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YOUR COMMUNITY • YOUR PAPER

INSIDE: A visit from a Presidential hopeful P2

April 14, 2011

ENVIRONMENT: Supporting local students’ water projects: See Page 6

Volunteering: A new Fingal awards scheme where2shop: Our eggcellent guide to finding Easter bargains See next week’s Gazette

THE NEW Fingal Managing Volunteers Award, part of the Fingal Volunteer Centre and Fingal County Council’s activities to celebrate European Year of Volunteering 2011, was launched at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. Pictured at the event are Fingal Volunteer Centre’s Stuart Garland, Glynis Dunne, Michelle Gurdis, Louis Colley and Leah Carroll. The award scheme is intended to acknowledge groups who have played a significant role in enhancing the quality of life of their communities. Picture:Peter Doyle Full Gallery on Page 10

Swimming: Paralympic hero appointed for 2012 Olympics Page 32

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ....................10 MOTORS ........................18 PROPERTY ................... 20 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ......... 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

Council seeks firm to manage centre Looking at ways to operate new facility in Ongar

Q LAURA WEBB

CONTRACTING a management company to operate and run a new state-of-the-art community centre in Ongar is an option being explored by Fingal County Council, as it looks at ways to staff the centre which is due to open this June.

The new community centre at St Benedict’s in Ongar, which is part of the Fingal Schools Model (FSM), is hoped to open this June.

The centre is currently being snagged and the council has now put out tenders seeking management companies to operate and run it.

Scoil Setanta, another FSM,

is also waiting for its shared community centre to open.

According to a council spokesman, the possibility of a management company running the operation of the community centre is one of three options they must explore to staff the centres.

Full Story on Page 7

2 BLANCH GAZETTE 14 April 2011

COURTS: DENTIST HAD 76 IMAGES ON COMPUTER

EVENT Sen David Norris attends Humanities Week

Graeme Sullivan was given a suspended sentence

In possession of child porn A DENTIST has been given a suspended sentence for possession of images of children in sexually explicit acts.

Graeme Sullivan (27), downloaded the images when he was a teenager in his parent’s home. The court heard he has lost his job, his partner and his home and has been forced to move back in with his parents because of the case.

He had promised the Irish Dental Council he would not practise dentistry until his case was finished. The Council will now have to meet to decide if can resume practise, the court heard He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of 76 child pornography images at his parent’s home at Huntstown Rise, Mulhuddart, between August 24, 2000, and July 4, 2003.

Judge Yvonne Murphy called it “an odious and serious crime” and noted that “often the most vulnerable of young children are used for child pornography”.

She said Sullivan was “a brilliant young man who has suffered greatly from the crime” and that he was extremely remorseful. She imposed an 18-month sentence, suspended in full. Sullivan had been registered as a sex offender on a previous date.

Garda Brendan O’Hora told prosecuting counsel, Ms Tara

Burns BL, that the house was searched on September 10, 2007. At the time Sullivan lived in Monaghan while working as a dentist but stayed in the house at weekends.

Gardai seized a computer and an analysis showed it contained 76 pictures showing children naked or engaged in sexual acts. The files had been downloaded between 2000 and 2003 and were deleted.

Forensic experts were able to recover the files using specialised software.

Sullivan later arranged to meet garda by appointment and was arrested.

Defence counsel, Mr Patrick Gageby SC, submitted that Sullivan was “a brilliant student” who went to Trinity college on a scholarship and then became a dentist.

He said this matter could lead to him being debarred from practising again and that he had also lost his partner as a result.

Mr Gageby said there was no suggestion Sullivan had acted improperly with anyone during his work. He said psychological reports showed he has a high degree of insight into the offending and that he does not have paedophile tendencies.

The court heard his family had been “publicly humiliated” by exposure in the national press but they continued to be very supportive of Sullivan.

Students Amanda Cregan and Fiona Long with Sen Norris

Presidential hopeful drops by for a visit S TUDENTS at the Institute of Technology in Blanchardstown gave a warm reception to Senator David Norris when he visited the college as part of his presidential election campaign.

Senator Norris’s visit took place during the college’s Humanities Week and what was

scheduled to be a quick visit, saw the presidential candidate stay for two hours.

He received a very warm reception from students and ended up speaking at some events, and taking questions from a very enthusiastic audience during Humanities Week, which took place across the campus.

Students, Mark Ferguson and Adam Crowther with Sen Norris

g after the screening of Growing Up Gay kiing Sen Norriis speak

Sen Norris with Graham Geraghty, manager of the ITB Gaelic Football team

14 April 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 3

AWARD Boost for Scoil Mhuire Snr NS

Local TD and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, joined the kids in their celebrations

First green flag for local school Q LAURA WEBB

blanchardstown@gazettegroup.com

THE sun was shining down on students and teachers at a Dublin 15 school when they raised their first ever Green School Flag in recognition of all the hard work the school has done over the past two years to make it an eco-friendly place.

During what could be called a mini-heatwave, students and staff at Scoil Mhuire Snr National School in Blakestown set the stage outside their school to mark the raising of the green flag, an An Taisce initiative, at their school.

Local politicians and parents of students all gathered to show their support to the students during the ceremony last Friday. The Garda Band was on hand to provide entertainment, and had the whole school clapping and dancing to songs from Spongebob Squarepants, Hannah Montana and Jedward.

T he school’s Green School’s co-ordinator and fourth-class teacher, Caithlin Ni Dhubhghaill, dressed appropriately in green, said the kids have shown great teamwork and are learning every day about how to take care of their environment in a more hands-on way. In 2006, the school began to recycle paper and, four years

ago, the compost bin was introduced.

“We started collecting the stuff that was biodegradable and started putting that into the compost bin. We also looked into the Tetra Packs, which is a lot of work; you wash them flattening them, and in a school there is a lot cartons. There is so much that gets recycled,” said Ms Ni Dhubhghaill.

“The kids do most of the work and they do actually do the policing of it, telling each other whether or not they are putting items in the right bin.

We try to make it not just a school thing and that they can do this at home. We are working towards a common goal to look after the planet, not to just a school thing, to show that we can make a difference to the environment,” she said.

Not only has the school moved to recycling everything they can, but they are bringing horticultural learning with the planting of bulbs and shrubs around the school.

In particular, their inner garden, which is often used as an outside classroom, has blossomed to be a colourful area of plant life.

Scoil Mhuire principal, Sinead Armstrong, congratulated students and staff for their great work in achieving the green flag.

“They have done a bril-

liant job. A huge amount of credit has to go to Ms Ni Dhubhghaill, she was the main motivator, that very quickly spread through all the staff. The more you get people believing in the idea, the next thing you have everyone coming on board. It is now part of the ethos of the school.

“The feedback from parents shows that the message is being carried home.

It extends beyond 9 to 2.30, everyone has taken it on board and without everybody you don’t get the green flag,” she said.

Local TD and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton (Lab), and Fianna Fail Dublin West TD Brian Lenihan, also joined in the celebration. Raising the flag, Minister Burton said the school “is sending out a message to areas all over Dublin 15 that green is the way to go; for a green and more attractive place”.

“The children are so excited, it couldn’t be a nicer day to do this. I am honoured to be asked to be a part of it. To be honest, I haven’t raised a flag since I was in the girl guides,” Minister Burton laughed.

The school is now working towards its second green flag, and they hope there will be many more to come.

Full Gallery next week

4 BLANCH GAZETTE 14 April 2011

Laurel Lodge Carpenterstown

Official opening of local GAA club HE official opening of Castleknock Hurling and Football Club’s new grounds at Somerton took place last Saturday, April 9.

The club was founded in 1998 and has come a long way in those 13 years. They have proudly distinguished themselves everywhere they appeared on playing pitches throughout the length and breadth of Ireland.

The Castleknock club’s boys and girls, in their blue and gold strip, are wonderful ambassadors for this community and a credit to their parents, teachers and mentors.

In a short time they have achieved a ranking in the annals and records of Gaelic games that is truly amazing.

They had every reason to celebrate last Saturday at the official opening and blessing of their new pitches at Somerton. The Ecumenical Blessing was performed by Fr Eugene Kennedy, St Thomas the Apostle Parish, Laurel Lodge and Rev Paul Houston of St Brigid’s Castleknock, and Fr Dan Joe O’Mahony, OFM Cap, blessed each individual pitch.

The facility caters for 1,500 club members from four years of age upwards. It looked like there was more than 10 times that number throughout the day. The place was buzzing

T

from 10 o’clock when the nursery blitz kicked of. After two hours of fun in the sun, and ‘boy’ was there sun, Shane Boland, Dublin Minor hurler and club stalwart, presented medals to the children.

Minister Joan Burton, Deputies Brian Lenihan and Joe Higgins and Councillor Mags Murray, were observed during the day enjoying the spectacle while showing their support and commitment to the club.

No doubt other local politicians and celebrities were in attendance throughout the day but escaped our eagle eyes.

No significant celebration in the environs of Blanchardstown and Castleknock

With Jim Lacey Phone: 087-2401308 Email: jimlacey@eircom.net

Castleknock Hurling and Football Club’s new grounds were officially opened recently

could be complete without the famed Blanchardstown Brass Band, and they were there, resplendent in their neat uniforms, playing a medley of airs to the delight of all present. The band is in existence since 1826 and is the oldest band in Ireland and the oldest institution in the area, with the exception of the St Brigid’s Church in Blanchardstown and St Brigid’s Church, Castleknock.

The Castleknock Community College trad band, led

by Brendan Kelly (with Tom Quinn from the Castleknock Club) also provided a great selection of music and went down a treat with an eager audience. There followed a

display of Irish dancing by Jock Quinn and Ellen Tolan that was met with rapturous applause. There were facepainters, cartoon characters, football, hurling and camogie at all levels, including an adult novelty game between the ‘Culchies’ and the ‘Townies’.

John Conway (club founding member), John McMenamin, grounds’ chairman, and John Costello, CEO Dublin County Board, congratulated the club and eloquently thanked the supporters, sponsors and mentors while praising the players – the heart of any club The theme of the speeches surrounded the importance

The new pitches were blessed by local clergy

GOT SOMETHING TO TELL US? YOUR LOCAL PAPER, YOUR LOCAL NEWS! Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email news@gazettegroup.com

of volunteerism and the GAA within the community and family life.

Following the speeches and blessing it was back to fun and games with competitions on the hurling wall an cic fad and an puc fada. Incidentally, some sports historians believe that the game of golf may have had its origins in an puc fada.

The club want it placed on records their gratitude to all who made the day possible by

giving their time and resources to the club. They also say a special word of thanks should go to the Order of Malta who were in attendance from dawn till dusk. It was great day for Gaelic games, a great day for the Castleknock Hurling and Football Club and a wonderful day for community spirit.

Best wishes to all at Castleknock Hurling and Football Club, and good luck with your next enterprise – the building of the clubhouse.

Passing of Jerry Reidy THE parish of St Thomas the Apostle was saddened to learn of the recent death of Jerry Reidy following a long illness.

Jerry was a popular and much-loved figure in the parish and surrounding area.

He was a native of Knocknagoshel, County Kerry, and had a distinguished career in An Garda Siochana. He served in various locations throughout the country and also served as a ministerial driver to several government ministries, including Dick Spring and Michael Noonan.

On retiring from the force Jerry worked for the Moroccan Embassy where he drove for the Moroccan Ambassador.

Jerry was a very active member of the parish in Laurel Lodge and, indeed, was a member of the Parish Finance Committee. Jerry served on the committee at the time

of the building of the new church and was unstinting in his work. Many of us remember the bright wit and humour that he brought to the table, a most welcome and, at times, a necessary intervention.

In latter years, Jerry, always keenly athletic and a dab hand at golf, took up walking and was to be seen regularly walking and also talking on his journeys. I say talking because would often stop to talk and he spoke to everyone. Jerry was a great raconteur and I, like many others, enjoyed his great fund of stories and yarns from his very eventful life. He will be sadly missed, as was evident by the huge attendance at the removal of his remains and funeral.

Our sympathies go to his wife, Hanna, and children Emer, Marie, Diarmuid and Geraldine. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.

14 April 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 5

FastNews

FUNDRAISER: ANNUAL IAN DALY SWIM TO TAKE PLACE

Swim a Mile with a Smile THE annual Ian Daly Swim a Mile with a Smile fundraiser takes place this Saturday in the National Aquatic Centre.

The sponsored swim is in aid of Barretstown Camp in Kildare for seriously ill children and the St John’s cancer ward in Crumlin Children’s Hospital.

Fundraiser The Ian Daly swim fundraiser was set up by Laura and Brian Daly after their 11-year-old son, Ian, sadly died from a very rare and aggressive brain tumour, a Rhabdoid Terratoma, in 2003 It was his love of swimming that prompted his parents to do something in his memory, and have since raised €347,000 over the past seven years for Barretstown and St John’s cancer ward in Crumlin Children’s

hospital.

The focal point of the swim this year is again at the National Aquatic Centre on Saturday and Sunday April 16 and 17.

Here there is an opportunity for swimmers to complete their swim between 11am and 3pm on both days.

The NAC proved very successful for all involved last year.

For a lot of swimmers it also gave them an opportunity to sample its Water World Fun Park.

If this weekend doesn’t suit, anyone can take part in the fundraiser by swimming a mile in their local pool.

Just contact swim-a-mile fundraising team and they will get in touch with the local pool to organise it.

Details of this year’s swim and contact details can be found at www.swimamile.ie.

Boost of €2,000 in grant funding for Stagezone Theatre School’s Hot Mikado production

Brightest minds: Taking part in the county final of U-14 Table Quiz THE brightest young minds in Dublin Community Games were put to the test recently when the county final of the U-14 Table Quiz took place in Clondalkin.

A massive increase in numbers this year saw the venue packed to capacity as the teams took their seats, while family and friends came to support.

Co-ordinator Shauna Curran was ably assisted by Chris Reid, who acted as MC, and kept things moving during and between rounds. There were five rounds of general knowledge questions, and one round of Community Games questions.

Pictured at the games are Tyrrelstown U-14 quiz team, Shivaun Ntofon, Akhil Voorakkarar, Keerthana Narra, Ramya Rudraraju and Sinead Ntofon.

STAGEZONE Theatre School has been awarded grant funding of €2,000 for its forthcoming production of the Hot Mikado in the Draiocht Theatre.

The theatre group lodged an application for funding under the Council’s Community Arts Funding Scheme.

The proposed funding available to the stage school is in accordance to conditions of the scheme and was approved for a grant up to the amount of €2,000.

Local councillors approved the funding at an area committee meeting at Fingal offices in Blanchardstown last week.

As part of its conditions, the award of funding should represent the difference between income and expenditure for each event, up to the amounts recommended.

6 BLANCH GAZETTE 14 April 2011

ONGAR Playground is removed PLAYGROUND facilities damaged through vandalism have been removed in the interest of public safety.

Equipment at a playground in Ongar left in a state of “disrepair” was recently removed following a letter from Fingal County Council requesting that the structure be removed in the “interest of public safety”.

The equipment in question was removed on March 21 and, according to a council spokesperson, that danger “no longer exists”.

“In its present state the playground would not be deemed to be Derelict within the definition of the Derelict Sites Act 1990. It is proposed to convene a site meeting with the develepor (Manor Park Homes) in the coming week to discuss the matter further,” the FCC report added.

The council was responding to a motion by Labour councillor Patrick Nulty asking management to outline what measures it can take regarding the “disrepair of Ongar playground and whether the 1990 Derelict Site Act could be utilised”.

ENVIRONMENT D15 students shortlisted for award

Vote for student water projects Q LAURA WEBB

blanchardstown@gazettegroup.com

A DUBLIN 15 school is calling on the community to show their support for a student water projects shortlisted in this year’s Eco Unesco Young Environmentalist Awards.

This year, Blakestown Community School has two entries in the Young Environmentalist Awards Ireland in the junior

and senior category.

The school was delighted to announce that the two projects have been shortlisted to the final stage, beating off hundreds of entries from throughout the country.

Being the only Dublin 15 school in the competition, the school is now calling on the local community to get behind the students’ exciting water conservation projects and vote for them by logging

Fingal Cllr Michael O’Donovan presents students with certs for their Make a Book entry on water conservation

onto www.ecounesco.ie.

Both projects aim to create awareness of water management and protection within school, homes and local businesses. The senior group, from the McBride fifth-year class, used rain barrels to show schools and youth centres how to collect and re-use rainwater, and also produced green cleaning products as an alternative to chemicals and pollutants being washed back into our water supplies.

Students from the senior category, McBride Water Wise Investigation, pictured with Michael O’Donovan and teacher Mary Quinn, with their visual displays and rain barrels for conserving water

Water education

The second project was developed by the Newgrange class second-year students and explores water education within the school by developing an awareness programme at the school, which involved creating bookmarks that give tips on saving water.

The bookmarks were distributed throughout the primary schools. Not only have the groups shown great teamwork, but they highlighted their knowledge of the importance of conserving water by organising Water Week with help from their teachers, Ms Keyes and Ms Quinn.

The Young Environmentalists Awards 2011 ceremony takes place in Dublin on May 18. Vote No.6 and No.7 for the two entries to help these young people achieve their aim. Log onto www.ecounesco.ie to vote.

Students Ryan Kane and Glenn Scott show Cllr Michael O’Donovan a Powerpoint presentation of their project

Students from junior category, Newgrange Water Wise class pictured with school principal, Eileen O’Connor, Michael O’Donovan and teacher, Shauna Keyes

14 April 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 7

COUNCIL State-of-art facility due to open in June COURTS: LOCAL MAN TO BE SENTENCED FOR ROBBERY

Drug addict terrified a cashier with large knife

Socialist Party councillor Ruth Coppinger asked for a report on how the council proposes to staff and open the new facility

Options explored to manage new centre Q LAURA WEBB

blanchardstown@gazettegroup.com

FINGAL County Council is looking into the possibility of using management companies to operate and run a new state-of-the-art community centre, as it explores options of how it will staff the centre in Ongar that is due to open this June.

In a report to councillors last week, a spokesman for Fingal County Council said the new community centre at St Benedict’s in Ongar, which is part of the Fingal Schools Model (FSM), is currently being snagged and the council has now put out tenders seeking management companies to operate and run the community centre.

Scoil Setanta, another FSM, is also waiting for its shared community centre to open. According to the FCC spokesman, the possibility of a management company run-

ning the operation of the community centre is one of three options they must explore to staff the centres.

“Over the next four to five years, we estimate that there will be about 17 halls/facilities developed as part of the FSM. St Benedict’s and Scoil Setanta are the first examples of that and it brings up the issue of how they will be staffed and operated against the background of the current economic constraints and council operating under the embargo of recruitment, etc.

“In order to find a way to insure the facility is open as soon as possible and available to the public for out-of-school hours, that they are fully functional and effective, we need to explore other ways to run these facilities.

“What we are doing at the moment is, we are inviting tenders for management companies to operate and run these facilities. A tender-

ing process is currently under way and we should have an idea within a couple of weeks of what options are out there, what costs would be, etc. That will largely determine how quickly we will be in a position to open St. Benedict’s hall and Scoil Setanta. Our hope is that it will be ready and open for June.

“There are three ways we could do this, the traditional way the council employ staff and run the centre, a private management company set-up, and the third is to tender out to private companies for us to set terms and they will run the centre.”

FCC management was responding to an emergency motion handed in by Socialist Party councillor, Ruth Coppinger, asking for a report on how the council proposes to staff and open the muchneeded facility in Ongar Community Centre.

Cllr Coppinger said : “A lot

of residents are asking about it. The original plan was to open in March, but now residents are very disappointed that we are now talking about the summer.

“This is the first of these centres, but there will be many more, so we need to develop a very clear line of how we are going to staff them. What is being said is that the delay in these facilities from opening is the public sector embargo?

I am not blaming the council for looking at different ways to get it open, it’s not their fault, although, when we went into this model, we should have had an clear way of how this would be done.”

Matt Waine is surprised about the talk of “privatisation of facilities we [the council] used to provide for”.

However, the FCC manager said it is not “predetermined” to go with privatisation. “We are looking at it to see costs and then balance it.”

A DRUG addict, who terrified a cashier by holding a large knife to her throat after grabbing her from behind, will be sentenced later for robbery and road traffic offences.

Laurence Murphy (38) of Berryfield Road, Finglas, went into residential drug treatment almost immediately after he carried out the raid.

Garda Conor Leen accepted a suggestion from Mr John Byrne BL, defending, that Murphy has since turned his life around completely and has addressed “the root cause of his offending, his addiction”.

He agreed that Murphy’s physical appearance was in stark contrast to the man he arrested following the raid and that he had since apologised for his involvement in the offence.

Murphy pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to robbery at Centra, Hampton Wood, Finglas, dangerous driving at Sheepmore Avenue, Blanchardstown, and having no insurance, all on June 12, 2009.

He took €430 in the raid, but this was later recovered from his getaway car after his arrest. Murphy was later treated in hospital for an open wound to his arm.

A witness told gardai that the security guard in the shop had struck the raider with a piece of wood.

Gda Leen told Ms Monika Leech BL, prosecuting, that Murphy jumped over the counter, holding what the cashier described as “a very large knife”. He demanded

that she open the register threatening to cut her if she didn’t do as he ordered.

A number of customers ran to the back of the shop.

The cashier was terrified and tried to get away but Murphy wrapped his arm around her and held the knife to her neck.

Gda Leen said he was very aggressive and kept shouting at the woman. She had trouble opening the register, as she did not have the security key, but managed to get it open after scanning an item.

She put €430 into a black sack Murphy was carrying with him. He then ran out of the shop.

Murphy had 33 previous convictions, which had all been dealt with in the District Court. He has not come to garda attention since apart from a minor road traffic offence.

Judge Tony Hunt said it had been a terrifying experience for the 20-year-old cashier and added that the victim impact report made “very sad reading”.

“She was a young girl working in a shop who had a knife put to her throat,” the judge said.

He said that Murphy was entitled to the benefits of the efforts he had since made in dealing with his addiction but said there was “still a very substantial possibility that a custodial sentence is inevitable”.

Judge Hunt remanded Murphy on continuing bail, ordered a probation report and adjourned the case to next July.

8 BLANCH GAZETTE 14 April 2011

COUNCIL CLOTHES Sisters help ladies clear out, or refill, their wardrobes Edgewood railings are rejected A CALL to provide small railings between Edgewood Lawn and Brookhaven to stop cars cutting across the green there has been rejected by the council because of lack of funding.

Labour Party councillor Patrick Nulty asked Fingal County Council if the provision of a small railing between Edgewood Lawn and Brookhaven could be provided to prevent cars cutting across the green.

In a response to the councillor, a spokesperson for FCC said: “There is currently no funding available to provide a railing at this location.”

However, the council added that there is a possibility that “high-quality timber bollards could be installed quickly, if this is considered acceptable to the residents”.

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THE GAZETTE CALL

Shopping leads to swapping Q LAURA WEBB

blanchardstown@gazettegroup.com

TWO Blanchardstown sisters are doing it for themselves, and for the good of women’s wardrobes, with their new business Swop2Shop that gives ladies the chance to clear out their wardrobe, while acquiring new attire at the same time.

Fiona and Melissa Downey are embarking on a new venture that involves reviving women’s gently-worn clothes into new gems for others.

The local business ladies, Melissa, a book-keeper, and Fiona, owner of Hair Sensation in Blanchardstown, were in London and witnessed a swap shop, but of poor quality. It was then they thought this idea would work wonders for the wardrobes of Dublin ladies, but to a standard that fashion guru Gok Wan would be proud of.

Explaining how it works, Fiona took the Gazette through the steps. “You pay an entry fee at the event and

come in with your items, clothes, shoes, accessories, bags – there is no limit to what you can bring in. But, it has to be of good quality. We go through them and brand them in categories.

“It is branded into three different categories – blue, pink and gold. They are the three different levels. Blue is lowend high street, pink is high street, like Oasis, and then gold is designer like Karen Millen and Prada. There has been really good high-quality stuff coming through,” Fiona said.

They also have their stylist, Sherry Lane, on hand to help go through the items supplied from shoppers and help shoppers know what best suits their body shape. Depending on how many items are useable, the shopper is given a colour-coded stamp that enables them to swap for an item in that category. So, if someone had three gold items, they received three gold stamps to swap for three gold items on

Sisters Fiona and Melissa Downey are reviving women’s gently-worn clothes into new gems for others. Picture: Sean O’Sullivan

display.

“It is really big over in England and we went over to one there. It was a tiny little room, but the quality wasn’t great. We just thought with the recession and everybody has so much clothes in their wardrobe, but they are sick of wearing it, but can’t necessarily afford to buy new clothes like they used to. So, we thought it would be a great thing for people to come together for a girly event. It will grow with every event and the amount of stuff

we are getting with tags on is amazing.

“It also promotes local business – we have businesses here in make-up, jewellery, health and fitness. It gives them an opportunity to reach out to the public and promote themselves, as well.

“If you feel, on the event, you don’t see something, you can hold onto your card and go. You pay into the next event, and use your card without bringing clothes with you.

This has really turned into a

second business for both of us.

This is our first one and it is going well.

“Once the stuff comes in it starts working itself out. We are really excited about the future for Swop2shop and are planning events for all over Dublin. The next event is on May 29, but the venue is to be confirmed,” Fiona said.

For further information on Swop2Shop, check out their website www.swop2shop.ie or find them on Facebook by searching swoptwoshop.

14 April 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 9

10 BLANCH GAZETTE 14 April 2011

COMMUNITY At the launch of a new Fingal awards scheme

Irish Heart Foundation’s Ciara Mealy and Dermot Desmond

Noreen Colgan and Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Ken Farrell. Pictures: Peter Doyle

Recognising those who help so much HE Mayor of Fingal, Councillor Ken Farrell, was on hand at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre recently to launch a new Fingal Managing Volunteers Award, part of the Fingal Volunteer Centre and Fingal County Council’s activities to celebrate European Year of Volunteering 2011.

Mayor Farrell was joined by several local voluntary groups for the launch, providing a first-hand opportunity for locals to learn more about the invaluable works

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Mayor Ken Farrell

Care Local’s Elena Arcenni and Bebhinn Hare

carried out by a wide range of volunteer groups within the community.

The award scheme is intended to acknowledge groups who, through their commitment to voluntary and community activities, have played a significant role in enhancing the quality of life of their communities across Fingal. For further information on the award scheme, and to download an application pack, please see www.fingalcoco.ie or www.volunteerfingal.ie.

Fingal Volunteer Centre’s Stuart Garland, Gynis Dunne,

Lots of people were interested

Michelle Gurdis, Louis Colley and Leah Carroll

in the scope of the event

Dublin Rape Crisis Centre’s Elaine Johnson and Jan McLaughlin

14 April 2011 GAZETTE 11

12 GAZETTE 14 April 2011

GazetteePets Gazett

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: DIFFERENT TYPES OF BARKING JUST A DOG’S WAY OF COMMUNICATING

Woof, why do dogs bark?

T never ceases to amaze me, the number of queries I receive concerning nuisance barking.

People often ask me: “Why does my dog bark?” The answer is straightforward and not difficult to understand – dogs bark because barking is their way of communicating.

They don’t bark to annoy you or to spite you, or just because they can – although it may appear that way if it’s driving your neighbours mad!

However, there are different types of barking, and you, as the pet parent, must familiarise yourself with them. For example:

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The Alert

Dogs bark because barking is their way of communicating and they don’t bark to annoy you or to spite you or just because they can

This is the normal, expected barking to alert you there’s an intruder in the house. It’s perfectly natural for your dog to bark if he senses there’s a threat to his family or his territory. This is usually a loud, sharp bark and, if you hone in on this natural canine instinct with proper training, you can help your dog protect your home and your family.

Barking at other dogs

A dog down the road barks and before you know it your own pet, along with every other dog within earshot is involved in a dawn chorus.

Very annoying.

Playful, excited barking

More common in puppies who bark when playing. My own dogs bark excitedly when they know a car trip and a walk

is imminent. This type of bark normally sounds upbeat.

Nuisance barking

Then there’s the biggie – the behavioural problem or nuisance barking. This usually signals boredom, loneliness or miscommunication between owner and pet. If this type of barking is a problem, you need to recognise the triggers!

• When does it occur?

• Is the dog left alone for long periods of time?

• Is he getting enough exercise?

• Is he anxious about something he hears or sees? (neighbour has a new lawn mower and the noise is scaring him, neighbour’s child is tormenting him, etc.)

In order to address this, you will require plenty of patience and training with a specialist dog trainer for both you and your dog. This will help you understand “doggy” language, and then you can correctly express what it is you wish to communicate to your pet.

Many training techniques are based upon the dog receiving a reward for the desired action. In this case, for example, the desired action would be “stop barking”.

When your dog barks and you wish to make him stop, hold his muzzle gently or squirt him, again gently, with a child’s toy water gun filled only with clean water – this will momentarily startle him and make him stop barking.

When he stops, use the word “quiet”.

Immediately after saying “quiet” if the dog remains quiet, reward him. When he starts barking again, repeat the process. Eventually he will learn to associate “quiet” with a reward. Eventually, your dog will stop barking without the need for the water gun and only the use of the word “quiet” will be sufficient.

It sounds easy enough. I mean once you determine the cause of your dog’s excessive barking, you can try to remove any potential reasons and you can begin to control his behaviour. Also, it helps if you give your dog better things to do to prevent and distract him from nuisance barking.

Some of the things you should never do:

Never comfort, feed or pet your dog when they bark for attention or out of anxiety; this is simply rewarding his behaviour.

Never shout – this will only cause him to bark more and louder.

Never allow your dog to bark constantly outside, regardless of the reason – this is the best way to make enemies of your neighbours.

Never use a shock collar they are inhumane, painful and unkind to your dog.

Never allow your dog to become lonely or bored, and never leave him to his own devices for long periods of time.

So, it’s up to you. Develop that “barking ear”, and find out exactly what your dog is saying when he “woofs”, “howls” and “growls”.

And yes, it requires a lot of time and patience, but it’s well worth it because if you train man’s (and woman’s) best friend properly, you’re embarking on a lifetime’s investment for you and your pet.

For information log onto www.dspca.ie or email me at miriam.kerins@dspca.ie.

14 April 2011 GAZETTE 13

14 GAZETTE 14 April 2011

LIBRARY

Lectures for small businesses

CHARITY Lindt is unleashing their Gold Bunny Team

Hopping

Q CECILIA FOURIE

Q CECILIA FOURIE

ARE you an owner of a small business or thinking of starting one? Then head down to the Central Library in the Ilac Shopping Centre for the 2011 spring and autumn lectures.

There will be a series of six free lectures to assist new and existing small business owners and managers.

The series of lectures was announced by Dublin Libraries in association with Dublin City Enterprise Board.

The lectures are aimed at those who are contemplating self-employment. This year’s theme is Innovation for Startups.

The spring series of cecture will kick of on April 21 and the autumn series will start on September 15.

Places must be reserved.

For more information, and a complete timetable, visit www. dublincitypubliclibraries.ie or contact the Ilac Library at 01 873 3996 or email them at businesslibrary@dublincity.ie

LINDT is hopping into action again this year in aid of Temple Street. Lindt is unleashing their Gold Bunny Team for their Make Easter Sweet for Temple Street. The Gold Bunny Team will be selling small Lindt bunnies for €1 at their nationwide road shows, with every cent made going straight to Temple Street.

They will be hitting the road and heading to Blanchardstown Shopping Centre on Thursday, April 21. The trail will continue on to the Pavilion Shopping Centre on Friday, April 22, with their last stop being Dundrum Shopping Centre on Saturday, April 23.

Adding a bit of fun and games to this year, the team are selling Gold Bunny Hunt Packs for €15. The pack includes everything you need to host your very own bunny hunt. Not only will the entire €15 be donated to a good cause, but you will also be

RTE presenter Lucy Kennedy and the Golden Bunnies are helping to Make Easter Sweet for Temple Street

-------------------------------

‘We are thrilled to be helping such a worthwhile cause.

The team at Temple Street do an amazing job, and the children they care for deserve the best facilities possible’ -------------------------------

Grainne Galvin, marketing manager for Lindt -------------------------------

entered into a competition to win one of two amazing family holidays to the luxurious Fota Island Resort and Fota Wildlife Park in Cork worth €1,500 each!

Thrilled

“We are thrilled to be helping such a worthwhile cause.

The team at Temple Street do an amazing job and the children they care for deserve

TURN TO OUR CLASSIFIEDS ON PAGE 26 TO FIND YOUR LOCAL BUSINESSES

LOCAL

TO ADVERTISE WITH THE GAZETTE CALL 60 10 240

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

NEED A LOCAL BUILDER?

MATTERS

14 April 2011 GAZETTE 15

for their Make Easter Sweet for Temple Street

into action for kids

Lucy with Temple Street patients, five-year-old Ciara Gill from Dublin and four-year-old Anthony Iannucci from Sallynoggin

the best facilities possible.

This year we hope to raise as much money as possible for such a fantastic charity,” said Grainne Galvin, marketing manager for Lindt.

This year it is Lindt’s fourth Make Easter Sweet for Temple Street, and the Lindt committee has vowed to make this year sweeter than any other!

To celebrate the campaigns birthday they are hosting their very first Gold Bunny Hunt on Sunday, April 17 at Bewleys Hotel, in the heart of Ballsbridge.

Fun day out

This family fun day out will see Gold Bunny fans hopping from one activity to the next

with Gold Bunny Hunts, facepainting, bouncy-castle and Hamleys toy demonstrations.

If you’d like to come along just simply make a donation of €5 per person at the gate and every cent will go to Temple Street. The hunt will take place from 12–6 and no reservations are necessary.

The 2011 campaign will

focus on raising funds to build a dedicated isolation inpatient room at Temple Street.

This facility will enable children and babies with very low immune systems, or those who may be extra susceptible to infection, to be safely treated in a protective environment.

“We are delighted to be

working with the Lindt team again this year. We value their support and enthusiasm, and we would like to thank the team and those who support the Lindt Make Easter Sweet Campaign, you really are making a difference,” said Angela McNulty, special events manager, The Fundraising Office, Temple Street.

THEATRE

True story of love and loss A CAST of great actors, including Dave Duffy from Fair City, star in Spanish poet Lorca’s Blood Wedding, showing in the Project Arts Centre this April.

Set in1928 in the Spanish province of Almeria, a young bride abandons her husbandto-be on the morning of her wedding to elope with her childhood sweetheart. With the town up in arms, the young lovers are hunted down with terrifying consequences.

Directed by Ronnie McCann, this is a true story set to an original score with a cast of over 20 actors, including Derek Murphy, Liam Halley, Laura Brennan and Noella Brennan. McCann has been a successful actor and director for 20 years.

Running from April 18-30, Blood Wedding is a meaty story of love, betrayal, marriage, affairs, murder and plenty of action.

It is showing in the Project Arts Centre and tickets are €15.

Phone 01 8819613 for tickets.

16 GAZETTE 14 April 2011

SNAPSHOT The stories of the day Grape escape: Vintage win for Olive THE lucky winners of this month’s Marlay Wine Shop competition collected their prizes in the shop on the Grange Road in Rathfarnham last week.

The first prize in the competition, a case of wine worth €150, went to Sean McGovern.

Pictured here is enthusiastic Gazette reader and talented local photogrpaher, Olive Galbraith, picking up her prize, a case of wine worth €75.

Also pictured is Donal Tuomey, the owner of Marlay Wine Shop and kind sponsor of the competition. Local wine lovers should make a point of visiting Marlay Wines to see the impressive selection available.

14 April 2011 GAZETTE 17

GazetteContacts Block 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan Tel: 01 6010240 Fax: 01 6010251

Managing Director: Liam Holland email: lholland@gazettegroup.com Editor: Cormac Curtis email: ccurtis@gazettegroup.com News Editor: Dawn Love email: dlove@gazettegroup.com Financial Controller: Carly Lynch email: clynch@gazettegroup.com General Manager: Michael McGovern email: mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile email: jmaile@gazettegroup.com Sports Editor: Rob Heigh email: sport@gazettegroup.com Advertising Production: Anita Ward email: ads@gazettegroup.com Advertising Sales: 01 6010240 email: sales@gazettegroup.com Gazette Group Newspapers Ltd. Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements Reserve the right to omit or suspend or alter any advertisement(s) in any of its publications. We also decline any responsibility in the event of one or more of a series of advertisements being omitted for any reason whatever, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement. If your advertisement appears incorrectly, contact the Advertising Department immediately, as responsibility cannot be accepted for more than one week’s incorrect insertion. Responsibility cannot be accepted if the complaint is made more than two weeks after insertion. If one places an advertisement for more than one week and then cancels it after the first week, no refund or credit will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser undertakes to indemnify the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising out of the publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published in the Blanchardstown Gazette, Castleknock Gazette, Clondalkin Gazette, Dundrum Gazette, Dun Laoghaire Gazette, Lucan Gazette, Malahide Gazette and Swords Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.

PENSIONERS

A new book for seniors HOME Instead Senior Care has just published its third annual Irish Pensioner’s Handbook, a resource for seniors, their families and caregivers.

The handbook provides practical information and advice on issues such as home care and allowances and entitlements. It also boasts a directory of older person’s organisations and other useful contacts.

Speaking about the publication of the new handbook, Ed Murphy, chief executive of Home Instead Senior Care said: “The Irish Pensioner’s Handbook is an essential resource for senior citizens in Ireland. It is a valuable and easy-to-read guide specifically designed for older people and those caring for ageing loved ones.”

To order a copy of the Irish Pensioner’s Handbook, call 1890 930 013 or download a copy on www.homeinstead.ie or stop in to any Home Instead Senior Care franchise office.

18 GAZETTE 14 April 2011

M50

MOTORING

RoadSigns Road Signs

BMW PRODUCES FASTEST PICK-UP:

BMW has produced the world’s first high-performance pick-up at its Munich-based development centre. The BMW M3 Pick-up will fire the imaginations of all motorists with its top performance matched by a keen practical bent.

The M3 pick-up packs 420bhp from the V8 engine under the bonnet.

That was enough to allow it to top 300km/hr in a race testing run.

The practical features of the BMW M3 Pick-up are impressive. It has a rear-axle load capacity of up to 450 kilos. The load bed of the BMW M3 Pickup is clad in high-grade str uctured aluminium sheeting and provides the biggest cargo capacity ever offered on a BMW M vehicle.

Ford’s new Focus is more stylish and modern with big economy improvements for the diesel models. Extras like Bluetooth add to the price, which starts at €21,325 before delivery charges.

New styling for Focus MICHAEL MORONEY took the entry-level diesel model of the new

Ford Focus into Wicklow and found the car smooth and efficient

The BMW M3 Pick-up

HE new Ford Focus takes the Focus design along an evolutionary route that’s modern and distinctive, but not too different from the past. The car’s design is sharper and more defined, giving it a more modern look on the outside.

In the day following its recent launch, I took the entry 95bhp version fitted with a 1.6-litre turbo-diesel engine for a drive down the Wicklow coast. It was a pleasant day and the mix of motorway driving, with the opportunity to savour the delights of the Garden County through the minor roads, provided a good test for Ford’s new entry.

Ford has boosted the power

T

SPECS: FORD FOCUS 1.6TDCI Top speed: 170km/hr 0 – 100km/hr: 12.5 sec Economy: Economy 23.8 km/litre (4.2l/100km) CO2 emissions: 109g/km Road Tax Band: A (€104) Scrappage Eligible: Yes Warranty: 2 years Entry Price: €21,325

from this compact diesel engine. The output at 95bhp is now 5bhp more than the outgoing car that it replaces.

The engine torque also gets a boost and that brings with it a marginal improvement in acceleration to give a faster feeling car.

The acceleration pace of

the new Focus compares well with the competition. While the bigger engine Volkswagen Golf can outpace it from a standing start and Toyota’s smaller engine Auris diesel is marginally faster, it can still hold its own in that respectable competition.

Ford now fits a new sixspeed gearbox to this entrylevel car, up from the five speed in the previous model.

During my morning test drive, I found the sixth gear useful on the motorway areas and it helped to keep the car economical to drive.

T he overall economy emphasis for the new Focus is noticeable – this car is marginally better in km to the

litre compared with the older model. You should get an extra kilometre for every litre of diesel with this new Focus.

That puts the new Focus as among the most economical cars in its class, with a rating of 23.8 kilometres per litre (4.2l/100km on the brochure).

That’s a better performance than BMW’s 116d with EfficientDynamics, putting the new Focus at the top of the class in terms of meeting the needs for lower running costs.

Add to that a CO2 emission level of just 109g/km and you get a low €104 annual road tax cost for a car that’s modern, sure to be reliable and hold its value. The Ford Focus deal is good. At €21,325, for

the entry-level model – this is about €300 cheaper than the car that it replaces.

There’s a lot more in the deal, including little change in price. The entry-level Focus features comes with Stability Protection (ESP) with traction assist, Ford Intelligent Protection System, body colour bumpers, mirrors and spoiler for the five-door model, electric front windows, power door mirrors, remote central locking with flip key, stereo radio/CD with USB connectivity and capless refuelling.

This new Focus will sell well and hold its value well. Ford has retained the great driving feel of the Focus with even better economy.

Windsor Motors carry out stress test on prices WINDSOR Motors claims to have carried out their own stress test on new car prices and the results are now out. Their prices have passed the test and have now hit rock bottom. Prices on new cars, 2011 scrappage prices and 2010 low-mileage models have all been reduced.

Windsor is offering over €7,000

off the price of a new Qashqai Plus 2 seven-seater and over €5,000 off the price of a 2011 Nissan Tiida with scrappage.

Scheme

The scrappage scheme will finish shortly, so Windsor advises new car buyers not to miss the chance to avail

of the great scrappage discounts now available across the range.

And as scrappage is available on models within tax band A and B, it also means you will qualify for low road tax. Windsor Motors branches have car finance packages available and have very high approval rates and deal with a number of banks.

According to Windsor CEO, Gabriel Keane: “At Windsor Motors the customer is our focus and, with this stress test, we can now offer even greater savings to our customers. Our stress test proves that our prices have passed the test and I invite customers to visit our showrooms to take a look for themselves.”

14 April 2011 GAZETTE 19

M50

W

20 GAZETTE 14 April 2011

PROPERTY

ST JAMES’ WALK: APARTMENTS AND HOUSES REDUCED

Herberton residences great value for buyers Sellers should be assured their houses will sell PEOPLE who are keen to put their houses on the market but who are put off by concerns about the current environment should not be afraid to press on with their intentions, according to a new report from Lisney.

In the repor t, they state that a family house, priced correctly, will generally sell.

They report that activity in the second-hand homes market increased i n t h e l a s t we e k s o f 2010 and in the opening months of 2011 as a direct result of the sweeping changes to stamp duty rates in December’s budget, citing numerous transactions being completed and more at contract stage as a result.

“Indeed, since Christmas,” said a Lisney rep-

Sherry Fitzgerald seek new staff SHERRY FitzGerald are currently recruiting two positions in their Terenure and Dalkey branches.

They are looking for customer service/ administrative assistants to work in their busy offices.

resentative, “we have experienced an increase in the number of parties viewing proper ty and making offers.

“In some cases, we are witnessing competition amongst buyers to secure the purchase.

“This is particularly the case for realistically priced, good family homes for which there is strong demand.”

However, they also state that agreeing a sale on a property and getting contracts signed has become increasingly difficult: “Whilst we are seeing more purchasers who are in the market to purchase, lending practises by banks have not improved and, in some cases, securing credit has become even more difficult.”

The role in Terenure is for a part-time adminstrative assistant to work from 10am to 3pm, Monday to Friday, while the role in the Dalkey branch is a job-sharing branch administrator, five days on, five days off, working from 9am to 6pm.

For more information, contact them directly on 01 237 6316.

A NEW phase of houses and apartments has just been released for sale at Herberton at St. James’s Walk, just off South Circular Road and close to St James’s Hospital.

T he development has been meticulously planned and designed to attract discerning owner-occupiers seeking stylish, contemporary homes.

A new phase of four houses and 11 apartments has been launched onto the market at substantially reduced prices, with reductions of up to 60% per unit from peak prices.

The one bedroom apartments (485-580sq ft) are priced from €105,000 and the two-bedroom apar tments (690-800sq ft) are from €149,950. The threebedroom apartments (1,000-1,150sq ft) are from €210,000, while the threebedroom houses (1,050sq ft) are €199,950.

Herberton comprises a rich mix of uses, including residential, shopping and leisure facilities. It offers discerning homebuyers something innovative in

There are a range of properties at reduced prices on offer at Herberton

Dublin city, having all the best that a self-contained village has to offer.

Apartments have been designed and orientated to take advantage of the views across the city in many instances and generous balconies are included to maximise these superb vistas.

Many of the apartments also incorporate large glazed areas to living spaces

in order to give a sense of light and spaciousness not commonly found in similar developments.

Attention to detail has been given throughout all of the apartments where only the most modern fittings and appliances are used in the kitchen and bathroom suites. There are high standards of finish throughout with handcrafted wardrobes

and other fittings.

The joint selling agents, Hooke & MacDonald and C o l d we l l B a n ke r, h ave released for sale 15 apartments from the new show units on site.

T hey are on view by appointment with either of the joint selling agents (Coldwell Banker tel. 01-411 0012 or Hooke & MacDonald tel. 01-631 8402).

BALLYBRACK: THREE-BED LIVING FOR €258,000

Ideal choice for Park life GU N N E R e s i d e n t i a l i s bringind to the market No 28 Davitt Park, a three-bedroom end-of-terrace home extending to 820 sq ft, presented in pristine decorative order with a bright interior.

The property boasts a large secluded wraparound garden with obvious potential to extend subject to planning permission.

The accommodation comprises entrance hall with solid oak floor, living room to the front of the house with open fireplace, and double doors to the kitchen, which features a range of floor and

wall units, tiled floor and which has double doors opening onto the large, secluded rear garden.

The bedrooms feature built-in wardrobes and television points, and the bathroom has tiled walls and floor, a Mira Elite electric shower over bath with telephone shower and a heated towel rail.

Outside the proper ty, a side access leads to the large wraparound, secluded rear garden which is mainly lawned and bordered by attractive, well-stocked flower beds.

Number 28, Davitt Park, Ballybrack

There is also a block-built, plumbed utility shed with fitted shelves that provides extra storage and a shed.

For more information, or to arrange a viewing, contact Gunne Residential on 01 280 1719.

14 April 2011 GAZETTE 21

M50

BUSINESS

Supported by AIB

Interview: Sandra Dunne, general manager, energie fitness, Rathfarnham

A healthy outlook on helping clients SANDRA Dunne is the general manager of energie fitness club in Rathfarnham.

The outlet is part of Ireland’s leading fitness club group, with nine clubs in Leinster offering swimming and gym facilities and a unique “six week’s results guaranteed” programme.

The fitness chain launched in Ireland in October, 2010, bringing a wide range of health and fitness expertise gained from their experience in more than 100 clubs in Britain, Latvia, Qatar and Egypt.

Unfortunately, says Sandra, obesity is on the rise in Ireland, with recent statistics indicating that one-in-four adults are obese, and one-in-four Irish children are overweight, with obesity rates increasing by 40% in Ireland in the past 10 years.

There is no quick or easy solution.

However, she says the chain’s step-bystep six-week programme can help people to set achievable goals, and support them with in-house expertise in fitness and positive nutrition.

At energie, Sandra says staff want to empower people to transform their lives, be active, tone up, lose weight, and to try new activities, from swimming to a wide range of classes, and above all, to have fun.

ANSWERS TO YOUR PERSONAL FINANCE QUESTIONS A MUM’S HOME GIFTED OR SWAPPED Q - My widowed mother lives in a four-bed detached house valued at c.€400,000 and I live with my husband and two young daughters in a two-bed townhouse. I am an only child, and my mother has suggested we swap houses, as her home is too big for her. What are the tax and inheritance implications ? Laura - Milltown A - This depends on whether your mother wants to permanently gift you her home, or if it is just a straight swap and no legal contract is required. As regards inheritance, as a daughter, you are eligible to receive tax-free from your mother €332,084, over which you pay 25% tax – called Capital Acquisition Tax (CAT). This means, if your mum gifts you her home, either before or after she dies, you would have to pay €16,979 CAT. You would also have to pay stamp duty if the property were to be put in your name – 1% which would be another €4,000, plus legal costs. One option that could save you money would be to move into your mother’s home, letting her remain, and keeping the home in her name. When she passes on, as long as you have been living in the home with her for at least three years, and you have no other property at the time of your mum’s passing – you would have to sell the townhouse

Sandra Dunne

– your mother’s home would not be included in her estate for tax purposes. You would also have to continue living in your

She says that energie Rathfarnham teach swimming competence and water safety for both children and adults, with large swimming pools that are the perfect place to train or relax after a busy day.

She adds: “At energie fitness, we like to have fun. We foster clubs within our club

with coffee mornings, charity initiatives, members’ social evenings and, with the good weather, we’ll be bringing our club outdoors more with running and walking clubs.”

To find out more about energie fitness, whether to arrange a tour or find out about classes, see www.energiefitness.ie.

mother’s home for another six years after she passes on; otherwise, there would be a clawback. Stamp duty would still be payable at that point. Make sure you air all these issues before deciding to do anything, and take professional advice.

REDUNDANCY LUMP SUM Q – I was made redundant and have €42,000 to put on deposit. I have nothing planned at this moment, but may use the money in about six months to start my own busi-

Q&A Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

A: I always thought I would be a teacher but, by the time I left secondary school, I knew I would work with sport somehow.

Q: What was your first job?

A: I did lots of caddying and babysitting as a teenager, but my first full-time job was a leisure attendant in a local swimming pool.

Q: And your first pay cheque?

A: I can’t remember, but I recall being chuffed to bits!

Q: When did you start your present job?

A: I started with energie on January 4, 2011.

Q: What is the best thing about your job?

A: The members; they’re great, and they make the club.

Q: What part of your work-

ness. Where is the safest place for it, and best rates at the moment? Peter – Churchtown

ing day do you ‘delegate’?

A: I am lucky enough to have some great managers working with me and, if it’s their area, I generally delegate responsibility for it.

Q: What music/pictures/ movies do you have on your iPod/iPad? A: Cold Play, Take That, Travis, Snow Patrol and a bit of Chicago.

Q: What sport do you follow?

A: I love watching tennis and

Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?

A: Des Bishop.

golf – I was rooting for Rory (McIlroy) in the Masters.

Q: What was your last Tweet/status update?

A: That I am delighted to be

Q: What sport can you play?

A: I loved sport as a teenager and I played golf, tennis, hockey and badminton, so all of those, though I’m a bit rusty at the moment.

Q: What is your guilty music/TV or movie pleasure?

A: “Chicago” for music, “Come dine with me” for TV, and “Officer and a Gentleman” for a movie.

Q: Who best represents modern Ireland – David Norris or Jedward?

A: Neither!

doing the next Niall Mellon Township Trust Build this November.

Q: Describe your dream meal?

A: Great food served in a lovely restaurant, in great company and accompanied by a lovely red wine.

Q: Who would you rather have dinner with – Enda Kenny or Dame Edna?

A: Dame Edna; she’s hilari-

spending money frivolously?

A: Kildare Shopping Village;

A - The National Treasury Management Agency manage all the

I also love the coffee shop in Wicklow town for its fab berry scones!

are guaranteed to June of this year for any amount by the

Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own?

A: At least 30, but I probably

per customer [while British and other such “deposit takers”

only wear five. I have a fetish for expensive running shoes.

ALL at least 1% better than the best bank or building society

range of State savings products, and all Irish deposit takers Eligible Liabilities Guarantee Scheme; underpinning this is the Deposit Protection Scheme, which guarantees up to €100,000 financial institutions are – generally – similarly guaranteed].

As for the best rates , all the State saving products are nearly deposit offerings. If you are prepared to wait the FULL 10 years on the National Solidarity Bond, this has the best return of all

Q: What was your worst holiday experience?

A: Camping in Cornwall; I nearly set fire to the campsite trying to cook sausages!

– a gross 5.41% would have to be offered by a DIRT-deducting deposit taker (DIRT was recently increased to 27%, so for every €1 earned in interest, the Government takes 27c).

Outside of our State savings products, Bank of Ireland’s online 15-month fixed deposit account, at 3.58%, is the best; you still

Q: Describe your dream holiday?

A: New Zealand.

pay 27% DIRT on this, leaving a net 2.6134%. However, as you

Q: What would be your dream job?

A: To own and manage my

can only make six withdrawals a year to maintain this rate).

own gym.

can be facilitated on a same-day basis with both. Best of luck!

ous.

Q: What do you plan to do when you retire?

A: Play lots of golf and

Q: Where do you enjoy

bridge, and have some fabulous holidays.

may wish to start your own business, the best demand deposit account over €20,000 is Nationwide UK’s at 3.15% (but you Anglo Irish Bank offer 3.1% on demand – both can be accessed online, and fund transfer requests back to your bank account

Contact John with your money questions at jlowe@ moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor

22 GAZETTE 14 April 2011

GazetteTravel Travel FastTravel Six Nations weekend a triumph at Ice House Second year in a row as London tops poll as the city break of choice for Irish

LONDON has topped the list as the most popular overseas destination for Irish holidaymakers for the second year in a row, according to the latest Hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI®). The latest report shows that London was the most visited city by Irish holidaymakers in 2010, beating off stiff competition from popular cities such as New York and Barcelona.

With fares starting from as little as €28 one-way, including taxes and a free 20kg baggage allowance, bmi, British Midland International, fly up to four times daily direct from Dublin to London Heathrow so there are no excuses not to hop across the water and see what this actionpacked city has on offer for you.

The Hotels.com Hotel Price Index (HPI®) is a survey of hotel prices in major city destinations across the world.

For more information on bmi, visit www.flybmi.com or contact your local travel agent.

CORMAC CURTIS

Crystal Summer offering big discounts for the early-bird holiday bookers PLAN ahead and make sure everything is perfect for your 2011 summer holiday. Receive €50 off per person for all holidays to Austria, Germany, Italy and Slovenia when you book with Crystal Summer.

Crystal Summer offer the perfect locations to unwind and soak up some awe-inspiring scenery at picturesque lakeside locations. Whether it’s cycling through the Austrian Alps or spending long days relaxing by Lake Garda, Crystal Summer has the perfect holiday option for you.

Offer is valid for all new bookings to all resorts in Austria, Germany and Italy and selected resorts in Slovenia.

Slovenian resorts include Kranjska Gora, Lake Bled and Lake Bohinj when travelling via Salzburg.

Limited availability. Terms and conditions apply. Offer is valid for seven-night bookings with flights and accommodation for travel May or June only and is not applicable on flight or accommodation only. Offer not applicable in conjunction with any other offer.

Call Crystal Summer on 014331080, call into Crystal’s shop on Duke Street, just off Grafton Street in the centre of Dublin or contact your local travel agent.

THE STAR rating is quickly becoming a less-than-reliable gauge for deciding on a hotel.

Let’s face it, there was a time when people said: “Let’s take a break in Donegal, where can we stay?”

These days, people are far more likely to ask: “What good hotels have you heard of lately, I’d love to get away!”

The destination has become less important than the accommodation - as busy, working couples and families try to find the perfect mix of dining, comfort, ambience, activities and, perhaps most importantly, value for money.

Unfortunately, different hotels, with wildly dissimilar levels of service, can share the same star rating.

This is why people really like to know more about where they are planning to stay.

Out west, those looking for luxurious accommodation, sensational food, and a terrific spa, need look no further than the Ice House, a hotel to which star ratings really are meaningless.

After becoming one of the fastest ever entrants in to Ireland’s Blue Book, the bible of quality hotels and restaurants in Ireland, the Ice House has become a firm favourite for those taking a break from it all.

Perched on the edge of the River Moy estuary at The Quay in Ballina, Co Mayo, the Ice House is a simple and beautiful mix of crisp, clean, modern architectural devices

melded effortlessly with the original, iconic building that has stood on the site since the mid-1800s.

The hotel takes its name from its original function as a source of ice. The ice was used to preserve not only the vast amounts of fish that were caught in and exported from the area; it also provided ice for two local breweries.

Contemporary styling and historic significance aside, it is the ease and genuinely welcoming nature of the management team of Dara Cruise and Claire O’Sullivan, ably assisted by their staff, that lifts this hotel to its deserved place in not only the Blue Book, but also in the hearts of its guests.

to enjoy a spa treatment, as my wife did, leaving plenty of time for a stroll along the river before dinner.

I must admit, the bathrooms here are luxurious enough for yours truly to skip the whole spa routine – a long soak in the really deep bath in the beautifully appointed, modern bathroom for a good half an hour or so sees me right as rain.

Having said that, after a facial and a head, neck and shoulder massage at the expert hands of a therapist at the Chill Spa, my better half came back truly transformed, with stress nothing more than a distant memory.

After a little time relax-

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‘You will want to enjoy a meal in the stunning Pier Restaurant, but not immediately following two hours of screaming at the Irish rugby team’

------------------------------------------------------------------

I have been lucky enough to visit the Ice House on two occasions, most recently during the Six Nations’ rugby championship.

It’s important to plan a trip to the Ice House properly.

You will want to enjoy a meal in their stunning Pier Restaurant, but not immediately following two hours of screaming at the Irish rugby team on the big screen in one of the many charming pubs in Ballina.

So, if you can, get there the day before, and arrive early

ing with a little music in the incredibly comfortable Nugget suite and a quick stroll, and we were ready for dinner in the Pier Restaurant.

And what an experience the food here is.

I decided some Dunmore East crab, served with Granny Smith apple, coriander and organic leaf salad, vanilla mayonnaise and avocado cream was too good to pass up.

My good lady wife was of the opinion that a bowl of creamed celeriac and parmesan soup with sautéed lamb’s

The stunning view from the Chill

kidney, apple and balsamic was the way forward.

We were both right. Stunning starters with a very reasonably priced, and delicious, sauvignon blanc, and we were two for two.

Our mains were flawless, mine being a dish of seared rabbit loin served with fricassee of autumn mushrooms, ballotine of rabbit leg and black pudding with pommery mustard and tarragon.

A triumph of local produce that I could have taken home and married if the law only allowed it.

The other side of the beautifully laid table was in a fishy mood, and opted for panseared fillets of sea bass with curry spices, parsnip puree, shallots and red wine jus.

A divine creation that I hope to return for at some point, for a full helping.

After our meal, we set ourselves up by the bar to watch a little of the Wales v England match, and sampled some of the unusual vodkas on offer –

14 April 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 23

TravelBriefs

Irish Tour Operator Sunway accepts honour from Lanzarote Tourism Board

Spa at the Ice House, where guests can enjoy every kind of treatment imaginable for a thoroughly de-stressing experience

SPECIAL EASTER OFFERS This Easter, why not indulge yourself at the Ice House Hotel?

Enjoy Dinner for two in the Award Winning 2 AA Rosette Pier Restaurant from their Spring A La Carte Menu.

Slow down with three nights luxurious accommodation and de-stress with unlimited time in their thermal suite.

Relax over a glass of bubbles and chocolatedipped strawberries on arrival, a lazy breakfast in bed and soak up the view.

And not forgetting the Easter-themed amenities for all guests over the Easter period.

Packages available from April 22 until April 25 This offer is for two adults sharing a deluxe room and costs €320 per adult for three nights. ask the bartender when you’re there, you won’t be disappointed.

We retired to our suite for the night and enjoyed a sleep that I won’t soon forget.

Despite the fact that the rooms at the Ice House boast floor-to-ceiling, panoramic windows, the black-out curtains ensure a room as dark as

pitch until you decide it’s time to get up – bliss.

A short drive to Enniscrone Beach is a must. On certain weekends the local equestrian club sets up jumps and bring the horses to the beach at low tide.

It is a stunning setting where you can get close to the action as the local riders pitch them-

selves against each other.

After this, we enjoyed a quick bowl of the sensational seafood chowder at the Ice House before spending a day sampling the hospitality of the many charming pubs in Ballina.

For a really good local Chinese restaurant – might I recommend Love Lee’s, just ask

anyone in the town and they’ll tell you how to get there.

We put our feet up and enjoyed some of the impressive digital entertainment back in our room to finish off the night, before one more good night’s sleep, as thoughts started to drift back towards home, children, work… and planning a return trip to Ballina!

THE good friendship between the Sunway travel company and Lanzarote was celebrated recently when the Lanzarote Tourism Board and the Fariones Hotel Group paid special tribute to the tour operator for its loyalty to the island, and especially to the Puerto del Carmen area.

Sunway’s founder, Jim Furlong, and his daughter, Tanya Airey, the firm’s managing director, were present for the occasion.

Sunway was founded as a travel agency in 1966 and became a tour operator in 1992. Mr.Furlong emphasised the welcome the people of Lanzarote had given to the Irish, a welcome which has been repaid by the Irish Travel Agents Association’s selection of Lanzarote for nine consecutive years as the favourite sun destination for Irish holidaymakers.

He said he much preferred the Lanzarote of today to that of 15 or 16 years ago, citing the improvements to places like Puerto del Carmen, whose main avenue and streets have been renovated, though he remarked that some of the business premises needed a facelift to fit in with the new surroundings. He added that Lanzarote sells itself to the Irish, because it is so well-known.

The manager of the tourism council said the Irish market was very important for Lanzarote. He was hopeful of an improvement in the Irish economy following the intervention of the EU and the IMF, and said that Lanzarote would continue its joint marketing agreements with airlines and tour operators. Managing director, Tanya, said the company planned to continue its winter and summer packages this year

All ashore as 100,000 passengers on 84 cruise ships set to visit Dublin this year A TOTAL of 84 cruise ships will call to Dublin this year, bringing almost 100,000 passengers and 40,000 crew to the city.

The first cruise call to Dublin took place on, Saturday, April 9, when Boudicca, a Fred Olsen Cruise Liner, sailed in to Dublin Port.

Representatives from Dublin Tourism, the Regional Tourism Authority for Dublin, will board each cruise ship calling to Dublin this season, providing expert tourism information and advice to passengers. A dedicated cruise map, created in conjunction with Dublin Tourism partners will be distributed to cruise passengers.

Paul Hayden, acting chief executive of Dublin Tourism said: “The cruise market is a very important market to all of us involved in the tourism industry in Dublin. The influx of passengers and crew has a very real impact on retailers, visitor attractions and tours in the capital.”

24 BLANCH GAZETTE 14 April 2011

Gazette ENTERTAINMENT

1GoingOUT PAVILION 01 231 2929 Dance Celebration

Irish National Youth Ballet celebrates the 15th anniversary of the Company. It promises to be a true reflection on how much this young company has grown artistically.

April 15, (12:00, 20:00) and April 16 (15:00, 20:00). Prices free to €18.

SEAMUS ENNIS CULTURAL CENTRE 01 802 0898 The Wiyos American roots music sensations, The Wiyos, made a huge impact following their BBC TV debut with Seasick Steve, filmed at The Barbican’s big Folk America extravaganza.

In 2009, they went out (by personal invitation) on a 27-date run of US baseball stadiums with Bob Dylan, and last year they wowed a capacity crowd at Celtic Connections festival in Glasgow and were then invited back over the Atlantic for Shetland Folk Festival.

Saturday, April 16 at 8:30pm. Admission: €16.

THE HELIX 01 700 7000 Back to The 80s Back to the 80s is a fun-filled musical packed with classic songs of the era that make this show burst off the stage.

Wednesday to Friday, April 13 to 15 at 8pm, 3pm Matinee, Thursday 14 Tickets: €20/Conc: €15.

Look behind you ... Perhaps Amanda Seyfried (AKA Valerie, AKA Red Riding Hood) senses a middle-aged cinema reviewer on the

The Coronas Ireland has been home to some of the most influential artists ever to grace the world stage. The Coronas are no exception and they are bringing their frantic, high-energy live show to The Helix this April. Don’t miss your opportunity to catch this intimate performance as you can be sure they are destined for the top.

Wednesday, April 20 at 8.30pm. Tickets €14.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 An Inspector Calls

Sandyford Little Theatre presents this famous play written by English dramatist J B Priestley, An upper-crust English family dinner is interrupted by a police inspector who brings news that a girl known to everyone present has died in suspicious circumstances.

April 12 to 16 at 8pm. Admission: €18/€15

Boolabus Youth Theatre Boolabus Youth Theatre present an evening of one-act plays, to include new writing, devised and classical pieces.

April 19 to 21 at 8pm. Admission: €10/€5

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Spreacha 2011

Draiocht’s annual week-long international arts festival for children is guaranteed to spark all our imaginations for a full eight days in April. Spreacha shows are perfect for school groups and families with events programmed in and out of school time.

April 13 to 20. See www.draiocht.ie/spreacha/

CIVIC THEATRE 01 4627477 Noctu The subject of the soon-to-air RTE series, Dance Off, Noctu is a new departure for the Irish Dance show genre. It strives to tell the story of Irish Dance from the viewpoint of the dancer.

April 18 to 23. Check www.civictheatre.ie for times and prices.

Up and Over It As seen on the Late Late Show International Irish Dance superstars Suzanne Cleary and Peter Harding present their electro-pop inspired, alternative Irish Dance show. It’s out with the old velvet-clad, tin-whistle-blowing, diddly-idleness and in with a high-octane, multimedia leap into 2011. This is Irish Dance for the post-pop generation.

April 19 to 23. Check www.civictheatre.ie for times and prices.

The Bad Arm – Confessions of a Dodgy Irish Dancer Written and performed by Máire Clerkin, The Bad Arm – Confessions of a Dodgy Irish Dancer is an uproarious, yet poignant, one-woman play.

April 18 to 23. Check www.civictheatre.ie for times and prices.

rampage in the woods, as Kate prepares to pounce on a film that’s made her see red – and without even a full moon in sight

It’s a big howler ...

Kate thinks it’s a beastly affair, but undemanding teens will probably wolf down this Twilight-ish tale KATE CROWLEY

NORMALLY, I have a huge weakness for bad films and cliched television, finding myself glued to the television if I spy the opening credits of Murder She Wrote (where younger readers may notice my old friend, Jessica Fletcher, using a great, great, great cave-dwelling ancestor of an iPad to bash out her latest meisterwerk).

Unfortunately, this same tolerance for guilty-pleasure trash-tv does not extend to moronic movies, where, as Einstein might have put it, a mere minute can seem like a very long time indeed, relatively speaking. Quite.

And, one thing’s for sure – there weren’t no Einsteins toiling over the script to Red Riding Hood. Do I still have to review this fairytale folly? (“Yes.” – Ed.) Sigh. Okay.

Somewhere, some high-fiving Hollywood execs decided that “Twilight” + an old fairy tale = sackfuls of dosh, which is, presumably, how this tosh made it to our screens.

Gigantic-eyed Valerie

Film of the Week: Red Riding Hood (12A) 99 mins Director: Catherine Hardwicke Starring: Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Julie Christie, Lukas Haas

OUR VERDICT: SILVER bullets! Holy water! Garlic!

What, exactly, does Kate need to finish off a string of these trite monster movies? Red Riding Hood certainly leaves her seeing red ...

(Amanda Seyfried, or “Red”, as I’m calling her from now on) lives in a typical Ye Olde Village, full of wrinkled old women (aged over 30), comely lassies, hunky suitors, oddly inappropriate traditional village dances, and strange local customs that see regular, monthly animal sacrifices to appease a nearby beast.

So far, so normal, and this wouldn’t sound so out of place in dear old Donegal, where wee Kate spent many a happy summer as a lass with Granny, sans any werewolf problems.

However, interfering with Red’s plans to go and chop some wood with Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), her parents have

bethrothed her to another.

While Red and Peter work out what they’re going to do about this, a werewolf attack sees her sister slain, and the village put on high alert, as this move by the nearby werewolf is but the prelude to other, deadlier attacks.

Jumping along a little and, after a little Rentamob action, the villagers have caught and killed a wolf. Hurrah! Their ordeal is over! Of course not.

Cue the arrival of Gary Oldm- whoops, Father Solomon (Gary Oldman, in his usual scenery-chewing mode, and never so far from his understated performance as decent Jim Gordon in the recent Batman films), who declares that The Wolf! Is! One of YOU! At this point, I admit that my attention began to drift off a little, as I started trying to weigh up Oldman’s good films versus his many, many bad ones, and (“Get on with it, Crowley.” – Ed.) Sigh.

Yes, indeedy, the big, bad werewolf is one of the villagers, but whoooo? Could it be

Grandma, out in the woods (oh, Julie Christie ...)? Peter, the woodcutter? Bobby Ewing?

There’s only one way to find out – Red better traipse off out to Grandma’s, and find out who the wolf (which she has a special connection with) is...

It’s often been argued that there are only seven basic stories to tell, whether in publishing or through cinema, yet this one seems to be derivative of only one – the aforementioned Twilight series.

Sure, there are some nice shots here and there, and even some pretty cinematography to admire – albeit in a pointlessly over-stylised way, like a 1980s French pop video.

However, a hopeless script, Oldman’s mugging and Christie’s slumming, lashings and lashings of angst, an overwrought plot and – oh, great, I’m almost finished! Yay! Folks, if you’re really interested in a time-honoured fairytale, stick with your old books.

They may be a little Grimm, but the shaggiest old tale is still worthier of your consideration than this beastly film ...

14 April 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 25

TECHNOLOGY Links to entertainingly far-fetched Tweeters

Some tweet machine favourites ADAM MAGUIRE

WHEN a potentially lethal snake went missing in New York Zoo, the cobra became known across the world almost instantly. It also got its own Twitter account.

Called @BronxZoosCobra, this account is the latest in a long line of spoofs that have appeared on Twitter.com.

This is where parody versions of people, things and even places are created t o p o ke fun and raise a few smiles.

Other examples in recent times include one that claimed to be the account of one of the trapped Chilean miners but, like the missing snake’s account, it was restricted to a short lifespan.

So, here are a few of the funniest spoof accounts that have been up and running

for some time, and that show no signs of stopping any time soon ...

@DarthVader The legendary villain from the Star Wars series is also a keen Tw i t terer, it appears.

Be it commentary on news events, information about the Empire, or even a look into Vader’s softer side, this account has plenty worth reading. @FakeAPstylebook T he Associated Press Stylebook is a well-known resource for writers looking to hone their craft.

The Fake version of it, available on Twitter amongst other places, is quite the opposite.

Some of the best writing advice includes: “Remember what happens when you assume. Frankly, you save yourself a lot of work” and “Do not be afraid to use exclamation points in your writing. They can sense fear.”

@ChuckNorris_ What would the internet be without Chuck Norris jokes?

A much more boring place, that is for sure.

So it was inevitable someone would set up a Twitter account claiming to be Chuck Norris, or at least warning you about his lethal nature.

Just in case you were in any doubt about Norris’ skills, the account assures us that he can do a wheelie on a unicycle and slam a revolving door.

Impressive.

Apple iPad 2 The long-awaited update to Apple’s game-changing tablet

is a device well worth having, though only if you do not own an iPad already.

When the iPad launched last year, it changed things.

Tablets already existed, of course, but none had the instant appeal and allure that Apple was able to offer.

Since then, a number of rival devices have come to the market, and many have been good.

However, none has been great.

The iPad 2 can be considered a baby step forward for Apple – taking that great device from last year, and making a few minor adjustments to keep it competitive.

The device now sports a slimmer, lighter body, a faster processor, and a couple of cameras.

But, beyond that, it is much the same as what came before.

However, that is far from an insult, as the original iPad really was a truly superb machine.

For anyone who has used an iPhone or an iPod Touch, this device will feel very familiar. The software is much the same, albeit on a bigger screen, and the way you interact with apps is identical.

What makes the iPad 2 so great really is its software too, which is so easy to use and logical that even a small child would feel at home with it.

The device is always-on,

so there is no need to boot it up and wait, and its intuitive design makes it easy to use for so many things, from e-mailing to watching videos or playing games.

There are plenty of apps – free and premium – that you can download, meaning you can customise the device as you like, and even replace a lot of what you currently do on a PC with it.

If you already own an iPad, you are not going to miss out on a whole lot by not getting the iPad 2, unless you really want a camera.

However, if you are thinking of getting a device like this, there is still nothing better than what Apple have to offer.

The iPad 2 is available from store. apple.com/ie, from €479 upwards.

Visit teic.ie for the latest tech news, reviews and views.

GAZETTE

26 BLANCH GAZETTE 14 April 2011

BLANCHclassifieds PLUMBING

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PLANNING NOTICE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL Planning permission is sought by Joyce & Kieran Fitzgerald, (AT) 34B Willow Wood Grove, Clonsilla, Dublin 15, for (THE) construction (OF A) single storey extension to the side and front of existing 2 storey dwelling, with ancillary site works (.)The Planning Application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during the public opening hours of 9.30 - 15.30 Monday - Friday at Fingal County Council, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Fingal, Dublin 15. A submission or observation in relation to the Application may be made in writing to the Planning Authority on payment of a fee of €20, within the period of 5 weeks, beginning on the date of receipt by Fingal County Council of the Application.

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PLANNING NOTICE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL Permission sought to build new two storey extension to rear & side, comprising 1 no. additional bedroom at first floor level with new single storey sunroom to rear & utility to side.Also to convert existing attic for study/storage, at 145 Pace Crescent, Little Pace Paddocks, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 for Niall & Fiona O’Hara. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of Fingal County Council, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15 or Fingal County Council, County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. During it’s opening hours, Monday to Friday from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

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PLANNING NOTICE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL We C u m a n n L u t h c h l e a s Gael Naomh Brid intend to apply for Planning Permission for development at this site: Russell Park, Navan Road, Blanchardstown, Dublin15 The development consists of extending the entrance out to the end of the existing cul-de-sac on the Old Navan Road, removal of the existing entrance and provision of a new vehicular entrance with perimeter decorative railing.

This also includes the provision of additional car-parking with associated siteworks to include a turning bay at the end of the culde-sac, extension of the footpath and bicycle lane along the N3 and associated traffic management and landscaping works. The Planning Application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during the public opening hours of 9:30-15:30, Monday - Friday at Fingal County Council, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Fingal, Dublin 15. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of a fee of €20, within the period of 5 weeks, beginning on the date of receipt by Fingal County Council of the Application.

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14 April 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 27

GazetteSPORT Gazette SPORT

RUN FOR THE SUN: Great Ireland Run another huge success in Phoenix Park: Page 29

HOCKEY: DEFEAT IN FINAL GAME IRRELEVANT AS BOOTERSTOWN SIDE TAKE CROWN

Hermes celebrate Leinster league title WOMEN’S DIVISION 1 Hermes UCD STEPHEN FINDLATER sport@gazettegroup.com

2 4

HERMES lost the battle but won the war when their exploits earlier this season were enough to see them over the line and win the Leinster women’s division one hockey league last Saturday at Belfield.

The Booterstown club fell 4-2 on Saturday to UCD, leaving them wondering if Loreto could pull off an improbable nine-goal win against Railway Union in the final game of the season.

But it did not accrue as Loreto could only move out as far as 3-0 before being reeled back in, leaving them level on points with Hermes but with an inferior goal tally.

A sleepy first half was briefly enlivened by Caitriona McGilp’s goal and Gillian Pinder’s autopass score from a five-metre free.

But the second half was rip-roaring and end-to-end.

Anna O’Flanagan banged home from close range from the second phase of a penalty corner to establish a Hermes lead.

Jenny Burke and Deirdre Duke had a gilt-edge chance

to strengthen that lead but Stella Davis did well to snuff out the two strikers closing in on her goal.

Chloe Watkins, meanwhile, clipped the outside of the post with a diving, reverse sweep after stealing the ball from Emma Gray.

The students were level f o l l ow i n g a r i g h t- w i n g attack, which McGilp swept in at the near post to register a brace against her former club.

And her side hit the front from a top move. Brenda Flannery found Emily Menzies deep on the left-wing and she did well to get a cross for the waiting Jess

Hermes’ Audrey O’Flynn, Gillian Pender and Anna O’Flanagan celebrate

McMickan on the back post to tap in.

Flannery’s straight strike made it 4 -2 while Lisa Jacob’s top reverse drew an equally high-quality save from Davis. In the end, it

proved immaterial but the second half was a joy to behold in all its carefree glory.

Loreto ended the season equal on 44 points but they will rue draws against UCD

and Old Alex late in the season, especially against the students, having led 3-0 before being pegged back when the title race was firmly in the hands of the Beaufort side.

28 BLANCH GAZETTE 14 April 2011

GazetteSport Sport Rugby

FastRugby

ST PATRICK’s Day 2007.

RUGBY: SIDE BOW OUT OF METROPOLITAN CUP AFTER DEFEAT

interest now generated by

Coolmine Under-16s miss out on derby win at College John Dever attempts to break the UCD line as Darragh Hughes follows on under pressure from the UCD defence

side. by their near COOLMINE were the defeated Turning pointsUnder-16s are ten-aDubliner Niall O’Brien neighbours, Castleknock in an enthralling chalpenny in sporting parlance.College, wryly the seismic shift lenge game played in the college last sees Saturday.

All-Ireland football and sincefashion he made his debut Thewinning game started a very lively with both hurling teamsinoften back in 2002 - a nothing low-key tie sides making some excellent breaks and giving pinpoint some obscure away toground their opponents. training incident in against Denmark to little fanfare – tonot thefor place The opening minutes certainly the where mid-winter or low10 ebb in thewere national papersout willbycarry faint-hearted with some heavyan hits being dished National League campaign both rising sides. from the ashes a daily diary for the duration before the competition.

Castleknock drew first bloodofafter an excellent break to glory. told me there and from for a ruck ledcricket, to the first theyou game.

But, Irish thetry of “If From the restart it was again Castleknock who took tangible nature of their trancontrol and, after quick play from both the forsition from hope to some expectawards and backs, a to second tion, from postman pro- try soon followed.

Coolmine hit the fessional, can though primarily be Castleknock receivers with venom from resulting pinpointed tothe that famousdrop-off, and were rewarded with a penalty Castleknock failed to release the day when they when rocked the ball on theorder ground. established by beating Castleknock though did finish the stronger in the secPakistan in the 2007 World ond half, running in another try.

Cup Last week, Ireland’s panelmuch the same as the first, and The second half started of it 15was headed to thewho 2011took ver-the advantage, with scrumCoolmine halfinAndy McCabe finishing sion India, bristling with off a rolling maul to score.

The nextand try determined again went Coolmine’s way, Number 8 confidence theonplaudits after some excellent to Michael continueSolan theirtaking growth from the entire Coolmine pack. theplay world stage.

Thewere gameseen continued in a very high tempo, but CoolThey off earlier with the exception of a late penalty from out-half at mine, a packed media briefing O’Brien, were unable in Aaron the RSA – Cricket Ire- to capitalise further, and it was title Castleknock took the plaudits as the victors on land’s sponsorswho – offices day, 32-18. in the Dundrum, reflecting the

Students stymie Garda METROPOLITAN CUP UCD Garda

33 20

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GARDA RFC’s hopes of reaching the final of the Newstalk Metropolitan Cup for the second year in a row were dashed last Sunday with defeat at the hands of UCD in Barnhall.

Following on from a closefought victory over Clontarf a week earlier, Garda came into the tie with a changed line-up, having lost a number of key players to injury at the tail end of the season.

UCD started brightly and were over the Garda line inside five minutes, clean lineout ball setting up a perfectly-choreographed training-ground move, drawing in the Garda defence and allowing wing Cailibhe Doherty to splice the line for the touchdown.

Garda’s early jitters were set to continue and, in spite of advancing well into the UCD half, the ball was somehow stolen in midfield and the perfectly-weighted grubber kick through gave Doherty a sprint for the line and his second try of the afternoon. The conversion was swiftly added and Garda faced a 14-point deficit with only 15 minutes on the clock.

Within minutes Garda were five metres from the UCD line, outhalf Ben McCarthy garnering good field position with the boot. John Dever, playing at Number 8 in place of injured Etuini Pongi, was held up at his first attempt but duly obliged at the second time of asking, crashing over off the back of the scrum for Garda’s first points of the afternoon.

Garda were asking questions of the UCD defence but

on each foray into the opposition half the well-drilled Belfield defensive unit held firm, forcing handling errors from the Garda three-quarters.

Dogged defence prevailed and, with half-time approaching, Garda concentration dropped momentarily to allow UCD to steal the ball in midfield and the resultant link-up between hooker and centre opened enough of a gap to give UCD a 21-7 lead at the break.

With all to play for in the second half, Garda set straight to the task at hand and closed the gap within three within minutes from the boot of Patrick O’Toole, when UCD were penalised for offside in front of their own posts.

UCD again absorbed waves of Garda attacks and the quick feet of their scrum half almost set up a breakaway try but

for a knock-on at the offload.

With UCD infringements at the breakdown coming to the attention of the referee, Garda captain Patrick O’Toole capitalised on the advantage to score a beautiful drop goal from 22 out and Garda almost closed the gap to a single point five minutes later but for Darragh Hughes’ handling skills letting him down at the last second.

With Garda’s sights firmly set on the line, some excellent counter-attacking rugby earned UCD two breakaway tries in quick succession, completing the hat-trick for Doherty and killing the tie.

Prop Brian Campbell bagged a well-deserved try for Garda at the death, but the Leinster League Division 1B champions must wait a least another 12 months for another Donnybrook appearance.

14 April 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 29

in association with

Great runners

FastSport

Over 11,000 runners shone in the sunshine at the 2011 SPAR Great Ireland Run last weekend with local interest at a premium in all events

OVER 11,000 people took to the tarmac for the SPAR Great Ireland Run and SPAR Junior Great Ireland Run in beautiful sunshine in the Phoenix Park last weekend.

In a carnival atmosphere, 1,000 children raced in the Junior Run over 2.5 km, which was started by Eddie

Hobbs, patron of the Jack & Jill Foundation, and Sonia O’Sullivan.

Dundrum South Dublin star Cassie Murphy won the girls’ race in a time of 10.45.

The children were followed by their adult counterparts, some 10,000 runners, joggers and walkers, who included Sean Gal-

lagher from Dragons’ Den, Evanne Ni Chuilinn from RTE Sport, former Ireland and Leinster hooker Shane Byrne (whose twin daughters ran the Junior Run) Maclean Burke from Fair City, Gillian Quinn, Lisa Fitzpatrick and many, many others.

British teenager, Charlotte Purdue, again showed her vast potential for the future when she was the runaway winner of the women’s race against much more experienced opponents.

The men’s title went to former European 5,000 metres gold-medallist, Jesus Espana of Spain, who broke clear with 1,200 metres to go. Defending champion, Martin Fagan of Ireland, was third.

The race doubles as the Athletics Ireland Irish 10k

Championships, and in that respect, there was plenty of local interest, with Joe Sweeney of DSD coming second in the Irish challenge, in a time of 30:42, and Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham AC was fifth in 31:19. Meanwhile, in the women’s race, Ava Hutchinson was third in the women’s race in a time of 34:43.

The Run is the only event in Ireland recognised by the International Association of Athletic Federations (IAAF) at Bronze Label level. As a result of the quality of this year’s event, the organisers will be submitting an application to the IAAF for Silver Label status for the 2012 SPAR Great Ireland Run, as they believe that all the required criteria may have been achieved to upgrade from bronze.

Cassie Murphy on her way to winning the Junior Girls’ race

Jannett Keane does the hard work as Chloe enjoys the park

Catriona Lindsay Russell, from Blanchardstown

Niamh Sheridan and Lorraine Morgan celebrate their 10k

Trap and Marco help to launch penalty contest AS PART of their fundraising efforts in aid of the Irish Homeless World Cup team, the national penalty shoot-out competition, sponsored by Continental Tyres, is set to take place in AUL, Clonshaugh, and Astro Park, Greenhills Road, Tallaght on Good Friday, April 22 at 10am, and there is still time for teams to enter the Dublin leg of the competition.

At the event’s recent launch, Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni and coach Marco Tardelli urged soccer fans to get behind the venture, in which the regional winners will receive €1,000 of Umbro kit, while the overall winners will receive six tickets for the Europa Cup Final and two nights accommodation in a Dublin 4 hotel.

Details and entry forms can be obtained from wwwirishstreetleague.com, or by calling Mick Pender on 087 127 3258 or Sean Kavanagh on 087 223 8108.

Francis holding local events

NAC to be venue for Fingal Sprint

ST FRANCIS football club will holding a fundraiser in the Dean Swift, Dublin 8, on Friday, May 27 in aid of one of their former players, Terry Hillard, who died recently, at an early age.

Club members are asked to please try and support this worthy cause for one of the legends of the club.

Meanwhile, the club will host their Easter Soccer Camp from April 25 to 29 in John Hyland Park.

The camp will run from 10.30am to 2pm every day for all kids aged five to 12, and it promises to be a great week of fun with qualified coaches in a safe environment.

The cost is €50 per child.

THE National Aquatic Centre will be the venue for the sixth annual Fingal Sprint triathlon on May 15, and organiser 3D Triathlon are calling on newcomers to triathlon and local youths to participate in the event.

3D Triathlon have also been invited by Triathlon Ireland to host the 2011 Inaugural National Youth Triathlon Championships, which will take the form of three races – the Fingal Sprint (age 18 and over), 2011 National Youth Championship (age 16-19) and Fingal Junior Aquathlon (ages 8-15).

If you are interested in taking part, registration details are available at www.fingalsprint.3dtri. com

30 BLANCH GAZETTE 14 April 2011

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

Feast of festivities set for Hartstown United HARTSTOWN United’s Lee Dunne, who is also part of the NDSL’s U-16s Academy, is currently spending the week on trial at Leyton Orient in London.

Meanwhile, in a joint effort between his club and Hunstown Villa, a charity festival weekend will be held from May 20 to 22 in aid of Irish Autism Action.

The event will include a golf classic with the stars on the Friday of that weekend at Corrstown golf club. Teetimes start from 8.30am, with Bernard Dunne and Keith Duffy among the celebrities. A team of four costs €300 to enter.

A quiz night follows in Hartstown House from 8pm with a team of four costing €100.

A kids’ soccer camp with a Legends XI will take place in the Hartstown CS from 10am for free before a John Aldridge-led side will play in Dalymount Park at 3pm.

The day’s events conclude with a gala dinner in the Crowne Plaza hotel in Blanchardstown with live interviews with Aldo’s legends.

On Sunday, a 5k fun run, jog or crawl event will leave from Hartstown CS with registration at 9.15am with €50 sponsorship the target to take part.

Rhinos fall to Rebel yell in second game of season DUBLIN 15’s Dublin Rhinos American football team fell to a 13-0 defeat at the hands of reigning Shamrock Bowl holders, the Dublin Rebels, last Sunday to leave them with a 1-1 record after two series of games in the league.

The Rebels went 6-0 up when Aaron Smyth walked into the endzone for the opening score of the game from a fourth down.

And theRebels got the only other touchdown of

the day when they caught a break in the third quarter, when one of their back-up running backs took a hand off up the middle of the field, and a breakdown on defense by the Rhinos saw him sprint 40 yards into the endzone for the score.

The Rhinos will aim to get their campaign back on track when they visit Trinity College this coming Sunday, April 17, at the Trinity College Sports Grounds, Santry, where the kick-off time is 2pm.

All support welcome.

They opened the campaign with victory over the Cork Cardinals at Castleknock College, when they were the 6-0 winners.

SOCCER: PENALTIES SEE LOCAL SIDE PROGRESS IN GILLIGAN

Action from the thrilling tie between Portmarnock AFC and Dunboyne AFC in the Gilligan Cup quarter-final

Dunboyne reach semi GILLIGAN CUP Q/FINAL Dunboyne AFC Portmarnock AFC STAFF REPORTER

4 3

blanchardstownsport@gazettegroup.com

DUNBOYNE AFC were able to hold off the challenge of Portmarnock in the Gilligan Cup quarter-final, registering victory by the odd goal after what was a pulsating and end to end match between two-well matched sides.

Dunboyne hosted the tie in perfect conditions, and right from the kick-off, Portmarnock made it clear they meant business, with some neat, pacy passing which paid dividends within two minutes when Dunnigan bagged the opener for the visitors.

Dunboyne found it difficult to settle and get their game going, and things went from bad to worse when Portmarnock scored with a well taken free kick from outside the penalty area, Cummins netting as Paul O’Reilly could only look on.

Try as tehy might to come into the tie and register something before the turnaround, Dunboyne went in at the whistle two goals down.

Portmarnock opened the second half brightly, but Dunboyne raised their game significantly and pulled a goal back through rightback Terry McAuley, whose headed effort found the net after a rebound.

Not content with pop-

Ron a winner: NAC McSwim raises €4,000 THE NAC Swim Club raised a total of €4,000 for the Ronald McDonald House at Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin at its recent NAC McSwim gala which took place at the National Aquatic Centre.

With almost 700 children in attendance, and over 2,200 swims on the day, clubs from all over the country came together to donate a portion of their gala fees to the charity.

ping up from his defensive role for Dunboyne’s opener, McCauley hit a half-volley from 25 yards which gave the Portmarnock keeper no chance.

Dunboyne continued to press and, in the 70th minute, were rewarded when Por tmarnock’s defence felled Andy Farrell in the box. Farrell then slotted home the penalty to put the home side in front for the first time.

Portmarnock continued their high quality football, and they in turn reaped their reward when, within five minutes of Dunboyne going ahead when McCormick scored from the spot to tie the tie again.

With seven minutes

remaining, the referee detected some pushing at a Dunboyne corner, and once more Farrell stepped up to score the winning goal.

Despite this and three penalty awards, the level of sportsmanship on display brought enormous credit to both clubs. Portmarnock are certainly to be commended for their attractive brand of football, and their sporting reaction at the end. Dunboyne found levels of courage and tenacity to come back from the brink.

DUNBOYNE AFC ; Paul O’Reilly, Terry McAuley(Ronan Roarty, Brendan Lee, Chris Sylvester, Sean Roarty, Lee Ferrand (Jeff Deehan,) Danny O’Reilly (David Clarke), Ciaran Carr, Andy Farrell (captain), Colin Richardson and Niall Connellan.

14 April 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 31

in association with

AFL 5: LAST-GASP POINT STEALS POINTS FROM ’KNOCK

Corcoran leads line but Towers take tie AFL 5 Round Towers Castleknock STEPHEN FINDLATER

0-17 2-10

blanchardstownsport@gazettegroup.com

SUPER-sub Jason Mockler scored a last-ditch point to grab victory for Round Towers at the Clondalkin Community Centre to deny a Rory Corcoran-inspired Castleknock.

Indeed, the hosts will feel justice was finally done after ’Knock profited from a contentious first-half goal when the ball looked to be clearly over the sideline in the buildup.

Jerry Kelly kept playing while the Hoops’ defenders stalled, and Corcoran scrambled in his second goal for an imposing six-point lead.

It left former Towers’ man

Castleknock’s Cathal Daly in action at Clondalkin

Tom McCormack – an AllIreland minor winner in 1982 – frustrated as the Dublin 15 side had their noses in front for long periods, before enduring their first loss of the campaign.

But Towers’ overall strength in midfield and around the breaks kept creating scoring positions for the likes of Denis Mackin (0-7, 0-6 from frees) and Eoin Walsh (0-4) who constantly kept the scoring sheet updated.

It was a cracking tie, played out in glorious Sunday morning sunshine, and took little time to get up-and-running with Mackin opening his account before the lively Paul Hughes responded.

Towers tacked on another couple of points before Corcoran began to hit his straps.

He netted his first major in the 12th minute cutting in from the right wing, despite initially losing the run of the ball, as he bundled past two defenders and rifled in off his left boot.

He got the next three points, too, as his power and running into the space from corner-forward was dragging the home defenders all over the place.

Walsh’s second point reduced the margin to three but Corcoran’s second – vehemently debated by Paul

Lanigan – stretched the margin once more.

Eoin Moore and Paul Stynes, though, were becoming greater influences on the tie, both pointing from midfield while Ger Homan and Eoghan Young also registered as they went in at half-time at 2-5 to 0-9 down.

Corcoran added the first two scored of the second half – en route to a personal tally of 2-6 – but the strength of Walsh was proving too hot to handle for the Castleknock defence, though Derek Kinevey put in a string of big interventions.

The bar played its part too, denying Castleknock while Walsh’s fourth skipped over off the upright.

Mackin cleared the bar with two successive frees to nudge Towers in front in the 51st minute but quick retorts from Cathal Daly and Kelly swapped the lead going into the last minute of normal time.

Indiscipline cost the visitors, though, as a free was advanced ten metres for back-chat and Mackin tied it up.

And Mockler produced an excellent solo effort to flash in from the right channel and clear the bar, preceding the final whistle by just a couple of seconds.

Club Noticeboard ST BRIGID’S EASTER Camp takes place on April 26 to 28 from 10am t o 1. 3 0 pm . R e g i s t r a t ion day is this Saturday in Russell Park from 12 to 2pm.

A ny queries, contact Paul O’Brien on 087 915 4748.

We need your old mobile phones. To get a second defibrillator, the club needs 360 old phones. Phone drop-off point just inside the bar.

Sen ior lad ie s’ foot ba l lers had a great league win over Ballyboden, while the second team also beat Na Fianna.

Senior 2 footballers beat Naom h F ionba r r a , wh i le the minor hurlers beat Plunkett’s. Junior C footballers drew with Good Counsel.

Senior game vs Ballyboden was postponed due to the sad passing of Sinead Darcy, sister to Ken and Declan Darcy.

Fund-raiser quiz for Alan Kerin’s projects takes place this Thursday from 8.45pm in Russell Park. Support a great cause, €40 for a table of four.

Minor footballers face St Mark’s away on Sunday at 11am. Senior hurlers face Na om h Me a r no g i n t he league this Saturday at 6pm in Russell Park. Inter hurlers face St Vincent’s away on Saturday at 6pm. Junior hurlers face Liffey Gaels away on Sunday at 11am.

Senior 2 footballers face Rou nd Tower s i n cup on Sunday at 11am in Russell.

Inter footballers face Jude’s in cup on Sunday at 11am in Russell.

Junior A footballers also face Castleknock on Sunday away. Time TBC. C lu b lot t o t a ke s pl a c e in T he Roselaw n Inn this Thursday with a jackpot of €12,200.

Our deepest sy mpathies are extended to the Reidy and Darcy family on their recent losses.

ERIN GO BRAGH

Good inter start for St Brigid’s blanchardstownsport@gazettegroup.com

ON its opening night, St Brigid’s will make the short hop down the Navan Road to Blakestow n to begin the defence of their Dublin Intermediate Football Championship crown on Wednesday, April 27, (7pm) following the county board’s confirmation of the dates and times for the opening round of ties in the competition.

Unable to claim promo-

tion to SFC level due to their first team already being at that level, Brigid’s are endeavouring to become a rare breed, by retaining the inter title won last autumn in Parnell Park.

Campaign opener They start their campaign with a game against Good Counsel before, should they advance, facing either Ballymun Kickhams or St Vincent’s on May 4 in Parnell Park.

Their senior team, meanwhile, takes to the field on Saturday, April 30 in the first round of the SFC against Templeogue Synge Street in St Finian’s grounds in Newcastle.

Facing the side recently promoted to AFL1 and led by the powerful Eoghan O’Gara, Mark Byrne’s side will be battling for a place in the second round draw with either Ballinteer St John’s or St Marks in the firing line.

Of the other local sides,

St Peregrine’s route is a tricky one, getting underway against Lucan Sarsfields who went deep in the competition last year and are powered by a resurgent Paul Casey.

They swap venues with their Brigid’s counterparts and play their opening round game in Russell Park on Friday, April 29 (7pm).

They potentially face St Annes or St Judes in the next series of games in O’Toole Park on May 7.

THE Erin go Bragh Easter Camp will take place next week from Monday to Thursday, April 18 to 21. €40 per child for kids aged five to 12 years. Please contact John on 087 754 1948.

Our annual street leagues and community festival will take place between Tuesday, May 3 and Sunday, May 8. For more information please contact Sean on 086 124 7585.

Well done to our junior footballers who had to battle hard to beat Ranelagh Gaels last Sunday in the league.

Our junior hurlers will hold a table quiz in The Paddocks on Friday, April 29, commencing at 9pm. Table of four costs €40.

Please contact Pat Keenan on 087 060 1567.

Our U-10s are looking for

players born in 2001 and who want to play hurling and football. Please contact Karl (087 235 2074 ) or Donal (087 696 7135).

The Erin go Bragh Community Dinner Dance 2011 will be held in the Park Plaza, Tyrellstown, on Saturday, November 5. Price per ticket: €60 (More information to follow).

Annual membership is now overdue. Please note all members fees go directly to insurance, the day-to-day running of the club and to the long term development of the club. Please contact Sinead at edgelys@ o2.ie for more information.

There was no winner of last week’s lotto jackpot. Numbers drawn were 7, 18, 26 and 28.

This week’s draw jackpot will be €11,000. This Friday’s draw will be held in The Paddocks.

ST PEREGRINE’S CLUB boxing night is on this Saturday in the club from 8pm. Tickets are selling fast and a limited number still remain, please see club for details.

Great w i ns on t he f ield last Sunday for the junior B and C footballers; our senior hurlers played out a draw in the Leinster League. They play Plunkett’s this Saturday at 6pm on club pitch.

Member sh ips a re now overdue. Please note memberships are the same as last year.

A ny member not buy ing lotto tickets visit CNP.ie and support your club for only €2 a week.

The lottery jackpot was not won, numbers drawn were 2, 14, 27 and 28. Next week’s jackpot is €3,000 and is also available to play online using the link on the club website.

Club race night is on in the clubhouse on April 21. Please give this your full support.

Enter t a i n ment t h is Saturday in the club is f rom Smashin’ Monkeys.

Club shop is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 6pm to 7pm and on Saturdays from 10am to 12pm.

Bi ngo is on Wed nesday night at 8.30pm.

If anybody within the club would like to make a difference and join a committee please see club website for details and contacts.

GARDA/ WESTMANSTOWN THE intermediates lost to Scoil Ui Chonaill away in a Div 4 league tie on Saturday evening.

Junior 1s lost narrowly to St Mary’s in Saggart in Div 6 on Sunday morning.

Junior 2s were resting after their strenuous endeavours last week.

ALL OF YOUR BLANCH SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

GILLIGAN GREATS: Dunboyne take seven-goal thriller against Ports: Page 30

INSIDE: Local stars shine in the Great Ireland Run: P29

GazetteSPORT

NAC Swim Club head coach David Malone has been named the Irish team manager for the 2012 Paralympic Games in London

APRIL 14, 2011

Malone to boost Irish swim team Legendary Irish Paralympic swimmer set to lead national squad at the 2012 Games in London blanchardstownsport@gazettegroup.com

PARALYMPIC legend David Malone was confirmed on Monday as Ireland’s Swimming Team Manager for the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

The Ballinteer man had a glittering swimming career, having won three Paralympic medals, most notably gold at Sydney 2000.

Following his retirement after Beijing 2008 he was employed by Paralympics Ireland as Head of Paralympic Swimming and is now gearing the team up for London 2012.

Speaking about the appointment, Malone said: “I am delighted to be selected for the Games and look forward to seeing the Irish swimmers challenging for the podium in London following their recent successes.”

He called time on one of Ireland’s most illustrious Paralympic careers in the Water Cube in Beijing after one of his most memorable days in

swimming.

The current Dublin 15-based coacj ended his time in the pool with a tenth-place finish, swimming his fastest time in two years but felt it was one of his most enjoyable experiences, performing in front of 14,000 fans in one of the most iconic arenas in world sport.

Unbeaten The four-time paralympian won a scintillating gold in Sydney in 2000 off the back of a threeyear unbeaten run in the 100-metre backstroke.

Malone won silver in Atlanta in his first Olympics in 1996 and used that as the start to an incredible run of form.

He embarked on an incredible run which saw him pick up the 50-metre, 100-metre and 200metre world records and go unbeaten for three years before reaching the pinnacle of his career.

He since reverted to coaching where he works with the young stars at the NAC swim club,

working with two-time Olympian, Kevin Williamson, as they try to inspire future generations of Irish swimmers.

To this end, Kyle Stolk has been producing remarkable performances in the past couple of years while James Scully has previously been thought of as a potential Paralympian in the years to come.

With this background, Liam Harbison, CEO of Paralympics Ireland, was delighted to announce his inclusion in the management team.

“We are delighted to confirm David Malone among the first group of team managers for London 2012 and look forward to seeing the success these highly talented and experienced managers can bring to their sports at the Games.”

He was named in good company. Former Irish Olympian James Nolan was named as the Athletics Team Manager while Denis Toomey from Blackrock will again hold the position of Cycling team manager.