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LUSKLOCAL Volume 10 Issue 12 July 2024

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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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Finance

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

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!

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By Dr. Carla Lluch, Veterinary Practitioner Summer Safety for Furry Friends: A Vet’s Essential Tips

Hello, Lusk Local readers! I’m Dr. Carla Lluch, a veterinarian with experience in both small clinics and large hospitals. I’m thrilled to collaborate with you to share practical advice for keeping your pets happy and healthy. We’re enjoying glorious sunshine these days— perfect for soaking up vitamin D with our fourlegged companions! But as temperatures rise, so do risks for pets. Here’s my summer survival guide to keep your furry family safe: Age Matters: Senior pets struggle to regulate their body temperature. Avoid long walks in the heat, and always carry fresh water for them. Health Conditions: Does your pet have heart

LUSK LOCAL-JUNE 2025

or respiratory issues? Skip midday walks. Opt for early mornings or late evenings when it’s cooler. Pavement Check: Place your back of hand on the pavement for 7 seconds. If it’s too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws! Stick to grassy, shaded areas. Cat Cool-Downs - Sunburn alert: White-coated cats need sunscreen on their ears (pinnae)—they burn as easily as we do! - Frozen fun: Cats adore playing with ice. Try freezing creamy treats into “ice cream” or placing a frozen water bottle near their bed. Heatstroke Emergency If your pet shows signs of heatstroke (heavy panting, lethargy), call your

vet immediately. While waiting: - Do NOT use cold showers—sudden temperature changes are dangerous. - Do: Wet their paws, turn on a fan, or drape a cool (not icy) towel over them. Final Tip: Don’t Forget Parasite Protection! While enjoying summer adventures, remember—fleas, ticks, and mites love warm weather too! These pests aren’t just annoying; they can transmit diseases to both pets and humans. Your local vet can recommend safe, effective prevention tailored to your pet’s lifestyle (indoor vs. outdoor) and your region’s specific risks. A quick consultation now can save your family from itchy troubles later! “

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 LUSK LOCAL-JUNE 2025

Local News

Summer outings galore for Lusk ICA members

LUSK LOCAL-JUNE 2025

Local News

A number of our drama group travelled down to Carlow for the day organized by Anne Smithers, first we had a gorgeous lunch in the Merry Tree Restaurant and garden centre, then into the chocolate factory to make chocolate castings followed by shopping and ending the day with a delicious meal in the Teach Dolmain Restaurant. The Swords ICA Guild ladies invited us to join them for our summer

outing. We travelled down to the beautiful Johnstown Castle for the day. The guide in the Castle gave us a wonderfully detailed tour of the Castle which was followed then with a meal in the Arklow Bay Hotel. There are no meetings in July and August but resuming in September. New members are welcome.

CommunityLocals.ie Contact us:communitylocalseditor@gmail.com

LUSK LOCAL-JUNE 2025

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.

Rob O’Donoghue TD

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

News & Events Busy times for Lusk AC members May and June were incredibly busy months for our club athletes with lots of Juvenile competitions and plenty of options for the adults as well. The summer months are full of Graded meetings, road races and mountain running. Rest assured there’s a training programme for everyone to follow. There are always big numbers at Tuesday and Thursday training and Ardgillan hills on a Sunday morning are becoming increasingly popular. Well done to all who took part in the Dublin Juvenile Championships and good luck to those competing at the Nationals.

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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.

LUSK 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

SUDOKU ANSWERS

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

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MAY 2, 2025 SKERRIES NEWS