Dec 09 jan 10 newsfour by News Four

Free Community Newspaper serving Sandymount, Irishtown, Ringsend, Docklands, Ballsbridge and Donnybrook Web: www.news4.ie • E-mail: newsfour@gmail.com • Local Newsdesk: Phone 6673317

WORK TO BEGIN ON INCINERATOR

ell, after years of objections, delays, reviews and so on, it looks as if work on the Poolbeg incinerator is going to start. Whatever your views on the project, we thought you might like to see

this artistʼs impression of what the finished structure (centre) will look like. At the time of going to press it is still unclear whether this latest proposal will actually go ahead. Weʼll wait and see

here is no escape from Christmas! The fine crib above is part of the lavish Christmas decorations within Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre. Johnson Court, top right, fairly sparkles, with Powerscourt Townhouse in the background. Both pictures are from our photographer John Cheevers. Meanwhile, our Editor Christopher spotted the unusual flying object in his own photograph of Poolbegʼs twin stacks. We believe a certain Mr S. Claus may have been using them as a navigational aid for his practice run over the Dublin 4 area. Sources close to the Claus camp report that Mr Tillyʼs Christmas illuminations on Bath Avenue also come in very handy when using a low-flying, reindeer-powered vehicle on a winterʼs night.

DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

NewsFour

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NewsFour Managing Editor Christopher Sweeney Advertising Manager Grainne McGuinness Staff Harry Cavendish Nessa Jennings Louise Hanrahan Glenda Cimino John Fitzgerald Paula Young Jason McDonnell Contributors Shay Connolly George Humphries Noel Twamley Peter Pick James OʼDoherty Christy Hogan Bridie Murphy Cllr Maria Parodi Gráinne McGuinness Lorraine Barry Christopher Sands Liz Carroll Patrick Hugh Lynch Bobby Neill

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

The Editorʼs Corner

elcome to the Christmas issue of NewsFour. Best wishes of the season from all of us here. I hope you enjoy this issue of the paper. We are especially pleased and honoured to have Paul Durcan as the ʻPoet in Profileʼ for this issue. A long-time resident of Ringsend, Paul kindly gave us permission to print two of his poems which are connected to the area. It has been an interesting few months for me in my new job. I have to thank Eugene Carolan, John Cheevers and Grainne McGuinness who have managed to get the paper out on time every time despite having such an inexperienced editor. And of course, many thanks to all our journalists and contributors for their fine work this year. We had a huge amount of material for this issue, particularly photographs from the Halloween festival and a piece about CYMS winning the Bradmola Cup back in the 1970s. Sorry we could not find space for everything folks, we will try and include some of these in the next edition. I would also like to thank all those who have advertised with us throughout 2009 despite the economic lean times. This paper could not exist without their support. So when you are doing your Christmas shopping, remember to support your local shops. Aspiring writers of all ages please note, we are running the annual short story competition again in the New Year with a first prize of €150, so get to work. Full details are on the right. Also, if anyone has articles, poems or photographs to contribute, we would love to hear from you. See you all again in 2010. Christopher

Web Designer Andrew Thorn

‘NEWSFOUR’ SHORT STORY COMPETITION WIN €150! The winner will have their story published in the February issue of ‘NewsFour’, also receiving a prize of €150. All entries should be unpublished and contain no more than 1500 words. Entries must be received no later than 31st January 2010 and should be sent to Short Story Competition NewsFour 15 Fitzwilliam Street Ringsend Dublin 4 or by email to newsfour@gmail.com

Photography John Cheevers

Christmas greetings

Design, Typesetting, Layout Eugene Carolan Community Services, 15 Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4. Telephone: (01)6673317 E-mail: newsfour@gmail.com Website: www.news4.ie NewsFour Newspaper is part of a FÁS Community Employment Programme. Opinions expressed in News Four do not necessarily represent the views of Community Services.

Outsourced payroll solutions

Anthony and Joan and Rita Flood and Family would like to wish Michael and Pauline Flood and family in Manchester; Johnjoe and Colleen Tierney and family in Coventry; Ann Flood and Paul Eccles in Scotland; Bernadette and Michael Keating in London; Tom and Margaret Egan in Canada; Willie and Joyce Egan in Canada; Terry and Julie McDonald in Canada Dominic, Eddie, Marie Boileau in London Liam Raymond Bowden Family in Perth, Australia and Tom and Heather Flood in Canada

A Very Merry Christmas and a Very Prosperous New Year

RINGSEND ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION Retired with time on your hands? Why not visit us at the CMWS in Ringsend any Tuesday to Friday from 2.30 pm New members (men and women) always welcome

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

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YMCA Sandymount Claremont Road Telephone: 01 607 7102

ONE GYM VISIT C LARKE ’ S

VERSUS

V INTAGE

TEAMS FROM SOME TIME AGO …

(NO CATCHES)

Classes during the week, (Prices Vary): Monday, 7pm, Pilates; Tuesday 6pm, Khai-Bo, 7pm, Zumba!; Wednesday, Pilates (Check Times); Thursday, 7pm, Trim ‘n’ Tone; Friday, 10am, Pilates; Saturday, 12.30pm, Ages 7-11 Rock Chicks Dance Workout Looking back over more than 15 years, Clarkeʼs pub team ʻthe Singlesʼ (in red) and the Vintage team, ʻthe Marriedʼ (in yellow) met in battle on the football ﬁeld. On the Vintage team, top, from left, back row: Marmo, Joe Sadlier, Joe McDonaght, Joe Doyle, Scobie Larkin, Andy Nolan and T.J. Front row: Ger Caffrey, Charlie Murray, Jakie

Desay, Shay Reid, Joe Smith and Patch. The boy with the ball is Andrew Nolan. The Clarkeʼs team is, back row: Karl Dolan, Gary McDonaght, Robert Barry, David Sadlier, Ray Leahy, Gary Nangle, Ken McCabe and Glen Rigley. Front row: Ian Douglas, Paul Delaney, Willie Delaney. Collie Gannon, Dillon Clayton and Vincent Clarke.

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NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

H EITON B UCKLEY B UILDING

ON SUCCESS

By Jason McDonnell

eiton Buckley, one of Irelandʼs most experienced builderʼs merchants, opened a new branch in Ringsend on 2nd April 2007 to accommodate the builders of the Dublin 4 community. Originally they had a branch in South Lotts Road that a lot of people will remember, myself included. That particular branch moved over to East Wall, but the general feeling was that the presence of a Heitons was greatly missed on the Southside, so the branch was opened on the old ESB training site on South Bank Road. Business was brisk when it ﬁrst opened, but with the recession things have slowed down a bit; according to manager John OʼReilly, they have been ticking along with the standard day-to-day building supplies like cement, timber and plaster board. The downturn has seen people

looking to improve their own places, so ﬂoors, doors and bathroom ﬁttings are selling well. John says if they donʼt have it in stock they can arrange to have it sent down to the site within a couple of hours or the next day at the latest. All of the staff are very helpful and are working with the company for between 5 and 10 years, and most of them have worked in the building trade beforehand, which is a great help when you are not too sure what exactly you need when you go into the store. Stewart Lang, the Assistant Manager, says they still pick up a lot of tips themselves from builders, who are eager to explain the best ways to do certain jobs when they come into the store. The members of staff are John OʼReilly (Manager), Stewart Lang (Assistant Manager), Eric Darling on the counter with David Farrell and Mark Quinn in the stores and on the fork lifts. Heiton Buckleys themselves are an amalgamation of Heitons, which

would have been more known for the steel end of things, and F&T Buckleys. The chain itself is owned by the Grafton group, who also own Chadwickʼs, Atlantic Home Care, Woodies, Sam Hire and Davies Plumbing. There are 27 Heiton Buckley branches around Ireland and six in Dublin, providing a full service to the building and home improvement market. They also run regular specials every couple of months so it may be a good idea to keep and eye on their website to ﬁnd out what specials they are running at the moment. Hand tools are proving to be a very popular gift for Christmas and they are doing a lot of good deals on gardening equipment at present, but mainly it is the ﬂoors and doors that are doing well on the run-up to

Christmas as people do some lastminute improvements. The staff are also available for tips on sustainable energy grants, solid wood ﬂooring, door styles, bathrooms, Velux windows, quality timber decking, hardwood deck-

ing, general building materials and rooﬁng materials. Tel: 01 2383800. Opening hours are Monday to Thursday 8.00am to 5.00pm and Fridays 8.00am to 4.00pm. Above: Always helpful service.

CRANFIELD CONTRACTORS LIMITED SMITHFIELD A CADEMY A MATEUR BOXING CLUB TEL & FAX: 6687796, MOBILE: 086 2597094

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We would like to wish all our customers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

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Pictured at Smithfield Academy Amateur Boxing Club are, left to right, back row: Packie Enright, Coach Brian Daly, Micha Kovacenko, Kirill Afanasev, Coach Sergi Parlas and Coach Igor Khmic. Front row: Tom Maughan, Larry, Gareth McMahon.

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

N ICE

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PINT BUT ‘ BAD BEHAVIOUR ’

By Christy Hogan

aturday nights in pubs are generally a bit noisier and more crowded than week nights. And if you are not prepared for this, then I suggest you stay at home, watch telly and have a few cans. However, on Saturday 21st November I visited a local hostelry in Ringsend. There were approximately thirty customers having a drink, chatting away and enjoying themselves. There was music for different tastes, a mixture from the seventies, eighties and nineties, playing at a level that could be heard, while allowing for conversation. I was enjoying my pint and reading my paper– the ambience and atmosphere was spot on. However, all this tranquillity went out the window when a number of yobs arrived. You didnʼt have to see them to know they had arrived, a verbal assault with expletives such as the F-word, the C-word and the B-word was audible

throughout the premises. I would dare to suggest that the roars and shouts could be heard on the street outside. I was having none of this ʻout of orderʼ behaviour. I put my jacket on, folded my paper and brought the fresh pint I had just been given back to the bar. I requested a refund. I was refused. I asked to see the manager. He also refused a refund. He asked me “what is wrong with the pint?” I replied that the pint was ﬁne, and pointed out that the atmosphere had become threatening and abusive. He still refused me a refund. While not acceding to my request, he was at the same time challenging these yobs to behave. They continued relentlessly. The manager said he would bar them unless they changed their attitude. The salient point at issue here is that a drink is just that, a drink. However, people who wish to have a drink usually choose a bar or lounge which they like for a variety of reasons. So I would challenge the manager and his contention that if the pint is OK then thatʼs all that matters. It most certainly is not.

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NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

T ASTING

TIMES AT

By John Fitzgerald

lancing through the windows of the many restaurants in the city, it is easy to see the effects of the economic crash. Diners seem to be on the endangered list, with the Christmas party downgraded to a dinner and the ofﬁce dinner downgraded to a lunch or just a few pints. On a drizzly evening in early November it felt as if we had disturbed

R OLY ’ S B ISTRO

the Celtic Tiger in the middle of a feeding frenzy… Rolyʼs Bistro in Ballsbridge was heaving with people and we seemed to be the only people in the ʻcheap seatsʼ. It was like travelling back to 2006– the place was bustling with a large staff feeding a well-heeled clientele. A friend had told me that the restaurant was doing a special winetasting evening menu, where you could get a four-course meal with an endless supply of wine for €45 plus a 10% service charge. We decided

RODNEY DEVITT, D. P

OD. M., M. CH. S. I.,

PODIATRIST / CHIROPODIST Is now in private practice four full days at 62 Tritonville Road, Sandymount, Dublin 4

For consultation, advice and treatment for all foot conditions Telephone 6680485 for an appointment Monday to Thursday inclusive, 8am to 5pm The surgery is at garden level – no stairs Four minute walk from No. 3 bus (Star of the Sea Church) Off-road car parking – free

to call it a Christmas gathering and check it out. We took our table and were brought bread– baked daily on the premises– and water. Straight on to business, we selected our wine, Marquis de Goulaine Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot. The Goulaine family have been producing wine in Franceʼs Loire valley for

over a thousand years. So, if they havenʼt got the hang of it by now, it would be impolite to suggest a career change. As promised, the wines were excellent and plentiful. Now, I am an argumentative man, and sure enough, my companion and I fell out over the fact that the wine was screw top, which it seems, used to be associated with cheap or inferior wines, the natural cork being the only true way to cap a bottle. This keeps the worldʼs relatively small population of cork oak trees going. These trees can live up to 100 years and thrive in the hot, arid soils of the Mediterranean, mainly Spain and Portugal. They protect the soil from drying out and provide shelter to a wide range of wonderful animals. Some rare creatures such as the Iberian Lynx and the Imperial Iberian Eagle depend on these cork oak forests for survival. The problem with the natural cork is that it can allow a bottle of wine to become ʻcorkedʼ; that is, a musty taste and smell develops in the wine caused by the substance used to sanitise the natural cork prior to bottling. Plastic corks have an unproven

track record at keeping oxidation at bay for any real length of time and so limit the shelf life. Screw caps may not be the most environmentfriendly choice, but they do the job and do not mean bad quality. For starters, I had the chicken liver which came with a ﬁg and onion chutney, which I found a little strong. My dining companion had the smoked haddock ﬁshcakes with a rocket salad, which was delicious. For a main course, I had the rack of lamb with mashed potato, broccoli and mashed carrot, which was tasty and ample. My co-diner had the goatʼs cheese tart with mixed salad and seemed very impressed with it. The deserts were tiramisu with a coffee collection for my companion. This involved coffee cheesecake and a coffee pastry, essentially three deserts in one and very tasty indeed. I had the ginger sorbet with Créme brulée, also delicious. All in all, it proved good food and good value. There was even a celebrity spotted… a radio presenter whose huge hair makes him look like the owner of a small chain of hair salons in Dublin… in the nineteen eighties.

UCD M ARIAN W ATER P OLO C LUB

By Harry Cavendish

CD Marian Water Polo club, although only founded in 2008, actually owes its roots to Marian Water Polo Club, which was founded in June 1967 in Marian College, Ballsbridge. Drawing players from the school and alumni, the club went on to become one of the most successful in Irish water polo, winning countless Leagues and Cups. The club ran into difficulties in 2004, and ultimately folded. The various players at the time

spread to other clubs, some retiring from the game completely. In 2007 a group of former players, mostly past pupils of the school, banded together with players from UCD to form UCD Marian Water Polo Club (borrowing the name of UCD Marian Basketball Club in the process) and entered a team into the Leinster league. Notable founding members of the club included John Ryan, Thomas Higgins and David OʼConnor. Paul Lavery had the honour of becoming the clubʼs first president. The club found life tough in

its first season but the quality of performances and results steadily improved over time and past players and members started to take notice. The clubʼs profile grew to an extent that deputy Lord Mayor Kevin Humphreys presented the clubʼs Player of the Year award this year. This season playing numbers have almost doubled and players old and new are signing up and at time of writing the club is unbeaten this season. New members are always welcome. The club trains from 9 to 10.45pm on Mondays in Marian College, Ballsbridge.

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

B ALLSBRIDGE ICA: ACTIVE AND GROWING

By Bridie Murphy

allsbridge ICA have been enjoying continued success and are now in their fourth year. 2009 has been a very active one. The year commenced with an Auction of unwanted Christmas presents and a rafﬂe, the proceeds of which were presented to the Kidney Association. At the presentation of the cheque for €721, Catherine Foley of the Kidney

Association gave a talk on ʻThe Value of a Kidney Donationʼ. A very interesting talk on ʻA Career Behind and On the TV Screenʼ was given by Bryan Dobson, whose mother, Violet, is an active member of the Guild. This was a ʻBring a Friendʼ night and some members of Blackrock Guild also attended. At the AGM in May, Ide Ni Thuama was elected President; Maureen Smith, Secretary; and Jill OʼBrien, Treasurer. The Guild took a break from

PAGE 7 their fortnightly meetings for July and August. During this break they went on various outings including An Grianan for Tai Chi; a tour of Government Buildings; a Summer outing to Japanese Gardens, Tully Stud and Castletown House; a tour of Croke Park; a tour of Malahide Castle; a Viennese Concert in the National Concert Hall and a Saturday morning visit to Áras an Uachtaráin. The guild resumed their fortnightly meetings in September in a new venue, Pembroke Hockey Club, Serpentine Avenue, with meetings taking place on the second and fourth Mondays at 8pm. The ﬁrst visiting guest was Dave Conway, who gave a most

interesting talk on his work as photographer in the Forensic Department of the Garda Siochana. He also judged photographs which were taken by the members during the past year. The guild is planning a full programme of events for the coming months. New members are always welcome. Contact numbers are: 2691001, 6685651 or 6601880. On left: A group of Ballsbridge ICA members at the Japanese Gardens. Below: Bryan Dobson, RTE Newsreader with, left to right, Violet Dobson (Bryanʼs mother), Heather Moulton and Bridie Murphy.

Have a Happy Christmas from Dermot and Kevin

Cllr Dermot Lacey

Cllr. Kevin Humphreys

PEMBROKE RATHMINES

SOUTH EAST INNER CITY

087 264 6960 dermot@dermotlacey.ie

668 6854 kevin.humphreys@dublincity.ie

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A Tribute to Brian Murray

n the 2nd of October 2009, I, like many, many others here in Ringsend, lost a good friend of many years, Brian Murray. Brian passed away at Blackrock Hospice after a short illness, may he rest in peace. I had known Brian or ʻMurrayerʼ for many years and I had many a good time in his company. He was a larger-than-life character, always full of fun. At his funeral mass, his nephew Rory made a ﬁne job delivering his eulogy. One thing he mentioned was Brianʼs love of football, you could not overemphasize Brianʼs love for the game, as a player for the CY, he was a legend. As a fan, he followed the Irish team all over the world and brought fun, laughter and good companionship wherever he went. He was the life and soul of any gathering he was at. A more goodhumoured man I have never met. Murrayer, I wish you all the very best in your new life. To his Da Johnnie, his siblings, his nephew Rory and to all his family we offer our condolences on the loss of a legend. By George Humphries

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

St Patrick’s CYFC News

Ode for Murrayer On a sunny Monday morning, last October in the village of Ringsend, I like many others went to say good bye to an old, loyal friend As the cortege moved slowly oeʼr the bridge to St Patrickʼs, Sadness was everyoneʼs as they made their way from Raytown, It was a long walk home for many to the Star of the Sea, The sun was shining brightly as old friends gathered, To say their farewells to one true legend who could make a cat laugh. Now he is at peace. He had suffered enough. But his sense of humour will be with him forever in his eternal home, I speak for all, you will be missed old friend but the memories You have left behind, which are many indeed will keep us going As was once said, you will be still talking six months after youʼre gone Rest in peace old friend. As the song says when they made you brother they broke the mould He got that part right ʻAr dheis Dé go raibh a h-anam dilisʼ By George Humphries

By David Thomas Nolan

e are now three months into the 2009/10 season and so far all three senior teams are holding their own whilst our U15 DDSL schoolboys have also had a good solid start to the new campaign. Our 1st team now competing in Intermediate 1A having been promoted have had a solid if un-spectacular start to the season with a record of played six, won two and lost one, leaving them lying 4th in the league a couple of points off the pace at this early stage. As well as the league games, John Youngʼs side have also played three cup games, two in the George Moore cup, winning both away from home to leave a quarter ﬁnal berth to look forward to and also one round in the Umbro-sponsored Intermediate cup beating CIE Ranch 4-2 at home to advance to the 2nd round for the 1st time in three attempts. Old foes UCD awaited on November 1st, early days in all competitions

and as usual promotion was the main goal. The 2nd team playing in Major 1C Sat after missing out narrowly last season on promotion have got off to a great start, currently topping the table ahead of Dublin University. After almost five very successful years as 2nd team manager Anthony Owens has stepped down with Derek Bowden and Tony Roe taking charge. The duo bring a wealth of experience to the role but will still be hard pressed to match the record of two league titles and a Joe Tynan cup that the previous manager had achieved, whilst also adding the local Ringsend cup to that list during the summer. We wish Derek & Tony all the best. Also with new management, the 3rd team has started very brightly in Division 2. Currently in 4th position, they will top the table if they can win their games in hand. Former 2nd team manager Ray Doyle has once again taking the reins, having also managed the 3rd team initially in its first season. He will be assisted by Ray Williams, who has decided to dedicate his time to coaching, having finally conceded defeat to age and a bad ankle break in a pre-season friendly. The 3rds will hope they can challenge for promotion whilst trying to

defend the Cullen cup. In other local amateur soccer news, Liffey Pearse have got off to a steady enough start to their 1st season in the top flight of Intermediate football, with a stunning opening day victory over one of the league favourites, Tolka Rovers and a credible 3-3 draw also at home against Wayside Celtic. Things went a little pear-shaped briefly with successive defeats to Crumlin United away and surprisingly fellow new comers Firhouse Clover at home before steadying the ship with draws against Pheonix FC and last seasonʼs champions Bangor Celtic. More recently they had a fantastic win over Mount Merrion FC by six goals to zip! Lately, cup football has taken over and they face former winners Wayside Celtic in the FAI Intermediate cup on November 1st in Stepaside in what will be a tough but exciting encounter. In Sat Major1 Liffeyʼs 2nd string have also had a solid start, currently in sixth position in the table. A league below in Sat major 1A Ringsend Rovers lead the way seven games in and remain undefeated with fifteen points already in the bag, Markievicz Celtic lie 6th in Sat Premier and their 1st team are 3rd in Major1 Sunday and finally on the LSL front, newcomers to the league Vintage Docklands lie 4th in Premier1 Saturday with a number of games in hand over their league rivals. I will have a full update on all local schoolboy soccer in the next edition along with the usual seniors updates. Above: Facing the ball…

The late Bryan Murray (see article top left) is pictured above, celebrating winning the Bradmola Cup with his team mates during the 1973–74 season. Bryan is third from left in the back row.

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

PAGE 9

M Y FIRST SIX MONTHS AS A COUNCILLOR By Cllr. Maria Parodi

“W

hy should I vote for you–sure youʼre all the same.” This line was not uncommon during the local elections as I knocked from one end of South East Inner City t o t h e o t h e r, i n a n e ff o r t t o dispel that myth. On the 6th June, I woke up to hear the rain beating against my window– it was time. A sense of sheer panic and excitement came over me since I was fully aware that as each hour ticked by the votes were being counted in the RDS. It was the first time in months that I had a quiet moment alone to reflect on the journey which got me to that point. I thought of all the people I had met while knocking on doors and the importance of their issues and concerns

being heard. As I arrived in the RDS a t m i d - d a y, I b e g a n t o f e e l more and more like I was on a rollercoaster ride t h a t I c o u l d n ʼt g e t o ff . A t one minute I would hear reports that I would be elected and in the same breath that I actually may not. Nothing prepares you f o r t h e u n c e r t a i n t y. T h e n

around 10 oʼclock that e v e n i n g i t w a s o ff i c i a l , I had been deemed elected. As I was lifted high into the air on the shoulders of my campaign team, I felt relieved and honoured. I was deeply honoured because the people of Dublin South East had put their trust in me and I was ready to work hard for them.

Entering the council chamber in City Hall for my first City Council meeting, I was immediately in awe of my surroundings. The room erupted with sound as 52 councill o r s , t h e C i t y M a n a g e r, a n d v a r i o u s c o u n c i l s t a ff members made their way to their seats. The atmosphere was electric, reminiscent of the first days of school after the summer holidays when everyone chats about how they got on. I thought to myself this is a new council and we have a real chance for a fresh start. In the months that followed, I attended City Council meetings, Local Area Committee meetings, Strategic Policy meetings and various other boards and committees that I was appointed to. One of the most important of those is the Dublin South East local area committee, because at these meetings councillors get to raise local issues a ff e c t i n g r e s i d e n t s , d e b a t e possible solutions and get a detailed response from

t h e A r e a M a n a g e r, i n c l u d ing, updates on projects and plans being carried out in our area. I quickly rolled up my sleeves and began submitting motions and following up on queries I had received. L o c a l l y, o v e r t h e p a s t six months, we have seen the unfortunate closure of our Ringsend post office, the successful conclusion to the MTL Dublin P o r t Wo r k e r s ʼ s t r i k e a n d r e c e n t l y, t h e C i t y M a n a g e r ʼs d e c i s i o n t o c o m mence building a 600,000 tonne incinerator in Poolbeg from December 14th, which I believe is not the best deal for Dublin. Because of this, I have tabled a motion calling on the City Manager to halt t h e p r o j e c t b e f o r e i t ʼs t o o late. The last six months have f l o w n b y a n d I l o o k f o rward to continuously working on your behalf to bring about positive changes in the years to come. As always, I am here to work with you to find solutions to any concerns you have.

PAGE 10

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

D YLAN

DELIGHTS WITH

etʼs face it, Bob Dylan never was a renowned singer and the years have not been kind to his voice. Where once he drawled, now he croaks, where once he whined, now he mumbles.

C HRISTMAS ‘ COMEDY ’

When interpreting his own tunes, this delivery can give the lyrics a certain battered majesty and charm, but when he has a go at somebody elseʼs tunes, the results can be a bit hit and miss. So it was with some

trepidation I approached Dylanʼs latest venture: ʻChristmas in the Heartʼ, an album of cover versions of well-known Christmas tunes. Now Iʼm not sure if he intended this, being inscrutable Bob and all, but this is one of the best comedy records I have ever heard. He attacks well-known tunes like ʻAdeste Fidelesʼ and ʻThe First Noelʼ head-on, giving them the full, strangulated Dylan treatment, complete with his trademark ʻget off my landʼ snarl. It is great fun. This is what Christmas songs should sound like, not like Bing Crosby all smooth and flawless, more like your uncle– with his paper hat on slightly askew– belting his way through ʻThe Twelve Days of Christmasʼ. The proceeds of this album go to Feeding America, a hunger relief charity.

S HELBOURNE P19HARMACY Irishtown Road

Tel/Fax: 668 4481 • Tel: 668 2433

Join our Christmas Club and you will be entered into a draw for a Voucher WORTH €200, which will take place Friday 18th December. Great selection of gifts. Now stocking ESSENCE make-up

A Very Happy Christmas from Paddy and the Staff

S ERENADE IN THE NIGHT

T HE WONDERFUL B LACK AND W HITE M INSTREL S HOW

By James OʼDoherty

ooking back through my collectibles, I discovered an old theatre programme featuring the Black and White Minstrel Show in The Victoria Palace in London. I have faint memories of their earlier years. Television sets were scarce in the Ringsend of the fifties but certain programmes remain in my memory. On March 20th, 1967, the Black and White Minstrel Show at the Victoria Palace reached its 3,000th performance. They would eventually go on to perform 6,477 shows– in doing so becoming the most successful music show in the history of the theatre. At the same time a second Minstrel Show was breaking records in the major theatres all over the country and a third version proved the most successful show ever to visit Australia and New Zealand. It was first presented on television from Earlʼs Court in 1957. Robert Luff (pictured above) was the man who recognised the potential of the show. The show ran on British Television from 1958 to 1978 and it proved extremely popular, getting record audiences of over 18 million people. It featured the Male Mitchell Minstrels named after George Mitchell, the musical director as well as the lovely female Television Toppers. The show was produced by George Mitchell and George Inns and was broadcast at peak time on Saturday nights. Music, dance and song were the heartbeat of the show, performed in ʻblack faceʼ and with the ladies in beautiful costumes. All gathered on stage exchanging wisecracks and singing. It was first broadcast from The

BBC on June 14th 1958. Incidentally, the show started broadcasting in genuine black and white and was one of the first shows to go to colour in 1967. Do you remember those first days of black and white TV– the awful reception? The show won many awards including the Rose of Montreux in 1961 for Best Light Entertainment Programme. Many personalities made guest appearances on the show. It was sadly ended in 1978 amid some controversy. Unsurprisingly perhaps, some people considered the programmeʼs portrayal of black people as patronising and offensive. Things had moved on a lot since the showʼs beginnings, and it was perceived as dated by many younger viewers. The stage show continued, however, and ran until 1982 at the Victoria Palace. It then toured every year in the big cities and seaside resorts until 1987, when it finished with a tour of three Butlins resorts. The legacy of the minstrel show is its music. Many of the tunes became popular folk songs. Next time you hear ʻMy Old Kentucky Homeʼ, think of the minstrels. I recall the great voices of Tony Mercer, Dai Francis and John Boulter. I remember the minstrel maids playing on my old tape recorder. I can still visualise those Television Toppers in their magnificent costumes. George Mitchell died in 2002. But his name and those of George Inns and Robert Luff live on. Along with the many minstrels, their contribution to music and entertainment should never be forgotten. They represent all that is good and original in show business. Let the show begin!

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

PAGE 11

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PAGE 12

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

B OOKS :

READERS ’ CHOICE

for almost two hours for rugby fans at the Dundrum Town Centre in October. Instead of joining the long queue, I talked to author, Peter Breen, whose ﬁrst book it is. From Swords and schooled at Belvedere, Peter has previously been a sports journalist. But it is

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from his position as Media/ Communications manager for the Leinster side since 2003 that he has written about the 2008 to 2009 season. If you think Popey and Hook bantering in the studio is the most interesting thing about the game, try Leinster winning the Heineken Cup as recounted from Peter Breenʼs unique vantage point along with outstanding images by Inpho Photography, Billy Sticklandʼs company, and official photographers to the Lions Tour. The book is great value for the sports photography alone, taking us from the training sessions right through to the final against Leicester at Murrayfield, where it was close, 19–16, the final score. The writing itself is an eye witness account of a team trying to make its mark on the European competition among heavyweights like Clermont and Perpignon, and of course, the English sides. But the rivalry was closer to home, with Munster winning in 2006 and 2008. I remember being in Ballsbridge after a bloody encounter when the stands in Lansdowne Road were drowned in a sea of red, and the style of rugby played by a victorious Munster was intimidating. And I was actually upset about it and the manner in which the fans were celebrating. Rugby, it seemed to me, had gone to a new level. In the intervening years, Leinster had to regroup and adopt a new strategy, and years of hard training followed. The drafting in of foreign players like Phillippe Contepomi and Rocky Elsom, having to be integrated to comprise a more competitive Leinster side. Many matches were hotly contested. When it came to last season, they were primed and ready. The book tells in close detail how it all unfolded. The ʻBoys in Blueʼ posters, the time when Rob Kearney, recovering from illness, acted as ʻwaterboyʼ for one of the matches just to be part of the 22, and the ʻbloodgateʼ controversy during the match against Harlequins, when they tried to make an illegal substitution by faking a blood injury, simulated by a player smashing open a blood pellet over his face. Leinster narrowly scraped justice for themselves by winning the match anyway. The semi-final v Munster was an absolute thriller where justice was also served. All the talk was of another Munster victory. However,

Leinster took the game with a lot of grace and skill. Remember also, that Ireland historically won the Grand Slam this year, with a lot of the players doubly committed. This book by Peter Breen is also the culmination of a lot of hard work, and makes a great souvenir for anyone interested in the game. Can I just add that, in rugby, the

forwards act like backs or defenders, and the backs are more like forwards who score points and tries, a fact that greatly helped me in my understanding of the game! The new Lansdowne Road will be re-opening next August 7th with the mixed interprovincial game of Leinster/ Ulster v Munster/ Connaught.

THE RUNNERS By Fiachra Sheridan ©2009 RRP €9.99 The cover of ʻThe Runnersʼ is the enduring image of Bobby and Jaysʼ summer in Dublin during the 1980ʼs as depicted in this, Fiachra Sheridanʼs debut novel. Growing up in the shadow of Croke Park, the two lads are immersed in all kinds of sport, primarily boxing, as they are members of a local club where they are being trained for the National Championships by their friend and mentor Anto. ʻBobby nodded his head. He had never fought Jay like it was an All-Ireland final. Sparring was different to competition. You never went flat out in sparring, or threw your hardest punches. Especially at your best friend.ʼ They spend the rest of their time doing circuits around the Croker and running up and down the stairwells of the flats in Ballybough, where the author is from, and where he now works as a maths teacher. The book is a vivid memory of those times as seen through the eyes of the children. It is also a lesson in using short sentences. The story stays with you long after youʼve put it down. Extremely visual about sport and the area, it concerns friendship and an innocence about to be lost to the social problems of Dublinʼs North Inner City.

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

PAGE 13

DAY IN THE

By Gráinne McGuinness

einster House, a majestic mansion with a view over Merrion Square, was originally known as Kildare House. It was commissioned by James Fitzgerald who set out to create the stateliest of Dublin Georgian mansions to reflect his eminent position in Irish society. When he became Duke of Leinster in 1776, the house was renamed Leinster House. The entire building was acquired by the state in 1924. The first meeting of Dáil Éireann (An Chéad Dáil) was held on 21st of January 1919 in the Round Room of the Mansion House, the residence of the Lord Mayor in Dublin. Being the first and a highly symbolic meeting, the proceedings were conducted for the only time, entirely in the Irish language, except for the previously drafted declarations that were repeated in other languages as well. The Dáil elected Cathal Brugha as its Ceann Comhairle (chairman or speaker).

We would like to wish all our customers a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year and thank you all for your support in 2009 Bob, Monica and Staff

A number of short documents were then adopted, one of which was the Declaration of Independence, which asserted that the Dáil was a parliament of a sovereign state called the ʻIrish Republicʼ. The establishment of the first Dáil occurred on the same day as the outbreak of the Irish War of Independence. I recently went to the Dáil to meet Chris Andrews TD, who had very kindly arranged for me to have a guided tour. Shay Mulhall gave me the grand tour. First stop was the Round Room, where I sat and watched a Dáil debate between An Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, and Labour and Fine Gael ministers. This was a completely different experience to watching it on TV. Then we walked along the corridors where portraits of all the previous Taoisaigh lined the walls. We passed several rooms and Shay explained the reason for so many rooms, which are now used for offices, was because when James Fitzgeraldʼs wife died, he married the governess and had twenty-two children.

D ÁIL Then we were shown the fabulous portrait of Constance Markievicz. She must have been a great woman as the Dáil made her the first female Member of the British Parliament. Soon after that, she was appointed Minister for Labour, making her the first female cabinet minister in Western Europe. Women only won the right to vote in 1918 and even then only females over the age of thirty were trusted with it. She was still a member of the Dáil in 1927 when she died in Sir Patrick Dunʼs hospital. If you would like to visit Leinster House to experience some of this wonderful history for yourself, the first thing you have to do is to contact your local TD. He will then check with head usher Noel Kelly who will book you in. The tour can take from between 15 minutes to 45 minutes. It depends on the size of the group. I would highly recommend it. Pictured left: Gráinne with Chris Andrews TD at Leinster House.

Congratulations to Martin Lawless of Ringsend and family and friends who celebrated Martinʼs 40th birthday party aboard the MV Cill Airne Resturant and Bar at North Wall Quay into the early hours of the morning at Halloween. Happy birthday, Martin.

PAGE 14

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

A STRONOMY I RELAND T HE W ORLD ’ S

By Glenda Cimino

he International Year of Astronomy is coming to a close, and Astronomy Ireland has one more big lecture coming up. Monday, 14 December: Christmas Lecture: ʻThe European Southern Observatory and the Worldʼs Biggest Telescopes: the present and

BIGGEST TELESCOPES

the futureʼ by Professor Tim de Zeeuw, Director General of the European Southern Observatory, Garching, Germany. The telescopes made by the European Southern Observatory (ESO) have made some of the most significant discoveries of recent times in astrophysics and cosmology. This includes the supermassive black hole at the centre of our galaxy, the most distant

Iannelli’s

gamma-ray burst, the Earthlike planet Gliese 581c, and the most distant galaxy ever seen by humans. Professor Tim de Zeeuw, Director-General of ESO, is coming to Dublin to talk on ESO and how it will advance astronomy in the future. He received his PhD degree from Leiden University and worked at the Institute for Advanced Study and Caltech before returning to Leiden as professor of astronomy. His research focuses on the formation, structure and dynamics of galaxies. He directed the Netherlands Research School for Astronomy and Leiden Observatory, and served on oversight committees for AURA, ESA, ESO and NASA. ESO was founded in 1962 and is an inter-governmental research organisation comprising 14 states in Europe. ESO has built the largest and most technically advanced telescopes in the world, which

January Astronomy classes open to the public begin again in Trinity College. Admission to lectures: €7 (€5 members and concessions) Location: Fitzgerald Building, Trinity College, Dublin 2. Near the Westland Row or Lincoln Place entrances. DVDs of lectures are €7 each plus €5 for P&P for any number of DVDs and can be ordered from Astronomy Ireland. For more information, contact www.astronomyireland.ie

provide access to the southern sky for European astronomers. One of the telescopes belonging to ESO is the Very Large Telescope (VLT) in Paranal, Chile. While the ESO has 14 members, Ireland is not one of them. Several prominent astronomers and astronomy groups in Ireland have expressed their views that Ireland should join, arguing that it would allow the growing number of astronomy graduates to continue their work in Ireland, and would also attract into the Irish economy the expertise required to sustain and develop the technology demanded by ESO facilities.

Main picture: ESO telescopes in Chile Below: Prof. Tim de Zeeuw (Photos: Astronomy Ireland)

Tuesday to Saturday. 12-16 January 2010 and Monday, 25th January, 2010: New Year 20th Anniversary Public Lecture ʻ400 Years of the Telescope, from Thomas Harriot to Hubbleʼ. By Professor Allan Chapman of Wadham College, Oxford.

S ARAH M ORSHEAD : ‘ DRAWING

IN PAINTING ’

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arah Morshead is a visual artist who grew up on the edge of Dartmoor in Devon and later moved to London. Since ﬁnishing her Fine Art Degree in Painting in 1993 at the University of Northumbria in Newcastle upon Tyne, she has maintained her practise, specializing in abstract painting. Sarah has spent a number of years living in various parts of Europe,

including Portugal, Spain, the South of France and Italy. Sarah has been based in Ireland for the past six years. Experiencing different cultures and languages is something she is interested in and that is reﬂected in her artwork. The crossover between drawing and painting is integral to her work. She is working with ʻdrawing in paintingʼ; how lines in painting can become solid forms, at mark making itself and

how it evolves within one painting or a series of paintings. Her intuitive abstract paintings are informed and supported by a rigorous drawing and sketching practise. Extensive drawing from her surroundings feeds into the work in an organic way. The actual process and materials of painting and the use of ʻhistoricʼ painting mediums and colour palettes in a contemporary way through abstract work is an ongoing project.

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

C HRISTMAS

PAGE 15

MISCELLANY

By James OʼDoherty

s the recession bites, it will be hard for many of us to welcome Christmas with the same old enthusiasm. Nevertheless, we must not let the troubles that beset our beautiful country cloud this wonderful feast, the most delightful of all festivals for children especially. One of the most celebrated traditions of this season is the Christmas Tree– its gay charm has spread all over Europe. Originally a German innovation, it is no longer just a luxury for the well-off but the centrepiece of Christmas decorations in most households. This year, approximately six million trees will be sold in the UK alone. This has a benefit for the environment since most plots where trees are harvested will be replanted and six million trees remove around three hundred tonnes of carbon dioxide from the air annually. Of course, artificial trees are widely available these days, but for the authentic Christmas atmosphere many think you should use a real tree. Let me offer some advice as Christmas brings its own dangers. The Christmas tree in your home should be properly secured and positioned away from fires, heaters, doors and stairs. Use only good quality lights and when decorating your tree put the fairy lights on first, then the other decorations. Do not put up the tree too early, leave it until Christmas week and it

Some of the participants in Ringsendʼs ﬁrst ʻHalloween Festivalʼ will last much longer through the festive season. Make sure you unplug the lights at bedtime. Never buy a potted tree with roots, as they can be a waste of money as they tend to die off later in the year through neglect. Unlike puppies, Christmas trees really are just for Christmas! Four your tree, I recommend the Noble Fir with its tiered effect, beautiful bark and non-shed-

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ding needles. You may also like the Blue Spruce with its classic shape, or even the Norway Spruce, the classic Christmas tree with fragrant soft green needles. The Norway Spruce has been fading in popularity recently as it tends to shed quickly in centrally-heated homes. The most popular Christmas plant is the Poinsettia, also known as the ﬂower of Holy Night. Poinsettias should be placed in good natural light, kept away from draughts or radiators, and watered regularly. Solanum is the Christmas cherry plant; it has a lovely festive air but keep well away from children as it has a poisonous fruit. This plant also requires plenty of natural light. So the nights are at their darkest, the air is getting colder and Jack Frost is drawing his delicate patterns on the windows. Who knows, we may awaken on Christmas morning to ﬁnd the earth covered with a mantle of white… As always, my Christmas wish for you all is that together we strive to keep within us the simple and humble heart of a child for whom Christmas creates a sense of wonder. May the new year bring freedom to the oppressed and peace to all. Happy Christmas to you and yours.

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PAGE 16

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

Bookworm Reviewed by Nessa Jennings

ʻVANISHING IRELAND The Chronicles of a Disappearing Ireland: Part IIʼ By Turtle Bunbury and James Fennell

istorian Turtle Bunbury has compiled these further chronicles that recall lives shaped by the past, reminding us of a time when life was more simple. With photos by James Fennell, (pictured, with Turtle Bunbury holding the book) this is a unique collection of portraits and interviews of 41 men and women. They went to Ireland, Britain and America to track down the people involved from contacts made for the first volume, as there is a public appetite for this history. The old woman on the cover, with such character etched on her face, looks young, perhaps as a result of her simple life. She

comes from Co. Cavan, where she lives on her own down a three-mile lane in a cottage surrounded by her animals. There is humour and truth in these peopleʼs stories and a definite spark in the beautiful photographs. The authors also made another compilation, ʻThe Irish Pubʼ, a few years ago. Maybe we are hankering after this way of life being lost, and want to hear more

stories about the disappearing world of the last century, and learn things about our current world from their view. My own grandmother (born in 1900) used to comment : “Sure the world isnʼt half settled.” That nearly said the lot, essentially! Well worth reading, this collection has universal appeal. www.turtlebunbury.com www.jamesfennell.com

come a standard recommended text for linguistics students as the author clearly describes and de-constructs this remote language. As Daniel grapples with its differences and peculiarities, we can read transcripts of simple sentences and examples of their storytelling. It is nothing like the way Iʼm writing here, either by way of content or structure. For one thing, the Pirahas will never discuss anything that they themselves have never directly come into contact with (which he names the ʻimmediacy of experi-

ence principleʼ IEP). Neither will you find colons, parenthesis, or even commas. They simply donʼt need them, as there is no recursive or referential speech in their grammar. Everettʼs discoveries come as a direct challenge to Noam Chomskyʼs theory of universal grammar (UG). The implications of his work are enormous for linguistic enquiry. A scholar who read one of his earlier articles about the Pirahas sent a postcard to say that the article hit her like a ʻbombʼ. I havenʼt given the book away, hopefully. It just has to be read. It is, moreover, an adventure tale, like a trip into deepest South America. There is also a spiritual conclusion for the author vis-a-vis his own personal beliefs. Survivalists may find themselves taking notes, as the animal life and natural environment keep you wary and alert. Daniel says of the Pirahas:ʼI would come to see them as one of the most resourceful and clever groups of survivalists anywhere in the world.ʼ Anthropologists will, no doubt, have a field day!

o be a good linguist requires not only hours at the desk but also many hours with the people… I would need to study a language in its cultural context. In remotest Brazil, along the muddy banks of the Maici River which ﬂows from the Madeira, itself a tributary of the Amazon, and traversed by the Trans-Amazon highway, can be found a tribe known as the Pirahas who inhabit makeshift huts and live by ﬁshing, and from the fruits of the jungle. Linguist, Daniel Everett, with his wife and three children, spent the best part of thirty years together with the Pirahas. This book is the fruit of their labours. Danielʼs task as missionary was to translate the Bible into the as yet virtually unknown Piraha language. First, he had to learn it, with only the notes of a few predecessors to go on, who, by the way, had so far failed to convert this people who lacked the concept of creation. This relatively short book (279 pages) is destined to be-

ossʼs further adventures! In Hollywood, California! In this latest installment, Ross has followed Sorcha to the West Coast where she is researching ideas for her boutique in the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre. In the land of consumption, there is even greater scope for designer name-dropping while sipping lattés outside the Starbucks on Hollywood Boulevard. Cillian, his wifeʼs new partner, canʼt afford to relax with his new rival on the scene, and spends his time tearing his hair out back at the mansion, worrying over futures and derivatives, and banging on about how investorsʼ ʻcavalier attitude to riskʼ will spell complete collapse of the worldʼs ﬁnancial markets. He is telling this to Honor, Rossʼs three year old daughter. What do the Americans make of our hero? They only put him in a reality TV show and get him a nose job! Whatʼs more, Fionnuala, his mother, is there promoting her novel, a bodice-ripper, which disgusts him. When he goes in for some therapy for self-control, his yogi unlocks his potential, and he canʼt stop remembering disparate facts he learned for the Leaving Cert! Although wowed again by his own genius, this does nothing to prevent the impending disaster. The cameras follow them to Las Vegas where Christian, his team-mate from the Senior Cup 22, is opening a new casino. When he arrives in Vegas, Ronan, his Northside son, also a genius, is already there with his own bodyguard. He has a mathematical system to predict roulette, and they are going to bring down the house. The showʼs director has fallen in love with Fionnuala, and they are planning to get married… Ferdia MacAnna says he laughed like a drain at this one. And Iʼve got to hand it to you, Ross. Even though you didnʼt make the Ireland squad, youʼve got consistency, in fairness to you!

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

Judging Lemass A Measure of the Man By Tom Garvin ©RIA €30.00

orget the starry-eyed Bertie and his Drumcondra gang. He slipped through the tribunal net virtually unscathed, and can still be hired to smirk for the cameras, contem-

plating his still-bright future. Consider instead the Sean Lemass legacy, and examine the careers and decisions of the power players of the last midcentury, forefathers of the current crop of untouchables that comprise the Dáil and Seanad. Tom Garvin examined reams of newspaper archives to conﬁrm Sean Lemassʼs importance and place in the national conscience, and has already been criticised for a somewhat rose-tinted view of the man. It was clear from his recent conversation at the Royal Irish Academy, with RTE journalist Cathal MacCoille, that the author must have been ﬂooded with fond nostalgia, remembering the anecdotes and selecting the inclusions for the book he describes as an essay which he had to contain, as there is obviously more that could be written. The author clearly loved the

PAGE 17 man; as Lemass loved Eamon De Valera, his predecessor. It is ﬁfty years since Lemass became Taoiseach, a post which he held until 1966. He preferred his earlier ministerial roles, and demonstrated authoritarian tendencies when he was Minister for Supplies. Lemass was ʻnot infallibleʼ, and as a pragmatist, was responding to the protectionism of wartime. Later, allied with the formidable T. K. Whitaker, they embraced the free market, laying the foundations for prosperity and EU membership. The above is to say little about the subject. The large audience in the RIA Library were able to ask a myriad of questions about the man who put Ireland on the international map, appearing on the cover of Time Magazine (above) with the banner: ʻIreland. New Spirit in the Ould Sodʼ. He embraced the Northern Question. He knew the identity of his brotherʼs murderer, but never spoke about it. Initially opposed to the establishment of a

Senate, he was eventually a supporter and strongly wished it to be preserved. There was no answer possible to the question ʻWell, what do you think he would do in this current economic crisis?ʼ (Iʼm thinking, did they even have banks back then?– just joking, and Bertie was doing just ﬁne until he got a bank account!) The complexity of the politics of that time was evidenced by the many questions in the room. Multi-faceted and fascinating, the former Taoiseach, born in 1899, died relatively young as a result of smoking plug tobacco inhaled through a pipe. He famously secured a huge consignment of the stuff

from a factory which was closing, which he kept in the fridge. He loved to play poker and back horses, continuing to place bets by phone from his hospital bed. Lemassʼs daughter married Charles Haughey and another Irish political dynasty was begun.

PAGE 18

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

Film Scene

‘The Invention of Lying’ Reviewed by Louise Hanrahan Weʼve all done it, telling the odd white lie to get us out of awkward situations. Recently, I went to see Ricky Gervais in this new comedy at Cineworld in Parnell Street. Iʼll come clean, Iʼve been a Gervais fan since ʻThe Officeʼ and it has been great to see him thriving in Hollywood without toning down his comedy style at all. The ʻInvention of Lyingʼ marks a new departure for Gervais, as he is the star of the film, a romantic comedy aimed at a mainstream American audience, not just aficionados of his earlier work. In the film, Ricky plays Mark– a scriptwriter in a film company where he has always felt out of place in a world where everyone is compelled to tell the truth, no matter what the circumstances are, or whatʼs on their mind.

He works alongside the beautiful Jennifer Garner, and after plucking up the courage to invite her on a date, she tells him that she is genuinely depressed and pessimistic at the prospect of them getting together. On the date, even the waiter that serves them tells him Jennifer is way out of his league. Itʼs even worse in the ofﬁce, where he is bitterly rejected by all of his colleagues; they tell him they hate him to his face! His boss, played by a slick Rob Lowe, thrives on knocking Mark at every turn and putting him down. The Rob Lowe character has the charisma, charm and looks to woo the woman Mark loves and he feels like a total failure. To put a cap on it, he ends up getting the sack– poor Mark is totally washed-up and can seem to do nothing right to please anyone. But one day Mark stumbles upon something no one has ex-

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perienced before– the worldʼs very first LIE. He enters a bank with nothing in his account and blatantly lies about his account to get the rent money. When the bank official hands him over nearly $700 his face lights up. He canʼt believe his luck! From here on in, he becomes a new man. Full of confidence, positivity and assertiveness take him over. His life is transformed as he exploits the new-found power of un-truth in a hundred different hilarious ways. One of Markʼs brightest and most popular ideas is the invention of God or, as he calls him, “the man in the sky.” The scene in which Mark writes 10 commandments on two pizza boxes and delivers the good news to the multitudes is worth comparison to Monty Python. The ʻInvention of Lyingʼ is worth a visit. Itʼs a total feelgood movie and would cheer you up in an instant. For bookings and film information via email visit cineworld. com or call 1520 880 444 Donʼt forget the popcorn!

‘An Education’ Reviewed by Christy Hogan I took in a matinee of the film ʻAn Educationʼ at The Screen on DʼOlier Street. The director is Lone Sherfig with a script by Nick Hornby. The film stars, amongst others, Emma Thompson, Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard and Rosamund Pike. Jenny is a pretty sixteen year old girl. She lives with her strict parents in a lovely house in a fancy part of London. Sheʼs burning the midnight oil studying for her exams. Her parents, who are in their fifties and must have married late in life, seem a bit snobby and stuffy and set in their ways. They are adamant that their ʻpreciousʼ is going to go to Oxford University. However, as the song goes ʻThere may be trouble aheadʼ, and there is. One day, it is lashing out of the heavens and Jenny in walking home after her cello lesson. Enter David (Sarsgaard) the suave guy in his thirties in his big, luxurious motor car. David offers Jenny a lift but she is a bit wary and says “no thanks”. David then turns on the charm and suggests that Jenny put her cello in the car to keep it dry. Jenny agrees to this arrangement and she walks home alongside the car.

After a while Jenny, who is by now drenched to the skin, capitulates and hops in beside David. When they arrive at Jennyʼs house David carries the cello in for her and proceeds to charm the daylights out of her parents. Jennyʼs mundane life changes overnight. She and David attend Londonʼs most happening concerts and the coolest late night jazz sessions. The glittering bohemiam life of early 60s London is laid out before her. Jenny hangs out with Davidʼs socialite friends and needless to say, her studies go down the pan. Sheʼs drinking and smoking like a trooper, attending auctions and going on weekend trips to Paris.

How David funds all this comes as a shock to Jenny and sheʼs not well pleased. She also learns another, dark side to David as the alarm bells begin to ring. In the end she dumps ʻDave the Raveʼ and pleads to go back to college and on to Oxford. Thereʼs a bit of a hullabaloo at the college as the Headmistress (Emma Thompson) is not well pleased with Jennyʼs ﬂirtations with the suave David. Without giving any more away, this coming-of-age ﬁlm is long drawn out and could have had a bit more punch. The 1960s London atmosphere I enjoyed immensely. And well I might, those were my teenage years.

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NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

PAGE 19

C HIROPRACTIC FOR A MORE

COMFORTABLE PREGNANCY AND LABOUR By Gemma Bailey– Chiropractor

emma Bailey is a Chiropractor working at the Fitzwilliam Health Clinic in Dublin 2. She has a special interest in helping women achieve natural pain relief during their pregnancy.

Pregnant women benefit greatly from Chiropractic care with benefits that can include the baby as well. Pregnancy can be a time of joy and exciting anticipation, yet for some the experience is coloured by pain, discomfort and illness. This is often because pregnant women undergo many structural and hormonal changes that can affect the spine, pelvis, nerves, joints, ligaments, centre of gravity and stability.

Drugless Approach to Health During pregnancy there are many painkillers and anti inﬂammatory medications that are unsafe to use– women often want a more natural approach to their pain relief. Chiropractic care

pregnancy at a greater level of comfort, health and vitality and can better handle the rigor of childbirth. Chiropractic care has been observed to help pregnant and birthing women for many years– treatment can be giv-

i s a safe, effective, drug-free treatment for musculoskeletal problems seen during pregnancy. Gemma ensures that the spine, pelvis and related structures are balanced, moving easily and free from dysfunction. When free of dysfunction, the mother-to-be experiences

e n at any time durpreging nancy. Should you be interested in talking to Gemma about treatment she is offering a free 15-minute consultation during the month of December. Please contact 01 6618949 or info@ﬁtzwilliamhealth.ie for an appointment.

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PAGE 20

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

‘G RAFTON S TREET ’ S A W ONDERLAND …’

By Louise Hanrahan

fter strolling along the lively environs of Grafton Street, it just hit me like a bombshell… Christmas is ofﬁcially coming whether we like it or not!

The wafting notes of Aled Jones singing that song from ʻThe Snowmanʼ hit me instantaneously when I jumped off the Luas in Stephenʼs Green. He was walking in the air, and I almost felt the same. I was giddy with the sights and sounds and had to have a sit-

down in the park and watch the pigeons frantically pecking for some tit-bits… I think even they know Christmas is en route. My own feelings are full of expectations and closeness with families, friends, relations, new loves etc… Iʼm not a Scrooge myself, I might add.

Christmas brings us all closer together and with these times weʼre living in, we all need each other… hang in there, folks! There were tourists galore strolling along Grafton Street and also through the Green. The shops are all wearing their best bib and tucker, trying to catch the punterʼs eye– the Christmas cards; Santa hats; tinsel; Christmas crackers; cuddly Christmas toys; trees completely decorated with silver bows in shoe shops, ﬂashing xmas trees. Letʼs hope itʼs all worth the effort. No stone is being left unturned. Even beyond the city centre, Phibsboro, Rathmines, Ranelagh etc… the Christmas trees are ready and waiting to be lit up! The displays are extremely impressive and especially the beautiful poinsettia plants on display in the shop windows. My mum always has one on display on the festive dinner table. It brings such warmth and a homely at-

mosphere to Christmas. Brown Thomas have surpassed themselves with their window display this year and have taken on the theme of spending Christmas at home. I spoke to their concierge, Jim Kearns. Dressed up to the nines, complete with top hat, he cuts a memorable ﬁgure. He said Grafton Street becomes particularly exciting in the yuletide season, with all sorts of celebrities popping in to get their pressies. The quirky artefacts in the window are amazing. Quite hard to describe, they consist of mannequins, perfumes, make-up displays, gift boxes and, of course, Santas of all shapes and sizes. I had the treat of receiving a bunch of holly berries from the store to get into action for the forthcoming yuletide! Letʼs keep our chins up for this forthcoming Christmas. We have to make the best of it, and not let ourselves go underground! Seasonʼs greetings.

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

PAGE 21

C HRISTMAS TIMES PAST

By Noel Twamley

ingle bells, jingle bells– yes folks itʼs that time of year again, one of the great dates in the Christian calendar. Today, of course, it has become very commercial and materialistic and for the shops a ﬁnancial bonanza. I saw plum puddings and Christmas cakes on sale in early October this year. Many of you will remember your mother working so hard at Christmas times past. I well remember my own mother mixing ingredients for the pudding, pouring in brandy, whiskey and stout. She would make every member of the family stir the pudding mix once for luck. It would then hang in pudding cloth for two to three weeks to mature. The aroma was breathtaking as you walked in the hall door. Then the paper chains, the holly and the tree were all put in place for the big day. Every year, about two weeks before Christ-

mas, a large box would arrive from our Aunt Margaret in New Zealand. My dad would solemnly peel away the many layers of brown paper to reveal a big tin, which was well sealed to keep this cake fresh on its long ﬁveweeks journey. In return, we would send our Aunt Sweepstake tickets as our gift. This ritual was repeated every year until our dear Aunt died in the mid 1950s. On Christmas Eve, my dad would set the side table with bottles of Powers Gold Label, Hennessy, bottles of wine, even a couple of Thwaites soda water siphons if Santa didnʼt want to drink and drive! It looked splendid. I will always remember this magical sight. On Christmas night, our beloved cousins, the Grace family, would call over and we would always have a great party with Tom and Robert on piano and guitar. Too soon, it was all over and time to go back to school or work. My sisters, who worked in Switzers, were very smart young

ladies indeed and they always had some disposable income for the January sales. Very wisely, they would buy good woollen coats and lined leather boots for the very cold winters we had in the late 1940s. Believe me, it really was much colder 50 years ago– older readers of News Four will agree with

me. I well remember that at Christmas and the New Year both canals would freeze and ice over and I recall me and my school chums playing ice hockey on Portobello harbour with hurleys and a sealed shoe polish tin as a puck. As children of the 1940s, there

CECIL’S BARBER SHOP Traditional-Style Barber Shop Established 1939 SPECIAL OFFERS OAPs on Tuesday and Wednesday: €6 Dry Cut: €10 All Week Closed all day Monday 10 Thorncastle Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4 Tel: 6680606 We would like to take this opportunity to wish all our customers a Happy Christmas and New Year

was no end to our powers of invention and improvisation. Finally, may I wish everyone at NewsFour and all our readers a happy and safe Christmas. Above: Pantomine ʻdameʼ Jimmy OʼDea in his dressingroom before a Christmas season performance. Photo by Harry Braine circa 1940.

PAGE 22

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

D ONATION FOR MS I RELAND

MS Ireland receives donation from Hospital Saturday Fund

By Vivienne Gleeson

he Multiple Sclerosis Society of Ireland (MS Ireland) was the beneﬁciary of a donation from the charity, The Hospital Saturday Fund, recently. Pictured (left) at the charityʼs head ofﬁce, Northumberland Road,

Dublin 4 is Olga Estridge, Services Manager receiving the donation on behalf of the MS Ireland from Patricia Kearns, HSF Health Plan, the trading company of the Hospital Saturday Fund. MS Ireland provides a range of services, resources, information and support to those living with MS, their family members, employers and health professionals. The donation will be used to help fund this

Once again, Liam Tillyʼs house on Bath Avenue is a brilliantly illuminated Christmas wonderland. Liam has a barrell by his gate into which people make donations for charity, so be sure to support his hard work and this yearʼs charity. Pictured above, from left: Dave Tilly, Liam Tilly, Isabelle Forrest, Dean Tilly, Hannah Tilly, Arthur Forest and Ann Corscadden. service. In 2008, the Hospital Saturday Fund charity paid out over €380,000 in donations and grants to medical charities for care and research, hospices and hospitals across Ireland and the UK. Assistance was also given to individuals whose illness or disability has caused ﬁnancial difﬁ-

culties. HSF Health Plan is Irelandʼs leading health cash plan operator and is celebrating 60 years operating in Ireland this year. It provides over 100,000 Irish people, with cash towards everyday medical costs, including routine GP, dental and optical visits, hospital admissions,

complementary medicine and personal injury. Over 700 organisations in Ireland from the voluntary, public and private sectors, offer HSF Health Plan to their staff. For more information about HSF Health Plan, please log onto www. hsf.ie.

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NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

PAGE 23

R INGSEND AND I RISHTOWN C OMMUNITY C ENTRE N EWS By Lorraine Barry Seasonʼs Greetings From RICC As Santa makes his way down Ringsend Road and up the tree lined streets Heʼll meet the sincerest of folk in a place that never sleeps As angels gather over Irishtown in a heavenly melody We celebrate Christmas time here at RICC Good times we share, with neighbours and friends The magic of community spirit that never ends We reach out to you on the Lordʼs special day And hope that our small town is on Santaʼs way So be sure that your centre is always near Merry Christmas to all and a Happy New Year Santa Claus visits RICC Santa Claus arrived in style by boat to Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre last Sunday. RICC Youth Club The RICC Youth Club has now been running since September and is enjoying huge success. We now have a total of 36 children who meet every Wednesday in the Centre from 6.30pm to 8pm. If you are between 7 and 9 years old, why not come along and join the fun. The past few weeks has seen us making Halloween cards and banners, knitting, cooking and playing games that are both fun and educational. The club is designed to facilitate the younger age group of boys and girls who are looking for an outlet separate to home and school where they can play, learn new skills and make new friends. Then, when itʼs time to leave us when they turn ten, they can enter straight into the CDYSB Youth Project located in the cen-

tre. The ﬁrst week is free and then it is only €2 per week. For further information please contact David, Barbara, Antoinette or Jennifer in the Centre on 01 6604789.

Pictured with Santa at the Centre are, from left: Leah Weafer, Sophie Cuffe, Jodi Cuffe and David Cuffe.

Coffee Morning RICC in conjunction with Dublin City Council are holding free coffee mornings every Wednesday from 10.30am to 12.00pm. Come and join us for a cup of tea or coffee, a chat and some fun. New Computer Classes New computer classes will commence in the Centre in January 2010, covering; Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel and Powerpoint. If you are interested in this course please contact Brendan or Jennifer at the centre on 01 6604789. Ringsend Development Forum (RICC) We at the centre are constantly reaching out and listening to the needs of our community. If there is any way in which we can facilitate you or your organisation, then please do not hesitate to contact us. Alternatively, you can come along to our Forum Meeting which takes place in the centre on the third Tuesday of every month at 7.30pm. The purpose of the meeting is to identify ways in which the Community Centre could facilitate, foster and promote Community Activities and help Groups in the area to achieve their full effectiveness and potential. We at the centre would like to wish all the Community a very Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.

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PAGE 24

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

POETS IN PROFILE PAUL DURCAN

By Glenda Cimino

aul Durcan was born in Dublin in 1944, but his earliest memories are of visits to relatives in County Mayo. After to-ing and fro-ing between Dublin and London in the 60s, he moved to Cork, and in 1984 moved to Ringsend, where he has lived since.

How did you begin writing poetry? When I was about 12, life was all about sports and trying to ﬁnd a girlfriend. We had no TV in the 1950s– the biggest thing was cinema and music from the radio. Pathé News was the only place we saw newsreels. Once, I saw Sherpa Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hilary on top of Mount Everest. This had an enormous effect on me, and I began writing some short stories for my own amusement– all basically the same, involving climbing high

snow-covered mountains in search of a beautiful girl… When I was 14 or 15, I started to write poetry. What writers influenced you? T.S. Eliot was a huge influence as I knew all his work by heart. Friendship played a huge part in my becoming a poet. In 1962, the poet Michael Hartnett and I enrolled in UCD the same day. I spent only one year in UCD, but we went down the road of poetry together. At one stage we went to London for work, and after two weeks enrolled in Securicor, with uniforms and truncheons. I lasted four months, while Hartnett stayed longer. He had read widely and deeply in world literature and religions. Brian Lynch came the next year, and MacDara Woods, and there was Liam Hourican, who died young. John Moriarty was finishing his studies in philosophy and logic, and he was the most brilliant of all. In the winter of ʻ62–ʻ63 there were rumours in pubs like McDaids

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and Dwyers that a brilliant Irish poet was coming back from Spain. We were looking forward to meeting him, yet there was an air of apprehension. I saw him one night in Leland Bardwellʼs basement flat in Leeson Street. Bardwell was another friend of Kavanaghʼs, and she was incredibly kind to strays like myself– four generations of them. That poet was Anthony Cronin. He was a friend of Patrick Kavanagh, but younger as he was born in 1925. He became my great teacher, though he wouldnʼt have thought of himself in that way. I was always learning from him. That first night I heard him say, ʻLife is a Dreamʼ, and it really struck me. Later I learned it was the title of a famous play by Calderon, La Vida es Sueño. How did you get your first book out? Brian Lynch wrote to me in London and said Michael Smith of New Writers Press would be keen to publish us in a joint book. John Behan, the sculptor, did our cover. There were about 500 copies of ʻEndsvilleʼ – itʼs long out of print. You always remember the first time you are published because it is so momentous to see your work in print the first time. After it came out, Brian invited me to his house. His mother Celia said, “I see you two are in the paper today.” Gus Martin had reviewed our book. He wrote, “whatever about the other new poets, in the case of Paul Durcan, there were no prospects at all.” Shocked, I asked Mrs. Lynch for a glass of water, and I really needed it. But one day in the Bailey in Duke Street, Kavanagh told me he had read my work and said, “Ye have what it takes.” It was extraordinary that he had read my book and spoke to me about it, as he didnʼt like talk-

ing about poetry. It was the summer of ʻ67, the last year of his life. He offered to introduce me to his publishers, MacGibbon & Kee (later taken over by Granada). They had published Flann OʼBrien and produced a fantastic edition of Kavanaghʼs collected poems in 1964. You hear stories about Kavanagh being rude and drunk, but even though he wasnʼt in the best of his health, he offered to go to the trouble of introducing me. His editor, Timothy OʼKeeffe, was a taciturn pinstriped man. Terriﬁed, I handed in my manuscript and three weeks later got a letter saying he would publish my ﬁrst volume. I had no money, no job, nowhere to live, but the letter burned a hole in my pocket. On 1st August 1967, Kavanagh asked me to go with him to a wedding in Dalkey. There, in the bar of the Shangri-La Hotel, (people think I made that up) I met my wife-tobe, Nessa. She was visiting home but living in London. Soon after, I

was off to London in search of fame and fortune and Nessa. Then Kavanagh died of pneumonia. He had only recently gotten married and made his first home, in Waterloo Road. He had been almost Zen Buddhist in his feeling of repose, calm, and quiet humour. He had had a hard life, a life of poverty and degradation. The following winter [1968] an independent filmmaker in London was making a documentary around people who knew Patrick Kavanagh. Tim OʼKeeffe was very sad, as he had been close to Kavanagh. A man of few words, he just said, “That was a golden summer,” and it had been. Nessa and I married in London and had two daughters. We lived in Londonʼs South Kensington, and then later moved to Cork. Trying to get published again was a nightmare. After my first book, I couldnʼt get published then for about eight years– it was only when I got the Kavanagh prize in 1974 that John

The Cabinet Table Alice Gunn is a cleaner woman Down at Government Buildings, And after seven oʼclock Mass last night (Isnʼt it a treat to be able to go to Sunday Mass On a Saturday! To sit down to Saturday Night TV Knowing youʼve fulﬁlled your Sunday obligation!) She came back over to The Flats for a cup of tea (I offered her sherry but she declined – Oh, I never touch sherry on a Saturday night – Whatever she meant by that, I donʼt know). She had us in stitches, telling us How one afternoon after a Cabinet Meeting She got one of the security men To lie down on the Cabinet Table, And what she didnʼt do to him – And what she did do to him – She didnʼt half tell us; But she told us enough to be going on with. ʻDo you know what it is?ʼ she says to me: ʻNo,ʼ says I, ʻwhat is it?ʼ ʻItʼs mahogany,ʼ she says, ʻpure mahogany.ʼ

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010 Ryan of Anna Livia Press published that collection, ʻO Westport in the Light of Asia Minorʼ. Ryan had been a friend and companion of Kavanagh and Anthony Cronin. He edited the magazine ʻEnvoyʼ from Grafton Street in the ʻ50s. Cyphers was also hugely important– Bardwell, Hutchinson, Woods, and ní Chuillenean were its mainstays. Young writers and artists today in all media and forms– no way could they understand the way things were in Kavanaghʼs day. There was an arts council in name only but it did virtually nothing– there were no grants or bursaries. It really only came into existence in 1974 with the ﬁrst director, Colm Ó Briain, and a new era began. Another landmark was when David Marcus became the literary editor of the ʻIrish Pressʼ. His inﬂuence was astonishing, and he also was an incredibly courteous man. He wrote everyone little notes, and even when he accepted something of mine, he wrote to ask, for instance, if I was sure the second line in the third stanza had the right rhythm. I was. You studied archeology and medieval history, not literature– why and did this have any effect on your work?

At first, I did study English literature, to become a schoolteacher– but I got poor marks in my first year exams and was told at the end of first year that I didnʼt understand English or poetry. It was the most traumatic moment of my life. I had an interview with the Department, but they were very firm about the ill-advisedness of my going on in English as I had ʻno futureʼ in it. Of course, I felt despair, but at a very deep level I didnʼt care, as I had had the word from Kavanagh. And at some deeper level still, I didnʼt care what anyone thought. Professor M.J. OʼKelley, who was excavating Newgrange, encouraged me to study archeology. He was a wonderful teacher. I can see things I would not have written if I had not gone down that road– for instance, the poem called ʻA Snail in my Primeʼ, and ʻThe Haulierʼs Wife Meets Jesus on the Road near Mooneʼ. I would never have noticed the Cross at Moone, except for OʼKelly. The group that became known as the Cork poets studied with John Montague, and they were six to ten years younger than me. I didnʼt really know them, though I did meet Thomas McCarthy separately and visited him in Cappoquin in Waterford. He even then was extraor-

PAGE 25 dinarily deeply read and a naturalist and serious gardener. Sean Dunne and Theo Dorgan were also studying with Montague. Writing has been a way of life for me. When Aosdana was created in December 1981, I was one of the first 60 to be honoured– It was a bolt from the blue. How do you write? I usually do a lot of rewriting, maybe 40 drafts. You might be fortunate and do it first try, but mostly poems take time to germinate– they are at the heart of events. I like the novelist Richard Ford. I find a lot of poetry in contemporary prose fiction, sometimes more so than in contemporary verse. I have recently been writer in residence for four weeks in Toronto, on a campus in the middle of the city, like a vast Trinity College. Toronto is a city of immigrants and the buzz was wonderful. To be with younger people is really great for the soul. Itʼs not just you sitting up there teaching; it is a two-way thing. I also spent three terms as Ireland Professor of Poetry, one each in Queens, UCD, and Trinity. There are serious drawbacks to being a writer and a poet in particular. The main one is isolation– so it is good to be part of a community–

people are what make places. I see a lot of change in my writing over time– like a graph of a patient in a heart attack unit– I try to write very different kinds of poems. Sometimes I see a poem and think how on earth did I write it, it is something I couldnʼt write now. I would hate to go on just for the sake of going on. Writing can be 1% inspiration, 99% desperation. I called my book ʻ40 Years Reading Poemsʼ on purpose. I would advise poets to read, read. read. Go into bookshops and libraries and ﬁnd the poets that speak to you.

When starting off you imitate people, that is part of it. Read 19th and earlier centuries, read Hamletʼs soliloquies again. You have to want to make reading part of your diet, day in and day out. ʻLife is a Dream: 40 Years Reading Poems 1967-2007ʼ by Paul Durcan has just been published by Harvill Secker. The School of English in TCD is presenting a conference on Durcanʼs work on December 10, 11 and 12 in the Swift Theatre in the Arts building, free and open to the public.

Marthaʼs Wall Her pleasure – what gave her pleasure – was to be walked Down her wall, the South Wall, a skinny, crinkly, golden stemmed wall That contracts and expands, worms and unworms, in and out of Dublin Bay, Across the seaʼs thighs pillowing in, besotted, under daisy-gartered skies. Sheʼd curl her finger around my finger and Iʼd lead her out onto it. She liked it when the flowering sea was shedding spray across it. Sheʼd tense up with delight to see me get wet And wetter still, and wetter – the wetter it was The better she liked it, and me – and she wanted always To get down, away down, to the very end of it Where there is a deep-red lighthouse, and the deep-red lighthouse Was hers also, hers, and weʼd sit down on a bench under it And sheʼd put her arm around my neck and weʼd stop needing to speak And weʼd sit there, breathless, in silence, for a long time.

s r e m o t s u C r u o l l a g s a Wishin m t s i r h C y p p a a Very H Beach Road, Sandymount, Dublin 4 Telephone: 660 5150 Fax: 660 8499

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PAGE 26

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

NEW YEAR’S EVE – DO’S AND DON’TS By Glenda Cimino

ll over the world, New Yearʼs Eve is a time specially marked by ceremonies, parties, fireworks, and old customs unique to particular countries. Here is only a small selection of them. If you paid attention to all of them, it would take you all year to get over it. One old Irish custom is to open and close the front door at the last stroke of midnight allowing the ʻoldʼ year out and the ʻnewʼ year in. A Persian variant on this is to take a lighted candle out of the front door at the stroke of midnight, say ʻthis is the last second of the last minute of the last hour of the last day of the old year, what time has worn must be renewedʼ. Then blow it out, relight it, (as the forces of chaos swirl about you) and bring it back into the house, saying ʻthis is the first second of the first minute of the first hour of the first day of the new year; what time has worn has been renewedʼ. In Scotland, shortly after midnight people would pay a visit to their

neighbours– a practice called firstfooting– often bearing small gifts. Itʼs considered especially lucky if your first guest of the new year is a tall, dark, and handsome man. The ancient Scottish song ʻAuld Lang Syneʼ was revised with new verses by Robbie Burns, and is widely sung. In Japan, it is said that they spend much of December holding ʻforget the yearʼ parties, letting go of past problems and concerns, and even scrubbing their house clean. At midnight, temples strike 108 gongs, one for each of the human weaknesses. It is a good time to note and let go of difficulties and hurt feelings experienced during the old year. In Greece, they serve Vassilopitta, a special cake baked with a silver or gold coin inside. Itʼs considered lucky to get the piece with the hidden coin (assuming you donʼt accidentally eat it, that is!). In the Phillipines, rumour has it that children jump up and down at midnight so that theyʼll grow tall in the new year. In Denmark, Danish kids jump off chairs at midnight, which is said

to banish bad spirits and bring good luck. In Central and South American countries like Brazil, Ecuador, and Venezuela, people buy brightly coloured underwear to wear on New Yearʼs eve. Red and yellow are especially popular colours. Yellow is thought to bring love, while red is supposed to bring money in the new year. White underwear is sometimes for peace. Strangely, wearing yellow knickers inside out is supposed to bring luck. But it is good luck to clean the chimney, or to have the ﬁrst visitor of the year (preferably a dark-haired man) bring a lump of coal to your home. However, beware if your ﬁrst visitor is a red-haired woman or

someone whose eyebrows grow together, as this could bring bad luck. While the Chinese New Year wonʼt arrive until 14 February 2010, there are similar superstitions. The entire house should be cleaned before New Yearʼs Day, but no sweeping or dusting should be done on New Yearʼs Day for fear that good fortune will be swept away. There is a superstition that if you sweep the dirt out over the threshold, you will sweep one of the family away. Also, to sweep the dust and dirt out of your house by the front entrance is to sweep away the good fortune of the family; it must always be swept inwards and then carried out the back door. On the stroke of midnight on New Yearʼs Eve, every door in the house, and even windows, have to be open to allow the old year to go out. The first person one meets and the first words heard are significant as to what the fortunes would be for the entire year. It is a lucky sign to see or hear songbirds or red-coloured birds or swallows. So, however you celebrate your New Yearʼs Eve, or whatever superstitious precautions you take or scoff at, have a good one in 2010! Above: Victorian engraving of Father Time and the newly-born year.

There are also many New Yearʼs Day superstitions. To avoid bad luck in the coming year, donʼt do any of the following on New Yearʼs Day: * Donʼt wear shoes with a hole in them– or financial problems will remain with you the entire year * Donʼt wear new clothes * Donʼt sweep the floor– or youʼll sweep a good friend away * Donʼt do laundry– throwing out water on this day is considered to be unlucky * Donʼt remove the ashes from the fire * Donʼt let the fire in the hearth go out * Donʼt make deals– money made on New Yearʼs Day will bring bad luck * Donʼt carry debts over into the New Year * Donʼt pay bills on the first Monday of the New Year * Donʼt lend money on New Yearʼs Day or you will be lending all year

Open Day – All Welcome Wednesday 27th January 2010 11.00am – 3.00pm Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Tel: 01 668 4806 • Fax: 01 668 2361 www.ballsbridgecollege.com • info@ballsbridge.cdvec.ie Principal: Mr. Dan Bradley

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NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

A RTHUR ’ S

By Christopher Sands

hile the Guinness/ Diagio multinational conglomerate put a great deal of effort into celebrating ʻArthurʼs Dayʼ, 250 years after the original Arthur Guinness set up his brewing business in St Jamesʼs Gate in Dublin, at Shelbourne Football Club in Tolka Park we managed to celebrate ʻArthurʼs Nightʼ, an event to celebrate the career of one of the clubʼs most esteemed former players and an Irish international, Arthur Fitzsimons. Originally from Penrose Street just off the Ringsend Road and almost in the shadow of Shelbourne Park, the stadium named after the club and which was then their home ground, Arthur signed for Shels from the famous schoolboy nursery club, Johnville FC. Already well-known for his tal-

PAGE 27

NIGHT AT

ent at underage level, the scouts were anxious to see how he would perform at this higher level. So well did he perform with ʻthe Redsʼ that itʼs almost forgotten that he played for Shels for only one season, 1948/49, before being transferred across-channel. But itʼs no coincidence that that season was one of the best in the clubʼs history, being in contention until the very last match in all four available competitions, finally winning two of them and finishing runner-up in the others. At the end of the season he was part of a two-player deal when he was transferred with Peter Desmond to Middlesborough FC in the English first Division. Over there he had a long and very rewarding career while also winning 27 Irish international caps, scoring 7 goals, over more than a ten-year period. On the night of the presentation,

S HELS

once Arthur and his family members had arrived, the reminiscences began. Those present included former Shelbourne players Martin Colfer, who would have been on the same team for most of Arthurʼs games with Shels. Martin also played with Arthur on our Irish international team. Also present were Christy Doyle who came a few years later, including Shelsʼ win in the FAI Cup Final in 1960, and who knew Arthur from their days in Ringsend National School), and Paddy Roberts. Paddy was one of our great heroes from the ʻGerry Doyle Yearsʼ in the 1960s includ-

ing scoring in the Shels win in the 1962 FAI Cup Final. Being from a Shelbourne family, even long before signing for Shels, Paddy could recall most of Arthurʼs great games for Shels and our Irish international team. Gerry Doyleʼs family was represented by the attendance of his son-in-law Joe Carroll. Other special guests included Jim OʼBrien, Jimmy Purdy and Micheal Synnott, all Shels supporters and personal friends of Arthur since they were all teenage members of the Bru Padraig Youth club in Mount Street. Jimmy Purdy is one of those Ringsendmen who is publicly known for his adherence to the Shelbourne cause. Others attending included our volunteer groundsman Peter McDonald originally from Bath Avenue, a Shels supporter who played in the league of Ireland for Bohemians and Transport FC. He was also a member of the Irish soccer squad in the London Olympics of 1948. Also there were Peterʼs brother and friends who had played schoolboy football with Arthur around the Shelbourne Park area. A Very Special Guest Indeed a V.V.I.P. was Mrs Lily Byrne. Now living in Kyleclare

Road in Ringsend, Lily was introduced to me as a Shels supporter at a function in St Andrewʼs Resource Centre in Pearse Street some years ago. I was there to present an award which had been won by a local teenage Shelbourne supporter. After that presentation Lily told me her father and her grandfather had both been great followers of the club, attending most home games plus many away games, possibly as far back as the foundation of our club in 1895. Now in her mid-80s, she had been born Elizabeth Maher in the family home on Georgeʼs Quay, on the south quays over from the Customs House. The family lived there as resident caretaker for the Liverpool Shipping Company, living in what was almost certainly the only residence on Georgeʼs Quay. She is an amazingly active and interesting woman, and long may she remain so. Overall, it was a lovely evening, a great event to honour a great footballer and ﬁne gentleman. Pictured above, from left: Michael Synnott, Arthur Fitzsimons, Jim OʼBrien and Jimmy Purdy.

Why do we kiss under the mistletoe?

issing under the mistletoe is ﬁrst found associated with the Greek festival of Saturnalia and later with primitive marriage rites. It was believed that mistletoe could bestow fertility. In Scandinavia, mistletoe was considered a plant of peace, under which enemies could declare a truce, or warring spouses kiss and make-up. In England, the tradition is that at Christmas time a young lady standing under a ball of mistletoe, brightly trimmed with evergreens, ribbons, and ornaments, cannot refuse to be kissed. Even if the pagan signiﬁcance has been long forgotten, the custom of exchanging a kiss under the mistletoe can still be found in many European countries. If a couple in love exchanges a kiss under the mistletoe, it is interpreted as a promise to marry, as well as a prediction of happiness and long life. In France, the custom linked to mistletoe was reserved for New Yearʼs Day: “Au gui lʼAn neuf” (Mistletoe for the New Year). Today, kisses can be exchanged under the mistletoe any time during the holiday season.

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PAGE 28

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

CAMBRIDGE GIRLS STORM AHEAD K NOW

YOUR RIGHTS

By Jason McDonnell

he NDSL winter league has been under way since October and Cambridge Girls kicked off with a storming 6-1 win against Malahide on October 31st. Manager Stephen Farrell and Captain Naimh Barnes are looking forward to leading the team onto the pitch in Frankfurt, Germany to take part in the Basinus Girls Trophy competition in March 2010. NewsFour would like to wish them all the best over there and also the best of luck in the league. Pictured above are, from top left to right: Stephen Farrell (Manager), Leanne Payne (Right winger), Danielle Behan (Mid Field), Becky Kemple (Centre Half), Lauren Kinsella (Right Full), Stacey Flood (Left Wing), Jessica Geraghty (Left Full), Lauren Kelly (Goal Keeper), Catherine Bolton. From bottom, left to right: Joanne Kavanagh (Midﬁeld), Deborah Barry (Striker), Jessica Johnston (Striker), Tara Oglesby (Striker), Chelsey Spain (Mid Fielder) Naimh Barnes Captain (Centre Half) is missing from photo.

Ringsend Hardware 6 Bridge Street, Ringsend Phone: 087 2137 668

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By Liz Carroll Question Before I lost my job earlier this year, I received my wages monthly. Iʼm now getting a social welfare payment weekly and ﬁnd that this is making it more difﬁcult for me to manage my household bills, which

come every two months. Is there a way to make more regular payments for my ESB and phone bills? Answer If you are getting your social welfare payment through the post ofﬁce, you can take part in the Household Budget Scheme. Under the scheme, you choose a ﬁxed amount to be deducted

from your payment each week and this goes towards paying your bill from the ESB, Bord Gáis or Eircom. You can also use it for local authority rent or mortgage payments. It is intended to extend the scheme to include other telecom and utility bills. You can take part in the Household Budget Scheme if you are getting Jobseekerʼs Benefit, Jobseekerʼs Allowance, Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, Back to Education Allowance or Back to Work Allowance. The scheme is also available to those getting a Social Welfare pension, a carerʼs payment, One-Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Supplementary Welfare Allowance or Farm Assist. You can choose to have up to a quarter of your Social Welfare payment deducted. The minimum deduction you can choose depends on the type of bill; for Eircom and ESB, for example, the minimum is €3.50. The scheme is operated by An Post. You can get an application form in your local post office or online at www.anpost. ie. You complete this form for each eligible bill you want to pay and send it to the following address: Household Budget Scheme, Freepost, An Post, GPO, Dublin 1. If you want to change the amount you pay each week, you can do so by completing a form with the new amount and returning it to An Post. You can also get further information from An Post online at www.anpost.ie, at the address above or by phone on 1800 70 71 72. If you need help with budgeting and managing your financial situation, the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) provides free advice. There is useful information on the MABS website, www. mabs.ie, or you can contact the MABS Helpline at 1890 283 438. Many credit unions also provide a similar bill payment system. Further information is available from the Citizens Information Centre below. Know Your Rights has been compiled by the Citizens Information Service which provides a free and confidential service to the public. Information is available online at www.citizensinformation.ie and from the Citizens Information Phone Service, Locall 1890 777 121.

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

UNWELCOME DEVELOPMENTS ON THE POOLBEG PENINSULA

By John Fitzgerald

he Sandymount and Merrion Residents Association, (SAMRA), is becoming increasingly concerned about an area on the Poolbeg Peninsula beside the Kilsaran Cement Plant. In response to a letter from SAMRA to Dublin City Council in August 2008, the Council stated that in 2008 the land was fenced by Laing OʼRourke for Dublin City Council– who in turn had leased the land from Dublin Port and Docks Board for a period of 12 months for storage of materials while work was taking place on water mains in the adjoining areas. According to Lorna Kelly of

SAMRA, the fencing was erected in the absence of planning application or permission. There was also the fact that the area was still being extended considerably by dumping of rubble and other wastes to create a low embankment around land outside the fenced-off site. As the photograph above shows, this had been a beautiful and vibrant wild habitat. In July this year Lorna says they wrote to the enforcement ofﬁcer complaining on three seperate grounds; 1.Unauthorised dumping on and enclosure of land used by the public and wildlife. 2.Failure to remove temporary fencing no longer in use. 3.The failure of Ecocem to fully remove GBBS, Ground Granulated

PAGE 29 Blast-furnace Slag from the adjoining area after representations from both SAMRA and councillor Oisin Quinn. Ecocem Ireland is an independent producer of GGBS, marketed as ʻthe Green Cement, the worlds most sustainable building materialʼ. The cement is made by taking a highly regulated by-product of the steel industry, rapidly quenching it with water and grinding it. The product has a similar chemical makeup to traditional Portland cement. Ecocemʼs plant is located at South Dock on the Pigeon House Road.. Lorna Kelly says that she wrote again to the council and the Enforcement Ofﬁcer replied stating that the issues are not a matter for the planning enforcement section and that copies of the complaints had been referred on to the Waste Management, Drainage and Enviromental Health Departments of the Council. According to Lorna, a week after this reply, further dumping of lorry loads of waste was taking place at this site on the Poolbeg and were bulldozed over a large part of the remaining land. SAMRA are sending copies of all correspondence to the Environmental Protection Agency and to The EU. SAMRA is eagerly awaiting replies from the Waste Management, Drainage and Environmental Health departments.

P AT ’ S TRIP TO L OURDES

On a recent trip to Lourdes, Pat Gregg from Ringsend, took part in the late night vigil and is shown here meeting Archbishop Diarmuid Martin. Pat would like to thank all the people who assisted him during his visit to this popular place of pilgrimage among the French Pyrenees.

Internet cafés – a pickpocket haven

By Louise Hanrahan

t is a sad fact these days folks but we have to be on our guard more than ever before, pickpockets are operating all over the city. Without naming the internet café, I had spent about an hour online and when I was finished, I was shocked to find my wallet, including cards, personal I.D. and other sentimental items such as photos etc, had been slyly removed from my handbag which I had beside me on the floor. What the drill entails with these robbers is when you are totally hooked and concentrating on whatever you are doing as in emailing, typing documents, searching the internet for information, etc– they can see your vulnerability and thatʼs the moment they will strike. Of course, I was extremely upset and panicked. Itʼs an awful feeling. You feel so hopeless and stupid for not being more vigilant! In my case the staff of the café didnʼt charge me for the use of their computer. I wouldnʼt have had a euro to hand them anyway! In reality, we have to be completely aware at all times. Especially in this time of recession, people seem to be becoming more desperate, and more brazen. Petty theft is endemic. When walking down the street, travelling on public transport, relaxing in an eatery, pub, hotel, it can occur at any time! My own mother while boarding her local bus was frantic to find her travel pass and wallet missing from her bag With the Yuletide Season on the horizon, it is very important that we are on the ball! Christmas is a stressful time for those of us who not are financially secure, and desperate measures can take place. The pressure that is involved can be extremely distressing and at any point we can all be in the line of fire, so to speak. Some people make their living and get their kicks out of robbing others. Itʼs a shame that this is the society we are living in, but I have no doubt this has happened to lots of people out there. Personally, I have learned my lesson. From here on in I will make sure my bag is hidden out of view, or on my lap under the table whether in an internet café, or elsewhere. Take my advice. Just be on your guard at all times.

PAGE 30

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

Christmas Horoscopes By Lady grÁinne ARIES 21 March – 19 April The secret to success this Christmas is constant change. Youʼll need all the help you can get to keep the peace at home. The wind of change is bringing good fortune with it, and a romantic chance of a lifetime. Curb your impatience with people who are slow to grasp your ideas. You have a formidable sense of purpose, strength and determination this Christmas. According to your star-chart now is your time to get organized. Actions speak louder than words. TAURUS 20 April – 20 May What you achieve has long-term value this Christmas and shows a tendency to break away from life and try something new. Opportunities arise from unexpected sources later this week. Learn to relax this Christmas and try to ʻGo with the flowʼ. Itʼs upbeat all the way for you now. There is a tremendous accent on romantic affairs from tomorrow onwards. GEMINI 21 May – 20 June A very interesting surprise could be in store for you this Christmas when an old debt may be paid in full without you having to ask. All this week the emphasis is on romance, children and creative projects. Expect radical changes. Concentrate on your finances rather than anything else this Christmas. Your ruling planet Mercury indicates you shall be making a journey for business and pleasure. You seek facts, but your investigations are unrewarding. If you take an indirect approach, a money problem will be solved quickly. You need to adapt a flexible policy this week. CANCER 21 June –22 July Sensitively tuning into othersʼ ʻharmoniousʼ thoughts and feelings should bring peace of mind this Christmas. Concentrate on your ambitions; all thought is creative, so think positively. Thereʼs a great potential for progress in the Stars for you right now. Rubbing shoulders with the glitterati is just what you need this Christmas. Romance seems to be on the agenda for you at the moment. Make sure not to leave anything to chance. LEO 23 July – 22 August The main ingredient of success this Christmas is an openness to receive answers. Romantically, you are in for a pleasant surprise. Appearances can be deceptive so pay attention to detail. Keep a momentum going in everything you do. Itʼs high time you put yourself first. If you play your cards close to your chest this Christmas, you will have every reason to celebrate. Change is automatic, progress is not. Tomorrow you can go out and celebrate because things will be turning out better than you have hoped. VIRGO 23 August – 22 September Brighter attractive prospects for you this season but you might have to uproot yourself. Expect a much more positive state of affairs from this Christmas onwards. Anything started now has a more than average chance of being successful. Indications from your ruling planet this Christmas point to very encouraging news concerning money. Believe in yourself even when no one else does. Forgiveness is a gift of freedom to you. A partnership is likely to come to a head and it demands all your tact and understanding.

LIBRA 23 September – 22 October Opportunity is imminent this Christmas. You will find the courage to break away from restricting circumstances, which might change the whole course of your life. Life is the one thing you canʼt save for later. Where money is concerned, you must avoid any kind of partnership, however brief, or for whatever reason. If not, you might be sorry in the long run. Opportunities arise from unexpected sources later in the week. You have a fantastic eye for detail and a genius for dealing with people. Capitalize on what appeals and challenge what does not. Be thankful for a shift of mood or attitude this Christmas. SCORPIO 23 October – 21 November You have reached a turning point in relation to your personal status. Soon you will find the key to what you are looking for. Donʼt just dream of success… wake up and work hard at it. If someone tries to make you lose your temper this Christmas, take a long, deep breath and refuse to be hassled. Pride is an attitude, which separates excellence from mediocrity. News arrives requiring a quick decision. There are various problems or upsets to deal with before this period is through. SAGITTARIUS 22 November – 21 December The secret of living is giving. When love is on the agenda, the planet Jupiter is famous for bringing new people to visit you. Keep moving forward no matter what the cost. You are in a stronger position this Christmas than you have been in for some years. You will be unlikely to stray too far from the straight and narrow. Beware when someone offers a cup of tea and a slice of guilt. Only work on facts. CAPRICORN 22 December – 19 January You are moving closer to becoming the person you are meant to be. Simply say to yourself “I refuse to get a wrinkle over that problem.” Your emotions are running high. Change your approach and you can still achieve what you want. You need to make some quick decisions, put communications in the fast-lane now. Be assertive this Christmas with your ideas. You seem to be going through an intensely emotionally period this month but Christmas week will be a period of quiet confidence for you. According to your stars this period is mostly favourable for business or career. AQUARIUS 20 January – 18 February Convivial company promises much in the way of romantic encounters. Pursue what you want for a change. Your personality and persuasiveness will enable you to put across any of your encouraging ideas. Your sixth sense may desert you over a money matter. Hunches pay off. Go with the flow and be a bit more adventurous this Christmas. Something inside is trying to tell you to get in touch with your feelings. Love is in the air and so is the flu. A feasible business idea stirs up plenty of discussion. PISCES 19 February – 20 March Indications from your ruling planet point to a forgotten romance now ready to enter your life, with very interesting results. Cut off sentimental attachments that are emotionally draining. Your solar stars are striking. Thereʼs a reason for this. Somebody is taking pot shots at you. Youʼll begin a new project or venture this Christmas similar to something you just finished, but better. Get off the bench and step into the game of life.

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

S EAN

NOT

PAGE 31

D UNNE

PROPOSAL FOR MASSIVE ‘ REDEVELOPMENT ’ AT

By Harry Cavendish

ean Dunne, famous for his purchase of the Juryʼs Hotel and Berkeley Court Hotel sites on Pembroke Road in Ballsbridge, now proposes in the form of ʻMountbrook Merrion Road T HE

CHRISTMAS

CROSSWORD COMPILED BY ANN INGLE

Development Ltdʼ to redevelop the AIB bank headquarters on Merrion Road and Serpentine Avenue. According to the planning application, he wants to demolish 15,700 square metres of existing buildings and put up a rack of six new towers where heights will be from seven to nine storeys over basement and

YET

AIB

SITE

lower ground ﬂoor levels, with the new development consisting of 52,000 square metres of mostly ofﬁce space with a small amount of retail and residential space thrown in. The proposal plans an audacious redevelopment of the 10-acre site with the glazed stone and steel towers dominating the skyline for miles around. The proposal came before the meeting of Pembroke/ Rathmines and South East Inner City Council members at their monthly meeting in City Hall in mid-October. It was unanimously rejected but approval remains the preserve of the Cityʼs planners. Councillor Mary Freehill (LAB) pointed out that it would increase the density of the site three and a half times and said she found the proposal monotonous in terms of architecture, pointing out that the gable end which would face on to Serpentine Avenue was like a fea-

Name:…………………………… Address:………………………… Telephone:…………………

tureless high wall. Eoghan Murphy (FG) said there was no merit in the planning application and questioned the fact that part of the land in the application is not owned by the developer. Edie Wynne (FG) said it dwarfs the RDS across the road and Jim OʼCallaghan (FF) said it was far too high for a residential area. Councillor Mannix Flynn (IND) described what was on offer as “architorture” while Councillor Oisin Quinn (LAB) and Chair of the

Committee said it was hard to take the application seriously and questioned was the developer just trying to bolster the value of his site by looking for permission for land that he had incomplete ownership of. Arguments and questions about the proposal raised at the Area Committee meeting are passed on to the relevant planners who have to take note of what the representatives think. We shall have to wait and see how the planners view this.

The winner of the prize for October-November was Emer Breen, ʻKilmurryʼ, 129 Mt Anville Park, Goatstown, Dublin 14. Entries for this issueʼs crossword to be in by 12th February 2010. The prize is a book token for €30. ACROSS 8 A Christmas delicacy (5,3) 9 Soundness of mind (6) 10 Make good (6) 11 Another name for Santa (8) 12 Unsympathetic or cruel (6) 13 Dublin hospital founded in 1839 and large city in Australia (8) 15 The ---- is crucial to the success of U2 (4) 17 Popular rum from Bermuda (7) 19 What Mohammed Ali did in his practice sessions ((7) 22 Used for gathering leaves or gambling chips (4) 24 They can play you a tune (8) 27 To read aloud a poem (6) 29 Not curved (8) 30 Seizes power without legal authority (6) 31 US currency (6) 32 Calculation of the sum of numbers (8) DOWN This bird is sure to come home (6) 1 2 Intense pain and tenderness along the bodyʼs longest nerve (8) 3 Improved or progressed, ʻbumped upʼ from economy class (8) 4 A chair ﬁlled with small pellets (4,3) 5 That which is responsible for oneʼs thoughts and feelings (6) 6 Hair of a goat made into wool (6) 7 To sit with a leg on each side as on a horse (8) 14 A table to study at (4) 16 Earth or soil (4) 18 The operation of aircraft (8) 20 To win someone over (8) 21 Bats for playing tennis (8) 23 Receptacle for dog ends (7) 25 Not quite (6) 26 Could be brown, white or icing (6) 28 Through the tulips? (6)

PAGE 32

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

The Fontenoy Files By Shay Connolly

s we enter into another year, the 108th of Clanna Gael Fontenoyʼs presence in the local community, we are pleased enough with the way the year went. At present we are putting the finishing touches to our Sports Hall and it is due to be opened next week. “At long last,” I can hear you say but folks– Rome wasnʼt built in a day. The development of the club over the last ten years has not come easy and it wonʼt be easy for the next twenty years as a result of the financial commitments made. I promise you that our Sports Hall will be cosy, welcoming, and, above all, warm and you are more than welcome to come in and have a look. Our first function will be St Stephenʼs Night where we hope a great night will be had by all. On the playing front, which is what we are all about, the past year has seen us raise the bar somewhat and progress has definitely been made. If we can do that every year, then we are well on the road to achieving our long-term goal. The adult Camogie team exemplified our never-say-die attitude brilliantly over the past couple of seasons, culminating in major success this year. They could have been forgiven if some years back, they had folded their tent and went their merry way. But to

their eternal credit, they didnʼt; they buckled down and hung in there. Their reward was capturing the Junior Div I league title and reaching the Junior Championship ﬁnal only to be pipped at the post by the narrowest of margins. Promotion was attained and they are chomping at the bit to get the new season underway. John Rimmer has been exceptional as Manager. He successfully rallied the troops this year and went about his business in the quiet and unassuming way he does most things. Ciaran Murphy and Deco Ryan provided expert assistance during the campaign The achievement of the U16 footballers and hurlers this year was also phenomenal. Capturing

both County Championships in football and hurling was an extraordinary feat. One must remember that this club is coming up against major clubs in these competitions, clubs that can draw from areas sometimes ten times more populated than our little villages. But we are competing with, and getting the better of, these bigger clubs these days and our U16s typiﬁed that spirit. Lorry loads of confetti need to be ofﬂoaded on the Cranky Yank himself, Gareth Saunders; along with Albert Hannon, John Diviney, Bernard Lawless, Collie Reynolds, John OʼLeary and above all the team itself for achieving this amazing double. As a reward, the club is busily

fundraising for the trip to Canada next year and the parents are leading the charge on the organisation front for this venture. The Juvenile section that caters for hundreds of youngsters is going about their business in terriﬁc fashion. If one passes by the club on a Saturday morning, one will see a thriving operation in place. What may go over many peopleʼs heads is the organisation that goes into producing this each week. In this regard we have the best people in the club for many a year. The parental involvement is prominent here and the moulding of a ﬁt and active young child is the primary aim of both club and parents. This section has been chaired for the past number of years by Dave Walsh. Dave brought a tireless and professional energy to his work and has been instrumental in putting in place the foundations that will carry this very successful operation into the future. Thank you Dave. The new man in charge is Roger McGrath and we wish Roger every success in the future. No doubt that his father-in-law, having chaired the famous Kilruane McDonaghs in Tipperary for many a year will be giving him plenty of asides along the way! The Inter footballers are on the crest of a wave and in the playoffs to go on to Senior Football. Oh, how many times folks have I written over the years in this article about the possibility of this happening! It represents so much.

An inner-city club like ours, by the laws of averages should not really be where we are. So many clubs, in particular inner-city clubs, have folded over the past 40 years and we could have, and nearly did, become one of them. If we can defy the odds and reach Senior Football it would surely represent an amazing success story. You see folks, this is not just about football. This is about the underdog. It is about individuals who believe that if I work as hard as the next guy then I can be as good as the next guy and I can achieve as much as the next guy. And that is the benchmark for all our community, a community that, despite competing against major odds, can overcome them and become achievers. That mindset has been driven into this football team by Manager Brian Talty who has able assistants in Albert and Ronan. We can achieve! The Senior Hurlers had a mixed season and I will leave this article after penning it for 15 years or so with a passionate plea to them. It was fantastic to gain senior status two years ago. But that was two years ago lads. Is this where progress stops? Once again, this is more than hurling. This is about the famed Fontenoys, founded 108 years ago in Irishtown Road and Bath Avenue and who started all this malarkey. They chose the name Fontenoy to remember the hundreds from this area who had to go into battle in the foreign ﬁelds of Fontenoy in Belgium, many of them doing so to put food on the tables of their hungry families back home in Ringsend. Donʼt dishonour them by accepting mediocrity. Not in over thirty years have the club assembled so talented a group of hurlers. It may be a long time before we have the situation again. Make the most of it boys. Donʼt settle for Div 2 hurling. Donʼt settle for Intermediate Championship. We have worked at our craft since we were eight years of age. What makes any of the bigger clubs better than us? If you serve your time as an apprentice, does a better carpenter emerge from Kilmacud or Ballyboden or Crumlin than would

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

PAGE 33

Calafort Átha Cliath

emerge from Ringsend? The answer to that is no. Then why should it be any different in hurling? I personally know the inside of a lot of your heads and I know that there is courage there boys, a courage not to accept the present status, a courage and commitment to drive it on to another stage, a courage to take the knocks and bounce up again, a courage that can show the younger hurlers in the club that we can make it to the very top. It is there lads in abundance but you have to ﬁnd it yourselves. Working extremely hard will help you ﬁnd it and will help you become just as good a hurler as anybody from anywhere else. To the elder lemons of the team, you have served the club greatly over the years. You waited pa-

tiently to become senior hurlers. If you have three, four or ﬁve years left to play, everything you do now could impact upon where our hurling will be in ten, ﬁfteen, or twenty years time. Give it everything you have got now and in years to come as you come down to the club, possibly to watch a Senior, a championship match, you can smile broadly to yourself and feel proud that your input in the last number of years that you played is the reason why the club stayed successful. And you can tell your child or grandchild alongside you how you played your part. As I have said above this will be my last time penning this article and I thank the readers and NewsFour for putting up with me for such a long time. I know I have made some of you angry,

yawn, laugh, or even cry, but I couldnʼt keep you all happy at the same time. The club sincerely thanks our sponsors Dublin Port Company for their continued support. Happy Christmas folks and a Survivable New Year. Stephenʼs night Disco in the new hall, eight till late. Tickets €10.00 Available from Paul and behind the bar.

Dublin Port Company Port Centre, Alexandra Road, Dublin 1. Telephone: 887 6000, 855 0888 Fax: 855 7400 Web: www.dublinport.ie

Condolences to the Connolly Family on the passing of former player and supporter Martin. Ar dheis De go raibh a ainm dilis. Page 32: The Camogie Team and, below, showing how itʼs done. This page: The Inter Football team.

RENOVATION OF THE IRIS CHARLES CENTRE FOR OLDER PEOPLE By Gráinne McGuinness

efurbishments are currently being carried out on the older section of the Iris Charles Centre at Newbridge Avenue, Sandymount. In times past, this part of the building was used as a ballroom by the Ancient Order of Hibernians. Many of you may remember the concerts and dances which were held there and the good times you had at them. Work should be ﬁnished on the new hall by Christmas, but it wonʼt be ofﬁcially launched until early in the New Year. I went to see the work in progress last week and the place already looks fantastic. Speaking to Frances Dignan and other members of the committee, it is clear they want to make the new

premises as user-friendly as possible. They are planning various uses for the new hall and are hopeful that more local residents will use the Centre as a place to meet and socialise. So next year, if you are retired, living alone or just want to get out of the house for a bit, why not visit the centre and catch up

with old friends or maybe even make some new ones? You will certainly be made very welcome. The committee of the Centre wish to acknowledge the contribution of the Lansdowne Road Stadium Development Company towards the cost of the new kitchen at the Centre. Further funds are required to complete the furnishing of the new hall and the committee would welcome any other contributions to the project. Volunteering at the centre is a great way to get to know the locals and helpers are always more than welcome. So if you have some time to spare and would like to help out, just contact Sheila MacDonald on 086 8219987 or Claire McElvaney on 087 2368548. Above: Iris Charles

MASSIVE CHRISTMAS DEALS ON HAIR MOUSSE • HAIRSPRAY BRYLCREEM • HAIR GELS

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Eugene and the Staff wish all the Community a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

PAGE 34

W HERE

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

W ORD M AGIC DO SOME OF OUR

By Glenda Cimino

long tradition lies behind many of the foods we are used to eating during the holiday season. Letʼs look at just a few of them.

Christmas Pudding According to the Oxford Companion to Food, by Alan Davidson, Christmas or plum pudding can be traced back to the early 15th century. The first types were not specifically associated with Christmas. Like early mince pies, they contained meat, of which a token remains in the use of suet. Plum pottage was made from chopped beef or mutton, onions and perhaps other root vegetables, and dried fruit. It was a fairly liquid preparation until the invention of the pudding cloth. It was served at the beginning of the meal. When new kinds of dried fruit like raisins and prunes became available in 16th century Britain, they were added. The name ʻplumʼ refers to a prune; but it soon came to mean any dried fruit. Gradually the meat was replaced by suet. The root vegetables disappeared, although even now Christmas pudding may still include a token carrot. By the 1670s, it was particularly associated with Christmas and called ʻChristmas pottageʼ. The old plum pottage continued to be made into the 18th century, and both versions were still served as a filling first course rather than as a dessert. The current traditional Christmas pudding recipe has been more or less established since the 19th century. Andrea Broomfield says that the plum puddingʼs association with Christmas goes back to medieval England and the Roman Catholic Church decree that the ʻpudding should

C HRISTMAS

FOODS COME FROM ?

be made on the twenty-fifth Sunday after Trinity, that it be prepared with thirteen ingredients to represent Christ and the twelve apostles, and that that every family member stir it in turn from east to west to honour the Magi and their supposed journey in that direction.ʼ Banned by the Puritans in the 1660s for its rich ingredients, the pudding and its customs came back into popularity during the reign of George I. Known sometimes as the ʻPudding Kingʼ, George I requested that plum pudding be served as part of his royal feast when he celebrated his first Christmas in England after arriving from Hanover to take the throne in 1714. By 1740, a recipe for ʻplum porridgeʼ appeared in Christmas Entertainments.

Mincemeat and mince pies According to the food historians, mincemeat pie dates back to Medieval times. At that time, this recipe did, indeed, include meat. It also often contained dried fruits, sugar, and spices, as was the tradition of the day. The distinction between mincemeat and mince was drawn in the mid-nineteenth century when meat began disappearing from the recipe, leaving the fruit, nut, sugar, spice, and suet product we know today. Late 19th century cookbooks contain several recipes for both mincemeat and mince, some containing meat,

others not. In the Middle Ages and into Renaissance times and beyond it was commonplace to spice up or eke out meat with dried fruit, and it seems likely that the earliest mince pies contained a generous measure of raisins, currants, etc. The reduction in meat content was slow but steady. Mince pie in Britain, is a miniature round pie, filled with mincemeat: typically a mixture of dried fruits, chopped nuts and apples, suet, spices, and lemon juice, vinegar, or brandy. Although the filling is called mincemeat, it rarely contains meat nowadays. The earliest type was a small medieval pastry called a chewette, which contained chopped meat of liver, or fish on fast days, mixed with chopped hard-boiled egg and ginger. This might be baked or fried. It became usual to enrich the filling with dried fruit and other sweet ingredients. Already by the 16th century minced or shred pies, as they were then known, had become a Christmas specialty, which they still are. Bethlehem Christmas Menu There are many excellent sources for learning about Bible-era foods (including modernized recipes & suggested menus). Here are two: BETHLEHEM SHEPHERDʼS DINNER Eggs in Sour Cream Shepherdʼs Pie (with old world vegetables...no potato!) Fresh Green Salad Gingered Prunes Pine Nut Wafers Wise Men of the East menu Spiced Cider Chaldean Prunes Lemon Chicken Chick-Pea Salad Persian Cream Ring Ginger Cakes

Medieval European Christmas Arthurian Christmas feasts swell the pages of medieval literature. One medieval romance begins in the midst of Christmas revelry at Camelot, where King Arthur, his Knights of the Round Table and their ladies are celebrating for 15 days, ʻwith all the food and mirth that men knew how to deviseʼ. Merriment notwithstanding, the medieval feast was often an occasion for great pomp and ceremony. At 10am on Christmas Day, to the sound of clarion trumpets, the marshal would usher guests into the castleʼs great hall, seating them at long tables according to the established order of precedence. A bowl of spiced, scented water was circulated for the handwashing ceremony, and a Latin grace chanted in unison. Then the trumpets blared again, this time to announce the arrival of servers as they entered the hall balancing steaming platters of spit-roasted haunches, gilded fowl and enormous crusty pies. Medieval feasts were traditionally served in three courses. Each course included a soup, followed by a wide range of baked, roasted and boiled dishes, and ﬁnally an elaborate sotelty, a lifelike (often edible) scene sculpted in coloured marzipan or dough. One 15th-century English menu suggests bringing each of the three courses to a close with a sotelty depicting a successive phase of the Christmas story. The bounty of medieval feasts is legendary. One early historian noted that in 1398, King Richard II ʻkept his Christmas at Liech-

field, where he spent (used) in the Christmas time 200 tunns of wine, and 2000 oxen with their appurtenancesʼ. (From Christmas Feasts from History, Lorna J. Sass [Irena Chalmers Cookbooks:New York] 1981, p. 23-4) Sicilian Christmas An old custom in Sicily was to eat 12 kinds of fish/ seafood for Christmas Eve dinner. There was one seafood for each of Christʼs Apostles as they were considered ʻFishers of Men.ʼ There is also a tradition known as Vigilia di Magro, of eating seven types of fish, seven being the number associated with God or the seven sacraments (six was connected with the devil). Eggnog Eggnog is a sweetened dairybased beverage made with milk, cream, sugar, beaten eggs (which gives it a frothy texture), and flavoured with ground cinnamon and nutmeg; alcoholic versions also exist with the addition of various liquors, such as rum, brandy, whiskey, and sake. ʻEgg nog(g)ʼ is cited in print in American sources from at least the 1770s. The drink is usually served in the wintertime and has been associated with Christmas almost from the first recorded citations. So– enjoy the holidays, and perhaps give a thought to the long traditions behind our Christmas food. Above: A Medieval feast. Left: Spiced Sicilian oranges, which are usually served with a meat dish at Christmas.

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

PAGE 35

C HINA CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF COMMUNISM

By Jason McDonnell

hina had a spectacular celebration to mark 60 years since the Communist Party came to power on October 1, 1949. The country had been preparing for months for this celebration, which rivalled the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympic games for pomp and pageantry. Whereas the Olympics makeover was mostly in northern Beijing, this year the focus is in the heart of the city, especially around Tiananmen Square, where Mao Tse-tung announced the birth of the Peopleʼs Republic of China. As happened with the Olympics, extensive preparations went on in the city, with streets being

widened and parks, monuments and subway stations refurbished. Zhang Yimou, who directed last summerʼs spectacular opening ceremony, was commissioned to stage a huge outdoor party with fireworks. Feature films, commemorative television specials and an opera were also made for the occasion. The organizing committee for the 60th anniversary is located in the former offices of the Olympics organizing committee, and has taken over some of its staffers. But Zhang Heping, a key official for the Gamesʼs opening and closing ceremonies and who is organizing the anniversary events, promises that the costs will not be Olympian. “The scale of the event has to be appropriate and the budget

must be thrifty,” Zhang recently told Chinese business reporters, without actually disclosing the budget. Many prominent directors and actors have promised to donate their time for an epic film on Chinaʼs founding– what Han Sanping, chairman of the China Film Group Corporation, called a “gift to mother.” The day started with the raising of the red national flag, while President Hu Jintao, wearing a black Mao Zedong-style tunic, looked on with his predecessor Jiang Zemin, Premier Wen Jiabao and other senior party leaders at the vast lines of tanks, soldiers and missile launchers parading through the capital. National heroes like champion hurdler Liu Xiang and astronaut Zhai Zhigang along with other Chinese celebrities, rode through the crowds on brightly-decorated floats with giant portraits of all of Chinaʼs past communist leaders. Later, there was a massive fireworks display in Tiananmen Square, followed by a concert of patriotic songs and dancing. While it is normal for National Day to be celebrated, a great deal of extra effort was made to mark their 60th anniversary. Chinaʼs ambassador to the UK, Fu Ying, described the celebrations as “a farewell to poverty and backwardness.”

PHOTOGRAPHY FOR BEGINNERS: DETAILS • These tutorials are presented by highly experienced photographers who are club members. • Regular classes are on Wednesday nights and there is the option of 6.30pm or 8.30pm classes. • The fee is €100 and full club membership is available for a further €35. • An entry form for these classes can be printed out from our website www.dublincameraclub.ie or forms are available from the club gallery most Saturdays or by calling in person to 10 Lower Camden Street on Tuesday nights at 9.30pm–10.00pm. 1. CAMERAS AND EQUIPMENT, DIGITAL AND FILM 2. TECHNIQUES OF DIGITAL AND FILM EXPOSURE 3. COMPOSING AND PLANNING THE PHOTOGRAPH 4. DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY, CAMERA AND COMPUTER 5. DEVELOPING THE FILM NEGATIVE 6. DARKROOM PRINTING AND ENLARGING 7. PRACTICAL WORKSHOP SESSION (SATURDAY) 8. HOLIDAY AND TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY 9. LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHY 10. BEGINNERS’ PROGRESS

Photography for Beginners

WELCOME TO DUBLIN CAMERA CLUB

ublin Camera Club is based at 10 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2. This entire building is dedicated to matters photographic and the club is now the largest of its type in Ireland. The club is a non-profit organisation dedicated to promoting good photography. It holds regular Tuesday night meetings for members throughout the year. These meetings have welcomed many top-class photographers who discuss and display their work. In autumn and winter, there are ongoing photographic competitions where newer members can gain experience by seeing the standards they need to reach and perhaps enter the competitions themselves. Of course, there is no obligation to enter competitions and many members

just enjoy viewing the photographs. The club caters fully for both digital and film photographers, indeed it has two fully-equipped darkrooms, which are in regular use. There is also a facility for converting film negatives and slides to digital images, in addition to a photographic library. The main ground floor meeting room of the club is also used as a photographic gallery, which is open to the public most Saturdays. The club also contains a fully-equipped photographic studio, which, like the darkroom and digital facilities, can be used by full members after a probationary period. A studio course must be completed before using the studio, which can then be booked, subject to availability, purely for noncommercial use.

Photographic outings Also for members, there is a selection of photographic outings during the year. Some are one-day trips to photogenic places, others are long weekends which usually take place from spring to autumn. Beginnersʼ Classes For people who wish to master the basics of photography in a relaxed and helpful atmosphere, the club runs Beginnersʼ Classes. These are 10-class sessions on Wednesday nights with one Saturday afternoon Practical Workshop. The next run of classes is from January 27 to March 24, 2010. A full syllabus and application form can be printed by going to the website: www.dublincameraclub.ie and clicking ʻBeginners Photography Courseʼ. These classes are in great demand and always ﬁll up rapidly, so be sure to book a place in good time.

A COURSE IN PHOTOGRAPHY OF TEN CLASSES Covering both Digital and Film Techniques At the Dublin Camera Club Starting Wednesday January 27, 2010 Dublin Camera Club, 10 Lower Camden Street, Dublin 2 Website: www.dublincameraclub.ie Photographs shown above are by Dublin Camera Club members

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NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

LANSDOWNE ROAD – THEATRE OF DREAMS

By Patrick Hugh Lynch

itness to scenes of jubilation and frustration, the demise and redevelopment of Lansdowne Road stadium poses many questions for those who live in the area and those who visit this Dublin 4 enclave of national debate. Despite the initial fears that the demolition of the stadium would cause severe hassle for the residents of the area, the demolition went ahead over the last August bank holiday

weekend. It was consoling that the prospect of an ultramodern edifice rising phoenix-like from its ashes, to dominate the skyline of Dublin 4, was removed, at least on a temporary basis, pending the planning decisions on other nearby construction projects. There are those who question the redevelopment, when land was available in close proximity to motorways, but in my opinion it was better that tradition took precedent. Concerns and reservations about the project were noted and acted upon by the planning

C ELEBRATIONS

FOR

officers, with the residents experiencing minor changes during the demolition. For those less directly affected, the idea of being able to continue to attend rugby or soccer internationals in one of the nicest parts of Dublin, in a comfortable, seated, safe, relatively weatherproof stadium is a mouth-watering prospect. Those who sat underneath the huge roof of the East Stand, had no protection against the rain-laden wind that came straight in over the North Terrace. Bruised elbows and crushed ribs were

S ADIE

AND

often incurred while trying to exit the stadium in the midst of the mass stampede which took place after each final whistle. The ʻpolitically correctʼ environment of the 21st century dictates that crowd control, channelled exits, health and safety were to be incorporated into this new icon of Irish sporting aspirations. The demise of this gargantuan of Irish sporting life came at 3.20pm on New Yearʼs Eve 2006. Forty-eight thousand, virtually a capacity crowd, came to watch Leinster beat Ulster in a Celtic League match, but equally importantly, to pay our respects to the Old Ground for the last time. The weather performed in its typically unpredictable manner of being bitterly cold, with a strong, gusty wind and vicious, squally showers. There was not an official obituary for this occasion, as there had being a ʻLong Goodbyeʼ that encompassed

vided an ecstatic commentary to their colleagues in Iraq and other diverse locations. Thank goodness for the mobile phone. When the last whistle was blown on December 31st, 2006, there was a real sense of history and occasion. At the final whistle, throughout the terraces and stands Leinster men and Ulster men shook hands, exchanged kind words, promising to meet again in Croke Park, and in the nottoo-distant future, back in the auld spiritual home, a ʻnewʼ Lansdowne Road. Conceived, designed and laid out one hundred and thirty years ago by Henry Wallace Dunlop, it has undergone many mutations in shape and activities. Dunlop saw the need for a multi-use sports ground, between the railway line and the river ʻout in the country near Lansdowne Road Stationʼ, and took a sixty-nine year lease from the Pembroke Estate at £60 annual rent.

during 2006– the last Six Nations, the last Schools Finals, the last Soccer friendly. There were some cynical observers in media circles who saw the inability of the D4 personality to trans-locate to the Northern side for sporting encounters. It got as bad as D4ers being subjected to geographical degradation as to the special topography of the Northside. Alas, this was not true. While the re-positioned ʻRuggerʼ followers were frustrated at the loss to our Gallic friends, so much solace was regained by the demolition of English pride, when that convincing win occurred in Croke Park. Indeed, so proud of the Irish triumphalism were two former Colonels of the Royal Irish Regiment, that they pro-

In its early days, there was a 500-yard cinder running track, a cricket pitch, a croquet lawn, tennis courts, archery butts and, of course, the rugby field. Times move on and the standard of facilities has greatly improved for sporting fans throughout the world. The combination of the IRFU and FAI realised that the travelling cavalcade of Irish sporting fans needed a ʻTheatre of Dreamsʼ. Whether those dreams come true, only time will tell. Patrick Hugh Lynch (pictured on left Dec 31st 2006) was assisted by Ray McGee photographing the stadium.

J OHN

Pictured are Sadie and John Fitzimons celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary with their good friends, the cleaning crew of St Patrickʼs Church, Ringsend.

Above left: End of the line for the old stadium. Above right: A sight consigned to history.

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

PAGE 37

R INGSEND

TO K NOCK PILGRIMAGE CIRCA 1988

Aoife Caulﬁeld of Ringsend brought in this picture of pilgrims from St Patrickʼs Church, Ringsend visiting Knock around 1988. Aoifeʼs grandmother Dorothy ʻDornieʼ Caulﬁeld is in the second row, third from left. If anyone can provide a full list of names, we would love to hear from you.

RECORD ENTRY FOR BT YOUNG SCIENTIST & TECHNOLOGY EXHIBITION 2010 By Glenda Cimino

record number of schools have entered the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition for 2010, expressing a growing interest in science, technology, mathematics and engineering. A total of 1,588 projects from 329 schools in the 32 counties have been submitted for the upcoming exhibition in January at the RDS in Ballsbridge. This year, 520 projects will compete in the ﬁnals. Projects are entered in all four categories. With 198 in Technology, 303 in Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences, 534 in Biological & Ecological Sciences, and 553 in Social & Behavioural Sciences. The majority of entrants, 57%, are girls, and 43% are boys. About 80% are

group entries and 20% are individual entries. Chris Clark, CEO, BT said, “Our focus is on continually evolving this fantastic exhibition, and weʼre delighted that more schools than ever have responded positively and entered for 2010. This showcase of young talent is surpassed by none and the commercial successes of some of our past winners prove it is a real stepping stone for Irelandʼs next generation of innovators and entrepreneurs. Weʼre now looking forward to seeing the big ideas and inventions that will be on show at the RDS in January.” BT also recently launched the Business of Science & Technology, a new programme that will give students the business knowledge they need to turn their innovative ideas into commercial opportunities. Forty students will be selected

Daniel and Christopher Hobbs, above, were category winners in last yearʼs BT Young Scientist event. at the exhibition and mentored by leading executives from BT, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Bombardier, Bord Gáis Éireann, IP Innovations, UCD, TCD, Engineers Ireland and Bank of Ireland on subjects such as protecting intel-

lectual capital, global marketing and international business. The programme is designed to bridge the gap between education and business, and to support Irelandʼs ambition to be a smart economy.

The Minister for Education and Science, Batt OʼKeeffe TD, said: “The BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, which my Department continues to support, is a unique platform for secondary school students to showcase their talents and imaginations. As Minister, I want to promote science, technology, engineering and maths at all levels of our education system as part of the Governmentʼs efforts to build the ʻsmartʼ innovationbased society in our economic recovery project.” The BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition 2010 will take place in the Main Hall, RDS, Dublin 4 from 12th to 16th January 2010. Doors will be open to the public from Thursday, 14th to Saturday, 16th January. For more information on the exhibition please visit www.btyoungscientist.com or call 1800 924 362.

PAGE 38

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

C OMMUNITY SPIRIT FOUND IN R INGSEND

By Bobby Neill

rom 28th to 31st October last, Community Groups in Ringsend hosted the areaʼs ﬁrst ʻHalloween Festivalʼ. Over 400 children, along with parents and grand-parents participated in the four-day festival programme. A massive thanks goes to the twenty-one groups who participated in and supported this event. A big thank you also goes to the Lansdowne Development Fund, who allocated a Community Gain Grant. The festival was organised with the Joint Policing Sub-Committee.

Ringsend Park Working Group was set up with a view to reducing incidents of anti-social behaviour in Ringsend Park and the surrounding area over the Halloween period. Its membership includes local public representatives, Gardai from Irishtown Garda Station, Community Representatives and Dublin City Council ofﬁcials from the Parks Section and the South East Area ofﬁce. A major event of this yearʼs Festival was the Halloween Parade that took place on 31st October. This parade was open to all local Community Groups and the theme for the Parade was ʻThe Banshee in a Boatʼ. Special thanks goes to the

Staff and Students of the Ringsend Technical College who made the

Banshee. Floats and mascots were specially devised for the event by participating community groups. It certainly made for a colourful spectacle on the night. Stilt walkers from Ringsend Irishtown youth service had been in training for four weeks for the parade, we are happy to report nobody fell off. The idea behind the Festival event was prevention. The Community has worked and continues to work in conjunction with local Community Gardai and Dublin City Council around drug and alcohol misuse. Gardai reported that the Festival had a tangible effect on the area over Halloween as there was a marked reduction in the number of unauthorized bonﬁres and general anti-social behaviour, so a success all round. The following lists the Groups

W HO By Peter Pick

ell, after all the imaginary money has run out, and now that the cork has come out of the bottle and the spirit poured away, and the bottle has come out in Cork for that matter on account of there being no tapwater, and floods of tears, floods of dark water– floods of sewage indeed– have enveloped the nation through the intervention of the hand of the Devil (not that I really mean ʻthe Devilʼ, you understand, itʼs a figure of speech) we have to search hard for something to relieve the gloom. And it is not sufficient and does little to relieve the misery to deface a vacuum cleaner. And it is not enough to observe– as some might– that Cork can float. It may not be long before sewage engulfs us all, and we are all in that same boat, up the same well-known creek without the proverbial paddle. But I have thought of something, and I have heard it on the news. The new and first and historic president of the European council is Herman Rumpy. And for what reason, on receipt of this announcement should we be expected to rejoice? (I hear you ask). Not because of who it is (yer man Rumpy is a Belgian who wears his hair in a sort of horseshoe, perhaps in homage to the croissant)– although one can imagine excellent headlines of the future in case of possible misdemeanours he might commit or crises which might assail him. The sordid and sometimes gro-

who participated and who continue to work for the young people of Ringsend. Once again, a Special Thank You to all who supported by volunteering and giving of their time: Ringsend & Irishtown Community Centre, Ringsend Community Technical College, Power O1 Lone Parents Group, Clanna Gael G.A.A. Club, Ringsend Community Training Centre, Irishtown Stage School, Ringsend & Irishtown Youth Project, Ringsend Active Retirement Group, Ringsend Over 50S Group, Cambridge Court Senior Citizens, Ringsend & District Resist Drugs, C.Y.M.S, Garda Band, St Patrickʼs Rowing Club, Stella Maris Rowing Club, Ringsend Créche, The F. A. I., Ringsend Community Services Forum, The Spellman Centre (RDRD) and Dublin City Council. Above left: Irishtown Stage School

HE IS NOT

tesque details of his affair with a pork-butcherʼs niece revealed to a worried continent under the banner ʻRumpy-Pumpyʼ, his unconventional escape from sudden floods in southern Belgium recorded (with picture) as ʻRumpy Stilts Swimʼ. But no. It is not because of who he is, but because of who he is not. Obviously, the list of who he is not is long and includes both my dead uncle and you yourself and space and time do not permit that we print it here, but he is not Silvio Berlusconi, he is not Johnny Halliday, and he is not Tony Blair. Herman van Rumpoy will be the first president of the European Commission and this means that Tony Blair has drifted yet further away from the possibility of becoming the first new holy Roman emperor. Now the self-anointed leader of Europe and the future Pope is left only with Sierra Leone to run. Now he will have more time to spend in the meeting and reconciliation of all faiths. Now he will have to satisfy himself with bringing peace to the Middle East, and the position of unelected head, the appointed one, goes to a mere committee man, a bureaucrat. It is interesting that titular heads of Europe should be unelected appointees decided on over dinner. But then, thinking back isnʼt this how things were always done, at the club or in the coffee house? How very comfortable and eighteenthcentury. How very civilised. Interesting that, in these times when we are called upon to mo-

bilise to protect our ʻcore valuesʼ the arrangements made to advance those values and to oversee their application do not include among their decision-making processes any democracy. But it is a very good thing that Emperor Blair the First has failed to ﬁnd favour among the great monsters of sheer goodness who wallow at the centre of the European vat, because I personally do not wish to witness a new crusade against badness in all its forms led by a smiling rodent with an evangelical complication. A man who knows that God is on his side. Thatʼs all we need, another one of those. So, amidst the ruin of nations and the shreds of the economy, let us raise at least a ragged cheer. Weʼll pick up your dustbins and pump out the sewer but letʼs not forget weʼve got debts we canʼt clear, and weʼll all raise our glasses to Cardinal Blair. Above: The legend that is Herman van Rompuy

NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

PAGE 39

‘M ICHAEL J ACKSON ’ S : T HIS I S I T ’ HAPPY 95TH MARY

Reviewed by Nessa Jennings

ʻW

anna Be Starting Somethingʼ is the opening track in this ﬁlm assembled from the rehearsal footage of the sold-out but never-to-be-started tour. Jackson had intended to play 50 nights at Londonʼs massive O2 Arena, where he planned to take his many fans ʻto another planetʼ. ʻWe do it for loveʼ was his message to the huge entourage assembled around him in the months running up to the concert series, always making sure that he got the best out

of his artists, a quality rare enough in the world of pop music. Sadly, these shows never took place as Michael unexpectedly passed away in June of this year, barely 50 years old. Through this footage, we can see that Jackson was helping literally thousands of artists live their dream. Even as a child, the youngest of the Jackson Five, Michael stood out as a star. From early childhood, his father Joe put his nose to the grindstone with an unrelenting schedule of recording, rehearsing and touring. Given his age, and looking back now, it was nothing short of exploitation and it left its mark on Jacksonʼs character and in his work.

From his childhood experience came the voice, deep with feeling and a commitment to perfection, deep with emotion, as we can see in the film. Singing, his delivery is metronomically locked into each song with impeccable timing and pitch. Michaelʼs internal metronome ensures that his dancing is similarly faultless and dynamic. Jackson knew and loved every one of his songs, every rhythm, every key– he was going to give his fans exactly what they wanted– a spectacular show of the hits they loved. And what a show! Swarkovski crystal-studded costumes provided dazzle, and more than a thousand dancers populated the vast stage; may of them no doubt inspired by Jackson to take up the art. At the end of ʻBeat Itʼ, Jackson planned to beat his jacket on the ground and set it on fire. In rehearsal, we see him urging a young female rock guitarist, Orianthi Panagaris, to let it rip, and she can and she does– he wants to let her shine. He brings his message of love to the rehearsals, he talks a lot about saving the planet, already so damaged, before it is too late. The film has been criticised for not mentioning the state of his health at the time, and AEG, the concert promoters, have their logo all over the credits. That aside, the film stands as an elegy for a great talent who died far too young. The final track, ʻThis Is Itʼ provides the filmʼs title. The film gave Jackson fans worldwide a chance to mourn and to meet and talk with other lovers of this prodigious talent.

Happy 95th Birthday to Mary McDonald, pictured here on her 90th birthday with her son Deke and Sonny Knowles. Sadly, Mary has been suffering from Alzheimerʼs over the last few years. Maryʼs carer Catherine Devlin has been a great help to Deke and Mary over this period. Maryʼs next door neighbour and long-time friend Paddy Rigley has also been a great help. All the best Mary from all at NewsFour.

‘Punch Drunk’ from The Sick and Indigent Song Club

This coven of witches joined local kids to celebrate Halloween at Cambridge Court, Ringsend.

Reviewed by John Fitzgerald

n early October, after five great years, The Sick and Indigent Song Club ended their Monday night residency at the HaʼPenny Bridge Inn on Wellington Quay in the city centre. A couple of weeks later they launched their latest album ʻPunch Drunkʼ at The Sugar Club on Leeson Street. This is the bandʼs third album to date and it has already been hailed as their best. The album brings us fourteen original tracks which demonstrate the talent and energy that has made them one of the cityʼs more popular and exciting live acts. The six-strong troupe bring the raw vitality of their live performances to the album while Gary Fitzpatrick, Angie McLaughlin and Shane McGrath take the opportunity to display their huge song writing talents. The range is massive with an array of influences from Blues, Jazz, Old Time Americana and Country. From the rousing and stomping bluegrass-tinged ʻFitzpatricksʼ and alt country rockers like ʻThe Hudson Dustersʼ to McLaughlinʼs wry take on country sentimentality: ʻWhiskey is a girlʼs Best Friendʼ, this fine collection is the ideal stocking-stuffer. You can now catch the band on the last Sunday of every month at Whelanʼs of Wexford Street. ʻPunch Drunkʼ is available from Tower Records Wicklow Street and Metro Music Rathfarnham. Check out www.myspace. com/sickandindigentsongclub.

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NEWSFOUR DECEMBER 2009 / JANUARY 2010

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