👋 Hi FingalEMers,

Welcome to the second week of our new twice-weekly Fingal East Media rhythm. The good news is that open rates are holding steady, which tells us that splitting the newsletter across Monday and Thursday has not reduced engagement — if anything, it seems to be making each edition a little easier to read and a little more useful.

Because the newsletter has grown significantly since we last asked, we are also rerunning our poll on local eating-out discounts. We would love to know whether Fingal East Media readers would make use of meaningful midweek offers from restaurants and cafés across the area.

As often happens after a bank holiday weekend, the start of the week is a little quieter on the events front. But Thursday’s edition is shaping up to be our biggest event listing yet. Between MayorFest, Skerries Trad Festival and Cruinniú na nÓg, we are being absolutely spoiled for choice, so we’ll do our best to pull everything together in one easy place before the weekend.

Frank McGowan — furniture, flooring and local experience since 1979

Based in Airside Retail Park, Swords, Frank McGowan Furniture & Flooring is one of Fingal’s best-known home furnishing names. Originally founded as a carpet store in Malahide village, this Irish family-run business has grown into a major furniture and flooring showroom, offering everything from sofas, dining and bedroom furniture to beds, mattresses, rugs, carpets and flooring.

Their Summer Sale is now on, making it a great time for anyone planning to refresh a room, replace flooring or furnish a home, with decades of local experience, a large showroom to explore, and a focus on quality products, good service and competitive prices.

And don’t forget to tell them you’re a FingalEMer.

👧👦 Cruinniú na nÓg returns to Fingal

Cruinniú na nÓg returns on Saturday, 6 June 2026, giving children and young people across Ireland a full day of free creativity. It is Ireland’s national day of free creative activity for under-18s, and the 2026 programme includes more than 1,300 free events across the island. In Fingal, the day is being led by Creative Fingal, with a programme designed to get young people making, performing, experimenting and trying something new.

This year’s Fingal programme is a big one, with almost 50 events taking place across the county. All ten Fingal library branches will host Carnivals of Curiosity, with activities including author and illustrator visits, graffiti workshops, manga art, music, dancing, sensory play, crafts and family events. Fingal County Council says the aim is to spark curiosity and ignite the imagination, with events spread across libraries, arts venues and community spaces.

There is plenty for Fingal East families to watch out for. Swords Castle will host We Own The Castle, a live teen music festival with Garageland Galaxyz, alongside the Wavin’ Words Youth Poetry Slam in Swords Castle Chapel. Local libraries are also busy, with events in Balbriggan, Donabate, Malahide, Rush, Skerries and Swords, including Lego challenges, clay workshops, sensory slime, graffiti, bilingual storytelling, manga illustration and family céilí sessions. Some events are drop-in, while others require booking, so it is worth checking the official Cruinniú na nÓg Fingal listings before heading out.

🎖️🍻 Skerries gets a sunny shout-out in Dublin beer garden list

Skerries has earned a mention in EVOKE’s latest round-up of Dublin beer gardens and terraces worth visiting when the sun comes out. The lifestyle site’s list includes a mix of city-centre terraces, match-day pubs, rooftop spots and seaside options, but the only Fingal East venue to make the cut is Blue Bar in Skerries.

The article highlights Blue Bar as one of Dublin’s seaside beer garden options, pointing readers north to Skerries as an alternative to the crowds in town on a sunny weekend. With its coastal setting and views across the Irish Sea, it is easy to see why the venue stood out in a list focused on outdoor drinks and summer atmosphere.

For Fingal East readers, it is a nice reminder that some of Dublin’s best sunny-day spots are not in the city centre at all. Whether you are local to Skerries or planning a short trip up the coast, Blue Bar’s inclusion gives the area another small nod as one of north Dublin’s go-to places for food, drinks and sea views.

🚧🚦 Road closures & changes planned

• Swords
  • Seatown Road closed between St Columcille’s Drive/Seatown Road and North Street/Seatown Road for Swords Cultural Quarter works; local diversions remain in place : 1 Jul 2024 08:00 - 30 Jun 2026 17:00
  • R132 Connectivity Project road works speed limit of 50km/h applies on sections of the R132 in Swords : 1 Mar 2026 time not stated - 28 Feb 2027 time not stated
  • Swords Public Realm works on Main Street and Bridge Street, including Stop/Go traffic management as required and temporary relocation of the two bus stops outside County Hall : 27 May 2026 time not stated - 12 Jun 2026 time not stated
  • Public Realm works include drainage, traffic-signal ducting and west-side Main Street footpath resurfacing, with a 10:00-16:00 working window where stated : 2 Jun 2026 10:00 - 12 Jun 2026 16:00
  • Dublin Bus Route 41x journeys that normally use Seatown Road divert via Swords Main Street, Malahide Road and Swords Bypass; Seatown Road/Seatown Villas and Swords Park stops not served : 12 Jul 2024 12:00 - 30 Jun 2026 11:59
  • Dublin Bus Routes 41c, 41x and 43 towards the city divert via Watery Lane, Rathbeale Road, Bridge Street and Swords Main Street; North Street Park, Seatown West and North Street Swords stops not served : 10 Feb 2026 10:00 - 31 Dec 2027 12:00
  • MOVE at Swords Castle travel notice: no parking at Swords Castle; extra bike racks provided and walking, cycling or public transport advised : 7 Jun 2026 11:30 - 7 Jun 2026 15:00
• Malahide
  • Dublin Bus Route 32x towards UCD diverts after Black Banks via Howth Road, Raheny, Watermill Road and Clontarf Road; route towards Malahide remains normal : 16 Mar 2026 06:00 - 16 Jun 2026 11:59
• Donabate
  • Turvey Avenue closed for road surfacing works, with diversion between Donabate and the R132 via R127 Hearse Road and Lissenhall Interchange; local and emergency access maintained : 2 Jun 2026 time not stated - 19 Jun 2026 time not stated
  • Turvey Avenue works permitted Monday-Friday only, with no works on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holidays : 2 Jun 2026 08:00 - 19 Jun 2026 21:00
  • Dublin Bus Route 33e towards Skerries diverts from Donabate Station via Hearse Road and Jordanstown Road; Turvey Avenue stop 7721 not served : 2 Jun 2026 time not stated - 19 Jun 2026 11:59
  • Iarnród Éireann night-time track works at Donabate for essential track maintenance; heavy on-track machinery may be used : 5 Jun 2026 time not stated - 6 Jun 2026 time not stated
• Skerries
  • Mayor’s Fest at Skerries Mills travel notice: no onsite parking; visitors encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport to reduce congestion : 6 Jun 2026 14:00 - 7 Jun 2026 time not stated

🎪🎼 Featured Event: Mayor’s Fest at Skerries Mills

Our featured event this week is Mayor’s Fest at Skerries Mills, taking place on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June 2026, with festivities beginning from 2.00pm each day. Hosted by the Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Tom O’Leary, the two-day family festival promises a lively weekend of music, entertainment and community atmosphere in one of North County Dublin’s most scenic heritage settings.

The Saturday programme includes a Disney Princess Show and a Taylor Swift tribute act, while Sunday brings live performances from Smash Hits and Skerries favourites Risky Business. The event is free to attend, with no tickets required, and visitors will be able to enjoy food and refreshments from the on-site Windmill Café and additional food concessions throughout the weekend.

There is no parking on site, so visitors are encouraged to walk, cycle or use public transport where possible. The festival is also part of Explore Fingal, with families encouraged to make a day of it by enjoying Skerries’ coastal walks, heritage, shops, cafés and local businesses before or after the event.

Monday 1st June

• Donabate | Community Well, Lambay House | Mum & Baby Yoga with Katie | A nurturing postnatal yoga class for mums and babies, with time to move, bond and connect. | 09:30-10:30

• Malahide | Paddy’s Hill | Outdoor Pilates | Open-air Pilates class in a relaxed local setting. | 19:00

• 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 3km to 7km. | 19:15

• Swords | Holywell Community Centre | Self-Protection Training | Practical class focused on confidence, awareness and personal safety. | 20:00

Tuesday 2nd June

• Swords | Swords Parish Centre Brackenstown | Hatha Yoga | Gentle Hatha yoga class with Calmness with Caroline. | 09:30-10:45

• Donabate | Community Well, Lambay House | Yoga & Coffee Morning with Aisling | A feel-good yoga and breathwork session followed by coffee at Triangle Coffee Co. | 10:00-11:00

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle and Demesne | Guided Garden Tours | Garden tour with head gardener Dominica McKevitt. | 11:00

• Swords | Swords Parish Centre Brackenstown | Chair Yoga | Gentle chair-based yoga class with Calmness with Caroline. | 11:15-12:15

• Swords | HSE Block 3, Swords Business Park | Stronger for Longer: Why resistance training matters for men’s health | Free HSE workshop on strength and wellbeing for Men’s Health Awareness Week. | 11:30

• Online | LEO Fingal | Start Your Own Business | Ten-evening start-up course covering planning, finance, marketing and practical business skills. | 18:30-21:30

• Rush | Rush National School | Zumba Class | Friendly dance-fitness class with no experience needed. | 19:00

Wednesday 3rd June

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

• Donabate | Parish Hall | Strength & Conditioning Classes | Weekly class focused on strength, fitness and conditioning. | 17:00-18:00

• Swords | Thornleigh ETNS, Applewood | Zumba with Gill | Midweek Zumba class in Applewood. | 19:00

• Swords | Malahide Parish Centre | Iyengar Yoga with Sue | Welcoming Iyengar yoga class with Sue Ennis. | 19:30-21:00

Thursday 4th June

• Online | LEO Fingal | Digital Boost: LEO’s Digital Toolkit for Success | Free webinar on LEO digital supports for small businesses. | 09:30-11:30

• Donabate | Community Well, Lambay House | Restorative Breathwork & Ogham Healing | Four-week gentle breathwork and restorative wellbeing course with Clodagh. | 19:30-21:00

• Swords | Holywell Community Centre | Combat Cardio | High-energy fitness session with SELF Protection Academy. | 20:00

• 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

Remember to take a deep breath before you open the newsletter on Thursday, cause it's epic! 😮

Photo: Skerries by Kent Wang , used under CC BY-SA 2.0 .