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Getting Back into the Swing of Things

Summer has sadly come to an end and it’s time for the regular daily routine to return! However, it’s not all doom and gloom - even though the weather may not have been wonderful, Fingal still shone in the Summer and there’s plenty on offer this Autumn!

We have been very lucky over the past three months to have had so many wonderful events and festivals to attend throughout the county. There was something to do for all ages and all of it taking place on our doorsteps.

We now are looking to Autumn, and it is the season that aways has something in store, and more times than not we are treated to some decent weather! It’s the season where everything jumps back into life after a well-earned break and let’s face it, it’s good to get into the swing of things again.

School is back, and so are the early mornings of school runs and the daily commute, and while it can take some time getting used to the routine, we in Fingal are at a significantly higher advantage of having fantastic transport services and routes on our doorsteps that can relieve a lot of that stress.

There’s never a better time of year to get try something new with so many local sporting clubs and social groups reopening after the Summer and once again, we are spoilt for choice in what is on offer right on our doorstep. We once again have the vast number of local people who volunteer to ensure that these services are available to us.

So even though Summer may not have been everything that we wanted it to be when it comes to the weather, it sure did deliver in many other ways and as we move into the Autumn here’s looking forward to many more entertaining experiences all ready to be sampled in wonderful Fingal!

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

Swords Meals on Wheels Thank Local Hotel

Words Meals on Wheels had a significant shortfall of meals the first week of August due to one of the group’s suppliers being on holiday for the week, and they were trying to source alternatives to cover one of our runs. The local branch contacted The Carnegie Court Hotel with a view to buying a number of meals daily to cover our shortfall. The management group very quickly

made a decision to supply all of the requirements completely free of cost! “Thank you all in the hotel and particularly Tracey Dunne for doing this for us, it is really appreciated. Great to see local business’s supporting local causes. Swords Meals on Wheels supplies just under 100 meals daily free of charge in the greater Swords area,” reads a statement from the local branch.

CommunityLocals.ie

Something for everyone at the Fingal Poetry Festival

The annual Fingal Poetry Festival returns to Skerries on 13-15th September with the local festival connecting people with poetry, music and each other — creating shared moments that inspire people to find their voice.

In celebration of the event’s fifth anniversary, this year’s programme is full of exciting events for all ages.

On Friday 13th September, join land artist Mayumi Nakabayshi in making a giant mandala with natural materials on Red Island. Later that evening, come along to the Little Theatre for the Grand Slam Final to crown the Skerries Slam Champion — who will perform in the Word Tent at Electric Picnic 2025! Featuring host Sheila Ryder, the finalists of our four regional Poetry Slams in Fingal Libraries, and multi-championship winning guest poet Samuel Yakura. Music by Amano.

Saturday 14 September - The Big Poetry Day Out kicks off bright and early with a morning Poetry Walk at the Harbour. Led by poet Enda Coyle-Greene with readings by poets Lani O’Hanlon and Gormfhlaith Ní Shíocháin, Sean Nós dancer Nada Ní Chuirrín, and music by Brenda Castles. From 2-4pm, Floraville Park will transform for the Family Poetry Fest! Fun for all the family with children’s author Lucinda Jacob, young local poets and musicians. There will be creative art, games, and an open mic for children and young adults.

At 15:30, join Prosper Fingal for poetry, song and a cuppa, as we celebrate with the winners of the Fingal Poetry Prize and An Fiach Dubh — our international poetry competitions.

Hailed by the BBC as Ireland’s King of the Blues; Nigel Mooney’s much acclaimed organ trio features Scott Flanigan (organ) and Dominic Mullan (drums). For this concert they will be joined by their old friend, Ireland’s greatest jazz chanteuse Honor Heffernan.

To round out the festival, poet Damien B. Donnelly will guide us through an Ardgillan Poetry Walk in the high woods on Sunday 15th September. Finishing in Ardgillan Castle Library with a reading by poet Brian Kirk.

for

Funding for the 2024 festival comes from Fingal County Council, the Arts Council, Fingal Local Community Development Committee, Dublin UNESCO City of Literature, DHL Global Forwarding, and Roadstone is gratefully acknowledged. With support from Fingal Libraries and Poetry Ireland.

Visit the festival website for full details: www.fingalpoetryfestival.com

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Music by Mick Morris. All participants are invited to bring a poem written by themselves or a poem they like,

sharing.

Far from the catwalk

I smiled wryly when a friend asked if the ring I was wearing belonged to my late father. Given a choice between donning anything vaguely resembling jewellery, or having a wisdom tooth extracted by Mr Bean wielding a rusty pliers, he would have opted for the latter.

The Kinks would not have found their Dedicated Follower Of Fashion amongst the adults I grew up around. In matters sartorial they were dyed in the wool (pun intended) conservatives. Clothes were purely functional; to keep out the elements, and very importantly, preserve modesty. Even on the hottest day of the year layers were shred with great reluctance. As he reached the point of near expiration, my father would finally remove his jacket, as he toiled in a sweltering glass house. But the Donald Duck style waist coat, containing his pocket watch, remained steadfast in place.

The first time I saw an open neck shirt was when a man appeared on television, uttering the immortal words: “Hello I’m Johnny Cash”. Impressed with the new role model. I grabbed my little guitar, undid my top shirt button and hopped up on the kitchen table. My grandiose ideas of fame in Nashville were soon dashed as my mother cried out: “Button your shirt or you’ll catch your death of cold!”, quickly returning me to the reality

of life in rural Fingal in the late 1960s. Before large chain stores made shopping a leisure activity, local drapery shops like Taylors (long gone) on the main street in Swords, provided good quality clothing at reasonable prices. The management and staff were on first name terms with their customers, knowing their style and size as they came through the door. Head cover was mandatory. By in large working men wore flat caps, while the bosses preferred felt hats with brims. Protocol dictated where and when head gear should be worn. For example: failure to remove one’s cap at the dining table could result in being awarded the title of a “bowsie”.

The ladies had a range of head scarves and hats that hadn’t changed much in centuries. In a moment of grave misjudgement my mother purchased a navy-blue pill box hat for my confirmation. Said hat caused great embarrassment to her, and unbridled hilarity for the rest of us; when dislodged by a rouge gust of wind, it hit the ground rolling and broke the land speed record for a piece of millinery, as I gave chase to the cheers of onlookers. Who could have predicted the era of the designer label and selfie? But then, I guess the pendulum of life seldom settles in the middle.

Families are enjoying the last of the summer season at CityNorth Hotel where it has been a record year, with visitor numbers exceeding expectations. Domestic tourists seeking a family “staycation” have broken all records at the hotel during the months of July and August, visiting attractions in the area including Emerald Park, Flynn Park and Funtasia Waterpark.

Director of Sales and Marketing, Suzanne Mulvey says that destination marketing of the East Coast of Ireland by Fáilte Ireland, Tourism Ireland, and locally Discover Boyne Valley and Fingal Tourism, has helped to create awareness of the abundance of things to do in the area.

Ms Mulvey commented, “We are lucky with our location on the border of Fingal and the Boyne Valley. Our guests have access to activities, garden and food trails, heritage sites, golf courses and vast stretches of stunning coastline. Families staying at CityNorth Hotel can head off for the day with a picnic, and even on a low budget can enjoy nearby amenities like Ardgillan Castle, Newbridge Demesne or a day at the beach”.

“There are more reasons now for tourists to stay longer in the area, and as a result we are seeing an increased average length of stay. The addition of the award-winning Lark Theatre is very exciting, as are the plans for a €25.4million rejuvenation of Balbriggan Town. The food culture here is booming and CityNorth Hotel guests can visit distilleries in Slane and Listoke, pop up to Carlingford to visit the oyster farm and enjoy unique experiences like beekeeping with Beewize in Drogheda.”

As a member of Boyne Valley Flavours, a network of local food growers and producers in the region, CityNorth Hotel features ingredients from members including farmers and food producers on their seasonal menus. Food tourism is booming, and CityNorth hotel is introducing Sea and Land cookery classes in the Autumn, for guests and locals to experience the food provenance of the area.

Keep an eye on their website, www.citynorthhotel.com for seasonal events and offers.

What Retirement Planning Have You Done?

By Dave Kavanagh

Among the things that people in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s are not over-enthusiastic about considering, is retirement planning. It’s too far away and they don’t want to visualise being in retirement. However, it is a simple fact, that the earlier someone starts planning for retirement, the better financially prepared they will be when it comes. The tax benefits alone should encourage people to get started. For example, someone on the 40% tax band that pays €200 per month into a pension, only actually pays €120 per month as they have full tax relief. The reverse way to consider that, is your €120 each month, instantly grows by over 66%!! (And that’s before any investment growth on your fund). If your future self in their 60’s could give you wise advice, it would be to get into the habit of having a regular deduction to plan for the future, in the same way you get used to having PAYE, PRSI or USC deducted.

With “Auto Enrolment” expected to come into force in early 2025, an estimated 800,000 workers in Ireland who do not currently have a pension arrangement, may find they will be compelled to participate in a scheme. While all details of the scheme are not yet finalised, it is likely that employees and employers will both contribute with possibly an additional contribution from

Government. It is likely that any employees that pay for any form of pension through their payroll (whether the employer adds a contribution or not) will be exempt from having to join the new scheme. For most companies, it is relatively straight forward to offer a payroll deduction facility to their staff, which means the employee gets used to the deduction before their net pay and doesn’t think of it as an extra expense that they must pay for when they receive their salary. Whatever stage you are at, it is well worth making the time to consider your own retirement planning.

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.

IDEAL CONSTRUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Music-Filled Summer for Swords Tidy Towns

The young at heart volunteers of Swords Tidy Towns once again didn’t hold back this summer. It was concert after concert. I have to say Swords Women’s Shed gave us a good run for our money in the energy department. The wonderful Events team led by Paul Barnes at Fingal County

Council spoiled us all for choice. They are to be applauded for their professionalism and for the wealth of talent they brought to Swords this Summer, Nathan Carter, Sister Sledge, Essentially Cher, The Blue Bells and others, not forgetting Vintage Picnic.

It was a very busy year for our hard-working Tidy Towns team and these concert opportunities to let our hair down were not going to be passed up, it was full on party time. For now, cowgirl and cowboy hats and boots have been stored away in anticipation of next year’s star attractions.

Nine Magical Months

Pregnancy is a wonderful but it sure ain’t easy, so it’s important to treat mums-to-be. Making sure she has a comfortable chair, bringing her a cuppa; little things make a difference!

Better Health Therapies, Hampton St. Balbriggan offer gorgeous treatments for pregnancy, including massage and reflexology. See www.instagram.com/better.health.therapies, The second trimester is wonderful for a ‘babymoom’. Nausea from first trimester is gone and tiredness of third trimester hasn’t kicked in! Farnham Estate Co Cavan is a beautiful spot, with a stunning indoor/outdoor pool, fabulous spa, woodland walks and scrumptious restaurants. We went for a ‘Babymoon’ and loved it! Book at www.farnhamestate.ie/Mothers-Day.html.

Afternoon Tea at Bracken Court is a lovely treat for mums-to-be. Packed with sandwiches, brioche, cakes and served on decadent china! Book at www.brackencourt.ie.

Four Seasons Hotel Carlingford is also fab for

‘Babymoons’. A two min stroll to the village, the hotel has a pool, spacious rooms and relaxed vibe. www.4seasonshotelcarlingford.ie/

Irish skincare brand, Nyrah Beauty is perfect for sensitive skin, making it ideal for mums-to-be. www.nyrahbeauty.com.

Irish brand, Freddy has maternity jeans that stretch throughout pregnancy and also are good post birth, when Mammies need some extra stretch. www.freddy.ie.

Irish brand, Powercut Clothing pregnancy leggings stretch as bumps grow, are super soft and look great on www.powercutclothing.com. Irish company Stitch-a-name make personalised baby gifts like blankets, pram snugglies, baby comforters etc. www.stitchaname. com/

Swollen feet are a common problem in pregnancy, which is why we love Thomp2Socks. Their wide fit socks won’t leave marks on swollen pregnant ankles and a portion of sales goes

towards Down Syndrome charity. www.thomp2. com/.

Cosmic Baby Ireland make colourful, personalised baby soother holders, which double as trolley tokens! So cute and clever www. instagram.com/cosmic.baby.ireland

Irish company Hampers and Co. have launched a range of adorable baby hampers, in pink, blue and neutral colours. A fab gift for someone going on maternity leave or a new Mammy www. hampersandco.com

For nursery furniture, buggies and baby essentials, we love Pitter Patter in Nenagh, and they also ship nationwide. We cannot praise Michael enough for their wonderful customer service. www.pitterpatter.ie

We know Christmas is still a bit away but Elf Town RDS bookings are now open, including personalised gift options! Book here: www. elftowndublin.ie

Rush Tourism are delighted to partner with Rush Local and take this opportunity to say a sincere ‘Thank You’ to everyone who helped to make our Rush Harbour Festival & Air Show 2024 event such a huge success.

We are so grateful to each of our amazing Sponsors & Volunteers for their support without which our Festival and Air Show would not be possible: Fingal County Council /Dublin Airport D.A. / Dermot Mc Namara Solicitors / Progressive Credit Union / SuperValue / Rush Community Council / Adrian DunnePharmacy/ St.John’s Ambulance/ Rush Sailing Club / Rush Community First Responders / Ros-Eo Preschool / Rush Tidy Towns / Rush MusicalSociety / Specific Gym / St. Maur’s Pipe Band / Ros-Eo Art Group / Yoga in Rush / Rush Local Newspaper / Eamon Price / Des De Burca / Brian Delaney /Brenda King & our own families & friends who gave their time and assistance on so many occasions. We also thank our many loyal traders, crafters, entertainers & participants. We also wish to express our thanks to you, our reader & to all your friends & families who came out in your thousands to partake in our event. We were overwhelmed with the support from everyone, making this year’s festival a huge triumph for all involved.

This year’s airshow was the biggest and best aeronautical display to date brought to us by our aforementioned sponsors & Millennium Promotions.Our festival provided the perfect location to embrace Fingal’s motto of Fluirse Talaimh is Mara (rich in land and sea). This year’s Harbour Festival facilitated our local growers, artisan food producers, local eateries and a myriad of additional local businesses to showcase their produce to a new audience. Our celebrity chefs were suitably impressed with the variety and quality of food produced by our local growers.

We will be sending lots of beautiful photographs to the editor of Rush Local over the coming months in addition to sharing some fabulous recipes created by our celebrity chefs; Ian Rankin Harford, Catherine Fulvio, Whitestown House & The Salty Buoy, so watch this space!!

The voluntary committee of Rush Tourism operates as a sub-committee of Rush Community Council Ltd.

Yours sincerely

Rush Tourism

Approximately 700 people attended Vintage Picnic hosted by Age Friendly Fingal on Thursday 25th July 2024 in Swords Castle. This lively festival offered an afternoon of creativity, music, dance, and exercise for over 55s and was testament to the enthusiastic and motivated older people of Fingal.

Those in attendance participated in a wide range of workshops, including graffiti art, mandala creation, vintage clothing demonstrations, and tie-dyeing. For those inclined towards physical activities, professional instructors led sessions in Yoga, Zumba, and Tai Chi, allowing participants to try out new activities, or simply relax and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

Light garden games were provided by the Fingal Sports Department, and for those needing

a bit of relaxation, chair massages were available. For aspiring musicians, workshops in African Drumming, Ukelele and Bodhrán were provided by tutors from the IIMS, Balbriggan.

The crowd were entertained with live musical performances from local groups; Gerry and the Plonkers from Donabate and the Blanchardstown Ukulele Group (BUGS), showcasing the talents of Fingal’s older residents. The headline acts, the Blue Bells, and the Ronan Collins Showband, created a festive atmosphere that reverberated throughout the grounds and brought the crowd to their feet.

Vintage Picnic 2024, which was attended by Fingal County Council’s Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly, the Mayor of Fingal Cllr Brian McDonagh and Minister Darragh

O’Brien as well as our local Councillors, brought together older people from across Fingal in an environment that fostered connections and new learning experiences. Most importantly Vintage Picnic highlighted the need to provide new opportunities for older people, to continue to learn, develop and grow, and to have fun!

Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Brian Mc Donagh said, “I was delighted to attend this great event in Swords Castle which is being enjoyed by our Fingal residents of the over 55’s generation. Their enthusiasm and willingness to have a go at all the many activities is fantastic to see. As well as their ongoing invaluable contributions to society they are an inspiration to us all showing that life is meant to be celebrated, whatever our age.”

Longlegs (2024) Film Review

By Jack Shanley

Longlegs is a horror thriller that taps into the dread of being watched, following the classic yet effective trope of a mysterious killer with an unsettling aura. Directed by Osgood Perkins, known for his atmospheric and slow-burn approach to horror, Longlegs explores the intersection of the supernatural and the psychological with a narrative that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Nicolas Cage, who portrays the titular character, is mesmerizing as the enigmatic and unnerving Longlegs. His performance is a masterclass in controlled terror, with his eerie calmness and occasional bursts of unhinged behaviour. Cage’s ability to shift between charm and menace adds a layer of unpredictability that elevates the film’s tension. The supporting cast, including Maika Monroe and Alicia Witt, deliver solid performances, grounding the film in a grim reality that contrasts sharply with the more surreal elements of the plot.

The film’s pacing is deliberately slow, allowing the tension to build gradually. This choice may not resonate with viewers expecting a

more fast-paced horror experience, but for those who appreciate a slowburn, the payoff is well worth the wait. The cinematography enhances the unsettling atmosphere, with dim lighting and claustrophobic framing that leaves you feeling as though something sinister is always lurking just out of sight

Longlegs thrives on its atmosphere, creating a sense of unease that lingers long after the credits roll. It’s a film that isn’t afraid to leave questions unanswered, trusting the audience to piece together its fragmented and often disturbing narrative. While it may not be a crowd-pleaser for everyone, Longlegs is a haunting and memorable addition to the horror genre, particularly for those who relish ambiguity and psychological depth in their scares.

In all truth I’d recommend checking out Longlegs and see what you think of it, I shall give it a score of Four stars. You can watch it at your local cinema today. Director: Osgood Perkins – Rating: R –Genre: Horror/Crime – Run Time: 1h 41m Language: English. For more film content please follow @ movies4fanatics on Instagram.

Swords Karate Club News

Swords Karate Club members compete in Japan

On Sunday 21st July, 6 members of JKS Swords along with their Sensei, Dermot OKeeffe 7th Dan JKS, departed Dublin to participate as part of the JKS Ireland Squad in the 6th JKS Karate-do International Cup 2024 & The 6th JKS Karate-do International Para Cup 2024 in Yoyogi 2nd Gymnasium (Tokyo, Japan). 40 countries were in attendance with over 1000 competitors taking part.

Following a grueling 18 hours of travel (and fighting the jet lag), JKS Swords members took to the tatami on Tuesday 23rd to take part in the 2 hour International Seminar under Kagawa Shihan, Kanayama Sensei and Yamaguchi Sensei. Wednesday 24th saw the Squad members and supporters familiarize themselves with the competition venue as the Irish Coaches, Judges and Referees took part in important information meetings. Thursday 25th & Friday 26th saw the International Cup in full swing with Individual events on the Thursday and Team and Family events on the Friday.

While there were no medals for the younger members of the Squad on this occasion, they all performed with distinction, giving their all in Kata and Kumite and showing high levels of sportsmanship and respect towards their fellow competitors. The young Squad members were exemplary representing their Club, Organization and Country during these Championships and everyone is very proud of them. The future is bright for this young Squad. JKS Swords would like to thank everyone who supported them in this journey.

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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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