February / March 2012
IN YOUR FAVOURITE LOCAL PAPER…
Aisling Keogh writes about voluntary work in India. See page 7
Ringsend Active Retired love a good party. See page 19
Is graffiti art or vandalism, asks Sandy Hazel on page 24
Meet budding cricket bowler Josh Little on page 39
COMMODITY VERSUS COMMUNITY
W
By Joe McKenna hen the Celtic Tiger ran away to lick its wounds, it left behind a very changed society. The thirst for financial clout and the race for elevated social status among regular people caused a mass shift in the way housing was viewed. A house was no longer a home, it was a commodity. Up until late last year, the Gasworks building in Ringsend (right) was reported as being available to buy for €43 million, which equates to a price of €205,000 per apartment. In 2006, the asking price was €750,000, with a parking space coming in at €40,000 extra. Developer Liam Carroll chose to delay launching the apartments in the belief that rising property costs would work in his favour. His judgement turned out to be flawed. Average rent for a two bedroom apartment is now reported to be €1,300 per month. During the boom, rather than value the roof over their head for the shelter it offered, the vast majority of people became enthralled by the breathless chase for that apartment or house which would rise in value and line their pockets as they parked their Maserati on Easy Street. “Buy a property wherever you can,” was the advice from many, and if aliens had landed they surely would have come to the conclusion that bricks and mortar were worth more than gold. When large complexes started springing up all across the country and people camped out in hope of securing a unit, it was not for the need of housing. In most cases it was the want for a foothold in the race to the top. The property zeitgeist took hold and greed began to eclipse the importance of community. Given the times that are upon us, it is wholly expected that modern Irish society will have to embrace the idea of community, but with many people handcuffed by debt and landed with properties they
can’t afford, or don’t even want in a lot of cases, there is a prevalent morbidity surrounding those trying to make the best of what they have. In many areas neighbours are strangers to one another and the corridors of most modern apartment complexes are eerily quiet as people duck in and out of their overpriced dwellings. It’s almost as if community relations now need to be taught. Thankfully, there are communities with long-standing strengths that can do just that. Julia Behan was one of the first residents of George Reynolds House in Irishtown. With a family of eight children to look after and their tenement accommodation in Ringsend becoming unsuitable, Julia’s parents moved into George Reynolds House in 1950, having been granted a flat by the Corporation. Their move was not fueled by any desire to sell on and make money, but simply to have their children grow up in suitable confines surrounded by a strong community. Julia was kind enough to speak with NewsFour. “The people in the flats are great and they always have been. If you
need anything you only have to ask them. That’s something that was bred into you growing up here. We had to maintain the flats and we had to help each other out. You don’t get a lot of that anymore, people don’t seem to behave like that in these big new complexes. When I go outside on the balcony I can see people and have a chat, but most of these new places, when you walk out your door you’re looking at a wall and people don’t know their neighbours. There’s no atmosphere about them. “When I was young we didn’t have what the kids have now, but you played outside and people were very thoughtful to one another. That’s what kept us together, we all looked after each other.” Perhaps the ethos of people like Julia, who were reared in such a
comforting environment, will serve as a model for people attempting to piece together a community from the jagged fragments of the halffinished game of Monopoly that Ireland has become. Perhaps people will now begin to understand the importance of something that was so quickly disregarded whilst they were in the grip of financial fever. “There’s people who moved out of the flats over the years and went off to buy expensive apartments or houses, but now they want to come back and they can’t get back. They want to live in the community again but they can’t. It’s very sad. All that greed did no one any good.” Below: Community celebrations after the recent upgrading of George Reynolds House.
PAGE 2
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
The Letterbox
NewsFour Editor Karen Keegan Proof Reader: Glenda Cimino Staff Gemma Byrne Eimear Murphy Rupert Heather Jason McDonnell Sandy Hazel Joe McKenna Caomhan Keane Contributors Fergus Meneghan Nessa Jennings Mark Quinn Jimmy Purdy Cameron Hazel Louise Phillips Pat Kane Kirstin Smith Therese O’Toole David Thomas Nolan James O’Doherty Noel Twamley Lorraine Barry Aisling Keogh Ann Ingle Nicky Flood Anthony Brabazon Web Designer Andrew Thorn Photography John Cheevers Design Eugene Carolan Ad Design Karen Madsen Community Services, Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre, Thorncastle 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.
Dear Editor, May I use the columns of ‘News Four’ to sincerely thank all sports fans from Dublin 4 for supporting ‘Dont Forget To Smile’ Sports Trivia Quiz, held in Old Wesley RFC Donnybrook on January 20th. It was a most enjoyable event with €2,500 being raised in aid of ‘Cancer Clinical Research Trust’ based at St. Vincent’s University Hospital and headed up by leading Oncologist Professor John Crown. Irish Cricket International Kevin O’Brien donated a signed shirt which was the big attraction in a well supported raffle and auction. Dublin 4 Journalist Ger Siggins was a member of the winning team which narrowly pipped Pembroke Cricket Club by one point. Sandycove Tennis Club were a further point behind in third place. Railway Union’s Frank Whelan was master of ceremonies and kept everyone in good humour throughout the night. Many thanks to all who participated and all local businesses and others who kindly donated vouchers and prizes to make it such a successful event. David Carroll Trimleston Avenue Booterstown
Bradley Manning campaigners come to Ireland
R
By Glenda Cimino ecently two US peace activists, Gerry Condon and Helen Jaccard, visited Ireland to garner support for Bradley Manning, a 23 year old American soldier and Army Intelligence Analyst accused of leaking thousands of classified documents to Wikileaks. Manning is probably the most important whistle-blower since Daniel Ellsberg, who released the Top Secret Pentagon Papers that helped end the Vietnam War. During their visit the activists spoke in Dublin and at a protest at Shannon International Airport over its use as a transit point by US military war planes and CIA torture (“rendition”) flights. Condon is co-chair of the GI Resistance Working Group of Veterans For Peace, and serves on the Steering Committee of the Bradley Manning Support Network. Helen Jaccard recently represented Veterans For Peace at the United Nations NGO Conference on Building Sustainable Societies. Lobbying for the Manning campaign in Europe, they got 64 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) to sign a letter to President Obama expressing their concerns about the violation of Bradley Manning’s civil and human rights. Manning was arrested in May 2010 in Iraq and held in the US in solitary confinement until April 2011, when he was moved to a medium security prison. Charged in July 2010, found fit to face court martial in April 2011, he was finally brought before a military judge at a pretrial hearing at Fort Meade, Maryland, last December. The prosecutor recommended a full military court martial. Among the war crimes whistleblower Manning is said to have exposed was the famous ‘collateral murder’ video of a US Apache helicopter attack in Baghdad in July 2007 that killed a dozen unarmed Iraqis, including two Reuters journalists, and wounded two children. Defense Attorney David Coombs states that there is so far no evidence of anyone harmed by the leaks, and most of the documents WikiLeaks released should not have been classified in the first place. Millions of people around the world sympathize with PFC Manning. The trial will take place in a Fort Meade military courtroom in spring or summer.
�e Editor’s Corner
S
pring is here and I think we’re all in need of some colour to help lift us out of this doom and gloom. I’ve already noticed a few daffs peeping through, the days are getting longer and if last year is anything to go by it’ll be warm again by April! In this issue of NewsFour Jason discovers how to bring prosperity and luck into your life for the Chinese New Year when he interviews world renowned TV chef Ken Hom on page 21. Love is in the air– or is it? Caomhan compiles some of our readers’ hilarious romantic disaster stories for Valentine’s Day on page 17. Sandy highlights the issues affecting CE schemes (including ours) due to the cuts in Budget 2012. Glenda interviews a remarkable local lady who is committed to beating the odds and putting others first on page 25. Joe entices us with his poker face on page 35 while Rupert reminds us of the importance of registering all those new bikes Santa brought for Christmas on page 9. We have three great competitions for you: Barking Mad pet portraits on page 7, a luscious Avon hamper worth €100 on page 34 and our usual book token prize for our crossword competition on page 35. Congratulations to Paul Nugent of Sandymount who won an all-inclusive annual membership to Sportco on South Lotts Road, Audrey Lawless of Irishtown who will be treated to a Payot Clear Skin Facial at Penrose Beauty Salon in Ringsend and to Frank Molloy of Haddington Rd, our crossword winner who will enjoy a meal for two in the beautiful Sandymount Hotel. Thanks to everyone for liking us on Facebook, and keep sending us your photos of NewsFour around the world. Congratulations to Mr Tilly of Bath Avenue, who raised €7,410 for Our Lady’s Hospice, Harold’s Cross with his display of Christmas lights. Karen
Are you interested in growing your own fruit and vegetables in 2012? Perhaps you do so already and are interested in sharing ideas and tips with other growers? Grow It Yourself Sandymount is a new group formed under the Grow It Yourself (GIY) banner. The GIY emphasis is on building awareness about the importance of growing your own food, while providing ongoing support and encouragement through monthly meetings. If you would like to be involved, please email giysandymount@gmail.com
NEWSFOUR AROUND THE WORLD
Burglaries alert in Dublin 4 Recently, a number of distraction-type burglaries have occurred in the locality. These burglaries are committed mainly against elderly people by persons who present themselves as workmen or offer assistance to the householder. It is advised that householders do not answer the door to unexpected callers they don’t know or look for identification from such callers and if not satisfied with their identity they should not allow them into their homes and call the Gardaí immediately. If you notice any suspicious persons in the locality, you are advised to contact the Gardaí at Irishtown Garda Station. Telephone: 01 6669600. Your local community Gardaí are available for any advice on this matter, they are Garda Anthony Kelly, Garda Derek Dempsey and Garda Denise Kane, telephone 01 6669620.
As an avid reader of your publication, I took the most recent edition with me to Japan. Please find attached a picture taken of me (on the left) with NewsFour and my tour guide ‘Heidi’ in the Yariman sushi restaurant in Osaka. I hope you’ll see fit to include it in a future edition of ‘NewsFour around the World’! Yours sincerely, Chris Hughes, Donnybrook (via Japan!) Please be sure and send your picture of NewsFour Around the World to newsfour@gmail.com
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
PAGE 3
PAGE 4
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
S UPER H ANDS
S
By Caomhan Keane uperHands, a company that specialises in teaching children and babies to sign with their parents before they can talk, has been operating out of the YMCA in Sandymount for the last year. Founded by Miriam Devitt,
baby sign language is a way for babies to quickly and easily convey meaning to their parents, and vice versa, using Irish Sign Language. “The main advantage of signing with your baby is a reduction of frustration and tantrums,” she tells me. “Instead of waving
their arms and pointing, when they expect to be understood, they can sign milk, or eat, or if they want to just start a conversation they can sign bird, plane or whatever it is they are looking at.” The tantrums associated with the terrible twos come out of that frustration, but there are far more advantages to signing with your child, bar the avoidance of the odd hissy fit. Studies show that it is great for self-expression, confidence, emotional development, spacial awareness and development of motor skills. “You are naming their emotions, teaching them to say whether they are hot or cold, angry or sad, hungry or thirsty, naming their emotions and giving them a vocabulary, confidence and a learning joy.” Miriam runs a ten-week course, three times a year, for parents or carers and their babies (0-2 years) where, over the course of an hour, Miriam teaches through song and sign. “For younger babies, you are teaching the parents to take the signs home and incorporate them into everyday life. If Mum is going to the class,
B OOK
W
she will be showing Dad and Grandma and anyone else who spends time with the baby. As the babies get older they start to mimic me themselves.” It’s a really nice social time for parents and babies, a safe environment for them to roll around and play with toys, or have a cup of tea and a biscuit. When Miriam started teaching the class, she realised that there was no instruction manual for Irish sign for babies. She created her own, thus filling the niche in the market. “It’s bright and colourful and it’s a board book, suitable for dribbling babies. It contains 40 signs, is very easy to read and is illustrated, with descriptions written down, as well as top tips and signing facts.” The book and the accompanying CD are covered in the cost of the course (€110) or can be bought at all good book stores, or directly from her website www.superhands.ie The fear that signing will ham-
per the baby’s speech development is baseless, says Miriam. “You talk and you sign at the same time, so they tend to speak earlier than those who don’t sign. My daughter was talking in four-word sentences by the time she was 18 months.” It not only accelerates their speech development but it improves their vocabulary and their IQ. “The baby is built for language acquisition,” concludes Miriam, “and built for communication. Communicating is fundamental to their survival. It’s such a lovely thing to do with your child.”
CLUBS ARE ON THE RISE IN
By Glenda Cimino hen I started researching this article, I had no idea just how popular book clubs are. For a start, Liz Cuddy of the Dublin UNESCO City of Literature Office tells me that Dublin City Public Libraries now have 125 registered book clubs, library-run or affiliated. Regular meetings are held at the libraries, usually but not always on a monthly basis. There are clubs for children and adults. The book for the next meeting is chosen, and a discussion of the book for that month is led by an experienced co-ordinator. Libraries will help select and supply copies of books. The main aim of a book club is to provide a relaxed forum for people to share the experience of
reading a book and offer observations and opinions. Some clubs also consume tea and cakes or go on outings together. Liz Turley of Pembroke Library in Ballsbridge is a strong supporter of book clubs, as they get people into libraries. She personally facilitates two book clubs there for adults. The Pembroke Reading Group meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7pm, and Ballsbridge Bookies meets on the second Tuesday at 7pm. “Each club has 10-14 members, but not all come every time. Most of the members at present are women,” Liz says. She would be happy to facilitate another book club for men if there is enough interest. Also, Angela O’Connell of Pembroke facilitates the Pem-
D UBLIN
broke Library Book Club for 1112 year old boys and girls, which meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 3.30 pm. The library picks the books based on their interests, but also with the idea of exposing them to something new. For more information on any of these, call 668 9575 or visit the library. Pearse Street Library has two book clubs, but at the moment they are not open as each has the maximum of 10 members at present. Ringsend has an affiliated reading club called The Monday Club. But the library clubs are just the tip of the iceberg. You can find a Dublin book club on sites like MeetUp or Yelp. Popular online bookclubs include The Tubridy Show Bookclub , Bord Gáis Energy Book Club, Eason Book Club, Specsavers Book Club, Club Leabhar, Richard and Judy Book Club, and the Oprah Winfrey Book Club. For tips on setting up your own book club, just google ‘how to set up a book club’ or talk to your librarian. Above, at Pembroke Library, left to right: Margaret Irwin, teacher; Liz Turley, librarian; 6th Class St Mary’s B.N.S. Haddington Road and Angela O’Connell, librarian.
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
B UYER
E
By Rupert Heather ncouraged as we are to part with our hard-earned cash in large food retail outlets, the least we should expect is fair and transparent pricing. What have recent cases told us about the state of consumer rights
PAGE 5
BEWARE …
and the obligation of retailers to ensure products are accurately priced? In the current economic environment it has never been more crucial for consumers to be allowed to make informed decisions. Most of us have arrived at the
checkout to discover that a special offer on a particular product does not apply. Advertising and displays are often misleading. We all buy products we assume offer value, only to reconsider when the fine details are closely examined. Even when buying reduced
items, an essential feature of shopping on a budget, it is amazing the amount of times a discount is not applied at the checkout. Áine Carroll from the National Consumer Agency says, “There are pricing rules. The prices displayed have to be accurate but mistakes can happen. We look for compliance and awareness among retailers. If there is a high level of complaints then we would investigate.” In simple terms, unless we demand our rights as consumers and report our concerns, very little will change. However, Carroll sees a trend emerging where people are “more willing” to complain because they want to ensure that they are getting value for money. She adds, “The economic situation and increased competition in the grocery sector are two things which have happened simultaneously and have led people to start comparing prices much more. People don’t really tend to look for information about consumer rights until something goes wrong. A big part of our job is letting people know we are here.” Unlike the UK which has price comparison websites, Irish consumers are often left guessing about the best value shopping bas-
ket. The situation is compounded by the fact that it’s widely acknowledged that we pay more for food than our British and European counterparts. Although consumer culture is “changing” in Ireland, we can be more vigilant and more demanding of the organisations who work on our behalf to ensure fair pricing. Carroll explains, “We do actually have guidelines about special offers. A product must have been on sale at a stated price for 28 days in the previous three months before a price reduction can be advertised as a special offer. If a chain advertises a price they must ensure that the price is available in all outlets unless otherwise stated. We want to see consistently low pricing rather than the high-low model.” The advice to anyone wishing to report a concern is to contact the National Consumer Agency through their website or helpline number. Consumers are advised to know their rights and stand up for them, to always remain calm and polite, even when angry, and keep documentation to back up the complaint. For more information visit http:// www.nca.ie, the helpline number is 1890 432 432.
PAGE 6
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
3D PRINTERS ON THE WAY
T
By Jason McDonnell his may sound like something out of a sci-fi movie but 3D printers are on their way and it is going to be as big a change as the internet was. It will be similar to the replicators from Star Trek but instead of it being the 24th-century, it will happen in the 21st century. There are already people doing some amazing things with 3D printing by modifying standard printers and turning them into 3D printers. It will make the Industrial Revolution look like small potatoes in comparison, doing away with a lot of production. At the moment, you can print out anything from coat hangers to push bikes from a 3D printer. Someday soon when you order a bike online it won’t arrive the next day in a truck. It will be emailed instantly to you, ready to print or you could even design the bicycle yourself. The rapid advance in computers over the last 30 years will give an analogy for how rapidly 3D printing will advance. For now, 3D printers can print in multiple materials like plastic, frosting and silicone and you can only print on one of these, but we will not have to do this for very long. Here comes the science bit: they are starting to be able to control the changing of atoms by using digital bits. It is a sort of digital alchemy. It will be an exciting time, as most people will be making everyday objects the way they would like them designed. You can check out some designs on www.thingiverse.com where you can already download different objects that you may need. If you had a 3D printer at home, in the office or in your local library, you could print them off now. It will be a great way to bring home-grown manufacturing back to Ireland, such as making small gifts for friends. Above: A computer-designed 3D sculpture.
MAKING AN IMPRESSION
T
By Rupert Heather he National Print Museum at Beggars Bush Barracks is the location for a course in Culture and Heritage Studies which provides practical training and ensures that our print heritage is shared and enjoyed. Friends and family of 14 students attended a graduation cer-
emony for the FÁS LTI Course on 15th March. The course runs for 11 months and is a module which goes toward the Fetac Major Award. Museum Education Officer Aoife McGonigle says, “The symbiosis for the museum is that we provide a location for training and students are trained up to be
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
T
he Iris Charles Centre, formerly known as the Sandymount/Ringsend Old Peoples’ Group, was established in 1962. The premises on Newbridge Avenue was bought by Iris Charles from the Ancient Order of Hibernians in 1961. The Centre was set up under the auspices of the Irish Red Cross and it started as a club where older people, especially those living alone, could come and socialize. It developed gradually, many older people joined and there were concerts, fancy dress, competitions, quizzes and other activities.
Over the last two years the Centre was completely renovated and there will be an opportunity for the community to see what has been done at our Open Day on Saturday March 3rd from 2pm to 5pm. We are planning to have new activities in the Centre in the coming year. All are welcome to the Open Day.
IRIS CHARLES CENTRE Newbridge Avenue, Dublin 4
OPEN DAY
The Iris Charles Centre in Newbridge Avenue are holding an Open Day on Saturday 3rd March from 2pm to 5pm. All are welcome to come and see our newly renovated premises and obtain information on our planned activities for the coming year. In 1967 the then Health Board requested that the Centre provide facilities for midday dinners for older people. The dinners are available for four days a week and are very popular. All the work over the years has been done by volunteers. It is due to their generosity and dedication that the Centre has thrived. To acknowledge their wonderful work, the Committee are inviting all the people who worked as volunteers in any capacity over the years to an afternoon with tea and entertainment on Thursday, February 23rd from 2pm to 4.30pm. Please telephone 2601848 if you intend to come.
CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY
Present and former helpers at the Iris Charles Centre are invited to afternoon tea and entertainment at the Centre on February 23rd from 2pm to 4pm to celebrate 50 years of service to the local community.
our tour guides. Students come in with an interest and leave empowered that they can work in the industry and beyond.” McGonigle is keen to stress that the Print Museum has an important educational role in providing socially inclusive programmes. As such, there are a range of events including workshops, lectures, and demonstration days that are open to all. She says, “We are not just a static museum, the museum comes to life through practical demonstration.” First-hand experience of the print industry is provided by the ‘chapel’– a group of people headed by a ‘father’ who have the necessary know-how through their years of experience. The Chapel are committed to the preservation of the craft of printing and have a living, breathing connection with the machines and equipment. One of the many fascinating aspects of the museum is the story of how the 1916 Proclamation was actually printed. The story is unique and interesting in itself and is overshadowed in historical terms by the document’s impact. Anyone interested in the Culture and Heritage course should contact FÁS. The course co-ordinator is Lisa Marie Griffith. The next National Print Museum demonstration day is on 3rd March from 12.00–4.00 and is free. For information visit www. nationalprintmuseum.ie Above right at the Print Museum, from left: Amie McCarthy, Laura Scanlon and Terry Mullally
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
PAGE 7
VOLUNTEERING
By Aisling Keogh Aisling Keogh is a 25 year old graduate of Trinity College Dublin. A native of Iirishtown, she shares here her thoughts on the harder side of volunteering.
I
read somewhere that ‘memories are the photos we get to keep forever’. It would be easy to look back with rose-tinted glasses on my trip to India, where I spent five weeks volunteering in a
B ARKING M AD
B
By Fergus Meneghan arking Mad pet portraits is an idea I had which combines two of my biggest passions; photography and animals. I cover all aspects of photography from weddings to corporate events, but being an animal lover and dog owner, I know how pleasing it is to get a lovely photo of my dogs lazing around the house or out running and playing on the beach or in the fields. It’s a great feeling to capture your pet’s personality in a photograph. So how does it all work? Well, initially when you book me for a shoot, I like to have a chat to find out a bit of background information about your pet and your family. Where do you like to go walking with your pet? Is he or she friendly? Would you like to have family members in the shoot? Then, on the day of the shoot, if you’d like it to take place at home, I’ll call to your house, set up my equipment and get snapping. The home shoot usually takes around 40 minutes, after which I’ll show you the images digitally. These will not be the finished images, but will be a good idea of what you’ll get. I’ll also have with me some samples of my finished framed works which will help you choose the size and finish you would like. After this I’m out the door and back to the office to edit the images which I then put on my web-
IN INDIA school for mentally disabled children and an orphanage for HIVpositive kids. I could tell you I had a brilliant time and that I’d do it all again tomorrow, but I don’t know if I’d be strong enough. We were in four-bed dorms, based on gender. I shared with two Australian girls so we became really, really close. There was another Irish girl and two Irish guys as well. I worked in the school in the morning and in the orphanage in the afternoon. I had to fundraise €2,000 to go there but managed to raise €3,000 so I had an extra grand in my pocket which I could spend on picking up toys, sports and educational equipment for the children. The care-givers in the orphanage left a lot to be desired. They fed the kids then ignored them. They’d go to sleep or talk on the phone. I also learned that the kids
PET PORTRAITS
site in a private gallery for you alone to view. Once you’ve chosen the size and finish you’d like, I’ll get your images printed and framed and out to you in just a few days. So with Valentine’s Day just around the corner and Easter after that, a portrait of your furry friend would make the perfect present for your loved one. So drop me a line or give me a call to get your perfect Barking Mad pet portrait. Email: fmeneghan@gmail.com Phone: 086 4094138 Website: Currently under construction.
COMPETITION Fergus Meneghan of Barking Mad is offering one lucky reader a 40-minute shoot with pets and one framed 8 x 10 print. To enter all you have to do is tell us why you love your pet so much in 50 words or less. Answers on a postcard to NewsFour, RICC, Thorncastle St., Ringsend, Dublin 4 by 16/3/2012.
go to the toilet in a pile of rubbish across the road. During the second week, one of the older, mentally disabled children was locked in a little cement room because he was “naughty”. He wasn’t doing anything, he just wanted to sit with the younger kids because he had that mentality. When we questioned it, it didn’t go down so well. We were told to be so careful not to offend any of the people with whom we were working, as the company who employed me were an NGO and were we to offend the school or the orphanage it would affect the help they could give the kids. In school, the kids with disabilities were forgotten about. The carers didn’t know what to do with them so they were left sitting in the burning sun with flies all over them for a lot of the day. We would make a plan in the evening for what we were going to do the next day and we would go and speak to the principal and the elderly lady who were running the school. We would try to get them involved in what we were doing and encouraged them to help us, which they did. But it felt like they were trying because we were requesting them to.
The kids were amazing. They have nothing, but their smiles were so big and bright, they were incredibly affectionate. There were three very sick kids in my orphanage, but all they wanted was a little bit of love and attention, to sit on my lap or snuggle in beside me. One of my kids in the orphanage was terminally ill; I think that was the hardest thing I had to deal with while I was there. I knew he didn’t have long to live and he was only 14 years old. Even when I came home I found it really hard to remove myself from it, to leave it behind. I had contact with some of the friends I made there, but after a few weeks my friends had all moved on so we didn’t have contact. If you were to ask me what advice I would give to someone following in my footsteps, it would be to do some in-depth research, don’t just accept what you are told by whatever organisation you are going with. They can be vague and blurry. I don’t think you should go on your own, either. You need a support system, and if you are not lucky enough to get it when you arrive, then you are going to be completely on your own.
PAGE 8
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
MY FAVOURITE HOLMES T
By Noel Twamley he greatest detective of all time, Sherlock Holmes, was the brainchild of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Conan Doyle was a young doctor with few patients and plenty of time on his hands. At 26 years of age he wrote his first story ‘A Study in Scarlet’ and sold away the rights for £25, a big mistake. In 1891, ‘The Strand Magazine’ began to publish the first story of the Sherlock Holmes Canon, which was four novels and 56 short stories. In America, ‘Colliers Magazine’ took up the American rights and so began the road to fame. I have all the Holmes stories and am sometimes puzzled by Conan Doyle’s old Victorian English words, for example, gas lamps, hansom cabs, telegrams, coach and four, gas mantle, smell of exotic tobacco, the list goes on. Hundreds of books and articles have been written about Conan Doyle and Holmes and dozens of films have told his tales. Only recently (1 January 2012), I watched the new series on BBC
called ‘A Scandal in Bohemia’ with Irene Adler, the only woman Holmes was to love. I must say I was disappointed as it was shot in 2012 time, Holmes had a mobile phone and all the trappings of today. My own favourite Holmes was the 1940s films with Basil Rathbone. I have the complete box set of DVDs. Sorry to say, they have aged poorly, only ‘The Hound of the Baskervilles’ stands out. The new Holmes films with Robert Downey are fairly good, I
give them 8 out of 10. Basil Rathbone, the actor who played Holmes in the 1940s, was in real life the very opposite of Holmes. He was full of bonhomie and held many fabulous parties in his Hollywood home. Bob Hope once cracked on his coast to coast radio show during a minor earth tremor in L.A; “Don’t worry folks– that’s just a party at Rathbone’s house.” At a pre-Christmas party Basil Rathbone overheard his wife say, “I would love to wake up Christ-
mas morn and my garden full of snow.” Unknown to her, Basil rang an L.A. refrigerated truck company to haul in 10 trucks of snow from Canada to arrive on Christmas night. Next morning, Basil called his wife to the window. The poor woman almost fainted with joy to see snowmen in her garden. By 10am the snow was gone in the hot California sun. Basil’s wife later wrote about the most beautiful night of her life with her beloved husband. I have read that 25% of British people believe Sherlock Holmes was a real person and lived at 221b Baker Street. Many thousands of letters arrive to the above address every year, which belongs to Abbey National Building Society. This company actually employs a private secretary who answers every letter, she tells them “Sherlock and Dr Watson have retired to the country, they are alive and
I
well and they wish you good luck.” This is extraordinary stuff. They even say he cannot be dead, as his obituary has never appeared in ‘The Times’ and ‘The Times’ says it does not write obituaries of immortals and Sherlock Holmes was a man who never lived. so can never die. The man who created Sherlock Holmes Sir Arthur Conan Doyle died 7 July 1930. On his tombstone are the following words:
STEEL TRUE BLADE STRAIGHT ARTHUR CONAN DOYLE KNIGHT, PATRIOT, PHYSICIAN and MAN OF LETTERS Above: The gregarious Basil Rathbone with Nigel Bruce (Doctor Watson) on left and director Sidney Lanfield on the set of ‘The Hound of The Baskervilles’ filmed in 1939.
Chinese New Year gets off to a roaring start in Dublin
By Glenda Cimino t may surprise some of you, as it did me, to learn that Dublin has been officially twinned with Beijing since last June! Here as there, it is now officially the Year of the Dragon– the black water dragon, to be precise. The dragon is the fifth of the 12 Chinese astrology signs, each of which reappears every 12 years, but the last water dragon year was 1952. The oriental dragon is a divine beast, a symbol of good fortune and intense power, not a monster to slay, and its appearance bodes well for the bold among us. Unlikely as it may seem in the current financial gloom, 2012 is said to be a year for great deeds, innovative ideas, and big projects, with success in particular for people dealing with finances. There will be excitement and ups and downs in our lives, but it is favourable for families, children and good people. Well, it is reassuring to get at least one prediction for 2012 that doesn’t involve the end of the world as we know it. The Dublin celebration of the Chinese New Year started at 4pm on January 22, just as the clock struck midnight in China, and a specially commissioned, colourful dragon appeared on the streets of Dublin for a special performance, the highlight of this year’s Chinese New Year’s Festival. The HSE estimates that about 60,000 Chinese people live in Ireland now, but the festival welcomes everyone. From January 20 to February 3, events included an Asian food fair, martial arts displays, Chinese opera and a Chinese film festival. The carnival took place in Temple Bar. Many events were booked out well in advance, so make a note in your diary to plan ahead for next year– the year of the snake.
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
F LOOD “Forget about flora and fauna, we need to prioritise protection of people and their homes.” Cllr Paddy McCartan
W
By Sandy Hazel hen Dublin City Council described some floods as “one in 100 year events” local councillor Gerry Ashe said “I am not 100 years old yet, but using terms like ‘100 year event’ is no good to residents who have already been flooded three or four times.” During the presentation of the Dodder Flood Risk report at last month’s meeting, councillors sought clarification on shorter term alleviations. “Water butts, retention ponds, anything that intercepts the water before it gets into the drainage network,” said Cllr Dermot Lacey. DCC planners said that two projects will happen soon, with raising of parapets at Londonbridge and Newbridge. Plan-
R EGISTER
A
By Rupert Heather pilot scheme being implemented by An Garda Siochána allows bicycle owners to register their bikes and have the details recorded on the Pulse computer system. The Donnybrook Bicycle Registration Scheme will help owners retrieve lost or stolen bikes. Hundreds of unidentified recovered bikes have to be sold at auction by An Garda Siochána each year. Sergeant Fergus Mulhern says, “We come into possession of a lot of bikes that are abandoned or suspected stolen. Unless owners report with a serial number, we have great difficulty returning
PAGE 9
lion for flood alleviation works and wanted to know the phase of this. “We can’t wait another four or five years. What is the current status in the planning department when issuing permissions for over development in the area?” asked Binchy. DCC said that the current phase is 2B and the area up to Ballsbridge will be targeted first, with consultants appointed before Christmas for preliminary designs. DCC also pointed out the drainage division does get plans and sees if there are flood issues. The report, which looks to the end of the century, considers other flood defence scenarios as unviable: dredging, removing weirs, relocation of
properties, flood warning systems. Culverting is not seen as a solution as the Liffey is too big, and diverting of water like the Dargle is also not viable. The rehabilitation of existing defences, de-culverting and replacing bridges are possible, but it might increase or decrease water in the wrong place, the report said. Walls and embankments are preferred and some are completed, under construction and planned for upstream. For a scheme to go ahead it has to be viable, and the prevention costs less than the cost of the damage caused in an area. The positive costs benefit analysis looks at loss of life, preserving infrastructure,
providing access to river, recreational and amenity areas, improving or maintaining and supporting ecological status– removing Himalayan Balsam and Japanese Knotweed as work progresses upriver. A three-month public consultation will begin in January. The OPW is the lead agency under EU flood directives. Preliminary Flood Risk Assessment reports go to Brussels for inspection. Councillors have asked DCC to establish a coordinating committee of locals and officials to implement the Dodder Flood Relief Works and the Pembroke Rathmines drainage scheme as it impacts on the area. Councillors have sought confirmation from the agencies on availability of finance for works. Iarnród Eireann is also asked to publish its investigation into the impact of works at the Lansdowne Railway Bridge on the flooding of adjacent areas. Minister of State Brian Hayes will meet with a delegation of Dublin South East TDs, local reps and representatives of affected residents at the end of January. OPW and DCC planners and engineers will also attend.
The scheme, which is being phased in, began in local bicycle shops which offered the chance to register bikes upon purchase. Local employers are being encouraged to allow staff to take part by designating someone in the workplace to oversee the registration process. The next phase is to allow anyone to come in with their bikes to Donnybrook or Irishtown Garda Station to register them. Authorised by Superintendent Finbarr O’Brien, it is hoped that the pilot scheme will prove suc-
cessful and eventually be rolled out in other regions. “It will assist in the recovery of stolen bikes, but will also have a benefit in crime prevention. The best chance of recovering a stolen bike is having a registered serial number,” Sergeant Mulhern adds. When locking your bike, use good quality locks, two differ-
ent types if possible. Always leave your bike in a well-lit area in view of a camera. Above all, if leaving your bike in a shed always lock it and ensure the bike is also securely chained. For more information email Fergus.m.mulhern@garda.ie or ring Donnybrook Garda Station (01) 6669200.
FALLOUT ning is needed for some work up to Donnybrook Bridge. It could take four years and may cost €20 million. DCC said there will be more proactive maintenance along the river “but much of the land is not owned by Dublin City Council or Government agency so the power to maintain land banks at river’s edge is not always there.” Some organisations have already received recommendations from DCC as risk receptors in the area, those companies or places that would, if flooded, affect others. “AIB in Ballsbridge has been recommended to move upstairs,” said one planner. Banks, embassies, hospitals and fire stations are other risks. Councillor Paddy McCartan suggested that planners should look at the Tolka and how it had been managed. “Dredging needs to be done too on the Dodder, forget about flora and fauna, we need to prioritise protection of people and their homes.” Councillor Kieran Binchy said there would be €62mil-
YOUR BIKE ! them.” Serial numbers are the main means of identification used. Most serial numbers are located under the bottom bracket where the two pedal cranks meet, but can vary depending on the bike.
PAGE 10
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
GREAT IRISH By Caomhan Keane NewsFour takes a peek at some of the great Irish romances just in time for Valentine’s Day. Charles Stewart Parnell and Katherine ‘Kitty’ O’Shea They say behind every great man, there’s a great woman. The same can be said of their downfall, though in this case Katherine was given a helping hand by her first husband, Captain William O’Shea, who filed for divorce from her in 1889, citing her affair with CSP as the cause. Not that he was necessarily a lover scorned, more a tight arse screwed. He’d been aware of the relation-
ROMANCES
ship since 1880 and had separated from his wife but was hanging in there for an inheritance from her ageing aunt. When she kicked the bucket and left the money in trust, O’Shea filed for divorce, kicking off a Catholic storm that would cost Parnell his political and actual life. They married in late 1890 and four months later he passed on, having endured violent verbal and physical abuse at the hands of an enraged nation.
ess and ardent nationalist in 1889. Within two years he had proposed. He had become so obsessed with her outspoken nature and stunning beauty that when she rejected him he reflected that “The troubles of my life began.” Quentin Crisp once said “If at first you don’t succeed, failure may be your
W.B. Yeats and Maude Gonne For those of you who like your love affairs unrequited, then this is the Irish love affair for you. Yeats met Gonne, an heir-
style.” And when it came to romance, Gonne was Yeats’s couture. He proposed three more times over the next 12 years, before, to his horror, she married the very nationalistic and very Catholic Major John MacBride. Yeats proceeded to be the third wheel in their marriage,
LEAVE
E
Donal Bracken Local Electrical Contractor
R.E.C.I. approved and insured
12 Castle Drive, Sandymount, Dublin 4 Tel: 269 2278 • Mobile: 086 2651887
• Free estimates without obligation • Extra sockets, fuseboards etc supplied and fitted • All works undertaken, including domestic, commercial and light industrial
NO JOB TOO SMALL OR TOO LARGE
which toppled the cart, and when they divorced in Paris in 1908, Yeats finally got his girl. However, soon after, Gonne said the following in a letter: “I have prayed so hard to have all earthly desire taken from my love for you and dearest, loving you as I do, I have prayed and I am praying still that the bodily desire for me may be taken from you too.” Richard De Clare and Aoife of Leinster When Aoife’s father Diarmaid MacMurrough went to King Henry II of England for help regaining his Kingdom from his rivals (like the modern day solicitation of
help from the IMF) he promised his daughter, Aoife to the leader of the invading force, Richard De Clare-also known as Strongbow. Under ancient Irish law Aoife had the right to choose whom she wed, but there must have been a spark cause she chose to marry Strongbow. She even fought alongside him in battle earning the nickname, Red Eva. Together they had two sons and a daughter to whom the modern day Royals can trace their ancestry. From bottom left to top right: Charles Stewart Parnell, Maud Gonne and detail of ‘The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife’ (1854) by Daniel Maclise.
NO HIDING PLACE FOR BULLIES
By Jason McDonnell veryone has the right to live, work, study and play in an environment free from bullying, harassment, discrimination and violence. Yet the latest research conducted by the Economic and Social Research Institute on behalf of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment reveals that almost 8% of those at work report that they have experienced bullying within the past six months. Bullying can happen to any-one at any age. No one has the right to hurt you or make you feel bad, and if you are being bullied you don’t have to put up with it, you can talk to someone about it. If you are being bullied or worried about a friend who is being bullied, there are dif-
ferent ways of dealing with it. Listed below are some things that you can do if you find yourself in either student/ student or teacher/student bullying situations, and remember your teachers have a duty to look after you. If they, or any other adult working in a school, is being mean to you, this is not fair.
You have a right to not be made feel stupid, be called names or punished unfairly. Make a formal complaint to the Board of Education. If your complaint goes unanswered you could speak to your local media, radio stations or local newspapers. Use the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to see if any other parents have lodged formal complaints in other instances of bullying at the school. Other people that could help would be private counsellors, clergy, the Gardaí (especially if physical bullying has occurred) or your local GP. If you suspect your child is being bullied by another student, approach the Principal. Most situations are dealt with immediately when brought into the limelight. These can usually be resolved efficiently and nipped in the bud.
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
PAGE 11
SANDYMOUNT LADIES CLUB VISITING AN OLDER FRIEND
T
By Joe McKenna here is nothing more important than community relations, especially in challenging times such as these. I’ve long maintained that the spine of any community is the strength and togetherness of the women within it. The Sandymount Ladies Club is one example of how that works. The Sandymount Ladies
O FF
B
Club was founded in February 1973 and swelled to almost two hundred members soon after. Having originally met in Lakelands School then moved site to Christchurch Hall, the Ladies Club now meets at the Iris Charles Centre on Newbridge Avenue. Their meetings, held every second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 8pm, give local
TO MARKET IN
By Rupert Heather lackrock market is a treasure trove for anyone interested in unearthing quirky collectables or classy crafts and it’s guaranteed to beat the large retail outfits for choice and price. Only a short hop by DART from Dublin 4, the market surprisingly reimburses the travel costs of anyone who presents their bus or DART ticket. Located only 150 yards from Blackrock DART Station, it is open from 11.30am to 5.30pm on weekends. Colin Dunne who runs the market says, “We should all be more aware of spending locally, supporting local traders and keeping money and jobs in the community.” There are a variety of stalls and shops including a tarot reader, antiques, vintage, furniture, jewellery, clothes, books, an excellent café and even a barber. There are 64 regular stalls and plenty of casual weekend traders. Over the years the market has had a few facelifts; the site was a coach house dating back to 1755 and is rumoured to have been a bordello at one
women a chance to meet up, exchange stories and simply get together for the good of each other. Everyone is welcome on club nights and need only seek out Club Secretary Theresa O’Loughlin for a warm welcome. Organizing everything from summer parties to Christmas outings, the club is a vibrant group offering good company and surroundings where people can meet new friends, gain in knowledge, learn new crafts and become a stronger part of their community. So if your children have perhaps grown up, or maybe you’re just sick of the shocking state of TV and you want to get out there and meet people, why not go out and meet the neighbours. Club Secretary Theresa O’Loughlin can be reached at 086 0707572.
B LACKROCK !
point. It has functioned as a market since 1985 and is the oldest fixed market in Dublin. Known traditionally as a craft market, it receives support from the Craft Council. Dunne feels that with the current “quality” of the stalls this reputation is “fully” deserved. He says, “For those who visit us and bring children we offer free face painting, we like to make the customer feel welcome.” Continuing the theme in February for Valentine’s Day, the market will be giving away flowers to all women, but “sadly the men won’t be get-
ting any,” Dunne adds. Anyone interested in taking a stall will receive advice and support on how to market their products. Whether you are a customer, a prospective trader or someone who is interested in finding out what the market has to offer, more information is available at www.blackrockmarket.com Blackrock Market stallholders, left to right: Colin Dunne, Heather Roche, Tim, Mary Bolger, Frances Roche, Gemma Donohoe, Neill Power, Laura Styles, Séadna Mac Seoin.
T
By Jason Mc Donnell he evenings are still dark, the heating’s still on. Maybe it’s a good idea to drop in to visit an older friend and make sure they are safe and well. More than 61% of older people questioned as part of recentlypublished research by the Dublin Institute of Technology and the Institute of Public Health admitted to being lonely. Nearly one-third of older people live alone and one in 10 live below the poverty line. Social contact and activity is very important. It has benefits for physical and mental health. Social isolation is a particular risk for older people. Here are some reminders for senior citizens on the basic steps they can take to remain well and warm until summer: First of all it is best to wear multiple layers of thin clothing, rather than one thick layer. Keep active as much as possible, especially around your home. Try to avoid sitting in the one place for long periods. Spread the house work throughout the day to ensure you keep moving. And most of all, make sure you are eating well and you should have at least one hot meal a day. Good food is as important as having the heating on. Another good tip to keeping warm is to sip on hot drinks regularly. Having a flask of your favourite hot drink by the side of your bed, in case you wake up cold during the night is a good idea. And if you feel a draught, find out where it is coming from and seal it. Particularly look for any gaps around windows and doors. Make sure you have access to a telephone in case you need to contact your family or friends.
PAGE 12
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
Naturopathic Nutrition By Nicky Flood How safe are your cosmetics? Your moisturisers, eye creams and make-up may seem harmless, and often helpful (radiance, firming, anti-wrinkle), but if you check out the labels on the back of the bottle, you’ll find a long list of tongue-twisting ingredients, many of which can actually be hazardous to your health. So why does this matter if it is not going into your mouth? Anything you put onto your skin will pass through your pores and then enter your bloodstream. Some of these chemicals are known to be cancer causing, while others have been shown to contribute to hormonal disturbances, headaches, allergies, depression, chronic fatigue, learning disabilities and hyperactivity. Of the chemicals available for use in skin-care products, 884 of them have been reported as toxic substances and 125 have been documented as cancer-causing agents. Worryingly, almost 80% of around 10,000 ingredients currently being used have never been tested to determine health risks. Have a look at your shampoo bottle and you will most likely find Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS), an inexpensive and very effective foaming agent. SLS is a common industrial strength detergent used to clean concrete floors and as an engine degreaser (eww!). Unfortunately it is also associated with skin irritation, reduced hair growth, cataracts in adults, impaired eye development in children and kidney problems. Parabens are another commonly used chemical in toothpastes, moisturisers and deodorants. It is a very good preservative and a hot topic right now due to recent research published in the Journal of Applied Toxicology which found Parabens in 99% of breast tissue samples of women with breast cancer. Parabens can mimic oestrogen in the body and elevated levels have been strongly linked to many cancers like breast, testicular, colon and prostate. Chemicals are used in personal care products because they are cheap and externally effective. But where is the long term proof that they are truly safe? There is a fantastic range of beautiful organic, all-natural skin, body, hair and home-care products out there which are free from these harsh chemicals and donít cost the earth! Nicky is a Naturopathic Nutritionist practising in Dublin. She writes, advises and speaks nationwide on all aspects of health, nutrition and wellbeing. e: info@nickyflood.com; m: +353 8634 11850.
GREATEST PEPTALK I EVER RECEIVED By Nessa Jennings (It’s What you Tell Yourself) aving again reached critical mass of nails in my coffin, saturated with smoking, or, in other words, at the end of my rope, I came into contact with Mary Anderson, installed once again as a practitioner at the Blackrock Market, in what is now known as the Vibrational Institute. She could see I was ready to quit (the prerequisite for treatment) and invited me to try hypnotherapy. So, open to suggestion, and highly suggestible what’s more, I embraced the opportunity from my manytimes Reiki therapist. She had been back in her native Nashville, never one to let the weeds grow, and since returning to Dublin has added another string to her bow, with recent qualifications achieved through Irish Hypnosis. I was versed in what to expect from the process, explained to me on her laptop, and given a chance to reflect on my smoking career. Was I ready? she asked. I was definitely ready. Lying down on the couch, there were no distractions, only the soothing sound of Mary’s voice, during 80 minutes of being submerged, when she guided me through the stages of deep relaxation to enable me to accept the suggestions into my subconscious mind to reinforce my resolve, effectively to be wiped of this noxious habit, and to put in its disturbing place, clean
H
I’M
and wholesome self-esteem. I succumbed. Equipped since then, with a defence shield to counter traps and threats, teaching you what best to say in situations of temptation or how to graciously decline a cigarette– this new attitude is crucial– I now regard myself as a clean nonsmoker. To be honest, I was like this directly after the hypnosis, and it has just been getting stronger. As part of the hypnosis, she employs aversion techniques, imploring you to imagine pouring all that tar and nicotine as a liquid down your throat, an image that made me shudder and gag. At one point, my eyes were locked shut at the suggestion that glue had been poured onto my eyeballs, another time, being unable to lift my shoulder which had become as lead, impossibly heavy. And I could not bend my arm at the suggestion that it was straightened in a splint or cast. By times during the session, Mary checks in with you in this manner to ensure that you are still ‘under’, or deeply relaxed. This process allowed me to know
I was hypnotised, and not merely relaxed. In knowing this, and being receptive to suggestion, my subconscious was reprogrammed to match the conscious choices and changes I wanted. With these check-ins, i knew it was happening. When I emerged from this state, I was wide-eyed at what had just transpired, being all the time, fully aware. I asked Mary had she tailored those words specifically because she knew me. No, she said, they came from a script given by Irish Hypnosis. The relaxation CD is required listening daily as after-care, and to keep you fresh and determined. The title of this recording lasting almost 20 minutes is ‘How and Why You Feel More Positive in Your Life’. Empowerment is a large part of the positive talk on here. Then there’s the nature part: Fluffy clouds; a gentle breeze; birds and trees; butterflies and flowers; and fun? Yes, please. Mary provides treatment for a range of problems effectively treated by hypnotherapy with Hypnotic Healing, the latest addition to therapies, which is proving very effective in her client base. Contact: Web: www.vibrationalinstitute. weebly.com E-mail: vibrationalinstitute@yaho o.ie Telephone: 085 275 0262
ON BENDED KNEE…
D
By Joe McKenna ue to the overwhelming success of Valentine’s Day, a lot of lovers feel it is the perfect time to pop the question. “What question?” I hear you ask. You know, that awkward and unnerving moment when a man (or woman if it’s a leap year) traditionally drops to the ground, raises up a small velvet box and says, “I want you to have half my stuff if this doesn’t work out.” No, wait, wrong occasion. I’m referring, of course, to the dreaded marriage proposal. So to ease the pressure, here are a few hints and tips for those just about to dive head first into a great big pile of love. Be inventive. Make it a standout memory that will be talked about. Do not toss her a salad roll across the breakfast table and wink. There’s no romance in that. Know whether she wants to
marry you. Test the waters a bit and make sure she’s on board with the idea, otherwise you run the risk of becoming the local fruitcake people chuckle about in the Spar. You don’t want that. Get the right ring. Now, fellas, this requires a large amount of focus on your part. If she’s pointing out rings on the internet, stopping to window shop at the jewellers and admiring every ring she sees, you have to pay attention. Don’t be drifting off and thinking about how much trouble Frodo got himself into in Lord of The Rings, that won’t help. Ask her parents, particularly her father. As a father of two girls I
can testify to the amount of bitter revenge I would seek if you simply thought you could run off with my child. This isn’t ‘Seven Brides For Seven Brothers’ and you aren’t Adam Pontipee. Tell her why you want to marry her. Sell the idea, even if it’s a slight lie. She’ll probably ask, “Why?” Do not, under any circumstances shrug and say, “Ah, y’know.” Make it a surprise. You may have agreed that marriage is on the cards, but it still means a lot if she doesn’t see it coming. If you start blaring the Barry White tunes and lighting scented candles around the house, she’ll know something’s up. Be slick. So, here’s hoping you have the success you dream of. I would happily share my own marriage proposal here, but I don’t want to kill your confidence. Good luck. One love.
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
THE ADVENT OF SPRING
T
By James O’Doherty here is a season for everything and at long last we can soon leave winter behind and look forward to longer days and better weather. As the ground wakes up from its winter sleep, the winter landscape is no more as it is transformed by the arrival of spring. I am often asked what should I do with the garden now as we leave the dark days of winter.
Well, this is a busy time in the garden. Let me suggest a few tasks to prepare your garden for another year: This is the time to complete the pruning of roses and the final planting of bare-rooted ones. You can, of course, plant container roses all year round. April is the best time to prepare the ground and to sow grass seed. It is also the best time for repairing bare spots in the lawn. Of
PAGE 13 course, turfed lawns can be carried out all year round. Start mowing the lawn now and give it an application of spring feed. Complete pruning and planting of fruit trees and bushes. Feed established ones with high potash content. Prune winter jasmine and continue to plant bare-rooted trees and shrubs. If the ground is very dry, then water after planting. An application of a general fertiliser will help establish the plants. Evergreen shrubs can be planted all year round if containerised. This is a good time to prune hydrangeas, cut old flowering stems and remove weak shoots. Cut back fuchsias to almost ground level. It is time to prune your jackmanii group of clematis and cut them back fairly hard. Also prune buddleia and spirea. For those of you who like holly, now is a good time for planting two varieties in particular, golden queen and silver queen. They will stand out and are always pleasing to the eye. Sow the beautiful sweet pea for a fragrant and beautiful cut flower in summer. Remember the more you cut them the more you get. For those of you who
TOURS AT THE NATIONAL BOTANIC GARDENS
I
By Glenda Cimino f you are like me, you have strolled through the National Botanic Garden in Glasnevin without knowing very much about its history or the plants and trees you encounter. But it took a lot of work and a long time to create the multipurpose and beautiful garden we enjoy today. Walter Wade, a botanist, petitioned the Irish Parliament for botanical gardens in 1790. This was approved and the gardens– very different from now– were opened to the public in 1800. Richard Turner’s magnificent curvilinear glasshouses were opened in 1849 and visited by Queen Victoria. In 2000, a very modern visitor centre was opened; this combines a lecture hall, inexpensive restaurant and display area with exhibits relating to the history and purpose of the gardens. Last year the Gardens hosted the Fourth Global Botanic Gardens Congress, and Kilmacurragh Arboretum in Wicklow, managed by the Gardens, was recognised as a Bo-
tanic Garden in its own right. Matthew Jebb was appointed as the tenth Director of the Gardens. Last year, the Gardens launched three new self-guiding audio tours, which enable visitors to take self-guiding tours through their own MP3 player, mobile phone or souvenir player. The Green Tour explores the historic glasshouses and their exotic plants; the Red Tour takes you down to the river and back, and the yellow tour is an easygoing walk which includes some of the historical highlights. You can phone the Visitors Centre at 804 0300, or down-
load the tours from the website, www.botanicgardens.ie The Souvenir Player costs €5 (€10 with souvenir guidebook) and comes pre-loaded with a compilation from all three of the audio tours, a printed map, a set of headphones and enough battery power for four or more listenings. For €2, you can buy an extra set of headphones and a dual adapter to allow two people to enjoy the tour together. Entrance to the gardens is free, and they still have free Guided Tours every Sunday at 12.00 pm and 2.30 pm, and pre-booked Guided Tours are available for groups at €2 per person.
have a glasshouse, the busy season for seed sowing is fast approaching. You can sow half hardy annuals for a glorious summer display. The beautiful gladioli can be planted in the open now and to get a continuous display, plant corms at two to three week intervals. Do remember to prune your established winter flowering heathers using a sharp shears. If you have an allotment or a large garden, there is nothing quite like growing and eating your own produce. Make sure your site is well prepared and deeply dug. You can sow all kinds of vegetables, plant onions and shallots. Sow peas, radish, lettuce, broad beans, summer cabbage and cauliflowers. Then in late March sow early potatoes, plant cabbage plants and all types of herbs. In flower during these months are the magnificent evergreen camellias. These thrive in good acid soil or neutral peaty soil. They can be planted in full sun but you must water them very carefully, they do not like to dry out. They can be affected by spring sunshine following frost. Light overhead shade is probably best. Bud dropping oc-
curs through lack of watering. These plants can also be grown in containers and glasshouses. They are well worth a little extra attention and will flower for years. Clean up your decking and patios. Clean paths of moss and prune overgrown deciduous hedges. Your garden hedges will also need attending to. Then in late March sow hardy annuals like clarkia, ten week stock, cornflower, calendula and Californian poppy (left) in the open ground for a glorious show of colour. In your pond, start to feed fish and check your water pump. Take time to enjoy your garden, which will soon be filled with the beautiful songs of the chaffinch, the linnet, song thrush and mistle thrush and, of course, our old friend the robin. So whether gardening is a new hobby you are embracing in this new year or you are simply getting ready to welcome spring, look forward to what is to come– the flowering cherry trees, the tulips and daffodils, the wallflowers and forget me nots. It is a new year in the garden, the pageant continues…
PAGE 14
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
TALL SHIPS
T
he Tall Ships Races will make its way to Dublin from Spain in August 2012. As Final Host Port, we can expect to see up to 100 tall ships visit for a four-day festival between August 23rd-26th 2012. The Dublin Docklands area will provide ship visits, crew parades, free street entertainment, live music, markets, theatre, parades, funfairs, treasure
VISIT
hunts, water sport activities and lots more. This will be the biggest Festival in Ireland in 2012, so be prepared. The Tall Ships organising committee are looking for volunteers and trainees to help make the festival happen. At least 50 percent of the crew on board each of the participating vessels must be between 15 and 25 years of age. The website: www.dublintallships.ie has
Ringsend and District Credit Union Ltd.
5 Irishtown Rd., Dublin 4 Phone: 6686676 • Fax: 6686288 Check out our Website: www.ringsendcu.ie
AT RINGSEND CREDIT UNION WE NOW OFFER Free Loan Protection Insurance Travel Insurance House Insurance All Business Transacted During Opening Hours OPENING HOURS Monday and Tuesday 9.30am-12.30pm • 2.00pm-4.30pm Wednesday 9.30am-12.30pm Thursday 9.30am-12.30pm • 2.00pm-4.30pm Friday 9.30am-12.30pm • 2.00pm-7.00pm
DUBLIN
a page for trainees in this age bracket to sign up for the sailing experience of a lifetime. If you fancy climbing rigging, being ship’s cook or hoisting main sails, then now is the time to do it. Carolann Harte from Dublin City Council’s Culture, Recreation and Amenity Department told NewsFour, “To be selected as a volunteer for The Tall Ships Races 2012 Dublin Festival is a special privilege
W
and we want to match the best volunteers with the most suitable roles. Volunteers will provide essential services, some of which will require specialised skills, while others require excellent customer service and a friendly smile. We are looking for friendly and enthusiastic team players with a positive attitude; desire to have fun and up for a challenge; commitment to the success of the festival; willingness and availability to attend training; successful background security check; minimum of 18 years of age at the time of the festival.” Every year, many thousands compete in The Tall Ship Races which are presented by Szczecin and organised by Sail Training International. Sail training is a growing activity and this year The Tall Ships Races 2012 Dublin is providing opportunities for trainees to participate. The Tall Ships Races are about fun, adventure and taking on a challenge. Not only will you learn about sailing, the importance of working as a team, identifying new skills and abilities, but you will also have the opportunity to gain independence while connecting with people of different
countries and backgrounds. Signing up as a trainee will be different to the volunteer role, which involves setting out to sea on a Tall Ship for a number of days and nights. You will become part of the voluntary crew of the ship and will be involved in operating every aspect of it, including keeping watch, keeping the log, navigation, steering the ship, setting the sails, climbing the rig and working aloft (optional), anchoring, cleaning the ship, cooking and serving etc. At all times, the trainees are under the guidance of the permanent crew, watch leaders and bosun’s mates. Logon to www.dublintallships. ie/trainees to apply. Dublin City Council are offering funding to a number of young people from Dublin to sail as trainees. Many of the voyages are mentally and physically challenging but the feeling when sailing is second to none and you will come away with a renewed energy and enthusiasm after an experience you will never forget,” said Harte. Above: Alex and Alex II Aussenweser 23-09-11. Photo by Sail Training International.
B RIDGEWATCH
By Rupert Heather hen a 200 year-old section of Fitzwilliam Quay Wall (right) collapsed dangerously into the Dodder near Ringsend Bridge 12 months ago, few imagined its reconstruction would take so long. Thankfully, that project is now underway and considerable progress has been made to date. New supports have been placed on the river and the wall section is being rebuilt on reclaimed land. Back in February 2011, Gerard O’Connell of the council’s flood defence unit estimated the cost of the reconstruction work to be in the region of €250,000. It remains to be seen what the final cost will be. In August 2011, NewsFour raised concerns about the pace of reconstruction. Local activist Derek Murphy was particularly vocal in his condemnation of the situation. For all those affected, it is reassuring to know that sense has prevailed and this essential work is now in progress. A spokesperson for the contractor was unavailable for comment.
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
PAGE 15
C AN ’ T COOK ? GET TO DONNYBROOK
W
By Joe McKenna ith the success of our Culinary Corner we at NewsFour decided to dig a little deeper on behalf of all you budding chefs out there. We all know that any fool can read the back of a jar and carry out the instructions, but what is it that elevates one’s cooking from a decent dinner to quality cuisine? The good people at Donnybrook Fair Cookery School have the answers. Opened in 2009 as an additional part of the impressive Donnybrook Fair complex, the cookery school is dedicated to educating those interested in taking their kitchen skills to the next level and those taking the first steps towards preparing an edible meal. Offering everything from kids’ camps on a Saturday, where children learn how easy it is to make fresh pasta, all the way to celebrity demonstrations with such names as Rachel Allen and Ross Lewis, the school is a natural extension of the Donnybrook Fair ethos of being “devoted to food.” Resident chef and manager, Ni-
all Murphy, was kind enough to allow NewsFour a tour and a chat. “The key to cooking is really confidence, and this environment allows for people who do nothing at all to come in and try. We show people what they’re doing, why it’s done that way, and if it goes wrong we show them why it goes wrong; you don’t get that with a recipe book. “We run a culinary course for people who have a little bit of skill in the kitchen but perhaps not the knowledge. We teach them why certain ingredients go together
and open up a bit of the science and the fundamental understanding of the different methods of cooking. “We want to teach people so that when they get confident they can start to express themselves and have a go with the ingredients; it’s all about having a go. If you take Heston Blumenthal, for instance, who is self taught, all he had were these ideas and concepts and he wasn’t afraid to try and put together weird combinations. “In the Middle Ages, he’d have been burnt at the stake, but now he’s the genius. So we want people to have a go, really. Our classes aren’t lectures, people are encouraged to ask questions, get up, walk around and see what’s being done and get involved; it’s the only way to learn.” For a detailed list of classes on offer, log onto www.donnybrookfair.ie/thecookeryschool or alternatively you can email Niall at cookeryschool@donnybrookfair.ie
THE CULINARY CORNER
T
his is a real winter warmer. Don’t be put off by the long list of ingredients. There is a bit of an assembly job at the beginning and then it pretty much looks after itself in the oven. Because of the long, slow cooking the shanks are beautifully tender and falling off the bone. Gemma Byrne’s Moroccan Braised Lamb Shanks 4 lamb shanks 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 large onion (chopped) 2 cloves garlic (chopped) 2 whole chillies (pricked all over with a sharp knife) 1 inch piece of ginger (grated/finely chopped) 1 heaped tablespoon plain flour 1 bunch fresh coriander (separate leaves from stalk and finely chop both) 1 heaped teaspoon Ras el Hanout (this is an aromatic spice mix which you can find in the spice section in the supermarket) 1 ½ heaped teaspoons ground cumin 1 ½ teaspoons ground coriander 1 level teaspoon ground cinnamon 1 heaped teaspoon tomato puree 300ml passata/sieved tomatoes 568ml (1 pint) chicken/veg stock 100g dried apricots 1 heaped teaspoon honey 2 tablespoon toasted flaked almonds (optional) salt and pepper Method: Preheat the oven to 130ºC. Brown the lamb shanks in olive oil in a large oven-proof casserole pot on the hob. Remove the shanks from the pot and set aside. Using whatever fat is left in the pot gently sauté the onions for five mins (add a splash more olive oil if they’re sticking). Add the garlic, ginger and finely chopped coriander stalks and sauté for a few more minutes. Then add the dried ground spices and flour and toast them with the onions etc for five minutes on a very low heat. Add the tomato puree, passata, stock, honey and apricots. Season the sauce with salt and pepper. Put the shanks into the sauce, put on the lid and into the pre-heated oven for three hours. Turn the shanks occasionally in the sauce. Leave the lid off the sauce for the last half hour of cooking. Before serving add the chopped fresh coriander leaves, reserving a little for garnish. Serve one shank per person with some of the sauce spooned over the top. I like to serve these with cous cous and sprinkled with coriander and toasted flaked almonds.
PAGE 16
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
MAN ON A MISSION
S
By Mark Quinn andymount native Philip Quinlan is a man on a mission, a mission to represent Ireland at this year’s paralympic games. Qualification for him would be just reward for all the hard work, money and effort he has put into achieving his paralympic dream. In 1999 Philip suffered a C6 spinal cord injury in a fall; he spent months in hospital and many more in rehab gradually coming to terms with having to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair. Once he returned home he adapted and resumed life. Having previously played a lot of sport, mainly cricket and golf, Philip’s sporting activities were initially restricted to a spectating capacity, but six years ago he took his first steps on the road to London 2012. Table tennis was his new game. His initial progress was slow and he came close to packing it in a few times. As he says himself “I hated losing and was close to giving up a few times.”
However, his desire and will to win saw him through and things began to look up. As he continued to improve he began travelling overseas representing Ireland. He travelled abroad six times last year and last August he won the US Open in Milwaukee. His world ranking rose to eleven and he began to look towards London 2012 and the games. With all the travelling comes a lot of expense. Philip received 60% funding towards his trips abroad but the rest had to come from his own pocket. Factor in the cost of bringing his P.A. and the bill runs into the thousands, but with ranking points vital to paralympic qualification, not travelling was never an option. Philip was never going to let a little thing like money prevent him from achieving his goal so he set about raising the funds required for his many trips abroad. He wrote to friends of his family explaining his predicament and requesting donations towards his cause. He raised €5,000.
Just before Christmas, Philip travelled to Argentina for the final qualifying tournament. Originally the top 12 ranked players in the world were to qualify for 2012 but talk of wild-card entries for regional champions meant he could not afford to slip down the rankings. After a slow start in Argentina he upped his game and performed well without ever reaching the heights of Milwaukee 2011. For now, he must wait and see. Qualification will be confirmed around the middle
of January. For Philip Quinlan qualification for London 2012 would mean the end of one journey and the beginning of another. His competitive streak meant he persevered when it would have been easier to give up. His initiative helped raise the money to fund his goal and his will to win and no little skill have brought him within touching distance of that goal. The prospect of not qualifying is something he refuses to contemplate. It is not in his na-
ture to be negative. Qualification will mean the start of a new journey and the quest for a medal; if they handed out medals for hard work and determination he would have one already. Editor’s note: Just before we went to print we received the great news that Philip has indeed qualified for London 2012. NewsFour would like to wish him the very best of luck. Above: Philip Quinlan in action. (Photo courtesy of André Neubert)
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
PAGE 17
R OMANTIC DISASTERS Compiled by Caomhan Keane Casey Livsey After a break-up, I was encouraged by friends to give online dating a try. I posted my profile, exchanged a few emails with one man, and agreed to go out on my first off-line date. Seth wasn’t exactly my type; he was a ‘big’ guy with glasses and curly, ginger hair. He seemed smart, genial and down-to-earth. He mentioned he had a motorcycle. I had always wanted to ride one. He said if the weather was nice, he’d bring his bike and take me for a ride. He was a half hour late. He said he recognized me, since I was “the prettiest girl in the room.” I was shocked to see he was at least five stone heavier than his photographs. We started talking. He was completely full of himself. On the bright side I’d get a ride on his bike. It was terrify-
ing. I told him to be slow but he drove so fast I had to hold onto him for dear life– only I couldn’t get my arms all the way around him. I needed a drink after my near-death experience. I escaped to the bathroom, sent my friend an S.O.S. text, and ran out of there. I took my profile down that night. Clara Searsfield My first boyfriend broke up with me a week before Valentine’s Day. I was heartbroken. Two weeks later, he called me up… I was just coming to terms with the rejection, and he wants to get back together again. Of course I run back to him. A couple of weeks later, I ask him why he broke up with me? He said he didn’t want to have to buy a Valentines present! Ellie Fox I once sat down at the wrong table on a date when com-
EGLINTON HOUSE –
ing back from the bathroom. I couldn’t remember what my date looked like. I only copped what I had done when his date showed up. My date had seen it all and was leaving as I made it back to the right table. I ended up going on a date with the person whose table I had accidentally sat at. When his date went to the bathroom he came over and asked me for my number. Alan Dwyer It was a leap year and after waiting several long years for me to do the deed the Mrs decided to get down on one knee and make an honest man of me. Of course, me being a Gaelgor, she decided that she would
LEST WE FORGET
Y
By Joe McKenna ou and I both know that knowledge is in the knowing. You can prove anything with facts. What you’re going to hear very soon is the sound of well-tuned voices telling you that “we’ve learned from past mistakes.” But as a people, we are well aware of the frivolous spending that contributed so heavily to our current fiscal plight. Eglinton House– number 75 Eglinton Road (formerly known as number 43)– extends over 4,000 square feet, and has a colourful history dating back to 1878. The American Consul to Ireland lived there during the war. In the 1960s, the property was bought by Dr Garret FitzGerald and his wife, Joan, from Count Edwardo Tomacello, the Irish leader of the Italian fascists during the war and Trinity College lecturer . It was while he was living in number 75 that Dr FitzGerald launched his political career. Visitors to the house over the years included the former British Prime Minister Jim Callaghan. In 1984 the house was equipped
learn the ‘cupla focail’ for the big proposal. So you can imagine her horror when I burst out laughing after she got down on one knee and said “A Alan. Is to mo ghrá, is to mo chuisleach. An basaidh tu me! “(You are my love. You are my pulse. Will you murder me!) Darragh Thomas The sister of a friend drunkenly asked me out on Bebo. I suggested heading to the Botanic Gardens for an afternoon date. We had a pleasant enough time, up to a point. We were throwing chocolate-covered raisins to the squirrels, and I wanted to see if they were tame enough to eat directly from my
hand. I extended a palm containing a chocolate raisin. The nearest squirrel cautiously approached, leaned in over my hand, tentatively sniffed at the raisin, then darted back and locked his incisors on the tip of my middle finger. I yelled out a profanity in front of the many young children also feeding squirrels, jumped about vigorously trying to shake the squirrel off my finger. The lady at reception said if I’d had a tetanus shot in the last ten years I’d be grand. We had a scone and some tea in the cafe and wandered around the cemetery for a bit. We parted ways, never to see each other again. Heather Banes I had myself a nice new boyfriend. Things were going fine. I got a text from him one morning, which he sent to me by accident. “Hi lads, need your advice. I like both these girls. Can’t decide which one to choose. Should I stick with A, she’s really nice? I had a really great date with B last night though?” I broke up with him later that night.
Sandymount Credit Union Limited 13 Bath Avenue, Sandymount, Dublin 4. Tel: 668 5079 / 073 Fax: 6681807 email: info@sandymountcu.ie Website: www.sandymountcu.ie Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday
OPENING HOURS 10am–12.30pm 10am–12.30pm 10am–12.30pm 10am–5pm 2pm–8pm
2–5pm 2–5pm 2–5pm
CU AT YOUR PLACE
to accommodate single mothers, offering adequate shelter to young women in need. But in 2010 the HSE sold off the property after allowing it to sit idle for more than five years. While maintaining inflated security costs during its vacancy, the HSE allowed the property value to sink and proceeded to offload the building quickly.
The undercurrent of lavish spending, the mishandling of assets upon which there is any level of social dependency and the “not on my hands” ethic that saw many TDs run for their pensions… all of it would make Pontius Pilate blush. The HSE were unavailable for comment. Shocker!
VARIOUS LOAN TYPES AVAILABLE INCLUDING SPECIAL MOTOR LOAN FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND REPAYMENT OPTIONS CHECK OUT OUR WEBSITE – WWW.SANDYMOUNTCU.IE €1,000 HOLIDAY LOAN REPAID OVER 1 YEAR ONLY COSTS €20.12 PER WEEK TOTAL INTEREST ONLY €46.24 (TYPICAL APR 9.4%) SANDYMOUNT CREDIT UNION IS REGULATED BY THE CENTRAL BANK OF IRELAND €100,000 GOVERNMENT SAVINGS GUARANTEE APPLIES
Serving the Community for 50 years New members welcome
PAGE 18
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
N AME
THE BOYS ?
This picture was given to my family recently after my Uncle Lar (Laurence Byrne) passed away. It came from Pat Mullins, via our neighbour Leo Hitchcock. We know that Lar is in the back row, third from the left but we don’t know any of the other names. Would any NewsFour readers be able to name them? Thank you so much to Pat Mullins for passing this photo on to us. Gemma Byrne, Tritonville Avenue
Emma is a new, healthier woman
Emma Byrne, a teacher from St. Patrick’s School in Ringsend, joined Slimming World with the intention of shifting a few pounds, but she never thought that she would be down a whopping five stone and feeling like a new woman! “I just can’t believe how easy this journey has been, it’s not a diet at all. I never ate so much healthy and filling foods in my life. My favourite meals are Slimming World fry for breakfast, lunch is usually pasta, tuna or sandwich, and my favourite dinner is chicken stir fry in chilli sauce. I always have my bar of chocolate and a pack of crisps, how can you ever be hungry? But it’s the support of the group and consultant Pamela that make it so enjoyable and easy, I wouldn’t miss my Thursday class for anything. It’s part of my life now. Slimming World has given me a new and confident life.” Slimming World Ringsend/ Irishtown is on every Thursday at 5:30pm and 7:30pm in Clanna Gael GAA Club.
At the Ringsend Active Retirement Group Party in the CWMS, Irishtown Road, Bridie Kavanagh, third from left, celebrated her 70th birthday with friends.
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
P ICTURE
PAGE 19
ROUNDUP
Anne Byrne, pictured above, won our mural competition and donated the prize to Ringsend Community Créche. John Carpenter, on the right, painted this pleasant artwork, which will be a most welcome addition to the Créche.
Lorna Brady, above, a native of Ringsend and General manager of ESB SPORTSCO, recently graduated with a Masters Degree (M.Sc (Mgmt)) in Management from Trinity College and the IMI.
Railway Union celebrate Karl Chapple’s winning goal at their 3-1 victory over UCD in the final of the Neville Cup on December 26 2011
The South East Area Strings Project and Instrument Appeal at Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre From left, back row: Mary Kate Moore, Saoirse Ogilsbu, Molly Burke and Kaylee Brown. Front row: Russell Clausse, Miranda Fu, Michid Byambajav and Saoirse Ward.
‘Keep Her Head Into The Wind, Irish Shipping Memories’ the book written by the late George Humphries has to date raised over €3,600 for the Friends of St Luke’s Hospital. Pictured above are George’s sister Teresa Dunne, her husband Lar and their grandchild.
PAGE 20
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
THORNCASTLE STREET AND RINGSEND: A GLANCE AT HISTORY
T
By Glenda Cimino he ‘Calendar of Ancient Records of Dublin’, edited by Sir John Gilbert, Volume 1, page 280, records a Decree in 1454 of the then Corporation of Dublin ordering men and women of Irish blood, whether nuns, clerics, journeymen, apprentices, servants, beggars, etc., to quit the city within four weeks. Any of them found within the city gates after that date would risk forfeiting goods or being put in prison. The people passed out of the city to the south, resting a while
132ND
D
on the beach. Finding themselves unmolested, many decided to stay there. They were in compliance with the decree, and yet close enough to the city to find some useful work. This settlement became Irishtown. Ringsend is relatively more recent. Up to the commencement of the 17th century it was only the uninhabited ‘end of the point’ or in Irish, rinn, projecting into the river at the junction of the Liffey and the Dodder, and was uninhabited. Cross-Channel and other maritime traffic had, towards the end of Elizabeth’s reign, been di-
verted from Dalkey, which for centuries served as the Port of Dublin, in favour of Ringsend, where ships could cast anchor, unload cargo, and cart it quickly into the city. As the Revenue did not benefit from this, in 1620 a Revenue Officer was stationed permanently at Ringsend. Those acting under him naturally settled down in his neighbourhood, and thus it grew into the village of Ringsend. Ringsend was then described as being a clean, healthy and beautiful village, with houses on the walls of which vines were trained. But the Dodder was quite a river then; floods rushed down upon Ringsend from the mountains, and for a while converted it into an island. Historical records of attempts to control the Dodder go back to the 13th century when a weir was built at Firhouse to divert part of the flow to the Poddle and the centre of ancient Dublin. Between 1883 and 1887, Richard Hassard designed the two lakes in Glenasmole. The embankment of the Dodder, carried through by Captain Vavasour, helped reduce flooding, but the river lost its wild beauty.
ANNIVERSARY OF A
By Glenda Cimino onal McKenna has reminded us that February 9th was the anniversary of the fateful day in 1880 when six young Ringsend men set out in boats to look for work, and only one (unnamed) came back. The five drowned men were named in the papers as John Byrne, 23, of Thorncastle Street, Ringsend; James Brady, 23; Thomas Geoghegan of 74 Fairview, Irishtown; Peter Clarke, 27, of Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend; and Patrick Maguire, 23, of Bridge Street, Ringsend. The story has strong personal resonance for Donal, as Patrick Maguire was a blood relative. Donal recounts, “In my youth when the young blades of Irishtown and its environs ventured down to the Poolbeg lighthouse to ‘skinny dip’ on warm summer days, my mother would relate the tale of the drowning of her uncle, Patrick Maguire, in Dublin Bay in the long ago. “Take great care,” she would
say, “we don’t want another drowning in the family.” Several newspapers covered the accident, referring to the young men as watermen, but it is probable that they were hobblers, gone out in hopes of getting the hobbling of an incoming ship. Hobblers usually tied up the ships at their moorings, but sometimes did pilot a ship into harbour and unload cargo. Some would spend a day and a night out at sea in the hopes of locating a ship. When a ship was located a hook was cast over its side from a standing position. This was hazardous and any mistake could mean loss of life. Most of the hobblers were non-swimmers and seldom carried life-saving equipment. Payment varied depending on the size of the ship. It was a risky occupation, and unfortunately, drownings were not uncommon, but it was probably the only way they knew to
Thorncastle Street, which houses among other things the offices of Newsfour, was one of the first streets in Ringsend. Its name came from the estate of Thorncastle, which came into the possession of the Norman Fitzwilliam family in the 1400s. The Fitzwilliams at one time controlled the four manors of Merrion, Thorncastle, Dundrum and Baggotrath, fortresses to keep the O’Tooles and the O’Byrnes banished to the mountains. Thorncastle itself was situated where later stood St Mary’s Centre for the Blind and Impaired, on Merrion Road. Thorncastle Street, part of a 300-year-long seafaring tradition, originally had boatbuilding yards, docks and slipways behind it, long before the flats were built. In addition to the then locals, a group of fishing people called
RINGSEND
make a living. There was also a certain amount of competition among the hobblers, and it was often a question of who got there first. What is known is that on Monday morning, the 9th February 1880, the six young seamen set out from Ringsend in two
DROWNING
boats. The next day, February 10th, it was reported to the police at Irishtown that two boats had been found capsized in Dublin Bay, one at Merrion Strand and the other near the Poolbeg lighthouse. According to the Irish Times of Feb 21st, one of the six men had got on board a vessel, thus having a narrow escape. When he got back to Dublin, finding his friends had not returned, he told their friends and parents where he had left them. He said that all were on good terms in the boats, but there was a heavy sea. No one witnessed what happened. Gradually, the bodies were found: first the bodies of Clarke and Byrne were found by their friends at the Half Moon Battery some yards apart. Clarke’s brother identified his body, and said that he had been a good swimmer. The inquest was held in Annie North’s pub on Bridge Street. It
the Torbays, originally from the Devon coast, arrived in the 1830s. They were engaged in boatbuilding, trawlers, fishing, sail, net and ropemaking, and blended into the community. Many of their names survive today: Andrews, Becket, Elliott, Leech, Payne, and Pullen among them. Life of a fisherman was hard. If you caught nothing, you earned nothing. There was no pay or unemployment benefit on days when winter gales kept the fleet in harbour. Drownings at sea left many a family destitute. Walking down Thorncastle Street today, it is interesting to spare a thought for its fascinating history. Left: Thorncastle Street and, above, the boatyards which backed onto the river, both about 1900.
TRAGEDY returned a verdict of death by drowning for Clarke, and accidental death for Byrne. Brady was found some time later. The body of Geoghegan was found near the Bailey lighthouse, and Maguire’s body was discovered on the strand at Clontarf on 19th April, in an advanced state of decomposition. Their heartbroken parents could only recognise them by articles of clothing they wore the day they left. In Patrick’s case, his parents were given two engraved glass bottles commemorating his life. Etched on the glass was the following: ‘In memory of Patrick Maguire who was drowned in Dublin Bay 9th February 1880 and was found 19th April 1880 aged 23 years. We have loved him during life, let us not forget him after death.’ One of these bottles (pictured left) has now passed into the care of Donal Maguire, who has proudly placed it in a prominent position in his home.
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
K EN H OM
I
By Jason McDonnell was fortunate enough to spend the Chinese New Year with Ken Hom, the world’s leading authority on Chinese cuisine, who was in Tesco Naas and Cabra, promoting his range of ready meals. I spoke to him about the New Year and what it means to him. He remembers looking forward to great meals with his family. As a child in China, when you say “Happy New Year” to an adult they are obliged to give you an envelope with money in it. He would usually spend around two weeks going around saying Happy New Year to all the adults he knew. The food his family served for Chinese New Year was a whole fish which brought good luck. They also had dried oysters that were rehydrated and cooked with a sea moss, which looked like someone’s bad toupee had fallen into soup, but it was always delicious and
PAGE 21
CELEBRATES
would always bring good things like prosperity. Another part of the meal was a whole Chicken, as this would bring fortune. It was accompanied by dumplings, vegetables and rice. They always finished with noodles as they are
C HINESE N EW Y EAR
a sign of longevity. His Mother made it very clear to him to never cut noodles as it meant cutting your life short. The Chinese New Year celebration is a whole evening of cultural enjoyment. There is a lot of sym-
BDS L OCAL H ISTORY S OCIETY
T
By Glenda Cimino here are some exciting monthly talks lined up for history buffs, just out from the Ballsbridge, Donnybrook and Sandymount Historical Society, and the public are welcome. Lectures take place at 8.00pm in St. Mary’s National School, Belmont Avenue, Donnybrook. (Parking is available). Members are free and guests are welcome at €3.00 admission. If you wish to join the Society you’ll find all the information you need at www.bdshistory.org or you can pick up a membership form from Pembroke Library, Anglesea Road, Ballsbridge. HERE ARE THE EVENTS TO PUT IN YOUR DIARY: Thursday 23rd February 2012: ‘From Baggot Street to Pembroke Road’ by John Gilmartin Thursday 15th March 2012: ‘Ballsbridge in the 19th and 20th Centuries’ by Hugh Oram Thursday 19th April 2012: ‘From Lansdowne Road to Aviva Stadium’ by Gerard Siggins
On Saturday 28th April 2012 there is a special event: A cleanup of the ancient Donnybrook Graveyard from 10.00am to 1.00pm. Many hands make light work and all are invited to come and lend a hand to freshen up the Graveyard. The DBS Historical Society was formed in early 2007 from an initiative by Liz Turley, senior librarian of Pembroke Library and Councillor Dermot Lacey. The first lecture was in January 2007, an illustrated talk by Dr. Séamas O Maitiú
entitled ‘The Humours of Donnybrook,’ concerning the great fair of Dublin held at Donnybrook for over 650 years. This first lecture, held at Ballsbridge College of Further Education in Shelbourne Road, was a tremendous success with standing room only on the night. Since then, the society has proved itself a welcome addition to our area. Above: BDS Historical S o c i e t y m e m b e r s s t ro l l p a s t t h e w a l l s o f D o n n yb ro o k G r a v e y a rd .
IN
bolism as the Chinese are very superstitious. Everything Ken’s family ate had a meaning. Ken explained that you would never hear bad language at a Chinese New Year meal as it would bring bad luck. He told me the core ingre-
I RELAND
dients for Chinese cuisine are garlic, ginger, chillies, spring onions, sesame oil, rice wine and soy sauce. The oil you use is also important. Most vegetable oils are suitable but Ken’s favourite is peanut or ground nut oil. The other good news about stir-frying is it should only take around three to five minutes, so it’s great for people who don’t have much time. I asked what he thought about Irish food and he said he likes it, especially Irish stew and fish and chips. He added that he loves any food that is cooked with love and passion. Ken will be making a new series for BBC later this year, so tune in and get cooking. If you can’t cook or won’t cook, you could always try his range of ready meals available at Tesco, which are authentic and tasty too. Above: Ken Hom shows how it’s done.
PAGE 22
RINGSEND By Lorraine Barry Background The RICC was set up in 1989 to serve the needs of the Community. We have an integrated approach to the provision of services from ‘cradle to grave’, with approximately 35,000 usages per year. From the Creche to the Active Retirement Group, we cater for our youth and those in the community with mental health issues and physical disabilities. From legal and political advice to gardening, dance, music, education, and yoga, breakfast and afternoon programmes. The Centre is at the heart of our multi-cultural community. We also provide outreach services to various other groups to support them in the delivery of other valuable services within the Community.
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
AND IRISHTOWN
COMMUNITY CENTRE
Update on Development Plan RICC are delighted to report that the planning permission for the proposed development was approved in December. We will continue to work on your behalf with the public representatives, statutory agencies and stakeholders to raise awareness and endeavour to secure the funding to develop the Community Centre. We would like to also ask you to support us, in whatever way you can so that we can continue to service the needs of our community. Main picture. The front elevation of the proposed redevelopment at RICC.
RICC SCHEDULE WINTER/SPRING 2012 • PHONE: 6604789
NEWS
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
PAGE 23
Se llafield to inc re as e produc tio Water bert hs Boat berth s lying idle at Grand Canal Dock are describe d as “crimi nal” by local counc illor Dermot Lacey at a recen t counc il meeti ng. Counc illors have voted to reque st that berth s in the inner basin at Grand Canal Dock be made availa ble to house boats . Counc illor Kiera n Binch y told the counc il meeti ng last mont h that given the amou nt of public mone y spent on the develo pmen t and const ructio n of the area “the curre nt under-utilis ation is serious.” Wate r ways Irelan d has, according to Binch y, given a varie ty of excus es for this. It is now apply ing for planning perm ission from the DDDA for perm anent berth s as the most recen t excus e is that they need plann ing permissio n. “The earlie r excus e was that the counc il might need to lay pipes in the area,” said Binch y. “This wouldn’t happe n today or tomor row and shouldn’t be used as an excus e,” said Binch y. The counc il replie d that “secti on 25 didn’t allow for perm anent berth ing, Wate rways Irelan d had to go to DDDA for clarification, an answer is expec ted early next year.” Cllr Dermot Lacey said it was “crimi nal” that this facili ty wasn’t being used. “This marin a is lying idle in the middle of the city which accommodates other sea boats,” said Lacey. Cllr Binch y added “there are people staying in house boats aroun d the corne r in the larger part of Grand Canal Basin with no electr icity or runni ng water, while the berth s in this sectio n of the Grand Canal Dock are hooke d up for electr icity and water but no-one is allowed to use them . They get used for t wo week s every year, and are lying idle the rest of the year. “I think that this huge waste of public mone y is unaccepta ble and I want Wate r ways Irelan d held to accou nt. I put down the motio n to also ensure that once the planning issue is addre ssed that this community resou rce gets used to the benefit of all,” said Binch y.
Public WiFi av
a il a ble s o o n?
e in Dub ee ly av ai la bl fr be ay m co un ci l i system at Ja n ua ry’s ed A publ ic WiF re ag as w of publ ic e so on . It ore a system pl ex lin ci ty ce n tr ill w er . th e m an ag re s in th e ci ty mee ti ng th at rk s an d sq ua pa th e ic on bl g pu in to is g ad ve rt n lli WiFi lo ca lis ed se by d ired to fu n de wou ld be re qu er Th is m igh t be us a ch hi w e mot io n, th ro ugh th e WiFi. Th ss po p- up sc re en ce ac to ’ un iversa lly t bu tt on n n, was n ot ui cl ic k a ‘c on nec Q in is O r are us ed co un ci llo publ ic pa rk s id prop os ed by sa ea h ’S O n to co nM ar y h e com pu ls io “T . ac ce pted . Cl lr on ti ec fl re be de tr in ce an d h ot h ers ca n it fo r qu ie t, si le w n io at ic commun st an tl y be in pe n si ve to ’Sh ea . O id et ca n be ex k men ta l,” sa ar m g 3 e e se rv ic e at th g an d th at th It was fe lt th in am ro d an arge s are ou ts ide is ts w h os e ch ur ac ce ss w hi le to to t efi n brea k ers. os t be k ers an d lu n ch m igh t be of m or w e at lit ci in st a lle d in a ls o fa ri a l co uld be high . It wou ld ae d an er ut s w it h a eles s ro rk s or sq ua re pa Th e WiFi w ir in s st po ed to sigto lam p sy m bo l de sign or at tach ed or gn si CC D a ll si ze i h ot sp ot. clea r bl ue sm th e publ ic WiF of t, co un ci lce n te is th w hi le projec n if y th e ex or w a d re de in ve st in a co n si ta k en to n ot Whi le it was be ld ou sh re at ca co st s, comlo rs war ned th h t date qu ic k ly. Le ga lit ie s, m ig an d pr iv acy im pl ic at io n s system th at h lt ea h s, iders m ay lati on in te rnet prov pe ti ti on re gu er th O . ed ic th e co urts e a ll vo ti on is sues in co n ce rn s wer ti pe m co d n arou n d th is . Ci ty d ways arou ch a lle nge DCC un fo ad h s t of WiFi in un tr ie e DCC ro ll- ou bu t ot h er co th id sa ey n io n ai re ap n Tier d th e co n ce ss M an ager Jo h an ed us l el w es is h t wor k . Th e a ll th e lib ra ri e sch eme, m ig ik B lin ub D e ex pl ore th e h th un ci l w ill n ow proach, as w it co e th d an re ed mot io n was ag projec t.
DC C Sh o r t s By S a n d y H a ze l
Is this money up in smoke? The proposed Poolbeg incinerator project has cost Dubliners nearly €70 million so far. Councillor Paddy McCartan asked the council to provide details of spending to date by all the Dublin councils: Fingal, Dun Laoghaire–Rathdown, South Dublin and Dublin City. The itemised response details a year-byyear account from the start of the project in 1999. The total spend to date on the Waste to Energy Project at Poolbeg is €80,575,104.85 and this does not include spend by the partner in the project, Covanta. ‘Client representative services’ cost nearly €26 million while other ‘consultancy’ fees came to over €3 million. Land acquisition totalled €43 million and public relations cost the taxpayer just over €4 million. The initial total of €80 million drops to €68,477,218.00 as an amount of €12,098,886.85 was recouped as monies due to the four Dublin Authorities. The percentage distribution of net costs is: Dublin City Council 42.64%, South Dublin County Council 20.80%, Fingal County Council 20.22% and Dublin Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council 16.34%. “It is important that taxpayers see where this money is gone,” said McCartan.
n
s are to be bui lt at Sel lMo re nuc lea r ene rgy station s say it wil l have a det riafield and some loc al cou nci llor and peo ple . me nta l imp act on the Irish Sea the Bri tish governme nt t Cou nci llors voted to con tac sibi lity of the Irish Sea beto exp res s con cer n at the pos nuc lea r wa ste em issi ons ing furthe r con tam inated by nt fac ilit ies. from the Sel lafield Nuc lea r pla of the clos e pro xim ity of The mo tion stated: ‘In ligh t Irish Sea and sho reli ne, Dublin Sou th Eas t Are a to the grave con cer ns of the inthat thi s Commit tee exp res ses me nt to bui ld mo re nuc lea r ten tion of the Bri tish Govern eld site wh ich wil l have a ene rgy station s on the Sel lafi h Sea and peo ple’. det riment al imp act on the Iris dre w Mo ntague said “all Dur ing the deb ate Mayor An dangerous, so demoni sing for ms of ene rgy pro duc tion are l.” Cou nci llor Pat McCartan one ove r ano the r is illo gica is dec ommis sion ing its nurep lied that eve n Ger ma ny t of the Jap ane se disa ste r clea r ene rgy pla nts in the ligh new one s. “Th ere have bee n yet Bri tai n is bui lding eigh t lafield sin ce the 1950s, we 21 ser ious inc iden ts in Sel d McCartan . sho uldn’t be com placen t,” sai d that a dist inc tion can Cou nci llor Rua iri McGin ley sai sou rce s of ene rgy: “A line be made bet we en goo d and bad r ene rgy. Jap an and Gerhas bee n drawn under nuc lea to renewables. We nee d to ma ny are now loo king mo re and loo k to the fut ure , loo k tak e the issue mo re ser iously er,” said McGin ley. Wo rk on mo re at win d and wave pow ected to sta rt in 2015. It the new Sel lafield pla nt is exp e eco nom ic benefits of such is felt howeve r that the hug the UK wil l ma ke any enene rgy pro duc tion pla nts to ess . deavou rs to clos e the m poi ntl r the cos ts of evacuatIt is unc lea r wh o wo uld sho ulde m An dre w Staunt on at the ing Dublin. The res pon se fro s “Th e UK has in place all Bri tish Em bas sy in Dublin say to mit igate the potent ial rea son abl y practic able ste ps imp act s from the cur ren t saf ety and env ironme nta l wit h all rele van t intern aSel lafield site and is com plia nt ent s. The se arrangement s tion al sta nda rds and agreem als to bui ld fut ure pla nt.” wil l be rep licated in any pro pos to see king to reduce the levThe UK says it is “commit ted harges to the North Eas t els of radioacti vit y from disc s the Irish Sea by 2020.” Atl ant ic Reg ion, wh ich inc lude s Strate gy doc ument wh ich It has publish ed a Dis cha rge can be see n onl ine .
Th e ‘k is s ing g
ate’
Ef fo rt s by th e S an dy mou n t an d Mer ri on Ass oc iati on (S Res iden ts’ AMR A) to re in st ate th e ‘k is th e Bi ss et t’s en si ng gate’ at d of th e Se an Moo re Pa rk m succ es sf ul . Th ay ye t prove e as so ci at io n wan ts to prev traffic us ing th en t ve hicu la r is pe de st ri an-o nl y path way w create s a ha za hich it says rd to fam ilies , sm al l ch ildre us ers an d th e n, w he el ch ai r elde rl y. Th e en tran ce was w idened an d th e sm al l ga as a te m po ra te re moved ry mea su re to pe rm it th e re an olde r 196 pl ac emen t of 0’s elec tr ic it y ca ble. In stead th e em ba nk m of re pl ac ing en ts an d sm al l gate , Dubl in w idened th e w Ci ty Co un ci l al k way, met al le d it an d in st padl oc ke d ba rr al le d a w ide, ie r w hich ham pe rs pe de st ri an is op ened fo r s bu t w hich he av y ve hicle ac ce ss . It ha s th at th e or ig in be en cl ai med al ‘k is si ng gate ’ was st olen . At a re ce n t mee ti ng be t wee n SAMR A an d DC Noo n an, th e pa C M ichael rk s su pe ri n te nd en t fo r th e area th e la rger gate , ex pl ai ne d was erec te d to “f ac ili tate pa rk n an ce traffic as an al te rn at m ai n te ive safe r ro ut th e area vi a Se e to en te ri ng an Moo re Pa rk .” Lo rn a K el ly in si sted th at of SAMR A ve hicles ca n en te r by ot he r ro ‘k is si ng gate’ utes an d th e sh ou ld be re tu rned an d an re in st ated . Noo em ba nk men t n an sa id th at in th e in te re st lati on s a si m ila s of go od re r ‘k is si ng gate ’ to w hat was th is lo cati on w prev io us ly at ou ld be re in st al le d.
PAGE 24
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
BAY TO HAVE 9KM TUNNEL FOR WASTE
T M
A lasting vision
By Rupert Heather cCartan Opticians in the medical centre on Thorncastle Street is celebrating 25 years in Ringsend. The first eye test took place there in February 1987. Owner Paddy McCartan would like to convey his thanks to his clients for their support over the years. Closing his practice in Baggot Street in 2010 was “somewhat of a wrench” as his father had established the practice there in the 1940’s. Fortunately, a number of McCartan’s clients followed him to supplement his “valued” Ringsend patient base. He says, “We have patients from all walks of life, and many have been with us for so long that they are considered friends.” In addition to finding the best glasses prescription, an eye examination includes other important checks and can screen for signs of cataract, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. Signs of diabetes and high blood pressure can also be noted in an eye test. An eye exam is therefore recommended every two years. In a difficult business environment, McCartan’s set themselves apart by providing patients the time and attention which is not always available in a larger practice. McCartan says, “We used to give half an hour for appointments, but my secretary suggested we put it up to 45 minutes because we spend so long talking about family, politics, anything really.” People with a Medical Card may receive a free eye exam and spectacles once every two years, and those with PRSI benefits may also be entitled to a free eye exam. Kids can also be tested. There is a large choice of frames, including a budget range at very keen prices, and prescription sunglasses. They fit contact lenses and do driving and computer eyesight reports. Eye testing in your home can be arranged, and may be free if authorised on a medical card. Jason McNerney joined the practice full-time in 2006 after completing his work placement. He says “It’s a pleasure to work in such a relaxed, friendly practice, in a close-knit community like Ringsend.” For more information call 01 6609202. Above: Paddy McCartan, right, with a customer and staff.
By Sandy Hazel he second phase of the Dublin Bay Project and its Ringsend Wastewater Treatment Plant Extension was presented to councillors at last month’s area meeting. DCC has a legislative commitment to improve marine ecology and water quality in the bay and the plan aims to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus, which currently pollutes the bay. The extension will increase capacity “to maximum achievable within curtilidge of the site” to serve a population of 2.1 million. Some constraints to the plan were that the Liffey Estuary is designated as a sensitive area and the site size is limited. The programme of work involves some immediate upgrades and odour improvement involving effluent fine screens, covers to increase capacity and deep shaft aeration, where treatment becomes vertical rather than horizontal. Further works will be an outfall site 9km into the bay. Engineers looked at water depth, minimum acceptable length outside protected and amenity areas, commercial navigation and underground pipelines and cables and geological suitability. A site has been chosen for the tunnel which will be “kept in bedrock if possible.” The plan is presented as “least costly financially and to the environment.” Parameters involve faecal coliforms, nitrogen, phosphorous
and biological oxygen demand. Cllr Dermot Lacey asked “Why should the people of Ringsend trust DCC when it has previously told people that the current waste treatment plant would be the final one?” Lacey added that “along with the proposed incinerator, Ringsend people will be living beside a major industrial complex.” Councillors also raised questions about sludge storage (it gets dried and used as a “valuable fertiliser”), overall height (there will be little additional height), will the odour be gone (already 75 per cent taken out, further reduction expected). DCC said that complaints have dropped dramatically with only one complaint in 2011 so far. Odour control measures are promised upfront, not at the end of the project. The plan will
fulfil DCC’s commitments under EU law– the Urban Waste Water Treatments Directive and the Water Framework Directive Ireland. The report says it will have no negative residual impacts. Some locals disagree. The Sandymount and Merrion Residents meeting last month discussed the possibility that building on top of existing storm tanks might be a better solution, as it would enable DCC to maintain the size as is and not need a tunnel out to sea. There were concerns voiced about the associated building works, but DCC said that trucks removing rubble from the site will operate through the Port Tunnel, which will limit time spent on the roads around Ringsend. It is unclear where the rubble excavated from the 9km tunnel will be transported to.
The area, to the rear of the pub, is covered with graffiti, some of which is “good” according to one graffiti artist we spoke to, but he added “the majority is poorly done and looks terrible.” The artist suggests that DCC be invited to whitewash the area and
bring real artists to provide urban art. “In the absence of a system for prosecuting offenders, I think a different tack is needed here, something more progressive. I would suggest giving the lane a legal status, giving a group of artists ownership of it. Make it aspirational, ensure quality control on what goes there so it’s not just a free-for-all and respect is encouraged,” he adds. Tagging and “bad” graffiti tends not to happen over the more artistic paintings as a sign of respect among the daubers. NewsFour put this proposal to Cllr Ashe. “I would agree that street art can improve but how can you distinguish? Perhaps if we could meet with some street artists and talk about some possible guidelines,” she said. What do you think? Art or vandalism… let us know.
GRAFFITI ART OR VANDALISM?
A
By Sandy Hazel rt or vandalism? Local councillor Gerry Ashe is raising concerns about “the amount of legal graffiti springing up around the city on side walls of pubs.” A recent Anti-Social Behaviour Meeting in Tom Kelly Flats off Dublin’s Richmond Street brought the issue to councillors and the gardaí. One side of the wall is private and legal graffiti was done with the pub owner’s consent “but the other side of the wall is public and other young people don’t acknowledge the difference,” says Cllr Ashe. “This poses a problem for gardaí who are doing their best to minimise this problem but it is unhelpful with the growing amount of what is
permissible,” said Ashe in a motion to the council. The council’s response to Cllr Ashe is that if the graffiti is on private property then it is OK But Ashe disagrees. “What is currently beside the George Bernard Shaw pub is not art by anyone’s standard. Parents and gardaí find it difficult to explain the difference between what is classed as vandalism. I feel that if it is visible from the public street it should have planning permission. Richmond Street South is a mess and very difficult to know where the legal and illegal graffiti begins and ends. Local opinion is that it drags the whole area down. This would not be tolerated in leafy suburbia.” The laneway in question is described by one local as “the wild
west in terms of what happens there… it is out of sight of the main road, poorly lit, rarely patrolled, no CCTV and so on. Graffiti would be the least of the anti-social problems there. Illegal dumping, car robberies and burnings and worse are quite common.”
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
PAGE 25
THE UNSTOPPABLE ANNE O’SULLIVAN
A
By Glenda Cimino nne O’Sullivan, a resident of Sandymount for 38 years, by any standards is a remarkable person. She has just retired, after a lifetime working in education and community. She is now a first year student of theology and English at All Hallows College in Drumcondra. She also has found time to travel, visiting Africa, India, and the USA. Anne grew up in a family of eight in Waterford. Both her parents were teachers, and she went to UCC, getting a BA in psychology and philosophy. Wanting to work with children, she took a one-year substitute teacher position in a primary school. Then she moved to Dublin and got a great job in the Department of Education’s Psychological Services Department. “I loved it,” Anne says. “It was new and exciting. I started in September 1970. Then in February ‘71, I had my accident.” Anne was driving to a school where she was researching the math curriculum for the Department. On the border between Meath and Cavan, she passed out a lorry. Suddenly, the road narrowed and she
somehow skidded into a tree. Another lorry travelling close behind her crashed into her, and she was thrown out of her car. “It was the day we changed to decimal currency– we called it DDay. I woke up in Navan Hospital. I was 22 and had never been in hospital before. Suddenly my life turned upside down.” The doctor, coincidentally, was the son of a family friend, and was staying with her flatmate’s sister at the time. He explained that she had had a very bad accident. After a few days, going in and out of consciousness, Anne learned that she had severed her spinal cord, broken her back, fractured 14 ribs, broken both shoulders, and punctured one lung. She was brought to the rehab hospital in Dun Laoghaire, where she was to spend the next year of her life. She had no movement or sensation from the waist down. Having studied neuroanatomy, she knew that for the first six weeks there was a chance of recovery. She had a lot of physio and exercises, but soon realised that she would be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. At this point, it might be normal
THE POLLUTER MUST PAY
D
By Sandy Hazel ublin City Council’s changeover of waste collection services to Greyhound has been branded a disaster and a special meeting at City Hall last week heard of chaos and confusion in the city, with rubbish still uncollected after a week on the streets. Complaints about lack of advance communications on prepayment rules
and collections, waiver schemes and availability of competition in the arena were justified, according to City Manager John Tierney. He added, however, that if the council were to continue waste collection services then costs to the consumer would have doubled. While the motion for the council to resume its service was voted in, the councillors do not really have the power to force this to happen and an amendment to the Waste Management Act would be needed to change this. At a previous meeting, councillors said they have been placed in a position where they do not fully understand the implications of a decision that was made several months ago. Customers are now asked to stay
to be depressed and discouraged. But was Anne? “Not a bit. I went back to work before leaving the hospital. They put in a special steel ramp at work for me. First my sister-in-law drove me to work. Then I bought a wheelchair-accessible car and got a license for a wheelchair user.” Before the accident, she had been living with a friend from UCC in Appian Way. As it was not wheelchair-accessible, she had to live with her brother and sister-inlaw for a year and a half, but she wanted to live on her own. There were very few apartments for sale in Dublin at that time. But after a
short time in Rathmines, she found an apartment for sale in Sandymount, and the builder was amenable to making it accessible. She worked on a new project in Ballymun comprehensive schools to integrate children with physical disabilities and provided a school psychological service for primary and comprehensive schools in that area until 1976. She then moved jobs, to St Pat’s in Drumcondra until 1989, training teachers in special education how to provide learning support for children with special needs. In 1982-83, she got her M.Ed. at Manchester University.
Another life-changing event was a retreat in Maynooth in 1986, run by Canadian Jean Vanier, who had founded in 1964 an international organisation, L’Arche, where people with and without intellectual disabilities share lives. Eager to get involved, Anne visited a group in France for two months in the summer of 1986, and went back for four summers, getting to know people in the community there and in Ireland. Then she took a year sabbatical from work to experience living in a L’Arche community. She went to a community in Tacoma, Washington, as it was wheelchair-accessible. She ended up spending three years there, coming back to Dublin in 1992, where she was Regional Coordinator for the communities here. This became her whole life until she retired last year, part of her own faith journey. “People with intellectual disabilities have a gift for the world, they are people of the heart. If there is anything we need in today’s world, it is people who respond at that level, who are in touch with their humanity and don’t escape into the world of the head. These are great people to be around.” There are L’Arche communities in Kilkenny (1978), Cork (1985), Dublin (1993), Belfast (2001) and hopefully a new one coming in Sligo. For more information, see www.larche.ie
‘in credit’ and there was widespread confusion about the prepayment system. “We’ll have two months of backwash from an ill-prepared plan, we’ll be inundated with questions of clarification,” said Cllr Gerry Breen. The law of polluter must pay was queried by Cllr Brid Smith. “How can you pay in advance when you don’t know how much you will pollute?” asked Smith.
count for a bin to be lifted. Credit only needs to be in account per lift if the client chooses. Customers can switch to other collectors if they wish. Tenants in local authority flat complexes will be charged €1.50 per week. DCC flat complexes will be a client of Greyhound for six months, after which the service will be ten-
dered. Greyhound may or may not win that tender. The Dublin City Labour group is calling on the City Manager and senior officials to renegotiate the terms of the agreement to allow customers to pay any standing charge in stage payments. It also wants standing order facilities available for payment.
ʻThis lack of communication is a basic management mistakeʼ Tierney said that he had “every confidence in the ability of the people of Dublin to handle their own correspondence and that payment in advance is standard practice in this industry.” There was much confusion among councillors over the waiver system too. It is understood that private waste collectors will only honour 2011 waivers for 2012 and after that waivers will cease. There are no plans for a national waiver scheme. Dublin city customers will pay current prices for their standing charges for one year and current prices for lifts for six months. Credit must be in ac-
GILMORE SOLICITORS 22 BRIDGE STREET, RINGSEND, DUBLIN 4 Tel: 6677170 * Fax:6673809 E-mail: info@gilmoresolicitors.com
House Sales/Purchases Re-mortgages & Commercial Property Family Law Wills/Probate/Estate-Planning Employment Law District Court & Road Traffic Offences
A Friendly & Professional Service
PAGE 26
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
COMMUNITY CHAMPION ELAINE PAYNE
E
By Sandy Hazel laine Payne worked in the caring profession with the HSE and with children before Tesco tempted her away. Elaine started on the tills but then worked her way through different departments, so she knows the stores from the ground up. Fast forward eleven years and Elaine is using all her experience as a Tesco Community Champion in the Merrion store. The Community Champion initiative was set up by Tesco to encourage staff that live locally
W
By Joe McKenna e are all aware of the palpable dread that has swirled through the streets since the unveiling of the recent Budget. The question from most people is, “how can the Government take what we haven’t got?” It’s no secret that the country is in a precarious position and there seem to be few representatives able to provide comment that may bring people closer to understanding our current situation. NewsFour visited Leinster House to catch up with Kevin Humphreys, Labour TD for Dublin South East, to discuss the recent budget. “We always knew the budget was going to be tough. A lot of people asked me during the election what promises I could make in relation to cuts and savings and the only promise we could make is that we’d do
to plug into the community and get involved with supporting local groups. Champions spend 18 hours a week helping their community and look at ways their store can get involved with local groups and projects, including councils, hospices, schools and sports clubs. Practical support offered includes donating products, raising awareness in store, or even attending schools with boxes of fruit and vegetables to talk to kids about healthy eating. Elaine was nominated to be-
come the Tesco Merrion Community Champion, the person who links in with the local community and groups in the Merrion region, with a view to helping them to help themselves. Elaine had two days training at Clarehall about the position and what to expect. In the role since September, Elaine has already helped at a food tasting day at Saint Mary’s school on Haddington Road. “We were asked by someone on our staff who is also a parent from the school if we would get involved. I contacted the school principal and we took it from there,” says Elaine. “Tesco supplied foods for a tasting event which introduced the children to nutritious and unusual foods, things they may not have tried before. The teachers loved it too as we helped explain the five-a-day and nutritional concepts while tasting and the pupils really enjoyed it.” This Christmas Elaine has just delivered a healthy eating workshop at the homework club in Saint Patrick’s school in Ringsend. Elaine works a rough five-mile radius from the Merrion Tesco branch. People do pop in to see her, look at the community notice board and ask about the role. Enable Ireland in Sandymount also benefited from the Community Champion role as Elaine helped deliver a planting event
K EVIN H UMPHREYS
the best we could. There has to be a correction, we know that. We’re spending €18 billion more than we receive in taxation, so there has to be a phased reduction in expenditure. With Labour’s influence, and bear in mind we are only a third of the Government, we have managed to ring fence €35 million for mental health, there will be no reduction in social welfare and we aim to protect an estimated 300,000 low-paid workers from the Universal Social Charge. “There are problems all across Europe and globally. Our problem is that our economy was mismanaged. The mechanisms within the economy of managing or preventing a property bubble were not there with the
when clients could feel, touch and grow their own plants. She helps too with outings and school trips and sporting events. A particularly satisfying event which Elaine helped to organise was the Culinary Ability Awards at Enable Ireland. “We had clients at Enable Ireland who we helped,” explains Elaine. “We helped as they shopped for their ingredients and planned their menus.” Two of the contestants made it to the Cater Expo at the RDS. “Two of the girls got a silver and a bronze, it was awesome, I was so proud for them,” says Elaine. The prize-winning menu included salmon and sesame seeds, beetroot salads with feta and a special signature dish called Sandymount Sausage Surprise. The Royal Hospital also gets Elaine’s attention to assist at its social evenings with Tesco supplying refreshments. She has fundraised for Saint Vincent’s Stroke Unit, selling tickets for fabulous hampers. “It helps when people can see you there and that they know the funds are going directly to the community,” says Elaine. Any groups or individuals who have projects that might benefit from some assistance or encouragement can check out the Tesco community notice board, contact their local Community Champion or call Elaine on 089 438 3369. Elaine will meet anyone to discuss ideas and how Tesco might be able to support them. “If I can help make any small change or
improvement in the local community then I am doing my job,”adds Elaine. Picture: Elaine Payne (right) with Tesco Customer Service Manager Rowena Salmon.
Nominate a Community Champion THE SEARCH IS ON… NewsFour are seeking your nominations for local heroes. Tell us about those who make a significant difference in other people’s lives or in the community. We want to hear about people who have a positive impact on a person or community. They could be a volunteer, carer, fundraiser, sports coach, or someone who brings hope to others whose efforts may have gone unsung. When we receive your nomination we will contact you to find out more. We will then honour your Community Champion with an article in NewsFour explaining how they make a difference. Email us at newsfour@gmail.com or call us on 01 6673317 with your nominations.
TALKS BUDGET
last administration. A lot of painful things are happening now within Irish society and the Irish economy that should have happened during the Celtic Tiger era. But we don’t have that luxury now; we are in receivership and other people are laying down the rules and regulations of how we can
borrow money and spend money because we borrow so much. “Some people have said, ‘just make the correction in one year.’ But imagine the pain of having to take €18 billion out of the economy in one year, given that society is just managing to live with a correction of over €3 billion; it’s unthinkable. “People say, ‘burn the bond holders.’ We already have to a certain degree, they’ve felt it, but it’s been clearly laid down to us that if we burn the bond holders to the level that the populace want, we won’t have access to borrowing. “The ECB and the IMF are here every two weeks telling us whether we can spend or not spend, whether our tax regime
is bringing in what we need or whether we have to change. We’re doing reasonably well, which is easy for me to say, but when you look at the effects on the communities you’ll see that, as a society, we’re paying for the sins of the last decade. “We’re dealing with the inability of past administrations to regulate the building industry, to regulate the banking system, the insurance companies and so on. We listened to Charlie McCreevy, Bertie Ahern and Mary Harney saying, ‘the market will regulate itself.” Markets don’t regulate themselves and now we’re all dealing with the fall-out. That’s what we’re paying for. Would we still be in recession had we had good management? Yes, we probably would, but not to the same extent. We’re in a period of transition and we have to get through it.”
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
PAGE 27
THE OSCAR ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATIONS
O
can’t pass off an opportunity to heap praise on their favourite child. ‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close’, ‘Midnight in Paris’ and ‘The Help’ rounds off the list of movies we think shouldn’t be nominated. This leaves ‘The Artist’, ‘The Descendants’, ‘The Tree of Life’ and ‘Moneyball’ to round off a category that really is the academy’s fatted calf. Although Michel Hazanavicius’s silent movie has certainly gotten more acclaim than it’s due, we wouldn’t be stamping our feet should it take home the gong on Oscar night, though in our heart of hearts we would like to see it go to Terrence Malick’s ‘Tree of Life’.
BEST FILM Martin Scorcese’s ‘Hugo’, a tribute to the earliest days of film has shocked everyone by taking the most nominations, 11 in total, including one for Best Picture. A signal, as if one was needed, that shows how poor the field was this year. Even Steven Spielberg’s dire ‘War Horse’ is in here for the simple reason that the Academy
BEST ACTOR This category ran the risk of looking like People’s most beautiful list with nominations rumoured to be heading Ryan Gosling’s or Leonardo Di Caprio’s way. As it stands, we can look forward to George Clooney and Brad Pitt filling out their tuxes on Oscar night, with the former favourite for his turn in Alexander Payne’s ‘The Descendants’. Jean Dujadrin for ‘The Artist’ will present his strongest challenge. His turn as a silent movie star struggling to adapt to the dawn of the talkies is ironically, the talk of the town, especially after his win at the Golden Globes. There was shock and awe when Michael Fassbender’s willy first graced the screens in Steve Mc-
By Caomhan Keane n Sunday February 26th in the Kodak Theatre in Beverly Hills, a rake of Hollywood stars will be hoping their prayers will be answered when the 2012 Academy Award winners will be announced, bringing for some, long-overdue awards and for others wronglytimed credit for their service to the craft of film making and acting. NewsFour’s Caomhan Keane has a look at the men and women who will be praying for 13 inches on the night.
Queen’s NC-17 rated ‘Shame’, followed by disappointment at his exclusion from the race (especially by British film pundits who were planning on claiming the Kerry man as their own). The film was-irony-alert-pants and when the academy finally recognizes him he will want to deserve it and not be there at the expense of the vastly superior Gary Oldman (nominated for the first time in a 35 year career) or the shocking but delighting Demian Bichir. BEST ACTRESS This category is looking a whole lot less perky this year, seeing as two of these women are in their sixties and a third is in her late forties. Ageist comments aside, Meryl Streep, who created history with her record 17th nomination, can only be nominated for that very reason. Impressive, her Thatcher drag may be the hallmarkesque tribute to the conservative monster, but has some accusing its direc-
tor of a Leni Riefenstahl-style white-washing of history. Our heart is behind Glenn Close, and not just because part of the movie she is nominated for, ‘Albert Nobbs’, was filmed in Irishtown. This is her sixth nomination (previous nominations were for ‘Dangerous Liaisons’, ‘Fatal Attraction’, ‘The Natural’, ‘The Big Chill’ and ‘The World According to Garp’) so it is no more than her due. The smart money will be on Michelle Williams for her turn as Marilyn Monroe in ‘My Week With Marilyn’. Evoking her daughter’s name when she won at the Golden Globes scored her the cutey pie brownie points and will have tear drop watchers hoping she will be the one in hysterics when her name is called out. Her ice-cold indie cred has us doubting that occurrence. Viola Davis can’t be counted out, though one would hope that when her day comes it will be for something a little less saccharine than ‘The Help’, but if Rooney Mara is successful we’ll be hoping to see Glenn or Viola shove it where Academy Award voters heads seem to reside. (Charlize Theron and Tilda Swinton were both criminally overlooked). BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR You’d think that Belfast born Kenneth Brannagh would win the home vote, up as he is for his turn as Laurence Olivier in ‘My Week With Marilyn’. But rumour has it he is an egomaniacal gasbag and Jonah Hill, nominated for ‘Moneyball’, has been following in his footsteps. Performance wise, 82-yearold, 60 years active Christopher Plummer must be the favourite. He has picked up his second nomination in the supporting category for ‘Beginners’ and following his Golden Globe scoop, could his performance as a gay man coming out to his son late in life bring him the gold he certainly deserves? One hopes he gets it over Max Von Sydow, nominated for ‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close’, who seems to be getting the ‘his
time’ sympathy votes. 82 years old, with a distinguished career, this is not what he wants to be remembered for. If that’s the way the Academy wants to swing, perhaps they should look to the excellent Nick Nolte nominated for the equally excellent ‘Warrior’. BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS Octavia Spencer and Jessica Chastain of ‘The Help’ will most likely cancel each other out and Melissa McCarthy of ‘Bridesmaids’ is unlikely to get the gong for her side-splitting turn as an overweight future-sister-in-law. Pity, particularly for Spencer who was just dynamite in that racial hen flick. Janet McTeer is always gold and we would be so thrilled to see her get acclaim for the Irish-set ‘Albert Nobbs’. But the deserved and most likely recipient of the award will be Bernice Bejo. Her costar and fellow nominee Dujardin has been getting all the credit for The Artist’s success but for me it was her mile-wide smile that stole this flick. Clockwise from top left: The main man; Christopher Plummer; George Clooney; ‘Hugo’ and the ladies from ‘Bridesmaids’.
PAGE 28
FOR MARY AND PETER
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
CAN CE PROVE IT OFFERS VALUE FOR MONEY?
F
B
By JimmyPurdy ridget Purdy (Bernie Downey from Pearse House) gave birth to a daughter Mary Purdy (stillborn) in 1964. Six years later Peter Purdy was born in Holles Street hospital on June 4th 1970. His mother Bridget Purdy was very ill after the birth, with the result that Peter lived for just one day. Bernie was too sick to be able to see or hold Peter and so, as was the system at the time, Peter was brought to Glasnevin Cemetery and buried in the Angel’s Plot. So began a time in Bernie’s life which she only spoke about on Sunday, May 14th 1995, after a service held in the Pro-Cathedral celebrating the 250th Anniversary of the Rotunda Hospital. At this service we came in contact with The Irish Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society, now known as A Little Lifetime Foundation. We were told we could find out where Mary and Peter were. And so this was done and brought a lot of happiness to both of us. Peter and Mary’s names were put on the plinth in the old Angel’s Plot and Bernie and myself only missed one summer-time service and that was due to a mistake in the date. Bernie died on December 3rd 2002. On one occasion when I called into the office in Glasnevin Cemetery to get the grave number where Peter and Mary were buried, the girl gave me two numbers. “No, Mr. Purdy, Mary is in the old Angel’s Plot and Peter is in the new Angel’s Plot which is being renovated.” This I only learned after Bernie died. I immediately set out to find grave number OJ361/2 which took some time. Once found, I went to the monument works to have Peter’s name and his short life recorded. Peter Purdy, born June 4th 1970, died June 5th 1970. To have this done was important for Bernie who would have had it corrected, as having found where her two babies were buried brought a lot of happiness and relief that we could visit them at any time. This story is to state for Bernie where Peter Purdy is buried and to make known how happy Bernie was after, in Mary Purdy’s case (stillborn) and Peter (who lived one day) to finally know where they are in Glasnevin. Also that Peter, born June 4th 1970, died June 5th 1970 is now known to be in the newer plot and his name is registered there. All this is now known through the good people in Holles Street, Glasnevin Cemetery and all our good friends at A Little Lifetime Foundation. You can contact them at A Little Lifetime Foundation, Carmichael House, 4 North Brunswick Street, D 7. Telephone 01 8726996; email: info@alittlelifetime.ie; www.alittlelifetime.ie
By Sandy Hazel or what it’s worth, here is a nugget of career guidance that might inform some chosen professions; only two careers in the world are truly worthwhile– alleviating the suffering of others or bringing joy to peoples’ lives. There are many aspects of a scheme like the Community Employment system in Ireland which fall into these two categories, even if the participants themselves fall into the schemes by chance. Meals on wheels, carers, home helps, drugs task force, créche workers, sports club grounds keepers, charity shop staff all have the paradigm of service, which in the words of Oprah Winfrey “turns everything you do into a gift.” But nothing is free and we all need a wage. The Community Employment sector in Ireland employs over 23,000 people and the costs to the exchequer for 2012 will be €315 million. CE participants work 19.5 hours per week for an additional ‘participation bonus’ of €20 more than their basic rate of social welfare. The term on CE is for one year, in some cases depending on age, individual circumstances and training progress, a period of up to three can be achieved. The current review of CE schemes around the country is causing concern, particularly for one parent families or those receiving other allowances such as disability or widows and widowers. If you are currently on a Community Employment scheme and One-Parent Family Payment, Deserted Wife’s Allowance or Benefit or a widow’s, you will no longer get a child dependent increase on both payments. New participants on Community Employment schemes will not be able to claim another social welfare payment at the same time. Training allowances and materials budgets have already been cut by 66% since the beginning of January. Some schemes say that the review process may close them down and the plans provide a disincentive to work. One administrator on a CE scheme that supports 25 staff, has benefited from payroll training and an accounts qualification this year. She has searched for jobs but the costs of child-
care are prohibitive. As a single parent the CE scheme is the only way of working for a small wage while being flexible enough to allow childcare arrangements. “I had heard people talk about ‘the poverty trap’ of being a single parent but I never fully understood it until I found myself right in it. CE was actually the only way for me to work other than waiting till my daughter started school. As the rules of CE have changed this is unfortunately no longer an option for single parents with children under school going age,” she says. Doing the maths will create hard choices for many who will see a supporting benefit removed. “I hoped to have three years in this job but now I could be finishing up after two because even if my scheme continues, my single parent allowance could be taken away and then I will not be able to afford to work on CE. After paying creche fees I would be making a whole lot less than I would get for staying at home doing nothing. It’s madness.” Minister Burton’s review seeks to identify “viable” schemes, but viability might be difficult to
measure. And who shall decide what isn’t viable? “Running youth clubs in the community centre, maintaining the gardens in sheltered accommodation, and staffing a community créche would cease, and the local paper would stop printing after 25 years in existence,” says another worried local CE scheme worker. According to one worker “the majority of the staff in community employment get just a few quid more for doing their 19.5 hour per week than they would for sitting at home on the dole. I can’t see the economic sense in cutting any funding in this area as it will directly affect the community, especially in disadvantaged areas.” But others think a review is long overdue. Much of the charity shop sector relies on CE scheme workers to staff shops. One shop manager tells NewsFour that there may be an element of self-preservation on some CE schemes. “I would rather that my staff are here because they want to work not because the system suits them. Participants can abuse the sys-
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012 tem too– the scheme is only as good as its training officer and board who oversee it.” According to some, more scrutiny will be welcome. “A review of the whole system is probably a good idea,” said another manager. There are indications that the review will seek to identify areas of duplication and overlap from other state agency funding. Schemes will be examined for ability to “stand on their own” said one supervisor. Many nonprofit schemes are wholly dependent on the materials grants from FÁS. Another worker at a non-profit organisation explained to us the irony of his situation. “I was unemployed for two years after leaving college and the way things were set up at the time I was told by the social welfare that even if I offered to work for free in my chosen field, I would have to lie to them to keep my social welfare payment as it
PAGE 29
would interfere with my availability to work.” He says he is “terrified” at the thought of the choice being offered: giving up looking for a job or signing on the dole and not being allowed to work for free. “I work for a few euro more than the unemployment rate of social welfare and am happy to do so as I feel I belong to the workforce of this country. If cuts go through I could possibly be back on the dole queue with no immediate prospects.” The review has started nationally and is expected to be complete by the end of March. The picture it paints will inform the Minister where €27 million of savings might be found. Commentators for this article asked that their names not be published. Photo from the recent protest against CE cutbacks at Leinster House.
CHANGES TO CE
From 20th February, the CE rate of payment for participants who are also on One Parent Family Payment, Deserted Wife’s Benefit or Widow(er)’s Pension will be €208. No increases for qualified children will be paid on their CE payments. New CE entrants will be disqualified from receiving any primary weekly social welfare payment including those listed above. The rate of CE payable to new entrants will be the personal rate, the €20 top-up, plus increases for qualified adults and children, if applicable. In other words, the affected new participants will be treated in exactly the same manner as jobseekers have been up to now, i.e., there is no entitlement to a jobseeker’s payment but a full CE rate is payable.
Help my house A home defects and improvement column by Anthony Brabazon B.Arch. MRIAI. Q: How and why did Help-My-House begin? A: A New Year is a time of hope and possibilities, a time for looking forward. It is also a time for looking back and reminiscing over the previous year. In planning the answers for this column I thought it might be a good idea to look back at how it all started. Long, long ago … no, seriously, approximately two years ago a former client from Sandymount asked me to look at a wet wall in her house. She had called in a builder and, despite assurances that the problem was “fixed”, she found that the wall was wetter than before! Hot on the heels of this house visit I talked to a local builder who described some incidences of unscrupulous roofers taking advantage of people in the Dublin 4 area. The ‘roofer’ would approach the homeowner advising that a few slates were missing, climb his ladder, make a bigger hole in the roof and then quote a price to “fix the problem” to the unsuspecting homeowner. It sometimes happened that,
while up on the roof, a few slates would be removed from the neighbour’s roof ensuring that more work could be had. Having been involved in house design, repair and renovations for the previous twenty years, this wasn’t totally new to me but it was a tipping point. A sense of outrage built up and, following discussion with others in the office, ‘Help-my-House’ was born. We realised that all the experience of two decades could be put to good use in helping people avoid being ripped off. It was time for architects to come down from the ivory tower! Since that time there have been approximately two hundred house visits made in the Dublin area and the same number again across Ireland. We have saved people having to replace roofs, rescued people from scary planning enforcements, cleared out wasps’ nests, solved damp mysteries, assisted the disabled and elderly, calmed
fears over cracks and subsidence, made houses warmer, and remodelled house space where necessary. On top of this, we have connected our clients with reputable builders and tradesmen. thereby achieving the original goal of giving peace of mind and saving money. Looking forward, we hope to continue and expand the service. So far we can agree with a certain well known character in saying, “Can we fix it? Yes, we can”. Contact Help My House to arrange a visit to your home for €150. Ring Anthony Brabazon on 01-6683519 or visit helpmyhouse.ie on the web. Questions for this column can be sent to anthony@helpmyhouse.ie Pictured: Two problem areas– roofs and wasps’ nests
VALENTINE’S VOX POP BY CAMERON HAZEL: WHAT ARE YOUR VALENTINE’S PLANS AND WILL YOU SPEND MUCH?
“I’ll be spending more this year definitely! To make up for the past four years,
classy restaurant, the works. Nothing sappy, all class.”
Bernard O’Neill from Sandymount
“Nothing planned yet, we’re pre-occupied with twins on the way, we don’t tend to go over the top but we’ll probably celebrate after things have settled down.” Enda O’Connor from Enfield
“Short answer is no, we don’t tend to do Valentine’s day, but this year definitely some home cooking!” Kirstan Sheridan from Glasnevin
“Well, Centra is doing a €1.99 chicken offer, a few olives and some lettuce, so I’m going to cut it in half and share it with two women, a half for each one and just watch them eat it.” Scott Kelly from Temple Bar
PAGE 30
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
THEATRE REVIEW ‘I ❤ ALICE ❤ I’ Reviewed by Caomhan Keane HotForTheatre was formed in 2010 and believes theatre should provoke, move and delight in equal measures. Let me just say, mission accomplished. Their debut show, ‘I ❤ Alice ❤ I’, which won the Best Actress and the Fishamble New Writing Award at the ABSOLUT Fringe 2010 is heartfelt and hilarious, poignant and evasive. It comes to the national theatre for two weeks on February 1st and is utterly unmissable. Two elderly women take to the stage. They are nervous. They are
here to tell us the story of their love. But they are not natural performers. They never wanted to bang drums, get attention or cause a scene. A stolen kiss in a Crumlin shopping centre has led them to recount their relationship, to admit it to a world that once would have had their jobs for such indiscretion. “I felt important, like my story mattered,” says Alice Kinsella. Taking us into the closet, opened but never really left throughout a 28-year relationship, the Alices share the ups and downs, the average and the everyday experiences that any couple, gay or straight, can equate with. They also take us into the internal struggle, the horrible guilt that comes with denying
the person you love. Or worse, denying the person you are. It’s endearing, moving, involving and very, very funny. The nerves never really go, but they subside. Writer/ director Amy Conroy has the smarts to use the hallmarks of the documentary format to settle the women into the performance so they can be themselves. This makes them aware of the crutch but allows the story– and the women who lived it– to become real. Its only failing is in the revealing of the artifice. It undercuts the charm, innocence and emotion that precedes it and makes the whole piece feel like a covert ad for marriage equality. The feeling and point was made in the performance and should have been left there.
Event Guide Compiled by Cameron Hazel
A
Cynical Movies for Valentine’s Day
By Caomhan Keane s if watching the desecration of a smallrain forest pour through your letterbox on February 14th wasn’t bad enough, or worse, the cutting of your ego down to size when nothing, not even the fart of Hallmark-substituted sentiment, appears. But when you can’t even keep down the gin you are drinking straight and alone, as bile is rising in your throat from the latest Katherine Heigl flick, defecating romantic tropes out of your tellybox, well, it really is the living end. You could seek solace in the vicious, unforgiving dramas like ‘Blue Valentine’ (all the while contemplating the sharpness of razor blades) or you can take NewsFour’s advice and indulge in a little movie marathon that will help you see and hope once more to experience the funny, infuriating and genuine goodness of a fluttering heart. ‘500 Days of Summer’ Start with this off beat rom-com staring the doe-eyed Zooey Deschanel and the hopable Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Its juxtaposing between the coy courting at the start and its salt-inthe-wounds ending means you never know what to expect because the formula has been dispensed with. There’s enough comedy provided by the excellent support to let the leads connect with and then trample on our hearts, but it is laced with genuine affection that will make you take stock. ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’ We’ve all been there. Heart hounded out of home by pounding emotion and then hung, drawn and quartered when the mood shifts. Wouldn’t it be great if we could just forget? The joy of ‘Eternal Sunshine’ is that it tries on the clothing of a race-against-time-thriller but at its heart its purpose is to remind us that even the most scarring of experiences shape us. And without the understanding heartache provides, we can never understand ourselves or others. Jim Carey and Kate Winslet’s finest moments. ‘War of the Roses’ Why forget, when you can get even? This story (pictured) of love’s young dream turned hell on earth is deliciously bitter as Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner play warring spouses who quite literally tear the dream house down while trying to pry it from the other’s hands. This film shows that dog people and cat people just don’t mix. ‘Marty’ Having shown you the ups, downs and outs of romance, why not end the evening with a genuine tear-jerker? The story of a fat, little, middle aged man who is “36 years old and I’ve been lookin’ for a girl every Saturday night of my life,” is a stunningly simple tale of love found in mutual misery, that explores the negative influence of friends and family on matters of the heart.
The Masters of Dirt, (left) a freestyle motorcross show, runs Friday 23rd to Sunday 25th March 2012, at the Citywest Event Centre. Featuring super-hot Fuel Girls (below) and extra-cool DJ Mosaken, it promises an evening of full-on action and thrilling entertainment. Exclusive music mixes, amazing pyrotechnics, and stunning special effects provide the backdrop to the dynamic Masters of Dirt show. Masters of Dirt tickets are on sale now from Ticketmaster, priced from €39.00. The Jameson Dublin International Film Festival continues its commitment to celebrating film as an art form by presenting over 120 films from all over the world to the Irish audience from 16th February 2012 – 26th February 2012. The festival is a citywide event that takes place in all of the Dublin City Centre Cinemas including Cineworld, The Savoy, Screen, Irish Film Institute and the recently (hurray!) reopened Light House Cinema in Smithfield. St Patrick’s Festival Set in the heart of Georgian Dublin, the Big Day Out offers a celebration of Irish street arts and more for all the family to enjoy. Performances will be presented around Merrion Square Park, with a wide variety of open-air shows from leading professional street theatre artists. Sunday, 18th March 12pm – 6pm. The Festival Treasure Hunt is a fun-filled, family, free event. Combining a collection of Dublin’s venues and institutions, the trail invites participants to discover and solve the clues that lie within, while finding out about Dublin’s rich history. A unique and delightful opportunity to discover and appreciate Dublin while competing for prizes along the way. Be the fastest to complete the trail and win! You can register between 10am–1pm and the event finishes at 5pm. Monday 19th March. The St. Patrick’s Parade, the big one! Marching ensembles from around the globe will provide the musical score for the festival parade. Bands from Ireland, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom and Russia will join U.S. bands from California, Georgia, Indiana, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Texas and Washington to march through the streets of the capital. The Parade begins on Parnell Square and continues on to O’Connell Street and over O’Connell Bridge to Westmoreland Street. It then winds its way down Dame Street and Lord Edward Street, passes by Christchurch Cathedral and along Patrick Street, where it finishes just past St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Also don’t forget the rugby, Six Nations kicks off this month with Aviva and Sandymount buzzing as hosts.
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
PAGE 31
V ALENTINE ’ S MIX TAPE – CAN YOU HEAR THE LOVE ? BEAT THE BLUES WITH ACT THE MAGGOT
V
By Joe McKenna alentine’s Day is upon us and there is nothing more romantic than cuddling up on the sofa with the one you love or covet, and putting on some love songs to set the mood. So here is my top ten selection for your listening pleasure this Valentine’s Day. 1. Unchained Melody The Righteous Brothers I know you’re thinking about Patrick Swayze right now and I apologise. But no romance can survive without this classic. 2. Time After Time Cyndi Lauper Despite being overused in nearly every 80’s romance movie this tune is still a must. 3. Your Love Keeps Lifting Me (Higher and Higher) Jackie Wilson I dare anyone to challenge the dancing value of this timeless R&B gem. 4. I Got You Babe Sonny & Cher
A great love song that will also lead to some great karaoke memories. 5. When A Man Loves A Woman Percy Sledge Re-recorded countless times, but no one ever topped Percy’s version. A proper slow-dance number. 6. Let’s Stay Together Al Green Every relationship worth any-
thing has had rocky moments and this song may have saved a lot of people a lot of loneliness. 7. Have I Told You Lately That I Love You? Van Morrison Although written by Scotty Wiseman and Lulu Belle in 1945, Van the Man made it his own and it remains just ahead of Rod Stewart’s version in my opinion. One to get the tissues out for. 8. Stand By Me Ben E. King Probably one of the best songs ever written and an incredible love song about unity in tough times. 9. You Are So Beautiful Joe Cocker ‘The Sheffield Soul Shouter’ with a voice that could move mountains. On this song he proves how soft he can be. Immense. 10. Let’s Get It On Marvin Gaye Don’t look at me like that, you know where this one leads.
BOOK REVIEW TAKING FLIGHT by Sheena Wilkinson
A
Reviewed by Joe McKenna ny fiction writer worth their salt is capable of drawing the reader into a world that is unfamiliar yet compelling. What Sheena Wilkinson has done with Taking Flight is not only compel the reader, but also mould together two worlds that rarely, if ever, would come into contact. Declan Kelly is a teenage roughneck from the greyest streets of West Belfast. His home life is damaged and he wears his anger on his knuckles. His cousin ‘Princess Vicky’ is the apple of her daddy’s eye on the weekends and the demanding sulkstress to her mother on weekdays and she is far from happy that Declan has been offered shelter in her upper middle-class suburban bubble. But her love of show jumping will change Declan’s life, and his presence will change hers, but the grand stature of Flight (Vicky’s horse) is the shadow and the light in both their lives. The pace of this book is expertly measured. I struggled to put it down, and teen novels about show jumping are not something I would pull off the shelf too quickly. But the strength of Sheena Wilkinson’s writing, the first person narrative that switches back and forth from Declan to Vicky in alternating chapters and the well rounded characters all make for a vivid read. As a first novel from an acclaimed writer– and English teacher– it delivers on many levels. You will have
your heart squeezed, your inner teen tempted and your heart will race for many different reasons. It’s rare that a book aimed at teenagers is so accessible to adults and it’s for this reason that I am convinced the name Sheena Wilkinson will become more popular. This book is your chance to get in on the ground before she takes off.
D
By Jason McDonnell o you secretly harbour a passion to be the next Dame Edna? Maybe not! How about Harvey Keitel or Sigourney Weaver then? Maybe you could just do with something fun to get you through those February blues. How about Act The Maggot? Act The Maggot is a beginners’ acting class for grown-ups that is filling the huge demand from adults who want to tap into their creativity. These evening classes have an emphasis on fun and breaking inhibitions. So if you’re already scared, Act The Maggot WANTS YOU!! The usual spiel you get in the corporate world is that acting is good for confidence-building or communication skills. Boring! So Act The Maggot says, let’s play! While these classes are fun, there is also a method and directive to make you a better actor. And sure, you’ll be more capable of yapping to a full auditorium at a presentation. All courses are six weeks long and take place in the Dublin Holistic Centre, No. 28 South William Street, Dublin 2. The January class is already up and running on Thursday nights. No need to be disappointed as the next six-week course will begin in early March. Act The Maggot also offers Act The Maggot Chrysalis course out in Dun Laoghaire. This course (also six weeks) is open to people with personal experience of psychological distress and facilitates confidence building, creativity and self expression in a playful and empowering way. This is a great example of the community-based, alternative mental health resources currently being developed. The course is run by Amy Redmond, above, an experienced drama facilitator who trained and worked as a professional actor in New York and who is currently working in mental health. She has developed Act the Maggot - Chrysalis following her experience and positive feedback while working with groups on an in-patient basis. The course introduces some techniques developed by Augusto Boal in his Theatre of The Oppressed as a way of empowering communities and raising awareness of the issues affecting them. Act The Maggot can gently help people to come out of themselves in a safe and supportive environment. Participants can socialise and reconnect with their sense of play. It provides a space to explore imagination in a non-clinical, comfortable environment. February Chrysalis classes take place in The Institute of Psychosocial Medicine, 2 Eden Park, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin. (Right behind Sandycove DART station). Here are just some of the comments from previous Act The Maggot participants: “Real fun, a couple of hours each week of letting it all hang out and behaving like kids again.” – “I came with so much nervousness but found myself doing things I never thought I would do in a really fun way.” – “It was an excellent course and it was also a very nice social experience.” Check out http://ActTheMaggot.com and www.facebook.com/ ActTheMaggot for more information. Hurry, limited places. To book a course or to put your name on the waiting list, call 087 374 4926.
PAGE 32
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
T ONY S TRICKLAND I NDEPENDENT
T
By Jason McDonnell ony Strickland is an Independent Art curator from Sandymount who loves his work. He finds and hires gallery spaces and hosts week-long shows all over Dublin. He has hosted 27 shows in the past 3 years. He started in the Crow Gallery, did 10 shows there then moved on to the Mad Art Gallery on Gardiner Street. Lately, he hosted shows in Ranelagh Arts Centre and has around 15 places in Dublin that he hires for different shows. He has a very hands-on attitude to his work. Sometimes he finds artists and sometimes they find him. He helps choose frames for the artist. He has built up a large email and Facebook list which he sends out to invite people to his exhibitions. He deals mainly in
ART CURATOR wall-based art and some sculpture, photography and drawings. He exhibits a lot of emerging and contemporary artists and also has an Art Ambulance, a 1973 Ford Custom Ambulance which he picked up from a fertilizer company in Arklow. He mostly uses it during the summer to exhibit wall art inside and project films outside. He started out working in the Hallward Gallery in Merrion Square part-time and got to know lots of artists. He was involved in the Irish music industry for 20 years and worked with Clannad’s management for 10 years during that time. He uses the same PR and marketing skills in the art world that he used in the music industry. He has always had empathy for the art
world. Tony says things are very hard at the moment for artists, but he has so far never put on a show that did not sell at least one piece, which is quite an achievement. Art is still selling at the moment. People are being cautious, but they are still buying. Tony has three shows over the next few months; firstly on Febru-
ary 3rd he is organising a gig in the Ranelagh Arts Centre for a musician called David Noone, who is playing songs by Nick Cave and is well worth the €5. He is also hosting an art exhibition for Brian Gallagher, who makes scraper boards using special boards painted black. With a sharp instrument the artist scrapes out
portraits of women and cottages in Donegal. This exhibition is showing in the Wine Buff in Ranelagh village till the middle of February. He has an exhibition in the Copper House, Synge Street, Dublin 8, with Kevin McSherry, a wonderful artist and designer. Starting on March 28th, it will run for two weeks. Tony says there have never been as many galleries as there are at the moment. A lot have closed but a lot more have opened. He finds the recession brings out the best in artists, as now they have something to say in their art. If you are interested in contacting Tony about hosting an exhibition, you can contact him at http://facebook.com/marginman or http://www.facebook.com/ theartambulance or email him at marginman1@gmail.com Above, from left: Andrew Manson with Tony Strickland at the Art Ambulance.
ARTIST IN PROFILE: JOBY HICKEY ‘THRIVE’ MOVEMENT COMES TO DUBLIN
J
By Glenda Cimino oby Hickey’s parents are Irish, and he is at home on Dublin’s southside, but he spent the first few years of his life in the smaller islands of Greece. His first art teacher was his father, the artist Patrick Hickey. Joby remembers the smell of oil paints from his father’s studio, and the old Victorian printing press that his father used when printing etchings. He actually made his first pinhole camera when he was 10 years old. Later, he went to art college, and then moved to London to work in film and documentaries. He spent on-and-off about five years in the camera department, where he began to develop his own unique methods of photography. A film Joby made, ‘World War Two’, featured in various festivals and on one occasion was voted one of ten finalists out of 3,000 short films. “I sometimes see my paintings as single shots from a film,” Joby commented. Since the 90s, Joby has travelled and exhibited widely (last year in Berlin and Paris) developing a reputation with his unique photography (he also makes his own cameras and film) and paintings as an Irish artist with an international outlook. He is seen as one of the most brilliant of the new wave Irish painters, a master of form, colour and simplicity, winning both critical and commercial recognition. In July 2001, ‘GALLERIES’ magazine honoured him by using his painting ‘Boland Mills’ (above) for their cover. His work has featured in both London and New York Art Fairs. Tiffany’s board purchased four of his paintings for their private and public collections. He was also represented recently in two group shows in Dublin and will be exhibiting here again in 2012. Much of Joby’s work deals with everyday scenes and universal objects uniquely observed and recorded, such as lighting on cars, buildings and streets. He says that he rarely talks about his work as it has a “visual language of its own” and does not require explanation. Today, his works may be found in collections in Paris, Tokyo, Brussels, LA, London, and Switzerland. For more information, check his website at www.jobyhickey.com.
W
By Glenda Cimino hat on earth will it take for humanity as a whole to thrive? This is a question raised and answered in a brilliant new documentary film, ‘Thrive’, which was shown in Dublin for the first time at the end of January at the Lantern Centre in Synge Street. Proceeds went to benefit the centre. The force behind this new film is apparently Foster Gamble, pictured above, who is a direct descendant of James Gamble, soap-maker and founder of the U.S. consumer goods corporation, Proctor and Gamble. Foster Gamble grew up in Cincinnatti, Ohio, in a setting of privilege and power, attending elite private schools and Princeton University. Although he was groomed to be a leader in the establishment, he chose a different path. Discontented with the current power structures in the world and resulting massive global suffering, he set out to make a documentary to unveil what he sees as the true reality of our existence in the 2st century, its problems and possible solutions. “To me,” he says, “a thriving world is a world based on integrity, individual freedom and voluntary cooperation, where not just some but everyone gets to live the fullest life possible… in my decades of research I have found that we have everything we need to create this world, but our human systems have been dominated by a small elite whose sinister agenda oppresses billions of people and endangers our future. There are technological, financial, social and spiritual solutions we can implement now. “This small group of financial elite have gained control over key areas of our lives, including banking, energy, food, health care, and education, in a system designed to consolidate wealth and power, not to enable people to thrive.” You can see free trailers from the film, sign up to the free email newsletter, find more information behind its analysis, and get involved at the website, www.thrive.com.
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
POET
IN
PAGE 33
PROFILE:
CHRIS MURRAY
C
By Glenda Cimino hris Murray grew up in Walkinstown and lives in Rathmines. Three years ago she started her own poetry blog, combining poetry, feminism, censorship, community, and neglected women poets. See http://poethead.wordpress.com. “What started me off on the blog was a series that ‘The Guardian’ did on 20th century poets with only one woman poet, Sylvia Plath. This seemed ridiculous to me, as there are so many other women poets. I wanted to do something about it.” So far, there have been 73,800 hits on the blog. “Poethead has been a revelation. Friends and literary connections have been made. The blog is nominated for the George Orwell Award 2012 and has been nominated twice for the Irish Blog Awards. It’s linked with, among others, the Nomadics Blog (Pierre Joris), Poetry Ireland, Partial Shade (a
Poetry blog), the tangled-web, women writers, and Shakespeare couldn’t email (blog). The women poets, translators, editors and writers she features are mainly from the post-World War II period. Chris is also a member of PEN and Webmaster for the Irish PEN Committee, responsible for their online presence: Facebook, Twitter and Website. While there was a library at home, Chris’s first memory of exposure to poetry was when she was sent to Ring Irish College in Dungarvan, and learned Irish poetry by rote. In Loreto College, she studied art history and won an All Ireland Medal in art appreciation. She continued her art history studies at UCD. After second year she took a deferral to begin wood carving with Pat McAfee at Drimnagh Castle. “He noted that my technique was more suited to stone carving. Eventually I became the only fully qualified
city and guilds journeywoman, a stonemason. I found out later that my great grandfather on my mother’s side was a stone mason.” Working slowly with hammer and chisel frees the mind, and Chris composed poetry as she worked. She started her apprenticeship in Tralee and moved on to Killarney. But a transfer to
Ardfert Cathedral led to a serious accident to her arm, so she could not continue. About 1994, she moved back to Dublin, living in Sandymount with her son, then three. She went through two years of rehab for her arm. Housebound for long periods and subject to nauseating anti-inflammatories and physio, she began to read and
write a lot. ‘Asylum Magazine’ published her first poem ‘Anniversary’, based on a paper ultramarine moon she saw in Mary Lavin’s daughter’s window in Sandymount. She worked in the National Botanic Garden for two years as one of about a dozen Artists in Residence. Officially now an architectural mason, she did engravings and etchings in stone and had a poem, ‘Glasnevin’, in the exhibition catalogue. She studied etching at the Green Street East studio and at NCAD, and in 1998 went back to UCD and finished her degree in art history and English. After a period as a social and environmental activist, she devoted herself to writing. Her daughter Anna was born in 2001. Chris says “I am a committed poet but not very organised.” She has published a lot of poems in literary magazines, both printed and on line. She always begins with an image, and prefers to write by hand. There is a book in the works. Her favourite poet at the moment is Hungarian Agnes Nemes Nagy, translated by Hugh Maxton.
THE POETRY PLACE
‘and her yellow music caught in the throat of birds’ I waited a minute on the wind, on your roof, outside. She had been awaiting me in the middle of the day, having come warm over those seas to find me high over the little streams and the lakes she came and she playing, and she jumping. Crying and talking in my ear.
She had carried her warm music over those streams and over the frail blue flowers that grow on the lakeside. And you were sleeping soundly. I left you, I left the city for a little time. I left the noise of the city, to wait on the little breeze to bring me news. and her yellow music caught in the throat of birds agus a ceol buí a thógail i scornach na h’éanaithe. By Chris Murray Note: ‘agus a ceol buí a thógail i scornach na h’éanaithe’ is the Irish for ‘and her yellow music caught in the throat of birds’.
My Peace
See a river that’s softly flowing and flower as it’s growing there is magic in the knowing It’s a simple kind of peace
Stars of Winter Light
I was woken by a dream recently. My father is very ill at the moment and I wrote this after I woke at 3.00 am. I felt my Grandmother’s presence and the night was so bright for November.
Azure blue seas often swelling as a jewel, all light excelling the simple calm, beyond our telling is a certain kind of peace. When I sit out, with glass a-clinking Of disturbing peace, I am thinking and red wine that I’m just drinking a poet’s reverie, is peace. Then with morning sun ascending and with the scent of evening, blending as our friendship’s never ending It’s another kind of peace Now, the trees are softly swaying when the summer breeze is playing just when lips are silent, praying for a perfect kind of peace. By Geoffrey P. B. Lyon
As always, we welcome contributions to The Poetry Place, which can be sent to the ‘NewsFour’ offices at Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre, Thorncastle Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4, or by email to newsfour@gmail.com
The stars are so close-by, I can almost touch them. They shimmer in an ebony sky, scattered above the tree tops. The heavens, icy still, this bright winter night. I hear my father calling, his life drawing to a close. I whisper a prayer, my breath wafts the air opening a path to paradise, time to set him free. His mother is waiting, I saw her in a dream. She was in her garden, the sun lit up the hall. She held a pink carnation to welcome him home. He will live on eternal in the brilliance of night. Held forever in my heart, I grant him his surrender to a place beyond the trees. The stars are so close-by. By Máire Morrissey-Cummins
PAGE 34
T HE
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
TWO OF US
Third Runner Up of our short story competition, Louise Phillips has secured a two-bookdeal with Hachette Ireland. Her debut novel ‘Red Ribbons’ will be published in October 2012.
A
toy monkey, faded, worn, has become her new best friend. She talks to it the way you or I might talk to one another; small talk, big talk, what the weather is like, normal stuff. Yesterday she asked Monkey if he wanted some lunch. He didn’t answer, he never does. He just sits there with that constant
stupid grin on his face. I don’t like him, ugly thing. I can’t remember when my mother stopped remembering, a while before the arthritis took hold, and soon after most of her grandchildren were old enough to start big school. She used to say she preferred children to adults. She used to say a lot of things. Maybe loving children explains why Monkey has become her new best friend. He doesn’t ask anything of her. He is happy being a trusted companion, has no care or wish for any of her old memories. She told me
all about him today, and the day before. Repeating things is part of the disease, the one I call the ‘Brain Eater’, because that is exactly what it does. When things get lost you miss them. When friends, family members, loved ones die, you cry. A space replaces where you once saw them, held them, listened, laughed, or even fought. Who is this woman in my Mother’s space? Like monkey she smiles at me often, but unlike him she enjoys it when I make a fuss. Most times I dare not ask her who I am, telling her straight out, ‘Mum it’s me your daughter Rachel.’ ‘Rachel,’ she answers, repeating it over and over the way people do when they try to recall a person or a place. Lately when I visit Monkey is always with us, watching, listening. No one knows where he came from. A bit like the way I don’t know now where she is gone. Sometimes I can see her old self, the mother I remember from before, when she watches television and laughs out loud at a programme, or at tea time when she sits at the table with the other ladies and blows her tea to cool it down. But it is in the garden that she really comes to life, instinctively breathing in familiar smells, as if each time she visits it, she gets a sense of home. I can still picture her kneeling down digging out the weeds, her headscarf tied around her hair like a big flowery hanky. When I was really small we planted spring bulbs together, tulips and daffodils. She dug out the holes with the small trowel I
used to call her spade because it reminded me of the seaside. I placed the bulbs into the ground the way she told me to, covering them up, pressing the soil down flat as a pancake, singing “paddicake, paddicake, bake me a pie.” Every year she would say, “Look Rachel your friends have come back for you.” Lately she has taken to singing. Like bird song it appears from nowhere, in the middle of supper or when I wash her back, dress her, change her nappy. She enjoys bath time more than anything. ‘You’re a good girl,’ she does say. She loves the warm water too, running her fingers through the bubbles, my Mother, my new child. When she’s not looking sometimes I allow my tears drop into the water, hoping they will soothe her, secretly wanting them to touch her memory, our memories together. A few days ago I offered to wash Monkey, but she wasn’t having any of it. “No way Hosea,” was what she said, as if his smell and dirt might mean more to her than me. That hurt, other moments hurt too, like the times I sit in the car and wonder if I can face all the missing bits again? Monkey moved upstairs yesterday, sat on the bedside table with all our framed photographs. I asked her if she wanted to give monkey a name. ‘He has a name,’ she told me, ‘Monkey.’ She looked beautiful when she said it, fresh as the sun exploding through the large Georgian windows while she fussed, moving Monkey back and forth from
the bedside table to her pillow on the bed, placing him in the middle, sitting him upright, the way I used to place my favourite doll or teddy. The sun brought a sense of energy and life. I waited until I knew she was happy with the way Monkey looked, and then I asked her if she wanted to go outside to the garden, telling her the weather looked so nice. ‘Yes,’ she said, so I pulled her wheelchair in from the outside lobby. She sat like a queen, happy as I wrapped a light blanket across her knees, tucking it in either side of the wheelchair, knowing her bones would ache if they got cold. She left Monkey behind. A big part of me was pleased, reminding me of when she used to make time just for the two of us. I resisted the urge to wave goodbye to him, even though I wanted to. When we were outside, she breathed in the garden, the aroma from the lavender bed, the rambling rose over the garden arch, the smell of freshly cut grass, just like I knew she would; holding onto the familiar, the trusted, the tiny part of her that the ‘Brain Eater’ has left behind– the two of us for now.
BIG MONEY ON THE CARDS IN BALLSBRIDGE
H
By Joe McKenna ave you ever considered yourself to be a bit of a card shark? Do you dream of wiping the floor with the best poker players around? Or are you like me and struggle to get to grips with the fundamen-
tals of Snap? Either way it doesn’t matter. The European Deepstack Poker Championships will take place at the Ballsbridge Inn from 7th– 12th February and promises to be a huge event, catering for a whopping one thousand players. Amateur player Magnus Nasslin of Sweden last year took home €70,000. The tournament is now considered a dream for any would-be rounder wanting to pit their skills against the world’s
best. Organiser Brian Lannon of D4 Events spoke with NewsFour to explain the ins and outs of this unique contest. “The tournament is open to everybody and the buy-in is €550, which makes it affordable to most players and therefore it sells out pretty quickly, but if it’s not full, then people can register up to the last minute. “Deepstack poker involves deeper stacks of chips, which makes for longer games and it’s more about skill than luck. The more skilful player will do well, but, as has been proved in the past, that doesn’t mean they’ll win.
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
PAGE 35
WORD MAGIC
GOOD
LUCK EXPRESSIONS IN
E
By Glenda Cimino ven people who are not generally superstitious will call after a departing friend, “Good luck!” without thinking too much about it. No one knows who said it first, but good luck as a salutation to one setting off to do something, a wish for good fortune, success, or prosperity, was first noted 206 years
“It’s a hugely popular event and this year 95% of the players will be imported from all around the world, but we will have some big Irish names like Andy Black, Dara O’Kearney and Nicky Power all coming to take part. “The beauty of the event is that it gives the casual players the chance to sit down with the top players and challenge for the big prize and in the last two years it’s been an amateur that’s won it. “This year we have Jonathan Duhamel coming over from Canada, who’s famous for winning $8.9 million at the World Series in Las Vegas in 2010 and for the average player to have the chance to sit with him is a great thing.”
ENGLISH
Good luck comes in slender currents, misfortune in a rolling tide. (Irish saying) ago, in 1805. It can also be used sarcastically, as in, you say, “someday I will be as famous as Shakespeare,” and your friend says, “good luck!”
The word ‘luck’ dates from the 15th century, probably from the Dutch luc, a shortening of gheluc ‘happiness, good fortune’, of unknown origin. Lukken was a verb in Middle English (mid-15c.) meaning ‘to happen, to chance; or happen fortunately’. Almost every society has sayings about the nature of luck and how to obtain it, and the word has several definitions today. It can refer to the chance happening of fortunate or adverse events; fortune, as in “Out of pure luck, he was too late to board the Titanic.” It can also refer to one’s personal fate or lot, in which case it can be ‘bad’ or ‘good’: “It was just my luck to lose my winning lottery ticket.” ‘To luck out’ came late to the lingo, arising seemingly in America in 1954, to describe gaining something desirable by chance alone. “He didn’t deserve that award; he just lucked out.” Luck has many idioms, to torment the learner of English, including “as luck would have it,” looking at luck itself as a kind of fate. You can also be “in luck” or “out of luck,” as if it were a commodity of some kind on a grocery shelf. If you “push or press your luck”, you could risk your good fortune by acting brash or overconfident. If you say you will try your luck, you may be taking a gamble, literally, or attempting something without knowing if you will be successful. The name ‘Lady Luck’ has very old roots, possibly inspired by the goddess Fortuna of Roman myth, or Tyche, in Greek mythology (see picture). In any case, let me conclude by wishing that in 2012, Lady Luck will smile on you!
THE NEWSFOUR CROSSWORD COMPILED BY ANN INGLE
Name:…………………………… Address:………………………… Telephone:………………… Prize of a €25 book token. Post entries to NewsFour, RICC, Thorncastle Street, Ringsend, D.4 by 16th March 2012. Winner of our December/January crossword competition was Frank Molony of Haddington Road, Ballsbridge, who will enjoy a three course meal in Sandymount Hotel. ACROSS 1 14th February (10,3) 10 Small, square filled pasta (7) 11 To care for tenderly (7) 12 Eat dinner (4) 13 Grand, impressive (5) 15 Ballpoint pen invented in 1941 (4) 17 - - - Orbison, American singer/songwriter (3) 19 - - - - - - Earhart, American aviation pioneer (6) 21 To hang loosely and swing to and fro (6) 22 A good gift for your Valentine (7) 23 To dip in and out of water or to work intermittently (6) 25 Sound reproduction system(6) 27 Stands for alien life form (3) 29 Steak cooked for a short time (4) 30 Narrow body of water between islands (5) 31 A formal gathering for dancing (4) 34 Including everything (7) 35 Great Russian dramatist (7) 36 These are lots of fun at the fairground (5-2-6) DOWN 2 Money before the job is done (7) 3 God of love (4) 4 He makes suits (6) 5 In a pleasant way (6) 6 Meal of meat and vegetables (4) 7 Citizens should be law - - - - - - - (7) 8 The two most important people at a wedding (5,3,5) 9 The only person you should send your Valentine to (3,3,3,4) 14 Biographer of Samuel Johnson (7) 16 Firearm (7) 18 Flour and water mixed to make an adhesive (5) 20 A fermented alcoholic beverage similar to beer(3) 21 More than one medical man (abbrv.) (3) 24 Native or inhabitant of Myanmar (7) 26 Stretched out and grasped something (7) 27 We will have to change from this very soon if we want to continue watching TV (6) 28 Person who engages in sword fighting (6) 32 Lots of fun at the ---- (4) 33 List of what’s available to eat (4)
PAGE 36
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
D UBLIN D OES F RIDAY
D
By Caomhan Keane ublin Does Friday, so says the Licensed Vintner’s Association (LVA) who are launching a campaign across the city’s pubs, which aims to prove that Dublin does Friday, like nobody else. “Dublin is one of the most social cities in the world,” says Donal O’Keefe, the chief executive of the LVA. “And pub culture is the essence of that. There is a real vibrancy, a real buzz to Dublin pubs and we want to remind consumers of that, to get them back out and appreciating their local.” The truly modern marketing campaign will utilise the talents of 35 journalists, each given their own patch of two pubs which they will report on for nine weeks, uploading reports every week to dublindoesfridays.ie, a site which will act as a repository for all the content gathered. This content will then have to be spread across social media including blogs, facebook and twitter. Dublin City has over 780,000 Facebook users as well as over a quarter of a million smartphone users, all utilising social media to coordinate their weekend plans. Jennifer Maguire, of Republic of Telly, will host a weekly show in one of nine chosen pubs, which will be broadcast on YouTube called Snug TV. This will comprise of sketches, challenges and general banter. What Dublin Does Friday does for publicans is arm them with the technology to engage with and attract customers to their premises. “This is the future and it will happen whether we engage it or not,” says O’Keefe. “We, like everybody else, are under a fair amount of pressure but if we engage with the punters this thing will fly. To this end, he encourages pubs to put on singular drink promotions (but not happy hours) and offer food to reward punters for making the effort to come out and engage with local businesses. “Let them know it’s Dublin Does Friday and encourage them to come down to your pub for their postwork pint.” Above: Cici Kavanagh and Amanda Man at the launch of Dublin Does Fridays
W HAT ’ S
McGuinness managed side are developing well and will hope for a high finish in the league.
W
By David Thomas Nolan elcome to our bi-monthly update, having missed the Xmas review there’s quite a bit of updating since the last edition in October so let’s get started. Our first team sit nicely in third position having gone unbeaten in all competitions since suffering a heavy away defeat to title favourites Crumlin United. CY shipped four goals that day, something that hasn’t happened in many a year! The lads showed they have plenty of ‘bouncebackability’ the following weekend by beating Arklow Town, wiping out that defeat from memory with a handsome 1-5 win. Since then John Young’s team have played seven league matches, winning four and sharing the spoils in three. They have also made it into the third round of the Leinster Senior Cup where Dublin Bus await and have for the first time in the club’s history made it through to the last sixteen phase of the prestigious Intermediate Cup and in doing so qualify for the FAI Senior Cup preliminary round. Those achievements to date, along with another three domestic cup competitions which have yet to begin, mean our first team are hammering away
on no less than seven fronts, coming toward the end of January. Daunting times ahead beginning on Sunday January 29th away to Everton FC of Cork in that Intermediate last 16 encounter, best of luck to all involved. Our second team’s barnstorming run of good form continues apace, having dropped a paltry two points from thirty on offer in the league to date, the only slip up was being knocked out of the FAI Junior Cup fifth round in early December on a cold Sunday morning down in Carlow. On that occasion CY gave the fancied Carlow league side a run for their money, leading going into injury time! The home team managed to conjure up a late, late equalizer and went on to clinch the tie in extra time. The Derek Bowden managed side are still in their own domestic Carroll Cup and have a home, fifth round tie to come in the Leinster Junior Cup, so all in all exciting and challenging times lie ahead. Our third team are holding their own in division two Sunday but may be too far off the pace at this stage to make a challenge for the league title. They’ve also recently been knocked out of the Cullen cup! This young Paddy
IN A LABEL !
T
By Therese O’Toole o many, the most prominent and helpful piece of information on a wine bottle label is the stated grape variety. A common European custom, however, is to specify the region instead of grape. This can cause some confusion. To alleviate this, we outline below some of the more popular regions and associated grape varieties. Rioja, Spain: predominantly tempranillo grape variety with a blend of garnacha, mazuelo and/or graciano– this is generally a light to medium bodied red wine with red cherry fruit character. Depending upon the period for maturation in oak casks, the body and complexity can vary immensely. ‘Joven’ indicates little or no oak contact with ‘Crianza’, ‘Reserva’ and ‘Gran Reserva’ representing increased periods of ageing
In other local soccer news: Ringsend Rovers, who compete one division above CY’s second team, currently lie in a comfortable mid-table position. A recent win away to Malahide Utd has given them some hope in catching the league leaders but will have to improve on some patchy form to get themselves back in the running. Markiewicz Celtic, with games in hand over Sunday Major league leaders Greystones Utd will feel that promotion to Intermediate football is still in their own hands, given they still have to face them at home in the league. It’s a tight division and with Leinster Junior Cup participation in the shape of a fifth round still to be played, they will need to have a near perfect back end to the season to catch up. Bridge United, after a poor start to their league campaign have pulled themselves kicking and screaming into league title contention, still a big ask to catch Eastwall who are currently 14 points ahead although Bridge do have games in hand and can make a go of it over the coming four months. Irishtown O 35s are treading on the coat-tails of league leaders Baldoyle, however time is fast running out and a recent 1-1 draw with the north Dublin side means they still hold a strong four point advantage coming into the business end of the season.
in oak barrels and then bottle prior to release. Tempranillo is also the predominant grape variety used in Ribero del Duero, Toro and Navarra. Excellent examples include the Martinez Lacuesta Joven, retailing at €12.20 and the Muriel Reserva, retailing at €16.50.
grape with cabernet sauvignon, merlot or other international grape varieties blended to produce light to medium bodied reds with high levels of tannin and acidity. Excellent examples include Campobello Chianti Riserva, retailing at €12.95, Leonardo Cantine Chianti, retailing at €12.65 and Da Vinci Chianti Classico retailing at €21.25.
Rhone, France: split between northern Rhone (including the AC regions of Cote Rotie and Crozes Hermitage) where the syrah grape is grown on steep slopes and southern Rhone (including the AC regions of Cotes du Rhone Villages, Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Vacqueyras, Gigondas etc) where Grenache is the predominant red grape variety, and usually blended with syrah and cinsault. Carignan and mourvedre are other grape varieties which also feature in the southern Rhone. There are 13 permitted grape vari-
Naturally the wine style is not merely determined by the grape variety. Other factors include soil type and classification, climate, orientation and vinification, and all have a considerable bearing upon the end result. Always feel free to ask for assistance in reading behind the label, as there is a world of wine out there to be discovered! The above mentioned wines are available at The Wine Boutique in Ringsend, Dublin 4 and other independent wine retailers.
eties used in Chateauneufdu-Pape (eight red and five white). Few, however, use more than four or five varieties, with Grenache being the predominant. Excellent examples include Domaine la Montagnette 2010 Cotes du Rhone Villages retailing at €14.10 and Closerie de Vaudieu 2009 Chateauneuf-du-Pape retailing at €26.00. Valpolicella, Italy: this is a valley located to the north of Verona with wines blended
from rondinella and corvina grapes, producing light and fruit-forward styles. They can develop complexity and body through double fermentation (ripasso) and oak maturation. Excellent examples include Alpha Zeta ‘V’, retailing at €10.95 and Le Tobele Valpolicella Ripasso, retailing at €16.00. Chianti, Italy: located in the beautiful rolling hills of the Tuscan countryside. Sangiovese is the predominant
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
PAGE 37
LANSDOWNE LTC
H
By Jason McDonnell ave you ever been interested in becoming the next Anna Kournikova or Rafael Nadal? Well Lansdowne Lawn Tennis Club could be the place for you. The club has 11 top quality synthetic grass tennis courts suitable for year-round weather conditions which have all recently been resurfaced. The club has over 700 members and they are always interested in talking to people who are interested in joining. It is a very social club with tournaments organized throughout the year such as the Frostbite Tournament 9/2/12–8/3/12. ‘Social Tennis’ is held every Thursday at 7pm. 50 teams take part in leagues during the year. They actually have more league teams than any other club in Dublin. For the serious ten-
nis player they have the year-round DLTC leagues from Class 1–7. Throughout the year, many events take place, Turkeys and Plumbers, Frostbite, Team Singles Events, Spring Challenge, Sunday Morning Breakfast League, Open Weeks such as East of Ireland Championships, American Tournaments and lots of other organized tennis events. Lansdowne LTC runs a yearround tennis academy for the future Wimbledon champs in the family. The junior tennis takes place every day after school and runs in line with the school year. The under 10s and 12s are doing great in the national squads, which are then feeding into adult squads. Lansdowne was founded by Henry Dunlop in 1875 and was then known as the All Ireland Lawn Tennis Club. It was in 1880 that the
T HE S PIRIT
T
By Joe McKenna he world is full of football fans. A quick walk around Dublin and you’ll no doubt see all manner of jerseys, ranging from the all-toodominant red of Man United to the ever-growing blue swell of Man City. But it’s highly likely that many of those draped in the current colour of popular choice have never stepped foot inside the city, let alone the stadium of their chosen team. That’s where Celtic supporters differ. Their dedication to the club is almost unmatched across global soccer and the Irishtown CSC are a shining example of faith in the face of adversity. In 1998, a group of around forty Celtic supporters, all from Ringsend, came together to form their own CSC, adding the Irishtown CSC to the huge list of global CSCs that stretch
OF
club was changed to Lansdowne Lawn Tennis Club. Lansdowne players were instrumental in the Irish invasion of Wimbledon in the 1890s. Joshua Pim was the Wimbledon champion in 1893 and 1894 and with Frank Stoker (cousin of Bram, the creator of Dracula) won the Doubles titles in 1890 and 1893. In 1929, Lansdowne moved across the river from the grounds of Rugby Union to the grounds of the Irish Hockey Union and Three Rock Rovers. It was not until the early 1980s, when ‘Three Rock Rovers’ Moved to Marley Grange, that Lansdowne LTC became an all-year-round club. If you are interested in joining phone Marie Harvey at +353-16680219. As an introduction to Lansdowne LTC, new members also receive one free group coaching session. Above: The men’s 1st league team: Mike Johnson, Kris Koik, Steve Landon and Roman Grogan Below: Neil Wilson at Lansdowne LTC. He is one of the finest players in Lansdowne and has been a member since he was a junior and now plays for Ireland.
S
Get your hoop on
By Caomhan Keane arah Doyle wants to get you in a hoop. The 27-year-old receptionist from Dalkey has launched a series of hula hooping classes designed to teach you the tricks and skills to turn your mates green with envy, without taking their eye out. “I got into Hula Hooping when all my mates came back from the Burning Man festival and they were all mad into it,” she tells me. “They all bought hoops and started bringing them to parties. I bought my own hoop after trying it out and kind of got obsessed.” Her classes, entitled Get Your Hoop On, will take place in the City Centre and along the southern DART line (Dalkey, Glenageary, Dun Laoghaire) in the evenings after work. Classes cost €5 and hoops are provided. The aim is to teach basic hoop moves which you then piece together to do a ‘hoop dance!’ Sarah started by picking up tips from her mates before moving on to a DVD (“hilarious but helpful”) that came with a pricey hoop bought for her for her birthday. She also used YouTube but acquired most of her skills when she won a scholarship to the UK Hoop Gathering Project, a hooping retreat that put her in contact with some of the best hoopers in the world. “I’ve got a fair wack of hoops,” she tells me. “The majority of mine are travel hoops that fold down to a smaller size. I have my LED hoop with 15 lights in it, which has a great effect for night-time hooping. When starting off, the bigger and heavier the hoop the better and easier to control. “Hula Hooping is really good for you, exercise wise,” she concludes. It’s not a deep impact exercise; it works from your core out, without being an intense workout.” Contact getyourhoopon@gmail.com
88 - I RISHTOWN C ELTIC S UPPORTERS C LUB
across the globe to such obscure places as Azerbaijan. Naming themselves in honour of the 1988 season that saw Celtic lift the championship and Scottish Cup in their centenary year, they set up home in what was then Seapoint House on Irishtown Road and formed their first committee, compris-
ing of local supporters Jimmy Kinsella, Ian Young, Noel Bolland, Michelle Daly and current chairman Tony Owens to help organise trips to Celtic Park. As the club progressed, trips to away games all across Scotland and Europe widened their reach. In 2005, with the closure of
Seapoint House, the Irishtown CSC found themselves without a home until 2009 when John Stokes, father of Celtic and Ireland striker Anthony Stokes, welcomed the club across the river to the Players Lounge on Fairview Strand (pictured). The Players Lounge served as the perfect home with its strong ‘Celtic only, Celtic always’ ethos and one look inside the place on match day would tell all you need to know. Hoards of fans in green and white would pack in to cheer on the boys on any one of the 78 flat-screen televisions and marvel at the detailed decor that was dedicated to Celtic, and with food and music laid on it was the perfect day out. Sadly, armed robbery and arson struck the Players Lounge in early August last year and since then the Irishtown CSC have once again been left homeless.
Chairman, Tony Owens, spoke to NewsFour. “We’re hoping that the pub will open again by February, but since it closed we haven’t really had anywhere. I think it could be that people maybe associate a large group of football fans with trouble. Anyone can wear a jersey, but they don’t see the real fans who want to get together and just have a good time supporting their team. It’s a shame because the club was really thriving; really kicking off. “We had great trips away, great atmosphere and it was great for business. We have about thirty members at the moment and we get to as many games as we can, so we’re hopeful things will get back to how they were.” The Irishtown CSC is a spirited and welcoming club. A grand old thing to see. Hail Hail!
PAGE 38
I
t’s a new year and the start of the new GAA season is only weeks away before we turn our attention to 2012. It would be a mistake not to review the month of December. During December The Annual Club Christmas Party and awards night was held in the plush surrounds of the Radisson St. Helen’s Hotel in Stillorgan. As always the night was organised to perfection by Jacqui McDonnell and I think everyone agreed on the night that the 2011 event was the best in many years. Jacqui will be well tested in her efforts to run a better night in 2012. In a break from previous traditions each Adult team manager was asked to say a few words and present the award to their chosen player of the year. There were some interesting and lively speeches on the night. Junior Footballer of the year went to John (nodge) O’Leary. John was so overwhelmed and anxious to shake everyone’s hand that he failed to remember to hang on to his trophy– “oops.” At the time of writing we have secured a new trophy for John and sincerely hope he grabs this one with both hands. Junior Ladies Football award went to Kate O’Brien who also won the award on the night for being the most shocked at her own success. Junior and Senior Hurling awards were a real family affair, with Declan Campbell winning the Junior award and younger brother Mark winning the Senior award. Humphrey Kelleher ’s introduction speech for Mark was definitely the most inspiring of the night and I’m sure it
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
The Fontenoy Files By Pat Kane
capped a very proud night for the Campbell family. Camogie player of the year was a fitting reward for Sarah Ryan who put in some outstanding performances for her team in what was a great year all round for Camogie. Senior Ladies Football award went to Sinead Vivash who now holds the unique distinction of having won the Ladies football award twice. Football manager Des Markey introduced our 2011 Senior Footballer of the year as a “big man who put in some massive performances” and in giving the award to David Lyons everyone present agreed with him. The big award of the night is always the subject of much speculation and this year was no different. As Chairman Roger McGrath said a few words about the recipient, there was an eerie hush in the room, who would it be? The first part of his speech gave nothing away but as it reached its crescendo it was clear who the most deserving of win-
ners was: the 2011 Clanna Gael Fontenoy club person of the year was Bernard Barron. In accepting the award, Bernard spoke of the bright future that lay ahead for the club and how by working together we could achieve all our goals, a fitting finale to a wonderful evening. Also in December in the company of Dub Stars Rory O’Carroll and Kevin Nolan, Sam Maguire finally made his long-awaited visit to the club. Suffice to say he was given a rousing welcome by all present and an enjoyable night was had by all. Now what does 2012 hold for Clanna Gael Fontenoy? To start with, our academy is back up and running on Saturday mornings, with Alice Foley as enthusiastic as ever and encouraging everyone to get involved. No one says NO to Alice! All our Juvenile boys hurling and football teams are back active and preparing for the season ahead. Juvenile ladies teams are all hoping that 2012 will be as successful and fruitful as 2011. Juvenile Camogie
teams are looking forward to continuing with their recent progress and success. Our Adult section is also back in action and preparing for competitive games to commence in mid-February. Hurlers are now being managed by former Dublin hurler Dave Donnelly, who is assisted by Eugene Davey and Tom Neville. They have embarked on a rigorous pre-season training regime and are planning on making huge strides in senior ranks in 2012. Footballers undertook a rather novel recruitment campaign, which gained na-
tionwide attention in print and on the airwaves and following this their numbers and enthusiasm have increased immensely. There is now great optimism for the season ahead for both men’s football teams. Great credit is due to Steve Mulreaney for this. Ladies football teams are also preparing diligently and hoping for better things in 2012. Camogie will return in the next week or so and will be working towards having at least the same success as 2011. County representation is looking good and some of our players have already been selected on Dublin panels for the year ahead. Following a year out with injury, Kim Flood is now back on the Dublin Senior ladies team and hoping for great things in the year ahead. Ruth Shaw and Stacey Flood have both been selected on the U16 ladies squad and a number of other players, both male and female, are still involved with various trial squads, so watch this space for news. So a very positive outlook for Clans for the start of 2012 and we’ll try and keep everyone updated with our progress throughout the year. If anyone would like to get involved in the club or feel they could help out in any way, please feel free to contact us at the clubhouse on Sean Moore Rd or via our Website www.clannagaelfontenoy.ie or on Facebook. Main picture: Fontenoy Intermediate Camogie team, league winners 2011. Below: David Lyons, Footballer of the year 2011.
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012
ISLES OF THE SEA
the season with Shelbourne (one of their best seasons ever) Arthur was transferred to Middlesbrough with another great Shelbourne player Peter Desmond. One of the photos in the glossary is of the team that won the Miller Shield and Arthur is one of the team who played that day. Before he left for Middlesbrough he was a member of Bru Padraig C.Y.C. Boys’ Club in Mount Street, of which he was always very proud. He became a very good friend of Fr. Breen, the Bru’s longest serving Chaplain. During his early days at Middlesbrough, in the off season, Arthur would go out to our home ground at the Technical School grounds in Terenure to referee matches. Other times he would come to the club and present medals to Bru teams who won the cup
or league. For such a soccer star, Arthur always remained a humble person. One photo in the glossary shows the winning team in the old school yard with the Miller Shield. Arthur is fifth in the front row. It was great for this photo to surface after all these years. You may wonder where the name came from. Kavanagh named the team, Isles of the Sea, after a famous Ringsend GAA team of the late 1800s. They were Dublin champions in 1895 and in 1903 they beat London Hibernians in the All Ireland Final. London’s captain was Sam Maguire. The cup is called after him. I hope my story and photo will bring back happy memories. Front row, left to right: Tommy McConnell, ? O’Reilly, Tommy Gilles, Babiers Byrne, Arthur Fitzsimons, Bert Egan, Butch McDonnell. Back row. Quinn, Ingle, don’t know x 2 , Paudie Stafford, Don’t know, Cleary on end. Two at back Thomas Byrne, (Whelan House), Tom Egan. Apologies if I mixed up any names.
in contention for promotion as it elevated them to second place, where they will be in a promotion play-off if they retain their position. To do this, they need to win their upcoming matches against Balbriggan (26th Feb) and Mullingar (4th March). The 2nd XV, playing the the J4 Metro League have now regained their top place spot after two important wins in January. A 21-17 win over an impressive Malahide side brought a revived energy to the team, who then went on to beat Millmount House 138. Upcoming fixtures against Tallaght, Parkmore, Unidare and St. Mary’s B team will be
of paramount importance in determining where this team finish in the league table. As it’s not all just about rugby, the Club Social Committee have been working hard on activities such as the upcoming Poker Night (Tuesday 31st January), Race Night (24th February) and Comedy Night (22nd March). Event of the year is set to be the annual Railway Union Dinner Dance, which is to be held on Saturday 14th April. Further details on all these events, as well as match previews and reports, are available on www.railwayunionrfc. com and www.facebook.com/ railwayunionrfc
I
By Jimmy Purdy n 1943 my master in St Patrick’s Boy’s National School Ringsend, Seamus Kavanagh, introduced Gaelic Football and Hurling. Under twelve were juniors, under fourteen seniors. Our master gave the team the name Inse-Na-Mara (Isles of the Sea). In their first year this team went on to win the Miller Shield. The game was played in Harold’s Cross Greyhound Stadium. The other team in the final were Milltown. The score at the final whistle was very big in favour of St. Patrick’s. It was a big boost for our school and after the game we walked down the canals singing and cheering all the way home. My memory of this game was jogged recently by an event performed by the F.A.I when they entered Arthur Fitzsimons into the museum in Abbotstown. In a glossary of Arthur’s soccer career there are some photographs of different teams he played for. Arthur spent the top end of his playing days with Middlesbrough. When he was nineteen, after spending
PAGE 39
RAILWAY UNION RFC By Kirstin Smith Crunch time for Railway RFC as last two matches determine destiny. ith the 2011/2012 season more than half way through, the coming weeks are set to be a crucial time for Railway Union RFC as the 1st XV aim for promotion and the 2nd XV are on track for silverware. January has seen two wins out of three for the 1st XV, leaving the team in second place in Division 2B of the Leinster League. The first match back after the Christmas break saw an unfortunate 8-0 loss away to top-of-the-table Gorey. The team bounced back the following week with a much needed victory over Wexford Wanderers at home. After a stern talk from the Director of Rugby at half-time, the team went out with guns blazing and raked up 28 points in the second-half to take the match 38-15. A further win away from home the following week against Athy put Railway back
W
LITTLE WILL GO A LONG WAY
G
By Rupert Heather rowing interest and participation in cricket is reflected in the establishment of new clubs and in programmes for school children which are starting to reap rewards. Leinster Development Manager and Sandymount native Brian O’Rourke says, “Cricket Ireland is working closely with local authorities to attract new schools to the game.” Young Leinster cricketers continue to gain opportunities to develop their skills at week-long training camps, most recently in La Manga, Spain and previously as far afield as India. Transition year students are taking advantage of a South African School Programme that to date has sent 16 Leinster youth cricketers overseas. This summer sees the introduction of a Primary Schools ‘Super League’, which aims to provide stronger schools with a higher standard of competition. The ‘Leprechaun Cup’ will remain in place for developing schools around the province. Continued efforts are being made to establish stronger and more strategic ‘club-school’ links. Merrion Cricket Club’s Australian fast-bowling professional, Matt Petrie, selected Josh Little as the winner when conducting bowling clinics to find the province’s most promising quick bowlers, proof of the emerging strength of Leinster youth cricket. “Josh is a worthy winner of the Leinster Cricket Union’s ‘Find a Fast Bowler’ talent identification programme for this season. Josh is a good kid, has a steady head on his shoulders and should prove a formidable opponent in years to come.’ Petrie said. ‘If Ireland is to be competitive on the world stage, fast bowling is an area that is a must. To be successful you need a lot of skill and strength, as well as a good technique. What I have seen in Leinster gives me hope, with several young seam bowlers making a name for themselves.” Fact File: Name: Josh Little, Age: 11, Club: Pembroke Cricket Club, Height: 5’ 3”, Bowling style: Left arm seam bowler, School: St Andrew’s College, Favourite Cricketers: Kevin O’Brien and James Anderson. Above: Josh Little in action.
PAGE 40
NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY / MARCH 2012