👋 Hi FingalEMers,

Good morning! Any plans for the long weekend? There’s plenty to choose from locally, whether you’re looking for something to keep the kids busy, an evening out or a wander around a market or exhibition.

This edition marks a big step for us as we introduce the Fingal East Media Events Directory🙌. We’re delighted to give our growing calendar a home of its own, we think you'll find it really helpful. Below, you’ll find a selection of Friday–Sunday highlights to get you started. A special mention to Malahide Lions Club, the first organisation to create their event in the new directory 🎯

Also, in this edition, we’re calling into Ballough to discover what’s on offer at White’s Agri, sharing news of two exciting new business openings, and looking ahead to storytelling and seasonal traditions at Skerries Mills.

Finally, we celebrate Catherine Walsh, whose sporting career took her from Swords to six Paralympic Games across three different sports. It’s another local story we’re delighted to share.

Have your say in our newsletter delivery-time poll, then settle in for your weekend catch-up ☕.

🛠️ 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

📣 Bringing Fingal East Together – One Event at a Time! 🍾

Over the past year, we've been delighted to discover just how much is happening across Fingal East. From community gatherings and charity fundraisers to regular classes, workshops, clubs and commercial events, there's an incredible amount going on right on our doorstep. So much, in fact, that our events calendar has been getting longer and longer, and we've reached the point where we simply can't fit everything into the newsletter!

That's why we're delighted to introduce the Fingal East Media Events Directory. But this is about much more than creating a bigger calendar. Our vision is to build one central home for everything happening across Fingal East, a platform dedicated entirely to our local community.

We want to bring two sides of our community together. On one side are the people, clubs, organisations and businesses putting on activities of every kind, whether it's a weekly fitness class, a local fundraiser, a children's workshop, a community gathering or a major commercial event. On the other are the people of Fingal East who want to discover what's happening around them, find something new to try or simply get more involved in their local area.

We believe every local activity deserves the opportunity to be discovered, and everyone in Fingal East deserves an easy way to find it. That's what we're working to create. The directory gives organisers a place to share and manage their own listings, with free options available for both community and commercial activities, while giving local people one convenient place to explore what's on across the area.

And don't worry, our newsletter events calendar isn't going anywhere! We'll continue to bring you a selection of highlights in each edition, while the directory provides the wider picture. Importantly, you won't be limited to what's happening this week or next. The directory will also feature events taking place weeks or even months into the future, making it easier to discover what's coming up and plan ahead.

This is just the beginning, and we'll continue developing the platform with the people who use it, with the ambition of making it the go-to place for discovering and sharing what's happening across Fingal East.

Explore the Fingal East Events Directory, and if you know someone organising a class, club, activity or event, please share it with them. Together, we can build something genuinely useful for our local community.

Two brand new additions to Fingal East this week🙌

We love to hear of new developments in the Fingal East community and this week we have 2 new spots opening up!

October 22nd- Boojum officially opens their doors in Swords Pavilions Shopping Centre. Their first 200 customers before 12pm will get a free burrito🌯

October 24th - Browns of Portmarnock are hosting their official soft launch. They are located in Unit 2 Portmarnock Drive, a coffee shop by day and wine bar by night🍷

If you know of a business opening in the Fingal East area, we would love to hear from you. Feel free to pop us an email so we can share the details.

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

Friday 23rd October 2026

• Malahide | St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre | Art with Eleanor | Art with Eleanor sessions. | 10:00-12:30

• Malahide | St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre | Cuidiu Mother and Toddler | Cuidiu Mother and Toddler sessions. | 10:00-12:00

• Skerries | Skerries Library | Quiet Friends of Breastfeeding Group | A welcoming, quiet peer-support group for parents and babies. | 10:30-12:30

• Lusk | The Cottage | Tea Together Seniors | Tea Together Seniors sessions. | 11:00-13:00

• Malahide | St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre | Art with Eleanor | Art with Eleanor sessions. | 14:00-16:30

• Rush | Rush Library | Community Art Group | Make art and enjoy a relaxed creative session. | 14:00-16:00

• Malahide | St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre | Little Arts | Little Arts sessions. | 14:30-16:30

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle | The Ardgillan Residents Return: Craic from the Crypt | A spooky castle tour for ages 8 and over; booking required. | 17:00-18:00

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle | The Ardgillan Residents Return: Craic from the Crypt | A spooky castle tour for ages 8 and over; booking required. | 17:45-18:45

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle | The Ardgillan Residents Return: Craic from the Crypt | A spooky castle tour for ages 8 and over; booking required. | 18:30-19:30

• Balbriggan | Castleland Community Centre | Castleland Indoor Soccer | An indoor soccer session. | 19:00-20:00

• Malahide | Malahide Castle & Gardens | The Traitorous Tale: A Ghoulish Feast | An immersive evening of dining and spooky theatre. | 19:00-20:30

• Naul | Delahasey, Naul Road | The Dining Club Presents Samhain 2026 | A candlelit seasonal dining evening. | 19:00-20:00

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle | The Ardgillan Residents Return: Craic from the Crypt | A spooky castle tour for ages 8 and over; booking required. | 20:00-21:00

• Swords | Peacocks Bar & Lounge | St Finian’s 80s Fundraiser Night | Dance to The 80s Generation and support St Finian’s GAA. | 20:00–23:30

Saturday 24th October 2026

• Malahide | St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre | Iyengar Yoga - Sue Ennis | Iyengar Yoga - Sue Ennis sessions. | 10:00-11:30

• Skerries | Skerries Mills | Skerries Mills Farmers Market | Browse the weekly farmers market. | 10:00-15:00

• Malahide | Malahide Castle Sports Pavilion | Children's Halloween Art Party | Join Zila Art and Design for a Halloween art party for ages 4–8. | 14:00-15:30

• Malahide | St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre | Malahide Lions Club Art Exhibition and Sale | An art exhibition and sale in aid of Mental Health Ireland and Jigsaw. | 17:00-20:00

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle | The Ardgillan Residents Return: Craic from the Crypt | A spooky castle tour for ages 8 and over; booking required. | 17:00-18:00

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle | The Ardgillan Residents Return: Craic from the Crypt | A spooky castle tour for ages 8 and over; booking required. | 17:45-18:45

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle | The Ardgillan Residents Return: Craic from the Crypt | A spooky castle tour for ages 8 and over; booking required. | 18:30-19:30

• Naul | Whitestown House, Delahasey, Naul Road | The Dining Club Presents Samhain 2026 | A candlelit seasonal dining evening. | 19:00-20:00

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle | The Ardgillan Residents Return: Craic from the Crypt | A spooky castle tour for ages 8 and over; booking required. | 19:15-20:15

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle | The Ardgillan Residents Return: Craic from the Crypt | A spooky castle tour for ages 8 and over; booking required. | 20:00-21:00

• Balbriggan | The Lark | The Promise Love Story Showcase Concert | A staged concert showcasing a musical love story. | 20:00-21:00

• Naul Village | The Séamus Ennis Arts Centre | Tommy Sands | Songs and stories from the celebrated folk musician. | 20:00-23:00

Sunday 25th October 2026

• Lusk | The Cottage | Yoga for All | Yoga for All sessions. | 09:45-10:45

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre | Flemington Craft Fair | Browse handmade gifts, jewellery and crafts from local makers. | 11:00–16:00

• Malahide | St Sylvester's Parish Pastoral Centre | Malahide Lions Club Art Exhibition and Sale | An art exhibition and sale in aid of Mental Health Ireland and Jigsaw. | 11:00-20:00

• Skerries | Skerries Community Centre | Skerries Youth Support Services Awareness and Donation Event | Learn about its tap-to-donate feature and help raise awareness of the local youth support service. | 11:00-12:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre | La Goire Pour Church | A regular La Goire Pour Church gathering. | 12:00-14:30

• Balbriggan | The Lark | Sing Social Club: Halloween Special | Join a sociable Halloween singing session. | 12:00-13:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre | New Covenant Church | A regular New Covenant Church gathering. | 14:00-15:00

• Skerries | Skerries Mills | The Goddess of Samhain | A theatrical journey into Celtic stories and seasonal traditions. | 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. | 17:00-18:00

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle | The Ardgillan Residents Return: Craic from the Crypt | A spooky castle tour for ages 8 and over; booking required. | 17:45-18:45

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle | The Ardgillan Residents Return: Craic from the Crypt | A spooky castle tour for ages 8 and over; booking required. | 18:30-19:30

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle | The Ardgillan Residents Return: Craic from the Crypt | A spooky castle tour for ages 8 and over; booking required. | 19:15-20:15

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle | The Ardgillan Residents Return: Craic from the Crypt | A spooky castle tour for ages 8 and over; booking required. | 20:00-21:00

• Donabate | Shoreline Hotel | Karaoke and Games Night at Shoreline Hotel | Enjoy karaoke and games at Shoreline Hotel. | 20:30-21:30

📢 Finally, stuff from Fingal East we just like — Catherine Walsh — From Swords to Six Paralympic Games

We love discovering the stories behind local sporting names, and Catherine Walsh’s is quite a story. The Swords athlete represented Ireland at six Paralympic Games between Barcelona 1992 and Rio 2016, competing across athletics, cycling and triathlon. With a Fingallians athletics connection too, her career links a familiar local club with some of the biggest stages in world sport.

Her first Paralympic medal came in Sydney in 2000, where she won bronze in the pentathlon. Twelve years later, she added two more in London, taking silver in the individual pursuit and bronze in the time trial alongside tandem pilot Francine Meehan. Reaching that level in one sport would be an achievement in itself. Catherine went on to represent Ireland in a third, competing in paratriathlon at Rio in 2016.

In 2022, Catherine was inducted into the Paralympics Ireland Hall of Fame, recognising an international career spanning 24 years. There’s a lovely local continuation to the story as well: in her Fingal Triathlon Club profile, she recalls starting out at the Skerries Triathlon in 2014. From trying a new challenge close to home to racing for Ireland again, it’s a sporting story from Swords well worth knowing👏.

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.