Reeling in the Years with the

Raheny Business

Association - 2018 1988

30 Years helping to make a safe, caring and vibrant community with a dynamic business at its heart Raheny has the old style Irish village layout - a crossroads, 3 churches and a pub, one at each corner

“ Raheny Village c1950

1988 The year that Miley had a tumble in the and the of the time was Charlie hay with Fidelma in Glenroe. A 70ft Haughey. Gulliver washed up on Strand, a Floozie in the Jacuzzi We all used landlines for phone calls - appeared in O’Connell Street and Molly mobile phones were Star Trek props! No Malone wheeled her wheelbarrow into one had a personal computer in their Grafton Street – all as part of ’s home, and the internet didn’t exist. A 1,000th birthday celebrations. byte was something you took out of a sandwich – usually just ham and cheese… Raheny Village Nelson Mandela was granted the and we paid for them using Punts, not Freedom of Dublin City. Euros.

Meath won the All Ireland Football But even then, the founders of the Raheny Final and Galway took the Hurling Business Association had a vision for the Title. The Irish Soccer Team, under Jack future of Raheny which, 30 years later, Charlton, qualified for the first time ever can be seen in every aspect of village life. for the UEFA Championship and scored Back in 1988, a group of business people a memorable 1 – 0 victory over England What was in Raheny, spurred on by the positivity of in Stuttgart. The Eurovision, hosted in the Millennium Celebrations for Dublin, Dublin, was won by an unknown singer came together to produce a development called Celine Dion. happening plan for their village. Thus, the Raheny Business Association (RBA) was born, We were listening to Sinead O’Connor’s then? laying the groundwork for Raheny as it ‘Mandinka’, Enya’s ‘Orinoco Flow’ and exists today - a great place to live and to ’s ‘Rattle and Hum’. Bobby McFerrin do business. was singing ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’ Gulliver washed up on Dollymount Strand 1988

2 3 CELEBRATIONS Raheny What has Day Raheny Day happened Floral Decorations of businesses and since? public areas in the village The Christmas tree and Christmas Lights Nothing happens by chance, and many of the changes that Raheny Village has seen over the past 30 years are as a direct result of consistent lobbying of by the RBA and Raheny Tidy Village Group including: Raheny Tidy Village Group

Millenium Clock

Hayes Memorial Cross

Raheny Library New Christmas Tree and Lights Heritage Outdoor Garden

Refurbishment of Raheny Bridge. INFRASTRUCTURE

Relocation of Hayes Memorial Celtic Cross River Flood alleviation

The Millennium Clock - With Dublin New footpath, cobblelock and street furniture – Main Street City Council and Federation of Raheny Residents. Raheny Library garden and furniture

Blue Heritage signage on significant Footpath and road maintenance, road markings, parking and buildings with history of local life. traffic flow - Road

‘You are Here’ and defibrillator location Public Lighting - Installation of LED lighting signs. Power washing of footpaths Old Parish Church Floodlights. Directional signs to Raheny Parish Pump. 5 Safety rail and wheelchair ramp on Main RBA has supported the many sporting Raheny Street clubs and organisations in the area over the years, including Raheny Shamrocks, Levelling of footpaths at all shop Raheny GAA, Raheny United FC, Business entrances Scouts and Guides– all of whom are also celebrating significant birthdays 50 - 60 The Raheny Community First years in 2018. Association- Responders was set up under the inspired leadership of Joe Mooney. It has Another big birthday in 2018 are the three 24 volunteers trained by the HSE to Pre- primary schools – Scoil Íde, Áine and Helping Hospital Emergency Critical Care (PHECC) Assam – who all celebrate 60 years of Installation of Defibrillators by standards. These volunteers can respond educating our young people so that they to make Raheny Community First Responsers in 4 – 6 minutes to someone experiencing can go on to become the community and cardiac arrest or stroke within 5km of Raheny Village, Raheny Age Friendly Raheny… Club at CARA Hall administering critical care while waiting on ambulance services. A Safe Community… Currently there are 18 RBA has worked hard to make defibrillators installed around Raheny a safe community. Public Raheny Village, and while lighting, improved road signage and we’d hope that no one markings have all helped towards ever has to use them, it’s this aim, and we have always had reassuring to know that a good relationship with Raheny these services are there. Gardai. A united response to vandalism and graffiti means that petty crime and damage is kept to A Vibrant Community… a minimum. Raheny Business Tidy Village Group displaying their RBA has worked with local community SuperValu Tidy Towns and Dublin North Central organisations, charities, schools and clubs Neighbourhool Awards 2015. A Caring Community… over its 30 years of existence. However, L-R Teresa Clarke, Con Clarke, Rose Daly, Joe Byrne (Blooming Baskets), Linda Spellman, Tim O’Sullivan, we have to admit that The Raheny Tidy RBA with Raheny Age Friendly Clare O’Sullivan, Denis Cronin, Bernadette Isabelle, Village Group are even older than us – by Barry Murphy Co-Ordinator RBA, Aidan Fitzsimons Group has been instrumental in Chairman RBA, and Leo “George” Devitt 10 years! They have done a spectacular organising services for seniors and job of making Raheny look so colourful those with reduced mobility – and vibrant over the years winning business leaders of the future. Manor numerous awards in the famous Tidy House Secondary School has also been a Monthly community café Towns competition. They keep the village remarkable stalwart of education for the tidy, fund the on-street flower planters, girls in Raheny with St Pauls College and Lift at the Garda Station put flowers on the business premises as De la Salle for the boys, all helping to well as– and more importantly - keep shape their future careers. Lift to the 2nd floor at the Raheny them alive! Well done to Con Clarke, Shopping Centre as well as a Seamus Griffith, and their enthusiastic We’ve always supported them, and will handrail on the footpath volunteers – the place would look so dull continue to do so going forward – we Safety Rail and Wheelchair Ramp without you all! believe in investing in the future!

6 7 The annual lighting of the Christmas RBA has provided a comprehensive Tree in Raheny is now a major event in Member Event Programme throughout its the Christmas calendar, with music and 30 years, including business talks, training carol singing and of course the main in new technology, social gatherings, event – the arrival of Santa Claus. A Santa Business Awards and Golf Classics. grotto with presents for all of the children attending is proving to be one of the most Encouraging local people to shop locally, popular events of our calendar with the the RBA has over the years produced numbers attending growing year on year. business directories, fridge magnets, Even if we do say it ourselves, Raheny calendars and phone directory covers to looks especially magical during the festive promote local support. To commemorate season with all of the businesses lit up its 21st Birthday, we produced ‘From A with twinkling lights creating a warm Little Acorn…21 years of Growing’. and friendly welcome to everyone. We’re In 2106 we produced the ‘Raheny proud to be a part of this with the help Little Big Book of Information’ and and support of North Central Area Office distributed it to 8,000 households in the of Dublin City Council. area.

Launch of ‘Raheny Little Big Book of Information’ Barry Murphy, Raheny Business Association …and a Dynamic Place to do We moved with the times and launched Co-Ordinator, Elaine Mulvenny, Dublin City Council, and Aidan Fitzsimons, Chairman of Raheny Business. a website, which has been completely Business Association in 2015

updated and a new state of the art North Area Office of Dublin City Council, website will be launched in March 2018 launched ‘The Raheny Way’ Village & with many new features. Coastal Walking Guide with Map.

www.rahenybusiness.com

A new edition of the ‘Raheny Little Big Book of Information’ is due to be delivered to 8000 homes in Raheny in March 2018.

We also have Raheny Business Facebook page.

We have an online newsletter which keeps everyone up to date both from a business and social point of view and in partnership with the have been able to showcase the many aesthetic and commercial achievements that have happened in the last 30 years.

Special Congratulations to Clare The Annual Lighting of the Christmas Tree in Raheny Village O’Sullivan who, in conjunction with the

9 Significant Business Birthdays A final word… Dick Hooper, former Chairman of Raheny in 2018 in Raheny Business Association and one of its founding members wondered ‘When we look back – did we make a difference? Is the place Adam’s Pharmacy better for our presence?’ celebrates 70 years in Raheny. Opened by Lucy Adams (RIP) in We think every 1948, the pharmacy has served member of the the people of Raheny over the RBA over the last years with care and dedication. 30 years can stand Lucy’s son Pearse has continued proud and take a the tradition with an upgraded bow, as we all made premises and a willingness to take a difference, and time to listen to people. Pearse Raheny is better was also one of the first Chairmen for our combined of the RBA and continues his long efforts. service to this day. The village and its environs are greatly enhanced

Smyth’s Butchers Members have benefitted in terms of greater celebrate 60 years in the Village. recognition and support Started in 1958 by James with Issues such as parking, vandalism and graffiti the help of his wife Mary and are dealt with from a united stance their son (also James and his wife A Christmas Tree stands proud and tall every Mary) took over in the early 1960s, year with grandson Brendan now at the helm. Many changes have Throughout the recession 2009- 2015 there taken place here over the years in were no vacant shop units in Raheny response to changing consumer Raheny keeps coming up the rankings in the trends, but the essence of the Tidy Towns Competition. original business is still there with an excellent personal service to the At the beginning, we wanted to promote locals. Raheny as a major commercial area and make it a better place in which to work and live – what we have managed to do, Duffys Barbers with the support of every person living closed this year with the in Raheny over the past 30 year, is to retirement of Michael Duffy. make Raheny a safe, caring and vibrant Michaels’ father started the community with a dynamic business at business on Main St 58 years ago. its heart. They’ve seen some changes to hair styles over the years! Thank you for your continued support! A very special thanks to our contributors who put this short history of the RBA together:

CompilED BY Anne-Marie Smith (Founder Member of RBA)

Kathy Kelly Fitzsimons

Photography

Leo George Devitt Michael Moran Barry Murphy The Irish Times

THE Inspiration

The remarkable business people of Raheny who have been part of the Raheny Business Association during it’s 30 years - past and present.

Thank you all for your time and dedication to Raheny in helping to build a strong and dynamic business community.