🧭 Funding For New Fife Ferry Secured

Good morning, Fifers! In Tuesday’s newsletter, we shared the plans from the Dunfermline New City Assembly on how Dunfermline could be improved, and asked for your views on what matters most. More support for local businesses and better youth facilities and activities emerged as the clear priorities, with both receiving 26% of the vote.

Here’s what's coming your way today:

• Funding For New Fife Ferry Secured

• Dunfermline’s Walking and Cycling Index

• 47 Events to See This Weekend

Let’s jump in, there’s plenty to talk about!

— Duncan

LOCAL HEADLINES YOU NEED TO KNOW

• 🐕 Greyhound racing has been banned in Scotland after MSPs voted to outlaw the sport, making it illegal for dogs to race on oval tracks. The move follows the closure of the country’s last track in Kirkcaldy last year.

• 🚶‍♂️ Fife Council has launched a spring campaign to boost active travel in Dunfermline following strong support from residents. A new Walking and Cycling Index shows high levels of walking and rising safety perceptions, with many residents backing improved paths, highlighting benefits for health, emissions and congestion.

• 🏭 Up to £1.3m of Scottish Government funding will fund training and employment support for 350 workers at ExxonMobil’s Mossmorran plant ahead of redundancies. Delivered by Fife College, the programme will offer courses in engineering and project management, alongside CV and interview support.

• 🏫 School attendance in Fife rose to 90.2% in 2024/25, with improvements across primary and secondary schools. The council credits targeted support, family engagement and wellbeing initiatives, with new tools and programmes helping reduce persistent absence and re-engage pupils in learning.

• 🏥 An inspection by Healthcare Improvement Scotland has praised maternity services at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy for compassionate, person-centred care. While highlighting strong teamwork and patient satisfaction, the report made two recommendations and 13 requirements to further improve safety, training and governance.

• 📜 Thomas Mathers, known as Scotland’s “Fisherman Poet” from Fife, has been rediscovered 175 years after his work was first published shortly after his death. A new replica edition of his collection Musings in Verse by Sea and Shore has been released, bringing renewed attention to his life, seafaring experiences, and long-forgotten literary contributions. The edition is currently stocked at The Scottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther.

• 🛠️ Glenrothes Men’s Shed has secured £33,000 from Fife Council’s Community Recovery Fund to support a £47,000 extension. The expansion will increase space for its 110 male and 27 female members, helping the group provide more activities and reduce social isolation while supporting local community projects.

• ♻️ Residents across Fife are being encouraged to join Scotland’s biggest clean-up as part of the #SpringCleanScotland campaign, organised by Keep Scotland Beautiful. With over 10,000 participants already pledged and seven local events planned, the initiative runs until 24 April and aims to reduce litter across communities. Register here.

TODAY’S TOP STORY

⛴️ Funding For New Fife Ferry Secured

The long-awaited return of a direct ferry service between Rosyth and mainland Europe has moved a significant step closer, following confirmation that the UK Government will provide £3 million to support essential port infrastructure. The funding will enable the development of Border Force and Customs facilities at Rosyth, removing one of the final major barriers to restarting a Scotland-to-Europe sea route.

Danish operator DFDS is planning to run a freight and passenger service between Rosyth and Dunkirk up to three times per week, with crossings expected to take around 20 hours. The Dunkirk port links directly into the European rail network, creating faster and more efficient routes for Scottish exports, while also opening up new travel options for passengers heading to mainland Europe.

However, the project still depends on a commercial agreement between Forth Ports and DFDS, as well as final approval of the business case, meaning further steps are required before the service can launch. We've been covering this story extensively over the past year, with many readers rightly sceptical about whether it will actually happen. However, this funding commitment shows real political will to get it done. From the polls we've run previously here at Fife Insider (97% said they’d use it!), we know this is a popular idea, opening up holiday options to mainland Europe beyond just flying.

@THEFIFEINSIDER

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WHAT’S ON IN FIFE?

Please remember to double-check details with venues before travelling, as events can occasionally be cancelled or rescheduled at short notice, and some will require prebooked tickets.

🌟 Featured Events

Easter Running Event - Get ready to hop, skip and RUN into Easter with a fantastic event in the beautiful surroundings of Ravenscraig Park, Kirkcaldy, all in support of the incredible work of Marie Curie! Prizes are up for grabs, as well as a tasty post-race memento for all participants.
📆 Sunday, 5th April
🕢 12pm (2 Mile Prediction Run) & 12:30pm (Fun Run)
📍 Ravenscraig Park, Kirkcaldy
🎟️ 2 Mile Prediction Run: £10 & 1 Mile Fun Run: Free
👉 Book here

Friday, 20th March

Creative Meet Up - Bring along your own project and equipment to work with in the studio, get new ideas from others and share your creativity!
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Unit 52 Art Studio, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £10

Robin Williams Special - We are hosting George McGhee a renowned film historian, alongside the showing of Dead Poets Society.
📁 Movie | 🕢 5pm | 📍 Earlsferry Town Hall | 🎟️ £16.96

Clans of Leon - Scotland's tribute to the music of Kings of Leon.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £15.40

xSLF - First Gig this year for XSLF so get your self down for a great night of amazing music.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 The Monarch Bar, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £14.55

Elvis Presley in Concert - Elvis sings and tells his story like never before in a new cinematic experience from visionary filmmaker Baz Luhrmann.
📁 Movie | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £5+

The Addams Family - A musical about love, family, and what it means to be ‘normal’.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £11+

Ayla Ersoy - Ayla’s capturing vocals and jazzy chords will be bringing the vibes and soulful sound to everyone in the room.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ Free

Saturday, 21st March

Raku & Alternative Firings - Will include western style raku glaze firings, naked raku and horse hair and feather firings.
📁 Art | 🕢 9:30am | 📍 Forgan Arts Centre | 🎟️ £95

Cupar Market - Independent producers and creatives, fresh produce and food, handmade crafts, and more.
📁 Markets | 🕢 10am | 📍 Crossgate, Cupar | 🎟️ Free

Collaging In Land & Seascapes Workshop - Starting with making texture sheets using stamping and blending a variety of drawing and painting materials along with tissue paper.
📁 Art | 🕢 10am | 📍 Unit 52 Art Studio, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £40

Kirkcaldy Comic Con - Kirkcaldy Comic Con returns to the Mercat Shopping Centre this March!
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 10am | 📍 Mercat Shopping Centre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

Shifting Landscape Documentary Series: Part 4 - Four-part documentary series by Emergence Magazine in our Bioscope.
📁 Movie | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 St Andrews Botanic Garden | 🎟️ Entry + Donation

Fluid Art for Mindfulness - Focus on the flow and movement of the paint and the interaction of the colours as the painting develops.
📁 Art | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Dell Farquharson Community Leisure Centre | 🎟️ £30

Mindful Art: Fluid Art for Mindfulness - Focus on the flow and movement of the paint and interaction of the colours, keeping us present and creating a calm amidst the chaos.
📁 Art | 🕢 10:30am | 📍 Dell Farquharson Community Leisure Centre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £30

Unlimited - Get ready to embark on a high-energy, heart-pounding journey with NRJ Dance Company’s production of Unlimited.
📁 Stage | 🕢 11am & 5pm | 📍 Adam Smith Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £17+

Author Event with Gerry Hughes - Adventurer and campaigner, Gerry Hughes, the first Deaf man to sail solo around the world.
📁 Talk | 🕢 1pm | 📍 Dunfermline Carnegie Library & Galleries | 🎟️ Free

A Step in Time - The Pupils of Matthew Dance Academy Studios proudly present “A Step In Time” to showcase.
📁 Stage | 🕢 1pm & 6:30pm | 📍 Carnegie Hall, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £14+

Hellebore Festival - Many hellebores with flowers of green, white, pink, yellow and purple are dotted around; some double, some single, some spotted, some plain.
📁 Garden | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Kirklands House and Garden | 🎟️ £6

Anstruther RNLI Lifeboat Station Visit - Come and get a behind-the-scenes look at Anstruther RNLI Lifeboat Station.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 2pm | 📍 RNLI Anstruther Lifeboat Station | 🎟️ Free

JazzWorks - For lovers of jazz and all music that surrounds it, from the keenest and best musicians in town.
📁 Music | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

Micro Banger World Cup QR1 - Featuring Superstox, Stock Rods, Junior Productions, Junior Bangers, and National Micro Bangers.
📁 Sport | 🕢 5pm | 📍 Lochgelly Raceway | 🎟️ £16

Stock Car, Banger, and Hot Rod Racing - The Racewall brings all the action from Saloon Stock Cars, BriSCA F2, Prostocks & Prostock Basics.
📁 Sport | 🕢 6pm | 📍 Cowdenbeath Racewall | 🎟️ £18.50

Anchor Lane - Modern alt rock.
📁 Music | 🕢 7pm | 📍 PJ Molloys, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £13.75

Charity Psychic Night - Join us for a fun night of psychic readings to support a great cause.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 7pm | 📍 Auchtertool Village Hall | 🎟️ £11.55

Cher: Strong Enough - Turn Back Time with the dazzling tribute to Cher!
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Rothes Halls, Glenrothes | 🎟️ £28

The Addams Family - A musical about love, family, and what it means to be ‘normal’.
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £11+

After All by Solène Weinachter - Stunning show about death - dance, theatre, storytelling & comedy to ask: how do we deal with the end?
📁 Stage | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Letham Village Hall | 🎟️ £11.55

What’s Love Got To Do With It - The ultimate tribute to Tina Turner.
📁 Music | 🕢 7:30pm | 📍 Alhambra Theatre, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £23+

70's Disco Night - Dust off your bell-bottoms and platform shoes for a night of dancing.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Fire Station Creative, Dunfermline | 🎟️ £7.21

The Kinks Experience - Kinks tribute band.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £28.60

Forgan's St Andrews Ceilidh - Head to Forgan’s and experience one of our unforgettable ceilidhs.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 10:30pm | 📍 Forgan's St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

Sunday, 22nd March

Raku & Alternative Firings - Will include western style raku glaze firings, naked raku and horse hair and feather firings.
📁 Art | 🕢 9:30am | 📍 Forgan Arts Centre | 🎟️ £95

Balgove Larder Car Boot Sale - A treasure trove of vintage and preloved homeware, clothing, jewellery, and unique finds.
📁 Markets | 🕢 10am | 📍 Balgove Larder Farm Shop & Café | 🎟️ Free

Lego Play Day - Open throughout the day for families to get creative with Lego.
📁 Children | 🕢 10am | 📍 R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ Free

Indoor Car Boot Sale - Our Cafe will be open for breakfast rolls and drinks.
📁 Markets | 🕢 10am | 📍 Kinghorn Community Centre | 🎟️ Free

Vintage Fayre - Fantastic mix of vintage traders selling records, homewares, jewellery, clothing and accessories.
📁 Markets | 🕢 10.30am | 📍 Strathmiglo Village Hall | 🎟️ Free

Rising Stars - Local performing arts school is thrilled to bring you their annual end-of-year variety production.
📁 Stage | 🕢 12pm & 5pm | 📍 Lochgelly Centre | 🎟️ £15

Hellebore Festival - Many hellebores with flowers of green, white, pink, yellow and purple are dotted around; some double, some single, some spotted, some plain.
📁 Garden | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Kirklands House and Garden | 🎟️ £6

Anstruther RNLI Lifeboat Station Visit - Come and get a behind-the-scenes look at Anstruther RNLI Lifeboat Station.
📁 Entertainment | 🕢 2pm | 📍 RNLI Anstruther Lifeboat Station | 🎟️ Free

National Theatre Live: Hamlet - Contemporary take on Shakespeare’s famous tragedy.
📁 Movie | 🕢 2pm | 📍 Byre Theatre, St Andrews | 🎟️ £10+

Celebrating 18 Years of Fife Seat - Special guests Cammy Barnes and Romay O'Donnell.
📁 Music | 🕢 2:30pm | 📍 King's Theatre, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ £25

Man - Legendary Welsh rock band known for their unique blend of psychedelic rock, progressive rock, and blues.
📁 Music | 🕢 8pm | 📍 Backstage at the Green, Kinross | 🎟️ £26.40

Monday, 23rd March

Lamb Bottle Feeding - Meet and bottle feed our baby lambs.
📁 Family | 🕢 10am, 1pm, 4pm & 5pm | 📍 Hillview Animal Park | 🎟️ £25.08

Multi-Day Events & Exhibitions

St Andrews Cocktail Week - 10 days of incredible cocktail experiences at the best venues across town!
📅 Fri, 20th - Sun, 29th March | 🕢 Varies | 📍 St Andrews | 🎟️ Varies

Lambing Experience - Meet our shepherd, see newborn lambs, and discover life on a working farm.
📅 Sat, 14th February - Tue, 31st March | 🕢 Varies | 📍 Ring Farm, Cupar | 🎟️ £13+

Bunker Shots: Stories of Golf and Conflict - Surprising connections between golf and conflict, including the impact on golfers and their equipment.
📅 Fri, 18th April - Tue, 31st March | 🕢 9:15am | 📍 The R&A World Golf Museum, St Andrews | 🎟️ £17.50

Kirkcaldy Boot & Mart - Indoor and outdoor market held every Saturday, Sunday and Wednesday.
📅 Sat, 10th January - Wed, 16th December | 🕢 9am (Wed, Sat, & Sun) | 📍 6 Michelson Drive, Kirkcaldy | 🎟️ Free

THANKS FOR READING

Thanks for reading Fife Insider today. If you found something useful, please share it with a friend in Fife.

Cheers,

Duncan