COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

MEETING OF CLONDALKIN, NEWCASTLE, RATHCOOLE, SAGGART AND BRITTAS AREA COMMITTEE

Wednesday, October 21, 2026

MOTION NO. 10

MOTION: Councillor W. Carey

That this Area Committee agrees that SDCC should facilitate community groups (such as Residents Ass.) in the holding of community events aimed at preventing bonfires been erected on public green space and where such events have support of An Garda Siochana.

REPORT:

SDCC supports a wide range of community-led events throughout the Halloween period, providing positive, family-friendly activities that encourage community engagement and offer alternatives to anti-social behaviour. These include:

• Tallaween at Parthalán Place (30th October)
• Spookdalkin at Brú Chrónáin (1st November)
• Firhouse Community Centre
• Fancy Dress Disco and Cupcake Workshop (31 October)
• The Park Community Centre
• Halloween Camp (27-30 October)
• Teen Cupcake Workshop (28 October)
• Make Your Own Costume Workshop (29 October)
• Saggart Schoolhouse Community Centre
• Halloween Camp (27-30 October)
• Ghost Walk (30 October)
• Orchard Lane
• Arts and Crafts Workshop (30 October)

A wide range of other Halloween events will take place across South Dublin, with full details available in the Council’s Halloween brochure.

The brochure also provides information on Council initiatives that help communities protect local parks and open spaces from the damage caused by illegal bonfires.

Our Environmental Awareness Team is also working closely with local communities throughout the Halloween period to support positive alternatives to bonfires and promote safer, more sustainable neighbourhoods. Through SDCC's Social Credit Scheme, community groups are provided with environmental enhancement materials that encourage local pride, strengthen community involvement and improve the local environment.

A key element of this work is the Bulbs Not Bonfires initiative, which supports communities in transforming traditional bonfire sites into vibrant, pollinator-friendly planting areas. By replacing bonfires with lasting environmental improvements, the initiative helps prevent bonfire activity while creating attractive community spaces that will provide colour and biodiversity benefits for years to come. This year, 450 bags of mixed pollinator bulbs are being distributed following the launch of the campaign on 5^th October 2026 by Mayor Timmons, alongside representatives from Newcastle Tidy Towns, Newcastle Ladies Social Club, RAMS and 5th Class students from Rathcoole Educate Together National School.

To further support bonfire prevention efforts, free passes to Ballymount Civic Amenity Centre have been distributed to community groups, Residents’ Associations and Tidy Towns groups, enabling the safe and responsible disposal of materials that could otherwise contribute to bonfires. In addition, through the Local Environmental Action Fund (LEAF) 2026, SDCC is supporting a range of family biodiversity events throughout October and has partnered with Recycle IT to provide free electrical recycling collections for Residents’ Associations and estates before and during the Halloween period. Together, these initiatives encourage community participation, environmental stewardship and positive alternatives to bonfire activity.