Metro Herald, Friday, April 4, 2014

Friday, April 4, 2014

IS 100% ON.

Weekend Best of what’s on in town

»p21

French liaison for Leinster lads

»p21

Bumper day for new jobs

by Brian hutton

ABOUT 500 jobs are to be created with the expansion of three companies in Ireland.

The pharmaceutical, technology and financial services roles will be based at separate operations in Dublin and Shannon.

Alexion, which develops therapies for patients with severe and life-threatening rare disorders, said it will take on 200 workers at its new global supply headquarters in the capital.

The €75million development at College Park in Blanchardstown is expected to create a further 200 construction jobs during the building of the site over the next three years.

Taoiseach Enda Kenny described the investment as a vote of confidence in the country. ‘It is also hugely significant that the company – recognised by Forbes as the world’s second most innovative – has chosen to establish operations in the country it recognises as the best in the world for business,’ he said.

Ryanair also said it is looking for 200 employees to work in technology, soft-

ware development and digital marketing roles on its website and mobile app at its new offices at Airside

Business Park in Swords, north Dublin.

And financial services company Pepper Asset Servicing is creating 100 jobs

THIS IS JUST LIKE RUNNING THE COUNTRY: Taoiseach Enda Kenny plays with a giant chess set at the opening of Ryanair’s colourful new offices in Swords in Dublin, which include a slide for employees to get to the canteen PICTURE: PA in Shannon and Dublin after securing new contracts with CarVal Investors, Danske Bank and Nama.

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METRO HERALD Friday, April 4, 2014

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1million The

number of refugees now in Lebanon from war-ravaged Syria. Yahya, 19, from Homs, became the latest statistic in the four-year conflict Ireland’s rate of newsprint recycling is now up to 79%. Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you.

Today is...

International Day of Mine Assistance This UN international day aims to foster activities where remnants of war pose a threat to the lives of citizens. This year the focus is on the role women can play in these efforts

From the archives (2008):

250,000 wanted to speak Irish

The country needs 250,000 Irish speakers to save the language by 2028, Gaeltacht minister Éamon Ó Cuiv has said. The government is preparing a 20-year strategy to boost people speaking Irish from its current level of over 70,000.

Today’s birthdays

Maya Angelou, poet, 86; Twink, entertainer, 63; Hugo Weaving, actor, 54; Graham Norton, chat show host, 51; Robert Downey Jr, actor, 49; David Blaine, magician (right), 41.

CLOCkwORD

The solutions from 1 to 12 are all six-letter words ending with the letter M in the centre. Moving clockwise from 1, the letters in the outer circle will spell out the name of a former girlband member.

M

9. River obstruction 10. Entrance hall 11. Soft mineral powder 12. Native drum

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Average Sign Svelte National song Naturism False impression 7. Self-centredness 8. Noisy chaos

Yesterday’s solution: James Goldman

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AS WEATHER reports go, it might make you grateful for our usual grey skies and damp summers.

A carving on a 3,500-year-old slab of Egyptian stone could be a precursor to the kind of reports delivered by the likes of Martin King and Evelyn Cusack should global warming take hold.

As instead of there being ‘showers and clouds’, the block, called the Tempest Stela, told

by nicole le marie of: ‘The sky being in storm without cessation, louder than the cries of the masses’.

If that wasn’t enough to put the pharaohs in a bad mood, the 1.8m report described a ‘tempest of rain’ and dead bodies floating down the River Nile like ‘skiffs of papyrus’.

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have described events caused by a huge volcanic explosion on the island of Thera, now known as Santorini, the Journal of Near Eastern Studies said. The new translation could help historians align their understanding of when events such as the collapse of Babylon actually took place.

It suggests that the Egyptian pharaoh Ahmose ruled about 30 to 50 years earlier than previ-

Friday, April 4, 2014 meTro HeralD

ously thought (1550BC). This would place his reign at around the same time as the Thera catastrophe.

Prof David Schloen, from the Oriental Institute at the University of Chicago, added: ‘This new information would provide a better understanding of the role of the environment in the development and destruction of empires in the ancient Middle East.’

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METRO HERALD Friday, April 4, 2014

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home digest

Garda recordings in du Plantier case emerge

Drugs ‘mule’ is given jail term

GARDA recordings have emerged of 133 phone calls involving the Sophie Toscan du Plantier murder inquiry.

RTÉ’s This Week reports the recordings date from January 1997 and include calls between gardaí and witnesses, as well as 42 calls between gardaí and journalists.

Some 36 of the calls recorded at Bandon Garda Station in Co Cork

A ‘VULNERABLE’ Spanish mother of two has been jailed for two and a half years for importing 2kg of cocaine, worth around €140,000 into the country. Aparicio Ruiz, 32, claimed she had been forced to work as a prostitute in Marbella to support her children when a customer offered her €6,000 to smuggle the drugs. Defence counsel Caroline Biggs submitted that her client was a ‘mule’. However, Judge Martin Nolan said that while he accepts that it is a ‘sad case’, Ruiz, of Calle Velez, Malaga, made a misjudgement, and he added that it is a serious crime and a jail term must be imposed.

Bailey: ‘Wrongful arrest’

involve key witness Marie Farrell, the Schull shopkeeper who originally identified Ian Bailey as a suspect in the 1996 murder. However, she later changed her evidence, saying she felt under pressure from gardaí to wrongly implicate the English journalist.

Some 18 of the calls are between gardaí and witness and former British soldier Martin Graham, who claims he

Buses ‘better use of public investment than trains’

Skipper tells of crewman rescue THE SKIPPER of a yacht who rescued one of his crew from the Pacific has said finding the sailor was worse than looking for a needle in a haystack.

Sean McCarter, 32, of the DerryLondonderry-Doire boat in the Clipper Round The World Yacht Race, said his team-mate would have been unconscious and possibly dead if he had not been wearing a dry suit when he fell overboard 4,000km from land.

Londoner Andrew Taylor, 46, was in the ocean for an hour and a half before being rescued. The yacht was about halfway across the Pacific from Qingdao, China, to San Francisco when the accident happened in rough conditions.

Mr McCarter said: ‘As soon as we saw him the initial reaction was a huge relief. We could see him waving his arms and that was another massive relief.’

DART services between Dalkey and Greystones were delayed by up to 30 minutes last night after a driver spotted a man lying on the track between Shankhill and Killiney.

The incident involved the 18.55 Bray to Malahide service. A spokeswoman for Irish Rail said emergency services were called after the man said he was suffering from a diabetic attack.

and finally...

A FATHER attending a protest over a lack of lollipop ladies near a school was hit by a car as parents brought their children into class. Mike Murphy was outside St Brigid’s National School, Claughaun, Co Limerick, when the collision occurred at 8.30am. Boys and girls screamed in horror as Mr Murphy was lifted onto the bonnet of a silver car as it went to pass the protest. Mr Murphy was treated for tissue damage to his leg at University Hospital Limerick.

by jOAnnE AHERn

Picture: AP

Man on track caused delays

was offered cash, drugs and other items by gardaí to gain information against Mr Bailey. Gardaí deny this.

No one has ever been charged over the Frenchwoman’s death and Mr Bailey is suing the State for wrongful arrest. The recordings emerged during a search of Bandon Garda station last autumn on foot of a request from Mr Bailey’s legal team. The case is up for mention today.

Mobile mad or just phone crazy?

Ella Birchenough is pictured stuck in a storm drain while trying to retrieve her mobile phone in Dover, UK. Firefighters had to rescue the 16-year-old from the hole to the amusement of a group of onlookers, including her mother, according to witness Tim Richards

TRANSPORT Minister Leo Varadkar has angered rail union leaders by suggesting it would make more sense to put extra funding into bus services.

His comments on RTÉ Radio yesterday come a week before an expected Labour Court decision.

The minister denied reports that he plans to close ‘dozens’ of rural rail lines but said that Irish Rail gets 50 per cent of public funding for transport when it only accounts for 15 per cent of all passenger journeys.

He said that he wanted to improve existing rail services but this could only be done if passenger numbers could be increased and the cost base reduced.

He added: ‘If you believe in public transport and you want fast, efficient and affordable public transport, at the moment, the best way to do that is to put more money into the buses.

‘The failure of Irish Rail to deliver the savings to date really underlines that and makes the situation much worse.’

Referring to the Labour Court ruling, he said he hoped it would come in the

next few weeks and allow workers to ballot on it.

Siptu organiser Paul Cullen criticised Mr Varadkar’s comments, saying that the minister has ‘on a number of occaVaradkar: Buses sions made clear his preference for forms of transport other than rail’.

He added: ‘In reality the cost base of rail transport in Ireland has risen because of additional expenditure on infrastructure and compliance with a number of new regulatory frameworks which have been imposed in recent years.’

He said that if Minister Varadkar does reduce funding to Iarnród Éireann it will result in ‘a cash crisis in Irish Rail and lines will have to be closed’.

Mr Cullen added that the Minister’s comments, coming at this time, ‘will only harden the attitude of staff in Irish Rail who have given everything since 2008 with nothing in return’.

Bethany Home redress Charges dropped against to be given second look ‘pub closure demand’ men THE Government is to consider reversing its refusal of compensation to survivors of a mother and baby home where more than 200 infants died and were buried in unmarked graves.

Education minister Ruairí Quinn said he would ask for the option of redress for the Protestant Bethany Home in Dublin to be re-examined.

Campaigners from the Bethany Survivors Group said it can provide evidence of a failure of statutory oversight of the home, in

operation from 1921 to 1972 first in Blackhall Place, and later in Rathgar.

Niall Meehan, spokesman for the group whose research identified the unmarked graves, said: ‘Many died due to just such a failure of oversight.’

A 6ft headstone carrying the names of 222 dead babies from the home who were buried in Mount Jerome Cemetery in Harold’s Cross was yesterday unveiled at a new plot in the graveyard.

THE State has dropped charges against a publican and two other men accused of demanding that another pub close within 24 hours.

John Stokes, 55, father of Celtic and Ireland footballer Anthony, who owns the Players Lounge in Fairview, Daryl Mulcahy, 21, of Matt Talbot Court, and Derek Nolan, 30, from north Dublin, had pleaded not guilty to demanding with menaces that Shane Simpson close the Castle

Inn pub in Summerhill ‘within 24hrs’ on March 13, 2011. The three men went on trial last April but the trial collapsed following several legal issues. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court yesterday heard that the DPP was entering a nolle prosequi on all counts. At the trial last year, Mr Simpson said he had lied to gardaí about allegations because crime journalist Paul Williams (pictured) told him he was going to be shot.

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Friday, April 4, 2014 METRO HERALD

Bereaved father in drugs deal ‘to pay funeral debt’

by AOifE nic ARDgHAiL

Geep? Or is it a shoat?

Geep’s the word for new arrival

picture: sasko lazarov

A BEREAVED father and a chronic gambler have been remanded in custody pending sentence for their roles in a €2million cannabis operation.

Terry O’Donoghue, 50, told gardaí that shortly after his teenage daughter’s death, a man had approached him in a pub and offered him to lend him €2,500 to cover the funeral costs. He got involved delivering drugs to offset the debt.

Michael Lawlor, 40, admitted he was a compulsive gambler and took part in the operation for ‘handy money’ – €500.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring was told the Garda National Drugs Unit had a storage facility at Cookstown Industrial Estate under surveillance saw O’Donoghue, of Ely Close, Old Court Road, put bags into a van. Officers followed him and intercepting another car into which the bags had been transferred, found 10kg of cannabis herb. Lawlor, of Cois Na Choil, Pollerton, Co Carlow, was arrested when he met O’Donoghue in a lane at Castlewarden, Co Kildare.

Judge Ring was told O’Donoghue had been ‘vulnerable to exploitation’ after his daughter’s death. She adjourned finalising the sentence until next week.

TRADING COMPLIMENTS: The winners of the Vodafone DIT Fashion Show student design awards themed Enchanted Forest: Hidden Nature were in first place Leah Sheridan (right) modelling a design from NCAD’s Patricia Carroll, in second place DIT’s Miriam Hunt (left) modelling a design from Griffith College’s Roisin Lawrence and in third place Rita Zhang (centre) with a design from University of Ulster’s Claire Mc Elduff

IF APRIL Fool’s day hadn’t already been and gone we’d be highly suspicious of this story.

A farmer in Kildare believes one of his sheep has given birth to a goat-cross.

The baby animal – which is very fast and nimble – was born two weeks ago on the Ballymore Eustace farm of publican Pat Murphy.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal, Mr Murphy said the baby was ‘an unusual character’.

He added that its arrival was a ‘shock to the system’ and he has no plans to breed such animals.

METRO HERALD Friday, April 4, 2014

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eu politicians back proposals to outlaw overseas charges from December 2015

‘Rip-off’ roaming to be axed

by HAyDEn sMiTH

Heartache: A mother weeps inside a hatch centre

Babies mount up at ‘hatch centres’ A BOY tries the lock of a ‘baby hatch’ centre in China as a mother weeps. The images taken in Guangzhou show one of 25 centres in the country. Abandoning children is illegal and the hatches were introduced so infants could be left safely by poverty-stricken parents rather than in the street. This one opened in January, but was forced to close two months later when it was overwhelmed with 262 children, all ill.

Hand in: A boy tries to open the door of the baby hatch in Guangzhou, China Pictures: exclusivePix

THE shock of returning to a hefty phone bill after a trip abroad could finally become a thing of the past after European politicians voted to allow a ban on mobile ‘roaming’ charges.

Making calls, sending texts or browsing the internet will cost the same in an another EU country as it does at home from December 2015, under proposals backed yesterday by MEPs. Neelie Kroes, European commissioner for digital affairs, said: ‘This vote is the EU delivering for citizens. We should know what we are buying, we should not be ripped-off, and we should have the opportunity to change our mind.’

Previous legislation from the EU has forced providers to cap roaming fees but yesterday’s vote paved the way for them to be abolished altogether if they are approved by the member states.

Labour MEP Phil Prendergast, a member of the Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, said the move was ‘long overdue’. Customers have paying about four times the wholesale market price for roaming. This had become anti-competitive and obstructive to the single market, especially as Europeans become increasingly reliant on mobile internet access,’ Ms Prendergast added.

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Franco jokes over sexts to 17-year-old Scottish girl J

ames Franco has warned parents to keep their teenagers away from him after he was forced to deny he had chatted up a 17-year-old scottish girl online.

The 35-yearold seemed to have been rumbled when Lucy clode, of Dollar, clackmannanshire, leaked c o nve r s a t i o n s she claimed to have shared with the Us actor online and via text.

The 127 Hours star was alleged to have introduced himself on photo-sharing site Instagram on Tuesday via a series of messages, saying: ‘Hi’, ‘Where do you live?’ and ‘nYc?’ The teenager informed him she was visiting new York with her mother as a present ahead of her 18th birthday, which she will celebrate next month.

Franco then apparently asked whether she had a boyfriend and where she was staying in the city, before requesting her number.

When the pursuit continued via text, miss clode said: ‘april fools was an hour ago though...’

Franco allegedly replied: ‘It’s me. Yes or no?

Tomorrow or Thurs?’ and sent

by SEAMUS DUFF

a photograph of himself waving.

However, he later went on Twitter to debunk the story, saying: ‘I’m not! I hope parents keep their teens away from me. Thank you.’

It transpired miss clode brushed shoulders with Franco and his Irish of mice and men co-star chris o’Dowd, 34, at an autograph signing outside their Broadway show.

Later, she uploaded selfies to Instagram showing the actor behind her. eyebrows were raised over the alleged flirting because of miss clode’s teenage status – even though 17 is the age of consent in new York. meanwhile, cynics suggested Franco had seen an opportunity to promote his work, as he has since Instagrammed various comments about an upcoming film in which he plays a single father who falls for a teenager.

The actor was cast in Gia coppola’s upcoming Palo alto, due to be released in the Us next month.

He stars oppoExchange: site emma robWhat Franco allegedly told erts as a soccer student Lucy coach who gets Clode ‘too close’ to a PICTURES: CEnTRal teenage girl on SCoTland nEwS agEnCy his team.

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Selena Gomez can sleep easy tonight after an intruder was jailed for breaking into her home. Che Cruz, who was arrested at the weekend after entering the 21-year-old’s guesthouse in Calabasas, California, pleaded guilty to trespassing at a court hearing on Wednesday. The 20-year-old was given a 45-day prison sentence, handed three years’ probation and ordered to keep away from Justin Bieber’s on-off girlfriend.

It came after the Come And Get It singer called her security when she heard a noise at her €2.3m mansion on Sunday.

Azalea: I bought socks on first date It appears the way to Iggy azalea’s heart is through a discount store after she revealed she fell for her boyfriend after they spent their first date at just such a shop.

The 23-year-old rapper said she made La Lakers star nick Young take her to the Us retail shop.

‘It’s kind of funny actually, we went out for dinner after this, but at first I was like, “Target is my favourite place, I wanna go to Target!” so I made him take me,’ she said. ‘We went out to dinner with nice linen table cloths and everything afterwards.’ explaining the odd choice of venue, azalea said she thinks it’s the ideal place to learn about someone new... and it clearly worked for her 28-year-old beau. she told new York’s Power 105: ‘You can really get to know someone at Target so I was like, “What quilts are you into?

What’s your favourite movie? What snacks do you like?” I got some socks.’

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Lily Allen’s comeback looks to be heading for the gutter after she repulsed fans by sharing photos of her urine trickling down the side of a road. The 28-year-old Air Balloon singer wrote: ‘P***ing on the hard shoulder #gettingolder.’

Miley loses it on stage over dead dog tribute song Miley Cyrus broke down in tears live on stage as she sang a Fleetwood Mac tribute to her dead dog.

She had previously warned fans at her Bangerz tour show in Boston that she might not be on her best form as she was grieving for her Alaskan klee kai, named Floyd. And she was not wrong as emotions got the better of her as she sang Floyd’s favourite tune, Landslide, by Fleetwood Mac. ‘I’m sure you guys already know but the reason that I’m so upset is my dog, I shouldn’t say he was my favourite but he was my favourite, he passed away,’ the 21-year-old told the crowd at the TD Garden venue. ‘I just wanna do a song for him. We used to always listen to Fleetwood Mac together, it’s his favourite song… so I wanna do this song for Floyd.

This song is Landslide.’

Launching into the tune, it wasn’t long before the singer broke down in tears. She also couldn’t make it through renditions of Lana Del Rey’s Summertime Sadness or Coldplay’s The Scientist without blubbing.

The Wrecking Ball singer’s younger sister, Noah, 14, rushed on stage to hug the singer.

Becks down to his kecks again David Beckham viously finds obviously eep it hard to keep his clothes on – especially when there’ss a new swimwear range to sell.

But few people will be complaining as -old the 38-year-old flashes his tattooed body once more to flog a few skimpies for high street store H&M. -ofThe father-ofur posed in a four selection of trunks, swimshorts, boardshorts n pulled and even on a pair of tiny white briefs which left very little to the imagination. Despite his retirement from football last year, Becks proved he hasn’t let his gym regime ease up as he still boasted an impressive six-pack. The swimwear extension of the David Beckham Bodywear collection will be available from next month.

Yawn: Flynn seems unimpressed but Bloom’s proud to show star (above) PIctures: ePA

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Orlando’s little star Orlando Bloom proved just how amicable his divorce from model Miranda Kerr has been, when he gave her a shout-out during the unveiling of his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The British actor thanked the Aussie beauty, 30, for gifting him ‘the real star in my life’ – their three-year-old boy Flynn.

The 37-year-old was joined by his young son for his big moment in LA – and said he would have a

special reason to be pleased about his dad’s accolade.

‘I got a star right in front of a sweet shop and he is mad for candy right now, so he was excited for that,’ Bloom said. ‘Trying to keep him from having too much, though.’

Actor Forest Whitaker and Bloom’s Lord Of The Rings director Peter Jackson, both 52, were among the guests at the unveiling on Wednesday.

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n A LIFEGUARD trainer was killed by a shark as she swam from a wharf to a beach in Australia. Christine Armstrong vanished beneath the waves as witnesses reported seeing a 4m-long shape in the water,. The 63-year-old was one of a group of friends who would meet up to swim the 600m to the beach each morning in the village of Tathra, 340km south of Sydney.

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Gun rampage US soldier had stress disorders AN Iraq war veteran who shot dead three people and wounded 16 others at a US army base was being assessed for post traumatic stress disorder, the military revealed yesterday.

Gunman Ivan Lopez suffered from depression, anxiety and other problems, according to Fort Hood’s senior officer, Lt Gen Mark Milley.

Lopez was not wounded during his four months in action in 2011 and there was no indication the attack was linked to terrorism, he added.

A psychiatrist last month declared the 34-year-old showed no sign of violent or suicidal tendencies.

Married Lopez put a gun to his head after opening fire in a medical centre.

President Barack Obama, who had said he was ‘heartbroken’ at the news, promised a full investigation and praised troops

by JOEL TAYLOR

on the base. ‘They serve with valour.

They serve with distinction and, when they’re at their home base, they need to feel safe,’ he added. ‘We don’t yet know what happened but, obviously, that sense of safety has been broken once again.’

Nine of those shot were in intensive care last night, three of them in a critical condition.

The Texas base was the scene of a shooting rampage by Army psychiatrist Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 people and wounded 30 more before he was shot and paralysed in 2009.

Hasan, who said he was protecting Islamic insurgents, is on death row. Another soldier, Naser Jason Abdo, is serving life for plotting to blow up a restaurant used by Fort Hood troops in 2011.

World

digest

Aftershocks an echo of deadly 8.2 earthquake

CHiLE: Aftershocks from a 8.2 magnitude earthquake continued yesterday – but without any major damage or reports of casualties. The highest tremor measured 7.6 after the quake centred off the northern coast that killed six people on Tuesday.

Riot police ‘snipers’ held over Kiev protest killings UKRAinE: A number of Berkut riot police officers have been arrested on suspicion of shooting protesters during anti-government clashes. The elite unit allegedly organised sniper attacks against demonstrators in Kiev in February. More than 100 people died.

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Tribe wants right to hunt endangered bison again AMERiCA: A tribe of Native Americans wants to be allowed to hunt 4,000 bison inside a national park. The Nez Perce plan to ask for permission to revive the illegal tradition in Yellowstone Park. ‘Before there was a park, there was a tribe,’ leaders say.

Twitter block to be lifted after court rules it illegal

TURKEY: Access to Twitter is to be restored after a high court ruled the ban violated the right to free expression. The decision was welcomed by the EU and US, which criticised the government last month for blocking the site after users made corruption allegations.

MOROCCO: African migrants sit on top of a border fence as they try to cross into Spain’s enclave of Melilla picture: reuters

and finally...

CHinA: Kuan-Yin Fan spent a night writing ‘sorry’ on the road by his girlfriend’s home. Xiu Xiu, 19, was unmoved but still forgave the 21-year-old for missing a date in Jinan.

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Different colours and styles make world more beautiful

T

o Zeus and Au Natural, do you always wear the same cut and colour of clothes? Never a new shirt, tie or coat? Do you demand all gardens stay the same and no one gets a new car or bike? Do you picket paint stores demanding they only stock one colour?

Fact is that as with our hair these are all ways we express our creativity and individuality and frankly make the world more beautiful.

And while we can see people are affected by passing styles, I bet you don’t condemn the current fad of wearing trousers instead of the good old skirts our ancestors wore.

Hugh, Dundrum ■ I’m a brunette, but I did have a blonde moment/day on Tuesday when I fell for the

1c Metro Herald. I went up to the lovely girl on the quays and tried to give her 2c for the paper yesterday morning. She refused and said it was free. I only realised when reading the Mailbox, doh!

Liz, aka April Fool ■ Ah, poor Bee does not like being called ‘luv’ by strangers – and decided to let the nation know that she does not like people being nice to her/him. Well you should’ve heard the names that were going through my head as I read it, sweetheart.

Nice defender Dublin ■ Sarah, I couldn’t have said it better meself about new Michael Jackson album!

Will be a lovely change from the noise in charts now.

Anna Dublin

Nail tales from the commute ■ To the man on the 7.40 14 bus, your nail clipping made me feel ill, the lady in front of you now has your nail clippings in her hair. Under no circumstances is it OK to clip your nails on public transport.

Evelyn ■ To the guy on the Luas from Heuston Station who insists every morning on having the loudest conversation about servers, configuration patterns and numbers, etc... nobody wants to hear

Quick pic

FOAMY FIN: Niamh O’Connor from Churchtown sent in this up-close snap she took of Fungie the dolphin while visiting Dingle, Co Kerry, recently Send your photos to pictures@ metroherald.ie with ‘Quick pic’ as the subject and we will print the best each day in the paper

gOOD On yA ● To Paul who works on the Dart and gave me a lift home after I fell asleep on the last train and missed my stop. Lifesaver.

Al ● A massive thank you to the lovely Gerry (coffee breaks stall) at Skerries Station for the loan of cash for my train ticket when I forgot my purse and was about to miss my train, what a star he is!

Deborah, Skerries commuter

● Just want to say a huge thanks to the girl from Sligo who asked me was I alright after I fell outside RTÉ on Wednesday morning just after 11.30. It was lashing rain but your kindness was very much appreciated. Thanks so much, I hope your kindness will be rewarded.

Linda, Dublin 3

● To the ridiculously good looking brown-haired lady in Pig & Heifer, I would love to take you out for coffee, if you didn’t already have such free access to coffee…

Besotted Barney ● Turn on: When men drink Dutch Gold at the back of a Dublin Bus. Will shift on spot if wearing grey tracksuit. @blobfish_

● Just wanted to say a big thank you to Christy, the 123 bus driver who waited for me to reach the bus stop, even though I was nearly 50m away.

Grateful Commuter

RAnDOM AcTs Of kinDnEss

about it. Fair play to you working hard but can you do it quietly? Carol, Tallaght ■ Though I miss my gym/swimming sessions followed by a steam and sauna, I am not enjoying the daily fully-clothed sauna journey provided by Irish Rail. As the outside temperature has increased, there is no longer the need for the carriage heaters to be on full blast. I arrive at work needing another shower!

Donabate J

*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

TREnDing

#secondcaptains

● I’m moving to Australia. The only country in the world where I can see all 45 championship games free to air.

@Nemed2350

● Roddy Collins doing boring tweets is the

t +353 91 894 800 e stay@harbour.ie www.harbour.ie

@metrohnews #metromailbox

greatest thing on earth. Loads more for ever.

@dermotwhelan

● In a fairness, anyone who couldn’t beat one of The Fureys in a sprint is probably legally deceased. @colmtobin

Subject to availability, terms & conditions.

Friday, April 4, 2014 METRO HERALD

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weekend

Jarlath regan on his new stand-up show.

See your DuBLIN WEEKEND p19

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picture: Bryan Meade

s anyone who’s read even a single one of his novels will attest, Patrick McCabe has a gift for creating narrators who are either mad, bad or dangerous to know. Who can forget the depraved delinquent Francie Brady in 1992’s Booker-shortlisted The Butcher Boy, for instance? Or Redmond Hatch, the slippery antihero in the chilling Winterwood?

In his most recent work, Hello Mr Bones/Goodbye Mr Rat, McCabe presented two of his least bedtime-friendly tales to date: the former novella takes in child abuse and homicide; the latter is narrated by a dead IRA member. Even the least sensitive admirers of McCabe’s macabre fiction might have found themselves blanching at the bloodsoaked imagery in these two Gothic tales.

It comes as a surprise then that when I ask the

Delighted master of macabre PATRICK MCCABE’S latest output sees him in uncharacteristic jovial form

15

by DARAgH REDDin life@metroherald.ie

Monaghan native to describe the tone of his new play, The Bridge Below The Town, he chooses the adjectives ‘bright’ and ‘optimistic’. Instead of zooming in on society’s darker recesses, McCabe’s impressionistic new drama ultimately celebrates the positives. ‘It’s a large ensemble piece which I’d describe as a Technicolor Doris Day movie set in the midlands in 1958,’ he says. ‘It’s really a celebration of a marriage and focusses on a mature couple [Golly Murray and her husband Patsy] whose relationship, though tested through the course of the play, triumphs.’

In his fiction McCabe frequently peels away the facade of an ostensibly pious Ireland and finds something rotten; by contrast, The Bridge Below The Town

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16 METRO HERALD Friday, April 4, 2014

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ends on an atypically life-affirming note.

‘Golly is in a very happy marriage that’s lasted 50 years and although it’s very undemonstrative, there’s a deep mutual respect at the heart of it. While she might seem like an ordinary person she has a very extraordinary inner life which the play brings to life. Hopefully there’s a real heartbeat and a humanity there.’

How does McCabe, frequently dubbed a master of the macabre, explain his new-found sunny disposition? ‘I suppose it’s age-related,’ he says. ‘You reach a point where you become aware of how little time you have left on the planet and you want to channel joy for a change.’ However, although he describes the experience of observing audience-goers leave the theatre smiling as ‘beyond pleasant’, it’s unlikely to mark a change in tack for him as a writer. ‘If you’re faithful to the story germinating within you then you’ve done your job but trying to play markets is of no interest to me. I’ll always be drawn to the dark side.’

Although McCabe has previously mined

“The only thing I’m careful about in life is sentences…

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mid-20th century Ireland for its blackly comic potential, he is scathing of those who succumb to what he calls ‘the condescension of posterity’.

‘It’s very easy to conclude that the 1950s were somehow inadequate or undeserving of respect,’ he explains. ‘But it’ll be very interesting in 50 years time to look back at Ireland today and at our own failings. There’s an emotional incontinence prevalent in contemporary society, particularly evident in social media, that would have been unthinkable to people in the 1950s. We’ve also come to commodify our relationships and adopted a very American ethos, exemplified by the idea of a pre-nup, that has reduced marriage to a mere transaction.’

I

f all of this suggests McCabe is a Luddite whose home is filled with kitsch religious iconography and John Hinde postcards, nothing could be further from the truth. Not only does he describe himself as a ‘technophile’ – he’s particularly keen to get his hands ‘on a pair of virtual ritual goggles’ – he admires younger novelists who have deigned to tackle the technological age head-on.

‘I really enjoyed Paul Murray’s book Skippy Dies; it was one of the first books where I

BADGER HILL & THE JOURNALS

MIKE SCOTT, STEVE WICKHAM, THE DOMINORES, THE HAT TRICKS, OLEG PONOMAREV, ANNA HOUSTON, FELIP CARBONELL, CIARAN WILDE, JOHN WHELAN, JOE PURCELL

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Dark humour: Barbara Bergin plays housewife Golly Murray in the play

francoirish féile litríochta, festival de littérature

TABLOIDTV

noticed smiley faces and text-speak being used in a very organic way. But I don’t think I’d ever be comfortable writing with that kind of language. As a novelist, there’s nothing worse than forcing yourself into a cultural or social space that you’re not confident in. I love technology but, in the same way the Blessed Sacrament means nothing to a novelist starting out today, it just doesn’t have the same significance for me because I didn’t grow up with it.’

That’s not to say McCabe is above new experiences, however. As one of the participants in RTÉ’s recent Play Next Door series, he spent a month living in an abandoned Celtic Tiger mansion in Castleblayney where he wrote an offbeat TV drama described as ‘Big Tom meets Tarantino’.

Like McCabe’s native Clones, Castle-

2014

15th Anniversary

Literary Festival // 4 & 5 April, Dublin Castle, George's Hall // 6 April, Alliance Française

www.francoirishliteraryfestival.com

blayney has been hard hit by the recession; McCabe has been deeply saddened by the impact of the downturn on rural communities. ‘The high street is dying with a vengeance in smalltown midlands Ireland,’ he says.

‘It’s a scorched earth policy: all you have to do is build one low-cost hypermarket and that’s the end of the high street; it won’t be coming back any time soon.

‘I don’t think people have learned anything from the recession,’ he adds. ‘House prices in Dublin are creeping up again and we’re still in thrall to unbridled consumerism.’ Is he careful then to avoid being a cog in the wheel of capitalism? ‘The only thing I’m careful about in life is sentences,’ he laughs. ‘In everything else I’m quite reckless.’

The Bridge Below The Town, tonight & tomorrow, Civic Theatre, Tallaght.

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films

features@metroherald.ie to advertise, call 01 7055010

Madder than a box of frogs THE Big RELEAsE

Noah (12A) HH✩✩✩

‘The new Noah movie is INSANE,’ I tweeted upon reeling out of this bizarre biblical blockbuster. ‘Insane good or insane bad?’ a follower tweeted back. ‘Just INSANE,’ I clarified.

And frankly, that’s all the coherence one can muster after a 138-minute buffeting by this bravely dark, occasionally beautiful, giggle-makingly silly, boldly non-reverential, all-overthe-shop bonkers retelling of the classic man-builds-ark, Godfloods-world myth.

Jewish atheist writer/director Darren Aronofsky (Black Swan, The Fighter) takes a ‘whoa, this story is crazy!’ approach to his source material, which is less obviously the Bible than a The Lord Of The Rings box set. His Noah is a fantasy epic, set in a blasted world ruled not by God but ‘The Creator’ (very The Matrix).

Herein, Noah (Russell Crowe) and his family (a soggy Jennifer Connelly, a smouldering Douglas Booth, Logan Lerman and the other one) are the peace-loving vegetarian descendants of Seth persecuted by the flesh-eating, sinful descendants of Cain, led

HOT TickETs barN DaNCe

✹

Make your Easter bank holiday weekend unforgettable as DJ and producer Jamie Jones (pictured) joins a host of homegrown and international acts for the seventh annual Barn Dance, the BYOB festival that’s become a beloved fixture of the spring party calendar.

We have a pair of tickets to BARN DANCE Apr 18 (secret location – bus transfer) For your chance to win, just answer the question below and text LIFE followed by your full answer, e-mail address and name to 53133 (texts cost €0.60 + standard network charge).

w in

Terms & Conditions: The competition closes at noon today.

The winner(s) will be chosen at random from the entries received and notified by e-mail. Entrants must be over 18 years of age. Usual Metro Herald rules apply. The editor’s decision is final. By entering this competition you agree to sign up to the Metro Herald promotions list – to opt out text NOMETRO to 51155. SP. Oxygen8, 4th Floor, Malt House North, Grand Canal Quay D2. Customer service number: 0818 286 606.

Apocalypse Noah: Crowe braves the elements (and Ray Winstone) Amityville Horror psycho-dad,

by Ray Winstone (being Ray his Noah one moment berates his Winstone, in a leather smock). son for picking a daisy; the next There are also some ill-advised kills a man with his bare hands. seven-armed stone giants, Yet Crowe still manages to Anthony Hopkins as a 969-yearanchor the movie. old and a romance subplot The CGI animals are spectacuinvolving Noah’s barren, adopted lar, the battles less so and though daughter (Emma Watson giving none of it really makes sense, it her best school play). neither, some might argue, does Crowe bestrides these choppy the Bible. waters like a grizzled colossus.

Part militant eco-warrior, part Larushka ivan-Zadeh

DivergeNt (12A) HH✩✩✩

Building on his promising debut, Submarine, Richard Ayoade is emerging as a director of some talent. The IT Crowd star dives deep into the rabbit hole of a splintered human psyche in his second feature behind the camera, an adaptation of Dostoyevsky’s novella of the same name.

This tricksy, hallucinatory and downbeat black comedy transforms the drudgery of office life into a nightmarish landscape dogged by paranoia.

Mild-mannered Simon James (Jesse Eisenberg, above) is such a sorry apology of a man he is instantly forgettable to those around him including his long-term crush Hannah (Mia Wasikowska).

His existence is turned upside down when his exact double, James Simon, swoops in and proves to be all that he’s not – confident, charismatic, charming – and out to take over his life and nab his girl.

With fabulous cameos from the likes of Chris Morris, Paddy Considine and Chris O’Dowd, The Double isn’t consistently engaging but if, like Simon, it struggles to connect in a meaningful way – it’s still a quirky and fantastically offbeat curiosity. Ann Lee

The latest contender chomping on the heels of The Hunger Games is this hyped adaptation of Veronica Roth’s adult bestseller, Young. The setting is a totalitarian dystopia where gangs of teens are trained to fight – sound familiar? Society is divided into five ‘factions’ with different human traits, eg Erudite (the brainy kids) or Candour (the honest) – akin to the houses in Hogwarts but named like teams from The Apprentice.

Our heroine, Tris (Shailene Woodley) is born into Abnegation but aged 16 citizens get to choose and she picks Dauntless (the brave ones). Secretly, however, Tris is actually a Divergent (a mix of different qualities, so like the rest of humankind, then) and, as such, is a threat to the state as led by a chilly Kate Winslet who effortlessly out-acts everyone just by breathing.

Woodley’s performance is proof, if proof were needed, that only Jennifer Lawrence can do ‘blankfaced teen’ compellingly. Though the way she looks genuinely thrilled to snog her ripped yet sensitive love interest (Theo James, above) is actually rather endearing.

Li-Z

A riot of 3D colour, squawking with carnival spirit, this tail-shakin’ cartoon sequel will make adult eyeballs samba until their lids droop with exhaustion. Our feathered hero, Blu the neurotic blue macaw

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Q Which style of dancing would you find in a traditional barn dance?

A Square Dance B Twerking

the Double (15) HHH✩✩

rio 2 (U) HHH✩✩

Friday, April 4, 2014 METRO HERALD

(voic by Jesse Eisenberg), is (voiced no a happily married fathernow of of-three.

But his wife (Anne Ha Hathaway) worries they are get all getting too ‘humanised’ – chick have their own iPods, her chicks w only fly using GPS – so Blu will she shoos her family back to a paradisiacal Amazon to connect with their roots. An amusing enough mash-up of Madagascar

and Meet The Parents, with a sprinkle of ‘save the rainforest’ jeopardy, the standouts are the dance numbers. And while Blu’s nemesis, Nigel the evil cockatoo (Jemaine Clement), is utterly superfluous to the plot, he’s still the best thing in it, delivering lines such as ‘I’ll be pooping on your party, promptly’ with Shakespearean gravitas.

Li-Z

18 METRO HERALD Friday, April 4, 2014

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television

guth na ngael rTé1, 7.30pm The third episode of this music documentary series exploring the themes that emerge in Irish song puts the subject of unrequited love under the spotlight. Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh asks why is it that the repressed Irish soul can’t be vocal about love until it slips from our grasp? With musical contributions from Choice Music Award winners Delorentos, Karan Casey, Gemma Hayes (right with Mairéad), Jimmy Kelly, (brother of Luke Kelly), and Conamara sean-nós singers Róisín Elsafty and Treasa Ní Cheannabháin.

martin clunes & a lion called mugie UTV, 9pm Born free, as free as the wind blows… the Oscar-winning refrain will tug at the heartstrings as Martin Clunes joins a project in Kenya to rekindle the work of George and Joy Adamson, immortalised in the 1966 film charting the hand-rearing and release into the wild of lion cub Elsa.

Here the young lion in question is called Mugie. This is his story.

film of the day michael clayTon, bbc2, 11.05pm

the late late show rTé1, 9.35pm

George Clooney plays the titular character in this sharply scripted legal thriller by Bourne writer Tony Gilroy, who also directs. As a ‘janitor’ for a New York law firm, Clayton excels at hiding his company’s dirty secrets, but it’s a tough role that goes unrewarded.

Clooney (above) is compelling as a wearied man at the end of his tether, thrust into an ugly case of agripharma duplicity involving Tilda Swinton’s ruthless lawyer (a role for which she won an Oscar).

trip to italy bbc2, 10pm Riffing on everything from Mo Farah’s legs to the reason Tom Hardy doesn’t do B&Q voiceovers, Steve Coogan and Rob Brydon are on top form as they return to the onerous task of reviewing fancy restaurants.

That’s the loose plot-line of this amiable comic ramble through Italy in a Mini, the bickering mates ruminating on the cruel passing of time. Spotting a hunky Italian at one eaterie, Coogan (right with Brydon) likens him to Brydon: ‘He’s like the best surgeon in the world has been given a year with you.’ Harsh. Amid the culinary delights on this scenic trip through the Italian countryside, the blokey banter makes this one definitely worth a watch.

Ryan Tubridy will find it difficult to top last week’s line-up, which included Calvary stars Brendan Gleeson and Killian Scott and champion boxer Barry McGuigan. However, I’m sure Tubs will pull out his best one-liners and engage in some of his trademark bashful banter to charm the guests gracing his leather chairs tonight. Among those on the billing are Siva Kaneswaran (little brother of noughties popstar Hazel, remember her?), who gives his first big Irish television interview since the breakup of The Wanted. Plus X Factor winner Sam Bailey (left) chats about her chart-topping album and her pregnancy, and she also performs live on the show.

the graham norton show bbc1, 10.35pm

agents of shield channel 4, 8pm

There’s a familiar look to the line-up as birthday boy Graham Norton dusts off his red settee. Hollywood A-listers Russell Crowe – fresh from his Twitter spat with Irish journalist Niamh Walsh – and Cameron Diaz have both parked themselves there before and Kylie Minogue is no stranger to the celebrity spotlight. Will IT Crowd star turned director Richard Ayoade, following up the acclaimed Submarine with new movie The Double, be star-struck?

After last week’s shooting, Skye’s condition is critical and the team blame themselves for letting her venture into danger.

All except for Agent May, who blames the man who pulled the trigger – and she plans to get even... But Coulson reckons a more positive course of action might be the best way to round up the mystery people who are responsible for bringing him back from the dead.

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Friday, April 4, 2014 METRO HERALD

YOUR DUBLIN WEEkEND with daragh reddin FUNNY BUSINESS Comedian Jarlath Regan on his new show Here For A Good Time, Not A Long Time What can people expect on the night? Laughter, and lots of it, hopefully. A lot of what you can expect is in the title: Here For A Good Time, Not A Long Time.

It’s an evening of jokes and stories around the idea that life is short and we need to enjoy it even when it feels like it’s not enjoyable. Most of the funniest stories any of us have to tell come out of our most terrible experiences. The crap holiday; the mental boyfriend; the dog you were convinced hated you; the jobs where every single person in the office drives you mad. Basically I’ve mined the worst experiences of my life for you to laugh at and enjoy.

Like most people I haven’t had to look to far for bad experiences over the past 12 months. For starters I moved to London, leaving all my friends and family behind. This was obviously a massive pain in the hole but some genuinely funny stuff came out of the process. It also gave me the chance to start my Irishman Abroad podcast which is basically a weekly interview show where I speak to a different Irish person who has made their name overseas. Chris O’Dowd, Lisa Hannigan, Rob Sheehan, Jerry Flannery, Paul Kimmage and Tom Vaughan Lawlor are just a few of the guests we’ve had.

It seems like a cliché but living away has reminded me how Irish I am. It wasn’t something I had to consciously think about before now so I tried to distil it into ten questions you could ask yourself to remind you that you are Irish. Alternative visa questions if you like. They are in the show and also appear on the back of the Irishman Abroad T-shirt that will be exclusively available on the night.

Jarlath Regan plays The Laughter Lounge, Sun, 8pm, €13.50. www.laughterlounge.com

FOR YOUR BENEFIT....

Glória: Songs In The key Of Life

Thanks to their superlative interpretations of festive hymns and carols, Glória (Dublin’s Lesbian and Gay Choir), are renowned for their spirited annual Christmas recitals. Tomorrow’s Songs In The Key Of Life concert, in aid of Aware and Gay Switchboard Ireland, will be another cheering affair. Members from the 65-strong ensemble will be joined by Gloria Outreach Choir and counter tenor Graham J Norton.

Expect an inspired hodgepodge of classical and contemporary fare, alongside a few sing-a-long surprises Tomorrow, City Hall Dublin, Dame Street D2, 7.30pm, €15. Tickets from www.entertainment.ie

GIG

CLUBS

THE ESkIES

Patrice Scott

With the mainstream music industry essentially a smoking wreckage, bands can no longer cling to the possibility of ‘being discovered’ by some guy with a pony-tail and a chequebook.

Instead, the modern rock ensemble is required to do almost everything for themselves – and then hope to be signed. Alas, that means covering your own recording expenses – which for many artists has lately boiled down to launching a crowd funding campaign. Rather than opting for that route, Dublin five piece The Eskies have chosen another way: they are putting on a show at the Button Factory tonight to raise funds for their next album. Formed on a working holiday in Germany, they came home with a different sort of sound ringing in their ears. Drawing on such ne’er-do-well genres as sea shanties, gypsy jazz and ‘noir folk’ (their own coining) they are at pains to stand apart – though a cynic might suggest they haven’t been above cocking a friendly glance in the direction of the nu-folk scene. They enjoy their shtick too – tonight’s gig is confirmed as having a ‘gentleman’s dress code’ (no idea) and individual admission prices will be determined by spinning a wheel outside the box office.

On stage, meanwhile, they are known to give it the full Mumford & Sons, with waistcoats, bowler hats and more facial hair than you can shake a mandolin at.

Eamon de Paor

Tonight, The Button Factory, Curved Street D2, 7.30pm.

Tickets from www.theeskies.com/tickets.html

GET DOWN TO… Duke Dumont

The British commercial dance revival has been one of the biggest stories in pop of 2013 – and Duke Dumont has spearheaded it. His No.1 hit Need U (100%) was one of the best anthems of last year: a track that works just as well on a wet Wednesday in the office as it does peak time on a dance floor. Catapulted into the limelight, Dumont has spoken of the strangeness of playing both his old underground haunts and student union parties; tonight’s Dublin date at The Academy, showcasing his Blasé Boys Club label, should provide a good mid-point Tonight, The Academy, 57 Middle Abbey Street D1, 11pm, (sold out).

Tel: 0818 719 300. www.theacademydublin.com

Mouse On Mars

Düsseldorf duo Mouse On Mars (Jan St Werner and Andi Toma) originally formed in 1993 and deserve some credit for creating the pulsing, progressive electronic blueprint that’s now championed by modern stars including SBTRKT and Deadmau5. Expect tracks from 2012’s scinitllating Parastrophics LP to beguile clubbers at Button Factory tomorrow evening. Support from Sunken Foal, with DJ set from Solar Bears Tomorrow, Button Factory, Curved Street D2, 11pm, €10, Tel: (01) 670 9202. www.buttonfactory.ie

Detroit native Patrice Scott (below) has been DJing since the late 1980s, but only released his debut record in 2006. Instead of rushing out records to secure international gigs, Scott opted for a slow move into production. It was worth the wait. The the deep, textured grooves of records such as Atmospheric Emotions, Distance Against Time and Analog Dreams combine Detroit techno’s evocative melodies with raw but never under-produced rhythms. After four decades, Scott is preparing to release his debut album, and is likely to preview tracks from it at this earlymorning gig.

Tomorrow, Breakfast Club, The Dark Horse Inn, George’s Quay D2, 7am, €12.

Mr G

Mr G is a house music survivor – quite literally. Real name Colin McBean, the seasoned producer and former member of the Advent suffered a heart attack a few years ago.

Thankfully, he is back in good health and is busy releasing his trademark tough house for Running Back, Rekids and his own Phoenix G label. Catch him performing a rare live set at Twisted Pepper this weekend.

Tomorrow, Culture Shock/Pogo, The Twisted Pepper, Middle Abbey Street D1, 10.30pm, €10 to €12.

Mark Forshaw

Mark Forshaw is not a household name, but he has been putting on and playing at parties for many years in the UK. More recently, he gained recognition for his acid techno collaboration with John Heckle on Tabernacle and Dublin’s Apartment label as Phantom Planet Outlaws.

However, Heckle remains a DJ first and foremost, and his deep knowledge of old and new electronic music is sure to resonate with the Gary’s Gang crowd.

Tonight, Gary’s Gang, Sweeney Mongrel Basement, Dame Street D2, 10.30pm, free.

Richard Brophy

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20 METRO HERALD Friday, April 4, 2014

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puzzles

METROSCOPE

by Patrick Arundell

NEMI by Lise

Aries Mar 21 – Apr 20

The Sun continues to link with Uranus and so, in turn, is angling sharply to Pluto and to a lesser extent, Jupiter.

What does this mean? For you, the desire to express yourself as an individual is greatly heightened.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 70

Taurus Apr 21 – May 21

This is not a good time to take short cuts around anything important. The laws and rules of where you live may not confer always with our own values. Yet, if we err from these, it could generate initially secret, but powerful, legal action.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 71

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

Gemini May 22 – Jun 21

The last couple of weeks have given you a chance to expand your social circle and you may be still surfing the vibrancy from this. However, if you’ve got to know new people, current influences may reveal there’s more to them than meets the eye.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 72

Cancer Jun 22 – Jul 23

For some years now, Pluto has been changing the way you interact with others. Yet, there’s a thin line between seeming assertive and being the person who wants everything on their own terms. Your strength is collaboration – try not to let ambition override this.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 73

Leo Jul 24 – Aug 23

You can find yourself with some big hopes. In fact, the yearning for change can be incredibly strong. So much so, it could see you rush into doing something that may benefit from greater thought. Without this, your hopes could flounder.

PEARLs BEFORE swINE

For your forecast, call 15609 114 74

Virgo Aug 24 – Sep 23

You may be in the mood to be very enterprising. This can see you interested in more novel or innovative ways of generating finance. Yet, with Pluto squaring up with the Sun and Uranus, it is vital that you are not reckless with your resources.

Libra Sep 24 – Oct 23

If you’re involved in an unhappy relationship, one where it seems to compromise your sense of peace and tranquillity, or at the worst, just causes upset and sadness, you have reached a telling juncture. Decisions could be made.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 76

scorpio Oct 24 – Nov 22

You can find yourself aware that flexibility is an asset in the workplace.

And you’re right, because the days of people working for one company for the whole of their life are pretty well gone. Don’t neglect your welfare.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 77

sagittarius Nov 23 – Dec 21

If you’re unattached, the chance for a liaison is definitely enhanced. Yet, if you are minded to only have a fling but the person you meets wants a meaningful involvement, today’s stars have potential for upset.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 78

Capricorn Dec 22 – Jan 20

Those itchy feet you have had for some around your emotional life, or even where you live, are heightened.

This may also see some unpredictable events pan out in your home or family life.

For your forecast, call 15609 114 79

Aquarius Jan 21 – Feb 19

If you need to tackle something that requires mental concentration, you may sort this out rapidly, or conversely, find it hard to settle to the task. There can be revelations linked to siblings or people in your community.

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Pisces Feb 20 – Mar 20

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DOWN 2 Intangible (10) 3 Chase (4) 4 Herdsman (6) 5 Bondman (6) 6 Part-song (8) 7 Network (4) 11 Carriage (10) 13 Always (8) 16 Clothes-maker (6) 17 Navigators (6) 18 Squabble (4) 20 Impolite (4)

Yesterday’s Solutions Across: 7 Noble; 8 Furious; 9 Enforce; 10 Emend; 12 Infectious; 15 Improbable; 18 Edict; 19 Confine; 21 Shudder; 22 Trial. Down: 1 Indefinite; 2 Abaft; 3 Seer; 4 Effete; 5 Oriental; 6 Boredom; 11 Disorderly; 13 Noontide; 14 Optimum; 16 Accord; 17 Rigid; 20 Note.

ENIGMA Here’s a breed you’ll see at Crufts, Its hair all trimmed and clipped in tufts.

They just look daft.

It’s a such a shame.

A toy by any other name.

the Scots.’

WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHEN? WHO… from the acting world is the birth mother of Independent TD Richard Boyd Barrett?

WHAT... is argent another name for?

WHO AM I? WHERE... in Norse mythology A king, I was born in 1239. I was the eldest son of Henry III. did the principal gods live?

WHEN... did Edward Gierek My tomb in Westminster become First Secretary of the Abbey has the inscription: Communist Party in Poland?

‘Here lies the hammer of

SCRIBBLE BOX

ACROSS 1 Marrow (4) 8 Illegible (10) 9 Prisoners (8) 10 Wealthy (4) 12 Emerge (6) 14 Caption (6) 15 Contemptible (6) 17 Young hen (6) 18 Side (4) 19 Misuse (3-5) 21 Quadruped (4-6) 22 Water jug (4)

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QuIz

Crossword No. 948 See next edition for solutions

QUIZ ANSWERS: ENIGMA: Poodle. WHO AM I? Edward I. WHO, WHAT, WHERE & WHEN? Sinéad Cusack; Silver; Asgard; 1970.

QUICK CROsswORd

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rugby heineken cup

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Friday, April 4, 2014 METRO HERALD picTure: inpHo

O’Connor wary of paying penalty on Wilkinson’s kicks by gARETH MAkiM Matt O’COnnOr has warned his Leinster players to be on their best behaviour during their Heineken Cup quarter-final this weekend, or risk watching Jonny Wilkinson kick toulon into the last four. the World Cup-winning former England fly-half’s boot remains one of the reigning champions’ key weapons, something head coach O’Connor saw up close when toulon knocked his Leicester tigers side out of the competition at the same stage last year.

Focus: O’Connor has called for accuracy across the board as Leinster face Toulon and the danger of Jonny Wilkinson’s place kicking

‘He is a 90 per centplus goal-kicker’ ‘He is a 90 per cent-plus goal-kicker.

He kicks drop goals with both feet. It’s tough,’ O’Connor said.

‘In the quarter-final down there last year he didn’t miss, and two or three of those kicks were missable kicks, but he just delivers on that. We will have to make sure we are incredibly accurate in everything we do.’

Leinster look set to be at full strength for the trip to France after O’Connor reported full participation in training. any doubts overshadowing Brian O’Driscoll, following last Saturday’s Pro12 victory over Munster, and prop trio Cian Healy, Jack McGrath and

picTure: inpHo

Martin Moore, who all missed the aviva Stadium encounter, appear to have evaporated, a real boost to Leinster’s hopes of becoming the first side to record a European Cup victory at Stade Felix Mayol. and with last week’s outing having shaken off some of the post-Six nations cobwebs, O’Connor insists the prospect of having to dethrone toulon’s star-studded squad of internationals on their own patch is not going to phase his own decorated unit.

‘What the club has demonstrated over a long period of time, especially this year in a really tough pool, is that our away form has been brilliant,’ the australian said yesterday. ‘We’re not intimated by being away to toulon.

‘It’s tiny margins. that’s the beauty of the Heineken Cup. ‘their motives have been questioned at different stages but you can’t win this competition if blokes aren’t doing it for the right reasons. We’re under no illusions how good we have to be.’

Heaslip not about to dwell on what might have been ahead of Toulon tie HAd THINGS WorkEd out a little differently at the start of this year, Jamie Heaslip could be preparing to face his future Toulon team-mates in a Heineken Cup quarter-final this Sunday.

Now, though, having rejected the advances of the French club to sign a contract extension at Leinster, the Ireland number eight admits the lure of living in the south of France and playing alongside a who’s who of international talent was not enough to convince him to leave home.

‘I don’t know [why so many stars join Toulon].

You’d have to ask them,’ Heaslip reflected yesterday.

‘A lot of them are guys who are from the southern hemisphere and they just want to come to Europe and play footy.

There’s worse places you can live.

‘They have got good players, it’s a good team, great fans. In ways it’s a lot like Leinster to be honest, but it’s still not Leinster.’

Now firmly committed to the province’s cause for another three years, Heaslip is out to avoid a repeat of last year, when Leinster missed out on Heineken Cup glory for just the

Heaslip: Staying put

second time in five years.

To make matters worse, Heaslip could only watch on enviously as crowds flocked past his home to the Aviva Stadium to see Toulon lift the trophy.

‘This time last year I was living in ringsend, and I was cursing people parking around my house,’ Heaslip said.

‘But the atmosphere that day, of everyone going along and the crowds, I could hear it all from the house and it did make me a little bit jealous. [But] it was pretty special for us last year as well, winning two trophies at the rdS (Amlin Challenge Cup and Pro12), so there’s two sides to it.

‘It’s great to be in the competition still, and we’re going to fight tooth and nail to stay in it.

‘You know, you get used to winning these things and competing at that level. It’s addictive to be honest.’

Hard task: This weekend may prove to be the toughest of Brian O’Driscoll’s pre-retirement season

TOULON STARS REPRESENT TOUgHEST CHALLENgE TO O’DRiSCOLL’S big fiNALE THE CoTE d’Azur cold become a relaxing destination for Brian o’driscoll in the future, but come Sunday it may represent the most taxing day of toil left before retirement.

The French riviera boasts summer time temperatures of around 30 degrees and it’s got every type of hostelry for a man of o’driscoll’s financial means, but if Mathieu Bastareaud & Co give him the runaround (or more likely the runover) then he may not return to Toulon in a hurry.

It will be o’driscoll’s 88th European appearance and in retrospect it is not surprising that he has played more continental competition than domestic, given his Celtic League/Pro12 appearances only tot up to 83. o’driscoll’s preference has always been for the big stage because it’s where he has felt most comfortable and delivered most often.

So what of Sunday? Will the fairytale continue on from Paris to Toulon and reward him with a home semi-final against Munster of all teams at the Aviva Stadium? It will take more than just a pivotal performance from the 35-yearold if Leinster’s European campaign is to continue this season.

The make-up of Matt o’Connor’s team was largely on show last weekend against Munster. Ian Madigan looks

set to retain the No 10 shirt after the coach commended his goal kicking last weekend, while if free from injury, Cian Healy should return to the front row.

But what of the back row?

Shane Jennings put in a superb shift last weekend against Munster, making a few line breaks and off-loading for o’driscoll’s try on top of his usual work rate in defence and at the ruck.

However, Toulon are no Munster. No to mention their stellar attacking talents like Jonny Wilkinson, Freddie Michalak, Bryan Habana, drew Mitchell, delon Armitage and Bastareaud they have a pack that could shake the Alps.

Men… no, monsters, inhabit their forward pack. Giants of the High Veldt like danie roussow and Juanne Smith may be pushing the limits of age but they are still hard to stop. Then there’s Argentina’s Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, England’s Steffon Armitage and New zealand’s Carl Hayman, who will all be marshalled under the careful guidance of Wilkinson.

The wider fear in rugby is that the new European format will make the French richer, making days like this more commonplace for Leinster, and there is no denying that. unfortunately, it may be enough to deny o’driscoll his dream finish with Leinster.

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22 METRO HERALD Friday, April 4, 2014

fORMuLA OnE Tech talk: It’s all about the tech this season, says Hamilton who adds Mercedes did better

Hamilton defends ‘boring’ Formula 1 LEWIS Hamilton has hit back at the critics who have already labelled the latest version of Formula One as boring.

Just two races into the new campaign, and with Mercedes winning both the Australian and Malaysian Grands Prix at a canter, the sport’s naysayers have been lining up to take pot-shots.

‘We’re in a period of time when technology is everything, and the fact Mercedes have developed better technology than everyone, have generally done a better job this year,’ said Hamilton.

‘Red Bull have previously had the best car overall, but it looks like it may change this year and that’s a positive.

‘It needs some time before you judge this season.’

F1’s latest crisis is to lead to talks with supremo Bernie Ecclestone and the sport’s heads in Bahrain this weekend.

golf

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Mcilroy ‘inspired’ irish Open return by pHiL cAsEy RORY McIlroy played a major part in Northern Ireland staging the Irish Open twice in the next three years.

Royal County Down will host the tournament for the first time since 1939 in May 2015, with Lough Erne Resort staging the event in 2017.

European Tour chief executive George O’Grady said: ‘It was Rory McIlroy’s inspired suggestion to me during the 2013 BMW

Masters in China that proved to be the catalyst for the announcement.’

The Irish Open was last held in Northern Ireland in 2012, when record crowds watched Jamie Donaldson’s victory at Royal Portrush.

‘The Irish Open at Royal Portrush in 2012 captured the imagination of the country after a lengthy absence and we are delighted to confirm that the tournament will

be back in Northern Ireland next year and again in 2017.’

Former world No.1 McIlroy said: ‘We all thoroughly enjoyed the experience of playing an Irish Open in Northern Ireland two years ago so it is fantastic news.’

‘Royal County Down is a great links course, which I know particularly well, so I’m delighted to have the opportunity to play an Irish Open there,’ McIlroy said.

THE TipsTER TOp fivE AinTREE bETs Happy Hunting Princely sum?

Conti in shape

S-Melling cash

the Rainbow Hunter can lead punters to the pot of gold hidden in the bookies’ satchels.

A winner of a trial race at Doncaster last time out, the bay gelding appeals each way at 33/1.

It is doubtful Silviniaco Conti would be sent to Aintree if not in great shape and can beat Dynaste and First Lieutenant in the Betfred Bowl Chase at 5/2 with Stan James.

Nicky Henderson’s Rajdhani Express can build on a fine Cheltenham run at 9/4 in the Betfred Melling Chase while Poole Master is each-way value at 20/1 in the Topham Chase.

Prince de Beauchene was fancied the last two years but twice withdrew with injury. He can get it right for Willie Mullins at 20/1 with Bet Victor paying out on the top six.

Harrington in mix at Houston Open THREE-time major winner Padraig Harrington kept his faint hopes of qualifying for next week’s US Masters alive with an opening 69 in the Shell Houston Open. Harrington (pictured) has to win on Sunday to avoid missing out on a trip to Augusta for the first time since 1999 and got off to an encouraging start.

The 42-year-old Dubliner – whose last victory on a major tour came in the 2008 US PGA Championship – finished his first round at three under par, three shots behind early leaders Keegan Bradley and Matt Kuchar.

@tipstermetro

Tw

Lucca trainer: Hobbs

u UnIOnIStE has to be respected in the Betfred tV Handicap Chase at Aintree on Saturday but Duke of Lucca, trained

by Philip Hobbs, carries less weight and is our eachway choice.

football

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Ramires has faith in the comeback kings

by MATTHEW NAsH

RAMIRES believes Chelsea can repeat their incredible comeback against Napoli two years ago to keep their Champions League dream alive.

Two second-half goals at the Parc des Princes sentenced the Blues to a 3-1 quarter-final, first leg defeat against Paris SaintGermain on Wednesday.

Jose Mourinho’s men face an uphill battle to make the last four but Ramires, who will be banned for the return, has faith Chelsea can again show the character which helped them lift the European Cup two seasons ago.

Trailing Napoli 3-1 at the halfway stage of their last-16 tie in 2012, the Blues won 4-1 at home to storm into the semis.

And Brazil midfielder Ramires insisted: ‘Nothing is lost yet, we

Final farewell?

Torres could be heading for the exit PICTUre: ACTIon ImAGes

Steven Gerrard admits he is fighting to prevent his title dreams interfering with his focus. the Premier League is the only club honour the Liverpool captain has yet to win but with the reds top ahead of Sunday’s game at West Ham, anticipation is growing at anfield.

Manager Brendan rodgers and his squad

4 Weeks out for PsG

striker Zlatan ibrahimovic, who injured a hamstring agaist Chelsea and misses the second leg

have to score two goals and we’re averaging a good amount of goals at home, so we have what it takes to reach the next stage.

‘We played against Napoli and we won, and now we will have 90 more minutes to play against Paris.

‘It’s no use saying who is stronger: we have to show on the pitch that we deserve to win.’

However, PSG scorer Ezequiel Lavezzi, a member of the stunned Italian outfit at the Bridge in 2012, is unconcerned.

‘I’m not worried about Chelsea pulling off a repeat of their comeback against Napoli because this is a completely different team and we hope to go through,’ he said.

CuTs HiT CHELsEA’s fORWARD pLANNiNg

JOSe MOUrInHO must rebuild Chelsea’s forward line against a backdrop of financial restraint which has seen their wage bill shrink to the third largest in england.

Mourinho complained bitterly about the quality of his strikers following their Champions League defeat to Paris SaintGermain, raising the prospect of high-profile arrivals this summer.

However, accounts lodged yesterday suggested the Blues boss would be forced to sell first, with Fernando torres and romelu Lukaku among those tipped to leave.

In 2004, the roman

abramovich-owned club were thought to be the biggest payers in world football. ten years on, with Manchester City having the highest wage bill in the Premier League, Chelsea are below United in the ‘wages league’ as well.

In the accounts, Chelsea cite Uefa’s financial fair play rules, explaining: ‘the club needs to continue to balance success on the field with the financial imperatives of this new regime.’

Meanwhile, former Chelsea coach ray Wilkins said yesterday ‘torres has no future at Chelsea’, just four years after the club spent £50million on the Spaniard.

O’Brien not fazed by slow St Pat’s start

With the same number of points as they had this time last year, St Patrick’s athletic skipper Ger O’Brien isn’t unduly concerned about the champions’ sluggish start in defence of their title.

Liam Buckley’s champions have yet to hit top gear as they’ve won just one and drawn their other three league games to date. at richmond Park tonight, Saints face dundalk, who beat them twice last season, before a crucial 2-0 win in Inchicore in late September edged the dubliners ever closer to their first title in 14 years.

‘When you think back to last

Gerrard: I do now dream of the title

airtricity league season, all the games between dundalk and ourselves were very tough and competitive,’ said O’Brien. ‘they were the side that pushed us close last year in the league, so naturally (tonight’s) game will be a tough one.

‘Last September’s game was a great occasion as both sides showed their quality, and there was huge support for both. Hopefully (tonight) will be a similar occasion.’

Boss Buckley also cited last season’s meetings with Stephen Kenny’s Lilywhites as an indicator of

what to expect in front of the live tv cameras tonight.

‘Stephen has strengthened his side and the few signings they made are very good,’ said Buckley. ‘Last year we played some great matches with dundalk, and each time the game could have gone either way. ‘the games were decided on little things so we’ll be trying to get things right from the first whistle. the cameras are back in richmond Park, and with two top sides playing, there should be a bumper crowd in Inchicore, so the players and management are all really looking forward to the game.’

continually insist they are taking one game at a time but even 33-year-old Gerrard cannot deny it is an exciting time.

‘I think I’d be a liar if I said no,’ he said when asked whether he was dreaming about the title.

‘It is flashing in and out of my mind from time to time but I am trying to get it out as quick as it is going in because nothing has been achieved yet.’

fixTuREs today (7.45pm unless stated) Airtricity League Premier division Bohemians v Bray Wanderers Cork City v shamrock rovers Derry City v sligo rovers Drogheda United v Athlone Town st. Patrick’s Athletic v Dundalk (Live on rTe Two, 7.05) UCD v Limerick First division Galway FC v Cobh ramblers shelbourne v Finn Harps (8.0) Wexford youths v shamrock rovers“B” scottish Premiership ross County v Inverness CT ...................

SatuRday (3pm unless stated) Barclays Premier League Aston Villa v Fulham..............................

Cardiff v Crystal Palace ..........................

Chelsea v stoke . (5.30pm) TVSky Sports Hull v swansea ....................................... man City v southampton. (12.45pm) TV newcastle v man Utd ............................ norwich v West Brom............................

Sunday Barclays Premier League everton v Arsenal.......(1.30pm) TVWest Ham v Liverpool ....................(4pm) TVS

Friday, April 4, 2014 METRO HERALD 23

fOOTbALL DigEsT

Return: Ramsey

Ramsey’s Goodison news for Wenger AAron rAmsey could return to the Arsenal squad for the first time this year in sunday’s crucial Premier League clash at everton. The Wales midfielder has not featured since suffering a thigh strain at West Ham on Boxing Day, robbing manager Arsene Wenger of one of his key performers with the 23-year-old having scored an impressive 13 goals in the opening part of the season. Having initially expected only a six-week absence, ramsey suffered a series of setbacks, but is now in line to make the trip to merseyside as Arsenal look to take a grip on fourth place.

‘Aaron and nacho monreal are back training with the squad, so that is good news. Hopefully they will be available for sunday,’ said Wenger. u Goodison Park will be opened on the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster to screen the memorial service being held at Anfield. Everton’s first-team squad will attend the screening, while boss Roberto Martinez will address the service.

Crocked Christian to miss World Cup AsTon Villa and Belgium have suffered a hammer blow with the news Christian Benteke has been ruled out of the World Cup through injury. The striker (pictured) tore his Achilles tendon in training yesterday, needs surgery and is expected to be out for at least six months. ‘It’s a terrible blow both for Christian and for the club,’ said Villa boss Paul Lambert.

‘He will miss the rest of the season, obviously, and also the World Cup. But he’ll work hard and he’ll come back stronger than ever next season.’

Pochettino: We can stall City’s march

mauricio Pochettino believes southampton can derail manchester City’s title bid this weekend, even if star striker sergio Aguero is back. Third in the Premier League table with two matches in hand on their rivals, City are favourites for the visit of southampton.

However, the saints have yet to lose to the big-spending title-chasers under Pochettino, claiming a win and a draw.

The st mary’s boss said: ‘We always have the belief we are going to win.’

24 METRO HERALD Friday, April 4, 2014

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Irish Open up North just a matter of course for McIlroy

Maher: I’ve got a Big Shu-in for National « tipster is bAck see p22

Hedging their bets: Big Shu in action at Cheltenham pIcture: pa

by DANNy gRIffITHS COUNTY Kildare trainer Peter Maher feels he has Big Shu in perfect condition ahead of tomorrow’s £1million Grand National.

Big Shu won the Cross-Country Chase at the Cheltenham Festival 12 months ago and finished third in the last month’s renewal, beaten three lengths by Balthazar King who also contests the world’s greatest steeplechase at Aintree.

With Paul Carberry taking the mount on Monbeg Dude, owned

by Gloucester rugby union stars Mike Tindall and James Simpson-

Daniel, Maher sprang a surprise by booking Peter Buchanan, stable jockey to Lucinda Russell in Scotland.

‘He deserves a crack at this,’ Maher said of Big Shu. ‘People have said I should have saved him for Punchestown but you only get one real crack at the National. He’s the sort of horse you can only train properly for one race each season and this year we decided on the National. He’s in the best shape of his life. One thing he does need is rain, though. They can go flat-out early on and if it rains that might just slow him down.’

CRICkETERS BLOw T20 CHANCE irElAnD WOMEn’S cricketers spurned a great opportunity to end their iCC World twenty20 on a high note as they slumped to a 17run loss to Bangaldesh in the 9th-10th placing match in Sylhet. Fourteen-year-old lucy O’reilly looked to have set ireland on course for the win as she bowled to claim 3 for 15 to restrict the hosts to 106 for 7 in front of a very vocal home crowd. She was given excellent support by skipper isobel Joyce (2-17) and louise McCarthy (2-19). the ireland squad begin their ECB County Championships campaign next month.

Cecelia Joyce batting

«see pAge 22

Heaslip: I got slagged over French move Flirting with the idea of a French move was enough to make Jamie Heaslip the butt of leinster’s dressing-room humour as he weighed up his rugby future, writes Gareth Makim.

Heaslip, along with fellow ireland back-row Sean O’Brien, was heavily linked with top 14 clubs and their team-mates were quick to seize upon the opportunity for laughs. ‘i wasn’t the only one who was getting a good bit of stick back then,’ Heaslip said. ‘the lads gave it to us alright but you just take it on the chin. ‘there would be too many bleeps [to repeat what was said]. A lot of it was in French that i didn’t have a clue of. i don’t even know if the lads knew it, they were just speaking with a French accent most of the time. ‘i’m sure someone else will get it in six or nine months’ time. it’s just part and parcel of it.’

«

toulon – pAge 21