Hi FingalEMers — 🙋♂️🙋♀️ all eyes are on the weather this week (again), and for good reason when St Patrick’s celebrations are taking place right across Fingal East. The good news is that it is not looking like a washout, and while it may not stay completely dry everywhere, we are hoping the worst of it stays away so families, community groups and organisers get the kind of day they deserve.
There is plenty happening across the locality for St Patrick’s Day, with parades and celebrations bringing a real splash of colour, fun and community spirit to towns all across Fingal East. A special word too for Donabate, which got in early with its community parade on Saturday 14 March — and fair play to everyone involved in making it such a lovely occasion. Better still, the weather stayed kind there too, which was a welcome bonus on the day. You can see a few snaps from the celebrations here.
And on the subject of being in the know, last week’s poll again suggests we are on the right track in bringing you timely local updates. A striking 93% of respondents told us they were not aware that there was a comedy festival coming to Swords at the end of April until they read about it here. Our sponsor this week will be pleased with that news. That is exactly why we do what we do — helping more people across Fingal East stay connected to what is happening around them.
Our quick poll this week focuses on our name. Don’t forget to have your say.
From our ads or sign-up page, did the name “Fingal East Media” clearly tell you the area we cover?
If you know of an upcoming event or a local story worth sharing, drop us a line & we’ll help spread the word with our fast-growing community: [email protected]
The sponsor of this week’s edition is:
This week’s sponsor is Swords Comedy Festival — a brand-new live comedy festival bringing big names to Swords and giving the town something a bit special on the events front. With acts including Dylan Moran, Paul Howard (Ross O'Carroll-Kelly) and Barbara Scully, it looks like a brilliant addition to the local calendar and exactly the kind of ambitious event we love to see happening on our doorstep.
It’s great to see a festival like this landing locally rather than everyone having to head into town. So if you fancy a laugh, a catch-up with friends, or just an excuse to support something new in Swords, take a look at the line-up and show them a bit of local love.
We’ll have some Swords Comedy Festival tickets to give away exclusively to newsletter subscribers, so keep an eye out in the coming weeks.
News
Tracking all the developing stories that affect us.
👱♀️⚽ Inspirational day celebrating women in sport at EVE Estuary HUB
Izzy Atkinson with our friends at EVE Estuary Hub
EVE Estuary HUB in Swords marked International Women’s Day with a special event celebrating women in sport, welcoming Irish international footballer Izzy Atkinson for an inspiring talk titled “An Audience with Izzy.” Atkinson, a player with the Ireland Women's National Football Team and Sunderland AFC Women, spoke about her journey in football, sharing insights into the hard work, determination and resilience required to succeed at the highest level. Her story inspired many in attendance and encouraged everyone to believe in their abilities and chase their dreams.
Guests from EVE services and Rush Athletic Club attended the event, while entertainment was provided by the National Ambulance Service Pipes and Drums Band. They were joined by Noel the Irish Wolfhound from the National Irish Wolfhound Association, who proved very popular with visitors.
Organisers said they were delighted with the turnout and thanked everyone who came along to celebrate International Women’s Day and support women in sport. A spokesperson for the EVE Estuary HUB said the event was a wonderful opportunity to highlight the importance of women in sport and to inspire the next generation to follow their dreams.
🧖♀️🧖♂️Mobile sauna expansion could bring a fresh boost to Fingal East’s coast
One small but interesting development on the Fingal coast is the expansion of Fingal County Council’s mobile sauna scheme. What began as a pilot is now becoming a more established part of how some of our coastal spaces are used. The original trial appears to have attracted strong interest, and the council has indicated it worked well, was popular with users, and did not create any notable issues.
For us in Fingal East, that matters because the current focus is very much along the coast. Locations such as Portmarnock, Rush, Skerries and Balbriggan are the clearest beneficiaries at this point, which means the east of the county is well placed to gain from the growing popularity of sea swimming, outdoor wellness and all-year-round beach activity. It also helps reinforce the idea of our coastline as a destination not just in the height of summer, but right across the year.
The wider impact could be felt beyond the saunas themselves. More people visiting these coastal spots can mean more passing trade for nearby cafés and local businesses, more energy around our beaches, and another small but positive boost to the area’s appeal. That said, places like Swords, Malahide, Donabate, Portrane, Lusk and Ballyboughal do not yet appear to feature in the current rollout, so for now the biggest gains are likely to be felt in Fingal East’s coastal towns.
🎤🎶 Malahide Castle’s Big Summer of Concerts Is Taking Shape
If you are planning your summer already, Malahide Castle has a very strong run of outdoor concerts lined up for June 2026. The eight dates currently listed are:
Wednesday 10 June — Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
Saturday 13 June — Kingfishr
Saturday 20 June — Kodaline
Tuesday 23 June — Teddy Swims
Wednesday 24 June — Katy Perry
Saturday 27 June — Michael Bublé
Sunday 28 June — Calvin Harris
Tuesday 30 June — Maroon 5
In ticket terms, the key point is that all eight concerts are already on sale. Ticketmaster is still showing standard availability for Nick Cave, Kodaline, Teddy Swims, Michael Bublé, Calvin Harris and Maroon 5, which suggests there is still ticket inventory available across those dates at the moment.
The two dates that currently look the tightest are Kingfishr on 13 June and Katy Perry on 24 June, both of which are showing low availability. So, at the moment, the overall picture is that the full Malahide Castle concert series is on sale, but a couple of the bigger dates are clearly moving faster than the rest.
Civil
Planning decisions, road closures & community notices.
Planning applications & decisions
🏗️ No material planning updates this week
Road closures & changes planned
🚧 Main Road Closures & Works
Swords
St Patrick’s Day parade route via Dublin Road, Main Street and North Street; local restrictions may begin for set-up on Monday, with route diversions from early morning Tuesday : 16 Mar 2026 (set-up restrictions) / early 17 Mar 2026 - stop time not stated in the 2026 public notice
R132 Connectivity Project roadworks speed-limit notice on approaches to Estuary Roundabout : 1 Mar 2026 - 28 Feb 2027
Malahide
St Patrick’s Day parade route on the R106 from Yellows Walls Road to Seapark / Coast Road; local restrictions may begin Monday, with diversions from early Tuesday : 16 Mar 2026 (set-up restrictions) / early 17 Mar 2026 - stop time not stated in the 2026 public notice
Malahide : Upcoming temporary closure notice for Townyard Lane : 18 Mar 2026 00:01 - 23 Mar 2026 16:00
Rush
St Patrick’s Day parade closures affecting Mill Bank Rd, Whitestown Rd, Upper & Lower Main St, Bawn Rd, Palmer Rd, Sandy Rd and Hands Lane : 17 Mar 2026 12:00 - 14:00
Ballyboughal area / Borranstown Road
L-1015 Borranstown Road closed for essential drainage and road-repair works : 3 Mar 2026 - 24 Mar 2026, 24 hours daily
Balbriggan
St Patrick’s Day parade closures around Drogheda St, Bridge St and Dublin St, with George’s Square viewing-platform restrictions and diversion via Flemington Lane / R132 roundabout : 17 Mar 2026 08:00 - 16:00 (main road closures 11:30 - 15:00)
Events Calendar
Things to do in the week ahead.
Monday 16th March
Swords | The Betsy Swords | Club Tropicana 80s Party | 80s party night with DJs at The Betsy. | 20:30-01:00
Malahide | Malahide Cricket Club Ground | Malahide Cricket Club's Traitors night. | Think you can lie your way to victory? Or will you be exposed as a Traitor? In support of Malahide Cricket Club Development Project. Get ready for a brutally fun night for all — full of suspicion, strategy, and surprises. | 19:00-22:30
Tuesday 17th March
Balbriggan | Balbriggan and District Athletic Club | Shamrock Dash | 1.3k race for adults and children. The race will start promptly at 11:30am, shortly before the beginning of the parade. | 11:30-12:30
Swords | Fingallians GAA Club | St. Patrick's Day Activities | Parade meeting 10:15 Coláiste Choilm, begins 11:00, hall open 12:00-18:00 with music by Ham Shambo. Coinneach Farrell. | 10:15-23:30
Naul | The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre | St Patrick's Day Sessions | Join us for our much‑loved St. Patrick’s Day Session, a free and family‑friendly celebration that has become a staple of March 17th at TSEAC. Welcoming both musicians and listeners, this lively gathering is the perfect post‑parade activity, a chance to come together, share tunes, and enjoy the true spirit of Irish culture. Weather permitting, we’ll bring the music outdoors to create a festive atmosphere in the heart of Naul; otherwise, our intimate theatre provides the ideal cosy setting. | 14:00-16:00
Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle and Demesne | Balbriggan Dramatic Society Presents Four Old Broads | Prepare to have a laugh in The Drawing Room of the castle next month with this comedy written by Leslie Kimbell from the Balbriggan Dramatic Society. Run nightly until 21st Mar. | 20:00-22:30
Wednesday 18th March
Malahide | Malahide Library | St. Patrick’s Day Crafts | 15:30-16:30
Skerries | Skerries Library | Sensory Hour | 16:00-17:00
Thursday 19th March
Skerries | Skerries Library | Sensory Toddler Morning | 10:30-11:30
Malahide | Malahide Library | St. Patrick’s Day Crafts | 15:30-16:30
Naul | The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre | Pop Up Gaeltacht | TSEAC is thrilled to announce new dates for our much-loved Pop-Up Gaeltacht - a relaxed, friendly space where everyone is welcome to celebrate and connect through the Irish language. | 17:30-18:30
Naul | The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre | TSEAC Singing Session (Online or In Person!) | Join us, for our regular monthly Singing Session here at TSEAC where it’s all about the art of song. Led by Fergus Cahillane (Faró), ‘TSEAC Singing Sessions’ is an informal session where all participants are encouraged to perform and share songs in a relaxed environment. | 19:00-21:00
Balbriggan | The Lark | Thrive Balbriggan Presents – How to be Human with Margot Fox | How to Be Human is part stand-up, part soul-searching, and 100% relatable. With wit, warmth, and wild honesty, Margot Fox, Mental Health Coach, Keynote Speaker, Performer & Comic Storyteller takes the audience on a hilariously unfiltered journey through emotional chaos, mental overload, and the ridiculous things we do to “keep it together.” | 19:30-22:00
Swords | Fingal Community College | 40th anniversary concert | Celebrate 40 years of Fingal Community College with a special anniversary concert featuring music, memories, and community. A one-off celebration not to be missed. | 18:30-22:00
Rush | Rush Multipurpose and Youth Facility | Annual General Meeting | Review of ongoing Programmes and Community Initiatives, 2025 Financial Statements, Updates on Facility Operations and Refurbishment Projects, General Business and Questions from Attendees & Election of Board / Committee Members | 18:30-20:30
Friday 20th March
Donabate | Donabate Library | Sensory Toddler Morning | 10:30-11:30
Balbriggan | The Lark | The Illegals in concert | The Illegals return in 2026 with a new show celebrating the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac, marking more than 50 years since two of their best-known albums were first released. Expect a set packed with classics including Rhiannon, Lyin’ Eyes, Landslide and Take It To The Limit. | 20:00-22:30
Rush | Rush Community Centre | Rush Daffodil Day | Brighten your home with a beautiful vase of fresh daffodils, lovingly prepared by the Rush Daffodil Day Committee. All proceeds in aid of the Irish Cancer Society - “We won’t give up til cancer does” | 10:00-18:00
Lusk | Murray's Bottom Shop Lounge | Black Raven Pipe Band Table Quiz | Table of 4. Promises to be a great night with free spot prizes. Hosted by Kevin Doyle and David Farquharson. | 20:00-22:30
Malahide | St Sylvester's GAA Club House | Malahide Lions Club Are Hosting A Demonstration of Ideas for Easter Floral Arrangements | Presented By Sharon O’Sullivan (AOIFA Demonstrator, Teacher & Prize-winner at Bloom). Looking Forward to Easter. All arrangements will be raffled on the night. | 20:00-22:00
Saturday 21st March
Skerries | Skerries Library | A Little Birdie Told Me... Storytelling and Crafts | 11:00-12:00
Skerries | K34 YK09 | Neurodivergent Adult Meetup | Social meetup for neurodivergent adults. | 11:00-12:00
Donabate | Donabate Library | Create your Own Constellation Viewer | 12:00-13:00
Balbriggan | The Lark | Legends of American Country | The Legends of American Country Show brings a high-energy celebration of classic and modern country music, with songs made famous by stars including Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash, Shania Twain and Garth Brooks. Billed as Europe’s top country tribute production, it promises a full Nashville-style night of live music, big vocals and familiar favourites. | 20:00-22:30
Howth | Church of the Assumption | Cór Fingal & Songs of the Sea | Join us for a choral evening of sea shanties and modern favourites in aid of the RNLI. An award-winning mixed-voice chamber choir, Cór Fingal brings beautiful music and strong community spirit to this special fundraising concert. | 19:30-21:30
Sunday 22nd March
Swords | Swords Business Campus | Swords Cycling Club Introductory Spin | Meet & greet. A pre-spin chat about bike safety & what to check before riding. A few simple riding skills tips. A short social spin out to Ballyboughal. Coffee stop & chat. Easy spin back to Swords | 09:30-12:30
Balbriggan | The Lark | Pathway To The Well – Documentary | A new documentary, Pathway to the Well, tells the story of the Irish Institute of Music & Song’s Traditional Music Access programme in 2024/2025. Directed by Shane Hogan and funded by The Arts Council, it highlights how traditional music can support shared identity while widening access to music education in Fingal. | 14:00-16:00
Balbriggan | Balbriggan Community Centre | Irish Oral Prep class | Fully qualified teacher. Past oral examiner. Topics covered include: Leamh Na Filliochta, Sraithranna & Comhra. This includes an opportunity to sit an individual mock oral exam on Sunday evening in private with feedback given . | 09:00-15:00
Fingal Libraries link:
📢Finally, stuff from Fingal East we just like - Izzy Atkinson!
Izzy Atkinson in action
Rush’s own Izzy Atkinson is one of the best examples of local sporting talent making its mark on the biggest stages. Still only in her mid-20s, she has already built an impressive career that has taken her from Shelbourne to Celtic, then on to West Ham United, Crystal Palace and now Sunderland, all while establishing herself as a Republic of Ireland international. She was also named in Ireland’s squad for the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, a landmark moment for both her and Irish football.
What stands out about Izzy’s journey is not just the level she has reached, but the way she has kept progressing. Her move to Crystal Palace brought one of the standout spells of her career, with the club naming her Barclays Women’s Championship Player of the Month in February 2024 after an excellent start in south London. For a player from our own part of North County Dublin, it is a reminder that top-level careers do not begin somewhere else for “other people” — sometimes they begin right here at home.
It was especially lovely to see Izzy’s recent connection with EVE Estuary HUB, where she was announced as the guest for a special Connect Café event on 10 March as part of International Women’s Day celebrations. Events like that matter. They bring elite sport closer to the community, give people a chance to hear first-hand from someone living the dream, and show younger readers — especially girls with a football at their feet — that the path from Rush to the international stage is very real indeed.
Have a great week and enjoy your parade!
Image Credits
Photo: “Malahide - Bokehrama (36mm f/0.6)” by Miguel Mendez / Flickr (CC BY 2.0).
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