👋 Hi FingalEMers,

Good morning, and welcome to October! There’s plenty happening across Fingal East this weekend, with local history talks, creative workshops, community events and live music to enjoy.

Our Featured Event is Songs Without Borders at The Lark on Sunday, where Rebecca Winckworth and The O’Neill Sisters will share an afternoon of music and harmony. We also look ahead to Fingal’s Halloween programme and celebrate bestselling author Cecelia Ahern, whose story remains firmly rooted in Malahide.

This week’s Featured Business is Nicola Weldon Art & Design, whose botanical ceramics and linen homeware bring a little of the Irish landscape indoors. If you haven’t answered our quick poll yet, we’d love to know how far in advance you like to hear about local events.

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

🎨 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

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

Friday 2nd October

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | SH Fitways | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 10:00-11:00

• Rush | Rush Library | Sewing Club | A weekly gathering for adults who enjoy sewing. | 10:00-12:00

• Rush | Rush Library | Art Classes with John Carpenter | Explore painting and drawing in this four-week adult course; booking required. | 14:00-16:00

• Rush | Rush Library | Community Art Group | Make time for creativity with the weekly art group. | 14:00-16:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Metropolitan School of Dance | Dance classes at the community centre. | 15:00-18:30

• Donabate | Donabate Library | Junior Chess Club | A weekly chess session for children aged 5–10. | 15:30-16:30

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Pickleball | Enjoy a friendly game at the community centre. | 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 | Newbridge House & Farm | Pumpkins After Dark | Follow an illuminated trail of carved pumpkins; entry times vary. | After 17:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Flemington Basketball | A community basketball session. | 19:00

• 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 | Skerries Harps GAA Clubhouse | Holmpatrick Church Charity Auction | Browse and bid in support of the local church. | 20:00

• Balbriggan | Harvest Pub, Drogheda Street | Irish Guide Dogs Table Quiz | Test your general knowledge and support Irish Guide Dogs. | 20:00-00:00

• Malahide | Grand Hotel | IRI Industry Awards Dinner 2026 | A black-tie celebration of Ireland’s refrigeration and heat-pump sector. | Time not stated

Saturday 3rd October

• Lusk | Lusk Athletic Club race start | Lusk 20 Mile | Cheer on runners at Lusk AC’s autumn race day. | 08:30

• Lusk | Lusk Community Cultural Centre | Yoga na Mara Morning Course | Begin a six-week course of yoga, breathing and relaxation. | 08:30-09:45

• Lusk | Lusk Athletic Club race start | Lusk Half Marathon | Cheer on runners at Lusk AC’s autumn race day. | 09:00

• Donabate | Newbridge House & Farm | Donabate parkrun | A free, friendly weekly 5 km walk, jog or run. | 09:30

• Lusk | Lusk Athletic Club race start | Lusk 10K | Cheer on runners at Lusk AC’s autumn race day. | 09:30

• Swords | The Carnegie Library, North Street | A Very Long Courtship: Fingal and Europe before the EU | Dr Declan Brady traces centuries of Fingal’s European connections. | 10:00-11:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | SH Fitways | A regular community class; contact the centre for places. | 10:00-11:00

• Malahide | St Sylvester’s Parish Centre | Iyengar Yoga with Sue | A Saturday morning yoga practice. | 10:00-11:30

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Kumon | Learning sessions at the community centre. | 10:00-12:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Pickleball | Enjoy a friendly game at the community centre. | 10:00-12:00

• Skerries | Skerries Mills | Farmers Market | Browse food and produce from local traders. | 10:00-14:00

• Malahide | Gourmet Café | Coastwatch Survey Training Brief | Learn how to take part in the local coastal survey. | 10:00-12:00

• Balbriggan | Balbriggan Library | Sensory Musical Tots with Karen Donnellan | Inclusive singing, movement and instrument play for ages 3 months–7 years. | 11:00-11:45

• Skerries | Skerries Library | Hands & Tales Storytime with Imogen Carter | Inclusive stories using spoken words and Lámh signs for children aged 0–6. | 11:00-11:45

• Skerries | Skerries Library | Tai Chi with Mario McCormick | Gentle beginner movements for balance and relaxation; booking required. | 11:00-12:00

• Malahide | Malahide Library | Eckhart Tolle Meditation | A weekly opportunity to pause and practise meditation. | 11:00-12:00

• Donabate | Donabate Library | Gaeilge le Chéile | Practise your Irish in the company of fellow adult learners and speakers. | 11:00-13:00

• Swords | The Chapel, Swords Castle | The Language Hub: Poetry and Translation | Poets and translators share work across languages in four welcoming sessions. | 11:00-16:00

• Swords | The Carnegie Library, North Street | 50 Years: Ireland and the EU | Dr David McCullagh reflects on Ireland’s EU story. | 11:30-12:30

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Spleodar | A community class; contact the centre for places. | 12:00-14:00

• Balbriggan | Our Balbriggan Hub, George’s Square | Volunteer Expo | Meet local groups and discover ways to get involved. | 12:30-15:00

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Emma Weldridge Dublin Dance Company | Dance classes at the community centre. | 13:00-14:30

• Skerries | Skerries Library | Potaireacht: Family Pottery | Enjoy a family clay workshop through Irish. | 13:30-16:00

• Swords | The Carnegie Library, North Street | The La Mancha Murders: A Centenary Review | Claire Bradley revisits the 1926 tragedy and its impact. | 14:00

• Lusk | Lusk Community Cultural Centre | Macramé Workshop | Enjoy a hands-on afternoon making a knotted creation. | 14:00-16:00

• Swords | Big Top, Pavilions Shopping Centre | Circus Extreme: Rock It Out | Live rock music meets aerial acts and daring circus stunts. | 14:00-16:00

• Balbriggan | Balbriggan Library | The Quiet Chapter: Silent Book Club | Bring your current book for a peaceful hour with fellow readers; all welcome. | 14:00-15:00

• Balbriggan | Balbriggan Library | Balbriggan Library Film Club | Enjoy the monthly film club; contact the library for screening details. | 14:00-16:00

• Balbriggan | Ardgillan Castle & Gardens | Halloween Pottery Workshop | Make a seasonal clay piece in a creative afternoon. | 14:30-16:00

• Swords | The Carnegie Library, North Street | Malahide Castle – Fingal’s House of European Culture | Explore the Talbot family’s artistic links across Europe. | 15:15-16:15

• Malahide | Grand Hotel | TCF Annual Event in Ireland | An evening supporting education for children in Pakistan. | 16:00-23:00

• 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 | Newbridge House & Farm | Pumpkins After Dark | Follow an illuminated trail of carved pumpkins; entry times vary. | After 17:00

• 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

• Naul | Séamus Ennis Arts Centre | Alfi | Traditional music from the acclaimed trio. | 20:00

• Swords | Peacock’s Lounge | Music Bingo | A lively music-themed bingo night. | 20:30

Sunday 4th October

• Balbriggan | Bremore Castle Park | Balbriggan junior parkrun | A free weekly 2 km event for children aged four to fourteen. | 09:30

• Rush | Kenure Woods | Rush junior parkrun | A free weekly 2 km event for children aged four to fourteen. | 09:30

• Swords | River Valley Park | River Valley junior parkrun | A free weekly 2 km event for children aged four to fourteen. | 09:30

• Donabate | Community Well / Triangle Coffee Co | Yoga & Coffee Morning with Aisling | Yoga and breathwork followed by a coffee. | 10:00-11:00

• Skerries | Skerries Mills Community Garden | Soil, Seed and Soul: The Starter Herb Garden | Learn about growing herbs in this ongoing gardening course. | 11:00-12:30

• Balbriggan | Flemington Community Centre, Hamlet Lane | Pickleball | Enjoy a friendly game at the community centre. | 11:30-13:30

• Swords | Big Top, Pavilions Shopping Centre | Circus Extreme: Rock It Out | Live rock music meets aerial acts and daring circus stunts. | 12:00-14:00

• Balbriggan | The Lark, Irish Institute of Music & Song | Songs Without Borders | Rebecca Winckworth and the O’Neill Sisters share songs across traditions. | 15:00

• Swords | Big Top, Pavilions Shopping Centre | Circus Extreme: Rock It Out | Live rock music meets aerial acts and daring circus stunts. | 15:00-17:00

• Donabate | The Sauna at Shoreline Hotel | Reset Your Nervous System | A restorative sound bath, sauna and ice-bath session. | 17:00-19:30

• Donabate | Newbridge House & Farm | Pumpkins After Dark | Follow an illuminated trail of carved pumpkins; entry times vary. | After 17:00

• Balbriggan | The Lark Concert Hall, Church Street | OM Chanting – Balbriggan | A welcoming group meditation led by Bhakti Marga Ireland. | 18:00-19:00

📢 Finally, stuff from Fingal East we just like — Cecelia Ahern - A bestselling author whose story is still rooted in Malahide

Readers around the world know Cecelia Ahern for PS, I Love You, but her connection to Malahide goes much deeper than a line in her biography. She grew up here, went to school locally and still lives in Malahide. Her children now attend the same school she did, where some of her former teachers are still working.

Ahern wrote PS, I Love You when she was 21. Published in 2004, it launched a career that has taken her books to more than 40 countries and 30 languages, with sales of more than 25 million copies worldwide. Both that novel and Where Rainbows End became films, the latter under the title Love, Rosie.

The landscape she remembers from childhood has stayed with her creatively. Ahern has recalled playing tennis in Malahide village and growing up beside the sea, saying she feels its absence when she travels. She has also written about the barley fields and drifting dandelion seeds she remembers growing up, which helped inspire the imaginative world of If You Could See Me Now. Ahern says all her books are based in Ireland, drawing on the people, humour and landscapes she knows.

It is a lovely thought that stories read across the world can still carry traces of a childhood spent here in Fingal East. 🙌

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.