Hi FingalEMers 👋,
The weekend is here — and Heritage Week is still keeping Fingal East unusually busy. There are walks, exhibitions, tours, workshops and local-history events happening right across the area, so our events calendar is another big one this weekend.
Our featured event takes us to Balbriggan, where Fingal Rowing Club is celebrating 10 years on the water at Kings Strand on Sunday, with a chance to hear the club’s story, learn more about coastal rowing and even give rowing a try yourself.
📚 Our giveaway for two signed copies of Swords – History and Mysteries by local historian Mike Power is also still open. If you already entered the draw earlier this week, please don’t enter again — you’re already included. If you haven’t entered yet, just answer Yes in the poll below.
Elsewhere, we have updates from Swords and Malahide, plenty to choose from in the weekend calendar, and we finish with a Balbriggan athlete who has just added a European medal to an already remarkable career.
Enjoy the weekend — and we’ll talk again on Monday morning.
📚 Would you like to enter our draw to win one of two signed copies of Swords – History and Mysteries by Mike Power?
THIS WEEK'S FEATURED BUSINESS
Fingal Glass Centre
There are some local businesses you can pass for years without knowing everything they do — until something breaks and suddenly you need exactly their service. Fingal Glass Centre on the Rathbeale Road in Swords is a good example. The second-generation family business has worked with glass for more than 40 years, serving homeowners and businesses across Fingal.
Replacing a smashed window is only part of the story. Fingal Glass Centre can replace failed or misted double-glazed units, repair windows and doors, supply mirrors and create made-to-measure glass shelving and table tops. It also works with stained and leaded glass and can replace greenhouse glass. So that cloudy double-glazed window may not mean replacing the entire window.
They also provide an emergency glazing and boarding-up service following accidental damage or a break-in. It is one of those useful local contacts worth knowing about, particularly as many smaller repair jobs can be fixed without the larger replacement project people might expect.
From its Swords base, Fingal Glass Centre serves communities including Malahide, Donabate, Lusk, Rush, Skerries and Balbriggan. With more than four decades in the trade, it is another long-established specialist business based right here in Fingal East.
News
Tracking all the developing stories that affect our community.
🏗️ Swords Town Centre Transformation Moves Into Phase Two
Phase Two of the Swords Public Realm Works is now underway, with work beginning on North Street as part of the wider Sustainable Swords programme. The project will see overhead services moved underground, new paving and footpaths installed, upgraded pedestrian crossings, and new seating and landscaping introduced along the street. The works are expected to continue through to December, with businesses remaining open throughout.
It is another significant step in the ongoing transformation of Swords town centre, following the work already completed around Main Street. While there will inevitably be some disruption during construction, the longer-term aim is to create a more attractive, pedestrian-friendly town centre with better public spaces and improved connections through the heart of Swords.
🌿 Malahide's New Street Transformation Set to Begin
After years of discussion and temporary arrangements, Malahide’s New Street redevelopment is finally moving towards construction. Fingal County Council says the detailed design has now been completed and the process of appointing a contractor is underway, with the successful contractor expected to move onto the site in September.
The project will turn New Street into a permanent pedestrian-focused public space, with upgraded paving, landscaping, seating and areas for outdoor dining. New Street has become an important part of Malahide village life since traffic was first removed, and the new scheme is intended to replace the temporary layout with a properly designed public realm at the heart of the village.
🏣😮 Trust us! You will never look at a building the same way again.
Every now and again, while looking for stories from Fingal East, we stumble across something a little outside our normal territory that makes us stop. Open House Dublin was one of those. Most of us probably don't think very much about architecture — we drive through Dublin, walk its streets and pass the same buildings hundreds of times without ever really wondering why they look the way they do, what was there before them, or how the places around us came to be.
Open House makes all of that remarkably accessible. There are articles, films and short-form documentaries exploring buildings and spaces of every description. You can go from the Four Courts, looking at one of Dublin's best-known buildings, to Dolphin House in Dolphin's Barn, exploring housing and regeneration, or closer to home to Baltrasna House in Donabate, where a contemporary family home has been created alongside the ruins of the house that came before it. And it isn't just landmark buildings — homes, streets, parks, markets and public spaces all get the same treatment.
That's probably what we liked most about it. You don't need to know anything about architecture — we certainly don't. You just start browsing, watch one of the short films or read one of the stories, and suddenly you find yourself looking differently at places you've passed all your life. Open House Dublin returns from 10–18 October 2026, but there's already loads on the site to explore. It's different, fascinating and well worth losing half an hour to.
Events Calendar
Things to do in the week ahead.
🚣♀️🌊 Featured event: Fingal Rowing Club – Our 10 Year Story
Fingal Rowing Club is celebrating ten years on the water in Balbriggan this Sunday, 23 August, with a special Heritage Week event at Kings Strand from 11.30am–3pm. Visitors can meet the rowers, hear how the club grew from the restoration of its first traditional skiff, learn about coastal rowing and see the club’s developing FISA rowing section.
There will also be a chance to try rowing for yourself. The event takes place beside the old boat and bath house at Kings Strand, currently being restored by Fingal County Council as a future home for Fingal Rowing Club and the 89th Bremore Scouts — making the day as much about Balbriggan’s continuing connection with the sea as the club’s own ten-year milestone.
Friday 21st August
• Portrane | Martello Tower, The Quay | A Tour of Martello Tower Portrane | Hourly guided tours inside Portrane's historic coastal tower. Runs Friday 21st–Sunday 23rd August, 09:00–17:00 daily. | 09:00-17:00
• Donabate | Donabate Library | Watercolour Painting | A relaxed watercolour painting session at the library. | 10:00
• Rush | Rush Library | Chair Yoga | A gentle seated yoga session at the library. | 10:00
• Donabate | Community Well Studio, Lambay House | Baby Massage Course | A calm guided baby massage session for parents and babies. | 10:00-11:00
• Balbriggan | Bremore Castle Preschool & Lego Club | LEGO Summer Camp | Final morning of this week's LEGO summer camp. | 10:00-12:30
• Naul | The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre | Refractions — Ioana Petcu-Colan | Visual art and music meet in Ioana Petcu-Colan's gallery exhibition. Runs Friday 21st–Sunday 23rd August, 10:00–16:00 daily. | 10:00-16:00
• Swords | Swords Castle | Symbol of Hope Exhibition: Discover Cultural Unity | A free exhibition celebrating shared Irish and Ukrainian culture and craft. Also running Saturday 22nd August, 10:00–16:00. | 10:00-16:00
• Skerries | Skerries Mills | Art by Yasmina — Inspired by Cú Chulainn | An exhibition of oil paintings inspired by Irish mythology and Cú Chulainn. Runs Friday 21st–Sunday 23rd August, 10:00–17:00 daily. | 10:00-17:00
• Swords | Fingal Local Studies & Archives, 46 North Street | Fingal Local Studies & Archive Open Day | Drop in to explore Fingal's local studies and archive collections. | 10:00-17:00
• Balbriggan | Balbriggan Library | Sensory Toddler Morning | A welcoming sensory play morning for toddlers. | 11:00
• Swords | Swords Library | Swords Castle Crafts with Francesca Caddedu | A creative Heritage Week craft session inspired by Swords Castle. | 11:00-12:30
• Donabate | Newbridge House & Farm | Family History Workshop | A hands-on family-history workshop exploring research, records and family stories. | 11:00-15:00
• Balbriggan | The Victory Garden, 7 Bremore Cottages | Garden Opening | Visit this richly planted private garden as part of the Dublin Garden Trail. Also open Saturday 22nd August, 11:00–17:00. | 11:00-17:00
• Rush | The Portico, Kenure | Stories, Families and Local Legends | A guided local-history walk from the Portico to St Catherine's Graveyard and Well. | 17:30-18:30
• Swords | Richie's Bicycle Shop, Town Mall | Wander and Wonder: Swords Heritage Walk | Discover Swords' history and stories on an evening guided heritage walk. Also running Saturday 22nd August, 10:00–12:15. | 19:30-21:15
• Lusk | Murray's Pub | Voices of Lusk: Past and Present | An evening sharing voices, stories and memories from Lusk's past and present. | 20:00-21:00
• Donabate | The Shoreline Hotel | DJ & After Dinner Karaoke | Friday-night summer entertainment with a DJ and after-dinner karaoke. | Time not stated
Saturday 22nd August
• Lusk | Murray's Car Park, Market Square | Lusk Community Heritage Festival Farmers Market | A local farmers market celebrating community, food and heritage. | 09:30-13:00
• Swords | The Carnegie Library | Board Games with Eclecticats | A relaxed morning of board games with Eclecticats. | 10:00
• Malahide | St Sylvester's Parish Centre | Iyengar Yoga with Sue | A Saturday morning Iyengar yoga class with Sue. | 10:00-11:30
• Malahide | Casino Model Railway Museum / Dublin Road | Malahide Market | A Saturday market bringing together food, crafts and local traders. | 10:00-16:00
• Lusk | Saint MacCullin's Community Centre | Lusk Round Tower, Church & Norman Belfry Tour | A guided tour through Lusk's remarkable medieval heritage. Tours run Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd August at 11:00, 13:00 and 15:00. | 11:00, 13:00 & 15:00
• Rush | Millbank Theatre to Rush Harbour | Heritage Twalk with Declan Costello | A guided walk through Rush exploring a century of local change and continuity. | 11:00-12:30
• Donabate | Newbridge House & Farm | Curious Cabinets — Wild Child Day | Create a nature-inspired curiosity cabinet in a hands-on family workshop. Two Saturday sessions: 11:00–13:00 and 14:30–16:30. | 11:00-13:00 & 14:30-16:30
• Naul | Fourknocks Megalithic Tomb, Chapel Lane | Irish Plant Mythology & Folklore Foraging Walk | A guided foraging walk exploring Irish plant mythology and folklore. | 11:00-13:00
• Malahide | Malahide Library | Launch of Cúig Chrann Dúchasach | Discover five native heritage trees, their Ogham letters, myths and folklore. | 12:00-12:30
• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle | John Hinde Postcard Talk | An illustrated talk on the colourful postcards that helped shape images of Ireland. | 14:00-15:15
• Naul | The Naul / Cottage Café meeting point | Fingal Historic Water Pumps — A Wander Round the Wells of Naul | A guided local walk exploring historic wells and water pumps around Naul. | 14:00-16:00
• Swords | The Old School House | Beatty Brothers Live | The Beatty Brothers take over the Schoolhouse for a late Saturday live set. | 22:00
• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle | Ceramics Workshop — Surface Decoration | A Run Baby Run pottery workshop exploring surface decoration techniques. | 10:00-12:30
Sunday 23rd August
• Donabate | Community Well Studio, Lambay House | Sunday Morning Yoga & Coffee | Yoga and breathwork followed by coffee at Triangle Coffee Co. | 10:00-11:00
• Rush | The Strands | Advanced Mat Pilates | An advanced Sunday morning mat Pilates class. | 10:00-11:00
• Skerries | Skerries Mills Reception | Skerries Mills Turas Treoraithe | A guided tour of Skerries Mills through the Irish language. | 10:15-11:30
• Malahide | Hidden Acres | Floral Cupcake Decoration Workshop | Decorate beautiful floral cupcakes in a relaxed Sunday workshop. | 11:00-14:00
• Donabate | Donabate Parish Hall | Peninsula Artists Art Fair | Browse original work from local Peninsula Artists at this Sunday art fair. | 11:00-16:00
• Swords | Swords Castle | Symbol of Hope Exhibition: Ukrainian Independence Day | A special afternoon of culture, performances, activities and a guided exhibition tour. | 13:00-16:00
• Donabate | Newbridge House & Gardens | Dogs Aid Summer Pawty Dog Walk | A summer charity dog walk with a special canine guest and plenty of tail wags. | 14:00
• Balbriggan | Fingal Rowing Club | Fingal Rowing Club — Our 10 Year Story | Celebrate ten years of Fingal Rowing Club and its local maritime story. | 14:00-16:00
• Balbriggan | The Lark | NT Live — Les Liaisons Dangereuses | A Sunday matinee screening of the National Theatre production. | 15:00
• Rush | Kenure Gates to the Portico | Kenure House — A Story of What It Was | Hear the story of Kenure House and the lasting mark it left on Rush. | 15:00-17:00
• Skerries | Skerries Harps Clubhouse | G4M&O Afternoon Tea Party Fundraiser | An afternoon tea fundraiser with treats, chats and raffle prizes. | 15:00-18:00
• Lusk | Saint MacCullin's Community Centre | 400 Years of John Dowland — Voice, Lute & Viol Recital | An intimate early-music recital celebrating 400 years of John Dowland. | 16:30-17:30
• Rush | Zen Soul Studio | Zen Soul Circle for Women | An evening women's circle focused on connection, reflection and wellbeing. | 18:30-21:30
• Donabate | The Shoreline Hotel | Music Bingo | A lively Sunday night of music bingo as part of the hotel's summer entertainment. | 20:00-22:00
📢 Finally, stuff from Fingal East we just like — Andrew Coscoran: From Balbriggan to a European Podium
Andrew Coscoran
Balbriggan’s Andrew Coscoran is now a European Championship medallist. On Saturday night in Birmingham, the 30-year-old produced a superb final 200 metres to take bronze in the 1,500m, moving from seventh place and finding a gap on the inside to finish in 3:36.24. It was his first senior outdoor championship medal and another landmark in a career that has taken him from running locally as a child to competing at the very highest level of international athletics.
Coscoran first joined Star of the Sea Athletic Club when he was just five, before football took over for a few years. He returned seriously to athletics as a teenager while attending St Mary’s in Drogheda, rejoined Star of the Sea in 2010 and soon won an All-Ireland U15 title over 1,500 metres. His route from there was far from straightforward. A scholarship took him to Florida State University, but after returning to Ireland he spent a period working as a personal trainer and in McDonald’s while continuing to pursue athletics. A move to DCU helped put his running career back on track.
Since then, Coscoran has become one of Ireland’s leading middle-distance runners. He reached an Olympic 1,500m semi-final in Tokyo, competed again at the Paris Olympics, broke the Irish outdoor 1,500m record with 3:30.42, set several Irish indoor records and reached the World Championship 1,500m final in Tokyo last year. Now there is a European bronze medal to add to the list. A runner who first pulled on a club vest as a five-year-old in Balbriggan is still getting faster more than two decades later — which is probably the bit we like most. Well done, Andrew. 👏👏
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.
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