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INSIDE: Youth group honoured with Foroige award P2-3
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November 17, 2011
SHOP LOCAL: Enjoying everything
Ongar village has to offer See Pages 6-7
Fashion feast: Marie Keating fundraiser Football: St Brigid’s reach the Leinster semi-final Page 32
SARA Corr, Liz Dunne, Rebecca Maher, Annemarie Elliott and Allanna Hennessy, were looking fantastic when they attended a night of fun and fashion at the new-look Zannz Hair and Beauty salon in Tyrrelstown to help raise funds for the Marie Keating Foundation. The event attracted a huge crowd who came to enjoy a great evening. Picture: Patrick O’Leary
Full Gallery on Page 10
Rugby: Coolmine miss out on Leinster League victory Page 30
ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ....................10 MOTORS ........................18 BUSINESS .................... 21 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26
€116,000 spent on election expenses Total of €9.28m spent nationally during campaign
Q LAURA WEBB
NEW figures have revealed that Dublin West candidates forked out approximately €116,000 in election expenses during the General Election campaign earlier this year. Figures released by the Standards in Public Office
(SIPO) , revealed that a national total of €9.28m was incurred by candidates and political parties in the election. This is almost 16% less than the €11.08m figure reported during the 2007 General Election, even though 100 more candidates ran in 2011.
The 10 candidates in the Dublin West constituency spent a total of €116,790.81 Of those elected, Joan Burton, who topped the poll in the constituency spent the highest at €23,402.65 while Fine Gael TD Leo Varadkar spent a total of €17,006.70. Full Story on Pages 8-9
2 BLANCH GAZETTE 17 November 2011
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TRANSPORT: READY FOR UPGRADE
Council seeking interest on road Q LAURA WEBB
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS CALL 60 10 240
DESIGN work for the proposed upgrade of the N3/Mulhuddart Interchange, which includes a two-span bridge, is at the final stage and expressions of interest have been sought from contractors looking to land the job. Earlier this year, Fingal County Council outlined plans to upgrade the busy N3/Mulhuddart interchange, which would include the construction of a new bridge on the western side parallel to the existing flyover at that interchange. It will also involve modifying the existing bridge to one-way traffic f low southbound, remove existing footpath on western side of bridge to provide for right-turning movements and provision of on-road cycle lane on eastern side of bridge. The construction of a 260m, 4m-wide looped on-ramp to the N3 eastbound from the new bridge is also part of the plans. Castleknock councillor Mags Murray (FF), asked Fingal officials when N3/Mulhuddart two-span bridge would commence, and the cost of the project. According to a council spokesperson, work is continuing on finalising the detailed design of the works proposed to upgrade the N3/Mulhudddart interchange.
COMMUNITY Local youth group honoured
Motoring on to Q LAURA WEBB blanchardstown@gazettegroup.com
A DUBLIN 15 youth group has been smiling from ear to ear since appearing on T V3’s Ireland’s Top Teens, and that feeling just got better after they were honoured at this year’s Permanent TSB Foroige Youth Citizenship Awards. The Fiat 500 group, from Mulhuddar t Foroige in Dublin 15, took part in the TV programme was held in conjunction with Permanent TSB Foroige Yo u t h C i t i z e n s h i p Awards, 2011. The local lads were recognised for the hard work they put in to rebuilding the 1970s’ car and received an award for it. They were one of ten youth projects in Ireland to go forward for the awards ceremony, and also display their project on TV. The awards and the T V show honour the work of young peo ple who took part in projects that make a positive difference to communities. Over 150 projects from youth groups across Ireland entered the Youth Citizenship Awards this year. Youth Officer at Mulhuddar t Community Youth Project, Bernie Moloney, said the group, which consists of Jason Sinnott, Aaron Thompson and Shane Murray, decided to incorporate an anti-joy riding and safe-driving element to their project by raising
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‘This project is current, it is ongoing, it generates endless positivity and makes a tangible difference. The Youth Citizenship Awards showcase young people at their very best and give communities the opportunity to unite and celebrate local achievement’
Under an expert’s eye, the Dublin 15 teens worked hard on restoring a 1970s’ Fiat
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500 car, with the vehicle set to be auctioned to help fundraise
awareness through a road safety leaflet they designed. “The project would not have been possible without the consistent and dedicated support and mentoring pro vided by the two volunteers, Stewart Walsh and Brian Jennings. “The young lads have gained increased knowledge in car mechanics and panel beating and have developed a greater level of self confidence in their abilities. “Some of the work the group has undertaken on revamping the car has included repairing and replacing various panels, stripping and cleaning the engine and its ancil-
laries, sanding down the body of the car prior to it been repainted in its new coat of metallic blue paint and fitting the car with a new sunroof, bumper and carpets,” Bernie said. The next stage of the project is to auction the classic car, which will be organised by Windsor, and a date is yet to be confirmed. Half the proceeds will go towards the National Rehab Hospital in Dun Laoghaire to assist with the great work they do with road crash victims. The remaining funds will be re-invested back into MCYP for a future youth educational programme. The Fiat 500 Project
received huge support from a number of sponsors donated both funds and materials to aid the project. T h e g r o u p wo u l d like to offer their sincere thanks to Merlin Car Auctions, Ganly Craigie Ltd, Starbucks, Irish Youth Foundation, 3M Ltd and Spectrum Paints Ltd. Further thanks are extended to Knife Edge and notably Anto Dunne gave the lads the use of a garage space in Mulhuddart to conduct t h e wo r k s h o p e a c h week. Chief executive of Permanent TSB, David Guinane, said: “This is a great story about inspiring young people who are a credit to their
club, their community and their families.” National Council of Foroige chairperson, Mairi McMahon, said: “This project is current, it is ongoing, it generates endless positivity and makes a tangible difference. The Youth C i t i z e n s h i p Aw a r d s showcase young people at their very best and give communities the opportunity to unite and celebrate local achievement.” One-thousand young people and a host of special guests attended the awards ceremony on November 2, and enjoyed performances from Jedward, Ryan Sheridan and Britain’s Got Talent dance stars, Flawless.
17 November 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 3
with Foroige award for work on car project
EDUCATION: FINAL TOUCHES ON BUILDING
greater things
Tyrrelstown school built CONSTRUCTION on the long-awaited Educate Together Primary School for Tyrrelstown is expected to be complete before the end of this month. The new school building is needed to serve the increasing population in Tyrrelstown and Mulhuddart because its existing school was unable to meet demands. The new school building for Tyrrelstown Educate Together will accommodate 450 pupils. Welcoming its near completion, Dublin West TD and Minister for Social Protection Joan
Burton (Lab) said it was a successful delivery by the Department of Education and Skills under the 2011 Rapid Delivery Programme. “This also includes an enhanced community facility, which is co-funded by Fingal County Council. The projects were tendered in late 2010 and construction commenced on the various projects between February and April this year. Tyrrelstown Educate Together will be completed by mid-November,” Burton said.
LOCAL TEAM WIN? WE WANT TO KNOW! Flanked by Sean Campbell, chief executive, Foroige Youth Citizenship Awards 2011, and David Guinane, chief executive, Permanent TSB, Fiat 500 members from Dublin 15 – Jay Sinnott, Aaron Thompson and Shane Murray – collected their Youth Citizenship Award
Call our SPORTS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email sport@gazettegroup.com
4 BLANCH GAZETTE 17 November 2011
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SCHOOLS Students are ready to impress
Scientific success is in their sights
BUSINESS
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Q LAURA WEBB
Several Dublin 15 schools have prepared fascinating projects for the RDS contest
YOUNG scientists are entering in record numbers for the 2012 BT Young Scientist and
Technology Exhibition, with 1,743 ideas entered and 130 projects from Dublin schools having qualified for the RDS exhibition.
It’s the highlight of the school year for many young secondary students, and this year’s entrants show that the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition hasn’t lost its spark among budding scientists. This year, 1,743 ideas were entered by 3,842 students from across the 32 counties. Of those entered, 130 projects from 55 schools in Dublin have qualified for this year’s exhibition in the RDS. In Blanchardstown, Hartstown Community College has entered a Social and Behavioural sciences project themed – Project Maths: Is it worth it? by Aisling Lawson. Coolmine Community School/Scoil Phobail Chuil Mhin entered a project called – To study the level of participation in religious activities of students in second level education, by Elizabeth Hannigan. Interest in the competition has increased over the years and already judges have remarked on the impressive nature of entries this year, based on preliminary reviews.
Competition Each year more and more students are entering the competition and are battling it out for a place in the RDS exhibition. To allow for more students to take part, BT has extended the space at the exhibition making 550 places available, an increase of 30 on last year, allowing up to 90 additional students take part in January.
Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, said: “In its 48th year, it is great to see the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition continue to break new records for both the number of projects entered and schools competing. “It is hugely uplifting to see 1,743 ideas generated in classrooms across Ireland, thought up by curious young minds who are eager to positively impact the world around them. “Research and innovation are critically important to our economy, and I commend everyone involved in the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition for providing a platform to stimulate and showcase Ireland’s talent both nationally and internationally.” Colm O’Neill, chief executive officer, BT Ireland commented: “There is a major challenge to create sustainable jobs in Ireland. The talent, drive and entrepreneurship are there, evident from the superior level of this year’s entries to the exhibition. We need to protect our industries and ensure growth for the future so these young talented people have career choices available to them.” The 2012 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition takes place in the RDS, Dublin from January 11 – 14. For more information, log onto www.btyoungscientist.com, check out http://www.facebook. com/BTYSTE, follow on twitter at http://twitter. com/btyste or call 1800 924 362.
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17 November 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 5
6 BLANCH GAZETTE 17 November 2011
SHOP LOCAL The Gazette takes a look at some of the many
Supporting HINK local, shop local and enjoy everything Ongar village has to offer, and what’s great is that it’s all right on your doorstep. Restaurants, local newsagents, supermarket, takeaway, public house, butchers, creche, solicitors, fitness classes and accountants are just some of the useful retail and office businesses open to the public in a quaint and safe village. The difference between Ongar shopping and other shopping districts is that Ongar looks and feels like a village that is surrounded by a closeknit community. Through the support of residents in the area, businesses continue to employ locally. Representative of the local Ongar Committee and local chartered accountant at CKA associates, Greg Colclough said there is a great range of retail and office outlets in Ongar, which is important when people want to shop local. “The great thing about Ongar is that it is one of the newer business-type structures. Rather than building a shopping precinct with a large car park, they’ve built a village here,
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which gives the area that village feel and it gives it more atmosphere. That really helps with the community spirit in the area. “There are three schools within the environment of Ongar Village shopping area; a key anchor tenant with Dunnes; you’ve got great parking facilities and, from a planning point of view, this is the model that should be used,” Greg added. For people shopping locally, Greg says Ongar Village has a lot to offer. “It offers the same range of retail outlets that any other area would have. It has everything from a public house, restaurants, a main anchor tenant – Dunnes Stores – takeaways, pharmacies and more. But what is more important is that is offers local employment. “It is just off the main road, which is fantastic. The road structure is a ring round around Ongar and, from that point of view, it makes it very safe for residents and visitors to the area. The local businesses are very competitive and almost always have great promotions on things,” Greg added. Colm Murphy, of Colm
Murphy and Co. Solicitors, who moved his office to Ongar Village five years ago, said there is a
great mix of shops in the area to suit any shopping needs. “Traders here are really well established,
and there are some good names in the village. Most of them have been here for a good while. There is a really good mix. There is a good core business group here and they have stuck with it, and they have been able to develop the business community here, as well as the residential community surrounding it. There is a good strong community spirit in the area.” When asked what he would say to people to encourage them to shop locally in Ongar, Colm said: “It’s value for money and it is very convenient. The shops here are very conscious of competition and they do their best to give some really good bargains.” Take time out to see what Dublin 15’s Ongar Village has to offer.
17 November 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 7
businesses in Ongar providing a terrific local service
our local economy
8 BLANCH GAZETTE 17 November 2011
FastNews
A career in garden design? TOP British landscape designer AndrewWilson, is set to give his top tips and advice at a special event in Blanchardstown Institute of Technology this weekend. This Saturday, November 19, those interested in a career in garden design will get valuable information on how to turn a hobby or interest into a successful business. The workshop will see the experienced British designer, and well established judge at Chelsea and at Bloom, share his garden wisdom on how to market a garden business. Annette McCoy, of the Garden
Designers Association, said the event will prove hugely beneficial for those considering a career in garden design: “Ireland has plenty of talented designers, and plenty of garden design graduates, but in today’s climate knowing how to offer a service and give people value for money can not be taken for granted. We think that those who are looking to promote a second career in garden design or landscape, and students just setting out on one, will benefit from Andrew’s experience,”Annette said. Tickets start at €30 and can be booked by ringing 01 294 0092.
€1 7,0 FG 06 .70 Va ra dk ar
Bu rt on
Le o
Jo an
€1 Kiera FG 8, n Den 40 iso 5. n 08
present ideas. Highlights on the day include Santa’s Grotto, face-painting and games, crafts and festive foods, Christmas stands, books and cards, children’s toys, DVDs and CDs, cake stands and there is also a Christmas Cafe to relax in. The entrance is between the Millennium Playground car park and turn for Coolmine Community School. Experience the spirit of Christmas, Scoil Oilibheir-style.
€5 ,9 29
IF you’re on the lookout for some Christmas present ideas then why not check out the popular annual Christmas Fair at Scoil Oilibheir in Coolmine. The Scoil OilibheirAnnual Aonach (Christmas Fair) is set to take place on Sunday, December 4 from 1pm until 5pm. The annual event is always a great day out for the whole family, and it’s great to help with some Christmas
Jo SP e /U H LA ig gi ns
Coolmine Christmas Fair
€2 3, LAB 40 2. 65
POLITICS The breakdown of the
Figures show the General Election campaign expenditure for candidates, with some drawing from public
Election cost Q LAURA WEBB news@gazettegroup.com
DUBLIN West candidates forked out approximately €116,000 in election expenses during the General Election campaign earlier this year. Figures by the Standard in Public Office (SIPO) revealed a national total of €9.28m was incurred by candidates and political parties in the 2011 General Election. This is almost 16% less than the €11.08m figure reported during the 2007 General Election, even though 100 more candidates ran in 2011. The 10 candidates in the Dublin West constituency spent a total of €116,790.81 Of those elected, Joan Burton, who topped the poll in the constituency and was appointed a Minister, spent the highest at €23,402.65. In her expenditure summary, Burton’s election expenses include spending €4,200 on election posters and €9,668 on other election materials. Of this €1,555.41 was met out of public funds, which consisted of the work of Parliamentary and Secretari-
al Assistants, use of office and IT equipment, postage and photocopying in the Oireachtas. Burton assigned €13,560 of her allowance to her party’s national campaign. Any expenditure originally met from public funds was reimbursed by all candidates, stated the SIDO report. Meanwhile, Fine Gael’s candidate for Dublin West, Leo Varadkar, who was also appointed a Minister, spent in total €17,006.70. On election posters he spent €5,874.35 and €7,745.09 was spent on other election material. His expenditure from public funds amounted to €496.80. The allocation to his party amounted to €17,718, receiving €3,719 of that in return. The late Brian Lenihan (FF) spent a total of €16,262, €430 of which was public funds. Included in his expenditure was election posters at a cost €11,616 and other election expenses, including canvass cards and campaign stickers costing €972.82. Lenihan’s party allocation was 15,060, in return he received €569.91.
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The 10 candidates in the Dublin West constituency spent a total of €116,790.81 --------------------------
Joe Higgins, of the Socialist Party/United Left Alliance, spent an overall total of €5,929; of this €5,374 was used for posters. He had no public funds expenditure. His party allocation amounted to €7,500 receiving a return of €5,144.65. Of those not elected, Fine Gael’s Kieran Dennison spent the most on his campaign, with figures showing a total spend of €18,405.08. Patrick Nulty of the Labour Party spent €14,999.38. Fianna Fail’s second candidate David McGuinness spent €9,857.72. Sinn Fein’s Paul Donnelly spent €8,372.96, while Green par ty representative Roderic O’Gorman’s figures showed a total expenditure of €1,305.29. Independent candidate Clement Esebamen spent
a total of €1,250. Nationally, Fine Gael and its candidates were reported to have the highest expenditure at €3,120,238. Following them in second place were Fianna Fail with an expenditure cost of €2,138,793, the Labour Party came in third with a total of €1,956,813 and then nonparty incurred expenditure of €1,141,176. Sinn Fein reported €496,928, The Green Party €241,789, Socialist Party €85,124, People Before Profit Alliance €47,757, Christian Solidarity €20,114, South Kerry Independent Alliance €15,347 and the lowest was the Workers Party at €11,987. The election period began with the dissolution of the Dail on February 1, 2011 and ended on polling day February 25, 2011. The figures represent expenditure on property, goods, or services used for election purposes during the election period. Statutory expenditure limits in place for the recent General Election were €30,150 (3-seater), €37,650 (4-seater) and 45,200 (5-seater).
17 November 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 9
€1 Patr LA 4, ick N B 99 ulty 9. 38
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€1 Le FF 6, niha 26 n 2
General Election spend
funds, as fully detailed below
€9.28m
COMPETITION Home Cook Hero Awards
Local woman up for prestigious title Q DAWN LOVE
A DUBLIN 15 resident has been shortlisted for the Home Cook Hero Awards. Judith Cameron, from Clonsilla, is one of 10 people from Dublin to have been shortlisted for this year’s prestigious competition. This week, Easy Food said they had received an “astounding response to its call for entries” to their Home Cook Hero Awards as they announced the shortlist who will have to cook their recipes for a tough judging panel.
Open to all ages, Easy Food were looking for supermoms or dads, supergrans or dads, superkids or someone that is just plain super in the kitchen! Over 1,000 tried and tested recipes were entered into the competition with some pretty mouth-watering recipes to tantalise all taste buds. Finalists have now been invited to cook their recipe for the judges on November 18 at the state-of-the-art kitchens in Cooks’ Academy, and the winning recipes will
be announced at a blacktie gala dinner hosted by Marty Whelan at the Shelbourne Hotel that evening. Gina Miltiadou, co-founder of Zahra Publishing, said of the entries: “We are delighted and amazed with the overwhelming response we got to the Easy Food Home Cook Heroes Competition. We received entries of tasty treats from every corner of Ireland and from tiny chefs aged six-years-old right up to more seasoned home cooks who
preferred not to mention their age. Myself and the other judges have a hard task ahead of us to pick individual winners out of each of the 11 categories on November 18.” The 11 winners will each win €1,500 worth of goodies, plus the opportunity to be showcased in The Easy Food Home Cook Hero Cookbook. A high calibre of judges have come on board for the Home Cook Hero Awards. The judges will be looking for tasty food that is quick and easy to make.
10 BLANCH GAZETTE 17 November 2011
EVENT
Zannz salon hosts a Marie Keating fundraiser
Sharon Wright and Ann Julian
Enjoying a night of fun and fashion
Sara Corr, Liz Dunne, Rebecca Maher, Annemarie Elliott and Allanna Hennessy. Pictures: Patrick O’Leary
OCALS shrugged off the Monday blues and headed down to the new look Zannz Hair and Beauty salon in Tyrrelstown recently for a night of fun and fashion for the Marie Keating Foundation. Despite the monsoon conditions, the event attracted a huge crowd who came to enjoy an amazing evening that included some of the beautiful ranges currently available at La Senza and some fabulous designs by Fionnuala Burke. There was also amazing spot prizes, a raffle for a hamper worth â‚Ź300, complimentary wine, drinks and refreshments. All the organisers and those who worked very hard to make the evening a great success can be very proud of themselves.
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La Senza ladies Amanda Coburn and Gillian Collins measure Roseann Ryan, owner of Zannz hair and nail studio
GOT A PICTURE? SHARE IT WITH US! Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email picturedesk@gazettegroup.com Des Ryan, Roseann Ryan and Deirdre Johnston
Lisa Burnett and Jean Prendergast
17 November 2011 GAZETTE 11
AWARDS Accepting their Oscar Wilde Gold Medals
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It’s all about Belfast: For history buffs and all music lovers
Dublin students Roslyn Steer, Katie Hill, Laura Sinnott, Deasun O’Riain and Joan Redmond display their Oscar Wilde Gold Medals
Five Dubliners top the class Q STAFF REPORTER
FIVE Dublin students have each been named among the 23 winners of the Undergraduate Awards, an awards programme open to undergraduate students on the island of Ireland and, recently, the USA. They were each awarded the Oscar Wilde Gold Medal for academic excellence by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, at the Undergraduate Awards Ceremony held at Dublin Castle on Friday, October 28. Trinity College Dublin graduate, Joan Redmond of Castleknock, Co Dublin, won the Historical Studies category for her essay, Religious Violence and the 1641 Rebellion:
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They were each awarded the Oscar Wilde Gold Medal for Academic Excellence
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Divided Communities in Seventeenth-Century Cavan. Originally from Killiney Co. Dublin, University College Cork graduate, Roslyn Steer, won the Modern Cultural Studies category for her essay, The Influence of Music on Modernist Literature. University College Dublin graduate, Deasun O Riain, was the winner of the Celtic Studies &
Irish category for his essay, “An Dirbheathaisneis sa Ghaeilge: Mo Bhealach Fein. Laura Sinnott, from Swords, Co Dublin, also a Trinity College Dublin graduate, won the Languages & Linguistics category for her essay, The audio-visual juxtaposition of Günter Grass’ Die Blechtrommel. Katie Hill, from Monkstown, Dublin, won the Nursing & Midwifery category for her essay, Paediatric Palliative Care in Ireland. Katie is currently in her final year at Trinity College Dublin. There were 2,381 submissions to the 2011 Undergraduate Awards programme of which 23 winners were selected.
SEE TRAVEL PAGES 22-23
12 GAZETTE 17 November 2011
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DIARY
Stories from around the capital
Take care of your mind FORMER Dublin captain Paul Griffin will be at the Hilton Dublin Airport, Northern Cross, on November 22 and the Radisson Blue St Helen’s in Stillorgan on Wednesday, November 23, to promote positive mental health. He will be discussing the role that mind management can have in enhancing performance and overcoming adversity. Paul will speak about the important role positive thinking played as he suffered setbacks in his playing career with serious injuries over the past two seasons. With an estimated 400,000 people in Ireland experiencing depression at any one time, the Lean on Me campaign, supported by Lundbeck Ireland and Aware, was developed to encourage better understanding of the condition, encourage friends and family to provide support to those affected, and encourage them to seek treatment if necessary. Paul will be joined by Caroline Currid, a performance coach and sports psychologist. She
Rugby star Alan Quinlan and sports psychologist Caroline Currid launch the Lean on Me campaign
will discuss some practical tools and techniques for managing a healthy mind, many of which are regularly used by professional sports people on and off the pitch. “There are simple techniques that sports stars use which can be adopted by men and women of all ages to help them manage their thoughts and maintain a healthy, positive mind. Alan Quinlan might look big and tough, but he has to work just as hard as everyone else to maintain a positive outlook,” she
said. The events are free of charge but pre-registration is required. Log on to www.leanonme.net for more information.
Beer matching at Siam Thai SIAM Thai, in Dundrum Town Centre, was the setting for an exciting evening of food, laughter and beers. Heineken Ireland is bringing beer and food together in some
top restaurants in Dublin this November in an effort to show people the wonderful marriage that these two make. With the global trend of beer and food matching arriving in restaurants across Ireland, beer is fast becoming a drink of choice when it comes to eating out. Beer, with its natural ingredients of hops, barley and water is the perfect accompaniment to food, both savoury and sweet. From banoffee pie with Paulaner to Thai Pork Curry with Birra Moretti and Affligem with crème brulee, beer and food really complement each other. We sampled massaman curry with Sol and Sweet and Sour chicken with Zywiec. The event was hosted by a lovely lady who knew lots in the way of beer and food matching and taught all guests how to sample beer, much in the same way as wine. Log on to thisisbeer.ie for beer and food matching opportunities at home and for details of the next beer and food matching event.
17 November 2011 GAZETTE 13
14 GAZETTE 17 November 2011
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GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY Taking good care of your
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and won’t harm or damage even the most irritable skin. Olive oil is rich in vitamin E, which nourishes and softens the skin and stimulates skin microcirculation. Olive oil also promotes the elimination of toxins and protects the skin against free radicals. Ziaja’s natural formulas have been designed to be slowly absorbed into the skin, offering long-lasting moisturising action, and can be used by the whole family and by infants from the first month onwards. Why not try Ziaja’s Natural Olive Cream Light €5.99, an antioxidant-rich, light-weight formula combining natural olive oil and shea butter extract (a natural UV blocker) that leaves dry, tired skin feeling smooth,
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IT’S pretty much inconceivable to cook without olive oil in today’s world and, for thousands of years, olives have been used in skin care because of their incredible ability to increase moisture levels and improve skin elasticity. Just as our Mediterranean counter par ts have used olives in their cooking for centuries, so too have they in their skincare, using this luscious oil to form the basis of many of their hair and skincare beauty rituals. Ziaja’s natural olive formulations are a gentle and effective way to soften and hydrate dehydrated skin, even in the delicate eye and lip areas. This natural-based face and body range is suitable for all skin types,
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Edited by Dawn Love
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step shaving oil preps skin before shaving and also provides a highly protective and lubricating barrier during shaving, enabling the closest shave possible without cutting the skin, leaving skin supple, moisturised and soothed. Total Shaving Solution combines a careful blend of natural essential oils chosen for their therapeutic and antiinflammatory properties, including sesame seed, soya bean, grape seed, clove bud, lavender and menthol. Founded by Tom Murphy in 1994 after he was made redundant, the County Mayo native, who enjoyed a successful 20-year career in the pharmaceutical industry, decided to take the plunge and set up a new
business. Like millions of men, Tom loathed shaving and the inevitable daily nicks, cuts and razor rashes. He wanted to create a breakthrough shaving solution that put an end to the chores and sores of having to shave each day. The result was Total Shaving Solution – a 100% natural and breakthrough shaving oil, which dramatically prevents dry skin, rashes, nicks, cuts and ingrown hairs. Total Shaving Solution is priced €5.39 for 10ml and 10.99 for €25 ml and is available from pharmacies and groceries nationwide and is also available to purchase online too. Visit www. totalshave.com
Cowshed’s new ranges for mother and baby COWSHED’S Udderly Gorgeous Maternity range and Baby Cow Organics range are now available on the Irish market. Since its launch in 1998, Cowshed’s philosophy has been to create a complete range of honest, natural and therapeutic products, using the best organic and wild crafted plants. The Udderly Gorgeous range is 100% natural and made from wild-crafted Sea Buckthorn Oil and rich in vitamins, carotenes, minerals and fatty acids, to provide your skin with all the nourishment it needs. The Baby Cow Organics range is made from Meadowfoam Oil and is specially formulated to pamper, protect and soothe baby’s delicate skin. The Udderly Gorgeous Maternity Range includes products such as Udderly Gorgeous Stretch-mark Oil €19.95 (a must for any mumto-be), Udderly Gorgeous Bath and Shower Gel €15.95, Udderly Gorgeous Stretch-mark Balm €23.95 and Udderly Gorgeous Cooling Leg and Foot Treatment €17.95 (this is simply great for any fluid retention you might develop during
Total Shaving Solution shaving oil is 100% natural and preps skin before shaving
pregnancy).
16 GAZETTE 17 November 2011
GazetteMUSIC MUSIC Competition: U2 can win Achtung Baby special edition ANOTHER 20-year anniversary comes this month with the celebration of U2’s reinvention and opening of the second age of their career with the release in 1991 of Achtung Baby, and we have five copies to give away. Simply answer the following question: What was the name of the studio in Berlin where the album was recorded? Send your answer to competition@ gazettegroup.com, with the subject line “Achtung”, before Friday, November 25, or log on to our Facebook page at www. facebook.com/gazettenews, and like and share the U2 post on your wall.
REVIEW: FIRST WHOLE-CAREER COMPILATION FOR REM
End of the world arrives
Q ROB HEIGH
THERE comes a moment in every band’s career when it is right to let go of the reins and call time on what has been a good run. REM announced last month that the time has come to close the book on what has been an epic, three-decade career. Having been there for a good part of that journey, listening to the full-stop that is Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage, a 40-track compilation of the band’s greatest hits from their 15 studio albums, is a rollercoaster ride of memories of the good times, and the less-good times, spent with a band who redefined American indie
music, inspired a whole generation, and deservedly sold millions of records around the world. The two-disc set is a fascinating ride down memory lane, as well as an insight into REM’s progression as a band. From the Byrds-ian, Glen Campbell-esque opening run of Gardening At Night to Life And How To Live It, to the point where they hit their stride in the feedback-driven intro to Begin The Begin, through the bubblegum pop of Shiny Happy People and Man On The Moon, the record chimes and chimes again what a great band REM were in their prime. Aguably, they were never the same after the departure of founder member, Bill Berry, in
1997, but among what were sometimes patchy, sometimes inspired, albums that came after their best, New Adventures In Hi-Fi, are some pretty incredible songs. Their decision to quit is undeniably sad, but this collection shows their ability to turn their hands to a variety of styles, and one of the joys is reading the liner notes, as each band member recalls the times, circumstances and inspirations that led to such an impressive oevre. Their ability to merge the influences of their Southern youth with the inflections of the great guitar bands of the late Sixties and early Seventies, and their understanding of what makes a timeless pop song will be their
REM call time on 31 years with compilation album
legacy, something other acts should aspire to. A 40-track run through of 15 albums will inevitably miss some of their finest moments, so I heartily recommend catching up with the extended edi-
tions of the IRS releases, Out Of Time, the aforementioned Adventures, and their swansong, Collapse Into Now, which meant that REM will exit the stage on a deserved high.
17 November 2011 GAZETTE 17
GazettePETS PETS
Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA
THE FACTS: IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS PROTECTED
Keeping pets safe during extreme cold IT’S winter time folks, oh yes, the frigid air is barreling towards us and we’re busily raiding the garden sheds for shovels and salt in preparation for winter; so, in the spirit of Jack Frost, let me ask you a few questions. Do you don your winter woollies, break out the old Ugg boots and add a trendy scarf to your daily wardrobe? Yes! Ooh, then you’re probably like me and love the unique seasonal quality that comes with the fact you can layer up and no longer feel the need to wax your legs. Bliss. However, let’s hope you also paws, (sorry) to take precautions when it comes to your pet’s seasonal requirements because it’s important
to keep our four-legged friends warm and protected during the cold snap. Below are some of my top tips. Read them, you never know, they may come in handy.
Dog and cats • Make sure your pet has access to fresh drinking water and food. • If walking your dog, wear warm, reflective clothing and get Fido a reflective collar and lead also. • Watch for dogs’ and cats’ paws becoming impacted with snow – this can cause discomfort. • Make sure your cat wears a reflective, safety collar. • Make sure your pet sleeps indoors, especially during extreme tempera-
• Keep a close eye on pets sleeping by the fire; they could burn if they get too close.
Pet birds • Birds should be placed in a draught-free spot and well away from a heater. • Make sure your bird has access to fresh drinking water. Make sure your dogs paws don’t become impacted with snow
tures and raise their bedding off the ground so they don’t catch a chill from the cold, damp floor. • Cats prefer to be snuggled up indoors and a comfortable chair or basket can make the perfect bed for your feline friend. • Watch out for hypothermia or a body temperature that falls below nor-
mal for your pet. Cats in particular are at risk here, especially if they already suffer with poor circulation or are exposed to cold conditions. If Kitty shows signs of depression, weakness, lethargy, begins to shiver and stops responding to you, wrap her up, keep her warm and ring your vet immediately.
Outdoor pets If you have a rabbit or guinea pig it’s important you move the hutch to a sheltered area like a shed or garage. Better still, move to a downstairs loo or cloak room. • Make sure they have plenty of warm, fresh bedding to snuggle down in and change it regularly. Do not, under any circumstances, use cut
grass as a form of bedding as moulds and fungi can build up and create a toxic atmosphere that can prove fatal for your pet. • Rabbits and guinea pigs will naturally eat more in the winter so they have extra fat to help them stay warm; make sure you give them plenty of food, fresh vegetables and fresh water. Make sure the water doesn’t freeze in the water bottle.
Feeding birds In sub-zero temperatures, wild birds have difficulty finding food. An extra bit of care from you will see them through the winter. Wild bird seed, peanuts and suet slabs are widely available in shops and garden centres.
Frozen Ponds If you have a pond in your garden, check it each day for ice. Toxic gases can build up in the water when it’s frozen. This may kill fish or frogs hibernating at the bottom of it. • Dog owners must keep pets well away from ponds and lakes that have frozen over. Thin ice may break under your dog’s weight. If you must allow your dog near open water, then stay with him at all times. For more information, check out www.dspca.ie or email me at miriam. kerins@dspca.ie For more information, log onto www.dspca.ie or email miriam.kerins@ dspca.ie
18 GAZETTE 17 November 2011
GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs INTEREST-FREE OPTION ON OPEL PASSENGER CARS OPEL Ireland has announced a very attractive finance offer for all new Opel passenger cars. Financed through Credit Opel and underwritten by permanent tsb Finance Ltd., Opel’s 0% Flexible Finance offer gives customers the chance to buy a car without paying one cent of interest. Customers choose the Opel car they want, and then select their deposit range from between 30 – 50%, with the term ranging from 12–48 months. New Opel customers will also reap the benefits of Opel’s new four-year/100,000km Full Warranty plan. Customers can choose their new Opel Astra, Corsa, Insignia or Meriva in tax band A (in diesel and/or petrol models); with annual road tax of just €104.
The best Skoda Yeti? The practical, yet charming, Skoda Yeti brought out the inner boy racer in CORMAC CURTIS, who got more drive than he was expecting HEN it comes to cars that are designed to carry a combination of people, luggage, cargo and/or recreational equipment – it rarely transpires that the result is something that is a heap of fun to drive and has a boot-load of character in the looks department! But, I must admit, the latest 4x4 incarnation of the Skoda Yeti comes dangerously close to achieving both. I recently had a long weekend to put the Yeti 4x4 Ambition through its paces in the not-too-extreme environment of Dublin City. But, let’s face it, most people who buy any kind of SUV will only need to test its off-road mettle when they get dangerously lost at the Ploughing Championships, or spend too long at the beach to find the tide getting perilously close
W
SPECS: SKODA YETI 4X4 AMBITION, 2.0 TDI Top speed: 201km/hr 0 – 100km/hr: 8.4 secs Economy: 5.9l/100km CO2 emissions: 155g/km Annual Road Tax: €302 Price: €29,545
where they parked. Any way, let’s talk first impressions. The Yeti is a really attractive, but not a stunning-looking car. In the same way the Suzuki Swift stole envious glances from MINI owners when it first hit the streets, the Yeti has its own charm. So much so, in fact, that my six-year old asked me: “Is he a happy car? ‘Cos I think he’s smiling!”
You can’t really argue with that kind of affection, can you? The model I tested was the 2.0TDI 170bhp six-speed manual version – I can’t tell you if the car was happy or not, but I certainly was. This car has a throaty exhaust note that just begs your inner boy racer to come out for a joyride. Some clever guy in some secret research laboratory somewhere in car-making land has clearly figured out a way to make modern diesel engines sound like a cross between a Porsche and a Harley-Davidson. That, coupled with the fact that the engine produces 170bhp, means you get a level of fun behind the wheel that you just don’t expect from an SUV such as this. Moving on to more practical
matters – after all, this car has an awful lot to offer in practical terms – the cabin is a very comfortable affair indeed. The front passengers enjoy plenty of room, with seats that are incredibly supportive, without being completely rigid. There was enough space in the back for my two kids in their child seats, but I wouldn’t be too keen on a long journey back there myself. Having said that, the three rear seats, using Skoda’s VARIOFlex Seating Solution, can be rearranged in an almost endless set of configurations to allow for any combination of passengers and luggage – they can even be removed completely. Returning to the front, some might consider the dashboard in the Yeti bland, but I found it simple, uncluttered and I liked
the matt finish and brushed aluminium-style accents. The console boasts an impressive touch-screen interface that controls everything from the Bluetooth connectivity of your mobile phone, to the impressive Columbus satellite navigation that is fitted as standard on all Yeti 4x4 vehicles from 2012. There are some little letdowns in the Yeti. Anyone shorter than about 5’ 10” will find the visors completely useless when the sun is low in the sky - as my wife was at pains to point out. And, if I was to really start splitting hairs, I would ask why the ‘ticking’ sound of the indicator is so quiet! In short, this is a great car from a company that is making huge strides in build-quality, design and value. The model I drove costs €29,545.
New dealer in Dublin for Suzuki SUZUKI Ireland has announced the appointment of Paschal Kennedy Motors Ltd in Dun Laoghaire as a new Suzuki dealership. The appointment increases the number of Suzuki dealerships in Ireland to 19. Commenting on the appointment, Wayne Doolan, general manager of Suzuki Ireland said: “We are very happy to be associated with Paschal Kennedy Motors. They have been successfully serving customers in the Dun Laoghaire area
since 1969 and have gone from strength to strength.” Dealer Principal, David Kennedy, is pleased about this latest development within his business. “This third-generation family business was originally established in the 1920s by my grandfather. Due to fuel shortages, the business was sold during WWII, and was bought back again in 1969. At that time, we concentrated on service and repairs before moving into the sales area,” he said.
“Business grew beyond our expectations, leading to expansion in 1995 in both our site size along with our sales and after-sales facility.” Paschal will be stocking the complete range of Suzuki vehicles, which includes the Alto, the Splash, the Swift, the SX4 Crossover Range and the Grand Vitara. Paschal Kennedy Motors is situated on Library Road in Dun Laoghaire – see www.kennedymotors.ie for more details.
David Kennedy and Paschal Kennedy, of Paschal Kennedy Motors, with Michael McBarron (standing) and Wayne Doolan of Suzuki Ireland
17 November 2011 GAZETTE 19
20 GAZETTE 17 November 2011
GazettePROPERTY PROPERTY DUBLIN 15: RECENTLY UPGRADED PROPERTY FOR €290,000
Four-bedroom peace in the Glade
A mix of classic and contemporary decorations
INTERIORS: CHRISTMAS TIME IS A-COMING
Delectable decorations BELLEEK Living have designed an exclusive Christmas Collection, full of unique gift ideas. Whether it is surprising that special someone or adding a contemporary touch to your home, the Christmas Collection holds the perfect solution. Among their special range of decorations, they have a variety of styles, both contemporary and classic, including a Contemporary Nativity Set for €45, a Classic Three Kings Set for €45, and a selection of snowman and snowflake ornaments. For more information, see www.belleek.ie
SHERRY Fitzgerald, Castleknock, are bringing No. 14, Castleknock G l a d e , a f o u r- b e d semi-detached home that benefits from an upgraded kitchen, bathroom and double glazed windows, to the market for the asking price of €290,000. T he proper ty also features a 88f t-long rear garden that offers wonderful potential to extend. The accommodation comprises entrance hall with glazed ceramic floor tiles, a guest WC comprising WHB and WC with a ceramic, tiled floor. The living room benefits from excellent proportions and a tiled fireplace with a back boiler, and it leads into the dining room, an open plan space with the living room, with access to
the kitchen, with views from a picture window overlooking the long rear garden. The kitchen features an upgraded solid wood-fitted Shakerstyle kitchen, which is plumbed for a washing machine. The ceramic floor tiling has a feature centre piece, and there is a door to the rear garden. The master bedroom is a double room to the front of the house and has built-in wardrobes and dressing table, which, along with the other three bedrooms, is well-sized and features built-in wardrobes. The main bathroom was recently reappointed to comprise a wc, a bath with a shower screen and an electric shower. A wash-hand basin sits above a contemporary style storage
Number 14, Castleknock Glade, is on the market for €290,000
unit. To t h e f r o n t , t h e driveway is bordered to one side by a neat lawn and it is fully walled. Side access leads to the phenomenal 88-ft long rear garden laid in lawn. This garden affords obvious potential to extend subject to
planning permission. The property is located within a five-minute walk of Castleknock Train Station. Castleknock Glade is just a short stroll from Scoil Thomas Primary School and a good selection of local shops. Castleknock Com-
munity College, Mount Sackville girls’ school and Castleknock College boys’ school are all within close proximity of the property. To arrange a viewing, contact Michelle Currana at Sherry FitzGerald, Ashleigh Retail Centre on 01 820 1800.
CASTLEKNOCK: FOUR-BEDROOM SEMI-DETACHED FOR €375,000
Secluded living at Brompton Lawn
SHERRY FitzGerald, Castleknock, are also bringing No. 23, Brompton Lawn, Castleknock, Dublin 15, a four-bedroom semi detatched property, to the market, with an asking price of €375,000. This family home in exceptional condition, having clearly been well maintained by its owners. Situated at the end of a cul-de-sac, this immaculately presented home benefits from a large back garden and ample off-street parking to the front. The property benefits from well-proportioned accommodation which is designed with comfortable living in mind.
Number 23, Brompton Lawn, Castleknock, is on the market for €375,000
It comprises a large welcoming entrance hallway, an open-plan living/dining room, study, a bright modern open plan kitchen/breakfast room, which features Italian black granite floor tiles. The kitchen is fitted
with an excellent range of white high-gloss units, integrated oven, hob, hob, dishwasher and washing machine. Double doors from the breakfast area lead to the garden and a guest WC. Upstairs, there are four
bedrooms and a family bathroom. The back garden measures 65ft (approx), it offers a high degree of privacy and is filled with an array of trees, bushes and flowers. There is also a large brick shed. The front
driveway provides excellent off-street parking. Local facilities are in abundance and include a variety of shops, restaurants, pubs, schools and leisure amenities. It is ideally located within minute’s walk of Roselawn Shopping Centre, Coolmine Train Station and numerous bus routes. Castleknock, Blanchardstown Village and Town Centre, the Phoenix Park, various golf courses and, most importantly, the M3 and M50 are all in close proximity. There is also an good choice of national and secondary schools locally. For information, contact Carol Anne Galvin on 01 8201800.
17 November 2011 GAZETTE 21
GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS
Supported by AIB
Interview: Susan O’Dwyer – Chief executive, Make-A-Wish Ireland
Making a difference is dream job for Susan
THE BEST BANK TO HAVE A CURRENT ACCOUNT Q – I have just opened a Bank of Ireland current account and received a 24-page booklet on fees and charges. You would nearly need a degree in Banking to understand all the terms and conditions plus, of course, time. Where is the best bank to have a current
SUSAN joined Make-A-Wish in October 2006 as development and fundraising manager, and was appointed chief executive in 2009. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the Foundation in Ireland, helping grant wishes to children across the country. Make-A-Wish Ireland grants wishes to children between the ages of three and 18 years living with life-threatening medical conditions. Make-AWish receives no Government funding, so totally relies on the generosity of the general public, corporates, groups and associations. Every wish granted is unique and extremely special to the family involved, allowing them to forget hospitals, treatments, injections and even the illness itself, ensuring that the family creates fantastic memories that will last a lifetime. Wishes fall into four categories: I wish to have, I wish to go, I wish to meet and I wish to be, with wishes only being limited by the child’s imagination. A wish brings a smile to a child’s face and gives them something to look forward to. Look out for all of their great Christmas gift ideas this year, which will all be helping to raise money for Make-A-Wish Ireland, from limited edition scarves at Pamela Scott and Candles from the Disney store to music downloads from some of our Celebrity Ambassadors and great MakeA-Wish Merchandise... there is something for everyone.
account and how do you minimise the exorbitant costs ? Alan - Milltown A - Welcome to the real world! Current accounts are really loss leaders to the banks that operate them but it is a way of reeling you in so that other more profitable products and services can be offered to you. Even though it is a loss leader, the charges can still be costly – 28c for every transaction or € 11.40 per quarter up to 90 transactions thereafter 28c per transaction. These costs are outside other charges once overdrafts (€ 25 application fee ), referral fees (€4.44 per day) or unpaids (€ 12.70 for each item sent back) come into the reckoning. Avoid overdrafts at all costs – they are just not worth it. As regards free banking though, Bank of Ireland DOES offer free banking if - You lodge over € 3,000 per quarter over that three-month period - You MUST make 9 debit payments from the account using Banking 365 and/or go online OR - Maintain € 3,000 in the current account at all times during the quarter AIB Bank at €4.50 per quarter, plus 20c for most other transactions bar cheque and branch transactions (which cost 30c each – they would prefer
Susan O’Dwyer
you using their online facilities) while Permanent
Q&A Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be? A: Believe it or not, I wanted to be a Montessori teacher, and now I am the chief executive of a children’s charity
TSB require lodgements of € 3,000 plus 18 card purchases and 1 online transaction to qualify for
When you receive a letter from a wish parent expressing their thanks, you cannot help but be passionate for what we do and want to do more
Q: What was your first job? A: My very first job was a hol-
Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’? A: I am lucky to work with a
iday job working behind the counter in the local delicatessen. My first full-time job was working as a secretary for a small firm of accountants
great team at Make-A-Wish and we all work together very closely on a day-to-day basis to ensure we grant as many wishes as possible
Q: And your first pay cheque? A: Too long ago to remember
Q: What sport can you play? A: I love playing tennis, for
Q: When did you start your present job? A: I have been working with
me it’s a complete switch-off and a fabulous way to reduce stress. Pilates is my new focus and I try not to miss a class, I also enjoy walking with family, friends and my dogs
Make-A-Wish Ireland since 2006 where I started as fundraising manager and in 2009 I was appointed chief executive
Q: What is the best thing about your job? A: Knowing that we are making a difference to very special sick children nationwide is what keeps us motivated.
Q: What is your guilty music/ TV or movie pleasure? A: I have a few guilty pleasures: (1) curling up on the couch with a mug of tea, bar of chocolate and an oldfashioned movie such as an
Audrey Hepburn film and (2) at Christmas time sitting down for hours at a time doing a Wasjig jigsaw
Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook? A: I am an avid follower of @ MakeAWish_ie and Make A Wish Ireland on facebook; I also follow numerous other Irish charities and all of our Make-A-Wish Ambassadors to follow what they are up to
Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously? A: I am a cautious spender,
where would be good
Q: What would be your dream job? A: I am lucky to be working in my dream job. Making a difference in the lives of sick children and their families makes my work so rewarding and is a huge motivator, especially as I am a mother myself. If I had to choose something else as a dream job, maybe to own my own greeting card shop or run my own Montessori School
but when I shop some of my favourite haunts are Ashanti Gold in Greystones, Peter O’Brien’s collections in Arnotts, Carl Scarpa, Cinders and Dundrum Shopping Centre
Q: Any advice for budding business women out there? A: Ensure that you have a
Q: Describe your dream holiday? A: As long as there is sun-
Staying close to family and friends is imperative as you need time out to keep your focus. Keep positive, and learn to juggle.
shine and I am relaxing with my family and friends, any-
balanced lifestyle, a good support system and, where possible, someone that you can trust as a mentor.
the free banking. Ulster Bank probably have the best deal currently and you can check for comparisons through the Financial Regulator’s web site - http://www. itsyourmoney.ie/costcomparisons/cs_tab_personal_current_account.htm Don’t forget if you have an aversion to current accounts, you can always pay your bills for free through An Post’s BillPay service – 120 different bills and payable on the drip if necessary in any of the 1,250 post offices ( e.g. pay your € 200 two-monthly ESB bill over 8 weeks at € 25 per week ) Finally, surplus funds should not be left in a current account – the interest rate is 0% ! Better in your pocket. 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
146,000* PEOPLE IN DUBLIN READ OUR PAPERS EACH WEEK *based on standard industry measurements
TO ADVERTISE CALL 60 10 240
22 GAZETTE 17 November 2011
GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel Belfast bliss for history buffs and all music lovers Leave the winter woes at home with a great Algarve holiday, with a range of options to choose from
A FAVOURITE spot for Irish people, the Algarve is the ideal year-round sun destination. Concorde Travel feature packages to the idyllic resorts of Albufeira, Alvor, Carvoeiro, Lagos, Portimao/Praia da Rocha, Vale do Lobo/Quinta do Lago and Vilamoura. Whatever your budget, Concorde Travel has a range of two-star to five-star hotel and apartment options to suit you. With flexible departure dates and holiday durations, as well as departures from Dublin, Cork and Knock to Faro, Concorde Travel now make it even easier to travel to this beautiful holiday hotspot. The three-star Hotel Praia Sol (Vilamoura), on a bed and breakfast basis, costs from €299, whilst the four-star Vila Gale Ampalius (Vilamoura) costs from €419. The five-star Hilton Vilamoura, As Cascatas Golf Resort and Spa (Vilamoura) on a bed and breakfast basis, costs from €519. Prices are per person, based on two sharing, and include flights from Dublin, transfers, sevennight’s accommodation, airport tax and baggage. Visit www.concordetravel.ie, or telephone 01 775 9300 to find out more.
Norway’s the way to go and see what’s described as the greatest Northern Lights show in 50 years PREPARE for the most spectacular show on earth this winter with a trip to Norway to see the Northern Lights. With NASA predicting the brightest and most active Northern Lights display for 50 years, now is the time to book this once-in-a-lifetime trip. Four nights in a three-star hotel costs €689, or €759 for four-star accommodation. The package includes return flights from Dublin to Tromso via Oslo, four nights’ accommodation in a three- or four-star hotel on a bed and breakfast basis, and airline taxes. Travel between Thursday, December 1 and Thursday, February 28, using the reference: H014-3396. For further information, or to book this trip, see www.gohop.ie/3396/Cheap-Holidays/NorwayNorthern-Lights-/holiday.html.
MICHAEL HANNAN
AS A regular visitor to Belfast, I thought I had seen much of what the city had to offer, but a stay there during its Music Week, with the MTV Awards in town, gave me a completely new perspective. After checking in at the luxurious Europa Hotel, and lunch at the nearby Made in Belfast restaurant, our group gathered at the famous Ulster Hall in Bedford Street to begin the Oh Yeah music tour. The tour is run by the Oh Yeah Music Centre, which was set up in 2005 to help promote talented musicians and rock bands from Northern Ireland. The Ulster Hall is where, in 1971, Led Zeppelin gave Stairway to Heaven its world premiere. Our tour took us past the street where Ruby Murray lived. While most people, sadly, only think of her name as the cockney rhyming slang for curry, the 1950s’ singer was the only entertainer to have five singles in British Top20 charts simultaneously. We went past the Maritime Hotel where, in 1964, a 19-year-old Van Morrison and his band, Them, brought the house down with their classic, Gloria. We saw his humble origins as we drove past 125 Hynford Street, where he grew up.
A trip past the famous Limelight Bar was next, where, in 1994, Oasis played a gig and, when told their Definitely Maybe album had reached No 1, famously threw off their guitars and, in the guide’s words, “got a wee bit drunk”. After a visit to the Oh Yeah Music Centre itself, we quenched our thirst at the elegant Duke of York pub, where Gerry Adams previously worked as a
perfection. Back at the Ulster Hall later that evening for the Benefit Gig for the Alzheimer’s Society, we were treated to more than three hours of timeless punk and rock classics by Divine Comedy, Ash and The Undertones. Two highlights were the double rendition of The Undertones’ classic, Teenage Kicks, which the late DJ, John Peel, famously played twice in succes-
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The Titanic Walking Tour guide was witty, engaging and full of ‘useless’ information [about the ship and its building] that a history anorak like myself thrives on --------------------------------------------------------
barman, and stopped to admire the mural in an alleyway across the road depicting many famous Northern Irish personalities. T he mural was a cross-community effort, between Danny Devenny, an ex- member of the IRA and Maze prisoner, and Mark Ervine, son of the late Progressive Unionist Party leader, David Ervine. Dinner at The Bar and Grill at James Street South proved to be a great choice, with both the seafood and steaks ordered by our group cooked to
sion on BBC Radio 1. As if to mirror this, at the end of the concert, all three bands came onstage again to perform the song together. The sight of men in their 50s pogoing wildly to this punk anthem was as memorable as it was humorous. No trip to Belfast can be complete without taking part in the Titanic Walking Tour. This takes in the famous Thompson dry-dock and pump house, as well as the berth where the ship had its final fit-out before being launched. The tour guide was witty,
engaging and full of “useless” information that a history anorak like myself thrives on. For example, the docking berth where the ship would be brought in for repairs would have contained 21 million gallons of water (85 million litres). This took about 100 minutes to pump out, or the equivalent of two Olympic-sized swimming pools every 60 seconds. Not bad, for 1912! After a browse around the St George’s Markets, lunch in the Galley at Belfast Barge was excellent, with my companions’ risotto earning particular plaudits. A hugely entertaining alternative walking tour of the city, by Terri Hooley, the godfather of the Belfast punk scene, rounded off my trip. Hooley is a peace campaigner, band promoter and opened the Good Vibrations record shop in 1978, launching such bands as The Undertones, Rudi, and The Outcasts. He recounted the famous story of when The Clash came to Belfast to perform a gig at the Ulster Hall, only to be told at the last hour that it couldn’t go ahead due to concerns over the insurance costs. The cancellation sparked a riot by punks of mixed religion waiting outside, who, disgruntled
With so much to enjoy on in Belfast recently, where
at the eleventh-hour cancellation, attempted to rip off the doors to get inside. As Hooley puts it: “It didn’t matter if you were Protestant or Catholic, as long as you were a punk. It was a strangely unifying experience.” Speaking of experiences, there are plenty of great ones to be had in the Northern capital, ranging from culinary, musical, cultural and historical, and if it all seems like too much effort, there are no shortage of cosy pubs to rest awhile. To find out more information on Northern Ireland’s tours and events, or for further information on places to stay, and things to see and do in Northern Ireland, callsave 1850 230 230; visit the Northern Ireland Tourist Board’s tourist information centre in Suffolk Street, Dublin 2, or see www.discovernorthernireland.com.
17 November 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 23
Edited by Mimi Murray
TravelBriefs
Enjoy shopping and pampering in Carlow at a comfortable price CARLOW has never been more affordable for a pre-Christmas shopping break and, with the fourstar Talbot Hotel located just a short stroll from all the attractive shopping areas, it is convenient, too. The Talbot Value Shopping Package includes attractive discounts for the best boutiques in Carlow, which includes an exclusive guide to the best shops in Carlow town. After the day’s shopping, attentive staff will bring your shopping bags to your room, while you relax and enjoy a sumptuous meal in the cosy fourthfloor Liberty Tree restaurant. Pampering is also important, and the hotel is offering 50% off a facial or massage in its Pure Beauty spa. Stay at the hotel mid-week for €149 for two nights’ bed and full Irish breakfast, and a fourcourse meal each evening. Winter weekend packages are available from €99 PPS. For further information, see www.talbotcarlow. ie, or telephone 059 915 3000.
any trip to Belfast, hundreds of media staff from all around the world were delighted to attend a day of music- and culture-driven events the fine setting of the Titanic Drawing Offices helped to engage the Belfast guests with local craic agus ceol
The iconic Titanic Signature Building’s exterior is another sign of the modern face of Belfast’s contemporary cityscape
24 BLANCH GAZETTE 17 November 2011
GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT 1GoingOUT PAVILION 01 231 2929 Same Old Moon
DALKEY-based St Patrick’s Dramatic Society are staging their latest memorable production, following the fortunes and family life of Brenda Barnes. Brenda’s life is anything but straightforward, as we see on her funny and sometimes dramatic journey from childhood to her 40s, thanks to her eccentric and sometimes fiery family. See the society’s production nightly at 8pm until Saturday, November 19, with admission costing €18/€15.
MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 A Skull in Connemara
THE Mill presents the second play in the Leenane trilogy, by playwright Martin McDonagh. In a rural Connemara town, a gravedigger prepares for his annual autumnal task of disinterring old, forgotten bones in the graveyard to make room for new arrivals. However, with his late wife’s remains due to be moved, rumours about her sudden death begin to surface ... This play runs nightly at 8pm until Saturday, November 19, with admission costing €10.
DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Sweet Charity
READY for another hit show from Coolmine Musical Society? Then come along to Draiocht, where the highlyskilled players are marking their 30th year in show-stopping style, thanks to their production of Sweet Charity. New York in the 1960s will blaze into life on stage, with such memorable songs as Hey Big Spender, If My Friends Could See Me Now, and Rhythm of Life to enjoy, all in the name of following the ups and downs of lovelorn dancehall hostess, Charity Hope Valentine. Coolmine MS’s production runs nightly at 8pm until Saturday, November 19, with admission costing €20/€17.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it think that Cinema really needs this version of the timeless, and seemingly endlesslyreheated and reserved, tale, with this latest reimagining being a little too bodacious rather than gracious with the source material...
The Mess-keteers It’s one for all, and all for one – edging towards the exit, that is, with an uninspired rehash of a timeless tale ... Q KATE CROWLEY
EVEN unf lappable, battle-hardened cinema reviewers could be forgiven for shrieking and eeking when faced with the sight of not one, not three, but two Nicolas Cage films opening at the same time. Two! Why, the very thought of cuddling up with Nic for his latest offerings, Trespass, and Justice, is almost – almost – enough to send yours truly barrelling through the doors to see the latest Twilight film (as Twilight The Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 opens this week). I say “almost”, as even my darling, Emo-friendly daughter, Crowleyetta, knows that there’s only one way I’ll go to see, and review, another Twilight film – at gunpoint. And so, shrieking and eeking away from angstdriven vampires (oooh, the angst, the angst!), and eeking equally loudly
FILM OF THE WEEK: The Three Musketeers ++ (12A) 110 mins Director: Paul S Anderson Starring: Logan Lerman, Matthew MacFayden, Ray Stevenson, Orlando Bloom, Milla Jovovich, unlikely shenanigans
OUR VERDICT: MANY cinemagoers will have had more Three Musketeer films that they’ve had hot dinners, with it being a timeless – but, perhaps, a little over-familiar – tale that needs something special, or different, to really stand out. Although the director, and cast, gamely have a go at modernising some aspects of Dumas’ tale, their efforts simply sit uncomfortably with the source material ...
away from Mr Cage, my dainty feet take me (and thee) directly to ... Actually, I’m just popping on my time travel beret, and stepping back in time to the period commonly known as Approximately Three Weeks Ago, and the release of a film which I didn’t review at the time, but will do just fine, today. After all, I can’t stand angst-driven vampires and werewolves, but I don’t mind a shaggy tale of musketeers, and one of cinema’s most revisited inspirations has been, errr, revisited, in this lat-
est version of Dumas’ The Three Musketeers. Actually, there’s not much more that I need to say to explain the film, folks, as I doubt very much that very many of you aren’t fully aware of the timeless tale of derring-do and French heroics, with this version pretty much following the standard template, on which, more anon. For now, it’s a “Non!” to following Dumas’ tale too closely from the very start, as director, Anderson, introduces the musketeers undergoing a heist, of sorts, before the ever-
treacherous Milady de Winter (Jovovich) does a runner with the goods. Okay... so, they’re the three musketeers of the title – so, where’s the fourth guy, who everyone expects? Enter surferdude-esque D’Artagnan (Lerman), who soon annoys, impresses and joins the Three (Macfayden, Stevenson and Evans), just in time to be caught up in a plot by Cardinal Richelieu (Waltz). The holy man has a wholly cunning plan to control Le King (Fox), with a nice little war with England being his grand plot, just grand, merci. With Richelieu and Winter playing an icily cold game of politics, and wishing to rule the regal roost behind the scenes, The Thre- sorry, Fousorry, The Guys must thwart their cunning plans, and prevent war with England. For zee King! For zee honour of France! For zee
probable sequel! However, mein Gott! The Three Musketeers veers wildly into French farce throughout, but never in the best way. The characters are too ... modern; a tricky thing to pull off, and, frankly, Anderson fails. I can’t quite knock the director with that tooeasy gibe of his being “best known as a videogame film maker”, as not every film made about a computer game is always awful. (I quite enjoyed the somewhat incoherent Silent Hill film-of-thesame-game, for example.) Still, Anderson, probably best-known for his interminably awful Resident Evil films (also starring his wife, Jovovich, in equally interminably awful roles), has done it again – using his reverse Midas touch (the Sadim?), he’s turned literary gold into cinematic straw. More musketeers? Zut alors, non!
17 November 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 25
GazetteGAMING GAMING Games giant has to fight its corner SHANE DILLON
THESE are dark days for Nintendo. Once an unassailable giant in gaming, the company recently posted its first publiclyreported loss in decades. Actually, although it reported a huge loss – almost mirroring the healthy profit it posted in the previous year – some industry analysts were expecting an even larger loss, with wild talk of 100-billion yen on the cards, for a while. What on earth has taken Nintendo to this sorry state of affairs? Well, the reasons have been many, and complex, all combining to hack away at the company’s economic fortunes. For starters, an obvious problem has been its 3DS console, which has bled away profits on hardware and software losses. Despite being a technological marvel – with nothing comparable to it on the market, or on the way – and despite impressing most, but not all, of those who’ve used it, sales have been much slower than expected. This doesn’t come as a total surprise – Hollywood has noticed that 3D films at cinemas have significantly plateaued, while 3D-enabled televisions are virtually glued to the shelves, stubbornly
refusing to sell. The “obvious next step forward in visual entertainment” seems to have been embraced instead as “an interesting, but passing fad” by consumers, as well as gamers. In the face of it, despite the impressive hardware, but battling consumer interest, perhaps that’s why the 3DS hasn’t caught on, impacting on Nintendo’s fortunes with the losses that it incurs on hardware sales. Despite being able to magic up such innovative tech and hardware, Nintendo’s also facing a perception that its hardware platforms are approaching the end of their life cycle, with the end of the Wii in sight, while its successor is in development. This further weakens titles available for it, creating a dragging anchor effect on companies willing to develop for it. This isn’t an entirely fair summary, as there’s still plenty of life in the “aging” console, but, with much of the world’s media focused on the cool new kid in class – Apple’s various IOS-driven gadgets – while the other gaming heavyweights – Sony and Microsoft – are much more publicly slugging it out between them on the main street, Nintendo’s been left to sink into the background.
Bytesandpieces Have a yen for original gameplay? JAPANESE developer, Kairosoft, have enjoyed enormous success with their resolutely oldschool, pixel-led titles, with each of their “simple” games consuming days of gamers’ lives. That sounds extreme, but, after all, behind the cutesy graphics in their games (whether running your own high school or managing a Formula One team) lies very compulsive gameplay, as the intricacies of managing financial systems, organising and planning layouts and so on make the time fly by – as I’ve found, by missing bus stops while engrossed d in i perfecting my shopping centre’s layout. Oops. As such, for something a little different, why not consider Oh! Edo Towns for your IOS-driven gadget? Available for €2.99 on iTunes, this is the chance to design and maximise your very own Feudal Japan town. That probably sounds about as enticing as an omnibus edition of Eastenders on TV, but this very Eastern title, complete with addictive, good-humoured pick-up-and-play fun, is another absolute gem from Kairosoft.
The forthcoming Nintendo Wii title, Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, can be expected to generate healthy revenues for the company, as the games company faces into an unwelcome battle to reverse the shift in its fortunes
-------------------------------------------------------
‘Currency issues have also proven to be major thorns in the company’s side, with the dollarto-yen rates across the past year having a particularly painful effect on Nintendo’s finances’
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As if these weren’t difficult enough problems, currency issues have also proven to be major thorns in the company’s side, with the dollar-toyen rates across the past year, having a particularly painful effect on Nintendo’s finances. With such negative external factors for any company to deal with, it’s no wonder that the Kyoto-based company has revealed just how much its sales, and profits, have plunged. It’s quite a turnaround from the previous fiscal year for Nintendo, when it posted its usual healthy profits, despite the challenges facing gaming’s
drift at physical makets at present. After all, for every Gears of War 3 (XBox 360), Uncharted 3 (PlayStation 3) or, even, Angry Birds (iPhone) success story, a hundred other titles on all platforms sink without trace. That’s the bad news. But, of course, Nintendo’s far from finished, just yet. True, the 3DS has not taken off as expected, but the regular DS handheld is still doing okay, and, if sales of the Wii have also significiantly slowed down – with the negative impact of not having the same software range and products as its rivals – Nintendo still has key gaming aces up
its sleeve. One of these is the forthcoming next installment in the long-running Zelda series, Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword; a title that’s a cornerstone product for Nintendo to remind rivals, and gamers, that it still has some outstanding cards in its hand. Now 25-years-old, the Zelda series has a longevity, and pedigree, that few games can lay claim to, with the Wii Motion Plus proving an entirely natural fit for the protaganist, Link, and his adventures. With this forthcoming title (and the help of a certain super plumber’s new release), Nintendo can remind gamers, and the wider industry, that it can deliver the goods when it needs to. And Nintendo needs to. Now, more than ever, the gaming giant needs to start landing some wellaimed blows on its rivals, before it goes down for the count ...
GAZETTE
26 BLANCH GAZETTE 17 November 2011
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GazetteSPORT
NO BOUNDARIES:
Claire Shillington on her Ireland cricket journey so far Page 29
MOTOR RACING: FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TO RACE ON SPECIALLY-CREATED TRACK
Button presses Dublin into F1 action in summer sport@gazettegroup.com
FOR the first time, one of the leading F1 teams in the world will take to the streets of Dublin next year when Jensen Button will bring his Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes F1 car to the Bavaria City Racing Dublin event on June 3, 2012. Former World Champion Button will treat race spectators to a Formula 1 masterclass on a specially designed track that starts
at the Convention Centre, continues along Custom House Quay before crossing Butt Bridge, chicanes at D’Olier Street, zips past College Green and the Central Bank on Dame Street before reaching the chequered flag on O’Connell Bridge. Bavaria City Racing’s Dublin ambassador, Eddie Jordan, said: “I’m hugely excited about Bavaria City Racing Dublin; this is something spectacular, something
you’ve never witnessed before and I, for one, can’t wait.” The City Racing extravaganza is a free public event, and over 150,000 people are expected to line the streets of the capital to enjoy the best the world of motor sport has to offer. Gavin Collins, of Bavaria City Racing, said: “We are delighted that the Vodafone-McLaren F1 team is coming to Dublin. They are a premier F1
Keith O’Haire, from Gleeson, and Robert Hyland, of Vodafone Ireland, at the launch of this unique F1 event
team and Jenson is one of the leading drivers in world motorsport.” Robert Hyland, Sponsorship Manager at Vodafone Ireland, said: “We are truly excited at the prospect of bringing the
Formula 1 experience to Dublin. Jenson is one of the sport’s great ambassadors, and we are delighted to be able to help showcase what he and the cars can do. “It will be a massive
event for the city that will be remembered for years to come.” For those who want to get closer to the action, there are three ticketed premium performance zones on the track at
Customs House Quay, O’Connell Bridge and at the Main F1 Paddock on North Wall Quay. Tickets for these areas are priced from €75.90 and are available from Ticketmaster.
28 BLANCH GAZETTE 17 November 2011
GazetteSport Sport
Members Keith O’Neill and Sean Doyle
Manager Mark Byrne with Lar Wade and Willie Tyrell
Players and club members celebrate
Champions
St Brigid’s celebrate at Russell Park T Brigid’s GAA club were celebrating last week after their senior footballers annexed the Dublin senior title for the first time in eight years in an epic battle against their near-neighbours, St Oliver Plunkett’s. The team, their mentors, the club committee, sponsors, supporters and fans all raised a toast to their success when they returned to Russell park after the victory The game itself was a thrilling one, with the St Brigid’s bench being used to telling effect, with Lorcan McCarthy, Cian Mullins and Odhran McCann all made telling contributions in the closing 15 minutes when the game was in the melting pot. The club has deservedly huge pride in the side following their success, and even more so after last weekend when they progressed in the Leinster championship after an impressive victory over Summerhill in Pairc Tailtean in Navan.
S
The St Brigid’s players celebrate their senior championship success. Pictures: Chris Lynam
Co-Manager Gerry McEntee with club president Herbie Hughes and player Graham Norton
Players Odhran and Cillin McCann celebrate with their parents
17 November 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 29
in association with
No boundaries for Shillington
Malahide’s Clare Shillington has travelled to Bangladesh to try to help Ireland’s women cricketers to a World Cup in India next year
THE influx of youth is such that Clare Shillington made her international cricket debut the same year one of her team-mates was born. Far from veteran status, it is more a statement on the prodigious talent that Ireland has to pick from, as the country’s women aim to make similar waves to those stirred up by the Irish men in the past four years. They are bidding to qualify for the World Cup this week in Bangladesh, needing to upset the world rankings and win against Pakistan or West Indies – as well as the hosts and Japan – in the
initial group phase to take a direct route to the finals in India. Finish lower than the top two, and they go into the murky waters of a repechage round. Taking on the chal-
turns 14 during the tournament. Tice became the second youngest women’s international earlier this year and has since taken eight wickets in just four
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‘It is a huge commitment, but I wouldn’t still be playing if I didn’t love it and think we have a realistic chance of qualifying for the World Cup’ --------------------------------------------------------
lenge, Irish cricket sought a special dispensation to allow two of their number to make the trip, 15-yearold Kim Garth and, most notably, Elena Tice, who
Clare Shillington in Ireland action
international games, catapulting her into the team. She was born in 1997, the year Malahide cricket club member Shillington made her Irish debut. She was a precocious teenage batting talent at the time but told the Gazette just prior to flying out to the competition that selection runs along Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenet that if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. Asked how she feels about possibly having made her debut before Tice was born, Shillington laughs. “We haven’t talked about it but that is an interesting one! That makes me feel very old. Just hearing their date of births... It’s fantastic that Elena is able to do it physically at that age; her and Kim Garth. “As a dynamic in the team, it’s incredible. I’m a good bit older but we do come together and age doesn’t really mat-
ter when you’re playing cricket. “Everyone does look out for each other but I hope I can pass on some of the experience that I have built up over 14 years as a cricketer and the standards you should have. I’m highly competitive so I do my best to pass that on to anyone coming onto the squad.” From a preparation perspective, the side has travelled in confident mood, with both Shillington and captain Isobel Joyce – sister of Irish men’s star Ed – labelling the group the best prepared side ever put together. The squad signed up to a mantra of “unpaid professionalism”, replicating full-time training around their working or student lives with regular 6.30am fitness calls, similar to those employed by Dublin’s senior footballers last January prior to their AllIreland victory. It is a necessary effort to be competitive against countries that have gone the full-time route in recent years. Shillington played against a touring Pakistan side in the early part of this decade, a side that were comfortably beaten by Ireland in what was their first season of the professional era. Since then, they have risen to a place above Ireland in the rankings and won a Champion’s Challenge tie last summer in South Africa with plenty
to spare. Speaking about playing full-time athletes, Shillington takes a pragmatic approach: “It’s a killer, but you have to play with what you’ve got. We all understand that money makes the world go round; cricket in Pakistan is part of their culture and everyday life, while it’s down the pecking order in Ireland. “If we were professionals and it was our job, I’ve no doubt we’d pass the likes of Pakistan, the West Indies and higher because there is the talent there. “Sometimes it is souldestroying to see how quickly a team like that can jump up, but we deal with what we can and made a commitment to be unpaid professionals. “It is a huge commitment but I wouldn’t still be doing it if I didn’t love it and think we have a realistic chance of winning. At this stage, I definitely think we can qualify. I started my international career in India and would like to finish it there in a World Cup. “It’s been quite a long preparation. I’ve been involved in quite a lot of these trips and it’s definitely the most prepared we’ve been from the amount of work, time and effort we have put in. I’m glad to be getting out of an indoor training hall and getting on a cricket pitch.”
FastSport
World and Olympic champ helps Gymnastics launch THE national governing body for Gymnastics in Ireland re-launched their brand last week with the help of Olympic and World medallist gymnast, Louis Smith, last week. Gymnastics Ireland’s brand transformation includes the launch of a new website (www. gymnasticsireland.com), Facebook Page (Gymnastics Ireland) and Twitter account (@Gymnasticsire). Smith was joined by leading female gymnast, Emma Lunn and Irish Rhythmic athlete, Aisling McGovern, both from Maynooth. The 2008 Beijing Olympic Bronze medallist also coached a group of young Irish 2016 Olympic hopefuls on the morning of the launch. Ciaran Gallagher, Gymnastics Ireland chief executive officer, said: “We are delighted that Louis could be here to help us launch the new Gymnastics Ireland brand. He is not only one of the best gymnasts in the world, but he is also a great personality and really conveys what Gymnastics Ireland is now all about.”
Ireland trio make the team of World Cup ’11 LEINSTER ‘S Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara and Paul O’Connell were the Ireland players who made the official Rugby World Cup dream team, voted for by international fans of the New Zealand celebration of the sport’s Facebook page. Ireland captain O’Driscoll took nearly 50% of the votes to make the Dream Team. A
consistent performer for Ireland, O’Driscoll added to his impressive tally of international tries with a well-taken try in the pool match against Italy. Based on suggestions from the online community, a shortlist of names per position was created each day and put to the vote, with over 160,000 votes being cast along the way. The other players in the XV were made up of players from the semi-finalists, Wales, New Zealand and France.
30 BLANCH GAZETTE 17 November 2011
GazetteSport Sport FastSport
Local stars: DIT awards their scholarships LOCAL sportspeople, Craig Grattan and Elizabeth McSweeney, were among the 54 new student athletes who were presented with their sports scholarships at DIT last week. The pair were among the students who represent a wide range of sports from Gaelic games, rugby and soccer to boxing, equestrian and tenpin bowling, as well as a range of academic disciplines, who received their scholarship grants.
St Brigid’s star once RUGBY: ASHBROOK MEN FAIL TO CLAW WAY BACK FROM START again on awards night ST BRIGID’S Elaine Kelly was one of the recipients of an All-Star award last weekend when she collected the award in recognition of her contribution to the Dublin ladies’ football teams’ 2011 campaign at the gala event at CityWest. Pictured here with her clubmates and fellow Dublin players Ailish McKenna, Noelle Healy, Sorcha Furlong and Colleen Barrett, Elaine was one of only two Dublin players honoured on the night, with the other nod going to Golden Boot recipient, St Sylvester’s Sinead Aherne. The 2011 O’Neills/TG4 All-Stars team consisted of players from the sides who dominated the senior football championsips this year, Cork and Monaghan, who contested the final at Croke Park in September.
Verona hoping for improved form in Cup VERONA will hope they can pick up their form in the FAI Intermediate Cup third round as they have been drawn to travel to Crofton Celtic. The Dublin 15 side fell to a third straight LSL Sunday Senior 1 loss last Sunday when they were undone by Sacred Heart to see them drop to ninth in the division. But they lie just one game away from making it into the FAI Senior Cup if they can overcome Munster Senior
League side Crofton whom they meet in the weekend of December 4.
Peregrine’s get their Penguins on ST Peregrines are holding a Black and White Christmas Ball in the Carton Hotel, Tyrellstown on December 3. Tickets are €50 per person and it promises to be a great night. To put a deposit down to ensure your place, contact Cara Regan Downey 087 9654797, Ciaran McGuinness 086 258 8019 or Robert Keogh 087 633 8264.
A fortmidable first-half performance saw Skerries take their home win against Coolmine in the Leinster League
’Mine scarred at Skerries LEINSTER LEAGUE DIV 1A Skerries Coolmine
32 10
sport@gazettegroup.com
THERE was only one competitive game for Coolmine this weekend, against Skerries firsts, their seconds having conceded their game, giving Coolmine’s seconds a walk-over victory. Two victories last season for Coolmine’s firsts over Skerries counted for nothing on Saturday when the visitors faced a well-organised and determined home side. A try for Skerries in the opening minutes
didn’t bode well, and gave them a lead that they were to hold and build on for the rest of the game. A fter ten minutes, they extended their lead to eight points with a converted penalty. Skerries elected to kick to the corners at every opportunity, but wingers Liam Power and David Stacey were solid under the high ball and denied Skerries any territorial advantage. Coolmine’s scr um managed hold its ground and earned them a long-range penalty after 15 minutes. However, Donal Crotty’s attempt
fell just short of the posts. Skerries continued to pile on the pressure and were first to get to a loose ball just outside the Coolmine 22. The kick through was just short of the try line, and it took a scrambled defence to eventually clear the threat. Skerries second try came from an up-andunder kick that found safe hands close to the try line and the conversion left the score at 15-0. Four minutes later their third came from the back of a scrum. With half-time loom-
i n g , S ke r r i e s we r e already pressing for the bonus point. However, Coolmine managed to work their way into the opposition half, and, after multiple phases, they had Skerries stretched on the left wing, but knocked the ball on before the final pass. The referee called the ball back for a penalty under the posts to give Coolmine their first score of the game. Skerries started the second half as they did the first with another try after five minutes and, ten minutes later, a break up the left wing
resulted in their fifth try which put the game out of Coolmine’s reach. Coolmine played their best rugby in the last quarter, and their sustained pressure resulted in several penalties, eventually resulting in a yellow card for Skerries. Coolmine made good use of the extra man, and a break up the centre from Donal Crotty found its way into the hands of Stephen Connelly, who scored under the posts. Howe ve r S ke r r i e s had the last say, pushing over with a driving maul in the last play of the game.
17 November 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 31
in association with
HURLING: SOMERTON SIDE LOSE OUT IN MINOR A
.
CLUB NOTICEBOARD ST BRIGID’S CONGRATULATIONS to Elaine Kelly on her football All-Star award; a terrific achievement. Our senior footballers beat Summerhill and now face Horeswood of
Hard luck to our U-14 girls who suffered a heart-breaking final defeat to Crokes after extra time.
Wexford at 2.30pm in Parnell Park
On Saturday, November 26, Dental
on Sunday. The support was great
technologist Dave Geraghty is com-
last Sunday in Navan.
ing to the club to fit/size people for
Remember to get your Santa suits for €4 in Penneys in the Blanchardstown Centre. Congratulations to Donal Timoney
gum shields. With more than €55k already raised for the new pitch, we need a final push for the €100k target.
and Jack O’Neill on winning the Dub-
We have collected 165 old mobile
lin U-14 40 by 20 handball doubles.
phones so far. We need 35 more to
Ciaran O’Flanagan and Tom Mulvey
get our new AED. No matter how old
were narrowly beaten in the U-12
the phone is please drop it into the
final.
club bar.
Hard luck to our inter footballers
New opening hours for our new
who were edged out by a point by
club shop. Friday 7pm to 8pm and
Crokes in their promotion play-off.
Saturday 10am to 11.30am.
Our senior 2 footballers had a good league win over St Mark’s.
Castleknock were no match for the juggernaught momentum of Kilmacud Crokes at Parnell Park
Minor hurlers reached their final with a fine win over St Jude’s.
Club Lotto takes place in The Roselawn Inn this Thursday.
ERIN GO BRAGH
Castleknock denied their place in final
Congratulations to St Anne’s who
€2,800. Draw to be held in The Pad-
defeated Erin go Bragh in the cham-
docks. Roster as follows: John Kin-
pionship last Sunday. Thank you
sella, Tony Evans, Dermot Maloney,
to Donal, Cecil and all the Erin go
Danny Doohan.
Our club AGM will take place on
day. It is so easy to forget to return
MINOR A HURLING S/F
Thursday, November 24 at 8.30pm
your Lotto tickets, so why not sign
in the clubhouse (in the grounds of
up to the annual draw membership.
Mary Mother of Hope school).
Contact JK on 086 818 4054 for more
Kilmacud Crokes 2-13 Castleknock 0-4 STEPHEN FINDLATER sport@gazettegroup.com
ALEX Pilkington’s incisive first-half burst saw Kilmacud Crokes ease into the final of the Minor A hurling championship last weekend, earning some modicum of revenge for Castleknock’s victory in the football equivalent a week earlier. It was a tie transformed in the four minutes leading up to half-time, when a tight, physical battle with chances at a premium turned into a procession, as Crokes hit 2-2 without reply. Castleknock never truly recovered, having to endure a 37-minute spell without scoring as Kilmacud stifled the threat of Ciaran Kilkenny, part of a two-man full forward line swallowed up by the southside team’s extra man in defence. It took Kilmacud 13
minutes to get off the mark, Ken Kelly’s free cancelling out an early Castleknock effort, while Conal O’Neill helped make it 0-3 to 0-2 by the 18th minute. From then on, though, it was an exhibition in the art of defending as John Huban and Robert Murphy snuffed out scoring chances, forcing Castleknock wide to the corners, leaving Paddy Tighe with a minimum to cover. The half-back line of Jamie Clinton, Emmet Doherty and James Murphy were similarly forceful, coming away with the breaks, and their work rate was a thing to behold with Conor Devins and Matthew Geraghty also to the fore. And the key scores followed as Pilkington got a slightly fortuitous first goal in the 28th minute, when his smack from a narrow angle was only half-stopped by the ’Knock keeper and drib-
bled over the line at the near post. Caolan Conway added a point before Pilkington calmly clipped home his second major as good hassling around the 40 turned over possession and set up the chance as he reeled away to the left of goal. Pilkington added a point for good measure to add to three frees from Kelly to make it 2-6 to 0-2 at the interval. Castleknock required a big start to the second half but it scarcely materialised as two more Kelly frees and a 65, capped by a sweet score on the turn from Oisin O’Rourke,
saw the lead built to 14 points. It took until the 52nd minute for Castleknock to get the scoreboard moving once more while Kilkenny cleared the bar for the first time in the 56th minute but it was too little to upset the applecart. Kilmacud now face Ballyboden St Enda’s in the decider following their 2-12 to 1-11 win over Lucan Sarsfields. For Castleknock, it was a low-key end to their underage careers following an impressive showing for the fledgling Somerton club, highlighted by their Feile win four years ago.
Bragh squad who have brought the
To be in with a chance to win the
community together in a year that
jackpot please return your com-
saw them get promoted and reach
pleted Lotto tickets to the box in
the championship final.
the Paddocks before 9pm this Fri-
Lotto: Number s draw were 5,
info. Follow us on Facebook, twit-
20, 24 and 25. There was no jack-
ter and our website, www.eringo-
pot winner. Next week’s jackpot is
braghgaa.ie.
ST PEREGRINE’S BEST of luck to our U-21 footballers
your club for only €2 a week. Lotto
who take on Naomh Mearnog in the
also available to play online using the
first round this Saturday (2.30pm)
link on the club website.
in Mearnog. Senior footballers drew their last game v Cuala.
Entertainment this Saturday in the club from Desire .
Great benefit night held in the club
Congratulations to Dessie and
hall for the late Vinny Mannion last
Siobhan on the birth of baby, Callum,
Friday.
and also to junior player, David Kitt,
Club AGM is on November 28 at 8.30pm in the club. Sam will be visting the clubhouse on December 3, details to follow. Club lotto was not won. Numbers drawn were 7, 15, 16 and 26. Next week’s jackpot is €2,400. Any member not buying lotto tickets should visit CNP.ie and support
who got married last Friday. The first-ever St Peregrine’s calendar is now available for only €5. See Lorraine O’Connor for details. Club shop vouchers are also available. Peregrine’s Christmas ball is on December 3 and payments will be taken in the club from 12pm-4pm between now and the event .
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ALL OF YOUR BLANCHARDSTOWN SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31
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NO BOUNDARIES LONDON CALLING Linda BynreononWorld Shillington a marathon Cup strike mission P29 P29
THEIR hectic schedule showed few signs of imposing weary legs on St Brigid’s when they stormed past the challenge of Meath’s Summerhill in Pairc Tailteann last Sunday to reach the semifinal of the Leinster senior club championship. First-half goals from Ken Kilmurray and Barry Cahill powered the Russell Park men into an imposing lead and saw them well on course for the final-four date with Wexford champions, Horeswood, next Sunday. Since the start of October, Brigid’s have dismissed high-quality challenges from Na Fianna, reigning Leinster champions Kilmacud Crokes, 2009 Dublin winners Ballyboden St Enda’s, Ballymun Kickhams and local rivals St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh. It is a schedule that would tax the most competitive of inter-county sides, but co-manager Gerry McEntee says that his side has rolled with the punches to make sure they keep the energy level
up for another couple of weeks. “I think it showed a couple of times. I think the lads were tired. Summerhill were unlucky not to get a couple of goals out there because they stuck at it and our lads were tired,” he said after the game. “It isn’t hard to keep going because you’re winning. They’re doing very little training in between games, because there’s no time for it. You’re playing on a Saturday or a Sunday, and that means you can’t train hard during the week. “Yes, it’s a long campaign and we’re out again next Sunday but, look, if you asked us would we swap it for being out of the championship, no one would take that. No one. They’re all delighted to be here. They’re tired, but delighted.” The Meath native’s side ended as 2-15 to 0-11 winners against his home county champions, after Kilmurray gave the side a big boost in the 16th minute, and Cahill added another major five minutes later when he fisted home Paddy Andrews’ centre. The Dublin hopeful was a huge presence on the game as he and Philly Ryan
St Brigid’s are now in the semi-finals of the Leinster championship after they beat off the challenge of Summerhill. Picture: Chris Lynam
both weighed in with five points each – just one from a free between them – while Cahill and John O’Loughlin were dominant in midfield. They all combined to hand Brigid’s a 2-7 to 0-4 lead at the midway point and, despite a brief second-half rally, the Dublin champions ran out comfortable
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victors. Sunday’s opponents, Horeswood, will be having their first outing in this year’s Leinster campaign after beating Castletown (3-9 to 0-11) in the Wexford final. County stars, PJ Murphy and Niall Murphy were key figures in Horeswood’s win as was David Shannon who scored 1-4.
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Brigid’s set for the semi-final
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