Welcome to Edition 22 of the Blanch Bulletin.

Before we get into this week’s stories, a quick note on the newsletter itself:

👉 In the interest of maintaining quality and consistency, we’ll be moving to a biweekly (every second week) schedule from here on.
The next edition will land on Friday, June 12th.

This gives us more time to dig deeper into local stories and continue improving what we bring you each week. Thanks as always for reading and supporting it.

There’s been a significant political call this week for a second Garda training college to be established in Dublin 15, with Blanchardstown named as a potential location.

Speaking in the Dáil, Dublin West TD Emer Currie argued that Ireland’s policing system is under growing pressure and that reliance on a single training base in Templemore may no longer be enough.

She said that Dublin 15 — with its rapid population growth, major transport links, and proximity to TU Dublin — presents a strong case for expansion, adding that modern policing requires new thinking around cybercrime, digital capability and urban training environments.

Blanchardstown, she argued, is effectively operating at “regional city scale” but without the equivalent policing infrastructure.

The proposal has been welcomed by some locally as a serious discussion point about Garda resources, though any decision is still at an early stage.

Blanch Bulletin was down at Bord Bia Bloom on opening day (Thursday), and it delivered exactly what you’d want from a summer festival — sunshine, food, and a serious amount of wandering between gardens and stalls.

The standout for us?
👉 The Griolladh stall — easily one of the best cheese toasties you’ll find at a festival.

From show gardens and craft villages to food demos and family areas, Bloom is in full swing right through to Monday.

If you’re heading over today or this weekend, bring suncream — and pace yourself on the food stops.

A major cost issue has emerged locally after it was revealed that almost €100,000 has been spent by Fingal County Council over two years disposing of nitrous oxide canisters.

The canisters, which we’ve all seen around the area, often used to fill balloons for recreational drug use, require specialist disposal, costing around €11 each.

According to Deputy Mark Ward of Sinn Féin, thousands of units were collected across 2024 and 2025, with numbers continuing to rise.

Officials have confirmed a national working group is now being formed to address the issue, involving local authorities and waste management bodies.

The debate also touches on wider concerns around public health, littering, and ongoing enforcement challenges.

A new campaign highlighting life on Dublin’s canals is raising questions about upcoming changes from Waterways Ireland.

Peter Sheekey, who lives on a boat in Dublin 15, says proposed bylaw changes could have a major impact on liveaboard residents.

He explains that he moved onto the water after finding traditional housing unaffordable, and describes canal life as a mix of independence, nature and community.

However, he says the proposed rules — including increased fees and restrictions on where boats can travel — could make life significantly harder for those living on fixed incomes.

The campaign argues the changes could reshape how canal communities operate across Dublin.

Friday brings a bright and warm start with highs of 20–23°C expected.

However, the Bank Holiday weekend turns more mixed:

Temperatures generally staying in the mid-teens to low 20s, warmest in the east.

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