👋 Hi FingalEMers,

Good morning and welcome to Thursday’s edition of Fingal East Media — and there’s plenty happening across the area as we head into the weekend. Our events calendar is particularly busy this week, with everything from live music, comedy and poetry to community open days, markets, workshops, parkruns and family activities taking place from Friday through Sunday.

Our Featured Event takes us to Skerries Mills on Friday night, where Poetry @ The Mills brings together acclaimed poets Jane Clarke, Áine Uí Fhoghlú and Keith Payne, alongside music from Skerries native Keith Burke and Friends. Elsewhere, there’s good news for padel fans in Swords, with the proposed courts beside the Pavilions finally getting the green light after a slightly complicated journey through planning.

And we finish this week with someone from Fingal East to keep an eye on. Rush native Lisa Byrne is heading into Emmy weekend with her first Primetime Emmy nomination, as one of the producers behind HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, nominated for Outstanding Drama Series. Whatever happens when the award is announced on Monday night, it’s already a terrific achievement — but we’ll certainly be cheering her on from this side of the Atlantic.

So, whether you’re looking for something to do this weekend or just catching up on what’s happening locally, let’s get into it…

Sometimes a business starts simply because somebody can't find the thing they're looking for. Skerries couple Heather Gilroy and Peter O'Neill had collected pieces of local art while travelling around the world, but realised there was something missing from their walls at home — a contemporary piece celebrating their own hometown. Unable to find what they wanted, they created their own, and in 2020 Prints of Ireland was born.

Beginning with Skerries, Heather and Peter have gone on to create illustrated prints and maps celebrating towns, counties, landmarks and Irish culture from across the country. Heather is a graduate of the National College of Art and Design, while Peter brought a background in digital marketing to the business. Today they work from Ardgillan Castle Studios near Balbriggan, with the range having expanded beyond prints to include greeting cards and tote bags, while also placing a strong emphasis on the Irish language.

What started with one missing picture of Skerries now reaches considerably further than Fingal. Prints of Ireland products are stocked around the country — and you don't have to travel far to find them either. Locally, they're available at The Rock Bakery in Skerries, Taylor Made Crafts at Ardgillan Castle, Newbridge House in Donabate, Malahide Castle Gift Shop, McNally Family Farm Shop and Kilkenny Design in the Pavilions. It's a lovely example of an idea inspired by Fingal East growing into an Irish design business while still keeping its roots firmly at home.

Find out more

The Fingal Poetry Festival returns to where it all began on Friday, 11th September, with Poetry @ The Mills — a one-night celebration of poetry and music in the unique surroundings of Skerries Mills. The event has its roots in the original Poetry @ The Mills evenings held during the Skerries Soundwaves Festival more than 20 years ago.

This year's line-up brings together three acclaimed poets. Jane Clarke, whose collection A Change in the Air was shortlisted for both the Forward Prize and the T.S. Eliot Prize, is joined by Irish-language poet Áine Uí Fhoghlú and 2025 Katherine and Patrick Kavanagh Fellowship recipient Keith Payne.

There will also be live music from Skerries native Keith Burke and Friends. Burke returned in 2025 with his fourth album, A Day to Celebrate, with recent singles receiving airplay on national and regional radio in Ireland and the UK. It promises to be a relaxed evening bringing poetry, music and one of Skerries' most distinctive venues together for one night only.

📅 When: Friday, 11th September
🕗 Time: 20:00
📍 Where: Skerries Mills, Skerries
🎤 Featuring: Jane Clarke, Áine Uí Fhoghlú, Keith Payne and Keith Burke & Friends

Friday 11th September

• Portmarnock | Portmarnock Resort & Jameson Golf Links | FEWN – Life’s A Pitch | A practical networking workshop on clearer, more confident business pitching. | 10:30-13:30

• Balbriggan | Balbriggan Library | Warehouse Writers Group | A friendly weekly writing group for local writers. | 14:30-16:00

• Rush | Rush Library | Community Art Group | A relaxed weekly get-together for local artists and creatives. | 15:00-17:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre | Metropolitan School of Dance | Friday dance classes for children and young people. | 15:00-18:30

• Donabate | Donabate Library | Junior Chess Club | A welcoming weekly chess session for younger players. | 15:30-16:30

• Swords | Holywell Community Centre | Open Day & Information Day | Community open day with performances, magic, face painting, balloons and refreshments. | 16:00-18:00

• Swords | Crosscare, 17 Main Street | YouthClub @Crosscare | A welcoming social space for teenagers, supported by Snowflakes Autism Support and Crosscare. | 17:00-18:30

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre | Elite Taekwondo Academy | Friday evening taekwondo training at Flemington. | 18:00-19:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre | Neurographia Classes | A creative drawing session using the Neurographica method. | 18:30-20:30

• Skerries | Otter Space | Otter Mixer Board Game Meetup | A sociable evening of board games and meeting new people. | 18:45-21:45

• Skerries | The Watermill Café, Skerries Mills | POETRY @ THE MILLS 2026 | An evening of poetry and music with Jane Clarke, Áine Uí Fhoghlú, Keith Payne and musical guests. | 20:00-22:00

• Balbriggan | The Lark | The Classic Beatles – The Revolver Tour | The acclaimed tribute band celebrates one of The Beatles’ landmark albums. | 20:00

• Swords | Peacock Bar | Swords Neurodiversity Network Quiz Night | Fundraising quiz night supporting Swords Neurodiversity Network. Teams of four; registration from 19:30. | 20:00

• Naul | The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre | Kevin Burke, Dermot Byrne, Noriana Kennedy & Jim Murray | An evening of outstanding traditional music from four celebrated performers. | 20:00-23:00

• Swords | Peacock’s Bar & Lounge | Andrew Maxwell | A live comedy headline show from one of Ireland’s best-known stand-ups. | 20:00

• Lusk | Lusk Community Cultural Centre | Art Alley Exhibition | Group exhibition featuring Lavinia O'Leary, Imelda Coffey, Martina Hurley, Gillian Lowry and Jane McMullen. Runs until 13 September. | Time not stated

Saturday 12th September

• Malahide | The Grand Hotel | AsIAm National Autism Conference 2026 | A national conference bringing together Autistic people, families, professionals and advocates. | 09:00-17:00

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle & Demesne | Ardgillan parkrun | Free weekly 5km community run, jog or walk. | 09:30

• Donabate | Newbridge House & Farm | Donabate parkrun | Free weekly 5km community run, jog or walk. | 09:30

• Malahide | Malahide Castle | Malahide parkrun | Free weekly 5km community run, jog or walk through the castle grounds. | 09:30

• Swords | Broadmeadow Linear Park | Broadmeadow Linear parkrun | Free weekly 5km community run, jog or walk. | 09:30

• Swords | River Valley Park | River Valley parkrun | Free weekly 5km community run, jog or walk. | 09:30

• Fingal | Online (Zoom) | Sell Smarter: Consultative Sales Strategies | A Local Enterprise Office workshop on practical consultative selling techniques. | 09:30-12:30

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre | SH Fitways | Saturday morning fitness session at Flemington. | 10:00-11:00

• Malahide | St Sylvester’s Parish Centre | Iyengar Yoga with Sue | A Saturday morning Iyengar yoga class. | 10:00-11:30

• Swords | Swords Library | Board Games Time | Drop in for a relaxed morning of board games at the library. | 10:00-13:00

• Skerries | Skerries Mills | Skerries Mills Farmers Market | A Saturday market with local food, produce and artisan stalls. | 10:00-14:00

• Malahide | Casino Model Railway Museum | Explore Fingal Market – Malahide | Browse local makers, crafts and food at the Explore Fingal market. | 10:00-16:00

• Malahide | Malahide Library | Eckhart Tolle Meditation | A quiet weekly meditation session inspired by Eckhart Tolle’s teachings. | 11:00-12:00

• Portmarnock | White Sands Hotel | Irish Set Dancing Workshop – All Levels Welcome | A lively workshop exploring West Kerry set-dancing styles. | 11:00

• Balbriggan | Castleland Community Centre | Castleland CC Open Day | Family open day with a magic show, dance and fitness tasters, group demos and a costume swap. | 11:00-15:00

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle & Gardens | Medicinal Herb Workshop | Explore medicinal plants in the gardens and learn how traditional remedies are prepared. | 11:00-16:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre | Spleodar | A Saturday children’s activity session at Flemington. | 12:00-14:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre | Emma Weldridge Dublin Dance Company | Saturday dance classes at Flemington Community Centre. | 13:00-14:30

• Balbriggan | Balbriggan Library | Film Club | A Dolly Parton-themed film club screening. | 14:00-16:00

• Naul | The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre | Austin Walkin’ Cane | An intimate live performance from the acclaimed blues singer and guitarist. | 20:00-23:00

Sunday 13th September

• Balbriggan | Bremore Castle Park | Balbriggan junior parkrun | Free weekly 2km event for children aged 4–14. | 09:30

• Donabate | Newbridge House & Farm | Newbridge House junior parkrun | Free weekly 2km event for children aged 4–14. | 09:30

• Lusk | Lusk Sports Hub | Lusk Sports Hub junior parkrun | Free weekly 2km event for children aged 4–14. | 09:30

• Malahide | Malahide Castle | Malahide Castle junior parkrun | Free weekly 2km event for children aged 4–14. | 09:30

• Rush | Kenure Woods | Rush junior parkrun | Free weekly 2km event for children aged 4–14. | 09:30

• Swords | River Valley Park | River Valley junior parkrun | Free weekly 2km event for children aged 4–14. | 09:30

• Portmarnock | Portmarnock Beach | Dip for Jigsaw 2026 | A fundraising sea dip supporting youth mental health. | 10:00-12:30

• Donabate | Community Well Studio | Yoga & Coffee Morning with Aisling | Sunday yoga followed by a relaxed coffee get-together. | 10:00-11:00

• Portmarnock | White Sands Hotel | Irish Set Dancing Workshop | A set-dancing workshop covering Connemara, Galway and Clare styles. | 11:00-13:00

• Skerries | Skerries Mills Community Garden | Soil, Seed and Soul – Week 2: Growing Vegetables | Week two of a free gardening course, focusing on growing vegetables. | 11:00-12:30

• Swords | Fingal Liam Rodgers Community Centre | Family Fun Day | A community family day with activities for children and families. | 12:00-14:00

• Donabate | Community Well Studio | Awaken Your Creativity: Adult Fine Art Course | A relaxed adult art class covering drawing, sketching and painting. | 13:00-14:30

• Malahide | St Sylvester’s New Parish Hall | CoderDojo Malahide | A coding club for ages 8–17 covering Scratch, Python and hardware projects. | 15:00-17:00

• Donabate | Community Well Studio | Yin Yoga & Sound Bath Workshop with Sharon | A mindful yin yoga session followed by Himalayan singing bowls and gongs. | 19:00-21:00

📢 Finally, stuff from Fingal East we just like — Lisa Byrne - heads to the Emmys.

This week we’re looking towards the Emmys and cheering on Rush native Lisa Byrne, who has received her first Primetime Emmy nomination for her work as a producer on HBO’s A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms. The series is nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, with Byrne named by the Television Academy as one of the producers attached to the nomination. It is one of nine Emmy nominations for the Game of Thrones spin-off this year.

Byrne has built an extraordinary career behind the scenes of major television productions. She began her career working through a range of production roles before becoming part of the Game of Thrones production team and progressing into increasingly senior positions. She has since worked as a line producer on Netflix’s 3 Body Problem and on A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms.

So this is definitely one for Fingal East to keep an eye on. The Outstanding Drama Series winner will be revealed at the main Primetime Emmy Awards on Monday 14 September in Los Angeles — which will be the early hours of Tuesday morning here in Ireland. Whatever happens on the night, a first Emmy nomination is already a remarkable achievement for the Rush producer, but we’ll certainly be watching to see whether Lisa Byrne becomes an Emmy winner as well. No matter what the result, we just want to say well done, Lisa. 👏👏

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 weekend, and we’ll talk again on Monday morning.