Tallaght News 24.06.19 by Newsgroup

24th June 2019

SCHOOL PROJECTS EXPERIENCING DELAYS

54 Major School Building Projects experiencing Delays in progressing beyond detailed design stage. Lucan Community College and Holy Family Rathcoole have been stuck at the Stage 2B detailed design stage for a very long time.

John Curran T.D. has criticised the Government for the number of school building projects that are experiencing long delays in the Architectural Planning Stage 2(b) Detailed Design stage. Deputy was

Curran commenting

after receiving new information, through a parliamentary question from the Minister for Education, Joe McHugh on the issue, he said; “Many school building projects seem to be undergoing a longer than normal Stage 2 (b) process and appear to be stuck in the Detailed Design Architectural Planning Stage and not making any progress towards the tender stage and construction. “7 such projects have been progressing through the stage for 1 year, 19 projects have been progressing for 2 years, 19 further projects have been

progressing for 3 years and 9 projects have been progressing through the stage for 5 years. That’s a total of 54 schools experiencing longer than normal delays in getting their school building projects constructed. In my own area of Dublin Mid-West Lucan Community College and Holy Family Rathcoole have been stuck at the Stage 2B stage for a very long time also. I have attended many meetings at these schools in relation to this problem. The entire school communities and parents are now getting

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very frustrated with the lack of progress. Deputy Curran is calling on the Government to bring forward an emergency plan to ensure construction on these schools gets underway without any further delay. “I am calling on the Minister to review the number of schools that are in Stage 2 (B) as a matter of urgency and to prioritise these schools so that they are progressed towards construction and the delivery of much needed school accommodation around the country. “This Government likes to announce ambitious plans, however the Government’s failure here is to follow through with tangible action on the schools that are already

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A LIKELY STORY PRESENTS “THE VOICE WITHIN – A SHOWBAND STORY” A brand new Irish play set in the swinging 1960’s pays homage to the golden era of Showband music – complete

with a live showband. Book your tickets NOW to be transported back to the heady days of

“Crystal Ballroom” and “The Television Club” and rediscover the magic and nostalgia of this wonderful

time.

A Likely Story are delighted to bring the sell-out, hit show “The Voice Within – A Showband Story” to The Civic Theatre, Tallaght for three nights only at the beginning of July (3rd5th). This original play with music, written by company co-founders Carol Gleeson and Helen Spring, continues its’ hugely successful run having wowed audiences across Leinster over the past number of months. Set in Donegal in the 1960’s golden era of music, the story follows an unassuming

Pictured Helen Spring and Carol Gleeson Writers of The Voice Within

Published by: Newsgroup, Unit 3 Floor 2 St. Dominics Shopping Centre, St. Dominics Road, Tallaght, Dublin, D24 HK49. Titles: Tallaght News, Clondalkin News, Lucan News and Rathcoole & Saggart News Distributed by: Local Post Co. Printed by: Meath Chronicle Contact Details: Website www.newsgroup.ie

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young man who finds himself at the helm of an up and coming showband. Through a series of memorable characters, this play offers a snapshot in time when Ireland was finally starting to find its’ voice and when showband music was the revolutionary language of the people. Alongside a live seven piece band on stage this heartfelt and nostalgic play includes popular hits such as “The Hucklebuck”, “Rock around the Clock”, “Blueberry Hill” and “From the Candystore on the Corner” among many others. The play features

an impressive central cast of 14 (plus dancers) and a wealth of talented actors from Kildare, Dublin and Kilkenny. Tickets will sell fast so book early for what is guaranteed to be an uplifting run. Contact The Civic Theatre, Tallaght now on (01) 4627477 or book online at www.civictheatre.ie. Tickets €23/Concession €21. Group booking offers available. Follow on Facebook at – “A Likely Story Productions” or on Twitter and Instagram @ alikelystoryprd.

SCHOOL PROJECTS EXPERIENCING DELAYS...... CONT’D FROM PAGE 1 approved and are already in the process. Many of these schools are operating in deplorable conditions, Lucan Community College for example has reached capacity and needs delivery of their building works urgently. “I

calling

for

emergency school building plan, which needs to be funded, to be implemented to deal with the schools already announced by Fine Gael. In addition, I am calling for the Department to meet every school that is experiencing longer than normal delays at Stage

2 (b), in order to let the schools know exactly what is happening and when they will start to be built. “Minister McHugh needs to knuckle down and ensure he delivers on the commitments his Government has made to date,” concluded Deputy Curran.

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FYFFES ‘FIT SQUAD’ INITIATIVE RECEIVES STAR AWARD Irish fruit importers, Fyffes has been presented with a 2019 APMC Star Award in recognition of its on-going work in helping to combat childhood obesity through its fitness-based ‘Fit Squad’ initiative. Now in its 26th year, the annual APMC Awards are hosted by the Promotional Marketing Association, the representative body for organisations involved in the promotional marketing industry in Ireland. Designed to recognise best-in-class marketing campaigns, their award was presented to Fyffes in the category ‘Best Use of Experiential Marketing Within A Budget of €30,000’ at a gala awards ceremony

held recently in Dublin’s Marker Hotel. Developed by TITAN Experience – in conjunction with Irish health and fitness expert Tom Dalton – the main purpose of each unique 40 minute session is to demonstrate to young people in schools and clubs throughout the country how they can increase their physical activity. Last year, the ‘Fit Squad’ message was delivered to over 4,000 participants who took part in the programme. As a direct result of its popularity, Fyffes is committed to reaching a further 12,000 participants across 28 counties, north and south, in the current year.

Irish health and fitness expert Tom Dalton (centre) pictured with the 2019 APMC Star Award pictured with Fyffes Emma Hunt-Duffy and Michael King from TITAN Experience.

VERY CREDITABLE SHOWING FOR TALLAGHT IBAL LITTER SURVEY

The latest survey by business group Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) has found Dublin city centre to be cleaner than ever but Ballymun deemed a ‘litter blackspot’ at the foot of the rankings.

Dublin North Inner City was again seriously littered, a status IBAL attributes in part to the widespread use of bags over bins in

domestic waste collection. Dun Laoghaire, Swords and Tallaght were all clean.

Tallaght was classed clean to European norms. Despite a fall-off in cleanliness, a very creditable showing for Tallaght. The IABL survey stated the Recycle Facility at Square deserves a special mention as it was in such good condition – this is quite a rarity for recycle facilities.

The high standards of previous surveys have been maintained at The Square, Tallaght Village and Tallaght Luas Stop. Sean Walsh Memorial Park was an excellent site but the Pond within Sean Walsh Park has suffered from heavy littering over a prolonged period. The Playing Pitches beside McGee Park were heavily littered, mostly food related.

a long history in Ireland of small parties propping up Fine Gael and Fianna Fail in government with disastrous consequences for ordinary people and for the small parties themselves, take the Labour Party and their recent fall from grace following their coalition

with Fine Gael. If the events in South Dublin were to be replicated on a national level, those who voted Green will find themselves let down and ordinary people will be made to pay the cost of the climate crisis while corporations are let off the hook.

SOUTH DUBLIN CO CO NEW COUNCIL

The recent local elections saw a large section of the electorate looking for action on Climate change. In light of this it’s extremely disappointing to see the Green Party in South Dublin join a ruling group with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, and even voting for a Fine Gael Mayor. Recent events have made it absolutely clear that Fine Gael have no interest in solving the Climate crisis as they have been blocking People Before Profit’s bill in the Dail which would end fossil fuel exploration. There is

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LIN 50 DUB S VENUE We have camps in

Tallaght, Palmerstown, Lucan, Knocklyon, Firhouse, Citywest & Adamstown

Timbertrove’s Country Store & Café is a small family run café. We are situated in the foothills of the Dublin Mountains. We are looking for a cafe assistant & kitchen assistant to join our team. Must be able to work in a fast paced environment. Main duties will include: To keep the kitchen and cafe areas clean & tidy To provide a friendly, efficient and hygienic l service to all customers l Operate the dishwasher, clean crockery, l cutlery and glassware. l NO heavy duty cleaning/industrial ovens l l

Part-time and full-time positions are available (Tuesday to Sunday). Café is closed Mondays & no late evening work. *Please note we are not on a bus route, you must have your own transport.*

Please email your CV and cover letter to careers@timbertrove.com for consideration.

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NEW POST PRIMARY SCHOOL FOR CITYWEST / SAGGART The Department of Education and Skills has announced that a new second level school will open in the Citywest/ Saggart in 2020. CEIST (Catholic Education – an Irish Schools Trust) is applying for patronage of this new school. CEIST is a Catholic patron of 107 schools (46 co-educational) all around Ireland.

This vast experience in patronage will serve well in a new school for Citywest/ Saggart. Nearby CEIST schools include Coláiste Bhride in Clondalkin, Scoil Dara in Kilcock and St. Mary’s College in Naas. A CEIST Catholic coeducational secondary school would provide a real choice for parents in the Citywest/Saggart area. There are currently no Catholic voluntary secondary schools in all of the Tallaght/Citywest/ Saggart area. This week, CEIST will be

beginning an information campaign to ensure that all parents and guardians are fully informed about this choice that is open to them when they are asked by the Department of Education and Skills to make expressions of interest in who should be Patron of the new school. A CEIST school is available to everyone, and endeavours

to offer the widest possible educational experience to all the children of an area. CEIST Schools, of course, as in most post-primary schools in Ireland, have Boards of Management including parents, teachers and patron nominees.

They are inclusive schools, and cater for students of all faiths and none. CEIST looks forward to engaging

with parents and guardians from Citywest/Saggart at this very important moment in the development of educational provision in the area. A meeting will be held in September to give further information and answer any queries that may arise. In the meantime, information can be accessed at www.ceist.ie

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Complete Laboratory Solutions (CLS) is the largest privately-owned contract laboratory in Ireland. It provides sampling, testing and fully trained analysts on contract to the medical device, pharmaceutical, food and environmental industries.

Join our dynamic team We are currently recruiting

CLEAN ROOM SAMPLERS This is an excellent opportunity to join a growing industry sector and is an ideal position for cleanroom operatives looking to upskill and advance their careers. The primary role requirement will be in completing a variety of samples for cleanroom environments (water, contact and air sampling).

The ideal candidate will have: • Successfully completed the Leaving Certificate • An appreciation of and the ability to follow procedures accurately with good • attention to detail • Possess a high level of professionalism with good time keeping and exceptional • attention to detail • Excellent communications skills (verbal and written) with a friendly workplace • manner • Good level of fitness Hours of work will follow a shift pattern and a competitive salary is offered to the successful candidates. All technical training will be supplied by CLS. The positions are based in Dublin. Interested candidates should submit their CV along with a cover letter to Tom McAvinchey, Human Resources Manager by email: tmcavinchey@cls.ie before close of business on Friday 28th June 2019

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STARCAMP SUMMER CAMP HAS THE X-FACTOR!

Ireland’s No 1 and most exciting Summer camp, STARCAMP Summer Camps, have not only got magician Keith Barry as their 2019 ambassador, but they have also teamed up with Sean and Conor Price from X-Factor for the summer ahead. Favourites to win the 2017 X-Factor, Wicklow

brothers Sean and Conor Price will take time out of their busy Summer touring schedule to pop into some Starcamp Summer camps that are running nationwide to surprise some lucky boys and girls. They will give them an insight into the music

business, sing a couple of songs with them and tell them what Simon Cowell is really like!

“We are so delighted to have teamed up with STARCAMP! They have everything we love, singing, dancing, acting, arts and crafts, camp games, magic and loads more. AND they give out great freebies like wristbands, t-shirts, certs. STARCAMP is the best!” Sean and Conor Price recently stated. Staff at Starcamp HQ work all year round to ensure the most wondrous experience possible for all who attend. A little insight into this years’ line up shows magic shows, a joke a day, Toy Story 4, The Lion King, Mary Poppins and David Walliams’ Gangsta’ Granny for the older kids. There will be George Ezra singoffs, Disney classics and pop galore. The arts and crafts section will be imaginative and exciting and kids love using the microphones for the news reporting

and interview section. All leaders are Garda vetted, fully trained and have a minimum of two years’ experience working with children. Starcamp was a memorable winner on Dragon’s Den, has won numerous awards

and is widely recognised for leading the way in what it does. With a number of camps already booked out, don’t delay in securing your place. Every child receives a Starcamp t-shirt, art supplies, cert and lots more! The camp runs for 5 days from 9:30 – 2:30pm and

children aged 4-12 will be sub divided into their own age groups for advancing programs. BOOK YOUR LIMITED PLACE NOW AT WWW.STARCAMP.IE OR CALL 021-4377900. Starcamp is in over 50 Dublin Venues for 2019!

CHECK ELIGIBILITY FOR BACK TO SCHOOL PAYMENT John Curran T.D. is urging families in Dublin to check if they are eligible for the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance for 2019, which is open for new applications as of June 24th and to apply at www.mywelfare.ie. Deputy Curran says the payment is a vital support to families who are seriously struggling with extra costs at this time of the year. Early application will allow families to plan and budget for these extra costs come August/September. “Back to School is an extremely expensive time of year, especially for young working families. The Back to School allowance has always been a life-line for struggling families

in Dublin, as they grapple with big bills for uniforms, sports gear, school books, stationery and other essential school equipment,” said Deputy Curran. “I welcome the government’s increased payment this coming school year 2019 / 2020 of €25 per child, which is a welcome increase after the previous Fine Gael/ Labour Government introduced sneaky cuts to the Back to School Allowance in 2013, which had a very negative effect on young families across Dublin. It means the payment for children aged 12 - 22 is now €275, while the payment for children between the ages of 4 and 11 has gone up to €150. For more information www.welfare.ie or Lo Call 1890 66 22 44 .

DO YOU HAVE A JOB YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADVERTISE? Reach homes & Businesses in Lucan, Clondalkin, Tallaght, Rathcoole, Saggart and Newcastle. Contact Newsgroup today on info@newsgroup.ie or call 01 451 9000

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Wedding Showcase at Annebrook House Hotel - Wednesday 3rd of July 2019 Situated in the heart of Mullingar, the Award Winning 4* Annebrook House Hotel presents a spectacular fusion of 17th century heritage with ultimate modern styling…let us be your “something old, something new.” Whether it’s a grand affair or an intimate reception, the style of your wedding is entirely up to you, catering for 30-280 guests. As a family owned hotel, we pride ourselves in offering a very personalised service from the initial booking stage all the way through to your dream day. Sumptuous food combined with

top-class service are the main ingredients of any good wedding and the Annebrook House Hotel delivers both these elements seamlessly. Our friendly and approachable service will ensure your wedding day is everything you want it to be and more. Our experienced Wedding Team at the Annebrook constantly strive to keep up to date with current wedding trends to ensure every couples day is as memorable and as individual as they are. We are excited to announce the official unveiling of our newly refurbished at our next Wedding Showcase on

Wednesday 3rd July, 5pm-8pm to view this wonderful venue for yourself. For further details or to register your interest www.annebrook.ie , or email our Wedding Coordinator Siobhan on events@annebrook. ie Annebrook House Hotel, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath T: 044 9353300

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;SHOWHOUSE ON SALE AT NEWTOWN MANOR, KILL, COUNTY KILDAREâ&#x20AC;?

MMWard are delighted to bring to market the fantastic 4 Bed Semi Showhome at the highly sought after estate of Newtown Manor in Kill Co.Kildare. Superbly located facing a Large green area, on a small cul de sac and at the front of this

stunning development, this immaculate home showcases the ideal circumstances for family living with the prestige of interior designed layout throughout. It comes with all contents included, new furniture, kitchen and utility appliances,

carpets, flooring, lights and open fire fireplace to name but a few and is a must see even for the most discerning of purchaser and has the added advantage of immediate occupancy if necessary. Nestled away nicely between Rathcoole &

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Number 5 Newtown, Kill, Co. Kildare

Naas off the N7,Kill is a friendly, traditional country village the town is located approximately a 15 minute drive from the Red Cow roundabout and with the Luas line extended out as far as Citywest and the train line from Sallins, minutes away and the regular local Bus Eireann service in the village itself, it leaves ample forms of public transport available on route to

the City Centre and surrounding areas. A New Large modern Primary school has opened in Kill catering for both boys and girls and secondary are easily accessible with private bus operators servicing both Rathcoole and Naas schools also. This Showhome was designed with the modern purchaser in mind, beautiful modern fully fitted kitchen with all appliances included. Tiled Bathrooms and En Suite, Front driveway and Garden Walls, Open fire and

Fireplace, carpets, built in wardrobes, front garden walls are just some of the features to capture the imagination. Cavan Developments homes are built with reduction of maintenance in mind and with the PVC fascia and soffit and the walls being brick and dry dashed, this goes a long way to emphasizing that point. Cavan Developments are an award winning builder celebrating 40 years building new homes in Dublin and Kildare.

Master bedroom

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RATHCOOLE FETE 2019 LOCAL AWARENESS TALK ON The sun was shining again this year for the Garden Fete in aid of the Four Districts Day Care Centre. Cllr. Emer Higgins who attended the event said, “It was great to see so many people out supporting the fundraiser and enjoying the sunshine. This year’s event was bigger than ever with the fire brigade, super heroes, bouncy castles, a carousel, BBQ and pop-up stalls.

Local musicians, the RAMs in Rhythm entertained the crowds.” The Day Care Centre is a fantastic amenity for the older members of our community where they gather to socialise with others in a warm and friendly atmosphere. There is regular daily group activities to stimulate

body and mind plus occasional days out. Clients can avail of special services such as hairdressing and exercise programmes to keep bodies and minds active and we now have physiotherapy and reflexology available. “The Garden Fete has been an annual family event for many years in Rathcoole. Thanks to a hard-working team, and massive community support, this event has grown in popularity year on year. There are two more great events planned for Rathcoole in September, Family Fun Day on the 14th and TeenFest on the 21st. I look forward to meeting you all there” said Cllr. Higgins.

CLIMATE CHANGE

A new environmental campaign group, Extinction Rebellion Ireland, has announced that it will be hosting a free information talk in Tallaght’s Rua Red on the 2nd of July the impact climate change will have locally, nationally and globally now and into the future. Colin Walsh who is a national co-ordinator for the new group, will be presenting the talk.

The talk is aimed at raising awareness among the local public, and particularly families with young children, on the impacts that climate change will have on them and their families in the years to come. Also discussed on the night will be a radical new direct action based approach to climate change campaigning. This marks the beginning of a wider campaign by Extinction Rebellion Ireland to highlight the need for drastic action on climate change. Many more talks

will follow in cities, towns and villages across the country.

Colin Walsh said the talk is aimed at raising awareness of the consequences which climate change will have on the lives of his generation and their children, “Our group is putting this talk on because we really feel that a lot of people do not fully realise what is at stake here. I know many people in the community who are a bit worried about climate change but don’t know all the facts. “This talk is to try to inform people of how serious the climate situation is and how it’s going to impact on our lives in the not too distant future. The science is very clear that if we do not radically change how we live our lives, even here in Tallaght, then we are in serious danger of more major flooding events,

global food shortages, massive sea level rise and, as David Attenborough has said, a potential for the collapse of society. It’s scary stuff but there is something we can do about it if we act now. “We also want to highlight how the Government is failing abysmally to do anything approaching meaningful action on the topic. Ireland’s record on this is shocking, and those in power should be ashamed of themselves for the way they are sacrificing our children’s future for the sake of protecting the status quo. But it may not be too late yet. So, we will be pushing the government hard to change its tune. “We’d be delighted to welcome anyone with an interest to come to the talk on Tuesday the 2nd of July in Rua Red at 7.30pm”

VIEW OUR NEWSPAPER ONLINE AT WWW.NEWSGROUP.IE

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DODDER VALLEY LITTER MUGS RECENT CLEAN UP Dodder Valley Litter Mugs recently collaborated with Leave No Trace Ireland to clean up Dodder Valley Park and the river. A corporate group from Google and Dodder Action volunteers with their regular climate ambassadors collected over 45 bags of rubbish including car parts, drug paraphernalia, basketball nets, computers, industrial waste, carpets and household waste. Also items such as glass bottles that were collected were later recycled.

The next clean up will take place on the 13th of July. meet at the Old Mill car park at 10am. Equipment provided. For more information and details on upcoming clean ups please see www. facebook.com/DodderMugs

PAST SCOIL TREASA PUPIL RELEASES SONG

Rob Fitzpatrick a past Scoil Treasa (Firhouse) pupil and his band Thrifty Malone have released their first original song. The Irish / Country band are based in Gibraltar and the song is gaining momentum on stations across the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Spain, Gibraltar and Germany. The song has also featured on Total Country FM based in Inchicore. Our single is - Six Hours Down The Road and the video can be viewed on youtube. Rob is the Mandolin player in the group and he commented about writing the song Six Hours Down The Road; “I met a Gulf War Veteran in West Virginia, back in 2007 and he told me about a friend of his who had fallen on hard times since leaving the Army and was struggling with PTSD and basically having a hard time trying to re-integrate to civilian life. He took a job working for a haulage company and spent a lot of time driving backwards and forwards through Mexico. He said being on the road meant he didn’t have to interact with people too much. He also used to

carry what I think was an old Johnson automatic service rifle in his cab for protection, hence the reference to 30-06 (thirty aught six). He kept it above his head in the cab. I can’t be 100% sure about the weapon, so went with a 3006 calibre. He was forever getting into fights and eventually picked a fight in the wrong bar, somewhere down near Juarez. He hit an off duty federale and was taken to jail. In jail he fell in with some bad company and was coerced into driving “goods” on his regular return journeys back to the US. The reference to Sinaloa isn’t necessarily about a specific gang just the wrong type of people to work with. The money was good and he just kept doing it, the more he did the more he earned. During this time he also met and fell in love with a dancer he met at one of the bars he frequented in Mexico, and she was trying to get him to stop and turn his life around. Not sure how it all ended but I like to think he settled with her in Guadalupe and has at last found peace”.

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UPGRADE OF N4 / KENNELSFORT ROAD JUNCTION

John Curran T.D. has called for the urgent need for the

NTA and Transport Minister Shane Ross to begin liaising

in order to provide a grade separated upgrade at the

N4 / Kennelsfort Road / Palmerstown Intersection.

TALLAGHT AND FIRHOUSE VINCENT’S SHOPS RECOGNISED AT AWARDS

Pictured to left: The Society of St Vincent de Paul (SVP) Vincent’s shop in Tallaght has won the East region Business Development Award at the 2019 SVP National Shops Awards. Ali Tabrizy, Vincent’s Tallaght is pictured receiving the award from Lynn Byrne. Area Manager, SVP East Region, at the Awards event held recently. Also pictured are Dermot McGilloway, SVP National Retail Development Manager (left) and SVP East Region staff Annette McGrane and Colm Kenny. Vincent’s Tallaght is one of 47 Vincent’s shop in the SVP East region (Dublin, Kildare & Wicklow). Pictured to right: Ann Walker, Vincent’s Firhouse was the Volunteer of the Year for the SVP East region. She has been volunteering in Vincent’s Firehouse for over five years. Ann Walker (2nd left) is presented with her award by Dermot McGilloway, SVP National Retail Development Manager. Also in the photograph are SVP East Region staff Annette McGrane, Lynn Byrne and Colm Kenny.

Deputy Curran was commenting after receiving information from the NTA and the Minister for Transport on the matter; “In the NTA’s reply to me they state that the appropriate national funding body with whom to discuss this objective is the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, however Transport Minister, Shane Ross in his reply to me states that the NTA has full responsibility for this junction. In March of this year, South Dublin County Council also contacted the NTA who again stated that the sole responsibility is with the Transport Department. This is a ridiculous situation to have occurred where this issue is being passed around, with no body taking responsibility to upgrade this junction. I have continued to raise this issue for many years now and I am urging both parties to not delay any further. This Junction is the cause of long delays for commuters on the N4 and residents in Palmerstown have had

serious traffic congestion at this junction for a long time. The upgrade of this junction is badly needed to manage traffic flows to revitalise Palmerstown Village area in terms of retail, tourism and heritage. “The Bus Connects - Lucan to City Centre Bus Corridor - is currently going through a public consultation process and I have made my views very clear that this intersection needs a separation upgrade in order to alleviate traffic on the N4 and the Palmerstown Area and to provide the high frequency, quality bus corridor that is promised through Bus Connects. “In light of the significant Capital Expenditure that is available for the Lucan to City Centre Core Bus Corridor, as part of Dublin Bus Connects Project, it makes complete sense that the NTA, Transport Department and South Dublin County Council would come together and liaise on this issue at this time,” concluded Deputy Curran.

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COUNCIL DISPLAYS PLANS FOR NEW PLAY SPACE AT NEWCASTLE

Fine Gael Cllr Emer Higgins, has welcomed the progression in obtaining two public play spaces for Newcastle. The two proposed playgrounds have moved to the Phase 8, public consultation stage. “I

have campaigned tirelessly for more amenities for the children of Newcastle and at last we are seeing some movement”. The maps and drawings for the proposed play spaces in Newcastle are now on view in SDCC

Cllr. Charlie O’Connor PC Living in Tallaght ...Working for Tallaght

WEEKLY ADVICE CLINICS Aherne’s, Old Bawn Road SATURDAY 11AM Trustus, Tallaght Village, SATURDAY AT NOON Firhouse Community Centre SATURDAY 2 PM Dominic’s Community Centre MONDAY AT NOON Fettercairn Community Centre TUESDAY 7PM

email charlie.oconnorff@gmail.com

mobile 087 2982079

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THE RECENT ELECTION

offices in Tallaght and Clondalkin and in Clondalkin Library. They can also be viewed online where the public can see the full plans and make a submission http://consult.sdublincoco. ie. Climbing frames, an imaginative house, wobbly bridge, climbing rocks and tree stumps, swings, slide and see-saw, as well as a picnic area are included in

the plans for the area in Burgage and near Texaco. Cllr. Higgins has also requested, as part of the public consultation, that the drawings be displayed in the windows of the community hall and an information event held there in July. Higgins would like to thank everyone who supported the campaign for the playground for

Newcastle and for their patience. “The process has been frustratingly slow for

all of us, but I am delighted to support this very positive progress”

ANNUAL TRIP TO KILMORE QUAY WITH PCC On Saturday 8th of June members of Palmerstown Camera Club made their annual pilgrimage to the Saltee Islands, just off Kilmore Quay in Wexford and is a natural Habitat for birds. This island is a delight for photographers who get amazing shots of birds in their own environment. The scenes around the island are breath taking.

Palmerstown camera Club are holding their annual exhibition on 22nd and 23rd of June, this is a chance for members of the public to come and view our photographer’s work, the exhibition will be held in the Parish Hall Palmerstown between 10 am and 5 pm Admission is free. Picture by Angie Dennis

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SUMMER STARS READING ADVENTURE

South Dublin Libraries’ annual Summer Stars Reading Adventure was launched recently at

Clondalkin Library by Deputy Mayor Cllr Trevor Gilligan. Together with local schoolchildren from Scoil

Mhuire and St Peter Apostle national schools, Deputy Mayor Cllr Trevor Gilligan created paper rockets in

Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Finals 2019

Killian Costello of St Mary’s BNS, Lucan, in action against Belgrove Senior BNS, Clontarf, in the Corn Herald Final during the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol Finals 2019 at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

keeping with the Space theme which celebrated the 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing.

Paper rockets were used to “launch” the Summer Stars Reading Adventure! The fun continued with a magic show by Jack Flash. It is an exciting readingbased programme which is available free of charge to all children across the country. South Dublin Libraries are delighted to actively participate in this national initiative each year. Last year 1,600 children took part, and approximately 100,000 books/audio books were borrowed. Library staff are busy promoting the reading adventure in schools across the County so it is hoped that even more children will participate this year. All children across the area are invited to register for the adventure and enjoy reading during the summer months. All participants will be given a Summer Stars Reading Card to record and

track their own progress. The children will receive rewards and incentives along the way, and each library will host a grand finale event at the end for all participants who will receive their Summer Stars certificate. The Summer Stars Reading Adventure provides the whole family with an opportunity during the school summer break to explore the full range of events and facilities at their local South Dublin library. An exciting programme of events is planned which includes story-time sessions, toddler time sessions, arts and crafts workshops, STEAM activities, drama and magic

shows, and lots more. As well as access to children’s books, audio books and DVDs for all ages within the library, the website www.southdublinlibraries. ie has a host of free online resources including access to e-books, audio books and magazines. And there’s no need to worry if you’re heading off on holiday in the Republic of Ireland, because with the new national library card, books can be borrowed and returned to any public library! For more information or for details about joining the library (which is free of charge), ask at your local library or visit www.southdublinlibraries. ie.

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Tallaght Sports Complex

SUMMER CAMP 2019

Tel: 451 5105 / 451 5882

www.tallaghtsportscomplex.com

l Swimming l Sports l Games l Bouncy Castles l Arts & Crafts Lots of Fun and Much Much More

Monday - Friday: 9am to 2.30pm. Children aged between 4 & 12 years of age

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6

Monday 1st - Friday 5th July Monday 8th - Friday 12th July Monday 15th - Friday 19th July Monday 22nd - Friday 26th July Monday 29th - Friday 2nd Aug. Tuesday 6th - Friday 9th Aug.

Prices: 1st Child €79 and €75 for any additional children from the same family INFORMATION: ● The Summer Camp is divided into three age groups; 4-6, 7-0 and 10-12 ● The following activities take place over the five days: Swimming (every day), Mini Basketball, Trampoline, Soccer, Gymnastics, Art & Crafts, Aerobics, Mini Hockey, Quizzes, Treasure Hunts, Disco, Bouncy Castle and lots of indoor/outdoor based activities. All Sports Complex Staff undergo Garda Vetting. Swimming Teachers and Lifeguards are trained by National Governing Bodies in Child protection. Along with this, Sports Camp staff are carefully selected and undergo detailed staff training in Sports Camp operational management. When your Children are at Summer Camp or any activity in Tallaght Sports Complex you can rest assured that the care and attention is of the highest quality.

TALLAGHT COMMUNITY SCHOOL SPORTS COMPLEX, BALROTHERY, TALLAGHT, DUBLIN 24.

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DELIGHTED WITH SPINRAZA APPROVAL

John Curran T.D. has said that he is delighted with the decision in recent weeks by the HSE to finally approve the drug Spinraza for the people and especially childen who suffer with SMA.

“I have continued to raise the ongoing failure to make Spinraza available to those who desperately need it in Dáil Éireann and common

sense has prevailed. This drug is a first in the treatment for SMA and I am just delighted that some relief and happiness might come out of this news for the wonderful families that I have met during this campaign. “Spinal Muscular Atrophy is a very serious degenerative neuromuscular condition that affects virtually every

aspect of a person’s life. There are 25 children diagnosed in Ireland and two of those young people live locally in Clondalkin and Rathcoole.

“Their parents and families have been relentless in their fight to secure this medicine, organising protests outside Leinster House and a petition with over 100,000 signatures

to Minister Harris. “As debilitating as the daily routine, long hospital stays and extensive physiotherapy are there is a drug that can make transform their quality of life. Spinraza is clinically effective and has

been proven to work by slowing down the muscle wastage and in many cases allowing muscle. He concluded; “It is a shame that it has taken so long to have Spinraza authorised

and this delay has exposed our system of approving drugs and I will be calling for a review of our system seeing that we can be the only country in Europe delaying authorising drugs for this length of time.

‘THE BEST DAY OF MY LIFE!’

LOCAL GROUPS AND COMPANIES ANNOUNCED AS 2019 SOCIAL MEDIA AWARDS FINALISTS

The 2019 Social Media Awards has highlighted great changes in the social media landscape in recent times with the decline of Twitter and the growth of Instagram, the awards will take place on the 25th of

July in Liberty Hall. Deansrath Community College in Clondalkin has been shortlisted in the Instagram for a Public Body or NGO category. While growing company Sadie’s Kitchen Ltd made the

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shortlist in three categories Content Creation, Facebook for a Small Business 15 or less staff and Instagram for a Small Business. Rathfarnham based group Hellfire Massy Residents Association – Save the Hellfire Campaign are in the Strategy by an NGO category. And finally the two categories Facebook for a State Org & Twitter for a Public Body features Dublin Fire Brigade for their use of social media. To view the 2019 Finalists see http://sockies.ie/

Pictured is Sam Bailey and his sisters. In Sam’s words ‘The best day of my life!’ after he heard the news about the Spinraza drug now being available to him. Sam’s Mum Fiona commented “We are absolutely over the moon as you can imagine! It’s just so amazing to finally know that Spinraza will be a reality for Sam! HOPE is a wonderful thing. Thank you, each and every one of you, for all the love and kindness you’ve shown to Sam and to all of our family throughout our campaign for Spinraza. Without your support and help we would NOT have #SpinrazaNOW for Sam.”

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DECISION TO ALLOW FF BILL TO TACKLE INSURANCE FRAUD PROCEED QUICKLY WELCOMED

John Curran T.D. has welcomed the decision by the Oireachtas Business Committee to skip prelegislative scrutiny for the Civil Liability and Courts (Amendment) Bill 2019.

insurance for everyone. “Every day, businesses up and down the country are being put under enormous pressure due to massive increases in their insurance costs.

defending themselves against a fraudulent claim. “This is unacceptable and needs to stop. There needs to be tough penalties for those who give fraudulent evidence in court.

It means that the Bill can now go straight to Committee Stage in the Dáil. Deputy Curran said, “This Bill is an important piece of legislation that needs to be enacted as soon as possible. Insurance fraud is a major problem in Ireland which is pushing up the cost of

Among the main reasons for this is insurance fraud. “For people perpetrating insurance fraud, there seems to be no downside or deterrent. At the moment the worst that can happen is that the case is simply thrown out. Of course, the defendant is often stuck with large legal expenses

This Fianna Fáil Bill will ensure that those who bring fraudulent claims will have to pay the legal expenses for the defendant. While it is in the remit of the courts to award legal costs, it does not necessarily mean that this happens in reality. The Bill also increases the

fine that a District Court can hand out up to €5,000. “I am encouraged that the government has supported this Bill and I look forward to working with all parties as the legislation proceeds through the Oireachtas.

The Government really needs to up its game when it comes to insurance reform. We need to see the Judicial Council Bill enacted before the summer recess as promised. “We desperately need a dedicated Garda unit to tackle insurance fraud but there is no sign

of this happening. The National Claims Information Database was supposed to be up and running last summer yet it still is nowhere to be

seen. The Personal Injuries Commission made its recommendations last July, yet no progress has been made.”

OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED NURSING HOME IN CLONDALKIN Cllr for Clondalkin William Carey has come out in opposition to the proposed nursing home to be built on the site of Presentation Convent Clondalkin. Local opposition has grown in Clondalkin since the news broke about the proposed development. Bartra property Ltd have proposed a 155 bedroom nursing home at the site which adjoins the “Immaculate conception church” and was recently granted planning permission by SDCC. Cllr Carey stated that the design and scale of this project would destroy the aesthetics and beauty of the entrance to Clondalkin village at both, Convent rd and New rd. The Sinn Fein Cllr. also stated that the project would also have a

detrimental effect upon the 6 schools which are all central to activity in the village. Traffic congestion is a growing problem in Clondalkin village and the proposed development will increase this greatly. Cllr Carey pointed out that the church and convent are protected structures and a focal point for the community but will become completely obscured by the proposed structure which in turn will affect the desire of tourists to come to Clondalkin. Cllr Carey stated that the proposal was equivalent to Dublin City Council building in front of Christchurch Cathedral and that that this project would be opposed with the same vigour that people had opposed the Wood Quay development.

RENT FREEZE AND RENTER TAX RELIEF URGENTLY REQUIRED Eoin Ó Broin TD has called on the government to introduce an immediate rent freeze and a refundable renters tax credit. This comes as the Focus Ireland report published this morning shows that most homeless families surveyed in Dublin were homeless due to the loss of their private rented accommodation. Deputy Ó Broin said: “The Focus Ireland report reaffirms what they and other stakeholders have been saying for over two years now, that most families accessing homeless services were there due to the loss of their private rented home. “The rental

market is broken, and low and modest families and singles are facing the brunt of this dysfunctional system. “Sinn Féin has called for the government to introduce an immediate rent freeze for current and new tenancies. This needs to be combined with a refundable renter’s tax credit worth a month’s rent. “It’s is hugely unfair that landlords can benefit from mortgage interest relief, while tenants get nothing back. “We also need for a major programme of State-led investment in affordable cost rental accommodation.”

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READY STEADY SCHOOL Starting in ‘big school’ as it is often called, can be a very daunting time and the transition from preschool to primary school has been identified as a key stage of a child’s life. Early Years Educators, Primary School teachers and parents all play an important role in ensuring continuity of care for each individual child at this time. Transitions can be stressful for some children and they need to be supported during the process. Blue Skies Initiative Ready Steady School Programme was created to help support

children in their transition from early years to primary school. In April eleven early years’ services across Clondalkin received their bright, fun filled Ready Steady School Transition boxes. This box contained a selection of uniforms to play dress up with, jigsaws and books about school. Blue Skies Initiative, which is an area based childhood programme in Clondalkin, recently launched this ‘Ready Steady School’ programme at Rowlagh Parish preschool and what a fun launch it was. Pic: Sarah Treacy

WALK IN PHOENIX PARK IN MEMORY OF CHILD TREATED AT CRUMLIN HOSPITAL ‘Matilda’S miles’ is a fundraiser walk in aid of CMRF Crumlin, in memory of Matilda Quinn, who was born with a serious heart condition in April 2015. Matilda was under the care of the team in the Children’s Heart Centre in Crumlin but sadly passed away at the age of 8 months.

and treats before the walk begins, and a chance to win lots of great prizes for local restaurants and hotel breaks around the country”, Rebecca Maher, Matilda’s mother said. “This is the fourth annual Matilda’S miles walk. It’s organised in memory of

our beautiful daughter who was cared for so well in Crumlin. Bring a picnic and enjoy the wonderful Phoenix Park while raising funds for a great cause!” There are great prizes up for grabs, which are listed on the Matilda’S miles Facebook page www.facebook.com/ matildas.miles.

The walk will take place in the Phoenix Park at 11am on Saturday the 22nd June, and Matilda’s family and friends are calling on the public to join them to raise vital funds for some of Ireland’s sickest children. It’s a fun-filled family day involving a 3 mile loop walk starting and finishing at the Papal Cross, and the route is suitable for bikes, buggies and scooters. Around 250 people took part in the walk last year, and almost €17,000 was raised for CMRF Crumlin, taking the grand total raised in Matilda’s name to €116,000. This year the organisers are hoping that many more people will take part. “There’ll be games

Miriam O’Shea Slimming World St. Annes’s GAA Club Bohernabreena, Tallaght, Dublin 24 Times: Tuesday Mornings 9:30am & 11:30am. Tuesday Evenings: 3:30pm, 5:30pm & 7:30pm. Mobile: 087 9703016. Pamela Slimming World Old Bawn The Maldron Hotel, Tallaght, Dublin 24. Times: Monday Evenings: 3:30pm, 5:30pm & 7:30pm Tuesday Mornings: 9:30am Mobile: 086 1231774

Sandra Maxwell Slimming World St. Mark’s GAA Club McGee Park, Cookstown Road, Tallaght,Dublin 24 Times: Wednesday mornings: 9:30am. Wednesday Evenings 5:30pm & 7:30pm. Mobile: 085 1484669 Pauline Slimming World Plaza Hotel Plaza Hotel, 1st Floor, Belgard Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24 New Times: Thursday Mornings: 9:30am & 11:30am. Thursday Afternoons: 3:30pm & 5:30pm. Mobile: 085 7704751

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CALL TO REVERSE THE FREEZE IN HOME HELP HOURS

Seán Crowe T.D. has said that the Government

must intervene to reverse the freeze in Home Help

hours. Crowe said that this freeze makes no budgetary

sense as it costs €5,964 per week to care for someone

LEINSTER SENIOR LEAGUE MAJOR 1 SATURDAY WINNERS

in an acute hospital bed, while it costs just €160 per week with a home help support package. Deputy Seán Crowe said: “In recent weeks we have learned that the Health Service Executive (HSE) has effectively suspended the allocation of home help to new applicants until November.

“This freeze is going to have a major impact on older citizens in need of care, on their families, on people with a disability, and on their carers. “It will also put huge pressure on hospitals because of delayed discharges and it will force older people into nursing homes.

A Massive congratulations to the Senior Saturday Booth Road Celtic F.C. Players on a remarkable season on winning the league and securing promotion to the top tier of Saturday football. The team also enjoyed great runs in the FAI Junior Cup, Leinster Junior Cup and Noel Ryan Cup competitions. The squad hand to dig deep and give it there all to achieve what they did so this trophy was well earned by all involved. Ian Maher and his management team of Ciaran Creagh, Fergus McInerney, Robbie Taffee and Ciaran Delaney put in hours upon hours of hard work and dedication throughout the season which hasn’t gone unnoticed. The club gave a special thank you to Brian Gilmartin for all his hard work as club secretary as he played a blinder all year long we would be lost without him and to their sponsors. The new season starts back in August so both their senior Saturday and Sunday teams will be looking to add to their squads so keep and eye on facebook for training details.

“All of this is happening because the HSE says there is a need to balance their budget for 2019. The real measure of performance here is that there are over 6,000 people on waiting

lists and there are countless others who effectively have had their home hours cuts. “Without enough home help hours patients are forced to remain in hospitals at a huge cost, or else their families are forced to pay huge sums for private for home care supports. “The Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, this week bizarrely claimed that home care does not reduce bed numbers. This is contradicting the HSE’s own 2018 Capacity Review. “While the Taoiseach and his Cabinet dither, many older and seriously ill people are becoming more and more desperate as they cannot access the necessary home help hours that will allow them to live independent lives. “The way forward must involve funding for additional home help hours for the rest of the year.”

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APPRENTICESHIPS SCHEME NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED

Seán Crowe T.D. has called on the government to increase the number of people undertaking apprenticeships, not just to give young people more tertiary education options but also to equip Ireland with the skilled workers needed for growing and emerging industries.

The TD was speaking after the launch of the Joint Oireachtas Committee’s Report on ‘The Role of Apprenticeships and Work Permits in Addressing Ireland’s Skills Needs’. Deputy Seán Crowe said: “Apprenticeship programmes offer a unique avenue to earn, learn, gain valuable work experience, and work towards an internationally recognised qualification and a rewarding career. “Historically the apprenticeship system in Ireland was limited and underutilised, but it can offer governments an opportunity to both reduce the number of people who remain on the live register and tackle the growing skills

shortage across a number of industries. “Ireland is currently suffering from a significant shortage of skilled workers, so it is imperative we increase the range and number of people undertaking apprenticeships. “The Oireachtas Committee report highlights that better communication between parents and guidance counsellors is needed to highlight the advantages of apprenticeships. This is essential as parents have a significant role in helping a young person choose their next step in life after sitting the Leaving Cert. “Unfortunately, in Ireland too many young people feel that they need to go down the college route instead of considering starting an apprenticeship that could be more suited to their own particular skills. Apprenticeship training can allow an individual to earn, to learn, and to gain valuable work experience while working towards a qualification. The other positive is that

it also helps equip Ireland with the highly skilled, well paid, and motivated workers it needs for growing and newly emerging industries in the coming years. “Recommendation 11 in this report highlights the need to take action to increase the female participation rate in apprenticeships, which remains far too low. At the moment, just 341 women are undertaking an apprenticeship, out of an apprenticeship population of some 15,373. This is far too low and needs to be addressed.

“This report also identifies the need to take action to put in place supports for people with a disability to partake in an apprenticeship programme. Information received from SOLAS shows that their records indicate that just 371 people with an impairment were engaged in apprenticeships in 2018. This is again, an unacceptably low rate of participation and needs immediate attention.” Crowe concluded: “Apprenticeships in the

construction and motor industries are highly developed and well regarded in Ireland, but we need to expand this success to other areas including green energy, hospitality, retail, manufacturing,

and the financial services. “The government have proposed expanding the apprenticeship system but their progress to date has been painfully slow and goes nowhere near meeting the challenge

facing young people on the live register. We need to think big and differently in order to give greater choices to young people. Enhanced apprenticeships programmes have to be part of any solution.”

DODDER ACTION GROUP CLEAN UP

2 Riverkeeper Re-Wilding crews were out recently, turning dumping sites up and down the River Dodder back into wildlife habitats and giving Mother Nature the Edge against Climate And Biodiversity Collapse. The Magnificant 7 on the Whitestown Stream captured 20 bags of rubbish including builders rubble and deckchairs. Meanwhile the Earth’s Edge adventure volunteers did their first Half-river litter survey & bio-blitz from Bohernabreena to Rathfarnham and captured another 25 bags rubbish as a bonus.

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MOTORING LIFE WITH

New Ford Mustang Goes Like A By Breda Corrigan ‘BULLITT’ The multi award-winning 1968 cops & robbers film, Bullitt, is noted for its car chase scene through the streets of San Francisco, and is regarded as one of the most influential car chases in movie history. In the film, Lieutenant Frank Bullitt (played by the late Steve Mc Queen) uses a dark green Ford Mustang GT to chase a gang of hitmen, who had initially pursued him. Future Performance-Car Classic; Now, over a half century later, Ford are paying homage to the iconic film, with a limited-edition Mustang Bullitt, which is guaranteed to be a future classic. Finished in stunning Dark Highland Green metallic paint, this is a proper ‘old-school’ muscle car in every way. However, the Bullitt is more than just a Mustang with a fancy name and trendy paint job, as Ford have made the car truly unique, and utterly desirable, in many ways. Exclusive Features; Apart from its delightful dark green paintwork, chrome window surrounds, and new 19-inch five-spoke ‘Heritage’ alloy wheels, it would appear to be much the same car as the regular Mustang. Look more closely, however, and the differences become more obvious. In addition to the regular Mustang specification, the Bullitt benefits from an Active Valve Performance Exhaust System, BremboTM six-piston front brake calipers with larger rotors, a Gauge Pack (Oil Pressure and Vacuum), heavyduty front springs, an Open Air Induction System (AIS), red painted brake calipers, unique chassis tuning, and unique EPAS, ABS, and stability control tuning for the ultimate performance-car experience. Engineering Masterpiece;

The magnificent 5.0-litre V8 petrol engine in the Mustang Bullitt has been allowed to breathe much more freely thanks to a huge new air filter, bigger throttle bodies, and an all-new exhaust. This results in a 14bhp hike in power (to 453bhp/460PS) plus a thumping 529Nm of torque. But, the Bullitt’s V8 engine feels and sounds very different to anything we have experienced from Ford in the past, and is a genuine masterpiece of mechanical engineering. Taking just 4.6-seconds to sprint from 0-100km/h, the naturally-aspirated engine in the Mustang Bullitt is capable of reaching a limited top speed of 263km/h (where permitted). A standard six-speed manual gearbox (complete with a white cue ball gear knob) features a new autoblip on downshifts, thereby eliminating the need to master the art of ‘heel and toe’ footwork, because the electronics take care of that instead. Unique Badging; Other upgrades to Ford’s limited edition Mustang include extensive Bullitt badging on the steering wheel, sills and bootlid, along with Ford’s new SYNC infotainment system, in conjunction with Apple CarPlay and a 12 speaker B&O sound system. Additionally, the Bullitt benefits from a new 12” LCD digital instrument cluster with unique green back-lighting to match the exclusive colour of the car. In keeping with the Dark Heritage Green colour theme, there is green accent hand stitching on the car’s door trim, instrument panel, premium floor mats, shifter boot, seats, wrapped centre console, and wrapped knee bolster. Test Car; My Ford Mustang Bullitt test car attracted a huge amount of admiring glances no

matter where I drove, while the terrific sound coming from the car’s engine and exhaust really set pulses racing. The front grille of the Bullitt is devoid of any badging, leading to a level of intrigue, as fellow motorists wonder what brand of performance car is behind them, as they look in their car’s rear-view mirror. On the road, the Bullitt feels unsurprisingly solid, while the slick manual gearbox is extremely well suited to the Bullitt’s magnificent engine. However, the best aspect about the Bullitt on the move is what it sounds like, especially when you reach the final 2,000rpm of the rev range. The engine feels a lot sharper than the regular V8 – producing a monster soundtrack to go with it. Large Brembo brake calipers ensure that the Bullitt stops as effectively as it goes, while the car’s chassis feels well damped, and controlled, on every road surface. The car’s steering is precise, and provides great feedback to the driver, while my test car’s optional RECARO® leather-trimmed sport seats were very supportive and comfortable in equal measure. Impressive Safety & Security; Standard security features on the Mustang Bullitt include an active anti-theft alarm system, electronic steeering column lock, and a wheel locking kit, while standard safety systems include adaptive cruise control, lane departure warning, and emergency braking with forward collision

warning. A voice-activated touchscreen navigation system with pinch-to-zoom capability is also standard, as is automatic high-beam assist, and an automatic windscreen wiper system. Seating For Up To 4 People; As is the case with the standard Ford Mustang, the Bullitt is a 2+2 seater, in a fastback bodystyle, and is driven by the rear wheels. With 570mm of leg room and 820mm of head room available in the back seats, there’s enough space for children, while the rear seat backs fold to increase the capacity of the generously appointed boot. The car’s standard 61-litre petrol tank is capable of up to 500km’s between fills when driven on a combined driving cycle. With Co2 emissions of 277g/km, annual road tax is €2,350. Verdict & Pricing; The Bullitt has all the usual Mustang star qualities - and more. It is extremely entertaining to drive, provides a sense of occasion on every journey, and possesses head-turning good looks. The tremenduous soundtrack from the car’s engine and exhaust is the real icing on the cake, and is the reason that the majority of my time in the car was spent with the radio off. While the Ford Mustang is priced from €49,896 (ex-works), the limited-edition Mustang Bullitt is priced from €73,092 (exworks).

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NOVENAS FOR LAURA LYNN MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. Special mention to the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary for great favour witness received. R.L.N MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus in the

past I have asked for many favours. This time I ask you for a very special one. Take it, dear Heart of Jesus, and place it within your own broken heart where your Father sees it. Then in His merciful eyes it will become your favour and not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for three days. Promise publication and favour will be granted no matter how impossible. Never known to fail. Special mention to the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary for great favour witness received.

Special mention the United Hearts of Jesus and Mary for great favours witness received. A.T.

As our regular readers will know we have asked for your generosity in supporting very worthy charities over the years. Going forward, we are delighted to support Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice. LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice provides palliative care to children with life-limiting conditions and their families, from the point of diagnosis to end of life, and throughout bereavement. It costs €5.2million to keep LauraLynn’s Children’s Hospice open, €3.5million of which must be generated each year through fundraised income. Since opening in 2011, LauraLynn has cared for more than 325 children and their families and provided more than 265,000 hours of short stay care provided to children in LauraLynn Hospice. For further information please visit lauralynn.ie. If you would like a Novena published please send a postal order or cheque (Minimum of €10 per prayer) made out to Laura Lynn Children’s Hospice, along with your Novena to: NEWSGROUP, Unit 3 Floor 2 St Dominics Shopping Centre, St Dominics Road, Tallaght, Dublin 24. If you require any further information please call 01 45 19 000 or email or email info@newsgroup.ie.

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GETTING NOSTALGIC WITH NEWSGROUP Pictures on right: Clondalkin Arts Festival 16 May 1995. Image appeared in the South West Express incorporating the Tallaght News and South City Express. Pictured below: Councillor Charlie O’Connor, with Georg Gorrissen Landrat, Winfred Zylka, Kreis Prasident and Council staff and Pat Smith at County Hall Tallaght 1997. Image appeared in the South West Express incorporating the Tallaght News and South City Express.

We are getting all nostalgic here at Newsgroup, in recent editions we have been featuring images which ran in our old newspaper South West Express incorporating the Tallaght News and South City Express.

Do you have a old picture with a caption? If you would like us to publish your pictures in our upcoming editions please email to admin@newsgroup.ie

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