The sponsor of this weeks edition is:

Blush Beauty Studios | Portmarnock

01 828 4888 | [email protected]

Events Calendar

Things to do in the week ahead.

Monday 24th Nov

Tuesday 25th Nov

Wednesday 26th Nov

Thursday 27th Nov

Friday 28th Nov

  • Swords - Swords Castle | Swords Christmas Tree lighting | It's time to dig out those Christmas jumpers folks & get into the festive spirit for this year's Swords Christmas Tree Lighting (Fingal website says 28th Dec but we know what they mean!)| 18:00 - 20:00 | 📅Add to Google Calendar

  • Swords - The Manor Inn Graingers | Music Bingo |Join us this Friday for MUSIC BINGO. Always a brilliant night filled with fun and dancing plus lots of cash prizes to be won! 9pm till Late! | 21:00 - 23:30 | 📅Add to Google Calendar

  • Malahide - Old Street Restaurant | Fundraising lunch in aid of Action Ireland Trust | It's a wonderful opportunity to enjoy the warmth and charm of Old Street restaurant, while supporting a very worthwhile cause! Come with friends, or join one of our social tables and meet new people. All are welcome! | 13:00 - 16:00 | 📅Add to Google Calendar

  • Balbriggan - Bracken Court Hotel | Glebe North FC – 80th Anniversary Gala Dinner | 2025 marks a very special milestone for our club as we celebrate 80 years of Glebe North FC | 19:00 - 23:59 | 📅Add to Google Calendar

  • Balbriggan - The Lark Theatre | Messiah For All | Kick off the festive season with Malahide based Enchiriadis choir who have been entertaining audiences for over 30 years. | 19:00 - 21:00 | 📅Add to Google Calendar

  • Swords - Swords Castle | Swords Christmas Market | Shop Local This Christmas with our great traders at Swords Christmas Market. The Swords Castle Christmas Markets are back in late November and early December, and they’re a holiday treasure trove! | 15:00 - 20:00 | 📅Add to Google Calendar

Saturday 29th Nov

Sunday 30th Nov

  • Swords - Swords Castle | Swords Christmas Market | Shop Local This Christmas with our great traders at Swords Christmas Market. The Swords Castle Christmas Markets are back in late November and early December, and they’re a holiday treasure trove! | 12:00 - 19:00 | 📅Add to Google Calendar

  • Rush - Kenure Woods | Rush Christmas Market | Get ready for a festive weekend at the very first outdoor Christmas Market in Kenure Woods, Rush. | 11:00 - 17:00 | 📅Add to Google Calendar

  • Swords - Applewood Community Centre | Live Pro Wrestling on Tour | Over The Top Wrestling Comes To Swords Dublin featuring Renzo Rose, Jay, The Social Elite, The Sem And more TBA | 16:00 - 18:00 | 📅Add to Google Calendar

News

Tracking all the developing stories that affect us.

Fingallians Face Pitch Shortage as MetroLink Works Move Closer

  • Fingallians GAA could lose access to one of their Balheary Park pitches during MetroLink construction, with the rail line planned to run along the edge of the park. The club — now over 2,000 members strong — says it needs a temporary replacement pitch or it risks losing players during the 18-month disruption.

  • Transport Infrastructure Ireland says it’s working with both the club and Fingal County Council to find an alternative location, but the clock is ticking. If a new grass pitch is needed, it would have to be sown soon to be usable by 2027, when works are expected to begin.

  • A recent audit for the council shows Swords needs nine more pitches by 2029, as many local clubs are already at full capacity. Councillors from across the political spectrum are calling for a meeting with Fingallians to firm up short- and long-term plans.

  • As part of the MetroLink project, one pitch in Balheary will be upgraded to an all-weather surface with floodlights, and another will become a multi-use training area. Longer term, councillors are pushing for a dedicated sports hub for Swords, with plans linked to the ongoing Ward River Regional Park development.

The Carnegie Library in Swords - how much do you really know?

  • Between 1897 and 1913, Andrew Carnegie donated over £170,000 to fund the building of eighty libraries in Ireland, one of which was established in Swords in 1908 and has played an important role in the educational, political, social and cultural life of the town ever since.

  • Dr. Declan Brady examines the history of The Carnegie Free Library, Swords, between 1908 and1986, for the Fingal Festival of History.

  • This recording was made on the 4th October 2025.

  • Hats off to Fingal Libraries for this top quality recording.

Malahide Golf club set to host 2026 Women’s Irish challenge for second consecutive year.

  • One of Ireland’s premier women’s professional golf tournaments is set to return to Malahide. Following its great success in 2025, the return to Malahide reflects the outstanding support, organisation, and atmosphere delivered by the club and its dedicated team. Competitors, spectators, and partners praised last year’s championship for its strong crowds, excellent course conditions, and warm community spirit.

  • You can read more about this great event here.

Balbriggan gets further funding towards swimming pool project

  • An additional €600,000 has been provided for the Balbriggan swimming pool project, a new facility that will be located at Castlelands and is expected to be ready for construction by late 2026, pending final funding approval. This funding is part of the overall budget for the project, which has now advanced to the preliminary design and planning stages.

  • The new €10 million pool will include a 25-meter, six-lane pool, changing rooms, a reception with a café, and a viewing gallery. 

Rush National School secure €50k towards ‘All-weather multi-purpose play area’ from DAA Elevate ‘25 fund

Rush National School recently applied to the DAA (Dublin Airport Authority) under ‘Elevate ’25’. We sought funding for an ‘All-Weather Multi-Purpose Play Area’ which will cost over €53,000 to install. The school announced on their website that “We are delighted to announce that our application for funding was successful to the amount of €50,000.”

Fingal Business Awards 2025

Nearly 500 business leaders attended the Fingal Business Awards 2025 at the Crowne Plaza Dublin Airport on 14 November. Organised by Fingal Chamber with support from Fingal County Council, the event celebrated excellence, talent, customer service and sustainability across 24 categories, with over 90 organisations represented. The night mixed networking and celebration with live entertainment, and also raised €7,000 for Little Fitness through a charity raffle.

Top individual and business honours included:

Other notable winners included Keogh’s Crisps (International Trade), Anyscor in Skerries (Innovation in Business), Remember Us in Balbriggan (Not-for-Profit Organisation of the Year), and Swords Summer Festival (Public Service of the Year). Sustainability and customer experience awards went to businesses across Fingal, such as Roganstown Hotel & Country Club, Irish Institute of Music & Song, Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport, Wrights Findlater in Howth, The Brooklyn in Swords and Amica Eco Hairdressing in Castleknock.

Did you ever want to be a film? (well now’s your chance)

Seeking reliable background extras for an independent feature film, Squad Goals (a romantic comedy about the difficulties of making friends as an adult and the importance of authentic connections), shooting in Dublin throughout November. Meals, credit in the film, and travel stipend. Please email [email protected] with your full name, a photo, your availability, and phone number.

See https://sitinpretty.com/squad-goals/ for more information.

Civil

Planning decisions, road closures & community notices.

Planning applications & decisions

🏗️ Cairn Homes Limited – Donabate Development - Application Lodged - Additional Information

  • Cairn Homes is seeking amendments to a previously permitted LRD at Corballis East, Donabate, affecting only the main residential lands north of the Donabate Distributor Road (no change to the Nature Park).

  • The scheme is rebalanced to fewer overall dwellings (1,020 → 999) with more apartments and houses, far fewer duplex/triplex units, revised apartment blocks (4–6 storeys, including 65 Independent Living units), updated house types, expanded Local Centre, increased public open space (c.3.6 ha → c.4.6 ha) and a minor shift in the crèche location.

  • Car spaces rise from 902 to 922 and bicycle spaces from 3,013 to 3,291, with no change to main access arrangements; an EIAR and NIS have been prepared and are available at www.corballisamendmentlrd.com.

Road closures & changes planned

🚧 Main Road Closures & Works (Nov–Dec 2025)

  • Swords - Balheary Road 24 Nov – 30 Nov (part of 24 Nov–10 Dec order) - 24 hours per day. Full closure for cable installation for the Mainscourt Solar Farm grid connection. Diversions are in place; expect significant disruption around Balheary / sports pitches area.

  • Swords - Balheary Road – roadworks speed limit Ongoing (2 Apr 2025 – 1 Apr 2026) N/A Temporary 50 km/h road-works speed limit on part of Balheary Road for Active Travel works; no full closure, but slower traffic.

  • Malahide - Coill Dubh Court Mon 24 – Fri 28 Nov 09:00–17:00 daily Temporary closure of part of the estate road for Irish Water drinking-water connection works. Local access will be managed via traffic plan.

  • Lusk - Dublin Road Wed 26 Nov only 10:00–16:00 Daytime closure to cut vehicle induction loops. Diversion routes are published in the traffic management plan.

  • Balbriggan - Harbour Rd & Seapoint Lane junction Mon 24 – Thu 27 Nov (part of 9 Oct–27 Nov order) 24 hours per day (works 08:00–18:00) Junction closed for resurfacing and construction of a new step area; expect disruption around the harbour/seafront.

  • Balbriggan - Link & Harbour Road - All week (16 Jul 2025 – 16 Jan 2026) 24 hours per day Long-term closure for road reconstruction and resurfacing; diversions remain in place.

Finally stuff from Fingal East we just like …….

  • Ann Bruen, costal photographer mixes a morning walk on Portmarnock beach with the dulcet tones of with the yevagabonds.

Image Credits

Photo by Kara Nagai (Flickr • CC BY 2.0)

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