Living Streets Blackrock - Update

The works to enhance Blackrock Village and to replace the temporary layout are currently awaiting sign-off by the National Transport Authority. All the funding is in place and once sign-off is complete, the tender process can then be quickly finalised. We expect commencement to now be in Q2.

Living Streets Blackrock Village is a public realm improvement project which aims to enhance the attractiveness, liveability, connectivity, and economic vibrancy of Blackrock Village. Building on the temporary measures implemented during the COVID restrictions of summer 2020 on Blackrock Main Street, the plan will move the village from a temporary layout to a high-quality permanent design.

What’s Great About Blackrock?

Participants studying and marking up maps at the Heritage Workshop

Blackrock has a fascinating history and a wonderful story to tell. With this in mind, we started off the year with a collaborative and inspiring Heritage and Business Workshop on 7 January 2025 in the Regus Offices in Temple House. Attendees from across the Blackrock business, academic, sport and heritage communities explored what makes Blackrock special, what and where are our distinctive features and experiences, and how we can share the stories of this vibrant and historic place with visitors and locals. The workshop was coordinated by the Blackrock Business Association and facilitated by Deirdre Black and Yueyao Li of the Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Heritage Office. Thank you to all the participants who contributed great ideas which are now being summarised into a workshop outcomes report.

Deirdre Black, Heritage Officer Dlr facilitating the Heritage Workshop

Only 2 months to go!
Leprechaun 2025 looms again!

With only 2 months left to St Patrick’s Day, preparations are hotting up in order to get everything prepared for the big day! We plan a similar event to last year but with a registration capacity of 750 – this is 150 up on last year. The available places were booked up very quickly last time around so we are hoping that the extra availability will make for less disappointment! More information will issue over the coming weeks.

New Ticketless Parking - Frascati Centre

New Ticketless Parking System in Operation – Frascati Centre introduced a new ticketless parking system on 2 January 2025 so no more lost tickets! The new system is based on Number Plate Recognition. Car registrations taken by camera on entry to car park and the barriers automatically lift. When leaving, customers must make sure to pay for their parking before returning to their car. They need to know their registrations as they will be asked to enter this before paying. Car Parking tariffs remain the same.

Frascati Centre - 2 New Store Openings

Homecare Medical – an indigenous Irish family-owned business for over 35 years, opened its new store upstairs in the Frascati Centre. Homecare Medical provides products and services that support carers, enable the cared-for, and empower self-carers to remain in the comfort and familiarity of their own home for as long as possible.

Soho Baby Boutique – a baby clothing and accessories boutique selling baby essentials and perfect gifts, now open on the ground floor.

New Restaurant for Blackrock

Un’ Altra Pasta Bar recently opened on Main Street, Blackrock – opposite the library. It takes the place of Coal Restaurant, which sadly closed last year after many years of excellent service to the citizens of Blackrock. We wish Un’ Altra every success with their new venture.

Wolfhound & Elk boosts partnership with Granada FC

Since 2020, Wolfhound & Elk has been the official playing kit partner for Granada Football Club. During this time Granada FC has grown to be the largest underage football club in Ireland – almost 1500 children from 4 – 18 years old and with the largest girls’ football membership base.

“Granada FC in recent years has witnessed impressive growth as football continues to capture the imagination of a new generation. We are delighted to have had Wolfhound & Elk beside us on that journey and look forward to many years ahead together”, said Ciaran Kane, Chair of Granada FC.

Wolfhound & Elk was established not just to manufacture ethical performance clothing but also to support community sports clubs paying particular attention to female sports. Ann Ronan, Wolfhound & Elk Managing Director said at the announcement “We are delighted to have been connected with Granada FC and, today, we are delighted to announce a multi-year sponsorship agreement for the Granada FC girls football programme as their lead sponsor”.

Granada FC Lotto Draw – Business Vouchers Sought!

In order to help the Club with operating expenditure, Granada run a fortnightly Club Lotto Draw. The jackpot is currently at €1500 (rising by €100 each time it is not won), and spot prizes are also available.

Granada’s lotto email has a reach of about 3,000 and they can link interested businesses to their webpage on their Club website. They are seeking vouchers from businesses in Blackrock to give away.

If any businesses are interested in getting involved please let Claire Paul at Granada FC know. Just click on the button!

Click here

Sanctuary Runners

Sanctuary Runners is starting up in Blackrock with the first run in Blackrock having taken place on 11 January 2025

GREENSKILLS TRAINING PROGRAMMES

Keith Holt is the Greenskills Instructor at Loughlinstown Training Centre. The Greenskills Training Programmes, fully funded by Solas under the Skills to Advance initiative, are designed to equip learners with the knowledge and skills necessary to contribute to sustainability improvements within their workplaces and communities. The target learner group includes employees in all NACE categories, from management and team leads to general operatives, administration, and finance.

Learners can apply through these links below.

Resource Efficiency for a Sustainable Workplace

https://www.fetchcourses.ie/course/finder?sfcw-courseId=473507

Environmental Sustainability in the Workplace (Online)

https://www.fetchcourses.ie/course/finder?sfcw-courseId=477050

Programme Highlights:

Delivery Mode: 100% face-to-face classroom delivery, supported by a virtual learning environment (VLE). In specific circumstances, tutor-led online delivery may be utilized. The most effective method to date has been a Teams session, once a week for 2 hours.

Objectives:

Address gaps in current training provisions with focused, relevant, and agile training for employees and employers.
Provide learners with the knowledge and skills to contribute to sustainability improvements.
Offer companies opportunities to develop their employees’ skills for sustainability improvements

Learning Outcomes:

Environmental Sustainability in the Workplace (Level 5):

Understand the effects of human activities on the environment.
Examine key measures addressing environmental issues, including relevant policies and agreements.
Assess and recommend actions to reduce environmental impacts.
Develop an environmental improvement programme for the workplace.

Circular Economy in the Workplace (Level 6):

Explain the context and concepts of the circular economy.
Identify and apply circular economy improvement actions.
Analyse the impacts of these actions within a business.
Develop a business case for circular economy improvements.

Resource Efficiency for a Sustainable Workplace (Level 5):

Implement resource efficiency improvements.
Assess workplace performance in energy, material, water use, and waste production. Identify and prioritize resource efficiency actions.

10 Week Digital Marketing

& AI for Business Course

Equip yourself with the essential knowledge & skills required to navigate the ever-evolving digital landscape, incorporating Artificial Intelligence, Digital Transformation, Process Automation, & Ethics of AI.

Venue: Online Via Zoom
Date: 22/01/2025
Time: 6.30pm – 9.30pm

This course runs from 6.30pm-9.30pm on ten consecutive Wednesday evenings, from 22nd January 2025 to 26th March 2025

Core topics covered over the 10 weeks include the following

Understanding the Digital Landscape
Digital Transformation Strategy
Artificial Intelligence in Marketing
Process Automation and Efficiency
SEO and Google AdWords
Email Marketing Mastery
Web Analytics for Growth
Leveraging Social Networking Platforms
Content Marketing and Branding
Promotional Opportunities on Social Media

Click on the link below to book and secure your place.

FIND OUT MORE AND BOOKHERE

Enterprising Women Network

Local Enterprise Office Dlr

The 2025 Membership for the Enterprising Women’s Network is now open. Membership runs from January to December each year, so if you have already joined then it’s time to renew each your membership or join !

The Enterprising Women Network was set up by the Local Enterprise Office Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown (LEO DLR) as a peer-to-peer business support network for female-run businesses.

The network is coordinated by business owner, Jill Lush, on behalf of LEO DLR. Jill is over 8 years in business herself so she has experienced first-hand many of the challenges that business owners face.

For all Enterprise Women Network Enquiries, please contact Jill Lush, Network Co-ordinator.
Contact email : Jill@LushMarketing.ie

Dept Rural & Community Development (DRCD)

Local Enhancement Programme 2025 now open for applications

Deadline – 21 February 2025, 1pm.

The Local Community Development Committee set an upper limit of €10,000 for any capital grant under this scheme, while noting that the Department have a preference for up to 30% of the funding to be utilised for grants of €1,000 or less to ensure maximum reach and impact among community groups. The LCDC set an upper limit of €1,200 for any current grant under this scheme.

Applications are now invited through the DLR online grants platform from community groups across the county and the forms can be accessed by clicking the following links.Click here for LEP(Capital) ApplicationClick here for LEP(Current) Application

OTHER Dlr APPLICACTIONS AND CONSULTATIONS

Applications are now open for the Historic Structures Fund 2025. The primary focus of the HSF is to assist the conservation and enhancement of historic structures and buildings for the broader benefit of communities. Deadline Friday 17 Jan 2025. Read more here.
Tourism Festivals & Participative Events Grant 2025 – Closing date for the receipt of applications is 3.00pm, February 7 2025. Read more here.
Consultations: Planning: Chantilly Meadows, Library Road, Shankill, Dublin 18 – Closes 27 January 2025. Read more here.
Consultations: Parks: Playground Consultation, Meadowbrook/Ludford, Ballinteer – Closes 31 January 2025. Read more here.
The Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown Anseo Street Art project brings art to walls across the county each year, and we’re looking for your help to select locations for 2025. If you’ve spotted a wall that you think is perfect for inclusion in our programme we’d love to hear from you. There are a few requirements and not every wall will be suitable for painting, for a variety of reasons including access and the condition of the wall. Closing date – 14 March, 2025. Read more here.

Blackrock Business And Community Newsletter January 2025