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FREE Enjoy the Summertime but be careful’ Volume 5 Issue 7 - August 2021

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Summer heat and smiling faces at last! Having been through the most frightening, boring, and completely frustrating eighteen months of all

our lives it is wonderful to feel the summer heat, with ice cream and smiling faces at last. Up to now our

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editorials have predominatly warned of the dangers of letting down our guard and rightly so. However, while all the advice is still very necessary, lets enjoy what is left of our summer for what it is, long days of sunshine and our happy and healthy families. It was wonderful to see everyone enjoying the recent spell of sunshine and the doom and gloom of Covid banished from their thoughts if only for a short

time. Summer may be here but even though it seems we may be able to mix more and enjoy it, we still

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have to be very careful . We must continue to practise constant handwashing, using the hand sanitiser, wearing masks in public, and social distancing in order to keep ourselves and others safe. We must also

protect our mental and physical health as well and let the sunshine into our lives once again. This should

also mean supporting those who have supported us over the past 15 months. This means appreciating our

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wonderful health care workers whether they are Doctors, Nurses or Health Service Ancillary staff, they

have all played and are playing their part in keeping us safe and healthy. It also 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 and voluntary organisations. We value the loyalty of you, our readership, our contributors and our advertisers. We hope you have a healthy and happy August with your smile, and the smiles of your family and friends brightening your days. Oh and don’t forget enjoy the ice cream and shop locally. The Locals Team

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Local News

Henchy welcomes commencement of works at Newbridge House

Cllr Adrian Henchy outside the section of wall at Newbridge House & Park

Cllr Adrian Henchy has said he is very pleased to see activity finally get underway on the repair and restoration of the historical and strategically important Newbridge House and Farm perimeter wall in Donabate. The Cllr said, “I Have been campaigning and calling for at every opportunity I have got within Fingal County Council on this important issue for the repair and restoration of the surround wall since I was first elected to Fingal County Council in 2014. I received confirmation this week from the Architects department of the Council that monies have now been committed to the repair & restoration and the contractor is presently setting up site to commence works. These works will comprise a number of phases and phase 1 will see the repair and restoration of the wall from the current main entrance in the direction of Cobbes lane and Turvey Avenue. These works will also comprise of restoring and installing the original main gates which have been in storage along with the pillars into Newbridge House & Park.” He said, “ The first phase traffic management wise should provide for minimal disruption to traffic given most of this section is off the main road but lessons will be learned from this phase regards the more challenging parts of the wall restoration into the future. My thanks to both the Architects & Operations department, FCC especially senior architect Fionnuala May on all her work in advancing these works and also the board of Malahide Castle & Newbridge House limited for supporting this major piece of infrastructural repair & improvement.”.

Johnston welcomes additional transport infrastructure on the peninsula Corina Johnston the Labour Party Local Area Representative welcomes the provision of additional transport infrastructure on the peninsula which includes bus stops on the Hearse Road, a shelter and new stop in the village and a shelter at the bus stop at the end of Turvey Avenue.Johnston said;” ever since the first resident moved into Semple Woods estate on the Hearse Road in 2019, Duncan Smith TD and I have identified the need for bus stops adjacent to the estate to facilitate residents travelling to and from the peninsula. Since then we have been in ongoing discussions with the National Transport Authority (NTA), Fingal County Council and the bus company Go Ahead Ireland. I can now confirm that we have been notified by the NTA that the two bus stops will be installed during the month of August. This will be of great benefit to commuters travelling to and from Swords and Portrane.” Johnston added;” The NTA have also confirmed that the provision of a much needed bus shelter on the R132 at Turvey, which was granted planning permission late last year will be installed over the coming months. This is a direct result of our ongoing discussions with the NTA on behalf of the residents.”Johnston continued; “ I am very pleased that a planning application has been submitted by the NTA for the provision of a new bus stop within Donabate village. This will replace two existing bus stops and will incorporate a badly needed bus shelter and real time passenger information unit. This development is as a direct result of a proposal first mooted by myself and Duncan Smith TD at a meeting with the NTA in August 2019 and which we have vigorously pursued since then with the NTA, Fingal County Council and the bus company Go Ahead Ireland. I firmly believe that if planning permission is granted and the facility installed it will facilitate a free flow of vehicular traffic through the village. “Johnston concluded; “ these much needed facilitates when installed will improve the travelling experience for bus commuters on the peninsula. “ 4

DONABATE LOCAL-AUGUST 2021

Finance

What options should you consider for saving? By Dave Kavanagh

charging negative interest, meaning they charge you for minding your money! Savings plans

In an ideal world, people should plan to have

that utilise investment funds are a fast growing

savings is aiming to have about a month’s salary

their savings. They are managed by experts that

breaking down or similar. Medium term is aimed

funds, such as equites and bonds. Your level of

a year or two, such as needing to change the car,

that matches your requirements is used. With

(when we can again!). These might require 3-6

there is a fluctuation in fund value, you get more

to as long-term savings. This is usually aimed at

term, these funds usually way out perform bank

from saving for children’s third level education

requirements. Talk to your financial advisor to

savings for different requirements. Short term

option for people that want to get the best out of

put by, for things like the washing machine

use a variety of investment types within their

at planning for things that will be happening in

risk is assessed, and a fund or choice of funds

having a wedding or having a special holiday

regular savings, the great part is that every time

months’ salary. Beyond these is what is referred

units for your premium that month. In the long

a period of 5 years or more. It can be anything

deposits. Plans can be tailored for your specific

to planning to buy a mobile home. The main

find out more.

difference with this time frame is that it opens

up more options to try and get some reasonable growth on your savings.

As most people know, bank deposit accounts

pay little or nothing in terms of interest. In some cases with certain balances, they are actually

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, 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.

Fowlers are looking to advertise for staff and have four positions available Bar Assistant Manager with at least 5 years full time experience. Chef/Cook with 3 years experience working all areas of the kitchen assisting head chef and being able to work independantly. Senior Bar Assistant with 3 years experience. Kitchen Porter

Direct all information (CV with contact information) to;- info@fowlerspubs.ie Contact us:communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

DONABATE LOCAL-AUGUST 2021

Local News

Ballymastone Recreational Hub moves to Public Consultation stage

Fingal County Council has moved into the public consultation stage for the Ballymastone Recreational Hub in Donabate. The purpose of this phase of the project is to give the public an opportunity to comment on the Council’s plans as part of its application for planning permission under Part 8 of the Planning and Development Act. Individuals, organisations, clubs and community groups are all encouraged to participate in the process.The Ballymastone Recreational Hub will provide for a wide range of sporting and recreational activities as a shared public facility; these facilities include a floodlit eight lane all-weather athletics track surrounding a grass soccersized pitch, a full-sized all-weather GAA pitch, which also provides for two all-weather soccer pitches, with floodlighting, a combined playground and skatepark, car/cycle parking, a six metre wide access road, extensive walking and cycling infrastructure, bleacher seating and extensive landscape planting.The Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Seána Ó Rodaigh, said: “I want to encourage everyone to express their views on the Ballymastone Recreational

DONABATE LOCAL-AUGUST 2021

Hub in Donabate regardless of what they are.” The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, AnnMarie Farrelly, said: “The Recreational Hub in Donabate is an important piece of strategic infrastructure for Donabate and Portrane and will be a major addition to the existing sports facilities on the peninsula. The Recreational Hub will be built alongside the recently approved scheme of 1,200 private, affordable and social homes in Ballymastone which are being developed by the Council and our partners Gleveagh Living.” Submissions can be made online at www.consult.fingal.ie (nb: not accessible through this medium) or by post in writing addressed to: Senior Executive Officer, Planning & Strategic Infrastructure Department, Fingal County Council, County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Co Dublin K67 X8Y2. Submissions have been open since Tuesday 6th July 2021 and will stay open until Wednesday 18th August 2021. Only postal submissions received by 5pm on Wednesday, August 18, 2021 or online by midnight that evening will be considered.

DONABATE LOCAL-AUGUST 2021

Local News

Council needs to procure new operator for Malahide and Newbridge attractions

Malahide Castle and Newbridge House and Farm in Donabate are two of the attractions Fingal County Council is now seeking a new operator for.

Fingal County Council will immediately begin the process of procuring a new operator for its successful attractions at Malahide Castle, Newbridge House and the Casino Model Railway Museum following the decision of Shannon Heritage to withdraw from their contract. The Council was disappointed to learn of Shannon Heritage’s decision and will continue to work with them as we move into a six-month transitionary period.The properties in Malahide and Donabate, which include Malahide Castle, the Butterfly House, Newbridge House and Farm and the Casino Model Railway Museum, are open to the public and continue to attract large numbers of visitors. 8

DONABATE LOCAL-AUGUST 2021

Local News

LSA - A community 10 years in the making In 2011 the Dublin Community Games came to visit Donabate to recruit volunteers to form a local group. The Donabate Community Games was formed and the athletics group was where Dara Carr and Jennifer Tanner met for the first time. Two people with a love of sport and a background in athletics.In June 2011, 270 juveniles turned up to the trial, and athletes and volunteers proudly lined up behind the Donabate Portrane Community Games Flag in our royal blue and white.Soon afterwards, and with the help of Gerry Ronan we set up Lambay Sports Academy (which changed to LSA very quickly).Initially we were a juvenile club. Over the years our Juveniles participated in Dublin and National Championships and the Community Games. Several of our young athletes made it onto the podium over the years, and our first National medal was won by Glory Uzomefuna in the Under 12 600m National Indoor Championship in 2017.In April 2019 we added the Adult Running Group. We started with a womens Couch to 5k. Quickly it became apparent that more people were interested in longer distances and interval training. Fast forward 2 years and we now have a growing vibrant adult group catering from Couch to 5k, half and full marathon and interval groups. Our adult Track and Field group is growing in momentum with recent participation in the Dublin Graded Meets and Leinster Championships.As we mark our ten year anniversary it is fitting that some of our original Juvenile athletes are now competing as Seniors and assisting with coaching our next generation of young athletes and that the club now has a National Senior medal winner.Our vision is of a club for all generations bringing athletics to the peninsula. We’ve been around 10 years but we are only getting started and with the athletics track in Ballymastone coming closer to reality it looks like the next ten years will be even more exciting than the first! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook - Search “LSA”.

DONABATE LOCAL-AUGUST 2021

Local News

Donabate Portrane Tidy Towns working for the area The months of May and June were busy for our group. lots of work was undertaken throughout the Donabate village and the roads leading to it, with footpath and roadside clearance works to the fore. Flower beds required plenty of attention and there is an overload of yellow roses from planting in earlier years. The flower beds at the roundabout beside the hotel were overhauled with some new planting and the grasses cut there. We hope to plant a few trees close by in November at this location. Plants were installed at the welcome stone to Fairways/ Spires/Donabate Village . We asked the Council for the two tree trunks cut on the New Road to be given as a feature here, but it never happened, sadly. Littering has been a major problem at week ends and we have gone out late at night to try and tidy up, but Herring Gulls are out early in the morning opening bags. Pizza boxes are a big problem. In Portrane we observed the lettering was worn at the anchor. We mentioned this to the Council last February and the lettering was redone in early June. We also asked for the leakage to be fixed from the anchor, but still remains to be sorted. The display stone at Tower Bay still requires the lettering to be redone and we asked the Council last February to have this matter attended to. Tidy up works took place in Seaview Park and Tower Bay carpark is regularly visited for cleaning up of litter. The roadside flowers at the entrance give a pleasant feel to this location. We have been active in lobbying for the removal of invasive Sea Buckthorn from the Burrow sand dunes. This plant has the potential to wipe out the rich flora and the supporting pollinators and butterflies , including the vulnerable listed Small Blue butterfly. The flowering plants here include Kidney Vetch and Birds-foot Trefoil which are critical for the bees and Small Blues, with Kidney Vetch the only food plant for Small Blue. Despite the beach being narrowed at the Burrow, the Little Terns so far have had a successful breeding season

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DONABATE LOCAL-AUGUST 2021

Feature

We love brightening up our area with flowers!

By Maria Corcoran My husband Niall and I have been volunteering for the past 3 years in our estate The Links, Donabate creating flowerbeds. We have planted flowers at the entrance and further down the road too plus we started to use the graveyard for water for the shrubs and flower bulbs we planted. So then we kept adding to the area we worked on and as they say the rest is history! Fingal County Council are aware of our creations over the years and have supported us in any way they can help so that is fab.However Niall and

myself love living in this area and feel this work in any spare time we get is a way of giving back to our estate. We love our community and the amazing compliments we get off the people is just powerful! I do post from time to time on Donabate village facebook page so if you look for me maria fitzgerald corcoran you can see our dedicated team work put into everything. We plant our own flowers or buy online or even from the garden centres near and far! Everything like tools are our own we even bought a new petrol lawnmower at Woodies in June. I would love just to show our Seniors out there that don’t have

Internet access or are even housebound what our flowerbeds in the cemetery and The Links look like! Editors note: Maria just wrote into us and attached the pics (jpegs) and we are more than happy to publcise the tremendous work her and Niall and friends are undertaking at The Links. If you or someone you know is giving up their time to improve your area or volunteer in the community and you feel they should be recognised for it, please drop us a line with details and we will be happy to give them the recognition they deserve also.

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.

DONABATE LOCAL-AUGUST 2021

Local News

Donabate Parish Hall refurbishment - book your activity now!

Exterior of the Parish Hall

Meeting Room

Donabate Parish Hall Committee has been busy over these COVID times with restoring and refurbishing the Parish Hall and fitting it out with new furnishings. About half of the total cost of these works was generously grant-aided by Fingal County Council, the Department of Rural & Community Development and the Fingal Local Community and Development Committee (LCDC) under the Community Enhancement Programme 2020, the Community Facilities Remedial Works Scheme (Non FCC owned), the Covid-19 Emergency Funding Round 2 and the Community Activities Funding Scheme. These grants enabled the hall to be repainted, new floors to be put down, the old floor in the main hall to be restored, a new storage container to be bought and new tables and black out blinds. The

Main Hall

Green room

Parish Hall Committee has put up the other 50% towards the cost of the works, which has been a considerable outlay during these difficult Covid times.All these improvements to our local Parish Hall are to the benefit of the entire community on our Peninsula, as it offers an upgraded space for mainly community, cultural and civic activities to take place in a warm welcoming environment. In order to satisfy a wide range of needs and activities from community to commercial, the Parish Hall Committee has produced a template for a Yearly Programme. This will have Weekly Activities (e.g., dance, cards, music) and will also have Blocked Activities whereby weeks will be set aside a few times in the year when weekly activities will be suspended to cater for other cultural and community activitie (e.g.exhibitions,

dramas, films, craft fairs and cultural camps). Current users have been contacted with regard to their needs and wishes within this new framework. There will be a number of times available for new users; so if you wish to express interest in using the facility please contact Bernie and Fr. Pat Reilly ASAP email Parish Office: stpatricksrcdonabate@gmail.com with the name of your organisation or group, what activity or event you are involved in, what days and times you are interested in or blocks of time for an event. (Requests can only be taken in writing). If you want any further information or clarification, please do not hesitate to contact the Parish Office on 01 8434574. We look forward to better times when we can return to “normal”!

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. 12

DONABATE LOCAL-AUGUST 2021

Local News

Leithinis Participates in Comhaltas FleadhFest 2021

Musicians on the steps of Newbridge House

Rory Thornburg with concertina

Musicians at Martello Tower

FleadhFest 2021 is a project by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to substitute for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, which has been cancelled this year due to Covid-19. Through a series of videos, it tells the story of Comhaltas from the point of view of each County and Province - the story of the people, community and culture. The videos, which can be viewed at youtube. com/comhaltas/videos, are a treasure trove for anyone interested in traditional Irish music. Leithinis Donabate Portrane CCÉ recorded our contribution to this project at two local heritage sites, Newbridge House and Park, facilitated by Duncan Henderson and Cathal Dowd Smith (of Fingal County Council), and the Martello Tower at Tower Bay thanks to Terry Prone and Bryan Greene. Part of our video is included in Contact us:communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

FleadhFest Ath Cliath Episode 2, starting at 37:35. It features Bren Farley and Sinéad Cahill on whistles, Erin McGahon on fiddle, Evin Cuniffee on banjo and Michael Durkan on guitar recorded at the Martello Tower playing the jig, Sliabh Russell, over the background shots of Newbridge House. This is followed by a set played by Denis Stack on button accordion, Sinéad Cahill on whistle and Clíona O’Reilly on fiddle. Well done to all our musicians; they did us proud. A special thanks to Ian Butler who did a thoroughly professional job on ensuring perfect sound quality and on editing the video and to John Treanor for the drone footage.Thanks to a grant from Fingal County Council’s Community Activities Funding, Leithinis has purchased three concertinas to add to our expanding

instrument bank. We wish to acknowledge the guidance and support offered by Rafe Costigan, Fingal County Council Senior Community Officer, in our preparation of this and previous grant applications. These concertinas will be available on loan to students registering for our classes next semester, starting in late September. The concertina classes will be taught by Rory Thornburg, who also teaches button accordion. Anyone of any age from seven up interested in joining our classes in traditional Irish music on banjo, bodhrán, button accordion, concertina, flute or tin whistle, check out our website, www.leithinis.com, and email us at leithinis@ comhaltas.net. DONABATE LOCAL-AUGUST 2021

Healt

Home Cook Recipes

Niamh’s Mouthwatering Beef and Black Bean Sauce Serves 1

• • • • • •

Ingredients

50g sliced onions 200g sliced beef 120 chopped mixed peppers 1 cup of whole grain rice 40g sliced mushrooms 40g black bean sauce

To make homemade black bean sauce: • • • • • • •

200g black beans 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 2 shallots 2 cloves garlic 5cm fresh root ginger 1 tablespoon chilli pepper flakes 1 & 1/2 teaspoons cornflour dissolved in 1 tablespoon water

Method to make sauce: 1.Mix the beans, shallots, chilli pepper flakes and rice wine vinegar together. Mash the beans well. Set aside. 2. Sauté the garlic and ginger in a small amount of oil on a pan until soft and flavours infuse. Add the mixture from the previous step. 3.Bring the mixture to the boil then simmer for 10-15minutes. To thicken the sauce, stir in the cornflour mixture. Simmer until thickened.

To cook the rice: Bring 1.5 cups of water to boil before adding a cup of rice and let it simmer before all the water has dissolved. Then it is ready to serve.

To cook the rest of the ingredients: 1.Add 1 tablespoon rapeseed oil into a nonstick pan (preferably). Gently cook stripped beef just to brown it then remove from pan. 2.Add vegetables to pan and lightly cook before adding black bean sauce and beef then cook till sauce begins to bubble and meat is cooked thoroughly. 3.Serve with cooked rice. For nutrition and healthy eating talks or workshops in preschools, primary or secondary schools, workplaces or community groups please email:niamh@biabites. netSee my ‘Fun food’ and ‘Recipes’ albums on ‘Biabites’Facebook for other food ideas. Niamh Arthurs, Public Health and Clinical Nutritionist www.biabites.net

Local News

Peninsula Pacers Easy & Hard Walks - Join In !

In July, we had two lovely walks on one of the hottest & most beautiful days of the year. The first walk was a short walk at a slow pace around the Farm at Newbridge. The focus was on learning how to take good photos on a mobile phone. Alain Rochecouste with his wonderful photography experience imparted some great tips on the day.The second walk was at a fairly fast pace around the Corballis end of the Peninsula.

It started in Newbridge Park then via the Kilcrea Gate - on to Corballis - around the point at the Island Golf Course - up the Donabate beach to The Shoreline Hotel for coffee & food - then on up the Lady’s Walk & Reilly’s Hill onto the Portrane Rd - finally back to the start point at the Parish Hall. It was about 10miles (16kms). On Thursday 19th August we will again run two walks. A short easy one and a longer harder one.

The short one will have a focus of history, bird or plant life. The long one will have a focus of pure walking & variety of landscapes to enjoy. We intend staying on the Peninsula again as we are so blessed with good places to walk! All walks are weather dependent and covid restrictions permitting.If you are interested in walking please contact: Carolyn on 087 9284307 or Breda on 086 8693243.

CommunityLocals.ie Contact us:communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

DONABATE LOCAL-AUGUST 2021

Local News

Men’s Shed Work Hard to Provide a Place to Rest

Work on the decking base

As reported last month, Donabate Portrane Men’s Shed received a generous grant from Fingal County Council’s Community Activities Funding Scheme for the materials to install a decking area at our plot at Turvey Allotments, for which we are extremely grateful. The materials have now been purchased –

New wheelbarrow

blocks and gravel for the base, pedestals and treated timber joists to support the composite decking, all the trims and fixings to complete the work and, most importantly, a new wheelbarrow to replace our old one which had given up the ghost. The on-site work has started and is progressing well, as can be seen in the

accompanying photos. Next month, we hope to have some photos of the completed work, with members taking a break from their strenuous work tending the allotment – a brief break, we hope! Anyone wishing to join the Men’s Shed should call Jim on 086-3694316.

Active Age for All – hopeful to start classes from early August

AAfA members registering for their classes, due to start in August.

For 5 mornings during July, we had registration times for our new term of classes. There was glorious weather and we were well equipped with the new seating outside the café at DPCC. This allowed plenty of social distancing and a time to catch up with our friends. Thanks to all the DPCC staff who have helped to make this happen.This is not the first time since March ’20 where we have prepared to commence classes and we really hope that we will not be in lockdown again and that by the time you are reading this, we will be seeing each other regularly. For those who have already registered, you will know that we cannot return immediately to any classes where we share equipment. However, that leave 16

DONABATE LOCAL-AUGUST 2021

Members of AAfA chatting in the sunshine to sign up to their classes

us with enough of a choice to keep our brains and bodies exercised! At the moment we have Art, Croquet, French, Spanish, Photography, Pilates, Sit & Get Fit, Stronger for Longer, Tai Chi, and Yoga classes. As soon as we can move to the others like Singing & Music, Bowls, Pickleball, Table tennis, Bridge and Cards, we will let you know. As soon as activities begin. We owe you money… we still have quite a few members who have not renewed their membership during the July dates for doing this. We have many members who were with us in 2020 when we had to shut down classes. Many members are carrying a small credit balance with us and we would encourage you to make contact

and renew your membership card by just using some of your balance to cover it. If you want to do this, please email us on activeageforall@gmail. com or text the AAfA mobile 086 8806808 and let us know. We will be able to leave your new card for you to collect at the desk of DPCC. Don’t forget that your new card will give you discounts in the usual suppliers. Are you new to the area or new to retirement – you just need to be 55+? You can call in to DPCC and collect an AAfA New Member form and fill it out and leave it for us. We can make contact and we will do our best to include you in classes as soon as possible. Contact us: communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

Local News

Balbriggan/North Co Dublin Guide Dogs Updates and News

Nessa and Padraic from Skerries with newly qualified Ambassador Dogs ‘Maisie’ and ‘Casper’ lying down and Nick Palmer’s Ambassador Dogs ‘Riley’ and ‘Ellie’ standing.

We are delighted to hear that Puppy in Training ‘Yarrow’ is doing very well on his Advanced Training as an Assistance Dog. His trainer expects he will be matched shortly to begin training with one of the parents of the child he will be assisting late August or early September. A week later ‘Yarrow’ will go to his new home where his trainer will assist the family in adapting to life with ‘Yarrow’. Good boy ‘Yarrow’. ‘Zabbie’ is a canine blood donor. Sometimes dogs need a blood transfusion, same as humans. To become a canine blood donor a dog must be in general good health, have up to date vaccinations, be aged between 1 and 9 years old and weigh between sixteen to twenty-seven kilos or more, without being overweight. ‘Zabbie’, puppy raised by volunteer Anne Mulligan, is also part of the breeding programme. She became a canine blood donor for Gilabbey Veterinary Hospital in Cork, the official veterinary surgery for Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind. Well done, ‘Zabbie’.Congratulations to our two new Ambassador Dogs, ‘Maisie’ and ‘Casper’, from Skerries who qualified recently. Owners Nessa and Padraic will bring them to local fundraising events to meet you, so please keep an eye out for them. They will wear an Irish Guide Dogs Ambassador Dog jacket or a reflective lead sleeve so you can easily identify them. ‘Adel’, puppy in training, is 6 months old now. She continues to grow in confidence every day. Good girl ‘Adel’. Following on from the success of our Tap to Donate machine in Specsavers, Millfield Shopping Centre, Balbriggan, and with assistance from Brian Brodigan, Manager, we are delighted that Specsavers are rolling out our Tap to Donate machines in their branches both in Dublin and nationwide. This is wonderful news as Specsavers have 22 branches in Dublin and over 50 nationwide. On 10th July Specsavers in Ashbourne and Navan launched their machines. Now there are more Specsavers locations where you can Tap to Donate €3. Contact us by phone/text: 085 7663107. Email guidedogsbalbriggan@gmail.com. Or on our Facebook page at Balbriggan.Branch.of.Guide.Dogs

Have your say on Space for Play Fingal County Council has launched the public consultation stage of the proposed policy on play provision for the young people of Fingal. Titled, “Space for Play – A Play Policy for Fingal”, the policy developed by the Council’s Parks & Green Infrastructure Division aims to provide a framework for the provision of safe, accessible, inclusive, natural and engaging play spaces for all children & adolescents up to the age of 17. The purpose of the consultation process is to provide an opportunity, to all interested parties, to examine the proposed guiding principles of play provision, how play sits within the planning framework and the objectives of the policy and to make comments or suggest changes as appropriate. Providing excellent play facilities for all the children of Fingal and visitors to the County, is a priority for the Council. Fingal County Council currently manages a network of play spaces on Council managed land ranging from playgrounds of various scales in local and regional parks, to Multi Use Games Areas and skate parks. The Play Policy will provide the basis on which the current and future play provision throughout the County will be developed to the highest quality in line with international best practice.The draft Play Policy document has been prepared in the context of the Council’s Open Space Strategy, “Keeping it Green”; the Fingal Development Plan, 2017-2023; the UN Convention on Human Rights; the National Play Policy – Ready Steady Play and the National Action Plan for Social Inclusion, 2007-2016. The council values submissions and feedback on the proposed Policy to ensure the document best reflects the needs of the community it is intended to serve. The draft Policy is available to view and make submissions on through the Council’s Online Consultation Portal from 15th July until the 6th August 2021. Contact us:communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

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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 August 16. The first correct entry to be drawnwill win €50..Good luck!

Across

Cllr. ADRIAN HENCHY “PUTTING THE COMMUNITY FIRST” Tel: 087 681 4485 Email:Adrian.Henchy@cllrs.fingal.ie @adrianhenchy

DONABATE LOCAL-AUGUST 2021

2. Strongly wanting to do something. (5) 3. A rock that contains minerals like gold, iron or lead. (3) 4. A complete idiot. (8) 5. Produced a natural or agricultural product. (7) 6. Places to get lost in. (5) 7. Precious stone which comes in various shades of red. (4) 8. Hooded snake. (5) 9. Probable. (6) 10. The fifth category of taste - sweet, sour, salt, bitter ... (5) 11. The process of moving people from a place of danger to safety. (10) 12. A scale for measuring wind speed. (8) 17. Pour light on something. (10) 21. Lewd area for an American state. (8) 22. The sword returned to the Lady of the Lake. (9) 24. Prepare material for publication. (4) 26. Hard wheat used in making pasta. (5) 28. A legal hub is so ludicrous as to be amusing. (9) 29. Move faster. (10) 32. Bad voles had their sins forgiven. (8) 35. Relating to the countryside. (5) 38. Bald crooks place barricades. (10) 39. Mythological man-eating giant. (4) 40. Lacking energy or enthusiasm. (8) 43. A brief summary. (8) 47. Suffering from mal de mer. (7) 49. A thick cable for mooring or towing a ship. (6) 51. The country now called Myanmar. (5) 53. It’s not over til the fat lady sings! (5) 55. Welsh vegetables! (5) 57. Declare invalid, a marriage perhaps. (5) 58. Chemical element vital for brass. (4) 61. Impair the quality or appearance of; spoil. (3)

SUDOKU ANSWERS

1. The speed of something in a given direction. (8) 6. Remarkable, unexplainable, and bringing welcome consequences. (10) 13. Uncertain, indefinite, unclear. (5) 14. Sometimes a name for the Devil. (9) 15. The dishonest jack in a pack of cards. (5) 16. Relating to the heart. (7) 18. The darker stage of twilight. (4) 19. The lower house of the Oireachtas. (4) 20. A signed document acknowledging a debt. (3) 22. The long fish. (3) 23. Long-handled spoon used for serving soup. (5) 25. A circular movement of water causing a small whirlpool. (4) 27. The highest adult male singing voice. (4) 30. Money received for work or through investments. (6) 31. A gloss or sheen on a surface resulting from age or polishing. (6) 33. A new member of the armed forces. (7) 34. Synthetic material used in parachutes. (5) 35. Acting without consideration of the possible consequences. (4) 36. Soothe, make someone tranquil and quiet. (4) 37. Volatile liquid once popular as an anaesthetic. (5) 40. Bolster the crustacean. (7) 41. A lumberjack. (6) 42. Belgrade is the capital of this country. (6) 44. Garment traditionally worn by women from South Asia. (4) 45. This is one! (4) 46. Attempt a short piece of writing on a particular subject. (5) 48. A feeling of reverential respect mixed with fear or wonder. (3) 50. Abbreviated Canadian dog. (3) 52. Maritime call to hail another ship. (4) 54. Able island for Napoleon. (4) 56. Common culinary herb. (7) 59. Moves from site to site on the Internet. (5) 60. Widespread outbreaks of disease. (9) 61. The largest city and capital of Belarus. (5) 62. Female leaders of families or tribes. (10) 63. Trek less for the small falcons. (8)

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