InTallaght EDITION 68

FOREWORD BY MAYOR FINTAN WARFIELD

F

or young people, this referendum is about so much more than marriage.

Imagine an Ireland where young people would only ever know legislative equality.

Imagine an Ireland where gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender citizens could tell their school mates, families, neighbours and friends who they fancy in class, in the knowledge that Barbara three doors down or Terry in the community centre will have their back.

For the majority of young people, we’re in no hurry to walk down the aisle, however, the marriage equality referendum is about so much more.

It’s about our identity, it’s about the fundamental right to live and love openly in a society we feel truly a part of. It’s about holding our partners hand on the way home from a night out without having to look

behind our shoulder to check the coast is clear.

A no vote would be a devastating blow to younger generations. It would be a validation of the intolerant rhetoric heard during this campaign, fuelling homophobia and bullying behaviours.

I dread the thought of young people scrutinising themselves, doubting those whom they may have trusted, wondering above all else whether ‘your man’ voted no to my equality.

Extending civil marriage to same sex couples harms nobody’s relationship, nor does it redefine marriage in our constitution.

I may not be in a hurry to walk down the aisle, but for when that time comes, I’ll want more than a civil partnership.

intallaght CHECK US OUT ON

THIS MAGAZINE IS ALSO AVAILABLE FOR FREE On The App Store On iPad, iPod & iPhone Fintan pictured with other Mayors from across Ireland on the steps of the Mansion House showing their support for civil marriage equality

Put simply, I’ll want the same opportunities as my brother and his girlfriend.

On May 22nd, get out and vote yes to marriage equality.

ONLINE THROUGH

& OUR WEBSITE www.intallaght.ie

4H`VY -PU[HU >HYÄLSK

DESIGN Gwen Taylour gwen@intallaght.ie

ADVERTISING Pat Hardiman pat@intallaght.ie

DIRECTORS Edward Lam edward@intallaght.ie

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ISSN 2009-4574

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

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

CONTENTS 34

News

Reviews

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News New Tourism Strategy for South Dublin County

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50

Business News Mayor Warfield Calls For End To Zero Hour Contracts

Cinema We recommend Avengers: Age of Ultron for a good action adventure

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Music Villagers album Darling Arithmetic

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Tech We review Jay Z’s musicstreaming service Tidal

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Games Project Cars and Kirby and the Rainbow Paintbrush

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Motor Ford’s new Focus

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Book We review an Oscar Wilde classic; The Picture of Dorian Gray

Interviews 16

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PJ Gallagher PJ talks about meeting his biological parents and why marriage equality is the way forward for Ireland Gearóid Farrelly Comedian Gearóid speaks to InTallaght about his Fascinating new podcast Joe Caslin An exclusive interview with Joe Caslin–artist of the Georges St. mural

Sport 52

Sports News We spoke to ‘Nate The Great’ about his love of martial arts

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InRovers Craig Hyland on why Rover’s are the highlight of his career

Sq. Magazine 24

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SQ NEWS We awarded drag racer Gabby McDonald the Community Champion Award BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT A look at the offers from Easons on Level 2 COMPETITION Colour your way to win a Square Gift card SQ FASHION The latest styles from Diesel on Level 2

Culture 48

Writers’ Corner Gary White writes about the hunt for truth in Chasing Ghosts

58

InCulture A round up of all the best events in Tallaght this May

NEWS

Celebrating Creativity In Old Age This May marks the celebration of Bealtaine festival and creativity in old age. Running from May 1st-31st, the Bealtaine Festival gives everyone the opportunity to discover a new talent or find a new way to use an old skill. It is an opening to make new friends and connect with your community.

Bealtaine is co-ordinated by Age and Opportunity, the national organisation working to promote greater participation by older people in society. In South Dublin County the number of people aged 65 and over is 23,053 and is rising.

South Dublin County Council has organised a number of events during the month including crafts, computer classes, horticultural workshops, walking, tea dance, ballroom dancing and more. For more information visit www.sdcc.ie.

New Music Development Manager Announced for Music Generation South Dublin

Music Generation South Dublin has announced the appointment of Avril Crotty as Music Development Manager for Music Generation South Dublin. Cork native Avril joins Music Generation South Dublin to lead the project and oversee its development and creative direction.

There are currently over a thousand children and young people in South Dublin County participating in three programme strands: Ready Steady Sing; Ready Steady Play and Music Technology in the two Music Education Hubs of Collinstown and Rathcoole. To date, development has largely been focused in the primary schools in the rural areas of the county.

With this new appointment, Avril hopes that development can now expand to post-primary schools in both rural and urban areas of South Dublin County.

Avril said, “I am delighted to be part of Ireland’s National Music Education Programme and am looking forward to steering South Dublin County towards creating and discovering its own signature sound. With such diversity in the county, I have no doubt that the future for music development and education is bright.”

NEWS South Dublin Students Win At National Student Enterprise Awards Finals Two South Dublin students were awarded for their entrepreneurial efforts at the National Student Enterprise Awards final in Croke Park last month. 300 students exhibited 74 business projects ranging from arts and crafts to gaming/app technology, agriculture to education.

Aaron Murphy Taylor (Coláiste De Híde) took home ‘Most Innovative Business’ in the Junior level for his project Recycled Delights – a unique range

of decorative handmade items made from recycled materials.

In the Intermediate category Dara Ward from Coláiste Éanna in Ballyroan was awarded first place with his impressive product My GAA Journey. Dara, who

IT Tallaght Win At BIC Awards

IT Tallaght won four awards at the Board of Irish Colleges Societies Annual Awards (BICs). The awards were for the categories of Best Society, Best Individual, Best New Society and Best Publicity Campaign.

This is a feat never before achieved by any College or University and places IT Tallaght third on the all time ranking list behind NUIG and DCU while passing out DIT, TCD and UCC pushing them back into fourth, fifth and sixth respectively. The Best Society Award went to ITT’s Radio Society while Best Individual went to 12 // intallaght magazine

Chris McClelland from the Eng Tech Society.

The Best New Society was the Engineering & Technology Society and the Best Publicity Campaign was Radio Society for Radio Week.

Tim O’Connor, Sports and Recreation Officer said that the whole team of two staff Brian Hanna and Gerry Anderson along with 23 students were a credit to the college due to their high standards and professional decorum displayed over the two days of deliberations and interviews.”

came third last year in the Junior category, stepped it up a gear with his current business idea. My GAA Journey is a book designed for GAA sports players ages 8-15 where they can track their experiences and triumphs throughout their junior sporting career.

Coordinated by the Local Enterprise Offices, the Student Enterprise Awards – now in its 13th year -are the biggest of their kind in Ireland.

New Tourism Strategy for South Dublin County A new plan for tourism for South County Dublin called ‘A Tourism Strategy for South Dublin County 2015-2020’ predicts the potential for an increase of 2500 new jobs in the sector, the doubling of current spend from domestic and international tourists to €62 million by 2025 and the prospect of reshaping perceptions of this part of Dublin. The new vision for Dublin is: “The vibrant capital city bursting with a variety of surprising experiences - where city living thrives side by side with the natural outdoors.”

Welcoming the strategy Mayor Fintan Warfield said, “I am delighted to launch the Tourism Strategy for a part of Dublin that is

truly on Dublin’s Doorstep - South Dublin County.

We are enthusiastic about playing our role in restoring the global reputation of Dublin as a top class destination for tourism.

Without doubt our county’s potential offering can strongly support the new vision of Dublin.”

The new strategy will serve as the roadmap to unlock the potential of South Dublin County and develop the tourism economy over the next five years.

National Volunteering Week

National Volunteering Week runs from May 11-17th and highlights the multitude of ways that individuals and organisations can get involved in supporting causes, aiding charities and helping in their local communities.

South Dublin County Volunteer Centre is calling on the public to get involved in volunteering in the community during the event. Research commissioned by Volunteer Ireland by nfpSynergy has found that for 20% of people the main barrier to getting involved in volunteering is not knowing where or how to find opportunities.

However, 25% of Irish adults are involved in regular volunteering. The most common place where people volunteer, at 72%, is with a local charity. South Dublin County Volunteer Centre Manager, Tricia Nolan said, “The key step is to go to www.volunteer. ie where people can find a volunteering role near them to suit their interest or skill. Alternatively people can call into or phone South Dublin County Volunteer Centre in Tallaght at 01 462 8558.”

Irish Climber Reports On Mount Everest Avalanche Paul Devaney from County Longford was amongst climbers on Everest when the avalanche hit the mountain on April 25th.

Paul was climbing as part of the Irish Seven Summits Group and was one month into the climb when the disaster struck.

He said, “We were in the food tent the morning of the quake and I noticed the table start to move, then a violent movement. I ran outside and the entire Khumbu Glacier was moving violently under my feet.”

He continued, “My climbing buddy Teo from Norway screamed at me to turn around and I then saw a wall of snow as high as I could see coming towards our camp at frightening speed… We had just enough time to dive into the food tent and scurry under the table before the wall of snow and energy hit.”

Just 50 metres away from Paul in base camp tragedy had struck. Their guide called them to help carry the injured. Paul

USI Set a New World Record For Largest Human Love Heart The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) set a new world record for the largest ever human Love Heart. 529 people took part in the event on April 25th in Smithfield Square, Dublin to raise awareness about the importance of a Yes vote in the forthcoming Marriage Equality Referendum.

USI President Laura Harmon explained: “Our aim today in forming this large group of people into the shape of a Love Heart and setting this new World Record was to highlight what the Marriage Equality Referendum is all about – giving equality before the law to the love between

said the area was like a “tornado zone”.

He said, “I saw bodies lying waiting to be covered and a mixture of seriously wounded and walking wounded. It was like a war zone.”

Paul and his team spent the next few hours helping to carry the wounded to medical tents for treatment but he said that he wished he could have done more.

“I wish I could have got there earlier. I cannot find the words to describe the heroics performed by the medical team and those charged with organising rescue and triage.”

It is believed that over 3,800 people could have died as a result of the earthquake in Nepal with more being discovered every day. couples whether they are straight or gay.”

In order to meet the requirements of the Guinness World Record the people taking part had to dress in red, form into the shape of a Love Heart and hold that formation for five minutes in order to set the World Record.

“It was amazing to see over 500 people turning out in the horrible weather with such fantastic enthusiasm. Hopefully the positive energy shown today will translate itself into a Yes vote on 22 May next,” Laura Harmon concluded.

may 2015 // 13

COVER STORY

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The PJ Party Rachel Lynch talks to comedian PJ Gallagher about his new show which focuses on his adoption, and why he is voting yes in the Marriage Equality referendum

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omedian PJ Gallagher has been on our TV screens for well over 10 years and is one of Ireland’s favourite funny men.

Since turning 40 last month he hasn’t slowed down with his workload either.

Indeed he has a new production called Separated At Birth,which is focused on the story of adoption and kicks off at the beginning of May in Vicar Street and travels all over the country. Only recently has PJ began to speak about his very own adoption story, which the production is based on.

PJ was always told he was adopted, and when himself and Joanne McNally met on the theatre show Singlehood, they discussed their experience of their own adoptions, both equally different.

PJ says, “We just got talking about it and became sort of friends over it all almost, and it’s gas because we are very different. I’m a Northside boy from Marino and she’s a Southside girl from Killiney but we became really good friends.” It was after the production that director Una McKevitt suggested the pair work with her on a new stage production that focused on the topic of adoption.

PJ explained how the whole process worked for him and how his own experience is relayed in his new stage show Separated At Birth. He was

always told from as far back as he can remember that he was adopted. He jokes that,“I was never told that I was adopted, I was told that other people weren’t and I remember finding out that everyone wasn’t and I kind of felt sorry for other people. It’s gas – a part of the show is me sitting down with a lad and he told me he wasn’t adopted and I just felt sorry for him because I just thought he couldn’t find anyone to take him.”

Unlike many who begin the search for their biological parents, PJ began his own search much later in life. He says, “I was nearly 30 I think… I was actually 27 so that’s the thing, we have our whole lives to plan it on our side and you sort of just arrive in to theirs so it’s harder on them than it is on

“”

You’re wondering what they are going to look like and thinking how they are going to react to me.

us I think. They are just waiting and waiting and then they get on with their lives and forget all about it and then one day this letter arrives and it’s kind of like a hand grenade going off I suppose.”

Family Realities For many people the fear of meeting up or being rejected is one that plays on most adoptees’ minds. PJ’s experience was as he says “easier than most”, although he didn’t know what to expect. “You see so many ridiculous TV shows like Surprise Surprise where everyone is jumping up and down and pulling party poppers and there’s an audience of people clapping but you obviously know that’s not the way it’s going to be. It’s just strange and it takes a lot of getting your head around. You’re wondering what they are going to look like and thinking how they are going to react to me”.

PJ explains the relief of finding out his biological parents had in fact married years after his birth, had other children and were still together. “To be fair my case was probably the best-case scenario you could ever find.” Since his story of adoption became known to the public PJ has had many people approach him with their own stories, may 2015 // 17

COVER STORY some of which are far more tragic than his own.

“People come up to me all the time and tell me stories about adoption and the one thing that strikes me is how lucky I was in comparison to other people. In Joanne’s case her father is still avoiding her and won’t speak to her. If you are going to do the search the main thing is you have got to be ready for anything. You have to mentally prepare yourself as this could be really good, really bad or anything in between. You just have to be ready for anything before you do it.”

His new stage production is a reflection of his and Joanne’s life to date – it’s different to the standup comedy that we have become accustomed to by PJ. He says, “We are trying to tell a story and adoption isn’t

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“”

I’m a big supporter of the Yes campaign. People shouldn’t take it for granted that it will go through – they need to vote. the most hilarious topic in the world, but it is very lighthearted and it’s a very lighthearted way of us telling our story of being adoptees and growing up adopted in Ireland. And with our unlikely friendship and hopefully by listening to our story you will learn how the aadoption process works for m most and there’s a good few laughs in there, it’s a little bit of everything and just an hour’s entertainment.”

With the topic of adoption bbeing covered thouroughly at the mo moment with the pending Marria Marriage Equality Vote, PJ has given his full support to the Yes Ca Campaign. “I’m a big supporter of the Yes campaign. People sh shouldn’t take it for granted.

W We look at our peers and pe people we went to school with an and work with and everyone is ssaying yes this and yes that but if you don’t actually get out and vote it’s not going to happen.”

He explains how the vote will be closer than people think but how he believes a vote for yes is a vote iin the right direction. “It’s in our p proclamation that everyone deserves equal rights and we all need to get tog together and make it happen”.

The vote w which will be held on May 22nd is hu huge in PJ’s eyes, who has taken to h his Twitter account to urge

the people of Ireland to get on board and support the Yes campaign. He says, “It’s time for change – if you are going against it or voting no we could be on the wrong side of history.”

His own way of explaining it to others is to compare the vote to the type of foods we like or dislike: “There are some foods I don’t like and when I came across those foods I pushed them to the side and I moved on with my life. What I didn’t do is try and ban other people from eating those foods because I understand it is not my business what other people eat and who you fall in love with is exactly the same. You are entitled to disagree with it or hate it or not like it but not really entitled to stop someone else from doing it.”

Career Choices PJ has been on our screens for a long time although it may surprise some that it wasn’t the career path he had thought he would go down. His good friend and fellow comedian Jason Byrne used to work alongside him in a warehouse and had always wanted to work in stand up. PJ says, “Jason started taking me along to gigs because he was nervous and then I did a gig first time on my own. It wasn’t great – your first gig is never great. It went okay and for the first time I realised I was doing something that was enjoyable and that I could get used to this”. Even though he had little or no interest in stand up initially PJ tells us how he did have an interest in Brendan Grace while growing up and had heard plenty of his vinyl records.

Another surprising fact for many was seeing PJ’s documentary on stage fright on RTÉ, which showed people tackling their fears. The hour-long documentary that aired at the start of the year helped PJ take on his own fears of getting up on stage. Since the show PJ is now managing his fear better than he ever has before. “I still

PJ GALLAGHER

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COVER STORY

“”

It’s in our proclamation that everyone deserves equal rights and we all need to get together and make it happen. get nervous now but it’s a nervous anticipation like I can’t wait to get into it whereas before I couldn’t wait to get away from it. If I hadn’t have done that documentary I wouldn’t be doing this show on adoption, I just wouldn’t have had the nerve for it. I should have done it 20 years ago.”

For anyone who followed the everpopular RTÉ comedy sketch show Naked Camera they would find it hard to believe that PJ ever had any issues with confidence. The show that took over our screens for 10 years saw PJ take on the role of the hilarious Jake Stevens and also the infamous rude granny on Moore Street.

The show ran with 24 episodes and is still a feature on RTÉ to this day with regular re-runs. Although PJ said it was sad to see the show come to an end he said it became hard to carry out many of the sketches after a while due to the notoriety of the characters that were acted out by not just himself, but also comedians Patrick McDonnell and Maeve Higgins.

It was way back in 2005 that we were first introduced to the show which included as mentioned the unstoppable Jake Stevens; the desperate bride, now pregnant and looking for the father, the dodgy Jumperman; Orangeman Clifford Crawford and the Irish-American tracing his roots to find someone to give him a kidney. The series bagged plenty of awards during its running 20 // intallaght magazine

and sales of the Naked Camera DVD reached triple platinum.

PJ has now made the transition into radio which is somewhere he has always wanted to be, but says he will never forget those years on our screens. He says, “It gave me 10 of the best years of my whole life so I can’t really complain too much. I’m working in radio every morning now and I know if it hadn’t have been for p p carrying around that newspaper ns I and whistling as Jake Stevens wouldn’t be here today”.

In fact PJ is really lovingg gan his new radio show. He began M’s anchoring Classic Hits 4FM’s breakfast show alongside Damian Farrelly in November and he says on’t the early morning starts don’t bother him in the slightest.. His trength new career is going from strength to strength and he assures us it’s been one of the greatestt achievements in his career to date. “Jesus I love it. I thinkk it’s nything. the most I have enjoyed anything.

I was doing stand up for 200 years, TV for 10 years and for thee first time omething in a long time I get to do something that’s brand new again. To be honest I think I have ticked all thee boxes in regard to what I want too do.

The main thing I want to do now is to try and work in radio and get good and better at that and stay in it. That’s what my real ambition is now because I don’t want to be doing stand up when I’m in my 60’s but I do ind a love the idea of sitting behind microphone and being ablee to still ovides that.” talk to people and radio provides As if that isn’t enough too keep PJ busy he is taking his show Separated At Birth all around the country untry this n the capital summer, kicking off here in y. He tells us from the beginning of May. he loves an Irish audience but that you he whole have to be on your game the

time. “Everyone in Ireland thinks they are a comedian anyway so the bar is higher, but if you deliver, the response is unlike anywhere else in the world… but you do have to deliver. To be fair if you get up and talk a load a sh*t they are going to let you know.”

Finally PJ tells us that he also has ideas for a new stand up production about him turning 40 and all that comes with that which he hopes will be out just j before Christmas.

We can’t wait to see it!

INTERVIEW

The Grand Gearóid Rachel Lynch talks to comedian Gearóid Farrelly about his new podcast series Facinated and why the Yes vote matters.

G

earóid Farrelly is back with his 2015 podcast Fascinated, and the new series follows on from last year’s success which saw it get to number three in the Irish Podcast Charts and number 74 in the worldwide comedy podcast charts.

The first series saw him interview people like Mariama Goodman from the ‘90s band The Honeyz and boybander David Ross who was in Bad Boys Inc. This time around the eagerly awaited new series boasts an array of pretty impressive guests from singer Carnie Wilson chatting about following her legendary father Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys into the family business to Pauline McLynn talking about that iconic Father Ted catchphrase.

Fans of Gearóid will be surprised to know that stand up was not something he had always wished to do. Gearóid explains, “I started doing stand up in 2008 and I had no interest in pursuing it whatsoever. I was just doing it for the craic so every time I did a gig I was only doing it ‘one more time’, and then it just sort of snowballed and I was asked to do gigs and started getting offers.

Then I did Edinburgh (Fringe Festival) and got an agent and then you’re doing it whether you want to or not. It was something I fell into but I took to it like a duck to water, I found I was good at it and then I suppose eight years later I’m still doing it.”

Gearóid’s first taste of success came in 2008 when he entered the Channel 4 comedy show So You Think You’re Funny, although after entering for nothing more than the “craic” he found himself in the final of the show.

“I did the heat in Dublin and I won it

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and then I had to go to Edinburgh and do the heats over there and I ended up winning my heat and then all of a sudden I was in the final. It was one of those things where it wasn’t until the night of the final that I actually realised how big of a deal it actually was. I didn’t even tell my parents I was in the final. It was crazy and Johnny Vegas was one of the judges on the night and I think he liked me because people were telling me after that he was giving me the thumbs up. So from there I got an agent and then it all kicked off.”

Gearóid explains that although he really enjoys what he does it’s not as easy as it looks to just get up on stage and tell a few jokes and speaks

“”

If everyone got a badge to say ‘I voted yes’ or ‘I voted no’, I think that in 10 years time the people that voted no would be taking [OLT VɈ I\[ [OL people who voted yes will always be proud of that decision.

of those “dodgy shows when you are trying to turn over new material, you are literally a rookie comic then and finding your way so you have to do that as quickly as possible so you can get back to doing great gigs. Those gigs can be ropey but they are my favourite because you never know what way it is going to go and that’s the buzz.”

Gearóid has travelled all over Ireland and the UK but still believes that the smaller venues have so much more to offer. He says, “I love doing Vicar Street because you feel like a real comedian. I love the Olympia – I’ve done that a good few times and there are some other places that are amazing like the Ulster Hall in Belfast I do as part of Neil Delamere’s tour and it’s brilliant, but I do love the small venues for me when I’m doing my own thing. A little room is just perfect for comedy. You go in and just rip it up and it’s just brilliant craic – you adapt what you do for different venues around the country.”

While on his travels he has worked along with some massive names including the late iconic Joan Rivers who he says completely knocked him for six. “She was lovely! She was so friendly and there was no shit with her in regards to the show we were doing that night. It was me and it was her, she really made me feel like we were in this together. It was a strange experience, I think this happens a lot of the time with people you work with, they become someone different to the person you have seen on the TV. I thought what would happen was they would just come in and say now it’s your turn to go out but it wasn’t like that at all. We all sat around in her

GEARÓID FARRELLY dressing room while they were putting her make up on and d she was just telling us stories about out going to awards ceremonies and was like ‘Do you know who is a b*tch?’”

Gearóid says he was completely taken aback back as to how a woman n who was 79 years of age could “tear the place ce apart in a way that peoplee like PJ (Gallagher) would do to an Irish crowd and she came me off after an hour and a half and d she was like, ‘that was fabulous now we get some drinks.’” It was as an experience that means ans more now than it did at the time – at the time I was just like I have to do a gig in Vicar Street which is a massive deal no matter who you are doing it with. Looking back now I am more impressed now than I was then.”

Although Gearóid says stand up was something that he fell into he was ng always a fan growing ans. up of Irish comedians.

“Jason Byrne and ould Deirdre O’Kane would have been the two I would have always gone to see when I was younger and Tommy Tiernan is the master as far as I’m concerned, he is stillll the god”. Gearóid tells us how although hee is a massive fan, he would mself never have put himself

on the same page as them. “I always thought they were the proper comedians and I was just coming up behind them.”

Equality Issues Gearóid’s job may revolve around jokes and having a laugh but he explains to us how the pending

Marriage Equality vote on May 22nd som is something he takes extremely serious and he is right behind the Yes seriously H says, “I’m gay myself and I vote. He w are at the moment in a very think we danger dangerous time because people who th prejudices are getting a have these a we shouldn’t underestimate voice and that. I was thinking about this today and I have seen a lot of people wearin the Yes equality badges and I wearing someti sometimes think the way this is going i if everyone got a badge to say to go is vote yes’ or ‘I voted no’, I think ‘I voted that in 10 years time the people that voted no would be taking them off but the people who voted yes will always p be proud of that decision.” p Gearóid believes a lot of damage is being done with the d No campaigns. “I went for lunch with a group of friends last weekend and we were all in sh*te form and the more we talked the more we realised the reason we were in sh*te form was because those posters had just gone up.

Outside my apartment I was just telling my boyfriend there are three posters looking in our windows telling us that we are second class citizens. The thing about it is they are blending two a issues here. For example it’s possible to be against gay marriage and for a surrogacy surrog and then against surrogacy and for fo gay marriage but they are two different things. It’s really weird di because becaus when I say yes I’m for it – I’m like well we of course.” Gearóid fears that a no vote will drive wedges in society as it may result in the younger generation feeling like they aren’t genera wanted here. “I think that’s really sad, we w have an opportunity to be an inclusive inclusi country, so fingers crossed.”

Keep Kee an eye out for Gearóid’s new series of o Fascinated which is available on iTunes, Soundcloud and Stitcher iTu from Tuesday, April 28th.

T

may 2015 // 23

24 Welcome to the May 8th issue of the Square Magazine.

The weather has been so changeable that it can be difficult to know what to wear! Luckily, we have all sorts of clothing to suit your needs here in the Square so you can always be ready come rain or shine.

This month we held our FREE Polka Dot Party in the Centre Mall, where all the kids got to use their creativity with polka dots! Things got a little dotty with polka dot crafts, polka dot balloons and polka dot face painting, all in aid of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Next month on June 6th we will be hosting another FREE event, the Outback Reptile Event for all the kids to enjoy.

We were delighted to present our Community Champion Award this month to Gabby McDonald, a Psychology student and Top Fuel

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EDITION 50 MAY 2015

Pilot! She has been drag racing since she was 13 years old and now at 21 is the first ever Irish Top Fuel Pilot, the youngest licensed female in Europe and holds the quickest licensing pass in Europe!

Well done Gabby!

As always we had loads to give away on our Facebook page such as a River Island bag and purse, a Nando’s gift card and to celebrate our latest fashion shoot we gave away a €50 Square gift card. Keep an eye out for even more giveaways this coming month for your chance to win some great prizes from the Square.

Happy shopping,

_______________________ Cathrynn McMenam McMenamy Cathr The Square Town Centre, Commercial Manager

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Mad May Polka Dot Party The May Bank Holiday saw a massive crowd gather here at the Centre Mall for yet another FREE event. Our Polka Dot Party took place on Saturday May 2nd.

The party was in aid of Cystic Fibrosis Ireland and a great day was had by all. The event kicked off with some fabulous face painting by our wonderful team who were dressed in some spectacular costumes.

The little ones also had a chance to decorate their very own mask with all the colours of the rainbow and if that wasn’t enough there was an opportunity to have your picture taken with our very own Cheeky Monkey. We’ve already raised over €1000 so thanks to everyone for donating on the day. If you didn’t make the FREE event but would like to donate to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland you can still do so by texting 65Roses to 50300, each text will donate €2.

Our next FREE family event, our Outback Reptile Event takes place on Saturday June 6th from 1pm - 4pm. See our website www.thesquare.ie/ourevents/ for details.

Sq. Magazine

Sq. News Social Media Give-aways As always we had some fantastic prizes up for grabs across our Twitter and Facebook pages this month. First up we had a delicious meal for two at Nando’s here on Level 3, where you can get some tasty chicken cooked just the way you like it.

Next we had a beautiful River Island bag and purse which saw thousands of you enter in the hopes of winning the statement piece. If all that wasn’t enough we also had

Job Shadow Wok To Walk here on Level 3 have added a new member to their workforce.

John of Gods Community Service run a service which sees people with various disabilities and special needs get into the working environment. Wok To Walk store owner Aidan Murphy was approached by the local organisation about a possible work placement

26

another limited edition River Island I purse which wh again saw a massive number of you enter in the hope of winning.

And to top it all off we gave away a €50 Square gift card to celebrate our latest fashion shoot, so that you can spend on the fashions you love from The Square.

Remember to keep an eye on our Twitter and Facebook account for the chance to win some of our amazing prizes up for grabs every week!

and he was happy to get on board. David Mulligan comes along to assist the staff every Tuesday and Thursday for an hour each day.

Aidan told us how David has fitted in perfectly with the team and how they are enjoying his company: “David is great and everybody loves him on the team, it’s making a difference to his life and is making a difference to ours as well”.

Community Champion This month’s Community Champion Award goes to Gabby McDonald. Regular readers of InTallaght Magazine will be familiar with Gabby, but for those who haven’t heard of her before she is a 21-year-old local drag racer who drives a 300 mph, 8,000 bhp top fuel dragster in her chosen sport.

She is the first ever Irish Top Fuel Pilot and the youngest licensed female in Europe. As well as this she also holds the quickest licensing pass in Europe.

Since she started racing at the tender age of 13 her rise to the top of her sport has been nothing short of phenomenal. At just 16 years of age she became the first female from outside the UK to win the Triple British

Championships. Last year she put in an amazing performance to attain her Top Fuel Drag license at the FIA European Finals at Santa Pod Raceway in the UK which is the home of European Drag Racing.

This summer she will be moving to New York for a year to pursue her dream of becoming a professional drag racer.

Having competed already in America on the junior drag racing circuit, she ultimately aims to move over there long term as the sport is much bigger in the USA compared to Europe, with potential prize money for winning an event as high as half a million dollars. Gabby is a great role model for young Irish female sportspeople and we wish her the very best of luck for her year in America and her dreams of becoming a professional drag racer.

Sq. News

27 Eco Week 2015 At The Square As usual Eco Week held a stand on Level 2 where they raised awareness of environmental issues, climate change and promoted the principles of sustainability. In particular they spoke about preventing food waste and discussed energy consumption. It was a great week and garnered a lot of attention here in The Square.

Mayor Warfield said at the launch: “It is important to look at Climate Change in such a way as to tackle the particular effects in our county and how we can influence them. We will all benefit from investing in energy saving practices, water conservation and waste reduction.”

Book Signings In The Square We were delighted to welcome two great writers to Easons on Level 2 to sign copies of their books last month. Tallaght author Zoe Miller signed copies of her new book last month called A Question of Betrayal, which has received fantastic reviews so far. Easons gave away three signed copies of the book on our Facebook and Twitter pages to celebrate.

promote his book NYPD Green. His book tells the story of how he hoped to join the Gardaí, but on holiday in New York he soon set his sights on joining the New York Police Department instead.

Also visiting Easons was NYPD officer and Finglas native Luke Waters to

We look forward to many more authors visiting the Square Tallaght soon.

A Closer Look At...

EASON

Easons here on Level 2 have everything you need for that summer holiday.

With their huge selection of books there really is something for everyone, from crime to fiction to the ultimate romance novel.

Whatever it is that you are looking for you can be sure Easons will have you covered.

Also don’t forget the children – Eason’s have some great season deals available in store with their children’s ‘Spring Fest’, which offers mix and match on a whole range of books. Simply look out for the ‘3 for 2’ stickers and get the cheapest item free. And what about the young adult books? They too have ‘3 for 2’ across many popular books.

If you are travelling with very young children this summer, you can pick them up a colouring book and a selection of stationery which

is all available in store and will be the perfect way of keeping the smaller ones entertained while flying or while lying on the beach.

Easons also have a wide range of games and puzzles to suit any age group. Or if you don’t feel like a book and would rather something lighter for your travel, you could pick up a magazine.

If you are heading away and want to organise the school year ahead of time, Easons have you covered with all supplies under one roof. It may seem early but organisation is the key to avoiding those stressful days in the lead up to those early morning starts again. It’s down to you the parents to prepare your children for the new school year starting this September but Easons can help make it an easy time for you.

The most important piece of equipment to decide on is the school bag. It’s a choice

that will more than likely be chosen by your child due to its colour and design, but it’s up to you to check its practicality. School books are next on the list. Make sure to shop as early as you can as the end of August tends to get really busy and certain books tend to sell out fast. The last thing you want is to be spending your last few days of peace running around! You can drop in your children’s school book list to any member of staff who will sort out everything for you while you continue to shop around the centre then drop back and pick everything up without any stress.

Last but certainly not least on the list is stationery. There’s a huge range of products available within Easons store. The standard items are the likes of pens, pencils, highlighters and other writing equipment, along with rulers, protractors and compasses etc. Get into Easons on Level 2 today to stock up or check out www.easons.com

28

CINEMA THE AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON

A

movie full of ÄNO[PUN IHU[LY and surprisingly, romance.

The much-hyped sequel to The Avengers is a whirlwind of action, avengers slagging avengers, and a little bit of loving.

For those worried that the sequel wouldn’t match the excitement of the first movie, rest your weary minds. Age of Ultron is funnier, wittier and probably has a lot more action, although it is difficult to quantify when your eyes are trying to keep up with the action onscreen.

While there are times that you may be confused about what is going on, the movie is nevertheless great entertainment. On a mission to save Loki’s sceptre, the Avengers run into new enemies known as the twins –Wanda and

Pietro Maximoff, who they describe as “She’s weird, he’s fast.” The dangerous combo are on their own mission to bring down Tony Stark who they hold responsible for killing their parents.

Director Joss Whedon somehow finds time to introduce these characters and yet develop all the other characters we know and love –Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, Hulk, Black Widow and Hawkeye.

The movie does follow a well-devised formula of fighting - funny quip - more fighting, which is cleverly managed, yet a little tired.

Nonetheless, it is often laugh-out-loud funny and a highly entertaining watch.

Look away now if you don’t want a spoiler: Paul Bettany, voice of artificial intelligence Jarvis does finally get a body, while his replacement, for no explained reason is an Irish lady!

Strange for all in the cinema!

RELEASED: APRIL 24TH // by Genna Patterson

FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD

A

n epic remake of the melodramatic book made to melt your heart.

Far From The Madding Crowd is a beautiful, epic saga about love, social standing for women in the 1800’s and survival against the odds.

Carey Mulligan (Drive) plays the lead character Bathsheba Everdene, an independent woman who inherits a farm from her uncle. Determined to be dependent on noone, Bathsheba refuses marriage proposals from her suitors, lest she lose control of her property.

Her suitors are many – the silent, handsome shepherd Gabriel (Matthias Schoenaerts), the respectful neighbour William (Michael Sheen) and the charismatic Sergeant Troy (Tom Sturridge).

The story stretches over a number of years as Bathsheba tries to make it on her own, but

nonetheless falls for the one man she shouldn’t.

While it is a beautifully shot movie, and the actors are convincing and emotive, it is somewhat predictable. Mulligan is evocative as Bathsheba, however it is Sheen as the love-struck neighbour who really pulls at your heartstrings. This is a movie for those who like a drawn-out love story, but be prepared for plenty of moments where you want to shake the characters for making the wrong decisions.

RELEASED: MAY 1ST // by Genna Patterson

BIG GAME

A

U HJ[PVU ÄSSLK thriller that might make you laugh more than grip your seat.

Samuel L. Jackson stars as none other than the President of the United States of America in this film, something his character tells the audience repeatedly, lest we forget. On a trip to a G8 summit in Finland, the President’s plane is targeted by terrorists and so he is evacuated, landing in remote woodlands.

However it is not the bears or other mountain creatures he should fear, but the host of terrorists and his personal bodyguard-turned-traitor trying to track him down. A chance meeting with a young Finnish boy Oskari quickly turns out to be his only chance at survival, and together the two must run, hide and fight back to save their lives.

Big Game is a fun movie that doesn’t take itself too seriously. If you liked Snakes on a Plane (and lets face it, it was a bit of craic), then you’ll be pleased to know that Jackson once again gets into trouble on an aeroplane. He also gets at least one opportunity to say his catchphrase ‘mother**cker’, albeit dubbed out with loud guns. Big Game is quite ridiculous, but at the same time ridiculously entertaining. It may also have been sponsored by the Finnish tourist board as the backdrop shows the spectacular countryside.

Watch if you want something with some great action, a few laughs and something that you don’t have to think too hard about.

RELEASED: MAY 8TH //

// by Genna Patterson

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may 2015 // 35

ART

Mural For Marriage Padraig Conlon spoke to artist Joe Caslin about his much-talked about mural on Georges Street.

I

f you’d spent any time in town recently you may well have noticed an enormous drawing on a gable end on the Georges Street and Dame Street intersection that depicted two men embracing. The man responsible for the piece is Tullamore-based art teacher and street artist Joe Caslin and I spoke with him the day after the famous Dublin weather decided to remove his startling mural advocating for Marriage Equality.

For the last three weeks not one day has gone by without somebody from the media wanting to talk to Joe about his latest work. The response to the pro-equality mural, known as The Claddagh Embrace, has been “phenomenal and extremely positive,” said Joe. “I’m not affiliated with the Yes campaign and they didn’t commission me to do it. I did it because I’d love to see the referendum passed and I’ll be voting yes.” When there were fears the council were going to remove it, 49,000 people signed a petition demanding it be retained.

The project was inspired by one of the most popular paintings in the National Gallery called The Meeting on A Turret Stairs by Frederic William Burton about a princess and her bodyguard who fall in love but are forbidden from getting married by her father. “Here you had a higher power that prevented their union from taking place,” said Joe. “This was a perfect subject matter for what’s happening at the minute with the referendum. Here we have the higher power, in this case the state, that is preventing the union from taking place. If your basic rights are not there how can you be a full

36 // intallaght magazine

citizen of a country? I’m not telling people what to do, I’m just showing something that is a part of our society.”

Caslin worked alongside photographer Sean Jackson for 12 hours in the pouring rain to put the mural in place on the four-story building on the junction of Dame Street and George’s Street. The two models that posed for the photograph are Dubliners Barry Jeffers and James McLoughlin. Both men are gay, which Joe felt was important because the issue being highlighted directly affects them.

Even though Joe has received an enormous amount of goodwill messages from people up and down the country, there have been a small amount of naysayers. “I got an email yesterday from someone who said I was “trying to promote incest.” I don’t know how they got that from it.

Maybe it was because I gave the lads the same hair colour!” said Joe. He said any negative comments have no effect on him whatsoever. “I get called worse by my students!”

“”

It’s great that a piece of art that doesn’t contain any slogan or words can create debate and discussion.

This isn’t the first time Joe has used street art to shine a light on marginalised groups in Irish society.

Last year he unveiled his awe-inspiring project Our Nations Sons, which aims to change negative perceptions about young Irish men and draw attention to some of the problems currently being suffered by them. This project was a continuation of the work he has already undertaken at Achill-Henge, Co. Mayo and Trinity College Dublin, where a team of young students installed drawings of young men who he mentored as part of his overall team.

He was inspired from his own experiences of dealing with young men through his work as an art teacher in Tullamore. “In eight years of teaching I’ve lost five kids to suicide and that gave me the impetus to do Our Nation’s Sons. You see these amazing kids come into your classroom and then all of a sudden they’re gone.

It’s horrific.”

Joe continued, “The media paints this picture of young men as being dangerous, violent or lazy. What I see in these young men is potential, power, exceptional talent, empathy and determination every day of the week. When you go in and talk to them, motivate them, you get a community together. My aim is to shine a light on that and also discuss issues like social isolation, unemployment, emigration.”

Joe believes as a society we’re becoming a bit more open with regard to discussing these issues. “It used to be that young men might only discuss their feelings after five or 10 pints

JOE CASLIN The Claddagh Embrace by Joe Caslin

The Meeting on A Turret Stairs

by Frederic William Burton

and then the next day they’d say, ‘Ah it was only the drink.’ I think we’re slowly moving out of that, people are more willing to discuss mental health nowadays,” he said.

Caslin says his influences are many and varied. He is inspired by other artists like Maser, “I love his energy, his positivity” and old established ones like Da Vinci as well as “just listening to people on the street.” The kids he teaches are also an inspiration.

For his next project he wants to look at the 1916 Rising but before he can do anything there is the important matter of raising funds. “These projects cost a lot of money and the type of work I do doesn’t necessarily fit in the box. For example, The Claddagh Embrace cost thousands to produce.

There is a huge amount of risk with these projects, who do you borrow money from?” Caslin financed Our Nations Sons himself until he received

an award from the Arthur Guinness Projects fund which gave him the scope to make the project bigger.

As I mentioned at the start of this piece, the day before I spoke with Joe a torrential night of rain removed most of the mural from the wall that’s been its home for the last three weeks. Joe explained to me that this was just what he expected to happen. “It was only a temporary piece, we knew it was going to come down eventually. Because we were working on a historic building we had to use a special type of glue that was very light and non-acrylic.

We got a great few weeks out of it but obviously it would have been nice if it had lasted until the referendum.”

There was a certain irony connected with the murals eventual demise because on the day it washed away he received a letter from the Council notifying him that there was no breach of any legislation. “That was funny

but nice to know that it had been approved because now that wall is to be given over to other social issues.

It’s a great landmark location in the city and it’s great news after it’s been bare for years.”

Next up for Joe is a female version of the mural which will be unveiled in a rural location in the coming weeks.

Fingers crossed the response to this next project will be just as impressive as the Dublin one. “It’s great that a piece of art that doesn’t contain any slogan or words can create debate and discussion. That’s what I really love about street art, you put up an image and let people make up their own minds. All it is is a drawing on a wall. I love finding forgotten spaces or buildings people don’t use anymore and give them a new energy.”

To see more of Joe’s work check out his archive on joecaslin.com

may 2015 / 37

MUSIC VILLAGERS Darling Arithmetic

I

can honestly say that I haven’t listened (enough) to Villagers.

That’s why I was fortunate to review the new album – after the second listen I realised I had missed out on something, and after the third I was sold. Conor O’Brien just captures listeners with his pure acoustic elegance and alluring darkness, and it’s no surprise that the Mercury Prize nominee went straight to number one with this new effort.

O’Brien is the brain behind the music, songs and production – the entire album was made at his home in Malahide. Darling Arithmetic is the indie folk band’s third release and with these nine tracks O’Brien again shows his abilities as a lyricist and his great vocal presence. It’s packed with melancholia, tenderness and direct emotions, and O’Brien has cultivated 38 // intallaght magazine

his heartbreaks and ghosts into the result that is this wonderful music.

At the same time this is an incredibly strong album coming from O’Brien, where he sings about the matters closest to his heart. It could be called a confessional album, where he is completely open about his own sexuality. In the very first track Courage, he gets straight down to business: “It took a little time to get free/It took a little time to be honest/ It took a little time to be me.”

On one of my favorites, the raw Hot Scary Summer, he addresses the important problem of homophobia: “Remember kissing on the cobblestones/ In the heat of the night/ And all the pretty young homophobes/ Looking out for a fight.”

Layered vocals, gentle bass, drums and cello are the key words for another favourite – the heart-warming The Soul Serene.

It’s evocative and charming and it puts a smile on my face.

O’Brien proves that less is more with these crystal clear love songs, from the piano ballad Everything I Am Is Yours, to the more upbeat Little Bigot to the sadness in No One To Blame musically it’s old fashioned and down to simplicity.

Darling Arithmetic is a treasure chest of songs and it closes with the delicate and beautiful So Naïve – a clear nod to the late poet Nick Drake. // by Linn Heldal

NICKI MINAJ The Night Is Still Young

M

ost people would probably associate Nicki Minaj mainly with her 2014 single Anaconda.

It was all over music channels and social media last year, and it cheers and applauds for big rears, and her own in particular, which, after taking a look at the music video, doesn’t need further introduction.

The Night Is Still Young is the sixth single release from the album. Much like Anaconda, it’s one of the lighthearted party tracks on an album that is a mix between a disco-diva club record, and something that deals with way more serious topics like violence, death, abortion and separation.

Lyrically, The Night is Still Young is plain, with no more meaning than, well, that the night is actually still young. There are some other great tracks on the album that definitely deserve more attention.

With The Night Is Still Young, the 32-year-old Rap Majesty wants to show that she still knows how to party, as if anyone were in doubt. // by Linn Heldal

TECH TIDAL MUSIC

T

idal is a music streaming service which was launched in 2014 by Norwegian/ Swedish Company Aspiro. Following Jay Z’s recent acquisition of the music streaming service it has come under a lot of scrutiny.

On March 30th Alicia Keys, Madonna, Beyonce, Jay Z and other wellknown performers, who are all coowners, re-launched the service in New York City. Almost immediately the press conference and Tidal came under criticism, as it appeared that millionaires were whining that they should have more money.

Lily Allen and Mumford & Sons have criticised Tidal although their criticism is more towards Jay Z and the co-owners’ stance over them losing money more so than the app itself.

40 // intallaght magazine

While his intentions might not be all that bad, surely he could have made more money in other areas without having to spend $54 million to purchase Tidal in the first place.

There is currently no free subscription plan for this service, unlike the hugely popular Spotify which features a paid and free subscription service for that app. There are currently two packages for people to choose from if they want to use Tidal; they are Tidal Premium and Tidal HiFi. Both packages feature no ads however, and you get unlimited listening time with both as well, although HiFi features better sounding quality music streams than the premium package. Tidal’s other main feature is over 75,000 HD music videos and other content which includes playlists, interviews and magazine style features.

Tidal will feature exclusive music from those who are signed to the service and one of those artists is Jack White. White recently embarked on a surprise acoustic tour in the United States and his last concert on that tour was streamed exclusively on Tidal.

The concert will also in be added to the on-demand service on Tidal at a later date.

Jack White isn’t the only performer to launch exclusive content to the service. On April 5th Beyonce released an exclusive video of herself sitting at a piano and serenading Jay Z, he is recording it which is revealed at the end, singing Die with You. Rihanna also released her new song American Oxygen through the service.

Furthermore there is more bad news for fans of Rihanna who use Spotify and don’t buy albums; her new album which is released through Roc Nation (another company owned by Jay Z) looks like it is going to be the first exclusive title available on Tidal.

It is expected that with Spotify and the rumours that Apple are going to be rebranding and revamping that Tidal is going to struggle. Also the people who would pay to have better sound quality may be more interested in the Pono player which was developed by Neil Young.

Only time will tell how Tidal will fare but going off early reports I can’t see it beating a service which is free like Spotify, especially if you’re paying for a second rate service. // by Colm O’Muirí

GAME KIRBY AND THE RAINBOW PAINTBRUSH

K

irby And The Rainbow Paintbrush is a platforming video game from Nintendo and HAL Laboratory and it is the latest game in the Kirby series.

The game begins with Kirby and Waddle Dee who are playing together enjoying another day in Dream Land. Suddenly a portal opens and the evil villain Claycia appears and drains all of the colour from Dream Land. Kirby is set with the task of bringing the colour back to Dream Land with the help of Elline who is a paintbrush fairy that also came from the portal, and is from the land of Seventopia.

With that, Kirby, Waddle Dee and Elline go in pursuit of Claycia in an attempt to restore colour to Dream Land.

Up to four people can play at once to help Kirby bring the colour back to Dream Land; three friends can hop in and out of the game at any time as Waddle Dees to assist Kirby.

Players must draw lines using the touch screen to help Kirby, who is stuck as a round ball, through Dream Land.

However as the game progresses Kirby will be transformed into different objects from a submarine to a rocket and also a tank - these different shapes will allow Kirby progress through the game.

PROJECT CARS

P You can be creative with your lines in the game from making loops, p protecting Kirby from obstacles and enemies and also to launch Kirby into the air.

Th are two There diff different modes in the game; story mode which features twenty-eight different levels d challenge mode which and featu over forty different features level There is plenty to levels. find in every level and playe are challenged to players an uncover everything try and th game from hidden in the treasure chests containing music tracks to clay figurines of familiar Kirby characters. The ag suitability for Kirby age is 3+ and it will cost €4 €49.99.

REL E: RELEASE DATE: Tu Tuesday May 8th o Wii U on // by Colm O’M O’Muirí

roject Cars is an upcoming motorsport simulator from British video game developers Slightly Mad Studios.

As you would imagine this game features cars, and plenty of them, from Touring, Retro Touring, Road, Track Day and GT Cars – there is something for every motor fan.

Project Cars even features Karts, Le Mans Prototypes and Modern Open Wheel cars so this looks to be a definitive game in motor racing.

The game allows you to race in the Le Mans 24 hour race, one of the most prestigious races in the world of motorsports. You can race in Le Mans with accelerated timeprogression, or you can race for the whole 24 hours.There are a wide variety of tracks in numerous different countries due to the variety of cars.

GAME

Hockenheimring in Germany, which is a personal favourite of mine, is in the game along with Donnington, the Nürburgring and Greenwood, which is a karting circuit in Ireland and many more tracks.

Project Cars features a career mode where you create a driver and choose a motorsport to race in. Unlike other games where you start in slower cars in the lower tiers Project Cars lets you race with the best from the start whether you want to be racing European GT cars or Le Mans Prototypes.

In career mode you will wi achieve different diffe accolades ac and a aim to achieve different

milestones and endorsements throughout your career. This game looks like a phenomenal racer and let’s hope it lives up to its potential.

RELEASE DATE: Friday May 8th on PS4, Xbox One, PC & Wii U. // by Colm O’Muirí

may 2015 // 43

MOTOR FORD FOCUS

T

he Ford Focus is one of Ireland’s most popular cars on the road.

It’s the perfect option for a large family who are looking for something stylish but also for the singleton with a keen interest in first class motoring.

So what are the changes to this version? Well, the body on a whole looks relatively the same as the previous model but there are alterations to the interior and exterior styling packages. One of the main changes is at the front end where the Focus gets an instantly recognisable chrome grille, a new bonnet and sleeker headlamps, which add to the sporty look.

The dashboard does feel initally huge inside, but once you start to drive it’s easy to forget all about that.

The seats are comfortable with plenty of adjustment and on a whole you can’t complain as everything sits well with plenty of leg room in both the back and front.

There are four spec levels available in the range; Focus, Focus Style, Zetec and Titanium. There are also three 44 // intallaght magazine

new engines to choose from, including two diesels – a 1.6 or a 2.0 and one petrol option with a 1.0 EcoBoost which has won ‘International Engine of the Year’ three years running.

What about the drive itself? Well the Focus isn’t just a favourite here for its sleek style – the drive is up there with some of the top models I have test-driven before. It positions itself on the road well and is certainly a very comfortable ride. Another main feature and one which has become popular with many motorists, is the perpendicular parking. Before you start questioning, yes it does park itself, and hands free too!

The Focus really does tick all the boxes and I’m glad to see the 2015 model hasn’t been completely revamped as it works well and really has a strong presence in its category.

With the starting price of just €20,295 for the 4-door 1.6, the Focus really is fantastic value for money. It’s affordable, reliable and stylish, which is hard to beat. // by Rachel Lynch

BOOK OSCAR WILDE The Picture of Dorian Gray

T

he Picture of Dorian Gray is the one and only novel Oscar Wilde ever wrote and it gave him the opportunity not only to tell a great story, but also explore ideas around art and morality in Victorian society.

First published in a magazine in 1890 he was forced to revise The Picture of Dorian Gray in response to a moral panic. He added seven chapters, a preface, and toned down some of the more contentious elements of the story - not least of which was the original’s more obvious homoerotic content.

The book starts with Lord Basil Hallward, who is finishing the titular picture of the handsome young Dorian Gray. Hallward discusses his work with the scandalously amoral Lord Henry Wotton and as the two men converse Dorian makes a social call to Hallward’s home.

The three are introduced and Lord Henry has a powerful effect on the impressionable Dorian.

He praises Dorian’s beauty but presses upon him the fact that it will fade and pass. He encourages Dorian to live a life devoted to his own pleasure and not to be bound by dull, “common” morality. Dorian begins to embrace Henry’s philosophy and bemoans the fact that even as his own beauty will fade; the beauty of the portrait will remain and be timeless.

He offers up his own soul if only things could be the other way round.

In a prime case of “be careful what 46 // intallaght magazine

you wish for” Dorian becomes locked into a devil’s bargain and while he remains young and handsome, his portrait bears the scars of his age and his actions.

From then on the novel is an exploration of Dorian’s descent into selfish hedonism and how a life devoted to beauty and pleasure is forced, at last, to deal with its ugly and painful consequences. There’s no point in pretending the subject

matter in The Picture of Dorian Gray isn’t occasionally heavy or that it isn’t occasionally a little dated, but despite this the novel never gets oppressive, dense or dull. Wilde is famous for his wit and this book does not disappoint. Every page has some sparkling little witticism, some clever turn of phrase or some piece of insightful commentary and the collective effect is to ensure that no matter how heavy the content gets,

the book as a whole never suffers.

Even the sometimes elaborate writing style only serves to add to the overall atmosphere of aristocratic excess, refinement and decadence. In fact, Wilde’s clever pen is so impressive that some of his one-liners have literally gone down in history, and it’s almost impossible to turn more than a few pages without recognising one or two of the English language’s more famous quotations. That said Wilde’s style and wit does sometimes hurt his characterisation.

Whilst blisteringly witty and playfully decadent are fantastic styles to read, they are also theatrical. This sometimes leaves characters a little one dimensional and feeling less like real people that have been fleshed out with purpose and identity and more like extras in a play, who awkwardly say their lines and then exit stage left, their duty to the plot over and done with. By the end James Vane in particular becomes more a personification of Gray’s conscience than a person. Also unfortunate is the fact that Wilde, for all his rebelliousness, cannot completely escape the Victorian era. For all their wit his women are sometimes mere caricatures and stereotypes, hysteric, irrational and obsessed with love and marriage.

Yet these stylistic and cultural flaws are never deal breakers for the book. Overwhelmingly, The Picture of Dorian Gray is a clever and hugely entertaining novel. It is as energetic as it is thought provoking and a book I can happily recommend. // by Niall Brunell

Writers’ Corner Chasing Ghosts

by Gary White

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hen she first rang them she would introduce herself as someone writing a book, or an article, or simply that she was “doing research”. She’d avoid specifics, and never called herself a writer or a journalist—if asked who she was working for she would tell them she was freelance or it was her “own project”.

She was careful to keep it ambiguous and plausible, and to move on to the questions as quickly as possible.

She was well-spoken and middleaged and had perfected her approach, so they would usually start talking.

She’d ask them about the boy; Michael Prendergast, do you remember him?

Most did, and of those that didn’t saying “the boy who was killed when he fell from the roof last year” was enough. She had learned to say it dispassionately.

If it seemed like they could be a good source she’d arrange to call over.

She’d wear her suit dress, with her hair brushed out, her professional smile ready, and a notepad in her hand. She spoke with the lunch lady, the janitor, the librarian, the groundskeeper. The principal and the teachers she couldn’t approach because the legal case was still on-going, but most of the other staff were fair game.

They’d realise quickly that she wasn’t interested in the accident itself; none of them had witnessed it and they kept trying to convince her that they didn’t know anything useful.

They’d slowly become uncomfortable with the number of her questions, with how detailed and trivial they were, and the urgency with which she asked them. She’d stay long past the point of politeness.

The lunch lady she grilled on what he ate and how he behaved—who did he eat with, did he ever have any 48 // intallaght magazine

disagreements, was he polite?—until excuses were made and she was shooed awkwardly out the door. The janitor gave her precious little beyond one anecdote that may or may not have been Michael, involving spilled milkshake and some stairs; she noted it all down.

She had first tried to question the other students, but they were young and nervous and had protective parents; that avenue closed up quickly, but not before she heard halfremembered rumours: Michael was gay, Michael had a boyfriend, Michael was being bullied. Someone else told her he hadn’t heard anything about Michael being gay, but that he was angry about something and fought with other boys.

The groundskeeper remembered one occasion where he had caught the tail end of a fight as he rounded a corner: someone called someone faggot, there was shoving, pulling— that’s all he knew. Her pen scratched away and her fringe shook as she nodded encouragingly. Their tea was cold by the time he finally insisted she should go.

In desperation she tried the parents again. She begged them with the tenacity and shamelessness of a grieving mother to let her speak to their children again: her son had lived a whole life that she knew nothing about and his peers were her only gateway into it. There was so much she didn’t know. Surely they, as parents, could understand that she had to know who her son was? But she had a reputation by then, and her fervour and wild eyes scared them, so she was turned away.

She hoped that as the years wore on, as teenagers turned into adults and consciences matured, that someone might share something that they knew about Michael, and why he had stood alone on that roof that day.

Gary, 30 is a Knocklyon native and works in Film Distribution in Dublin.

BUSINESS NEWS 4H`VY >HYÄLSK *HSSZ -VY ,UK ;V ALYV /V\Y *VU[YHJ[Z Mayor of South Dublin and Sinn Féin Councillor, Fintan Warfield has welcomed the support by South Dublin County Council for his motion calling on the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation to adopt an industrial relations policy that ends zero hour contracts, supports banded hour and full time contracts, protecting vulnerable workers creating a benchmark for sustainable decent employment.

He said, “Low pay, zero and low hour contracts and precarious employment conditions are an

increasing problem that is exasperating the broader economic inequality workers are now faced with.

“We need to be very clear on the changing dynamic of the labour market. Flexibility is code for the casualisation of employment. This is why underemployment and low pay is on the rise. Zero hour contracts are a form of worker exploitation that is particularly corrosive for economic and social cohesion. In short these contracts are bad business, for workers and for employers.”

Unemployment Drops To 350,000

Wexford General Ambulance Control Centre To Move To Tallaght The Wexford Ambulance Control Centre based in Wexford is due to move to Tallaght in a few months according to the HSE. Reportedly the staff will stay in Wexford to work on ambulances or to be reassigned to other roles.

The move of the centre is part of a nationwide absorption of rural control centres around the country.

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While there have been some concerns over the change to the ambulance services, the HSE assure that there will be no disruption in service.

During the transition phase, both old and new systems will remain in operation so that any issues that might arise can be dealt with before final switchover.

The Central Statistics Office has reported that the standardised unemployment rate in April remained at 10.0% and the live register fell by 1,800 on a seasonally adjusted basis.

This means this is the first time that the unemployment register has fallen below 349,500 since February 2009. This is also the 41st month that unemployment has fallen.

Dublin and the Mid-East regions accounted for 35% of the total drop in the last year, showing that jobs are more plentiful in this area.

Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton said, “We have made major progress since the Action Plan for Jobs was launched in early 2012, and the unemployment rate has fallen from 15.1% to 10% since then… if we continue to implement the right policies we can have confidence that we can continue to support jobcreation, achieve sustainable full employment by 2018 and ultimately create a better country for people to live in.”

The Echo Celebrates 35th Anniversary Congratulations to The Echo Newspaper, which celebrates its 35th anniversary this year. The newspaper took the opportunity to thank all of the organisations, community groups, businesses and residents who supported and continue to support local news over the past three decades.

To mark its birthday, The Echo made its April 30th edition available online for free alongside the very first edition of The Echo from May 1st, 1980. To see it follow the link on The Echo’s Facebook page. There is also a special promo video on the Facebook page.

Abberley Court Hotel Closes The 20-year-old Abberley Court Hotel in Tallaght closed its doors on Friday May 1st. It was the first hotel opened in Tallaght back in 1995 and served the people of Tallaght well for the two decades it was open.

The Abberley Court was known for its friendly staff, good food, atmosphere and live music. It had many a good night with its night club Level 4, which was rebranded as Entourage a few years ago. The venue reportedly went into receivership. We wish all the staff the very best in the future.

(ZOÄLSK *VSSLNL Welcomes Vogue Williams Back To School Model-turned-Presenter Vogue Williams has been welcomed back to school by Ashfield College in Templeogue to study for her Leaving Cert as part of a documentary for RTÉ Two. In the documentary Vogue investigates the pressures of those studying to get into the ‘600 points’ club, those who get straight A’s.

Vogue gets a taste of the atmosphere of Ashfield College, a school that focuses on students to ensure they get top academic results.

She re-sits a mock Irish Leaving Cert Paper hoping that the Oral exam will help her bump up her original marks from Ordinary Grade C. She also investigates where people end up years after achieving the top grades, and finds it is not always the top jobs as expected. Vogue Does Straight A’s aims to be an entertaining look at an exam that’s now sat by 90% of Irish Students, with pressure to get the top marks. Vogue Does Straight A’s is due to air on RTÉ Two on May 27th at 9pm. may 2015 // 51

SPORTS

In-Nate Talent Nate “The Great” Kelly has exploded all over the media this month. He spoke with Jack Madden about his talent and what the future holds.

N

ate “The Great” Kelly has become a household name in recent weeks thanks to his infamous request to Dana White of the UFC for a trip to Vegas as an advance of his first pay check for the company.

Nate’s only ten years old but has a huge background in martial arts and says, “as a kid I was really hyper but loved watching Kung Fu movies with my Granddad. My Mum saw this and got me into kickboxing and I loved it.

A few years later I joined SBG and now do kick boxing, Ju Jitsu, Tae Kwondo, Muay Thai, boxing and Judo.”

That’s a serious list of martial arts and it’s safe to say Nate must have little time for anything else but he’s quick to insist that in his spare time he wants to be training and doing martial arts. “Nobody is pushing me to do this,” he says. “I have dreams that I want to make come true and I’ll work hard every day until that happens.”

And all that hard work has paid off to date as he tells me his impressive list of achievements with the confidence of a true champ. “I’m five-time national kick boxing champion, British and Irish Champion in Ju Jitsu and double World Kick boxing medallist.”

An impressive role of honour for anyone let alone a ten year old! With the confidence to back it up and a hard working attitude where does Nate see himself in ten years’ time? He says, “I want that gold belt! No doubt in my mind in nine years I’ll take the UFC by storm. I’m only ten so don’t know what weight division it’ll be yet but maybe flyweight is what I’ll set my sights on.”

52 // intallaght magazine

That confidence and the ability to back it up has seen Nate become a star already and he’s getting attention from across the world not just for his talent but for the encouragement he gives other people looking to reach their goals and he says, “I’ve had children getting in touch with me saying I’ve given them the inspiration to go out

and reach their goals or get through hard times. It’s brilliant and I’m glad I can encourage people to do what they want and feel good about themselves.”

Asked what advice he’d give to young people who are sceptical of martial arts Nate is adamant that it’s not just martial arts he wants to encourage kids to do. “I’m not saying MMA is for everyone or to try it if you don’t want to. You might be interested in football or rugby. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can or can’t do.

I’d do anything to conquer my dreams and I want to pass that message on to others.”

With an SBG gym opening in Tallaght this summer Nate reckons it’ll be a good thing for the community and for MMA but admits, “more gyms in Tallaght and elsewhere is only a good thing and gives people the chance to try new things. It’s not only SBG though. Any gym spreading the word of MMA and Ju Jitsu is great but it’s just a fact that SBG is the best.”

And Nate will be having hands on involvement alongside Paddy Holohan in Tallaght as he has in the Concorde Site already, “I help out with the kid’s classes down in Concorde and I’ll be doing the same up in Tallaght.

I can’t wait.”

Having spoken to Nate it’s safe to say that his confidence is contagious and his bubbly personality is quickly engaging but he wants people to know that it’s all him insisting, “all you need to know about me is what you see is what you get. I control my own Instagram and Facebook accounts and I’m 100% the real deal.

SPORTS

Devil May Care As the marriage referendum draws near Jack Madden met with John McAree of the Dublin Devils, Ireland’s only gay men’s football club, to talk all things sport and society.

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he club is celebrating their 10th anniversary this year and have roots right here in Tallaght.

John says that the club formed from a few of the lads getting together in Tallaght for a kick about after posting an ad in a local paper and it kind of took off from there. He said,“The numbers grew and grew and we saw the basis for a club being formed.”

Since then the club has flourished, establishing themselves as a competitive outfit in the Leinster Football League Major Division and drawing members from across Dublin and further afield but John is quick to point out that it’s not just for the majorly competitive. “We currently have about fifty members who range from really competitive footballers to lads who are involved in the social and organisational side of things.”

The Devils are predominantly a football club but John admits it’s about much more than that and tells us that the club offers a great outlet for those who might be new to Dublin or intimidated by the clubbing scene but want to socialise with other members of the LBGT Community.

Being part of a gay football team might seem like a good way to socialise and compete but the effects it has on some of the member’s lives is much greater as John adds, “I think the confidence that being part of a team gives you and the comradery involved has definitely helped some of our members with coming out to their

friends or family. We would be very supportive and encourage each other to be open about our sexuality but would never push somebody if they were uncomfortable.”

The Devils are regulars on the International circuit and have travelled far and wide to take part in tournaments organised by the International Gay and Lesbian Football Association (IGLFA) and have represented Ireland at the Gay Games in Chicago and Cologne.

It’s clear to see that football is a massive game globally in the gay community but John would love to see more Irish involvement. “Currently we are the only gay football team in Ireland while there are three or four in London alone and teams all over Europe, the USA, South America and Australia.”

Prism Sports Ireland is a recently established national representative association for LGBT sports and recreational organisations in Ireland and John hopes they can help the situation. He says, “Prism are pulling all the gay teams under one banner and hopefully will encourage more teams to form and compete. We put Limerick

forward as a host City for the World Games and lost out to Paris which is understandable but hopefully we might get the games here in 2022.”

The Devils themselves know all about hosting major events having teamed with their sponsors The George in holding the IGLFA European Championships 2013 here in Dublin.

I ask if the club has ever dealt with any discrimination playing the game and John gives an honest response. “On a rare occasion we’ve dealt with the odd comment but generally it’s been out of frustration by somebody on a losing team and they’ve been quick to apologise after.

Overall it has been a massively positive experience and going forward we will keep building to be a better club and hopefully soon field a second competitive 11-a-side team.”

With the referendum in mind I wonder if the club has an active role in campaigning and John tells me, “As a club we tend to focus mainly on the football but we did have some campaigning for a YES vote at our recent Gala dinner. Personally I think a YES vote would not only have a huge impact on our team as individuals but it would also show that Ireland as a country is accepting not only of the LGBT Community but of other groups who might be in the minority.”

The Dublin Devils travel to Hamburg in June for the IGLFA European Championships and we wish them all the best. may 2015 / 53

Under 19’s Achievements Padraig Conlon spoke to a number of the Under 19’s Rovers Players at the end of their season

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he Shamrock Rovers Under 19’s Player of The Year awards were handed out in the Glenmalure Suite prior to the Drogheda United match on May 1st. The young Hoops finished the season strongly by reaching the semi finals of The Under 19 League of Ireland Championship where they were beaten by Derry City. After having a challenging start they had a very good finish to the year.

Captain Nathan Benson spoke of how the squad grew in stature after a tough defeat in their opening league game at home to Cork City. “That game is something we’d look back on because they came here and gave us a hammering. At the start of the season we only had four players who had been in the squad last year so we were all new to each other. As we worked together for the rest of the year we all got to know each other better and developed as a squad.

“We went down to Cork in December and beat them 2-0 which showed the spirit we have in this squad. We showed the same spirit in the Bohs game as well.

Not knowing if we were going to make the top four but then going out and finishing fourth and beating Bohs, who had finished top of the Northern Division and had only lost two games in the whole season, showed that when we set our minds to a game we can come out with a win.”

When asked what was his highlight of the season, the skipper didn’t pick a match or a goal but instead a vital tackle in a mustwin game. “Lee Mitchell’s tackle against UCD is my highlight of the season. If he hadn’t made that challenge where he went into the post, and injured his knee for us, we wouldn’t have been where we were at the end of the season.”

He continued, “After this season I know what it takes to win games. If you as a team are technically good, all good on the ball, the only way you will win games is if you all work hard together, because without that work rate to match the ability, a team will go nowhere. Something I have added to my game is work rate and I feel I have also become more fit and strong from the

INROVERS

Shane Boyle (Rovers U-19 Player of The Year) & Sean Boyd (Rovers U-19 Top Goalscorer)

TRX strength and conditioning classes we did in Tallaght. I feel I am also technically better than I was before I came to Rovers. Overall it’s a great club and you will progress to the next level at Shamrock Rovers.”

Under 19 coach Niall Donnelly took over the team in December and he spoke of the good progress made by the squad as the season went on.

“It’s a big step up from school boys to under 19’s and some of the lads would have been a bit wet behind the ears coming in. We worked on ironing out a few things and they all responded really well and took on board what was being said. You can see the massive improvement in them, they have all progressed and hopefully they’ll be able to carry what they’ve learned into next year. This year under their belt will do them good. I think it shows the level of progress made, and the interest in the young lads, when so many of them were called up to the first team for the Athlone Leinster Senior game during the week. They all deserved the call up to be fair and they all did well by all accounts with Shane also scoring two goals,” he said.

Chairman Jonathan Roche was on hand to present the awards and first up

was Sean Boyd who received the Top Goalscorer trophy. The 16 year old, who signed from Malahide United last year, has come in and really hit the ground running, not just with his goalscoring but his all round play as well.

The Player of The Year Award, which was voted for by the squad and management, was presented to Shane Boyle who has been a revelation for the team after starting the season on the bench.

Congratulations to Shane and Sean on their awards and the very best of luck to them and all the Under 19 squad for the rest of their careers at Shamrock Rovers. We look forward to following their progress in the years ahead. Finally, congratulations also to Under 19 player Shane Hanney on his inclusion in the Republic of Ireland squad for this month’s UEFA Under 17 Championship Finals in Bulgaria.

Shane has put in a lot of very hard work all season. His two goals against Athlone on his debut made him the first player to score twice on his senior debut for Rovers since Keith Dignam in a 3-2 win v Limerick in Oct 1986. // Photos by Robert Goggins may 2015 / 55

INROVERS

All Hail Hyland Padraig Conlon spoke to Shamrock Rover’s keeper Craig Hyland about his season so far.

C

raig Hyland has been outstanding between the sticks during the first third of the season. Since getting his chance in the opening fixture versus Pats due to Barry Murphy’s suspension he has deservedly kept his place ahead of last year’s ‘Player of The Year.’ He has definitely been one of Rovers’ best players of season 2015 so far.

With eight clean sheets in the league already this season, Craig should be very proud of his contribution to the team. “I’ve been really happy with how it’s gone so far.

We’ve been really solid as a team and not given up many opportunities for other teams to score, which always gives you a good base to go on and win games and that’s a credit to all the lads who have played in the back four.

Personally for me I think it’s gone well as well and I’m just happy to be on the team.”

After Craig’s great performance in the opening game versus St Pat’s and his match-winning late save from Killer, Craig says he didn’t know if he’d done enough to retain his place for the Longford game.

He explains, “Barry is a top keeper which he’s shown over the years, but I knew I had a chance with his suspension. I was coming in with the mind frame of doing well for the team and trying to help us win. Luckily I got the break at the end and credit to the manager he has stuck by all players not just me who are playing well.”

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Craig says that it was also a really great boost to his confidence for the manager to show such faith in him.

He says that it’s a “massive thing” as a goalkeeper in knowing that the manager has faith in your ability.

“After that it’s down to you to prove him right and give all the lads playing in front of you confidence. I think I’ve done well so far and we have a good understanding as a defensive unit which also helps a lot.”

Seasonal Success With almost a third of the season gone Craig thinks that The Hoops have started well, as they haven’t lost a game yet. He says, “We’ve picked up some very good results, we know we maybe have drawn one or two games that we could have won but it’s massively positive looking at the league table and how we have done so far.” He is not overly concerned with the six point lead Dundalk have opened up either: “Obviously you don’t want too big of a gap to open up but it’s a long long season and with European football and other competitions starting later in the year you really need a big squad, something which I believe we have.

I think you just need to be there or thereabouts going into the last round of games because as we saw last year anything can happen.”

Craig is also quick to pick his favourite game so far this season. “I think I probably enjoyed the Longford game the most, having played for

them in the past I know a lot of the players and staff involved at the club and to come away with the win, away from home, in a tough game was important for the team after the opening win against Pats.”

Pat Fenlon has really turned Tallaght into a fortress since he took over and has yet to lose a home league game going back to last August.

Craig attributes this to the manager’s organisation, and the fact that they are tough to break down as a unit. He says, “The manager has been brilliant since he’s come in… everyone’s also worked really hard in training so the squad is very fit and with the new signings coming in and doing so well there is a real fight for places which creates a really competitive training atmosphere which I think has helped us massively in our games.”

What has been the best advice he has received in his career? “Alan Mannus was a great example,” he says.

“When he played at Rovers he was the model pro and I took a lot from him. The best bit of advice I ever got was probably that as a young keeper

INROVERS learning about the game you are always going to make mistakes and it’s important not to beat yourself up about them.” Craig explains that it’s a mental battle being a goalkeeper. “If you’re going to perform well you have to be confident in your own ability because it can be lonely at times.

But it’s important to remember at the end of the day a mistake on the football pitch isn’t the biggest of things in the overall scheme of things.”

As far as other influences go, Craig notes his parents, as they have always looked after him and he has never wanted for anything. “I always had lifts to and from training and support in every aspect, which is all a young footballer can ask for really– a stable environment to improve.

are very good to me, one of whom is Padraig Thompson who is a fireman in Tallaght Fire station. I’m working out of Fitwest which is based in Parkwest and also Finesse Fitness which is based in Maynooth so it keeps me busy but is also quite enjoyable.”

Fitness Fanatic When it comes to looking after himself off the field, Craig says that he trains most days and the team also has a very good strength and conditioning coach called Conor Clifford. Craig says, “We are lucky in the sense that we get very good advice on a daily basis and also do a lot of field training weekly which is very important for injury prevention and improvement.”

Craig also works in the fitness industry and says he tries to do as much as he can off the field in the gym but at this time of year with so many games it’s more about recovery and making sure he eats the right foods to help his body be right for the next game.

While Craig is currently juggling two jobs as a footballer and personal trainer, he feels he manages it quite well. He says, “Luckily we train in the morning and then I do all my work in the evenings when I have spare time. I’m lucky in the sense that the job is very flexible and my managers

Craig is also very happy with how his football career is going so far.

“I would say at the moment things are going well for me, I’m only 24 which is quite young for a keeper and I’m playing for the top team in the country so I’d have to say that this (playing for Rovers) is the highlight so far.” In his opinion though it’s the fans that really make Shamrock Rovers a special club to play for. “The fans really love it. You can see how much it means to the people who support

the club and go to all the games with the passion they show and the buzz around the place on match days. I think this is really special and it’s one of the reasons why it’s a great club to be part of.”

As a Liverpool fan, Pepe Reina and Fernando Torres are his favourite ex-players. Surprisingly the goalkeeper he admires most in world football is Man Utd’s number one. He says, “David De Gea is really impressive–I had seen a lot of him at Atletico and he was brilliant and then he was under a lot of pressure and took a lot of criticism when he first joined United but he was mentally tough and look at him now, he’s up there with the best in the world.” As far as the best player Craig has ever played with though, he cites Alan Mannus. “He was unbelievably good, even more consistent and a great pro as well.”

In terms of the League of Ireland Craig says he hopes more people would come to watch the games with more support for the league.

“If there was more support, the league might grow and become better and it would start a positive cycle. The better it gets the more people would go and so on. This would allow all the clubs to make any improvements in infrastructure they need and we wouldn’t be losing clubs due to financial difficulties.” Richmond Park would be his favourite away ground “because there’s a good pitch there and the crowds there are great as well.”

Finally as regards personal targets for the rest of the season, Craig says he wants to just keep on improving his game and hopefully establish himself at the club long term. “As a team our goals have to be to win everything, because thats what this club is all about.” // Photos by George Kelly may 2015 / 57

INCULTURE

W

elcome to the ÄYZ[ 0U*\S[\YL section of InTallaght Magazine.

Here you will find a guide to all things cultural, art, drama and sport that is happening in the next few weeks in Tallaght’s Civic Theatre, RUA RED and Tallaght Stadium.

First up, events at the Civic this May: The Civic Theatre, Tallaght have a bumperpacked month in May with the very best in drama.

On May 7-9th Tallaght Youth Theatre present Battlestations – a play that takes place during the time that peace vigils against the war in Iraq were being organised.

Also, the Abbey Theatre are on tour to the Civic with Maeve’s House (May 14th-16th) as part of the Bealtaine Festival. Special €10 tickets are available on Friday May 15th – Call the Box Office on 01 4627477.

On May 11-16th The Civic is showing a No Tears Production. From the writer of Queens of Pimlico comes this heart-warming awardnominated two-man drama My Second Self, which played to sell-out audiences in the Dublin Gay Theatre Festival in 2013 and is sure to give audiences a fresh perspective and outlook on homosexuality in Ireland.

Finally, did you know…

The Civic Theatre has two performance spaces – the main auditorium which seats 282 and a smaller studio space which has a 58 // intallaght magazine

capacity of 69, called The Loose End Studio. This is a play on the name ‘Luas End’ to mark the fact they are at the last stop on the Luas Red Line and are easily accessed by public transport!

And for more theatre and events, RUA RED OH]L H OVZ[ VU VɈLY! /Glitch is back for 2015! RUA RED’s annual technology festival is back.

This year’s festival bridges the gap between space and place and explores how technology can be used to bridge this gap. Curated

by Ciara Scanlan and Matthew Nevin of MART and featuring artists such as Adam Gibney, Hunt & Gather and Marie Farrington, this year’s festival is shaping up to be the best yet. Check out some of the events below. /Glitch Launch Night, Friday May 29, 6pm MART presents Homebeat in the RUA RED Café.

Meet the artists, curators and some familiar faces for an evening of music, drinks and a first peek at what’s in store for /Glitch this year as

well as a live performance from Homebeat.

Beginners Interactive Design Workshop With Adam Gibney, Saturday May 30th, 10am-4pm €15 – This workshop will introduce participants to the Arduino.

In the workshop students will learn how to build simple circuitry, programme their creations and use the open-source community.

/Glitch Talk Event Curated By Jenny Taylor.

Wednesday June 3rd, 7-9pm, free event – join the artists and curators for an interactive talk with a twist. iTROLLEY, Saturday May 30th - June 13th, 10.30am, €20 for 3 weeks – design and create your very own branded merchandise!

For ages 8–16.

Sound As A Medium Workshop, Saturday June 6th, 10am-4pm, €15 – This one-day workshop is a theoretical and practical introduction in artistic practise. It covers the basics of exploring, recording, editing and manipulating everyday sounds.

For more information about any of these events just contact RUA RED’s reception on 01 451 5860.

(UK ÄUHSS` L]LU[Z H[ Tallaght Stadium: Thursday May 7th – South Dublin Schoolboys Rugby Finals.

Sunday May 17th – South Dublin Schoolboys Football Finals.

A meeting of the South Dublin PPN Plenary will take place in the Stadium at 7pm on Wednesday May 13th. This meeting is open to all groups who are registered with the PPN and is an opportunity to come together and share information and ideas. If you would like to register your group please email ppn@sdublincoco.ie or contact Sarah on 01 414 9270.