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Volume 7 Issue 1 November 2021

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Stay safe and enjoy the Yuletide season! Balbriggan Millfield Shopping Centre Tel: 01 883 4150

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Let us stay safe and enjoy the Yuletide season!

With lots of the restrictions regarding Covid 19 more or less relaxed and life heading towards a pre Covid normality, we at Locals Magazine are like you, hoping we are beginning to see a new era for us all. Christmas may be only next month but even though it seems we may be able to mix more and enjoy it, we still have to be very careful . We must continue to practise constant handwashing, using the hand sanitisers, wearing masks when appropriate, social distancing and having our Covid Certs in order to keep ourselves and others safe. We must also protect our mental and physical health as well in this pre Christmas season. This should also mean supporting those who have supported us over the past 20 months. This means shopping locally supporting our local businesses and securing local employment. We at Local magazines really value the essence of community, we are a community based magazine and love promoting local community based sporting, charitable and voluntary organisations. We value the loyalty of you, our readership, our contributors and our advertisers without whom it would not have been possible to publish the magazine online and more recently once again in print during this crisis. In the next six weeks we will be in the throes of Christmastime and Christmas shopping. Those days and the month ahead will be crucial to the survival of each and every one of us. Crucial to all of us workers and business owners and the survival of those of us who have health problems We may be coming out of the restrictions but that does not mean being over exuberant. We must all continue to grasp this new era cautiously and continue to pull together while not forgetting the consequences if we do not. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to return to what we knew to be normality at Christmas two years ago? To enjoy our yuletide again with our loved ones, families and friends. Returning to normal also means supporting our local businesses, supporting our carers and HSE frontline staff and supporting each other and all in our locality who need our help. Let us not take anything for granted all stay safe, obey the regulations and enjoy meeting up with those we care about once again. So, stay safe, enjoy the beginning of the season and remember please continue to shop local! The Locals Team

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STRICT DEADLINE FOR DECEMBER EDITION: 15th November for inclusion in our December edition.

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BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-NOVEMBER 2021

Local News

Fingal Projects Shortlisted for All Ireland national Awards Fifteen Fingal County Council projects have been short-listed for prestigious national awards.A total of ten Fingal projects and initiatives have been nominated in nine categories for this year’s LAMA Awards. The All Ireland Community and Council Awards, presented by LAMA and sponsored by IPB Insurance, are an opportunity to highlight and promote the work carried out in our communities. Now in their 15th year, the awards have consistently showcased the successful collaborations between communities and councils over the years and have provided a platform for recognising and acknowledging unsung heroes.In 2020, ten Fingal County Council led projects were also nominated in eight categories in the Commuunity Awards with ‘Community Car’ Age Friendly Sustainable Transport Service in Fingal winning for ‘Best Community Based Initiative’. The nominations for this year’s awards are:Whitestown Estate Management – Community Environmental Initiatives in Best Environmental or Ecological Project or Initiative, Contactless Bottle Filling Station and Fingal County Council Public Wi-Fi Roadmap in Best Business Working with the Community. Re Clean Up! In Best Waste Management Programme, Free Outdoor Wi-Fi in Best Connected Council, Millennium Park in Best Public Park, Weather Station for Schools in Climate Change and in Best Education/Training Initiative, Weather Station for Schools in Climate Change in Best CSR Community Programme, Swords Castle Conservation Project in Best Heritage Project, Fingal Festival of History in Arts/Culture (inc. festivals & events.The awards ceremony, which will be hosted by RTÉ presenter Marty Morrissey, will take place on 27 November at the Crown Plaza Hotel, Dublin Airport. Fingal County Council projects have also been nominated in five of the 16

categories in the Chambers Ireland 2021 Excellence in Local Government Awards.Only 90 projects from 20 councils have been short-listed. The award ceremony will take place on Thursday, 18 November. Last year Fingal County Council won the Supporting Sustainable Communities Award for the Shop Local Website.

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BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-NOVEMBER 2021

Local News

Councillors approve Council’s €784m Capital Programme Councillors have approved Fingal County Council’s €784m three-year Capital Programme which provides for significant investment on projects across the County during period from 2022 to 2024. It represents a €17m increase on the previous Capital Plan with the 2022-2024 programme identifying 237 individual projects with an estimated spend of €783.73m over the three years. The Programme projects a capital spend in 2022 of €237m, followed by €265m in 2023 and a further €282m in 2023. Just over half of the €784m has been allocated to Housing with the €393m budget underpinning the Council’s commitment to delivering a significant housing programme under the Government’s new housing plan, Housing For All. resources and to provide good quality housing to purchase or rent at an affordable price. The Council expects to construct 239 homes in 2021 and 2022 while continuing to progress plans for the development of landbanks at Church Fields in Dublin 15, Ballymastone in Donabate and Hayestown in Rush. A total of €20m has been set aside for Community and Sports programmes. Almost 20% of Capital Plan expenditure is earmarked for Planning and Strategic Infrastructure projects with the Church Fields Link Road and Cycle Scheme due to go to construction soon while the Donabate Pedestrian Bridge, which will be constructed over the main Dublin-Belfast rail line, is due to commence construction next year. A sum of €12m has been set aside for the development of a new Regional Park at the former Baldoyle Racecourse, which will be co-funded by the Local Infrastructure Housing Activation Fund (LIHAF), while €2.2m has been allocated for the Porterstown Park Recreational Hub. Projects by the Economic, Enterprise Tourism and Cultural Development Department will account for 15% of expenditure with €23.1m being set aside for the Civic and Cultural Centre element of the Swords Cultural Quarter project which is due to go to planning in 2022. Works on the Carnegie Library in Swords is expected to begin in early 2022 following public consultation with €1.2m allocated to this project. A total provision of €23.5m has been made for a number of projects under the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Scheme with extensive

Fingal County Council has approved a €784m three-year Capital Programme which sets out significant investment on projects across the County including the Snugborough Road Interchange. .

works planned to commence during the three-year lifespan of the new Capital Programme. A further €58m has been allocated to Environment Climate Action and Active Travel projects which will include Protected Cycle Lanes, Road Safety and Active Travel Mobility.

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-NOVEMBER 2021

Local News

Balbriggan Tidy Towns - Turning Grey to Green

Our TIdy Towns project “Turning Grey to Green” began yesterday as part of FCC’s Anti-Litter; Anti-Graffiti initiative.With the help of TYs from Loreto, phase one involved painting over a lot of unsightly graffiti. The next phase will involve planting pollinator friendly ivies and other climbers to increase the biodiversity of this sterile wall. Changing graffitied walls to green walls, which provide food and habitats for our pollinators, is a much more environmental and sustainable way of dealing with this anti-social problem. We plan to implement this idea at other locations too. Thank you to our wonderful Loreto team, their teachers, our own volunteers and FCC for the necessary funding

Lorreto TY students, teachers an our voluunters painting the wall.

New Community Development Officer appointed to Balbriggan area

Leah Walshe is Fingal County Council’s new Community Development Officer in Balbriggan.

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-NOVEMBER 2021

Fingal County Council has appointed Leah Walshe as the new Community Development Officer assigned to the Balbriggan area. She succeeds Mick Dunne who had held the post for several years.Leah, who has worked for Fingal County Council for the past five years, had been based in Dublin 15. She has over 20 years’ experience of working with a broad range of communities in the Philippines, the Caribbean, Australia and in Ireland and has a social justice background with an emphasis on upholding standards of honesty, ethics and integrity.She has academic qualifications in International Community Development, Journalism and Housing and has extensive experience in the social sector with a focus on vulnerable migrant families and children as well as having a firm understanding of the asylum system internationally and the situation of migrants in Ireland. Speaking, following the announcement of her appointment, Leah Walshe said: “Balbriggan is the youngest and one of the fastest growing and most diverse communities in the country. This brings with it many strengths, but there are also many challenges that come with rapid change over a short period of time. As the Community Officer in Balbriggan I want to create opportunities for meaningful interaction between people from all backgrounds. I want to mitigate prejudice whilst increasing constructive attitudes. I want to support the process for building trust and understanding and I want to help create a common identity.”Leah has commenced her role in recent weeks and is currently preparing for the full easing of COVID-19 restrictions by Government on 22 October with plans being drawn up for a reopening reception and launch of the Fingal Community and Sports Hub in Balbriggan which will include a series of open days showcasing a range of community groups, and community support services. Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

Local News

THINKING OF SOME

HOME IMPROVEMENTS? WE ARE HERE TO MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR YOU!

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Are you looking for more space for your family to live in? Would a top floor working space in your home make your life more productive?Would you love a better quality of life, living 5minutes from beautiful Mornington Bay Beach and its beautiful environs?If this has tweaked your interest, then prepare to be wowed by an exquisite new house in Maydenhayes Cove, Mornington, County Meath, a private enclave of 6 gorgeous new family homes at a very affordable/reasonable price. These new large 5-bedroom detached houses are laid out over 3 levels, maximising space for comfortable living; with a bespoke comfortable airy space at the top-floor level presenting the opportunity for a fantastic space to work from home. Other features in these spacious A-rated homes include five comfortably sized bedrooms and family bathroom, generous ensuites, walk in wardrobes, an unusually spacious landing at first floor level, underfloor heating and high-quality sanitary fittings. On approach to the house, the stained glass in the front door sets the tone for a chique new house that manages to combine the cosy feeling of home with being comfortable, modern and on trend. The front door opens into a charming and stylish entrance hallway filled with a happy and homely personality that permeates the whole house. The hall leads into a wonderful airy, spacious, and light-filled living/dining/ kitchen area featuring high ceilings at this level. Patio doors lead out into a generous garden with its favourable south westerly aspect to the rear. The house also comprises a good-sized boot/laundry room kitted out with plenty of storage for buckets and spades… and also features a smart guest cloakroom.A visit to the show house is strongly recommended if only to see how efficient living and working in a spacious, tranquil and beautiful setting could be. The Maydenhayes Cove show house is on view each Saturday and Sunday between 2pm and 4pm and on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 12pm and 4pm, or by private appointment – prospective purchasers can feel free to call to make an appointment and/or to get help with any questions. Enquiries to: Pivotal Construction Limited (01) 4732473 Knight Frank New Homes (01) 6342466 or Sherry Properties (041) 9841149 BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-NOVEMBER 2021

Local News

Jadotville hero’s medal presented to Balbriggan Historical Society

May McKeon Anthony McMahon Brian Howley and Brian Kavanagh with Jadotville Medal

Jadotville Medal

President Michael D Higgins with members of the socirty at Aras an Uachtarain.

Dale & Anthony McMahon at Terence’s grave

Balbriggan and District Historical Society would like to thank Anthony McMahon who presented the Society with the Medal awarded to his brother Terence for his part in the Siege of Jadotville in the Congo 1961. The medal was presented to us following the unveiling of a memorial plaque on Terence’s grave. The Society looks forward to the time when we can display the Medal with our other artefacts in a Museum in Balbriggan. Also the society recently presented a Sack of Balbriggan commemorative medal to President Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain. The society is this year celebrating its 40th Anniversary following its foundation in 1981. Last year the society organised a number of events to mark the centenary of the Sack of Balbriggan which occured on the night of 20th September 1920.

CommunityLocals.ie 8

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-NOVEMBER 2021

Finance

Is time running out for your insurance cover? By Dave Kavanagh When people take out cover, such as life cover or serious illness cover, it is usually for a specific term, such as 10, 20 or 30 years. When these terms expire, the cover usually ends. People can ap-ply for new cover but their health at that time may prevent them from getting cover again or could include a premium rating. This is why having a conversion option is an extremely valuable bene-fit. It allows the person to extend their cover without having to provide any new medical details, so they are guaranteed to be accepted for cover (assuming they were accepted at ordinary rates when they first applied). It’s hard to know what your requirements will be in 10 years, never mind 20 or 30 years, so if you are taking out cover for the first time, it is important to make sure that you will have the flexibility in the future should you require it. For anyone that has cover in place, do you know exactly when it is due to expire? Do you know if it has a conversion option? It is far wiser to check and make sure you know these details now, rather than leave it until it is too late. If your health has deteriorated since you originally took out cover and you do have a conversion op-tion, it may be well worth looking at converting it now, as cover is more expensive the older you are, so you can lock in a lower premium and future proof yourself by getting the

best value for your cover. In many cases, a lower level of cover may be sufficient as the financial loss that would have occurred 20 years ago may be reduced, for example, children may have grown up and moved out. Another aspect to consider, is if you were a smoker when you first took out cover. If you have been a non-smoker for over 12 months, you may be entitled to substantially reduced premiums.

positivity and motivation. As heard on RTE 2FM and TV3.

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 phone 087-6414570, 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,

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-NOVEMBER 2021

Local News

Assistance Dog ‘Marco’ - making a difference to the world for one boy

Photo taken inside Skerries Community College, from the left, Anne Mulligan with puppy in training Adel, a yellow Labrador sitting in her Irish Guide Dogs jacket, Daniel Lai Drumm, Jonathan (Johnny) Dunne holding the trophy, Ellen Gilmore, Tom O’Neill with his black Labrador guide dog Qeb wearing his white harness.In front Sean Byrne sitting in his wheelchair.

Gemma tells us about assistance dog ‘Marco’, raised and trained by Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. ‘We were matched to Marco in March 2017. Applying for an assistance dog was the best decision I ever made. I have a son who is on the autism spectrum and also has a learning disability.Marco has helped our family in so many ways, from busy airports, to crossing roads and best of all to my son gaining independence. He would get very stressed and anxious when travelling to the UK but since Marco came along my son is so much more relaxed and it helps me be less stressed too. When people see my son with his dog they no longer stare or make rude comments as they can see his hidden disability. We’ve been to playgrounds, the cinema and even visited Santa which is something I could never even attempt before we got Marco. I cannot thank Marco enough for what he has done for my family and I will be forever grateful to him. He is the sweetest, kindest and most beautiful dog

in the world’. Adel, puppy in training, is now 9 months old. She has been busy out and about with her puppy raiser Anne Mulligan. In late August, on a beautiful sunny day, they visited Tully Nurseries, Co Dublin. In September along with Tom O’Neill and his Guide Dog ‘Qeb’ they returned to Skerries Community College to present a trophy to Johnny, Ellen and Daniel who accepted it on behalf of all the students who raised €1,223.55 for Guide Dogs.Next they travelled to Ashbourne to visit Specsavers and Chez Emily Chocolate Boutique. Both locations have our Tap to Donate €3 machine. Specsavers Ashbourne have raised €258 and Chez Emily €326. Specsavers, Balbriggan raised €1,050 from customers who have tapped and donated. Thank you everyone. Look out for our Christmas cards and calendar in Balbriggan and Skerries shops and stores, or you can contact us by phone/ text: 085 7663107. Email: GuideDogsBalbriggan@gmail.com

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10 BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-NOVEMBER 2021

Feature

Christmas is coming so let us bargain hunt now!

By Siobhan O’Neill White Christmas is-a-coming and after last year’s disaster, it’s ok to get extra excited this year! We have been scouring the shops for ideas to help you get ‘Christmas ready’ First up, nights out! For underwear Patricia O’Toole’s Slynx slips are perfect to slim silhouettes. Jazz up your look with Nicky Hoyne sparkly Glitter Petrol boots! Limerick based and online clothing store Virgo Boutique have fantastic casual and glam wear, for days in and nights ‘Out-Out’ SoSu by Suzanne Jackson have stunning make-up and tanning gift sets. Irish brand Biofresh Skincare have beautiful skincare sets; their Rose scented products smell incredible. Carter Beauty, another Irish brand, has gorgeous and affordable Christmassey make-up gift sets and face masks. Fancy some bling? Irish jewellery brand, Absolute Jewellery have beautiful

styles to choose from. The green jewelled pieces are perfect for Christmas. Stunning! The new Babyliss Cordless hair straightener is a clever haircare gift. For the guys, Babyliss have cool men’s grooming sets Need gift inspiration for sports enthusiasts? Irish brand DS Sports has affordable GAA clothing and accessories and new this year, electric scooters! For lunch & dinner inspiration Gourmet Food Parlours have delicious menus for pre-Christmas get-togethers and fab hampers and gift cards for gifting. We love personalised gifts and Donegal based Noted Ireland make gorgeous gifts. We especially adore their baking sets. I’d love that personalised apron for myself. Crafty business DBCiara makes the cutest, personalised decorations and handmade cards. Lovely for someone special! It’s so important to support local businesses and

All Ireland Foods is a fierce supporter of Irish produce. We love their ‘Cork Rebel’ ‘Chocolate Lovers’ and ‘Honey Hampers’ – quirky yet quintessentially Irish! A lovely treat is a hotel or spa trip. Four Seasons Hotel Carlingford and Luxe spa vouchers are valid for 5 years and are an ideal gift for stressed, overworked Mammies! (Hint Hint!) Silly Goose coffee was started by a stay-at-home Dad who understands the need for coffee with a new baby! Their CBD coffee is an unusual and cool gift for coffee lovers! With Covid restrictions, visiting Santa is tricky so Santas Snowglobe is a brilliant option. Receive a special ‘parcel’ in the post, get in Pj’s and enjoy hot chocolate and gingerbread while chatting with Santa, via a personal zoom. We adored this last year, it’s wonderful! For more gift ideas and competitions, go to mams.ie

ALL CONTRIBUTORS PLEASE NOTE** 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.

Community organisations -We are here for you and it’s free! Calling all community and voluntary groups in this area! We are here to facilitate you and help publicise your organisations. We are a community based magazine therefore there will be no charge for publicising your group, whether its a chess club or small pastime group, a support group or a big community or sporting organisation. So if you want to publicise your organisation every month just send us an email to communitylocalseditor@gmail.com..We look forward to hearing from you.

COVID-19: Reframing the challenge, continuing our recovery and reconnecting

COVID-19: Proceeding with Caution COVID-19 infection rates are once again increasing along with hospitalisations and ICU admissions – which means that we must all continue to proceed with caution.

The resilience and solidarity of our people, however, combined with exceptional support for the vaccination programme, means that we can move forward carefully.

Here are four important things to know:

1 2

Vaccinations work

Vaccination is the best means of protection against COVID-19. The vaccines are free, safe and effective..

Act immediately if you have symptoms

If you experience any symptoms, you must self-isolate and get tested even if you are vaccinated. Stay at home — do not go to work, school or college. Do not socialise.

Take steps now to reduce your risk of infection

Vaccination does not eliminate the risk of spreading the virus. That is why it is important to wear masks, clean our hands, cover up when we cough or sneeze, choose outdoors over indoors, keep our distance, and ensure indoor spaces are well ventilated. These behaviours ARE effective - they DO work. And remember if you are in a place where guidelines are not being followed and you don’t feel safe – take your business elsewhere.

Your actions inﬂuence others

Think about what you can do to support and encourage all of the people around you to stay safe - your work colleagues, your clients and customers, your family members and friends.

The following measures will continue for the time being:

COVID-19 Pass — Proof of vaccination or recovery (e.g. Digital Covid Certiﬁcate) is necessary for access to indoor hospitality and events.

Keep your distance as an important protective measure.

Wear a face covering in the appropriate settings.

We will have to live with the virus for some time to come. We must continue to work together so that it causes minimal disruption to our lives. For further information please go to gov.ie/recovery

Return to workplace continues on a phased and cautious basis for speciﬁc business requirements.

Healt

Home Cook Recipes

Colourful Chicken Curry Forget the chill with warming Curry. As the weather starts to turn chillier, eating foods with spices can help to warm us up from the inside out! Curries are a great dish for cooking in a batch and leaving it to simmer to develop the flavours of the spices. Curry also freezes quite well, providing a flavoursome, nourishing and warming meal for those busy days that you may not have much time to spend in the kitchen. There are so many variations on curry. My recipe is really colourful, tasty, healthy and lean with all the different vegetables.

Colourful chicken curry Makes 4 portions Ingredients •

3-4 (550g) Chicken fillets, chopped into pieces

• • • • • • • • • •

1 large spanish onion, cut into chunks 3 Garlic cloves, crushed/chopped finely 1 Red pepper, cut into chunks 1 Yellow pepper, cut into chunks 2 whole Fresh red chillis, diced 100g Spinach leaves 200g Natural flavour greek yogurt 1 tin chopped tomatoes 4 tablespoons curry powder 400mls water

Method 1. Prepare and wash the vegetables. Place aside. 2. Prepare and chop the chicken. 3. Heat a non stick pan on a medium heat. If not using a non-stick pan then heat 4 teaspoons of oil in a high sided pan. 4. Add the onion, garlic and fresh chilies and cook on a medium-high

heat. 5. Add the chicken and curry powder. Allow the chicken to cook thoroughly and absorb the flavours from the curry powder. 6.Add the peppers, tin of chopped tomatoes and 400mls hot water. Stir to mix. 7. Simmer for 1 hour until the liquid reduces. In the mean time the condiment such as rice could be cooked as per instructions on the product label. 9.Finally, stir in the spinach leaves and yogurt. Serve and enjoy. For 1:1 clinical consultations, public health talks or workshops in preschools, primary or secondary schools and workplaces, please email: niamh@biabites.net See my ‘Fun food’ and ‘Recipes’ albums on ‘Biabites’ Facebook for other food ideas. Niamh Arthurs, Public Health and Clinical Nutritionist”

Fitness

It’s Time to Grow Together for Movember By Ciaran Russell Movember is an annual event involving the growing of moustaches during the month of November to raise awareness of men’s health issues, such as prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and men’s suicide. “Men’s health is in crisis. Men are dying on average 5 years earlier than women, and for largely preventable reasons. A growing number of men – around 10.8M globally – are facing life with a prostate cancer diagnosis. Globally, testicular cancer is the most common cancer among young men. And across the world, one man dies by suicide every minute of every day, with males accounting for 75% of all suicides”. Source: movember.com/about/cause Generally men will brush things off as unimportant and not speak up about things that may be bothering them; be that physically or mentally. As part of the Movember movement I want to help change that narrative to help bring more men together to support each other through whatever issues they may be facing.Health and fitness plays a massive part in how you feel. By improving health markers and being more active, the health of not just men, but everyone, can be significantly enhanced. We live our lives mostly in comfort, trying to

avoid the hard things. That may be losing some weight, trying to get fit, speaking on a stage or starting something new, all of which can make us uncomfortable. Usually when we experience discomfort we tend to give up on making that change and we stay rooted to the past instead of leaning in to the potential growth that may

come as a result of that hardship.Use the month of November to take charge of your health and fitness in the pursuit to becoming a better person for yourself and other people in your life. Do you want your life to be an example or a warning to others? You can support the Movember cause by logging on to their website movember.com

BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-NOVEMBER 2021

Local Sports

Balbriggan Rugby U 16’s win First Youth Leinster League game

Balbriggan Rugby U 16 ‘s

We at Balbriggan Rugby hosted our first home Youth Leinster League match of the season lin mid October, when our U16’s played Lansdowne OB/DLPSP. It was a tough match, against very good opposition, with Balbriggan holding out for a win. Well done to all the team coaches and mentors.

A tribute to the late Karl Birch from Balbriggan Cricket Club

The late Karl Birch R.I. P

Everyone at Balbriggan Cricket Club was saddened to hear of the recent passing of Karl Birch after a long illness which he quietly fought with incredible strength and dignity. Karl was a regular at our ground watching games and supporting his son Eoin who plays with our 1st team and has played for several Leinster and Ireland underage teams. Karl was a genuinely funny and generous man who always had a smile and a joke. He was someone you loved to meet at the ground and a brilliant bloke to chat and spend time with. The club would like to send our sincere condolences to Karl’s beloved wife Antoinette and their twins Eoin and Emma who Karl was so incredibly proud of in every way. May Karl rest in peace 16 BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-NOVEMBER 2021

Local Sports

Fingal Co Co and FAI launch TY Football and Fitness Course

This picture: Former Ireland international John O’Shea with the class of the 2021-22 on the Football and Fitness Transition Year Course run by Fingal County Council and the Football Association of Ireland. Bottom left: Former Ireland international John O’Shea talks to Sean Mackey and Sean McCarthy at the launch of the Football and Fitness Transition Year Course run by Fingal County Council and the Football Association of Ireland. Bottom right: Former Ireland international John O’Shea pictured with Fingal County Council Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly and the Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Daniel Whooley, at the launch of the Football and Fitness Transition Year Course run by Fingal County Council and the Football Association of Ireland.

Former Republic of Ireland international John O’Shea was the special guest at the launch of the sixth year of the Football and Fitness Transition Year Course which is run by Fingal County Council and the Football Association of Ireland. The course, which attracts participants from across Fingal, gives TY students an opportunity to sample full-time football training while also fulfilling their educational requirements and obtaining qualifications in coaching and fitness training.The 2020-21 course was officially launched by Deputy Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Daniel Whooley, FAI President Gerry McAnaney and Fingal County Council’s Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly at a special ceremony in Corduff Sports Centre where the course is based. Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

John O’Shea, who won 118 international caps, and is one of Ireland’s most successful footballers ever, took part in a Q&A session during which he imparted plenty of sound advice to the young students who travel every day to Corduff from across the county. Ireland Under-21 assistant coach and former international player O’Shea said: “It was a pleasure to meet all the students and coaches at Corduff and to help them celebrate the launch of the sixth year of the Football and Fitness Transition Year course run by the FAI and Fingal County Council. As I explained to the students, I would have loved to have such an opportunity available to me when I was their age. This is a great programme which offers them a pathway into football and the

fitness industry whilst continuing their studies at the same time. There are so many career opportunities now available in sport and I wish them all the very best of luck for the year ahead.” The President of the Football Association of Ireland, Gerry McAnaney said: “The transition year programme at Corduff offers an excellent opportunity for those players on the course to further their football career in tandem with their education. It is an exemplary programme that we would love to expand on across the country. Our thanks to Chief Executive AnnMarie Farrelly and Fingal County Council for their ongoing support for this wonderful programme and my thanks to our FAI staff for their commitment to the development of these young players.” BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-NOVEMBER 2021

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18 BALBRIGGAN LOCAL-NOVEMBER 2021

Down

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