Cllr Pamela Conroy - Castleknock

Sister Sheds Castleknock are open for new members. I had the pleasure of meeting some of the Sisters in Fingal Maker Space last year and the group sounds like a lovely supportive environment where you can get your craft on. Why not pop along next Tuesday to find out more.

We are now open for new members so please feel welcome to come and join us for a cuppa, chats and connection (& everything else we do!).

Hope to see you there!
CSS 💜

Before Christmas I contacted Fingal County Council to request that this section of grass, which provides access to the Sports Hub, be turned into a proper footpath.

I've received a response to say that this section will be resurfaced as part of footpath widening and improvement works due to take place in Porterstown Park in Q2 of 2024.

Usually by Christmas Eve my phone is full of pictures of wreaths. This year it's full of pictures of Christmas trees. Here's a few.

I'm taking a break from my Councillor work between now and 3rd January so will not be monitoring my email or social media.

At our recent Area Committee Meeting I asked the Chief Executive to improve safety at the Castleknock Road - Blackhorse Avenue - Ashtown Gate junction. This is an issue that I have raised on several occasions over the last few years.

The response from the Council indicates that there is progress being made towards addressing the unsafe nature of this junction. As you can see from the image, which shows the report to my motion, a consultant, appointed in July 2023 by Fingal County Council, has looks at the junction and provided a report to DCC, FCC and the OPW in October 2023. DCC is currently drafting a proposed layout which will be reviewed by all parties for comments and to progress the scheme.

I will continue to follow up on this issue. If you have any queries on this, or any other issue, please get in touch.

Don't forget to make your submission!

Closing tomorrow night ....

Since becoming a Councillor the lack of lighting on Laurel Lodge Green is frequently brought up with me by those who live in the area. Having previously used the train to commute to work, I am very familiar with how dark it is walking across the green when getting off the train, especially in the winter evenings.

Initially I was told that Fingal County Council do not put public lighting in open spaces, but I successfully argued that as a route to a train station, Laurel Lodge Green is unique in comparison to other open spaces and should be looked at separately.

I am pleased to inform you that Fingal County Council have committed to installing lighting on Laurel Lodge Green as part of the 2024 Programme of Works. Provision has been made for the installation of 7 hinged lighting columns, associated ducting and electrical supply which will provide lighting for one of the 3 footpaths from the train station. I will be seeking commitment from the Council to include lighting on the remaining footpath in the 2025 Programme of Works.

There is one week left to make a submission on the public consultation on the Fingal County Council proposal to build a playground in Laurel Lodge.

A Local Equipped Area for Play (LEAP) playground totalling approximately 400m2, constructed in line with the principles of universal design, to include:
i. no. play items including multi play & natural play items.
ii. Play area finished with permeable safety surfacing.
iii. A new 1.2m high bow topped metal rail fencing & gates enclosing the play area.
iv. 1no. new drinking water fountain.
v. Landscaping to include low mounding (to a maximum height of 1.5m) and tree planting to the south-west of the proposed playground.
vi. 10 no. bicycle parking spaces (including cargo bike parking) using Sheffield type bicycle stands, located adjacent to the proposed playground.
vii. All other ancillary site works.

The deadline for submissions and observations is Thursday 21st December at 23.59. Submissions or observations with respect to the proposed development may be made as follows:

Online via the Council’s Consultation Portal https://consult.fingal.ie/en/browse which is open for submissions up to and including Thursday 21st December 2023
Or
In writing by post addressed to: Senior Executive Officer, Planning & Strategic Infrastructure Department, Fingal County Council, County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Co. Dublin K67 X8Y2.

Absolutely wrecked after the Christmas Craft Fair at Castleknock Community Centre. Thank you to everyone who stopped by and supported Laurel Lodge Environmental Group.

Pop along and say hello tomorrow!

This Sunday is the last day to visit The Enchanted Garden and catch the Festive Lights Show. Pop along to Shackleton Garden, Clonsilla between 4 and 8 pm to see the show.

Another before and after.

Fingal County Council were quick to replace the missing stop sign from this pole which was reported to me by a resident. Remember, if you are out and about and see something that needs to be fixed please let me know.

Well done to Blanchardstown Gardening Group for organising a very inspiration talk from T.J. Maher in Tyrrelstown House. Really impressed with what T.J. and Simon achieved in such a short space of time with a large blank canvass. It has certainly given me some ideas for my own garden.

If you love gardening and live in Dublin 15 go and follow the Blanchardstown Gardening Group. As well as organising lots of talks, seed swaps and the like, your social media feed will be populated with all sorts of lovely garden pictures.

Head to Blanchardstown Library on Tuesday 19th December for Christmas Toddler time from 12-1pm.

Join us in Blanchardstown Library for a special Christmas Toddler Time with the talented Sarah Sparkles ✨✨

All welcome, no booking required.

Working on some decorations for the Christmas Craft Fair in Castleknock Community Centre next Saturday. I'll be with the Laurel Lodge Environmental Group stand selling some handmade items to raise funds for our 2024 projects.

We visited the Christmas Market and Lights in Shackleton Garden this evening. Well done to Fingal County Council for putting on a really good experience.

The photos don't do the lights justice. If you have the chance I really recommend popping along to see them.

Also noticed for the first time that the hand dyed yarn I used for Cole's cowl is UV reactive. It looks class!

The work that Stepping Stone Forests do is so impressive and relies on volunteer support. You can find out about events happening in your area by signing up to their mailing list.

On this date two years ago the first Stepping Stone Forest was planted in Sean Walsh Park in Tallaght.

The methods used to plant these mini-woodlands transforms areas of green desert into a lush diverse forests that are full of wildlife.

This is the last weekend of the Christmas Markets in Shackleton Garden. They are taking place today and tomorrow from 12 - 6pm. The Festive Lights Show will also be happening from 4 - 8 pm each day.

Lovely evening lighting the Christmas tree in Castleknock. Nice way to round off a busy day.

Well done to Castleknock Tidy Towns and St Brigid's Church for running an excellent event. My family were so impressed with the choir!

Cold but beautiful morning up in Gaelscoil an Chuilinn planting trees this morning. 400 native Irish trees were planted by volunteers and pupils in this corner of the school grounds with the assistance of Stepping Stone Forests and Cloudforests.

While at the school I had a look around their geodome. I'm so impressed and, to be honest, a tad jealous of it. Really hope to see pictures of the coffee as it grows!

Thank you to the parents association for the tea and doughnuts.

Another before and after photo to remind you to report any footpath repairs that need to be carried out to me. This one is in Hawthorn in Castleknock and was quite dangerous before the repair was done.

Send a picture of the damage that needs to be fixed as well as a location to [email protected]

The playground for Laurel Lodge is out on public consultation until the 21st December.

The picture was taken on one of my many walks on the green. The proposed site for the playground is the right of the footpath and you can see the train station to the left.

For information and to make a submission please go to - https://consult.fingal.ie/en/consultation/notice-proposed-development-planning-development-act-2000-part-xi-amended-planning-development

‘Community Climate Action Fingal’ has a whopping €1.127 million in grants for Community groups, Tidy Towns, not-for profit organisations, sports clubs, youth groups, housing charities and residents associations. It is launching on Wednesday 6th December from 4-7pm in County Hall Swords and you are invited to attend. This is an important networking and information event, with the Mayor, Chief Executive and Councillors attending. Refreshments will be provided.

Information will be provided on the 5 themes of the grant. Global Action Plan will provide guidance and ideas for groups, Craig Benton will talk about Community Composting, Food Waste and Leaf Mould projects. Eric Dennis Sustainable Energy Mentor for Fingal will talk about Community Energy Projects.

For more information go to https://www.fingal.ie/community-climate-action-fingal

If you’re planning to attend the launch, please email Sinead Fox on [email protected]

*Important Notice*

Beech Park Playground Clonsilla will be closed all day on 1st December to allow for the maintenance of the surface.

The playground will be open as usual on Saturday.

Fingal County Council and Dublin Youth Dance Company invite young dancers and dance enthusiasts to contribute to a survey which aims to map youth dance engagement in Fingal. The purpose of the project is to map youth dance activity in Fingal and to explore the development of a contemporary youth dance programme for children and young people aged 10-23 years old.

The survey seeks to gather insights, ideas and perspectives from children and young people who are living in Fingal and/or currently participating in formal or informal dance activities in Fingal of any type. This could include dance classes, private lessons, dance groups/crew, self-guided practice, community dance groups, school activities, dancing with friends or any other dance related activity.

If you (or your child/children) are not currently participating in any kind of dance activity, the researchers would also like to hear from you, if youth dance is something that you (or your child/children) would be interested in. If you would like to contribute in this way, please use the contact details below to get in touch directly.

Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DYDC-Fingal-Youth-Dance-Survey
The closing date for responses is Sunday 3rd December 2023.

The survey can also be accessed on the websites of Fingal County Council Arts Office, Dublin Youth Dance Company, and Arts Leaders Associates as well as via their respective social media platforms.

Not one, but three school Christmas Fairs took place in my area today. Well done to the Parents Associations and staff in Scoil Oilibhéir, St Francis Xavier's Junior and Senior schools and St Mochtas on organising fantastic events. I picked up some craft items (how could I not), books and won a bottle of wine. Should keep me busy for a while!

Don't forget there is a Christmas Market taking place today and tomorrow at Shackleton Garden from 12 - 6pm. The Festive Lights Show will also be happening from 4 - 8 pm each day.

I really love this new raised bed that Fingal County Council created after they completed work on formalising the desire line from Clonsilla Road to the Fire Station. This work, which was carried out after I had a motion requesting it, required the removal of a raised bed beside the Fire Station. The Council's Operations team reused the stone from that bed to create this new bed. I think they've done a great job on the bed as well as reusing materials that would have gone to waste otherwise.

Reminder that Christmas tree lights are being turned on in Blanchardstown tomorrow at 6pm. Hope to see you there.

Castleknock Community Centre always do a great job of their grotto. Well worth booking if you want to see Santa locally.

Hi Everyone,

Santa will be visiting our Community Centre on Saturday, 9th December 2023. Visits are every 30 minutes starting at 10.30am and the last visit is at 4pm. Children will enter Santa's workshop before visiting Santa in his winter-themed grotto.

Tickets are €7 per child and can be purchased on weekdays from 9am-4pm starting from tomorrow.