Our Balbriggan

You can report issues you may have with roads & footpaths, street lighting, water & drainage, parks, graffiti or litter via Fingal County Council: By email: customercareunit@fingal.ie & balswooparea@fingal.ie By phone: (01) 890 5000 📸: Tony Healy

This Christmas we are asking everyone to #shoplocal 🎁 Whether it's gathering with workmates for drinks or getting together with friends or family for a meal, concert or panto, #OurBalbriggan has some wonderful choices🎄

A disused building completed in 1889 with the aim of saving lives at sea is being revamped as part of the €54-€57 million rejuvenation of Ireland’s youngest large town. Balbriggan’s RNLI Boathouse was built 125 years ago, following a number of tragedies off its coast. Finished in 1889, on the edge of Balbriggan beach, opposite a lighthouse, It sits under the town’s iconic eleven arch railway viaduct at the harbour. Both the Boathouse and Viaduct are protected structures. The RNLI Boathouse has rock faced and ashlar limestone walls, a slate roof, ornate timber panelling construction at roof level and exposed timber roof trusses. This protected structure is of great architectural, artistic and historical interest. The proposed works will conserve the building in accordance with good conservation practices. The RNLI Boathouse project is part of the €15million Balbriggan Quay Street and Harbour redevelopment project currently underway. The Quay Street and Harbour redevelopment project is the flagship element of the near €60 million Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme. The Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme is led by Fingal County Council’s Economic, Enterprise, Cultural and Tourism Department. Expressions of interest for the commercial use of Balbriggan’s RNLI Boathouse, located adjacent to the day to day access point for the beach, will be advertised in 2025. Fingal County Council

We were delighted to be joined by Deputy Mayor, Councillor John-Kingsley Onwumereh, as part of Science Week activities last week at the Our Balbriggan Hub. A panel discussion took place with Dr. John Gallagher (Trinity College Dublin), Dominic Byrne (Head of Information Technology, Fingal County Council), moderated by Eamonn Donlyn, (Co-ordinator of Smart Balbriggan). Local artist Matthew Kelly showcased illustrations on the evolution and future of the Internet of Things and Demystifying IOT. An art exhibit from artists Murielle Celis & Gordon Farrell also featured at the Our Balbriggan Hub window throughout the week. The initiative was a partnership between Fingal County Council, Smart Balbriggan and the CONNECT Centre, SCÉAL Arts Collective with curator Valeria Ceregini to tell the ‘Internet of Things’ story in a creative and unique fashion. Fingal County Council #digitalFingal

Quay Street & Harbour Works Update📢 Works have commenced at the RNLI Boathouse (under the viaduct), Harbour East Pier and former Public Toilet area. The car park on Mill Street has reopened and trees are due to be planted by the end of the month, with EV charging to follow. The change of use of the former RNLI Boathouse and the development of new harbour buildings are designed to generate increased social and commercial activity at the Harbour and throughout town. The project will also include enhancement work to the River Bracken, new surfacing and increased seating, green and play spaces as well as the redesign of parking and traffic flows. This storyboard provides an illustrative guide on key aspects of the transformational work at this location. For more information on the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation programme, visit www.balbriggan.ie Fingal County Council Cllr Brendan Ryan

Fingal County Council has announced a new Streetscape Enhancement Scheme and are seeking expressions of interests from qualifying commercial and community premises located within Fingal. Grant funding can be provided up to a maximum of 75% of the projected costs of improvement works, maximum ceiling of support of €1,500 per eligible property is available and includes shopfront improvements, painting, signage replacement or removal, lighting, and green planting, subject to terms and conditions. Balbriggan Commercial Premises, Sports and Community Facilities are eligible to apply if located on streets inside MC - Major Town Centre designation - Balbriggan Harbour; Drogheda Street; Brick Lane; Convent Lane; Chapel Lane; Church Street, Dublin Street, Georges Hill; High Street, Market Green; Mill Race; Naul Road; Quay Street; Railway Street. Expressions of interest must be received by Fingal County Council on or before 12 noon on Friday, November 29, 2024. For further information, visit: https://lnkd.in/exwXnQwU Fingal County Council Cllr Brendan Ryan

For the most comprehensive listing of groups and public services in the town please visit https://lnkd.in/eSNgN-v8 - the community platform service is constantly updated by Twitter/X updates, for the most up to date information. Please submit any feedback to ourbalbriggan@fingal.ie Fingal County Council

Work has begun on the restoration of the two boathouses at King’s Strand, adjacent to the local Martello tower, built in the late 1800s following nearby shipwrecks in 1873 and 1875. They will now be reconstructed and preserved as part of the Our Balbriggan Rejuvenation Programme. The Programme is a Fingal County Council administered transformational project aimed at creating high quality public amenities and premier visitor destinations to revitalise Ireland’s youngest large town. The €54-57m 2019-2030 programme seeks to create a more attractive, connected place where people want to live, work, visit and do business. Work is also taking place on the €15m redevelopment of Balbriggan’s Harbour and Quay Street as part of the Programme. The ambitious vision contained in the Our Balbriggan Programme was the result of an historic community engagement in 2019 which saw more than 25% of residents outline their preferences for the future of the town. Research, conducted among the people of Balbriggan, demonstrated strong support for reimagining the Harbour area. Under the plan, Fingal County Council has made a number of strategic property acquisitions, as well as driving several social projects. The buildings, known as the Bath House and Boat House on at King’s Strand on Balbriggan’s Bath Road are in fact two old boat houses. They are local heritage landmarks with a significant social and architectural history. Both buildings have suffered badly from the combined effects of weather and vandalism, and have been largely roofless for many years. To inform further permanent works, and possible re-use, enabling works commissioned by the council were completed last May. A design team will consider future uses for the buildings, which may include restoring them as boathouses for use by local water sports clubs. It is hoped the Bath House and Boat House could be restored by the end of 2025. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eTDRPUaj Cllr Brendan Ryan

Thank you to all who turned out to the public consultation series that took place in October and early November! The evening events were organised in partnership with Balbriggan Community Council and the Fingal Community Office. The three themes were ‘Youth’, ‘Family Support and Early Years’ and ‘Integration and Inclusion’ and the information and local knowledge gathered from the events will really help to develop key priorities of the Our Balbriggan Programme 2024 to 2030. For more information and updates, visit www.balbriggan.ie Fingal County Council Cllr Brendan Ryan

Fingal County Council has announced a new Streetscape Enhancement Scheme and are seeking expressions of interests from qualifying commercial and community premises located within Fingal. Grant funding can be provided up to a maximum of 75% of the projected costs of improvement works, maximum ceiling of support of €1,500 per eligible property is available and includes shopfront improvements, painting, signage replacement or removal, lighting, and green planting, subject to terms and conditions. Balbriggan Commercial Premises, Sports and Community Facilities are eligible to apply if located on streets inside MC - Major Town Centre designation - Balbriggan Harbour; Drogheda Street; Brick Lane; Convent Lane; Chapel Lane; Church Street, Dublin Street, Georges Hill; High Street, Market Green; Mill Race; Naul Road; Quay Street; Railway Street. Expressions of interest must be received by Fingal County Council on or before 12 noon on Friday, November 29, 2024. For further information, visit: https://lnkd.in/exwXnQwU Fingal County Council Cllr Brendan Ryan