and want to help decide which bathing areas should be identified for the 2025 season, it may be helpful to consider the following: How your swimming area has been used up to now? How many people use the site? What facilities (e.g. signage, parking, toilets, picnic area etc) exist at the site and how accessible it is? Any safety issues?

If you wish to propose your favourite beach/river etc as a new bathing water site, or would like to comment on an existing site, please make your submission through our consultation portal or post your written submission to: Operations Department (Bathing Waters), Fingal County Council, Grove

Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15.

The bathing water quality results and annual classification of bathing waters can be viewed at www. beaches.ie. The latest available EPA

report Bathing Water in Ireland Report can be viewed here: https:// www.epa.ie/publications/ Closing date for submissions is Thursday, 26th September 2024.

Proud Day as The Lark chosen for prestigious Award!

It was a very proud day for Balbriggan, North Co. Dublin and the Arts in general as The Lark Concert Hall at The Irish Institute of Music & Song was voted as Ireland’s Favourite New Building in the RIAI People’s Choice Award.

“We could not have won this award without the support of everyone who voted for us. Thank you, thank you, thank you,” reads a statement from The Lark.

Due to increasing demand for space in our magazine could all contributors please note OUR STRICT DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES AND PICS IS THE 16TH OF THE MONTH PRIOR TO PUBLICATION ** Thank you.

Fingal Poetry Slam Competition Coming to Swords!

The 2024 Fingal Poetry Slam is coming to the Carnegie Free Library in Swords on 10th July and local poets are being encouraged to enter to be in with the chance of winning the chance to perform at the Grand Slam event later this year.

Poets of all experience levels are welcome to enter the event and are asked to come prepared to perform two poems of their choice.

Heats have already taken place in Malahide, Balbriggan and Blanchardstown with the Swords event hosting the final round. The events have been very well attended and the organisers are hoping for the same on 10th July.

Poets and audience members will also be entertained by host Sheila Ryder, The Poet Geoff, and there will also be live music from Ange Boxall.

The event is free, but tickets are required and can be booked by visiting fingalpoetryfestival.ie and visiting the Eventbrite link.

Balbriggan: Nicola Clare (runner-up), Kev Kennedy aka Heavy Kevvy (winner), Nicola Clare (runner-up)

Malahide: Winner: Mel White (centre) Runners up-Gary Quinn (left) and Eoin Lynam

Malahide: The entrants at the Malahide Poetry Slam

Malahide: FPF Poetry Slam 2023 winner Gerard Devine, Hannah McCain (Musician) and MC Sheila Ryder

Knowing Your Rights When Goods Are Faulty

By Dave Kavanagh

How often have you reported, for example, a faulty washing machine, dryer or fridge to a store after having it for about 18 months, only to be told “it’s out of warranty”? As a starting point, know your rights and be aware of shop psychology.

Under the Sale of Goods and Supply of Services Act, as a consumer, you have the right that anything you buy should be of “merchantable quality”, that is, suitable for the purpose for which it was designed. So for example, if you buy a fridge and 18 months later it stops working properly, you have the right to have it rectified, by repair, replace or refund (usually in that order). If a shop tries to tell you that the warranty was only for one year, you should point out that the warranty is a manufacturer’s extra and that your contract is with the store, it does not affect your rights under the act. The Retailer is responsible for providing these remedies within a reasonable time.

Keeping your receipt as proof of purchase is important. From the Retailer’s perspective, if a large portion of complainants, simply accept the fob off, they may just buy a new appliance or else pay for a repair. Both good news for the store as they either get an additional sale, or they are relieved of their obligation to provide a repair or

replacement.

When you know your legal entitlements and communicate this firmly, it will usually result in a more favourable and correct response. Some retailers, for example Currys, try to refer you to their “Out Of Warranty” team, based in the UK. If you are not willing to hire your own appliance technician to do a report on the fault (as they appear to have none in Ireland) they then try to refer you to a UK arbitration scheme!? Remember, even if a manufacturer’s warranty has expired, the retailer remains responsible for addressing the issue. If a retailer fails to honour these obligations, consumers can seek assistance from the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) or pursue legal action to enforce their rights.

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.

Summer is here.....hopefully!!

Summer is here, though, calling it summer is a stretch with so much rain! Luckily, there are fab movies, like IF and Inside Out 2 in cinemas. Kids clubs are great value for money and www. ArcCinema.ie has excellent deals for families too!

Painting stones or seashells to decorate your garden is a cheap and fun way to keep kids busy. You can also let them help plant flowers – it’s lovely when they see what they planted growing. Pyjama days are cosy for watching movies when its rainy outside. Back to the Future, Guardians of the Galaxy and anything Pixar are favourites in our house.

Newbridge Farm is ideal for getting kids outdoors. See the animals and birds on the farm, visit the playground and grab snacks and ice-cream, at the café. Lookout for the peacocks,

they’re magnificent!

Follow the Fairy Trail, explore the Butterfly House and enjoy the beautiful Botanic Gardens at Malahide Castle & Gardens. Pack a picnic or stop at Avoca café. From daytime exploring to nighttime concerts, this has become a very popular place to visit.

Love trains? The Casino Model Railway Museum in Malahide is fascinating. From steam trains to locomotives to diesel trains, find out everything about the history of trains! Ideally located close to Malahide train station, you can also get there by train! Very cool!

Titanic Belfast is a wonderful experience if you haven’t been. Full of interesting facts, it’s a really enjoyable day out for the whole family and Belfast is a lovely city to explore too.

If your children love music and singing, The National Concert Hall has choir and song school summer camps during July, find out more at www. nch.ie

For budget friendly family dining, Shake Dog Diner is brill. Irish, affordable with a great menu from breakfasts to burgers. My favourite combo is onion rings, club sandwich and milkshake! We are blessed with beautiful beaches in North Dublin but please, be careful, especially when swimming with children. Don’t swim out far and always go to beaches with lifeguards. When leaving, please take your rubbish with you. With a little more effort, we can keep our beaches cleaner and safer for everyone.

For more ideas on places to go and things to do this summer, visit www.mams.ie

When our doors were open and welcome on the mat

By Jon Kavanagh

These days it’s all too easy for our homes to become a twentieth century fortress; surrounded by a digital moat, rendering it necessary to make an appointment – preferably by text, when we wish to visit family or friends. The times when people walked in, using the password “Anyone at home?”, belong in the annuals of social history.

Yesteryear, the door was on the latch and the kettle on the hob. Scarcely a day would pass without someone dropping in for a cup of tea and a chat. Now, we drive SUV vehicles along the motorways at speeds that would scare Jeremy Clarkson, as we rush from one crisis to the next. Then, we leisurely travelled along the byroads of Fingal on high nelly bicycles, stopping off to socialise along the way. On seeing a familiar, if unexpected figure approaching, my mother would issue her call to arms, “Run to the shop and get a pound of cooked ham, a loaf and a fruit cake”.

Those delivering goods played an important role in more ways than one. The coalman, milkman, and

postman/woman doubled jobbed as town criers; bringing news of births, deaths and marriages. And yes, the odd bit of gossip and scandal (guess who had one too many and lost his dentures on the way home from the pub on Sunday night) were exchanged. The coalman once took on the additional role of peace envoy, carrying messages of reconciliation between my mother and my aunt who were on nonspeaking terms. Wielding the iconic case the local GP made house calls.

Lest I paint a picture of Utopia, visitors were not always awarded the fatted calf. I recall my father speaking a language I can’t repeat in a family magazine, on hearing the incoming footsteps of a local resident, who held a master’s degree in the art of making a nuisance of themselves. But by in large, those crossing our threshold were a welcome distraction to our day. Life has changed, we can’t, nor would necessarily we want to go back. But at a time when people can pass away, and not be discovered for months or even years, perhaps we all should be just a little more vigilant in our neighbourhoods.

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Fingal Honours TY Football Fitness Stars

Fingal County Council has honoured 49 Transition Year Students from across Fingal for their participation in the groundbreaking Football and Fitness Transition Year (TY) Course.

Ran in conjunction with the Football Association of Ireland (FAI) the students received their certificates in a ceremony attended by outgoing Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy, the FAI’s Assistant Technical Director Shane Robinson, and Fingal County Council Director of Sport David Storey. Also present were Republic of Ireland Under-21 Manager Jim Crawford and Republic of Ireland Women’s National Team player and Swords native Jamie Finn.

While the joint initiative has heavy focus on football and fitness, it also helps equip students with valuable life skills. Participants gain a full Fitness Instructor’s qualification from Litton Lane Training and complete the FAI’s Coach Education pathway, earning PDP1 and PDP2

qualifications alongside a gym instructor qualification. The students also undertake modules covering maths and English, as well as learning about topics such as sports psychology and nutrition, and there’s even cooking lessons involved on how to produce high-performance meals for athletes.

This year saw 19 of the graduates represent Ireland in both the boys and girls underage international teams. Previous graduates from the course are also now playing for Ireland’s Men’s National Team, as well as seeing many making their own mark across all tiers of football in Ireland, England and Scotland.

Highlighting the introduction of the girls’ TY course this year, Jamie Finn said: “It’s amazing to see a programme like this coming out of Fingal, particularly as it helps open up new opportunities for young women passionate about football and fitness. Along with nurturing talent it also helps

prepare students for future challenges in sports and in other fields.”

FAI President Paul Cooke said: “On behalf of the FAI, I would like to congratulate all the boys and girls who have completed this course and graduated today. The TY course is innovative and a great benefit to all these young players as they look to a career in football at home or abroad. Fingal County Council are again to be congratulated for their commitment to this course and for their commitment to introduce a first TY Football and Fitness Course for girls this year.”

Notable awards were given to standout students on the course. Among the female graduates, Aoibhe Brennan was honoured as Player of the Year, and Ruby Broderick Kinsella was recognized as Student of the Year. For the boys, Chris Conlon was named Player of the Year, and Oscar Shubar Keely received the Student of the Year award.

Swords Karate Club News

Swords Karate Club Welcome

World Karate Chief Instructor

Regular training took place on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays this month. All students are training really well with an eye on grading at either the JKS National Grading in Drumcondra or at the Club grading next month. The grading’s for new belts are important milestones for each student as they become more proficient at their Karate practice.

We linked in with our JKS Tallaght friends for a fundraising Bag pack for the JKS Ireland Squad members (some who are from JKS Swords), going to Japan in July for the World Karate Championships. We did really well and the funds will go directly to the Squad members to help them with the expenses of this trip.

This month (May), we are delighted to host Masao Kagawa Shihan, 9th Dan JKS, for a three-day seminar. Kagawa Shihan is the World Chief Instructor of JKS Karate and we are very fortunate that he visits Ireland once a year. Over the three days, Kagawa Shihan will instruct members of JKS Swords and other JKS clubs in many technical aspects of karate. He will also conduct Dan grading’s (Black Belt examinations) and Qualifications in areas such as Judging and Refereeing. A full report of the Seminar will follow in next month’s edition of our Club news.

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

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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 month. The first correct entry to be drawn will win €50..Good luck