Bike Week comes to Ballymun

National Bike Week is an annual event that takes place all over Ireland promoting the benefits of cycling and encouraging people of all ages to get back on their bikes. As part of National Bike Week, Lord Mayor of Dublin Cllr Gerry Breen launched a programme of fun bike events which took place at the Ballymun Plaza on the 23rd of June 2011.

His Excellency Niels Christen Pultz Ambassador of the Royal Danish Embassy was also in attendance and helped to launch Recycabike. The Ambassador was also accompanied by members of the Royal Danish Embassy who assisted children from the Holy Spirit National School brush up on some of their cycling skills.

Recycabike is a bike repair and reuse workshop in Ballymun and is a partnership between the Rediscovery Centre and Rothar Bikes for the Community. The workshop is located in Unit 4, Shangan Neighbourhood Centre and offers a full range of bike repairs, parts and services. Recycabike also has reconditioned quality checked bikes for sale, you can even pick your own frame and bike components. Recycabike bicycles are for sale at the Rediscovery Centre’s Ecostore at Santry Cross Ballymun. Recycabike opening hours are Tuesday – Friday from 10am – 5pm.

For more information log onto: www.rediscoverycentre.ie

Booking BRL/DCC owned rooms or facilities in Ballymun

Neighbourhood Centres
A number of Ballymun community groups have moved from flat based accommodation into the local Neighbourhood Centres to run their services and also the centres themselves. All of the neighbourhood centres are open to all local community groups to use, with enhanced evening and weekend access. The contact numbers for each of the centres is set out below:

Coultry NC
The Drop in Well Family Resource Centre are running this centre and bookings can be made on 01 842 0143/ 01 842 0190. Coultry Forum is also located in the centre and can be contacted at 01 842 2440.

Shangan NC
The Men’s Centre are running this centre and bookings can be made on 01 857 9592. The Shangan Forum can also be contacted on the same number.

Sillogue NC
The Women’s Resource Centre are running this centre and bookings can be made on 01 842 1731. Sillogue / Sandyhill Forum and Ballymun Active Disability Interest Group (BADIG) are also located in the centre and can be contacted on the same number.

Sports and Community Facilities

axis
To book the music studio, dance studio, meeting rooms or utilise any of AXIS services contact 01 883 2100.

Leisure Centre
To book the meeting room and studio contact 01 862 3508.

Poppintree Sports and Community Centre
To book any of studios, sports hall, playing pitch and meeting rooms in the sports and community centre, contact 01 222 3985.

Trinity Comprehensive Sports Hall and Body Works Gym
To book the sports hall, access the gym or book the astro turf pitch contact 086 174 3836 (Paddy O’Reilly) or 086 028 5444 (Matthew Prendergast).

Ballymun ‘Friends of the Park’ Programme Summer 2011

Play days in Ballymun parks
Play days are a great way of bringing communities together to make time for ‘Play’. Building on the success of last year’s Play days, we are encouraging more neighbourhoods to take part in events for this year. 2011 Play days will take place in Sillogue Green, Balcurris Park, Coultry Park, Coultry Green and Poppintree Park. BRL would like to take this opportunity to thank all local residents who volunteer their time to host ‘Play days’ in their neighbourhood. Well done everyone!

For information on other play activities please contact Debby Clarke, BRL Play Development Officer @ 01 222 5609

Activities in Ballymun Parks
This initiative was developed to support local residents to access and enjoy the variety of public outdoor play and recreational facilities available in the Ballymun area. Ballymun Parks and some of the local greens and public spaces will once again provide a programme of activities where young and old can enjoy a variety of outdoor play, sports and leisure activities and events. All of the activities are organised and hosted by local community groups, organisations and youth groups. The activities programme “People make Parks” began in June and will continue until the end of September 2011.

So don’t delay, get out and play!

For information regarding park activities please contact Debby Clarke, BRL Play Development Officer @ 01 222 5609 or Rosie King Youth, Sports & Recreational Officer @ 01 222 5617

Construction of Our Lady’s Nursery underway

Sr. Majella McCabe of Our Lady’s Nursery marked the pouring of the foundations for the new Silloge Nursery by helping the contractor in the laying of block work for the new building. Sr. Majella was joined by board members Fergus Kelly and Colman Duggan on a recent site visit at 121 Silloge Gardens Ballymun.

Our Lady’s Nursery is a not-for-profit operation and caters for 58 children from the Ballymun area from the ages of 2yrs 9months to school going age. The nursery has functioned in a temporary pre-fabricated building for 38 years, providing a high quality childcare service in a stimulating, secure healthy and happy environment. Since its establishment, the aim of the nursery has been to ensure that every child in its care secures a strong foundation for early education. The new building, which can cater for 76 children, will contain a baby unit, toddlers’ room and four pre-school classrooms, as well as play areas, kitchen area and a number of large and small shared spaces for group activities.

Our Lady’s Nursery has provided excellent childcare for generations of children in Ballymun and more children will continue benefit from the state of the art facility that will be provided on completion of the project.

Notice board

Ballymun in the Sun 2011
Children and young people in Ballymun can look forward to a busy and fun filled summer as a variety of programmes and initiatives have been coordinated for the school holidays. As in previous years, local residents and organisations have worked hard to continue to provide play and recreational activities in their neighbourhood during the summer months. Once again Ballymun demonstrates the high level of community spirit and participation in the area.

Ballymun Summer Projects 2011
Summer Projects are run mainly through the commitment and dedication of local volunteers who organise fun filled activity programmes for children and young people in the Ballymun area. Children and young people will enjoy coach trips, arts and crafts, dance, drama, fancy dress competitions, fun and games and much more. All of the Ballymun Summer Projects will take place during July and August 2011 and will be hosted by; Holy Spirit, Virgin Mary, All Sorts Club, Poppintree Community Centre, Youthreach, Tir na Nóg Day Nursery, Rainbow 13+ Arch Club, Santry Summer Project & Gaeltacht Park.

For information on 2011 Summer Projects please contact Sinéad MacGabhann Quinn Dublin City Council Community section @ 01 222 5720

Axis' Summer Arts Project
‘The Dream Factory’ is an exciting summer arts project for children and young people aged 5 – 20 years. This project will take place from the 19th - 30th July 2010.

To register your interest in ‘The Dream Factory’ call axis on 01 883 2100. Prices start from €40. Limited places available and advanced booking advised. There are also some scholarships are available.

Art or Drama 5 - 8 years (10am - 12.30pm)
9 - 12 years (2pm - 4.30pm)

Singing 14 - 20 years (3.30pm - 5.30pm)

Summer Buzz – The Reco
The Reco are holding Weekly Summer Camps in June and July. It costs €20 per week or if booking for 2 children the cost is only €30. Summer camps for Primary school-goers will be held in July.

For more information on this, drop into Reco or phone 01 866 7600 to book. All young people must register with BRYR. Parent/Guardian must sign registration form.

Flag-raising day for Holy Spirit National School

On Monday 27th June Deputies John Lyons and Roisin Shorthall assisted the Holy Spirit National School in the raising of their 5th Green Flag for their hard work and dedication to green schools.

Not only was it an honour to get a fifth flag, The Holy Spirit National School is the first school in Europe to receive the flag for the theme of “Citizenship”. To date they have received flags for reducing, reusing, recycling, saving water, saving energy and transport.