Metro Herald, November 15, 2013

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Friday, November 15, 2013

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Media Brand of the Year

the media awards 2012

Not so friendly

O’Neill warns players Latvia clash is deadly serious »p24

Fire in the belly Rise of the female action hero »p15

Irish arrests in child porn case by ed carty PictureS: marc o’Sullivan

Two men in Ireland were arrested as part of an international police operation against child abuse and exploitation. The men were detained after Canadian police found their details linked to a website selling and distributing videos and images of children. No charges have been brought against the men, one of whom is in his 40s. A Garda spokeswoman said files were being prepared for the DPP. Project Spade led to 341 arrests and the rescue of 386 children worldwide. Toronto police said the youngsters being exploited were mainly from Eastern Europe, the Ukraine and Romania and that adults, including some parents, were paid for videos and images of naked children. Detectives believe many of the parents may have been unaware that photographs and videos of their naked children were wanted for sexual purposes. Toronto police have been investigating the suspected paedophile ring since october 2010. Footage of children was sold online at azovfilms.com, allegedly used by Brian way, 42, from Toronto, who faces 11 sets of charges in Canada. More than 45 terabytes of data and more than Can$4million were seized and eight other people charged in Toronto.

No jail for two thefts at bookies A MAN robbed the same bookmakers twice within two days to get a birthday present for his son and alcohol for himself has received a suspended jail sentence. After his arrest Dean Murray, 28, of Ardmore Drive, Fortunestown Lane, Tallaght, told gardaí he carried out the first robbery because of guilt at being in jail and missing his son’s birthday. The second time, when he brought a hammer with him, was for cash for drink for himself and his friends. Judge Mary Ellen Ring heard Murray entered Toolan’s Bookmakers, Main Street, Saggart, on July 2 and July 4, 2011, wearing a high-vis jacket with a grey hood over his face. He threatened staff and customers with an imitation firearm fleeing with €500. Two days later he returned telling a woman behind the counter, ‘not to press any buttons’ and demanding cash. When she handed over €400 he asked: ‘Is this it?’ and laughed when she enquired if he would like the coins, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was told.

Hope sisters will be freed

The latest Intel-ligentsia Trinity and UCD students Alison Hennessy, Romy Lynch, Ciara Maguire, Eleanor McSweeney and Claire Pentony are announced as the recipients of Intel’s 2013 Women In Technology scholarship, which will see them each receive a €2,000 grant per annum, work placements at the Intel Leixlip campus and a mentor who is an Intel employee

Keep Dublin tidy – Please recycle this Metro Herald when you are finished with it

THREE Dublin sisters held without trial for three months in Egypt were expected to be freed yesterday. omaima, 20, Fatima, 22, Somaia, 27, and their brother Ibrahim, 17, whose father Sheikh Hussein Halawa is the imam of Ireland’s largest mosque, were on holiday when they became caught up in clashes between supporters of ousted president Mohammed Morsi and military forces in Cairo. Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore said Ibrahim faces a court hearing tomorrow.


METRO HERALD Friday, November 15, 2013

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The record amount a work of art by Andy Warhol called Silver Car Crash (Double Disaster) sold at auction yesterday. That’s €78million Ireland’s rate of newsprint recycling is now up to 79%. Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you.

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Suu Kyi ready for talks with junta

Burma’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi thanked her supporters and called for peaceful dialogue with the country’s military junta, after she was released from house arrest. The human rights campaigner was detained for 15 of the last 21 years.

Today’s birthdays

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Weather Weather Today

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Generally dry and cloudy today, but there'll be a few sunny breaks in the east and patchy light rain or drizzle near the west and north coast. Temperatures between 9°C to 12°C in moderate southwesterly breezes.

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Apart from a little drizzle near northwest coasts, tonight will be dry and mild. Temperatures between 5°C to 8°C a moderate southwest breeze.

EUROPE today

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While much of the east will stay dry on Saturday, rain will spread from the west as the day goes on, though amounts will be small overall. Temperatures between 11°C to 13°C in moderate southwesterly breezes.

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Dinovember shows figures coming to life

Bathroom blast: Right, the toys make a monster mess with toilet roll and, left, a firebreathing dragon attacks a castle in night-time scenes arranged by the creative couple

by HAyDEn SMiTH FOR most parents, putting the children to bed signals the start of some well-deserved down-time to preserve their sanity. But for one month, every year, Refe and Susan Tuma ditch vegging out in front of the TV with a glass of wine to arrange their children’s toy dinosaurs in a range of wacky poses. They’ve dubbed their toy story ‘dinovember’, as every November the creative couple position the plastic pre-historic creatures to make it look like they have caused mayhem each night. The children have woken to discover their toys having a jam session, holding a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle hostage and helping themselves to a carton of eggs. After the eggs incident, one of the children was heard to mutter: ‘Mum and dad are not going to like this.’ ‘Why do we do this?’ said Mr Tuma of Kansas City in the US. ‘Because in the age of iPads and Netflix, we don’t want our kids to lose their sense of wonder and imagination. Childhood is fleeting, so let’s make sure it’s fun while it lasts.’ The couple want other parents to join the fun by posting pictures on their dinovember Facebook page, which has been liked by 58,000 peo-

Friday, November 15, 2013 METRO HERALD

PICs: refe and susan tuma

Turtle powerless: Dinosaurs take a comic superhero hostage

Jurassic japes: Some toys fly down a zip wire and others enjoy an impromptu jam

Toy Story meets Jurassic Park...


METRO HERALD Friday, November 15, 2013

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Picture: Peter houlihan

cHRIsTMAs cHEERs: Tom Connolly, from Lucan, gives the switching on of the Christmas lights on Grafton Street the thumbs up yesterday

Ireland plans clean bailout breakaway by LynDsEy TELfORD

“Shocking, powerful transcendent thriller” – Empire Magazine

“Expect the unexpected” – Rolling Stone

Ireland is to make a clean break from its bailout programme without seeking a back-up overdraft. Taoiseach enda Kenny said the country’s re-entry to the money markets on december 15 was the right decision. ‘Today is just the latest step in that ongoing journey, a significant step indeed but also just another step towards our ultimate job of getting Ireland working again,’ Mr Kenny said. The Taoiseach’s announcement followed an emergency morning Cabinet meeting during which Finance Minister Michael noonan briefed ministers ahead of a summit in Brussels. His department said the decision to leave the €85bn bailout without a credit back-up was the best option as market conditions are favourable towards Ireland. The country has built up more than €20bn in cash reserves since returning to the markets last year which can be used to keep Ireland in the black until early 2015.

It also said the latest Budget, announced last month, had been designed to deliver a primary balance or small surplus. IMF chief Christine lagarde said despite uncertainLagarde: ‘Strong’ ties in the european and global economies, Ireland ‘is in a strong position and has built a sizeable cash buffer’. Confirming the bailout exit in the dáil, Mr Kenny warned that of ‘demanding times’ ahead. Meanwhile, the Government has struck a deal with German Chancellor angela Merkel, who has advised the development bank KFW to invest in Irish business. elsewhere, opposition politicians accused the Government of ‘bravado’. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said having a credit line was not ‘a sign of weakness’, but ‘an insurance policy’ for the Irish people.

Ex-Anglo banker Taoiseach’s call on ‘hid bank accounts’ Loyaltybuild hack a FOrMer head of treasury at anglo Irish Bank is to stand trial for allegedly hiding bank accounts from the Taxman. Tiernan O’Mahoney, of Glen Pines, Old long Hill road, enniskerry, Co Wicklow, is to face trial before dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The 54-year-old faces charges relating to alleged offences between March 25, 2003 and november 17 that year. Mr O’Mahoney was bailed on his own bond of €100 and was ordered to appear again on February 6 when it is expected he will be served a book of evidence.

Taoiseach enda Kenny has called on financial regulators and firms to put safeguards in place to protect bank accounts after details of more than 500,000 irish credit card holders were accessed. More than 70,000 superValu customers were targeted in the attack on marketing firm Loyaltybuild last month. Meanwhile, the irish Payment services organisation said bank customer victims of fraud are not linked to the Loyaltybuild attack.


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Teen was ‘invisible’ to social services A YOUNG man who died by suicide was invisible to social services despite spending most of his life in State care, a damning report has found. A review into the death of the 18-year-old revealed his basic physical, emotional and psychological needs were never met over the years. Dr Helen Buckley said she uncovered disturbing findings as she examined the case of the boy, called Robert. ‘It is clear action should have been taken earlier,’ Dr Buckley, chair of the national review panel for child deaths, said. Robert suffered physical and emotional abuse at the hands of a stepfather, neglect by his mother, and unsubstantiated allegations of sexual abuse. At five he was known to social services, but was only allocated a social worker at 11, and a review found no serious effort had been made to assess his welfare until his death.

Abuse in care not properly

Friday, November 15, 2013 METRO HERALD

investigated ALLEGATIONS of sexual and physical abuse made by children in care were not fully investigated by health chiefs, scathing reports have found. The impact of domestic violence on youngsters was also ignored by staff while some failed to properly assess family members as foster carers. The criticisms were unveiled in a series of reports that examined the care given to children and young people in the years before they died between 2010 and 2012. The 60 young people died while either in state care, after care, or when known to Health Service Executive (HSE) child protection services. More than 20 were from natural causes, 16 suicides, 14 accidents, six to drugs, and three murdered. Dr Helen Buckley revealed she uncovered disturbing findings in a small number of reports she examined. But she said her greatest concern

by sARAH sTAck was for the seven girls and nine young men who died by suicide. ‘The significant number of young people that took their own lives highlights the need for staff to be vigilant about any indications of suicidal behaviour,’ said Dr Buckley, chair of the National Review Panel (NRP), set up to investigate the deaths of young people known to social services. ‘Some of the young people who died by suicide could have benefited by early intervention.’ Reports on 24 of the 60 deaths and serious incidents found there was a delay in allocating social workers in 50 per cent of cases. In three cases allegations of abuse against relative foster carers were not investigated properly, and two separate child sex abuse accusations were not fully investigated.

Twin table Jedward got the fork out to launch Concern’s annual Fast campaign, asking people to go without food, treats or even gadgets for 24 hours, or to live on €1 for a day on November 28, to raise funds for the charity. See www.concernfast.org for details Picture: Jason clarke


METRO HERALD Friday, November 15, 2013

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I’m a green-eyed monster

IF YOU love somebody, set them free, so the song goes – advice which Debbi Wood is unable to take on board. She suffers from Othello Syndrome, a psychiatric disorder which causes delusional jealousy. All of which is bad news for her fiancé Steve. Ms Wood, 42, is so convinced her faithful partner will stray that she makes him take a lie detector test every time he leaves the house.

by AIDAn RADnEDgE She also checks his phone, emails and bank accounts several times a day to search for evidence of an affair which never happened. ‘I get so worried that he’s been eyeing up the shop assistant that I just have to know the truth,’ the Leicester woman said. ‘I think he’s gorgeous but that’s not the issue – it’s about whether or not I can trust him not to look at

other women while he is out on his own. I don’t want him thinking they’re hot.’ Ms Wood said she was ‘relieved’ to have been diagnosed with the condition, named after the Shakespeare play in which Othello kills his wife Desdemona after suspecting infidelity. But Mr Wood insisted he’d do anything for love. ‘I’m willing to put up with it because I know we’re soulmates,’ he said.

Would I lie to you? Debbi and Steve Wood have a strong relationship despite her condition Picture: Medavia

Van’s firm defends crew fees

A £36,000 (€43,000) bill from Van Morrison’s band to play at a concert where he will be awarded the Freedom of Belfast has been defended by the star’s company. While Morrison is performing free, Belfast City Council has signed off an agreement for his band and associated crew to be paid for the gig tonight at the Waterfront Hall. ‘The most important thing to Van is that he is doing his gig for free and that the people of Belfast are coming to see it for free,’ a statement from the band said. ‘Van’s band and crew are working people and deserve to be paid for their services like anyone else,’ they said. Morrison: Free gig

Brain neurons link Girls ‘compensate’ to smoke craving for autistic traits TArgeTIng a specific group of neurons in the brain could help people quit smoking, say scientists. Studies in mice show nicotine addiction can be traced to a brain region called the interpeduncular nucleus. neurons here ‘fire up’ when someone is gasping for a cigarette, research reported in the journal Current Biology suggests. Treatments aimed at reducing activity in the interpeduncular nucleus could one day help people overcome tobacco addiction, the scientists believe.

NeW research suggests many girls could be suffering with undiagnosed autism – as they are better than boys at hiding signs of the disorder. Teachers are six times more likely to identify boys as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD) than girls, with parents twice as likely to make the same assessment. Dr Radha Kothari, lead author of the study, said the findings suggest ‘girls might learn to compensate’ for difficulties they experience in recognising facial emotions.


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Friday, November 15, 2013 METRO HERALD


METRO HERALD Friday, November 15, 2013

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I’m fresh for a Daisy, says X Factor’s Nicky N

icholas McDonald has confessed he’s hoping to pull a pretty backstage hand on The X Factor after falling under her magical spell. ‘There’s a girl called Daisy on the press team who is really hot,’ the 16-year-old scot told me ahead of this week’s live show. ‘i fancy her... but i don’t know if she’s single.’ Whether or not Daisy is interested, however, contestant Nicky is unsure how committed he could be to a relationship as his quest to reach the final goes on. ‘i never really thought, “it’s time to get a girlfriend” but hopefully after the show i can have one,’ he said.

Christmas

by SEAMUS DUFF

‘i get asked out a lot on Twitter and the question i get asked maybe 50 times a day is, “Do you have a girlfriend”?’ The pitch-perfect warbler said many of his Twitter suitors are a bit too young to appeal to him. ‘Most of them are just wee girls so they would be too young,’ he said. ‘They’re 12 and 13 and i’m almost 17.’ on the show, it has been no secret that 61-year-old judge sharon osbourne has taken a shine to McDonald, taking time to talk to him on air after his performances. ‘sharon is like a mother figure,’ Nicholas said, revealing that they banter on and off camera.

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Tyson: I lived like Mao, on pizzas and sex in jail

FoRMER world heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson spent his time behind bars for rape having sex three times a day and eating takeaways. in his autobiography, the 47-yearold says he reigned from his prison cell like chairman Mao, sold saucy pictures sent to him by fans and had regular sex with his female teacher. Far from repenting over the rape

of 18-year-old Desiree Washington, Tyson says: ‘i was right there next to Mao on the long f***ing march. My objective became to manipulate the system in every way i could.’ he never had to eat in the ‘chow hall’ during his time inside in the 1990s, adding: ‘Most nights guards would deliver whatever food we ordered – pizza, chinese food, Kentucky Fried, whatever.’

Donnie Darko star Jake Gyllenhaal has injured his hand by smashing a mirror on the set of new film Nightcrawler. The 32-year-old actor was taken to A&E in LA and needed stitches after getting carried away while shooting an emotionally-charged scene. There were rumours that he had flown into a real-life rage but a source said: ‘His character was talking into a mirror and he got so into it, he banged his hands against the mirror and it broke and cut him. It was all the scene and not because he was mad about anything else.’

Slap back four: Cara Delevigne displays neat ball skills before Taylor Swift’s pat – then gives her a feel in return

Robbie Williams has said his camp persona is all an act after addressing his sexuality on his new record, Swings Both Ways. The former Take That star explained: ‘There is a history of gay people pretending to be straight. I want to balance the sides. I’m a straight person pretending to be gay. It’s easy when you’re British, we’re camp by nature anyway.’ Williams told the Sydney Telegraph: ‘My wife, when she first came to England and watched the TV with me, she’d be like, “Well, he’s gay, isn’t he?” No he’s not, he’s just British.’ The star made himself a target on his new duet with gay musician Rufus Wainwright, 40, who sings: ‘Face it Robbie, you’re a little bit gay.’

A Swift backhander... then Cara slaps back Taylor Swift showed there’s no animosity towards Cara Delevigne as she gave the model a cheeky pat on the bum while stealing the show at the Victoria’s Secret extravaganza. Despite rumours they warred over Harry Styles’s affections, the 23-year-old singer couldn’t resist copping a feel of the British catwalk queen. Cara then groped her back. Swift appeared to be missing her time on our shores when the singer opened proceedings in New York in a Union Jack mini-dress, with Delevigne dressed in a sexy kit and carrying a VS football.


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Friday, November 15, 2013 METRO HERALD

★★★★

★★

My sister passed in Style That’s the closest Harry Styles will ever get to a degree. For once the singer wasn’t the centre of attention as he joined his brainy sister at her graduation ceremony. Gemma Styles achieved first-class honours in science education at Sheffield City Hall. He joined her for the classic graduation photo and posted a picture

of the two of them on Instagram with the caption: ‘My sister graduated today. She’s all clever and that.’ The university also posted its own snaps of the star on Twitter. In one he’s watching the ceremony, and the tweet reads: ‘A special guest attended today’s graduation ceremony to see his sister collect her degree! Welcome Harry Styles.’


10 METRO HERALD Friday, November 15, 2013

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Aid starts to trickle in as typhoon city buries dead by AiDAn RADnEDgE

Still standing: Survivors wait for aid amongst buildings which withstood the typhoon Picture: AP

THE Philippine city worst hit by typhoon Haiyan yesterday started burying its dead in a mass grave. Workers laid 30 bodies to rest in black bags in a ceremony that took place just outside Tacloban. City mayor Alfred S Romualdez said: ‘I hope this is the last time I see something like this.’ United Nations reports said the official death toll had risen to 4,460 and that figure is expected to increase when information is collected from other areas of the disaster zone. The UN said 49,000 people in and around Tacloban had received rice and canned food as the international relief effort picked up. Nearly 35 tonnes of high-energy biscuits were expected to arrive by plane in the first night-time flight since the typhoon put the airport out of action. Survivors face shortages of water, food and medicine, hindered by impassable roads and a lack of trucks. UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos said: ‘The situation is dismal. Tens of thousands of people are living

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in the open... exposed to rain and wind. I think we are all extremely distressed that this is day six and we have not managed to reach everyone.’ The commander of US forces in the Philippines, Brig Gen Paul Kennedy, told the BBC that support will be on a scale ‘never seen before’. Hundreds of injured people, pregnant women, children and the elderly poured into a makeshift medical centre at the airport. Doctors said they soon expect to be treating serious problems such as pneumonia, dehydration, diarrhoea and infections. ‘We know the gravity of our countrymen’s suffering, and we know that, now more than ever, all of us are called on to do whatever we can to help alleviate our countrymen’s suffering,’ President Benigno S. Aquino III said.

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Friday, November 15, 2013 METRO HERALD

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12 METRO HERALD Friday, November 15, 2013 MOB boss James ‘Whitey’ Bulger will spend the rest of his life in prison for carrying out 11 murders during his criminal reign. The 84-year-old, whose life story inspired the 2006 film The Departed, was sentenced to two life terms, plus five years for crimes he committed while running Boston’s Winter Hill gang in the 1970s and 1980s. Bulger was convicted of murder, extortion, racketeering and drug dealing in August. ‘At times during the trial, I wished that we were watching a movie, that what we were hearing was not real,’ district judge Denise Casper

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US mobster ‘Whitey’ Bulger will die in jail told the mobster. ‘The scope, the callousness, the depravity of your crimes are almost unfathomable,’ she added. Attorneys for Bulger were instructed not to participate in proceedings he viewed as ‘a sham’.

Child killer’s donor bid delays execution A CHILD killer and rapist has been given a stay of execution after asking to donate his kidneys to his ill mother and the rest of his non-vital organs to others. Ronald Phillips, who raped and murdered his girlfriend’s three-year-old daughter in 1993, was due for a lethal injection yesterday afternoon. However, Ohio governor John Kasich delayed the 40-year-old’s execution un-

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til July while doctors discover if he is a match for his mother and other recipients. ‘I realise this is a bit of uncharted territory for Ohio, but if another life can be saved by his willingness to donate his organs and tissues then we should allow for that to happen,’ he said. Mr Kasich added that if Phillips was found to be a match for his mother, who is on a dialysis machine, the organ transfer would be performed in hospital before the murderer was returned to death row at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility near Lucasville. Phillips, who is said to be very ‘re-

morseful’ for the killing of Sheila Marie Evans, in Akron 20 years ago, had exhausted all avenues of appeal and ordered his last supper of pizza. ‘His first words were, “God is good”. He feels immense gratitude to the governor,’ said his lawyer, Tim Sweeney. Just last week, Mr Kasich had denied Phillips clemency and condemned him to death by an injection of midazolam and hydromorphone, which has never been used for a US execution. However, anti-capital-punishment campaigner Richard Dieter said: ‘If the whole idea is to save a life, there’s one life to be saved simply by not executing the person at all.’

World Weapons seized in raids on Neo-Nazis

The

Snowman Featuring

iTALY: An arsenal of weapons including hand grenades, bayonets and rifles was seized in dawn raids on a neo-Nazi group. Swastikas, Nazi T-shirts and anti-Semitic videos were also confiscated in four operations against Stormfront. A 51-year-old was held at Mantova near Milan where the weapons were found. Stormfront members have targeted Italy and AC Milan footballer Mario Balotelli.

digest We don’t rate you, people tell Hollande

fRANCE: Soaring unemployment, ballooning public debt and tax rises have made François Hollande the most unpopular president in 60 years. Only 15 per cent of voters support him, a YouGov poll shows. Once dubbed ‘Mr Normal’ by the press, the 59-year-old was booed at Monday’s Armistice Day service in Paris where 70 protesters were arrested. He took over from Nicolas Sarkozy as leader in May 2012.

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JAPAN: The ‘Monkey Man’ Kenichi Ito breaks his own world record for running on all fours, running 100metres in 16.87seconds picture: epa

ford seeks help after ‘Mafia target’ Pope lewd rant live on TV keeps focus on job...

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CANADA: Crack-smoking Toronto mayor Rob Ford yesterday revealed he is seeking help after using obscene language live on TV. The 44-year-old again refused to resign, despite ranting that former aide Olivia Gondek told police ‘I wanted to eat her p****’. He denied the claim, saying: ‘I’m happily married, I’ve got more than enough to eat at home.’ Mr Ford said the accusations made him ‘see red’.

iTALY: The Pope shrugged off assassination warnings yesterday by arriving in his Ford Focus for his first state visit to president Giorgio Napolitano. Francis turned down a police escort to the Quirinale Palace in Rome despite claims his Vatican reforms have made him a Mafia target. A leading anti-mob lawyer alleged crime bosses were planning an attempt on the pontiff’s life for trying to tackle corruption.

and finally... CHiNA: When a lorry carrying live fish tipped over, police had to deal with some slippery customers – passers-by stealing the load for an unexpected feast. The crash happened in Yichang, Hubei province. No one was hurt.


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Friday, November 15, 2013 METRO HERALD

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It’s time for those darn leaves again

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o Gigglin’ Gertie and fellow commuters out there, I’ve got to the bottom of the train delays these days. As a Drogheda commuter, being totally fed up with the ongoing late arrival to Pearse of the 6.47am and the 6.40pm 49-minute express (yeah) from Connolly taking over one hour the last while, I enquired at the station. The response is, yep, those darn leaves that fall off the trees in their droves like clockwork at this time of every year are bringing the entire rail network to a complete crawl. Nothing can be done (quote) ‘so hang in there folks, only another four weeks of this to go until there’s not a leaf left on the trees and we can then complain about how cold the trains are what with the air-conditioning blowing down on top of us

Quick pic

TOPSY TURVY WORLD: Rory Geraghty sent in this unusual picture of the National Library reflected in a puddle

every day.’ So save yourselves an email – the staff in Irish Rail are probably fed up dishing out the same answer year in year out since God only knows. So why can’t they look at ways to prepare for it in advance? FibiTibi ■ Having travelled each Thursday morning when leaving Dalkey on the No.8 bus over the last number of weeks, I’ve noticed that on each occasion the bus has gone on a different route for the first mile and on another occasion didn’t show at all. I phoned head office and the local garage to be informed that they weren’t informed of any diversion and on another occasion I was told the diversion was only on out-going journeys. Who is running Dublin Bus and is there any communication? JQ

In yOuR fAcE The younger generation are stuck on the dole or crippled with huge mortgages, so how can they carry the older generation? Emily Harris This is yet another disgrace. The reason people have private health insurance is because they don’t have medical cards and are not costing the taxpayer. Ireland regained its sovereignty? An end to austerity? Not bloodly likely. Paddy Coughlan

Send your photos to pictures@ metroherald.ie with ‘Quick pic’ as the subject and we will print the best each day in the paper

gOOD On yA

yEH bIg RIDE

● Belated ‘thanks a thousand’ to the guy who handed in my bag when I dropped it on the 145 to Kilmac. Cheers also to the driver and the Donnybrook Garage staff. Sparky

● To the tall girl with the blonde hair in the black fur jacket and Bob Marley headphones. See you getting off the Dart at Lansdowne Road every morning. Fancy a coffee? The station worker

● Thanks to everyone who helped me when I accidentally nailed myself to the ground outside Red Square in Moscow this week. Dagestan

● To the guy on the southbound Dart at 8pm yesterday who fell asleep on my shoulder, my turn to nap next time. Girl with drool on her coat

RAnDOM AcTs Of kInDnEss

yOuR RusH-HOuR cRusH

We asked our Facebook followers: The price of private health insurance is about to go up by about €300 a year for an average family of two adults and two children per year after the Government put up the levy to make sure older customers don’t pay over the odds. Is this fair that the younger generation take on the burden? Jaysus they really are trying to force the younger generation into emigration. Evan Forsyth

TREnDIng #snapchat #facebook ● How long will the story that #snapchat turned down an $3bn offer from #facebook stay in the news before it selfdestructs? @seamusenright ● You’ve got to have some balls and belief in your product to reject a $3 billion buyout. @Yasin_Mahmood ● How do you turn down $3 Billion, when you generate no revenue? @purplemiami

PRESENTS

@metrohnews #metromailbox

● It’s a safe bet that no 23-year-old had ever turned up his nose at $3 billion. Until now. @NotJustPowder ● A picture is worth 1,000 words, but to #Facebook #Snapchat is worth $3B.

@Aaron_Kraus

● hold on you made an app to send girls pics of your d**k and DONT SELL IT FOR 3 BILLION!?!?!? @senna1

COMPETITION Available on Blu-ray & DIGITAL HD™

GO TO WWW.JAMESONCULTFILMCLUB.IE GET YOUR TICKETS, AND GET TO THE CHOPPER.

19TH NOVEMBER 2013

PREDATOR © 1987 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

The Jameson Cult Film Club returns for an explosive 25th anniversary screening of the 1987 cult classic, Predator, at a secret Dublin location on Tuesday 19th November 2013. The hugely popular Jameson Cult Film Club immerses audiences into the world of cult classics for an unforgettable viewing experience. For your chance to win one of three pairs of tickets to the screening on November 19th along with a new iPAD for the overall winner, simply answer the following question: WHAT CHARACTER DOES ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER PLAY IN THE 1987 CULT CLASSIC PREDATOR? A. Major Alan “Dutch” Schaefer B. Major George “Irish” Schaefer Text CULT, followed by your answer A or B, your name and email to 53133 (texts cost 60c + standard network charge). You must be over 18 to enter this competition. T&C’s - The competition closes at Midnight Friday 15th November 2013. This competition is open to all residents in Ireland over 18 years. The winners will be chosen at random from the entries received and notified by telephone. Entrants must be over 18 years old. Usual MetroHerald rules apply. By entering this competition you agree to sign up to the Metro promotions list - To opt out text NOMETRO to 51155.The Editor’s decision is final. SP. Oxygen8 Communications, 4th Floor, Malt House North, Grand Canal Quay, D2. Customer Service number 0818286606.


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Marty photo’s just the job for a fan’s nerves by bRiAn MOss He may be an unlikely lucky charm, by one job hunter was hoping RTÉ’s Marty Morrissey could bring her some good fortune for her interview. Jobseeker Danielle Smith requested a framed picture of the Clare man to help with her interview nerves, and The Ashford Guest House in Galway were happy to oblige. Booking through the hotelbook.com website, Danielle Smith asked if the hotel could find a spot for Marty in her bedroom for good luck and, presumably, to scare off any bed bugs. The guesthouse staff sent photo confirmation Marty would be waiting for Ms Smith on her arrival. Ms Smith took to Twitter to explain the sports commentator is her good luck charm and she needed his mystical powers ahead of an important job interview, and Marty, renowned for his good sense of humour, was delighted to help out. Tweeting at Morrissey, she said: ‘Think your picture brought me good luck in my interview today! :P #Legend #AbsoluteGent’. He replied: ‘I hope I helped in some small way!! Really hope you get the job... let me know!!’ Fingers crossed, Danielle!

Where the forests are falling

Glimmer of hope: Brazil reduced annual forest loss by 50% to 20,000 sq km (7,722 sq miles) between 2003-2011

How it was done: More than 650,000 Landsat images were processed

say farewell to our forests

Key:

Friday, November 15, 2013 METRO HERALD

Baldwin stalker is jailed A Canadian actress has been jailed for six months after being found guilty of stalking actor Alec Baldwin. Genevieve Sabourin, 41, who had been facing 30 days in jail for disrupting the trial, insisted she was innocent and told the judge he was making a mistake. Baldwin had testified his life was a horror film after he met Sabourin once for dinner. She besieged him with calls and emails and showed up at his homes, he said.

Forest loss 2000-2012 Forest gain 2000-2012 Both loss and gain Forest extent

The worst: Paraguay had the highest ratio of forest loss to gain

Who did it: A team of 15 university, Google and government researchers

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Indonesia: A 2011 temporary ban on new logging licences saw increases in deforestation

Bad and getting worse: Malaysia and Cambodia have the highest rates of forest loss

AN area of forest larger than Peru has been lost to the world over the last decade, this satellite image shows. A map based on high-resolution images from space shows that from 2000-12 almost 2,305,100sq km was lost and replaced by 800,306sq km of new trees. Malaysia, Paraguay, Bolivia, Zambia and Angola saw high levels of clearance while Indonesia saw the fastest rise of deforestation for logging and mining

making Christmas more comfortable


16 METRO HERALD Friday, November 15, 2013

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television Weekend Watch

the give or take club RtÉ1, sunday, 6.30pm

Money expert Eddie Hobbs sets a group of people in the town of Ballyjamesduff in Co Cavan a challenge to uncover the potential for change on their doorstep. Each person must give time or skills to take something from their wishlist, a night out, a holiday or a cooking lesson. Anything is possible.

children in need bbc1, 7.30pm

Put aside your geographical hang-ups and tune in as Harry Hill puts his uniquely crazy spin on a classic 1980s music video, one of the high points of this year’s charity entertainment bonanza to raise money for disadvantaged children across Britain. Skating On Ice legends Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean do a twirl for a Strictly special slot in a star-studded line-up that also features One Direction, JLS, Tinie Tempah – and a Doctor Who exclusive clip from next week’s hotly awaited 50th-anniversary episode. If you can sneak a look earlier, don’t miss Alexander Armstrong and his Pointless friend, Richard Osman, welcoming Terry Wogan (pictured with co-presenter Nick Grimshaw) to a special edition of their peerless quiz at 5.15pm.

film of the day youth iN revolt, RtÉ2, 9pm

An awkward teen enjoys a summer romance in this comedy drama starring Juno’s Michael Cera, who plays Nick, a nerdy young virgin who becomes obsessed with Sheeni (Portia Doubleday), who he meets on a caravan holiday. With separation looming, Nick decides he must be reunited with his love. This involves getting his dad (Steve Buscemi ) a job in Sheeni’s home town, then getting kicked out of his mum’s house for bad behaviour. Amazingly, this plan works, mainly thanks to Nick’s devil-may-care alter ego, François Dillinger, who encourages the mild-mannered Nick to rebel. Part teen sex romp, part dark indie comedy, Youth In Revolt is never quite sure of itself, but it is good fun.

the late late show RtÉ1, 9.35pm popping in for a chinwag with Ryan tubridy tonight are veteran popstar cliff Richard and killiney native allen Leech who currently stars as Irish republican tom branson (pictured with co-star michelle dockery as Lady mary) in tV3 period drama downton abbey. Fresh from Graham norton’s orange couchfest with Lady Gaga, octogenarian June brown, aka eastenders’ dot cotton, shares her brand of wisdom with tubs. plus the newly reformed the blades give their first television performance live in the studio.

unreported world channeL 4, 7.30pm Reporter Seyi Rhodes travels with midwife Olga Yetikoua into the jungles of the Central African Republic to reach areas that have been inaccessible for years. From a clinic base in a remote diamondmining town, without electricity, ultrasounds or proper drugs, Olga helps women and babies who would die without her intervention.

borgen bbc4, sat, 9pm & 10pm

A welcome return for the peerless Danish political drama and much has changed in the world of Birgitte Nyborg (Sidse Babett Knudsen). She’s no longer prime minister, she’s got a high-flying new job and a sharp new boyfriend. But in her heart, she’s still a political animal.

the saturday night show RtÉ1, sat, 9.35pm

nnor Joining Brendan O’Connor eek is singer and this week The Voice judge Bressie who will be chatting about new suicide charity album Simple Things, a tists collaboration by artists Reilly, including Danny O’Reilly, SOAK and band Heathers featuring Dublin Gospel Choir. Cavan GAA goalkeeper Alan O’Mara shares his own experience of depression, while GAA pundit Joe Brolly talks about kidney donation. Crime writer Lynda La Plante will make an appearance to chat about her latest thriller Wrongful Death.

i’m a celebrity… get me out of here tV3, sun, 9pm

doctor who: greatest monsters & villains weekend bbc3, 7.05pm Who better to host a countdown through ten of the scariest monsters and super creeps from the Time Lord’s forays through galactic dimensions than comic Joel Dommett? This threepart scamper reveals the results of an online poll that sees such creations as Weeping Angels and Cybermen battle it out with Silurians and Daleks.

Kian Egan swaps the judges chair for bushtucker trials on this year’s jungle adventure. Among those joining the Westlifer in the testiclechomping challenge are model Amy Willerton, Towie’s Joey Essex, Eastenders’ Laila Morse and Olympic swimmer Rebecca Adlington. The action starts at 9pm, followed at 10.30pm by spin-off I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here Now! on 3e.


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Friday, November 15, 2013 METRO HERALD

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The latest instalment of The Hunger Games cements Jennifer Lawrence as a modern action heroine with a heart. Lauren Williams looks at what sets her apart from the rest.

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hink ‘action movie megastar’ and 1980s icons such as Stallone, Schwarzenegger and Willis will still spring to mind. however, the signs are that the next generation’s biggest action star is likely to be female. Last year, 23-year-old Jennifer Lawrence became the 21st century’s highest-grossing action heroine when the first instalment of The hunger Games franchise raked upwards of $400million at the box office. her character, the stoic archer katniss Everdeen, spearheads an all-out action franchise that’s set to smash the $1billion mark across a four-film run (the second installment, Catching Fire, opens next week). hollywood has finally woken up to the potential of a new breed – and gender – of action hero. Of course there have been iconic action heroines before – Sigourney Weaver’s Ripley from Alien; Linda hamilton’s Sarah Connor in Terminator - but Everdeen is cut from a very different cloth – and one notably cut by a woman, author Suzanne Collins. She might just be kick-starting a trend: MGM announced this summer that it will be rebooting the Tomb Raider series with a female writer, Buffy The Vampire Slayer’s Marti noxon. her speciality is seen as balancing action with emotion, a quality often lacking in female action characters (director James Cameron said

weekend

hog roast sundays at the gibson hotel

pigout

Hungry for more?

choose from a delicious range of dishes brought straight from the hog

view the menu at thegibsonhotel.ie to make a booking call 01 681 5000 we’re right beside The O2, dublin 1

Robert C Kelly and Martin Lynch present

The Hysterical Comedy Parody Of “50 Shades Of Grey” STARRING

EMMA BARRY

Written By Leesa

“One woman’s (slightly bruising) search for Mr Right”

Harker

• Directed by Martin Lynch

www.51shadesofmaggie.com

Mon 18 to Sat 23 Nov Mon 25 to Tues 26 Nov Box Office: 01 454 4472 www.tivoli.ie ALSO TOURING TO

Naas and Waterford


films

last year: ‘Hollywood movies get it wrong when they show women in action roles – they basically make them men. Or else they make them into superheroes in shiny black suits, which is just not as interesting’). So what went into the making of The Hunger Games’s wildly popular heroine? Collins is a fan of Thomas Hardy, and derives her character’s surname from the sprightly Bathsheba Everdene, the central figure in the 1872 novel Far From The Madding Crowd. Hardy’s Bathsheba – coming to the big screen next year with director Thomas Vinterberg currently filming Carey Mulligan in the role – is a fascinating character. Like Katniss, she begins her story in an impoverished state and yet is full of vigour and passion. Both women are independent-minded and constantly battle against their fate. There are huge disparities: while Bathsheba lives in rural 19th-century Wessex and farms the land, Katniss resides in a dystopian future autocracy where she must hunt to survive, evolving into an expert archer and, if pushed, a dab-hand killer. Katniss becomes a Joan of Arc figure, leading rebellion, and yet both she and Bathsheba share the same central dilemma, battling to make their choice from multiple suitors. ‘The two are very different,’ concedes Collins, ‘but both struggle with knowing their hearts.’

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features@metroherald.ie to advertise, call 01 7055010

It could be this struggle that lifts Katniss above more two-dimensional action heroines. The heart is a perennially popular theme in storytelling and it clearly resonates with teenage audiences, underpinning the phenomenally popular Twilight series, where the skittish Bella Swan (a role for which Lawrence was overlooked) is torn between her feelings for the vampire beauty Edward Cullen and the werewolf Abercrombie & Fitch-type, Jacob Black.

Murray Close

18 METRO HERALD Friday, November 15, 2013

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IKE Bella, Katniss is divided: her heart is seemingly destined for longtime love Gale (played in the films by Liam Hemsworth), but she’s also drawn towards the inherent goodliness that bubbles inside her Games co-gladiator Peeta (Josh Hutcherson). Amid all the blood, thunder and violent duelling, Katniss faces a real-life ordeal of the heart. ‘There’s just a relatable quality to a character like Katniss,’ explains film-maker Francis Lawrence (no relation), who directs Catching Fire and the two forthcoming Mockingjay films, which are due for release in 2014 and 2015. ‘That is usually what is key in making a timeless character. And then you combine that with putting Jennifer Lawrence in the mix and having her portray that character, it just makes for magic.’ Lawrence’s on-screen talents are widely recognised — she scooped a Best Actress Oscar this year for 2012’s Silver Linings Playbook, having previously earned a nomination for 2010’s Winter’s Bone. Her skill and depth of performance has done much to ensure that The Hunger Games film series has reached out beyond the many fans of Collins’ books and beyond a teen audience. ‘I think Jen Lawrence is peerless, I really do,’ says director Gary Ross, who shot the first film in the saga. ‘If you were a football coach and you saw Lionel Messi

Intense: Woody Harrelson, Josh Hutcherson and Jennifer Lawrence in Catching Fire; Lawrence and Hutcherson (below left) at the film’s world premiere play for the first time, you would just up and go: “My God, what is that?” It’s the same with her.’ Lawrence’s action hero credentials are boosted by her performance in 2011’s X-Men: First Class, and her box office figures are sure to go ballistic when X-Men: Days Of Future Past hits cinemas next year, Lawrence reprising her role as Mystique alongside James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, on-off boyfriend Nicholas Hoult and bosom buddy Zoë Kravitz. The latter’s father, rocker-cum-actor Lenny Kravitz, appears in The Hunger Games films as the heroine’s stylist Cinna, and also believes the films owe a lot to its leading lady, adding: ‘She comes from somewhere real with her upbringing and is a hardworking girl’. But perhaps it’s impossible to tease out exactly what makes Katniss such a compelling action

cLubs Lawrence

The Orb

It’s time to dust down the bean bag, lava lamp and jester’s hat as UK space cadets The Orb trundle into town. Dr Alex Patterson and his array of merry sidekicks (pictured) have been making spaced-out grooves for 25 years. To celebrate the occasion, they are in town to perform material from their first two landmark albums from the early 1990s, Adventures Beyond The Ultraworld and UFORB. Expect mind-blowing visuals, seismic basslines and a series of weird and wonderful ambient classics like Little Fluffy Clouds, Perpetual Dawn and A Huge Ever Growing Pulsating Brain That Rules From The Centre Of The Ultraworld. Tomorrow, U:Mack, The Button Factory, Curved Street, Temple Bar D2, 11pm, €23.

While many of his countrymen have only recently discovered deep house, Hamburg’s Peter Kersten has been releasing melancholic, musical dance music for well over a decade. Working primarily as Lawrence – he also releases sporadically as Sten – Kersten’s love of introspective, haunting melodies and brittle rhythms have provided the inspiration for artists like John Roberts and Smallpeople. As Kersten’s latest Lawrence album, Films & Windows demonstrates, he hasn’t lost his magic touch. Tomorrow, The Breakfast Club, The Dark Horse Inn, George’s Quay D2, 7am, €12.

Mark Seven

Like Mick Wills, Mark Seven is part of a small group of DJs known solely for their skills behind the decks. While most would-be international stars put out records to get bookings, Mark, who is based in Sweden, has been spinning since the late 1980s. Focusing on rare disco and house with nods to leftfield grooves, Mark has built up a cult following on the back of guest spots across Europe and his hugely popular Salute To The Men Of Vauxhall mix CD. Tonight, Nightflight/Hidden Agenda, Shindig, Meeting House Square, Temple Bar D2, 11pm, €5 to €10.

heroine: as Lawrence herself believes. ‘Film-makers are always trying to find that thing that makes the audience click. Sometimes it just happens and you can talk about it and dissect it a million ways and never really actually know. But Katniss is a reluctant hero and that is important.’ The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is out on November 21.

kick-Ass AcTiOn giRLs wE ADMiRE Hanna

Like Katniss, a crack shot with the bow, this 15-year-old huntress was raised to survive in the Arctic before being unleashed back into civilisation to assassinate a top CIA operative. Hanna (Saoirse Ronan, right) is a modern-day fairy-tale heroine who’s no Disney princess.

Lisbeth Salander

From the original Stieg Larsson thrillers to a Swedish film (Noomi Rapace) and TV series and now an ongoing US movie franchise (Rooney Mara), we can’t get enough of The Girl With A Dragon Tattoo, a bisexual, anti-authoritarian computer hacker.

Hit-Girl

Cinema’s coolest super heroine. Hit-Girl (Chloë Grace Moritz, left), the real star of Kick-Ass, isn’t some sexed-up comic-book babe like Catwoman. She’s a highlyskilled, fiercely independent girl, trained to kill bad guys by her dad and typically saves the hero’s skin, not the other way round.


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Analyse this, if you can The truth is out there: But can Brad Pitt and Michael Fassbender find it?

Friday, November 15, 2013 METRO HERALD

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Hard times for skin-flick enthusiast Don Jon (18) HHHH✩ Joseph Gordon-Levitt proves he’s as talented behind the camera as in front of it in his fresh and funny directorial debut. As bulked-up Lothario ‘Don’ Jon Martello, his priorities are clear: ‘My body, my pad, my ride, my family, my church, my boys, my girls… and my porn.’ And boy, does he love his porn – the chime of his laptop starting up signals an escape into a fantasy world real-life sex can’t compete with. Not that he has any problems pulling women but when he falls for the

perfect Barbara (Scarlett Johansson with one of her best performances in years), his addiction threatens to derail the relationship. Gordon-Levitt’s script is a satire on our increasing inability to connect with each other thanks to unrealistic expectations – how porn desensitises men and women have skewered views of love from movies. Where it falters is the introduction of Esther (Julianne Moore), the slightly implausible friend and the rushed resolution, but, charming to both sexes, this romcom has plenty of filthy laughs to seduce Ann Lee the pants off you.

A star-spangled history

As dazzling as it is baffling. The acting is A-list in Ridley Scott’s bold, sexy, art-house pulp fiction, but what’s it all about, eh?

vERDicT

THE Big RELEAsE The Counsellor (18) HHH✩✩

Flaunting an A-list cast so sexy it hurts (Brad Pitt, Cameron Diaz, Michael Fassbender, Javier Bardem and Penelope Cruz), you may go into this – encouraged by the marketing – expecting some kind of sparkling Ocean’s 11 style caper. Don’t. That way frustration – and possible madness – lies. Though sleek as a pair of pet cheetahs (also co-starring), the defining element here is that it’s the first original screenplay written by Pulitzer prize-winning novelist Cormac McCarthy (No Country For Old Men, The Road). He should stick to the printed page. The plot, as far as one can tell given its ‘challenging’ lack of exposition, is an oblique, nihilistic allegory about greed that sees a respected lawyer (Fassbender, working his cat-who-ate-thebudgie smile) buy a ginormous diamond to propose to his adorable, freckle-nosed girlfriend (Cruz –

wasted here). He aims to pay for it by an illegal deal with a crazy-haired club-owner (Bardem does Christopher Walken, but orange) and a laid-back cowboy middleman (Pitt) to smuggle cocaine from Mexico to the US via septic tanks. Plans, unsurprisingly, go awry. Everyone’s a philosopher in a script more verbose than a Dáil accounts committee. Yet the more the cartoonish-looking characters spout meaningfully about actions and consequences, existence and the collision of subjective reality, the more your attention drifts away to the point you neither know or care what’s going on or to whom. It’s like watching a movie in another language. About the only thing that makes sense is the score, by Daniel Pemberton, which provides a captivating form of musical subtitling. Directed by Ridley Scott, this may yet prove a misunderstood masterpiece akin to his iconic sci-fi, Blade Runner. But don’t hold your breath. Larushka ivan-Zadeh

The BuTler (12A) HHH✩✩

Upstairs/downstairs dramas are traditionally cosy, white, English affairs. Yet this self-consciously worthy, all-star, ‘based-on-a-true-story’ epic from director Lee Daniels (Precious) ambitiously sets out to track the rise of the entire US civil rights movement through the point of view of just one African-American butler. That butler is Cecil Gaines (a modest, dignified Forest Whitaker), a black servant at the White House, who is told: ‘You hear nothing, you see nothing, you only serve.’ From 1957 onwards, Cecil dutifully serves under seven presidents to the neglect of his own family. His wife (Oprah Winfrey) hits the gin and his eldest son (David Oyelowo) rebels by becoming a freedom fighter and Black Panthers founder. It’s undoubtedly an

important, powerful story, but its Oscar-bait flipbook through history, enjoyably spangled with stars (Robin Williams, Lenny Kravitz, Mariah Carey, John Cusack in a rubber nose: the list goes on…) is like watching a very long trailer, not a movie. There’s little time to engage with the characters and it seems like almost every statementpacked conversation is about civil rights. It might be No.1 at the US box office but Irish audiences may be less wowed. Li-Z

ALsO OUT more New Films rateD In Fear (15A) HHHH✩ low on budget but high on fear factor, Jeremy lovering’s excellently tooled debut sees a budding twenty-something english couple (entirely believable alice englert, pictured, and iain De Caestecker) who foolishly decide to celebrate their twoweek anniversary by booking into a ‘secluded’ hotel in the irish countryside. after a confused fracas over a spilt pint involving Downton’s allen leech, they confidently drive off from a local pub, following the ‘hotel this way’ arrows only to find themselves lost in a maze of byways, out of satnav range, squabbling over maps and almost out of petrol. as darkness falls, panic rises. a formulaic scary movie set-up is made special by lovering’s showy yet highly-effective direction and an unusually fine, goose-bump coaxing soundtrack. tension sputters towards the end but for the most part, fear relentlessly seeps into you like blood soaking slowly into cloth. Li-Z

Dom hemIngway (15A) HH✩✩✩ Cast against type, to say the least, Jude law stars as the titular Dom, an unhinged cockney safe-cracker with lemmy-from-motörhead facial hair and a fondness for monologues far too rude to be quoted in a family newspaper. strutting out of prison after a 12year stretch, he meets up with his old mucker (richard

e Grant playing richard e Grant, basically, except with yellow-tinted glasses) and travels to the south of France to collect the hush money he’s owed by a suave serbian crime lord (Demian Bichir). law relishes the opportunity to play a snarling, spit-spraying attack dog, and everyone else in this cartoonish geezer-fest is just as keen to go several miles over the top. But the comedy value of austin Powers fashions, post-sexy Beast profanity, and coke‘n’hooker hijinks wears off before long. once it does, it’s clear that Dom is shambling from place to place without a plotline to guide him. Nicholas Barber

uTopIa (12A) HHHH✩ almost 30 years after he first investigated wrongs committed against aboriginals by the whites in the secret Country, veteran documentary maker and journalist John Pilger returns to the Northern territory to find shockingly little has changed. to him, australia basically lives under declared apartheid with many of these socially neglected ‘First australians’ reduced to a state of suicidal ‘collective despair’. as impassioned and partisan as you’d expect from Pilger, a committed cage-rattler, it’s confrontational, eyeopening and saddening viewing. Prepare to get your angry on. Li-Z

TUE 21 OCT - SUN 9 NOV 2014 Ticketmaster: 0818 719 377 www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie Telephone & Internet bookings subject to €1.50 s/c per ticket up to €12; 12.5% over €12 (max €5.95) / Agents €2.00

Shrekthemusical.co.uk


puzzles

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METROSCOPE

by Patrick Arundell

NEMI by Lise

Aries Mar 21 – Apr 20

Career matters may be highlighted, particularly if you’re wondering whether to commit to an offer. As Venus links to Pluto and Uranus, the desire for greater income and security may clash with a need for freedom. For your forecast, call 15609 114 70

Taurus Apr 21 – May 21

METROKU Easy, Moderate and Challenging. For solutions, visit Metro.co.uk/metroku

The Moon may give you an emotional boost, as well as finetuning your intuition regarding a relationship issue that has been bothering you. As Venus links with Pluto, you may choose to embrace someone totally, rather than reject their negative traits. For your forecast, call 15609 114 71

Gemini May 22 – Jun 21

Wanting to keep your cards close to your chest may be a cause of conflicting feelings. Today’s potent line-up suggests you may feel more secure by keeping things to yourself, particularly if it involves sensitive matters. For your forecast, call 15609 114 72

Cancer Jun 22 – Jul 23

People you have dealings with may show their passionate side. There’s also a chance someone may persuade you to follow their line of thinking. If you do, there could be strings attached, so be careful about saying yes to anything. For your forecast, call 15609 114 73

Leo Jul 24 – Aug 23

The desire to take off and explore exciting horizons may clash with a need to work hard and show some results. But planning ahead and researching holiday venues that cater for your needs may be one way to feel fulfilled until the real thing comes along.

PEARLs BEFORE swINE

For your forecast, call 15609 114 74

Virgo Aug 24 – Sep 23

ACROSS 1 Trap (5) 4 Lower (7) 8 Titular (7) 9 Subject (5) 10 Greek love-god (4) 11 To pain (8) 13 Cease (4) 14 Proceed (4) 16 Birth (8) 17 Got up (4) 20 Drone (5) 21 Assuage (7) 22 Theft (7) 23 Crush (5)

DOWN 1 Self-important (13) 2 Speed (5) 3 Suspend (4) 4 Flood (6) 5 Fatherly (8) 6 Utter (7) 7 Reticence (13) 12 Talk (8) 13 Colonist (7) 15 Tempestuous (6) 18 Corpulent (5) 19 Applaud (4)

Yesterday’s Solutions Across: 3 Constable; 8 Oven; 9 Associate; 10 Profit; 11 Glean; 14 Total; 15 Leer; 16 Exits; 18 None; 20 Tells; 21 Growl; 24 Single; 25 Constrain; 26 Once; 27 Imprudent. Down: 1 Competent; 2 Revolting; 4 Oust; 5 Stool; 6 Animal; 7 Late; 9 Aisle; 11 Grill; 12 Negligent; 13 Prospered; 17 Stain; 19 Eraser; 22 World; 23 Form; 24 Sign.

– Oct 23

Clashes of opinion might be hard to resolve. If someone’s response seems rather gung-ho, you might be offended. But if you’re willing to sit down and listen to each other’s views, you could come up with a practical compromise. For your forecast, call 15609 114 76

scorpio Oct 24 – Nov 22

Let’s face it, with a major focus on your sign, along with a Venus/Pluto link, you could have some serious matters to get your teeth into. Yet injecting some light-hearted moments could improve your mood no end. For your forecast, call 15609 114 77

sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 21

Although today may not be a bed of roses, you can make the most of it by taking a reduced schedule. Certain tensions may take their toll, leaving you feeling anxious. It helps not to get involved in emotional conflicts.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 78

Capricorn Dec 22 – Jan 20

You could disrupt a normal happy set-up because you’re not willing to accept things as they are Capricorn. But if a friend, partner or love interest is able to respond to your mood, it could help your relationship. For your forecast, call 15609 114 79

Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19

You may have something to say but could have trouble finding the right words. Instead, you may give up and spend time doing your own thing while getting your bearings. Taking the opportunity to relax. For your forecast, call 15609 114 80

Pisces Feb 20 – Mar 20

A friend may show their true feelings and surprise you with a show of jealousy. Holding a productive conversation may not be possible but a few days down the line they may wonder at their reaction. Forgiving them may be the way ahead. For your forecast, call 15609 114 81

For a live one-to-one consultation with one of my gifted psychics, call 15809 113 68 or 1800 719 688 to book using credit card Astrology calls cost 1.27 euros per min from a BT landline. Live Services cost 2.40 euros per minute. Calls from mobiles/other networks may cost more. Callers must be 18 or over to use this service and have the bill payers permission. For entertainment purposes only. All calls are recorded. PhonePayPlus regulated(ComReg in ROI) UK SP: StreamLive Ltd, NR7 0HR, 08700 234 567. ROI SP:Moveda, 1 Courtyard Business Park, Orchard Lane, Blackrock, Co Dublin, 0818 241 398

QuIz

Crossword No. 859 See next edition for solutions

Libra Sep 24

ENIGMA Tall and rangy pedigree Dog once used in history For hunting wolves in wildest Russia. Could its silky coat be lusher? WHO AM I? A television presenter, I was born in Stockholm in 1967. I speak four languages. My TV appearances have included Dog Eat Dog and Dancing on Ice, and I famously had a relationship with Sven-Göran Eriksson.

WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHEN? WHO… won the 1994 Booker Prize with How late it was, how late? WHAT… is the principal male hormone called? WHERE… in Italy is the painter Canaletto chiefly associated with? WHEN… were 11 Israelis seized by a Palestinian guerrilla group at the Munich Olympics?

QUIZ ANSWERS: ENIGMA: Borzoi. WHO AM I? Ulrika Jonsson. WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHEN? James Kelman; Testosterone; Venice; 1972.

QUICK CROsswORd

You may want to take a budding romance to the next level. Long-term partners may find their love life rekindled by opting for a fun night out. For singles, there’s potential for an instant attraction which could be all-consuming. Think before you act though.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 75

SCRIBBLE BOX

20 METRO HERALD Friday, November 15, 2013


theatre

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features@metroherald.ie to advertise, call 01 7055010

Something of a has Behan BREnDAn AT THE cHELSEA HHHII

It’s 1963 and notorious roisterer Brendan Behan is holed up in New York’s Chelsea Hotel, ostensibly to dry out and write a new book. But his residency finds him in neither particularly abstemious nor creative form. The fact his aggrieved wife Beatrice is en route from Ireland and his girlfriend, Suzanne, has recently given birth do little to keep him focussed at the task in hand. Instead, he finds himself reliving memories of his early days in the US, succumbing to homosexual fantasies and poring over the sorry history of his shambolic, crippling relationship with alcohol. Adrian Dunbar gives a splendid turn as the improbably charismatic and quick-witted boozer in Janet Behan’s (the author’s niece) affectionate – but far from hagiographic – drama. The supporting cast, however, feels peripheral: Leanne (Samantha Pearl), the dancer hired to keep the author in check, is little more than a foil for Behan’s slavering rages and earthy bon mots, while the thankless, long-suffering-wife role goes to Pauline Hutton. Brendan At The Chelsea is an eminently entertaining slice of theatre that proves the author’s fear of becoming ‘just an ordinary human Behan’ was

gO BAck fOR MuRDER HIIII Agatha Christie adapted Go Back For Murder from her Poirot novel Five Little Pigs. The corpulent Belgian is replaced by a young solicitor Justin Fogg, who is assisting a young woman, Carla Le Marchant, in her attempts to clear her late mother of the accusation that she poisoned her father, the painter Amyas Crale, 16 years before. In

entirely unwarranted, but there’s a lingering sense it would have been more successful as a dramatic monologue. Daragh Reddin Until tomorrow, Project Arts Centre, 39 Essex Street East D2, 8pm (mat 3pm), €18 to €22. Tel: (01) 881 9613/4. www.projectartscentre.ie other words, it’s standard Christie fare: there’s a big house, red herrings and a set of characters that each have a conceivable motive to do away with the victim. It’s a classic formula that you can enjoy in the comfort of your own home with a library book, however – I certainly wouldn’t advise you to spend €25 to see the most lifeless piece of theatre I’ve ever witnessed on a Dublin stage. This touring production from the Official Agatha Christie Theatre Company is outrageously bland, without much evidence of imagination or artistry. Even taken as a piece of cosy entertainment, it’s not particularly successful. The performances are consistently underwhelming, verging on the downright wooden in some cases. Ward is stiff and uninspiring as the supposedly determined Carla, and Lysette Anthony, who plays Amyas’s lover Elsa, injects her performance with a grating drawl that differentiates her character from the others only by making her irritating where the others are insipid. Don’t Go Back For Murder? Just don’t go at all, unless you have the theatrical equivalent of a death wish. Sheena Davitt Until tomorrow, Gaiety Theatre, King Street South D2, 7.30pm, from €25 (tomorrow mat 3pm). Tel: (01) 679 5622. www.gaietytheatre.ie

Lunch & Evening options available

Friday, November 15, 2013 METRO HERALD

gig AnE BRun

Introverted is a good word to describe Norwegian singer/songwriter Ane Brun’s magical, pared-down indie-folk, with its delicate, melancholy beauty born of long Scandinavian winters. Brun has spent most of 2013 in retrospective mode, celebrating ten years as a recording artist. In May, she released the 32-track Songs 2003–2013, and followed it last month with Rarities, a collection of hard-to-find and previously unreleased material. Brun came to pop at a comparatively late age, after discovering Joni Mitchell and a few other key performers when she was around 21. ‘Since I’m an independent artist,’ she told Metro Life recently, ‘things broke slowly but for me that was the right way,’ she says. ‘I’ve learned so much on the way.’ A paradox of Brun’s desire to be ‘just me’ is her love of performing other people’s songs. One of the many highlights of Rarities is a version of Beyoncé’s Halo, which began life as a vocal warm-up exercise on tour. ‘I love picking out a good melody from a big production and showing the world what it is,’ she explains. For Brun, doing covers isn’t so different from writing original material. ‘I listen to the original, then I try to play it as I hear it in my head so that it becomes something that comes from me,’ she says. ‘This gives me some of the same creative feeling I have when I write my own music. You put something of yourself in.’ Siobhán Murphy Tomorrow, Vicar Street, 58-59 Thomas Street D8, 8pm, €22. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.vicarstreet.ie

gig puBLic SERvicE BROADcASTing

It’s a serendipitous rendezvous straight out of an old spy novel. The British Library’s recent Propaganda: Power And Persuasion exhibition was a fascinating look at how governments, advertisers and their ilk have sought to disseminate their messages throughout history. Public Service Broadcasting are J Willgoose Esq and Wrigglesworth, the London duo who have said, tongue firmly in cheek, that their aim is to ‘teach the lessons of the past with the music of the future’. They achieve this on their recent debut album, Inform-Educate-Entertain, by patching together samples from old public information films and propaganda material with crunching guitars, mechanistic synths and motorik rhythms. Both are easy to get lost in, disquieting rather than didactic. The duo’s live show is as carefully crafted as their music on record, with archive footage accompanying them as they control the sound from amid a set-up of ramshackle old televisions, radios and musical instruments. There’s an underrated, deadpan sense of fun to PSB – be sure to catch their truly unique showcase at The Button Factory this weekend. Alex Macpherson Tomorrow, The Button Factory, Curved Street D2, 7.30pm, €12. Tel: (01) 670 9202. www.buttonfactory.ie

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rugby autumn internationals

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piCture: inpho

We meet again: Cian Healy will be hoping to prove a thorn is the Aussie side again, after his man of the match showing in the World Cup

WALLAbiEs WiLL givE TRuE TEsT Of iRisH pROgREss

If it puts unfair pressure on Ireland’s players to say tomorrow’s clash with Australia is the defining game of this autumn series then so be it. Having seen off Samoa last weekend, Ireland face a major step up in class against the Wallabies, but Ewen McKenzie’s side remain a much more beatable proposition than next week’s visitors New Zealand and thus represent new boss Joe Schmidt’s best opportunity for a signature victory to kick off his tenure. McKenzie is, like Schmidt, new to his role, having taken over from Robbie Deans following the disastrous series defeat to the Lions last summer, but is a good way further along with his new charges having stewarded them through the Rugby Championship, where the Wallabies failed to trouble either the All Blacks or South Africa. Fortunes have improved lately, however, with a narrow defeat by England sandwiched by impressive routs of Argentina and then Italy last week. A backline that struggled against the Lions is humming following the return to the fold of the mercurial Quade Cooper to partner Will Genia at half-back, with new recruits Tevita Kuridrani and Nick Cummins joining the likes of Issy Folau and Adam Ashley-Cooper to form a potent and powerful unit out wide. Full-back Folau’s aerial prowess, in particular,

iRELAnDTEAM

sets up a mouth-watering battle with Rob Kearney. Ireland escaped punishment when giving up several line breaks against Samoa but will have to be much more disciplined this time out with the Wallabies eager to exact revenge for their defeat in the 2011 World Cup. Ireland’s success that day was forged up front and at the breakdown, so the return of Sean O’Brien and that game’s man-of-the-match Cian Healy is crucial if Ireland are to re-establish dominance against an improving Aussie pack. Alongside the many predicted changes, Schmidt has also mixed in some surprises. Scrum-half Eoin Reddan’s selection over Conor Murray could signal a policy of rotation at scrumhalf similar to the one Schmidt operated at Leinster with Reddan and the more physical Isaac Boss, while Devin Toner packs down beside Paul O’Connell. Luke Marshall’s run-out at centre sees him given the first crack at laying claim to a place in Ireland’s midfield of the future. The New Zealander’s reshuffled bench looks like a worthy attempt to see all his options in action this month, with Robbie Henshaw, Stephen Archer and Kevin McLaughlin togging out this time, with Paddy Jackson unlucky to lose out entirely after his composed outing last Saturday. @garethmakim

R Kearney (Leinster); T Bowe (Ulster), B O’Driscoll (Leinster), L Marshall (Ulster), F McFadden (Leinster); J Sexton (Racing Metro), E Reddan (Leinster); C Healy (Leinster), R Best (Ulster), M Ross; D Toner (both Leinster), P O’Connell; P O’Mahony (both Munster), S O’Brien, J Heaslip (both Leinster). Replacements: S Cronin, J McGrath (both Leinster), S Archer (Munster), M McCarthy, K McLaughlin (both Leinster), C Murray (Munster), I Madigan (Leinster), R Henshaw (Connacht).

Cooper shows a barrel full of praise for influence of ‘best in the world’ Geina

QuADE COOPER admits he could never have forced his way back into the Australia side without ‘world’sbest scrum-half’ Will Genia. Livewire attacking fly-half Cooper’s Wallabies career lay in ruins during the summer’s British and Irish Lions tour. The 25-year-old playmaker was frozen out by then coach Robbie Deans after branding the squad atmosphere ‘toxic’. New Zealander Deans was unseated after the 2-1 series defeat to the Lions and new boss Ewen McKenzie drafted Cooper back in. McKenzie coached Cooper at Queensland Reds, and that prior relationship paved the way for an international reconciliation. But Cooper has now revealed close friend and club-mate Genia has had a big hand too. The 47-cap outside-half explained: ‘When you get on well off the field that translates on to it. We’ve been fortunate enough to play alongside each other for years. It’s about going

piCture: inpho

Livewire: Quade Cooper has a laugh with Israel Folau in training yesterday out there with one of your mates and Cooper continued: ‘He’s a class representing your country. player. He’s very competitive. All ‘Will’s the best half-back in the around the ruck he’s always fighting world in my eyes, so I’m very for little inches to get ahead. fortunate to play outside him.’ ‘That’s what I love to see in Cooper admitted he is relishing the opposition players. Me looking at match-up with Racing Metro’s him, being able to go up against Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton. him. Fired up by the former Leinster ‘You want to play against the best outside-half’s bullish approach, players and he’s one of them.’

Reddan needs to match the squad’s great expectations

Eoin REddan must produce a performance worthy of scrum-half rival Conor Murray’s expectations against australia, believes ireland boss Joe Schmidt. Head coach Schmidt has asserted 51-cap half-back Reddan’s selection ahead of British Lion Murray for the second autumn international is to help ‘grow the squad’. Leinster number nine Reddan will certainly drive the tempo against highoctane australia in dublin tomorrow, allowing ireland to counter the visitors’ varied backline threats. Schmidt is adamant he is trying to foster squad strength – but did challenge former Wasps 32-year-old Reddan not to let Murray down. Schmidt said: ‘Like Gordon d’arcy helping Luke Marshall who starts in the centres, Conor has been working away, doing his best to help Eoin prepare the best he can for this match. ‘We’ve tried to have the squad included. The starting XV have a responsibility therefore, so Eoin knows it as much as anyone: Eoin’s representing Conor’s hopes in the team. ‘When you’re trying to grow a squad you can’t have guys who are individually focused. i think Conor’s brought really good things to training. ‘You’ve just to balance the needs and the opportunities for individuals with

by DAnny HOgAn

the greater good of the squad sometimes. We’re happy with Conor, but it’s about an opportunity for Eoin.’ Wary of australia’s ‘upward curve’ under head coach Ewen McKenzie, Schmidt has warned ireland to stop the Wallabies at source. ‘anyone would acknowledge they were unlucky against England,’ he said. ‘Some crucial decisions didn’t go their way, and if they had the result could have been different. Then they didn’t really let italy into the game a week later. ‘To put 50 points on a team is impressive, and it’s the same thing they did to argentina. piCture : inpho

22 METRO HERALD Friday, November 15, 2013

‘They are the first team in a long time to do that to argentina in their own country. So if you do let them loose they will do some damage. ‘We’ve got to try to limit their opportunity to get ball in unstructured situations with a bit of time and space. ‘i could reel off a string of runners they have, even discarding the backs, with Scott Fardy a n d Michael Hooper r u n n i n g they are dynamic. ‘The backthree are dangerous and through the middle Matt Toomua has opened up a fair few teams. ‘There’s a fair few challenges, trying to limit their opportunities, particularly with a distribution base of Will Genia and Quade Cooper.’


football international

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Captain Keane won’t retire any time soon pictures: inpho

by AnTHOny wALsH

Robbie Keane has admitted he will retire from international football as soon as his legs go. The 33-year-old striker is on the verge of signing a new contract which could keep him at Los angeles Galaxy for another three years and has no intention of hanging up his boots just yet. However, while he is determined to add to his 130 senior caps and 61 goals to date, he will have no qualms about calling time on his ireland career if he feels he can no longer contribute. Keane, who will lead the Republic into friendly battle with Latvia this evening in Martin o’neill’s first game as manager, said: ‘i want to play as long as i can. but i’m not daft. i’m 33 years of age, so next time the euros come around... ‘Ultimately it’s the manager’s choice. all i can do is keep playing well and keep scoring goals and if he sees that i can continue doing that, then there’s no problem. ‘but i don’t have any problems with people making decisions. if anybody feels that i can help them now until the euros and there’s a situation coming around to the euros where for some reason my legs are gone, then i’ll pack it in.’ Keane is unlikely to seek a loan deal to a barclays Premier League club during the MLS off-season as he nurses a long-standing achilles injury, but confirmed that he is close to extending his stay in Los angeles by signing a new deal. He said: ‘i haven’t signed it yet, but it is verbally agreed, two and possibly three years. i am excited about that, it shows you how much faith they have in me to give me that contract. ‘Usually when you hit the 30-mark, you get a one-year rolling contract to see how you are so it goes to show the faith they have in me to give me that contract. ‘i will play on as long as i feel healthy and fit. at the moment, i feel good. i have a few niggles which i have had in the past and i will look at that. ‘The time i’ll have off will be good for me to do that, but i will continue as long as i can.’ Keane’s enthusiasm for international football has never been in any doubt, but even he has been invigorated by the arrival of new management duo o’neill and Roy Keane.

under 21’s

King not expecting an easy night as Faroes come looking for win

Noel KiNg has warned his ireland Under-21s players they can take nothing for granted as they attempt to re-ignite their european Championship qualifying campaign against the Faroe islands. The Republic welcome the Faroes to the Showgrounds in Sligo tonight having beaten them 4-1 in Toftir in August, but not without a fight. indeed, the group Six minnows led leaders germany twice in Kassel last month before succumbing 3-2. King (pictured) said: ‘We played them before and it took us 30 minutes to equalise. it was 1-1 at half-time. ‘The boys are well aware that this is a side with a threat. There’s no question of us being lackadaisical. ‘The Faroes led against us, they drew 2-2 with Romania and with 15 minutes to go against germany, they were 2-1 up so they are better than a decent side. ‘They are very good, fit and well-organised. They will be coming here trying to get a result. People may be expecting us to win, but it’s not an easy task. ‘They are aggressive and have a great work ethic.’ King is back in his day job after stepping up to manage the senior team for their final two World Cup qualifiers against germany and Kazakhstan last month following giovanni Trapattoni’s departure. in his absence, the under-21s double-header against Romania started with an encouraging 0-0 draw in Piatra Neamt, but ended with a damaging 1-0 home defeat four days later. ireland sit in fourth place with four points from as many games, eight adrift of the germans, but only two worse off than Montenegro, who have played a game fewer, in second.

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Keane to get on: Robbie and Roy share a joke during training ahead of the Latvia game When the names of o’neill, Keane and didn’t think we would have two of them here, former boss Mick McCarthy were put to him to be honest with you. ‘everybody has been looking forward to a last month – as the Football association of ireland continued its search for the right man – he new chapter in irish football.’ Talk has centred around the elder Keane and indicated any of the three would fulfil his personal requirement of having, as he put it at the his fearsome reputation, but captain Keane intime, ‘b**** and the capacity not to take s*** sists his relationship with one of his predecessors is fine. from anybody’. He said: ‘no problem, no problem at all. asked for his reaction to the appointments, he said: ‘Well, when we were here the last When i came into the squad first, he was altime, the three names that were mentioned, i ways great.’

Dubs may play away as GAA goes to country All-iRelANd football champions dublin will play their first Championship game outside of Croke Park next summer in eight years – if they draw in a leinster quarterfinal tie with laois. Provincial chiefs acknowledge the situation is unlikely, though their agreement to commit represents a significant softening of their stance on playing all dublin games at gAA Headquarters. The provincial holders will play laois at Croke Park on June 8 next in the leinster

Friday, November 15, 2013 METRO HERALD 23

gaa Bernard Brogan: May have to face away games quarter-finals, presuming laois overcome Wicklow. And if the dublin/laois game finishes level then the replay has been pencilled in for laois’ o’Moore Park. it’s understood

laois pushed hard for the original fixture to be played at home but were knocked back. The replay date is seen as a compromise and, if it materialises, will be dublin’s first away Championship game since beating longford at Pearse Park in 2006. Critics have hit out at dublin having home advantage for games, with their home Allianz league games also moving to Croke Park. Until now, the gAA has bowed to gate receipts at Croke Park but the Portlaoise

agreement may indicate a desire to bring them to the provinces on certain occasions. leinster gAA chairman Martin Skelly agreed that the compromise arrangement was a ‘slight opening of the door’. Meanwhile, provincial chiefs have also been forced to shelve plans for a Friday night fixture involving longford and offaly on May 16 next. Skelly said longford agreed to the idea but that offaly refused, meaning it will now go ahead on Sunday afternoon, May 24.

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24 METRO HERALD Friday, November 15, 2013

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Dubs may face some Championship days away from Croker next season

«see page 23

picture: inpho

O’CONNELL STANDS FIRM AS HE WATCHES CHANGE SWEEP ALL AROUND HIM Ireland captain Paul O’Connell is refusing to bow to the changing of the guard that has crept up during his injury-ravaged two years. The veteran lock admits Ireland face a new era ‘whether we like it or not’ – but will not be overawed by the advance of the next generation. Head coach Joe Schmidt’s twin totems O’Connell and Brian O’driscoll will start an Ireland game together for the first time since the quarter-finals of rugby World Cup 2011 on Saturday. O’Connell last started for Ireland 18 months ago, when seven of Saturday’s match squad-mates for the autumn international against australia had not even been capped. Undeterred by his absence, the 34year-old has backed boss Schmidt to keep building Ireland’s strength in depth. The 86-cap lock said: ‘recent years have forced Ireland to bring players through. ‘The likes of luke Marshall, Paddy Jackson and Ian Madigan wouldn’t have been around when I was there 18 months ago. ‘But they’ve come through now and are performing so well. That youthful enthusiasm and strength in

depth in training, it keeps everyone sharp. It improves things all-round. ‘In the past you would have been able to pick a lot of the team. But now none of the players were able to pick the team, it was only when Joe confirmed it that we knew. ‘and I think that’s an excellent thing, it drives standards higher and keeps a squad consistent.’ On skippering the side, O’Connell added: ‘Being captain is enjoyable most of the time, but there’s pressure with it too. ‘I’ve done it plenty of times with Ireland, on and off with Munster recently and for a long time with Munster in the past. ‘It’s an exciting time for Irish rugby, and an exciting time to be captain too. ‘I don’t think it needed things freshening up at all for me. I tend not to change much whether I’m captain or not. ‘It is nice to be captain, Joe’s a new coach, he has a very different way of doing things. He expects very different things from the players too. So whether we like it or not it is a new start.’

«rereDDeN reaDy – page 22

O’Neill down to business after a quick honeymoon

REPubLIC of Ireland manager Martin O’Neill has warned his players that the clash against Latvia does not take on less significance because it is a friendly. O’Neill takes charge of Ireland for the first time at the Aviva Stadium tonight. With neither side having qualified for next year’s World Cup in brazil, the players could be forgiven for thinking underperforming would not have serious repercussions. However, O’Neill has a steely determination to succeed and the Latvia encounter represents far more than a launching pad for his reign. He said: ‘I don’t want the players to treat these like friendly games. I told them that. ‘These are very, very important. It’s a bit like I would have treated pre-season, which was all about the players getting fit. ‘If I was going into a club for the first time, Monthly Certified Distribution Sep 30 - Oct 27, 2013: 56,764

by ANTHONy WALSH

the first time I was meeting the players was in pre-season, then pre-season became very important. ‘They became big games because I have to make judgements on players. That’s exactly how I see these games. They may not be competitive in terms of picking up points, but they are very important.’ O’Neill sat alongside skipper Robbie Keane and warmly approved of the 33year-old’s diplomacy when asked to compare the styles of the current manager and the man he replaced: Giovanni Trapattoni.

The ulsterman, returning to a theme which made for newspaper headlines earlier this week, said to Keane: ‘I’m pleased you answered in that fashion. ‘I see this all too often in the past, where a manager has left a football club, a new manager comes in and what you get is a couple of the players who haven’t participated under the previous manager saying, ‘life is great again, absolutely fantastic, a breath of fresh air’, and those same players are playing in the reserves a fortnight later.

Published by Fortunegreen Ltd, 1st Floor, Independent House, 27-32 Talbot Street, Dublin 1 Printed by The Irish Times at Citywest in Dublin Editorial: (01) 705 5088 Advertising: (01) 705 5077 Distribution: (01) 705 5007

‘From that aspect, nothing changes. I think I left a club and some player was interviewed and said the manager had his favourites. Yes, I did, they were generally the best players. ‘Trapattoni did brilliantly. He’s been a great manager all his life. Slightly better than (former Sunderland boss Paolo) Di Canio. ‘It’s never been bothering me, that. Like you wouldn’t believe. Sorry, it’s grand now. That was just to make you (journalists) laugh.’ The response to the appointment of O’Neill and assistant manager Roy Keane has been hugely positive, although the 61-year-old insists his honeymoon period will last only so long. ‘It’s been great, absolutely fine, but I’m well aware this is the ten-minute honeymoont’

«

robbie to stay put – page 23


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