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YOUR COMMUNITY • YOUR PAPER
INSIDE: Brendan Gleeson cheers on charity cycle P6
September 29, 2011
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Enterprise Week gets off to flying start Page 7
Golden Jubilee: GSRMA at 50 years young PRESIDENT Mary McAleese
Hurling: St Brigid’s progress in championship Page 31
was in attendance to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Garda Siochana Retirement Members Association at Westmanstown Conference Centre in Clonsilla. Over 300 guests joined President McAleese and the Central Committee of the Garda Retirement Members’ Association (GSRMA), who organised the event, held on September 14. Full Gallery on Page 10
Sports Awards: September nominees are announced Page 29
ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ......................8 MOTORS ........................19 BUSINESS .....................21 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ......... 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26
Loftus selected to contest byelection Local councillor’s first run at the Dail since 1989
Q PAUL HOSFORD
FINE GAEL Cllr Eithne Loftus has been selected to contest the Dublin West byelection this October. Loftus, a Castleknock ward councillor since being co-opted in place of
Leo Varadkar in 2007, was selected at the convention in the Castleknock Hotel and Country Club, beating Mulhuddart councillor Kieran Dennison. The election, to fill the seat left vacant by the death of Brian Lenihan, marks
Loftus’ first run at the Dail since 1989, in an election topped by Lenihan’s father, Brian Senior. The Mayo-born Loftus has been a long-time party activist, sitting as chair of the Dublin West organisation and as a councillor.
2 BLANCH GAZETTE 29 September 2011
TRANSPORT: SUSPENSION OF RAIL PROJECT IS CRITICISED BY CANDIDATE
NEW LEASE
Nearly 100 jobs are saved ALMOST 100 jobs have been saved in the Blanchardstown Centre after Green Properties and retail giants Arcadia Group agreed on a new 15-year lease for a number of shops following months of negotiations. Last April, staff from stores owned by Arcadia Group, including Top Shop, Top Man, Wallis, Miss Selfridge, Dorothy Perkins, Evans and Burtons, were informed of its intention to cease trading at the Blanchardstown Centre when its lease runs out in September. Last week, Mandate Trade Union said Arcadia Group confirmed that a new 15-year lease has been agreed with Green Properties, the management behind Blanchardstown Centre, and the only store not renewing its lease was Evans, which closed down on September 17 with the loss of 14 jobs.
Minister puts the brakes on Metro West Q LAURA WEBB
blanchardstown@gazettegroup.com
Music to their ears: Local station gets €5,000 to buy new equipment PHOENIX FM, the
Blanchardstownbased community radio station has been awarded
€5,000 by Diageo Ireland to help purchase equipment ahead of their much anticipated
re-launch which will be happening in the coming weeks. The award has been made though Diageo Ireland’s ‘Gifted’ programme which is donating €50,000 to 18 groups throughout Ireland. Pictured is Sarah Devitt, Performance Analyst at Diageo Ireland and Voluntary Director at Phoenix FM, and Irina Belova Douziec, of Phoenix FM.
THE suspension of the planning process for the multimillion euro light railway system Metro West is yet another “broken promise to West Dublin”. That’s according to Socialist byelection candidate Ruth Coppinger, who heavily criticised the decision by Transport Minister and local TD Leo Varadkar to suspend the planning process due to a lack of available funding. Speaking to the Gazette, Coppinger said that both Metro West and North should be made “big issues by the people in the upcoming Dublin West byelection”. On the advice of the N a t i o n a l Tr a n s p o r t Authority (NTA), Minister Varadkar confirmed this week that he had instructed the Railway Procurement Agency to withdraw its application for a Railway Order from An Bord Pleanala. “From this weekend (Sunday 25), I have suspended all planning works for Metro West and
the An Bord Pleanala oral hearing, which was due to commence next month will now not proceed,” Minister Varadkar said. The proposed rail system, connecting three Dublin West suburbs, Tallaght, Clondalkin and Blanchardstown to Dublin Airport, was to be procured as a Public Private Partnership (PPP). According to Minister Varadkar, a significant Exchequer contribution would also have been required which, he says was “challenging”. “The successful awarding of a major PPP contract involving private funding is challenging at any time but particularly in current circumstances. No major PPP project has secured funding since the financial crisis began three years ago. “Metro West has always been considered a longterm project and many of the new communities that it will to serve have not materialised due to the collapse in home building. This does not mean that Metro West has been cancelled. “However, with very limited funding available for capital projects over the next few years, I
did not consider it to be a good use of taxpayers’ money to advance Metro West any further through the planning process, as I do not know when we will be able to build it. “By the time we are able to build, it’s likely that planning and environmental laws will have changed and railway technology will be different. “So we would then have to go back over it all over again anyway; Metro West will be examined again at a future stage when the country’s finances have improved,” he said. He added that the Government was considering which “if any” rail infrastructure projects will proceed as part of the review of capital spending, which could include Metro North and the LUAS underground. Metro West had been due to connect Tallaght, Clondalkin and Blanchardstown to the Metro North line at Dublin airport. In the proposed plans, it linked up the Tallaght Luas line, travelling through Clondalkin, crossing over the Liffey parallel to the West Link and continued through to Blanchardstown.
29 September 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 3
STATEMENT: TWITTER OPENING INTERNATIONAL BASE IN IRELAND
AIB
Salary cap request slammed
Call for Minister to promote D15 Q LAURA WEBB
blanchardstown@gazettegroup.com
SOCIAL networking phenomenon Twitter, is to open an international office in Ireland, and Dublin 15 should be recommended as a suitable location for it. That’s according to Fianna Fail Jobs and Enterprise spokesman Willie O’Dea, who wants Minister for Jobs, Richards Bruton, and the IDA to scout D15 locations. In a statement following the announcement that Twitter is to locate in Ireland, Limerick TD, O’Dea said: “Ireland is now home to the offices and the European bases of the world’s leading web companies. “This is a great achievement for Ireland and will yield results for
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‘Twitter would be an outstanding addition and west Dublin is extremely well served by Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown’ --------------------------------------------------------
the country for years to come. “I am calling on the Minister and officials in the IDA to now look to Dublin 15 for a location for Twitter’s new operation, which it could recommend to the company. “Dublin 15 in west Dublin is already home to companies such as eBay and PayPal in Blanchardstown. “Twitter would be an outstanding addition and west Dublin is extremely well served by Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown.
“ I n d e e d , t h e I DA should look to its own college business and technology park, which was developed in conjunction with the Blanchardstown IT, as a possible location for Twitter. “While the initial Twitter footprint in Ireland is likely to be small initially, there is no question of the potential for significant job growth in the years ahead, as has been the case with Google and other internet giants who have located in Ireland,” O’Dea added.
Funding boost: Blanchardstown organisation receives €5,000 PICTURED is chairman of Sunderland FC, Niall Quinn, and Minister of State, Alan Kelly (right), with Michael Ryan, from The Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living, who were awarded a grant of €5,000 at this year’s Dublin Bus Community Support Programme at a ceremony held in Croke Park. Now in its eighth year, the event saw a wide variety of charities in the Greater Dublin Area receive funding under the scheme, including Glenageary GAA club, a youth marching band and a Gospel Choir. The ceremony was hosted by RTE personality, Mary Kennedy
A DUBLIN 15 byelection candidate has slammed a request by AIB to breach a salary cap of €500,000 labelling it as “scandalous”. The Labour Party’s Patrick Nulty, has said that it would be “absolutely scandalous” if AIB’s request was accepted. “AIB is now in State ow nership and has received billions of euro in taxpayers’ money to be recapitalised. The board of AIB needs a reality check. Families on moderate incomes are working day and night to make ends meet and yet this bank is saying they cannot find a CEO who will work for half a million euro a year? “This is absolutely obscene, given the economic crisis we are facing, and is living proof that the greed and self-interest that caused the banking collapse still exists in the system.”
4 BLANCH GAZETTE 29 September 2011
YOGA TIME
Classes added DUE to popular demand, new classes have been added to the Bikram Yoga Blanchardstown schedule. Bikram Yoga, located in Coolmine Industrial estate, has created such great interest that it has had to add new classes to the already busy schedule. There are now classes at 9am on Saturday and at 10am on Monday. Special packages for classes are still on offer, with buy a 10-class card, get two extra classes free, or buy a 20-class card, get three extra classes free. For a full list of classes see www.bikramdublin. ie/membership-rates
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LAUNCH D15 author’s success leads to second book
Journey with the angels continues for Brown Q LAURA WEBB blanchardstown@gazettegroup.com
HER journey with angels led her to writing an international best-selling book, and it is this success that has led her to pen the second instalment of a book that touched the lives of many, both here and abroad. The Voices of Angels is the second book from Dublin 15 native, Francesca Brown, whose first book, My Whispering Angels, became a bestseller. Just over 10 years ago, Francesca, then known as Penelope Gibbs, was
diagnosed with ME and bedridden for almost two years. Living with little faith about her future, Francesca’s life changed dramatically when an angel appeared to her in 2001 to help heal her and guide her on a journey with angels. Her name was just one part of her life that changed with angels. Her angel, Anne, helped her return to life. From the moment she met her, Francesca has continued to travel a road with angels. Excited about her new book, launched last week, Francesca is hoping it will be just as well received as
Author, Francesca Brown, has followed up her best-selling book, My Whispering Angels, with a second instalment
her first. “My Whispering Angel went on to be a big seller and to touch so many different people. The number of emails I have received, not just from Ireland, but all over the world, telling me how that book has touched people, and so many of them said they are waiting in anticipation for the second book. I hope they like it as much as the first one.
works in my own life, before I can share it with anybody else. “We have loads of stuff, we have poetry, inspirational messages, and a workbook, all that we channel from the angels; it’s about reaching out to help people in different ways; it is very positive information, really positive.” For the people who are sceptical about Francesca’s work with angels,
she says she accepts there reservations and would never force her beliefs on to anyone. “I am not pushing it on anyone, even the work I do, I would never push it. I often say to people, if you believe you believe, if you don’t you don’t – that’s fine. We are not here to change anyone’s opinions or say to them, oh god, you must believe – I don’t believe in it. I am here to help people who
Delighted
“I was delighted that it has helped so many people. The feedback we got has just been beautiful and I am glad it has touched people in their own things, and that is what it is all about,” she told the Gazette. Following the success of the first book, Francesca was approached by the publishing company to see if she was interested in writing another. “I had a lot of material. I write with the angels, that is a big part of my work, writing with the angels, they challenge a lot of material from me, I work with a lot of that material, personally for myself to see how it
Francesca … “I would not force my beliefs on anyone.”
want the help, and sometimes angels guide you to people that they know need help, and that’s what they do. Francesca will sign copies of her new book, The Voices of Angels in Eason’s Blanchardstown Shopping Centre on October 1, at 1pm, and is hosting an Angel Evening at Castleknock Hotel and Country Club on Thursday, October 6, at 7.30pm.
29 September 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 5
ALL-IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL: LEO OFFERS CONGRATULATIONS TO FINALISTS
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ALLENDALE Developer does a u-turn THE developer of a housing estate in Dublin 15 has done a U-turn on a decision not to have the estate taken in charge by the council according to a council report. Allendale Estate, a development constructed by Menolly Homes, was due to be taken in charge by Fingal County Council, but when asked to replace deteriorating ramps throughout the estate, the developers formally withdrew that request. However, in a council report, the developers have now made a u-turn on that decision. In the report, a spokesperson for FCC said the developer has “recently advised of their intention to seek prices from appropriate contractors to carry out these works and to again formally request the estate to be taken-incharge. The Inspectorate Division is continuing to liaise with the developer in this regard”. The report adds: “In relation to the open spaces, the Parks Division are continuing to meet with the developer to address the outstanding snag list that was identified in 2010. Once the works agreed as part of the snag list have been completed, the open spaces can be taken in charge.”
‘A million Dubliners are today celebrating a historic win. But football fans everywhere can be grateful to both teams for providing us with a thrilling final’ --------------------------
The Boys in Blue celebrate beating Kerry at Croke Park in the senior football final
“This was a great day for Dublin” -------------------------------------------------------
Q LAURA WEBB blanchardstown@gazettegroup.com
A MILLION Dubliners celebrated last week following the historic win in the All-Ireland Football final, and one such Dubliner and local was Minister for Sport Leo Varadkar. Congratulating Dublin on their victory in the nail-biting match on Sunday, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar said the team lifted the hearts of a million people. “A million Dubliners
‘I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Dublin team for this nail-biting victory’ --------------------------------------------------------
are today celebrating a historic win. But football fans everywhere can be grateful to both teams for providing us with a truly thrilling final. “I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Dublin team for this nail-biting victory. “Equally, congratulations to Kerry and their fans for their outstand-
ing performance, and commiserations on the outcome. “This was a great day for Dublin. It was also a great day for football. Both teams can afford to be genuinely proud. Stephen Cluxton deserves particular praise for his stand-out performance, and Dublin fans will look back on this day with pride
for many years to come,” Minister Varadkar said. The tense match will go down in the history books for the Dublin squad, who haven’t won an All-Ireland Senior Football final since 1995. The final result was D u b l i n 1-1 2 , K e r r y 1-11. The team didn’t have far to go to bring Sam home and celebrated the victory with fans on the streets of the capital when hoards of supporters greeted them on Merrion Square on Monday night.
Call for Sam Maguire to tour A L O CA L c o u n c i l lor has called for Sam Maguire to take a tour around Dublin West schools following a sen-
sational win by Dublin senior football team in the All-Ireland final. Dublin West Fianna Fail byelection candidate Councillor David McGuinness described the victory of All-Ireland champions Dublin as ‘unbelievable’. The local councillor stood with an army of Dubs’ fans on Hill 16 and watched the historic victory unfold. “Kerry were mighty opposition but Dublin fought tooth and nail
to secure the 16-year wait for Sam Maguire’s return to the capital. “I recall being in St Patrick’s School, Corduff, in 1995 when Jason Sherlock walked into the PE hall with the Sam Maguire cup raised over his head. “The excitement and amazement that day is something that has stayed with me. “I hope the cup can visit schools again in Blanchardstow n, Castleknock, Swords,
and Mulhuddart to let students be a part of the celebrations. “I want, in particular, to congratulate Dublin 15 natives Alan Brogan, Bernard Brogan, Paul Brogan, and Barry Cahill on their momentous achievement. “Dublin 15 is ver y proud of them and their victory. “T he courage and team spirit displayed yesterday is something that all Dubs can be proud of.”
6 BLANCH GAZETTE 29 September 2011
BEST WISHES Funds raised will go to St Francis Hospice
Brendan Gleeson with Sr Margaret Cashman and Ethel McKenna CEO, St Francis Hospice
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‘There is brightness, and a homely feel, there is no sense of doom and gloom, it is just embracing life the way it always does and it is making death a part of life instead of the way we kind of remove it at times; the whole building is crying out in that kind of way. When you know the people who are going to be staffing it, it is an absolute jewel ’ ------------------------------------------------------Hollywood actor Brendan Gleeson cheered on men and women from different Garda Stations, including Blanchardstown
Brendan Gleeson, actor
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Gleeson cheers on 130 gardai in charity cycle Q LAURA WEBB blanchardstown@gazettegroup.com
HE may be one of the biggest A-list actors to ever come out of Ireland, but Brendan Gleeson still makes time to support local charities, and waved off 130 gardai participating in a charity cycle in aid of St Francis Hospice, a charity very close to his heart. Brendan cheered on men and women from different garda stations, including Blanchardstown, when they set off last Wednesday, September 21, to begin a char-
ity cycle from the new St Francis Hospice in Dublin 15 to Kilkenny in one day. Now in its seventh year, the garda cycle is fundraising for St Francis Hospices, with proceeds going to St Francis Hospice in Raheny and its new complex in Blanchardstown, beside Connolly Hospital. Speaking to the Gazette this week, Brendan, actor and Malahide resident, talked of his admiration for the work the team in St Francis Hospice have done for many families, including his own, and
the work they continue to do. Wishing all the cyclists all the best of luck, he said: “Fair play to them, there is 130 of them with wind right in their faces all along the way, it looks gorgeous, but it’s actually kind of blustery out there, so I wish them the best of luck. It is brilliant what they are doing,” the gentle giant said. Vital
St Francis Hospice is very close to Brendan’s heart, as both Brendan’s father and mother were cared for by the team at
hospice in Raheny. He says he admires the work that is done and believes fundraising, like the cycle to Kilkenny, is vital to help run much needed facilities like the hospice. “It was a transformation for me. I remember saying that it renewed my faith in human kindness, and that is absolutely true, because when my folks were going through it, they completely took the burden and they [the team at St Francis Hospice] are a remarkable group of people, they really are. “Everything about the whole ethos of the place
is life-affirming, which is kind of odd when they are dealing with death all the time, but it puts out a new context, it is just pure kindness. They are brilliant professionals in terms of the expertise and how to allow people to pass through, it is unbelievable. I have nothing but admiration for them,” he said. Visiting the new stateof-the-art hospice in Blanchardstown, he said he was amazed to see how it looks. “It is phenomenal, light, air and space, I was staggered by it. I have been trying to
get out during the summer and I haven’t been able to, but being here today I couldn’t believe it, its phenomenal. Embracing
“There is brightness, and a homely feel, there is no sense of doom and gloom, it is just embracing life the way it always does and it is making death a part of life instead of the way we kind of remove it at times; the whole building is crying out in that kind of way. When you know the people who are going to be staffing it, it is an absolute jewel,”
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS ADVERTISE WITH THE GAZET TE CALL 60 10 240
he added. Finglas Garda Inspector Colm Murphy said fundraising for the dayto-day running of the hospices is vital and, over the years, the cycle has raised money for the Raheny hospice and now it is helping the D15 hospice. “It [fundraising] is vital. The facilities are second-to-none and it is nothing more than they deserve to have, but obviously it takes a lot of money to keep it running so this is just, in some way, giving a little back to help with that process.”
LOCAL
MATTERS
29 September 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 7
EVENT Hundreds attend first ever Dublin Food Forum
Enterprise Week gets off to flying start Q MIMI MURRAY news@gazettegroup.com
FINGAL Enter prise Week got off to a flying start this week with the first ever Dublin Food Forum. Hosted by Country Crest at their headquarters in Lusk, 200 guests from the food and agrifood sectors across the capital attended the inaugural meeting, organised by the Fingal County Enterprise Board and the Dublin Food Chain to mark Fingal Enterprise Week. Michael Hoey, founder of Country Crest, was one of four key indus-
try speakers alongside Conor Hyde, from the Dublin Food Chain, William Linnane, from Te s c o a n d M i c h a e l Lauhoff, from Bank of Ireland. The Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, gave the opening address, with the Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine, Shane McEntee, giving the closing address. According to Oisin Geoghegan, CEO of Fingal County Enterprise Board, the event appealed to both established and emerging food sector businesses. “The Dublin Food
For um was the first and largest event of its kind for the food sector in the capital and it was one of the biggest events of Fingal Enterprise Week. “It gave start-up companies and more established businesses an ideal platform to share ideas, exchange information and build contacts with each other through networking.” Country Crest, one of Fingal’s biggest success stories, is a major supplier of fresh and chilled foods to supermarket groups. Hoey, who co-founded the company with his brother, Gabriel, high-
Joe Harford, chairperson Fingal County Enterprise Board; PJ Howell, Fingal CoCo; Paddy Lonergan, Bank Of Ireland; Oisin Geoghegan, CEO, Fingal County Enterprise Board and Paschal McGuire, regional director, Enterprise Ireland
lighted the importance of the Irish food sector to the overall economy. “The growing export market for Irish food demonstrates the crucial role that the sector plays in our overall economic recovery. “Initiatives such as the Dublin Food Forum
supports the development of the food industry, which in turn, will reap rewards for Dublin and Ireland,” he said. The Dublin Food Chain is run in conjunction with the Irish Exporters Association and is supported by the four County and City
Enterprise Boards in Dublin. Fingal Enterprise Week, which is supported by Fingal County Council, Bank of Ireland and Newstalk and organised by Fingal County Enterprise Board, continues until Friday, September 30.
STATION
Tender issued A VITAL piece of infrastructure that will ensure a disused multimillion euro train station finally opens, has moved a step closer to reality with the road tender being issued this week. Hansfield train station is complete and was due to open last year when the Dunboyne line opened. However, the disused station is lying idle because no access road to the station was built. Following numerous discussions between developers, Irish Rail and Fingal County Council an agreement was recently reached and progress has been made to get the road and a temporary car park constructed. Funding for the project, including the access road and car park is being provided by the Department of Transport. This week, Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar confirmed a tender has been awarded to build the access road to the train station.
8 BLANCH GAZETTE 29 September 2011
EVENT
Fingal Volunteer Centre’s second Volunteer Expo
RTE weather presenter, Nuala Carey, was on hand to launch Fingal Volunteer Expo, with volunteers and staff from Fingal Citizens Information Service
GORTA was just one of 22 organisations present at
Representing the environmental sector, volunteers
Fingal Volunteer Expo in
from ECO-UNESCO were on hand to provide
the Pavilions
information on the work of their organisation
Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind brought one of their guide dogs to the Volunteer
Members of the public were able to find out about a wide range of opportunities
Expo which was a great attraction for young and old alike
from the 22 organisations and Fingal Volunteer Expo that were present on the day
Connecting communities HE recent Volunteer Expo at The Pavilions was a great opportunity for organisations to showcase their volunteer opportunities, let the community know about the work they do, network with other organisations and get to engage with Fingal Volunteer Centre and develop new opportunities.
T
This event was being organised as part of Fingal Volunteer Centres activities for The European Year of Volunteering 2011. Twenty-two organisations, who are currently recruiting volunteers in the greater Fingal area, were on hand to give information on the wide range of roles available.
RTE weather presenter, Nuala Carey, was on hand to officially launch the event and she spoke of the great number of people who are currently returning to volunteering or starting to volunteer for the first time. She spoke of how recessionary times has helped focus people on things that matters
most – your community and helping others. Feedback from the general public and the exhibitors was really positive and gave the public the opportunity to find out about volunteering opportunities they knew of before. Emma McCluskey, of the Pavilions Shopping Centre,
said: “There seemed to be a real buzz around the event.” Fingal Volunteer Centre is a one-stop shop for voluntary activity, providing volunteering opportunities for the public, sourcing much-needed volunteers for organisations and providing support for organisations in managing volunteers.
29 September 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 9
at The Pavilions, Swords, proves a great success
Some of the Fingal Volunteer Centre team: Glynis Dunne; Stuart Garland, manager; Nuala Carey, RTE; Louis Colley; Noreen Colgan, chairperson, Fingal Volunteer Centre, and Jolanta Janczyk
Jolanta Janczyk, Glynis Dunne and Stuart Garland, just part of the Fingal Volunteer
Some of the team from Remember Us with RTE weather and lotto presenter, Nuala Carey
Centre team
Volunteering is for everyone ... even the very young
CARI Helpline were recruiting for their helpline
Members of the general public enquiring about volunteer opportunities with Fingal
amongst other volunteer roles open at present
Volunteer Centre and GORTA
Louis Colley of Fingal Volunteer Centre speaking to some of the team from Focus
Always looking for new volunteers - the team from
Ireland
Special Olympics Ireland
10 BLANCH GAZETTE 29 September 2011
EVENT President attends GSRMA 50th anniversary
Tony and Macy Sourke
A Golden Jubilee occasion
RESIDENT Mary McAleese was in attendance to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Garda Siochana Retirement Members Association at Westmanstown Conference Centre in Clonsilla. Over 300 guests joined President McAleese and the Central Committee of the Garda Retirement Members’ Association (GSRMA), who organised the event, held on September 14. A special Mass was held on the day and the Garda Band provided music entertainment for the guests from all over the country. The GSRMA was formed in 1961 and is celebrating its golden jubilee anniversary this year. As part of celebrations the committee decided to invite representatives from all its 44 branches, from Dublin to Dundalk to Kerry and more, who were all represented at the event last week. A website was also launched to mark the milestone anniversary and is available to view online at www.gardaretired.com
President Mary McAleese with the committee
P
Jack and Mary Marrinan
Louise Tighe, Phyllis and Michael McGlynn
Joe and Vera Storey
Phyllas and Michael McGlynn
John Collins and John Carey
Chief Superintendent Declan Coburn and Superintendent Dermot Mann
Joe and Julie Cronin
29 September 2011 GAZETTE 11
12 GAZETTE 29 September 2011
GazetteFITNESS FITNESS
Brought to you by Derry Temple personal trainer and pilates instructor
NUTRITION: LOW-CALORIE DIETS
Eating right food helps weight loss Low-calorie diets (LCD) encourage you to eat less and to starve yourself, which has some major drawbacks
THERE are approximately 3,500 calories in one pound of fat. Taking this into account the National Institute of Health has recommended that to
lose one to two pounds per week, a weight loss programme should create a deficit of 500 to 1,000 calories per day. Traditionally, we are
taught that, if you take in fewer calories than you burn, you will lose weight, and while this can be true, often there is little consideration given to the nutritional value of those foods. L ow- c a l o r i e d i e t s (LCD) encourage you to eat less and to starve yourself – this has some major drawbacks. It often encourages the body to store extra fat and break down muscle tissue; also the body quickly adapts slowing the metabolism to match your caloric intake. Effective
These diets often focus on low-fat foods, but the truth is that it is not the fat in your diet that is making you fat! In fact, you need fats for a number of metabolic processes, including fat-burning. The good news is you can actually turn your body into a more effective fat-burning machine without the need to go hungry by simply eating the right foods in the right quantities. When participating in a LCD, people are often advised to eat more carbohydrates (carbs), which are low in calories. A lot of carbs are termed high Glycaemic Index (GI). Eating high GI carbs causes a spike in your blood sugar levels and, when your blood sugar rises, this causes the pancreas to respond by secreting insulin. Insulin is the sugarregulating hormone that works to store sugar in cells as fat. When insulin does its job well, sugars are quickly stored as fat, causing your blood sugar levels to plummet and leaving you hungry and tired. Ingested fats and proteins, however, do not
cause this same insulin response and so are more likely to keep your blood sugar levels balanced. On a LCD, people will often tend to avoid proteins because of their higher calorie content. This means overlooking the fact that, to digest and absorb protein, your body has to use 25% more energy to break it down than it does for simple carbs. This is known as the thermo-genic effect. Protein is also vital for building muscle and, if you want to stay lean and fat-free, then you want to keep the body “anabolic” or building muscle. Your body is naturally designed to be lean – it’s not designed to be overweight, sick and unhealthy and, if you eat the right foods, your body will tell you when you are full so you won’t have to go hungry. Optimum
Your diet should constitute a reasonable mix of proteins, fats and low GI carbs. Real foods that will keep your blood sugars in balance, and provide you with optimum nutrition, are those foods that can be found in nature. They can be either picked, gathered, milked, hunted or caught from the sea. In short, if it doesn’t run in a field, swim in water, fly in the sky or grow in nature then you probably shouldn’t be eating it! Derry Temple is a qualified nutritionist and provides free nutritional guidance to his fitness clients. This month, Derry is offering readers of The Gazette the opportunity to Bring a Friend along for Free to any of the DT Fitness Bootcamp courses. Visit www.dtfitness.ie for more info.
29 September 2011 GAZETTE 13
GazetteMUSIC MUSIC REVIEW: A DYNAMIC AND INVENTIVE BREAKOUT ALBUM FROM NEW YORK-BASED SINGER
Veneration is due for Clark’s third album Q ROB HEIGH
It’s not often that you come across an act on the basis of a cover version. But when that act is brave enough to cover one of the most abrasive and angular songs from one of the most abrasive and influential underground acts of the last 30 years and nail it, you know there is something special about them, especially when that act is St Vincent. Steve Albini’s Big Black were a corner-
stone of industrial hardcore before it became fashionable in the early Eighties, setting off an incendiary device built on melody, grinding rhythms and ferocious attitude. Their standout track from 1986’s Atomizer was Kero sene, with its uncompromising subject matter and interpretation, was underpinned with a propulsive beat and guitars like a chandelier shattering on marble. For anyone to attempt to cover it is brave
enough, but to capture its essence of ennui and fury is hugely impressive. Played out live in New York in may, Kerosene in Annie Clark’s hands was as direct and bludgeoning as it was in Albini’s, and it provided an insight into the direction her music was going. Clark has been a member of the euphoric psychedelic rockers, Polyphonic Spree, as well as being a touring par t of Sur f jan
St Vincent’s Annie Clark on stage earlier this year
Stephen’s band. Emo types will have heard her work with Bon Iver on a track that appeared on the recent Twilight soundtrack, but don’t let that put you off (the Twilight connection, of course, not Bon Iver, who is responsible for easily the best record of the year so far).
St Vincent are Clark’s individual presence on record, and Strange Mercy is as individual and unique a record as you are likely to find. Previous records, Marry Me and Actor, have illustrated Clark’s talent as a multi-instrumentalist, bringing woodwind and baroque
arrangements to the playing field, but her new record, Strange Mercy, meshes all the best elements of her previous work while simultaneously peeling the wallpaper with squalling guitar and synth figures that utterly surprise and delight. There is a beauty in
the arrangements and a sometimes symphonic pop sensibility that is shifted sideways by the uncompromising accompaniments and production. T here is so much going on in every track that you are always on your toes while listening, waiting for the next twist, and it’s an immense pleasure to say that of any release, especially faced with a selection of cookiecutter one-note acts one has the pleasure of reviewing in any given week. This is work of some immense imagination and skill, easily the best of St Vincent’s three records to date, and should give Clark some breakout success, especially if you go and buy Strange Mercy now, which you really should.
14 GAZETTE 29 September 2011
GazettePETS PETS
Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA
THE FACTS: TEACHING ANIMAL WELFARE IN SCHOOLS
Is having a classroom pet a good idea? WE’RE only a couple of weeks back into the new school term, and I’m inundated with calls from teachers asking my opinion on classroom pets. And, while it’s to their eternal credit that these lovely educators are interested in ensuring their students see them as a model of responsible pet care and are willing to ask advice – my opinion is, and always will remain, the same when it comes to this subject: I strongly discourage classroom pets for many reasons. And here is why: Classrooms can be noisy and frightening places for animals and it’s difficult to look after any pet’s needs in this type of environment. This applies to all animals, including goldfish. While pets are an excellent way to add enrich-
ment to a young child/ teen’s education and development, I believe responsible pet care and animal welfare can be taught in schools without keeping animals captive. Studying an animal in its natural environment should aim to cause minimal disturbance whilst maximising educational opportunity. So, why not set up bird houses and feeding stations around the school yard, but please continue the feeding programme throughout the year. In my humble opinion, there needs to be an explicit animal welfare education rationale for using animals in education – and legislation relating to animals must be considered in the development of all programmes of study. Where animals are kept
in schools, proper provision should be made for their physical and mental wellbeing. I would strongly disagree with any school or college that may decide to use a classroom pet to increase their attendance figures with the understanding that, if students don’t attend, the animal will not be fed or taken care of. And yes, this scenario is hard to believe, but a teacher did suggest this to me as a way of bumping up attendance. I absolutely believe this to be an inappropriate approach because it gives a negative impression of how the school/college views its responsibility for the welfare of animals within its care, which may have a detrimental effect on the students’ attitudes toward their duties in later life.
Schools have a duty of care to ensure proper provision is made for the welfare needs of any animals for which they are responsible. This applies not only during school term, but also during the holidays. However, I will say that, when giving an education talk or workshop, I often bring along my experienced and trained dog Belle, but only when she is completely happy to accompany me and when the situation/environment permits it. I do this because, as an animal welfare officer, I’m trained in observing a dog’s behaviour and recognising its specific needs and requirements. I also always adhere to an animal’s five freedoms at all times. If I feel one, any or all of these five freedoms are in danger of being
Classrooms can be noisy and frightening places for any animal
compromised/breached, I do not allow Belle, or any animal, accompany me on an education talk. Considering a classroom pet? Ask yourself these questions: • Why do I want a classroom pet? • Can I meet my educational objectives without using a live animal in my classroom? • Am I willing and able to take this pet home? (It’s important to under-
stand that your responsibility does not end when the school day ends. You must continue to take care of the animal outside of school hours, including weekends and holidays). • Are my students mature enough to safely and humanely handle this animal? • Does anyone have allergies that may become aggravated by the presence of this pet? • What will I do if
health concerns arise in the future? • Am I willing to provide routine/emergency veterinary care? • Am I prepared to deal with students’ questions should this animal die? • Does my classroom provide adequate space for housing this pet? • If there’s an accident involving this pet will my school accept liability? • In the event of a school evacuation/emer-
29 September 2011 GAZETTE 15
REVIEW Bord Gais Energy Book Club and Other People’s Money
Bad bank yarn a familiar tale in these times BANKERS behaving badly is a sore subject in the current economic climate, but it’s one that is only beginning to attract the literary attentions of novelists. One of the best such novels has just been published by the prize-winning, London-based South African writer, Justin Cartwright. Other People’s Money tells the story of an upper-crust, family-owned private bank, Tubal & Co, which gets into trouble when it
gency, am I prepared to rescue this pet? So, if your school thinks a classroom pet is still a great idea, then staff need to know their personal responsibility exists, irrespective of whether the animal was purchased by the school or is owned by one of the pupils, teachers or parents. If an animal’s needs are not being met whilst at school and beyond, criminal prosecutions could, in theory, be brought against all persons over the age of 16 who had responsibility for that animal(s), including school staff. My advice would be to contact the Dublin SPCA and check out our free humane education programmes and find out how you can help your students support us in our battle to save animals’ lives. The operation of the country’s oldest and largest animal rescue shelter requires lots of help and, if you feel you can offer it, please email me at miriam.kerins@dspca.ie For more info log onto www.dspca.ie or email me at miriam.kerins@dspca.ie
deviates from its ageold mission of looking after the toff’s money and diversifies into the murkier world of investment banking. Family patriarch, Sir Harry, has suffered a stroke and is recovering in his villa in Antibes. This leaves his son and new chairman, Julian Trevelyan-Tubal, free to take the sort of liberties Sir Harry would never have countenanced. Julian has lost the bank a packet on a dodgy hedge fund and now, in
an effort to sell the bank behind Sir Harry’s back, he needs to pad the balance sheet, moving money around to make it look more saleable to the Americans poised to purchase the house of Tubal. Sound familiar? Things begin to go awry when a regular endowment to Artair MacLeod, the first husband of Sir Harry’s wife, Fleur, becomes one of the first casualties in the makeover of the bank’s finances. A local paper takes up the story
and attracts the attention of a whistle-blower eager to dish the dirt on Julian and his nefarious scheming. With Sir Harry near death, the urgency to sell the bank and resolve the succession brings out the worst in a memorable cast of characters, which includes the trophy wife, the black sheep, the scorned but faithful secretary and the memorable Artair who, however buffoonish, represents the enduring
ing Flann O’Brien and Daniel Day-Lewis. This is a cracking satire on a topical subject and it’s beautifully observed. Enjoy!
values of art while the barbarians are at the gate. There’s also an intriguing Irish theme involv-
For lots more book reviews and to keep upto-date with the latest literary news, become a member of the Bord Gais Energ y online book club, bordgaisenergybookclub.ie where you’ll find great recommendations for hours of entertainment in a good book!
16 GAZETTE 29 September 2011
GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY Essential make-up T’S a magic ingredient that can lift a complexion, leaving you with healthy, flushed cheeks and, this autumn, there is an array of beautiful blushers out their to suit every skin type. One of the prettiest is by Lancôme’s Global Make-up Director, Aaron de Mey, who says that, when he set about creating the classic skincare company’s new autumn essential make-up collection, he wanted it to represent the staples of a chic, sophisticated women’s make-up arsenal – red lips; brown-lined sculptures, defined eyes, groomed brows and fluffy lashes, neutral-coloured
I
Lancôme’s Maison Lancôme blusher (top left) and Yves Saint Laurent’s Blush Radiance
make-up with metallic hints layered over matt sculpting, defining powders. A return to simplicity and sophistication ... “It allows me to show a glamorous, graphic, sophisticated make-up style: Brown-lined eyes with shades of taupe, red-painted lips and red or sparkly, black nails... very femme fatale,” says de May. The collection’s blusher Maison Lancôme is so pretty, you will almost be afraid to use it. Designed like a vintage postcard, the very essence of Paris has been captured in this season’s blush palette. The silhouette of the Eif-
fel Tower, the typically Parisian Art Nouveau streetlamp lighting, the cobbled pavement outside the historical House of Lancôme at 29, rue du Faubourg Saint Honoré, make this palette a true work of art. Aaron’s top tip: “Use as an overall cheek blush with a large, soft, fluffy brush, keeping it high and central on the cheekbones. It adds soft, sheer colour and definition to the face by illuminating the cheekbones.” Maison Lancôme Blush €45.00 Meanwhile, from Yves Saint Laurent, their Blush Radiance will leave you with a half-matte, half-
satin blush that captures the light and transforms it into colour. There are six delicious shades to choose from including Impetuous Beige, Celestial Mauve, Brazen Plum, Incandescent Orange, Mysterious Red and Spellbinding Violet. All about Blunt
She almost stole the show in The Devil Wears Prada and now British actress, Emily Blunt, has been announced as the new face and ambassadress of Yves Saint Laurent’s Opium fragrance. Blunt has become one of the most popular and respected young actresses working today. From the unforgettable, careerminded secretary in the award-winning comedy, The Devil Wears Prada, to her dramatic portrayal of the young queen in the biopic, The Young Victoria, it’s easy to see why her performances have earned her a ream of fans throughout the globe. Both perform-
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29 September 2011 GAZETTE 17
Edited by Dawn Love
for autumn season
British actress, Emily Blunt, has been announced as the new face and ambassadress of Yves Saint Laurent’s Opium fragrance
ances earned her Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations. TV gave her one of her finest roles, playing Natasha in Gideon’s Daughter, for which she won a Golden Globe award for
best supporting actress. Blunt has starred alongside such prestigious actors as Meryl Streep, Benicio del Toro, Matt Damon, Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts and Anthony Hop-
kins. And, in the next 12 months, she will be seen alongside Ewan McGregor in Salmon Fishing In The Yemen, opposite Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Bruce Willis, in Looper, and
with Jason Segel in Five Year Engagement. Speaking about her new role with Yves Saint Laurent she said: “I am very honoured to have been chosen to be the face of Opium by Yves Saint Laurent. “I have huge admiration for the House of Yves Saint Laurent and feel that this House has always truly understood the expression of elegance – its mystique and its indescribable power. “It is a really exciting experience to embody this legendary fragrance, which has stood the test of time without its allure ever being diminished. Being a part of this new campaign and being able to tell the story of this very evocative fragrance is a real thrill.”
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18 GAZETTE 29 September 2011
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OPINION Candidate’s Presidential vision
Mary to ‘campaign with passion’ THIS is my first week as a formal candidate for the Presidency, thanks to the support of a range of councils across the country. The fact that this endorsement came from a huge crosssection of society, including councillors of almost all parties and none, was deeply gratifying. Anyone aspiring to the Office of President must be a unifying force. Deciding to run for President is a major decision for any citizen to take. Deciding to seek that job in succession to one of the most admired and respected holders of the office, President Mary McAleese, was an even tougher one. As someone who has served since 2004 on President McAleese’s Council of State, I have seen up close the passion, energy and conviction she has brought to the office. She has set the bar high for her successor. She has shown how the Presidency can reflect and embody all that is good and noble about our people. Over the past months I have been developing my vision of how my Presidency could work to rebuilding pride at home and restoring respect for Ireland internationally. It reinforces the reality that I come to this campaign as a truly independent candidate: an independent candidate with no party political affiliations or political baggage. I have no political background or celebrity status. Instead, I come to this campaign with a
Mary Davis
strong record of getting things done and working with ministers and public representatives from all parties and none – not only here at home, but also across the EU. My career as an advocate for those who have been excluded and marginalised has been about quietly and effectively building coalitions and alliances to achieve our goals.
Now, that I have secured that place on the Presidential ballot paper, I will spend the next six weeks campaigning with passion and vigour to bring my message to every village, townland and community across this land, from Aughrim Street to Ahascragh and from Malin Head to Mahon. We have had something of a phony campaign over recent months, focusing more on celebrity and the fortunes of political parties than on the role of the Office of the President. The Presidency is much more important than that. Now that the closing date for nominations has passed and the choices we have to make emerge, I believe the time has arrived for the real debate to begin. That debate should be about the type of Presidency our people need today. It should be about the values we wish to see reflected in Áras an Uachtaráin, and about the way in which the Presidency can work to repair Ireland’s reputation on the international stage. The message I take into this debate is clear and straightforward – as President I will take a role in restoring pride in our country at home whilst rebuilding respect for Ireland on the world stage.
Mary Davis Presidential Candidate
29 September 2011 GAZETTE 19
GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs
NEW ELECTRIC VEHICLE AMBASSADOR:
The new Hyundai i40 has a good size and solid feel to it, with the benefit of a full-size spare wheel and a high specification on the entry model at a competitive price
Hyundai’s new gem in i40 The i40 combines stunning good looks with impressive economy, as MICHAEL MORONEY found out when he took it for a recent test drive HERE is new competition for the D segment of the car market, with the arrival in recent weeks of the high-specification and keenly priced Hyundai i40. Given the specification and the performance of the car, it’s sure to be a real challenger for the current segment market leader, the Toyota Avensis. The specification of the new i40 is impressive. There are some useful features on board, all at a much more affordable price that should put the entry 115bhp model on the road for a competitive €24,950, before delivery
T
SPECS: HYUNDAI I40 1.7D Top speed: 180 km/hr 0 – 100km/hr: 12.9 sec Economy: 23.2 km/litre (4.3l/100km) CO2 emissions: 113g/km Road Tax Band: A (€104) Warranty: 5 years Entry Price: €24,995
charges. I drove an early edition of the new Hyundai i40 at a dealer launch last May. Recently, I’ve had time to give the new i40 a longer test drive and get a feel for the car’s features, economy and performance.
There are two engine options for the new i40, both of which are based on the 1.7-litre turbodiesel engine. There’s a choice of 115bhp or 136bhp and they each give reasonable driving power. I had the more powerful 136bhp version on the road in the higher priced Executive specification. That meant that I had the full specification package, with little left from the option sheet. The higher-power car delivers more in terms of acceleration pace, but there is as always a compromise in fuel economy and CO2 rating. The
entry model has a more sluggish pace with a 0 to 100km/hr rating of 12.9 seconds. The more powerful 136bhp version shaves about two seconds from this while only marginally affecting the fuel economy figures. Hyundai claims that this car’s value is hugely about running costs. T he rated economy figure is 18.1km/litre (5.5l/100km) for this higher-power car. That should mean getting over 1,250km from a full 70litre tank of diesel. I didn’t achieve that level of economy, but was close to 1,100 km. That’s
still a good performance for a lively and comfortable big car that weighs in almost as heavy as a Ford Mondeo estate. Irrespective of engine choice, the cars have a low CO2 rating, 115gr (€104 annual tax) for the lower-power version and 135gr (€302 annual tax) for the more powerful car. Add that to the economy performance and running costs will be low. The interior of the new i40 is modern, while remaining functional and easy to use. Setting radio stations and the car’s Bluetooth mobile phone system is easy – I like that
ease of use feature. The car looks and drives very well. It’s easy to drive and get comfortable, with good seating and easy adjustment. The entry price for the Hyundai i40 at €24,995 is very keen. That gives you good value, with modern styling and a five-year unlimited mileage warranty that alone is worth a lot. Moving up to the Executive option adds just €1,500 to the price. You get more features and more power, while the economy difference is minimal, and that’s why I believe this will be the most popular model.
Over 1,000 journalists gather to assess new Opel Ampera AT THE Opel Ampera’s international media presentation in The Hague, Netherlands, last month, more than 1,000 journalists had an opportunity to assess the vehicle prior to its launch at the end of the year. One of the tests in the event’s Eco Drive Contest involved optimising the Ampera’s driving range in pure battery-powered mode by using an energy-efficient driving style. According to the car’s technical specifications, it is possible to cover a distance of up to 80 kilometres in pure
electric drive mode on a single charge of the 16 kWh lithium ion battery. The results achieved in normal road traffic conditions were extremely convincing. Journalists who tackled the Eco Drive challenge successfully completed the 73 km test route on battery power and nearly a quarter had sufficient power left to cover at least a further 10 kilometres, according to the vehicle’s range indicator. The most efficient driver could have driven a total distance of 95.3 kilome-
tres on battery power alone – roughly 15 kilometres more than the Ampera’s stated maximum battery-powered range. None of the participants risked running out of battery power en route because the Ampera’s range-extender, a 1.4-litre gasoline engine, is used to generate power for the 111 kW/150 hp main electric motor if the battery becomes depleted. In this way, the fourpassenger vehicle is the first electric car from a European manufacturer that is entirely suitable for everyday use due to
a total driving range of more than 500 kilometres.
The Opel Ampera. © GM Corp
FOLLOWING a nationwide recruitment campaign in July to find a number of electric vehicle ambassadors, Renault has announced seven new recruits, including Ciaran O’Mahony, who will be based at Bill Cullen Motor Group Airside. Ciaran will be dedicated to the Renault range of electric vehicles and will help to build awareness and assist customers in making informed choices. While the seven new EV Ambassadors will be experts in their field, the entire Renault network will be fully trained to sell electric vehicles. Based in key dealerships around the country, these ambassadors will play a crucial part in the launch of Renault electric range of vehicles, which will see the Kangoo ZE arriving in November, followed by Fluence ZE in early 2012. Also in 2012, Renault will launch the Twizy, an urban two-seater quadricycle and the ZOE, a stylish compact hatch. “Interest in the roles was very high and a huge number of applications were received,” said Sandra Rea, Electric Vehicle Project Manager at Renault Ireland. “These new recruits will be responsible for a number of tasks in the electric vehicle area.”
20 GAZETTE 29 September 2011
GazettePROPERTY PROPERTY CASTLEKNOCK: A FOUR-BEDROOM DETACHED BUNGALOW FOR €395,000 IN D15
A Rose Cottage by any other name SHERRY Fitzgerald, Castleknock, are bringing Rose Cottage, Porterstown, Dublin 15, a four-bedroom detatched bungalow, to the market for the asking price of €395,000. Located off the P o r t e r s t ow n R o a d , this bungalow, which extends to 1,700 sq ft, lies on .33 acre and offers enormous potential to extend further, subject to planning permission. A l t h o u g h r e q u i ring modernisation, the accommodation is both bright and spacious. The accommodation comprises an entrance hall with a wooden floor, alarm panel and
large storage cupboard, a living room, which overlooks the front of the property, and which has a cast-iron fireplace, a kitchen with fitted wooden units, a dining room with a patio door to the garden and an utility room with a tiled floor, and is plumbed for washing machine and dryer. The bedrooms in the property are all double rooms, and the master bedroom has a walkin closet, with feature cast-iron fireplace and wooden floors, as well as an en suite that contains a shower unit, whb and wc. The bathroom suite comprises a free-stand-
Rose Cottage, Porterstown is on the market for the asking price of €395,000
ing bath, whb and wc.
Exterior appeal Outside, The gardens are well maintained and benefit from a westerly orientation, and it also
offers a high degree of privacy. There is a dual access driveway to the front, which provides ample off-street parking. The property has an
alarm and oil-fired central heating. Rose Cottage’s location is convenient to local schools, shops and restaurants in Clonsilla and Castleknock villag-
es. It is within a short distance of Castleknock Golf Club and the Phoenix Park. Viewing is recommended and can be arranged by contacting
Carol Anne Galvin of Sherry FitzGerald, in Ashleigh Retail Centre, Main Street, Castleknock, on 01 820 1800, or via e-mail on castleknock@sherryfitz.ie
RATHCOOLE: SEMI-DETACHED LIVING IN VILLAGE
Peyton is still the place to be in Rathcoole THE Peyton development in Rathcoole village is presenting to the market a new set of large three- and four-bedroom semidetached houses, available from only €255,000. There is a range of house layouts and sizes from 128 to 190 sq m, suitable for first-time buyers, trading up or down, and large family homes. Constructed by Blackchurch Homes, these exclusive houses have a top-quality finish at a very affordable price in a convenient village location. All of the houses have large bedrooms, spacious living rooms, generous bathrooms and en-suites, decent sized gardens, and private driveways for two cars.
The fine interior design at Peyton is reflected across the range of house types
Local amenities on their doorstep include Rathcoole Park, and there are primary and secondary schools within walking distance. Some of the excellent Peyton house features include B1 energy ratings, no manage-
ment fees, a choice of Nolan fitted kitchens with granite worktops, and central vacuum systems. There are 9ft ceilings in living areas and kitchen appliances are included if the sale closes on time. Viewing is recom-
mended and the show houses are open on Saturdays and Sundays from 2.30 to 5pm. For further details, contact Glenn Burrell in Finnegan Menton, on (01) 614 7900 or Redmond Auctioneers at (01) 4589833.
29 September 2011 GAZETTE 21
GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS
Supported by AIB
HEALTH: CELTIC HEALING OPEN DUBLIN TREATMENT CENTRE
ANSWERS TO YOUR PERSONAL FINANCE QUESTIONS
ENERGY BILLS Q – I am thinking of revamping my home to avail of some of the energy grants available. My energy bills are huge and upgrading now can save me money, both in the short-term through these grants and the long-term from the savings on monthly energy costs. Can you let me know what grants precisely are available and how do I go about applying for them ? Paul - Wicklow A - “Better Energy Options” is the new recently launched revamped energy grant scheme and replaced three different grant schemes – Home Energy Savings Scheme, Warmer Home schemes and the Greener Homes scheme. Here are some of the grants available. • Solar panel water heating system - € 800 • Heating control upgrades - €400 • Upgrading to a high-efficiency boiler – € 560 • Cavity wall insulation - € 320 • Building Energy Rating (BER) grant - €80 ( you must get a BER rating as part of the application ) You apply to the Department of Energy via the Sustainable Peter Woods, former Minister for Health, Dr Michael Woods, and Paddy Dalton at the launch
Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) who administer the grant
Unlock positive energy with bio-energy healing ON Thursday, September 22, bio-energy experts, Celtic Healing, opened their Dublin treatment centre at the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock. The centre will now be open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 8am until late. Bio-energy healers have been unlocking positive energy and clearing energy systems for scores of celebrities and sports people all over the world. Firm devotees include Kylie Minogue, Liz Hurley, Donna Karan, the Duchess of York and her daughters and, of course, Michael Flatley is Ireland’s best known bio-energy success story. After being plagued by a mystery virus for two years, Irish dancing supremo, Michael Flatley, was completely cured. Not because of a good dose of vitamin C, yoga or osteopathy, but, intriguingly, thanks to a bio-energy healer. Bio-energy healing has also been winning a big following among sports people plagued by injuries. “Having seen the wide variety of ailments that have been healed with Bio-energy
therapy, I am delighted to be opening this healing centre in Dublin. “Healing without drugs, surgery or painful manipulation is something that most people want,” said Peter Woods of Celtic Healing. Bio-energy healing is an effective, holistic technique for the treatment of physical illness, emotional blocks, mental obstacles and spiritual issues. It is based on the understanding that each of us is a complex, interactive energy system. Historical records document energy healing over 3,500 years ago and Bio-energy is what the life force in humans is referred to as. When we get a blockage in our energy system, the energy stagnates and this leads to illness and/or discomfort. Guests at the launch included former Minister for Health Dr Michael Woods, acclaimed author Bernadette Bohan, Today FM DJ Tony Fenton, personal trainer to the stars Paul Byrne and wife Siobhan, beauty guru Triona McCarthy and Miss North County Dublin, Rebecca Maher. A standard course of treat-
ments with Celtic Healing is five sessions and this is effective for 95% of clients. Treatment takes place in a relaxed environment, on a one-to-one basis, with each session lasting approximately 30 minutes. A client record is taken, including medical history. Treatment is non-invasive, with minimal physical contact. Clients remain fully clothed, except for their shoes. The therapist may give advice on energy balancing techniques, diet and exercise. Bio-energy can help with all ailments - arthritis, asthma, ADHD, migraine, insomnia, back pain, stress, ME, eczema, psoriasis, acne, IBS and bowel problems, acid reflux and digestive problems. Bio-energy has also been very effective as a complementary therapy for people suffering from cancer and undergoing chemotherapy. An ailment is a symptom. The energy blockage is the root of the problem. The therapist will clear the blockage and the body will start to heal itself. Bio-energy is a complementary therapy and works
in conjunction with conventional medicine but it can speed up healing time on all injuries, sports, accidents, minor and major. It is especially effective after operations and procedures in hospital and can help lessen pain and discomfort pre- and post-medical intervention. “The body has very powerful healing abilities. The doctor puts a cast on a broken limb but the body heals the bone. A cut scabs up and heals of its own accord. “These are just a couple of obvious examples of the body’s own ability to heal itself but by clearing blockages from the energy system, it allows the body to begin the healing process,” said Paddy Dalton of Celtic Healing about his bioenergy technique. Celtic Healing Clinics are now taking place at the Sands Hotel in Portmarnock, Co Dublin on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays from 8am until late. Call 01 8390344 for appointments or see www.celtichealing.ie.
schemes. You must also use a registered SEAI contractor to do the work and complete a declaration of works, while all payments are paid after completion of the works not before. Contact details are hes@seai.ie or www.seai.ie/ betterenergyhomes or Lo-call 1850 927 000
SUB PRIME LOANS Q – I have a € 240,000 loan with a sub-prime lender taken out six years ago. At that time, I had missed a couple of repayments on my car loan and my adviser said the mainstream lenders would not consider me for a loan. I did not really understand the consequences – all I wanted was a home for my family. I have maintained the repayments every month but am now beginning to feel the pinch – my interest rate is 7.5% and I am paying €1,678 per month at the moment. I could save over € 600 a month by moving to a high street lender. What are my chances ? David - Clontarf A - The Irish Credit Bureau (ICB) in Clonskeagh Dublin 14 is a lender’s first port of call to check your credit history. Missed payments stay on record for 5 years but if you have kept the nose clean these past five years, then you may have a case to swap back to a normal lender. The whole idea of sub-prime was a kind of purgatory – you did your penance but after a while, you were allowed to come back into the fold. Here is your checklist to see if you qualify with a high street lender : 1. Check with the ICB to see if your credit record is now clear 2. Ensure the loan-to-value is less than 80% - so the valuation of your home should be in excess of € 300,000 based on your € 240,000 mortgage 3. Your joint income should be between € 53,000 to € 60,000 or the same amount if the only earner in the home. 4. You will need P 60, pay slips and status enquiry form along with 12 months current account bank statements AND your sub-prime loan statements plus any other current loan statement 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 29 September 2011
GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel A perfect setting for family fun at Heritage Virginia Pumpkin Festival to attract festival fans from all over Ireland over the Bank Holiday
TAKING place over the October Bank Holiday Weekend, October 28 to 31, the fifth-annual Virginia Pumpkin Festival is Ireland’s most unique and quirkiest event, attracting festival fans and pumpkin growers from Ireland and overseas to celebrate pumpkin season. Visitors will be kept entertained by the Pumpkin Weigh-in Competition, Ireland’s largest fancy dress party, a sensational samba band, artisan arts and crafts, and music from headline act, The Waterboys, on Saturday night. Hotels.com has some great deals on offer in and around Virginia, so get pumped and make sure not to miss out the festivities. WHERE TO STAY Lakeside Manor Hotel (three-star) – Virginia
Prices start from €100 per room per night from October 28 – 31 on hotels.com Situated on the shores of Lough Ramor, the Lakeside Manor Hotel is the perfect haven for a relaxing family break. If you have time to spare after the festival, you can go horseback riding, catch a play at the local theatre or relax in the walled garden hotel bar.
DAWN LOVE
THERE were two main highlights for me when it came to the five star Heritage Golf and Spa Resort in Laois. Set amidst rolling countryside and a spectacular golf course, it’s easy to see why it has become a huge hit with families. Quite simply, there is plenty to do and something for every member of the family to enjoy. Firstly, for the golfing enthusiasts, there is a spectacular Steve Ballestero’s golf course. And, if teeing off isn’t your cup of tea, then the 5km private walking track, which encircles the championship course, is ideal for everything from a fast-paced run, to a gentle stroll after dinner. The accommodation
(we stayed in a family suite) was also spacious and comfortable, while the health club comes with a 15m leisure pool (a little on the cool side for my taste) and fullyequipped fitness studio. But for me, the ultimate treat was the Heritage’s stunning and award-winning spa. Using products from the luxurious and organic Pevonia Botanica range, loved by Hollywood big names such as Sharon Stone and Susan Sarandon, there is a multitude of treatments to choose from. My therapist was Grace, and I’d highly recommend asking for her if you do happen to visit the spa. After chatting to me and taking a good look at my skin (which is combination, to be exact), Grace decided on
Headfort Arms (three-star) - Kells
Prices start from €120 per room per night, from October 28 – 31 on hotels.com Located just a short drive from Virginia, this hotel is complete with a spa and golf course. A family run property, the Headfort Arms is an intimate property perfect for a relaxing weekend away. Cabra Castle Hotel (four-star) - Kingscourt
Prices start from €110 per room per night, from October 28 – 31 on hotels.com This beautiful four-star manor property is complete with a golf course, tennis courts, spa, restaurant and lounge. A babysitting service is available on request and guests can avail of complimentary breakfast every morning. All prices are subject to availability at the time of booking.
One of the large, sumptuous suites
a Pevonia Prescription Facial (€85) which lasts for one hour. This can be tailor-made to suit your skin type and, to be frank, it was divine. Along with using products that were tailored to suit my complexion, she also concentrated on stimulating my lymph system. After this, I enjoyed a total Back Ritual (€85), which also lasts for one hour. Essentially this is a specialised back ‘facial’, which cleanses, polishes and thoroughly massages the back muscles. Floated
I literally floated back up to our room afterwards and, I must admit, I have become a firm fan of the Pevonia range, in particular its De-Aging Saltimousse PapayaPineapple scrub and the
De-Aging Body BalmPapaya Pineapple, since our break at the Heritage. But, as I said, there were two main highlights for me when it came to our stay and, after a thoroughly relaxing spell in the spa, dinner at Sol Oriens Italian Restaurant & Steakhouse was next up. I’d heard about Sol Oriens before went down to the Heritage for our stay. Friends had said it was perfect for dining out with a toddler in tow and, indeed, it is the ideal venue for more relaxed dining, with its open kitchen and classical Italian theme. My husband and I are big fans of Bruchetta Al Pomodoro (€6.25) so we both opted for this as a starter. It came on crispy, sourdough bread and was topped with delicious, fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, red onion and extra virgin oil. Next up, Dylan chose the Grilled Sea Bass Fillet served with Beurre Blanc (€22). This comprised a fillet of sea bass, topped with fresh tomatoes, red onion, coriander and extra-virgin olive oil served on a bed of mashed potato, and he loved it. I chose the Filleto Manzo (€26) – a 10oz Irish fillet steak grilled and served with sautéed mushrooms and onions, all of which also came
With a setting in the rolling
with creamy mashed potato. For dessert, we both had Panna Cotta, the classic Italian desert that completed a perfect evening. Breakfast was also delicious. We had just walked the 5km track around the golf course and were more than ready for a hearty feed. I opted for a croissant and porridge, while Dylan had a full Irish. Our toddler, Harry, had a mixture of both and was clearly in his element as the restaurant staff fussed over him. All in all, it was a relaxing family stay with the advantage of just being within an hour of Dublin city centre. For further details on special offers and prices at The Heritage Golf and Spa Resort, Killenard, County Laois, you can call 057 864 5500 or visit www.theheritage.com
29 September 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 23
Edited by Mimi Murray
TravelBriefs
Relax and unwind the night before your flight from Dublin Airport at the Hilton at Clare Hall MIMI MURRAY
countryside and views of the spectacular golf course, the five-star Heritage Golf and Spa Resort in Laois is a huge hit with families
The pool area
ON a recent trip abroad we decided to be ultraindulgent, or very sensible, whichever way you choose to look at it, and spend the night before our flight in an airport hotel. The Hilton is situated just minutes away from Dublin Airport in Clare Hall. The hotel has underground parking, so we decided to leave our car there for the duration of our trip at a reasonable rate. The hotel is really comfortable and boasts a bar and restaurant, which seems to be filled with locals, as well as transient guests. Our bedroom was really comfortable and quite spacious with a very comfy bed. We dined in the hotel and were very pleasantly surprised to see that the menu was quite adventurous and to our liking. After a smoked salmon starter and lots of delicious homemade breads, we chose from the grill – a fillet steak with bearnaise for me and a striploin for my husband. Both were very well cooked and came with loads of delicious extras. The wine list was very good with plenty of choice and we retired to the bar for an after dinner drink. Staff were ultra-attentive and really pleasant. The manageress said they are very much like a big family, and that includes a lot of the regular business guests who spend weeks at a time at the hotel. After a very restful night, we had a scrummy breakfast with loads of delicious breads, pastries, fruit and coffee on offer, as well as a decent selection of cooked breakfast. We checked out and waited for our minibus, which had us at the airport terminal within minutes. After a fun-filled four days in Spain, we returned home and our minibus was waiting for us at the designated spot. It was just a case of hopping in our car and making the journey home, relaxed and far less exasperated than normal.
The spa experience
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24 BLANCH GAZETTE 29 September 2011
GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT 1
GoingOUT GoingOUT MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 Ger Carey Live THE workings of the teenage brain are a mystery – unless you’re Ger Carey, whose comic show proves that he knows what it’s like to be a teenager. Aimed at young people between the ages of 15 and 18, his one-man show is set to help teenagers laugh at themselves and the complexities of their lives. Ger also says that grown-ups are welcome. Catch Ger’s show at 11.20am on Thursday, September 29, with admission costing €10 (teachers free).
DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Brian Kennedy FOR Brian’s many fans of his singular voice and singing style, this is a show not to be missed, as he can be relied on to croon through some of his many hits. Well-known as a leading singer, he is, perhaps, lesser-known as an author, proving that he’s a man of many talents – however, his singing skills will be to the fore at 8pm on Thursday, September 29 in Driaocht’s Main Auditorium, with tickets priced at €22/€18 conc.
PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929 Faith Healer BRIAN Friel’s striking play, Faith Healer, takes to the Pavilion stage, ready to bring the audience on a journey across Scotland and Wales with a faith healer and his companions, as he meets the sick by forests and mountains. But are Frank’s miraculous cures real, and what is the price the afflicted must pay? See this dramatic production of Faith Healer on Friday, September 30 or Saturday, October 1, at 8pm, with tickets priced at €21/€19.
Sally (Bailee Madison) has just what every child needs – a creepy old house, malignant imps living in its secret basement, and a camera to help prove they’re real (with a flash that might keep the light-senstive creatures at bay) in this interesting new horror
An impishly creepy tale There’s not much light relief in this tale of basement-dwelling creatures trying to get a child to let them out to play with her Q KATE CROWLEY
WHERE is it? It’s around here somewhere, I just know it ... Readers! (Yes, both of you.) Have either of you seen my Gone Fishin’ sign? Frankly, despite the soft, gentle arctic winds of autumn gusting across Dublin at the moment, I’ve never felt more like hangin’ my Gone Fishin’ sign on the back of my Gazette Towers’ throne, grabbing a jar of wigglin’ earthworms and sittin’ down at the banks of the Liffey, thanks to the decidedly poor offerings marchin’ up to our screens, this week. Faced with the likes of Cane Toads: The Conquest, and Shark Night 3D – not to mention the return of Katie Holmes – this has never seemed like a better week for me to master my Sudoku skills. Still, for the purpose of this week’s review, there’s no place like Holmes, so
FILM OF THE WEEK: Don’t be Afraid of the Dark +++ (16) 97 mins Director: Troy Nixey Starring: Guy Pearce, Katie Holmes, Bailee Madison, a grizzled groundskeeper, a creepy house, and murderous goblin things
OUR VERDICT: WHO would have thought that a long-abandoned house could be full of creepy secrets? With famed intellectual-horror director, Guillermo del Toto, having a helping hand in the film, this feels more like a scaled-down Pan’s Basement rather than Pan’s Labyrinth, but that’s no bad thing. We’ve all seen this kind of film before, and yet, it’s an enjoyable enough creepy tale to follow.
let’s take a look at her latest film, Don’t be Afraid of the Dark. Here, presented under the guiding hands of producer, Guillermo del Toro – the filmmakers have turned in a creepy horror. (Personally, I tend to think that most films with Ms Holmes turn out to be a horror, but I digress.) Following a gruesome, scene-setting intro, we flash forward to the present day, where a down-on-his luck architect, Alex (Pearce) moves into a creaking, crumbling, gothic pile with his girlfriend Kim (Holmes)
and his daughter, Sally (a terrific performance by Madison). In time-honoured fashion, the long abandoned house has a gruesome, if forgotten past – remember the intro, folks? – but all Alex can see is the chance to do a nice refurb job on the house, and get back on his feet, while at the same time the gals can bond. Because, of course, where better to hole up with a withdrawn child and a new girlfriend for some quality family time together than in a creepy old house?
It’s not long before curious Sally discovers that the house is full with the kind of mysteries that you tend not to see listed on property websites – including a secret, sealedup basement, and a mysterious fireplace that Sally seems to think has some... things... living in it being chief among such points. Of course, if a bright kid tells you that there are tiny, creepy monsters living in the fireplace she found in a secret basement, all set in the kind of house that Norman Bates would pass by to stay in a motel instead, you should probably believe them. Also, of course, Alex doesn’t believe Sally, who can not only hear the mysterious, tiny creatures in the fireplace endlessly whispering and calling to her to let them out and “play”, but can glimpse them, and see their malicious handiwork, which they revel in – as long as there’s plenty of darkness
around to hide in. It’s not long before the creatures have escaped and are loose around in the house, where – crucially – it’s perfectly clear that, yes, the creatures are very real, and dangerous, and that a crunchy, delicioussss child would be jusssst lovely, thank you. Oh, if only the family had listened to the grizzled groundskeeper, who warned them about the house! With Kim gradually coming around to believing Sally, yet Alex dismissing their fears, the scene is set for a showdown: house versus humans. The only problem is, they should all be very afraid of the dark ... Sure, we’ve all seen house-of-horror shows before – I used to have to review Changing Rooms, after all – but this is a creepily enjoyable addition to the genre. Maybe next week I’ll be Gone Fishin’ instead.
29 September 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 25
GazetteGAMING GAMING Gears guns for the top Bytesandpieces SHANE DILLON
I HOPE that the zombies found at the top of the charts recently enjoyed their brief time in the sun, because one thing’s for sure – once Gears of War 3 was released on XBox 360, Dead Island (see panel, right) had about as much chance of staying in place as a Locust footsoldier facing Marcus Fenix. For those who don’t know what either a Locust footsoldier (or a Marcus Fenix) is, the Gears of War (GoW) series follows a dwindling band of desperate human survivors on Sera, a world that’s quite similar to our own. It’s similar, except for the fact that humanity’s facing extinction, with a mass horde of Locusts (a subterranean race of
Another weebyte Market needs more Vita-lity WITH Sony’s handheld gaming division now firmly locked in a pincer movement with Nintendo on one side, and Apple on the other, the stakes have never been higher for its revamped PSP – the Vita – to kickstart its handheld fortunes. Despite the PSP having decent power, my own experience has been that they’re rarer than hen’s teeth around Dublin, and, indeed, with it proving tough to find an okay range of PSP games in most Dublin stores, it remains to be seen how well Sony can hit back with the Vita. With even Nintendo’s recently launched 3DS slumping in the markets, Sony isn’t the only player praying for some Vita-lity to return to the struggling handheld console sector.
murderous creatures) having overrun most of the planet, leaving behind ruined cities, utter devastation – and millions of happy gamers, all following a supersoldier, Marcus, in his footsteps, band of brothers in tow. An XBox-exclusive title, Gears has established itself as a key franchise for Microsoft’s gaming fans, and this latest addition, while not exactly a revolution, certainly builds upon many of the already highly-polished strengths that fans relish in the series. A day before it hit the shelves on its world-wide launch date, I called in to the GoW3 launch party in the centre of Dublin, where hordes of Gears fans were entranced by the hordes of Locusts filling the screens, with
Dead Island is found to be a hit
Tipperary Hurler, Padraic Maher, and Leinster and Irish Rugby Player, Shane Horgan, fight their way past merchandising to be among the first to play Gears of War 3
single-player and multiplayer missions playing out across the venue. GoW3 certainly looked terrific (which gameplay videos on social platforms are already ably proving), while, away from the busy singleplayer storyline screens, the multiplayer rounds
were providing plenty of concentration amongst Gears fans – and occasional laughter, too. This, claimed as the third and final part in the Gears trilogy, has been hailed as an emotional way to end the series, packed with punchy setpieces, spectacular vis-
tas, intense action and, as always, Gears’ striking world of “destroyed beauty”, as ravaged cities and foul landscapes are traversed. So far, so Gears, so great. I’ll be returning to Gears soon, with a more detailed look at its single and multiplayer modes.
SEEING as I briefly mentioned it recently, there’s no harm in adding that Techland’s multi-platform title, Dead Island, promptly shuffled its way to the top of games’ charts in many markets, marking, perhaps, an unexpectedly strong success for the adult title. Its flaws are many, including being a game that very much merits its Cert 18 rating; some quite unsavoury character designs and scripting; ng; a particularly badly developed and executed plot; simply dreadful voice-over work; some teeth-grindingly infuriating control issues and broken game logic, and – Well, despite all of the many things wrong with the title, it also seems to get a lot of things right, with its gory graphics, frequently frenetic action, and occasionally very pretty scene setting (with beautiful beaches and jungles that surpass both of the Far Cry and Crysis series) proving a hit with gamers, hungry for something a little different. Certainly not a title for children, its open-world setting and multi-mission, RPG-like tactics show that there’s still plenty of life in the zombie genre ...
GAZETTE
26 BLANCH GAZETTE 29 September 2011
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PLANNING NOTICE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL Permission is sought by Fernleigh Management Company Limited for the provision of 4 no. 5 metre high public lighting standards in lieu of existing low level bollard lighting running along the northern footpath within the existing public open space which is situated at the southern edge of the Annfield Housing Development, Castleknock, Dublin 15 and which is bounded by Annfield House to the North, Lutrellstown Road to the South and Porterstown Road to the east. 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 its public opening hours and a submission or observation may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (20Euros) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of this application 13653
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GazetteSPORT
SEPTEMBER STARS:
This month’s Dublin Sport Awards nominees announced Page 29
LIFFEY DESCENT: ICONIC ANNUAL CANOEING EVENT RESCHEDULED FOR OCTOBER
Descent back on track for 2011’s vintage races sport@gazettegroup. com
UP to 1,000 canoeists from Ireland and abroad will take part in the Great Outdoors Liffey Descent on Saturday, October 8. Originally due to take place in mid-September, the event was postponed due to low water levels. The Great Outdoors Liffey Descent is one of the biggest events of its kind in the world and is
not for the faint-hearted. The 28km course combines long, flat water sections, swift currents, 10 weirs and numerous rapids, a heavily wooded section and a long portage around Leixlip dam. Paddlers will need skill, stamina and courage to complete the race. The ESB will release 30 tonnes of water from the Poulaphouca Reservoir to coincide with the race. This brings the river up to flood level
and transforms small rapids and gentle weirs into foaming white water. Started back in 1960 as an inter-club event, the illustrious Great Outdoors Liffey Descent k ay a k i n g r a c e n ow attracts paddlers from many parts of the world and is a major event on the international calendar. The race will play host to some serious marathon competitors, but the majority of par-
The Liffey Descent will hit the water on October 8 with over 1,000 participants picking up their paddles
ticipants are recreational paddlers whose main aim is to complete the course. Speaking this week, Karl Dunne, of the Canoe Union said: “This event is one-of-a-kind. T he atmosphere on the day as competitors
approach the start line at Straffan is second-tonone. “A mixture of nervous anticipation and friendly banter is abundant. It is a brilliant event to have on the Irish kayaking calendar and we hope that the success of pre-
vious years will continue for the 2011 event.” The event is renowned for its Irish party atmosphere but also guaranteed good conditions. That’s thanks to the ESB which releases 30 tonnes of water from the Poulaphouca Res-
ervoir to coincide with the race. This brings the river up to flood level and transforms small rapids and gentle weirs into furious torrents and foaming white water walls. To register, visit www. liffeydescent.com
28 BLANCH GAZETTE 29 September 2011
GazetteSport Sport FastSport
RUGBY: LEINSTER LEAGUE WIN FOR COOLMINE AT HOME
Erin’s young hurlers miss out on Good win ERIN Go Bragh’s Under-10 hurlers last week visited Good Counsel, and were just pipped at the end of the match in spite of putting in a fine performance. Both sets of players displayed their developing skills in front of a very supportive crowd. Despite conceding some early scores, the green and whites fought back to give themselves a chance of snatching a victory, but were denied when Counsel got the last score of the match. All players played their part in competing to the end. If you want to join this group of players, contact Karl at 087 2352074.
Tyrrelstown teams join up for casino fun TYRRELSTOWN Soccer Club and Tyrrelstown GAA Club are holding a joint casino night on Friday, October 14, from 9pm at Jack O’Neill’s pub, Tyrrelstown. The pub will be redesigned on the night to create the ambience of a real casino, with professional card dealers present at every table, special
Black Jack and Roulette tables and slot machines. A substantial sum will be won on the night by the highest roller, and other prizes include hotel vouchers, a signed Dublin All-Ireland jersey, and a signed Republic of Ireland soccer jersey. Individual tickets are priced at €20 each while a bulk purchase of five tickets will cost €80. For ticket details and enquiries, contact Michael Ormsby on 086 086 5336.
Coolmine’s first team registered their first win in Leinster League Division 1A at Ashbrook last week
’Mine back on form LEINSTER LEAGUE DIV 1A Coolmine RFC Dundalk
19 10
sport@gazettegroup.com
AFTER A rocky start, Coolmine notched up their first league win of the season last week against Dundalk. This was an important match for both sides, as they both had lost their opening league games last week. A betting man would have put his money on the visitors, as Coolmine were defeated twice last year by Dundalk, and the home side were missing several of their front-line players, including captain Brian Moran and their halfback pairing. A great catch from Geoff Mullen from the Coolmine kick-off set the tone.
However, it was the visitors who got the first scoring opportunity and they capitalised, converting their second penalty after eight minutes. Coolmine seemed to have sorted out all their set-piece problems from last week, and it was from the scrum platform that they got their score after 28 minutes. Pressure on the front row saw the uncontrolled ball popping out of the Dundalk scrum. Scrum-half Liam Power was quickest to respond and ran in under the posts for the home side’s first try. Conor Hayes, taking over kicking duties for the day, made no mistake with the conversion. Two minutes later, and Coolmine were
back on the attack again. A darting run from Rob Kiersey cut through the Dundalk defence, his offload setting David Stacey free, who was stopped just short of the line, but the quickly recycled ball got to the hands of Hayes, who touched down in the corner. Two long-range penalties failed to go over for Coolmine, leaving them going into the break 12-3 ahead. Dundalk failed to pull back any points after several missed penalties of their own at the start of the second period of play, but did enjoy a sustained period of pressure inside the Coolmine 22, but the defence held and they came away frustrated with nothing to show for their hard work.
Dundalk looked like they may have snatched a score back after 18 minutes, but a fine back line move was called back for a for ward pass. Two minutes later, Coolmine had a lineout just outside the visitors’ 22. T he ball wasn’t caught cleanly but they managed to keep possession and flash it out to the back line. Ruairi Farrell met the line at
speed and his moment u m t o o k h i m ove r for the third try of the game. With less than 20 minutes left the chase was on for the bonus point try and, despite constant pressure, they failed to breach the Dundalk defence. Dundalk had the last say breaking out of their own 22 to run the length of the pitch for a consolation try, with the conversion being the last kick of the game.
29 September 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 29
in association with
2011 DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS - SEPTEMBER NOMINEES
FastSport
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
+ STARof the
Schools learn opponents in Development Cup
MONTH
DEIRDRE RYAN
MOSES IKPEFUA
NICOLA RYAN
DUNDRUM South Dublin athlete Ryan secured her berth at the 2012 London Olympics, jumping the A standard in Daegu when she claimed the sixth place in the high jump world championships this month.
KNOCKMITTEN runner Moses won the Under8 boys’ 60m title at Athlone in the national Community Games’ finals early in September, defeating opponents from around the country in style.
LUCAN resident Ryan became an Australian Rules’ world champion when she helped Ireland to claim the inaugural women’s International Cup in Melbourne with a 39-8 victory over Canada.
+ TEAMof the MONTH
ST BRIGID’S
DUBLIN FOOTBALLERS
ST SYLVESTER’S
A LAST-gasp free finally put St Brigid’s junior B footballers into seventh heaven when they claimed the championship title against St Finian’s of Newcastle following an epic final earlier this month.
THE sons of Dublin football finally achieved their potential on the national stage when they put 16 years of hurt behind them to lift the Sam Maguire trophy at Croke Park in front of a jubilant home support.
ST SYLVESTER’S celebrated their first All-Ireland hurling title a little over 18 months after claiming the Leinster Junior championship title when they won the St Jude’s Junior 7s Shield in midSeptember.
WELCOME to the 2011 Dublin Sports Awards, as we mark our local sportsmen and women’s September sporting achievements across the capital and, indeed, across the nation. We’re delighted to once again be able to celebrate the finest achievements in Dub-
lin sport, with some huge efforts at local levels coming to our attention in a variety of well-known, and some, less prominent, sports. Ever y form of sporting achievement, at any level and in any sport, is valuable and gives an indication of the diversity of sporting commit-
ment there is around our fair city at all times of the year.
Let us know! Let us know about your achievements in sport, so that the Gazette can tell the rest of Dublin — and give you, or your team, a chance of being one of our monthly stars.
Contact us on 01 601 0240 or sport@gazettegroup.com to tell us all about your successes, and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ gazettesport. You can also check out the latest stories from GazetteSport at our new website, www.gazettegroup.com
FORMER St Columba’s student Ian McKinley drew his alma mater in a couple of tough draws as he and Shane Horgan conducted the Leinster Senior and Junior Development Cup and Shield draws last weekend. The Rathfarnham school will face upand-coming St Fintan’s HS, Sutton in the second round of the McMullen Cup, while their Junior side will face St Patrick’s Classical School, Navan, in round one of the Duff Cup. In the senior development cup, Lucan CC have been pitted against Firhouse CS in the second round, which will be played on October 12. On the same date, Castleknock CS will face Celbridge’s Salesians College while Oatlands play Portmarnock and Malahide CS face Drogheda Grammar. At Junior level, Castleknock CS face Colaiste Choilm, Swords on October 10.
Ford offer top travelling prize for Ireland fans FORD, official vehicle supplier to the FAI, are offering football fans in Dublin the chance to win an exclusive VIP package to the Republic of Ireland’s eagerly anticipated European Championship crunch qualifier against Armenia at the Aviva Stadium on Tuesday, October 11. Ford will look after the transport to and from the game for the winner and his/her friend by supplying a Ford
vehicle and personal chauffeur to pick them up on the day of the big match. The prize also includes a night’s accommodation in a Dublin hotel with pre-match dinner included, a pair of tickets to the game, and a chance to meet the players in the players’ lounge following the final whistle, as well as chauffeur-driven transport back home the following day. To enter, fans just need to email fordfootball@whpr. ie and let Ford know of a great journey they’ve experienced to a previous football match.
30 BLANCH GAZETTE 29 September 2011
GazetteSport Sport FastSport
Sam’s stars go wild: Local club lift Maguire ERIN GO Bragh recently had a surprise visitor at their recent match against St Vincent’s when the Sam Maguire trophy arrived at the Marino club, and the Under8s from the Dublin 15 club were happy to have their picture taken with the senior county team’s most recent acquisition. The club are calling on local fans to support them in their derby against Castleknock in the JFC this weekend.
Corduff register cup treble in SFAI contests GOLF: DRAMATIC FINAL DAY SEES SPAIN’S MUNOZ WIN TITLE CORDUFF picked up a trio of SFAI Cup wins last weekend to keep their full complement alive in the national competitions. Competing in the initial North Leinster rounds, their U-12 side made their way past Glenmuir United in round two and will now go on to face either Tolka Rovers of East Meath United. The U-14 side, who have gone deep in these cups in the past two seasons, reaching at least the quarter-finals, started off in emphatic fashion with a 10-1 win over Maynooth Town. The next round sees them face either Trim Celtic or Parkvilla. At U-16 level, Corduff beat Dromin United 2-0 and next face Drogheda Town on October 16.
Summerfest set for next weekend THE 2011 Tesco mobile SARI Summerfest, the largest intercultural soccer tournament in Ireland, is set to take part this year at the Garda and Camogie Sports Grounds, in Phoenix Park on September 10 and 11 from 11am to 5pm each day. The Summerfest will also coinciude with the CONCERN kitefest, where kite flyers from around the world will display their kites and give kite workshops for children. The two-day festival also includes a wide array of entertainment for all the family.
For more information, see www. facebook.com/sarireland.
Castleknock Celtic seeking ladies talent CASTLEKNOCK Celtic FC’s ladies and girls section are recruiting new talent to the cllub for the soccer season starting later this month. If you were born in 1996 or earlier, visit the club’s website at www.castleknockceltic.com, and pass on your name and contact details in the How To Join section provided on the site. The club are also looking to recruit girls born in 2001/2002 to play soccer in the DubliGirls Soccer League.
Europe celebrate their victory over the USA in front of Killeen Castle last weekend
Europe claim Solheim Cup sport@gazettegroup.com
E U R OPE h ave wo n their first Solheim Cup since 2003 by staging a dramatic 15-13 victory over the USA at Killeen Castle. Players, tournament organisers and spectators battled against heavy rain on the final day and, despite play being suspended on a number of occasions, a huge final day crowd of over 28,000 were treated to some spectacular golf. Both sides battled extremely hard in a close competition that ebbed and flowed
throughout the weekend. With the matches tied at 8-8 going into the final day, some great European performances in the singles, including a spectacular 6&5 win from Scotland’s Catriona Matthew in the first pairing against form American player Paula Creamer, that gave Europe the momentum. Victor y was then sealed when Spain’s Azahara Munoz went one-up heading up the stunning 18th hole at Killeen Castle. The tournament provided an excellent
opportunity for Ireland to showcase itself to the world, providing a welcome boost to the tourism industry and is expected to generate over €30 million for the economy. The staging in Killeen Castle of the most prestigious team event in the professional ladies game also provided a unique chance for spectators to see the best golfers from Europe and the USA, and the crowds came in their droves with in excess of 80,000 attending the event over the course of the six days. Head of Golf Tourism
at Failte Ireland, Keith McCormack, commented; “This has been a fantastic week and a great achievement for Ireland to stage such a successful high-profile international event. “ To a c h i e ve ove r 80,000 attendees over the course of the week is a huge feat and Ireland has been showcased in spectacular fashion to an enormous global audience, providing a great tourism boost both in the short and longer term.” Solheim Cup Director for the Ladies European Tour, Mark Casey, commented: “The victory is
a great result for European golf and highlights just how strong our European players are, to regain The Solheim Cup from such a high-ranking American team. “The matches were played in a great spirit and a truly amazing atmosphere was generated by the huge numbers of spectators that attended. “Killeen Castle provided one of the great Solheim Cup venues and we look forward to returning to this fabulous course for the Ladies Irish Open next year,” said Casey.
29 September 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 31
in association with
SHC ROUND 1: BRIGID’S EASE INTO LAST 16
.
CLUB NOTICEBOARD ST BRIGID’S NEW opening hours for our new club
day at 11.30am in the 12th Lock.
shop. Friday 7 to 8pm and Saturday
Inter footballers face St Per-
from 10 to 11.30am. New club boots
egrine’s in Junior A quarter-final
will be on sale from October 1.
this Sunday at 11am in Blakestown.
Senior hurlers had a fantastic win
The Junior A footballers Junior B
over Craobh. Junior hurlers had
quarter-final scheduled for this
a good league win over Na Fianna.
Sunday has been moved to next
U-13A and B footballers beat Bally-
Tuesday at 8pm in Russell Park.
boden and Lucan. U-16 footballers beat St Vincent’s. Inter footballers beat Crokes in the league. Senior footballers face Na Fianna
Minor hurlers face Vincent’s this Sunday at 11am in Russell Park. Lotto takes place in Myo’s, Castleknock this Friday, with a jackpot of €15,000.
this Saturday at 5.30pm in Parnell
We have collected 110 old mobile
Park. U-16 hurlers face Thomas
phones so far. We need 90 more to
Davis in the quarter-final this Sat-
get our new AED. No matter how old
urday at 3.30pm in Russell Park.
the phone is please drop it into the
U-15 hurlers face Lucan this Sun-
club bar.
ERIN GO BRAGH OUR U-15 girls drew with Whitehall St Brigid’s Stephen Callinan celebrates his opening goal against Craobh Chiarain inParnell Park
Craobh outclassed in Parnell by St Brigid’s DUBLIN SHC ROUND 1 St Brigid’s Craobbh Chiarain
2-15 2-10
sport@gazettegroup.com
ST BRIGID’S produced a scintillating display t o o u t cl a s s C r a o b h Chiarain in the last 16 of the Dublin Senior Hurling Championship in Parnell Park on Saturday evening. Inspired by Dublin Star Daire Plunkett, the Russell Park men got the perfect start when full-forward Stephen Callinan fired to the Craobh net after only 60 seconds. As a result, they never trailed throughout the tie as the fancied Craobh were never allowed to get into top gear by the motivated Blanch side. A quar tet of frees from Paddy McAvinue and Jamie Winters extended the Brigid’s lead to seven points. Brendan McMcEnerney added his side’s
second three-pointer before half-time while John O’Loughlin - a Laois senior footballer - was a key presence in this half as his physicality helped the side to a 2-8 to 0-6 lead. Robbie Mahon’s double had bitten into the lead before McEnerney’s goal, as the tie swung this way and that with momentum. Keith Ryan’s goal before the interval, after up by a powerful run from Luke Jackson, set the Donnycarney men on the comeback trail. And they also started the second half the better with 2009 All-Star Alan McCrabbe clipping over a couple of deadballs to close the gap further, reducing the margin to three points at one stage. But Brigid’s regrouped and regained the momentum as Conor Ryan and Aodan McEnerney started to win key possession from which
Plunkett raised the white flag twice from distance. They were key efforts as were Kieran Kettett and Brendan McEnerney’s points, which nullified Craobh’s foward momentum and put Brigid’s back on top with four scores in succession to put one foot into the quarter-finals. It meant that impact of Stephen Ennis’ goal was minimal. The margin was down to four points and might have opened up the tie but Brigid’s stayed well clear as Brendan M cE n e r n e y c a p p e d the day when he added another score to see the side run out five point winners and into the quar ter-finals where they will face Diarmuid Connolly’s St Vincent’s in a fortnight’s time in what is likely to be a well-matched encounter against one of the competition’s fancied outfits.
It made for a good afternoon for sides from the area as St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh advanced to the quarter-final of the Senior B championships with a comprehensive 4-20 to 2-10 victory over St Mark’s from their first round tie.
St Brigid’s: A Nolan; M Cussen, C Kenny, S Brady; C Ryan, A McEnerney, A O’Leary; C Doyle, D Plunkett (0-3); P McAvinue (0-5), J O’Loughlin (0-2), B McEnerney (1-2); J Winters, S Callanan (1-0), K Kellett (0-2). Subs: P Winters (0-1) for J Winters (52).
Alternatively, bags can be left
what was a very tight game last
outside the clubhouse any day from
Saturday. Our U-14 boys beat Clann
Monday to Friday before 2pm.
Mhuire in the second of their Top 5 play-off. Our U-9 hurling team hos ted
Drop location is at our clubhouse in the grounds of Mary Mother of Hope National School.
a hurling blitz in Hunterun and
Annual club dinner-dance is tak-
thanks to Erin’s Isle and St Brigid’s
ing place on Saturday, November 5
for travelling.
in Park Plaza, Tyrrelstown. Tickets
Our U-8s had a nice surprise when
are €60 per person (strictly over-
they travelled to play St Vincent’s
18s). Five-course meal, band, DJ,
and met Sam.
bar extension until 2am. Deposit
We will recycle your unwanted
of €20 required and people can pay
clothes, shoes, handbags, belts,
in instalments over the coming
curtains, bedding, towels, and raise
months. Contact Natasha on 087
vital funds for the club. Collection
959 50 48, Maria on 087 238 0741 or
dates for all unwanted clothes are
Carol - Ann on 087 629 20 24.
Tuesday and Wednesday, October 4
The lotto jackpot was not won.
ST PEREGRINE’S GREAT week on the field for our
at 11am on main pitch.
teams this week. Congratulations
Congratulations to Janice and
to our U-12 boys hurlers who won
Aidan Enright on the birth of baby
the league last weekend, also to our
Abbey.
minor footballers in their championship win v Erin’s Isle. Speedy recovery to Craig Lawless on his recent injury. The senior ladies preformed very well in the Leinster 7s . Blanchardstown safety day was a great success in the club last Saturday, thanks to all who helped
Craobh Chiarain- S Chester; K Elliott, D Kelly, Damian O’Reilly; J Ryan, Derek O’Reilly, S McDonnell (0-1); A McCrabbe (0-5), G Kelly; P O’Boyle (0-1), R Mahon (0-2), P Purtell (0-1); G Ennis, L Jackson, K Ryan (1-0). Subs: F Usanga for Purtell (47), A Brophy for K Ryan (57), S Ennis (1-0) for O’Boyle (57). Ref - G McGrath (Setanta).
and 5, from 7 to 8.30 pm.
Colmcilles in the championship in
out.
Club lotto was not won. Numbers drawn were 8, 11, 13 and 14. Next week’s jackpot is €5,000. Any member not buying lotto tickets visit CNP.ie, and support your club for only €2 a week and is also available to play on-line using the link on the club website. Annual race night will take place at Shelbourne Park on October 29.
Ju n i o r A fo o t b a l l e r s p l a y S t
Peregrine’s Christmas Ball is on
Brigid’s in the quarter-final of the
December 3, and details and con-
championship this Sunday morning
tacts on the club website at CNP.ie.
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ALL OF YOUR BLANCHARDSTOWN SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31
SAINTS MARCH ON: Brigid’s move on to last eight in senior championship P31
SEPTEMBER 29, 2011
SEPTEMBER STARS Sports Awards nominees announced P29
Junior Bs pride of Castleknock Mentor Bourne hails effort of ladies’ footballers in winning team’s first championship title last week STEPHEN FINDLATER blanchardstownsport@gazettegroup.com
PHILIP Bourke admitted he was “extremely proud” to be part of the first ever Castleknock ladies’ football championship winning side after they got the jump on St Jude’s last Wednesday in St Margarets to claim the Junior B crown. Bourke has been among a group of managers and mentors who have overseen the side’s progression from juvenile level, working all the while with Pat Convery and Pat Comerford, since the introduction of ladies’ football at the club in 1999. Just three of their extended panel came from outside of this channel and Bourke hopes this landmark occasion can propel the club further up the ranks, saying: “They’ve worked very hard all season and it’s such a pleasure to be involved with this team. They’ve all come up through the ranks, bar three of them, and it just shows the juvenile
system which we have working in the club. “There are a lot of juvenile teams coming up so, hopefully, this will spur them on. Hopefully the girls will get involved and will be able to progress further.” One such player is his daughter, Laura, who produced a unique double, both playing and refereeing championship finals within a five-day period. She officiated the Junior C title decider between St Brigid’s and St Finian’s, Newcastle, just a couple of days earlier and followed up with a virtuoso performance between centre and full-forward to help her side to their landmark success. It came in a week – and indeed a season – in which the emerging Somerton club moved back up to intermediate hurling for the first time since 2008. It means the club now has both inter hurling and football sides at the same time, another first in the club’s history
GazetteSPORT
Castleknock ladies’ footballers celebrate their achievement against St Jude’s to win the Junior B title last week
They did so with a tension-filled draw against Scoil ui Chonail on Sunday morning, 1-10 to 0-13, on home turf on a day with plenty of supporters around the club due to the minorA footballers and U-15 camogie side also in championship action. The game itself was no hurling classic, with both teams striving towards the one objective, it was always going to be a match of tight play and man to man marking. The unnerving accuracy of Gerry Mulryan’s free-taking for the home team gave them an edge, a 0-8 to 0-4 lead at the break. Scoil stormed back, levelling inside ten minutes of the turn, making for a nip-and-tuck tie before Dublin minor Ciaran Kilkenny emerged from the bench to make a telling intervention. He struck two injury-time frees to keep the game level and earn the vital result for the blue and golds and guarantee a finish in the top two in AHL5 and promotion for Castleknock to the fourth division.