👋 Hi FingalEMers,

Good morning! It’s hard to believe we’re already heading into October. The evenings may be drawing in, but there’s still plenty happening across Fingal East, with local classes, talks and activities to fill the days ahead.

In this edition, we celebrate a historic win for Lusk trainer Adrian McGuinness and share news of Alex Warren’s Malahide Castle concert next summer, which will include a welcome donation to an Irish charity. We’re also delighted to introduce this week’s Featured Business, Balbriggan artist Nicola Weldon, whose work takes its inspiration from the Irish landscape.

Our quick poll asks how far in advance you like to hear about local events, and we’d really appreciate you taking part. Your feedback will help shape something exciting we’re working on behind the scenes!

Now, let’s see what’s happening across Fingal East this week!

🎨 Nicola Weldon Art & Design — Bringing the Irish Landscape into the Home

There is something rather special about artwork that captures a little piece of the Irish countryside. Balbriggan-based artist Nicola Weldon does exactly that, using real flowers, grasses and seedheads gathered from the Irish landscape to create distinctive ceramic pieces. By pressing these natural materials into clay, she preserves their delicate shapes and textures, turning the smallest details of nature into artwork for the home. Nicola's work brings together art, nature and practical design. Alongside her botanical ceramics, she produces fine-art prints and a collection of linen homeware, all drawing inspiration from the natural world.

Her work has also attracted recognition beyond Fingal. Nicola was selected by Local Enterprise Office Fingal as one of the county's craft and design businesses to exhibit at Showcase 2026, held at the RDS in January.

It's lovely to see a creative business from Balbriggan taking inspiration from the Irish landscape and bringing its work to an international audience. Whether you appreciate handmade ceramics, natural materials or original Irish design, Nicola's collection is worth exploring.

Discover Nicola Weldon Art & Design

🎤 Alex Warren Announces Malahide Castle Concert for Summer 2027

American singer-songwriter Alex Warren is bringing his Finding (More) Family On The Road tour to Malahide Castle on Tuesday, 22 June 2027. The Grammy-nominated artist, best known for his global hit Ordinary, returns to Ireland following two sold-out shows at Dublin's 3Arena.

Warren has also partnered with charitable organisation PLUS1 to support children's health throughout the tour. For the Malahide concert, €1, less applicable taxes, from every ticket sold will be donated to the ISPCC. The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children is a national charity dedicated to protecting children and supporting their wellbeing. It is best known for its Childline service, which provides free, confidential support to children and young people. The charitable contribution is already included in every ticket purchased, so concertgoers will be supporting the charity simply by attending the show.

Tickets go on general sale at 10:00 on Friday, 2 October, with an artist presale beginning on Tuesday, 29 September, and an MCD presale on Thursday, 1 October.

Concert Details & Tickets

🏗️ No significant planning events this week.

🚧🚦 Road closures & changes planned

• Swords — North Street remains one-way northbound, with no through route from North Street to Main Street. Six parking spaces on the west side of North Street, between Hyper Goat Coffee and Meta Hair, are temporarily suspended while public realm works continue. Work is also ongoing around the R132, Estuary Road and Seatown Road.

• River Road — Overnight closures of the R102 are scheduled between 19:00 and 06:00 during resurfacing works, through Sunday 4 October.

• Dublin city travel — EU Presidency meetings are scheduled from Monday to Thursday. Localised traffic restrictions and public transport delays may occur around the city-centre venues, so allow extra time if travelling in.

Balbriggan is in for a lovely afternoon of music when Rebecca Winckworth and The O’Neill Sisters bring Songs Without Borders to The Lark on Sunday 4 October at 15:00.

Hailing from County Kerry, The O’Neill Sisters are three siblings known for their close harmonies. They’ve taken Irish music to audiences across four continents, performing everywhere from Dublin’s National Concert Hall to Orchard Hall in Tokyo.

Joining them is Irish singer and songwriter Rebecca Winckworth, whose career has taken her to stages around the world. For this concert, Rebecca’s original songs, inspired by the places and cultures she has encountered abroad, will sit alongside much-loved Irish songs that have travelled far beyond Ireland.

Expect an afternoon built around voices, stories and harmony, with familiar songs given new life by these performers.

📅 Sunday 4th October
🕗 15:00–17:00
📍 The Lark, Church Street, Balbriggan

Book Tickets

Monday 28th September

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | English Language Classes | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 09:30-13:30

• Balbriggan | ASTER Family Resource Centre | Wellness Café | Drop in for a relaxed afternoon of connection and wellbeing. | 14:00-18:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Emma Weldridge Dublin Dance Company | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 16:00-18:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | From A to Art | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 16:00-18:30

• Balbriggan | Cairde, Hampton Street | Recipes, Food Memories & Cultural Traditions | A welcoming first meeting for parents and teens to share food stories and make a podcast. | 17:30-18:30

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | McFadden O’Shaughnesy Irish Dance | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 18:00-19:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Phoenix Baton Twirlers | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 18:00-20:00

• Rush | Rush Library | Kenure House and Demesne: A History | Niall Gosson explores the house, its families and its place in local life. | 18:30

• Donabate | Community Well, Lambay House | Pregnancy Yoga | A supportive prenatal yoga class. | 18:30-19:30

• Balbriggan | The Lark, Church Street | The Lark Cinema Club: The Gold Rush (1925) | Enjoy Chaplin’s classic silent comedy on the big screen. | 19:00

• Swords | Thornleigh ETNS | Zumba with Gill | A lively dance fitness class to start the week. | 19:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Qigong | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 19:00-20:00

• Swords | Swords Castle entrance | Men’s Walk & Talk | An easygoing evening walk and conversation. | 19:15

• Swords | Holywell Community Centre | Self-Protection Training | Build confidence and learn practical self-protection skills. | 20:00

• Donabate | Community Well, Lambay House | Pregnancy Yoga | A second evening prenatal yoga class. | 20:00-21:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Pickleball | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 20:00-22:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Sound Bath | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 20:10-21:10

Tuesday 29th September

• Swords | Brackenstown Parish Centre | Hatha Yoga | A gentle morning yoga practice. | 09:30-10:45

• Balbriggan | Balbriggan Library | Tech No Stress: Get to Know Your Smartphone | A friendly four-week course begins with the basics. | 10:00-11:30

• Malahide | St Sylvester’s Parish Centre | Mindfulness Malahide | A gentle four-week mindfulness course begins. | 10:30-12:15

• Swords | Brackenstown Parish Centre | Chair Yoga | Accessible yoga with a chair for support. | 11:15-12:15

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Kumon | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 15:00-18:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Fit Kids / Fit Teens | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 16:00-18:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | From A to Art | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 16:00-20:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Foróige | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 17:00-18:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Pickleball | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 17:00-19:00

• Skerries | Skerries Library | The Coming Storm | Dr Myles Dungan considers a turbulent chapter of Irish history. | 18:30

• Swords | Swords Library | Italian Conversation Group | Practise Italian in a relaxed group. | 18:30-19:30

• Malahide | Bridgefield Car Park | Green Nuts Men’s Walk & Talk | A welcoming evening walk with good company. | 19:00

• Rush | Rush National School | Zumba with Gill | Dance, move and have fun. | 19:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Elite Taekwondo Academy | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 19:00-20:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Pilates | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 19:00-20:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Social Badminton | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 19:00-21:00

• Donabate | Portrane Community Centre / Cuppacabana Coffee | Craft & Connect | An easygoing creative evening with company and conversation. | 19:30-21:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Dance Fitness | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 20:00-21:00

Wednesday 30th September

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Irish Language Classes for Adults | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 09:30-11:30

• Donabate | Community Well, Lambay House | Baby Moves by Dora | Gentle developmental movement for babies under one. | 10:00-11:00

• Swords | River Valley Community Centre | Iyengar Yoga with Sue | A midweek practice to stretch and reset. | 10:00-11:00

• Swords | Swords Library | Crafting Circle | Bring a project and enjoy a friendly morning of making. | 10:30-12:30

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | From A to Art | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 15:30-20:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Nicola Farcas School of Ballet | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 16:00-19:00

• Swords | Big Top, Pavilions Shopping Centre | Circus Extreme: Rock It Out | Live rock music meets aerial acts and daring circus stunts. | 17:00-19:00

• Swords | Swords Library | Ciorcal Comhrá | Share a cuppa and practise Irish conversation. | 18:30-19:45

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | WSKF SEDAI Karate-do | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 18:30-20:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Bremore 89th Scouts | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 18:30-21:30

• Swords | Thornleigh ETNS | Zumba with Gill | A cheerful dance fitness class. | 19:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | LGBTQI+ Social Meet | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 19:00-21:00

• Balbriggan | The Lark, Church Street | Fingal’s Got Talent: The Grand Final | Cheer on performers from across Fingal in the live final. | 19:30

• Swords | Big Top, Pavilions Shopping Centre | Circus Extreme: Rock It Out | Live rock music meets aerial acts and daring circus stunts. | 19:45-21:45

• Skerries | The Snug | Quiz Night for Skerries Arch Club | Put a team together for a fun local fundraiser. | 20:00

• Swords | The Cock Tavern | Pop Up Gaeltacht Quiz | An Irish-language quiz and convivial evening. | 20:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Pickleball | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 20:00-22:00

Thursday 1st October

• Swords | Brackenstown Parish Centre | Mat Yoga | Stretch and unwind in a morning class. | 09:30-10:45

• Balbriggan | Balbriggan Library | Sanctuary in Art: Exhibition Launch | Meet artist Kinda Nassli and explore her new exhibition followed by an acrylic workshop. | 10:30

• Swords | Brackenstown Parish Centre | Flex & Stretch | A relaxed mobility class. | 11:15-12:15

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Balbriggan Mandarin Chinese Language School | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 15:30-17:30

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Pickleball | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 16:00-18:00

• Swords | Big Top, Pavilions Shopping Centre | Circus Extreme: Rock It Out | Live rock music meets aerial acts and daring circus stunts. | 17:00-19:00

• Donabate | Shoreline Hotel | Kids’ Disco | A family evening of music and dancing. | 18:00-21:00

• Malahide | Malahide Library | The Kennedy Papers | Flor MacCarthy explores the Kennedy family’s correspondence with Ireland. | 18:30

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Bremore 89th Scouts | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 18:30-21:30

• Fingal | Online | AI & Cyber Resilience | Evening training on useful AI tools and online security. | 18:30-21:30

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | SH Fitways | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 19:00-20:00

• Swords | Brackenstown Parish Centre | Mat Yoga | An evening yoga class. | 19:00-20:15

• Swords | Big Top, Pavilions Shopping Centre | Circus Extreme: Rock It Out | Live rock music meets aerial acts and daring circus stunts. | 19:45-21:45

• Swords | Holywell Community Centre | Combat Cardio | An energetic workout welcoming new participants. | 20:00

• Donabate | Portrane Community Centre | Bingo | An evening of community bingo. | 20:30

• Swords | River Valley Community Centre | Badminton | An hour of friendly court time. | 21:00-22:00

Thanks for reading and for being part of the 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 next few days, and we’ll be back on Thursday morning.