InTallaght EDITION 67

FOREWORD

W

elcome to Edition 67 of InTallaght

We’re feeling a little magical over here in InTallaght Towers, not just because of the short bout of glorious sunshine, but also due to our interview with Ireland’s greatest illusionist or selfconfessed “brain hacker�

Keith Barry. Fresh o his new show You’re Back in The Room, Keith has a lot lined up this year. His new stage show Out of Control will tour Ireland in October, with dates in the Olympia in Dublin.

Keith also told us about his experience working on the sequel to the movie Now You See Me, with Morgan Freeman – the only time Keith has been truly starstruck!

More locally, we also interviewed Apres Match’s Gary Cooke in advance of their show in the Civic Theatre on May 6th. Gary

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Coverstar Keith onset with his new famous friends

spills the beans on what the real Eamon Dunphy thinks about the show, as well as meeting Roy Keane after starring in I Keano.

Not only that, but we got an exclusive interview with Paddy Holohan on how and why he is bringing a new SBG gym to Tallaght.

Paddy told us that the new gym will have something for everyone and will not only teach people how to ďŹ ght, but to talk their way out of tense situations.

As usual, we also have the The Square Section enclosed to keep you up to date on all the happenings in the Centre, as well as entertainment, music and cinema.

As always, please get in touch if you have anything to share with us, or want to contribute to our magazine.

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ONLINE THROUGH

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Samuel Lam sam@intallaght.ie PHOTOGRAPHY Fergus McNally fergus@intallaght.ie George Kelly

Rachel Lynch rachel@intallaght.ie CONTRIBUTORS Colm O’Muiri Dee Maher Jack Madden Linn Heldal Gary White

CONTENTS 38

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News

Reviews

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News ‘Shadow the Mayor’ Initiative Launched In South Dublin

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Cinema Keanu Reeves returns to form as John Wick, an exassassin with a vengeance

40

Entertainment New Movie Featuring Love/Hate Actors

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Business News Eircom Refunds €700,000 For Loss Of Service

Music Glen Hansard’s new EP and Gemma Hayes single Palomino

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Tech We review UPC’s new service My Prime

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Games Wolfenstein: The Old Blood and The Witcher 3

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Motor Toyota’s new Aygo

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Book We review the New York Time’s Bestseller The Girl On The Train

Interviews 16

22

Keith Barry Keith talks to us about being a ‘brain hacker’ and why psychics are bad for business Gary Cooke Après Match’s comedian Gary tells us about the team coming to the Civic Theatre for a live show

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SQ NEWS The new play areas are open for all the kids visiting the Square BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT A look at the new El Gringo Burrito and Insomnia on Level 1 COMPETITION Colour your way to win a Square Gift card SQ FASHION The latest styles from H&M and DV8

Sport 54

Sports News Paddy Holohan tells us about his new SBG gym to launch in Tallaght

56

InRovers Commemoration of Ray Treacy

Culture 60

RUA RED Telling Lies exhibition by Paul McAree

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Writers’ Corner Gary White writes about making life decisions in Wild Night

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Events

NEWS Schools Summer Building Works Schools in Firhouse, Kilnamanagh and Tymon are in line for building improvements which will be carried out over the summer break, according to Independent Senator Katherine Zappone. The schools have been included in the Department of Education summer works programme with local students, parents and staff to enjoy the benefits when classes return in September.

Senator Zappone said the work involved should improve classroom environments. “Students of Scoil Treasa Firhouse and St Kevin’s Boys School in Kilnamanagh should be returning to classrooms which are not only more comfortable but which will also save on heating bills, in line with the philosophy of both schools to conserve energy.”

Meanwhile second level Coláiste De hIde in Tymon will have structural works carried out over the break. The work has been scheduled for the holidays so as to minimise any disruption to school life.

Winner Of Hennesy’s New Irish Writing For Poetry A previous winner of the Red Line Book Festival Poetry Competition in 2013 has also won this month’s Hennessy News Irish Writing For Poetry. The winner, Victoria Kennefick is a poet, teacher and actor and hails from Cork. Her winning poem Lent envisions the struggle to wait to eat Easter Eggs, something we all know about.

Victoria was a recipient of a Fulbright Scholarship in 2007 and completed her PhD in Literature at University College Cork in 2009.

Victoria was also shortlisted for the Melita Hume Poetry Prize 2014.

Local Housing Authority Allocated €73,255 The local housing authority in South Dublin has been allocated €73,255 as part of the Government’s €3.8 billion social housing strategy announced last November to 2020.

Fine Gael Senator for Dublin South-West, Cáit Keane said, “In South Dublin, €75,255.53 has been allocated to the County Council for local authority housing. It is estimated that this funding will meet 23% of the housing need in South Dublin

which will go a long way towards reducing the waiting list. This is not even including the Housing Assistance Payment which will help to further reduce demand on our housing waiting list.”

Senator Keane also said that this funding will help to create and sustain jobs in the construction sector which was so badly affected by the economic crash of recent years.

NEWS Crowe Supports Amendments To Lone Parents Allowance Policy Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe has welcomed his colleague Aengus Ó’Snodaigh’s initiative in including an amendment to the Social Welfare Bill, that aims to call off the scheduled cuts to the Lone Parent’s Allowance. The amendment proposes to raise the cut-off age for the allowance to children of 12 years (instead of seven).

Crowe said that if the Government and Minister Burton were really serious

about supporting lone parent families or getting them back in to work or education, then their supports need to be kept in place and not shredded or ripped apart.

Deputy Crowe said, “The latest cut proposed drops the allowance age from 10 to seven years, and is due to begin on July 2nd. This will result in thousands of lone parents suffering a huge financial loss, with 12,000 lone parents experiencing

losses of up to €86 a week.

This reduction in the weekly income of lone parent families will have serious consequences on their family income and their children.”

Crowe also highlighted that Central Statistics Office figures show that 63% of lone parent families are currently living without basic necessities, and there is a growing increase in homelessness among these families.

‘Shadow The Mayor’ Initiative Launched In South Dublin

More Teaching Resources For Children With Down Syndrome

Mayor of South Dublin and Sinn Féin Councillor for Templeogue-Terenure Fintan Warfield has launched an initiative called ‘Shadow the Mayor’, providing transition year students from South Dublin County with an opportunity to apply for workplace experience in the Mayor’s office.

“At the Mayor’s youth conference held in RUARED at the beginning of March, young people stressed the need for meaningful work experience during secondary education,” said Mayor Fintan Warfield. “During their week, the transition year student will have an opportunity to experience the democratic process at

Minister for Education and Skills, Jan O’Sullivan announced in late March that additional teaching resources are to be allocated for children with Down Syndrome.

The Minister has agreed that additional resources will be allocated to schools as an interim measure to support those children wi with Down syndrome, who are not already supported th through the National Council for Special Co Education’s (NCSE) annual Ed all allocation process.

Fine Gael Senator for Dublin South-West, Cáit Keane welcomed the announcement and said,

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first hand, attend events alongside the Mayor, write speaking notes, prepare motions and questions, engage with the press and work on local issues.”

The scheme runs from April 13th to 22nd, with a total of six young people receiving a week’s work experience with the Mayor.

“I am very pleased that this measure is being introduced in recognition of the length of time it will take to introduce the new resource teacher model which was recommended by the NCSE. Under the interim measure schools will receive 2.5 resource teacher hours per week for each qualifying child.”

Senator Keane continued, “Children with Down Syndrome will greatly benefit from these additional resources in terms of personal and educational development and I commend the Minister upon this decision.”

NEWS 54% Of Dublin South West Support Marriage Equality

TCC Announces Tallafest 15 Over half of Dublin South West voters support Marriage Equality according to a survey of over 1,000 people who were asked their opinion during canvassing

by Independent Senator Katherine Zappone and her supporters.

Senator Zappone called it a “wake-up call” for campaigners as undecided voters will decide the outcome of the referendum and said that there is no room for complacency with almost a third of voters canvassed in Tallaght, Rathfarnham and Citywest during a four-week period still undecided.

The polling of public opinion took place between Feb 23rd and Mar 26th.

Senator Zappone said, “We have an opportunity over the next seven weeks to inspire voters to seize the opportunity to ensure that everyone in love is treated equally in the eyes of the law.” The Senator canvassed in SuperValu Rathfarnham, Citywest Shopping Centre and at the Yellow House Pub, Rathfarnham as well as in The Square Shopping Centre.

The voluntary Tallaght Community Council (TCC) has confirmed that the third Tallafest – a summer festival, celebrating the arts, heritage and culture of urban and rural Tallaght – will return to Tallaght village this August, just in time to celebrate Heritage Week in Tallaght. As usual, this event is free for all the family.

The festival program includes all the favourites for the family – imaginative play for the kids, a live performance stage, puppet shows, storytelling, face-painters, art classes, guided nature walks, a writers workshop and craft workshops.

The festival will highlight eras of Tallaght heritage in an interactive way - the famous Leinster road racing, the famous village buildings of TJ Burns, tower climbs of the medieval St Maelruains and live history demos from the Ice age to 1916.

This year will also boast a World Record Breaking attempt in relay racing and a Tallaght Bake-off.

TCC is calling for registrations of interest for the following festival positions: • Festival performers (magicians, dancers, children entertainers) • Event stewards • Market stall holders (crafts, non perishable goods), • Food vendors – mix of tasty, gourmet, ethnic and artisan food stuffs • Car or bike enthusiasts • Artists (for two special festival projects requiring experience in woodwork, painting & sewing) • Community groups info/promotion stalls • Balloon mascots for the opening ceremony (100 kids aged between 3 and 12) The festival is run by community volunteers and the costs are covered through sponsorship. Supporters or Sponsors are always welcome. All interested groups and people should register on www.tallafest.ie Follow them on Facebook or Twitter for updates on the 2015 festival program throughout the Summer.

april 2015 // 13

COVER STORY

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Magic Man Padraig Conlon spoke to Ireland’s favourite mentalist Keith Barry about what it takes to be the best in the game

K

eith Barry probably knows how this interview is going to go before I even dial his mobile number. As the phone rings I’m imagining a control freak mindbender is just about to answer the other end of the line. Imagine my surprise when he says, “Can you call me back in 15 minutes please I’m just in a meeting?” Straight away my mind starts to wander; what kind of a meeting does a mentalist go to? This is a guy after all who hypnotised a man to want to carry out a political assassination, escaped from a straight jacket while suspended 100 feet in the air and scared the bejaysus out of Bad M********r Samuel L. Jackson. Are these delay tactics also some kind of mind games?

Alas when I call back he is perfectly pleasant and friendly, and not at all the creepy mentalist head banger I’d imagined! We start by discussing his latest TV show You’re Back in The Room, which has come in for some criticism, however Keith is “delighted” with it. He says, “The ratings are huge – over four million for ITV and TV3 have gone over the 200,000 mark, which is bigger than Ant and Dec so I’m delighted. There are already other countries interested in the format so I’m really excited about that.”

In spite of the great ratings, the show has come in for some serious criticism from viewers and hypnotherapists alike, so what does Keith think about some of what is being said? “Most of the ones (hypnotherapists) who commented are probably just saying things to

make themselves seem relevant. Also they’re probably not very busy so it’s a way for them to get themselves a bit of attention!” I put it to him that maybe hypnotherapists have no sense of humour?! “Yeah probably! The haters can hate, those who enjoy it can enjoy it. It’s a light-hearted show, the reaction has been huge. There has been controversy but people are entitled to their opinion.

“As a certified hypnotist with the National Guild of Hypnotists, I can understand the concern of some hypnotherapists with regards ‘stage hypnosis’. There is obviously a huge difference between using hypnosis as a therapy and using hypnosis as entertainment. With that show I simply used hypnosis to allow people to relax their conscious minds, and ignite their subconscious minds which is where their imaginations are controlled from. All the participants enjoyed their hypnotic experience.”

“”

I want to help audiences escape their problems for a while, and remember what it is like to be a kid again.

Basic Beginnings He laughs when I tell him I remember seeing him perform in The Kitchen Nightclub in the late 90’s. “Wow, that’s a long time ago now! It was a lot of fun back then, I was there every Friday night doing magic, I was just starting out and it was all very exciting.” At the time the fledging showman was working as a cosmetic technician in Bray “inventing women’s makeup” – a job he hated. He’d graduated with a Science Degree from UCG a couple of years before but performing in front of big crowds of people was where he wanted to be at, not “swanning around a lab in a white coat standing over a three ton batch of cream.”

His first foray into the world of magic was when he received a gift of a Paul Daniels Magic Kit for Christmas when he was five years old. By the time he was 14 he was hooked. “That’s when I really started to take magic seriously. Then I started learning hypnosis as well at around the same time. When I studied Psychology in college I started to mix psychology with my magic and my hypnotism, and I’ve been a full-time entertainer since then when I was 23.”

Since those first tentative steps in The Kitchen his career has skyrocketed and he is one of this country’s most successful exports to the USA. In 2006 US Channel CBS offered him his own show on the strength of his MTV programme Brainwashed. Appearances on the Ellen Degeneres and Jimmy Kimmel shows further cemented april 2015 // 17

COVER STORY his success stateside and in 2009 he was awarded the prestigious Merlin Award for ‘Mentalist of the Year 2009’ from the International Magicians Society. The Merlin Award is to magic what the Oscars are to movies so it was quite the accolade. That same year he was also crowned ‘Best Magician in Las Vegas’. He has become a popular fixture at A-list Hollywood events and is now a member of the Vegas elite of David Copperfield, Siegfried and Roy, Lance Burton and Penn& Teller after he became the first Irishman ever to headline his own show on the famous Las Vegas strip.

Keith says that as a child David Copperfield was a big inspiration to him. “Since I was six or seven I’ve been watching his specials, him walking through the Great Wall of China, or making the Statue of Liberty disappear. He is amazing, I’ve been lucky to meet him and he’s a cool guy. David Blaine is crazy, nuts, weird, a sound guy. I’ve been for drinks, dinner, with him and he’s great company. Darren Brown and Dynamo would be others I’d really admire as well. There’s no competition, as far as I’m concerned anyway, there’s plenty of room for all of us.”

I tell him I really enjoyed his 2011 Discovery Channel series Deception with Keith Barry which he graciously thanks me for. He says, “I really enjoyed the stunt I did with Nicole Scherzinger on that show, it was great fun taking her out in my car for a spin around the hills in Hollywood while I was blindfolded! Her reaction was brilliant, she never stopped screaming the whole way through.”

He’s also now a world renowned YouTube sensation, having performed tricks on the likes of Charlize Theron, Lindsay Lohan and the Pussycat Dolls.

I’d recommend readers check out his mental trick on Samuel L. Jackson which left the Hollywood legend genuinely freaked out.

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“”

There’s always the pressure, I’ve never considered this a job.

Mental Mind Control Keith tells me the most startling thing he’s learned about the human mind during his career: “That you can hypnotise people to do things that are totally against their morals. It was previously believed that you couldn’t get people to do stuff against their will or that they really didn’t want to do. Well I proved in one of the episodes of Deception that it is possible to hypnotise someone against their morals and their values and actually create a real live sleeper agent. In other words, it’s possible to hypnotise somebody to become an assassin. I studied the CIA project MK Ultra that began in the 1950’s. I repeated their experiments and what I found was quite frightening. It is possible, believe it or not, to actually hypnotise people to become sleeper agents.”

While Keith usually goes by the job title of a mentalist or a hypnotist, he has also been described as a ‘brain hacker’. Keith explains where the term came from: “I coined that term myself! I see the brain exactly like a computer. You’ve got a hard drive, you’ve got software that goes in there, sometimes you’ve got viruses that go in. Just as some computers can be very difficult to hack into, some brains are really difficult to hack into. There are obviously hundreds of thousands of pieces of information in a computer, but it’s the same in our brains, there are hundreds of thousands of pieces of information we’re not even aware of, because they’re stored subconsciously rather than consciously.”

After so long at the top of his game does he feel pressure to stay there? “There’s always the pressure, I’ve never considered this a job. I’m always researching new mind illusions, researching the brain. I love what I do so it doesn’t feel like a job. I have a work ethic that is all I need to give it everything so when I’m working it’s 18-hour days writing, re-writing, filming, researching and experimenting. Inspiration comes from all different areas – for a live show for example, I’ll sit in my office and do a ton of research on things that inspire me and that I enjoy, and it follows on from there. The last show was all about the brain, the power of the unconscious mind. One of the shows before that was about the occult, ouija and witchcraft. You don’t feel pressure if you love what you do.

I want to help audiences escape their problems for a while, and remember what it is like to be a kid again.”

Tricky Techniques So as a specialist in illusion, what’s Keith’s favourite trick? “At the Winterval festival in Waterford last year I did a Harry Houdini inspired trick where I was suspended 100 ft upside down in a straight jacket. As a Houdini fan I love to do stuff like that and everyone enjoyed it which makes it even more satisfying. All the hard work and the long hours are worth it just to see the shock in the faces of those in the audience.”

While Keith enjoys ‘performing’ on stage, he has waged a well publicised war on psychics over the last few years, but does he still feel as strongly about them? “I’m bored with it at this stage to be honest. They use similar skills as illusionists, and I’ve no problem with that, my problem is that psychics prey on the vulnerable of society. They look like they’re contacting the other side, but they’re not, they’re interfering with the natural grieving process that

KEITH BARRY

april 2015 // 19

COVER STORY

“”

I’d like to work with Conor McGregor. I like his discipline, his wildness, his passion, it’s brilliant, we need more of that.

everyone has to go through. The thing is, if you believe, you believe. A friend of mine and her friends regularly go and see a psychic, who gives them career advice, love advice, etc and they all take it. It’s crazy stuff. They’re living their life by what someone else says. I said to her, “Just do me a favour, read this book. It’s called The Full Facts of Cold Reading, by Ian Rowland. I gave her the book, and she had it for a year but never opened a page of it, because people just want to believe. I think it’s quite damaging. If you want to go to a psychic act for fun then tthat’s OK, but if you’re living your life bby what the psychic says then there’s a lot going on that’s wrong there.”

With it being Easter week w (this interview took place on Holy H Thursday) I ask does he tthink Jesus was the world’s greatest illusionist? il “He could’ve been, I’m n not completely sure. I’m not an atheist, II’m agnostic, I don’t know whether there is an afterlife or not, but it’s a good story sto and I certainly believe he could’ve could been a magician, it’s far more likely lik than he rose from the dead. I’m comfortable c saying, ‘I don’t know’.”

Keith is also a motivational speaker who’s worked with some top level sportspeo sportspeople, obviousl obviously he’d rather not say who they are, just th that they come from eevery type of sport sport. However he d does reveal who he would like to work wit with. “Conor M McGregor.

I llike his d discipline, his w wildness, his p passion, it’s bbrilliant, we n need more of that. I think he could do

with hypnosis, even if it gives him the smallest edge.”

Keith has also just finished up working on the sequel to the heist movie Now You See Me (he also worked on the first film) with Woody Harrelson, Morgan Freeman and Michael Caine where he was the lead ‘Magic and Mentalist’ consultant.

He says, “I was four months doing it, four months based on that movie and it was a great experience which I really enjoyed but it was hard work as well, 12 to 16 hours a day on set, long hours but I was getting to work with two Oscar winners. It was amazing to meet Morgan Freeman. I rarely get starstruck but that was one occasion where I did. They were filming a scene that I happened to be around for and Woody introduced me to him, he said ‘Hey Morgan this is Keith, he can read your mind’ and Morgan’s first words to me were, ‘I challenge you to read my mind,’ which put me under a bit of pressure. So I did a whole mind reading experiment with him and he was a fantastic man. He’s a bit of a wind-up merchant as well. At the end of the experiment his reaction was brilliant, he said it was un-f*****g-believable.”

Keith will be touring Ireland later in the year with his new show Out of Control, something he’s really looking forward to. “It’s gonna be my 13th theatre show, it’s gonna be exciting and different from my last show Brain Hacker which was all about the brain and the power of the unconscious mind. This time I’m going to do the first half as mentalism, based in comedy, and then the second half will be hypnosis. I’ve also got more work coming up on TV3 and I’ll be going to Australia to do some shows as well.

It’s going to be a packed year but I’m delighted because performing live is what I love to do the most.”

Tickets are now available for Out of Control on ticketmaster.ie for October 16th and 17th.

INTERVIEW

Cooke’s Corner Padraig Conlon spoke to Après Match’s Gary Cooke about his upcoming show in the Civic Theatre and his return to I Keano seven years on.

G

ary Cooke is a writer and actor, best known as one-third of the Après Match triumvirate on which he famously portrays Eamon Dunphy. Additionally in the just returned musical comedy I Keano, he plays Dunphia and Fergie the Hair Dryer God. Gary also appeared as one of the judges, Vernon Fentor, on the ITV/TV3 drama Rock Rivals, a series following the lives of two celebrity judges on an X Factor style show as their marriage falls apart. As well as that, he co-wrote and starred in the musical MacBecks and recently he has appeared as a writer and performer on TV in Irish Pictorial Weekly and On The Couch. I spoke with him ahead of the Après Match gig in The Civic Theatre on May 6th.

Gary Cooke is feeling flustered.

Prior to our chat he has been playing tennis in a place that resembles “the Apollo Spacecraft.” The weather is unseasonably warm and the fact that the building “looks like it’s made of bubble wrap” only made it even hotter on court. I tell him I hope he’ll be okay to do this interview. “I’m fine, I just have a bit of a habit of trying to push myself too far. I run around the court like a maniac, out of breath and checking my pulse, then the other players start to get alarmed and ask if I’m okay!”

Après Match is probably what Gary is best known for, and I tell him I can’t believe it’s nearly twenty years since they made their debut on RTÉ during the 1998 World Cup in France. He says, “I know, me neither.

It’s only a part time job though, we

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never wanted it to get over exposed.”

He appreciates how Après Match has given him the platform to go on to do other things and he has proved he’s not a one trick pony. I apologise before I ask him the question that he’s probably been asked a gazillion times; what do Bill, Eamon and John make of it all? Gary says, “Bill always said he liked it. Even though he’s retired now he’ll still feature in the roadshow, we’re not going to send him to a farm down the country like an old dog.

He will probably be back working on RTÉ again anyway! He’s a great character. John probably thinks it’s a load of f*cking nonsense and football and comedy shouldn’t mix.” And the bold Eamon, what does he think? “He says he watches it but I don’t know what he privately thinks of it. He came to a live show about fourteen years ago and he said he enjoyed it,” Gary says. “He was caught live on camera saying he thought one of the sketches was “f*cking stupid” after a match in 2003! He’s a fascinating character, we don’t socialise or anything but I get on well with him, I like him. He’s a very

“”

Dunphy was caught on camera saying one of the sketches was “f*cking stupid”

entertaining man and without him the panel wouldn’t have been able to do what they’ve done down the years.”

One thing a lot of viewers may wonder about is how well the three Après Match lads, Gary, Risteárd and Barry get on after working together for so long. Gary says, “We get on fine, we don’t hang out but we met up for lunch recently and it went well, there were no incidents!” The team continue to come up with ideas like they always have, lots of collective brain-storming with individual actors supplying the lines for their own characters. There is no central writer; each one contributes to any scene they appear in. Gary says they tend to share the writing, “Somebody has an idea and they’ll bring it to the meeting then it’ll be put through the meat grinder.”

Cool As Keano I Keano returned last month after its original run finished in 2008 and the response from the public has been extremely positive. The day we speak it’s announced that its run is to be extended due to phenomenal demand.

Initially it took Gary time to get back in the swing of things. “Because it was seven years ago there were some bits that I couldn’t remember at all and I was wondering if it was symptomatic of my age! 13 years on from Saipan it’s less about that incident now, its audience has grown up. It still resonates and it’s still very funny though,” he says.

Last month the Ireland team attended one of the performances,

Gary Cooke which Gary says he hopes they enjoyed. “Although, going on the picture I saw in the paper Keano didn’t look like he’d enjoyed it – he had a face on him like his car had been clamped, permanently!” Gary says that he “kind of ” met the hero of the musical at a performance in Manchester years ago. “Roy and John O’Shea came backstage after and it was bedlam, it was kind of like meeting the Queen!” Gary weighs in on why the Irish public are so interested in Roy Keane.

“Probably because you can’t quite get to the bottom of the man. I get the feeling he has explosions and then just gets on with it.”

Even though Gary is a football fan (he’s a Manchester United supporter) he says he can sometimes get “footballed out of it”. But how much does he enjoy taking the mick out of politics on Après Match and Irish Pictorial Weekly? “I do, but it’s not so much taking the p*ss as taking aim at the self appointed guardians of our nation, the people who just help themselves, who expect something for nothing. I think that’s what satire is for really. I don’t go after people personally, I just stick a pin in people and things that take themselves too seriously.”

I ask Gary how much freedom RTÉ give Irish comedians to say what they want, because a couple of people I’ve spoken to in the past year say that were censored by the state broadcaster.

He says, “I can only speak from my own experience and generally they leave us alone to do what we want.

There have been maybe one or two things in nearly twenty years but nothing big. A few years ago we did a

sketch with Vincent Brown and Brian Cowan with the sound effects of a urinal in the background to signify our country’s future being p*ssed away. I think they were a bit uncomfortable about that and it was removed from the television transmission but was left on the DVD. I think it’s only when people start feeling threatened that sort of thing happens.”

We move on to talking about the current Irish comedy scene and Gary believes it’s looking good at the moment. “There’s a new generation of stand ups like Chris Kent, Andrew Stanley and Al Porter who are all really good. Of course Al is from Tallaght as well, I remember him in I Keano when he was just a kid and even then he had this other worldly quality about him,

the feeling that if he looks at me I’ll start floating! His career is really taking off.

I like Foil Arms and Hogg as well, but I only know certain things of theirs. I think the comedy scene is more than just stand up though and I’d like to see a bit more sketch-based comedy on Irish TV.” Not one to let the grass grow under his feet, Gary is also about to launch his punk band ‘The Vids’, which was spawned from a comedy show called At Home with Vid and Limone, which he broadcasts on YouTube every Sunday night. He says, “It’s not ground breaking or anything, it’s just a bit of fun, with an old ‘up and at ‘em’ kind of punk-rock feel to it. It’s different to anything I’ve done before and we’re hoping to do a few gigs this year.”

Finally Gary tells us about his upcoming gig in The Civic. “This is my first time ever to play in Tallaght. I’ve been to the stadium a few times to watch Shamrock Rovers with a good friend of mine Eoin Mullen who used to play for them. It’s a lovely stadium, it’s like a mini Bernabéu, but I’ve never done a gig in TalIaght. Après Match fans can expect Après Match! A bit of the panel along with other characters from the worlds of sport and politics.” For a show that has been a success for almost twenty years, no doubt expectations will be surpassed!

Tickets for Après Match at The Civic on May 6th are available from www. civictheatre.ie or by calling the box office on 01 462 7477.

april 2015 / 23

26 Welcome to the Square Magazine.

We’ve had such a wonderful time here over Easter, with lots of giveaways of Easter Eggs, hampers and even more Ed Sheeran concert tickets. We also held a fun-filled event in the Centre Mall for all the kids at the Lazy Easter Bunny party with storytelling and face-painting.

Our next FREE family event is a Mad May Polka Dot Party on Saturday May 2nd. Come and join Polly Polka Pot and her friend Doctor Diggery Dot for lots of fun on the Centre Mall on Level 2 from 1-4pm. There will be lots of polka dot crafts, polka dot balloons and polka dot face painting!

Another event we were delighted to welcome was the premiere of the Tallaght-made movie, I Used To Live Here, which saw the stars and director arrive to the IMC Cinemas last month. The movie has been given rave reviews and continues to screen here at The Square.

SQ. MAGAZINE

EDITION 49 APRIL 2015

You’ll be happy to know that we have officially opened our brand new children’s play areas – the Cheeky Monkey Jungle Castle on Level 3 and Oopsadaisy’s Play Garden on Level 1 outside the east entrance. So far the kids are loving them, so come and see for yourself all the fun to be had here!

We have also welcomed the move of Direct Sports to Level 3 from Level 2, so be sure to check it out for all your sporting goods.

As always, we hope you enjoy the Square section, and look forward to seeingg you in tthee Ce Centre see t e soon. soo

______________________ _____________ ___________ Cathryn McMenamy The Square Town Centre, Commercial Manager

27

Lazy Easter Bunny Party We had so much fun here at The Square as we celebrated Easter in ultimate style. Our Lazy Easter Bunny Party took place at the Centre Mall and we were delighted to see so many of our friends turn up and help us keep the Lazy Easter Bunny awake. We had lots of activities to keep him from falling asleep including storytelling, funny bunny mask making, face-painting and even a show from Mr Puppet with Charlie Boy Puppet.

We were thrilled that so many of you came to enjoy the day with us. Our next FREE family event, The Mad May Polka Dot Party takes place on d. See Saturday May 2nd. are.ie/ www.thesquare.ie/ ou ourevents// for details.

Sq. Magazine

Sq. News

28

Easter Eggs For Charity We would like to say thank you to the stores and individuals throughout The Square for their generosity again this Easter. Thanks to their help our Cheeky Monkey was once again able to donate Easter Eggs to the boys and girls in The National Children’s Hospital, Tallaght and also to St Vincent de Paul.

Facebook Giveaways Yet again last month we had some fantasticc prizes up for grabs on our Facebook page.

We began the month with the highly sought after Ed Sheeran tickets, which as you can imagine generated plenty of interest.

We then had a huge

VHI Women’s Mini Marathon We here at The Square are delighted to announce that we will be sponsoring the National Children’s Hospital Women’s Mini Marathon Team for this year’s race.

If you want to register to run or walk for such a good cause visit thenatioal childrenshospital.ie/ fundraising-for-us/ vhi-womens-minimarathon. They will send

We hope the children enjoyed all the chocolate and a big thanks again to all those who donated! selection of Easter Egg Hampers for our ccustomers to win to celebrate the holiday along with a beautiful charm bracelet given to us by our friends at Pandora on Level 2. Keep an eye on our Facebook page over the next few weeks where we have even more prizes coming! you a fundraising pack which will irt include a t-shirt and sponsorship card. It’s a cause we always look forward to getting behind and we wish the team the best of luck for June!

Woohoo it’s finally time!

Our Cheeky Monkey’s Jungle Castle opened on Level 3 at the beginning of the month. We have been adding some final touches to the play area over the past few weeks but now it’s officially opened!

There is so much to do inside for children aged 2-6, with fun animal characters to keep you entertained along with plenty of space for Mum and Dad to relax too.

Come along and enjoy

the lights and jungle sounds which surround the whole play area.

Either way, you’ll find something to keep your family occupied!

Cheeky Monkey’s Jungle Castle is open every day: Monday ........10am - 6pm Tuesday ........10am - 6pm Wednesday ...10am - 7pm Thursday ......10am - 7pm Friday ...........10am - 7pm Saturday .......10am - 6pm Sunday .... 12 noon - 6pm pm

Direct Sports Direct Sports have relocated from Level 2 to Level 3. The brand new storee officially opened here at the beginning of the month.

To celebrate the opening the team gave away two pairs of stylish runners on our Facebook page both for him and for her.

Store manager Aubrey Golding is delighted to be officially opened, “We are so happy that it has all come together and the store is opened, we have been busy from day one and everyone seems to love the new look”.

Sq. News

29

Just The Ticket!

FREE Wednesday Evening Parking Did you know that The Square now offers FREE parking on Wednesday

The fun isn’t just happening inside in The Square – there is plenty of excitement outside too as Oopsadaisy’s Play Garden officially opened this month. The Play Garden is located outside our East Entrance on Level 1 and is for children aged 2-4.

There is plenty of fun and

evenings between 6pm and 9pm? This means you can do some late night shopping, dining or visit the IMC cinema without the cost of parking! Just another reason to shop in The Square Tallaght!

exciting things for the children to play on, and a seating area so parents can put their feet up while the children run around.

The Play Garden is opened from Monday to Saturday from 9am-6pm and Sunday from 11am-6pm.

Community Champion Our Community Champion Award this month goes to Dylan Leon. We met Dylan when his business idea ‘Laced Up’ gained him first place in the senior category of the Student Enterprise Awards, which The Square sponsored, at IT Tallaght in March.‘Laced Up’ is a trendy new way

to keep your laces from coming undone and all at a fantastic price of just €2.99. He came to The Square to set up his stall and showcase his entrepreneurship recently.

The Coláiste de hÍde student will go on to represent South Dublin in Croke Park on April 22nd.

Congratulations Dylan we wish you the best of luck next week!

I Used To Live Here Premiere Last month brought the highly anticipated film premiere of I Used To Live Here to the IMC cinema.

The film which was a winner at the Galway Film Fleadh, was made entirely in Tallaght and boasts a cast of local people, some with little or no acting experience.

Writer-director Frank Berry brings to the big screen a film which highlights the ripple effects of teen suicide. The film has already received fantastic reviews and we were delighted here at

The Square to have the premiere here at IMC Cinema. Frank Berry told us, “I’m very proud of the film and the journey it has taken and to be standing here on the red carpet. I have huge admiration for everyone involved in this film for trying to get this subject talked about which is starting to happen”.

I Used To Live Here can be seen at IMC cinemas on Level 3 in The Square.

A Closer Look At...

30

EL GRINGO BURRITO & INSOMNIA COFFEE

As I’m sure you are aware there has been plenty of work taking place in the Centre on Level 1 with the redevelopment of Graham O’Sullivans café and the addition of coffee experts Insomnia and Mexican food specialists El Gringo Burrito.

This is the third location for El Gringo in Dublin, with two other locations in Dublin’s city centre. The Mexican Ambassador to Ireland, Carlos Garcia De Alba officially launched the new premises last month.

Felim Meade, owner, El Gringo Burrito said, “We are delighted that Carlos the ambassador was here to help us celebrate the opening.

Since we opened we have seen a lot of families come in and it’s a wide spectrum of people – it’s not just the typical guys 18 to 36 – we

have seen families and just a whole mixture of people and we are really happy with that.”

If it’s a delicious burrito you are looking for well look no further as El Gringo Burrito offers a selection of tastes to suit absolutely everyone.

El Gringo’s aim is to get you the freshest, healthiest and tastiest burrito, exactly as you like it.

If that isn’t enough, then what about taking the weight off your feet and enjoying a freshly served coffee or tea in a comfortable trendy setting?

Well then it’s Insomnia you need to visit.

Insomnia is Ireland’s leading independent premium coffee chain with over 90 locations.

Try their hot chocolate or grab some lunch on a break from shopping. Their philosophy is simple; you will get the best cup of coffee, in whichever format you

choose, every time you visit their cafés. Their unique blend of Fairtrade premium coffee is specially roasted weekly so you really are getting “heaven in a cup”.

We are delighted to have both companies at The Square and hope you will enjoy their offerings for years to come!

CINEMA JOHN WICK

A

n intense revenge movie with plenty of violence.

John Wick is an exciting action movie with plenty of muscle cars, fighting and revenge. We see a return to fighting form by Keanu Reeves, a World Stunt Award-winner. John (Reeves) is a retired hit man who is lured back into action by a nasty Russian mobster and former cohort’s son.

After giving up his life of violence for the woman he loves, only to see her die from a painful illness, John is kept going by a last gift of a puppy from

THE GOOD LIE his wife. That is until the Russian mobster beats him up, steals his car and kills his dog – cue John returning to his old life to hunt him down and seek revenge.

The only problem is – the mobster is none other than John’s old boss, who to try and protect his son, puts a large bounty on his head.

While on the hunt, John must contend with some of the best hit men and women in New York City, including Marcus (Willem Dafoe) and Ms Perkins Palicki - Friday (Adrianne P Lights).

Night Light The actio action in John Wick is non-stop, with artfully non-s constructed fight constr scenes, stunts and of scenes course, deaths. Reeves convincing in the role, is convinc because most of partially be his acting iinvolves fighting rather than any drawndramatic dialogue. out drama Nonetheless, John Wick Nonethe thrilling watch, is a thri plenty to keep you with ple occupied during its 101 occupi minute run.

RELEASED: APRIL 10TH A // by Genna Patterson

A

n inspiring tale of perseverance and family unity.

Based on true events, The Good Lie is a tale of hope, perseverance and family, which sees four Sudanese refugees or ‘The Lost Boys’ struggle to find a home for their family against numerous odds. It starts with a village torn apart by war, and the surviving children take on a thousand-mile journey on foot to seek safety.

Years later, they are offered the opportunity to move to America, where they meet the feisty Carrie (Reese Witherspoon), their assigned employment agency counsellor and her boss Jack (Corey Stoll).

Marvelling at technology, the Western world’s challenges and

its motives, the Sudanese family struggle to survive in their new life in Kansas City. With help from some new friends however, they begin to forge a new life far from the terrifying war zone that was their country.

The Good Lie is an inspiring tale that will make you feel grateful for everything you so easily take for granted. It’s simultaneously poignant and uplifting, but above all, a must see. Just be sure to bring your tissues, as there are more than a few tearjerking moments in this movie!

RELEASED: APRIL 24TH // by Genna Patterson

GLASSLAND

A

harrowing portrayal of a man at JVUÅPJ[ ^P[O OPZ mother’s drinking Glassland is by no means an easy watch, but it is an excellent representation of the daily reality of living with an alcoholic.

The story follows John (Jack Reynor) as he juggles the bleakness that is is his life, driving a taxi to make money and managing his mother’s (Toni Collette) alcoholic ways. She is on a downward spiral, and Jack does whatever he can to help her get better, often against her wishes to drink herself to death. As Jack tries to manage his mother’s recovery, he finds himself pulled deeper into the underground world of human trafficking in order to make ends meet.

Reynor and Collette give subtle yet powerful

performances in this bleak drama, with Will Poulter (We’re the Millers) also plumping up the supporting cast with ease. While at times this movie can be painful to watch, it is a worthwhile depiction of life at its hardest. The laughs are few and far between and when they come, it is usually to break the tension and horror of the moment.

This could be Reynor’s best role yet and may help you forgive him for Transformers 4, as it’s certainly of greater sustenance than a Michael Bay movie (which wouldn’t be difficult!). Watch it, but be prepared for some uneasy moments.

RELEASED: APRIL 17TH // by Genna Patterson

GAMEWEEK 33 TOP 20 STANDINGS #

Team

Manager

PTS

1

BD FC

Marcus Walsh

1,828

2

The Soccer Cannons

Evan Sherlock

1,774

3

Oops I Won It Again!

Anthony Davis

1,770

4

LUU FC

John Luu

1,767

5

THE 3 BOYS FC

Floyd Donnelly

1,763

6

Headingtothetop

Dean Hudson

1,758

7

Pacemaker Peggy

Derek Kelly

1,756

8

We_Need_More_Cowbell

Thomas Murphy

1,741

9

Cesc Drogs&Rock&Roll

Paul Mc Quillan

1,741

10

Atletico Sherlocko

Mark Sherlock

1,741

11

ChinaGirl

Ying Jiang

1,725

12

The Sherlock Holmies

Ben Sherlock

1,722

13

Shine FC

Matthew Shine

1,721

14

cometh the Birr mush

Dylan Hoctor

1,719

15

The Hit Squad

Ross Shannon

1,716

16

Hanula

Janusz Sokulski

1,711

17

WasteOfMoneyFC

Ciaran Shortt

1,706

18

Trevs Boys

Trevor Scally

1,704

18

STERLING31

Elton Bennett

1,701

20

LMLP

Karen Greene

1,689

WHERE’S PADDY? (OUR 2014 WINNER) 68

This Year Again

Paddy Troy

1,546

AND LIMPING ALONG IN LAST PLACE...

127

Completely Awesome

Caoimhe Napier

1,182

april 2015 // 39

ENTERTAINMENT

New Movie Starring Love/ Hate Actors New Dublin Festival In May If you thought all music festivals were located in fields or a park, think again because there is a new festival coming to Dublin this summer. Called Canalaphonic, the new festival will be based in Portobello and Rathmines and run on Friday May 8th and Saturday May 9th.

The festival will consist of bands playing at Portobello Harbour, a boutique market, barge trips and family fun activities. There will also be art and craft exhibitions, pop up acoustic sets and guerrilla spoken word performances. The line up so far includes Gavin Glass and the Holy Shakers, The Hot Sprockets, The Stomptown brass band, Nick Kelly and Corner Boy, with more to be announced.

Canalaphonic will have music for everyone though, with genres of rock, blues, indie, mod, roots, trad, swing, singer/songwriter, comedy and spoken word taking place in intimate venues. Many of the local cafés, restaurants and takeaways will be offering discounted prices to festival goers.

Visit canalaphonic.com for more information.

40 // intallaght magazine

Dublin Greek Film Festival The Dublin Greek Film Festival will run from April 23-26 and will present features, short films and documentaries along with special events such as Greek dance workshops. The festival will be held in the Chester Beatty Library, Film Base and the New Theatre and aims to promote Greek culture and show links between Ireland and Greece.

The Festival will showcase the latest films by both internationally established directors and emerging filmmakers, who are currently producing many of the most dynamic, innovative and provocative films in the world.

For those who would like to learn more about Greek culture there is a free workshop introducing traditional Greek circle dances.

For more information visit www.greekfilmfestival.ie

You may know and love them as characters Tommy and Fran from Love/Hate, but actors Killian Scott and Peter Coonan couldn’t play more different roles than in their new movie Get Up And Go. The movie, released on May 1st, tells the story of two friends from Dublin whose dreams haven’t quite worked out. Alex (Coonan) finds out that his girlfriend is pregnant and wants to go to London against his wishes for a new life.

Meanwhile Coilin (Scott) sees his creative dreams crumble around him as he comes to terms with the reality of life as a stand up comedian.

Get Up And Go has already won awards at the Galway Film Fleadh 2014 and the Cork Film Festival 2014. The film is written and directed by Brendan Grant (Tonight is Cancelled) and will also star Gemma Leah Deveraux (Stitches) and Sara Lloyd Gregory (Hinterland). The film is being distributed by the same company that promoted the Tallaghtmade movie I Used To Live Here, Wildcard Distribution, and promises to be a witty black comedy set on the streets of Dublin, but a far cry from the ganglands of Love/Hate for those looking for more violence and hard-hitting drama.

MUSIC GLEN HANSARD It Was Triumph We Once Proposed … Songs Of Jason Molina

G

len Hansard once stated that he thinks that all music is created from ache or loss.

When his good friend and musical hero, American singer-songwriter Jason Molina passed away due to alcohol-related illness at the early age of 39, the only way Hansard could make sense of losing him was to keep his humble, heart-rending music alive.

Jason Molina wasn’t widely known; he was mainly recording and performing as Songs: Ohia and Magnolia Electric Co., and over 15 years he released 19 records, only to sell 200,000 copies worldwide.

However, his talent was highly acknowledged within the independent music scene, and his songs were heavily influenced by his personal troubles and demons.

Molina and Hansard’s friendship started after Hansard randomly bought an album by Molina, and became 42 // intallaght magazine

obsessed. He then sat down and wrote the first fan letter he’d ever written.

A response came from overseas and a friendship was forged. The two recorded and toured together, and even with the gift of hindsight Hansard has said that he never once saw Molina drink, but that his darkness within could sometimes be heard in his voice.

Accompanied by musicians that used to play with Molina, with this touching tribute EP, Hansard shows his shared spirit with Molina, and just how deep his respect and admiration for him runs.

Being In Love is soft and raw at the same time, and Hansard sings it with intensity and love. It’s recreated as a classicrock version, with prominent backing vocals.

The dark blues howls like the midwinters wind on Hold on Magnolia, and Farewell Transmission is stripped down to a gentle ballad.

The EP name is taken from lyrics in the final track White Sulfur, and Hansard is focused on nothing more than paying tribute to Molina’s songs.

Few artists have the ability to reach listeners on a spiritual level. With Molina’s songs Hansard once again takes the listener to that place far into the heart and soul where it aches and feels good at the same time. It Was Triumph We Once Proposed is a great tribute to a friend from Glen Hansard - one of the most genuine musicians and poets of our time. // by Linn Heldal

GEMMA HAYES Palomino

P

alomino was written H[ Ä]L V»JSVJR PU the morning on tour, during a night of insomnia and a bad mood in a hotel room.

Gemma Hayes’ latest single release has the sound of dreamy sweetness mixed with melancholia and hypnotic spookiness. Palomino is from her latest album Bones+Longing, and it will be released as a 7-inch vinyl single as a very limited edition of 500 copies on April 20, in celebration of International Record Store Day. The wonderfully talented Hayes is breaking darker, deeper music ground for herself with the new album and Palomino. It’s a song of its time, and with beautiful melodies and her haunting and tender vocals, she shows that her music is as timeless as ever.

With a voice like fireflies in the night Hayes sings, “Leave your father, mother, sister to the TV shows/ They try to fix you/ But sorrow’s in the marrow”, in the chorus of Palomino. The last line in particular might be some of the cleverest lyrics I’ve heard in a very long time. // by Linn Heldal

TECH UPC MY PRIME

U

PC recently launched its new service called My Prime, which replaces its existing on-demand service and features a whole host of television IV_ZL[Z HUK ÄSTZ MYVT which to choose.

Ireland is the fifth country that UPC has launched its My Prime service in, and there are some differences to the old on-demand service offered with it. In addition to the new service UPC also announced that Dave Fanning will be presenting an on-demand review show of the content called Fanning on Film.

The service has a lot of movies and TV boxsets on offer, such as Love/Hate for those who missed the show first time around, as well as Revenge, Scandal, Devious Maids, Marvels Agents of Shield, The Walking Dead, Alias and Grey’s Anatomy. Some of the films on the service are The Guard, The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Cop Land, The Double, Sin City and Gone Baby Gonee to name but a few.

The service also caters for the kids in the household with a whole section dedicated to them. This section features a range of children’s television from Angelina Ballerina, Sesame Street, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Smurfs to Fireman Sam and a lot more.

There is also a lot of Irish content on the service including A Film With Me In It,

Zonad, Garage, What Richard Did, This Must be the Place and Adam and Paul amongst others.

UPC has said that the service will be updated monthly with new titles, which will add to the content which is already available on the service.

UPC have agreements with Miramax, RTÉ, Element Pictures, Disney UK and Ireland, and many more to stream

content on the My Prime service.

Worth noting is that you don’t only have to be in the comfort of your home to avail of this service, as My Prime is also available to UPC customers with mobile devices that have the Horizon Go app.

The service is free to customers who have a Ho Horizon box and those who have older versions of UP UPC boxes which preda date the Horizon box will ha have to pay €5 a month for the service. That’s go good news to the 130,000 cu customers who currently ha have a Horizon package in Ire Ireland.

It will be interesting to se see how the service does ov over the coming months an and whether it can rival tthe content available on SSky Go and Netflix. // by Colm O’Muirí

44 // intallaght magazine

GAME WOLFENSTEIN: THE OLD BLOOD

T

his actionadventure ÄYZ[ WLYZVU shooter game is an expansion pack in the Wolfenstein series and it is a prequel to last year’s Wolfenstein: The New Order.

The game is set in 1946 with the Nazis on the brink of winning Word War II, the campaign follows William ‘B.J.’ Blazkowicz as he attempts to turn the war in the allies’ favour. The game is broken up into two parts; part one is called Rudi Jäger and the Den of Wolves, the second part is called The Dark Secrets of Helga Von Schabbs.

In the first section of the game B.J. must break into Castle Wolfenstein where he is pitted against a maniacal prison warden.

While in Wolfenstein, Blazkowicz must steal the coordinates to General Deathshead’s compound.

In the second section of the game B.J. Blazkowicz’s search for

46 // intallaght magazine

coordinates brings him to the city of Wulfburg.

In Wulfburg there is a Nazi archaeologist who is exhuming mysterious artefacts that could unleash an ancient and dark power.

There are little changes to the gameplay from Wolfenstein: The New Order to Wolfenstein: The Old Blood. One of the features of the game is the weapons – gamers will have access to a weapons inventory, and this inventory lets you keep all the weapons which you find. With some of the weapons you can dual wield, which means two guns at once and increased damage to the enemies. You will also be able to customise some of the weapons by getting upgrades throughout the game.

Along with using guns to progress through the game you are also equipped with

THE WITCHER 3: WILD HUNT

T a variety of different attacks from knives and pipes to name but a few.

RELEASE DATE: Tuesday May 5th on PC, PS4 & Xbox One // by Colm O’Muirí

he Witcher 3: Wild Hunt is an upcoming action role-playing game, the third in the series of games s which are based on the fantasy novels of the same e name by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski.

The game is an open-world environment and if you do all that the game has to offer according to The Witcher 3 Senior Game Designer Damien en Monnier, it will take you ou upwards of 200 hours to complete and will bee 30 times the size of Thee Witcher 2, – that is even n bigger than The Elder Scrolls Vs. Skyrim.

In this game you play as the character Geralt of Rivia from the he first two The Witcher games, and Wild Hunt is the conclusion to his story, however it is not necessary to have played d the first two games to enjoy Wild Hunt.

As the game progresses you will progresse Geralt’s skills develop G and your own gameplay and the d decisions that make in the game you mak impact on the will imp entire game.

Although the A game follows gam Geralt and he is Ger the main character, points in at certain c the ggame you will of the take control co character Ciri as well. charac She has exceptional sw sword fighting sskills and you will be able to unlock some of her other unique abilities as the game progresse progresses. game features The ga many my mystical figures Werewolves to from Wer Foglets and Leshen, F Griffins. The game operates during the operat day and a night, and will affect some this w powers and also powe some of the

monsters which feature in the game.

One of the features of the game which always pleases me is that it features no loading screens which allows for players to freely roam and explore the vast environment of the video game.

RELEASE DATE: Tuesday May 19th on PC, Xbox One & PS4. // by Colm O’Muirí

MOTOR

TOYOTA AYGO X-PLAY

T

oyota pride themselves on being the “best built cars in the world,” and for that reason any new model they launch is reviewed with the highest expectations.

I headed down to Tadg Riordan Motors Tallaght to test drive the new AYGO. The Toyota Aygo has been on the market since 2005 and after a number of facelifts the time has come for the second generation and I must say it looks fresh and more appealing than ever before.

What you see is what you get is the stance with a lot of models on the road these days but not with the new Aygo.

I was surprised at just how much you get for your money and although it may seem like a small compact car from the outside, inside is a different story altogether with plenty of leg room and comfortable seating both in the front and back.

The model is completely unique and that is largely thanks to the Aygo’s distinctive X-shaped front which adds an extra element of style. The Aygo has grown up a bit when you compare it to its rather basic predecessor. It now features a hi-tech infotainment system as well as a redefined interior.

On the road it’s cheap to run with car tax on all specs costing just €180 for the year. The standard Aygo X 48 // intallaght magazine

starts at an impressive €13,325 and depending on spec and of course your added extra details can cost up to an affordable €16,080 for the X-clusiv.

Sales Executive Tomás Keogh explained why the Aygo really is the way to go this year. “What you get with this car for the price is pretty incredible, cheap tax and not to mention the fact it runs on basically the smell of fuel – it achieves 4.1(litres/100Km) or 68.9 mpg on combined driving. You get three years warranty, three years Toyota Euro Car breakdown assistance so you will have peace of mind within those three years”.

Toyota also offers some fantastic financing options which allows you to drive out of the showroom with a brand new Aygo with weekly repayments (depending on your plan) starting at just €39. After deciding a set payment plan that suits you, there are plenty of options available to you when your payment plan is over.

One is the “Key for Key” option where you can trade in your then threeyear-old Aygo for a brand new Aygo.

Or if you simply love the car and don’t wish to part with it then don’t, you and Toyota can work out the difference owed and the car is yours.

For more information on the Toyota Flex deal or to test drive the new Aygo contact Tadg Riordan

Motors Tallaght on (01) 451 7447 or www.trmtallaght.ie // by Rachel Lynch

DESIGN

INNOVATE CONNECT

CUSTOMISE

Th vibrant The ib new A AYGO stands out from the crowd. And with a high level of customisable spec, every one is an individual.

FROM

€30

per month*

Toyota Flex

Customer Deposit

On the Road Price†

Finance Amount

36 Monthly payments of

(months)

Terms

GMFV†† (Guaranteed Minimum Future Value)

Total Cost of Credit

Fixed %*

Standard Deposit

€4,725

€13,125

€8,400

€115

37

€5,119

€922.49

4.49%

KeyForKey Deposit

€1,990

€13,125

€11,135

€196

37

€5,119

€1103.49

4.49%

APR

TADG RIORDAN MOTORS

Tallaght Bypass, Tallaght, Dublin 24 Tel: 01 451 7447

**Aygo from RRP €12,625. Excludes delivery and related charges. Model shown is the AYGO 1.0 VVT-i 5 Door x-cite. RRP €14,995. Fuel consumption for AYGO 1.0 VVT-i : L/100km - Urban – 5.0, Extra-Urban – 3.6, Combined – 4.1. Fuel emissions Co2/km - 95g. Comes with a 3 year or 100,000km comprehensive warranty and 3 year Toyota Eurocare roadside assistance. Toyota Ireland is a 100% Irish owned company.

BOOK PAULA HAWKINS The Girl On The Train

B

illed as this year’s Gone Girl, The Girl On The Train is top of multiple bestseller lists including The New York Times.

The Girl On The Train starts out like a modern commuter twist on the Hitchcock movie Rear Window.

Rachel, a down-and-out alcoholic twenty-something, takes the train to London every day like she used to when she was employed.

The train stops, like clockwork, behind a row of houses where she used to live during happier times.

She watches the people in one of these homes, whom she names Jess and James, and creates elaborate fantasies about their lives, about the perfect people that they are and the perfect life that they live.

Like many fantasies this one collides with reality in a rather spectacular fashion: Rachel drinks herself into oblivion and suffers a neartotal black out. Why did she visit the road where the perfect couple live— where her own ex-husband now lives with his new wife—why does she halfremember an encounter with a familiar face? She racks her brain to try and extract anything about that evening, anything that could shed light on the terrible crime that sets the story in motion. It is this struggle that drives the intrigue behind the story, with clues and revelations staggered cleverly throughout its length.

Having an amnesiac main character is as old-hat as can be, but it’s a trick 50 // intallaght magazine

that’s put to good effect, so we don’t find ourselves holding it against the author. The way in which our suspicions are woven and manipulated is done with ease: implications are made; accusations are thrown from character to character, then retracted, then renewed—we can never be sure what’s a given and what’s an assumption. The conclusion might be a little lack-lustre—and somewhat apparent for quite some time—but

of all, largely indistinguishable from each other. They constantly react to the slightest conflict with self-loathing emotional breakdowns, powerless in the face of the first self-destructive impulse that pops into their heads.

Their emotional well-being seems entirely dependent on the men in their lives, who get to tolerantly sigh or roll their eyes as they endure the burden of whatever weeping, caricature of a woman has imposed her needs on him this time. Anyone with the slightest feminist inclinations is going to find their useless whinging nothing short of annoying.

The male characters are no better either; all three are presented as either downright glacial in their lack of emotion, or immersed in an aura of power, threat and imminent danger. It all works, eventually—and maybe it is all intended to function as some sort of metaphor for victims and their oppressor—but whatever the exercise is, it’s one of dubious value.

If you can overlook the lack of diversity in the characters then there’s an engaging thriller in there for you. // by Gary White

the journey to it is certainly full of sufficient intrigue to hold our attention.

The plot works, is what I’m saying. Where the problem lies is the character diversity—more specifically the manner in which the characters are split along gender lines to an almost comical degree. The three main female characters are portrayed as wildly emotional, irrational, paranoid and hypocritical, and most unforgivably

P

aula Hawkins worked as a journalist for fifteen years before turning her hand to fiction.

Born and brought up in Zimbabwe, Paula moved to London in 1989 and has lived there ever since. The Girl on the Train is her first thriller.

WRITERS’ CORNER Wild Night

by Gary White I am in another office for another meeting with mostly the same people I see every day. We were supposed to have this particular get-together on Monday but Gill from the London office wasn’t able to attend so it was moved to Wednesday. Then my boss Mike had to flit off to something urgent on Wednesday afternoon so here we are on Friday, finally getting on with the meeting that has been following us around all week.

I’d love to tell you it was a monster of an occasion – something terrifying looming over us, with deadlines and screaming and over-worked nerves snapping like taut wire - but the truth is that it’s not even a meeting to dread; it’s just one more predictable step on the long road of my week.

At lunch I get a text message from Tom. “The boys” are in town for the weekend and I’m told we’re going out as soon as I finish work. We’ll find a casino. We’ll crash a party. We’ll get take away. He goes into surprising detail about what a wild night it will be. “It’ll be mad”, he adds.

“The boys”, of course, are my old band.

I was on guitar and I wasn’t half bad, though I suspect my 22-year-old self had a far higher opinion of himself than that. Tom was lead vocals and he wasn’t half bad either; I also suspect he and his 22-year-old self would disagree over little. Technically the band never actually broke up, we just practiced less and less and of the four proper gigs we did only two went well, and one we didn’t even get paid for. I still play now and then but I don’t have any notions about stardom - that dream died. Tom’s been in four bands since.

At 4pm I reply saying that I’ll be staying late at work and will get back to them. It’s a lie but I want some wiggle room. He writes back to call me a wuss and sends a picture of himself and the boys crowding their faces and pints into the frame. Tom somehow manages to go out every weekend even though he never seems to have any money.

It is raining when I leave the office and I hold a paper over my head as I jog the hundred meters to the bus stop.

The bus is soggy and humid and I can practically feel the viruses stewing in the air but there’s nothing I can do about that. I get more messages from the boys demanding to know when I will be joining them.

When I get home I drop my bag and sit in an armchair. I have decided I am not going anywhere and for a moment that makes me feel pathetic. The moment ends when Jack appears at the doorway dragging my guitar behind him. It’s almost as big as he is. He is demanding I teach him another chord; I haven’t the heart to tell him he’s not quite mastered the first one yet. His sister barrels past him calling for her daddy and climbs into my lap with an armful of today’s drawings.

We have ten minutes together before their mother calls us for dinner. She is sweaty and frazzled from her busy day and even still she’s gorgeous. I tell her so and she manages to roll her eyes and smile to herself at the same time. Over dinner the kids chatter in excited voices about what they did today, battling for my attention. I try to dole it out evenly.

We spend an hour trying to get them to sleep. Shuffling to my own bed at ten I stub my toe against a toy truck and bite my tongue in the dark.

Gary White, 30, is from Knocklyon.

He works in film distribution and writes fiction in his spare time.

april 2015 // 51

BUSINESS NEWS ITT Student Union Elect All-Females The students of the Institute of Technology, Tallaght have voted in the first all-female student’s union since 2003, for the 2015/2016 academic year.

Filling the positions are Jessica Wall as President, Shauna Homan as Welfare Officer and Aisling Cusack as Education Officer.

The three women are studying Business Management at the college.

They will start their term in office in July this year in time for the new college year.

Outgoing Student Union President Glenn O’Brien told us of the new team’s excitement to kick off the new academic year, “The team are looking forward to the new year ahead and they can’t wait to get going. The mix of new representatives will bring a new energy to the Union”.

For more information on the Student Union email supresident@ ittdublin.ie

EU And US Trade Deal Could Create 10,000 New Jobs

National Supported Employment Week

Fine Gael TD Alan Farrell has said that an EU-US trade deal could lead to 5,000 to 10,000 new jobs in Ireland, and an increase of Irish GDP by 1.1%.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton launched an independent study on a potential deal at the end of March.

Farrell said that this is the same trade deal that has been opposed by Sinn Féin MEP, Liadh Ní Ríada at every step in the European Parliament. He said, “As a small open economy Ireland’s ability to grow and create jobs is directly linked to our ability to sell our goods and services overseas.

An EU-US trade deal, which the subject of current

The Irish Association for Supported Employment (IASE) has officially launched the eighth annual National Supported Employment Week. It will run from Monday April 20th – Sunday 26th. The IASE ran Job Shadow Day on Wednesday 22nd April, which gave hundreds of people the opportunity to shadow a workplace mentor as he or she goes about a normal working day.

The IASE called on those involved to tweet a workplace selfie under the hashtag #workie, taking a 60 second video to explain why they support Job Shadow Day, or by nominating a company they

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negotiations, will allow Ireland grow its trade with the US and grow jobs back at home. A mandate to negotiate was secured during Ireland’s EU presidency in 2013.”

The main findings of the report, called ‘TTIP impact in Ireland’ detailed that a trade deal between the EU and the US could increase Irish real national income by €2.4billion, (approximately 1.5%) and increase investment in Ireland by 1.5%.

know to get involved under the hashtag #JSnominate (@ IASEemployment).

Greg Barry, Chairman, IASE said: “We want to build on this success and continue to break down barriers to the workplace which, despite much progress in recent years, still remains a significant issue for people with disabilities.”

IrishJobs.ie, Ireland’s number one recruitment website, is the main sponsor of National Supported Employment Week and the Job Shadow initiative.

New Payment Website For Irish Businesses The Minister for Business and Employment Ged Nash launched a new online initiative at the start of April to encourage businesses to pay their suppliers on time.

This enables businesses to become signatories to the Prompt Payment Code of Conduct through the website Promptpayment.ie.

Minister Nash said, “This is a significant step in moving towards a culture of prompt payment in Ireland. In addition to improving our payment culture, the code is also about encouraging and promoting best practice between businesses and their suppliers.”

The Prompt Payment Code of Conduct was developed by the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, the Irish Institute of Credit Management (IICM) and Isme, SFA, Chambers Ireland and Ibec, with support from the Banking and Payments Federation of Ireland (BPFI).

Eircom Refunds €700,000 For Loss Of Service Telecommunications company Eircom has refunded approximately €700,000 to residential and retail customers due to loss of service last year. Over 11,600 customers experienced outages that exceeded 10 working days between December 2013 and April 2014, which was attributed to severe storm damage.

Eircom agreed an out-of-court settlement with industry watchdog ComReg to refund the customers affected. Additionally Eircom withdrew its High Court appeal.

Leprosy Mission Ireland Call For Volunteers The Leprosy Mission Ireland are looking for volunteers for this June’s Dublin/Leinster Rickshaw Challenge.

The challenge which kicks off in June will see volunteers travel by auto/ pedal power rickshaw on a route through Dublin and Leinster, taking in countless sites of former leprosy colonies.

Ken Gibson, CEO, The Leprosy Mission Ireland commented, “This year we are marking our campaign to help bring justice to those across the world still living with leprosy, by

visiting the sites of past Irish leprosy colonies across Dublin and Leinster, travelling by rickshaw…. This is a great way for us to help raise both awareness and funds in our mission.”

All abilities are welcome, as they aim to raise funds to buy a vehicle which will be used in India to service people in rural communities living with leprosy.

Visit www.leprosymission.ie or www.leprosy.ie for more information.

SPORTS

Paddy’s Palace -DFN 0DGGHQ FDXJKW XS ZLWK 8)& ƂJKWHU Paddy Holohan to discuss his hopes for the new Tallaght SBG gym opening this May.

U

FC has taken Ireland by storm with John Kavanagh’s SBG team leading the way. With a gym already based on the Naas Road, SBG will be opening a brand new state of the art location in Tallaght this summer headed up by our very own UFC flyweight Paddy “The Hooligan” Holohan.

“When I started out in martial arts it seemed to me that a couple of lads with black belts told you what to do but with very little learning involved. I met John and saw that SBG was different. You questioned everything and were given detailed reasons as to why you were doing things. I thought to myself this is something I could do for the rest of my life.”

With that attitude Paddy has fast become one of the stars of Irish MMA and is ready to pass on his expertise to his students in Tallaght. He said, “This is going to be an academy, not a gym where you come to work out. I’m the foundation co-ordinator down in the Concorde site and myself and John have set up a step-by-step programme which is really detailed and allows us to follow your progress through the levels using tracker cards. When you walk in the door I’m the first person you meet and it’ll be the same in Tallaght.”

Looking at the UFC one might question if it’s for everyone but Paddy 54 // intallaght magazine

is quick to point out that it can be. “It can get tricky but we work to make it accessible for anyone who wants to be involved. You’ll be able to collect all the info for different combat situations and it doesn’t matter what size you are, whether you’re male, female or a kid. There’s different techniques for different body shapes and the most important thing I’ll be looking for coming into SBG Tallaght will be attitude.”

Growing up in Tallaght, Paddy found that mixed martial arts gave him a new outlook on life and he now knows that being tough isn’t the key to success as he admits that he used to think it was all about winning a fight but that’s not the case. “Martial arts

don’t just teach you how to fight but also how to talk your way out of situations and how to handle the trials and tribulations of life. This isn’t a tough guy’s world anymore. It’s a thinking man’s world and I’ve become like a scientist, always looking for ways to improve myself and better my techniques.”

Paddy is keeping the location under wraps for now but said, “It will be extremely successful for Tallaght and I’m very excited. Before I found SBG I wouldn’t have believed that I’d be able to walk into a stadium of 20,000 and handle it easily and I want to pass on that attitude and self-belief to those who walk in my door.”

He adds, “This is not an affiliate gym. This is an SBG gym. There’s one in Manchester, Canada and Sweden and now Tallaght. It’s a massive achievement. We’ll only know how good this is when we start to see those coming out of it, the demeanour of those involved, how clever and confident they become. Questioning everything and backing themselves. I truly believe that this can change your life. Give me five minutes and trust me you will see that life seems better and big problems will become smaller and fixable.”

SBG Tallaght is set to open in May 2015.

SPORTS Round Towers Star Hannah Wins Feile Crown

Boden Sign Durcan Ballyboden St Enda’s have confirmed that they have secured the transfer of Donegal keeper and All Star Paul Durcan. He is now living in the capital full time with his wife where he works with 3D Personnel, a construction recruitment company.

The 30-year-old won the Donegal championship with his local Four Masters club in 2003, alongside current intercounty teammate Karl Lacey but it’s believed that he was no longer committed to making the three hour each-way commute to training and matches.

An All Star in both 2012 and again last summer he will now team up with the Boden fullback Robbie McDaid, a Dublin Under-21 and former Blue Star selection, who is a cousin of his.

The transfer was not expected to be completed until next month but with the expiry date for an appeal already passed he will line out for Ballyboden in the 2015 Dublin senior football championship.

The move will not interfere with Durcan’s inter-county commitments as he enters his eleventh season in the Donegal Senior Football panel.

Congratulations to Round Tower star Hannah Clarke who was overall winner at the 2015 Féile Skills competition that took place on Bank Holiday Monday April 6th. 70 girls entered the skills competition in Sliver Park that was hosted by Kilmacud Crokes.

The competition enables girls to showcase their camogie skills with a variety of tests and Hannah came out deserved champion at the end of the competition.

Tallaght Athletes Produce New Personal Bests Tallaght Athletes produced a number of personal best performances at the last day of the National Juvenile Indoor Championships in Athlone on Saturday March 28th.

Eoin Doherty set a new P.B of 22.14 when winning bronze in the U19 200m final to add to the 60m title he won the previous week whilst Simon Essuman also set a new P.B. for the 200m indoors after he finished fourth in the U18 final with a time of 22.84.

Christopher Duffy and Eoghan Keaney also posted new personal indoor bests for the 800m when finishing fourth and fifth respectively in the U16 final with times of 2.07.37 and 2.07.53 whilst Aidan Darcy also produced a new personal best of 2.12.13 when he finished fourth, just missing out on the bronze medal by a few thousandths of a second, after a very tight finish in the U15 final.

Clondalkin Cricket Club Tymon Park has become home to the newly established Clondalkin Cricket Club whose Chairman is none other than Olympic boxing Silver Medallist and politician Kenneth Egan.

The Club is located on the Limekiln side of Tymon Park and will be officially launched on April 26th where Minster for Equality and Justice Frances Fitzgerald, Deputy Mayor of South Dublin County Council Liona O’Toole and Michael Sharp, Secretary OCC, Leinster Cricket Union will be in attendance.

Clondalkin Cricket Club is a complete cricket club for adults and youths. Whether you are a beginning or experienced player, they have a place for you and will help you succeed. Clondalkin Cricket Club is offering quality training to young boys and girls.

Their objective is to introduce children to the game of cricket and provide avenues to accelerate the development of talented young cricketers.

D

o you have some sports news for us?

If your local sports club has an event we should be letting our readers know about or if you know of a particularly good sports new story from the area, just email it to us on sports@intallaght.ie and you might see it in our next edition! april 2015 / 55

The Times of Treacy Padraig Conlon talks to Peter Eccles about the life and career of the late Ray Treacy

Ray Treacy

“T

reacy, coated in mud, was unsparing as ever in his efforts to bludgeon a path down the middle” - Peter Byrne Irish Times match report from FAI Cup Final 1978.

There has been a huge outpouring of grief this week among the Irish football family for a truly wonderful man and a Shamrock Rovers legend. As both a player and manager Ray contributed immensely to the history of the club and will always be remembered for his winning goal in the ’78 Cup Final and delivering the only league title of the nomad years.

I spoke with 1994 League winning captain and club legend Peter Eccles as he looked back fondly on those years working

with Ray Treacy. When he took over in January 1992 Rovers were on the slide.

Almost 18 months into their tenancy in the RDS and the Hoops faithful could only look on enviously as the club was being overtaken by the likes of Derry City, Cork City and Dundalk. A gloom surrounded Shamrock Rovers and it was going to take a manager with a big personality to get the team back among the challengers. If ever there was a case of the right place at the right time, Ray Treacy taking over at Shamrock Rovers was it. He had the reputation, he had the respect, and he had an idea about how to stop the malaise.

So what were the early impressions when he took over? “Ray was a larger than life

INROVERS character, the room would light up when he walked in. I called him Ron Atkinson because he reminded me of Big Ron and he’d give it back to me as well! He was very charismatic, I liked him. We’d have great banter,” said Peter.

“He made it quite clear straight away that fitness was going to be very important and he was true to his word as he had us running seven nights a week! He ran us into the ground to be fair! He’d have us running up the mountains or down on the soft sand at Ringsend, he trained us like no other manager. He’d always stress how important it was to be able to go for the full 90 minutes.”

If the players had any thoughts that things were going to get easier as the boss got to know them better they were very much mistaken. “I remember we played Nottingham Forest in a mid-week pre-season friendly and we drew 0-0. We were all absolutely wrecked after the game and I remember saying to him “See you Saturday.” You can imagine our surprise when he said “No I’ll see you all tomorrow for training.” We thought surely he’s going to take it easy on us but he didn’t. He brought us down to the soft sand in Ringsend and ran us so hard he nearly killed us!

To be fair to him all the running stood us in good stead and helped us to eventually become champions.”

Ray wasn’t just a hard task master though, he wanted to entertain the fans and play offensive football. “His philosophy was passing and getting forward, fitness and passing. He wanted to put together an exciting team at Rovers and he definitely did that. Prior to him taking over we were falling behind some of the other clubs in the league and he managed to put a stop to that which was a brilliant achievement.”

The team started the 1993-94 season well, playing some of the best football seen by any Rovers side in

years. Fans anxiously hoped that the glory days were coming back and expectations were high until the team hit a rough patch around mid-winter.

The players got together and all agreed on what had gone wrong. “We felt we were over passing it. Myself and a few of the other senior pros like Alan O’Neill and Terry Eviston sat down with Ray and explained what we thought was going wrong. He took it on board and we decided to be more direct and from then on we began to hurt teams more. That was probably the turning point and we didn’t look back after that. It was all about getting the ball forward quickly.”

I put it to Peter that it seems Ray had a very democratic approach to management considering he was so willing to listen to his players ideas.

“He did yes, he always took on board what the players said to him but he was no fool either. If he didn’t think what the players were saying was right then he’d let us know. At the end of the day it was his way, but he was always willing to listen to any ideas on how we could improve and get forward quicker.

“Don’t get me wrong though, even though he was such a fun guy we used to have running battles, we’d have a barney and then it’d be all grand afterwards. To be fair though I’d be like that with every manager, the more senior you’d get the more interaction you’d have with the management.”

For the ’93-94 Championship winning team though it wasn’t all work, the boss and his players knew how to relax as well. “After matches

“”

Ray was a larger than life character, the room would light up when he walked in.

1994 League winning captain and club legend Peter Eccles remembers Ray fondly

we’d all go for a beer together and we’d have great craic. With Ray there’d always be sing-songs and people like Paddy Reilly, The Wolfe Tones or The Fureys around. We worked hard but we played hard as well. To be fair to him he knew how to get that balance right. That was a great side and aside from the players I’d also like to mention the back room staff; Paddy O’Neill, Paddy Corby and Tony Macken were all great lads. Sadly two of them are no longer with us.”

How does the skipper want to remember his old boss? “Well every time I saw him I smiled, whenever we met we’d have a smile on our faces. Whenever I think of him he’s smiling. He always had a bit of fun in him, I liked him, we got on well. Ray was always such a fun guy, he will be missed greatly. We had great times.

“We gave him a great send off, there were so many people there from the worlds of football and music in Jurys in Ballsbridge. It’s great to remember him and those wonderful times.”

april 2015 / 57

INROVERS

RIP Ringo Padraig Conlon commemorates the late George Byrne

T

he ever-popular journalist George Byrne was given a send off befitting his largerthan-life personality in a poignant ceremony at Saint Nicholas of Myra Church in The Liberties.

George, aka Ringo, made a big impression on everyone who met him and he will be greatly missed by all his many friends at Shamrock Rovers.

His passion, intelligence and fiery attitude were recalled by those who spoke at his funeral. His great friend of almost 40 years, Tom Dunne, gave an amazing speech in which he said George was a “fountain of knowledge about music, film and pop culture. His writing was passionate, insightful, informed and very funny.”

He drew laughter from the large congregation when he referred to George as being “famously argumentative” and said he “liked a row.” Anyone that knew the man, or had read any of his writing, was aware he didn’t hold back when it came to expressing his opinion! But there was another side to him as well, he was a gentle soul who loved life. “I loved him for his beautiful gentleness and his childlike excitement in the little things,” said Tom. “I was proud to know George, proud of his big brain, proud of his insights, his great taste, and his ability to see the wood for the trees.”

Rovers Director Mark Lynch shared his memories of Ringo with InTallaght Magazine. “George Byrne was a dedicated Hoops fan who travelled the length and breadth of the country

for decades following Rovers. He and all his close mates in Hoops SC particularly liked the European trips of which there are many many great memories,” he said.

“A regular in the members’ Glenmalure Suite at home matches, George was always good for a yarn and, indeed, many a rant. Music and Football was what we discussed and he knew a hell of a lot about both. Not one often beaten when it came to debating a point, I always liked the chats with George. He will be sorely missed by all at the club.”

In conclusion, it is only right and proper that the last word in this article is from the man himself. In March 2014 George wrote in the Herald about the approaching League of Ireland season and what it meant to him.

“Quite apart from what happens on the field, the social aspect of a group of like minded grumps and malcontents getting together is not to be underestimated, particularly on trips down the country.

“Away days, even to clubs who seem to go out of their way to make life as difficult as possible for travelling fans, can frequently be more entertaining than the football itself and the sound of a can of Pražský being opened just isn’t the same in Dublin as on a coach heading to Derry, Sligo, Cork or Limerick.”

InTallaght Magazine would like to pass on their sincere condolences to George’s parents Kay and Mick, his sister Andrea and partner Julie. RIP.

Rovers fans commemorate ‘Ringo’ at the recent game against Galway

58 // intallaght magazine

RUA RED

H

i all, Whew – after an exciting month we are looking forward to a small breather before the summer!

With two launches coming up this month as well as the usual calendar of events things don’t seem to show any sign of slowing down!

As per usual for more information about any of the events listed here just contact our reception at 01 451 5860 or pop in – we’d love to see you!

Until next issue,

Th e RUA RED Team RUA RED Café Bar Did you know that RUA RED has a Café Bar and restaurant? With a full menu available for both breakfast and lunch everyday as well as everyday specials (including our ever popular Morning Special - €3 for a scone/toast and a tea/coffee until midday!) until 3pm it’s the perfect spot for a lunch, especially in the sunny weather with our front terrace! We also offer catering for events in our building or in the surrounding area – just call our reception to speak to us about any options you may need!

Arts and Health Week 11th – 16th May RUA RED and the National Centre for Arts and Health at Tallaght

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Hospital are delighted to launch a new series of Arts and Health activities in 2015. Three events cement the relationship that has developed between the arts centre and the local hospital.

We aim to bring high quality arts and health events, projects and workshops to Tallaght through shared projects, as well as to raise awareness and explore the benefit of arts on health and well-being.

May 11th–16th 2015 will see the first ever Arts and Health Week at RUA RED, featuring a variety of events led by the National Centre for Arts and Health. These will include a one day national training event for Arts and Health practitioners, film screening on arts and health related theme and a special tour of the exhibitions at RUA for hospital staff. For more information and a schedule of events contact us at 01 451 5860.

Introduction to Painting Techniques 7pm | €40 for 4 week term beginning Friday 17th April Always wanted to pick up a brush but didn’t know where to start? Our introduction to painting techniques is a perfect opportunity! These classes are the ideal introduction to a new hobby or the chance for more advanced painters to get back to basics under the supervision of an experienced artist. To book contact 01 451 5860.

Café Drawing Sessions Every Wednesday | 11am Ever wanted to give drawing a go? Or maybe you are a budding artist looking for like-minded people to draw with? Pop in for our free drawing sessions, held every week in our Creative Den! Pop in and enjoy these relaxed sessions in a fun and supportive environment.

Wall of Death Mosaics Workshop Monday | 20 April | 11am | FREE Here is your chance to have a go at creating your own mosaic masterpiece (with thanks to Tilestyle!) and inspired by the pieces in Gallery 1 as part of A Matter of Life and Death! This workshop is for all ages and all abilities and you can reserve your spot now at 01 451 5860!

RUA RED Film Club Attention Film buffs! Have you joined the RUA RED Film Club yet? With up to five film screenings a week and an individual membership for six months at €20 and a family membership (for up to two adults and four children) for €30, it’s the perfect way to broaden your film knowledge or even while away a few hours in the afternoon. Film screenings are as follows: Family Screening – every Saturday at 2pm O55s Screening – every Tuesday at 11am For more information about how to join call our box office at 01 451 5860.

Events APRIL

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30 APRIL

30 MAY

01 MAY

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RUA RED

Film Club: Family Films at RUARED Every Saturday at 2pm Visit www.ruared.ie for more details.

Tallaght Library

Summer Gardening at Tallaght Library – a talk by The Venus Nursery Thursday 23rd April at 7pm, booking essential Visit www.southdublinlibraries.ie for more details.

Civic Theatre

Ballet Fantasia Thursday 30th April-Saturday May 2nd Four ballets will be presented by the Irish National Youth Ballet.

Visit www.civictheatre.ie for more details.

Tallaght Library 4V]PL 5PNO[! 3( *VUÄKLU[PHS Thursday April 30th at 7pm, all welcome.

Visit http://tallaghtmovieclub.wordpress.com for more details.

Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers V Drogheda United Friday May 1st at 8pm.

Visit www.tallaghtstadium.ie for more details.

Tallaght Stadium

Tallaght Stadium Market Held every Saturday afternoon from 6am to 12 noon.

Entrance fee per vehicle €20.

Visit www.iomst.ie for more details.

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