InTallaght EDITION 14 by InTallaght Magazine

FRIDAY 2-4-1 COCKTAILS ALL NIGHT SATURDAY THE BOAT DEAL BOTTLE OF VODKA & 4 MIXERS SUNDAY ALL DRINKS €3

Directors: Edward Lam Riyadh Abdelkader (Secretary) Editor: Emer Mulvaney Design: Edward Lam Riyadh Abdelkader Gwen Taylour Photography: Fergus McNally George Kelly Photography Sharon Lunney Contributors: Jimmy Dunne Chris Stefan David Frazer Gwen Taylour Keith Cashin Matt Boyle Macdara Ferris Advertising: Duncan Ashwell Padraig Conlon Mark Quinlan Ciaran Fleming Noel Whelan

InTallaght is Published by Genesis Media Concepts Ltd. Oxford Lane, Ranelagh, Dublin 6 Tel: 01 459 0841 Email: editor@genesismedia.ie REGISTERED IN IRELAND: 484099 VAT NO. IE 9748538W ISSN 2009-4574

Hi everyone, Welcome to your May edition of InTallaght Magazine. It's been a wet and windy couple of weeks but we've been keeping busy getting another great edition together for you. This month we have been very excited at Genesis Media interviewing one of our favourite comedians - Ardal O'Hanlon. Ardal is on tour at the moment and is playing the Civic Theatre on June 6. We catch up with him ahead of it and he gives us a taste of what we can expect at the show. A very genuine charachter, the man we all know as Fr Dougal Maguire from the hit series Fr Ted, has proven time and again that he is so much more than a gormless priest and we'll be popping along to the gig and bringing you a review of it in the next edition. We also review Sacha Barron Cohen's new film The Dictator and feature an interview with one of the stars of the film Anna Farris who has plenty to reveal about the man behind the movie. In other news we attend the launch of Proud...to live in Tallaght. This inspirational workbook, the creation of a Tallaght principal who collaborated with several local organisations, was launched by Minister Pat Rabbitte. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the second edition of the book and is a credit to all involved. In a world where there is so much negative press itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s refreshing to see children taught to be proud of where they come from - especially when, in Tallaght, we have so many reasons to be proud All this and the usual mix of opinion, reviews and previews. As always drop me a line on editor@genesismedia.ie if there is something you'd like to share or suggest. Otherwise enjoy and I'll catch up with you very soon! Emer Mulvaney Editor

1 Maro House Belgard Road 01 4511 504 Special Offer

HALF PRICE COLOUR

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

on Tuesdays

until end of June. Appointment Only *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 R ton

sing

Bles

d Bl es

Dishy Dolls Salon Empire Barbers

sin on gt

Smyths Toys

Belg

Extensions Using 100% Human Hair Pricing on Consultation

Upstyling / GHD-Wand Curling Starting from €35

Old

Belgard

Red Carpet Looks

t hS Hig

ard R

Abberly Court

The Square Shopping Centre

Plaza Hotel

s ht Pas Tallag

CONTENTS

24 08 16 20 24 28 30 31 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 48 52 54 58

Newsround Get Up To Speed On All That’s Going On In Your Area

The Big Chat Comedian Ardal O’Hanlon Is Here To Tickle Your Funny Bone

Hot From Hollywood Tinsel Town’s Anna Farris On New Movie The Dictator

On The Town Hot Property Bressie Spins The Decks At Entourage

6th Gear Checkout The Stunning Laguna Coupe

The Big Ticket Will And Tommy Complete The Men In Black Trilogy

Cinema Review Sasha Baron Cohan’s The Dictator Both Disgusts & Amuses

The Juke Box Keane Go Back To Basics With New Album Strangeland

Game Review Keith Cashin Test Drives Dishonoured

The Bookworm Gwen Taylour Reads ‘The Lemure’ For Your Pleasure

Writer’s Corner Take A Look At The Work Of Budding Local Writer’s

Green Fingers Advice On Keeping The Slugs At Bay

Money Talk Pension - Questions Which Need To Be Asked

Bon Appéit Get Stuck Into A Pork Stir-Fry

The Small Screen Tintin and Snowy Set Off On A Treasure Hunt For A Sunken Ship

Club Focus Wheelie Great Fun With The Dublin Roller Girls

Rovers Review Macdara Ferris Keeps Us Upto Date With The Hoops

Events Your Guide To The Hot Spots For Local Entertainment

LEISUREPLEX Indoor Indoor Fun Fun Whatever Whatever The The Weather Weather Open 10 Till Late

PARTSIOECSCER

INDOOR ING BOWL QUASAR R SNOOKE POOL FROM R PER HOU

€5

BOWLIN G 2 GAME S FROM

TTHH D INER 1 1 P IN Y FAMIL RS PL ATTE

€10

ATE CORPOR S NIGHT T CONTAC US

€ 20

MIX- IT

ANY 2 ACTIV IT IE S F ROM

€1 0

Leisureplex Tallaght. Tel: 01 459 9411 07

THE LATE ARC ST GAM ADE ES VOUCHER

BUY ONE ACTIVITY GET ONE FREE Applies to Bowling, Quasar OR Zoo Only. T&C’s Apply.

VOUCHER

BUY ONE ACTIVITY GET ONE FREE Applies to Bowling, Quasar OR Zoo Only. T&C’s Apply.

FREE WIFI

Rovers & The Square Reach Their Goal New Deal Sees Top Team & Top Retailer Join Forces There was great excitement in The Square on Wednesday, May 16, when Shamrock Rovers and the shopping centre joined forces and announced their new partnership.

sponsorship deal. “We are delighted to be associated with The Square, which has been at the centre of the Tallaght community for over 20 years. Since moving into the stadium in 2009 we have enjoyed great support from the local community and this deal with the Square is yet another example of that.

The Square, now the team’s official ‘Community Champion’ sponsor, hosted the event which also seen the unveiling of the teams’ updated strip which features the Square logo on both sleeves.

“On match days a lot of the fans come into the Square and we will continue to encourage that over the next couple of years.”

Top players Aaron Greene, Ronan Finn and Gary Twigg were all in attendance at the buffet lunch reception where they represented the club and sported the jersey. Officially launching the partnership the Square’s Director of Retail Jack Martin said that the shopping centre was ‘delighted’ to be associated with the club.

Rovers Manager Stephen Kenny, who is a Tallaght native was called upon to give a few words and after endearing himself to the crowd by joking about the reasoning behind the naming of the shopping centre he said: “It’s great that The Square has got behind Shamrock Rovers. The support has been tremendous. I remember when the Square started, it was big news for the area. There was nothing in the area then - there’s history. I know it’s a tough time with the emergence of so many shopping centres in the surrounding areas and it makes it a tougher climate and in the recession it’s much tougher for businesses to survive but I know that there is a huge determination from everyone here to regenerate the Square and to make it more attractive for everybody.

He told InTallaght : “It’s fantastic for us and for the club. The Square is moving on and it’s all about taking little steps within the community getting everyone together and getting the retailers behind it. It’s about furthering the Square. There is so much potential here and we are going to reach it.” The sponsorship will see the square branding on match days programmes, on the stadium hoardings and around the stadium in general. As part of the deal the Square will also offer free parking to match goers.

He added: “I know losing the cinema was a blow but now a cinema has come back on board and I know there is a lot of other new shops there too.

Jonathon Roche, Chairman of Shamrock Rovers said: This partnership with The Square Town Centre is a real example of a mutually beneficial

“So we wish The Square all the best in the future and we’ll hopefully have a good relationship with Shamrock Rovers going forward.”

Director of Retail at The Sqaure, Derek Martin

Aaron Greene, Gary McCabe & Ronan Finn Give The Girls A Run For Their Money Modelling The Rovers Jersey

Your Team Your Centre

Proud Sponsors of Shamrock Rovers F.C. The Square Tallaght

Top Line Up To Rock Teen Festival An exciting musical line-up is set to wow the crowds at the upcoming Comhairle na nÓg Free Spirit Festival in Tallaght.

the Community Services Department, Arts and Social Inclusion Offices, Libraries and Rua Red and hopes to give young people in our county the opportunity to concentrate on their mind and body during stressful times. “After a welcome from Mayor Caitriona Jones, Dr. Tony Bates from Headstrong will give a short introduction about the importance of the festival and looking after our wellbeing, followed later by a longer workshop where young people will be encouraged to attend.

Popular homegrown talent Bipolar Empire and The Voice’s Kevin Keeley are set to perform at the event, in County Hall, on Thursday, May 24th. The festival is aimed at young people aged 12-18 and has been organised to give them information on what is available to them if dealing with stress or when going through difficult times.

She added: “We would like to thank Johnston Logistics for all their support for the festival.” A number of organisations will be present at the event with information about their services, such as Headstrong, Aware and Pieta House among others.

A number of relaxation activities and demonstrations as well as Drum and Gaming Workshops have been organised to give young people an opportunity to experience a number of different ways to relax in a safe, fun environment.

The festival will take place from 5:30 to 8:30pm in Chambers Square, at the main entrance to County Library.

A spokesperson for South Dublin County Council said: The event has been organised by South Dublin Comhairle na nÓg in partnership with 10

PAYING MORE FOR YOUR BINS IS A LOAD OF RUBBISH Pay for your bin service online and get an extra 5% credit on your account. Black Bin € 7.50

Recycling bin FREE when the annual charge is paid

Brown bin €4.20

Extra Discount on Skip Hire for domestic customers Mini €85.50 Midi €123.50 Standard €179.55 Online prices

Annual charge €50 Delivery 10 working days

Switching is so Easy

www.skip.ie

Just click www.thorntons-recycling.ie for the Biggest Savings or call (01) 6235133, option 3 Thorntons Recycling, Unit S3B Henry Road, Parkwest Business Park, Dublin 12. Annual charge must be paid before service commences

Diamond Valeting & Commercial Sales For every €10 profit we make, we are donating €1 to Our Lady’s Hospice in Harold’s Cross (Next quarter we will support a different charity)

CAR WASH

from

€5

SUV, MPV & VANS

REFRESH VALET, CHAMOIS DRIED, HOOVERED, AIR FRESHENED & TYRE DRESS

LWR BALLYMOUNT RD DUBLIN 12

Ph: 085 838 1033

TRADE & FLEET

DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

MINI VALET

from

€25 €7 FULL VALET €90 €15 from

from

MID VALET

from

€40 TRACTOR UNIT €10

INTERIOR OR E XTERIOR EXTERIOR

from

SIGN WRITING G REMOVAL R VANS OLISHED ALSO P.O.A PO A & MACHINE POLISHED

A CLEAN CAR SELLS BETTER THAN A DIRTY ONE SO COME TO DIAMOND VALETING SERVICES

CALL D.V.S 085 838 1033 11

Trumpets At The Ready Youth Band Needs 8K To Represent Ireland Katherine said: “We need all the help we can get. We have worked really hard to get the money we have together but it isn’t just about getting there, we need new costumes and instruments and even if it’s only €20 we could do with any help people are willing to give.”

An appeal by the Tallaght Youth Band is being sent out to businesses across the area in an effort to get the group to Holland this September to represent Ireland. The band, which also celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, will be the first Irish band ever to represent at the DCE (Drum Core Europe) finals but it needs over €8,000 more to get there.

The band, which practices in St Mary’s National School on the Greenhills Road, is also in desperate need of somewhere to practice. With growing student numbers over the past few years it has gone from having the entire school at its disposal to a prefab.

Tallaght Youth Band, which has 68 members incorporating the Cadettes and the Senior Band, qualified when they came second in the league last year to Clonmel – which decided not to take up on the event.

Katherine said: “The school is great to us but it is getting bigger all of the time and we understand that. We need more space too – we have to be conscious of residents so a space in a retail park would be ideal.

Now the Seniors will travel to battle it out with Europe’s top 20 in over four months time, and hopes are high.

“We practice five nights a week – seven coming up to competitions – so somewhere like some of the empty units on the Airton Road etc would be ideal.”

Katherine Reade of Tallaght Youth Band, told InTallaght: “There will be four competitions in Ireland this Summer and they all lead up to the finals in Holland.

For those wishing to help Tallaght Youth Band log onto www.tallaghtyouthband.com or call Katherine on 0861933816.

“All countries have leagues and we run ours through the IMBA which is connected to the DCE and basically these leagues determine the direct competition we face on the day. But we really need help to get there.”

In return to those who choose to donate the band will feature their company on the its website. The band also has 1,000 fans on facebook and will thank each company publicly on that page.

Over the past few months Tallaght Youth Band has been on a drive to raise the €18k needed to allow them to compete in Holland. The members have so far got €9,900 towards the costs and are now asking businesses to get behind them. 12

Practice Makes Perfect: Hopes Are High For The Finals In Holland

Loud And Proud: The Youth Band Show What Their Made Off.

Cian Freeman, Sabrina Puricr, Alex Daly, Alex Lacatus Leon Johnson, Jade Farrell, Jose Boyd, Abi O'Neill Joshua Mills, Ciaran Mellon, Keeva Tilly, Melissa Barrett With Principle Robert O’Leary, Gerard McHugh And Minister Pat Rabbitte

Standing Tall And Proud Proud…to live in Tallaght was initially launched in 2006 making this the second edition. A copy of the book will be presented to every fifth class pupil in Tallaght in the next five years meaning 25 primary schools in total, will benefit.

A fantastic new book, aimed at instilling a sense of pride in Tallaght among the younger community, was launched on Friday May 18th in Sacred heart SNS, Killinarden. The educational workbook, Proud…to live in Tallaght, is a publication by the Dublin West Education Centre in conjunction with South Dublin Libraries, Dodder Valley Partnership, Glanmore Foods, Tallaght West CDI and South Dublin County Council.

The aims of the publication include focusing on the many positive aspects of living in Tallaght, developing the pupils’ and teachers’ awareness of the richness and variety of Tallaght’s heritage – historical, environmental and architectural, providing a stimulus for discussion and follow-up exploration in these areas and fostering a greater sense of civic pride and belonging, for children of all backgrounds, who live in Tallaght.

In officially launching the workbook at the event Minister for Energy, Communications and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte said that there were many reasons to be proud of the area.

Speaking at the launch Sacred Heart Principal Robert O’Leary, the project leader and author, spoke about the many great reasons to be proud of Tallaght including those representing their home town in the upcoming Euros.

Before addressing the crowd, Minister Rabbitte who celebrated his 63rd birthday was presented with a cake by the school as the pupils sang Happy Birthday.

He said: “I couldn’t help but notice I was watching the Irish soccer team qualifying for the Euros and at one point in the match three of the Irish players were born and bred and went to school in Tallaght. Robbie Keane, Richard Dunne - who went to this school - and Keith Fahy. Three out of 11, it’s fantastic.

Visibly touched by the gesture he then addressed the crowd and said: “I am very honored to be asked to launch this lovely book. “I was looking through the book and I don’t think many of the students will know about the Tallaght Hedge Schools but this is about your predecessors more than 100 years ago when we didn’t have an Irish government. At that time British Government ruled Ireland and the kiddies couldn’t go to school and learn in Irish because the British Government disapproved so they set up their own schools out in a field or barn or wherever and that’s where the kiddies had to go to school.

“As I said [previously] we have one of Ireland’s top libraries here and a fantastic array of people trying really really hard to make everybody’s lives safer, better and richer. The doctors and nurses in Tallaght Hospital, the Gardai, the fire fighters, the ambulance drivers and the employees of the council. And I can say this as well because I know for a fact, I have been into nearly every school in Tallaght – the best schools in Ireland are here in Tallaght and so are the best teachers.”

“So your ancestors had it extremely difficult to get an education in those years but now you’re fortunate to go to some of the best schools in Ireland, indeed some of the best schools anywhere in Europe.”

The activity book contains approximately 40 varied activity pages and includes material on such topics as monastic history, stories from the past, Sean Walsh, Dodder Valley and Tymon Parks as well as public facilities such as the county council, libraries, fire and police services, transport and modern buildings.

He added: “It is true that there is terrible negativity ingrained in our public commentary in recent years, some of that is not surprising. We’ve been through very tough times and they continue as some families are still experiencing very difficult times but there isn’t any doubt that the way out of the crisis that we are in, and that we share, unfortunately with other countries, is education and that’s why what you do here in this school is so important.” 14

Surprise: Pupil Presents Minister Rabbitte With A Birthday Cake Before He Addresses The Room

Concentration: Pupils Listen Intently As Speakers Present New Workbook

You’re a talented comedian, actor and author – is there any area in particular which you prefer? I always go back to stand up because it combines a bit of everything. It’s the thing of the live performance. It’s the focal point of my life and I would never have got any of my acting jobs in Fr Ted and the like if it wasn’t for it. People would have never spotted me.

No matter what he does Ardal O’Hanlon will forever be recognised as the clueless yet loveable Fr Dougal Maguire from hit sitcom Fr Ted – but there’s so much more to him than that. With a successful novel under his belt and TV roles which have more than proved his capabilities as a serious actor, as well as a comedic one, Ardal’s stand up career has never wained and with his new show on tour at the moment and on its way to the Civic Theatre on June 6 Editor Emer Mulvaney caught up with him to chat about the old days and find out what we can expect from those to come.

How does stand up compare to your TV work? Stand up suits me because I have s short attention span! With acting there are vertain things you can’t do I find sometimes. With stand up it’s more satisfying in the sense that it’s totally your own stuff. On sets thee are writers and producers and teams of people involved and socially as a job that’s great but with stand up you’re your own boss. With stand up you are scraping the inside of your own mind and showing the results to the public. I wouldn’t try and analyse it too much though!

So Ardal you are on tour at the moment – how is that going? It’s going great. I’m really enjoying it and am happy with how it’s being received. What’s the show about? It’s a combination of two things really. It’s about me and my life and frustrations. That’s the best thing about stand up – you get, to get stuff off your chest. It’s not just about Ireland though it’s about my frustrations with the world.

With stand up your putting yourself out there though. You get heckled etc. Is that tough? Yes you are putting yourself out there and you are taking a chance but you do every time you leave the house. The fact is I wouldn’t be doing stand up if the world was a perfect place - why? because that’s where the material is.

Where do you get your inspiration? From everywhere - It starts within yourself. Your own pathetic 40-something concerns! Family and the nature of our relationships…The farce that is our economy…just kind of a bit of everything. You just can’t ever lose sight of the fact that it has to be funny.

You shot to fame as Fr Dougal Maguire in the sitcom Fr Ted – do you still love the character or how do you fee about him – do you ever get sick of him? I still love Fr Dougal and Fr Ted. The making of those series is just a really happy memory for me.

Do you do a test run on your family and friends? I usually run it by my wife. A lot of it is about her so it has to be approved by her so once I get her attention I force her to listen! The best way to test out new material though is a club. You have to be rigorous – you can’t just hope for the best. The clubs are such a good testing ground and I often go back to the International bar and give new material a go because the more you do it the better you get at it and by the time it comes to doing a proper tour you’ve got it. There’s always room for manouvere though and you can go off in a different direction anytime you like – but that’s the excitement of it.

Did you ever believe that Fr Ted would be as big as it was? It was great in lots of ways but we had no idea it was going to be that big. Do you think that Dermot Morgan would be proud of the fact that Fr Ted is still as popular if not more popular than ever? I think he would be so proud. We are all thrilled by the fact that it was so popular and always will be.

Do you get nervous before you go on? Not really. I used to be really nervous but over time you just get over that as you get more used to it. 16

â&#x20AC;&#x153;With stand-up you are scraping the inside of your own mind and showing the results to the public.â&#x20AC;?

as a favourite. No I’m not doing Edinburgh this year. I used to do it all of the time but not anymore. It’s really a place, I think, for people starting off and trying to get attention.

Have you got any favourite memories from on set? It was just a very giddy time in my life. I remember I had already moved to London at that stage. I had spent the previous ten years in Dublin not really doing very much and all of a sudden Fr Ted came along and it’s all a bit of a blur. I met great people and even though I enjoyed the stand up and the solitary nature of it – this was a whole new world and I loved it.

What about embarrassing moments? There’s been nothing really appalling but I do remember starting out in London and playing in some horrendous places like the lobby of a cinema. It was a really horrible place but you have to do what you have to do to get experience.

You’ve made appearances on Skins and Dr Who which are very different to your Fr Ted role - were you eager afterwards to show a different side of you?

Who is the funniest person you know? My wife [I have to say that!]. Another very funny person I know is Paul Tylack. He’s a comedian from Tallaght and is supporting me in the Civic. He’s a very funny guy. Barry Murphy and Kevin Gildea, the guys who I started out with years ago are also incredibly funny. In fact the reason we all hooked up to begin with was because we all thought we were so hilarious. We just had loads of spare time on our hands and we did what we liked – you never forget those days.

It was always my ambition to do a variety of things to the best of my ability. I have always welcomed opportunity in many areas. I am always willing to listen to offers! Particularly when I am asked to do something different. I have been asked to do a lot of sitcoms and versions of Fr Ted but they didn’t appeal for one reason or another. I’ve been offered the gormless role in many other things too and I’m fine with that it just depends on the programme in general.

What’s the most important thing you’ve learned throughout your career? One thing is never to judge anyone. I remember Sacha Baron Cohen in a club in London years ago. He was the compere and he was appalling. I mean people switched off and ate their food when he was talking – he was that bad – but a year later I remember seeing him as Ali G and thinking ‘Oh My God that’s him!’ He is huge now despite how bad he was on the stage back then.

What has been the highlight of your career so far? It’s impossible to say. I have always taken each week as it comes. I really enjoyed Fr Ted but likewise I enjoy every show and there are often times when I think that I wasn’t very good at something or I would like to try again but I still enjoy everything I do. Have there been any low points? I suppose the intrusion into your private life – they’d be the low points.

What’s next for you? Well quite a lot of gigging. Two or three more weeks here and then mostly in the UK. Then there’s a mini tour of the States in September.

So given the fact that intrusion can get to you would you be happy for your children to follow in your footsteps? I don’t know really. I wouldn’t have a definite opinion on that. I would like to think that I wouldn’t stand in the way of anything my children want to do.

So how can we keep up with what you’re doing and where you are? Facebook? Twitter? Oh no I don’t do those things. I twittered for a week and never bothered again and my website hasn’t been updated in about three years!

Where is your favourite place to gig? Are you doing Edinburgh this year? It’s pretty similar all round Ireland and the UK. There’s no difference really but I’ve always loved Vicar Street. The beauty of stand up is that all you really need to move around is a notebook, a toothbrush and a bunch of people who speak English but it’s very hard to pick one place

What can I say? I’m elusive...... Google me!

? y a s I n a c t a h W e v i s u l e m I’ ! e m e l g o – Go

Verbally sparring during improvised scenes with Sacha Baron Cohen is a nerve wracking, unpredictable, exciting and, ultimately, a highly rewarding experience, says Anna Faris.

Both films were both critical and box office successes. The Dictator, says Ms Faris, marks a departure from that “mockumentary” format. “It’s all actors this time and there aren’t real people,” she explains.

The talented actress admits that she didn’t quite know what to expect when she signed up to star alongside the man she regards as comedic ‘genius’ in The Dictator.

“It’s not the man-on-the-street feel, it feels like a big movie with huge set pieces. The early scenes with The Dictator in his fictional country of Wadiya is all in palaces, where he has a virgin army with all these hot women, and animals and compounds. So the whole feel of the movie is visually very lush and big. “That’s a little different from his previous movies. Even though he is playing a crazy character – and he stayed in character all of the time too, which he also did with Brȕno and Borat – I think this movie will be a departure from those other films.”

“I’d met Sacha a couple of times at parties, but it was so brief and I never really knew what to make of him... but then they asked me to come in and meet him for The Dictator,” she says. “The whole project was top secret and nobody really knew anything about it. “I was terrified, really nervous, because he’s so good, he’s a genius, and you want to step up to the plate. And so we met and we ended up doing some of the scenes, all improvisation.

The production was based in southern Spain – providing the backdrop for Wadiya – and in New York, where Ms. Faris filmed her scenes. Whereas once, Baron Cohen was unrecognised as he interacted with the public, these days he’s virtually mobbed.

“The director gave us some loose scenarios and we started playing around. I think, about three months later, I actually got the role. And as you can imagine, I was very, very happy to be a part of it.”

“Everything about it was crazy,” she laughs. “Even the logistics were crazy, because we were shooting in the summertime in New York and everywhere he goes now, Sacha gets recognised by a huge amount of people.

On set too, Baron Cohen loves to improvise during scenes and he expects his fellow actors to do the same – riffing on the loose outlines for each scenario given in the script.

“People are just crazy for him. So even if he wanted to do those man-onthe-street Brȕno and Borat type scenarios, I don’t think he could anymore.”

“We did a ton of improvisation,” she says. “There was a script and I would say that about 10 per cent of the time, we followed the script. “And we had the writers behind the monitors, throwing out lines to us all of the time – different jokes, different ideas. And Sacha is a genius at improve, so the challenge as an actor when you are in those scenes is to stay on your toes.

In The Dictator, Baron Cohen plays General Aladeen, the ruler of a (fictional) North African state, Wadiya, who is determined to resist any attempts to bring democracy to the country he has oppressed for decades.

“You have to step up to the plate and be able to play with them. It was really rewarding in that way.”

When The Dictator arrives in America, events back in his homeland threaten to lead to his overthrow. “I play a young woman named Zoe and I run a health food store in Brooklyn,” says Ms Faris. “It’s a co-op, it’s vegan and has a sort of feminist angle, and I’m very passionate about helping refugees and that’s how I run into Aladeen. We meet at a protest and I think that he’s a refugee. He has no resources, no money, no ID, so I let him live and work at my store.”

The Dictator is Baron Cohen’s third film with Larry Charles, who also directed Borat: Cultural Leanings of America for Make Benefit of Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan, and Brȕno. In both Borat, as a Kazakhstan TV reporter making a documentary on America, and Bruno, as an outrageous Austrian fashionista trying to launch a TV show in the States, Baron Cohen interacted with real members of the public, as well as fellow actors, with sometimes controversial, always hilarious results.

She’s reluctant to give too much of the story away, but promises that there are some outrageous scenes involving Zoe and Aladeen. “Well, we have a scene where things get a little romantic, but I don’t think I can tell

you much about it,” she laughs. “But when you see the movie you’ll understand what I’m talking about. And that scene was definitely an adventure! “ Audiences might well spot some unpleasant characteristics that General Aladeen shares with other, real dictators. “Oh most definitely,” she says. “Sacha’s humour is very thought-provoking and with a movie like this, it’s so incredibly timely. “I’ve had a couple of people ask me if I think that the subject matter is too soon with things the way they are, and I’m not sure that I’m qualified to answer that. It doesn’t seem too soon to me but, in America, we’re sort of insulated from the horrors of those scenarios. But I do think it will most certainly be thought- provoking.” Baron Cohen is, she says, a fearless satirist, prepared to mock prejudice and make fun of those who put themselves on a pedestal. “I think one of the many things that makes him so brilliant is that while he is mocking other people – strangers or whoever he is acting with – he is also mocking himself. “He plays these characters that are just incredibly doltish, and it’s a kind of genius. And it’s the same with The Dictator, all of our characters are ridiculous—we are mocking their ideas and also mocking these groups of people. “But I think he gets away with it because he plays these severely flawed characters and that puts it all into perspective a little bit.” Baron Cohen is also capable of pulling outrageous stunts – like when he and co-star Ken Davitian ran naked through a hotel in Borat. “I have no idea how he can do those things,” she laughs. “Like the Oscar stunt – I’m terrible at that stuff. I need to hide behind the filmmaking process. I can’t pull pranks on people like that because it just terrifies me. It amazes me that he can do all that stuff,” she says. The “Oscar stunt” she refers to happened earlier this year at the Academy Awards® ceremony in Hollywood, when Baron Cohen turned up in costume as The Dictator and tipped an urn full of the late Korean dictator Kim Jong Il’s ‘ashes’ over a TV reporter on the red carpet. Ms Faris, who was attending the ceremony, had heard rumours that her leading man was up to something. “I had heard some things through the grapevine, and I went to the Oscars this year because my husband was in Moneyball. “And I saw Sacha about 30 feet in front of me on the red carpet and I thought, ‘I’m just going to avoid him for a little bit.” she laughs. During filming Baron Cohen prefers to say in character most of the time, which meant that the other actors would be interacting with The Dictator both on and off camera. “But when he wasn’t in character, Sacha is just incredibly lovely – he is so kind and considerate, he’s a family man who is devoted to his wife and his kids and his parents, and that’s always so nice to see. He is so incredibly successful, but he is a really lovely man.” Ms Faris starred in the massive box office hit Scary Movie in 2000 and established herself as one of the very best young actresses working in Hollywood. Her impressive film CV includes all three of the Scary Movie sequels, Just Friends, My Super Ex-Girlfriend, The House Bunny, Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel and What’s Your Number? On television, she starred as herself in Entourage and appeared in several episodes of the sitcom Friends. She is married to actor Chris Pratt. xx

Bressie

And Entourage On The Decks

Man of the moment Bressie was the talk of Tallaght recently when he DJ'd at hot new nightclub Entourage.

DJs playing here and there was a great atmosphere in the place. I'll look forward to coming back for more top music in the future."

The solo artist and winning judge on The Voice of Ireland set pulses racing as he spun out the tunes all night on Saturday, May 12.

Entourage regularly entertains a host of top DJs including resident DJ FM104's Ben Murray.

The newly refurbished club, formerly Level4, was thronged with clubbers eager to get a peek at the hunk and bust some moves to his tunes on the dancefloor.

The doors of Level4 closed earlier this year and re-opened as Entourage, in April, which boasts an updated sound and lighting system. It also has new vip club booths, party areas and two new bars including a brand new Mojito Bar as well as a new DJ box.

And he didin't disappoint! The interior has been softened and the overall experience is a lot more comfortable and female friendly as intended by the club's owners.

Despite struggling with a flu the 'Breaking My Fall' singer delighted the crowds with hit after hit and as the night drew to an end nobody wanted to go home.

A spokesperson for the club said: "We have brought the venue in to this decade with a fresh new look, new name and new feel. There are new djs and performers, a new way of booking and new staff and management. It's the complete package and we encourage everyone out there to try it - you won't look back!"

One clubber told InTallaght: "It was a great night to be fair. He's a good DJ and the club is looking super. Everything from the new decor to the smaller touches like the fire behind the DJ box. There are some great xx

VA VA VOOM

We Take A Look At The New Renault Laguna Coúpe ‘Collection 2012’

hree years after its launch, Laguna Coupé is poised to make news early next year when the 'Collection 2012' versions are due to reach the market. The latest Laguna Coupé was revealed at the Bologna Motor Show in Italy (which runs until December 11) and features a brand new lighting signature with LED daytime running lights now fitted as standard.

can be ordered with one of three petrol engines: - the F4Rt (2.0t), which is available in a choice of two power outputs (170 or 205hp), and the V6 3.5 240, which is mated to an automatic transmission.

New 17-inch diamond-effect alloy wheels are standard from the entry equipment level, too, while the Pearlescent White exterior finish, which contributed to the success of the former limited edition Monaco GP version, can now be specified for the GT 4Control and Initiale equipment levels. Meanwhile, availability of a two-tone livery featuring a Pearlescent Black roof combined with all the catalogue's metallic finishes has been extended to the include the GT 4Control version. More than ever, these new styling appointments highlight the elegance and sportiness of Renault's high-end coupé. Inside the cabin, the impression of refinement is heightened by the now standard visible dashboard stitching. Mixed TEP/fabric upholsteries are also available for all versions. Fewer emissions thanks to the new 2.0 Energy dCi 150engine (118g/km). Depending on market, Laguna Coupé

The range also features two diesel engines: - the M9R (2.0 dCi), available in a choice of three power outputs (150, 175 or 180hp), and the 240-horsepower V9X (V6 3.0 dCi). All these diesel engines are available with a diesel particulate filter and comply with Euro5 legislation. They are mated to either a six-speed manual or automatic transmission for a blend of driving enjoyment and sporty performance. 4Control chassis: an innovation exclusive to Renault Laguna: This ingenious system was developed by Renault Sport Technologies and is standard equipment for Renault Laguna Coupé GT 4Control (optional for the Monaco GP and Initiale versions). This ground-breaking innovation targets customers looking to benefit from the advantages of four-wheel steering. In addition to delivering the sort of agility associated with city cars (same turning circle as a Clio), the 4Control chassis brings the additional stability and road holding expected of a sporting car, not to mention unrivalled safety through its obstacle avoidance, braking on inconsistent, slippery conditions and optimised ESC.

Ten years since the last installment, Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones reprise their roles as Agent J and Agent K in Men In Black III. J has seen some inexplicable things in his 15 years with the Men in Black, but nothing, not even aliens, perplexes him as much as his wry, reticent partner. When K’s life and the fate of the planet are put at stake, Agent J will have to travel back in time to put things right. J discovers that there are secrets to the universe that K never told him – secrets that will reveal themselves as he teams up with the young Agent K (Josh Brolin) to save his partner, the agency, and the the future of humankind. The film's premise was first proposed to director Barry Sonnenfeld by Will Smith during the filming of Men in Black II in 2002, with Smith suggesting that his character, Agent J,

travel back in time to save his partner, Agent K, while at the same time exploring Agent K's backstory. Sonnenfeld said the idea "turned out to be a very long process of development, mainly because of the knotting issues of time travel...." When asked what the chemistry was like between Will and Josh Brolin - who plays a younger version of Agent K - he said: ''The relationships are incredibly strong. From Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones, between Will Smith and Josh Brolin and I think we also have more action in 'Men In Black III’ than in 'Men In Black' and 'Men In Black 2.' Also, more aliens and more magic. ''The audiences will be amused, amazed and also moved. I think if we can do all of those three things then we'll have a really successful movie.

''We wanted the movie to be both familiar and different. We wanted to bring Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones back together again but we also wanted something new and inventive, and that came in the time travel element.'' Barry believes Josh's performance in the movie was so impressive that the audience won't even notice when the 44-year-old actor's portrayal of Agent K ends and Tommy's begins. Release Date: May 25, 2012 Director:

Barry Sonnenfeld

Starring:

Will Smith Tommy Lee Jones Josh Brolin

Genre:

Action/Comedy/Sci-Fi

At the best of times Sacha Baron Cohen’s humour is a hard pill to swallow – The Dictator is no exception. A movie about a foreign leader in the United States, General Admiral Aladeen (Baron Cohen) is shafted by his right hand man, Tahir (Ben Kingsley) in an attempted assassination after which he is encouraged to address the United Nations in the hope that another assassination will succeed – it doesn’t and Aladeen is thrown to the streets and replaced by a brainless body double who will sign his North African nation, Wadiya, over to a democracy on his behalf. Beardless and almost unrecogniseable on the streets of New York he sets about getting back into position in enough time to tear up the democratic agreement and keep his country under the dictatorship it has suffered for many years previous. An early torture scene where he ridicules his captor’s tools as outdated brings easy laughs as does, at other points, the background music – REM’s Everybody Hurts and Marvin Gaye’s Let’s Get It On – both sung in Aladeen’s native tongue. But not everything is so funny. An awkward scene where Aladeen and his comrade take a tourist’s helicopter flight over the city with an American couple is as cringe-worthy as it remains inappropriate. Both men, speaking in their native tongue are discussing the fact that the real, ‘un-dead’, Osama Bin Laden is still crashing at Aladeen’s palace. The only words the American’s can understand are Bin Laden’s name. Then Aladeen begins to speak about his Porsche 911 and the fact that he crashed it – again all the tourists can understand is 911 until, in doing an impression of the car exploding, he mentions the new series – 911,2012 much to the horror of his fellow passengers. It ends in arrest and Aladeen’s new love interest, an extreme left-wing health food store owner, who is oblivious to who he really is, coming to the rescue. A second, more stomach-churning scene, sees Aladeen deliver a baby on the shop floor. The phrase too much information was made for a scene like this. Not only do we watch a woman writhing in pain as he misplaces his hand on more than one occasion, the camera angle takes you to places you will never want to see again. Highly inappropriate at times, disgusting and horrifying – it’s everything you will have come to expect from a Baron Cohen production but the saving grace is a solid storyline, well-thought out gags, some of which you will hate yourself for laughing at, and a sub-plot of love. I have to admit when I was laughing, I was laughing hard. Other times I was questioning how many scenes even got the go ahead. In a world where terrorism is rife and based in a city hardest hit by the regimes and beliefs of its enemies it’s hard to believe that such implications are acceptable but perhaps making light of things is how some get through. One thing is for sure – The Dictator will have a fan base. I’m just not sure how many will take the DVD, when it gets that far, home with them. 31

Sacha Baron Cohen as General Admiral Aladeen

by Emer Mulvaney

mes, o c tone, g s o f a a s l l o “Se rr like a rive it rolls over me.”

Nothing Strange About

Keane’s New Offering ‘something creeping in under our door, silence soaking through the floor.’ The tale of a relationship breakdown - the glue binding two together.

From the first chord played on Strangeland a feeling of satisfaction washed over me. Something was different, something was old skool. Keane are back.

And that’s what Keane does best. Connects with the listener in tracks that flit between being lively and gentle but always full of meaning.

You Are Young, the first track on the album is the first indication that the band, which shot to mainstream fame in 2004 with its debut album Hopes And Fears, has done a U-turn and returned to what works best and Strangeland – for this reason – is a treat.

Lead singer Tom Chaplin, having sold over 10 million albums worldwide to date with the band, is unstoppable.

Silenced By The Night has been hitting the airwaves of late and will ring bells with avid radio listeners previous fans or not. For those who played Hopes And Fears constantly – even after Under The Iron Sea was released – the ‘back in the day’ sense will kick in almost immediately.

The mellow Sea Fog is the last track on the record and is arguably the most beautiful song on there.

It’s a stripped back album with songs which are as much about the lyrics as the music. In Disconnected most of us will identify with the feeling of

It’s the mental image painted by a beautiful voice whispering sweet nothings in your ear that will leave this album on repeat in many a household.

“Sea fog comes, like a river rolls a stone, it rolls over me.”

Catchy But Childish

by Emer Mulvaney

It’s a good job every one of The Saturdays is beautiful with a silky smooth voice because their lyrics aren’t going to win them any awards.

A love-struck teen would come up with something better than this…. unless…. No…. Unless they wrote it themselves?!

The new single 30 Days is a dance number that, admittedly, is catchy but the wording of which is childish and painful.

The backing track is the saving grace and the reason that people will undoubtedly get onto the dancefloor in the clubs over the coming weeks. It’s an innocent tune which repeats itself over and over throughout the three minutes and twelve seconds but there’s always a silver lining – it won’t take too much time to get into a position where you are able to sing along – if you’re bothered.

“30 days to us, 30 days to love. One month, four weeks too many hours. Each day you’re not here feels like a thousand years, need a magician to make time disappear.” 33

by Keith Cashin One of the biggest names in gaming at the moment, Bethesda Softworks; the creators of Skyrim, have another ground-breaking game in development. This new project is a first person, stealth action game called 'Dishonored' and is set in a Neo-Victorian/Steampunk city called Dunwall. The city is an 'open-world' so you will be able to roam the city at-will. Art Director Viktor Antonov, who came up with Half-Life 2 City 17, designed Dunwall. You play as Corvo, a once-trusted bodyguard for the Empress. Corvo was framed for her murder after she died in his arms. While awaiting trial in a dungeon prison he is visited by a shadowed stranger known only as 'The Outsider'. Part Angel and part Demon, he grants Corvo his 'Mark' as a gift. This mark turns Corvo from a bodyguard to an infamous assassin, who is known for his disturbing mask that fills his enemies with fear. Corvo received the power of magic through this mark and being an ex-bodyguard means he acts as a well rounded swordsman and marksman. Some of the powers transferred to Corvo include; the ability to teleport short

distances for a stealth approach, the power to possess any living creature and the ability to stop time â&#x20AC;&#x201C; which makes for some stunning executions. If you choose to play the game without killing a single person, that option is available. Any enemy can be knocked out, even boss enemies. The designers of the project have called 'Dishonored' a 'simulation'. For example, if you come across a group of thugs trying to mug someone you can stop them. The interesting part is that the thugs will exist in the game prior to the mugging, so if you happen to come across them and defeat them the mugging will never take place. This can make for some very interesting and varied game play. At the up coming game convention 'E3', Bethesda will be a Major Exhibitor, which means there is a possibility that more information about Dishonored will be released. Dishonored is scheduled for release in October 2012 on Xbox 360, Playstation 3 and Microsoft Windows. Release Date: October 2012 Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Genre: First-person stealth action www.dishonored.com 34

The Would Be's

The raglans

Kila

thedeaminutes

OriginalRudeboys

JAPE

sheridan ryan the kanyu

Bipolar Empire THE

Ireland v Spain: Euro 2012

Walls The Frank &Wal ters

FRED

d school

tree

royseven thesawdoctors KEYWEST

www.l iveatleopardstown.com

Racing& Concert â&#x201A;Ź15

NINE SUMMER EVENINGS OF FESTIVAL FUN, GREAT FOOD AND THRILLING RACING FOLLOWED BY a LIVE CONCERT UNDER COVER IN THE BIG TOP

book now at www.liveatleopardstown.com only 20 minutes by luas from the city centre supported by

I picked up this book for two reasons, I liked the cover and it had a large sticker on the front proclaiming: ‘JOHN BANVILLE – writing as Benjamin Black’. John Banville first came to my attention in 2005 when his novel ‘The Sea’ won the Booker Prize. I tend to like books that refer to themselves as ‘Literary Fiction’, so I look out for books that have been shortlisted (or even longlisted) for the big prizes. I really enjoyed ‘The Sea’ when I read it a few years ago. However, there is a reason this book was released under his pen name, Benjamin Black. He writes his Benjamin Black crime fiction much more quickly than he composes his literary novels, and he appreciates his work as Black as a craft, while as Banville he is an artist. He considers crime writing, in his own words, as being "cheap fiction". ‘The Lemur’ is ostensibly a thriller. It is a short book but packed with suspense and intrigue. Banville has a lovely turn of phrase and is an excellent author, whichever style he uses. John Glass's life in New York should be plenty comfortable. He's given up his career as a journalist to write an authorized biography of his father-in-law, communications magnate and former CIA agent Big Bill Mulholland. He works in a big office in Mulholland Tower, rent-free, and goes home (most nights) to his wealthy and well-preserved wife, Wild Bill's daughter. He misses his old life sometimes, but all in all things have turned out well.

But when his shifty young researcher--a man he calls "The Lemur"-- turns up some unflattering information about the family, Glass's whole easy existence is threatened. Then the young man is murdered, and it's up to Glass to find out what The Lemur knew, and who killed him, before any secrets come out--and before any other bodies appear. Shifting from 1950s Dublin to contemporary New York, the masterful crime writer Benjamin Black returns in this standalone thriller-a story of family secrets so deep, and so dangerous, that anyone might kill to keep them hidden. The plot leaves a lot to the imagination, but I sometimes enjoy that uncertainty. ‘The Lemur’ is short, but well-paced and pitched and finely pared. It would be a fantastic palate-cleanser after having slogged through something long and sprawling. As with most books I get absorbed by, I wished it went on for longer but not because I was left feeling unsatisfied. The book moves at a quick pace as Glass stumbles about looking for answers. Glass is a rather likeable protagonist and Banville weaves a good tale. He manages the twists and turns of a mysterly novel adeptly, and while the killer may seem obvious at the start, not all is as it seems. About The Author William John Banville writes as John Banville and sometimes as Benjamin Black, is an Irish novelist, adapter of dramas, and screenwriter. He is recognised for his precise, cold, forensic prose style, inventiveness, and for the dark humour of his generally arch narrators.

My sister Joan and her family lived in our parlour while they waited for a house from the Corporation. When she got a house in Tallaght, we got the bus up to have a look at it. Walking from the bus stop in the village across the bridge behind H. Williams supermarket, we could almost reach out and touch the purple and blue mountains. Most of the houses sat empty, waiting for families to move in. Our voices echoed in the empty paint fumed rooms. I didn't like the way there was a gap between each step of the stairs. My legs felt wobbly and my stomach like jelly when I walked up.

I'd never seen a bathroom downstairs in a house before. I didn't like the idea of that,having to go down in the dark in the middle of the night to go to the loo. Joanâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bedroom had a built in wardrobe in the corner. One of my sisters pushed me in and closed the door and they ran down the stairs laughing. I was raging. The neighbours had already moved in to the house at the back.With no curtains on the window, we could see them in the kitchen having their tea. Feeling hungry ourselves, we headed home. The next day, Joan and her little family were gone. The parlour was one big empty space.

Long gone, Here in my memory, All my love, That's what you take from me.

I'm never lost, Because I still feel you here, In memories, in dreams, Kept ever near.

Though you're beneath, Though we're apart, You live on, In my heart,

Close forever, I know the truth, What you wordlessly said, "I love you".

The bed was gone. The wardrobe I used to hide in when I was on the hop from school gone. The baby's cot, gone. I tried to hold back the tears as I hoovered the carpet before Da moved the sofa in. I noticed deep grooves left by the feet of the wardrobe. Two hours away at the foot of the Dublin Mountains, Joan had begun filling her own empty spaces. Trish Nugent attends a creative writing course in Tallaght Library and is a member of Platform One writers group in Rua Red.

Laura Sheridan is from Kilnamanagh. Sheâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a student from St. Pauls Secondary School and has been writinf since she was in Primary School

How To Get Rid Of Slugs Container grown plants, such as hostas, which are prone to slug damage, may be protected by coating the rim of the pot with vaseline. The slugs wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t crawl through it. Tidy up any remaining leaves and general garden rubbish. It's home to slugs, snails, vine weevil and woodlice and can introduce disease and infection into your garden. This will help reduce suitable slug hiding places. Place beer traps around the edges of garden beds. These can be made from yoghurt cartons for slugs to crawl into. Place old beer or milk in the pot; sink into the ground with the top just above ground level. Slugs do not like crawling over copper so pot plants can be protected by placing copper tape around the pots. Make sure the slugs cannot reach your pot plants by crawling up drooping stems or leaves. Raise new seedlings indoors and plant out when they are bigger and more able to sustain attack. Slug-killing products containing aluminium sulphate and ferrous phosphate are thought to have minimal impact on wildlife.

Aluminium sulphate dissolves in water so will not last long in showery weather. Ferrous sulphate will have a longer-lasting effect. Get Planting If you didn't get a chance to plant your trees and shrubs late last autumn, to get established before the onset of winter, then it's nearing that time of year when the ground is free from hard frosts. They can be planted out now or as soon as they become available at garden centres and nurseries. Try tochoose the ones with the freshest or plumpest buds, as these are raring to get growing. A good handful of general-purpose plant food, even the pellet form of chicken manure dug well in the bottom of the hole will help feed your new addition to your garden. Large trees will benefit from the addition of a length of garden hose being buried alongside their roots to help watering in long dry spells. Plant Or Move Roses They like plenty of sun and a clay soil. Leave 60cm (24in) between plants to allow air circulation, which will help reduce the chance of infection. To find out if the soil is ready to be worked, lift up a handful and squeeze. Does it ball up or fall apart in your hand? If water

trickles out, or if it keeps its shape when squeezed again, then it's too wet to work. Mix perlite in with the potting compost in patio planters and hanging baskets. It absorbs moisture when water is plentiful and releases it when the compost is dry. When planting bare rooted trees and shrubs, spread the roots out like an umbrella, twisted roots stunt growth. As you cover the roots with soil shake the plant from time to time to allow the soil to drop down well between them. Water well after planting. Put support stakes in before you plant a new tree to avoid the possibility of damaging the roots. Horsetail, bindweed, dandelions and other perennial weeds are growing now. Dig out their roots and make sure they do not set seed and spread. Remove the dead flower heads from hydrangeas to allow the new shoots to take their place. Clay pots which have suffered from frost damage can still be used. Lay them on their side and half fill with soil. Plants such as sedums will look natural growing out of the container

“Pensions Don’t Work.” A statement I have heard from colleagues and friends more and more often of late. After a recent presentation I made at a networking event someone repeated this exact statement with vigour. As it happens, I hadn't mentioned Pensions at all in the presentation, so I was very curious to try to understand why I had evoked this reaction.

Ask yourself honestly, have I ever asked my adviser or provider where my money is invested? If yes, did you stay with that question until you understood fully what was happening to it and where it was being invested? If so, great! It has been my experience however that very few ever ask that question. Some pensions were set up a long time ago and have never been changed.

The reason, unsurprisingly, was that this particular person had lost a significant value in their pension over the recent past. Understandably they were very upset with the result – who wouldn’t be?!

It may surprise you to know that you can decide the investment mix of your pension, without changing the policy.

When people invest for their future in the form of a pension we trust that the money which comes out of our paycheck every month will be there for us when the time comes. After all the effort of storing that money away over years, in a twinkle, and through no fault of our own, it’s reduced.

All the providers have an extensive list of investments to suit the very cautious investor right through to the real risk-taker. If you haven't looked at your pension in a while, why not do so today.

There are a number of reasons that this has happened and not all of them could have been avoided by you, the pension holder.

In some cases, your provider will provide you web access to the fund details and accommodate changing the mix at no cost to you.

However, most people don’t take ownership of their Pensions. We pay out money that we have worked very hard for, to financial firms, we place our trust in them, then walk away and leave them to get on with it.

The pension market may have taken a hit in recent times, and though we can only look to the future in terms of what we can do about it, making yourself informed about where your money is and what it is doing can be one of the most empowering personal finance tools available, and that too is free.

Our expectation is that they will make sure it is invested well, they are the experts afterall and we never ask what exactly is happening with our money.

As always, make sure to ask for independent advice from a professional adviser to ensure that you are as informed as possible about the myriad of options available to you.

Often times it's easy to tell ourselves that we don't ask because it is difficult to understand. Perhaps we don't want to get blinded by the science of it all. Yes, pensions can be complicated things, and difficult to understand. However your needs are not. It is your money. You want your money to be safe, secure, well-minded for you, so that it will be there when you need it.

Ignorance is bliss, but knowledge is power.