Welcome to Edition 21 of the Blanch Bulletin.

This week’s edition starts on a sombre note, following the tragic death of local man Alexander Coughlan. We wanted to acknowledge the story respectfully, while also reflecting the many kind tributes shared by friends and family over the past few days in The Irish Times.

Tributes have continued this week following the death of 37-year-old Alexander Coughlan after an assault and robbery near his home in Blanchardstown.

Alexander, a graduate of Castleknock Community College, was remembered by family and friends as a “caring and selfless” person who was deeply loved by everyone who knew him.

In an incredible final act of generosity, his family confirmed that Alexander’s organs were donated to help others in need - something they said reflected the kind of person he was.

The assault took place on Mill Road on Sunday evening, with Alexander sadly passing away in Connolly Hospital on Wednesday.

Two teenage boys have since appeared in court charged in connection with the incident.

Our thoughts are with Alexander’s family, friends and loved ones. All credit to The Irish Times for their coverage and link below to their full article.

On Wednesday night I went to see The Charlie O’Leary Story in the Draíocht and honestly, it was phenomenal.

Born in 1924, Charlie O’Leary’s life story stretches across some of the most important moments in Irish football history. From the Dublin Street Leagues to refereeing internationally, and later becoming the beloved kitman during the iconic Jack Charlton era, the documentary captures a remarkable life in an incredibly personal way.

But it’s much more than a football film.

It’s also a brilliant ode to East Wall and old Dublin. Charlie’s memory of the city, especially through some hugely turbulent periods in Irish history, is genuinely mind-blowing. At the Q&A afterwards, he flexed his razor sharp wit!

As someone born in 1996 who missed most of that golden era of Irish football, it felt like getting a glimpse into a world you usually only hear stories about.

It also reminded me how lucky we are to have Draíocht in Dublin 15.

At a time when the big cinema chains are becoming ridiculously expensive, Draíocht continues to offer affordable nights out built around authentic, homegrown Irish stories and local culture.

If you haven’t been in a while, utilise it and support it. Places like it really matter.

Another major food brand is on the way to Blanchardstown Centre.

Mexican chain Zambrero has officially confirmed it will open a new location in the former Specsavers unit, right beside where Popeyes is preparing to open next month.

Known for burritos, bowls, tacos and Mexican-inspired fast casual food, Zambrero describes its menu as focusing on “modern, superfood ingredients” and freshly prepared options.

It’s the latest addition in what’s becoming a huge wave of new food openings in Blanch - with Popeyes, new cafés and multiple restaurant revamps all arriving in recent months.

What do you think of the new addition? Are we over saturated with food places now?

Fingal County Council has refused planning permission for Manna to continue operating its drone delivery base from Coolmine Industrial Estate.

The decision follows months of objections and debate locally around the company’s delivery drones - particularly concerning noise pollution.

In its ruling, Fingal stated that there was “insufficient evidence” to prove the operation would avoid serious noise impacts on nearby residents.

Residents had argued the drones were disruptive, especially during evenings and weekends, while others defended the service as convenient and innovative.

Manna says it has served around 80,000 people in Dublin 15 since launching locally in 2024 and currently employs around 50 staff in the area.

The company has not yet confirmed whether it plans to appeal the decision.

The High Court has refused an injunction sought in a dispute over parking changes at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.

The case centred around plans to introduce a taxi rank near Leisureplex, resulting in the loss of 26 parking spaces.

Leisureplex argued the changes interfered with customer parking rights under its lease agreement and sought to halt the works.

However, the court ruled that the loss of the spaces was unlikely to cause irreparable harm and that damages would be an adequate remedy if needed.

The judge also noted that over 160 additional parking spaces had been made available nearby.

The wider Mobility Enhancement Plan around Blanchardstown Centre continues to generate strong local debate.

Good news: summer might finally be arriving.

Met Éireann says temperatures will continue rising over the weekend, with warm and mostly settled conditions expected across Dublin.

Saturday is forecast to reach between 17 and 21 degrees with sunny spells, while Sunday could climb as high as 22 degrees.

Early next week is also looking warm and largely dry thanks to high pressure sitting over Ireland.

Perfect timing if you’re planning a park visit, BBQ or coffee outdoors this weekend.

Looking ahead at Draíocht with comedy, theatre, workshops and family events all coming up.

Highlights include:
🌟 Starkids on Stage — May 22nd–24th
😂 Killian Sundermann — May 29th

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Interested? Reply ‘INTERESTED’ with some details about what you would like to advertise and we can discuss further or download our media pack below.

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Big thanks again to Shaka Vibes for supporting last week’s newsletter - and don’t forget:
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