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Summer Season is Finally Here! Summer has finally arrived, and we have been treated to some very nice weather over the past

month or so. Here in Fingal, we have also been spoiled with amazing events and weekly activities organised by many of the wonderful groups and local organisations that continue to promote our county in such a great light.

The work undertaken by Fingal County Council cannot go unmentioned with so many

festivals, concerts, family fun days and so much more being organised by the local authority. And they just keep coming – this month we can savour the wonderful fruits of labour of the many

traders who will descend on Newbridge House on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th for the annual

Flavours of Fingal. The county festival always puts the best of Fingal to the forefront and there’s something to do for all the family!

Fingal shines in the sun and we are very lucky to have some of the most beautiful beaches

in the country that we can really enjoy in hot weather. The sheer number of public parks, castle grounds and gardens accessible all year round is also unrivalled and always offers a wonderful weekend getaway from the hustle and bustle. WE should also give a mention to the many

excellent community centres, state of the art libraries, music venues, cafés, restaurants and bars that are there for all of us to enjoy.

So don’t forget about the many different events taking place in Fingal this summertime, be sure

to enjoy what’s on offer and take the chance to sample as much as you can! The Locals Team

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BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-JUNE 2025

Local News

A busy summer so far for the Balbriggan/North County Guide Dogs

Tom O’Neill, Guide Dog Qeb and volunteer and Choir singer, Jane Carroll at the Skerries Community Choir and Skerries Community Choir.

What a summer it has been so far for the Branch of Guide Dogs. The branch has been busy and enjoying all the wonderful support, especially on Guide Dog Day where a fantastic total was raised on Friday the 23rd May in Millfield Shopping Centre of €1,126.11 and on Saturday the 24th May at SuperValu, Balbriggan a total of €698.64 was raised. We want to once again say thank you to all our volunteers and to everyone who supported us. At the end of May, the Skerries Community Choir held a summer concert and a fantastic sum of €1,000 was donated; €400 collected on the night and a further €600 later from the choir. Tom O’Neill and guide dog Qeb were in attendance with some of our volunteers

and a brilliant evening was had by all. A big thank you to Jane Carroll and all the Skerries Community Choir for supporting our branch. If you didn’t spot us at the Choir, you might have seen our wonderful volunteers who attended the Balbriggan Summerfest on the 1st June where merchandise and raffle tickets to win a luxury holiday were sold, with €324.30 raised. We still have raffle tickets available so be on the lookout for our next event which will be in Skerries Mills at the farmers market on Saturday 16th August and make sure to come get yourself one. Tom and guide dog Qeb have also been busy, giving talks about what a guide dog does and also visual impairments. Tom and Qeb recently attended Buíon Peade ragus Pòh Brigins Junior

Girl Guides, who did a sponsored walk for Guide Dog Day, with €320 raised. They also attended Tyndall College in Carlow and Ballinalee National School in Co Longford to give a final school talk for 2024/2025 and of course once again Qeb was the star of the show. If you would like to keep up to date with our upcoming events, make sure to follow our social media pages for more information. You can contact Balbriggan/North County Dublin Branch of Irish Guide Dogs by phone/text 0857663107, email: GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com or find us on Facebook at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs

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Local News

What a Day at Balbriggan Pride

Working with you for our community

The second annual Balbriggan LGBTQ Pride was held on George’s Square on June 7th 2025. Local musicians from the Sceal Collective played on a rainbow stage outside the Our Balbriggan hub from 2pm to 6pm. MC Eddie McGuinness kept the day going smoothly. There were also street performers from Circusful, entering the crowd with juggling and dancing. Community gardai, local politicians and representatives of many local groups attended the day. There was the chance to learn about services in Balbriggan on the information stalls, such as the 6

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-JUNE 2025

Outcomers social meet up for LGBTQ adults in Flemington Community Centre and the LGBTQ Book and Film club in Balbriggan Library. The Balbriggan LGBTQ Committee group is a member of Fingal PPN and received funding from Fingal County Council for the day. The committee was set up with the assistance of Outcomers LGBT Support Services. To get in touch please email: balbrigganlgbtq@gmail.com. GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail. com or find us on Facebook at Balbriggan Branch of Guide Dogs

Cllr. Grainne Maguire Independent 90 Drogheda St., Balbriggan, Co. Dublin 087 9436650 grainne.maguire@cllrs.fingal.ie Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

Local News

New Mayor wants to ensure Fingal continues to thrive

Fingal Mayor Tom O_Leary with Deputy Mayor Grainne Maguire

Cllr Tom O_Leary has been elected as Mayor of Fingal

Councillor Tom O’Leary (Fine Gael, Balbriggan) has been elected as Mayor of Fingal at the Council’s Annual General Meeting held in County Hall in Swords recently. His election means he becomes the 20th Mayor of Fingal. The AGM also saw the election of Cllr Gráinne Maguire (Independent, Balbriggan) as Deputy Mayor. Cllr O’Leary is a long-term resident of Skerries and has served as a Councillor in Fingal for over 15 years. He is a proactive advocate on key local issues and has held significant roles on transport, strategic infrastructure, planning, coastal management and housing during his time on the council. Married and with three adult children, he has worked as a parliamentary assistant to a number of Fine Gael spokespeople/Ministers in both the Dáil and Seanad. Addressing councillors for the first time as Mayor, Cllr O’Leary said: “It is a great honour to be elected as the 20th Mayor of Fingal. I sincerely thank my colleagues for placing their trust in me to serve in this role to help ensure Fingal continues to be a great place to live for all. “Throughout my time as a councillor, my focus has consistently been on delivering homes, strengthening infrastructure, and enhancing community facilities across Fingal. From affordable housing and measures to tackle anti-

The Age of Coffee By Jon Kavanagh In the early noughties I arrived in a trendy Dublin city hotel for a social/business meeting with friends and colleges from the media. When asked to name my beverage, I said “a coffee please”, prompting the bar tender to break into a language I didn’t understand; containing words like latte, ‘Capuchino, and expresso’, that meant nothing to me. Unknowing to me a coffee craze had pitched its tent in Ireland. I realised I was swimming way out of my dept. As a red face descended, I sheepishly said “just an ordinary coffee please”. By now the gathering had no doubt reached the conclusion they were in the company of a blundering bumkin who made Mr Bean look

social behaviour, to improving youth amenities, schools, and sports facilities I am proud of what we’ve achieved and am eager to build on that and ensure that Fingal continues to thrive. “I am particularly looking forward to seeing progress made on the delivery of a new Sports Hub in Skerries, accelerating the delivery of more homes alongside key community infrastructure, advancing the development of the Bremore Deepwater Port, the opening of the new Skerries Carnegie Library, expanding our Active Travel initiatives and identifying a large annual event for the people of Dublin 15.” Councillors also selected the Chairs for each of Fingal’s three Area Committees at this evening’s AGM. These committees focus on the local delivery of services within their respective regions, addressing issues such as roads, litter, playgrounds, water services, housing, and libraries. The newly elected Chairs for this year are: • Balbriggan/Rush-Lusk/Swords: Cllr Luke Corkery • Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart/Castleknock/Ongar: Cllr Eimear Carbone-Mangan • Howth-Malahide: Cllr Cathal Haughey

like a sophisticated man about town. Today I consider myself a connoisseur of the aromatic bean. A surprising development, given my first childhood introduction to the then unfamiliar liquid. On an otherwise normal Saturday, my mother and father took me in hand and set off on a welcome and all too rare break from the gate lodge where we lived. On reaching our destination my mother disappeared into a hair saloon leaving me in the sole custody of my father. “Come on, we’ll go down the road to the eating house”, a term then used for cafes and restaurants, he said. A good man, he worked tirelessly to provide for us. But like many men of his generation, hands on parenting, did not rate high on his skill set. With all the grace of a farmer lifting a sack of spuds, he plonked me on a chair and wedged me under the table. What happened

next remains a mystery to this day. I know my father would not have ordered coffee in a million years. Yet, that is what a lady in an apron gave us. Were they out of tea? Or did she just assume we wanted coffee, and he was too embarrassed to say anything? We will never know. I thought things couldn’t get any worst till I finally managed to extricate myself from under the table and tasted the bitter tar like substance masquerading as coffee. Although certainly not my favourite, the accompanying biscuits somewhat softened the blow. Coffee culture is just one of the many changes since that far off day in the mid-sixties. Around our Fingal towns and villages, we are never far from top quality outlets; ranging from comfortable indoor areas to the now familiar ‘horse box’ types which are a positive spin off from the covid era. Enjoy your coffee!

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-JUNE 2025

Local News

Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce welcomes New President Jude O’Sullivan

The Balbriggan Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the appointment of Jude O’Sullivan as its new president. The transition took place during a recent gathering where Councillor Tony Murphy provided a brief history of the Chamber, highlighting the significance of the Chain of Office and the motto engraved on it. “Mollain an obair an bhaile” During the event, Chris Harmon from Country Crest expressed gratitude to the outgoing president, Richard Berney of UHY Farrelly Dawe White, Accountants, Balbriggan 8

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-JUNE 2025

for his dedicated service to the Chamber, and a Richard ‘s contributions were acknowledged. Unfortunately Richard sadly passed away on the 24th May and our thoughts are with his family. May Richard RIP. In his acceptance speech, Jude O’Sullivan thanked everyone for their support and expressed his enthusiasm for collaborating with Chamber members, the community, and local authorities to advance the Rejuvenation Plan. He emphasized the importance of this initiative in revitalizing the area and enhancing local business opportunities.

Jude also welcomed the recent upgrades to the Harry Reynolds Road, which now features a new Pedestrian & Cycling Route. This project not only connects local businesses, schools, and sports facilities but also significantly improves safety for pedestrians and cyclists, promoting active travel within the community. As the Chamber moves forward under Jude’s leadership, there is a shared sense of optimism about the future and the potential for positive change in Balbriggan.

Film Review

Ballerina (2025): A Dance of Violence and Grace

By Jack Shanley “From the World of John Wick: Ballerina” carves out a compelling, if at times familiar, corner within the revered John Wick universe. Starring Ana de Armas as Eve Macarro, a vengeance-driven assassin, the film embraces the franchise’s signature blend of hyper-stylized action and intricate underworld lore, while attempting to forge its own identity. The narrative centres on Eve, a ballerina trained in the deadly traditions of the Ruska Roma, as she hunts down those responsible for her father’s murder. The film opens with a brutal flashback, immediately establishing Eve’s profound grief and the genesis of her relentless pursuit of retribution. This personal stake lends emotional weight to the otherwise gloriously chaotic action sequences. De Armas delivers a committed performance, channelling a simmering rage that fuels her character’s every move. The film smartly intercuts gruelling ballet practice with combat drills, visually linking the artistry of dance to the brutal precision of assassination. Fans of the John Wick saga will find much to appreciate. The familiar neon-drenched aesthetics, the subtle hints at the vast network of assassins, and the strict adherence to the High Table’s rules are all present, enriching the world without overshadowing Eve’s journey. Keanu Reeves also makes a welcome, albeit brief, cameo, effectively passing the torch while maintaining the narrative’s focus on Eve. Where “Ballerina” truly shines is in its inventive action choreography. From flamethrower duels to ice-skate bayonets, the film consistently delivers fresh and dynamic fight sequences. There’s a particular standout moment where Eve navigates a nightclub, leaving a trail of destruction that forces the audience to “reverse engineer” the unseen carnage. This clever subversion of expectations, coupled with her resourceful use of everyday objects as lethal weapons, keeps the adrenaline flowing. However, the film isn’t without its minor missteps. The plot, while offering some unexpected turns in its latter half, occasionally veers into the familiar “revenge story” tropes. Some supporting characters, particularly the main antagonist Gabriel Byrne’s Chancellor, feel somewhat underutilized given the talent involved. Despite these small criticisms, I’d recommend checking out “Ballerina” 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: Len Wiseman – Rating: 15A – Genre: Action/Thriller – Run Time: 2h 5m Language: English. For more film content please follow @movies4fanatics on Instagram. Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-JUNE 2025

Local News

Uniting for a Cause: The Fran Malone Memorial Cup Returns to Glebe North On Saturday, August 2nd, the heart of Balbriggan will beat a little louder as the community gathers at Glebe North Football Club for the Fran Malone Memorial Cup — a charity football match that’s more than just a game. It’s a tribute, a celebration, and a rallying cry for support, all rolled into one. This year’s match is in proud support of CRITICAL CFR Balbriggan, (https://criticalcharity.ie/), a volunteer-led emergency medical response group that’s redefining what it means to serve. These are the people who drop everything when a call comes in — trained responders who act as an extension of the National Ambulance Service, racing to the scene of cardiac arrests, heart attacks, strokes, and choking incidents. Their mission is simple but profound: to save lives. The volunteers of CRITICAL CFR Balbriggan are community locals. They’ve undergone rigorous training, Garda vetting, and are preparing to launch August 2025. Leading up to the CRITICAL CFR Balbriggan launch, the most ambitious and largest scale community project in the town’s history, COMMUNITY HEARTS, a masterclass in grassroots community action with the installation of residential defibrillators for every estate in the town. Ensuring all residents of the second most densely populated town in Ireland are within 3-5 minutes of their nearest accessible defibrillator. The Fran Malone Memorial Cup, just like Fran, is dedicated to helping others, the football match for charity carries forward Fran’s legacy of compassion and generosity. Last year’s match raised over €8,000 for hospice care. This year, every euro raised will go toward equipping CRITICAL responders with the tools they need to save lives. So come down to Glebe North on August 2nd. Cheer on your local legends, meet the volunteers, and be part of something bigger than football. Whether you donate, volunteer, or simply show up — your presence matters. Let’s make this match one to remember. For Fran. For Balbriggan. For all of us.

Dedicated fund-raising page: https://criticalcfr.enthuse.com/cf/franmalone-memorial-cup. Facebook Page for CRITICAL CFR- Balbriggan. www.criticalcharity.ie/

Rob O’Donoghue TD

Email: robert.odonoghue@oireachtas.ie | Call: 083 054 5554 10 BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-JUNE 2025

Feature

Summer has begun - let’s play!’

The kids starting their summer holidays are celebrating..... while parents are wondering how they’re going to entertain them for 8 weeks!! So let us help you with some top tips for places to go! Dublin city has lots to offer. National Concert Hall has great events & concerts. While The National Wax Museum has interactive exhibits the kids will love. Check Mams.ie for Wax Museum Competitions! For family dining, Shake Dog Diner offers fantastic value for burgers, shakes, hotdogs etc. For delicious Mexican food, Acapulco on Georges St is excellent and very child friendly. Bracken Court Hotel in Balbriggan has easy access to Dublin via regular trains and buses and they do packages that include Emerald Park, Flynn Park, Funtasia and other fun activities. Plus they’re right beside the beach. Skypark in Carlingford is brilliant for all the family. I’ve zip lined there, much to my childrens amusement, its so fun! Go to Mams.ireland Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

FB for our Skypark competition. The lovely Four Seasons Hotel Carlingford is nearby and ideal for making a staycation out of your trip! For a memorable family break, Farnham Estate is wonderful. The spa, golf, indoor/outdoor pool are fabulous and the food is top notch! We love staycations there. The woodland walks are great for kids - look out for squirrels and lots of birds! Malahide Castle and Gardens is beautiful for picnics and exploring the stunning grounds. They often host events too. And Avoca cafe is a perfect pitstop for yummy cakes & coffees! Newbridge House & Farm is brilliant for kids who like animals and exploring. Watch out for the peacocks, their colourful feathers are spectacular. We will have competitions running throughout the summer, for Flormar makeup, Artessa Coffee Beans, Arc Cinema tickets & lots more, so stay tuned to Mams.ireland on FB, Mams.ie on Insta and www. mams.ie BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-JUNE 2025

Local News

Balbriggan’s Macleans Cleaning Services Accredited as Business All-Star 2025

Macleans Cleaning Services Honoured with Second Business All-Star Accreditation Macleans Cleaning Services, based in Balbriggan, County Dublin, has received its second consecutive Business All-Star Accreditation 2025 from the All-Ireland Business Foundation. Under CEO Emma Maclean’s leadership, the company has solidified its reputation for consistent excellence, reliability, and a customerfirst approach within the commercial and educational cleaning sectors. Neil and Emma Maclean from Macleans Cleaning Services celebrate after Macleans Cleaning Services were honoured with Business All-Star 2025 accreditation by the All-Ireland Business Foundation. As a family-owned, Irish-run enterprise, Macleans Cleaning Services prides itself on trustworthy, friendly, and professionally trained staff - each Garda-vetted and insured.

By providing tailored solutions across offices, schools, and facilities, their onsite supervisors ensure strict adherence to high standards using top-quality machinery and materials. The 2025 accreditation reaffirms their unwavering commitment to service integrity, continuous improvement, and the well-being of both clients and employees. Reacting to the news, Emma Maclean, Chief Executive Officer of Macleans Cleaning Services, said: “We are thrilled to receive our second consecutive Business All-Star Accreditation 2025. This honour reflects the dedication of every cleaner, supervisor, and support staff member at Macleans. Our mission has always been to provide a service that goes beyond cleanliness— adding value, safety, and peace of mind to our clients’ environments. This recognition inspires us to keep exceeding expectations.” Announcing the accreditation, Kieran Ring, Deputy Chair of the AIBF Adjudication Board,

said: “Macleans Cleaning Services has demonstrated exceptional consistency in delivering high-quality, reliable cleaning solutions. Their family-centric culture, combined with rigorous staff training and dedicated onsite supervision, sets them apart. Earning back-to-back All-Star status speaks volumes about their integrity, operational excellence, and genuine care for clients and community alike.” Kapil Khanna, Managing Director of the AIBF, added: “Macleans Cleaning Services exemplifies the true meaning of a family-run business that delivers professional excellence at scale. Their commitment to ongoing training, quality machinery, and client satisfaction has raised the bar for the cleaning industry. We congratulate Emma Maclean and her team on this well-deserved back-to-back accreditation.”

CommunityLocals.ie 12 BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-JUNE 2025

Finance

What If Your Income Vanished Next Month? By Dave Kavanagh When assisting clients plan their finances, a question I have to ask, is, how long (if at all) their employer will pay them if they are out of work long term due to illness or injury. In some cases, it is standard and can be something like 3 months at full pay, then 3 months at half pay and then a pensionable rate of pay. For many, they are not sure and when they look through their employment contract, it states “at employer’s discretion”. Many people realised how vulnerable they were when the pandemic arrived, dropping some incomes from €600, €800 or €1,000+ per week down to €350 of PUP. Many don’t give much consideration to how they would cope if they suffered a loss of income for an extended period because they think “it’ll never happen to me”. Sadly, many find out the hard way following an injury or illness that keeps them out of work for months or even years. This is where having Income Protection in place, can be the difference between maintaining a level of income that keeps your lifestyle virtually unchanged, or dropping to a level that could force you to use up any savings and also get into financial difficulty. So how does it work? Depending on your circumstances, you choose an appropriate level of cover. This is based on not exceeding 75% of your salary, less any state income entitlement. You also

choose a “deferred period” which refers to how long you are off work before payments commence. The premiums are based on factors like your age and occupation, as some occupations would leave you more at risk of not being able to work. There is also tax relief on premiums paid for income protection, which could mean up to 40% of your premium is refunded by way of adjusting your tax credits. If dropping from your current income to the current state benefit is something that would impact badly on you, perhaps it is time to consider.

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.

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-JUNE 2025

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

Down

1. People who act for others. (6) 2. Hard rock. (7) 5. A person’s partner in marriage. (6) 3. Either of the two tides at the first 10. American state, capital is or last quarter of the moon. (4) Montgomery. (7) 4. It’s always with you and shortest at 11. Prescribed identical clothing for noon. (6) a group. (7) 5. Work room for an artist. (6) 12. Hard or exhausting work. (4) 6. Leave out. (4) 13. The subject or theme of a speech. 7. Device for breathing while face (5) down in the water. (7) 15. Human outer covering. (4) 8. Portable computer. (6) 17. Doctor? (3) 9. Improves, corrects. (6) 19. A building whose components 14. The science of matter and energy are made off-site. (6) and their interactions. (7) 21. Passages between rows of seats or 16. The lowest point of anything. (5) shelves. (6) 18. Hollow type of Middle Eastern 22. Cut up for examination. (7) bread. (5) 23. Keep possession of. (6) 20. Receptacle for rubbish. (3) 25. Relating to race or culture. (6) 21. Playing card with one spot. (3) 28. Something done, a deed. (3) 23. Strong in constitution, hardy. (6) 30. Polish and in the nude. (4) 24. A crisp smooth lustrous fabric. (7) 31. Excessively sentimental. (5) 26. A style of rock music popular in 32. Propel oneself in water naturally. the 1970s. (3,4) (4) 27. Make someone do something. (6) 35. Bomber obsessed with secrecy. 28. A writer of books. (6) (7) 29. The practice of being careful with 36. Set apart from others. (7) money. (6) 37. Barged into the beast. (6) 33. Online journal. (4) 38. What you aim at. (6) 34. Severe, stern, or sullenly obstinate. (4)

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