👋 Hi FingalEMers,

Good morning! There’s a definite Halloween feel to this week’s edition, with storytelling, seasonal crafts and a few spooky outings appearing in the local calendar 🎃. Whether you fancy getting creative, trying a class or heading out for an evening’s entertainment, there’s plenty happening close to home.

Our Featured Business is White’s Agri in Ballough, Lusk, where the range goes well beyond farm supplies — from garden fencing and decking to pet essentials, workwear and fuel for the colder months.

In the news, we look at the latest updates on major projects across Fingal East, changes to the traffic lights at Swords’ Estuary Junction, and the local venues joining TradFest 2027. Our Featured Event takes us to Skerries Mills, where The Goddess of Samhain brings Ireland’s Halloween traditions to life through storytelling and trails.

You’ll also find your Monday–Thursday events calendar and local traffic updates below. Before you scroll on, we’d love to know what time you’d prefer the newsletter to arrive — take a moment to vote in this week’s poll and help us plan our morning delivery ☕.

Now, let’s see what’s happening across Fingal East this week!

🛠️ White’s Agri — More Than You Might Expect

You might know the name White’s Agri, but have you had a look at everything they do? Based in Ballough, Lusk, their range stretches well beyond farm supplies, with plenty for the garden, home and four-legged members of the family too.

If there’s an outdoor job on your list, White’s stocks garden fencing, trellis, timber posts and decking, alongside garden products and hardware. Whether you’re replacing a tired fence or planning a bigger garden project, it’s a local business worth keeping in mind.

Pet owners will find dog food, health products and accessories, while the equestrian range covers horse feed and supplies. There’s also workwear, wellies and wet gear — useful as we head further into autumn — along with coal and solid fuel for home.

It’s the kind of place you might visit for one particular job without realising how much else is available. From feeding the dog to sorting the garden fence, there could be more on your doorstep than you thought.

Have a browse through their website, or call into Ballough next time you’re passing.

Visit White's Agri

🚦 Swords Estuary Junction: Changes Made After a Difficult Start

The new traffic lights at Estuary Junction in Swords have had a difficult first few days since going live on Wednesday 14 October. The delays have caused real disruption for people trying to get to work, school and around the area, with Fingal County Council acknowledging the impact on commuters, school traffic, bus passengers and local residents.

Following public feedback and monitoring, the council adjusted the signal timings on Friday morning to improve traffic flow. It says conditions improved following those changes, although monitoring continues. Further adjustments may be needed as the new arrangement settles down, with an initial bedding-in period of approximately two weeks.

Read the Latest Junction Update

🎻 TradFest Brings a Big Line-Up to Fingal East This January

January’s diary is getting a musical lift, with more than 30 concerts and events announced across Fingal for TradFest 2027. The line-up includes Altan, Eleanor McEvoy & John Spillane, Pierre Bensusan, Tommy Sands, George Murphy & The Rising Sons, and Zoe Conway & John McIntyre, alongside The Skerries Sea Sharps and more.

For Fingal East audiences, there’s plenty close to home. Returning venues include Swords Castle, Malahide Castle, Ardgillan Castle, Donabate Portrane Community Centre, St MacCullin’s Church and Cultural Centre in Lusk, and Rush’s Millbank Theatre. St Patrick’s Church in Skerries joins the programme for the first time, bringing another local setting into the festival.

Highlights include Cór Cúil Aodha at St MacCullin’s in Lusk and a solo harp recital by Alannah Thornburgh at Swords Castle. Balbriggan will also welcome the festival’s accessible, relaxed programme for the first time. With castles, churches and community venues hosting performances, there’s a lovely opportunity to enjoy live music locally this January.

Explore TradFest 2027 & Book Tickets

🏗️ No significant planning events this week.

🚧🚦 Road closures & changes planned

• Swords — Estuary junction: Following delays when the new traffic lights became operational on 14th October, Fingal County Council adjusted the timings on Friday 16th and reported improved traffic flow. Monitoring continues. Allow a little extra time while the new arrangements settle in.

• Swords — North Street: Public realm works continue, with traffic operating one-way northbound between Main Street and Fingal Community College. Keep this in mind when planning trips through the town centre. Works are expected to continue until December.

• Around North Fingal: Fingal’s resurfacing programme includes roads in Balbriggan, Skerries, Lusk and Rush, with works taking place at intervals until 1st December. Specific closures for 19th–23rd October have not been confirmed in the general notice, so keep an eye on local signs before travelling.

Before Halloween became a night of costumes and trick-or-treating, Samhain marked an important moment in Ireland’s seasonal calendar. This October, Skerries Mills invites visitors to explore those older traditions through The Goddess of Samhain, an interactive storytelling experience.

Discover myths and legends from Fingal and Ireland’s East, follow the trails and make a wish with the Goddess herself. Fancy dress is encouraged, so there’s every reason to get into the spirit of the occasion!

For those who fancy making an evening of it, there’s also a ticket option that includes a three-course Samhain Supper by the fireside in the Watermill Café — a cosy way to round off the experience.

The event is suitable for adults and curious children aged 8+, with activities taking place both indoors and outdoors. Bring an extra layer and dress for the weather.

Check your ticket option before booking: Sunday offers the experience with or without supper, with limited availability. Bank Holiday Monday is performance and trails only, while Friday includes supper.

📅 Sunday 25th, Monday 26th & Friday 30th October 2026
📍 Skerries Mills, Skerries

Find out more & book tickets

Monday 19th October

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre | English Language Classes | English language classes; individual session times may vary. | 09:30-13:30

• Donabate | Donabate Portrane Community Centre | Pilates | A weekly Pilates class. | 09:30-10:30

• Malahide | St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre | Over 55 Pilates - Susanne Liri | Pilates for adults aged over 55, with Susanne Liri. | 10:00-11:00

• Swords | Swords Library | Getting to Know Your Android Smartphone | Get familiar with your Android smartphone; booking required. | 10:00-11:30

• Swords | Brackenstown Parish Centre | Silent Meditation in the tradition of John Main | A weekly session of silence, stillness and reflection. | 11:00-12:00

• Malahide | St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre | Men's Strength and Mobility | Strength and mobility exercises for men. | 12:15-13:15

• Swords | Swords Library | Wonderless Land - Puppet Theatre | An interactive puppet theatre adventure; check age and booking details. | 15:30-16:30

• Rush | Rush Community Centre | Siobhan D Pilates | Pilates with Siobhan; check individual class times. | 18:00-20:00

• Balbriggan | Balbriggan Library | Irish Conversation Group | Practise your Irish in a welcoming conversation group. | 18:30-20:00

• Lusk | St Macullins Centre | Yoga - Sylviane | Monday evening yoga with Sylviane. | 19:00-20:00

• Swords | Swords Castle entrance | Swords Men’s Walk & Talk Group | A relaxed Monday evening walk for local men, usually around 5km to 6km. | 19:15-20:15

• Balbriggan | Castleland Community Centre | Rise Up Dance Studio Adults | An adult dance class with Rise Up Dance Studio. | 20:00

• Donabate | Donabate Portrane Community Centre | Lambay Sports Academy | A weekly sports session with Lambay Sports Academy. | 20:00-21:00

• Rush | Millbank Theatre | Oíche Shamhna | Storytelling and traditional music with Eddie Lenihan and Alannah Thornburgh. | 20:00

• Balbriggan | The Lark | Lark After Dark: Night of the Living Dead (1968) | A late screening of the classic 1968 horror film. | 21:00

Tuesday 20th October

• Lusk | The Cottage | Postnatal Baby-friendly Yoga | Postnatal yoga with babies welcome. | 09:30-10:30

• Swords | Saint Cronan's Catholic Church, St Cronan's Ave | Hatha Yoga | Gentle Hatha yoga with Caroline. | 09:30-10:45

• Rush | Rush Community Centre | Parent and Toddler | Parent and Toddler sessions. | 10:00-12:00

• Donabate | Donabate Library | Gaeilge le Chéile | Practise Irish together in a welcoming group. | 11:00-13:00

• Swords | Saint Cronan's Catholic Church, St Cronan's Ave | Chair Yoga | Gentle chair-based yoga with Caroline. | 11:15-12:15

• Skerries | Skerries Library | Knitting & Crochet Group | Bring a project and enjoy a friendly knitting and crochet group. | 14:30-16:30

• Donabate | Donabate Portrane Community Centre | First Point Ballet | Ballet classes; individual session times may vary. | 15:00-20:00

• Skerries | Skerries Library | Autumn Wreath Making | Create an autumn wreath using seasonal materials; booking required. | 15:00-16:00

• Balbriggan | Balbriggan Library | Creative Poetry Writing Club | Explore poetry and writing in a friendly weekly group. | 18:30-19:45

• Swords | Swords Library | Italian Conversation Group | Practise Italian conversation in a welcoming group. | 18:30-19:30

• Portmarnock | Portmarnock Sports and Leisure Club | Strength and Conditioning | A strength and conditioning fitness class. | 18:35-19:20

• Malahide | Bridgefield Car Park | Green Nuts Men’s Group – Walk & Talk | A relaxed walk and friendly conversation for local men. | 19:00

• Balbriggan | Parochial House, Dublin Street | Balbriggan Toastmasters | Develop public speaking and leadership skills in a welcoming club. Visitors are welcome. | 20:00

• Malahide | St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre | Clinical Physio Pilates | Clinical Pilates with a physiotherapy focus. | 20:00-21:00

• Swords | Applewood Community Centre | Swords Basketball Club | Regular basketball sessions with Swords Basketball Club. | 20:00-22:00

Wednesday 21st October

• Swords | River Valley Community Centre | Iyengar Yoga with Sue | A weekly Iyengar yoga class with Sue. | 10:00-11:00

• Portmarnock | Portmarnock Sports and Leisure Club | Pilates | A Pilates fitness class. | 10:30-11:00

• Malahide | St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre | Drama House Preschool | A drama class for preschool children. | 13:00-13:45

• Skerries | Skerries Library | Embroidery Drop-in | Bring your embroidery project for a relaxed creative session. | 14:30-16:00

• Malahide | St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre | Drama House Junior and Intermediate | Drama classes for junior and intermediate children aged 5–11. | 15:00-16:45

• Malahide | St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre | Project Fashion 8+ | Fashion classes for children aged 8 and over. | 15:30-17:00

• Swords | Holywell Community Centre | Gymnastics Fundamentals | Develop fundamental gymnastics skills. | 16:30-18:30

• Balbriggan | Castleland Community Centre | Colour and Art Kids | A creative art class for children. | 17:30-18:30

• Donabate | Donabate Portrane Community Centre | Community Choir | A weekly community choir session. | 18:00-20:00

• Malahide | St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre | Project Fashion Teens | Fashion classes for teenagers. | 18:30-20:00

• Lusk | The Cottage | Pregnancy Yoga | A pregnancy yoga class. | 19:00-20:00

• Malahide | St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre | Iyengar Yoga - Sue Ennis | Iyengar yoga with Sue Ennis. | 19:30-21:00

• Balbriggan | Castleland Community Centre | Castleland Community Football | A community football session. | 20:00-21:00

• Swords | Holywell Community Centre | Swords Badminton Club | Badminton games and matches for all levels. | 20:00-22:00

Thursday 22nd October

• Swords | Applewood Community Centre | Cuidiu Parent & Toddler Morning | A weekly morning for parents, carers and toddlers. | 09:30-11:30

• Swords | Saint Cronan's Catholic Church, St Cronan's Ave | Mat Yoga - Calmness within with Caroline | Morning mat yoga with Caroline. | 09:30-10:45

• Rush | Rush Library | Age Friendly Social Club | A friendly weekly get-together for older adults. | 11:00-13:00

• Malahide | Malahide Library | Age Action Computer Classes | Build computer confidence in a supportive class. | 12:00-14:00

• Donabate | Donabate Library | Ellora McGee Halloween Draw-along | Draw Ellora McGee and friends with Úna Woods, for ages 8–12; booking required. | 15:00-16:00

• Skerries | Skerries Library | Witch and Cat Crafts | A seasonal witch-and-cat craft session; check booking details. | 15:00-16:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre | Balbriggan Mandarin Chinese Language School | Mandarin Chinese language classes. | 15:30-17:30

• Rush | Rush Library | Halloween Crafts | A Halloween craft session; check age and booking details. | 15:30-16:30

• Swords | Swords Library | Halloween Quiz | A Halloween-themed library quiz; check booking details. | 15:30-16:30

• Donabate | Donabate Library | Junior Book Club | A friendly book club for young readers. | 16:00-17:00

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle | The Ardgillan Residents Return: Craic from the Crypt | A spooky castle tour for ages 8 and over; booking required. | 17:00

• Lusk | The Cottage | Men's Yoga | A Thursday evening yoga class for men. | 18:15-19:15

• Rush | Rush Library | Scrabble Club | Enjoy word games and friendly company. | 18:30-19:30

• Malahide | Casino Model Railway Museum | Samhain Sounds Music Workshop | A beginner tin-whistle workshop with music and Samhain folklore. | 19:00-20:00

• Balbriggan | The Lark | Rhys Darby: Unhinged | An evening of stand-up comedy with Rhys Darby. | 20:00

Thanks for reading and for being part of the 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 be back on Thursday morning.