InTallaght EDITION 13 by InTallaght Magazine

Hi all, And welcome to your early-May edition of InTallaght magazine. It’s been a hectic fortnight and we’ve been as busy as always putting together another jam-packed issue for you. In this edition we speak to Tallaght’s former X factor starlet Rebecca Creighton on quitting Belle Amie and making a go of it on her own. Rebecca has been working hard on her own material and if her uploads to Youtube are anything to go by she has a very bright future ahead of her. Up-and-coming rapper Lucci Minx also tells us about her career and her aspirations for the future. Lucci is a Kilnamanagh girl at heart but could very well be the next Niki Minaj!

Tallaght band ReSoul tell us about the highs of the past year and its upcoming tour in the UK while we head to the cinema to the premier of Aslan’s film Please Don’t stop. After speaking to the band’s Billy McGuiness in the last issue of InTallaght it was great to get the opportunity to take a look back over the past 30 years as well as hear the band play live in the Savoy before the curtains went up! All that and everything you’ve come to expect and love from your InTallaght magazine. Enjoy and don’t forget to drop me a line on editor@genesismedia.ie if you have something to suggest or say. Happy fortnight!

Emer Mulvaney - Editor

1 Marrow House Belgard Road 01 4511 504 Special Offer

€10 OFF

Styling Wash & Blowdry Short €15 Long €20 Curly Blowdry Starting at €22 Precision Cutting Short €25 Long €30

off all Colour Services

when you mention InTallaght* *Ts&Cs apply

Xpert Colouring Semi Permanent Colour €45 with Cut €55 Tint Permanent Colour €45 with Cut €55 Tint & Highlites €65 with Cut €75 T-Bar Mesh Highlites €45 with Cut €55 Half Head Meche Highlites €65 with Cut €75 Full Head Meche Highlites €85 with Cut €95 Colour Techniques ie. Balayge Pricing on Request IT Tallaght Bles

sing

R ton

Bl es

Dishy Dolls Salon

sin on gt Rd

Upstyling / GHD-Wand Curling Starting from €35

Old

d Ol

Belgard

Red Carpet Looks

Smyths Toys

Belg

Extensions Using 100% Human Hair Pricing on Consultation

t hS Hig

ard R

Abberly Court

The Square Shopping Centre

Plaza Hotel

s ht Pas Tallag

By Emer Mulvaney, Editor

Misbehaving puppies will be taught some manners at the next training programme in the DSPCA – and it’s open to every man and his dog.

One lucky International student is set to receive an attractive reward for their interaction with their adopted home of Dublin.

On Saturday, May 12th, the King Of Paws training academy will take place in the shelter on Mount Venus Road in Rathfarnham.

The International Student Award, which was announced by the city’s Lord Mayor Andrew Montague at a recent reception for international students in the Mansion House, said that the awarding of the title will take into consideration the students interaction on a number of levels.

The programme, which includes puppy manners and good dog classes teaches many skills some of which includes socialisation, playtime and games as well as focus and attention, loose lead, recall and go to bed.

He said: “Dublin is a great city for studying and we want to build on this to encourage more students to make Dublin their first choice for education.

Alex Petrilli, Head of Training and Rehabilitation said: “I believe there are two stages in owning a dog. The first Stage is the parenting stage where the owner is supporting the social and emotional development of the dog. This is the stage where the owner teaches with kindness and rewards what's right.

“This Award recognises the contribution made by International Students to Dublin and will be made to the student who best engages with the city whether socially, economically, culturally, environmentally, through sports or by volunteering”.

“The second Stage is the partnership stage. The relationship between owner and dog evolves. It looks more like a dance where a leader and a follower connect. The leader has to give clear signals on what is expected next from the followers. If the leader is not clear or there is a missing connection, the follower would clearly not know what's next, get confused and falter.

The deadline for colleges wishing to take part in the competition is fast approaching and a college must send its nomination to international.relations@dublincity.ie by Friday, May 11th. The winner will then be announced on Monday, May 21st, at 5pm during a reception for all nominated students back in the Mansion House.

He added: “Tango Training is complex, requires exercise and discipline and relies heavily on improvisation and body language. This is where KingofPaws trainers come in. With our unique training experience we help build and develop the bond needed.

The lucky winner will walk away with an iPad or a travel voucher to the value of 500 euro thanks to sponsor Urbanest. Those who wish to recommend an international student or a group of students should contact their college as soon as possible.

“Every dog is different so there are not set rules, just basic steps. Develop your puppy's social skills and start learning how to raise a confident, well-behaved puppy.”

For further details log onto: www.educationireland.ie/index.php/about-us/news.

Alex will also hold a free seminar on Friday, May 11th, at 6.30pm and with just 30 places available those interested are advised to book their space immediately. For more information log onto www.dspca.ie

Every Dog has his day.....

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Andrew Montague announced an attractive reward for one lucky student

By Emer Mulvaney, Editor

South Dublin County Council’s innovative ‘Fix Your Street’ programme has scooped three presitgous awards.

“Residents are able to monitor the response and interact with their issue once it has been reported through the system with a commitment that local officials will respond within two working days.”

The system, which enables residents to report anything from broken street lamps to potholes in their area - and be guaranteed that the council will come out to sort the problem within a certain timeframe - was given the thumbs up when it was give the e-Government Awards in Dublin Castle recently.

‘Fixyourstreet’ is a publicly accessible website with associated mobile technologies on which non-emergency issues such as street lighting, drainage, graffiti, illegal dumping, road and footpath maintenance can be reported.

The programme took gold in three categories including Open Source, People’s Choice and the Judges Special Merit. The Ireland eGovernment Awards are the recognised benchmark for excellence in Irish eGovernment services and standards. They raise awareness and recognise the innovators, developers, forward thinkers and experts who are pioneering the changes happening in how the Irish Government delivers services to its citizens.

The council, alongside the Local Government Agency, is now currently working with a number of other local authorities on the initiative with the aim of aiding those agencies to implement a similar system. The reporting of issues to ‘Fixyourstreet’ are accepted via the web site, www.fixyourstreet.ie , through email and on twitter. This will also be possible via mobile phone apps, for the most popular mobile platforms, in the near future.

On receiving the awards Mayor Caitríona Jones said: “I am extremely pleased and proud to accept these awards on behalf of South Dublin County Council. This project further demonstrates South Dublin County Council’s already proven track record in collaborative working towards improving our citizens’ quality of life.

By Emer Mulvaney, Editor

Ryan Keegan (Far Left) Wins Silver

There were celebrations all round recently when Tallaght’s Black Panther juniors won 8 All-Ireland Junior medals on Sunday May, 29th, in Carrickmacross ,Cavan. The event, which was the Kickboxing Ireland (Formerly AKAI) annual tournament seen some tense bouts but impressive results and the Tallaght youngsters came away with their heads held high. Among the winners was Edward Reilly,13, who took home the bronze in the 57kg category. Kelsey Peyton, 10, -37kg, also picked up a bronze while Marissa Nechifor picked up a gold in the -42kg category and Samantha Callaghan, 12, won silver in the 42kg bout. Norma Kelly, Founder and Trainer at The Black Panthers said: “It was a great day for all and we are delighted with the results. Ryan Keegan who is 13, and fought in the -42kg category, will now travel to Salvina in September to represent Ireland.

Ian Tuite & Mark McSherry

“Mark McSherry who is 11 got gold in the -28kg category after he met Ian Taut from Hurricane Kickboxing in the final. He had an outstanding win against a talented kickboxer and this is his second time to win that title.” He added: “At 14 Jessica McCarthy won bronze in the -55kg group and was not far of the mark for a win in her fight. All in all they were some commendable results.” Michael Caswell age 16 also picked up a gold in the Light Low Kick discipline at -84kg. The Black Panther kickboxing and Global Kickboxing Fight Night will be held in the Red Cow hotel on Saturday, May 12th. There will be two titles and 12 under card fights taking place. Doors will open at 6.30pm followed by a 7.30pm start.

All-Ireland Under 12

Log onto www.blackpanther.ie for tickets.

Some of the Black Panther & Westside Boxing Club on the film set of Ripper Street, a BBC drama; Mark McSherry (front), Ryan Keegan,John Stacey, Connor Hayden & Patrick Kearns

By Padraig Conlon

The family of a three-year-old boy with Cerebral Palsy have reached the fundraising target which will allow him to travel to the US for a life-changing operation. Jacob Foley Keenan, from Kilnamanagh, was diagnosed when he was 18 months old and his condition has meant that he is unable to take more than a few steps unaided. So far regular physiotherapy and the aid of a special walking device known as a Kaye chair have meant Jacob has been able to move about independently but having heard about an operation which could help him run around like other children they decided to raise the €50,000 needed to send Jacob to the states. The procedure, known as Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy, involves a neurosurgeon removing two of Jacob’s vertebrae and looking at the nerve endings on his spinal cord to find out which are sending the wrong signals. The family applied to St Louis Children's Hospital in Missouri where surgeons say they have a 100 per cent success rate. As the operation is not funded by the HSE, the family has had to raise €50,000 to pay for the procedure and they are also trying to raise an additional €20,000 to meet the costs of Jacob’s aftercare. Jacob’s grandmother Marie Keenan told In Tallaght that the family are thrilled to finally have a date for the operation. She said: “We got an email on Wednesday with the wonderful news about Jacob’s operation. He will be having his evaluation on July 2nd and then have his operation on July 5th. He was telling the girls in his crèche in Kilnamangh yesterday that he’s got a date! “We want to really thank everybody, so much, who has raised money for Jacob. We have already raised the €50,000 for the operation but we need another €20,000 for aftercare which will involve intense physiotherapy and hydrotherapy.” “In the last week DIT raised €4,800 from a book sale and €2,800 was raised by a sponsored cycle from Achill to Westport.” She added: “ A big thank you to everyone who took part and sponsored people as well. Alan McQuaid is currently doing a 1,000km cycle from Mizen Head to Malin Head. We are so thankful to everyone.” Marie said that the family has been hugely encouraged by the progress of Jacobs’ friend Adam who has had a similar operation and who took his first steps recently. She said: “Adam had his operation on November 1st. He had absolutely no movement whatsoever but he took his first independent steps about six weeks ago. We speak to his mother on a regular basis and she updates us on his progress, so we know what they are capable of after the operation.” Anyone who wants to help Jacob can make a donation to Jacob’s Journey, AIB Tallaght, acc no: 56430036, sort code 93 33 17. The fundraising team can be contacted on jacobs.journey @live.ie For more details log on to www.help-jacob.com or http://www.facebook.com/jacobs.journey1 12

Jacob is one step nearer to being able to walk again

By Emer Mulvaney, Editor

She’s got brains, beauty and a voice that would melt your heart – but it still wasn’t enough to carry former X Factor contestant Rebecca Creighton - and the band she became a part of through to super stardom. Now having left Belle Amie and returning home as a solo artist she is hoping for her fortune to change and the heady heights of fame, which have so far alluded her, to finally become her. This month we speak to Rebecca about where it all went wrong for Belle Amie and how she plans to make it on her own… So Rebecca, you’ve left the band – what happened? Yes, I just wasn’t happy. Nothing was really happening for us and it was getting frustrating. As you know I entered the X Factor as a soloist but once I was put into a band I have to say I did give it 120 per cent all of the time and I didn’t think again, about going solo, for a long time. I was with the girls for two years and I gave my all to the group but it didn’t work and that was just the way it panned out. Do you think that the fact that you were on the X Factor of two years ago contributed to the struggle? It was a bit of a struggle alright and people were saying ‘oh you were on X Factor 2010? and looking for last year’s contestants. It just started to get like that towards the end. Sadly that’s just the way it goes. Since I’ve been in the group though I am always being approached to go solo. I have got so many emails from people saying they’d love to work with me if I was solo but I always ignored them. I never wanted to be sly – I was committed. Towards the end though I did get some studio time on my own and I realized that I’d love to do it that way if I could. So how did it come about – were the girls shocked? About 8 months ago myself and the girls had a gig in the basketball arena and I know that going back to the X Factor days when Sofia made a comment it led to people thinking we were a bitchy group but we really weren’t. However at that gig there was a bit of friction. I had started to not love what I was doing anymore and I told them but I said I would give it another while. It was a big part of my life and I made every effort but months on nothing had changed. We had lost our management and the label left us. It just wasn’t the route I wanted to go down anymore. I had been throwing a deaf ear to so many things but when I took the time to think about working by myself I knew I had to go with it. And how did the rest of the band take it? Well I told them about two weeks before I announced it on Twitter but they still pretended that they were shocked when I did announce it. We fell out over it and we don’t speak anymore now unfortunately. It was very tough, we had already had such a tough time with our management leaving us through an email and things slowly not working out then this. It has come between us now and that’s sad.

So you are planning a solo career – tell us about your new single? Yeah I’ve been back in the studio and it’s just really exciting for me. I’ve recorded a song with Rob Kelly from Wexford called The Real Thing which is a sample of the Toni De Barts favourite from years ago and it will be released on ITunes on May 14th. It’s up there on YouTube at the moment and it’s doing really well as far as reaction to it goes. Are you writing your own stuff? Yes I am constantly writing. I’m doing a song too with Gary Deegan from The Voice and my sister Nicola, who is really creative, is writing stuff with me all of the time too. I’ve also been using a friend’s studio in Killester so I am getting on with it! So what’s your style? Were you restricted in Belle Amie or was that really you? Ah yeah the 1940’s pin-up look is me – I love that look but I will change it up a bit too for my solo career. Is it tough starting again? Have you had much support? I have had huge support from family and friends - which I am very grateful for. Most people are just saying to me “it’s about time you went out on your own” to be honest! Will you stay here or go to the UK? Well I’ve to go to London soon to meet up with some songwriters but who knows how it will go? I’m home now but I’ll do whatever I have to do to make this work. How do you feel about the X Factor now - would you advise young hopefuls to go down that route or not? Oh yes I would definitely say go down that route if you want to. That’s what got me out there for the past two years – I mean if it wasn’t for X Factor you wouldn’t be talking to me now! It has had huge benefits for me and I won’t forget that. Have a look out for our review of Rebecca’s new single on page xx. Special Thanks to: Hair: Lauren Doherty & Cathriona Farrell Make Up: Stacey Conlon Stylists: Rachel Fallon & Keith Casey Photos: Philip Mc Millan

By Emer Mulvaney, Editor

If there’s one thing that every member of Aslan shares it’s a good sense of humour and if you haven’t seen evidence of it thus far you need to go see the band’s new documentary. Please Don’t Stop is a celebration of 30 years since Aslan formed and is a heart-warming, genuine and at times touching account of a hugely successful, yet sometimes testing, career. Premiered at The Savoy on April 19th before the curtains even went up Christy, Billy, Joe, Alan and Rodney played a recent single Too Late For Hallelujah before thanking the packed theatre for coming and introducing the documentary as a “Dunnes or Aldi version of a film.” Quick-witted Christy also told the story of the band approaching RTE to do the documentary originally where they were given a price tag of €40,000. “There was no way they could spend €40,000,” he laughed “ not when they have to spend it on the likes of The Voice and all that!” Before wrapping up and introducing the film he sang international favourite, Crazy World, which was met with enthusiastic chanting along by the audience. The documentary itself is an independent production which charts the past year in the life of the band but also dips in and out of footage from the last three decades and includes nostalgic interviews with each member or the band. No stone is left unturned and no subject left untouched. From Aslan’s humble beginnings to the heady heights of fame, the record signings and tours to sacking Christy who was heavily embroiled in his drug taking, trying to carry on under another name and finally reconciling and carrying it through to the present day – the audience gets full disclosure on everything. It’s an easy watch with many surprises – none more than the fact that the band still works out of one of their front rooms but the candid interviews tell it all. Aslan could have been even bigger, they were huge for a while but they could have stayed huge, and it hasn’t slipped anyone’s notice that they are still on the local circuit despite platinum selling albums and a recent number one. Today they play everywhere and anywhere, they rehearse in a living room and they manage themselves. But if they are to be believed, and on a whole I think they are, this is exactly where they want to be. This is their path. They’re not shy about slagging each other off and some of their stories are slightly conflicting but there is no blame in the band – and that’s because they are genuinely happy. Please Don’t Stop is a fine depiction of Aslan, the band members and their path since its inception. It’s full of funny anecdotes, swearing and honesty – something Aslan prides itself on. It’s also most likely the reason for the standing ovation at the end of the film and the deafening round of applause. Applause that really did say - please don’t stop. 18 xx

By Padraig Conlon

Kilnamanagh girl Lucci Minx is one talented girl. Not only is a model, she’s also a dab hand at writing, singing and rapping and in a world where Niki Minaj-style music is dominating the charts Lucci has every chance at being the next big thing. Taking time out from her busy schedule Lucci spoke to InTallallaght about her unique style the musical path she’s taken her to this point – launching her solo career. So Lucci how did a girl from Tallaght get involved in rap? Growing up I always loved music and started writing songs from the age of 12. Hip-hop struck me because I liked the attitude, how cheeky you could be. I liked the way you could express yourself and say what you wanted to. I started out listening to Ice Cube, Salt n Pepa, Tupac, people like that. I’ve been writing ever since. Have you always been a solo artist? No I started out in an Irish all girl R n B group called D- Vine. After that I was in another all girl group called Minx Mafia. I was the rapper. We went on tour with an American R n B group called Jodeci. We played Wembley, Manchester, Amsterdam and literally the day after the tour ended the group split up! So now you’re back for more? Yeah [laughs] Well I’ve never done it by myself before. I’ve been performing as a solo artist for about a year now. It’s very different obviously to being in a group where you have the support of 4 or 5 other band members but it’s cool. There isn’t the same issue with lots of different opinions; I just have to focus on myself. Where did you get the name Lucci Minx? When I was in Minx Mafia, Mr Dalvin from Jodeci named all the girls, we all had Minx as our last name. My real name is Luiza but he told me it was like an old ladies name! I needed to come up with something so I just shortened it to Lucci. Have you been playing many gigs since going solo? Yes I’ve played a few gigs in the Wright Venue and a few random places around Ireland. I’ve also done a few showcases in London. I’ll be doing a lot more gigging once I get more material together. What is the Hip Hop scene in Ireland like? There’s always been a Hip Hop scene in Ireland. Before it was more recognized as an American thing but not anymore, right now it’s really taking off. Irish people definitely love Hip Hop music. When you look at the charts and what’s played in the clubs and you go to urban nights you can see how much Irish people love Hip-Hop. What would you say is the main difference between Irish and American Hip Hop? Irish Hip Hop is more about social problems than about bling, it’s grittier, it’s what American Hip Hop was like 20 years ago.

Are there many other Irish female rappers? Yes there a few of us! Any you would like to start a feud with? No, I’m not into any of that at all. I’m not trying to be street, I’m more into pop rap than street rap. What current Hip Hop artists do you like? Timbaland, Labyrinth, I love Nikki Minaj. I preferred her earlier underground stuff to her latest stuff but I really respect her. Who would you compare yourself to? The only people I’d really compare myself to are Fergie or Betty Boo. You write all your own songs tell us about that? I have to have music playing when I’m writing, I always have to have a beat. I find it hard to write without a beat. I used to play piano so I can read music. I love writing, I find it so therapeutic. I try and make the lyrics fit the music. What are you working on at the moment? I’m working on a mix tape and a single that’s due out hopefully in the summer. I’m working with Ryan Sheridan and Brian Whitehead. Ultimately I’m hoping to go back to LA to record some more songs. Do you like LA? Yes I do, I like being here at the moment but eventually I would like to end up living and working in LA. It’s tough though as everyone from all over the planet is there, but there’s a lot more opportunity, for promotion, to make money so it’s where I’d like to be. What musicians inspire you? My inspiration comes from many talented artists, such as Micheal Jackson, Madonna ,Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Nikki Minaj, Ludacris, Jennifer Lopez, 2Pac, Aaliyah, Beyonce, Prince ,Cher,and Betty Boo just to name a few . I admire and respect their determination, their drive and their ability to keep it real. They’re not just artists but entertainers. I see myself as an all-round entertainer, I rap, dance, sing and write. Away from rap/hip hop what other types of music do you like to listen to? I love all kinds of music, Queen, Tina Turner everything, old school, modern music, rock n roll, UB40, so many types of music. Where do you hope to be in five years time? I’ll want to have achieved my goals in music. I do work very hard at it. I do everything from writing the songs to the videos. Hopefully my hard work will lead me to where I want to be. Away from music what do you like to do? I like swimming, working out, chilling out with my friends, going for drinks, going to a nice quiet restaurant, things like that.

Why do you rap in an accent? I never had a strong Dublin accent, some people say, “Oh what’s with the American accent?” I’m not just focused on working only here so I need to be understood! You’ve also done other work apart from music? Yes I was a dancer and also a model. I danced in Spirit and at music festivals. I love dancing; it’s a great way of expressing yourself so to do it as a job was cool. When I lived in LA I was a dancer/host on a Mexican TV show ' a Que no Puedes' , which was great fun. Do you enjoy modeling? Yes I do, I got to work at P Diddy's famous White Party a few years ago. He usually holds it in the Hamptons every year but this time he decided to have it in LA and myself and a bunch of other models were invited to go along and basically just stand around as eye-candy looking pretty. I got paid to sit on a swing over a pool! We were just there in a room full of famous people. Little Kim was there, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore and Lindsey Lohan. Unfortunately as I was working, I had to be really professional and couldn't run over to them and get a picture or an autograph. Any advice for any aspiring rappers? Be original, be who you are, build up your contacts and get your songs together. It’s gotten so much easier to do this nowadays with the technology that’s available. So where can people hear your music? They can check out my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/lucciminxmusic. My latest video is also on You Tube, go check it out!

By Emer Mulvaney, Editor

It’s a band which prides itself in taking its influence from musicians of the 60’s right up to present day but Resoul’s biggest achievement so far is the fact that it can’t be compared to any one act – it’s in a league of its own. Now the five-piece, which recently rocked The Workman’s Club, are set to take the UK by storm and all just one year after getting together. Lead man and founder Deco Fitzsimons spoke to InTallaght about the highs of the past year and just how much Resoul would love to support The Stone Roses in the Phoenix Park. So Deco how did the band get together – it was yourself and your brother wasn’t it? Yeah it was myself and Kilo. I had been basically doing my own demos and stuff and I had never had my own band to complete the circle but Kilo had a friend, Mark, whose band was splitting up. We went down to see them the last night they played and afterwards we had a drink and a chat with him. I gave him some demos I had and about a week later we had a jamming session and right from the off we just seemed to fit. Your influences are musicians from the 60s through to the 90s – who would you most compare yourselves to? I don’t know because you kind of don’t see yourself that way when you’re in a band. That’s actually the good thing about our music – a lot of people have told us that we can’t be compared to anyone. A lot of the time people do see the hair and the clothes and they tell us we look like an Oasis clone band or just a Brit pop group but we don’t conform to that sort of thing. They always tell us after they’ve heard us that we have our own sound which is fantastic and even though, yes, our influences go back to the 60s we look up to all the greats but it doesn’t mean we are just like them. People can see that and that’s the greatest complement of all. Who writes your stuff? I do all of the writing so usually what happens is I’ll demo it at home and then bring it to the lads and we give it a go. So where do you take your influence from when writing? Is it the usual stuff like love and life or where do you look to for inspiration? Well it’s the usual stuff I suppose. Sitting around strumming away and trying things out. John Lennon once said that he used to read the newspaper when he was writing and he’d be flicking through it and zone in on one headline and that’s what the start of the song would come from. I prefer to leave the TV on or itunes when I’m writing and I can sometimes get ideas from that. One song I wrote “My Friend The Strike” came from sitting with the TV on and listening to news of a pre-empted strike in the Sudan. You can actually just sit down and try to think but that can be useless. You might write three songs one day and none for days then – it just depends. So Ain’t No Love and Serpico were both released with videos on Youtube – how were they received? It was good because Ain’t No Love In The City was one of those songs that came fast and that’s always a good sign. All the lads recognised from the start xx

that it was good and that’s exactly what we needed – a good song. Serpico is the other end of the spectrum it’s a fast and pumping tune and has gone down equally as well but now the challenge, for the tracks we are laying down at the moment, is to find a happy medium. The next one is the big one – the last thing we want to be branded is one trick ponies. And you’re in the studio now – is it the album you are working on? Yes we have six songs we are recording. Three which we had before but put off set for a while, we only played them at a few gigs, and three new ones. The band is only a year old and you’ve played in quite a few significant spots already – where is your favourite place to gig/ what’s been your best gig so far? The very first gig in Captain America’s was a great one – it was the usual baptism of fire. The stage was tiny and the sound was terrible but it was a great gig. It was mostly friends and family but it was definitely a great night. We also played in Belfast and that was good but the recent gig in The Grand Social – which was a showcase – is the first one we’ve done ourselves. Everything from the stage to the lights and we really felt like we put our stamp on it so The Grand Social is definitely our favourite gig so far. Do you get nervous before a gig? We don’t get nervous – we are constantly running late so there’s no time to be nervous! Tell me about the UK tour this year? It’s in August and we’re going to Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham then we come back to Belfast. There’s still room for another gig so dates will be added. Are you supporting someone or are they all your gigs? Some we are headlining and others supporting. We had supported The Universal before and that’s where the idea to tour the UK came from so we’re back with them too. You were to play The Cavern too – the birthplace of your heroes The Beatles – what happened there? Ah that’s a catch 22, yeah we were meant to and we were all so excited but the booking got so big we had to move venue so we are gutted but delighted with the numbers at the same time! Which band or musician, dead or alive, would you dream of supporting? That’s a tough one but I’d have to say to support The Stone Roses in The Phoenix Park this year would be the dream. Playing with Small Faces too and Neil Young would be excellent but yeah definitely the dream would be The Stone Roses. What one word would you use to describe each of your bandmates? Oooh [pauses] Well I’m the thinker, Kilo is the wittiest, Mark is optimistic, Andy is the character and Chris is the smiley face – he’s the most laid back along with Andy. Chris is a temporary member of the band at the moment – is that right and if so does that mean that you looking for a drummer then? Yeah we discussed it with him – he is absolutely brilliant so ideally we would like to hang on to him but he has a lot on with other bands etc and so yes we are actively looking for a drummer! Where can fans catch you soon? Just look us up on Twitter, Myspace and Facebook and we’ll keep you updated!! xx

One of the most anticipated Superhero movies of all time has finally arrived, with Buffy’s Joss Whedon at the helm. Get ready for action! Excitement started building toward this movie in 2008, when both ‘Iron Man’ and ‘The Incredible Hulk’ appeared on the big screen. Both films are set within the Marvel Cinematic Universe and were followed by ‘Iron Man 2’ in 2010, and ‘Thor’ and ‘Captian America: The First Avenger last year. Superhero buffs will have already spotted subtle hints relating to ‘The Avengers’ in these previous films. The wonderful thing about the Marvel Universe is the ease with which the superheroes can appear in each other’s storylines and this film is a perfect example. Robert Downey Jr stars as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye and Scarlet Johannsson as Black Widow. When an unexpected enemy emerges that threatens global safety and security, Nick Fury - played by Samuel L. Jackson, director of the international

peacekeeping agency known as S.H.I.E.L.D., finds himself in need of a team to pull the world back from the brink of disaster. The resulting agency is a who's who of Marvel Super Heroes, with Iron Man, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, Captain America, Hawkeye and Black Widow. When global security is threatened by Loki and his cohorts, Nick Fury and his team will need all their powers to save the world from disaster. Joss Whedon, a well-known comic book fan, wrote and directed the film and had this to say about it: “It goes back to the very first incarnation of The Avengers, it goes to The Ultimates, it goes to everything about it. It makes no sense, it's ridiculous. There's a thunder god, there's a green "id" giant rage monster, there's Captain America from the 40s, there's Tony Stark who definitely doesn't get along with anybody. Ultimately these people don't belong

together and the whole movie is about finding yourself from community. And finding that you not only belong together but you need each other, very much. Obviously this will be expressed through punching but it will be the heart of the film." Release Date: Director: Starring:

Genre:

Out Now Joss Whedon Robert Downey Jr. Chris Evans Scarlett Johansson Action/Adventure

By Gwen Taylour

‘Jeff, Who Lives at Home’ seemed just the kind of quirky indie comedy that I usually love and this film was no disappointment. I was well primed to like the movie because I already really liked its two lead actors. Jason Segel, who first came to our attention in ‘Knocked Up’, gained more fans in the bromance ‘I Love You, Man’, and more recently melted even more hearts, playing Gary in ‘The Muppets’ is very good at playing the lovable loser. His character in this film seems familiar but at the same time is a deeper take on his usual stoner persona. Jeff is lost, desperately looking for signs in everyday life. He is 30, living at home in his mother’s basement and seems the opposite of his brother Pat, played by Ed Helms. Helms is perhaps less well-known than Segel, at least by name. Mention ‘the dentist from The Hangover’ films and people soon bring him to mind. I am more familiar with Helms as ‘Andy’ in the American version of ‘The Office’ and he in fact plays a very similar character in this film. Helms’ Pat is the kind of person who has got the middle management job and is living in an apartment with his pretty wife but craves more excitement in his life. His first scene in the film sees him making her a special breakfast ‘just because’. How sweet, you think, until he announces that he’s just bought a Porsche without consulting her. He didn’t consult her because he knew she’d say no, because there’s no way they can afford a Porshce. Pat’s marriage is on shaky ground and he’s making a mess of the things. While there is a love story involved, this film is not specifically about that. It’s more about three members of the same family and where they are in their lives. Susan Sarandon plays the men’s long suffering mother. She is frustrated by Jeff and his lack of drive, ringing him from work to demand that he get off the couch and go and run an errand for her or else he should find a new place to live. The plot also follows her day in work, where she receives some attention from a ‘secret admirer’. The camera work feels quite handheld and made me feel a little queasy at times. It also zooms in very close to the characters’ faces for a lot of the movie as thematically it examines their feelings and motivations closely. The music, a recurring refrain of xylophone, frequently sets the tone adding a bouncy lightness and frivolity to otherwise mundane scenes. I don’t want to give away too much about what happens but there is a surprisingly poignant moment toward the end which had my eyes misting up, and not in a cheesy way either. While I did laugh out loud several times, it’s not a rip roaring comedy, but then it’s not trying to be. I really liked this film and I think maybe you might too.

From the Director of Pretty Woman and Valentine's Day, "Let love be your resolution". ‘New Year's Eve’ celebrates love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and fresh starts, in intertwining stories told amidst the pulse and promise of New York City on the most dazzling night of the year. With a sparkling ensemble cast, if you enjoyed ‘Valentine’s Day’, give ‘New Year’s Eve’ a try. On New Year's Eve, Claire Morgan (Hilary Swank) is making the final arrangements for the ball drop with the help of her friend Brandon (Chris "Ludacris" Bridges). Meanwhile, after being nearly run over by a car and denied a vacation, Ahern Records secretary Ingrid (Michelle Pfeiffer) quits her job and offers the deliveryman Paul (Zac Efron) tickets for the Ahern Records Masquerade Ball if Paul helps her complete a series of New Year's resolutions before midnight, which he accepts. Paul’s sister Kim (Sarah Jessica Parker) is having trouble with her teenage daughter Hailey (Abigail Breslin) who wants to spend New Year’s Eve with her friends and her boyfriend Seth (Jake T. Austin) in Times Square. Paul’s friend, comic book illustrator Randy (Ashton Kutcher), who hates New Year’s Eve after his girlfriend left him on a date, gets stuck in

an elevator with Elise (Lea Michele), an aspiring singer who will be providing back-up for musician Jensen (Jon Bon Jovi) in his show at the Ahern Records ball, where he runs into his ex-girlfriend, Laura (Katherine Heigl). At a nearby hospital, Stan Harris (Robert De Niro), a man in the final stages of cancer who refuses chemotherapy and who only wishes to see the ball drop one last time, is kept company by Nurse Aimee (Halle Berry) and Nurse Mindy (Alyssa Milano) after his doctor (Cary Elwes) reveals he will not last much longer. In the same hospital, a young couple, Griffin (Seth Meyers) and Tess (Jessica Biel), about to have their first child, compete with another couple, James (Til Schweiger) and Grace (Sarah Paulson), for a bonus offered for the family of the first child born in the new year. Release Date: Director: Starring:

Genre:

8 May 2012 Garry Marshall Sarah Jessica Parker Jessica Biel Ashton Kutcher Comedy/Romance

I rarely dance while sitting in my chair – in fact I’m not sure I ever do but if ever there was an album to have a secret-chair boogey to, it’s Rizzle Kicks’ Stereo Typical. By now we’ve all heard chart toppers Mama Do The Hump and Down With The Trumpets so you’d be forgiven for assuming that these two are the best on the album – they’re not. Stereo Typical is a pleasant surprise all round. With tracks that combine seriously down to earth lyrics with funky backing tracks, the Rizzle duo, which is made up of best pals Jordan Stephens and Harley Alexander-Sule, cleverly chase each other through every tune rapping real life scenarios which will no doubt ring true with many a listener. From When I Was a Youngster where they cry “Back when I was younger I wanted to be everything on the planet – now that I’m older that ambition has vanished” to the song Prophet in which they rap “I’m watching In Your Pocket – Better Watch It,” there’s a quirky vibe and an element to the music which no other artist is bringing at the moment. It’s not just the lyrics and tunes that will get you though – on first glance at that CD case in the shop or on downloads the song names will have you intrigued: There’s Demolition Man, Miss Cigarette and Trouble - these three alone would make for a very interesting meet. Give this one a go – you know you want to.

Reviewed by Emer Mulvaney, Editor

Since she first walked into the 2010 auditions of X Factor and blew the judges - including pop superstar Katy Perry - away, Tallaght has loved her. We loved her on her own and we loved her in Belle Amie – now she’s back to where she started, flying solo, and it’s clear that the sky is finally the limit. On May 14th Rebecca will release her fist single on iTunes with Wexford’s Rob Kelly. The Real thing is a sample of the Toni de Barts track and Rebecca is without a doubt the highlight of it. There are some slick lyrics from Kelly but it’s her take on the previous hit that shines through. That, coupled with a half decent video provodes every reason to take a look. On further investigation of her solo work there’s also an upload on Youtube called Titanium/Wild One a truly beautiful cover of the David Guetta ft Sia smash hit. It is, without doubt, one of those rare covers which will leave you wondering whether you love it more than the original – this is a must for release. Rebecca Creighton, quite frankly, is on fire and with the right direction and management she will be huge.

Reviewed by Emer Mulvaney, Editor

By Keith Cashin

Last year Crysis 2 blasted onto our screens and blew everyone away in this unique shooter... Just as everyone was getting sick of the generic 'shooter' genre that was hugely popularised by the 'Call of Duty' series. Crysis 2 re-vamp the stale shooter series makes you think about how to attack your targets, instead of just running in and shooting everything you see. If you did this without some form of a plan you'd quickly be torn to pieces by the enemy troops. Now, a year after Crysis 2 was released, developer Crytek and publisher Electronic Arts has announced Crysis 3 - a sequel. The third game sees the player return as Prophet from Crysis 1. He goes to New York, only to discover the city’s been encased in a giant Nanodome created by the corrupt Cell Corporation. The New York City Liberty Dome is a unique urban rainforest teeming with overgrown trees, damp swamplands and raging rivers within the Liberty Dome which is mde up of seven distinct

and treacherous environments, that have become known as the Seven Wonders. Set in 2047, 24 years after the events of Crysis 2, Prophet is said to be on a "revenge mission" after uncovering the truth behind Cell's motives for building the quarantined Nanodomes. The citizens were told that the giant citywide structures were resurrected to protect the population and to cleanse these metropolises of the remnants of Ceph forces but unknown to the population, the Nanodomes are Cell's covert attempt at a land and technology grab in their mission for global domination. The cover features Prophet standing atop the Statue of Liberty, but she is now covered in jungle vines. In the background New York buildings are destroyed and covered in jungle growth. Prophet is also using a high-powered bow, which is completely new to the series. He's also equipped with an enhanced Nanosuit and is using Alien Tech to be “The deadliest

hunter on the planet”, according to EA. EA has also announced that there will be a 'Hunter' edition if you pre-order Crysis 3. This will include early access to the new signature bow and its attachments, plus the Hunter Nanosuit with additional power and functionality to the nanosuit. Pre-order customers also receive bonus XP, boosting the gamer's multiplayer character up to level 5, a unique bow skin and three exclusive dog tags to hunt in style. Crysis 3 is expected to be released in Spring 2013 for PC, Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and the Wii U. Release Date: Spring 2013 Publisher: Electronic Arts Genre: First-person shooter Available On: PS3, PC, XBox 360, Wii U crysis.ea.com for more information

THE

GUM

SLAM DUNK

BIN IT YOUR WAY

STEP AWAY FROM A €150 LITTER FINE xx

www.gumlittertaskforce.ie

Patios Dissolve washing soda crystals in hot water and brush over paths and patios to remove green algae. It is cheaper than chemicals off the garden centre shelf. Spray full-strength household vinegar on weeds, repeat daily as needed. It is good in driveways, walkways, the greenhouse floor, patios, etc. Mint, not just for fresh breath I have found that a strong mixture of mint leaves in boiling water, will help deter most insects (chewing and sucking) from feeding on your plants. Allow to cool, strain out leaves and spray on plants, This should be applied often. Boil rhubarb leaves in water for about 30 minutes, and then use cold as a spray for aphids. Works well on roses, although you will have to re-apply often. Nettle Tea; take 1kg of fresh nettle, (preferably before flowering), and add to a bucket 2 litres of hot (not boiling) water. Leave to steep for between 24 hrs and 48hrs. Use as a spray. Summer Bedding Please do not be tempted to buy your summer bedding yet, unless you have a greenhouse,

conservatory or cold frame that you can store them in. A late April / early May frost is not uncommon. Purchase annuals without flowers so that you can enjoy the blooms longer. Choose shorter bushy plants because the larger ones are more established already and may not transplant as well. A dark green colour is generally a good indicator of a strong healthy plant. (Make sure that they are not light coloured or yellowing, nor should they have brown patches) When planting your annuals if you loosen up the roots a bit before planting it will help stimulate stronger growth. Bulbs For a better bloom next year, do not cut back your daffodils until they have almost completely died back. Plant lily and gladioli bulbs in 4in (10cm) deep holes. Cover with soil or compost and gently firm down the soil to make sure that there are no air pockets as this can cause the bulbs to rot. Late Frost Make sure to keep an eye on the weather forecast.

Cover shrubs that are likely to be damaged by frost with garden fleece, sacking or an old light blanket and remove next morning. After a frost try to stay off the grass, walking on the lawn in frosty conditions can damage the grass. Lift and divide early flowers such as primrose or snowdrops. Prune spring flowering shrubs after flowering, especially if they have grown too large for their space, Prune spring-flowering shrubs such as forsythia, lilac, and quince, as soon as the bloom is finished. Remove older stems, damaged, dead, or overlapping branches. Milk Spray plants with a mixture comprised of 10 per cent milk and 90 per cent water to rid plants of mildew. It is best to do this home remedy twice a week.

I read this book on my boyfriend’s recommendation and it was with slight trepidation that I started reading. There have been a few times our taste in books has not been compatible in the past. I shouldn’t have worried. It’s not for nothing that it has been called ‘the best spy novel of all-time”. ‘The Spy Who Came In From The Cold’ is a tense spy thriller which is set during the Cold War. The protagonist, Alec Leamas is a middle-aged alcoholic on the verge of retirement from the spy game; burned out, embittered, and about to be cashiered for a string of failures while running England's spy network in Cold War Berlin. The plot is convoluted and keeps you guessing (and a bit confused) for most of the book. I did worry that it was just me being slow, but the boyfriend confirmed that he felt the same way while reading it. It is supposed to be unclear, as the author feeds us clues and second guesses our assumptions all the way through. The reader is given the feel of what it is like to be an agent who only has some of the pieces of the puzzle of what is happening. It offers glimpses of the difficult process of trying to determine which intelligence is accurate and which is not as the scenario develops.

It was short, perfectly edited, but manages to pack more plot into it's 212 pages than any other book I’ve ever read. It totally immerses you in the tense atmosphere of fear and mistrust that pervades all stories set at this time in history. This was the breakthrough novel of John Le Carré, who went on to write the novel “Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy”, which inspired the film of the same name that we featured in the DVD Releases section in February. During the 1950s and the 1960s, the author actually worked for the British intelligence services MI5 and MI6, which gave him an invaluable insight into the world he was writing about. Time magazine, while including The Spy Who Came in From the Cold in its top 100 novels list, stated the novel was "a sad, sympathetic portrait of a man who has lived by lies and subterfuge for so long, he's forgotten how to tell the truth." I really enjoyed this book and am delighted to fnd that it is part of a series. I’ll be seeking out another of le Carré’s spy novels soon.

About The Author John le Carré is the pseudenom of British author David John Moore Cornwell. His third novel ‘The Spy Who Came in from the Cold’ became an international best-seller and remains one of his best known works. Following the novel’s success, he left MI6 to become a full-time author.

This month’s Writer’s Corner showcases more poems from ‘Connections’, a group in the National Learning Network.

I am From

I Told You So

I am from: the thought. I am from: the love thought. I am from: the place. I am from: the love place. I am from: the seed. I am from: the love seed. I am from: the love. I am from: the loving love.

I told you so! What did I tell you? I told you not to! I thought this was the way things were, I thought this was life.

June Culligan

Then I thought the world was different. Then I thought it was right.

Would you like a hug? What did you say, love?

Is this the way the world was when I was nine? Or is it just mine?

June Culligan Little Angel Beautiful child, sweet little angel, A family euphoric at her arrival. With hearts full of joy they plan for her future; But the world can be cruel, and plans must be altered. So with minds refocused, an army assembles: With hearts full of kindness They’ll fight for this angel.

About ‘Connections’ ‘Connections’ is designed for people who have suffered a serious medical setback. This creative writing workshop is facilitated by Anotnia Hart in the National Learning Network on the Broomhill Road. These poems were written during the workshop.

Dave Molloy

For more information about National Learning Network go to www.nln.ie

Starting to Plan It has taken you years to get to where you are now in life. It may also take years to get to where you want to be in the future. The question is, will it be the future you want or the one you end up with, by default? Financial Planning is not about investments, pensions, savings, life insurance policies, and other such products. It is about what you want out of your life and where you want your family to be in the future. It is about achieving what is important to you and your family. Time, leisure, children, holidays, education, more time off and retiring when you want – these are the things that help us to live our life. The things we all hope for in our lives. Financial Planning is about balancing your available resources. The money you have right now, the income you’re earning, or the income and assets you hope to have in the future. Along with the things that you will inherit. It’s about knowing what your lifestyle costs today. Each one of us can say what the big ticket items are that make the dent in our income each month, the utility bills, rent or mortgage, but what about the

other stuff? The small stuff that goes under the radar unnoticed. This makes up the deficit between what came in and what you’ve got left. If you don’t know what that is, or where it’s going, how can you make decisions about how you would like to spend it? Perhaps it is already going where it should, or maybe there is room for a decision to be made on where you spend it. For some people going through this process it is relatively easy. They look at things and see where they want to take action. For others, they will prefer to take independent advice to be sure that they are making the right choices for their life. So, where can you get this independent advice? Who should you talk to? There are independent financial advisors available, but which one is the right one for you? Choosing a financial advisor can be a daunting task. Here are a couple of things to take into consideration. • What is it that you want them to do for you? • How should you pay for this advice?

If the first person you approach doesn’t feel right, or cannot deliver what you want, don’t be afraid to keep looking until you find someone who makes you comfortable. Someone who understands what you want and can help you to deliver your plan for your family. Like most things in this world, independent advice comes at a price. If necessary, you should be prepared to pay for it. There are different payment methods in operation across the industry at present. Again, it comes down to choice – your choice. It may help to remember, that if you aren’t paying for the independent advice, somewhere along the supply chain someone will be paying for it and in this situation, they may be calling the tune for you. It has taken a long time to get to where you are at this point in your life. Remember to implement the change that you desire and to get what you want it is going to take time and commitment. Every journey begins with the first step, and every mountain gets moved with the first shovel. So, take the first step today, ask yourself, ‘What do I want for my family and I?’

• Can you be sure that they are going to deliver what you want, in the way that you want it?

sponsored by

Independent Financial Planners & Investment Advisors 276 River Forest, Leixlip, Co. Kildare. Telephone: 624 2450 Mobile: 087 249 1873 Fax: 624 7197 Email:breffnimay@eircom.net

Web: www.mayfinancialplanning.ie

Financial planning is not a one-off event but an on going process to help You plan for the life You want for You and those closest to you. xx

Fish 9oz Fresh Cod Batter Flour 4oz 2 eggs Salt

1. Skin and trim cod. Cut into portions of 3oz. 2. Making the batter â&#x20AC;&#x201C; sieve flour, separate eggs and then whip the egg whites. Add all the other ingredients to the flour. Whisk lightly, making sure all liquids are freezing cold. Fold egg white into batter. Place in fridge for 20 minutes, to keep really chilled. This is important as you need it really cold, going into the hot oil. This will make the cod really crispy on the outside. Place cod onto skewers.

Pepper 1 2 cup Beer Sesame Seeds 4oz Milk Fresh Herbs (chopped fine) Skewers

Spicy Chips 2 large potatoes Cajun Spices Salt Pepper

4. Spicy Chips â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Cut large potatoes into chunky chips. Boil until slightly soft. Strain and dry potato. Cook in hot oil until golden. Place on a tray and sprinkle with Cajun spices and salt and pepper

3. Place the cod into seasoned flour. Dip in batter and place on a plate to drain excess. Place into really hot oil. Cook for 5-6 mins.

What are Kettlebells? Kettlebells have been around for ages. Made out of cast iron, they’re cannonball-shaped weights with a single handle on top. Although they look really different from the free weights and machines that occupy most gyms, they are one of the best and most efficient fitness tools you can use.

functional fitness training. That’s what kettlebells provide, and individuals who want a more practical and traditional style of training are turning to kettlebells.

What are the benefits of Kettlebells? The purported benefits of kettlebells appeal to people of all fitness levels, ages and genders. Somewhere along the way, the fitness industry lost the real definition of ‘fit’ and replaced traditional full-body exercises with isolation exercises. Lately though, this cosmetic type of training is being replaced with movement-based training, which some call

Kettlebells offer: - Full-body conditioning. The body learns to work as one synergistic unit linked strongly together

Proponents of kettlebells, say that the benefits of kettlebell training are many.

- Big results by spending less time in the gym. Because kettlebell training involves multiple muscle groups and energy systems at once.

- Increased resistance to injury. - The ability to work aerobically and anaerobically simultaneously. - Improved mobility and range of motion. - Increased strength without. - Increase of mass. Kettlebell exercisers are lean and toned, not bulky – a benefit that appeals to women and men alike. - Enhanced performance in athletics and everyday functioning. - Major calorie burning, in a recent study conducted by the highly respected American Council on Exercise, participants burned approximately 20 calories per minute – that's 1,200 calories per hour.

Volkswagen’s Golf GTI has always been a tough act to follow. That’s why the four-wheel drive, V6-engined Golf R32 never quite established itself as a convincing flagship of the MkV range.

the Golf R. Fuel economy is up around 4mpg to 33.2mpg on the combined cycle for a manual model. Fitting the optional twin-clutch DSG transmission bumps that figure up to 33.6mpg.

But could the MkVI version change that? VW has ditched the naturally aspirated V6, and instead extracted more power from the GTI’s lighter, more efficient 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo. The result is an all-new model: the Golf R.

The Golf R is a seriously quick car – it’s a clear league above the GTI, and significantly livelier than the R32 it replaces. It’s not as rabid or unruly as the Ford Focus RS, but that means you can extract more of the hatch’s performance more of the time.

Fitted with 18-inch alloy wheels, twin central-exit exhaust pipes and striking metallic blue paint, the R certainly looks the part. Indeed, if you’re a hot hatch purist, you’ll prefer it to its flashier cousin, the Scirocco R.

Much of this is due to the new 4MOTION all-wheel drive transmission, which can send as much as 100 per cent of the engine’s torque to the rear wheels if it senses the front tyres are struggling. And with new springs and dampers, revised anti-roll bars and specially tuned power-steering, it’s no wonder the R has a sharper and more direct feel than the GTI.

Under the bonnet, there’s a highly-tuned version of the powerplant from the MkV GTI, rather than the newer MkVI motor. The block is reinforced and the cylinder head replaced, while special pistons, conrods, high-pressure fuel injectors, a new turbo and a more effective intercooler are used. The results are impressive: 265bhp and 345Nm of torque make it the most potent Golf yet. That’s a major step up from the 200bhp GTI, not to mention the old R32. It sounds brilliant, too.

The set-up is great when you override the automatic modes and use the button-style paddles, but there are times when you would rather let the gearbox do the work – which seems a shame in a car this driver focused. It does at least suit the Golf’s no-fuss nature. Even on demanding roads, you never sense anything unsettling going on beneath you. All you get is a level of assurance and ability that makes the R’s front-wheel-drive rivals feel a little ragged.

Crucially, the turbo engine is much cleaner and more fuel efficient than the V6-engined R32. Emissions drop from 257g/km for the MkV to 199g/km for

By Emer Mulvaney, Editor

Firhouse Carmel Schoolboy Football Club was founded in 1974 to cater for schoolboys and girls in the local area.

With just one team at under 12 level, playing in the Celtic Youth Club League, the club’s original home ground was Bushy Park. Slowly the club grew to five teams and secured a pitch in between the newly built Carrigwood and Woodlawn Park estates. Founders Aiden and Brendan were joined here by names such as Brendan Wynn, Lilly Murray and Terry Corcoran. Pat (Chalkey) White and Denis Keily (a current committee member) helped out in those pre-Italia ’90 years. After Italia ’90 the Club mushroomed beyond recognition, adding three teams every year, leveling off at the 15 teams currently fielded today. One of the original under 12 players from ’74, Paul Nolan, returned to become Chairman through those growing years and put in place the foundations needed to cater for nearly 300 members and the fine changing facilities the club has today. Today the objectives of the club are to provide football for all children within the community regardless of ability, to foster the game of Association Football among all children, to promote a social spirit and to provide facilities towards achieving the forgoing aims. The club currently fields 15 teams from under 8 to under 18 along with a vibrant academy for those under the age of 7. In total, nearly 300 members from every ethnic background, irrespective of ability, wear the blue and yellow of Firhouse Carmel each week. Based at Firhouse Community and Leisure Centre, where the club has a first class, purpose-built changing and meeting facility, Firhouse Carmel boasts four full size football pitches as well as two 7 and 9-aside pitches. The club aims to build its membership by encouraging more girls and boys through programmes such as Soccer Sisters and Futsal. The clubhouse facility has wheelchair access which enables disabled members to use all facilities within it - this is manned by a caretaker. Within the playing members there are those with disabilities, A.D.H.D. and behavioural problems whom the club liaison officer works closely with the coaches who are working with them. A past playing member of the club Brian Mc Gillivary, who plays with the Ireland Cerebral Palsy Team, works closely with some of the young goalkeepers.

Supporting the managers and coaches that take charge of teams each week, Firhouse Carmel FC has a dedicated team of Club Coaches overseeing team coaching as well as organising kickstart 1, 2 and goal keeping courses held within the club. In addition, the club has an active committee which looks after such vital areas as administration, pitch and building maintenance, child protection and first aid seminars along with fundraising as well as the weekly lotto. The Football Committee oversees league placing, disciplinary issues and player grading, ensuring each player is placed in a team of equal ability. The grading system within enables each girl or boy to play competitive football weekly, no matter how strong or weak the player might be. The qualified coaches strive to bring the best out of the players by encouraging and helping each player to achieve their potential. The aim is to show Racism the Red Card. Most of Firhouse Carmel FC’s teams boast at least 2-3 different nationalities. The club has zero tolerance for racism shown by any of our members towards other members or opposing teams. Club Secretary Grainne O’Donnell said: “At Firhouse Carmel F.C. we are very proud of our community and great emphasis is placed on strengthening the ties we have between schools, college, community centres, churches and local business as well as Senior Football Clubs such as Firhouse Clover and Firhouse Colmcilles – both of which avail of our first class facilities. “In addition, our Club actively encourages participation in other codes and a large percentage of our members have achieved honors in Rugby, GAA and Athletics both at club and school level. “Participation, rather that exclusivity, is the key to inclusion,” she added. When it comes to highlights of the year Geraldine says that there have been two of prominence. “Our Presentation Day and our Mini World Cup are definitely the main highlights,” she said. “Our Presentation Day takes place in the closed season and celebrates Cup and League triumphs, however the emphasis is placed on honoring each team’s Player of the Year & most improved Player of the Year as well as recognising the improvements made by teams at all age levels as well as sportsmanship and fair play.

“The Presentation Day is also our chance to celebrate the Community Spirit that exists in Firhouse and the many unsung heroes who give their time freely throughout the year.” The Club’s Mini World Cup is for players aged from five to 11 and takes place on the club’s Carrigwood playing fields. The event attracts upwards of 400 children from the area and is a tournament which runs for a full week. Geraldine said: “As the population of Firhouse has increased massively in recent years our Mini World Cup is seen as the ideal way for new families to the area to introduce their children not just to football but to new friends. “It provides many local children’s first experience of team sports and introduces them to Firhouse Carmel. Children travel from miles around to be involved in the largest tournament of its type in the area and we encourage local children of all abilities to get involved in a spirit of community.” With our Club House now built the ambition now is to provide all-weather facilities for players, facilitating winter training to improve standards while further including the Community’s schools and clubs. On the playing side, surpassing the excellent standard we have achieved goes without saying, however it is vital we stay close to our aim to provide football for every schoolboy and schoolgirl within Firhouse.

Projects already undertaken: • Futsal Programmes • Soccer Sisters Programmes • Cerebral Palsy Training Sessions • Special Olympic Training Session • Kick Start Coaching Courses • Fundraising Workshops • Child Liaison Programme with Managers • First Aid Course

Future Projects to be undertaken: • FAI Development programmes • Kick Start Coaching Courses • Football for All Programmes • Mini World Cup • School Programmes (Sports Day) • Fundraising Events (Golf Classics and Table Quiz’s) • 11 a-side Astro Turf pitch. xx

Shamrock Rovers had a 100 per cent home league record up until the last two games at Tallaght Stadium. However, that record came to an end when first, at the end of April, Derry City managed to get a 1-1 draw in Tallaght and then UCD scrambled a 2-2 draw in the following game. In both matches the visitors came from behind with two points dropped by Rovers against the Students only due to UCD’s injury time equaliser. Derry were lucky to escape with a draw as Rovers probably played some of their best football of the season but couldn’t add to Gary Twigg’s early second half goal. The following week in the league, UCD struck in injury time to grab a 2-2 draw with the Hoops squandering a 2-0 half time lead following goals by Billy Dennehy and Daryl Kavanagh. Rovers travelled to the Brandywell in late April for the second leg of the Setanta Sports Cup semi-final trailing 3-0 from the first leg. Manager Stephen Kenny deployed an attacking 3-5-2 system that paid dividends on the night as Rovers won 2-0. However, the Hoops lost their All-Ireland crown as they couldn’t score that vital third goal to take the tie to extra time. Gary Twigg has been in spectacular scoring form for the Hoops this season. His goals have been crucial in keeping Rovers in contention for retaining their league title. Entering the start of May, the Scotsman had scored ten goals in just ten games. Twigg’s goals this season have pushed him into the top 10 all-time league goalscorers for Shamrock Rovers. He has leapfrogged St. Patrick’s Athletic manager and former Rovers manager and player Liam Buckley into eight place on the list. With 69 goals at the start of May, Twigg is still some way off the overall record held by Rovers legend Paddy Ambrose who scored 109 league goals for the Hoops.

By Macdara Ferris

Earlier this month, Shamrock Rovers fans were delighted to hear that 24 yearold Ronan Finn had extended his contract with the Hoops until the end of 2014. Finn, who made the second highest number of appearances for Rovers last season playing 51 times, has been in superb form this year. Up until the recent 2-2 home draw with UCD, Finn had started every league game for Rovers before injury forced him out of the team. His creativity in midfield had helped Rovers to be top scorers in the League at the start of the month and he himself had bagged two league goals. “Playing for Shamrock Rovers is an honour,” said Finn speaking last week, “so to know I’ll be doing it for another two years is great. When you come here you realise how big the club is and once you’ve played here, you don’t want to leave.”

SHAMROCK ROVERS F.C. – TALLAGHT STADIUM

You’re always welcome at Shamrock Rovers! I hope to see you soon in Tallaght Stadium!

FIXTURES 2012 League League League League League League League League League League League League League League

League League League

Fri 9th Mar. Fri 23rd Mar. Mon 26th Mar. Fri 30th Mar. TBC Fri 13th Apr. Fri 27th Apr. Fri 4th May Fri 18th May w/e Sun 27th May Fri 1st June TBC Fri 6th July Fri 20th July Mon 6th Aug. Fri 10th Aug. Mon 20th Aug. w/e Sun 26th Aug. Fri 7th Sept. Mon 10th Sept. w/e Sun 16th Sept. Sat 22nd Sept. Fri 28th Sept. w/e Sun 7th Oct. Sat 13th Oct. Fri 19th Oct. Sun 4th Nov.

8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00 8.00

8.00 TBC 8.00

SRFC v. Monaghan Utd. SRFC v. Shelbourne EA Sports Cup 1st Round SRFC v. Bohemians EA Sports Cup 2nd Round SRFC v. Dundalk SRFC v. Derry City SRFC v. U.C.D. SRFC v. Drogheda Utd. FAI Cup 2nd Round SRFC v. Cork City EA Sports Cup Quarter Finals SRFC v. St. Patrick’s Athletic SRFC v. Bray Wanderers EA Sports Cup Semi Finals SRFC v. Sligo Rovers SRFC v. Monaghan Utd. FAI Cup 3rd Round SRFC v. Shelbourne SRFC v. Bohemians FAI Cup Quarter Finals EA Sports Cup Final SRFC v. Dundalk FAI Cup Semi Finals SRFC v. Derry City SRFC v. U.C.D. FAI Cup Final

Fixtures subject to change, check www.shamrockrovers.ie for more.

www.shamrockrovers.ie info@shamrockrovers.ie Club Store: Monday - Saturday 10am - 6pm Match days until 10.15pm xx

2012

Are you between the ages of 5 & 14 and mad about the Hoops? If so, then we have the club for you! For just 710 per season, you can get these fantastic benefits: • An exclusive Junior Hoops member's gift each year! • A Birthday Card signed by your favourite Rovers player! • Admission to Junior Hoops Parties with the 1st team squad! • Vote in our very own Junior Hoops’ Player of the Year! • Competitions that money just cannot buy! Phone 01-4605948 / www.shamrockrovers.ie/junior-hoops xx