New Year Message to Network members.
Dear Network Members
We want to take this opportunity to wish you all a very happy and peaceful new year. May this year bring lots of new positive challenges and may we continue to reach out and make a difference in the lives of people using our facilities.
Quote of the Day: “Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called opportunity and its first chapter is New Year’s Day.” – Edith Lovejoy Pierce
Community Development, Age Friendly and Sports 2023 roundup
Check out our Community Development, Age Friendly and Sports 2023 Round Up of a great year of engagement with our Fingal Community. Looking forward to 2024!
Tradfest Fingal 2024
Ireland’s largest trad and folk music festival invites audiences to experience the best of live music in the beautiful atmospheric setting of Fingal.
January 24th to the 28th 2024, experience Trad & Folk everywhere you go, from Dublin City Centre to the castles and coastline of historic Fingal.
See https://tradfest.com/fingal-events/ for details on how to book.
Fingal calls for public to share their views on proposed Baldoyle Community Centre
A cutting-edge facility designed to foster community spirit and enhance the quality of life for the residents of Baldoyle and the surrounding area has been unveiled by Fingal County Council.
See link to the public consultation: Consult.fingal.ie Closing date for submissions is the 19th of January, 2024, 5:00pm
A cutting-edge facility designed to foster community spirit and enhance the quality of life for the residents of Baldoyle and the surrounding area has been unveiled by Fingal County Council.
This ambitious project will help provide a new level of recreational, educational, and sporting activities in the heart of Baldoyle and will deliver a community space within the vast Racecourse Park. The new Community Centre will be a focal point for the community, with the site undergoing a transformation into a state-of-the-art facility, featuring a sports hall, multiple community rooms, changing facilities, and associated landscape improvements.
With an emphasis on sustainability and accessibility at its core, the Community Centre will feature a green roof and rain-garden, enhancing biodiversity and ecological value. The Centre’s proposed circular design minimises visual disruption to the surrounding area. While there will be availability of 28 car parking spaces, the Centre encourages sustainable transportation modes with ample bike parking installed, including those for electric, cargo bikes, and scooters.
The newly designed energy-efficient circular building would feature:
- A central sports hall that could accommodate three courts;
- Four community/multipurpose/studio/meeting rooms;
- Externally accessible changing rooms, along with separate rooms for referees;
- Car park to accommodate accessible/disabled spaces and electric vehicle charging points.
Encouraging the public to share their views on the proposal, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Adrian Henchy said: “Having a new community and sports centre in Baldoyle will be a wonderful asset for locals and visitors alike, helping to further enhance the thriving community. This much needed facility will be in the heart of the immediate neighbourhood and serve the needs of the local people by playing a vital role in bringing people together and encouraging people to take part, thus helping to build inclusive, engaged and safe communities.”
Surrounding the recreational centre, there will be pedestrian-friendly walkways and bike paths to promote active travel within the community. Additionally, the area will be enhanced with landscaped gardens.
AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive of Fingal County Council, said: “From the design of the building, to the surrounding landscape it will sit within, we are very eager to hear everyone’s thoughts on what has been proposed. This project reflects our commitment to enhancing the lives of current and future residents of Baldoyle, and we believe it will quickly become a hub for activities and services that cater to all ages and abilities.”
In order to meet the needs of a rapidly growing population in the area, the new centre focuses on creating high-quality amenities and infrastructure that foster community engagement. It will be strategically located to serve a wide catchment area, ensuring accessibility to all residents within a 10-minute walking radius.
Paul Carroll, Acting Director of Housing & Community Department states: “The Community Development Department are delighted to lead on the provision of this state of the art new community facility in the vibrant, diverse and growing community in Baldoyle. The new community facility will not only enhance the surrounding area but will also allow the community development division to work to build a strong sustainable community by bringing people and groups of the surrounding areas together for the development of the community as a whole.”
See link to the public consultation: Consult.fingal.ie Closing date for submissions is the 19th of January, 2024, 5:00pm.
Street Feast 2024
Annual weekend of street parties & communities lunches. Host a party with your neighbours!
Get together with your neighbours to share food and enjoy some conversation and camaraderie this summer.
It doesn’t matter if you live in an apartment or house, all you need is a space to bring people together. We have had feasts organised in front gardens, on streets and greens, in car parks, laneways, local parks and community centres and can’t wait to see what you come up with!
Registrations will open up in February 2024. Once you register you’ll receive your FREE Street Feast party pack, complete with bunting, posters, invites and a brilliant DIY guide! We ask that you host your Street Feast on the weekend of 25th – 26th May.
Link to register can be found below
Annual Christmas Mass in the Matt Lane Facility
The Annual Christmas Mass for the traveller community of north county /Dublin took place at the Matt Lane Facility on the 15th of December.
The Balbriggan Traveller Project organised the Mass with Father Paddy and Santa was there too for the younger children. The Mass was also attended by the FCC community Development Office, which supports the facility throughout the year and local community garda.
Members of the traveller community from as far as Coolock, Swords and Garristown attended the mass and prayers were said to all members of the community who have lost loved ones or are unwell and need our support at this time.
Winter Wellness programme Diswellstown CC
Diswellstown Community Centre are running a ‘winter wellness’ programme starting Wednesday @5pm on the 10th of January for 10 weeks.
Classes to run for 45 minutes and are aimed at all levels of fitness.
To book call the Centre on 01 823 5555 or email