Hi FingalEMers 👋
We have another busy weekend ahead across Fingal East, with outdoor concerts at Swords Castle, markets and family activities in Malahide, creative workshops, live music, yoga, rugby and plenty more happening from Friday through Sunday.
In local news, Portmarnock Golf Club has moved another step closer to potentially hosting The Open, while our featured event celebrates an impressive milestone as Donabate Portrane Dramatic Society marks its 90th anniversary with an evening of drama, poetry and music.
We are also giving away two signed copies of Maurice Colgan’s book, Memories of Maureen and Our Links to Tupelo. Simply select “Yes” in this week’s poll to be entered into the draw. If you entered through our previous newsletter, there is no need to complete the poll again.
Finally, we introduce you to Duncan Campbell, the Swords-raised filmmaker and visual artist who became the first Irish-born winner of the Turner Prize.
Enjoy the read, and let’s see what’s happening across Fingal East.
📚 Would you like to be entered into this week's draw to win one of TWO signed copies of Memories of Maureen and Our Links to Tupelo?
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News
Tracking all the developing stories that affect our community.
🏌️⛳ Portmarnock edges closer to hosting The Open
Portmarnock Golf Club has moved another step closer to potentially hosting The Open Championship, with R&A Chief Executive Mark Darbon indicating that a decision is now getting close. Much of the feasibility work involving the club, Fingal County Council and the Irish Government has been completed, with further clarity expected before the end of 2026. If selected, Portmarnock would become the first venue outside the United Kingdom to host golf’s oldest major championship.
The Portmarnock links has a long history of staging major international golf events, including the Irish Open, the Walker Cup, The Amateur Championship and the Women’s Amateur Championship. The course has welcomed many of the world’s leading players and is widely recognised as one of Ireland’s most highly regarded links courses.
The Irish Government has indicated that up to €40 million could be made available to support the infrastructure and preparations required to stage the championship. Hosting The Open would bring a major international sporting event to Portmarnock, attracting large numbers of visitors and placing the area at the centre of the golfing world.
Events Calendar
Things to do in the week ahead.
🎭🍷 Featured event: Donabate Portrane Dramatic Society celebrates 90 years
Donabate Portrane Dramatic Society marks its 90th anniversary with a special evening of drama, poetry and music at Triangle Coffee, Donabate on Saturday July 25th at 7:30pm.
Titled "90 Minutes for 90 Years", this milestone celebration brings together performances reflecting nine decades of creativity and community theatre in Donabate and Portrane. Guests will also enjoy a complimentary glass of wine and shared food platters, all included in the ticket price.
Tickets are €20. Whether you've been involved with the society over the years or simply fancy a unique local night out, it's a wonderful opportunity to celebrate one of Fingal East's longest-established community organisations.
Friday 24 July
- Swords | Swords Castle | Nathan Carter | An outdoor standing concert on the castle grounds. The event is for ages 12 and over, with under-18s accompanied by an adult. | Gates 18:00
- Swords | Old School House | Swords Women Open Evening | Meet the players and coaches, learn about women’s rugby and stay for a relaxed social session. | 19:00
- Donabate | Donabate Library | Watercolour Painting | A guided creative workshop introducing watercolour painting techniques. | 10:00
- Donabate | Shoreline Hotel | DJ & After-Dinner Karaoke | Friday-night entertainment with a DJ followed by karaoke.
- Balbriggan | The Victory Garden, 7 Bremore Cottages | Garden Opening | Wander through this private ornamental garden during its summer open days. Open until the end of August and part of the Dublin Garden Trail. | 11:00–17:00
Saturday 25 July
- Swords | Outside River Valley Community Centre | Clothes Swap & Community Mending Corner | Bring up to five clean items to swap and get help with simple clothing repairs. | 11:00–13:00
- Swords | Holywell Community Centre | Sensory Play Session | A supported sensory-play session organised by Snowflakes Autism Support. | 10:30–11:30
- Swords | ALSAA Sports Centre, K67 YV06 | Pride Touch Rugby | An inclusive afternoon with introductory skills, a beginner-friendly tournament, prizes and a food truck. | 12:00–15:00
- Swords | Swords Castle | Embrace with Cry Before Dawn | An outdoor standing concert, also featuring Iann Brennan & The Echoes. The event is for ages 12 and over, with under-18s accompanied by an adult. | Gates 18:00
- Portmarnock | Velvet Strand | Beach Pilates, Swim & Sauna | A morning combining an outdoor Pilates class, sea swim and sauna. | 08:00–10:00
- Malahide | Casino Model Railway Museum | Explore Fingal Market | Browse local food, craft and produce stalls in the grounds of the museum. | 10:00–16:00
- Malahide | Malahide Rugby Club | Family Day | A family afternoon at the club, with face painting running from 15:30 to 18:30. | 14:00
- Malahide | St Andrew’s Parish Centre, Church Road | Annual Show & Plant Sale | A local horticultural show and plant sale with refreshments available. | 14:00–17:30
- Malahide | Nugents Hall, Malahide Castle & Gardens | The Hunt Dinner Party | An immersive 1700s dinner-theatre experience with a four-course meal, wine and live harp music. | 18:30–21:00
- Malahide | St Sylvester’s Parish Centre | Iyengar Yoga with Sue | A weekly Iyengar yoga class with Sue, who has taught locally for 20 years. | 10:00–11:30
- Donabate | East Coast Bike Hire, Kilcrea Road, K36 F799 | Guided Historical E-bike Tour | Explore the Donabate and Portrane peninsula by e-bike while learning about its local history. | 10:00
- Donabate | Donabate Library | Páistí! Scéalta! Amhráin! Spraoi! | Irish-language stories, songs and fun for children aged four to seven, with everyone welcome. | 11:30–12:30
- Balbriggan | Balbriggan Library | LGBTQ Film Club | A relaxed adult film club, with the film selected by the group on the day. | 10:30–12:30
- Balbriggan | Venue not published | TAS Anniversary Seminar with Raman Bekarevich | A two-day anniversary martial-arts seminar continuing into Sunday. | 13:30
- Balbriggan | The Victory Garden, 7 Bremore Cottages | Garden Opening | Wander through this private ornamental garden during its summer open days. Open until the end of August and part of the Dublin Garden Trail. | 11:00–17:00
Sunday 26 July
- Malahide | Private Walled Garden, Malahide Castle & Gardens | Yoga in the Park with Gayle | An outdoor yoga class in the private walled garden. Participants should bring their own mat. | 10:30–11:30
- Malahide | St Sylvester’s New Parish Hall | CoderDojo Malahide | A free coding club for ages 8 to 17, covering areas such as Scratch, Python and hardware projects. | 15:00–17:00
- Balbriggan | The Lark Concert Hall, Irish Institute of Music & Song | ClassicalKids.ie Interactive Kids Concert: Trad Music | A lively, interactive introduction to traditional Irish music for children from babies to around age eight. | 11:00–12:00
- Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle & Gardens | Relief Clay Making Workshop | A creative clay workshop led by Sallyanne Morgan.
- Balbriggan | Venue not published | TAS Anniversary Seminar with Raman Bekarevich | The concluding day of the two-day anniversary martial-arts seminar.
- Balbriggan | Exact venue not published | Self-care Soundbath | A 90-minute soundbath and relaxation session led by Orna Bissett. | 18:00–19:30
- Donabate | The Shoreline Hotel | Music Bingo | Pay-to-play bingo with a musical twist. | 20:00–22:00
📢 Finally, stuff from Fingal East we just like — Duncan Campbell
Duncan Campbell
Some Fingal East connections take us completely by surprise. Duncan Campbell, an internationally recognised filmmaker and visual artist originally from Swords, has built a career creating films that explore history, politics and the way stories from the past are remembered and retold.
Campbell’s work often combines archive footage with newly filmed material, moving between documentary and fiction. His subjects have included civil-rights activist Bernadette Devlin, the rise and fall of the DeLorean car factory and the way African art has been displayed, valued and sold. In 2014, he became the first Irish-born artist to win the Turner Prize for his film It for Others, having previously represented Scotland at the 2013 Venice Biennale. His work has also been exhibited at the Irish Museum of Modern Art.
Contemporary art is not always easy to explain in a few sentences, but we like the fact that an artist from Swords went on to win one of the best-known prizes in the art world by making thoughtful and challenging films about memory, power and how history is presented. Duncan Campbell is another Fingal East connection worth knowing about. Well done, Duncan! 👏👏
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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