Feb 2007 newsfour by News Four

FEBRUARY 2007

NewsFour Free Community Newspaper serving Sandymount, Irishtown, Ringsend, Docklands, Ballsbridge and Donnybrook Web: www.news4.ie • E-mail: newsfourscs@eircom.net • Local Newsdesk: Phone 6673317

GET ACTIVE, GET ALIVE! D

uring the week starting the 20th of March 2007, all schools are encouraged to participate in ʻActive School Weekʼ by promoting Physical Education and time for physical activity throughout each day of the week. The idea behind Active School Week is to raise awareness of the value and importance of Physical Education in primary schools and to acknowledge the professional contribution of the class teacher as the driving force for Physical Education activity in the school. Minister Hanafin, presenting the awards in 2006, said “Participation in sport offers so many opportunities to people of all ages. Sport has opened doors that might otherwise have been closed. At its best, sport builds character, teamwork, leadership and ambition.” Left: Pupils at St Maryʼs Star of the Sea perform for Mary Hanafin TD.

PAT CONSULTS FUTURE VOTERS

Pat Rabbitte TD, Leader of the Labour Party, visits the Home From Home Creche, Thorncastle Street. From left: Lance Juanico, Ella Whelan and Kama Bugala. See page 17.

SPRING IS OFFICIALLY HERE! Sandymount Hardware has closed after 20 years to make way for… Murtagh’s Hardware. See pages 5, 14 and 15.

Simon Pegg and friends in ‘Hot Fuzz’ get a warm welcome from Michael Hilliard on page 18.

Hard to believe, but Brendan Grace has been doing the Bottler for 30 years. See interview on page 22.

Even this cute little mongrel could be a target for dog nappers. See page 38.

Ringsend Youth Service Hip Hop Group in action! See page 36.

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NewsFour Managing Editor Ann Ingle Advertising Manager Grainne McGuinness Office Manager Miriam Holmes Staff Grace Charley Brian Rutherford Fergal Murphy Audrey Healy David Hussey John Cavendish Nessa Jennings

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

The Editor’s Corner

ebruary is over and Spring weather is nearly upon us. We hope you will ﬁnd lots of uplifting articles in this edition to further rejuvenate you. Donal McKenna writing from Cheshire (see page 8) feels that NewsFour does just that for him. We are very grateful to local residents for their views on energy conservation and global warming (page 24). Just doing little things is a help or so Iʼm told. I only wash clothes at 30ºC now which makes me feel righteous. However, Iʼm ﬂying off to Arizona at the end of March to visit my eldest daughter and her family, who are temporarily living in Phoenix, and then on to see my son in North Carolina. This undoubtedly negates all the good I am doing with the washing.

SHELBOURNE PARK RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION LTD

Iʼll try to stay closer to home for the rest of the year to make up for it. The election will be upon us in no time and we are grateful to local politicians for their ads. If one of them could so something about the no. 2 and 3 bus (or lack of them) they would have my vote. Your views about what is needed in the area would be much appreciated so that we can get our message across before voting begins. Mr Kavanagh has put some tongue-in-cheek questions to our politicos (page 6). Please keep in touch with your letters, poems and whatever else you want to send us. Look forward to hearing from you. Ann Ingle

Photography John Cheevers

Price: €25 per 3 Month Session or €5 for one Swim. Children under 3 years are FREE! This Swimming Session is open to any one who wants to join. It is not just confined to people living in the Sth. Lotts Rd. area. For further Info just call over any Sunday between 11am & 1pm. Ask for Mary or Billy.

Professional Teacher Contact Tony at 087 9743775

Mr Tilly’s Christmas collection George Humphries Senior (above) formerly of Ennis Grove, died over Christmas. Our condolences to his son George and his other family members.

Design, Typesetting, Layout Eugene Carolan Community Services, 15 Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4. Telephone: (01)6673317 E-mail: newsfourscs@eircom.net

Mr Tilly and family would like to thank everyone for their donations for the different charities over the Christmas period amounting to €4,700. Thanks to the local boys and girls who raised €200 from carol singing. Thanks are also due to those who took the reindeer and the bucket of money. The following is a list of the charities that benefited: Our Ladyʼs Hospice, Haroldʼs Cross €3,200 Our Ladyʼs Childrenʼs Hospital, Crumlin €1,000 Dublin Simon Community €500 Happy New Year to everyone.

Joe Egan’s book winners

Affiliated to Comhairle, South-East Area Network, (SEAN) Local History Research, Community Resource Service, NewsFour Newspaper, FÁS Community Employment Programme. Opinions expressed in News Four do not necessarily represent the views of Community Services.

We have a Swimming Session Every Sunday Morning from 11am to 1pm in Sportsco.

Guitar Lessons

Contributors Michael Hilliard Christy Hogan Christopher Sands David Ryan Derek Buckley Peter Dowling Patrick Duffy Noel Twamley Shay Connolly Derek Sandford David Carroll Aidan O’Donoghue Oliver Doyle Rodney Devitt Brian Kelly Eadaoin Ashe Web Designer Andrew Thorn

Swimming in Sportsco

Emma Doolin who recently received her Bachelor of Science (Management) Business Studies.

The answer to our question who was the youngest boxer to win the heavyweight boxing champion was answered correctly by John Caffrey of Ballsbridge and Paschal Joyce of Townsend Street. It was, of course, Mike Tyson. Joe Eganʼs book ʻBig Joe Egan The Toughest White Man on the Planetʼ is in the post to both of them.

Ringsend Active Retirement Association Retired with time on your hands? Why not visit us at the CYMS in Ringsend any Tuesday to Friday from 2.30 pm New members (men and women) always welcome

Our address: NewsFour, 15 Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend Phone: 6673317 • Email: newsfourscs@eircom.net Visit our website at: www.news4.ie

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

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NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

REMEMBERING IRELAND’S

ANTARTIC PIONEER By John Cavendish

atey Buchanan went on a fascinating journey last November to Antarctica in memory of the epic journey there by Ernest Shackletonʼs expedition a century ago. For Katey (pictured) there was an interesting family connection as she is a second cousin three times removed (generational) from the explorer himself on her motherʼs side. The expedition, Beyond Endurance, was organised by Pat Falvey. Katey applied, mentioned the Shackleton family connection and was lucky enough to get a place on the expedition. The journey began at Dublin Airport and then on to Madrid and from there to Buenos Aires in Argentina. The next ﬂight took them to Ushuaia in southern Argentina, where they boarded the ʻM. V. Ushuaiaʼ, the same name as the port from which they sailed south. Kateyʼs bag was lost during the air journey and so she had to get ﬁtted out again at Ush-

uaia. She was disappointed, because in the lost luggage there were two little stones which she took from the garden of Ernest Shackletonʼs Irish birthplace in Kilkea, near Athy in Kildare, which she wanted to place on his grave in South Georgia, as other members of her family had done previously. They sailed from the port of Ushuaia on the 9th November, out through the Beagle Channel towards the South Atlantic Ocean with relatively calm seas. On board, they heard lectures from biologists, bird watchers and experts on Shackleton. By the 13th they reached King Haakon Bay in South Georgia, sighting land at a bright 4:30am. To commemorate the Shackleton Expedition a team of 25 volunteers trekked from King Haakon bay, where they landed, to the other side of the Island on a two night ʻtraverseʼ, enduring the inhospitable ice, snow and the katabatic winds which blew away equipment. The ʻUshuaiaʼ sailed around to meet them on the other side of the island at Fortuna Bay, where the support party joined with the

Shackleton A short but heroic life

traverse party and the 80-strong Irish group trekked the last leg into Stromness Whaling Station, where Shackleton was greeted so many years ago. Katey said it was a magical moment to be standing in the same spot that her relative stood looking down on the Norwegian whaling station. They headed into Grytviken, the capital of South Georgia, where Ernest Shackleton is buried. Itʼs a place encircled by a rampart of steep-walled mountains where another whaling station has been the centre of human activity there since 1904. The whole group had a ceremony at the graveside of Shackleton and then went to see the cross that the crew of

the ʻEnduranceʼ placed in his memory. They sailed further into the Southern Ocean from South Georgia to the South Orkney Islands and then to Elephant Island, which was another highlight of the trip. Katey says: “It was euphoric to say the least, to actually stand on that island that the men of the ʻEnduranceʼ reached safely in three small boats and for some it became their home on solid land after ﬁve months of camping on drifting ice ﬂoes. “Knowing that his men would never survive on the desolate spot, ʻThe Bossʼ Shackleton decided to attempt an incredible seventeen-day, 800-mile journey by boat in freezing hur-

ir Ernest Henry Shackleton CVO, OBE (February 15, 1874 to January 5, 1922) was an Anglo-Irish explorer, knighted for the achievements of the ʻBritish Antarctic Expeditionʼ (1907–09) under his command, but now chieﬂy remembered for his Antarctic expedition of 1914 to 1916 in the ship ʻEnduranceʼ. In 1921, Shackleton set out on another Antarctic expedition. Its purpose was to circumnavigate the Antarctic continent by sea, but it was derailed when Shackleton died of a heart attack on board his ship, the ʻQuestʼ, while anchored off South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands on January 5, 1922. His body was being returned to England when his widow requested that the burial take place on Grytviken, South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands instead. Shackleton was buried there on March 5, 1922. Pictured right is Ernest Shackleton and on left is his ship the ʻEnduranceʼ which was crushed by ice in the Antartic.

ricane conditions, to the nearest civilisation– South Georgia Island– to get help.” Once on land, Shackleton and two of his men trekked across the mountains of South Georgia, ﬁnally reaching the islandʼs remote, whaling stations where they organised a rescue team, and returned to save all of the men left behind on Elephant Island. Not one member of the expedition died. The Beyond Endurance team had done its homework so that there were experts on hand to discuss the wildlife of the places they sailed to as well as the history of that ﬁrst expedition. Katey has many fond memories of the journey and the camaraderie of her fellow travellers.

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

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G OODBYE TO S ANDYMOUNT H ARDWARE I

By David Ryan

t is with great sadness that I am writing this article for Newsfour to say goodbye to my many, many friends, great customers and fellow traders. I first opened my shop in October 1986. From the very first day of opening the ʻcraicʼ began. As all of you who know me know that I call a spade a spade and wouldnʼt be long in telling you to “get out” of the shop. Many people have commented to me over the years that they call to the shop for abuse and entertainment. And so the last 20 years have flown by for me, I have loved being part of Sandymount village and I will miss it very much. I am finding the last few weeks very emotional and hard to hear people say they will miss me and what are they going to do without the hardware. The phone doesnʼt stop with callers asking me why. People calling into the shop all day long, some

Express Checkout Insert cash or select payment type Have you scanned or swiped your club card? Unexpected item Please take your change Cash is dispensed below the scanner Thank you for shopping at Tesco Please take your change Key in the items code or look up item Unexpected item in bagging area Remove this item Key in the items code or look up item Insert cash or select payment type

as upset as I am. I even had a good lady customer saying she was getting a petition to stop me closing! I appreciate it all so much, it means a lot to me to think I was that popular and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I would like to thank Declan and Vincent who have both worked for me for

a number of years and I wish the both well. Everyone wants to know why I am retiring but Iʼm much too young to retire altogether, Iʼm just going to try my hand at a few new adventures– you know the saying ʻa change is as good as a rest.ʼ Again I would sincerely like to

thank you all so much for making my shop a great success for the last 20 years. And lastly I would like to thank my lovely wife Jacky and my three kids Keith, Ian and Sophie. “At last daddy is home.” Above: David with Vincent in the shop.

Insert cash or touch pay with card Please take your change Notes are dispensed below the scanner Please take your items Please scan your ﬁrst item Insert cash or select payment type Have you scanned or swiped your club card?

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NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

IGB AND FABRIZIA SITES FROM PUBLIC LANDS TO PRIVATE DEVELOPERS ’ GOLDMINE Following on from our front page feature in the last issue, John Cavendish brings us up-to-date on the story behind the IGB and Fabrizia sites

he location of the Irish Glass Bottle Plant, now South Wharf and the neighbouring Fabrizia site, were created by reclaiming land from Sandymount Strand between 1960 and 1979. It is a huge area of the former strand, owned by the people of Ireland, some 300 to 400 acres which was reclaimed from the sea for the creation of a city dump. This dump was unregulated and contains to this day dangerous and hazardous waste. The area lies between Seán Moore Road and the new foreshore to the south of Seán Moore Park, also created by the former dump. The Fabrizia and Irish Glass sites total around 55.46 hectares. The foreshore can only be reclaimed by Ministerial order; for part of the dump at Sandymount there was no such order. In fact, there were numerous questions in the Dáil about that and especially about the area of the strand now containing the Fabrizia site, which was never

meant to be filled in at all and extended far beyond the agreed infill line with Dublin Corporation, as Dublin City Council was then called. A park was given to the people of the area as compensation in 1980. This was called Sandymount Beach Park, but after the East Link Toll bridge opened the roads to and from it were named respectively Alfie Byrne Road and Seán Moore Road. In 1987, at the behest of Fianna Fáil, Sandymount Beach Park was renamed Seán Moore Park, Twelve and a half acres, south of the Irish Glass Bottle Plant, now owned by Fabrizia, were obtained from Dublin Port by the IDA to create light industry. Allied Irish Banks acquired it from the IDA around 1989, it is believed for a sum less than £30,000. The land remained on all the O.S maps of the area as AIB Sports Grounds, until 1998. In October 1998 the field in question was sold by tender for a reported £23 million. In May 2000, Fabrizia applied to Dublin City Council for permission to build almost 2 million square feet of mixed development. This application should have been decided on within two months, but there followed many discussions with the Council personnel and requests for ʻfurther informationʼ and changes to the original

scheme. Fabrizia initially applied for permission for 16 office blocks and a 30-storey glass-clad tower beside the Irish Glass site. Dublin City Council received over 1,000 objections from local residents and other interested parties for this initial application in early 2000. Fabrizia has persisted with the proposals, which are now to include a shopping mall on the foreshore. The new Planning Number is 4996/04, which was granted permission by the Council. Following many objections, this decision is now under review by An Bord Pleanála. The former MEP for Dublin, Patricia McKenna, was quoted in March 2001 as being incensed by the developerʼs cavalier attitude to Sandymount Strand, as this development would be detrimental to the wellbeing of the wildfowl. She said then that she strongly disagreed with the EIS produced by Fabrizia, who stated that “any birds inhabiting this vicinity will habituate to the additional people and lighting.” BirdWatch Ireland also expressed concern that the large influx of people to Seán Moore Park was in conflict with environmental legislation since the Brent Geese, a protected species, use the park as a supplementary feeding ground and refuge in hostile weather. The Environmental Protection Agency gave assurances to Fabrizia that a Waste Licence would not be required for the removal of the toxic material making up the ground of the

former dump, and Dublin City Council has approved the proposal, as of April 2005. Irish GlassBottle Co., now South Wharf, consists of the 25 acres between Fabrizia and Sean Moore Road. Dublin Corporation had licensed a glass factory there as jobs were needed in the area. Under the lease, this site was designated to glass

production and recycling. Paul Coulson bought out a small glass ﬁrm, Ardagh Glass, which enabled him as a bona ﬁde glass manufacturer to buy the Irish Glass Bottle lease, whose site was owned by Dublin Port Company. In November 2002, the company closed down, even though it was working at full capacity employing some 400

Dear Madam In the Christmas issue of ʻNews Fourʼ, reference was made to the ʻFabrizia site, which was created by reclaiming land from Sandymount Strandʼ. Would somebody please answer the following questions for me: • If the foreshore of Sandymount Strand belongs to the citizens and is under the care of the port authorities, how did we lose ownership when the Council came along and filled in a section of the strand with earth and boulders? • Who assumed ownership of the filled in area and how? • Who gave him/ her/ them the authority to sell the filled in land to Fabrizia? • Was the land sold by public auction, private sale or tender and was the sale advertised? • What was the purchase price? • Who received the cheque and could we see a photocopy of it? • Where did the money go? Under the Freedom of Information Act, and in the best interests of public transparency, would the person in charge of these matters, or any of our hard working politicians, councillors, or council officials, please give succinct and direct answers to each and all of these questions, which information I am sure we are entitled to receive. If landfill is in order, could I purchase a quantity of hardcore, earth and boulders and reclaim a selected half-acre of strand and build myself a cosy bijou, where I might while away my remaining inquisitive years and read my ʻNews Fourʼ? P. Kavanagh

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007 staff. The closure of Irish Glass should not have come as too much of a surprise to Dublin City Council, because as far back as March 2001, according to the DEGW Poolbeg Project report of May 2006, they had issued briefs that called for “Urban Design and Land Use” studies which included the Poolbeg peninsula, (South Bank environs), the objective of the plan was “to provide for the development of existing large brownﬁeld sites within a co-ordinated framework, creating attractive new urban places and sustainable densities linked to public transport.” Ardagh Glass changed the name of the Company to South Wharf and they took legal ac-

PAGE 7 tion against Dublin Port to buy the lease, which had roughly sixty years to run. It is now reported that the company has been sold to developer Bernard McNamara for €412 million, with the support of Dublin Docklands Development Authority as a quarter partner of the sale. Reports suggest that the Dublin Port Company will receive 33.6% of the proceeds and South Wharf shareholders will share the remainder, excluding transaction and legal costs estimated at €5m. Rory Hearne, People Before Proﬁt Alliance candidate in Dublin South East, is of the opinion that there are tax questions regarding the IGB deal. “It appears that the sale of the

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site will be done by transferring shares in a company. This could avoid the 9% investment property stamp duty and instead only 1% share duty would have to be paid. This would save the consortium €32 million, i.e. 8% of €412 million. This development has the backing of Dick Gleeson, the chief Dublin City Planner, who sees it as in keeping with the Poolbeg Framework Plan. However, many local residents believe this draft plan is severely flawed. It has repeatedly been rejected by the community and the Councillors, so that it has no standing as a development tool. In the unlikely event of it ever being adopted by the Council, the result would almost certainly be further conflict with Europe, which has already taken action against the Council for failure to implement the conservation measures stipulated under the Birds Directive. Opposite page, top: Picture taken about 1970. Crawfordʼs garage, now Winfield, is in the foreground, while the reclaimed land on which IGB and Fabrizia were sited is to the upper left. The map shows the current layout of the site.

Geraldine M. Lynch (formerly of Irishtown Road)

General Legal Practice Telephone: 087 9874577 for appointment Email: glynchburke@eircom.net

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NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007 Ed. Can Tony Kiernan be related to the Tommy Kiernan Donal writes about I wonder?

The Letterbox Dear Madam Editor Congratulations on your Christmas issue and a big thank you for your 21 years service as a community newspaper. I particularly liked the interview with Sean Cromien and also the review of W. T. Cosgravesʼs biography. Sean Cromien is mentioned in the acknowledgement section of the book which is an excellent read. Good wishes for 2007. Vincent Casey Dublin 6 Dear Madam Editor I read with interest an article on your website from your Christmas 1997 Edition, the article was called The School Around the Corner. My husband is John Pullen, son of Tom Pullen and I believe that Larry is the son of Butch (Robert) Pullen, as mentioned in the article, is in fact a relative of my husband. I am trying to trace some sort of family tree for him and whilst his mother Joyce is still alive, her memory is fading and with all of the brothers and sister of Tom deceased now, this is proving difﬁcult. I wonder if Larry is still working with you and if you would kindly pass on my email address so that I can talk to him. Itʼs such a shame as we were over in Dublin just before Christmas for Ray Pullenʼs funeral. We in fact met up with Robert Pullen Jnr and Kit at this time. I also would ask if you could possibly send via email the two photographs in the body of the article, unfortunately they will not load and I can only see the picture of the school. We think this is Butch and would like to conﬁrm.

By the way a great website and a joy to read. Keep up the good work, it is great. Yours hopefully and sincerely Mandi Pullen Staffordshire, UK Dear Madam Editor Thanks for the copies of the 2 books on Sandymount Ringsend Irishtown. They have been a great success at last Tuesdayʼs club meeting. They are now circulating the books around the various members, each holding the books for 1 week. It was interesting to read many of the individual portions of each book. A grandfather called Jim Lambe was able to show his family and granddaughters where he was born– see the drawing on page 130 of the Roads book– he was born in Turnerʼs Cottages in the facing house in the corner. Again many thanks on behalf of all my Ringsend members. I hope if there is a further book, it might mention Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne, both of which were founded in the area. Again many thanks Phil Tormey St Patrickʼs Irish Club, Leamington Spa Dear Madam Editor I love to read NewsFour, shame I only get it now and then. As an old Raytowner born in Stella 72 years ago (left there in 1958) I have fond memories of going to the dumps after school every day to pick coke. I also got the odd sauce bottle or jam jar and took them to

The Yacht Thorncastle Street, Ringsend, 6680977

‘For a Quiet Pint in comfortable surroundings and a friendly atmosphere’

Haltons to get money so I could go to the Regal cinema. Last time I was in Ringsend in 1999 my son and I went into the barbers for a hair cut. It was a great surprise to have Jim Driver cut my hair, the last time we had met was sitting together in Mr McCarthyʼs class Star Of The Sea 1944. It was the longest cut ever. I was sorry to hear he had died last year R.I.P. If any of your lovely readers remember me it would be nice to hear from you. Itʼs amazing any of us is still alive for Ringsend then was all smells and dust. My first job was the statue factory next to Coadys. After more than 50 years away I still miss it and call it home. Yours Sincerely Tony Kiernan Chingford, London Ed. We will put you on our mailing list, Tony, and if anyone wants to get in touch with you they can get your address from the office Dear Madam Editor If only News Four had the same rejuvenating effect on my aged and aching bones as it does on my mind. My grandfather, James Maguire, along with William (Archie) Murphy and others, opened the cinema in Fitzwilliam Street in the 1920ʼs. At that time Grandfather lived at 26 Irishtown Road (Next to Byrneʼs Dairy) and his mother, Catherine Maguire nee Byrne, owned Maguireʼs shop across the road from the cinema. As both my grandfather and Archie Murphy had young adult children at home looking for employment, Michael Maguire and Elizabeth (Lily) Murphy, were put on the staff of the new venture. My uncle Mick as Projectionist and Lily Murphy was in the Box Office looking after the money. Now, was that not a clever move. However, family rumour is that the uncle and Lily started to ʻdo a lineʼ and smitten as Mick was with Lily it was not unusual for them to be chatting in the

foyer instead of him being upstairs getting the picture started. The romance blossomed leading to Michael Maguire and Lily Murphy getting married at St Patrickʼs Ringsend on Wednesday 23rd July 1933. Looking back, thanks to NewsFour, I can honestly say that my uncle Mick and Aunt Lily, my godparents, were the most devoted couple that I have ever come across. To this day, my children, when I am talking about my family in Dublin, (daily) they will say “Your aunt Lily, was she the one who always had lovely ham sandwiches.” I met my wife and eventually settled in England thanks to two Ringsenders, Tommy Kiernan and Pat Lambert from Stella Gardens, who had come across to work in Cheshire in the early 1950ʼs. At that time I was an engineer in the MN and had a Christmas ashore to meet up with my long time friends. The meeting lead to Norah and I starting a courtship in 1953. On the nostalgia trip, another very very dear friend of mine, George McLoughlin, ex 61 Derrynane Gardens, now of Philadelphia, regularly talks about the old days and one of our topics is who lived where in Derrynane Gardens in our days. The agreed start is always Nolanʼs at No.1 followed by Delaneyʼs at No. 2, McKennaʼs at No. 3 and Larriganʼs at No. 4 ending up with Mooneyʼs at No. 77 whilst lower down from Londonbridge we had Smithʼs at No. 72. Murrayʼs at No. 73 and the Barr family at No. 74. When trying to express my thanks and gratitude to Ann Ingle and her staff words fail me, a ﬁrst say my daughters adding “Is it possible that NewsFour will shut him up about Dublin and the old times.” They are joking of course ???, of course they are, I hope. Donal McKenna Cheshire

Dear Madam Editor Thank you for sending me a copy of NewsFour which I ﬁnd to be a most pleasurable read. It brought back so much of life from my youth when I lived on the Pidgeon House Road. I was laughing but with a quick tear for the memories as I read the various articles in your terriﬁc paper. I have to say your paper is far superior to those I come across here in England. The letters column is interesting and the poetry section is great too. I liked the poem ʻOde to Bang Bangʼ. I used to refer to him as Bang Bang Charlie. I shall be seeking a regular friend in Dublin 4. One of my hobbies in life is communication. I have friends across Europe but I need a fresh link and where better than Dublin. OK so people are lazy generally when it comes to corresponding for many reasons. I would just like to link up with a local author, or any kind of writer or poet because I do that kind of thing myself. Wishing you all you wish yourselves at NewsFour for 2007. Geoffrey P. B. Lyon Staffordshire, UK Ed. If anyone wants to become Geoffreyʼs ʻregular friendʼ we can pass on his address. See letter from Mandi Pullen. Above is a picture of pupils from the old Boysʼ National School, Thorncastle Street, about 1944–47. Robert (Butch) Pullen is pictured in the front row, fourth from left. Pictured below are Geoffrey and Annie Lyon.

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

PAGE 9

GREEN MEMORIAL TO ELIZABETH O’FARRELL

REMEMBERING BILLY BROPHY

illy Brophy, a wellknown character, passed away one year ago on 24 February 2006. We asked Robert Curtis about his old friend. “Billy was one nice man. He was always in good humour. He loved his game of snooker, his pint and especially his sing-song. Homeland was one of his favourites and he regularly sang in the Yacht or anywhere at all, even sitting on a park bench. His numbers for the Lotto were 32 and 11 and he loved a game of Bingo. Every night he would go down to the CY for a game of snooker and then on for a pint. “Billy was a terrible witty man. They brought him home from the Hospice and his son Billy Junior got him a plasma screen TV to hang on the wall so that he could see it from his bed. The Parish Priest came in to visit him and remarked on his lovely flat screen TV. Why wouldnʼt I, he said quick as a flash, sure isnʼt there flat racing on. “His good friend Harry Dunne would call in to see him every day. Harry and Billy would go on long walks together wherever the fancy took them. They often went to visit friends in St Vincentʼs and the minute they would go into the ward the place would be in an uproar. Billy enjoyed life to the very end and made everyone happy who knew him. We all miss him dearly.”

THE LORD MAYOR of Dublin, Cllr. Vincent Jackson, unveiled the monument at City Quay Park on Sir John Rogersonʼs Quay now renamed Elizabeth OʼFarrell Park in January. Cllr. Daithí Doolan said: “I am delighted that Dublin City Council has agreed to honour Elizabeth OʼFarrell in a ﬁtting and honourable manner here in Dublinʼs south inner city by unveiling a monument in City Quay where she was born. To many, Elizabeth OʼFarrell will be known as Nurse OʼFarrell, who

while accompanying Padraig Pearse, handed over the ofﬁcial surrender to the British forces at Moore Lane in Easter 1916. “Elizabeth, a member of Cumman na mBan, played a full and active role in the Rising of 1916. I hope we can use this event to reﬂect on her role in 1916 and ensure that women like Elizabeth take their rightful place in the records of Irish history.” Pictured at the opening are Lord Mayor Vincent Jackson, Cllr. Dermot Lacey and Cllr. Daithí Doolan.

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NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

S T . P ATRICK ’ S WEEKEND EVENTS GUIDE

By Grace Charley

crub your shamrocks and dig out them leprechaun hats! Itʼs that time of year again where we turn another shade greener. The following are some events guaranteed to crank up the ʻcraicʼ and rare up that ʻrí-ráʼ. Barabbas 40 Songs of Green Date: Thursday 15th- Friday 16th March Venue: National Concert Hall Time: 8pm Tickets: Book Online This event is one part concert to two parts theatre. The concert, a musical celebration of all things ʻOirishʼ, subsequently takes many unexpected twists and turns. Clowns spring leaks, fall in and out of love and generally cause havoc and mayhem.

LUMINARIUM AT DOCKLANDS Date: Thurs 15th March to Mon 19th March, 10am-6pm Location: Georgeʼs Dock in the IFSC Embark on a colourful journey into Amozozo– a luminous inﬂatable maze ﬁlled with tunnels, slopes and 60 triangular shaped domes! This kaleidoscopic voyage of light and colour is based on wandering paths similar to that of a bazaar and is guaranteed to have you looking at things differently when you come out the other side. Tickets €7 (incl booking fee) from www.centralticketbureau.ie or Tel: 01 872 1122. FUNFAIR Date: Friday 16th to Monday 19th 2006 Starting Point: Merrion Square West Time: Friday to Monday 11am-11pm Life is a rollercoaster, so away you go. Get high at this fairground with the many hair-raising rides on standby. For the youngsters and those troubled

with vertigo, there are always the teacups. Tickets for the rides priced from €1.50 to €3.00 TASTEFEST RDS MAIN HALL Date: Friday 16th to Sunday 18th March 2007 Times: 12pm to 7pm Eat more than just your greens. Tastefest, in association with the St. Patrickʼs Festival, is a multi-cultural food festival offering exotic and mouth-watering delights from Japan, Malaysia, India, Turkey, Lithuania, Italy, Spain, France, Ireland and beyond. Cookery demonstrations, beverage tasting and live entertainment are

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also the order for the day. Tickets €10. Tokens at event €6 for 10

and cultural tours are just a taster of all that is in store in this the feast day of Irish language.

CHRISTCHURCH CHOIR Date: 16th March 2007 Venue: Christchurch Cathedral Time: 7:00pm Tickets: €20/€15(conc.) Book Online Give us an aul song there, Paddy. For this special St. Patrickʼs Festival concert, the Choir performs traditional Irish folk songs, Leoš Janáčekʼs Otče náš and Leonard Bernsteinʼs stunning Chichester Psalms. Music for the harp and choral arrangements will round off the programme. An intimate evening of Choral music, not to be missed

DENNY TREASURE HUNT Date: Sunday 18th March 2007 Registration Time: 10am - 1pm Starting Point: City Hall, Dame Street Go ﬁnd that crock of gold– maybe itʼs at the top of the spire.

FESTIVAL PARADE Date: Saturday 17th March 2007 Starting Point: Parnell Square Time: 12 noon Hereʼs hoping it doesnʼt rain on our parade, again! St. Patrickʼs Festival Parade, full of festive plume and enchanting myths. Themed Legendary, the spirits of Irish and European and world myths are set to come alive through giant inflatables, breathtaking costumes and theatre with performing groups from Ireland, Europe, India, Africa and the USA. Renowned for being the worldʼs biggest and best St. Patrickʼs Day Parade. Grandstand seats available online, tickets €60 CÉILÍ MÓR Date: Saturday 17th March 2007 Starting Point: Earlsfort Terrace Time: 2.30pm - 5:30pm Kick up those heels and have yourself a highland fling with the Kilfenora Céilí Band. The IrishJobs.ie Céilí Mór welcomes everybody, even those with two left bróga. LÁ ʻLE GAEILGE Date: Sunday 18th March 2007 Venue: Temple Bar Whether you have cúpla focal or are fluent in the native tongue– this is for you. Film screenings, concerts, theatre

THE NATIONAL LOTTERY SKYFEST in association with 98FM Date: Sunday, 18th March Fun starts: at 6.30pm Show starts: at 7.30pm, Docklands, viewing from North and South Quay When Irish eyes are smiling… The biggest-ever, awe-inspiring ﬁreworks, laser and music spectacular will light up the magniﬁcent Docklands site to celebrate the National Lottery 20th birthday. DENNY BIG DAY OUT Date: Monday 19th March 2007 Starting Point: Merrion Square Time: 12:00pm - 6:00pm Just when you thought it was all over for another year. Not yet. Merrion Square will be transformed in to an original safari adventure for the Denny Big Day Out– where anything and everything can happen with the best of Irish and International Street theatre! Find your inner child and any other child you may have and delight in the magical company of clowns, acrobats, a giant whale, racing ostriches, and a pair of tap-dancing turkeys! Eat at the Denny BBQ set in a wild jungle, complete with life-sized animals, insects, birds and… no. No snakes. Happy Lá Fhéile Pádraig everyone! More information from: St. Patrickʼs Festival, St. Stephenʼs Green House, Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2 Phone: +353 (0)1 676 3205 Fax: +353 (0)1 676 3208. E-mail: info@stpatricksfestival.ie Web: http:// www.stpatricksfestival.ie

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

PAGE 11

B IG

LIES , LITTLE LIES AND WHITE LIES

By Eadaoin Ashe

few years ago my parents invested in the Readers Digest Magazine. For years they have lingered on the table in the corner of our South Dublin hallway, piled under unopened unimportant post, gathering dust, always there but never appealing enough to sneak a peek behind the front cover. On one of those restless nights I searched around my silent house, desperate to find something to read that would be boring enough to send me blissfully off to sleep by the opening paragraph. I picked up the newest edition to the sidelined bunch. Scrolling through the contents, I was already beginning to yawn, when something caught my eye,

ʻThe Lies Our Parents Told Usʼ. I read on. OK, so there are the basics, Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny, the dentist does hurt, and that no matter how many carrots we eat, we still couldnʼt see in the dark. But these lies are harmless, with no intent to hurt us in any way (besides the dentist). But what

other porkies was I told? I sat my mother down and informed her that it was time for the truth. I could handle it, or so I thought. I wanted to know everything. I needed to know was our out-of-control dog Bob really sent to a farm in Athlone to run free? Why did I really not get the electric puppy toy for Christmas

when I was nine? What did Joey the budgie really die from? That day, I discovered a darker side to my parents. At the time these stories were fed to me, I believed them, I later found out that my two older sisters didnʼt, but I always felt there was something that didnʼt fit, and I was about to discover I was right. Bob was not sent to a farm in Athlone, in fact, Bob was buried with our other dog Bailey in the back garden. Scamps, the electric puppy and the only item on my Santa list that year, was not stood on by Rudolph on our roof just before Santa was about to deliver him under my tree. No, on Christmas Eve as my Dad was putting in the batteries ready for use the next morning, Scamps broke. And Joey, well this oneʼs a heartbreaker. Joey broke his wing, and as it was a Sunday and there was no vet open, my kind-hearted and gentle-souled father decided to numb the broken birdʼs pain with a drop of whiskey.

I look forward to working with you as your Dáil candidate for Dublin South East. Make sure you are registered to vote. Call Daithí 086-8534666.

Joey died of heart failure that evening, and he too is buried in the garden with our other ill-fated pets, Bob and Bailey. Future archaeologists may have some unanswered questions about the goings-on in my house as my mother just informed me, “Theyʼre not the only ones out there!” Would I have been better off with the truth? Iʼm not so sure. Maybe, ten years down the line, when a muchloved pet rabbit is partially mauled by an urban fox and needs euthanasia, will I tell my then beloved four year old twins that Pebbles is gone to join his friends in the forest. Or, do I look them in their innocent tropical lake coloured eyes and tell them that Pebbles was torn to bits by the fox, after which a vet stuck a big needle in what was left of his back leg, and then threw him down a big black hole, where the big juicy maggots will eat him? What do you think my answer will be? Picture: A pet loversʼ back garden…?

PAGE 12

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

Sports Desk Sponsored by

“All I did was put the ball in the net.” By Peter Dowling, Chairman of Bath United

ath United was formed in 2003 as an under 15s football team. In their second year, the boys from the under 15s moved on to the Railway Union team and Bath United formed an under 12s team. This new team joined the South Dublin Football League (SDFL). In the ﬁrst season the team ﬁnished in fourth place in the league, having lost a few bogey matches. The highlight of this year though, was being invited to compete in a mini tournament, the Netherlands Cup in LouHurst, Holland. This was a really enjoyable

Raytown Bar

experience for all the team members and they made good friends. The players were not only a credit to their parents but also a credit to their country, as they showed great sportsmanship and respect for their fellow competitors. They finished third and this was amazing considering it was their first season. Thanks to Ballsbridge Motors, Water Born, Tony Byrne Crash Repairs, Shipwright, McInerney Builders, Ezioʼs, Euro Sales and Shelbourne House for their support. For Bath Unitedʼs (now under 13s team) second season, the parents of team members set up a committee and the club is now currently under new management with Jason Flood as manager, David Kemple as secretary, Pauline Bolger as child welfare office, Peter Dowling as chairman and Robbie McDonald as treasurer.

A lot of work and money is needed to keep a football club running and we are very grateful to the Raytown Bar, Gary Costello and Kevin Maughan for helping us with insurance. Thanks also to Ringsend Rovers and Bridge United for helping us with footballs and the much needed ʻbonus ballsʼ. Michael Quann and Robbie McDonald do a great job selling the bonus balls every Friday and Saturday night in the Shelbourne House and the Raytown Bar, so thanks also to Eddie and Harry of the Shelbourne and Cliff in the Raytown Bar for allowing us to do so. Thanks too to Barbara Flood, who performs the unenviable task of washing the teamʼs jerseys. The Directors of the Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre have very generously sponsored the team tracksuits. This all adds to the team spirit and the boys look great coming to and from the matches. The under 13s are on top of the league, having been undefeated for nine matches, drawing once and losing one match 1-0. If they get just six points out of the remaining matches they will win the league. Jason Flood is doing a great job in his ﬁrst year of management. The lads love the training and enjoy their football without being under pressure. Doing the best they can is all that is ever asked of the boys. David Kemple (known locally as Smasher) is to be commended for his exceptional commitment, positive attitude and his adaptability in the running of Bath United. He organised the wheels on the goalpost, the marking of

the pitch and makes sure everything is ready for the Sunday morning kick-off. One of the biggest overheads in the football club is transport. The total cost of transport to and from an away match is €80. Any help that parents can give by driving the boys to away matches would be much appreciated. When we were in Lou-Hurst at the quarter ﬁnals, it was brilliant to see the elation on Brian Greyʼs face when he scored the winning goal. It made the whole tournament and all the hard nights of training worthwhile. Better still when he got off the pitch he said “All I did was put the ball in the net,” implying he hadnʼt done as much as his team mates had done getting the ball to him. Thatʼs what itʼs really all about.

Bath to the Future The future looks bright for Bath United. The club is run so professionally and has come so far in such a short time. Currently they sit proudly on top of Divi-

sion 2 League Sunday with 31 points after 12 games. The battle for honours has turned into a two horse race between Bath United and Cashel Celtic who are on 18 points but have four games in hand. Bath Unitedʼs biggest result to date was the destruction of Green Park 12:1. Compliments to Mister Consistence, Gary Mullen, with his goal tally of 13 in 12 games. As regards club captain, Bath doesnʼt have one in particular as Manager, Jason Flood introduced a new system to the game by rotating the captaincy amongst the players, which creates morale and obviously works. Pictured clockwise from top left: Peter Dowling with Cliff from the Raytown Bar; Bath United Under 13s; Lorraine Brady, Manager of Ringsend and Irishtown Community Centre presenting team tracksuits for Bath United to David Kemple, James Kelly and Daniel McGuinness; Jordan Buckley meets his hero Brian OʼDriscoll.

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

PAGE 13

New Bulky Household Waste Collection Service Waste Management Services has recently introduced a new bulky household waste collection service in the South East Area. The new service will collect (in skip bags) bulky household waste such as furniture, kitchen units, old bicycles, carpets, bedding, etc, at your doorstep.

How to order a Skip Bag Simply telephone or call into our Customer Services Centre, Block 3, Ground Floor, Civic Ofﬁces, (2221000) to arrange payment of €75 (by cash, cheque or credit card) and a Skip Bag will be delivered to your door. When you have ﬁlled the bag, please telephone 2221000 to arrange for collection. Filled bags will be collected within 3 working days. The cost of €75 includes the provision of the Skip Bag, collection and disposal by Waste Management Services.

PAGE 14

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

D AN

FROM

R INGSEND P ARISH ’ S

DEDICATED NEW

Interview by Christy Hogan

V IETNAM

an arrived in Ringsend in 2006. He was an immediate hit with the local people, especially the parishioners of St Patrickʼs church. Dan is studying for the priesthood at Maynooth and was made Deacon in November last. He was born in Saigon, a city three times the size of Dublin with a population of eight million people. Dan tells me that Vietnam has a population of 83 million souls; he likes the word ʻsoulsʼ. His mother and father are both Vietnamese and the family surname, Nguyen, is extremely popular in Vietnam. He has seven brothers and five sisters. His eldest brother is a priest in Peterborough in England. He explains that Saigon is mainly a trading city. The further inland from the coast towards the Thailand side agriculture dominates. Dan tells me that Vietnam has a religious divide with fifty percent Buddhist, thirty per cent Catholic and twenty per cent atheist. When I asked Dan if he ever has doubts about the existence of God, his answer was adamant, “no doubts at all”. His strong faith in Catholicism emanates from family influence. When I asked him about schooldays, it was as if a raw nerve had been touched, an old sore opened. Dan detested the Communist school system.

D EACON

If a family had no work or no income, then the children could not afford to go to school. Schools and classes were overcrowded with no yard or playground and in some cases no toilets. Corporal punishment was rife. There was no social welfare. After his primary and second level schooling, Dan went to the University of Agriculture and Forestry. After five years he graduated as a vet. It was during the following years while working as a vet that Dan realised he had a calling to religious life. However, he could not get a place in the seminary as the Communist authorities only allow twenty students enter the seminary per year. Dan finally got a place at Maynooth University in 1999. When Dan first arrived in Ireland he found the weather horrible and the food horrible. Dairy produce like milk and cheese are not on the Vietnamese menu, most meals contain rice just as the Irish dinner generally has a few spuds thrown in. Dan says he has become acclimatised to the weather, loves his chips and loves living here. He says that the people are very friendly and he is very content in his vocation. I was surprised to learn that Dan will not be moving on after his ordination to some other country. You see, Dan is being specifically ordained for the Dublin diocese. In fact, Dan will be the only priest ordained in

Dublin this year. I believe Archbishop Martin gave Dan the nod for his ordination on November 14th next. I say get the bunting out, pronto. When I asked Dan about ambition such as becoming a parish priest or a bishop, he gently put me straight on the matter. It doesnʼt work like that, he explained, itʼs not like any other career. If you were to enter reli-

gious life with ʻladder climbingʼ ambitions, you would probably not be suitable. Dan says he will be happy to be a priest serving the people. He is looking forward to anointing the sick, giving children their ﬁrst Holy Communion and hearing confessions. When I ask Dan about his recreation and hobbies, he becomes ﬁred with enthusiasm. He plays

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soccer and Gaelic football and enjoys swimming. Dan also likes table tennis, lawn tennis and works out in the gym. He has played soccer for the seminary in Europe. When I asked about the churchʼs view on relationships and celibacy, Dan had no hesitation in his reply. Dan had a girlfriend whom he loved very much but he felt there was something missing. That something was his ʻcallingʼ to religious life, his vocation. Dan enjoys singing and is member of the choir. His rendition of ʻO Holy Nightʼ at the Christmas mass was very enjoyable and he got a big round of applause. All his family are into singing and music in general. If you were not going to be a priest, I asked, what other profession or career would you pursue? Dan was once again adamant: the priesthood is the only thing in life for me, there is “no other” career. Dan has extremely good English. He explained that he was forced into learning English in order to study theology at Maynooth. He said he picked up the language by constantly listening to the radio. He likes Newstalk 106 and enjoys Joe Duffy. I guess Joe will be chuffed to hear that. As the interview ended, I thanked Dan and Parish Priest Father Coady. I have to say for my part it was a pleasure and so interesting. So interesting, in fact, that I felt like discarding my notes and just having a good chat.

THE NEW hardware shop, Murtaghʼs, opened in Sandymount Village on St Valentineʼs Day. It may be new to Sandymount, but the company was formed in 1887 by Stephen Murtagh. Stephen Murtagh & Sons has been trading as grain, hardware and stable equipment merchants since that time. The company began as millers and grain merchants making up feed for poultry and dry food for beasts. They were particularly well-known in the 1920s for their chicken and hen feed.

They began trading in Middle Abbey Street, moving to Smithfield in the 1930s and purchased their Ashbourne site in 1956. With the redevelopment in Smithfield (the Harp area) the entire business was moved to a purposebuilt facility in Ashbourne in 2003. The Dublin business is now carried out from offices above the Ashbourne shop, with an extension currently being built which will bring the size of the shop up to 8,000 sq ft. Colin Murtagh, the great-grandson of the founder, says that the company traded in grain predominantly until the 1960s. “In the 1960s our product mix was 85% Grain 15% Hardware, and today it is 85% Hardware 15% Grain.” Murtaghʼs are the sole distributors for specialized wire for fence contractors (Keepsafe wire) throughout the country and they also supply stable equipment to stud farms. The new Sandymount shop is like a revitalized Aladdinʼs Cave. Colin Murtagh is very happy to be in the area and says that he is delighted to have been able to take the opportunity to open the shop in Sandymount. “From our opening on St Valentineʼs Day, we have received huge encouragement from the local people,” he says.

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

PAGE 15

T ONY B YRNE – GUITAR MASTER By John Cavendish

ony Byrne has been playing guitar since he was an 11 year old and throughout his teenage years played with various groups, covering a range of styles such as rock and roll, blues, pop funk and soul. For a time he specialised in the styles of Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton and Scotty Moore, who played with Elvis. I first got in touch with Tony myself on a student basis a couple of years ago. I had never had the time to put in or money for lessons when I was younger, but I have always admired people who could play an instrument, even to a point of jealousy and thought that I should take up lessons as I had missed out on an important side of life. I first went to an adult evening class in Ringsend Technical Institute on a course ʻGuitar for Beginnersʼ and this went well

for the first few weeks. It was a group session with 7 to 8 students that covered an overview with some of the basics, but it lacked an in-depth intensity that would only be possible with one-to-one tuition. I found the answer with an advertisement in this newspaper by Tony Byrne offering guitar lessons. I got in touch with the man himself and told him I was in my 40s and had not had the chance to learn to play, but would like to try to learn. His advice was a reassuring message that I was not to old to learn but had to put in the practice, so now I go to Tony once a week. After finishing in Star of the Sea, Tony went to Sandymount High School on a scholarship but soon realised that music was his calling. In the late 60s he studied with the legendry jazz guitarist Louis Stewart and subsequently became involved in the jazz scene in Dublin. He plays with his own quar-

tet in restaurants, hotels and corporate functions and has played with most of the wellknown jazz musicians in Ireland in trios, quartets, quintets and so on. Some ten years ago, he began teaching guitar from his home in Tritonville Road to pass on his vast knowledge. He gets immense satisfaction from teaching and tells of the importance of music to him throughout his life and on a broader level, he talks of the importance music has for people generally. He even believes that itʼs a spiritual experience. “It can be an emotional experience for most, it gives a confidence that helps one develop and itʼs great fun socially, although not for everyone as there are many lonely hours of practice behind a performance,” says Tony. As a student with Tony I do find it is fascinating to get so close musically to someone with so many yearsʼ experience.

Murtagh’s Hardware has arrived in D4! Come and visit our newly refurbished Hardware Shop opposite Tesco Sandymount Hardware is all but there Come for the service and stay for the smile & value If we do not have what you require, we will endeavour to source same within reason asap!

Our product range includes the following: Variety of paints varnishes & paint accessories Garden equipment – compost, ﬂowers, compost bins hanging baskets etc Garden furniture & barbeques Pet food & pet accessories Assortment of tools General household General electrical Builders products Protective clothing Fuel – smokeless coal 20kg €9.95, briquettes, logs and kindling sticks at very competitive prices And much, much more

PAGE 16

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

H APPY 80 TH

BIRTHDAY TO

D ONNYBOOK S COUTS

By Eadaoin Ashe

stablished in 1927, this year sees Donnybrook celebrate its eightieth birthday, making it one of the oldest scouting groups in the country. The 3rd/ 40th/ 41st Donnybrook Scout Group (DSG) still resides at the bottom of Eglinton Road Donnybrook, where every week around 200 beavers, cubs, scouts, venturers and leaders pass through the gates for a fun-ﬁlled night of learning and games. With Gaisce awards, a UN Millennium Development Award and generations of fulﬁlled scouters under her belt, DSG need not shy away from the limelight. Over the past eighty years, DSG has gone through many changes, but still remains a focal point in the community it embraces. The worldwide scouting movement itself is one hundred years old this year. Baden Powell, who

set up the movement in 1907 as a place where young boys and girls could learn things that the education system couldnʼt teach them, would be proud of the long and celebrated history that Donnybrook has undertaken. At the beginning of 2004,

Donnybrook joined 40,000 other scouts from all over Ireland when the two scouting establishments in Ireland, SAI (Scouting Association Ireland which was mostly dominant in the North) and CSI (Catholic Scouts Ireland) joined together to form

Scouting Ireland. With a new organisation and new guidelines, many changes occurred within Donnybrook, including a new uniform, but traditions at Donnybrook remained. Every year on St. Patrickʼs Day, the boys and girls of Donny-

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brook march from their scout hall to Donnybrook Church for mass. The opening prayer is still spoken at the beginning of meetings, and the promise and mottos are the same of those spoken in the years before. DSG has a strong relationship with the community and has established itself as one of the strongest scouting groups in the country. Many of the leaders at Donnybrook today joined as beavers at the age of six and worked their way up through the ranks to help, nurture and guide a new generation of scouts. A well-deserved pat on the back to all the past and present members of Donnybrook Scout Group for helping in the continuation of a great outlet for children. Any past members who would like to share their memories, stories and photographs of Donnybrook Scouts please contact Eadaoin at eadaoinashe@hotmail.com or write to us here at NewsFour, 15 Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4.

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

PAGE 17

P AT R ABBITTE

By John Cavendish

at Rabbitte TD, the Labour Party leader, visited Ringsend recently. After lunch in the ʻHobbler ʼs Endʼ he and former Labour Leader Ruairí Quinn paid a visit to the Community Centre, the home-from-home creche in Thorncastle Street, the ʻNewsFour ʼ offices and then went on to Cambridge Court. Pat was delighted to

S PORTING

rguably one of Dublinʼs biggest success stories, ESB Sportsco kickstarted the New Year off with an exclusive €12.8million redevelopment and website which its general manager Lorna Brady was confident would ensure that this every growing company would be one of the leading leisure centres in the country to offer state-of-the-art facilities to members and guests alike. Sportsco first opened in 1979 and membership is now open to both local residents and nonESB staff. It prides itself on high standards and close customer relations, claiming that “the health and well-being of its members” is their priority. With this in mind, Sportsco say they are delighted to announce the expansion and redevelopment of their existing premises, the first sod of which was officially turned on 9th January last by Padraig McManus, CEO of ESB. The redevelopment is expected to take approximately 18 months

VISITS

meet local people and commented on the friendly atmosphere in the area. I asked him his view on the Green Party. He said that he would like to be able to offer the Irish people a Labour government but could do business with the Green Party as they had brought something important to Irish politics. Pat Rabbitte said that no party had a monopoly on the environment and that he was concerned about global

R INGSEND

warming. “It is such a big issue,” he said, “and there is a responsibility on all parties to put forward policies that make sense on climate change.” I asked him about his view on Fianna Fáil. “The present government have become leveraged on the side of the wealthy and the developers and left behind their original roots. They donʼt listen to people and have grown remote.” We spoke about the swing

back to the left in South America and he responded that “The ideas behind democratic socialism have never gone away but you have to apply such ideology to the times youʼre living in. In South America the people have voted for Chavez and others like him in different parts of the world. “In Ireland now we very badly need a government that will focus on society and not just the economy. What has been happening here is that the sole focus has been on the economy. “Many of the issues that have been neglected are those that make up the quality of life such as the health services, public transport, child care, good policing etc. These are the things that determine the quality of life for our people.” Pat is pictured outside the centre with Mary Lawless, Ruairí Quinn, Mary OʼBrien, Betty Bissett, Lorraine Brady, Gerard Egan, John Murphy and Marie Rutter.

Sinn Féin Dublin South East Representative, Cllr. Daithi Doolan has been appointed by Dublin City Council (DCC) to the Dublin Docklands Development Authority (DDDA). Cllr. Doolan, a resident of the docklands, joins a number of local Councillors, community members, DDC delegates and members of the business sector. Cllr. Doolan said “I am delighted that Dublin City Council has decided to appoint me to the DDDA Council and I intend using my new position to advance the cause of sustainable community development that addresses the social needs of all our innercity citizens.”

ball Club website for their move to their new Arab Emirates stadium.” Frank OʼConnor, Chairman of ESB Sportsco, said: “In our 28th year we are embarking on our biggest and most exciting prospect ever. After market research among members and competitors along with advice from international industry specialists, we

drew up innovative plans for the major redevelopment of Sportsco. “We will be one of the first sports facilities to have a teen gym, reflecting the growing importance of heath and fitness amongst our youth. The facility will be built not only for members but also the growing population of Dublin 4, estimated to be

about 35,000.” For further information log onto www.sportco.ie Pictured left to right are: Denis Bermingham, Ed Harding, Lorna Brady, General Manager Sportsco, Padraig McManus Chief Executive ESB, Justin Mahony, Frank OʼConnor, Chairman Sportsco, Joe Gavaghan and Grainne Cregan.

Sinn Féin’s Cllr. Doolan appointed to Docklands Authority

SUCCESS to build and will include a new teen gym, a state of the art gymnasium (twice its original size), new aerobic and spinning studios, a day spa and a café/juice bar, as well as new and improved modern changing facilities and much much more. It will be ʻbusiness as usualʼ for the staff and members as the facility will remain open during the redevelopment with minimum disruption. Sportsco is also launching a brand new website (www.sportsco.ie) for members and nonmembers, which will feature information on the full range of activities and facilities available. Very shortly, there will be a database on health and well-being information, as well as the facility to book and pay online. Speaking to ʻNewsFourʼ, Lorna Brady, General Manager, said: “An interesting feature of the new website will be regular updates on the building schedule to alert members on progress. It is modelled on the Arsenal Foot-

PAGE 18

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

Film Scene•••By Michael Hilliard ‘The Good Shepherd’

obert De Niro directs a stellar cast, in the first of what he hopes to be a cold war trilogy. ʻThe Good Shepherdʼ tells the story of the origin and early history of the CIA, from the viewpoint of Edward Wilson (Matt Damon). Starting from his early days as a member of the ʻSkull and Bonesʼ secret society at Yale

University, the movie charts Wilsonʼs espionage experiences through World War 2, and into the Cold War era, and the devastating effect it has on his personal life. Damon is a revelation here. His portrayal of Edward Wilson (a fictional mix of several actual people), is so masterfully underplayed, conveying everything through subtle glances, and restrained expression, covering a thirty

year period as an intensely secretive man, utterly devoted to serving his country. The film feels timeless. The story by Eric Roth, is an intricate one, and at times veers off course, and while these tangents donʼt seem to be serving the plot as such, they do contribute to our understanding of the character of Edward Wilson. Weighing in at two hours and forty minutes, the film manages to never be less than interesting, and never outstays its welcome. De Niroʼs direction of actors is second to none, as he proved with his little-seen and underrated debut ʻA Bronx Taleʼ in 1993. Why it has taken fifteen years to step behind the camera again, is anybodyʼs guess.

His level of ability has somehow seemed to have multiplied, as ʻThe Good Shepherdʼ feels like something Coppola or Scorsese himself could have made. It doesnʼt hurt, though, that the top talent will always flock to be involved with a De Niro project, considering how much of an influence he has so clearly been, on many of todayʼs stars. Highly recommended. 4.5 out of 5

feature debut, the zombie romantic comedy, ʻShaun of the Deadʼ, and now comes their second feature-length effort, in the form of an action comedy parody, ʻHot Fuzzʼ. Pegg plays Nicholas Angel, the best of the best of Londonʼs Metroplitan police service, complete with an arrest record four hundred percent higher than any other officer on the force. Accused of making his colleagues look bad, Angel is relocated to the sleepy countryside village of Sandford. Convinced that this model village is not entirely what it seems after a series of inexplicable ʻaccidentalʼ deaths, Angel sets about uncovering its dark secrets, aided by his new partner, the child-like Danny Butterman (Frost). Co-writers for the best part of a decade, Wright and Pegg have developed a unique brand of storytelling, loaded with nods to popular culture. For ʻShaun of the Deadʼ, they utilised all the conventions of both romantic comedies and zombie movies to superb ef-

fect, by placing the action in a very English setting, subsequently turning those conventions on their heads. They pull the same trick here, shooting a ʻLethal Weaponʼ-style, buddy-cop movie, complete with references to Michael Bayʼs ʻBad Boysʼ movies and ʻPoint Breakʼ, among others. The on-screen comedic chemistry between straightfaced Angel, and the endearingly immature Butterman, is undeniably entertaining stuff. After an expectedly dense, exposition-heavy opening twenty minutes, the film hits its stride, and delivers on the stellar premise, scene after scene. The plot is obviously ludicrous, but thatʼs the whole point. The film gives Wright, Pegg and Frost the stage they deserve to get their comedy seen by as many people as possible, as they have crafted an infinitely more accessible piece of entertainment than they did with their previous effort. 4 out of 5

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NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

PAGE 19

WELCOME TO AMSTERDAM

Amsterdam– Bicycle Heaven

nal work, in a very hot museum. My wife bought the usual poster and we also got some postcards. The ﬁrst night we were there we found a little Italian restaurant, which served some of the best food I have ever tasted. I had Calzone which is a pizza folded in two with Bolognese sauce on top of it. Iʼm a new man after eating it. We went there every night. The visit to Anne Frankʼs house was a very interesting one. I saw the secret doorway behind a book case that led to the famous secret hideout of Anne and seven others. It was a three storey annex that overlooked a canal. She was captured and killed in a concentration camp just one month before the war ended. I came away feeling depressed at this tragedy. There were little pictures on the walls where she

had tried to amuse herself. They had stayed in hiding for two years without leaving. We decided to cheer ourselves up and went to a flea market at Waterlooplein. There I bought an army hat that covered my ears and in the Dutch winter it was needed as well as being very comical. I also came across a box of Swiss army knives that had been used before and picked a good one for five euro. We then went to Rembrandtʼs house and to a museum showing many of his great works. It was a very enjoyable way to finish a trip to Amsterdam. I would recommend Amsterdam for a great weekend or longer if you can manage it. Main picture: Brian (on the left) is greeted by a man in a funny hat. Left and below: Amsterdamʼs trademark bicycles and lively night life.

olive bar. There is also a fresh ﬁsh counter where you can buy all kinds of ﬁsh as well as oysters and cod roe. Beside this there was a small freezer to dive into for delicacies such as rabbit, frogsʼ legs, foie gras and ostrich! It was like a gourmandʼs dream pantry. There were bottled beers from all around the world and the wine section was extensive, with wines from France, Italy, Argentina, Chile, California and more. To

go with this the cheese department has upwards of 100 types of cheeses, as well as jams to accompany them. As well as satisfying all tastes, Fresh tries to cater for coeliacs, allergy sufferers and vegetarians. To this end, they supply spelt flour products, Aines chocolate from Co. Westmeath and Safetoeat soups which are totally free of artificial flavours or preservatives. There is a full vegetarian range. The shop was opened in December 2006. There are two other Fresh supermarkets in Dublin, one in Smithfield and another at Northern Cross on the Malahide road. John Moran is very enthusiastic about his project and emphasises that Fresh stocks the essentials, the everyday and the extras.

By Brian Rutherford

he first thing I noticed as we flew over Holland was how flat it actually is. We touched down at Shipohl airport on a windy but sunny day and jumped into a taxi. It was a very stylish Mercedes and we felt like royalty as we drove on what seemed like the wrong side of the road. We pulled in at our hotel on Koninginneweg Street, (donʼt ask me to say it). It was then I noticed the first bicycle. The city seemed to be bicycle heaven, everybody used them, and the streets were

crammed with them because there are no hills, as well as it being more economical. In Amsterdam you have to be very careful, the street trams have the right of way and run all the time. There is no deﬁnition on the roads there, cars, trams, bicycles all carry on oblivious to pedestrians. If it wasnʼt for the bell on the trams there would be numerous road deaths. On the second day, we went to the Van Gogh museum and were treated to a selection of his origi-

Fresh

A NEW SUPERMARKET CATERING FOR EVERYONE

By Nessa Jennings

resh is a brand new supermarket for Dublin. The latest store to open is situated on the edge of Ringsend at Bolandʼs bridge (otherwise known as the Iron Bridge or more correctly the McMahon Bridge), where it will serve local residents of Dublin 4 and Dublin 2. The feel of the location is distinctly modern, with high-rise buildings, a mixture of ofﬁces and residential, overlooking the basin of Grand Canal Dock. The supermarket is accessed by a wide paved walkway with the Ocean Bar across the water on the other side. There are outdoor tables where

you can sip your coffee and enjoy the docklandʼs ambience and waterside view. Inside, there is a fully appointed café, a juice bar and a news stand. At 10,500 square feet, Fresh is spacious, designed to speciﬁcation, and ﬁlled with familiar and specialist produce. John Moran, the franchisee and manager, explained to me the Fresh brand concept. “We mix mainstream commercial brands with more high-end speciality food and we support small Irish producers”, he said. “Organic means local and also Irish. All of our meat is 100% Irish. The fruit and vegetables are sourced in Balbriggan with some organic, and Blazing Salads are great bread suppliers.” I could see that the ciabatta and

sourdough bread looked really good. They have a huge range of breads: ﬂatbreads from California side-by-side with cakes and bread from Noirinʼs bakery. I bought myself some bagels, which looked fresh and delicious. As we went through the store, there was more than enough variety. There are counters for everything from hams, salamis, sausages and pates to a section dedicated to antipasti, a pizza bar and a full

PAGE 20

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

M Y FAVOURITE PLACE – S WORDS

By Brian Rutherford

words village (Sord Cholmcille) is west of Malahide. Saint Columba founded the town about 560 A.D. He then left for Iona.

Supposedly, it was founded at a well blessed by Saint Colmcille. St Colmcilleʼs monastic settlement survives high above the town with a 9th Century Round Tower and 13th Century Mediaeval Square. The ruins of a round tower

can still be seen to this day at the Church of Ireland in Swords. The well is still present in the grounds of Saint Columbaʼs church. ʻSordʼ means clear and pure in Irish. The water in the Swords well is supposedly so clear that it can cure sore eyes.

The well was refurbished in 1991. Swords castle was built around 1200 as an episcopal manor. It is five-sided, surrounding a courtyard. There is a large gateway with a porterʼs room on the left. On the right, there is a priestʼs room with 13th century windows, a stairwell to the first floor and a chapel from the 14th century with bits of an original tiled floor. There is also a tower at the north end, where the constable of the castle dwelt. Queen Elizabeth gave the town municipal rights in 1578 and a weekly court was held. Opposite the castle was once a corn mill, powered by the Ward River for local farmers. There is an old Vicarage from the 17th century where Rev. Espine lived in 1730. Saint Colmcilleʼs church and graveyard is well worth a look. The church was built in 1827. It has been altered over the years and a vestry was added in 1879. The graveyard has some legends from Irish history in it, including A.J. Ket-

tle (1833-1916), a famous Irish patriot who was Parnellʼs right hand man. In North Street, you will come across the courthouse, designed by Alexander Tate in 1845 for the purpose of sorting out petty offences in the village. It still stands as a workable courthouse to this day. The Carnegie library founded by Andrew Carnegie is situated on North Street as well and opened in 1908. Today, it houses a museum and family

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NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007 lawcourts. On Well Road, there is an old Constabulary Barracks which was used in the 18th and 19th centuries for policemen. In 1834 a site was chosen for a junior school. It was built in Tudor style and although it is now a restaurant, it still has many original features like the ceiling, wooden panelling and a timber ﬂoor. Some of the original pupilsʼ names are still carved on the walls. Besides the historical features of Swords, it is a busy village with a huge shopping facility called the Pavilion, which boasts a new cinema complex. There are plenty of pubs from the Lord Mayor to the Slaughtered Lamb and excellent restaurants such as Wrightʼs and the Old Boro. Swords itself is located off the M50 and M1 motorways and has

PAGE 21 many large estates and new apartment complexes. Itʼs a village on the up and well worth a day out. There is a beach and seafront just down the road at Malahide and Portmarnock. From left, opposite page: Swords Castle and the Lord Mayorʼs pub. Below: The round tower in the Church of Ireland grounds.

FROM MONAGHAN TO PROVENCE By Patrick Duffy

ur view was of the hills and neighbours ploughing ﬁelds or harvesting hay. “God bless the work” as I carried out pots of boiling spuds to feed hungry pigs squealing and grunting at the heavy iron haggard gate. Our hills were easy to climb, the drumlins of Ballynagearn. They were childʼs play. Later, I was to attempt Mont Blanc in France but it was the Mont Saint Victoire which captured my imagination most in the eighties and nineties as I lived a short distance from it in Aiz-enProvence. It was Cezanne who ﬁrst placed the mountain (right) in bright, clear sunlight in the middle of his compositions as the motif. The other elements– pine branches, or the arc valley– are only there to lead our gaze to the mountain, majestic in the centre. A hundred years after his death, Aix-en-Provence has at last discovered the power of its painter. Up until his death in 1906, he painted the Aix countryside, having returned there in 1870 tired of

failure in Paris. Seen as an absurd original incapable of ﬁnishing a painting, he got no recognition from the town or its inhabitants, only indifference and contempt. Some paintings he gave his fellow citizens remained in attics; one in fact, was used to seal a hole in the ﬂoor of a hen house. Cezanne is now the hero of Aix as it celebrates the hundreth anniversary of his death with a splendour perhaps proportional to its bad conscience. Paul Cezanneʼs art is linked in various and special ways to his home region, Provence, and with the places and formative experiences of his youth, which

he spent in and near Aix-en-Provence. He did 44 oils and 45 watercolours of Mont Sainte Victoire, it lies north-easterly on the plain of the Arc at over a thousand metres to the east of Aix. He passed away during the night of 22nd October, due to pleurisy. He painted right up to a few days before the end, thus fulﬁlling his wish to paint up to his death. Patrick Duffy is a writer, actor and teacher. He was born in Ballynagearn, Magheracloone, Co. Monaghan and spent nine years in Aix-en Provence

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NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

C ARE AND R EPAIR PROGRAMME Volunteers needed

Age Action Ireland is delighted to announce with the generous help of Irish Life this new programme of handyperson and home visiting services to help older people to stay in their own homes for as long as they wish. Age Action is the national advocacy body on ageing and older people. Our vision is to make Ireland the best place in which to grow older. We are committed to fighting discrimination and promoting positive ageing and securing high quality services for all older people. We are looking for volunteers, starting in the Dublin Docklands area and Galway City but later in all parts of the country. The only qualifications required are a positive, caring attitude, some spare time and the ability to help older people with small tasks around the home. DIY or basic joinery skills would help, but a willing pair of hands is the only real requirement. We will provide training, insurance and out-of pocket expenses. Are you interested in volunteering for this very worthwhile programme? Do you have relatives or friends who may also be interested in volunteering? If so, please contact Jennifer Connolly on: Tel: 01 4756989 Email: jennifer.connolly@ageaction.ie

ABC

D UBLIN C INEMAS

A new book by George Kearns and Patrick Maguire

THE ʻA B C of Dublin Cinemasʼ is surely a magnum opus. It contains five hundred pages of information on every picture house in Dublin since 1900. George Kearns and Patrick Maguire spent two years on research and it shows. The detail is simply breathtaking. Long forgotten names of over 100 years ago are catalogued. The names of the first and last movies shown in the many picture houses are given, including my own locals The Deluxe, Princess and Stella in Rathmines. No matter where you live your picture house is mentioned, for example The Premier in Lucan gets 14 pages The Tower in Clondalkin 19 pages and it just goes on and on. The information is simply staggering and a goldmine of facts and figures for future historians. We owe a big thank you to George Kearns and Patrick Maguire for this tour de force. If you have any interest in movies I highly recommend that you do yourself a favour and get this book. ʻABC of Dublin Cinemasʼ is available in paperback in Books on the Green, Sandymount. The picture above was taken at the exhibition which accompanied the book launch. By Noel Twamley

B RENDAN G RACES SHOWBIZ FOR 30 YEARS O

By Audrey Healy

ne of Irelandʼs best-loved ambassadors of comedy and music Brendan Grace is celebrating over thirty years in show business. Having conquered Ireland many years ago, he is growing in popularity in the United States and divides his time between the sunny Florida home he shares with his wife of over thirty years and his four grown-up children Amanda, Melanie, Bradley and Brendan Patrick, and his native Dublin– and itʼs clear that home is where the heart is. For the popular Dub, coming back to perform in Ireland is always special and his impressive CV speaks for itself– for over three decades heʼs been at the helm of the professional scene and according to the man himself, itʼs all because of a favourite Aunt! “I have an Aunt, Wyn Meyler, who now lives in South Carolina. She was a very famous model in Ireland when I was young and I was always impressed that every hotel porter and taxi driver seemed to know her. She used to take me to the Gresham Hotel for tea and I was very impressed by the life she led and it probably gave me a taste of the good life. I also worked in my Uncleʼs pub on Wexford Street (now the Mean Fiddler) in the early 1960s. It was a singing pub and I used to sing a couple of songs like ʻGhost Riders in the Skyʼ and ʻLovely Leitrimʼ. I wasnʼt paid but that didnʼt matter. Singing in the pub and seeing my aunt being recognised were probably the two most important things that encouraged me to go into show business.” Brendan began his professional career as a singer with ʻThe Gingermenʼ, prior to emigrating to Canada in 1971 to pursue solo work. His natural delivery and comic ﬂair shone through and he went on to become one of Irelandʼs most successful comedians. He created the lovable rogue ʻBottlerʼ (pictured) and his own composition ʻCombine Harvesterʼ reached number one in the charts in 1980. It was a chance meeting in 1991 that proved instrumental in him making his mark on the international scene. Brendan was asked to entertain musical legends Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Junior and Liza Minnelli at a private function in his native

Dublin and the response from ʻOlʼ Blue Eyesʼ himself was more than he could have wished for. It led to an offer of secure employment in the US for Brendan, who admits he pondered over the decision for some time. “When we went, we decided to try it for two years at the most,” he says of that time. “It was a case of just going and seeing what would happen. Now we absolutely adore living here, with the weather and the way of life. But Ireland is and always will be home.” Three decades on from those tentative early days on stage, Brendan enjoys sell-out runs in many establishments including Dublinʼs Gaiety Theatre and appearing before a live audience has always been an unforgettable experience. “I was the person who stepped into Jack Cruiseʼs shoes at the Olympia Theatre after his death,” he reveals. “He was a hard act to follow, but I did it. I would like to acknowledge the fact that people like Jack, Cecil Sheridan, Maureen Potter, Danny Cummins, Chris Casey and Val Fitzpatrick are all the people I tried to

emulate when I went into the theatre. Here were the people who inﬂuenced me the most.” Coming home and seeing the response of the Irish is clearly very special to this veteran of comedy. “To receive a standing ovation every night is really more important than money,” he says. “Words cannot describe the feeling you get when a packed theatre stands on its feet. It is very emotional. Being a Dub I used to close the show with ʻDublin in the Rare Oulʼ Timesʼ but some nights I had to let the audience sing it. I just couldnʼt. I had to hold myself back from breaking down. Without a doubt those times have been the highlights of my career.” Brendanʼs selﬂess work for childrenʼs charities has won him many accolades. He was appointed President of Irelandʼs Performing Artists Trust Society and he also received an honour which was bestowed on him by former Taoiseach Charlie Haughey, making him a Commissioner Of Peace in Ireland.

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

PAGE 23

A RT FOR ART ’S SAKE

By Nessa Jennings

anny F. Kelly is a young artist from Dublin. At 19, he has chosen abstract art as his form of expression. He ﬁrst exhibited this year in January at Monster Truck studios and gallery on Francis Street and has just ﬁnished an exhibition at the Dame Street Gallery. Six untitled works were exhib-

ited as his first statement to the public. They are all executed in oil paint on large, nearly-square canvases. These are the simple tools he uses to create what he hopes are ʻpotent and profoundʼ pieces of abstract art. He rents a studio in Dublin 1, and he explained to me how he realises a painting and how it affects the viewer. There are three first elements of each picture: The plane or canvas, the first mark he makes, and the

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mark as it is on the canvas. To this he will keep adding graphical elements until it ʻmakes senseʼ and the picture is complete. During the process he says, laws transpire, and he solves each problem by adding more paint in order to balance the equation and tie up all the loose ends before the painting can be ﬁnished. In this way, he hopes, each painting is a collection of marks where there is no focal point and nothing is dominant. The whole painting consists of a juxtaposition of diverse elements with its own essence and its own autonomous reality. This helps the viewer.

By attempting to make it crystal clear, the viewer can enjoy the coherence of the painting. Danny distinguishes two responses in the viewer: appreciation of the work itself for itself, and the possibility of self-reﬂection. Art can lead us to be able to relate to our own life events, which he calls our emotive past, and at the same time also reminds us of our spiritual past and any profound experiences. This is pure abstract art which hopes to connect the reality of the expression with the viewerʼs reality. His works have atmosphere and power, and deserve a sustained look as all of the properties of the

painting have to register for the full effect. Dannyʼs style is rooted in the twentieth century, the modern period in the 40s and 50s. He likes the American artist Mark Rothko, and Irish contemporary artists like Felim Egan and Sean Scully. He is consistently working, and will be showing as soon as his work comes to fruition as he “does not want to conceal his progress.” Watch out on recirca.com, the Irish art magazine Circaʼs website for upcoming exhibitions or you can look at works from his current exhibition at www.damestreetgallery.com Left: Untitled.

PAGE 24

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007 DYLAN ROCHE Global warming doesnʼt particularly worry me but I do my bit for the environment. I cycle and I recycle. Paper, glass, bottles, and plastics where I can, compost as well. What bad I do the environment I suppose is the same as everyone else, which is using electricity and living. What changes there should be? Everyone is going to drive so why not make it compulsory to use hybrid cars? The biggest problem is people being apathetic and not doing anything. You canʼt really deny that there are issues and my fear would be that nothing is going to change, that nobody is going to do anything about it. By the time people wake up to it it will be too late.

G G L L O O B W A L?

andymountʼs locals were asked if global warming concerned them, what they did and didnʼt do to help. They were asked for ideas on how to improve the situation and ﬁnally what they thought the greatest environmental problem was.

What Will You Do? We all have to take responsibility to prevent climate change “As we stand at the brink of a period of unprecedented climate change, scientists have a special responsibility once again to inform the public and advise leaders about the dangers that humanity faces. We foresee great perils if governments and society do not take action now to prevent further climate change.” Stephen Hawking commenting after the doomsday clock had been brought forward to five minutes to twelve. Until recently, humanity, primarily from the first world, has been oblivious to the harm their actions have had, and continue to have, on the environment. Science is now providing information, confirming that our behaviour is adversely affecting the condition of the entire planet. Scientists predict oncoming catastrophes of biblical proportions. The ominous forecast is of rising oceans, wide-scale land loss through flooding, destruction of ice shelves and an increase in the global temperature. While it may look bleak, science is also showing us the correct way forward. There are no supernatural forces at work, just irresponsible human activity and now that we realise our power to affect the globe, we can get on with changing our behaviour for the better. We should all now be aware of our ʻcarbon footprintʼ, (that is the total amount of greenhouse gases we each produce, expressed in tons of carbon dioxide or CO2). The average person is responsible for emitting 11 tonnes of carbon a year. Everyone should be conscious of this and aim to reduce their output. It is time to take pride in our home of Earth. We must all show awareness and accept responsibility. It seems we can no longer entrust the planet to God or fate, but to ourselves. For ourselves and for the future generations (the global population was 2.5 billion in 1950 and is predicted to be 9.5 billion by 2050). But the ruling message is simple, and we all know it by now. That is to use less and consume less. Use the car less. Buy less things. Reuse things. Recycle things. Save energy where you can. Some environmental tips that can reduce your carbon footprint * Turn lights off, even if youʼre leaving the room for a short time. * Choose some days or a week where you will walk, cycle, or use public transport when you can. *A quarter of the average bin is made up of organic waste. Acquire a food-composting bin. *Buy local, seasonal vegetables. *Turn off computers and other appliances when not in use.

MARY MURPHY Global warming does worry me. I recycle mainly and I try not to use more electricity or gas than I need to. I have a car but I donʼt use it if I think I can use public transport. There are things the government could do. Iʼve been reading that old ESB plants use far more energy than they should. They should make sure that infrastructure is more efficient. Itʼs using more energy than it should to generate energy. The lack of public transport also means you rely on the car. The oil crisis is pretty major and the first world uses far too much of everything. I think each country, thinking globally, should assess what it can do and get together and try, really try to do things that will benefit the environment.” SEAN OʼTOOLE Absolutely global warming causes me concern. We have three bins in our house, recycling food stuff, glass, paper and cardboard. Iʼm sure I do things bad for the environment but itʼs hard to say. A major problem is obviously the SUVʼs, theyʼre the main concern. I donʼt drive one and I think theyʼre awful. Theyʼre too big and in reality theyʼre of no use to society. I think there should be a higher tax on them to try to get people away from buying them. Personally, I think the way forward is nuclear power, if done properly. I know people might disagree but fossil fuels are the problem: theyʼre the main cause of global warming.

SIOBHAN MC ERLEAN Global warming does cause me concern. At home we recycle all our waste. We turn off lights and try and reduce the heating whenever we can. I do drive a big car. Itʼs an eight seater but itʼs not a SUV, itʼs a people carrier. I have five children so I need it. For the benefit of the environment, I would try to get more people on their bicycles. They should put in proper cycle paths and there should also be better promotion of cycling. Improved education would help, starting at primary school level where children should be made more aware of the issues facing us. SEAN OʼHARA Global warming causes me a certain amount of concern. I am a very keen walker and walk in preference to taking the bus if itʼs a reasonable journey. Where weʼre standing now if you look to your right there is a bus stop and there is a car parked at the bus stop. Theyʼre going into the local shop and theyʼve probably only driven a couple of hundred yards and that goes on all day everyday. Theyʼre using their cars needlessly and itʼs definitely polluting the atmosphere. People depend on oil and itʼs going to run out and thereʼs nothing to take its place. Nuclear energy is spoken about but I think thatʼs even worse. What do they do with the waste? They talk about encasing it in concrete boxes and sinking it to the bottom of the sea. Thatʼs no solution. Renewable resources such as forestry, grown like a crop for fuel might be an alternative. Cut one down and plant two in its place. EMILY MC MANUS I think global warming is terrifying. It was talked about as if it was very much in the future. Now theyʼre talking about it happening in the next 10 years. Thereʼs a very definite date on it. I have gotten very careful about recycling and I try to minimize the use of the car. I use the car because I have to travel in my work but whenever I can I use the bike. The ideal would be if public transport was a lot better and everyone used that. There could be better recycling facilities too. The biggest problem is industry. They arenʼt well regulated with respect to pollution and environmental damage. China is newly capitalised with new factories flying up. Iʼd imagine they wouldnʼt be too conscious of pollution. Not that weʼre great.

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

PAGE 25

W ATCHING ME , WATCHING YOU , WATCHING THEM By Grace Charley Which type of ʻReality TVʼ viewer are you? Do you: (a) Watch Reality TV and admit it, despite running the risk of being ostracised. (b) Watch Reality TV but would rather die than let on that you do. (c) Refuse to watch Reality TV even if your life were to depend on it. If youʼre type (a) An avid Reality TV watcher– keep watching the stuff. It is insightful and a true reflection of the world we live in today. If that proves too depressing, turn the TV off and recoil. If youʼre type (b) Reality TV non-watcher (but you really are) – Spill! Youʼll feel much better for coming out of the TV closet. Your efforts of denial are only in vain– youʼre the ones who unwittingly have

the most opinion on Reality TV shows anyway. If youʼre type (c) Non-Reality TV watcher– respect. You must have very fulfilling lives, live in a bubble, or you donʼt have Channel 4. Iʼm type (a) but I will have to say there was a time when Iʼve ticked all of the above. The general consensus is that those who watch Reality TV are considered to be one or all of the following: self-styled

anthropologists, voyeurs, exsoap fans disillusioned by storylines that have become so OTT we donʼ t believe them anymore, dramatists, Chavs, junk food lovers, depressed, allies of underdogs, tele-vigilantes, people with sad lives– and so the list goes on. These opinions may be accurate to some degree but thereʼs no escaping the fact that Reality TV shows are TV Gold and judging by their massive rat-

ings, the phenomena is set to continue. But donʼt wrack yourselves with guilt too much. Reality entertainment didnʼt start with us. Many moons ago, our ancestors clapped and cheered their way through spectacles of death in the Roman Coliseums. It doesnʼt make it right. But it proves that human nature doesnʼt change, it merely evolves. Years ago, Gladiators fought to stay alive so they could win the crowd. Nowadays, a little bit of nobility and humbleness gets you the prize at the end of charity smokescreen shows like ʻCelebrity Big Brotherʼ, and ʻIʼm a Celebrity! Get Me Out of Hereʼ etc. You could argue that anybody with a shred of dignity wouldnʼt go on one of those shows in the first place. But just like at a June election, people are often left voting for what is the best of a bad lot. So what kind of creature would willingly sacrifice

themselves as live TV bait? Largely the deluded kind– those whoʼve been damned with over-sized egos and of course there are the ʻfreaks and clownsʼ who just want to be accepted. Theyʼre all there. Politicians, ex-comedians, ex-nuns, transgenders, TV wannabes, TV has-beens, victims of school bullying (dangerously masquerading themselves as attention seekers) and basically anybody else who thinks money and fame will fill that terrible hole, called deep insecurity– which left unchecked mutates into severe self-obsession. Weʼre all insecure at some level. Instead of seeking approval from the world and his mother on some reality show, do what the rest of us poor souls do. Buy a self-help book, go to counselling, work with people more disadvantaged than yourself, get a dog and/or have a baby. Keep it real, folks.

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PAGE 26

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

The Fontenoy Files By Shay Connolly

hat a start to the year! The Inter footballers had reached the three previous league play-offs only to fall at the semi-final or final stages. But this year, having reached the final play-off we eventually kicked that monkey off our back by beating Craobh Chiaran by 0-9 to 0-6. Played on February 2nd last in The Naul, the boys turned in a useful first half and led by 0-5 to 0-2. On the resumption, Croabh came out of the blocks flying and with 10 minutes gone in the second half led by 0-6 to 0-5. And it stayed that way until 7 minutes to go. All our fears of not being able to get over the final hurdle were stuck in our chrá and another exhausting year seemed to be bearing no fruit at all. But alas, in those final 7 minutes we knocked over 4 unanswered points and when the final whistle blew the relief from all at the club was palpable. We had done it. A lot of hard work duly rewarded! All back to the club and a fantastic night ensued with ballad group, Gael Force. Hearty Congrats to Tom Smyth and Smith for getting us there. To all the other mentors who have given so much to this team over the past number of years we say thank you. We are now in Div 3 of the all county league and are just one league away from becoming senior. However we intend to see many Dublin players playing in Seán Moore Park in this division including Dubs vice captain Brian Cullen. U16 girls were beaten in the Championship final by Lucan. It has been a great year for this age group of girls and the experience gained throughout this campaign will undoubtedly stand to them in the years ahead. Mentors Tom A Ryan and Alan Foley are doing a great job with them. Juvenile Coach Darren Magee is doing a wonderful job at present and together with the Juvenile Committee is attracting huge numbers to our Saturday Morning Coaching sessions, Clannóg. This year the age groups are divided in sections called stations and most parents are included in delivering the sessions. There are now over 200 signed up from the ages of 5-9 years. If you want your children to participate come on

down on Saturday morning and sign up. At the recently held AGM in January Eugene Davey was elected the new Chairman. Eugene comes with a hatful of experience and has been a member of the club since 1957. He has represented Dublin at Senior Football and Senior Hurling level and holds a Minor all-Ireland Hurling medal from 1965, the last Dublin team to do so. He is still a spring chicken and his organisation skills of delegation will be welcomed over the coming months. Outgoing Chairman, Pat Kane whose three year stint was marked with an energy not seen before in the club, thanked all those who supported him throughout this three year stint. Frank White has gone to the cushioned seat of President and will look down from his lofty chair on proceedings below. Ciaran Murphy stays as Secretary, having orchestrated a canvassing campaign not seen since Lech Walencaʼs rise in Poland. Assistant secretary is ʻComfort Zoneʼ John Fitzgerald, who now has the unenviable task of collecting membership monies. John has purchased a sniffer dog to help him with his tasks. John replaced Therese Nicholson who has retired to knit Aran

sweaters. Therese has been part of the furniture in Executive and her endeavours are greatly appreciated by all here at the club. Treasury goes to accountants Billy ʻBasherʼ Byrne and Ronan ʻBulldogʼ Murphy while Sinead Vivash takes over from Jacqui Mac as PRO. Jacqui brought many new ideas to her portfolio and her texting notes kept everyone informed of goings on around the place. The Legend just remains The Legend. This edition would mean nothing if we did not devote some part of it to the late Jim Kavanagh. Jim was oh so many things to oh so many people. Jim was a mentor on so many teams over the last 15 years and brought a wealth of knowledge to each team. Jim was the life and soul of the club. He would engage everyone in conversation and his wit and laughter always guaranteed a great encounter. He was the perfect guy to talk to the younger fellows as they neared manhood and he earned the respect of all of them. And when the Inter footballers gained promotion in January of this year, one could not help remembering the crucial input he put into this team over the years. And as the club progresses up the ladder of achievement he will always be with us, for he is etched in

our memories forever. To his wife Anna, sons Ian, Gary and James and daughter Vicky, the club sends its heartfelt condolences. Ar Dheis Dei go raibh a anam dilis.

Backchat: * Incredible but true but Cork man Mick Keane and Tipperary man Joe Hayes were actually on Hill 16 for the historic ﬂoodlight match between the Dubs and Tyrone. The boys were sporting the Dublin colours and were in full vocal voice of ʻCome on ye Boys in Blueʼ. Why the boys were so happy at the ﬁnal whistle is beyond me! * There was one embarrassing moment at the dinner dance when

Paul Kennedy, unfortunately for the first time, found out that he was allergic to asparagus soup. Paul started acting strangely just before the award ceremony, flapping fingers around like the head of an orchestra until he went in to such a state that all the guests at the same table had to sit on him. Luckily Ronan Hughes found the antidote when he whispered into Paulʼs ears that he would see to it that he would get the Chairmanʼs job in January. Paul suddenly smiled like Father Jack would to a drink and finished out the rest of the night in fine form. * At the AGM in January, proceedings were just about to get under way when a distraught Tom Ryan got to his feet to claim that the meeting could not go ahead without the presence of The Legend. Tom added that the meeting was useless without the input of the famous man himself. When it became clear that the Legend could not be there despite some imaginary sightings of him early that day, Tom was so distraught that he burst into tears and had to be removed from the hall with the help of a St John Ambulance crew. Speaking with Tom afterwards, he said: “I waited all year for this. Itʼs just like as if you bought tickets for the Beatles and John Lennon didnʼt turn up. There was no point in staying in attendance. I guess I am awestruck by The Legend.” * The Annual Dinner Dance in the 8 star Tara Towers proved to be another whopping success. Once again expertly organised by Jacqui Mc Donnell, the special guest this year for the award ceremony was Dublin Portʼs Enda

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

PAGE 27 cape plan is well advanced and all the skills that Martin learned in ducking and diving training sessions over the past twenty years will be a major advantage to him as he attempts to make it back to civilisation.

Page 26, top: Station No. 2 for 8 year olds at our Saturday morning Academy. Bottom: Alice Foley thanks all those who voted for her as ʻClubperson of the Yearʼ. Left: Station No. 4 for 6 year olds at our Saturday morning Academy.

Calafort Átha Cliath

Connellan, who presented the following with their prizes: * Club person of the year Alice Foley And player of the year awards for: * Adult Football Mick Keane * Adult Hurling Brian Rush * Camogie player Siobhan Joyce * Junior Hurling Paul Madill * Junior Football Neil McManus * Minor Hurling Johnny Sadlier * Ciaran Murphy has recently joined the ʻhalf crownʼ club. This club is for men who are starting to go bald at the back ﬁrst and include such ﬁgures as Pat Kane, The Legend himself, Des Markey, Albert Hannon, Eugene Davey and Michael OʼKane. The meetings offer group therapy to these egotists and gently assist them in accepting the ageing process. Other member who have successfully come through it all

include full baldies Frank White, Billy ʻBasherʼ Byrne, Tom Ryan, Paul Kennedy, Conor Dodd and a host of other head shiners. * Jack Nicholson has packed in his hurley and sliotar and replaced them with his walking boots. Jack is preparing for an onslaught on Everest on Christmas day this year and is attempting to become the ﬁrst Wicklow man to become known. Jack is preparing by scaling the goalposts each morning in Seán Moore Park with Therese on his back. * Condolence to Jacinta Ryan on the death of her mother in Mayo. * Our hurling wall project is still with Bord Pleanála as we go to print. This is a long time waiting. If successful, we will begin work immediately and the ﬁrst activity among many in the new site will be the 200 children aged between 5 and 9 who will hone their skills on the facility. * Gael Force will be appearing in Upstairs Lounge every last Sat-

urday of the month except April when they play on the 21st. * Conor Doood has come up with a novel way of fundraising. The Doood is organising a Rubber Duck race in the Dodder up by Herbert Park shortly. All entrants must blow up their known duck before the start and if any of the ducks get injured the Doood is on hand to offer ﬁrst aid. * Congrats to dual player Mark Campbell who has been promoted from formula 3 to formula 2 in his much beloved hobby of Rally Driving!! * Condolences to the Hogan family on the death of Enda. Enda played with the club at all levels from Juvenile to adult and served the club so well. He will be sorely missed. * Martin Neville was recently incarcerated in Portlaoise for life. Martin, who graced the green ﬁelds of Ringsend for many a year, seems lost since his recent incarceration. However, an es-

SEBASTIAN’S PASSION FOR MUSIC AND RUGBY

ebastian OʼShea-Farren, a Ballsbridge resident and Gonzaga College pupil, is one of the leading young musicians today in Ireland.He has won numerous feiseanna and recently won an international piano competition in Romania. “I started the piano when I was seven and the clarinet when I was ten,” he says, “and from third to sixth class I sang in St.Patrickʼs cathedral choir school.” Being surrounded by music from a young age has helped Sebastian progress rapidly on his instruments, and aside from music, his other passion is rugby. Sebastian plays number eight for his schoolʼs under 14 rugby team and is a dedicated Leinster supporter. His week is a busy one. Monday to Friday involves school, and afterwards, rugby training, or matches. Music lessons take place on Wednesday and Thursday eve-

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

nings, and each day he must somehow ﬁnd the time to practice. Normally he will practice one and a half hours on the piano and between 30 and 40 minutes on the clarinet, and somewhere among all that thereʼs the homework to be done. Many music students around the world are trained and schooled at specialist music schools or even educated at home, allowing them more time to concentrate and focus on their chosen instruments. Competing against these young musicians doesnʼt worry Sebastian too much. He doesnʼt believe the study of music should involve daily marathon practice sessions. “Itʼs more than how many hours did I do today or whether I can play at that speed. If you practice something too much it becomes the exact same each time you play it, and that canʼt be good,” he says. “You need life experience to play emotional pieces, but if youʼre practising eight hours a day you donʼt have much life experience to base your emotion on.”

On the question of nerves before playing in front of an audience, he says they are a good thing. “I have performed live quite a lot, playing concerts and playing in competitions. Itʼs good to be a bit nervous. If youʼre not, you donʼt perform.” This April, Sebastian will perform a world premiere in Rome of a solo piano piece composed by the renowned Scottish composer, Ronald Stevenson. The piece will be a rosary on variations of Seán OʼRiadaʼs Mass. This talented young musician says he has at least four years before deciding what he wants to do in life. “If you focus too much on one thing,” he says, “you miss out on other opportunities”. He is taking a different approach to his music and is not yet keen to place all his eggs in the one basket, but whatever opportunities do arise in the future for Sebastian and whatever he decides to do, he will doubtless excel. For this conscientious and hard-working young man, so far so very good.

PAGE 28

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

Old Dublin Society resuming MEETINGS OF the Old Dublin Society resumed at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday February 7th in the Conference Room of the Dublin City Library and Archive, 138 to 144 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, at which the new ʻIndex to the Dublin Historical Recordʼ was launched. Membership of the Old Dublin Society is €30 per year and includes the mailing of the Spring and Autumn issues of the 110-page ʻDublin Historical Recordʼ. The Society meets in the Conference Room of the Dublin City Library in Pearse Street on Wednesday nights at 7.30 p.m. where the Autumn and Spring Programmes of weekly lectures are held. There is also a Summer Programme of afternoon visits to places of interest in addition to a one-day coach trip to a location outside Dublin. Membership application forms can be obtained from James Scannell, PRO, Old Dublin Society, 19 Hazelwood, Shankill, Dublin 18– SAE appreciated. The contents of the Autumn 2006 issue are as follows: A Dun Laoghaire Fireﬁghter and the 1941 Belfast Blitz– James Scannell Martello Tower No. 10, Shenickʼs Island, Skerries, Co.Dublin– Peter F.Whearity Glasnevin Village in the 18th Century: The Parish Alms House and the Parish School– Tony OʼDoherty Producing a Historical Journal or Newsletter– Theo Mortimer St. Columcilleʼs Hospital, Loughlinstown: Form Workhouse Inﬁrmary to General Hospital– James Scannell A Casualty of Progress– Brian McCabe Baymount Castle, Clontarf– Bernadine Ruddy John Rennieʼs Documents Relating to the Planning of Dun Leary Harbour 1815 to 1816– Arnold Horner Look Out Post 6 at Howth Summit– Anthony Kinsella Book Reviews Individual copies of the Autumn issue of the ʻDublin Historical Recordʼ are available at the post paid price of €22.50 from James Scannell , Hon PRO, Old Dublin Society, 19 Hazelwood, Shankill, Dublin 18.

The NewsFour

Crossword

R EMOVING THE STIGMA OF MENTAL ILLNESS

By Derek Sandford

hen anybody suffers from a physical illness they get a great deal of sympathy and kindness shown to them. However, when you suffer from mental illness there is an altogether different response. People donʼt talk to you about your illness and there is gossip in the neighbourhood about a person being strange or different. People are uncomfortable dealing with mental illness but think how much harder it is for the sufferer. I am currently training with the Irish Advocacy Network to become a peer advocate, a mental health counsellor. Peer advocacy is not about judging people or telling them what to do. Instead, the peer advocate helps people to take control of their lives and to do positive things for themselves. I have heard many inspiring stories from people suffering with mental health problems who have rebuilt their lives. One man was living in a run-down caravan with no running water or electricity who went on to become a

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

mental health supervisor with the Irish Advocacy Network. One girl was hospitalised for twelve years and was told she would never lead a normal life and she has also gone on to become a counsellor. So for mental health sufferers there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Truth Sticks and stones may break my bones, But words can also hurt me. Stones and sticks break only skin, While words are ghosts that haunt me. Slant and curved the word swords fall To pierce and stick inside me. Bats and bricks may ache through bones, But words can mortify me. Pain from words has left its scar, On mind and heart thatʼs tender. Cuts and bruises now have healed; Itʼs words that I remember. The above poem by Barrie Wade was taken from the website of the Irish Advocacy Network: www.irishadvocacynetwork.com

Congratulations to the winners of Christmas Crossword: Eamonn Hurley, Kay Flood and Fabian Sievers. Entries for this crossword should be sent to ʻNewsFourʼ by 31 March 2007. The winning entry will receive a €25 book token. Across 1. Popular hotel on Merrion Road (4,6) 5. and 11 down. Was she a racist, just a bully or both? Ask Big Brother (4,5) 9. ---- Novello, Welsh composer, singer and actor who became one of the most popular British entertainers of the early 20th century (4) 11. Twins are represented by this sign of the Zodiac (6) 12. An airtight container for preserving food (3) 13. Spare this and spoil the child (3) 14. Used by snooker players (3) 15. Run naked in a public place as a stunt (colloq.) (6) 17. A tool for digging (5) 18. Lyric poem usually rhyming (3) 19. Dorothy walked the yellow brick road to find this wizard (2) 20. A little child or a sum (3) 22. You use this for opening the door when you are 21 (3) 24. Cathedral city in Cambridgeshire, England (3) 25. ----- Wilde, great Irish playwright and poet (5) 27. An exclamation of delight at having made a discovery (6) 30. Affirmative (3) 31. Small busy insect (3) 32. Reward a waiter with this or suggest the winning horse (3) 34. A mark to denote correctness, used to be able to buy things on it (4) 35. Song for solo voice in an opera (4) 36. Use your voice for 35 across (4) 37. These are usually eaten on Shrove Tuesday (8) Down 1. Sweet pastry or lady of suspect virtue (4) 2. Americans take this when they donʼt want to do something, we merely look out of the window (4,5) 3. Have your say, stick your --- in (3) 6. Girlʼs name, is she in wonderland? (5) 7. Current leader of Fine Gael (4,5) 8. A small informal restaurant serving wine (6) 10. Medical term to describe the condition of being overweight. 16. Supreme rulers, these used to be worth £1 (10) 21. Popular radio station, recently gone nationwide (8) 23. An appliance that removes moisture (5) 26. Do this or swim (4) 28. Batmanʼs friend, just a small bird (5) 29. Letʼs go fly one of these on a windy day (4) 31. In tennis a service so good that it cannot be returned, might be up your sleeve (3) 33. Eating too many of these might result in 10 down (4) 35. First name of our editor (3)

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

PAGE 29

IRISH CRICKETERS CHALLENGE PAKISTAN ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY

PICTURED ABOVE are cricketers Niall OʼBrien, Kevin OʼBrien and Kenny Carroll. The three members of Railway Union were selected for the Irish

team heading off to the Cricket World Cup in Jamaica in March. There was a special ʻSend-offʼ night on February 22nd in Railway Union.

Everyone is welcome to the Club on March 17th– St. Patrickʼs Day to watch Ireland v. Pakistan on the ʻBig Screenʼ.

PAGE 30

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

SHELBOURNE FC REFLECTIONS

By Christopher Sands

he following article was ﬁrst published in the match programme of Shelbourne FC on Friday, 17th, November, 2006, for the game v Bohemians FC, which Shels won to remain in top spot in the FAI National League Premier Division That victory clinched the Eircom League title for 2006, giving Shelbourne their third Premier title in four years and their thirteenth National League Championship overall. Shelbourne will be the FAI National League representative in the EUFA Champions League for next year. This will continue a record of Shels representing the FAI National League in European competitions for an unbroken period of fourteen years. WINNERS OF THE IFA CUP 100 YEARS AGO Tonight we have the meeting of

Dublinʼs original ʻold firmʼ duo. On the one hand it is appropriate that this could be the deciding game for the league title, and on the other hand it is ironic, given what has happened off the field for this season. Shelbourne FC was founded in 1895 by James Rowan and others in the Shelbourne Road/ Bath Avenue/ Ringsend area of Dublin. This was five years after Bohemians had been formed. The progress of Shelbourne FC, especially in those early years, is well documented in Frank Martinʼs Centenary Booklet, ʻShelbourne Facts and Figuresʼ, c1995. The clubʼs first year was spent in junior competition, winning the LJ League and LJ Cup. The club went senior in 1897, finishing second in both the LS League and the LS Cup, then Shels won the LS Cup in 1900. Bohs joined the Belfast-based Irish League in 1902, and Shels joined in 1904. Shels finished fifth in the Irish League that year. A sec-

ond place finish in 1907 (second to Linfield), was Shels best-placed finish, otherwise they mainly hovered around fourth place over those years in the Irish League, 1904/20. But it was in battling for that other great trophy, the IFA Senior Cup, played on an all-Ireland basis, that Shels had more success. In the IFA Senior Cup for 1904/ 05, Shels beat Bellevue, Bohemians and Glentoran to reach the Final. Alas, there Shels lost to Distillery. In 1905/06 Shels won against Cork Celtic, Glentoran, and Derry Celtic, and then beat Belfast Celtic in the final. To win such a major trophy after just over ten years in existence was indeed an amazing achievement, at a time when winning the Cup was seen by many as even more important, glamorous and difficult than winning the League. This was all the more amazing for Shels as Dublin teams had played in the IFA Cup Final on three different occasions, all without success, Bohs in 1900, Freebooters

from Sandymount in 1901, and Shels themselves, in 1905. That IFA Cup Final in 1901, the first one to be staged in Dublin, took place in the City and Suburban Ground, on Jones Road, the site that later became Croke Park, so soccer will be returning there soon, when our international team play there. After Shelbourneʼs great IFA Cup Final win over Belfast Celtic in 1906, the ʻEvening Heraldʼ reported that, ʻtar barrels and bonfires blazed in Ringsend, Sandymount and surrounding areasʼ, as the IFA Cup was paraded around. That was the first time since the inception of the IFA Cup in 1881 that it had gone to the southern region, or across what was later to be called ʻthe borderʼ. On 28th April, 1906, at Dalymount Park, for the IFA (All-Ireland) Cup Final against Belfast Celtic, Shels lined-out as: W Rowe; J Heslin, P Kelly; A Abbey, J Doherty, J Ledwidge; John Owens; G Byrne; V Harris; James Owens; J Clery.

Goalie Billy Rowe played for Shels from 1901 to 1912. Beginning at left-back in his ﬁrst season, he became the ﬁrst-choice keeper after that. He played 51 Irish League games and 23 in the IFA Cup. Full-backs: Jack Heslin played for Shels from 1901 to 1908. A right-back, he played 48 Irish League games and 22 in the IFA Cup. Left-back Pat Kelly, a Shels player from 1904 to 1912, played 68 games with 1 goal in the Irish League, and 14 IFA Cup games. Half-backs: Alf Abbey with Shels from 1903 to 1908, played 45 Irish League games, scoring 2 goals, and 18 IFA Cup matches, with 1 goal. Centre-half Jim Doherty, with Shels from 1903 to 1912, played 59 games with 2 goals in the Irish League, and 26 matches with 1 goal in the IFA Cup. Joe Ledwidge played for Shels from 1901 to 1909, with 51 games in the Irish League, and 23 matches with 1 goal in the IFA Cup. Forwards: John Owens played with Shels from 1901 to 1909, hav-

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

PAGE 31

SHELBOURNE FC REFLECTIONS ing 60 Irish league games with 12 goals, and 27 in the IFA Cup scoring 7 goals. Gerry ʻGaryʼ Byrne: over seasons 1904-1906 played in 4 Irish League matches, and 5 IFA Cup games, scoring 5 goals. Val Harris: Shels captain on the day (and many other days), Val played for Shels from 1903 to 1908, and again 1914 to 1927 (with Everton FC in between) taking part in 71 Irish League games scoring 13 goals, and 36 matches in the IFA Cup with 12 goals (plus later many games in League of Ireland competitions). James Owens: with Shels 1903 to 1909, played 58 Irish League games with 21 goals, and in the IFA Cup 21 matches scoring 7 goals. John Clery: played for Shels over 1902 to 1908, with 33 Irish League games, and 2 goals, plus 13 IFA Cup games, with 2 goals. Harris and Ledwidge had earlier in the season gained Irish international caps with the IFA. Outstanding amongst them all, was the great Val Harris who was born in Ringsend in 1884. In todayʼs world Val would probably be called ʻMr Shelbourneʼ. Earlier a prominent GAA player winning senior honours with Isles of the Sea of Ringsend, he was possibly the Kevin Moran of his time, with a dash of Paul McGrath added in. The ﬁrst Shelbourne player to be capped for Ireland, at a time when only three games took place each year, he gained 20 IFA caps from February, 1906 v England, until 1914 when World War One halted most competitions (the ﬁrst six of those honours, plus four caps for the Irish League, were won while Val was still playing with Shels). If the break caused by WW1 had not occurred, it is almost certain that Val would have become the

record holder of caps for the IFA. Starting with Shels in 1903, he moved to Everton 1908-14, returning to Shels, he played until 1927 (in season 1925-26 he was still playing well enough to win two caps in representative games for the Free State League). Val later became Shelbourne coach/ manager, gaining the first FAI Cup win for the club in 1939. Playing centre-half later, having started his Shels career as a goal scoring centre-forward, he was sometimes criticised for not scoring enough. But his managers for club and country usually considered him their most important player, so he occupied almost every position on the field, usually marking the most dangerous opponent, thus reducing his scoring chances. In the year following Shels 1906 win, they beat both Bohs and Belfast Celtic again, to reach the final, but then lost to Cliftonville in a replay. In 1907/ 08 Shels beat Cliftonville and Distillery to reach their fourth consecutive IFA Cup Final, against Bohs, the first ever all-Dublin final. But they lost to Bohs in a replay. In 1910/ 11, in another all-Dublin final, Shels beat Bohs after a replay. With war in Europe and civil unrest at home, football continued but at a slower pace, until Shels reached the IFA Cup Final in 1920. This final never took place as the other two semi-finalists were expelled for unacceptable behaviour, and Shels, as the only team left standing, were awarded the trophy. At this stage Shels had reached the IFA Cup Final on six occasions, gaining the trophy three times, 1906, 1911 and 1920. Following various disputes between the Irish Football Association (IFA in Belfast) and some of

N EW C OMMUNITY C HOIR

the southern clubs, in 1921 a new association was formed in Dublin, the Football Association of Ireland (FAI), with the Free State League (later the League of Ireland, now the FAI National League) for senior clubs. Shels and Bohs were there from the Irish League, and they remain the only teams from the original eight. So now in the centenary of that famous 1906 IFA Cup win by Shelbourne FC, this great and historic club has again taken the top spot in Irish football, as FAI National League Premier Division Champions. As Val Harris and most of above players were from Ringsend and surroundings, many readers of this publication are likely to have further information on above, this correspondence will be welcomed. Christopher Sands can be contacted by email at: ncsands@eircom.net The Shelbourne team became the ﬁrst Dublin team to win the IFA Cup when they beat Belfast Celtic 2-0 at Dalymount Park, Dublin on 28th, April, 1906. Both goals, one from the penalty spot, were scored by James Owens. The Shelbourne team (standing from left): Kelly, Heslin, Rowe, McGrath, Ledwidge and T Monks (trainer). (Seated): John Owens, Byrne, Val Harris (captain), James Owens and Clery. (On the ground): Abbey and Wall. Question 1; Can any reader identify the very distinctive background in this picture? This was long before the club moved to Shelbourne Park. Before that, they had played in Havelock Square and other places in the general area of Ringsend/ Irishtown/ Sandymount. Question 2; Can you name any of the club ofﬁcials in the picture, plus any details?

R INGSEND

A NEW CHOIR has been established in Ringsend, under the direction of Ray Ryan (pictured left) retired teacher, and well-known for his involvement in the Marian College Musical Society for over 30 years. The choir rehearses every Wednesday morning from 10.15 am to 12.15 in Ringsend Technical Institute, Cambridge Road, in a very informal and relaxed atmosphere, and is ideally suited to retired people, stay-at-home mothers or fathers whose children are in school, people on ﬂexi-time, or indeed anyone who is free on a Wednesday morning. The choir made its debut before Christmas, singing carols in Grafton Street, with some of Rayʼs other choirs, and helping to raise over €7000 for the St Vincent de Paul Society. Plans are afoot for concerts in May and/ or June. All singers are welcome, and you donʼt have to read music. Just turn up any Wednesday morning.

Fairtrade Fortnight By John Cavendish EVERY YEAR Fairtrade Mark Ireland promote Fairtrade products with a series of events around Ireland. Dublin City Council donated City Hall for a launch of the fortnight on Sunday 25th February and there are information displays in each of the 13 City Council offices across Dublin, with a newsletter and leaflet on where to buy Fairtrade goods in your area. The Dublin City Fairtrade Steering Group, with a mission to make Dublin a ʻFairtrade Cityʼ marked the fortnight, beginning with the erection of flags and Banners along the Liffey bridges at OʼConnell Street, Haʼpenny Bridge and Capel Street from Monday 19th February, where they will remain for three weeks. The Ringsend and Irishtown Youth Project, (RIYP) hosted a Fairtrade evening at 7pm on Monday 26th February at 7pm in the Community Centre at Thorncastle Street Ringsend with a display of products and a speech from a Ugandan coffee producer. RIYP have two youth groups for 10 to 12 year olds comprising 25 young people. An important part of the programme they enjoyed is ʻCooking Around the Worldʼ. Through the main activity of cooking they were introduced not only to the food from different countries, but also to the language, customs, music and art. A guest speaker, Oliva Kishero of Café Direct, was invited to RIYP to present information about the concept of Fair Trade and about Uganda.

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NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

T HE H URRICANE STILL RAGES

By Brian Rutherford

lexander Gordon Higgins (born 18 March, 1949) is probably the most exciting and technically gifted snooker player that I have ever seen. The Jam Pot just off Belfastʼs Donegall road was where young Alex Higgins began to play snooker. After the war, times were hard and a large jam jar could be exchanged for 3 pence or for a game of snooker, hence the name of the Club, the Jam Pot. Alex Higgins speaks of this time when he says: “I found I had an eye to watch people, to look at their actions. I was very good at memorizing things, peopleʼs mistakes, the rights as well as the wrongs– that if you hit the ball in this direction perhaps you might create something– improvisation I suppose.” Alex turned professional at the age of 22.

By 1968 he became Northern Ireland amateur champion, then allIreland Champion one year later. He led Belfastʼs YMCA to a victory in the Players No.6 UK Team Trophy against Glamorgan Labour Club. From these beginnings he went on to win two World championships, in 1972 at his first attempt and in 1982 against Ray Reardon or ʻDraculaʼ as Higgins liked to call him. He lost two other championship finals, against Cliff Thorburn in 1980 and Ray Reardon in 1976. The 1982 world championship was held at the Crucible in Sheffield. Steve Davis was defending his title and lost 10-1 to Tony Knowles. In round 2 Doug Mountjoy played Higgins and at one stage Higgins needed 11 frames to win and he pulled it off. The Quarter Final was against Willie Thorn, which Higgins won 13-10. Higgins was then through to the semi-finals and played Jim-

my White. Reardon played Eddie Charlton in the other semi final. Higgins won in a very exciting and close match 16-15. In the final which was against Reardon it was 2-1 to Reardon to begin with. It eventually went to 10-7 for Higgins and then 10-8. When it got to 1514 to Higgins the nervous Irishman was more agitated than ever. Then it went to 17-15 until Higgins put ʻthe countʼ to rest with a break of 135. His wife and daughter joined him in his celebrations. It is estimated that Higgins earned and blew a £3 million fortune over twenty years. Higginsʼs career covers decades but the rewards from snooker were not enough and he now plays people for a fiver now and again. At 51 he survived a throat cancer operation in 1998. The long legal battle for cash compensation from the World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association after allegedly being ʻripped offʼ by his

manager has since subsided. Ann Yates, the most powerful women in British sport as professional snooker tournament director cannot raise a smile when talking about Alex Higgins. “He tormented me for ten years at every opportunity and I was forced to batten down the hatches whenever he came looking for an argument, which was pretty often.” Despite all this, his fans are still

as adoring as ever and his career is best summed up by someone who knew the real Alex Higgins, Jimmy White, “Alex is the greatest player who has ever lived, Iʼm supposed to have inﬂuenced a generation of youngsters but Alex inﬂuenced me, everyone. There has never been anyone to touch him and there never will be.” Above: Alex ʻHurricaneʼ Higgins at the height of his success.

T HE DEMILITARIZED ZONE – BORDERLINE PARANOIA

By Aidan OʼDonoghue

idan, a contributor to NewsFour who usually interviewed local people on their views, is now in Korea and sends us this report after a tour of the demilitarized zone. The great allure of the demilitarized zone (DMZ) between North and South Korea is the fact that it offers visitors a rare taste of the forbidden. Four kilometres wide and running the two-hundred and forty eight kilometres from coast to coast, it epitomises the huge gulf that separates a once-united nation. Tours of the area are informative and insightful with respect to the tragic history of these estranged countries, yet what really captures the imagination is the sense that it is a place where all aspects of life are

determined by what is not permitted. Stepping into this world the visitor is afforded many glimpses, but the curiosity that these awaken is never truly satisﬁed. Day-trippers are prohibited from taking photographs outside of strictly deﬁned ʻdesignated areasʼ. They cannot engage with the many soldiers they encounter and hand gestures of any kind are actively discouraged. The soldiers themselves, who engage in a daily standoff at the ʻtruce villageʼ of Panmunjeom (located within the U.N Joint Security Area) face the prospect of being court marshalled should they be discovered conversing with the enemy. The only civilians to be seen within the zone are the inhabitants of Daeseong-dong, a traditional village with a population of between two and three hundred. Their housing is

subsidized and they are exempt from both conscription and taxation. The price they pay in return is that they accept the abnormality of their environment and are in their homes with the doors locked by 11p.m. Arable land is plentiful around here but much of it is off-limits to the villagers because of landmines. The highlight of the tour is of course North Korea itself. Where the southern side of the DMZ ends, four kilometers of no-mans-land begins. It is the exclusive domain of many rare species of plants and animals, thriving in the absence of human interference. Beyond this stretch lies North Korea. In the middle of a vast, open expanse, there ﬂies in the distance a North Korean ﬂag weighing 270 kilogrammes atop a pole measuring 157.5 metres– the tallest of its kind in the world. Situated at the centre of what appears to be a village, it serves as a testament to the fact that the North Korean leadership can be quite adept when it comes to announcing themselves. And yet, the settlement itself serves no purpose other than being there purely for show. It does not have a population and the buildings donʼt even have windows. The lights

are turned on at night but there is nobody home nonetheless. It came to be when the North decided that if the South Koreans were entitled to have a village within the DMZ, well then they were too. The ﬁrst real traces of inhabited North Korea lie farther back, its third largest city Kaesong nestled at the foot of a rugged and imposing mountain range. One is inclined to wonder about how life is led there and what kind of atmosphere pervades. And yet, it cannot be known, lying as it does within the forbidden zone that is the northern half of Korea. Kaesong must remain an enigma for now, its magnetic power only increased by virtue of its inability to reveal itself to us. The symbolic nature of the DMZ is manifold, dividing as it does territories, people, militaries and ideologies. All of the elements which contribute to the enmity between the two countries can be located here– fear, distrust, loss, arrogance, deﬁance, stubbornness, isolation. The strictest regulations prevail in a place where suspicion abounds, impulse can be fatal, and taboo is the hidden hand imposing order on all things. Outside of the demilitarized zone, things change as rapidly as ever; from threats, to sanctions, to tenta-

tive talks and the possibility of sixparty negotiations. The South Korean president Roh Moo-hyunʼs position becomes more uncertain by the day. A new Prime Minister takes ofﬁce in Japan. And in the United States, the political climate begins to shift while the governmentʼs foreign policy strategy becomes increasingly muddled. We remain in the dark when it comes to conditions, political or otherwise, in North Korea. No doubt they will continue to keep others guessing, periodically alluding to their military might and demanding the respect that they crave so badly. The unpredictable nature of this political situation safeguards the legitimacy of the DMZ as a buffer zone for the foreseeable future. It shall remain a constant in the Korean peninsula, devoid of outward emotion and unswerving in its inscrutability. While the soldiers go on with their routines and the people of Daeseong-dong till their ancestral lands, the tour buses will keep on rolling in past the checkpoints, their passengers enthralled by the prospect of ﬂirting with the forbidden. Above: A South Korean stands guard at an observation post near the Demilitarized Zone.

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

PAGE 33

T HE LAST OF THE SQUARE RIGGERS

By Oliver Doyle y father Matt (sailor) Doyle was born at 23 Bath Street in 1875 and attended Star of the Sea

School. At a very early age he went to sea, starting in sailing ships and ﬁnishing in steam ships. He sailed on all ﬁve continents and

rounded Cape Horn many times before the Panama Canal was built. My father came from a seafaring family. His father John was born in County Wicklow and his mother Ellen Doyle nee Doolittle was from Wicklow Town. Her brothers were also sailors. My grandfather lost his life in the Irish Sea as a result of a terrible storm when my father was a young man. My father survived

three shipwrecks, the last one being during the First World War in the Bristol Channel. He talked about his stopping off at various islands in the Paciﬁc Ocean to take in water as the journeys took so long in those days. He even met descendants of the mutiny on the Bounty. He sailed on whaling ships when it was difﬁcult to recruit men to such a hard life. My father told me that the loveliest place he was ever in was Portland in Oregon. He was very fond of the west coast of America. After the First World War my father set-

S PEAKERS ’ JIM OʼCALLAGHAN DEMANDS EQUAL PENSIONS FOR MEN AND WOMEN Jim OʼCallaghan, Fianna Fáil candidate for Dublin South East, is calling on Minister for Finance, Brian Cowen to introduce equal pension rights for both men and women, in order to give older women an increased chance of financial independence. Currently, the ʻqualified adultʼ (dependent spouse) payment is approximately 70% of the full adult allowance and is paid to the primary claimant (generally the husband). As women constitute 95% of qualified adults, the inequality within the system is directly linked to the welfare of older women. “At age 65, women have a 41% chance of being below the 60% poverty line. This is appalling, and reform is desperately needed in the area of pension rights”, OʼCallaghan said. “Making these payments to the qualified adultʼs husband also severely limits her independence. If the relationship is troubled or violent than this presents further hardship for the woman.” CREIGHTON CALLS FOR ABOLITION OF HSE Lucinda Creighton, FG candidate in Dublin South East, called for the abolition of the Health Services Executive. She stated that the HSE is a bureaucratic quagmire, which has allowed Mary Harney abdicate all responsibility for the current health care

crisis in the country. “It is time for radical thinking in relation to the health services. It is not simply enough to say that the balance of power between the HSE and the Minister needs to be shifted. Brendan Drumm is now the official spokesperson for the Government in all matters pertaining to health. Under a Fine Gael led administration, power to reform must be firmly vested in the hands of the Minister and the Cabinet.” PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN IRELAND (PwDI) All election candidates can expect to be quizzed very thoroughly on their commitment to equality for people with disabilities and their specific plans for reform over the next five years under a new initiative launched recently. PwDI (People with Disabilities in Ireland), the national organisation representing all people with disabilities hosted the first in a series of nationwide seminars designed to assist all people with disabilities to have maximum impact at the forthcoming election. LABOUR CONDUCTS LOCAL HEALTHCARE SURVEY The Labour Party is conducting a major survey to determine peopleʼs experience of our healthcare system. Ruairi Quinn TD said: “Labour TDs, senators, councillors and candidates are constantly hearing from constituents about problems they face on an ongoing basis such as waiting for

tled down to work on the quay (as we natives of Irishtown and Ringsend would say) with our near neighbours from Stella Gardens, Paddy Behan, Larry Murphy, Bob Fulham (the famous Shamrock Rovers Captain) and many more. Matt Doyle died in 1954, six months before my mother Annie Doyle, nee Smyth, passed away. Pictured above: Oliver Doyle and his wife Alice (nee Buckley) on their wedding day 25th July 1948. Matt Doyle is in the back row (7th from the left).

CORNER

hours on an A&E trolley; having surgical procedures cancelled; being put on a waiting list to get on a waiting list; or picking up an infection like MRSA while staying in hospital. “We know that there are serious deficiencies in our health system, but when we are arguing for reform, we need to be armed with hard data. This survey will provide us with precisely that. POOLBEG INCINERATOR– EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT COMMITTEE TO VISIT SITE The Petitions Committee of the European Parliament will visit the Ringsend/ Poolbeg site as part of an investigation to establish if European environmental legislation has been breached. Welcoming todayʼs outcome in Brussels, Dublin South East Fianna Fáil election candidate Cllr Chris Andrews, who took the case to the Committee said: “This is a very positive development and is testament to how seriously the EU takes its environmental legislation.” DOOLAN– MINISTER NEEDS TO TACKLE SALE OF COUNCIL FLATS Sinn Féinʼs Dublin South East Representative, Councillor DaithÌ Doolan, has today called on the Minister for Environment Dick Roche, “to tackle the chaos that is currently holding up the sale of Dublinʼs City Council flats. Residents of Dublin City Council flats

should have a right to buy their own flats just as residents in City Council houses have done for years.” Speaking after the Court decision to reject 120 residentsʼ attempt to have their flats sold to them at 1988 prices Cllr. Doolan said, “residents here in Ringsend have been left in a legal limbo for years. Offers were made to these residents in 1988 only to have those offers withdrawn by the then Dublin Corporation.” CLLR KEVIN HUMPHREYS CALLS ON MINISTER NOEL AHERN TO STOP PROCRASTINATING Cllr Kevin Humphreys renews his call for the government to bring forward legislation to allow Council Tenants to purchase their homes from Dublin City Council. “Minister Noel Ahern has procrastinated for far too long. It is now two years since former City Manager, John Fitzgerald, confirmed its plan to offer over 16,000 council flats for sale to tenants. The scheme was to begin in the autumn of 2004 but has been continuously delayed by Central Government.” BALLSBRIDGE WILL BENEFIT FROM LOCAL PLANNING, SAYS CLLR. WENDY HEDERMAN The ad hoc and piecemeal development of Dublin is about to become a thing of the past. For the first time a

Local Area Plan is being produced for a whole area– in this case Ballsbridge– treating the area as an ʻurban villageʼ. “This is a very important step in ensuring any development still protects the natural and built environment, and improves the quality of public spaces and community facilities.” says Councillor Wendy Hederman “As the Local Area Plan must be voted on by the City Council, following submissions from the public, we have a unique level of control over what can be built now and into the medium term.” The draft Local Area Plan went on public display in the week commencing 22 January, and will come before the Councillors for amendment and/ or adoption around April 2007. ANDREWS URGES RESTRAINT ON UNNECESSARY CLAMPING Fianna Fáil Councillor Chris Andrews has called for action to deal with the nuisance of over-zealous and unnecessary clamping which has become a nightmare for drivers in the Dublin area. “Clamping and parking-ﬁnes should only occur when there is an occupancy level of over 70% by motorvehicles,”said Andrews. “The idea behind clamping is to deter drivers from causing obstructions. To clamp a car or give a ﬁne to cars parked in empty or practically empty streets is to miss the point,” he added.

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NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

DOCKLANDS YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARDS 2007 Y

oung people and groups whose achievements in the Dublin Docklands area deserve recognition are to be honoured under a new initiative from the Dublin Docklands Development Authority. The Docklands Young Achiever Awards project was launched by Dónall Curtin, member of the Board of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority on Thursday 25 January at the 5th Annual Dublin Docklands Social Regeneration Conference. The Docklands Young Achiever Awards 2007 are open to either individuals or groups, aged between 11 and 18 years. In the individual section, there are ﬁve categories including Personal Achievement; Service to the Community; Sport; Young

Carer and Volunteer, and people can be nominated in two separate age divisions, 11 to 14 and 15 to 18 years. The group section is open to nominations for young people aged 11 to 18 in three catego-

Try sailing instead of flying this year

ries– Service to the Community; Sport and Group Volunteers. Entry forms have been distributed throughout the Docklands area and are also available on the Docklands Authority website www.dublindocklands.ie.

n the wake of recent increase in baggage charges that have been introduced by airlines, and the heightened security that goes hand and hand with ﬂying, sailing has become a more appealing option. A journey by sea can be a relaxing and comfortable one, with the added bonus of restaurants, bars and somewhere for the kids to run around, not to mention your car parked safely beneath you. Probably the most valuable reason for travelling by sea is the advantage of being able to drive. You can load the car up with children, baggage or both, drive from your door and a few hours later, arrive at your chosen destination. This leaves you with more choices, you are independent, you donʼt have to rely on tour agents or guides and you go where you want. Whether you are after a relaxing break away from the stress of everyday living, or a fun-ﬁlled adventure holiday with the kids, Irish Ferries has you included, and they donʼt just take you to the destination anymore. The Irish company has joined in partnership with Haven and British Holidays, and now offers a range of great value package deals to both Britain and France this summer. If you are travelling closer to home and would prefer not to be burdened with the car, Irish Ferries SailRail deal is the option you are looking for. This cheap and ozone friendly-deal entitles you to travel from any rail station in Ireland to over 2,400 stations is Britain. For more information on the great deals offered by Irish Ferries log on to www.irishferries.com or drop in to your nearest travel agent.

ing Superintendent Ray Barry, Store Street Garda Station; Mary Finan, Council Member, Dublin Docklands Development Authority; Pat Magner, Council Member, Dublin Docklands Development Authority; Donal OʼConnor, Senior Partner, Price Waterhouse Cooper and Niall Quinn, Chairman of Sunderland Football Club. The Docklands Young Achiever Awards 2007 will be presented at a ceremony in late March, 2007 when specially-designed trophies will be presented to all category winners. There will also be a special prize for the overall winner. The closing date for entries is 5pm on Friday 2 March 2007. People with any queries in relation to the Docklands Young Achiever Awards or those looking for a nomination form should contact Eleanor Smyth, Dublin Docklands Development Authority Tel 818 3300 email: esmyth@dublindocklands.ie

IT’S A DOG-GONE WORLD By Grace Charley

By Eadaoin Ashe

Nominations are now invited from third parties who know the individuals or groups concerned and believe they are deserving of an award. Speaking at the launch Gerry Kelly, Director of Social Regeneration with the Docklands Authority, said that the Awards aim to recognise the outstanding merits of young people whether for their talent, bravery or simply the positive contribution they make to the Docklands area. “The Docklands Young Achiever Awards are not simply about rewarding those who are ʻthe bestʼ at something but about those who have achieved regardless of any barriers or circumstances they may have endured on their journey to achievement,” he said. The entries will be judged by an independent selection panel chaired by Dónall Curtin, Board Member, Dublin Docklands Development Authority and includ-

re we ever going to win the war against crime? Now that elections are looming, weʼre tripping over pamphlets and posters of politicians trying to convince us that we are. But the headlines donʼt lie. We have more state pathologists deployed than weʼve ever had due to the upsurge in gangland and domestic murders. On top of that we now have whatʼs called ʻTigerʼ kidnappings. Forget the boom. Itʼs the gloom of the Celtic Tiger weʼre now experiencing. We scrimped through the eighties and now weʼve become a hungry shower, hell bent on biting off the hand thatʼs feeding us. We want more, and if we canʼt have that, weʼll have what others have– all for free. Itʼs not enough to be stealing cars, robbing banks and mugging unsuspecting tourists, now greedy low-lifes are jumping our fences, pinching our dogs and selling them off. This sickening crime affects the most vulnerable– old people and young children who are shattered when discovering their pet has gone missing. Some will even get a note from the ʻdog nappersʼ offering them the chance to buy their dog back. Most canʼt afford to pay the high ransom demanded, especially the elderly. To them their beloved pets are priceless and maybe all they have

left in the world. What happens to the dogs which arenʼt sold off? They get dumped in remote places like the Dublin Mountains where they are left to fend for themselves. Most of us know what itʼs like to lose a pet as a child. Itʼs heartbreaking. You think youʼll never get over it and sometimes you donʼt, because you always remember what the pain was like. At the moment, thieves are targeting much sought-after purebreds like Yorkshire Terriers, West Highland Terriers, and Alsatians. These dogs possess a particular type of nature or function which suits each potential owner. For example, ʻYorkiesʼ are a small breed and donʼt shed hair. They are considered the perfect house dog and are popular with the elderly or those living alone. A dear pet to buy, they make a likely target for dog thieves. Dog breeding is huge in this country. If youʼre a potential owner, never buy a dog from a breeder unless the dog is micro-chipped and comes with the relevant papers. Otherwise, you wonʼt know the dogʼs origins. Unfortunately, peopleʼs desire for a particular breed means they ʻunwittinglyʼ accept a stolen dog when offered one. For further information or advice call: Dogs Aid (01) 8420186.

A FEW TIPS * If you are seriously considering getting a dog, please visit the dog shelters. They are full of dogs that need homes. There is always a dog to suit you. * If you are buying from a breeder, check they are reputable and donʼt accept a dog which is not micro-chipped or does not have the relevant papers. * While out walking your dog, beware of strangers stopping to ask you about your dogʼs particulars, i.e. breed, sex, age etc. * Leave your dog at home when nipping out to the shops. Tying your pet to a lamppost is ample opportunity for dog thieves. * Donʼt presume all breeds are safe from dog nappers. Mix breeds are becoming very popular.

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

PAGE 35

THE POETRY PLACE

The South Quays 1945 If I had a penny for every time I walked my dog along the Quay No doubt that Iʼd be a millionaire, Well thatʼs what Iʼd hoped to be.

As we passed on down through Moss Street On the Quay corner stood Eckfords big store, They were very well known ships chandlers Who supplied many ships that came to shore Now as we passed on by Eckfords Towards the church on City Quay The next in line was the sailorsʼ home Then came The Banana Store Company The coal merchantʼs yards were not far away And the ice cold storage there too, We would stop to look at the ships that were docked Facing old Windmill Lane, with no crew. The gasometer stood out on high Supplying gas throughout Dublin City, But now this landmark is long since gone Fell to progress more is the pity Along the Quays and past the ships The Eight Bells pub was on my right And further on down were two more pubs Where the locals spent many a good night. There were the old post and oil well, And they all looked out towards the sea. But sad to say they are no longer there, They have all faded into a memory. The Custom House was on the north side, With its clock high up in the dome, And when you saw it from a ship You knew you were almost home. The steps that led into the river, Was where my dog went into swim about, He would swim the river in circles Till Iʼd whistle him to come back out. The trawlers pulled in at night with their catch, With many boxes of fishes to unload, And often at times we would get a free fish, When some of them fell on the road. In the summer the Liffey was a favourite place, Where all the lads went in for a swim, And the bravest ones would climb the crane high, To out jump John Jack or Jim, The younger ones went fishing, Some for crabs and some for fish, On all kinds of rods they made on the day, A better past time you just couldnʼt wish. My rambles took me down to the Point Where a lot of old sailors would meet, Probably reminiscing about the time they spent, On the high seas and not on the street. My millionaire days never came to pass But Iʼm none the worse of that pleasure For the memories I have of the walks with my dog, Along down the Quays Iʼll always treasure By Sonny Kinsella (Just for the record my dogʼs name was Rex, a border collie who was my best friend.)

Storms The Winter Winds came roaring in Across the sea. They walled the waves, They raised the tide, They bowed the trees. Danger in the Winter Winds. “The river is high,” the old man said “It soon will ﬂood the lea In eighty years I never did see such Danger in the Winter Winds.” By Carmel McCarthy

The Poet’s Party

The old red brick set back from the road felt quiet, mysterious in the dark. The metal sign creaked as it did a year before, close to solstice when the winds reached a pitch at night fall. Solid stone steps, let up to the door as old as the clerics who had gone before; that time changed over to an oriental hall. Elevated in comfort amid a lively ﬁre pure white walls and fresh wood ﬂoors the familiar crowd cheered each other with the best of humour, food and wine. Poetry and song found a bard at home, on pages laboured over at the midnight call. Dark skinned men mingled, drifted through the room bringing all that was required. Unspoken words, soft eyes, worlds apart found peace in bonded love and thought. Christʼs call in the wild lives on. By Imelda Kearney

The Nun and the Dentist A nun went to visit a dentist one day, For some of her teeth were in decay. The dentist suggested she needed fillings, And that would require drillings, The nun said: “Drill, if you must, In the lord I put my trust”. The dentist: “Iʼll freeze your mouth”. The nun said: “No, Iʼll do without, The souls in purgatory need a sacrifice, Even though it wonʼt be nice.” The dentist warned: “There will be pain!” “Thatʼs all right sir, the souls will gain!” The dentist proceeded to drill a tooth And the nun gave him an unmerciful boot Into the privates, man it was sore. As he lay screaming on the floor, “Give me an anaesthetic!” the nun did yell “The souls in purgatory can go to hell!” From ʻFlying with the Dovesʼ a book of poetry by Billy Nealon 2001

Routine Days Black skies hang round in November time windows laced in frost hot showers break the ice essential coffee roasted black small talk and gripe for breakfast kiss the wife blurt out the usual tripe dogs barking on the block stone walled body clocks the ʻDartʼ has too many stops bored faces in routine spaces hide behind their thoughts gridlock in an overcrowded slot the day cut short a tragic waste of life.

My Girl

Into my dreams she came each night, Oh, she was such a wonderful sight, Her hair was gold and her eyes were green And her body– Ah!– That I had never seen. Thatʼs the secret she kept from me, And thatʼs as fair as fair can be, I asked no more but that sheʼd be mine, And for her love did I always pine. Then one night she spoke her name, My heart missed a beat but who can blame, The name she whispered, so well I knew, For Iʼd seen it written in the morning dew. But where to ﬁnd her if she be real, The answer to that she did conceal, Seen by night and yet by day– unseen, Ever in my heart– she was my Queen. And then perchance, one winter cold, I glimpsed a girl, whose hair was gold, And there she was in front of me, There was no doubt the girl was she. Sweetly she smiled as she softly said, I dream of you when in my bed, And I of you, was my reply, Iʼll love you ever until I die. And so it was– at last weʼd met, Many years ago our fate was set, Together now weʼve always been, Her hairʼs now white but her eyes– still green. By A.E.Mouse 21st December 2006 (The shortest day– the longest night– perchance to dream)

Crazy Lonely Nights How can I ask you to forgive me When I canʼt forgive myself How can I ask you to be with me When youʼre with someone else How can I ask you to hold me In these crazy lonely nights How can I ask you to be the one To make everything alright I cannot and I should not Ask these things of you But thereʼs something about the things you say And the simple things you do Something about you draws me in Like a moth unto a ﬂame Something stirs some thing within And it will never be the same How can I ask you to sing for me When you donʼt know the tune How can I ask you to commit When for you itʼs just too soon How can I ask you to help me To heal the hurt inside How can I ask you to be there And hold me when I cry

By Imelda Kearney

As always, we welcome contributions to The Poetry Place, which can be sent to the ʻNewsFourʼ ofﬁces at 15 Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4.

How can I expect you to give up All you have for me How can I ask you to take away The ﬂaws that you canʼt see I should not and I cannot Force you to come home But something tells me Iʼll hear your voice Wherever I may roam By Audrey Healy

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NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

Donna the Florist 51a Donnybrook Road, Dublin 4

Donna Ryan, Interﬂora Award-Winning Florist has now opened her own ﬂower shop

Mother’s Day delivery on Sunday • Range of Exotic Plants • House decorations • Gift ideas • Delivery service

Opening Hours 9 am to 6 pm Monday to Saturday 11 am to 4 pm Sunday Telephone: 2194555 * Fax: 2611799

P HYSIO N EEDS By Nessa Jennings

hysio Needs is the leading supplier of physiotherapy and rehabilitation products in Ireland. You may have wondered as you pass by the shop in Bath Street what exactly lies within its doors. It is a company which primarily provides physiotherapists with all kinds of practical orthopaedic devices. For the general public, there are also a number of aids to help overcome everyday complaints. Since they ﬁrst opened in 1992, they have been selling the Swedish Orthopaedic Pillow which has been one of their most popular products. Most ordinary pillows do not support the neck, leading to pain and stiffness, whereas this pillow moulds to give perfect support to the cervical spinal column for maximum beneﬁt and relaxation. Frank Sheehan, the Director of Physio Needs, says that once youʼve slept on one of these, youʼll never go back or even travel without one. Frank says that “The physiotherapy profession has come of age.” Through Physio Needs, these experts are using the latest proven techniques. In the case of a sports injury for example, they will get you back to health using

aids supplied by the business: ankle and shoulder braces; cervical collars; back supports and strapping; cold and hot packs, used for pain relief and to reduce swelling and electrotherapy tools for soft tissue stimulation. Hot parafﬁn wax baths heat wax which when applied, delivers penetrating heat to soothe aching joints and stiff muscles, and ease arthritic pain. They also provide examination couches and massage plinths used by the profession. Physio Needs has many other very popular products that can be used in the home. They sell the Innosol Rondo SAD lamp for those people who suffer from depression due to light deprivation. Seasonal Affective Disorder affects people in Ireland during the winter months. This lamp disperses smooth, glare-free light to the sufferer

G IVING

UP SMOKING

( PART

By Fergal Murphy

n the last issue when Iʼd finished writing I was still in the process of reading Alan Carrʼs book and was ʻgoing to try again in the New Yearʼ. Now the New Year came and went and I still hadnʼt finished the book. Not that it was hard to read or mad long, I just hadnʼt been bothered and the longer that it went since I last read the book the more my willingness to quit waned. I was also in the process of moving and in my knowledgeable medical opinion deemed it too stressful to even try! Well, when I returned to work I was reminded of my promised second part to the article and grudgingly I obliged by attempting to finish the book. To be honest with you I couldnʼt see myself being able to quit after having failed a few times already but, one night I came home early and had only three smokes left. Now, me being lazy by nature (easy going, I

creating ʻa warm feeling of the sun and summerʼ. It is also inexpensive to run. HipSaver pants are sold with cushioning and shock absorption to reduce fall force, and prevent hip fractures in arthritis and osteoporosis sufferers. The pants, though protective, are made of thin polycotton/Lycra, and therefore, do not show under most clothing. They are widely used in nursing homes. Physio Needs also provide exercise equipment, specifically for the practice of pilates. Pilates is a form of exercise often used by professional dancers in order to develop flexibility and control. Extra-thick mats, exercise bands and exercise balls with a special antiburst system are all available. There is also equipment available to help women to improve the strength of pelvic floor muscles weakened through childbirth. The mobility scooters on display, illustrated, help people who are incapacitated and find it hard to get out and about. The motorised machine is permitted on roads, and like a bicycle, needs no tax or insurance. Itʼs great for going anywhere as it runs on an extended life battery and it can be dismantled for trips and put into the boot of a car. Physio Needs, 8-10 Bath Street, Dublin 4. Tel: 01-6602808. E-Mail: info@physioneeds.eu or shop online at www.physioneeds.ie

TWO )

like to call it!) and given the choice between ﬁnishing the book or walking ten minutes in the lashings of rain to the nearest shop, I chose the book! I extinguished my last (that I bought!) cigarette later that night

with a half-hearted hope I could quit. The next week the nicotine withdrawals made me feel like I was having an out-of-body experience and I wasnʼt the most pleasant of chaps to be around! I cracked a couple of times and had two cigarettes. Then, I had a moment of clarity! It was either keep torturing myself by having a cigarette here

and there and longing for one in between, go back on them altogether or just donʼt smoke. Itʼs that easy! When I made that decision it was relatively plain sailing, the withdrawal pangs passed and I only had to battle with my head telling me I needed a cigarette. Lies! As with anything, time and practice are some of the most important things. You canʼt unlearn the habits of a lifetime in a few weeks. Now, I hardly ever miss them. The odd time when Iʼm around smokers or after meals I think itʼd be nice to have one but I know if I had the one Iʼd be back on them in no time. I can feel the beneﬁts already, having been off them a few weeks, I can run for longer, food tastes better, I can breathe easier and Iʼm loaded! Iʼm going to Spain in the summer with the money Iʼve saved from not smoking! I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to quit but needs that extra little push or help. It is far from a miracle cure but it does put a lot in perspective about how smokers prolong their misery through misconceptions and warped thinking. Try it now, whatʼve you got to lose?

Ringsend and Irishtown Youth Project– Programmes and Groups January to April 2007 MONDAY: Legends of Ringer Group (Art and Crafts). Time: 3:00pm- 4:30pm. Age: 10-13. Where: RIYP. Activities include: clay modelling, glass & stone painting, batik. Little Saints Hip Hop. Time: 5:00pm-7:00pm. Age: 13-18. Where: Community Centre Hall. Activities include: Hip hop, Performance Skills. The group have their own committee and are gearing up to take part in a hip hop dance show in May. TUESDAY: D 4 Rascals Group 1 (Cooking Around the World)) Time: 4:00pm- 5:30pm. Age: 10-14. Where: Ringsend & Irishtown Community Centre Kitchen. Activities: Learning about different countries and cultures through cooking, games and quizzes. WEDNESDAY: Outdoor Pursuits. Time: 2:00pm-6:00pm. Age: 12-17. Activities: Rock Climbing, Orienteering, Gorge Walking, Team Activities, Life Skills. Boxing Group. Time: 7:00pm-8:30pm. Age: 13-16. Where: Ringsend & Irishtown Community Centre. Activities: Training and learning new skills from the best coaches. THURSDAY: D.J Group. Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm. Age: 13-18. Where: RIYP. Activities: A range of DJ techniques. D 4 Rascals Group 2. (Cooking Around the World). Time: 6:30pm8:00pm. Age: 10-14. Where: Ringsend & Irishtown Community Centre Kitchen. Activities: Learning about different countries through cooking, games and quizzes. If you are interested in any of these groups please call in to Ringsend and Irishtown Youth Project ofﬁce or phone us at 6608875

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

PAGE 37

T HE L AST S TAND By Rodney Devitt

he subject of the redevelopment of Lansdowne Road Rugby grounds is a topic around which one treads warily, particularly in the catchment area of ʻNewsFourʼ readers. Not everyone is enamoured at the prospect of the massive demolition project which will be entailed in the demise of the old stadium, or at the prospect of an ultra-modern edifice rising phoenix-like from its ashes, to dominate the skyline of Dublin 4. Those who will have to live, quite literally, in its shadows, have particular concerns. But raise it will and one can only hope that the various concerns and reservations about the project will have been noted and acted upon by the Planning Officers. For those less directly affected, the idea of being able to continue to attend rugby or soccer internationals in one of the nicest parts of Dublin, in a comfortable, seated, safe, relatively weatherproof stadium, is a mouth-watering prospect. Generations of Lansdowne Road fans still bear the bruised elbows and crushed ribs which were the inevitable battle wounds incurred while trying to exit the stadium in the midst of the mass stampede which took place after each final whistle. Crowd control, channelled ex-

its, or any pretence at health and safety, was definitely for sissies, and any hope of keeping warm and dry during the course of a match was immediately shattered when the skies darkened. Even the huge roof of the East Stand, a piece of cutting edge eighties technology, was no protection against a souʼwesterly rain-laden wind that came straight in over the North Terrace like an icy lash, and left the sheepskinclad alikadoos in their expensive seats as sodden as the rest of us on the bleak terraces. Well, the curtain came down on all that when the whistle blew at the end of the last-ever rugby match, fittingly titled The Last Stand, at 3.20pm on New Yearʼs Eve last. Forty-eight thousand of us, virtually a capacity crowd, came to watch Leinster beat Ulster in a Celtic League match, but equally importantly, to pay our respects to the Old Ground for the last time. The weather entered into the spirit of things by being just as we always remember it at such events: bitterly cold, with a strong, gusty wind and vicious, squally showers. Considering the significance of the occasion, there was remarkably little official razzmatazz. Perhaps because during all of 2006 we had been marking various ʻlastsʼ– the last Six Nations, the last Schools Finals, the last Soccer Friendly, the last Autumn International– the organizers felt

they could not summon up any more hype. But amongst the crowd, there was a real sense of history and occasion. At the ﬁnal whistle, throughout the terraces and stands Leinster men and Ulster men shook hands and exchanged appropriate good wishes and promises to meet again, maybe in Croke Park, but more importantly, back in our old spiritual home, a ʻnewʼ Lansdowne Road. We have always been proud that ours is the oldest international rugby stadium in these islands, and therefore, presumably, in the world. Originally designed and laid out one hundred and thirty years ago by Henry Wallace Dunlop, it has in its various shapes and conﬁgurations been in more or less continuous use until now. Dunlop was a Trinity College man, and a talented athlete himself. He saw the need for a multi-use sports ground, bigger and more accessible than could be accommodated on the Trinity campus. As an engineering

graduate, he saw the potential of the site between the railway line and the river “out in the country near Lansdowne Road Station”, and took a sixty-nine year lease from the Pembroke Estate at £60 annual rent. By all accounts, the new Lansdowne grounds were impressive, with a 500-yard cinder running track, a cricket pitch, a croquet lawn, tennis courts, archery butts, and of course the rugby ﬁeld. During its century and a quarter, the grounds have changed in shape, axis and function, though rugby has been its original and constant raison díetre. Latterly, of course the Football Association of Ireland has become a paying guest, and is now a joint partner in the redevelopment programme. Externally, the stadiumʼs most visible features are the East and West stands, two grim, gaunt and mismatching pieces of architecture which can just about

be described as ʻfunctionalʼ. It is an irony that for ﬁfty years the residents of some of the most expensive properties in Dublin have had to look out at the mass of dingy, crumbling concrete straddling the Dart line, festooned with rusting pipes and sagging cables, which in any other city would have been condemned as an eyesore years ago. The Last Stand match on New Yearʼs Eve, 2006, was an emotive occasion for some, it marked the serious drawing up of battle lines, as they prepared to defend their properties and their environment from the inevitable assault this redevelopment will entail. For others, it was the closing of another chapter of rich local and rugby history, and the commencement of a new era which they hope will lead to an epic time in Irish sporting life. Out with the old, above (Photo by Michael Penston). In with the new (as yet computer-generated) Lansdowne Road, below.

Kevin Mays & Co Solicitors have moved and are now practising at 93a Sandymount Road, Dublin 4 Tel: 6473707 FAX: 6673794 Email: info@mayssolicitors.ie

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NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

M u sic4 …

BY BRIAN KELLY * FERGAL MURPHY * NESSA JENNINGS

Albums Hats Off To The Buskers – The View Before The View took to the stage at the recent NME Brats gig in January, the crowd began chanting “The View are on fire, The View are on fire.” The refrain was not just a reference to the bandʼs website, (theviewareonfire.co.uk), it was also testament to the fact that this four piece band from Dundee are currently one of the hottest acts in indieland. It would be easy to dismiss The View as just another NME flavour of the fortnight band, were it not for the fact that their debut is one of the most joyous recordings you will hear in 2007. Much like last yearʼs tyros, The Artic Monkeys, the songwriting on Hats is very much based on the sights and sounds of the bandʼs native town. The band name even comes from their local boozer in downtown Dundee. Produced by Oasis helmsman, Owen Morris, Hats has a lardy charm, which rubs off on almost every track. Superstar Tradesman, Same Jeans and Wasted little DJs are stonking tracks but there is plenty more where that came from on an album that is thoroughly infectious and inventive. I doff my cap to the young Scots. Boys and Girls of America – The Hold Steady Literate American rock imbued with the passion of Bruce Springsteen and the spirit of fellow Minneapolis band, Husker Du. That is the basis tenet which runs through The Hold Steadyʼs third album, a barnstorming rock nʼroll racket which takes you on an intense ride through the peaks and valleys of young American lives. Every song penned by lyricist Craig Finn reads like a short story from the chronicles of life in modern Minneapolis. With succinct phrasing and intense delivery, Finn paints a vivid scene of boozing, cruising, popping pills, falling in love, fighting, partying, making out and just hanging out with friends. Itʼs a real adrenalin rush of a record, played at almost breakneck speed throughout, only pausing for breath on the final track, Southtown Girls, which pays an affectionate tribute to the gals in his hometown. Itʼs a little early to be talking about albums of the year, but you will have to listen hard to hear a more exciting record in 2007 than The Hold Steadyʼs Boys and Girls Of America. Jamie T – Panic Prevention Panic prevention is the debut album from Jamie T. The 20 year-old from Wimbeldonʼs ability to tell stories has had him hailed as a modern day folk singer. Except, heʼs a mental mix of the Streets, Arctic Monkeys, the Beastie Boys and the Clash. If you can imagine that! His ability to paint a picture with words and clever little one liners are what makes you sit up and take notice “her lingo went from the cockney to the gringo” (from Shiela) and “I ainʼt no abacus but you can count on me love” (from Operation) Genius!! When I first heard Jamie T I thought he was just a good copy of the Arctic Monkeysʼ lyrical style but, as the record shows, he might draw from a lot of bands but heʼs very much his own man. He meshes all his influences together brilliantly. From the frantic opener Brand New Bass Guitar, this album funks, grooves and rocks along the whole way through. The standout tracks being the funky If You Got The Money, about fellas spending too much money and not enough time on their girlfriends, So Lonely Was The Ballad and the already classic Shiela a tale of drink, drugs, boys, girls, life… Ah just buy the album and listen!!

Forthcoming Attractions March Amy Winehouse

Ambassador 2

Saxon

The Village 3

The Rapture

Tripod 3

Duke Special

Tripod 8

Stiff Little Fingers

(30th Anniversary Tour) Temple Bar Music Centre 10

Kristin Hersh

Temple Bar Music Centre 12

The Beat

Voodoo Lounge 17

The Waterboys

Point 18

The Australian Pink Floyd

Point 24

Joan Armatrading

Vicar Street 24

Lionel Ritchie

Point 28

Snoop Dogg/ P Diddy

Point 31

Gruff Rhys ( Super Furry Animals)

Vicar Street 31

April Snoop Dogg/ P Diddy

Point 1

My Chemical Romance

RDS 1

Dolly Parton

Point 2

Fureys and Davey Arthur

Vicar St 5

Barenaked Ladies

Olympia 10

James

Olympia 17

May Juliette and the Licks

Ambassador 3

Loudon Wainright III

Olympia 6

Diana Ross

Point 11

Stephen Bishop

Vicar St 11

Bon Jovi

Croke Park 20

Dave Matthews Band

Point 23

Ray Davies

Vicar St 25

Jason Donovan

Vicar St 30

June

Forthcoming attractions… Jason Donovan and Kristin Hersh.

Meat Loaf

Point 2

Beyonce

Point 9, 10

Artic Monkeys

Malahide Castle 16, 17

INXS

Olympia 26

NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007

PAGE 39

Music4 …

DID THEY ‘MOVE’ HEARTS?

By Nessa Jennings

oving Hearts reformed this year in order to recreate their album ʻThe Stormʼ. Nine top Irish musicians were reunited to play two gigs in Donegal, before a run of four nights at Dublinʼs Vicar Street. Moving Hearts was formed in early 1981, and used two singers, Christy Moore, then Mick Hanley, when they performed ballads and overtly political tunes such as the anti-nuclear ʻHiroshima, Nagasaki, Russian Rouletteʼ. The band was very productive during this time, recording four albums,

and re-inventing the Irish sound into what was being called folk-rock. Moving Heartsʼs background was Donal Lunny and Christy Mooreʼs collaboration in Planxty, and Davy Spillaneʼs involvement with Horslips. The original line-up changed during this time, and without the singer, a young uilleann piper, Davy Spillane, became the focus of the band. Donal Lunny on bouzouki was central, as composer/ arranger and the group had become a fully instrumental outﬁt by the time they recorded the epic ʻThe Stormʼ album for Tara in 1985. This was made when the band was at its peak, with every member an

essential ingredient. The personnel came from all areas of the Irish music scene to make up ʻa democratic collective of virtuoso musiciansʼ. Moving Hearts were run on the basis of a co-operative with all expenses and proﬁts shared equally between the seven members and their three road crew. With Matt Kelleghan on drums, Noel Eccles on percussion, Eoghan OʼNeill on bass, and Keith Donald on saxophone, modern instruments were driving this bigger sound, on instrumental compositions like ʻThe Larkʼ, ʻTitanicʼ and the slower air, ʻEarly Morning Dewʼ, which introduced Davy Spillane on low whistle. Electric guitar and bass added to

monumental traditional compositions turned this music into Trad-Fusion. Moving Heartsʼs live gigs were more than seisuins at the time. They were awe-inspiring in their re-invention of Irish music which they offered new audiences to get into. About ʻThe Stormʼ, Chris Rea said, “If you could copyright a musical idea, this would probably be the greatest publishing album of all time.” Sales of the album were phenomenal, and it has been one of Tara Records most successful issues. It has been re-issued for this tour with the original sleeve and liner notes. At Vicar Street, Graeme Henderson was on keyboards, Anthony Drennan on electric guitar, with Kevin Glackin joining them on fiddle. The venue was packed and the crowd was full of anticipation. ʻThe Larkʼ, ʻThe Stormʼ, ʻFenoreʼ and ʻPeadar OʼDonnellʼ were played. ʻPeadar OʼDonnellʼ was a piece commissioned by Galway University to honour his work in improving living conditions for working men. Donal Lunny composed this epic suite, which was a centrepiece of the concert. Melodies are defined by three musicians: pipes, fiddle and sax, then taken up by the rest of the band, in sections, building in energy. The result is very exciting and the crowd were

dancing on the balcony. Davy Spillane played evocative themes on low whistle, revealing traditional tunes of great lyrical beauty. Ed Power said in the Independent “Frankly, youʼd have to be hewn from granite not to be impressed.” Keith Donald talked about the inspiration on their tours at a time when everyone was writing. Donal Lunny simply said, “Itʼs great to be here. Itʼs great to be alive actually!” They returned to the stage to play an encore called ʻDowntownʼ, to great applause. I think they did ʻmoveʼ hearts with their impressive set and professional playing. The crowd must have been satisﬁed with what one band member said was a “very rewarding” project. The night was not only one of incontestably Irish music, but is also a great contribution to world music. Main picture: ʻMoving Heartsʼ in 1983. Below: ʻThe Stormʼ album.

Youʼre getting support slots for bands such as the Foo Fighters and getting a lot of coverage in NME. Do you feel youʼre going somewhere? We get stuff in England and we get press but it doesnʼt really matter to us, weʼve learned a lot. At the start it was new and interesting, then we realised that it wasnʼt going to make us any better. To be honest we donʼt care weʼre just happy moving on and making music. What do you think of the Irish music scene at the moment? I think itʼs really healthy, thereʼs a lot of really good underground bands that are ﬁlling venues. There are a lot of young people coming to gigs. Thereʼs two different types of bands in the music scene at the moment– the type that are featured in the press and the underground bands that donʼt get featured but are still very current and will take a bit more time to get noticed. It is healthy but there are a lot of bands that are not getting coverage

that should be. If you could be one person living or dead who would it be? Besides me? It would have to be a concoction of Jack Nicholson and Mark E Smith from The Fall Is it better to burn out or to fade away? Depends, if youʼre still making great music like The Fall and Nick Cave its OK to keep going. But I do have an issue with bands living on past glories and reforming for money and out of ego. Whatʼs the plans for the next

year? The albumʼs being released in America and Germany and in the summer weʼre relocating to Germany to record the next album. We want to do an album a year, we donʼt believe in recording an album every three years and we also have a new animated video for ʻsong for the understandingʼ. Anything else youʼd like to say? The album is in the shops, itʼs in all good record stores. Keep an eye out for the new stuff and check on myspace/humanzi.com for all the latest news.

H UMANZI By Fergal Murphy

umanzi are a four piece indie band from Dublin. Theyʼve recently released their debut album ʻTremorsʼ and are representing Ireland in the Eurosonic festival and have been nominated for a Meteor music award. I had a chat with frontman Shaun Mulroney to find out a bit more about them: Tell us a little bit about the band? Weʼve been together two and a half years, weʼve toured America, Europe, released our first album in the summer and weʼre about to write our second album. Your musical style is very distinctive in that it meshes all your influences (rock, dance, etc) into something original. Was that planned or something that just came about? We all have different influences. We got together to help me because I was writing songs. We were all in

other bands so it was laid-back at the start, whatever came out came out. Anything can come to the table and nothing is really discounted… unless itʼs opera! Your lyrics have a lot of substance to them, which is unusual for a ʻrockʼ band. Have you any message you want to get across? If youʼre not writing songs like Razorlight and the like itʼs very hard to get daytime radio play. Anything thatʼs confrontational or makes people think doesnʼt really get played. Mostly the lyrics are about how I was feeling at the time. Itʼs not about preaching either, peopleʼd say who are you to be singing about America and oil when youʼre drinking Coke. Weʼre all part of the problem, thereʼs a lot of hope. Its not pessimistic, itʼs very much direct. A lot of people choose not to relate to the lyrics because they make you think. People donʼt want to deal with that stuff.

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NEWSFOUR FEBRUARY 2007