Hi FingalEMers 👋,
Good morning, and we hope you’re enjoying the Bank Holiday weekend.
First, a quick update on last week’s giveaway. We successfully gave away every ticket for the Vikings & Slavs Heritage Show at Swords Castle. The telephone numbers supplied by entrants came in extremely handy when we needed to contact winners quickly and make sure none of the tickets went unused.
It worked so well that we’ll use the same approach for all future giveaways. Telephone numbers will only be used when we need to contact a winner about their prize.
We’re also looking at creating a FingalEMers on Tour page, where we can share photos of our winners enjoying the events and experiences they’ve won. It won’t be happening for a little while yet, but it’s something we’d love to introduce in the future.
This week, in partnership with The Lark in Balbriggan, we have two pairs of tickets to give away for 💃 La Fiesta 26. Each winner can choose whether they would prefer to attend on Friday 7 or Saturday 8 August.
The centrepiece of the festival is ESENCIA, a flamenco production brought directly from Spain by internationally acclaimed dancer Daniel Caballero for two exclusive Irish performances. He will be joined by live guitar, violin and percussion musicians, along with traditional flamenco singers.
La Fiesta will also bring Spanish music, food and drink, family entertainment, workshops and market stalls to the Irish Institute of Music & Song campus. You can enter the draw for this super prize in today’s poll near the top of the newsletter. Entries will close at 9am on Friday, and the winners will be selected and notified by 10am.
We’re also delighted to welcome James Young Interiors as this week’s sponsor. Based on Turvey Avenue, they have more than 30 years of experience in upholstery, furniture restoration and bespoke furniture. You can learn more about their work further down in today’s edition.
As always, we have the latest local news, community updates and events from across Fingal East. Enjoy the edition, and best of luck in the draw.
Would you like to enter our La Fiesta ticket draw?
This week's sponsor
James Young Interiors
Have a favourite chair, sofa or piece of furniture that has seen better days? Based on Turvey Avenue in North County Dublin, James Young Interiors has more than 30 years of experience restoring, repairing and reupholstering furniture for homes and businesses across Dublin.
From dining chairs, sofas and leather couches to antiques, headboards and office furniture, the team can repair worn or damaged pieces and give them a completely new look. It can be a particularly good option for furniture with sentimental value—or a well-made piece that deserves to be restored rather than replaced.
James Young Interiors also designs and manufactures custom-made furniture using 100% Irish hardwood. Bespoke headboards, wall panelling, bookshelves, window seats and corner units can all be created to suit your home and the space available.
See examples of their work and find out what might be possible at James Young Interiors. And don’t forget to tell them you’re a FingalEMer!
News
Tracking all the developing stories that affect our community.
💧 A more reliable water supply for Lusk
Homes and businesses in parts of Lusk should now have a more reliable water supply following the completion of a major upgrade to the local network. Uisce Éireann has replaced more than one kilometre of ageing water mains that had become prone to leaks, bursts and interruptions.
The older pipes have been replaced with modern, more resilient infrastructure designed to reduce the likelihood of future supply problems. New service connections have also been installed between the public water mains and customers’ property boundaries.
The improvements will particularly benefit residents and businesses around Kelly Park, Ministers Road and the surrounding areas. While much of this infrastructure is hidden underground, replacing ageing pipes is an important part of ensuring that growing communities such as Lusk have a dependable water supply for years to come.
Permanent road and surface reinstatement works will be completed over the coming weeks. Uisce Éireann has thanked the local community for its patience while the work was carried out.
🚗 Could the Fingal Community Car help your area?
Fingal County Council is asking residents to help shape the future of the Fingal Community Car—a community transport service for people who may struggle to reach essential appointments, services and local activities because of limited transport options.
The service was first piloted in Howth and Skerries in 2019 and continues to operate successfully in the Skerries area. It helps passengers attend medical and hospital appointments, visit their GP, go shopping or banking and take part in community and social activities.
More than 1,000 passenger journeys were completed during the first six months of 2026. Fingal County Council is now considering expanding the service and wants to identify which communities need it most, understand the journeys residents need to make and hear from people who may be interested in volunteering.
Whether you might use the service, support someone who could benefit from it or represent a local community organisation, you are invited to share your views. The consultation remains open until 5pm on Friday, 28 August.
👩🏭🏭 Why investors are taking Swords seriously
Those of us who live in Swords may think of it primarily as our local town. Investors see something different: a rapidly growing business centre beside Dublin Airport, with direct access to the M1, M50 and Dublin Port. That location gives companies an unusually strong base from which to serve Ireland, Europe and international markets.
There is already clear evidence that major organisations believe in Swords. MSD has invested more than €1 billion in its local operations, while Ryanair, DHL, Riot Games and SK Biotek have all established important facilities here. These companies operate in very different industries, but they have been attracted by the same combination of transport links, available talent, infrastructure and space to expand.
The scale of what is planned for the future is even more striking. The Barrysparks and Crowscastle masterplan could provide up to 180,000 square metres of commercial space and support between 14,500 and 15,500 jobs over the next two decades. Estuary West could add another 18,000 to 20,000 square metres of business space, with capacity for up to 1,600 additional workers.
Swords has already grown by 76% over the past two decades and is projected to reach a population of 64,000 by 2029. The longer-term ambition is to develop it into a self-sustaining city of 100,000 people, supported by new homes, transport, employment areas, greenways and cultural facilities. Swords is no longer simply a large town beside the airport—it is increasingly being planned and recognised as the future city of North Dublin.
Civil
Planning decisions, road closures & community notices.
Planning applications & decisions
🏗️ No significant planning events this week.
Road closures & changes planned
🚧🚦 Road closures & changes planned
- Swords
- Seatown Road remains closed between St Columcille’s Drive and North Street until 31 March 2027 to facilitate the Swords Cultural Quarter development.
- The north-side footpath between the IDA Roundabout and Estuary Road Roundabout is closed until Monday 3 August, with alternative pedestrian routes in place and two-way traffic maintained.
- A temporary 50km/h speed limit remains in place along the R132 through Swords during the ongoing connectivity works.
- Skerries
- A section of Strand Street, Townparks, will be closed from 8am to 8pm on Tuesday 4 and Wednesday 5 August for a wastewater connection.
- Donabate & Portrane
- Long-term improvement works are under way on Portrane Road, with traffic management expected while new footpaths, crossings, traffic-calming measures and a bus lay-by are installed.
- Road resurfacing
- Temporary closures may take place at intervals on Balheary Road and Windmill Road in Swords, Church Road in Lusk, Old Barrack Road in Rush, Cross of the Cage in Skerries and White Hart Road in Balbriggan.
Events Calendar
Things to do in the week ahead.
💃 Featured Event: La Fiesta brings a taste of Spain to Balbriggan
The Irish Institute of Music & Song will be transformed into a celebration of Spanish food, music and culture when La Fiesta comes to Balbriggan on Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August.
Taking place across the IIMS campus, the two-day festival will feature authentic Spanish food and drink, live music from Spanish duo Zurito, flamenco dance workshops, family entertainment, market stalls and activities throughout the grounds.
🪇The centrepiece of the weekend will be two exclusive Irish performances of ESENCIA by internationally acclaimed flamenco dancer Daniel Caballero . Accompanied by live guitar, violin, percussion and traditional flamenco singers, the show offers audiences a rare opportunity to experience world-class flamenco here in Fingal East..
Where: Irish Institute of Music & Song Campus, Church Street, Balbriggan
When: Friday 7 and Saturday 8 August
Monday 3rd August
• Rush | Rush Harbour | Rush Harbour Festival & Fingal Rush Air Display | The final day of the coastal festival, bringing aviation, maritime heritage and community entertainment together. | 09:00-20:00
• Rush | The Cove | Kite Making Workshop – Session 1 | A free hands-on workshop for children aged 5–11 to design and make their own kite. | 11:00-11:45
• Rush | Rush Community Centre | Ros Eó Art Exhibition 2026 | See a wide variety of paintings by talented local artists. | 11:00-17:00
• Rush | The Cove | Kite Making Workshop – Session 2 | A free hands-on workshop for children aged 5–11 to design and make their own kite. | 12:00-12:45
• Lusk | Lusk Community Cultural Centre | Fingal Art Collective Exhibition | Browse a wide variety of work by local artists during the August exhibition. | 12:00-17:00
• Rush | The Cove | Kite Making Workshop – Session 3 | A free hands-on workshop for children aged 5–11 to design and make their own kite. | 13:00-13:45
• Balbriggan | ASTER Family Resource Centre | Wellness Café | A free, informal peer-led drop-in for a cuppa, a chat and support around mental health and wellbeing. | 14:00-18:00
• Swords | Holywell Community Centre | Self-Protection Training | A practical class focused on confidence, awareness and personal safety. | 20:00
Tuesday 4th August
• Swords | Swords Parish Centre, Brackenstown | Hatha Yoga | A gentle Hatha yoga class with Calmness with Caroline. | 09:30-10:45
• Donabate | Donabate Library | Chair Yoga | A gentle chair-based yoga session suitable for a range of abilities. | 10:00
• Malahide | St Sylvester’s Church | Summer Dance Camp | A creative camp with hip hop, commercial and contemporary dance, drama, arts and crafts for ages 5–12. | 10:00-14:00
• Swords | Holywell Community Centre | Children’s Illustration Summer Camp | A creative camp covering illustration, design, storytelling, doodling, painting and self-expression for ages 6–12. | 10:00-13:00
• Balbriggan | Balbriggan Library | Art Class | A creative summer art class at the library. | 11:00
• Lusk | Lusk Community Cultural Centre | Fingal Art Collective Exhibition | Browse a wide variety of work by local artists. | 11:00-17:00
• Swords | Swords Parish Centre, Brackenstown | Chair Yoga | A gentle chair-based yoga class with Calmness with Caroline. | 11:15-12:15
• Swords | Swords Library | Summer Poetry Workshop for Teens | A creative poetry workshop designed especially for teenagers. | 18:00
• Malahide | Bridgefield Car Park | Green Nuts Men’s Group – Walk & Talk | A friendly evening walk and chat for local men. | 19:00
• Rush | Rush National School | Zumba Class | A welcoming dance-fitness class for all abilities. | 19:00
Wednesday 5th August
• Online | LEO Fingal | Business Supports Briefing | A free session covering grants, mentoring, training and other supports for Fingal businesses and start-ups. | 09:30-11:00
• Swords | River Valley Community Centre | Iyengar Yoga with Sue | A weekly Iyengar yoga class led by an experienced local teacher. | 10:00-11:00
• Donabate | Unit 16, Donabate Town Centre | Therapeutic Yoga Donabate | A gentle one-hour therapeutic yoga class. | 10:00-11:00
• Malahide | St Sylvester’s Church | Summer Dance Camp | A creative camp with dance, drama, arts and crafts for ages 5–12. | 10:00-14:00
• Swords | Holywell Community Centre | Children’s Illustration Summer Camp | A creative camp covering illustration, storytelling, painting and self-expression for ages 6–12. | 10:00-13:00
• Lusk | Lusk Community Cultural Centre | Fingal Art Collective Exhibition | Browse a wide variety of work by local artists. | 11:00-17:00
• Rush | Rush Library | Summer Stars Storytime | A fun summer storytime session for younger readers. | 14:30
• Donabate | Parish Hall | Strength & Conditioning Classes | A welcoming weekly session focused on strength, fitness and conditioning. | 17:00-18:00
• Swords | Swords Library | Irish Conversation & Practice | A relaxed opportunity to practise spoken Irish with others. | 18:30
• Swords | Thornleigh ETNS, Applewood | Zumba with Gill | A lively midweek Zumba class in Applewood. | 19:00
Thursday 6th August
• Skerries | Skerries Library | Chair Yoga | A gentle chair-based yoga session suitable for a range of abilities. | 10:00
• Malahide | St Sylvester’s Church | Summer Dance Camp | A creative camp with dance, drama, arts and crafts for ages 5–12. | 10:00-14:00
• Swords | Holywell Community Centre | Children’s Illustration Summer Camp | A creative camp covering illustration, storytelling, painting and self-expression for ages 6–12. | 10:00-13:00
• Lusk | Lusk Community Cultural Centre | Fingal Art Collective Exhibition | The final day of the August exhibition featuring work by local artists. | 11:00-17:00
• Balbriggan | Balbriggan Library | Make a Terrarium | A hands-on workshop creating a miniature indoor garden. | 14:00
• Malahide | Malahide Library | Summer Stars Quiz | A lively summer quiz for young library visitors. | 14:00
• Donabate | Donabate Library | Summer Stars Storytime | A fun summer storytime session for younger readers. | 15:00
• Donabate | The Shoreline Hotel | Kids Disco | A fun evening of DJs, karaoke and games for children. | 18:00-21:00
• Swords | Swords Parish Centre, Brackenstown | Hatha Yoga | A gentle evening Hatha yoga class with Calmness with Caroline. | 19:00-20:15
• Swords | Holywell Community Centre | Combat Cardio | A high-energy strength and conditioning session with SELF Protection Academy. | 20:00
• Balbriggan | Man O’War Gastro Pub | The Show-Off Sessions | A welcoming showcase for musicians, poets and spoken-word artists. | 20:30
• Donabate | Donabate Portrane Community Centre | DPCC Community Bingo | A friendly community bingo night with weekly prizes and a social atmosphere. | 20:30
• Swords | River Valley Community Centre | Badminton | A local evening badminton session in River Valley. | 21:00-22:00
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 next few days, and we’ll talk again on Thursday morning.
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