Hi FingalEMers 👋,
Good morning!
First, congratulations to Gerda and Aoife, our winners of last week’s La Fiesta 26 ticket giveaway. We hope you both had a brilliant time! A big thank you as well to The Lark in Balbriggan for providing the tickets and helping us give another couple of FingalEMers a great local experience.
There’s something a little unusual happening over Fingal East this week. On Wednesday evening we should get a spectacular partial solar eclipse, with almost 95% of the Sun expected to be obscured at its peak. We’ve put together the key times, where you might get a good view and, importantly, how to watch it safely further down in today’s edition.
Then on Saturday, National Heritage Week gets underway, with events taking place across the country from 15–23 August. We’re already seeing plenty happening locally, and we’ll have even more Heritage Week events for you in Thursday morning’s edition.
Our poll this week is also a little different. We’re trying to understand how Fingal East Media is actually used once it lands in your inbox. Are you subscribing mainly for yourself, or are you effectively subscribing on behalf of your household or family? It’s a really useful piece of information for us, so if you have a few seconds, we’d really appreciate your answer.
Elsewhere, we’re shining a light on Kore Energy in Donabate as this week’s featured business, along with the latest local news, community updates and plenty to do over the next few days.
Enjoy the edition, and we’ll talk again on Thursday morning.
When you subscribe to Fingal East Media, who would you say you’re subscribing for?
THIS WEEK'S FEATURED BUSINESS
Kore Energy
There are some businesses operating around Fingal East whose reach goes far beyond the local area, and Kore Energy in Donabate is a particularly good example. Based at Ballisk Business Park, the specialist energy consultancy was established in 2004 and has spent more than two decades helping some of Ireland’s large energy users navigate what can be an extraordinarily complicated market.
What does an energy consultancy actually do? For businesses spending significant amounts on electricity and gas, simply choosing a supplier is only part of the equation. Kore helps clients tender and negotiate energy contracts, manage exposure to changing wholesale prices and create strategies designed to give businesses greater certainty over future energy costs. It also provides market intelligence to help companies understand when and why electricity, gas, oil and carbon prices are moving.
Its work increasingly goes beyond simply buying energy. Kore also advises businesses on renewable energy and carbon management, helping organisations manage green energy supplies and reduce their exposure to carbon costs. The scale of the companies it deals with may surprise you too — Kore’s website features names including RTÉ, Dell, eir, Pfizer, Xerox, Intel and Glanbia.
And energy markets certainly don’t stand still. Kore regularly publishes updates examining how everything from international conflicts and oil supply routes to gas-field outages and changing weather conditions can feed through into wholesale energy prices. It’s highly specialised work — and another example of a business operating quietly from right here in Fingal East while working at a national level.
News
Tracking all the developing stories that affect our community.
🔭🌓 Nearly 95% eclipse over Fingal East this Wednesday
If the weather plays ball, we should get a pretty remarkable sight over Fingal East this Wednesday, 12 August. In the Dublin area the partial solar eclipse begins at approximately 6.12pm, reaches its maximum at 7.10pm and finishes around 8.05pm. At maximum, almost 95% of the Sun will be obscured. Because the Sun will be quite low in the sky by then, we recommend finding somewhere with a clear, unobstructed view towards the west and getting into position by around 6.45pm. Newbridge Demesne in Donabate is one possible option, with the park open until 9pm during August.
The weather outlook is encouraging at the moment. Met Éireann is forecasting Wednesday to remain dry with spells of sunshine in the east and southeast, with Leinster expected to be among the warmest parts of the country. Cloud in exactly the wrong place at 7.10pm could obviously still spoil the view, but as things stand there is a reasonable chance that we will get to see it across Fingal East.
The most important thing is to protect your eyesight and be prepared before Wednesday evening. Because this is only a partial eclipse in Ireland, there is no point during the event when it is safe to look directly at the Sun with the naked eye. Ordinary sunglasses are not enough. Anyone planning to watch should have proper solar eclipse glasses or a handheld solar viewer complying with the ISO 12312-2 standard. And never look at the Sun through binoculars, a telescope or a camera unless the equipment has a purpose-made solar filter fitted over the front.
We haven't found a confirmed organised viewing event within Fingal East itself, but the Irish Astronomical Society is holding a free public viewing at the Phoenix Park Visitor Centre from 6.15pm to 8.15pm. Whether you watch there or closer to home, our advice is simple: get proper eclipse glasses in advance, choose your viewing location before Wednesday evening and don't risk even a quick unprotected look at the Sun. If the skies stay clear, this should be one of the more unusual sights we've had over Fingal East in quite a while.
🎶🪕 The tiny instrument with a surprisingly big Fingal East following
If someone told you that one of Europe’s longest-running music festivals was dedicated entirely to the ukulele — and that Skerries was playing its part in it — you might be forgiven for raising an eyebrow. But later this month, Ireland’s International Ukulele Festival, the Ukulele Hooley, returns to Dún Laoghaire for its 15th year, bringing together performers and enthusiasts from Ireland and overseas for concerts, workshops, open-mic sessions, busking, a huge communal jam and even a ukulele flashmob.
And that flashmob has a very local connection. Patricia Prenty, musical director of the Skerries Ukulele Strummers, is leading it this year. The Skerries group was established in 2013 and has grown into a community of around 40–50 players from Skerries and the surrounding area, regularly performing at local events and fundraisers. Skerries has even developed its own Ukulele Festival, which returned for its fourth outing earlier this summer with workshops, performances around the town, a flashmob and musicians being transported by bus to play at local landmarks.
Perhaps the strangest part is just how far this little instrument has travelled. Although most of us associate the ukulele with Hawaii, its roots can be traced back to Portuguese immigrants from Madeira who arrived in Hawaii in the late 19th century carrying small guitar-like instruments. Nearly 150 years later, that musical journey has somehow led all the way to a sizeable community of ukulele players here in Fingal East. Who knew Skerries had such a serious ukulele scene?
😟🔥 Up to 100 cars destroyed in Ballyboughal scrapyard fire
Between 80 and 100 cars were destroyed in the major fire at a scrapyard and car-dismantling facility in Wimbletown, Ballyboughal on Thursday afternoon.
The blaze sent a huge column of black smoke across north Dublin, with a large stock of tyres at the site contributing to the smoke. At the height of the incident, eight Dublin Fire Brigade units were involved, with additional assistance from Meath Fire Service and Dublin Airport Fire and Rescue Service.
A number of nearby homes were evacuated as a precaution because of the smoke and the risk from items such as gas cylinders at the site, although Dublin Fire Brigade said the houses themselves were never in danger.
By Friday morning the fire was under control and the operation had been scaled back to two fire appliances and a water tanker, with crews continuing to dampen down remaining hotspots. The cause of the fire has not yet been established.
Civil
Planning decisions, road closures & community notices.
Planning applications & decisions
🏗️ No significant planning events this week.
Road closures & changes planned
🚧🚦 Road closures & changes planned
- Swords
- R132: The northbound right-turn lane into Bostik remains closed, with a signed diversion to the U-turn facility at Swords Food Park. The R132 may also be temporarily reduced to one lane outside peak hours, between 10am and 4pm, while works continue.
- Seatown Road: The section between St Columcille’s Drive and North Street remains closed as part of the Swords Cultural Quarter works, with diversions in place. The closure is scheduled to remain until 31 March 2027.
- R132 speed limit: A temporary 50km/h roadworks speed limit remains in place as part of the R132 Connectivity Project.
- Balbriggan
- Quay Street / Harbour area: Fingal County Council is proposing to reduce the speed limit from 50km/h to 20km/h across approximately 360 metres of the newly developed harbour area. Public submissions remain open until 4.30pm on Monday 17 August.
- White Hart Road: Included in an ongoing road-resurfacing programme which allows for temporary closures of between one and five days at various stages through to 1 December.
- Skerries
- Cross of The Cage: Included in Fingal County Council’s road-resurfacing programme, with temporary closures of between one and five days possible at various stages through to 1 December.
- Lusk
- Church Road: Included in the current resurfacing programme, with temporary closures of between one and five days possible at various stages through to 1 December.
- Rush
- Old Barrack Road: Included in the current resurfacing programme, with temporary closures of between one and five days possible at various stages through to 1 December.
- Balheary / Swords
- Balheary Road & Windmill Road: Both are included in the resurfacing programme and may close for between one and five days at various stages through to 1 December.
Events Calendar
Things to do in the week ahead.
✍️📜 Featured event: Book of Kells Style Writing Workshop
Create your own piece of Book of Kells-inspired artwork at Ardgillan Castle this Sunday, 16 August, from 10.30am–12.30pm.
In this relaxed two-hour workshop, you’ll create the first letter of your own name as an illuminated Celtic initial, before writing the remaining letters in traditional Cló Gaelach (Irish script). Using watercolour pencils and high-quality watercolour paper, you’ll add colour and detail to create your own personalised piece inspired by Ireland’s medieval manuscripts.
The workshop is led by Franco-Irish artist Clémence Prosen and is suitable for complete beginners — no drawing experience is required. All the materials you need are provided and there’s plenty of step-by-step guidance along the way. The workshop costs €45 per person, with an optional mount and frame available as an add-on.
It’s a lovely opportunity to try something a little different in one of Fingal East’s most historic settings — and to come away having created your own small piece of Celtic-inspired artwork.
Monday 10 August
• Skerries | Skerries Mills Watermill Cafe | Art by Yasmina – Inspired by Cú Chulainn | Opening of a free exhibition of paintings inspired by Irish mythology | 12:00
• Balbriggan | ASTER Family Resource Centre | You First Wellness Café | Free, informal peer-led drop-in for a cuppa, chat and wellbeing support | 14:00–18:00
• Swords | Thornleigh ETNS | Zumba Class | Friendly dance-fitness class with no experience needed | 19:00
• Swords | Swords Castle Entrance | Swords Men’s Walk & Talk Group | Relaxed Monday evening walk for local men, usually around 5–6km | 19:15
• Swords | Holywell Community Centre | Self-Protection Training | Practical self-protection session focused on confidence, awareness and personal safety | 20:00
• Swords | Holywell Community Centre | STEAM Summer Camp | Designer Minds science, technology, engineering, art and maths summer camp running 10–14 August | Runs 10–14 Aug
Tuesday 11 August
• Swords | Swords Parish Centre, Brackenstown | Hatha Yoga | Gentle Hatha Yoga class with Calmness with Caroline | 09:30–10:45
• Balbriggan | Balbriggan Library | Art Class with John Carpenter | Adult painting and drawing class; booking required | 11:00–13:00
• Swords | Swords Parish Centre, Brackenstown | Chair Yoga | Gentle chair-based yoga class with Calmness with Caroline | 11:15–12:15
• Swords | Swords Library | Summer Stars Crafts | Children’s craft session for ages 4–11; booking required | 14:30
• Balbriggan | Martello Tower | Fingal Rowing Club – HER Outdoors Week | Meet female rowers and find out more about coastal rowing | 18:30–20:30
• Rush | Rush National School | Zumba Class | Friendly dance-fitness class with no experience needed | 19:00
• Malahide | Bridgefield Car Park | Green Nuts Men’s Group – Walk & Talk | Relaxed evening walk-and-talk for local men | 19:00
Wednesday 12 August
• Swords | River Valley Community Centre | Iyengar Yoga with Sue | Weekly Iyengar yoga class with Sue, teaching locally for 20 years | 10:00–11:00
• Donabate | Unit 16, Donabate Town Centre | Therapeutic Yoga Donabate | Gentle one-hour therapeutic yoga class | 10:00–11:00
• Balrothery | Balrothery Balbriggan Tennis Club | Tennis for Juniors with Additional Needs | Three-day tennis programme running 12–14 August; all abilities welcome and booking essential | 14:00–17:00
• Donabate | Parish Hall | Strength & Conditioning Classes | Weekly strength, fitness and conditioning session in a welcoming local setting | 17:00–18:00
• Rush | Kenure Church | Kenure Church Ground Clean Up | Volunteers wanted to help prepare the church grounds ahead of Heritage Week | 17:30–19:30
• Swords | Swords Youth Service | Solar Eclipse Watch Party | Young people can gather to watch the eclipse safely, with viewing glasses provided | 18:00–20:00
• Swords | Swords Library | Irish Conversation Group | Relaxed Irish conversation and practice for anyone looking to use more Gaeilge | 18:30–19:30
• Swords | Thornleigh ETNS, Applewood | Zumba with Gill | Midweek Zumba class in Applewood | 19:00
• Malahide | Malahide Community School | Summer Dance Series – Orla Connolly | Open dance workshop with Malahide Musical & Dramatic Society for ages 16+ | 19:30
Thursday 13 August
• Balbriggan | Balbriggan Library | Dungeons & Dragons Summer Club | D&D adventure session for ages 9+; booking required | 14:30
• Swords | Swords Library | Summer Stars Quiz | Summer Stars quiz for children; booking required | 14:30
• Donabate | Donabate Library | Summer Stars Crafts | Children’s Summer Stars craft session; booking required | 15:00
• Donabate | Shoreline Hotel | Kids’ Disco | Summer kids’ disco with DJs, karaoke and games | 18:00–21:00
• Swords | Swords Parish Centre, Brackenstown | Hatha Yoga | Gentle Hatha Yoga class with Calmness with Caroline | 19:00–20:15
• Swords | Holywell Community Centre | Combat Cardio | High-energy strength and conditioning session with SELF Protection Academy | 20:00
• Portmarnock | Portmarnock Community School | Malahide Basketball Club Men’s Team Trials | Open trial for players interested in joining the club’s men’s teams | 20:00–21:30
• Balbriggan | Man O’War Gastro Pub | The Show-off Sessions | Showcase for musicians, poets and spoken-word artists | 20:30
• Donabate | Donabate Portrane Community Centre | DPCC Community Bingo | Friendly community bingo night with weekly prizes and a social atmosphere | 20:30
• Swords | Rivervalley Community Centre | Badminton | Local badminton session in Rivervalley | 21:00–22:00
Thanks for reading and for being part of this growing Fingal East community. Every share, reply and recommendation helps us reach more local people and shine a light on what’s happening around us.
Enjoy the next few days, and we’ll talk again on Thursday morning.
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