Metro Herald, January 7, 2014 by Metro Herald

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Vaughn a star

MetroLife talks to ‘Mr Sunshine’ »p13

Destination Ireland: 166,000 ask to stay

Picture: PA

by joanne ahern

A wave of visitors A daredevil surfer rides a wave yesterday at Mullaghmore, Co Sligo, as scores of hardy souls flocked to the west coast from near and far to take advantage of what is thought to be the last of the stormy weather. Big wave chasers from California and Hawaii rushed to the north-western tip of the country to risk their lives riding the ‘black swell’ brought in by the storm dubbed Hercules.

Mullaghmore Head is reckoned to be the best spot in Europe for pro surfers. Nick Rees from Surfing GB, a spectator at the action yesterday, said: ‘I have seen about 20 surfers from all over go in, Americans, Australians. You just don’t get waves this big very often so people are making the most of it. This is not a time for amateurs to get in the water.’ PAGEs 4-5

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

ABOUT 166,000 new applications for visas, residency, citizenship and protection were submitted in Ireland during 2013. Almost 2,250 men and women were deported or removed from the country, including 1,890 who were refused entry at airports or ports, Justice Department figures show. The details of more than 75,000 immigrants in Ireland were also shared with officials in the UK last year under a Common Travel Area agreement. Some 12 per cent of the Irish population – 544,000 – are listed as foreigners, with the majority from EU countries. A review for 2013 showed 4,370 asylumseekers were living in direct provision centres, down 30 per cent from 2010. About 95,000 visa applications were made, up 14 per cent since 2011, with an approval rate of 91 per cent. Most applicants were from India (16 per cent), Russia (15 per cent) and China (11 per cent). Almost 18,000 people were granted Irish citizenship last year. Justice Minister Alan Shatter said 68,000 decisions have been made on naturalisation applications since he took office. He said ‘huge improvements have been made’, with most visa applications processed in days and asylum bids completed ‘within months’. While the Immigrant Council of Ireland acknowledged the progress made in 2013, its CEO Denise Charlton called on the Government to focus on vulnerable groups. She claimed immigrants are left trapped in violent relationships because of fears of being deported and added Ireland has been criticised for failing to provide secure accommodation for trafficking victims, while stateless people are often left living in limbo.

METRO HERALD Tuesday, January 7, 2014

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2 The number of hours

employees spend per week away from their desks smoking, so says the Elephant Smart Business survey of 120 Irish firms

Ireland’s rate of newsprint recycling is now up to 79%. Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you.

Today is...

Christmas Day Well, if you’re an Orthodox Russian… Thirteen days after our Christmas, the Russian Orthodox Church celebrates the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, in accordance with the old Julian calendar.

From the archives (2013):

Landlords shamed as litter louts

Landlords have been blamed for the neglect of Dublin’s north inner city – the dirtiest place in Ireland in a nationwide litter league. Landlords are not being held to account for the litter around derelict buildings, Irish Business Against Litter said.

Today’s birthdays

Erin Gray, actress, 64; David Caruso, actor, 58; Nicolas Cage, actor, 50; Lewis Hamilton, Formula One driver, 29; Robert Sheehan, actor, 26 (pictured).

CLOCkwORD

The solutions from 1 to 12 are all sixletter words ending with the letter L in the centre. Moving clockwise from 1, the letters in the outer circle will spell out the name of a progressive rock guitarist. 1. 2. 3. 4.

Pig sound Type of drum Gloss paint Destructive hooligan 5. Necessitate 6. Temporary lodging 7. Beast

8. 9. 10. 11. 12.

Club Dog house A good look Excite Decorative tuft

Yesterday’s solution: Bettino Craxi

Weather Weather Today

Max: 10°c

A bright and blustery day with further passing heavy showers. Temperatures between 8°C to 10°C in gusty southwesterly winds.

Derry

8�C

Donegal

8�C

9�C

Cavan

Galway

9�C

Athlone

Dublin

9�C

Tipperary Waterford

Tralee

Cork

Tonight

Belfast

9�C

10�C Sunrise: 8.38am Sunset: 4.25pm

Min: 2°c

Dry in most areas and the winds will ease. It will be a cold night and slight ground frost will form. Temperatures between 2°C to 4°C.

EUROPE today

Tomorrow Starting bright and dry in most areas, but another batch of rain will affect Munster and Leinster during the afternoon. Temperatures between 7°C to 9°C in fresh southwest winds.

7�C 7�C 8�C 8�C

9�C

7�C 8�C 9�C Max: 9°c

Athens

16 °c

Barcelona

16 °c

Berlin

12 °c 13 °c

Brussels

Paris

11 °c 10 °c 13 °c 12 °c

Rome

15 °c

London Geneva Madrid

Tuesday, January 7, 2014 METRO HERALD

Swimmers discover they are sharing the water with reptile intruders

Crocodile shock at the pool

Caught: Four of the visitors in a tank

In at the deep end: One of the freshwater crocodiles scooped out of a swimming pool yesterday lurks beneath the surface Picture: Mount iSa aquaticS

Jaws: Mr Rodriquez with one of the baby crocs

MANY a swimmer has experienced a slight sinking feeling after emerging from the changing room to find the pool’s already crowded. But encountering a slow-moving doggypaddler in the fast lane must surely be preferable to sharing the water with six crocodiles. That was the prospect confronting bathers yesterday as they looked to cool off in the summer heat at Mount Isa Aquatics in Queensland, Australia. One visitor had already begun swimming lengths before realising they were not alone but, luckily, the baby freshwater crocs

by DANIEL BINNS were too little to pose much of a threat. ‘A lap swimmer said they didn’t want to alarm me but there was a small crocodile swimming beside them,’ said pool director Brian Rodriquez. ‘I jumped in with the pool scoop to get him out but then there were two, then three, then four and five. It is not every day you find little crocodiles swimming around.’ Besides the 30cm pool-crashers, three more crocodiles were found under tables at the

centre. The creatures are natives of northern Australia and may have wandered in of their own accord – but Mr Rodriquez said it was more likely they’d been moved from their nest by pranksters. ‘Some of the crocodiles were quite fast and didn’t want to be caught,’ Mr Rodriquez added. ‘It was entertaining – but only because nobody got hurt.’ The nine unexpected guests were put in a tank and were due to be picked up by a wildlife ranger today.

METRO HERALD Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Safety chiefs in call for end to hazardous conditions on farms HEALTH and safety chiefs have again pressed farmers to improve safety on their land after agriculture accounted for almost a third of all work-related deaths last year. Official figures show that there were 46 people killed in work-related accidents during 2013, compared to 48 the previous year – and four of them were children who died on farms. Martin O’Halloran, chief executive of the Health and Safety Authority

by ED cARTy (HSA), said the pace of safety improvements on farms is not quick enough. ‘We recognise some jobs can be more hazardous than others, the number of fatalities in agriculture each year bears that out,’ he said. ‘However, we will never accept these deaths are inevitable and cannot be prevented. ‘I am particularly concerned that

JOURNALIST! Dublin’s free daily commuter newspaper wishes to recruit a journalist to work across its print and digital channels. The successful candidate will have. Strong news gathering and writing skills and a passion for news and current affairs. Print page layout skills (eg Quark, InDesign or similar). In-depth knowledge and skilled use of the internet and social media. This is an excellent opportunity for someone who is passionate about their work and who is willing to learn fast and to develop within the editorial team. The role will involve working across all Metro Herald’s channels and will involve shift work. Applications, in A4 PDF format, should include: CV. Covering letter. At least three samples of your writing. Story ideas. Three samples of your print layout.

Applications should be emailed to

editorial@metroherald.ie with ‘Job ad’ in the subject line by Wednesday January 8.

four children lost their lives due to work-related accidents on farms last year. We are working to foster a culture of safety, but high accident rates show the pace of change is too slow. ‘I am calling on farmers to make 2014 the safest year ever recorded.’ In the construction sector, there were 11 deaths – the third year in a row with an increase – with the main causes the movement of vehicles on site and falls from height. The fishing sector saw four deaths, compared to seven in 2012, while water supply, sewerage, waste management and the remediation activities sectors saw four fatalities in 2012 and one reported last year. Deaths in the transportation and storage sectors jumped from one to four, while incidents involving vehicles at work accounted for 20 deaths. Cork had the worst record last year with 12 deaths – including six farm-related, four in construction, one in education and one in fishing.

Holey moley! There’s been something of a competition over the past few days as Irish coastal towns battered by the stormy weather vied for the title of biggest randomly appearing sinkhole. Tramore, Co Waterford, wore the crown for a while but then yesterday afternoon Ballybunion, Co Kerry, swept in and took all the glory. This monster was photographed by Richard Wall, who then thought nothing of climbing in to illustrate its terrifying scale Picture: @tHericHArDWALL

Homeless pair denied baby’s custody A HOMELESS couple have lost a High Court bid to have the custody of their prematurely-born baby returned to them after he has received medical treatment and is discharged from hospital. Justice Michael Peart was told it was not the couple’s intention to bring up their child ‘in some doorway.’ They had arranged to move in, with the baby, with the child’s grandparents. Timothy O’Leary, SC, counsel for the HSE which obtained a temporary care order for the child following its premature birth on October 3 last, told the court the boy would be transferred to a children’s hospital in Dublin today where he is

scheduled to undergo surgery for a double inguinal hernia. His parents had been living in a residential unit at the hospital since his birth, the court heard. The HSE intend to seek an extension to the interim care order when it expires on January 13, Mr O’Leary said. Counsel for the couple Colman Fitzgerald said the child’s parents were seeking an order under Article 40 of the Constitution returning care of the child to them following its discharge from hospital. Judge Peart, refusing the application, said the baby would require very significant parental aftercare following discharge.

‘Haass plan has benefits’ PrOPOSALS to resolve contentious issues in Northern Ireland would leave people considerably better off, former US diplomat Dr richard Haass has claimed. Dr Haass chaired five-party negotiations about parades, flags and the toxic legacy of the region’s 30-year conflict. Talks ended on New Year’s Eve with no agreement. The parties are still deciding whether to accept the proposals. The former special envoy was enlisted by the power-sharing executive at Stormont to help resolve problems which have caused serious sectarian violence.

Cleanest: Kilkenny

Kilkenny keeps clean crown IT WASN’T the county’s year when it came to sport, but the town of Kilkenny managed to hang on to their title as Ireland’s cleanest in 2013. The announcement at the finale of the 2013 Anti-Litter League by Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) is the first time a town or city has retained the title since it began in 2002. Kilkenny pipped Cavan and Tramore, which finished in second and third respectively. Dr Tom Cavanagh, IBAL chairman, expressed concern at the possible impact of the impending abolition of town councils on litter.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014 METRO HERALD

Iceman: Lee Tuttle, 66, clearing snow in Michigan

Ice vortex sends US running indoors

Smashing time: People brave the elements to photograph enormous waves as they break on Porthcawl harbour in south Wales Picture: PA

West worst hit as storms continue to ravage coasts

Thousands have been left without power, roads have been ripped up and homes have been cut-off after storms ravaged the country. as severe winds reached 120 kph in some parts, 5,000 houses lost electricity and around 11,000 telephone faults were reported. County councils spent the day calculating how much essential clean-up operations will cost, while the worst-hit areas in the west pledged to rebuild. Loop head peninsula in Co Clare

by LynDsEy TELfORD

was battered with high swells, which resulted in parts of the sea wall at Kilbaha being destroyed, while flooding at Kilcredaun left some families cutoff from the mainland. Further north, waves reached building height in Lahinch, while extensive damage was caused to the promenade and paths were reduced to rubble by floods. high tides also battered the coasts of Galway, Cork and Waterford, but

despite a landslide at Plunkett Train station in the latter last week, normal service resumed yesterday. Elsewhere, in howth, the Coast Guard said that two people were swept off their feet on a pier by waves. Meanwhile, surfers flocked to Mullaghmore head in Co sligo, where waves of 11.8m were reported. Fota Wildlife Park in Co Cork kept its gates closed, while high tide at salthill, Co Galway flooded the Promenade. The Road safety authority urged driv-

ers to steer clear of flooded roads. ‘Road users should always follow recommended routes and obey signs closing roads to traffic. Watch out for washed out roads, earth slides, broken water or sewer mains, loose or downed electrical wires, and fallen or falling objects.’ The Commissioners of Irish Lights, which runs 72 of the country’s lighthouses, said all its services and navigation aides were functioning normally despite some water damage to some of its buildings.

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A WHIRLING mass of freezing air has brought heavy snow and wind chill temperatures of minus 50C to large parts of America. The eastern half of the country has been hit by dense air known as a ‘polar vortex’ which has brought weather last seen two decades ago. Parts of the north-east and Canada have seen up to 60cm of fresh snow fall and 3,700 flights have been cancelled. Schools in Chicago and other Midwest cities are closed and people warned to stay indoors. The city of Indianapolis has banned driving for anyone other than those seeking shelter. Lake Michigan is frozen solid and ice breakers were deployed to clear the way for shipping. ‘I have seen frostbite occur through clothing,’ warned Douglas Brunette, an A&E doctor in Minneapolis.

20% off

METRO HERALD Tuesday, January 7, 2014

60 seconds Actor GARy CARR, 27, garnered headlines as Downton Abbey’s first black character. Now he returns as Sergeant Fidel Best in Death In Paradise

Lauren ‘air rage’ diverts plane to Shannon JuStIN GoFF/GoFFPhotoS.com

There’s a big change in Death In Paradise – the exit of Ben Miller as lead detective. Did the manner of his departure shock you? No, I understood why it

had to be that way. His character, Richard Poole, had such a strong connection to his audience, he couldn’t just leave quietly.

THE jewellery designer niece of clothing tycoon Ralph Lauren will appear in court this morning to face charges arising out of an alleged air rage incident yesterday. Jennifer Lauren (pictured), 41, was on board a Delta Airlines flight from Barcelona to JFK Airport in New York. About two hours into the flight, when

the jet was 600km west of Ireland, the crew contacted air traffic controllers in Co Clare reporting an unruly passenger. The flight landed in Shannon and was met by airport police and gardaí. Ms Lauren is alleged to have been intoxicated and to have been involved in an altercation with cabin crew.

Today FM’s Cooper joins Rodman on trip to North Korea Research: Broadcaster Matt Cooper (far left) is travelling with Rodman

How does his exit affect your character, Fidel? Richard Poole was your mentor. It’s a whole

new world for Fidel. He’s a sergeant now. He’s got to that level thanks to Richard and he’s got to find out what the responsibility of being a sergeant means. He’s less wide-eyed and more confident and mature. He’s ambitious in a quiet way.

Kris Marshall’s character is now in charge instead. Is he very different? What’s nice is that

he seemed to give up his love for Rose so easily? One visit from the admittedly scary Lady Mary and it was all over.

The thing with Jack was that he could deal with the racism that he knew he and Rose would have faced because he’d been living with it his whole life. But he knew that Rose would not be able to handle that kind of pressure. So I think that by giving her up, he’s the hero of the story.

he’s not too different… he’s another fish out of water. He has his own quirks but the format of the show stays the same. I’d love to go back

Saint-Marie is a fictional island. Where do the accents come from? The main ref-

“

to Downton and find out what happened to Jack Ross

erence is Trinidadian because that’s the roots of a lot of the cast. Saint-Marie is both British and French, so we can take a lot of liberties where the accents are concerned. We’ve been trying to put a lot of Creole into the show, to mix things up.

Did the reaction to your arrival in Downton Abbey as Jack Ross, the show’s first black character, surprise you? There were accusations of tokenism. Not really, I know how

the media works. Downton Abbey is a huge show and there are headlines to fill. But, you know, there were African Americans alive in the 1920s, so why not? For me, the character felt right.

But would a black musician and an English aristocrat really have embarked on an affair?

Jack Ross was a celebrity and Rose was seeking adventure and rebellion. It’s not a true story but it could have happened. As an actor, I want to be able to play interesting characters like Jack. In its own way, it was dealing with the issues that were there.

Were you disappointed that

Do you think Jack’s Downton days are done?

You never know. I’d love to go back and find out what happened to him. No doors have closed.

You won a lot of fans as Corporal ‘Millsy’ Mills in the first series of controversial comedy Bluestone 42. Why did you decide not to do series two? It’s filmed in South Africa and would have meant months away filming. I wanted to pursue other opportunities.

Did that take some bottle? An actor’s life is notoriously precarious… No, not really. You have

to be prepared to turn work down. You don’t want to say yes to everything.

BROADCASTER Matt Cooper is accompanying former NBA basketballer Dennis Rodman on his latest controversial trip to North Korea. The US sports star is leading a team of retired basketball players as part of birthday celebrations for North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. They will play a North Korean team tomorrow, in what Rodman described as a ‘birthday present’ for Kim. To keep the game friendly, the two sides will only play against each other in the first half, and then mix together in the second.

Cooper is on the trip to research a book, as well as to work on a TV documentary on the match with UK company Chief Productions. The Corkman presents The Last Word current affairs show daily on Today FM. The station said yesterday that Cooper has taken annual leave and is travelling ‘in an independent capacity on this trip’. Cooper is expected back on air on January 13. Meanwhile, Paddy Power, which

funded Rodman’s initial trip to the Communist state, confirmed it was involved in organising the required visas. However, a spokesman said the bookmaker has now taken ‘a back seat’ on the project. Kim hit the headlines last month over the execution of his once powerful uncle, Jang Song Thaek. When this was put to Rodman, he said: ‘I’m not a president, I’m not a politician, I’m not an ambassador. I’m just an athlete and the reason for me to go is to bring peace to the world, that’s it. That’s all I want.’

Ten years for Irish-linked terror plot

Going back to Downton, Jack Ross revealed you as a pretty smooth operator on the dance floor. What would you say if you got the Strictly call? [Laughs] I’ve always been into dancing, I’m a massive fan of choreography – Bob Fosse is my hero. But Strictly? No, I don’t think I could do that. I’ve never even watched it.

Keith Watson Death In Paradise returns to BBC1 on January 14 at 9pm.

by JOANNE AHERN

LaRose: Jailed for terrorism

THE US terrorist nicknamed ‘Jihad Jane’, who was recruited by a terror cell based in Ireland, has been jailed for ten years for her part in a plot to kill a Swedish artist who had offended Muslims. Colleen LaRose, 50, had used the Jihad name online and agreed to kill Lars Vilks over his series of drawings depicting the prophet Mohammed as a dog. The US Justice Department said Ali Charaf Damache, who was living in Ireland, recruited LaRose via jihadist websites. LaRose left the terror cell in

Ireland after about six weeks. US attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams said LaRose ‘grew frustrated because her coconspirators were not ready for action.’ LaRose returned to the US in 2009 to surrender. Her arrest was kept secret and only revealed after seven others were rounded up in Ireland months later. The 2009 conspiracy to target Mr Vilks over his drawings saw Muslim extremists in Iraq offer $100,000 for anyone who killed Mr Vilks, who was never attacked.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014 METRO HERALD

Merkel fractures pelvis in ‘low speed’ skiing crash

GERMAN chancellor Angela Merkel has injured her pelvis while cross-country skiing on holiday. The 59-year-old suffered a bone fracture that will require her to rest for three weeks. The fall occurred ‘at low speeds’, her spokesman Steffen Seibert said. He was unable to say if anyone else was involved. At first, she thought the injury to the rear of her pelvis was bruising, Mr Seibert added. Mrs Merkel has cancelled a visit to Poland tomorrow, while Luxembourg prime minis-

World

by DANiEL BiNNs ter Xavier Bettel has called off his trip to Berlin, set for Thursday. She will continue to preside over cabinet and government meetings by using a walking aid to get around, Mr Seibert added. ‘The doctors’ orders are to lie down,’ he said. The accident happened at Engadin, near St Moritz in the Swiss Alps, during the Christmas holidays. Last week, Mrs Merkel sent her best

digest

Bosses held hostage ivory smugglers get at doomed factory crushing punishment

FRANCE: Workers at a tyre factory facing closure kidnapped two of their bosses yesterday. They locked production manager Michel Dheilly and HR director Bernard Glesser in an office at the Goodyear plant in Amiens. Tractor tyres have been wedged against the door to stop them escaping. Maurice Taylor, chairman of US tyre company Titan International, refused to rescue the plant last year, saying its employees were lazy and overpaid.

CHiNA: A stash of seized ivory has been destroyed in public for the first time. Six tonnes of ornaments, carvings and tusks were crushed as the government tried to show it was clamping down on smuggling. At least 22,000 African elephants were illegally killed in 2012, with demand for ivory still rising. ‘China is sending a very powerful message it is not prepared to tolerate the illegal trade in ivory,’ said campaigner John Scanlon.

TuRkEy: A Greek Orthodox swimmer kisses a wooden crucifix after it was thrown into the Bosphorus at the Golden Horn during the Epiphany Day ceremony in Istanbul Picture: ePA

Meat swelled with filthy pond water

CHiNA: Lamb pumped with dirty pond water to swell its weight has been discovered in a raid on an illegal slaughterhouse. Seven people have been arrested after 30 carcasses were found to have been injected with the bacteria-filled water to increase its market value. Up to 100 sheep a day were being killed at the slaughterhouse in Guangdong province. The lamb was sold at markets and restaurants in major cities.

Four whales killed in marine ‘sanctuary’

jApAN: Activists condemned a factory ship for killing four Minke whales in what they described as a ‘gross breach of international law’. Anti-whaling group Sea Shepherd used a helicopter to film the Nisshin Maru trawler allegedly hunting inside the Antarctic’s Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary. ‘That’s just a gruesome, bloody, medieval scene which has no place in this modern world,’ said Sea Shepherd spokesman Bob Brown.

and finally... AusTRALiA: A boyfriend’s attempt to surprise his lover went wrong – after he got stuck in the washing machine. He planned to leap out of the toploader naked at his home in Mooroopna, Victoria. He was freed by firemen.

wishes to fellow German Michael Schumacher, who was critically injured in a skiing accident ten days ago. The seven-time F1 champion was placed in an induced coma in hospital in Grenoble, France, after hitting his head on a rock while skiing between pistes at Meribel in the French Alps. A source last night said there were signs of an improvement in his condition.

Schumacher had fears of ‘everyday life’ MICHAEL SCHUMACHER drew up a will for his €900million fortune in 2010 over concerns about what might happen ‘in everyday life’. The 45-year-old, critical but stable in hospital after a skiing accident, divided the money between his wife and two children. ‘I have made my testament because I am a family man,’ he said at the time. ‘It is less about F1 but because of the things that can happen in everyday life.’

METRO HERALD Tuesday, January 7, 2014

★

★★ ★ ★

Will eyes stardom but won’t rush it by sEAMus Duff

Emma Willis and Marvin Humes

ill.i.am has vowed to take his acts on The Voice all the way to the big time – even if it takes a decade. The eccentric rapper toiled for ten years before he and The Black Eyed Peas achieved worldwide stardom but he has promised to champion his protégés every step of the way. ‘When you are working with singers and you promise them all the things you are going to promise them, i wouldn’t just say it. i will fight for you,’ he told Guilty Pleasures, adding he believes his fellow coaches would do likewise. indeed Will has held last year’s runner-up leah mcFall’s hand throughout her first forays into the business, setting her on the path to glory in 2014. ‘i am still fighting for leah. She

Big in 2014? Will is still fighting for Leah McFall came on tour with me. She came to los angeles and recorded her whole album. We finished officially last week,’ he revealed. ‘i think maybe she wasn’t meant to break in 2013, maybe she is to break 2014. Who is to say when the artist is to be a mega star? i am committed. and so is leah.’ Until then, the BBC show has yet to

find a bona fide star – however the Scream & Shout singer thinks this is only a matter of time. ‘The only way i know how to do it is how i experienced it with The Black Eyed Peas. ‘if it wasn’t for Jimmy iovine who believed in us to keep us on the interscope Records label Black Eyed Peas would have got forgotten between ’97 and 2004. ‘But we were signed for almost ten years before we broke as an act.’ meanwhile, the 38-year-old treated his pals to an evening of extravagance at celeb haunt Boujis in South Kensington, west london, over the weekend. The music maestro blew more than €3,000 on Belevedere vodka, moët champagne and Faboujis Egg cocktails, before bowing out at about 2am to prepare for The Voice’s official launch on monday.

Voice of reason: Voic Kylie Minogue says she can help people in the maledominated domina music industry industr

Dream team: Will.i.am, Ricky Wilson, Kylie Minogue and Sir Tom Jones are confident of finding a future star on The Voice Picture: rex

‘i should be so lucky to be the Voice’s only woman’ Kylie Minogue admits she loves sharing The Voice’s coaching duties with three men – and rubbishes claims the line-up is sexist. She even insisted the male-dominated UK line-up – featuring Sir Tom Jones, Ricky Wilson and Will.i.am – is ‘proportionate to what it is like in the industry’. ‘I hope I am giving a voice to the girls and women who look up to me or anyone

like me in the business,’ the 45-year-old said ahead of the first episode of the third BBC One series on Saturday. Minogue also admitted being the lone woman on the panel had its advantages. ‘We work really well as one girl and three guys – just because it stops any stories about bitchiness or cattiness.’ And she was quick to take advice from her sister Dannii, who endured a rivalry

with Sharon Osbourne on The X Factor. ‘Dannii has offered me advice but she didn’t actually have to say too much because I have watched her experience,’ Kylie said. ‘I can look back and fully relate to how invested you become in the show and the acts that you have. She thought I would enjoy the experience and being a mentor – and she was right.’

The Aussie also has nothing but praise for axed coach Jessie J, 25. ‘I think Jessie did a great job, especially for someone so young to be put in that position. I wouldn’t even get in the door if we were to talk about voices with Jessie because she has a phenomenal voice and talent – and spunk!’ she said.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014 METRO HERALD

★

The Amazing Spider-Man star Andrew Garfield tested his spidey senses as he took surfing lessons in Hawaii with co-star and girlfriend Emma Stone. Garfield, 30, got off to a wobbly start and soon found his feet but Stone, 25, proved a dab hand. The couple will be seen on the big screen together in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 in April when they face Jamie Foxx as the villain Electro.

The calm before it’s born... have some sleepless nights ahead of They ha Cowell and pregnant them – and Simon Co Silverman are making sure girlfriend Lauren Silv they’re rested and refreshed before their new they’ arrives. The couple soaked up the sun baby arri Cowell’s rented £73million super aboard Co they sailed around yacht, Slipstream, as the Caribbean island St Barts on their extended e festive holiday. Silverman, 36, covered her elegant white one-piece while bump in an ele again donned his favourite Cowell, 54, once ag pair of blue and white board shorts.

Luther takes on Sherlock It seems Idris Elba can do no wrong at the moment – after the much-fêted actor was nominated for the best TV detective gong at the UK’s National Television Awards. The Luther star faces competition from Broadchurch duo David Tennant and Olivia Colman, and Benedict ‘Sherlock’ Cumberbatch. TV’s favourite presenting duo Ant & Dec find themselves in the strange position of having to compete against

themselves for best entertainment programme. They are nominated for Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!, alongside Celebrity Juice and The Graham Norton Show. Rivalry is fiercer than ever in the talent show category, as Strictly Come Dancing takes on The X Factor, The Voice, Dancing On Ice and Britain’s Got Talent. The awards will be shown on UTV from 7.30pm on January 22.

The power of J-Law is quite ‘intoxicating’…

Jennifer Lawrence may have been ‘intimidating’ but co-star Elisabeth Röhm said it was also ‘intoxicating to work with her’ on new film American Hustle. The 22-year-old was described as an ‘old soul’ by 40-year-old Röhm. ‘She has such a command of herself and such maturity and power,’ the former Law & Order actress said. Crime caper American Hustle – directed by Bafta winner David O’Russell – also stars Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams and Jeremy Renner. It picked up the ensemble performance award at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Sheen’s ‘joke’ wedding tweet Charlie Sheen confused fans once again when he made a ‘joke’ announcement on Twitter about marrying his porn star girlfriend. The actor, who has three ex-wives, posted an image of him and Brett Rossi, 24, with the caption: ‘this is the house ware M Gorbachev R Reagan did some epic. it’s also where S and I GOT MARRIED! C #RumorMilUhPede.’ The photo showed the pair outside the former French consulate in Reykjavik where a Cold War summit was held between Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev. But the 48-year-old’s rep later confirmed he was ‘kidding around’.

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10 METRO HERALD Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Painstaking: Ben sketches circular steps on a giant sheet before filling in the detail and posing

Drawing a line across life and art

ArtIst Ben heine doesn’t look so quick on the draw held up at gunpoint. however, the 30-year-old was in no danger of being rubbed out as he was merely facing one of his huge ‘3D’ pencil drawings. others see him walking a tiger on a leash, walking across circular stepping stones and posing for himself in a self-portrait. the works use anamorphosis, an optical illusion that requires the viewer to occupy a very specific vantage point.

by AiDAn RADnEDgE

‘It was very exciting to create these works because I like new challenges and I like to surprise,’ he said. the sketches, which mostly measure 4m by 3m are done in freehand before being retouched and can take a week to complete. If there are large dark areas in the composition, the artist can get through 15 pencils and three charcoal sticks per piece. ‘I’m actually using a mix of charcoal sticks for the

large shadows and thick dark lines and graphite pencils for the smallest details and soft shadows,’ heine added. ‘Both materials are carbon based, so they still belong to the same medium.’ the works form part of the Belgian artist’s Pencil Vs Camera series, which started in 2010. ‘I wanted to have my sketches large enough to pose with them and become part of the whole composition – to have my full body replacing the hand,’ he said.

Action shot: Heine is confronted by a gun breaking through a wall while holding a dove, walks a tiger on a lead and sketches himself in works for his Pencil vs Camera series Pictures: Ben Heine/Barcroft

Breastfeeding ‘deters’ arthritis ‘Baby-faced dogs rehomed faster’ Mothers who choose to breastfeed their children are around half as likely to develop rheumatoid arthritis compared to women who have never breastfed, researchers said. the study of more than 7,000 women, published in the journal rheumatology, found that breastfeeding – especially for longer periods – was associated with a lower risk of developing the condition. rheumatoid arthritis is a condition which causes pain and swelling in the joints. It is estimated to affect about 40,000 people in Ireland and occurs more frequently in women

than men. It can be very painful, making movement and everyday tasks difficult. researchers asked the women, all aged 50 and over and from south China, about their history of breastfeeding and examined them for any signs of the condition. Around one in ten were deemed to have rheumatoid arthritis. Women with arthritis were significantly more likely to be overweight and less likely to have ever breast fed their children, the authors said. those who had at least one baby and had breastfed were around half as likely to have rheumatoid arthritis.

Dogs may have learned to cash in on a human weakness for child-like faces, new research suggests. In the study, rescue dogs that were best able to pull on the heart strings of prospective owners were most likely to get new homes. Their secret was to raise their inner brows and make their eyes appear larger – like those of a baby. scientists believe it is proof that domestic dogs have evolved to capitalise on a natural human preference for child-like faces.

The findings, reported in the online journal Public Library of science oNE, may also explain the attraction of people with big and cute ‘puppy dog’ or ‘doe’ eyes. study leader Dr Bridget Waller, an expert in social communication from the University of Portsmouth, said: ‘our study suggests that dogs’ facial movements have evolved in response to a human preference for child-like characteristics. In other words, we might have automatically opted for dogs which produced facial movements that enhanced their baby-like faces.’

Tuesday, January 7, 2014 METRO HERALD

n o i t a s n e S g n i m m i l S h the s c ’ t a a W c i r e Am es melt away h c in ! d e v i r r a y has finall Garcinia Cambogia Extract As described on TV’s Dr. Oz Show:

• ‘The Holy Grail of Weight loss’ • ‘The newest, fastest fat buster’ • ‘Dual action, Supress appetite & reduce body fat’ • ‘Decrease belly fat’ Products for weight loss should be used in conjunction with exercise as part of a healthy lifestyle

12 METRO HERALD Tuesday, January 7, 2014

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mail@metroherald.ie Text: @metrohnews and Facebook: #metromailbox

‘Mail’ to 53131* Facebook.com/ metroherald

*Please include a name and location. Texts cost €0.30 per message + standard network charges. SP. Oxygen8 Communications, 4th Floor, Malt House North, Grand Canal Quay, D2. Customer service number 0818286606

Will reader’s high school French win the heart of his copine?

ood to see you back up running, my dart to work was getting boring without you. Anyway, as usual, I fecked up talking to a woman at our work Xmas party in the Stillorgan Park Hotel last month – never got a no – so I thought I’d chance my arm with Yeh Big Ride. I’m hoping you could enter this into one of this week’s papers. The lady in question is French so I cobbled together enough secondary school French (with a dusting of internet search) to come up with the following: Pour la femme en rouge á la fête de Noël dans Stillorgan Park Hotel; vous avez porté mon chapeau mieux que moi. Entrer en contact, s’il vous plaît. L’idiot soigné ■ Congratulations EB on the dumbest comment of 2014. A boat gets stuck in ice in the Antarctic, and therefore global warming is BS?

Amazing. Truly moronic. Thanks for the laugh! Kevin, Dublin ■ I decided to enjoy a bottle of wine on Friday night, but was aghast at how much the main supermarkets want for their cheapest bottle of wines now – €8.99, which is ridiculous for the cheapest offering. It looks like I’ve been priced out of wine drinking, so I guess switching to spirits is the only economical option for 2014. Ordinary Human Being ■ Just a quick memory check for both Man Utd whingers in yesterday’s paper (Louise and born and bred) – first, you weren’t born a red – but anyway on the point of the penalty you seem to forget that reputations precede some footballers, ie Ashley Young. or have you forgotten all those swan dives certain players have gotten penalties for, ie Ashley Young. And yes I am Ray the red. True Red Scouse

yEH big RiDE ● To the cutie guy who was short of €2 on 29 Nitelink bus on 21 December leaving from city at 4am. Would you like to go for coffee? You got off at Raheny Road.

Girl in green coat:)

yOuR RusH-HOuR cRusH

Quick pic

Is the Lift Lady just pushin’ yer buttons?

TREnDing #MattCooper ● Today FM’s Matt Cooper is travelling to North Korea this afternoon with Dennis Rodman. That’s a sentence I didn’t anticipate writing today.

■ The best thing about the Metro Herald you get for free is the little ‘BIG ride yeah’ – they do have me in knots. @DaleMulgrew4

● I actually had no idea that Matt Cooper played basketball.

■ Let’s keep overpopulating the country, knocking down forests and building on flood plains, then claim to be shocked by the flooding. Vanessa

● I would like to thank the person who found my bag (contained my yearly bus and rail pass for 2014) and left it into Dún Laoghaire Dart Station on Christmas Eve. I wish you and your family a fantastic Elaine 2014.

I think this is ridiculous. It’s basically saying ‘yea it’s fine to get pissed and come here, we won’t kick you out, we’ll take care of you because you have no cop on’. They don’t need to start offering the service of ‘drunk rooms’, they need to start refusing entry to drunk teens instead of letting them in to make a profit. What’s more, if a teenager is so intoxicated at a teen disco that they could cause harm to themselves or others, the guards should be called and they should have their asses carted home and let the parents deal with them, because trust me, if the reception they get from their parents would be anything like I would’ve gotten off mine, they will think twice about being so stupid again. Karen Dowling

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

■ Lift Lady, pressing a button in a lift once suffices – but pressing it lots of times psychologically makes you feel as though you’re doing something to make things happen a lot faster. Lift Master

gOOD On yA

in yOuR FAcE

Thanks to Peter Murrin sent us this picture he took on Sunday of the flooding in Clontarf. He used a 30-second exposure, creating the blurred motion effect. Got any cool weather or other pictures? We want to see them!

● I would like to thank the gardaí at Store Street Station who retrieved my stolen bicycle. I would also recommend that bicycle owners write down the frame serial number and take a photo of their bike so that if their bike is stolen in the future it will help the gardaí to get it back. RC

RAnDOM AcTs OF kinDnEss

We asked our Facebook followers: Popular teen disco Wezz has introduced a ‘medical room’ for intoxicated teens as an alternative to putting them out on the street. Do you think a ‘drunk room’ is a good idea?

@JohnBalfe

writer @OlafTyaransen

Controversial: NBA star Rodman arrives in North Korea ● Eternal Presenter of The Last Word/Supreme Leader of People’s Rep. of Cork @cooper_m travels to North Korea @rgctobin ● TV3 22:00 Hanging With Mr. Cooper: Matt Cooper oversees the state execution of seditious persons in North Korea.

spoof @YourRTEGuide

It’s an excellent idea. Very progressive. Acknowledging that teenage drinking exists and responding positively and responsibly. Mike Synnott What Mike said – and about time too. And it’s not a new idea – it’s been done at clubs in Tullamore, Limerick and Ennis at least, for a couple of years now. Fiach Mac Aodha

● Not sure who comes out worse- Rodman (who must be the most naive or unethical sportsman) or Cooper.

@guy_mx99

@metrohnews #metromailbox

D v1

Tuesday, January 7, 2014 METRO HERALD

Vince delivers the drama

14 METRO HERALD Tuesday, January 7, 2014

film

features@metroherald.ie to advertise, call 01 7055010

Vince Vaughn is a practical, vegan-dabbling family man, discovers Larushka Ivan-Zadeh

n meeting Vince Vaughn, the first thing that hits you is: ‘Woah – tall!’ At 6ft 5in, Vaughn is a strapping, high-domed giant among the homunculi of Hollywood. Today, however, the trademark ‘bada-bing’ movie star charisma, which has netted him an estimated $50million and the nickname Mr Sunshine, is on a lower wattage than usual, something any sleep-deprived parent will identify with. ‘It’s just me and my wife looking after the kids, we don’t have any help – it’s just the two of us,’ he says, rumpling his thick curly hair. ‘We are very hands on – and fortunate that we are able to do that.’ Being ‘hands on’ included being there for the birth of both his children. ‘It was fun’ he says. ‘Fun?!’ I query. ‘I loved it!’ he insists. ‘I was fortunate my wife’s labours were not that difficult. My sisters’ were harder. I was there when my sisters gave birth too.’

“When I started I never thought I would make any money” Vaughn, 43, has two older sisters, Victoria and Valeri. His father is called Vernon – the name Vaughn chose for his own son, born in September. His three-year-old daughter, however, is called Locklyn. Was that a radical move in this V-dominated family? ‘no,’ he smiles, ‘my wife’s mum is from Scotland, so that’s where Locklyn comes from’. Vaughn married Canadian estate agent Kyla Weber in 2009. His own mother, Sharon, also started out in real estate before creating one of the US’s top-ranked money management firms – until she became a victim of fraud in 2006. His father is a former toy salesman, who has starred alongside his son in Swingers (1996), The Break-Up (2006), and Couples Retreat (2009). Raised both Protestant (his father) and Catholic (his mother) and with a mixed Irish, Canadian, Lebanese, Italian, German, English ancestry,

Fertile ground: Vaughn plays a reluctant father whose sperm donor past catches up with him the boy Vaughn’s career path through life was far from set, and he was encouraged to forge his own, as an actor. ‘When I started I never thought I would make any money,’ he admits. ‘Growing up in Illinois, I didn’t know any actors so I moved to LA, aged 18, because I thought that’s where they make the movies.’ Early success in a TV commercial for Chevrolet was followed by years of rejections. His breakthrough came, aged 25, with indie film Swingers, where he played what he calls a very ‘cool and together character’. A string of Frat Pack comedy hits followed – including Old School, Wedding Crashers and, most recently, The Internship – in which he played a series of irrepressibly charming man-children. But Vaughn is no goofball in real life. ‘I have my own company and I am very organised,’ he protests. ‘But I take it as a compliment that I have been so convincing as those characters that people see me as that type.’ His latest movie, Delivery Man, casts him as another lovable chump whose long-suffering casual girlfriend announces she’s pregnant. The same day, a lawyer informs him he has fathered a further 533 children via sperm donations he made as a student, and 142 of them want to meet him. ‘I loved the original movie [a French-Canadian comedy, Starbuck] because it was so unpredictable,’ he says. ‘It

would be very funny, then very touching, then scary, then intense. There are not a lot of directors like Ken Scott [who made both versions] who have that skill where you can be comedic and dramatic within the same scene.’ So, does Delivery Man mark a new career shift towards drama? ‘Kind of a return to it,’ he corrects. ‘A lot of the smaller movies I did when I was younger, like Return To Paradise [with Joaquin Phoenix and Anne Heche] were dramas. Then I had agents that represented a lot of comic people, so that was kind of the stuff that presented itself. I am tired of doing some of the comedy stuff, it is nice to do something different.’

S well as acting, Vaughn produces and has writing credits on several of his films, including The Break Up – a romcom in which he starred with then girlfriend Jennifer Aniston. ‘I had been offered a lot of romantic comedies and I was thinking: “Why do they have to end up with the person?” Sometimes in life you can be with

On My pLAyLIsT Dan Reynolds of Imagine Dragons EARLy In THE MORnIng by Harry Nilsson

Harry Nilsson is my dad’s favourite artist and I grew up listening to this song on repeat, which I didn’t mind one bit.

yOu CAn CALL ME AL by Paul Simon

No matter my mood, this song brings a smile to my face. Paul Simon is not only a great lyricist, he’s also a rhythm genius.

FATHER AnD sOn by Cat Stevens

Cat Stevens is one of my favourite singers; this song shows his prowess. It has moved me to tears solely based on its honesty.

THE unDERDOg by Spoon

I love Britt Daniel’s voice: the growl and character is so unique. Britt was always an inspiration.

(sITTIn’ On) THE DOCk OF THE bAy by Otis Redding

I always feel as though Otis is sitting next to me on the water’s edge singing this song. There’s something about the sound of the waves and his soothing vocal that puts me in a trance.

ALL My LIFE by Foo Fighters Dave Grohl is the man. Period. End of story. This is rock‘n’roll at its finest. Imagine Dragons’s single, On Top Of The World (Polydor), is out now

someone you learn from but you are not meant to end up with,’ he says. ‘So I thought it would be interesting to do a movie about that.’ The celeb hoo-hah surrounding his are they/ aren’t they ‘engagement’ with Aniston is a period Vaughn was happy to put behind him. now living in married bliss, he’s looking fitter. ‘I quit smoking, my wife had a baby and I had an injury, so I put some weight on,’ he says. ‘But then I got to a place where I was just ready to be disciplined. I was vegan for a little while and took up running. I try to avoid dairy but I still have the occasional piece of pizza.’ And, for now, career goals are secondary to hanging out with the family. ‘I really love spending time with them,’ he says. ‘I was older when I decided to have kids, so I was really ready to enjoy it. It is exciting.’ Will he be having 533 of them then? ‘no,’ he laughs, wearily.

Delivery Man is out on Friday. Settling down: Vaughn with his estate agent wife Kyla Weber

bOOk nOW GIG Ed Sheeran Hard though it is to believe, the majorlabel album debut from social media darling Ed Sheeran is now more than one and half years old and, since then, his melodic acoustic pop has gone global. Mass appeal notwithstanding, there’s some serious heft to Sheeran’s songwriting: mega hit The A Team, is a moving, poetic lyric about a teenage beauty who turns to prostitution; Small Bump is a hymn to an unborn child; and I Dont Need You (But You Need Me) is a screw-you missive aimed at manipulative managers. Kudos to the Prince Harry lookalike that such unlikely subject matter makes great sing-along fare. Tickets on sale Friday Oct 6, The 02, East Link Bridge, North Wall Quay D1, 6.30pm, €42.55. Tel: 0818 719 300. www.edsheeran.com

food

The future is orange

Chloe Scott tests top recipes to make the ultimate carrot salad

ho would have thought such a common winter vegetable could be so exciting? From Rick Stein’s dry curry of cabbage, carrot and coconut to Rebecca Seal’s carrot fritters from her book, Istanbul, there are thousands of ways of prepping the carrot and now we’re seeing it gain a greater role on the plate. It’s a nutritional marvel too, with vitamins A, C and B6, potassium, copper, folic acid, thiamine and magnesium. For my salad, I start with advice from Sabrina Ghayour, known for her Middle Eastern expertise (sabrinaghayour.com). her book, Persiana:Recipes From The Middle East & Beyond (octopus) is out soon. She says: ‘Why does a carrot salad always involve raw, grated carrot? Warm salads are better suited to winter.’ Ghayour uses za’atar spices in her warm roasted carrot and feta salad. ‘It’s a cupboard staple for me,’ she says, ‘a blend of oregano, thyme and marjoram with toasted sesame seeds. It’s so versatile and, in this instance, gives a gentle earthiness to the sweet, roasted carrots.’ I like her style. She makes a paste with the za’atar, lemon zest, olive oil and a generous seasoning of salt and pepper, then smothers it over inch-thick diagonal slices of carrots, before roasting. The chunks ensure bite and they’re bursting with spicy caramelisation. The salty feta adds a tangy component – its pungency detracts a little from the subtleties of the salad but I decide it’s not a fair judgement as my feta isn’t good enough quality, a common problem in this country. For comparison, I try Yotam ottolenghi’s spicy Moroccan salad from his book, Plenty. ottolenghi’s spices can’t be faulted – he uses ground cloves, ginger, coriander, cinnamon, paprika and cumin with preserved lemon. Growing up in Jerusalem, he won’t feel the same but his 1cm-thick cylindrical carrots, simmered for ten minutes, evoke memories of over-cooked school dinners. So, I try raw salads. Arthur Potts Dawson’s options in his book, Eat Your Veg, have a

Tuesday, January 7, 2014 METRO HERALD

cHLOE’s REcipE ingREDiEnTs (serves 4)

1kg carrots, sliced into 2/3cm chunks ♦ 200g raisins ♦ 3 spring onions, finely chopped ♦ 2 large handfuls mint leaves, finely chopped ♦ 1 preserved lemon, chopped or zest of 1 lemon The rub 2cm peeled ginger, finely chopped ♦ 2 red chillies, finely chopped ♦ ½tsp cumin seeds ♦ ¾tsp cinnamon ♦ ½tsp ground coriander ♦ ½tsp paprika ♦ 50ml olive oil ♦ ½tsp cracked sea salt Dressing 2tbsp rice wine vinegar Garnish 3tbsp pistachios ♦ 3tbsp sesame seeds ♦ Greek yoghurt

METHOD step 1 Preheat the oven to 190C. Toast the sesame seeds in a saucepan on the hob for 1min. step 2 For the rub, make a paste

Rabbit out of a hat: The humble carrot can have Bugs Bunny himself hopping with joy good crunch. his real triumph, though, is in the use of pistachios, which bring a milky, nutty luxury that lifts the meal to something thrilling. For my Moroccan recipes, I try Stevie Parle’s from his Dock Kitchen cookbook with orange, toasted cumin and orange blossom, and Jill Dupleix’s on bbc.co.uk, which is similarly orange-focused but more complex with coriander, cinnamon, cumin and lemon. on eating them, the combination of carrots and oranges seems a little disappointing, both ingredients tasting similar when put together.

FOOD nEWs with Daragh Reddin EDDIE AT THE GREEN Metro Life is always a sucker for a post-pub Eddie Rockets splurge, but if we can build a visit in during a shopping expedition, all the better. As such, the new Eddie Rocket’s ‘Dinette’ in Stephen’s Green is just the ticket, particularly for weary bargain hunters looking to reboot after trawling through the January sales. Expect all the standard retro-tinged Yankee faves – from no-nonsense hamburgers to classic malts and milkshakes – alongside ‘little’ versions of dishes for the waist-line conscious. First Floor, Stephen’s Green Shopping Centre, Stephen’s Green West D2. www.stephensgreen.com

AM looking for a sharper balance of sweet, sour, bittern and salty. Fitting the bill is Salma hage’s carrot and golden raisin salad from her book The Lebanese Kitchen, which mixes carrots, ginger, sultanas, coriander and spring onions. It’s a lively meal and I’m especialy keen on the ginger. Then there’s her toasted sesame seeds. I want to keep pistachios and sesame seeds but is that too much of a protein punch? Next, I need a dressing to balance flavours. hage drizzles balsamic vinegar but I find it

KAVANAGH’S CLOSURE Sad news for fans of WJ Kavanagh’s: the popular boozer on Dorset Street, which less than two years ago was given a handsome and muchneeded revamp from the good people behind L Mulligan Grocer in Stoneybatter, has closed its doors for the final time. It’s particularly unfortunate given Seáneen Sullivan, Michael Fogarty and Colin Hession have done so much to promote craft beers and local produce, but perhaps some new and enterprising publican might take the reins. In the meantime, we’ll toast Kavanagh’s glory days – from the comfort of Mulligans... SUSHI SUSSED The term superfood is bandied about all too often but in the case of sushi, it’s pretty much bang on. Low in fat, low in

using a pestle and mortar with the spices, sesame seeds, chilli, olive oil, salt and pepper. Place the carrots on a baking tray and drizzle over the paste. Roast for 15min. step 3 Remove the carrots from the oven and place in a large salad bowl. Stir in the mint leaves and lemon. Season to taste. step 4 Dress with the vinegar. Pop the pistachios and sesame seeds in a pan and cook dry over the hob. To finish, scatter over with the raisins, a little extra mint, followed by the toasted pistachios and sesame seeds. Add more chilli for a garnish if you wish. Serve immediately with a dollop of Greek yoghurt over each portion. doesn’t cut through the sweet, caramelised carrots. Potts Dawson mixes two parts rice wine with one part light soy sauce. The less sweet and more delicate rice vinegar seems sharper, better in this instance. The writer of almostturkish.blog spot.co.uk cooks grated carrots in a skillet then mixes them with yoghurt, garlic, dill, and salt. The yoghurt is a good addition. To finish the dish, coriander and mint both belong here but the mint in particular, when mixed with the humble carrot, becomes something very special indeed.

sugar and high in protein, it’s the ultimate January detox nosh given it’s reputed to lower cholesterol, protect the heart and improve circulation. The excellent Oishii sushi is available from Dunnes Stores, Superquinn and Super Valu stores but if you fancy preparing your own – an onerous task as anyone’s who’s tried can attest – Oishii are now offering sushi demonstrations by skilled chefs for private events. For more info tel: (01) 679 9801. www.oishii.ie

16 METRO HERALD Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Life television

WhaT i’m WaTChinG sanjeev Bhaskar yonderland

Great show. It’s reminiscent of things like Labyrinth – you’ve got that mix of people and puppets, but it’s also quite witty.

The Tunnel

I caught The Bridge about three episodes in and I didn’t really know what was going on, so I had to drop that. But it left me predisposed to like The Tunnel and I’m really enjoying it. Stephen Dillane is fantastic – such a great, nuanced performance without any fireworks going off.

homeland

I missed Brody when he was away. There’s a slight bit of patriotism there – he’s a Brit after all. But Damian Lewis is a good actor and a lot of the storylines centred on him.

my favouriTe Tv characTer

Simon Templar (pictured) – it was on repeats by the time I saw it as a kid. I just thought The Saint was great, I wanted to look like Roger Moore, I wanted to sound like Roger Moore. I met him once and I told him it was watching The Saint that made me want to be an actor. He paused and said: ‘You thought, if he could get a job...’ Sharon Lougher

The TasTe Channel 4, 9pm The rebuilding of the Nigella Lawson brand begins in earnest as The Taste, already a hit in the US, makes its debut here. The hook? Combining The Voice-style selection process with a minimalist serving method: Michelinstar flair won’t wow the three judges, just good taste combinations, as delivered on one white spoon per judge. Joining Lawson as judgementors are French chef Ludo Lefebvre and selfproclaimed professional eater and drinker Anthony Bourdain (pictured on right with Lawson and Lefebvre). As the tasty morsels are presented – oysters with caviar or tea-smoked duck with sprouts, anyone? – the judges start filling up the four places they each have in their competition kitchen. Let battle commence.

film of The day insomnia, BBC1, 11.15pm

Will Dormer can’t sleep. Not surprising, really: the grizzled cop has been packed off to deal with a two-bit smalltown homicide while his department is investigated back in LA; he’s marched straight into the white nights of an Alaskan summer; and he’s just shot and killed his partner, Hap (Martin Donovan), in a botched attempt to flush out the murderer. This killing, which Dormer (Al Pacino) will go to extreme lengths to mark down to the murderer’s account, lands him dangerously close to the moral co-ordinates of the man he seeks; and unfortunately for Dormer, that man (Robin Williams, above with Pacino) is cunning enough to take full advantage. The brilliant-as-ever Pacino leads a cast which includes Hilary Swank as the super-keen local rookie.

Bhaskar returns in Sky1’s revival of The Kumars, which begins on January 15 at 9pm.

operaTion TransformaTion RTÉ1, 8.30pm Kathryn Thomas is back with another life-changing series following six brave, new leaders who aim to radically change their eating patterns, exercise habits, and be prepared to inspire viewers and listeners to follow them on their eight-week journey. Fitness guru Karl henry, dietician aoife hearne and Gp Dr Ciara Kelly give advice and encouragement to the participants, which include 29-year-old Deirdre O’Donovan (right with Kathryn) and the oldest ever leader, 61-year-old Kerryman paudie O’mahoney.

More than four years on from his untimely demise, the fate of Michael Jackson still exerts a grim fascination. Here, forensic pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd casts his expert eye over the autopsy reports filed on the former King of Pop. Will he be able to shed fresh light on Jacko’s final hours or will it just be another excuse to rake over the sad end to a phenomenal career?

sTargazing live: Back The 7.39 To earTh BBC2, 9pm BBC1, 9pm Professor Brian Cox and his skywatching pals will be training their beady eyes and hi-tech gizmos at the stars over three consecutive nights in the hope of capturing such spectacles as the aurora borealis. If clouds, downpours and the like get in the way, Dara Ó Briain will be on hand with a deluge of facts, figures and frivolity to keep things twinkling back on Earth.

auTopsy: michael Jackson’s lasT hours Channel 5, 10pm

how long will Carl and Sally be able to bask in the thrill of their affair before real life comes a-knocking? Writer David nicholls gives the commuting lovers a few moments in the sun in this concluding episode. Will they skip off into the Waterloo sunset together or return to their former lives? David morrissey and Sheridan Smith do their best to make us care.

tech & gaming

Tuesday, January 7, 2014 METRO HERALD

editorial@metroherald.ie to advertise, call 01 7055010

Through the looking Glass WEARABLE GAMING: Will 2014 be the year when consumers embrace new devices such as Google Glass? By Malathi Nayak

TAkE 3 clever phone charGers POwERiSiTE

EaRabLE computers like Google Glass and the Samsung Galaxy Gear watch may not have caught fire yet, but that hasn’t stopped mobile game developers from rushing to create apps for the new devices, eager to seize what they hope is the next big moment in consumer technology. Niccolo DeMasi, the CEO of mobile games maker Glu Mobile, compares the potential of wearables to that of apple’s iPhone launch in 2007 – an event that was the catalyst to create much of the mobile app world that exists now. DeMasi and others are betting that by developing compelling apps designed with the wearables’ special features in mind, they can create overwhelming demand for the products. ‘a whole new app ecosystem is going to be born,’ says Shawn Hardin, chief executive officer of Mind Pirate, which will release Global Food Fight, its first game for Google Glass, this month. ‘Those who are going to make that happen in a big way are going to be valuable companies because of it, and those who wait too late won’t be a part of it.’ The market for mobile game apps is expected to grow to $17billion (€12.5billion) this year from $6billion in 2010 and wearables could fuel growth in the years to come. an array of new smartwatches and devices like fitness tracker Fitbit will go on display this week at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, heralding a potential breakthrough for the devices in 2014. Google Glass is expected to launch broadly sometime this year. So far, its user-testing version has only been available at a $1,500 price to developers and consumers who registered to be part of its early adopter programme. Galaxy Gear smartwatches from Samsung have garnered mixed reviews since their September launch, and consumers have not warmed to them yet. Despite the slow start, Juniper Research expects more than 130 million smart wearable devices will ship by 2018. Moreover, global shipments of wearable ‘smart glasses’ alone will reach 10 million each year by 2018,

Builders will soon be able to recharge their smartphones via their power tool batteries with this nifty adapter, which recently met its €8,000 funding target on Kickstarter. Around €11, www.powerisite.com Seeing is believing: Apps are now in development for Google Glass compared with an estimated 87,000 in 2013. Wearable computing devices function as minicomputers, strapped on a user’s wrist or face. In developing apps for them, programmers will focus on their voice-command features as well as GPS, gyroscope, compass and WiFi capabilities. apps for more conventional mobile devices, by contrast, mostly use their touchscreen interface.

Fun and games Glu wanted to get a jump on its rivals by creating a word puzzle game called Spellista for the prototype of Google Glass. because Glass allows hands-free experiences, Spellista’s gameplay relies on voice commands and head movements that work with the device’s gyroscope. With voice commands, a gamer can snap pictures on its 5-megapixel camera and create word puzzles to share with friends. another distinct feature of Glass is how it transmits sound. With Spellista, a user hears the game’s tutorial through sound vibrations travelling through the skull behind the ear rather than traditional speakers. That lets the user simultaneously hear ambient sound. With Mind Pirate’s app, Global Food Fight, the Silicon Valley start-up wants to demonstrate that wearable devices are well-suited for ‘micro-engagement’ – or 30- to 90-second sessions. The three-dimensional app is designed for multiple players. Gamers can use head movements and taps on the Glass touchpad to virtually hurl tomatoes or gooey pies at one another and build obstacle courses to help them dodge hits. ‘You could sit on a train and launch a food fight using voice commands, and you could be playing with multiple people who could be virtually anywhere,’ Hardin explains. Mind Pirate has set up an incubator One to programme, providing resources to four watch: developers to work on games and apps for Glass We have and other wearable computing devices in yet to partnership with the Canadian Film Centre, a warm to Toronto-based film training institute. Galaxy Gear

BRunTOn HyDROGEn REAcTOR

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Timothy Jordan, senior developer advocate for Google Glass, said the game concepts that developers come up with need to be pathbreaking. ‘If something works well on another platform and you stamp it on Glass, you’re doing it wrong,’ he says. Games and apps have often popularised new hardware, helping to familiarise consumers with cHARGEcARD the technology. Rovio’s angry birds Instead of demonstrated the iPhone’s easy swipe and touch carrying features, and the card game Solitaire made using around the mouse on Microsoft Windows operating your software seem intuitive. charging ‘It’s early days in wearables, but I would be cable, pull out unsurprised if 2017 to 2027 turns out to be a the flexible lead great ten-year wave for all wearable computing, and plug into any whether it’s watches or something like Glass,’ device with a USB port and the DeMasi says. other end in your Apple phone. Companies such as Qualcomm and Fitbit will €19, www.hellonomad.com use the CES to showcase wearable fitness James Day trackers and smartwatches, in addition to singleand binocular-lens ‘glasses.’ ‘There’ll be a lot of competitive offerings – and I think some of these are going to be really well-suited for new www.dorset-college.ie kinds of entertainment and Excellence Through Life-Long Learning gameplay,’ Hardin says. Not all developers think wearable devices are destined Computers & IT for glory any time soon. There are plenty of questions over the Certificate in Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt) price point, limited battery life CompTIA A+ / IT Essentials-PC Hardware & Software CISCO CCNA® - Cisco Certified Network Associate and other concerns. ECDL-European Computer Driving Licence Misha Lyalin, CEO of ZeptoLab, which created the hit Business,Accounting & Finance mobile game Cut The Rope, says CIPD Certificate in Human Resource Management the category is mostly an R&D Supervisory Management & Leadership) Level 6 ACCA Diploma in Accounting & Business project for most game Manual & Computerised Accounts L5 developers at this stage. ‘In order for you to succeed as Game Design a developer, you have to have a Game Analysis Design / 3D Modelling & Animation platform that will be massive,’ Healthcare & Childcare Education Lyalin says. ‘It’s too early to place a bet on.’ Healthcare Support Level 5 Venture capitalists are mostly Early Childhood Care & Education Level 5 Montessori & ECCE Level 6 taking a wait-and-see approach, Special Needs Assisting Level 5 & 6 though some want to make sure Counselling & Psychotherapy they are in a solid position, should the devices take off. www.dorset-college.ie Tel: 01 830 9677

Dorset College

18 METRO HERALD Tuesday, January 7, 2014

travel

An island that fortifies

MALTA: The Mediterranean jewel is well worth the trip for more than the sunshine. By Aaron Dunne

alta has been a tourist Mecca for Britons for decades, but the introduction of a Ryanair route to the island from Dublin has recently begun to help open the island up to Irish pleasure seekers. For those interested in holidays suffused with sun, sand, sea and a dash of history, Malta is an ideal spot for a short break. With the first pioneers having settled on the island over 7,000 years ago, it’s rich past encompasses everything from a Muslim invasion to Napoleonic occupation and British dominion to post-World War II independence. It’s a rich tapestry the Maltese hold very dear to their hearts. the most striking aspect of Malta, which sits just south of Sicily in the middle of the Mediterranean, is the capital Valletta. although relatively new in the context of the island’s own history (it was built as a fortress city by the Grandmaster of the Knights of the Order of St John, Jean Parisot de Valette, in 1566, and duly named after him), it remains a stunning achievement of human engineering and design. Constructed shortly after the Knights had successfully repelled an Ottoman invasion in 1565, its massive city walls and fortifications, as well as its spectacularly ornate churches and cathedrals, are the main reason the city

Isle be there: The capital Valletta, a Maltese guard and a view of the Fortina Spa Resort has been classed by Unesco as a world heritage site. the Malta Experience (www. themaltaexperience.com), a 40-minute audiovisual tour of the history of the city and island situated in the Valletta fort of St Elmo, is the perfect way to get acquainted with the country’s rich history, while a night-time cruise with one of the many tour companies (www.captainmorgan.com.mt is the best of them) shows the city off in all its glory and is one of the not-to-be-missed experiences on a trip to the island. there’s much more to Malta than just Valletta though, such as the historic town of Mdina in the heart of the main island (the former capital), and the nightlife hotspot of St Julian’s, but by far the biggest treasure the Maltese possess is the island of Gozo. One of three islands that make up the country (the main island of Malta itself and the unpopulated island of Comino which boasts the spectacular diving hotspot of the Blue lagoon, being the other two) it is quite simply stunning. a relatively tiny place, it boasts a population of just over 30,000 and is steeped

Aaron flew to Malta with Ryanair, which flies direct from Dublin to Malta twice a week in the winter and up to five times a week in the summer months. The Fortina Spa Resort is located in Sliema just 20 minutes from the airport. You can view various packages on www. fortinasparesort.com. For the best deals on restaurants and activities see www. dealsmalta.com.mt. www.visitmalta.com.

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in history. But it is its own pre-history that brings in the tourists. and in particular the recently uncovered site of Ggantija. a brand new visitors’ centre has just opened on the site allowing people to walk around and explore the oldest free-standing structure in the world. It consists of two temples dating back to between 3600BC and 3200 BC, and has also recently been classed as a world heritage site. One of the highest points in Malta, on a clear day it offers stunning views of the surrounding countryside, encompassing both of the other two islands, and even as far as Sicily. a day out in Gozo is really a must-do on any visit to Malta – the Inland Sea, Salt Baths, the azure Window and stunning Catholic pilgrimage site of ta Pinu Church are also well worth a visit – and it is just a 20 minute ferry ride from the main island. the best way to do to it is to organise your own guided tour

which will bring you from your hotel and look after everything including lunch. You can see the whole place in a day. Speaking of hotels, there’s only one way to really do Malta – in style. and in that case it’s impossible to look past the five-star Fortina Spa Resort in Sliema, just outside Valletta. the town has spectacular views of Valletta itself, and is just a short five-minute hop from St Julian’s. But after seeing what’s on offer in the Fortina it’s easy to see why many people fail to even leave the hotel. Most residents in the five-star (there is also a separate four-star resort next door) opt for the all-inclusive option, and when it comes to value for money it’s well worth it. (Check the hotel’s website for deals which pop up every week and usually include flights – even a rough price guide here would be somewhat misleading such is the disparity in offers from day to day). the all-inclusive package includes free drinks, breakfast, lunch and dinner in any of the six restaurants on the campus, including a thai, Indian, Mediterranean and Italian, where the standard of food and service is exactly what you’d expect from a five-star resort. Residents are issued with their own personal ‘Gold Cards’ upon check-in, and from that point you can leave your wallet behind. the rooms and spa facilities are the main reason people continue to flock to the Fortina though. and, somewhat opulently, room and spa are in many cases one and the same thing. Your average spa room, for example, has its own two-person jacuzzi in the bedroom and a jet bath tub, steam room and sauna in the bathroom. Oh yeah, and a free mini bar. as we said, opulence.

travel

Tuesday, January 7, 2014 Metro herald

features@metroherald.ie to advertise, call 01 7055010

How to do… solo holidays Decisions, Decisions

The more complex the country, the easier it can be to meet fellow travellers. Visitors tend to stick together and help each other out in more challenging places. Conversely, countries with wellworn backpacker trails such as Australia and Thailand are good bets as you’re bound to meet fellow travellers on buses and in hostels. Since the early 1970s, Lonely Planet has inadvertently created traveller enclaves around the world and if you follow its advice on where to stay and where to go, you’ll also find like-minded travellers. Alternatively, you could play it safe and see how your travel destination ranks on the Global Peace Index (www.visionof humanity.org) – Iceland comes first, then Denmark and New Zealand – or the Happiness Index (www.happy planetindex.org) where Costa Rica tops, followed by Vietnam and Colombia. In theory, if a country is peaceful and happy, your travels should be too.

Go packaGeD

If a solo trip is too daunting, a group tour can be a solution, but how to avoid the dreaded single supplement? Companies such as Intrepid Travel and Geckos Adventures pair up solo travellers of the same sex to share a room, which cuts out this cost. Intrepid’s regional director, Michael Edwards, says: ‘Most

new York

set out on a voyage of self-discovery and return transformed with an address book full of new-found friends. here’s how to do it, says Caroline eden

veteran and author of Reports From The Road – Solo Around Britain, offers these mystical words of wisdom: ‘Practise openness to the world and your innermost self at the same time, and travelling alone will be rewarded with a keen sense of joy and freedom.’

How to avoiD loneliness

eating alone needn’t be awkward travellers on small group tours are flying solo for all sorts of reasons – they’re single, have different interests to their partner or can’t both get time off work. Small group tours are also ideal for those who want something more challenging.’ Feel The Burm from Geckos Adventures is a 15-day tour of Burma, taking in Bagan’s temples, the fishermen of Inle Lake and hill-tribe trekking.

From €1,537 per person, including hotels on a B&B basis, local transport and a local tour leader. www.geckosadventures.com

Get inspireD

Thousands of lone travellers have

Burma

recorded their experiences in books and on blogs. In the 1930s, writer Freya Stark proved just how far women could travel unaccompanied. In Baghdad Sketches, she wrote: ‘To awaken quite alone in a strange town is one of the pleasantest sensations in the world.’ Toronto-based author and blogger Janice Leith Waugh has written a solo traveller’s manifesto called Glad You’re Not Here and The Solo Traveler’s Handbook. Her blog (www. solotravelerblog.com) includes tips, safety guidelines and practical information. Fabienne Wolf, solo travel

Loneliness on the road can strike even the most hardened solo adventurers, but there are ways to cope. While a smartphone can be a useful distraction, if you’re catching up on Facebook you might miss out on opportunities to meet potential travel buddies. Restrict your social media intake, as tempting as it might be to post copious updates and selfies. Dining alone can present problems. While it can be awkward to walk into a busy restaurant by yourself, a book or magazine can be a handy prop. Sitting at the bar can help too or look for restaurants with

communal tables. Avoid big resorts and hotels. Guest houses are generally friendlier and it’s easier to swap travel tales. Train travel often means you can chat with locals and other travellers, even more so if there’s a dining car. If it all gets too much, join an organised tour for a couple of days – it means instant mates and relief from the pressures of making your own daily itineraries.

Go witH tHe pros

UK-based company Just You specialises in solo travel, offering city breaks, tours, exploring and beach holidays, all without single supplements. Each traveller stays in their own room as standard and there’s an online forum for posting messages to other single travellers. Just You offers a five-day trip to New York, including three nights’ B&B, return flights, overseas transfers and the dedicated services of a Just You tour manager and local guide.

From €1,530, www.justyou.co.uk

travel deals of the week n destination: Morocco. Price: €299 per adult. details: Seven nights at the three-star Intouriste Aparthotel on a self-catering basis. Price includes flights, transfers, accomm., taxes and charges plus Sunway rep service. For travel January 11, 18 & 25. Contact: Sunway. Tel: (01) 231 1800. www.sunway.ie. n destination: Mexico. Price: €1,279 per person. details: Seven nights all inclusive in the four-star Grand Xcaret Resort. Travel between May 1 and June 30. Price based on 2 sharing and includes flights and taxes. Contact: Classic Resorts. Tel: (01) 874 5000. www.classicresorts.ie. n destination: Lanzarote. Price: €399 per adult. details: Seven nights at the twostar Puertocarmen self-catering apartments. Price includes

flights, transfers, accomm., taxes and charges plus Sunway rep service. For travel January 11 & 18. Contact: Sunway. Tel: (01) 231 1800. www.sunway.ie. n destination: Fuerteventura. Price: €399 per adult. details: Seven nights at the twostar Villa Florida self-catering apartments. Price includes flights, transfers, accomm., taxes and charges plus Sunway rep service. For travel January 11 & 18. Contact: Sunway. Tel: (01) 231 1800. www.sunway.ie. n destination: Tunisia. Price: €399 per adult. details: Seven nights at the twostar Dreams Beach Hotel on a B&B basis. Price includes flights, transfers, accomm., taxes and charges plus Sunway rep service. For travel April 26. Contact: Sunway. Tel: (01) 231 1800. www.sunway.ie.

puzzles

METROSCOPE by Patrick Arundell

NEMI by Lise

Aries Mar 21 – Apr 20

How are your new year’s resolutions going? Are you on track or has something fallen by the wayside? Don’t be too hard on yourself if you haven’t achieved anything. Tomorrow is another day.

your sign, continues to suggest you will be tempted to go quicker and be more direct than before. Pace yourself.

Taurus Apr 21 – May 21

scorpio Oct 24 – Nov 22

For your forecast, call 15609 114 71

sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 21

For your forecast, call 15609 114 70

Perhaps you’re dreaming of achievement and hoping to reach a goal that might have evaded you last year. Yet, today’s Grand Cross suggests you might need to move to the next stage if you’re going to be successful. The stars spotlight a need for action.

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

Gemini May 22 – Jun 21

Money and fun are two subjects that seem to be important, especially as your zone of shared assets is in focus along with your social and romantic sector. You seem keen to invest in social events and networking. Look to impress the right people.

Capricorn Dec 22 – Jan 20

Leo Jul 24 – Aug 23

For your forecast, call 15609 114 74

Virgo Aug 24 – Sep 23

It looks like you might be enjoying an opportunity to involve yourself in interesting hobbies. With a crowded fun and pleasure zone, and Mercury aligning with Venus, you might meet up with a friend or even an old flame. For your forecast, call 15609 114 75

Libra Sep 24 – Oct 23

Yesterday’s Solutions Across: 1 Legerdemain; 9 Use; 10 Negotiate; 11 Doffs; 13 Sullied; 14 Shriek; 16 Strain; 18 Artiste; 19 Buyer; 20 Cast aside; 21 Eel; 22 New Year’s Day. Down: 2 Ewe; 3 Ernes; 4 Digest; 5 Matelot; 6 Imaginary; 7 Outdistance; 8 Leading role; 12 Foretaste; 15 Ecstasy; 17 Retina; 19 Bless; 21 Era.

The stars are putting you in prime position to forge a path in the direction of your biggest hopes. You might remember someone who empowered you with positive words that gave you confidence. These words can still inspire you today. For your forecast, call 15609 114 79

Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19

Are you enduring a time of introspection? If so, this can encourage creative ideas as well as solutions to long-held issues. With your spiritual sector highlighted, the chance to spend time in your own company might be extremely beneficial. For your forecast, call 15609 114 80

Pisces Feb 20 – Mar 20

Though the week has barely begun, your social situation can seem surprisingly buzzy, which may mean you’re busy volunteering your time to help out others. The enjoyment of being with those who amuse, inspire and uplift can leave you energised and upbeat.

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

QuIz

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

ENIGMA Often found in ancient tombs And old Egyptian catacombs, These pictograms and squiggles show How life was lived there long ago. WHO AM I? A footballer, I was born in Southampton in 1980. I have played for England and play for Reading. I am engaged to The Saturdays singer Frankie Sandford, who recently gave

birth to our son, Parker. WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHEN? WHO… was the lead singer with 1960s group Herman’s Hermits? WHAT… family of trees does the avocado belong to? WHERE… in the body are the islets of Langerhans? WHEN… was the Dublin and Kingstown Railway opened as Ireland’s first commercial railway?

QUIZ ANSWERS: ENIGMA: Hieroglyphics. WHO AM I? Wayne Bridge. WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHEN? Peter Noone; Laurel; Pancreas; 1834.

QUICK CROsswORd

You’re currently in the middle of an awkward astrological set up. Along with this, the presence of Mars in

DOWN 1 Salary (7) 2 Defend (7) 3 Of the lips (6) 5 Helter-skelter (4-4) 6 Ring (6) 7 Items of business (6) 13 Scholarly (8) 14 Sickly-sentimental (7) 15 Fate (7) 16 Arrange fitly (6) 17 Higher (6) 19 Speaker (6)

You may have plenty of opportunities to expand your options. As Jupiter continues to be retrograde, you could find yourself plumping for one, then another, and find it hard to settle. Perhaps you should reflect on what would bring you the greatest satisfaction long-term.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 78

With the Sun, your personal planet, now moving through the sector of your chart associated with service, you could be busy looking out for others. Great, if you work in a peoplerelated sector. But try to create at least one point today when you can relax.

ACROSS 4 Particular (7) 8 Filament (6) 9 Startled (7) 10 Rotten (6) 11 Illness (6) 12 String of beads (8) 18 Apportion (8) 20 Run aground (6) 21 Din (6) 22 Lofty (7) 23 Relax (6) 24 Balcony (7)

For your forecast, call 15609 114 77

Cancer Jun 22 – Jul 23

For your forecast, call 15609 114 73

Crossword No. 887 See next edition for solutions

If you have a lot of information to process, you might benefit from taking a step back and viewing your situation as a big picture. Connecting the dots might enable an image to emerge that could help you make sense of what’s going on.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 72

The Grand Cross hints you might be juggling a number of tasks that could contribute to one big undertaking. Try not to do too much at once as this seems to be a long-term process.

PEARLs BEFORE swINE

For your forecast, call 15609 114 76

SCRIBBLE BOX

20 METRO HERALD Tuesday, January 7, 2014

rugby leinster

Tuesday, January 7, 2014 METRO HERALD

gopperth calls for calm in Castres tie by gARETH MAkiM Jimmy Gopperth says Leinster must improve their composure in attack if they are to see off Castres this weekend and take a major step towards the quarter-finals of the heineken Cup. the three-times european champions’ serene progress through pool 1 was interrupted by last month’s unexpected defeat by Northampton at the Aviva Stadium, which came just seven days after matt o’Connor’s side ran in six tries against the english side at Franklin’s Gardens. that Lansdowne road encounter, which ended with Jamie heaslip’s knock-on under the goalposts, began a run of four matches that have yielded a total of just two Leinster tries – a stark contrast to the high-scoring run of a month ago. Admittedly, conditions in the interim have not lent themselves to running rugby, but Gopperth also believes Leinster have been guilty of failing to seize their opportunities, saying: ‘that’s what it is. if you go back to the Northampton game and the [pro12 defeat by] edinburgh, we could have won those games in the last minute when we were in the killer zone, the red zone, but we didn’t put the points on the table. ‘Connacht went hammer and tongs at us [last week] and are a tough team to break down but, in saying that, we did leave a lot of opportunities out there looking back at the review. ‘We’ve got to make sure we’re up for

Composed: Outhalf Gopperth urges patience in attack to seal the win against the French outfit

piCture: iNpho

An pOsT bAnks On yOuTH TO DELivER On pOTEnTiAL

it this week and when we get those opportunities we really have to nail them. ‘it’s just about being composed and being a bit more patient in those areas and getting the little basics right. then hopefully we can get enough space to finish them off.’ While defeat last time out by the Saints complicated the equation, pool leaders Leinster know wins at the French champions this Sunday and five days later at home to the ospreys will secure a european quarter-final berth,

and Gopperth is hoping the dogged nature of Saturday’s win in Galway will prove the perfect preparation for this weekend. ‘We knew when the pool came out it would be tricky,’ the out-half said, ‘but we’re sitting at the top and we have to make sure we get a result in Castres. it’s a formidable place to go and i don’t think they have lost in either competition down there. We have to be right up there and bring our physicality and match them on that front to go on and get the win.’

No major injuries ahead of Castres visit No big deal: Ruddock has a calf problem piCture: iNpho

Leinster have no major injury concerns ahead of this week’s visit to Castres. Back row rhys ruddock is dealing with some tightness in his calf and hooker Aaron Dundon has a shoulder problem, but experienced forwards shane Jennings and Leo

Cullen are both available and Luke Fitzgerald has recovered from the illness which ruled him out of saturday’s win in Connacht. Fergus McFadden is closing in on a return from his broken hand but is unlikely to feature for another couple of weeks.

spORT DigEsT Holloway appointed at Millwall fOOTbALL Ian

Holloway has been appointed Millwall manager. The former Crystal Palace boss, who left Selhurst Park in October, has agreed a two-anda-half year contract at The Den and replaces Steve Lomas, who was axed last month.

Young guns: Sean Downey (left) with Jack Wilson

Into the Lions’ den: Former Crystal Palace boss Ian Holloway has been named as the new Millwall manager

18,297 Average attendance at the weekend’s

FA Cup third-round ties – the highest at this stage of the competition since the 1979/80 season

u Brazil’s failings in delivering this year’s World Cup have been criticised by Fifa president Sepp Blatter. ‘No country has been so far behind in preparations since I have been at Fifa, even though it had seven years in which to prepare,’ said Blatter.

the An Post ChAin reACtion teAM has added irish riders Conor Dunne and Marcus Christie and Australian native robert-Jon McCarthy to their 2014 squad. the trio join current An Post riders sean Downey and Jack Wilson for the season ahead, after both irishmen put pen to paper on new one-year deals. 21-year-old Dunne joins the An Post outfit having accumulated plenty of experience racing on the Belgian circuit with the V1 technics-Abutriek team. he stole the headlines on the opening stage of last year’s An Post rás, notching a very impressive victory into Longford for the tipperary Carrick iverk team. the 6ft 8” giant is a particularly strong timetrialist, having finished second at this year’s U23 itt in the national Championships. Derry native Christie has been plagued by injuries over the last few years but this season he has demonstrated why he is so highly regarded. the 22-year old former Foyle CC rider finished third behind Dunne in the U23 individual time trial in the national Championships and his form also saw him selected for the U23 time trial at the World Championships in Florence. Cork born McCarthy joins from the Australian sports institute team in Canberra. the former

Fermoy Cycling Club member emigrated to Adelaide with his family when he was 14 and represented Australia at last year’s Junior World Championships in holland. 20-year old Jack Wilson proved particularly impressive in his debut year with the team, having made telling contributions to a number of excellent results. the 2014 season will be Downey’s third season with the team. the Antrim native finished the season in good form, playing a pivotal role in sam Bennett’s success at this year’s tour of Britain. An Post team manager Kurt Bogaerts expressed his delight at securing the signings of Dunne, Christie and McCarthy and believes Wilson and Downey’s experience will play a big part in the team’s success. ‘i am really happy to have Conor, Marcus and robert-Jon on board. Conor proved how good he is at this year’s rás and he has experience of Belgian racing already, so that will stand him in good stead for next year. ‘Marcus is a rider with huge potential. i’ve seen how talented he is up close. he’s just been unlucky with injuries and deserves a chance to show what he can really do. ‘robert is another rider with huge potential. i remember him a few years ago at the Youth olympics and he caught my eye, so i feel we have made three really good additions. ‘it’s great to have Jack and sean on board for another year. Jack has a valuable year’s experience under his belt now and i think the two of them will be important riders for us next season,’ Bogaerts added.

Delighted: An Post team manager Kurt Bogaerts

22 METRO HERALD Tuesday, January 7, 2014

football premier league

Owners hammer home their support for sam by MAssIMO MARIONI West Ham owners David sullivan and David Gold have backed under-fire boss sam allardyce in an open letter to fans. the Hammers chiefs have also revealed they are close to securing a ‘key striking’ target, believed to be a loan deal for monaco new boy Lacina traore, while hyping up the impending return of record-signing andy Carroll. allardyce is under pressure with his team in relegation trouble and beaten 5-0 by Nottingham Forest in the Fa Cup. ‘We know sam has not lost his ambition or desire and is committed to making West Ham United a great Premier League club,’ the letter read. ‘sam has been handed a near impossible task of coming through three crucial games in the space of six days with a squad of only 14 fit senior players.

Drought over: Aspas enjoys his first Liverpool goal

TOURE: ASPAS IS NO DIOUF LIVERPOOL fans will see a different Iago Aspas after the much-maligned striker broke his goalscoring duck, according to his Reds teammate Kolo Toure. The 26-year-old Spaniard, signed for £7million from Celta Vigo in the summer, finally got his first goal for the club at the 11th attempt, opening the scoring in Sunday’s 2-0 FA Cup victory over League One Oldham. It ended the possibility Aspas could emulate El Hadji Diouf, the only Liverpool No.9 to have gone a whole season without scoring. ‘This goal will change him definitely,’ said Toure. ‘It’s very important for a striker to score goals. He was fantastic for Celta Vigo and we know what he can do. He just needs time.’

‘Sam has not lost his ambition or desire’

Under pressure: Hammers boss Allardyce appears to have the club’s backing for now

PICTURE: PA

ODDbALLs

‘We have experienced difficult times before and we know what will get us results – hard work, determination and perseverance.’ the letter continued: ‘Our first priority is to get our key players fit. ‘andy Carroll continues to make good progress following his return to training and should be back very soon ‘andy is desperate to play and ready to do his bit for the team and we’re confident the return of all of our injured players will lead to an upturn in fortunes. ‘January is not an easy time to do business but we are pleased to confirm we are close to securing one of our key striking targets.’

Tear we go again for young Irons supporter WHO says football clubs don’t care about their fans? West Ham plan to treat the boy spotted crying during their 5-0 FA Cup drubbing at Nottingham Forest – and his family – to a VIP day out at Upton Park. The youngster was filmed in floods of tears by TV cameras during the Premier League side’s third-

round exit. A statement on the Hammers’ website read: ‘The defeat at Forest was tough for us all to take, but particularly for one tearful young man in the away end. Everyone at West Ham shares his disappointment and are grateful for the large number of fans who made the trip to the City Ground.’

u West Ham last night completed a loan move for Wolves defender Roger Johnson as they look to bolster their bid to beat the drop

TRANsFER TALK

Vermaelen tops Benitez wishlist THOMAS VERMAELEN is a target for Serie A side Napoli, according to reports in Italy. The Belgium centrehalf, who has played just 11 times for Arsenal this season, is said to top a four-man shortlist for a defensive lynchpin drawn up by Napoli boss Rafael Benitez. However, with a busy schedule ahead, Gunners manager Arsene Wenger is unlikely to be willing to part with his captain. In demand: Vermaelen

u LIVERPOOL and Tottenham target Miralem Pjanic (pictured) is expected to leave Roma this month. Their hopes of signing the Bosnian playmaker could hinge on the strength of interest from Paris Saint-Germain. CRAWLEY fans have got their wish – striker Matt Tubbs, who left in 2012, has returned on loan from Bournemouth after chairman Dave Pottinger asked supporters who they wanted to sign during the transfer window.

Pardew hoping for better Luuk NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew has rekindled his interest in Borussia Monchengladbach striker Luuk de Jong. The Magpies tried to lure the 23-year-old from FC Twente in the summer of 2012 but the Dutchman instead chose a £12.6million switch to the Bundesliga. Newcastle have also been linked with a loan deal to bring Demba Ba back from Chelsea, but wages could be an issue.

Second attempt: De Jong

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nOT fOR sALE

The men Moyes’ money can’t buy Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund)

Will the board sanction a £40million-plus bid for the slick and versatile attacking midfielder? Probably not. And if they did, would the Germans part with him? We seriously doubt it.

Koke (Atletico Madrid)

Tuesday, January 7, 2014 METRO HERALD 23

United ripe for the taking, says Johnson

Reports in Spain suggest United are pursuing the playmaker, right, who has helped propel Atletico to the top of La Liga. The Spaniards continue to say ‘s** off’ but Moyes is thought to be willing to slap £30m on the table to change their minds.

capital one cup

Ander Herrera (Athletic Bilbao)

The gifted Spanish conjurer can certainly play a bit but the accusations Moyes was out of his depth first surfaced in August when he decided at the last minute that £31m was too much. ‘If at first you don’t succeed,’ or, ‘It just wasn’t meant to be’? We suspect the latter.

Ilkay Gundogan (B Dortmund)

Borussia chief Hans-Joachim Watzke wants to extend the 23-year-old’s contract ‘in the very near future’. In any case, the £20m-rated Germany midfielder has only just returned from a long-term back injury so wouldn’t hit the ground running. Next!

Leighton Baines (Everton)

United would rather Moyes had come away with Baines than Marouane Fellaini in his trolley last summer. Their needs are not that pressing at left-back but bagging Baines now would be a statement of longterm intent. At this rate, though, Everton could well finish above United, and jumping the Goodison ship would appear foolhardy from the England man. by james boylan

Vulnerable: United’s Darren Fletcher and Jonny Evans feel the pain of defeat again against Swansea

the best example is arsenal at the start of the season, all the talk was about arsene Wenger and the club being in crisis and look at them now – top of the league. ‘all it needs is a couple of months of good results and all this will be forgotten and david Moyes will do that – there is no doubt in my mind. ‘alex [Ferguson] didn’t go into Manchester United and wave a magic wand and make it okay and although david is in a slightly different situation it is similar in some ways. ‘replacing the best in the business was always going to be difficult but david Moyes is a strong character and an intelligent guy and i know he is respected by the players. ‘People can be disappointed by recent results but they should accept that he is an accomplished manager and be certain the team can recover.’ neil Warnock, however, believes

MANCHESTER United are at their most vulnerable point for 15 years, according to Adam Johnson. And the Sunderland winger is hoping to heap more misery on David Moyes’ team in tonight’s Capital One Cup semi-final first leg. United head to the Stadium of Light off the back of consecutive home defeats to Tottenham, in the Premier League, and Swansea, in Sunday’s FA Cup clash. A loss to the top-flight’s bottom club would pile the pressure on Moyes and former Manchester City man Johnson believes there will not be a better time to meet United. ‘Hopefully we can try to catch them when it is probably the most difficult time they have had in 15 years,’ said Johnson. ‘If there’s any time to play them, it’s probably now, so we can try to make the most of it.’ John O’Shea is fit to line up against his former club as Sunderland attempt to put further pressure on Moyes, although Black Cats boss Gus Poyet has great sympathy for the Scot. ‘It’s difficult to feel it, but you can see it and I don’t think it’s nice,’ he said. ‘He [Moyes] needs time and I hope he gets that time to prove he was and is the right man for Manchester United.’ Wayne Rooney, Michael Carrick, Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and David de Gea are all set to return after sitting out Sunday’s FA Cup defeat.

It’s Jose’s way or the highway, warns Mikel

Brown is confident that Moyes will turn things around

Manchester United fans must have patience with david Moyes, insists former scotland boss craig Brown. the pressure on Moyes has ratcheted up following the 2-1 Fa cup defeat by swansea at Old trafford, the fourth home defeat in a month for United. Brown, who played a role in Moyes’ development as a coach by allowing him to watch scotland’s training sessions at the 1998 World cup, believes the current United manager will have a change in fortune and points out arsenal were viewed as being in crisis at the start of the season. it took almost four years for sir alex Ferguson to win a trophy after he took over as United manager in 1986, and Brown said that example should also be borne in mind. he said: ‘i don’t think anyone should be ringing the alarm bells.

by JAMEs BOyLAn

Under pressure: David Moyes Moyes’ job is being made more difficult by Ferguson now sitting in the directors’ box watching over him. the widely-travelled manager, whose former clubs include QPr, sheffield United and Leeds, said: ‘You’ve got sir alex Ferguson sitting in the stands and i don’t think that helps.’

JOHN OBI Mikel has warned his Chelsea team-mates they must adopt Jose Mourinho’s winning mentality if they are to have a future at the club. The Blues are just two points adrift of Arsenal, a big improvement on their Premier League form in the past two seasons when they have finished 25 and 14 points behind the champions. Mourinho’s methods have seen Juan Mata marginalised despite being player of the year in both those campaigns, while out-offavour winger Kevin de Bruyne’s agent is trying to negotiate a move to German side Wolfsburg. Mikel, signed by Mourinho during his first spell at the club, said: ‘If you don’t play for Chelsea, you don’t know what these trophies mean to this club. ‘It’s not a team where if you come second, third or fourth, it doesn’t matter. No. Every year you have to win something and this is the

Your way, Jose: Mikel knows that to succeed at Chelsea you must listen to Mourinho pressure. Hopefully, come the end of the season, they will start to show the winning mentality even more, which the manager is trying to instil into them, and we go on from there and win trophies.’ Mikel believes the Chelsea players who have tapped into Mourinho’s work ethic are starting to flourish. ‘He always wants us to play in a certain way and give 110 per cent,’ Mikel added. ‘If you don’t, you’re out. That’s the mentality he wants and slowly but surely the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian are beginning to do that.’

SPORT

24 METRO HERALD Tuesday, January 7, 2014

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Hammers bosses give Big Sam their backing in open letter to fans

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TAkE A LukE unDER THE RAinbOw

Fit again Luke Fitzgerald watches a rainbow arc over the UCD training grounds as he stretches before joining his Leinster teammates in preparation for this weekend’s Heineken Cup clash with Castres. Fitzgerald and co will be hoping to rain on the French side’s qualification chances with an away win.

«Jimmy gopperTh - page 21

picture:inpho

Arsenal shock at Theo’s brazil cut Knee surgery puts Walcott out until June by GAVin bROwn a stunned theo Walcott will miss the rest of the Premier League season and england’s World Cup finals campaign after scans last night revealed he has ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. arsenal revealed in a statement Walcott faces six months out as a result of the problem sustained in saturday’s 2-0 Fa Cup third-round win over tottenham. the 24-year-old forward was carried away on a stretcher after appear-

ing to jar his knee when making a tackle. the injury was not initially thought to be too serious but doctors last night confirmed Walcott needs surgery, ruling him out of arsenal’s title bid and ensuring he will be denied the chance to play at a World Cup finals for the third time. ‘theo will have surgery in London in the near future and is expected to be out for at least six months,’ said the club statement. Walcott’s team-mates were quick to offer support. Per Mertesacker took

to Facebook to post a picture of him giving Walcott a lift on his back while midfielder aaron Ramsey reacted on twitter. ‘Gutted for theo, he’ll come back stronger after this. Been fantastic for us so far this season. Have a speedy recovery mate,’ wrote the Welshman. the news may force Gunners boss arsene Wenger to bolster his attack in the January transfer window. Walcott had a rare start up front against spurs, due to Olivier Giroud’s illness and nicklas Bendtner’s ankle problem.

World Cup blow: Walcott will sit out Brazil 2014 because of the ruptured cruciate ligament suffered against Tottenham picture: reuterS