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A FESTIVE DOUBLE EDITION • DECEMBER 22 & 29, 2011

INSIDE: Seasonal songs of joy at HERE WE GO-HO-HO: Santa and the Westmanstown P10 Gazette team look back at 2011 Page 2

Quality care: Minister opens new centre A MUCH-NEEDED Alzheimer

Football: St Brigid’s run ends in Leinster final defeat Page 31

Day Centre providing care for people living with dementia in Dublin 15, was officially opened by local TD and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, recently. The new Failte Day Centre will provide dementiaspecific, person-centred care to people with dementia and their carers. Pictured with the Minister are client Tim Canavan and wife, Mary.

Full Story on Pages 8-9

Sports Awards: December’s nominees are announced Page 29

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ....................10 MOTORING ....................18 BUSINESS .................... 21 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

Boost for business as rates are cut Councillor says that the move is ‘good news’

Q LAURA WEBB

HARD-pressed businesses in Dublin 15 got an early Christmas present following a decision by Fingal County Council to cut commercial rates in the county by 2%.

The €221,634,000 budget for 2012 was approved at a

special meeting in County Hall on Tuesday, December 20.

Each percentage reduction in the annual rate on valuation or rate multiplier “reduces the overall rates burden by €1.2 million”.

We l c o m i n g t h e c u t , Labour councillor Michael

O’Donovan described it as “good news for local businesses”.

“The 2% is probably only a small help to businesses but if you take our reductions over the past four years; our rates are an encouragement and a help to the small businesses.”

2 BLANCH GAZETTE 22 & 29 December 2011

GREETINGS A look back at 2011, and looking forward to 2012

Christmas wishes from the Gazette Q CORMAC CURTIS

THE team at the Gazette were busy this week putting together the very best in local news, features, sports and picture coverage, to give our readers the best possible insight into what is happening in your local community over the Christmas season.

At the same time, our commercial team were bringing the best value in local advertising to the businesses of Dublin – the kind of businesses that know our industryleading readership and

circulation figures have been approved by the Audit Bureau of Circulation.

Coverage As regular readers will know, the primary focus of the Gazette is local coverage. We started this year by bringing further news of the “big freeze”, and how it was affecting life in our local communities.

As the capital’s residents did their best to cope with the extended extreme weather conditions, the Gazette reported on how local councils,

transport services and emergency services, as well as volunteer groups, all coped with the added pressures of frozen roads, interrupted services, and shortages of salt and grit.

As the freeze gave way to thaw, and 2011 unfolded, it became clear that our political landscape was changing dramatically.

The prospect of further austerity and lack of growth meant Fianna Fail faced an impossible battle, as the electorate prepared to send a clear message to a Government that had left the

The Gazette team wish all our readers a very merry Christmas Picture: Anita Ward

people feeling betrayed, let down and completely abandoned by its public representatives.

As a result, the General Election brought with it the end of an era for Fianna Fail, as well as the complete decimation of the Green Party.

Hand-in-hand with these changes came the rise of the Left, as many Left-leaning councillors took seats in a number of Dublin constituencies.

Moving in to springtime, Dublin entered a

period of near jubilation, with the historic visits of Queen Elizabeth II and US President, Barack Obama.

After a scorching April, our summer weather let us down. Dublin experienced more extreme weather in autumn, as record rainfall figures brought the capital to a flooded standstill.

What is encouraging is that, despite a mixed bag of news in a year that saw little or no improvement to the country’s eco-

nomic standing, our local communities remain as vibrant and exciting as ever.

Local community groups, schools, sports clubs and societies have not lost their appetite for activity, and we at the Gazette thrive on their enthusiasm.

The Gazette is an open resource for the community, and we would like to thank all of those who involve us, interact with us, and those who go as far as to write stories, take

pictures and take the time to contribute material to these pages.

If it weren’t for the efforts of these people, it would make it impossible to produce the kind of material that highlights what is bright, beautiful and unique about our area.

So, from the whole team at the Gazette, let me extend our very best wishes to you and your families this Christmas season and wish you a happy and healthy 2012.

COURTS: NEPHEW OF MARLO HYLAND JAILED

Seven years for gun offence THE nephew of Marlo Hyland has been jailed after he was caught test firing handguns in his back garden.

Karl Hyland (24) was caught as a result of a massive garda operation involving the Organised Crime Unit, The Emergency Response Unit and the Crime and Security Branch. He was sentenced to seven years by Judge Yvonne Murphy The guns were to be sold onto a criminal gang and Hyland was holding onto the weapons before they were transferred.

The stash included two handguns, a silencer and dozens of rounds of ammunition.

His defence counsel submitted that Hyland showed “some academic promise” as a teen but “went off the rails” when his uncle Marlo was murdered in 2006.

Hyland, of St Attracta Road, Cabra, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of the guns and ammunition of various calibres at his home on October 10, 2010.

He also pleaded guilty to handling two sets of stolen car keys and a stolen laptop at McDonalds’ carpark, Blanchardstown, on May 17, 2010. He has 69 previous convictions, mostly for minor traffic offences.

Judge Murphy sentenced Hyland to a total of seven years for the two incidents but suspended the final two years. She rejected a defence submission that he had a deprived upbringing, noting that he came from a “hardworking” background and was cared for by his grandmother.

Detective Garda Glen Somers told prosecut-

ing counsel, Mr Damien Colgan BL, that gardai had information that a handover of guns was due to take place between criminal gangs.

The Emergency Response Unit raided Hyland’s family home where he had been test firing the weapons in the back garden. As the armed gardai entered, he threw a bag containing the weapons over a wall and into a neighbour’s garden.

T he weapons and ammunition was later recovered and discharged rounds were found in Hyland’s garden. Firearm residue was also found on Hyland’s clothes.

Hyland was arrested along with four other people in the house. He refused to assist gardai in interview.

He was on bail at the time, after his arrest several months previously for his role in a stolen car ring. Hyland was caught as part of Operation Creeper, which targeted Dublin burglaries.

A surveillance team observed Hyland drive to McDonalds’ restaurant in a Volvo car and meet with several people. One of the people was seen going to a flower pot and hiding a set of keys there.

When the group broke up, gardai arrested Hyland and the keys were recovered. They were found to open the Volvo which contained the keys to a stolen BMW and Volkswagen as well as a €1,700 laptop, which had been taken in a break-in.

The cars were recovered nearby. Defence counsel, Mr Ronan Kenney BL, said Hyland was “a cog” in the gun transfer and was naive and stupid to have the weapons in his family home.

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EDUCATION: FUNDING ANNOUNCED

EVENT Draiocht to host graduate show

Work set to begin on new schools BUILDING work on six new schools in Dublin West is set to begin next year as part of a €430m education infrastructure plan for 2012 announced by the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn this week.

Under the funding, Mulhuddart National School; Scoil Bhride Boy’s school Blanchardstown; Scoil Bhride Girls’ School Blanchardstown; Blanchardstown West Educate Together National School and Luttrellstown Community College will see work on their new premises begin in 2012.

Meanwhile, Scoil Choilm, in Diswellstown, will undergo an extension

and refurbishment.

Welcoming the announcement, Dublin West TD and Minister for Transport, Sports and Tourism Leo Varadkar said: “The news will be welcomed in all these communities and right across the area. These are all growing communities, and there is a need for all of these school projects.

“The difficult economic climate means that we have had to postpone some significant large-scale projects, like Metro North. While that is regrettable, it does mean that the Government can focus efforts on education and health.”

Lisa Shaughnessy, second from left, pictured at the exhibition opening

Lucky Lisa chosen for art exhibition Q LAURA WEBB blanchardstown@gazettegroup.com

A DUBLIN 15 native is one of three lucky Fingal residents chosen for a special art graduate exhibition to be showcased at the popular arts and entertainment hub – Draiocht Theatre.

Castleknock resi-

dent, Lisa Shaughnessy, studied fine ar ts for four years at DIT and now the talented artist has been chosen to showcase her work at an annual exhibition, Amharc Fhine Gall VIII, for local art college graduates.

This year’s exhibition is entitled Unknown K nowns and is sup-

ported by the Fingal Arts Office.

Lisa is one of three who were chosen by curator Ailve McCormack for the exhibition and her work will feature alongside that of Andrew Carson and Sally-Anne Kelly.

Speaking to the Gazette, the 24-yearold said: “Fingal Arts Office was looking for art graduates from the area. I had to submit a proposal and application. From that the curator picked the artists.”

Entrants Selected from a huge number of entrants, Lisa said she was thrilled to hear that she had secured a place in the exhibition.

“I was delighted. I handed in the application at the last minute so I really wasn’t expecting to hear back, I was thrilled when I was.

“I have four pieces on display. Its paint and sculpture. My work plays on historical and conceptual views of painting and sculpture.

“It plays with the traditional aspect of paint-

ing and kind of taking the painting and turning it into a piece itself, instead of having a concept behind the work that is the concept.”

During her college years, Lisa’s work was displayed in a number of exhibitions, including one in the Market Galley in Dublin’s city centre and Cork.

Now that the work is on display in her home town, Lisa is a little more mindful of her critics.

“It is a little daunting because you know a lot of people in the area and a lot of people don’t get the work, but that is a challenge in itself.

“It is good to get feedback from people from your own area. I am just asking people to come along and have a look.”

Once this exhibition is finished she is hoping to get more studio work.

“At the moment I am working from home and I hope to make it as a professional artist, we’ll see how it goes.”

Unknow n K now ns runs until February 25 at Draiocht’s Ground Floor Gallery.

22 & 29 December 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 5

6 BLANCH GAZETTE 22 & 29 December 2011

INITIATIVE: RIVERSDALE

Bin It gum campaign STUDENTS from Riversdale Community College are to participate in an educational programme encouraging teens to bin gum litter.

The Bin It programme is an educational initiative run by the Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT) and is aimed at raising awareness and educating students on the importance of being more responsible with the disposal of their litter and, in particular, chewing gum.

The schools involved in the programme in Dublin are Riversdale Community College, Plunkett

College, St MacDara’s Community College, St Kevin’s College, Alexandra College and Mercy College.

The tour will visit 50 schools around the county. Bin It, is a key element of the renewed Gum Litter Taskforce (GLT) public education programme that was negotiated between the Department and the chewing gum industry for a further three years.

It involves a free interactive role-play workshop in each school to explore social responsibility with regard to littering.

D15 Company supplies equipment for freezing conditions

New business gets to grip with winter Q LAURA WEBB

James Jordan with Snow Socks, which are available from Gripman Snow Shop. Pictures: Ania Sherlock

A N E W D u b l i n 15 business is getting to grips with unexpected weather by supplying all the equipment needed to keep safe during the winter months.

Gripman.ie, a new snow store located in the Coolmine Industrial Estate, is the brainchild

of James Jordan who says last year’s arcticlike conditions gave him the idea to supply products to ensure people are fully prepared for severe winter weather.

The store stocks snow grips for shoes, which include children’s sizes – the first in Europe to supply kids’ sizes, snow socks and snow chains for cars and vans, ice scrapers for windows, rock salt for pavements, heavy duty snow shovels, and other things are available to buy in store or online.

“Last year, during the extremely bad weather I was amazed to see how we, as a country, were so ill-prepared for the snow and ice that brought the country to a virtual standstill.

“I witnessed elderly people tr ying to go about their daily routines, small children trying to get to school and hard-working people doing what they could to get to work. It was a nightmare for us all,” says Jordan.

“That was when it occurred to me that we, as a nation, tend to wait for things to happen before reacting, and then it’s usually too

late.

“I tried to buy certain products at the time to get around, but found the prices too high and a serious lack of availability.

“So now I have tried to do something about it, by forming my own company – Gripman. ie,” the businessman explains.

Items like the ice scraper is a vital piece of equipment needed in a car.

According to Jordan using hot water to get rid of ice is not best way to go.

“What people don’t realise is hot water makes glass crack and if someone is pouring it over their car on a driveway that slants, water runs down the path turning it into a very dangerous ice-rink for walkers.

“We want to get the message across to people not to wait for it [winter weather] to happen, have it ready and be prepared by having it in your car or garage ready for use.”

To see the wide range of products on offer, visit Gripman.ie or visit the store at 104, Coolmine Industrial Estate, Clonsilla, Dublin 15.

22 & 29 December 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 7

8 BLANCH GAZETTE 22 & 29 December 2011

LAUNCH Cheaper travelling with new Leap card DUBLIN West residents can now avail of cheaper fares and easier travel following the launch of the new Leap card.

Dublin West TD and Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar launched the Leap card, which can be used as a single ticket for travel on bus, Luas, Dart and rail services across the city including Dublin 15, last week.

“This is good news for all users of public transport, but especially for commuters who will see significant discounts.

The card represents one of the cheapest ways of getting around Dublin,” said the Minister.

“It will also make public transport a far more attractive alternative by allowing just one ticket to be used for a range of services. You can switch easily from one service to another,” he said.

FACILITY Minister attends the opening of a new

It’s Joan’s LAURA WEBB news@gazettegroup.com

Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton was more than happy to open the Failte Day Centre, which will provide dementia-specific, person-centred care

A MUCH-NEEDED Alzheimer Day Centre providing care for people living with dementia in Dublin 15 was officially opened by local TD and Minister Joan Burton last week.

The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, in partnership with the HSE, will operate the centre three days per week for clients living with dementia in Castleknock, Blanchardstown, Clonsilla, Hartstown, Mulhuddart, Huntstown, Cabra and the Navan Road.

The new Failte Day Centre will provide dementia-specific, person-centred care to people with dementia and their carers.

The vitally-needed centre operates a homefrom-home day-care service in the midst of the

community from the Fold Housing Complex in the Cherryfield Estate.

Speaking at the opening, Minister Burton said the new service illustrated “the importance and effectiveness of a partnership approach between The Alzheimer Society of Ireland and the HSE in meeting shared objectives”.

“As a public representative for the area, I very much welcome the opening of this much- needed facility and look forward to supporting the society to address the issues of dementia and Alzheimer’s in West Dublin now and in the future,” she said.

Figures revealed by the Alzheimer Society of Ireland show many carers are now at crisis point, as waiting lists for dementia services have shot up by 20% in the last year to a number of 1,212 across

the country.

Even operating at full capacity, however, the new centre is still only able to cater for half of those requiring its services in the area.

Over 30 people are currently on the waiting list at present and, with an ageing population in the constituency, it is likely the demand will increase.

Also speaking at the launch, The Alzheimer Society of Ireland’s CEO Maurice O’Connell welcomed the Minister to the centre and praised the wonderful achievement of all those who have worked, volunteered and supported The Alzheimer Society of Ireland in bringing this centre to the community.

“We are very proud of Failte Day Centre and how it demonstrates the huge benefit services like this can have for people

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22 & 29 December 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 9

day centre for treating people with dementia

warm D15 welcome living with dementia.

“We would like to extend our thanks to all those who have helped us bring this centre to this community like those attending today from the HSE, McDonalds and Fold Housing.

“We hope to continue expanding the service to eventually provide a fiveday service to clients into the New Year. However, this is largely dependent on funding.

The Minister with Alzheimer Society CEO, Maurice O’Connell and Failte Day Centre manager, Mary Barden

Strain

“Currently our services nationwide are under severe strain to meet the existing needs of people diagnosed with dementia. Not only that, but we are acutely aware that the recession is impacting people living with dementia with job cuts, cuts to carers’ allowance and cuts to services. The prioritisation of dementia at a government level

Minister Burton is pictured with client Tim Canavan and wife, Mary

is a very welcome step in that regard,” O’Connell added.

On attending Failte Day Centre clients are offered age-appropriate therapeutic social care activities such as social care, spiritual therapy,

social outings, cooking therapy, relaxation therapy, cognitive therapy, garden and outdoor therapy, pet therapy, Sonas, art and crafts, reflexology, beauty therapy treatments, along with auditory and visual entertainment.

For further information on the service offered by the centre, phone: 01 640 9392 For more information on the services provided

by The Alzheimer Society Ireland log onto www. alzheimer.ie

Client, Christy Cummins from McKee Park who sang You’ll Never Walk Alone

HOUSING Mortgage reduction welcomed A 0.25% reduction in rates to local authority mortgage holders has been welcomed this week by local politicians.

Rates will now be reduced from 3% to 2.75%.

While welcoming the decision, Fine Gael Cllr Kieran Dennison said that more needed to be done by the Housing Finance Agency to reduce the rates even further.

“While I welcome the decrease, the differential between the rate charged to local authority borrowers and the average variable rate in the market has now grown out to around 1.75%. The Housing Finance Agency needs to do more to reduce this,” he said.

“I am also pleased that there will be a substantial reduction in the new rate to be paid under the newly negotiated Mortgage Protection Insurance Scheme,” he said.

10 BLANCH GAZETTE 22 & 29 December 2011

MUSIC At Westmanstown Sports and Conference Centre

Audrey Dowdall and Mary O’Neill

Breda Hand, Irene Tighe, Frances Morley, Ann McCabe, Margaret Dixon, Eileen Griffin and Violet Harmon. Pictures: Rob Love

Michael O’Reilly, Daniel Creevey and Ross Elwood

Mezzo Soprano Fiona Murphy who sang on the night

Seasonal songs of joy

ESTMANSTOWN Sports and Conference Centre in Clonsilla was full of festive cheer recently when locals gathered for An Evening of Seasonal Music and Song presented

by The Garda Survivors Support Association.

Mezzo Soprano, Fiona Murphy, and the Band of An Garda Siochana performed some fantastic Christmas classics that really got everyone in the festive mood. Musical director on the night was Inspector Pat Kenny, while compere was Ray Kennedy, from RTE. The event proved to be really popular with everyone and was the perfect event to kick-start the Christmas season.

W

22 & 29 December 2011 GAZETTE 11

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14 GAZETTE 22 & 29 December 2011

GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY Brides can win big, it’s wedding time!

G

AZETTE Group Newspapers has teamed up with T h e We d d i n g Journal Show to offer lucky readers a chance to win a pair of VIP tickets, and 10 pairs of runners-up tickets , to the Wedding Journal Show, Citywest Complex, Dublin from January 13 until January 15, 2012.

The Wedding Journal Show 2012, in association with Ireland AM, will feature over 450 exhibitors and provide brides and grooms alike with a one-stop-wedding shop, together with all the inspiration they need to plan their big day.

From venues and flowers to dresses and cars, the

Wedding Journal Show has it all – and all under one roof!

As always, the Wedding Journal Show is pulling out all the stops for their 2012 exhibition.

Celebrating all that’s Irish, there will be an Irish Bridal Designers Area to help you find that dream gown, as well as Wedding Journal’s unrivalled international catwalk show, which takes place three times daily. This exclusive event provides a rare opportunity to see a selection of designer wedding gowns, bridesmaids, mothers of the bride and groomswear, some of which have never been seen in Ire-

land before!

Whether you are looking for the perfect dress, suit hire, an exclusive venue, flowers, stationery, entertainment, cars, photographer or a delicious cake, every aspect of your wedding planning experience will be covered.

What’s more – everyone who buys a ticket to the show – either online or on the door – will be entered into a prize draw to win a wedding work €25,000!

For more information, or to book your discounted tickets, visit www.weddingjournalonline.com See below for full details on this incredible competition.

Brides can bag a bargain at the Wedding Journal Show in Citywest next month. See our incredible competition below for your chance to win VIP passes for the inspirational event

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22 & 29 December 2011 GAZETTE 15

GazetteNUTRITION NUTRITION GOT A STORY? Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email news@gazettegroup.com

Party time is upon us so, to make sure you keep healthy over the festive period, check out our guide

Surviving the holiday season LEILA JOHARI

THE holiday season has arrived, party time is upon us. We want to look good in that little black dress but all that fun and feasting can take its toll on our bodies.

Between late nights, eating and drinking, it is no wonder our bodies find it hard to keep functioning effectively.

Research has shown that the average person consumes up to 7,000 calories on Christmas day, and don’t forget about the festive goodies we feast on the weeks before.

Christmas is a special time of year we want to enjoy so here are some tips to keep healthy and keep our spirits up!

Don’t go to a party hungry Eat a wholesome breakfast and lunch on the day so that you are not starving when you arrive at the party. Porridge in the morning is ideal followed by a lunch of lentil soup and

whole-grain bread.

Portion Control Allow yourself to try the festive goodies you don’t have during the year but opt for small portions, this way you can try a bit of everything.

Make food swaps and limit high-fat foods • Choose open-topped mince pies to reduce the amount of pastry • Serve whole-grain bread sticks with salsa instead of potato crisps and sour cream dip • Swap ice cream for fresh fruit sorbet • Swap salted nuts and chocolates for unsalted nuts and dried fruit dipped in dark chocolate • Ser ve marinaded chicken, beef and fish instead of breaded versions • Avoid the egg nog as this is made with sugar and cream!

Choose your drink carefully Instead of beer, cider

and Bailey’s tr y dr y wine, Bloody Marys or spirits with diet mixer, which has fewer calories.

Choose organic drinks where possible, as they have less additives, sweeteners and chemicals.

Don’t forget that people who are overweight gain weight more easily when they consume alcohol.

Drink plenty of water to rehydrate your body and avoid a hangover.

Don’t let others refill your glass and only top up when your glass is empty.

morning is unbearable, there are some cures that may help.

Fried Breakfast: Yep, believe it or not this is the one time a fried breakfast should be on the menu.

Fried foods such as eggs, bacon, mushrooms

that tiredness.

Fresh Fruit Smoothie: This will provide Vitamin C which helps the liver to process the last of the alcohol and the liquid content helps you rehydrate.

A glass of warm water with freshly squeezed

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

‘Research has shown that the average person consumes up to 7,000 calories on Christmas day, and don’t forget about the festive goodies we feast on the weeks before’ --------------------------------------------------------

Holiday Hangover The main symptoms of a hangover are a banging headache and extreme fatigue.

Alcohol robs your brain of water resulting in your brain shrinking from the inside of your skull, giving you that throbbing pain.

This is best avoided but, if the glare of the sunlight and the crashing sound of cutlery in the kitchen the next

and toast contain lots of salt and amino acids.

Your body needs salt after weeing and sweating so much as a result of alcohol, which is a diuretic.

The amino acids help to get the liver back on track after it has worked hard to expel the alcohol.

A big breakfast will boost your glucose, helping you shake off

lemon juice and grated root ginger flushes out the digestive system and a bowl of pure porridge with mixed berries and cinnamon will stimulate digestion.

Finally, get out, get moving and get some fresh air.

Take the dog for a walk to look at the Christmas lights and soak up some more of that festive atmosphere.

16 GAZETTE 22 & 29 December 2011

GazetteMUSIC MUSIC FastTunes with Radio Nova’s Dee Woods X FACTOR, Glee, Justin Bieber...somewhere there’s a production line spitting out shiny, singing puppets to destroy the brains and ears of young people.

Why not give the gift of real music this Christmas? Some of this year’s best albums make great stocking fillers.

The Foo Fighters generated earth tremors at a gig in New Zealand recently; see if you can do the same with their great album, Wasting Light, from earlier this year — your neighbours would love you for it!

Red Hot Chili Peppers’ I’m With You will get you in the mood for next year’s gig, as will Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, with Noel announced as support for RHCP. Or, and here’s a few words I never thought would be in the same sentence, Pearl Jam leader Eddie Vedder’s subtle and lilting Ukelele Songs.

The Chinese said 2011 was the year of the rabbit.

2012 should definitely be the year of the gig. Huge acts are gracing our shores next year, including The Boss, Bruce Springsteen, who will bring his E Street Band back to the RDS, albeit without the master of sax, the late Clarence Clemons, who died earlier this year.

Croker will be the setting for the Red Hot Chili Peppers with support from Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, while Van Morrison and Tom Petty both have gigs lined up at The O2. Rock n’ Roll on the New Year!

Billy Joel may be off Bono’s Christmas card list.

He told music fans in Massachusetts last week that when he was at a U2 concert in New York, he found another band under the stage adding to their live sound. I think he may have found what U2 were looking for...

Listen to Dee Woods from Radio Nova every weeknight from 7pm to 12am on 100.3FM

NEW ARTIST FORUM: HELPFUL WEBSITE FOR EMERGING ACTS

MRU ready to listen to the new breed?

IF YOU turn on national radio at any time of the day, you will likely hear Rhianna, Coldplay or whatever it was that won The X Factor, all of which have the financial backing of major record labels.

But what becomes of our Irish home-grown t a l e n t ? R i g h t n ow, according to ukairplaychar t.com, the Irish Radio Airplay Chart consists of a top 10 list of artists who all are international.

According to the website, the top 10 list was compiled over 99.7% of the general audience in Ireland.

If 99.7% of the general public are currently listening to international artists in Ireland, it means an industry rich with talented musicians don’t have an opportunity to create a platform for themselves and get to the level they truly deserve.

However, local artists have now a voice in the media. Music Review Unsigned (MRU) was set up in 2006 by Ballyfermot man, Trevor Halpin.

The website reviews unsigned musicians from all over the world, and has set up a social side to their site, attracting many unsigned artists to set up profiles for free and share their music and get reviews from MRU users.

Dave Duggan, David Spain (WDAR), Keith McLoughlin supporting Music Review Unsigned

The website is involved with local r a d i o s t a t i o n , We s t Dublin Access Radio (WDAR) 96FM, which runs a weekly char t show every Thursday at 4pm.

They also play all the latest unsigned music on the show. One of the ideas behind putting on such a show was to give more airtime to local talent.

Keith McLoughlin, a local radio presenter with West Dublin Access Radio 96fm and Dublin South FM, is on the front line in the battle to create this platform for many artists.

“I have been going to gigs and watching unsigned acts for

many years, and I go home feeling buzzed by watching new talent,” said Keith.

“But when I turn on the radio, all I can think is why are these artists not getting the recognition they deserve?”

For almost six years, Music Review Unsigned has quietly built a strong following in Ireland and now around the world.

With over 1.5 million views per month on their website, together with an online magazine that is published every month, the company has now become a staple in the Irish music industry, and has given many artists another platform to showcase their music.

David Duggan, online design editor for musicreviewunsigned said: “We could blame it on the government not putting proper legislation in place to force commercial stations to play unsigned music, but if we have a strong s t r u c t u r e t o m a ke musicians and bands aware of the financial and bureaucratic system that exists in the Irish music industry, we could see a 50/50 share of listenership in Ireland for existing and unsigned acts.”

Trevor Halpin, the editor of MRU, is equally enthusiastic about the site’s potential.

“It could be many years before such art-

ists as The Barley Mob, Autonomous I, T he Slick Hippy’s and many more local acts reach the ears of the general public on prime-time radio.

“We should be trying to put the proper infrastructure into the Irish music scene where our artists could work alongside promoters, venues and industr y insiders to build the knowledge that would help new acts to succeed.

“If we were honest, money can buy you success, and a number one single or album, but we know the real listeners would prefer to hear real Irish home-grown talent on their radios.”

22 & 29 December 2011 GAZETTE 17

GazettePETS PETS

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: LAST YEAR, THE DSPCA HELPED OVER 4,400 ANIMALS, AND THEY NEED YOUR HELP

Support the DSPCA this Christmas HIS Christmas it’s business as usual for the good folk at Ireland’s oldest and largest animal welfare charity, the Dublin SPCA and our wonderful staff and volunteers are all bracing themselves, not just for the cold snap, because, let’s face it, the conditions are practically arctic up here in the Dublin mountains, but for the surge in the many rescue requests we’ll no doubt receive.

Last year, the Dublin SPCA helped in excess of 4,400 animals, an amazing feat when you realise it costs us €2m to run the shelter and we do all of this without Government funding; depending heavily upon donations from kind members of the public.

So, while most of you will be opening your presents and tucking into the turkey and ham, our frontline staff will be on full alert, helping animals in need.

And, even though we all adore Christmas at the shelter, animal welfare, just as it is every other day of the year, remains our top priority.

However, the great part is we arrive at work to cheerful barks, luscious licks and energetic tail wags and every animal gets their visit from Santa, who puts lots of animalfriendly treats and toys into their stockings… now, how many of you reading this gets to experience that type of yuletide pleasure? How lucky are we?

So, in order to help rescued animals and support the country’s favourite charity this holiday season, take a quick look at my hints below.

T

A few coppers This yuletide, designate a day where co-workers, family members, schoolmates, etc., donate their small change to the Dublin SPCA. Make it a Puurrrfect

Christmas We’re always looking for foster families to socialise our cats and kittens throughout the year.

Why not become a “feline friend” this Christmas and give a cat a home over festive season.

New Year/New You Throw a New Year’s Eve party at your house and ask guests to make a resolution to become more animal friendly in 2012.

Adopt the Perfect Partner Visit us and adopt your forever friend. We have lots of wonderful animals, all deserving good homes, just waiting for their new families to love and cherish them.

Our adoption consultants are all expert at placing the right animal with the right family using their unique, “meet your match” programme.

Animal welfare remains the DSPCA’s top priority even on Christmas Day

Go Online: www. dspca.ie The Dublin SPCA’s gift shop has lots of gifts for this holiday season, from Christmas cards to wrapping paper, from 2012 calendars to cute, cuddly teddies, complete with full veterinary scrubs, from stationary to novelty mugs and aprons, etc.,

You could even Sponsor a Pet by going online at www.dspca.ie and sponsoring one of our much-deserving shelter animals as a goodwill gift for a friend or family member.

A Symbolic Gift Gesture: Why not support us

by becoming a monthly member?

By donating a small amount each month, you could provide our charity with a sustainable income that will help us give sick, Injured, cruelly treated, abandoned and forgotten animals a happy ending. For example: If you donate €5 per month you will enable us to buy vaccines for 30 dogs and cats. If you donate €9 per month you will help us provide special milk to bottle feed 40 orphaned kittens.

If you donate €21 per month, or more, this will qualify for tax relief,

which means your annual gift will be increased from 20-42% (depending on your tax bracket) at no additional cost to you.

If you donate €32 per month you will save a life. Let me explain. The average cost of a rescue, veterinary treatment and boarding of each animal we take care of is €475.

When we re-home an animal, having rescued, treated, rehabilitated, spayed/ neutered, micro-chipped, vaccinated, de-flead and de-wormed him, and after adoption fees are paid, there is still a deficit of €379 on each animal, or €32 per month.

Too Much Stuff Take a look at our wish list on www.dspca.ie and see if you have anything in your home you no longer want that you can donate to us.

Lobby for Legislation Contact your local TD and lobby him/her to get legislation passed at local and national level and join us in the fight to save animals’ lives.

For more information, log onto www.dspca.ie or email miriam.kerins@ dspca.ie

18 GAZETTE 22 & 29 December 2011

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs HONDA TOP OF THE CLASS IN RELIABILITY: THE latest Car Reliability from Which?

Car said: “Not only did Honda owners respond in the largest numbers to the 2011 Which? Car Survey, they also reported that Honda was the most reliable of all 34 brands we covered.

“That’s no mean feat, and it makes Honda one name that’s worth remembering when it’s time to replace your car.”

That is praise indeed from the biggest survey of car reliability and owner satisfaction in the UK. The Which? Car Reliability survey,

that asks car owners to rate their own cars, is calculated from the number of breakdown, faults and niggles suffered by all models in the last 12 months. The score for each of these are then combined to provide an overall reliability score for each manufacturer.

As breakdowns are more serious than faults or niggles, they are given a heavier weighting than the other two areas.

Frank Kennedy, of Universal Honda, was delighted with the result: “The Which? Car Survey is very comprehensive in that car owners who live with their cars are the people who rate the cars.

This means that potential buyers will be able to make an informed decision as how good it is to own a Honda which has been rated so highly.”

Honda is up one place from last year when it came second.

Back in black, but she’s laden in red Pretty as a picture, but it’s not a case of style over substance with Skoda’s Fabia Monte Carlo – there is some real fun to be had here too, says Cormac Curtis LAST WEEK, the eco credentials and mind-blowing economy of the Skoda Fabia Greenline were at the centre of the Gazette motoring pages.

This week, without wanting to be too repetitive, we’re going to take a look at another Fabia, but this time, it’s something that brings a lot more fun to the table.

Enter the Fabia Monte Carlo 1.2TSI. It’s an interesting experience when you get two different versions of the same car to drive back-to-back, and that is what happened to me with the Fabia Greenline and Monte Carlo last month.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Skoda are hitting all the right notes in the looks department these days.

From the time I picked it up, this car made me smile.

I find the overall look of Skoda cars very easy on the eye, and the designers kept it simple when they were styling the Monte Carlo.

Sporting a bold red body, “sunset” tinted windows, and enhanced by a black roof, black boot spoiler and black painted body parts, the car stands out with the addition of a set of 17” black alloy wheels.

Eye-catching interior details include stainless steel pedals

and “Monte Carlo” inscribed sill strips.

The red and black upholstery lent an exciting feel to the cabin, even if the dash is a little less imaginative.

So far, so Skoda – ticking all the right aesthetic boxes.

But does it have enough of the fun-factor to back up its impressive looks?

The short answer is yes – within reason.

The car I drove was the 1.2TSI version, working off 105 bhp.

Let’s just say it never ceases to surprise me just how much poke car manufacturers can get out of such modest engines.

SPECS Skoda Fabia Monte Carlo 1.2TSI 0-100 km/h:

11.7 sec

Max speed:

177 km/h

CO2:

121 g/km

Price:

€16,775

This is a driving car, and its turbocharged petrol engine, with direct petrol injection and just delivers a wonderful level of performance to a car that isn’t weighed down by anything as superfluous as air conditioning.

But, being honest, I would

have liked a few buttons on the steering wheel to avoid being distracted by music that didn’t fit the driving experience.

The week I spent with this car saw me travel to and from Dundalk on a number of occasions, detouring through Drogheda twice.

The mix of off-peak motorway driving and some fun secondary roads really let me have some fun with this car, and it didn’t disappoint - and, as far as I am aware, my driving licence is still clean.

It’s also worth noting that Skoda are currently offering zero per cent credit terms on the Fabia range.

22 & 29 December 2011 GAZETTE 19

20 GAZETTE 22 & 29 December 2011

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs

Renault create 47 jobs in six months

MOTOR company, Renault, generated 47 jobs in Ireland over the last six months. The jobs were as a result of the launch of Renault Finance, the introduction of ZE ambassadors and the opening of two new dealerships.

In August, Renault Finance saw 15 new jobs created in their operations, finance and marketing roles.

In September, Renault announced eight new recruits. These ambassadors are dedicated to the Renault range of electric vehicles and will help to build awareness and assist customers in making informed choices.

November saw the opening of two brand new premises; Tullamore Motors in Offaly and Dennehy Motors in Limerick. The two new premises will see 24 new jobs created over the next 12 months, which is great news for both counties.

The Clondalkin-based AD Dublin have opened in the former Capital Brake & Clutch building

New premises a fresh start for AD Dublin THIS month sees AD Dublin motor factors move into a new location in the former Capital Brake & Clutch building in Clondalkin.

AD Dublin is a branch of AD Ireland, that has a network of 19 branches countrywide.

From this strategic location, the firm plans to further develop and expand their quality parts delivery service to their existing, as well as their new, customer base.

In addition to the Clondalkin branch, AD Dublin also have a branch in Stadium Business Park in Ballycoolin, which services their cus-

tomers on the northside of the city.

Traditionally, AD Dublin was a car and lightvehicle parts business, but this move sees the company becoming the first one-stop-shop for car, van, comercial vehicle and body repair parts in the Dublin area.

They have a fully equipped diesel fuelinjection workshop on site, with full capability to diagnose and repair any diesel pump and injector problems.

AD Dublin’s new location supports 30 jobs in the locality, and they hope to grow this as the business expands.

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

‘The company boasts a wealth of experience to help customers’ --------------------------

The company boasts a wealth of experience to help customers with all of their requirements.

They carry a full range of car, van and commercial vehicle parts, as well as a full range of auto body repair shop requirements.

Diagnostic equipment is becoming more prevalent in the auto repair business.

AD Dublin are the

distributors for Delphi, Denso, Bosch And Texa diagnostic equipment, to which they have dedicated staff to answer any questions or queries their customers may in relation to auto diagnostics.

For the company’s full range of products and services, visit their website at www.adireland.ie The AD Dublin team can be contacted at 01- 4613400 and are located at Unit 15/3 and 15/4 Crag Terrace, Clondalkin, D22.

They can be emailed at addublin@adirl.ie, and their Ballycoolin number is 01 8975210.

22 & 29 December 2011 GAZETTE 21

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS

Supported by AIB

AVIATION NEWS: Airline’s first flights to Dubai depart Dublin in January

The HTC Radar, running Windows’ Mango OS, is available from a number of outlets

Emirates cabin crew Zana Greer, from Australia; Kristina von Heideman, from Sweden; Emma Allen, from Cork, and, inset, Thierry Antinori

Emirates gear up for a new takeoff WITH Emirates’ inaugural flight from Dublin to Dubai just around the corner, senior executives from the award-winning airline arrived in Dublin recently to meet the media and host a gala dinner at the Convention Centre.

Thierry Antinori, Emirates’ executive vice-president, passenger sales worldwide, said that Emirates had made a considerable investment in the Irish market, and was confident of the success of the new route, following unprecedented bookings for the first weeks of service.

“We can see unusually high demand for the first two weeks after launch,” Mr Antinori said.

“This is an excellent response from the Irish market, and we have not witnessed this level of bookings, nor such strong interest in a new route, for many years.

This gives us huge confidence in Ireland and the figures support the commercial research that precedes any decision we take to launch a new service.”

From January 9, daily flights will connect Dublin to Dubai, the airline’s intercontinental

hub. The new route will be served by an Airbus A330-200 with a combination of Irish and multinational cabin crew.

By January, passengers will be able to conveniently connect from Dubai to more than 100 onward destinations across the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Emirates has 70 flights per week to the key Ireland market of Australia, including an A380 service to Sydney.

The airline is also the largest A380 operator in the world with 19 double-deckers in the fleet and 71 on order.

“We are in the process of establishing our new office in Dublin, employing 25 staff on the ground in Ireland in the areas of management, sales, cargo and airport services,” Mr Antinori said.

“Emirates has demonstrated just how committed it is to the new Dublin–Dubai service, supported by a high-profile national marketing and advertising campaign, which extends around our route network,” Mr Antinori added.

In the four years to 2010, Irish

nationals made almost 170,000 visits to Dubai hotels, according to Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). Amongst that figure will be those who travelled via the UK to join the Emirates’ network.

“Dublin has always been on our radar, and there are already strong levels of trade and tourism activity between Ireland and the UAE, not to mention the important equine affiliations,” said Mr Antinori.

“Equally, Emiratis like to travel to Europe, particularly during the hot UAE summer and, with its rich cultural heritage and reputation for hospitality, we think that Emirates will have a role to play in encouraging inward tourism to Ireland,” added Mr Antinori.

The direct daily service will open new business opportunities for trade and commercial relations between the two countries and Ireland’s direct export capacity will be expanded with 15 tonnes of bellyhold space on each Emirates’ passenger flight, leaving the capital city. Emirates

SkyCargo, the air freight division of Emirates, is already active in Ireland and will have a dedicated team in Dublin supporting the new route.

Exports trade is expected to flourish as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is one of the fastest-growing markets for Irish companies in the Gulf region, with sales by indigenous Irish companies growing by 23% in 2010 to €58.5m, according to Enterprise Ireland. An estimated 5,000 Irish nationals live in the UAE. More than 250 Irish staff are employed across the Emirates Group in areas such as cabin crew, flight deck crew, sales and cargo. Recently, nearly 500 candidates showed up across four separate cabin crew recruitment days held in Dublin, Limerick, Galway and Cork. Successful cabin crew applicants will be brought to Dubai for seven weeks of training.

The new Emirates’ team for Ireland will be headed up by country manager, Margaret Shannon. For further information, see www.emirates.com

Microsoft put a ‘cloud’ in pockets WITH Christmas around the corner, many business owners and professionals are considering their next move, keen to upgrade their phones for the New Year to help maximise their working day in the current, challenging economic climate.

Step forward Microsoft, in partnership with HTC, with their working relationship proving a natural fit in making a mobile office a practical reality on a mid-range smartphone.

In addition to a wide range of the “usual” social and casual programs found on smartphones these days, and sporting Microsoft’s colourful Windows 7.5 (or Mango) OS, the HTC Radar features a fully integrated office hub, presenting a full suite of office applications.

This free software – Excel, Word and PowerPoint – puts mobile working on the go in the palm of the hand, cleverly using the SkyDrive system to make cloud computing a

mobile reality.

With this ability to easily edit and synchronise data when out and about via what Microsoft have cleverly dubbed “a Cloud in your pocket”, it’s hard not to be impressed by the flexibilty of seeing “mobile computing” now expanded to being truly “mobile working”, as well.

When coupled with particularly well-adapted calendar integration, which, again, can synch data with ease, and it’s clear that Microsoft has faced the challenge of creating a mobile offce – and succeeded, with ease.

With such useful office heavyweight programs sitting under the bonnet, the HTC Radar, running Microsoft’s Mango, lays down a serious challenge for rivals to match, with the phone potentially proving a must-have for business people and professionals – and even students – in 2012.

The HTC Radar, running Microsoft’s Mango OS, is available now at a range of outlets.

22 GAZETTE 22 & 29 December 2011

GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel Why not join the Scots or Danes on New Year’s Eve ...

Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Black and White style at the Burlington

RING in 2012 in style this December 31 at the Burlington Hotel’s New Year’s Eve Black and White Gala Ball, where New Year dreams and wishes can be made for the year ahead.

Taking place in the hotel’s stunning ballroom, which will be decorated in accordance with the Black and White theme, the Ball is sure to draw Ireland’s finest to say goodbye to 2011 and welcome in 2012.

The party starts at 7.30pm with a prosecco reception, followed by a mouth-watering four-course dinner, expertly prepared by executive chef, Tony O’Donnell, and his experienced team.

Revellers can enjoy a delicious organic curedsalmon starter, followed by curried parsnip soup, a choice between sirloin of Irish beef, grilled sea bass or spinach and asparagus tartlet for the main course, followed by a wintery wild berry tart, and tea or coffee.

Live music The celebrations will continue into the night with a late bar extension, as well as music performed by The Camembert Quartet and a DJ until 2am.

When the clock finally strikes midnight, attendees and their table will enjoy a complimentary bottle of prosecco to toast the New Year.

Tickets for the Burlington Hotel’s NewYear’s Eve Black and White Gala Ball are available for €75 per person.

Take the stress out of travelling home once the party is over – overnight accommodation with breakfast the following morning, and a ticket to the Gala Ball, costs €149, or, for two people sharing, including a pair of tickets to the Ball, prices are from €229.

Alternatively, a package, including overnight accommodation for three people sharing, with full Irish breakfast the following morning and a ticket each to the Ball, is available from €299.

For further information, contact The Burlington Hotel on 01 618 5600, email reservations@burlingtonhotel.ie, or see www.burlingtonhotel.ie.

LOCAL

FOR those looking to celebrate New Year’s Eve in memorable style, a trip to nearby neighbours, Scotland or Denmark, could be just the ticket.

Ring in 2012 with one of the world’s best New Year celebrations – Hogmanay A key event in the Scottish calendar, Hogmanay celebrations on December 31 will be taking place across Scotland.

Events included in this year’s line-up are sure to surprise visitors, as Scotland will play host to incredible bands and entertainment from every corner of the globe.

You could join some 80,000 party goers at the Edinburgh’s worldfamous Hogmanay festival.

Set beneath the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, Mark Ron-

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

‘Whether interested to head to sublime Scotland, or delightful Denmark, there’s lots of choice for holidaying on New Year’s Eve’ --------------------------

son, electro-pop band Friendly Fires, Primal Scream and Bombay Bicycle Club will be one of many bands to ensure that Edinburgh hosts a night to remember.

Alternatively, one of the most surprising sites to see in the New Year is the “The Fireballs” – known as Stonehaven’s

most unique festival, and which attracts thousands of spectators each year.

Swinging fireballs around their heads in a spectacular style, participants parade 175 yards up and down the High Street in the Old Town, illuminating the dark skies as they walk.

The event is finished off by throwing each fireball into the sea at the harbour as the New Year sets in.

Meanwhile, over in Stirling, and adding to the appeal of one of the brightest and best Hogmanay parties, and set against the stunning backdrop of Stirling Castle, Scots singer and songwriter, Eddi Reader, and the emphatic rock ‘n’ roll bagpipers – the Red Hot Chilli Pipers – are sure to bring 2012 in with style.

The combination of fantastic live music, a

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Historic Hollyrood House Palace is just one of the many stunning sights to take in on a Scottish visit, whether for New Year’s Eve or at any time of the year

friendly atmosphere and a great firework finale is set to make Stirling the place to be as the bells peal.

As another destination to delight, and widely recognised as a fantastic destination for bagpipers and lovers of the bagpipes, but also for its diverse and busy music scene, Inverness will have you jiving this New Year’s Eve. S t i r l i n g ’s m u s i c a l extravaganza takes place from 8pm, right through to the wee hours of the morning.

Scottish bands, Skerryvore, Hoodja, Bags of Rock and Wolfstone, and renowned Scottish comedian, Craig Hill, will be in attendance on the night to ensure that visitors are entertained, right through to 2012’s arrival and beyond.

To help visitors plan a New Year break in Scotland, VisitScotland has put together more than 300 offers on places to stay, and things to see and do.

For further information on Scotland’s many New Year celebrations and destinations, see www. visitscotland.com/surprise.

Meanwhile, if you still haven’t decided how to ring in the New Year, or feel like taking to a further afield destination, then why not consider a romantic, seaside gourmet getaway, nestled

The delightful sights of the

amid giant sand dunes, or a sky-high designer dining experience above one of the world’s liveliest cities?

Denmark, the country that lays claim to having the happiest inhabitants in the world, has it all for your New Year’s Eve experience.

Check out the following fantastic events taking place this New Year’s Eve around Denmark.

Join thousands of people on the lawn of Ame-

22 & 29 December 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 23

Edited by Mimi Murray

TravelBriefs

A steam train ride with mince pies is just one imaginative New Year’s event in Northern Ireland

So much to help celebrate New Year’s around Northern Ireland

rising ranks of Edinburgh’s historic streets and buildings, rising to the imposing silhouette of the castle

lienborg, the winter residence of the monarch of Denmark.

The Danish equivalent of Times Square in New York will ring in the New Year with a boisterous crowd and fireworks, after Queen Margrethe II gives her New Year speech.

Fireworks in Tivoli Gardens is an exciting way of celebrating New Year’s Eve in Denmark. In fact, they offer a full five-day festival of fireworks right after Christmas, and all

the way through to New Year’s Eve. The fireworks are also accompanied by music, which makes the event even sweeter.

If your idea of a New Year’s celebration is being at one with nature, then Denmark’s northernmost town, Skagnen, may be the perfect location for you.

Book into a historic hotel and sample their gourmet offerings as you enjoy the surrounding

sand dunes, wide open beaches and the roaring sea.

Alternatively, you could celebrate the arrival of 2012 at one of Copenhagen’s designer sky restaurants, and watch the fireworks light up the night sky.

Take in the city views from Hotel Bella Sky Comwell – Scandinavia’s largest design hotel – or Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, the world’s first design hotel.

Of course, Copenhagen isn’t just a city of design, it’s also a city of music.

Start your New Year’s Eve celebration with a classic music extravaganza at the city’s heritage Royal Danish Theatre.

Clubbers and nightowls will enjoy the New Year’s Eve party in one of Copenhagen’s top nightclubs, Culture Box. This event started in 2005, and has grown since then. This year promises to be the best

yet, with a massive DJ line-up, featuring the likes of Tom Collins and DJ Bjarke.

Don’t miss out on any of the action – SAS fly direct from Dublin to Copenhagen, twice daily, from as little as €69 one way, including all taxes and charges.

So, whether you head to sublime Scotland, or delightful Denmark, there’s lots of choice for holidaying New Year’s Eve revellers.

NORTHERN Ireland has a host of activities for the New Year period that are not all that far from Dublin.

Belfast’s wackiest winter event – Penguin Curling – returns to W5, and all the family can have a go from Tuesday, December 27 to Tuesday, January 3.

The aim of the game is to freeze out your opponent by knocking their penguin away, and get the points to snatch the match.

For a different start to the year, why not make a trip to the New Year’s Day Dip in Antrim?

CLIC Sargent, the leading children’s and young people’s cancer charity, is calling for people to brave the elements and sign up for a sponsored dip in Portrush East Strand Beach to help raise money.

Meanwhile, Christmas on Ice at Lisburn Leisure Park is guaranteed fun for everyone.

Not only is the 2,500 sq ft fully-enclosed synthetic ice rink in place until Sunday, January 8, but a brand-new activity is also available – Water Ball.

Here, you can get in a watertight Zorb-like ball and walk, roll or run on water.

Alternatively, board a steam train at the Downpatrick and County Down Railway on New Year’s Day for the popular Mince Pie Special.

The same steam train used by Santa will coast through the County Down countryside while all guests enjoy free mince or apple pies, and some festive mulled wine or winter punch.

Why not walk the woods with an experienced guide? Take part in the New Year’s Day Walk at Mount Stewart. Dogs are also welcome, so no member of the family has to stay at home.

People planning a festive visit to Northern Ireland can take advantage of the exclusive accommodation offers available from the Tourist Information Centre, which include a two-night break with breakfast and one evening meal from £64.50 pps at the Ramada Encore, Belfast; £99 pps at the Ramada Portrush; £89 pps at the Armagh City Hotel; £79 pps at the Tower Hotel, Derry; £85 pps in the Clandeboye Lodge Hotel, Bangor; £89 pps at the Killyhevlin Hotel in Fermanagh, and £89 pps at the Silverbirch Hotel in Omagh.

For further information on these and many other events and offers, contact the Northern Ireland Tourist Board on Callsave 1850 230 230; visit the Tourist Information Centre, Suffolk Street, Dublin 2 to avail of its free advice and booking service, or see www.discovernorthernireland.com.

24 BLANCH GAZETTE 22 & 29 December 2011

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT 1GoingOUT PAVILION 01 231 2929 47 Roses

DESPITE Christmas being upon us, The Pavilion is showing no sign in slowing down its line of great shows for arts and theatre fans, with a number of terrific acts heading to The Pavilion right after Christmas. For example, in mid-January, 47 Roses will bring the sights and sounds of 1960s’ Dublin to life, in a coming-of-age tale that recreates the bygone era.

This tale of the past is definitely one to look out for – in the very near future! For more, see www.paviliontheatre.ie.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 Rainbow’s End

WHAT a colourful way to prepare for the end of the year!

In Rainbow’s End, The Mill presents a delightful family show, as the tale of a lost Crown Prince and missing rainbows is sure to delight audiences of all ages. Can Wendy, a student witch, get the rainbows back and save the day? And did anybody say they heard pirates? All will be revealed with Wendy to the rescue ... Catch Rainbow’s End on Wednesday, December 28 at 2.30pm. For full ticketing and performance details, see www.milltheatre.ie.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Caroline Donohue

A LONG-term exhibition, Caroline Donohue’s body of work has been fascinating visitors to the first-floor gallery since its installation in November. Her selected works, to date, examine the point where Man and the natural world co-exist, or in some cases, collide. By examining these spaces, and their occasional paradoxes, Caroline provides glimpses of places to think, and dream, as internal and external worlds collide. You can see Caroline’s thoughtful body of work at Draiocht until her exhibition closes on Saturday, February 25.

Some films for your consideration this Christmas season ... Puss in Boots, Arthur Christmas, Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn and New Year’s Eve – all competing for your attention, adding to the diverse range of films out this festive season

Xmas crackers ...?

Some may be duds, while others will entertain, in Kate’s seasonal roundup of some films on release this season Q KATE CROWLEY

’TIS the season to be jolly – jolly glad that the only turkey I’ll be going near for the next couple of weeks will be the one located close to the Crowley household’s Aga, rather than the type of turkey I see all year round on a big screen in the city centre, quietly driving me gaga.

Turkeys – of the cinematic variety, at least – well, those turkeys can live on to fight (for the remaining Recessionist buttons and fluff clattering around in my Hermes purse) another day.

However, as much as I love cinema – despite being nicknamed TwoStars back at Gazette Towers, on account of my harsh-but-fair ratings – I imagine that most readers will be celebrating the joys of Christmas by concentrating on the small screen at home, rather than the big screen, over the next

FILM OF THE WEEK: Various +++ (G to 12A) Directors: Various Starring: An adventurer cat, Santa’s son, angsty vampires and Stock Characters – though not, sadly, all in the same film

OUR VERDICT: ALTHOUGH not a collection of true Christmas crackers, a selection of some of the (previously unreviewed) films on current release features some interesting choices for cinema fans, this Christmas.

Children and families are well-served with these, and other choices, while, although new blockbusters are as thin as snow on the ground, there’s still an interesting choice of films on release for all audiences.

couple of weeks.

Still, should the delights of turkey-surprise for approximately 18 days, or the comforting glow of an Eastenders Christmas Special somehow fail to keep you at home, let me point you at a few Christmas crackers to catch, if you haven’t already.

(Note that I use the term “crackers”with more dryness than the Crowley turkey if Mr Crowley is allowed near the Aga, but let’s proceed.)

For families, there’s a bunch of child-friendly films to take in, such as Puss in Boots (G, 90min,

+++), which sees Antonio Banderas return to voice the popular Shrek character, who gets his own adventure.

If you ever wanted to learn more about the talking cat adventurer, and how he came to be so well-known, this is the one for you.

Meanwhile, Arthur Christmas (G, 97mins, +++) sees Wallace and Gromit makers, Aardman, present the definitive version of how Santa Claus’ annual Christmas operation really works, courtesy of his blabbermouth son, Arthur.

I can’t say I knew very much about one Arthur Christmas beforehand, but this cheerfully daft film takes an interesting approach to the iconic figure, making it okay family fare, and at least there are no vampires around.

I spoke too soon. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn (12A, 117min, +) continues the love affair between bland Bella and drippy Edward.

Personally, I think the Twilight saga would be somewhat livened up if only someone would call for Buffy, the girl with an oft-remarked-upon dislike for vampires. Alas, but no.

Still, as relentlessly awful as all of the Twilight films have been, I’d stake my Christmas dinner on this being a massive hit, even though I still insist – fangs, but no fangs.

Sticking with the 12A slot – and comparable levels of quality – New Year’s Eve (117min, ++)

is another one of those American rom-coms that appear a couple of times of year, typically when one’s resistance is lowered by seasonal celebrations.

You all know the drill by now – a big cast, comprising stock characters (The Beautiful But Sad One, The One With Ishhoos, The Bad One With A Heart Of Gold, etc), with disparate paths and life journeys and lessons to be learned, all colliding on – well, as I love saying – the clue’s in the title, folks!

Seeing as it’s Christmas, the kindest thing I can say is that it’s not totally awful. (New Year’s Eve, you owe me...)

And that’s yer lot, as I doubt many are so interested in cinema for the next week or two. That said, ol’ Two-Stars here would like to wish all my readers (yes, both of you) the very best this Christmas, and a Happy New Year, both at home and at the cinema. Humbug!

22 & 29 December 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING GAMING Trigger memories of great 2011 games SHANE DILLON

IT’S been another great year for games, with some superb titles appearing on all formats, and giving lots of choice for great Christmas presents.

Regardless of gamers’ platform of choice, and whether or not titles were platform-exclusive or multi-platform, some vintage titles came out in 2011.

Starting off, Microsoft had plenty of terrific titles, with some enormously popular franchises seeing very strong additions.

Although “hardcore” gamers were busy tackling the Locust menace in Gears of War 3 and the like, it was interesting to see how Microsoft’s Kinect began to make inroads into mainstream gaming.

While I expect there’ll be lots of people having fun with Kinect Dance Central 2 this Christmas, and a number of other cool Kinect-enabled titles, it was seeing

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

‘Regardless of gamers’ platform of choice, some vintage titles came out in 2011’ --------------------------

Kinect enabled in racing title, Forza 4, that was a bit of an eye opener for the XBox 360.

Meanwhile, while Microsoft had some outstanding titles, Sony were hardly a slouch in the games department either, with recently-released Uncharted 3 proving a particularly strong contender for Game of the Year.

The PlayStation 3 was also well served by a number of exclusive titles, with Killzone 3 proving another big winner.

In fact, virtually anything with a “3” in the title served both the 360 and the PS3 well, as did

other sequels and iterations.

Unfor tunately, “3” wasn’t quite as lucky for Nintendo, as its 3DS underperformed for a variety of reasons - and, to be fair, 3D hasn’t quite caught on with people as had been expected.

With the 3DS somewhat floundering, Nintendo seemed somewhat adrift this year, leaving the bigger games’ battles to be slugged out – as usual – by the two biggest contenders.

Still, a late return for Link, in the latest, highly-imaginative Zelda adventure, and notable other titles, showed that Nintendo still has plenty of life, whether on the Wii or the DS. However, the biggest gaming story of the year was also one that was somewhat under-reported – the rise and rise of Apple as a major gaming force to be reckoned with.

Main street retailers, and international com-

panies, continued to report on declining sales, and issue profit warnings, as the industry seemed to contract more than ever before, with key titles propping up otherwise slack returns, and with several games companies going under this year.

Lots of theories were bandied about, from digital distribution channels siphoning away customers to consumers having less money.

Few paid much heed to the idea that lots of casual gamers – the kind who’d never think of spending €40 on a game, but easily snapped up iPhone games from €0.79 a pop – were suddenly focusing on Apple products, and eating into mainstream gaming markets in this way.

Meanwhile, PC titles continued to flail around this year, with few titles of note, and with nowhere near the same level of public interest as on the more “mainstream” platforms.

Eve n t h e m i g h t y World of Warcraft lost some lustre, with its intermittent official magazine folding – pun intended – after just five issues.

And so, despite some superb titles, but considering the volatility of the gaming sector, it’ll be interesting to see how the markets develop in 2012, and to see what these platforms have lined up.

Still, looking ahead, gamers have lots to look out for in the near future.

Gotham City Imposters , Final Fantasy 13-2, Metal Gear Solid HD collection, Binary Domain, Max Payne 3, Silent Hill: Downpour, The Secret World , Diablo 3 and many more titles are on the way, helping to show that, no matter what’s going on in the rest of the increasingly poor world, at least gamers’ worlds will be as rich, imaginative and varied as ever.

Here’s to a happy new year of great games, on great consoles ...

Bytesandpieces Crazy Dave’s Xmas bid to help Concern IT’S not often that zombies can be counted on for help, but this year, they’re doing their bit to help fundraise for Concern.

Or, rather, Crazy Dave – the oddball shopkeeper with a saucepan on his head from the hit comical strategy game, Plants vs Zombies – has temporarily taken a break from selling garden rakes, bacon strips and compost to make a fundraising Christmas single.

Ignoring the peril of nearby garden-invading zombies, Crazy Dave – or “Cray-Z”, as he’s renamed himself – has released Wabby Wabbo,

with games developers, PopCap donating all PopCap proceeds earned from the single’s sale, before December 22, to Concern Worldwide.

With more than 465,000 views of his single on YouTube, and with almost 5.5 million followers of Plants vs Zombies’ Facebook page, Cray-Z is looking for lots of his fans to purchase the track, and help to support Concern.

Wabby Wabbo is available on iTunes, priced €0.99.

Kinect prize giveaway competition for the XBox 360.

With the chance to win a copy of the games, Kinect Sports 1 and Kinect Sports 2, lots of readers emailed in the correct answer to the following question:

Winners picked for Kinect competition

The correct answer was Darts. Under the strictest of conditions (involving a hat), all correct answers (with one per entrant) were put into the hat, with five winners then

THE Gazette had a great response from readers for our

Which of the following sports can you play on Kinect Sports 2?

A. Darts B. Rugby C. Water Polo

Five Fi e readers eaders ha have e won o a co copy of Kinect Sports 2, for the XBox 360

selected at random.

The five winners are: Patrick Kavanagh; Rita McTague, Blanchardstown; Michael Wisely, Navan Road; Mary Doyle, Windy Arbour and Ann Crowley, Glenageary.

Prizes will be posted out at the start of the New Year. Congratulations to all the winners!

A modern-day cross between Lara Croft and Indiana Jones, Nelson Drake’s continuing adventures proved a 2011 gaming highlight in Uncharted 3, on the PS3

GAZETTE

26 BLANCH GAZETTE 22 & 29 December 2011

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22 & 29 December 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 27

GazetteSPORT

SPORT STARS: December’s nominees are revealed: Page 29

CYCLING: COOLMINE MAN BELIEVES LATEST TRANSFER WILL SUIT HIS RIDING STYLE

Lavery switches to new British Giordana outfit sport@gazettegroup.com

COOLMINE cyclist Phil Lavery has made the switch from the Irish-owned An Post Grant T hornton M. Donnelly Sean Kelly professional team to race instead for the new Node4 Giordana squad in 2012.

Speaking this week about the move, Lavery said the new team is likely to provide him with a better fit. “I felt

that An Post was not the right team for me. The kind of race programme like the [An Post] Ras, Tour of Britain, Tour of Norway and stage races in France, Spain and Portugal suits me more than a lot of the Belgian races.

“There are also the Premier Calendar events and I will be released to ride the midweek Nation’s Cup Under-23 races for Ireland. At the start I plan to remain in

Dublin but will move across during the season.”

Lavery is one of seven new riders, with James Moss, K ieran Frend, Matt Higgins, Dave Clarke, Matt Cronshaw and Rico Rogers to join the new team.

Rogers won a stage on the Tour of China – where Nicolas Roche picked up his maiden win – and will be the t e a m ’s m a i n s p r i n t option.

Phil Lavery, in international action, has switched from Sean Kelly’s team to a new British pro outfit

The Blanch man could make his debut in the Australian Criterium championships early in the New Year, a competition in which he finished fourth last time around.

It has not yet been announced when Lavery will begin his season. He finished second in the Under-23 classification at the Irish road race championships last year and rode solidly in

Europe.

He adds that this new team can provide the springboard to pushing on in the professional world.

“I still have plenty of international ambitions

and would like to get on a ProTour team in the next couple of years. I know I have the ability, it is a question of showing the confidence and getting the right results.”

28 BLANCH GAZETTE 22 & 29 December 2011

GazetteSport Sport RUGBY: ASHBROOK MEN INTO SPENCER CUP FINAL AFTER CONVINCING HOME WIN

Malahide mashed as Coolmine hit the final trail SPENCER CUP S-FINAL Dundalk Coolmine RFC

52 12

sport@gazettegroup.com

COOLMINE’S firsts finished off the year with another win, this time in cup action against Malahide.

The victory has secured them a place in the final of the Spencer Cup, a title that has eluded them in last few years.

It was a cold night, but the surface held up

well, not freezing until well after the game had finished.

It was a comfortable victory for the home side, in the end — running in eight tries altogether, thanks to, among others, Rob Savage and Alan Cousins.

Coolmine led from the start, and were 14-0 up after the first 10 minutes, and went into the break at 33-5.

They continued to dominate the second half, running the ball at every opportunity.

Eoin Carbury stepped in at out half for an injured Donal Crotty and managed to convert seven out of eight kicks.

The home side were 54-12 to the good at the final whistle, and will be keen to see who their opponents are in the upcoming final next year, which will be Coolmine’s first opportunity to secure some silverware in the 2011/12 season.

B o t h p l ay e r s a n d supporters retired to

Coolmine’s firsts ended their 2011 on a high with a victory that sees them into the final of the Spencer Cup

the clubhouse for some well-deserved Christmas drinks and food.

M e a nw h i l e , C o o l mine’s seconds’ Byrne Cup semi-final against Stillorgan was cancelled, and the ficture will be rescheduled for

the New Year.

Competitive action has now finished for the Christmas break, Coolmine’s first and second XV will face local rivals Garda RFC on January 7.

Our Under-21s will

take on Castleknock College next Wednesday at Ashbrook in a bid to win back the Eddie Melvin Trophy. Kick-off is at 7pm.

Elsewhere, the Under13s took on Castleknock’s first-years in

what is now an annual event. Castleknock ran out easy winners, in spite of Coolmine having most of the ball, but this game was not about winning or losing, but more about sportsmanship.

22 & 29 December 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 29

in association with

2011 DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS - DECEMBER NOMINEES

FastSport

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

+ STARof the

Railway Union join voices to salute Leinster effort

MONTH

BARRY MURPHY

ANNALISE MURPHY

JOE SWEENEY

THE Swords swimmer claimed eight national titles in one weekend and broke two national records in the 100m butterfly and the 50m butterfly at the Irish national short course championships at Lisburn this month.

THE National Yacht Club member was in rare form in Perth, Australia, this month, qualifying for the 2012 London Olympic Games with impressive performances in the Laser Radial class that saw her challenge for a medal.

THE Dublin South Dublin athletic star showed his growing maturity on the international stage with a fifth-place placing in Slovenia at the European Cross-Country championships this month against top class opposition.

+ TEAMof the MONTH

ST BRIGID’S

OLD WESLEY

LUCAN UNITED

THE Russell Park side exceeded expectations and came within seconds of a heroic comeback in the Leinster final against Garrycastle, but were denied a deserved win by a free late on in the match.

DONNYBROOK’S finest were crowned Leinster Senior League Shield winners at home this month, winning their first Leinster senior title since 1985 when they defeated Greystones in the final in a thrilling match.

UNITED reached the fourth round of the FAI intermediate cup in spite of being in a league four divisions below the teams that they faced in the competition, impressing with their determination and fearlessness.

WELCOME to the 2011 Dublin Sports Awards, as we mark our local sportsmen and women’s December sporting achievements across the capital and, indeed, across the nation.

We’re delighted to once again be able to celebrate the finest achievements in Dub-

lin sport, with some huge efforts at local levels coming to our attention in a variety of well-known, and some, less prominent, sports.

Ever y form of sporting achievement, at any level and in any sport, is valuable and gives an indication of the diversity of sporting commit-

ment there is around our fair city at all times of the year.

Let us know!

Let us know about your achievements in sport, so that the Gazette can tell the rest of Dublin — and give you, or your team, a chance of being one of our monthly stars.

Contact us on 01 601 0240 or sport@gazettegroup.com to tell us all about your successes, and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ gazettesport.

You can also check out the latest stories from GazetteSport at our new website, www.gazettegroup.com

PLAYERS from Railway Union Rugby Football Club got Heineken Cup match-goers into the festive spirit last weekend when they serenaded Leinster and Bath fans on their way to the Aviva stadium.

The Sandymount club were raising funds for much-needed floodlights for their Park Avenue pitch, and impressed the fans with their carolling.

With many sports clubs struggling in recent times to secure funding for necessary facility additions and repairs, several have turned to innovative ways of raising the funds. Railway Union RFC decided to flex their vocal chords and the players were put through their paces in the changing rooms every night after training.

Leinster fans were treated to the dulcet sounds of the Railway Union choir at two locations in the hours leading up to the important Cup showdown.

Brennan race set for Phoenix Park launch LIFFEYValley’s Athletic Club annual Tom Brennan Trophy 5k Race will launch the Office of Public Works’ celebration of the 350th anniversary of the establishment of the Phoenix Park on NewYear’s Day. The Minister of State at The Department of Finance, Brian Hayes will formally launch the year of celebrations by starting the race at 12 noon.

The Phoenix Park was established in 1662 by one

of Ireland’s most illustrious viceroys, James Butler Duke of Ormond, on behalf of King Charles 11.

The race will start at 12 noon on the Furze Road and will consist of two laps of the Ordnance Survey Road and Chesterfield Avenue lap. A relatively flat course which will enable runners to get their NewYear off to a good start with a new personal best for 5k provided, of course, they have not been celebrating too much on NewYears Eve. European Cross Country Champion Fionnuala Britton set a new women’s course record last year of 16.39.

30 BLANCH GAZETTE 22 & 29 December 2011

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

The first mile: Coghlan supports Dublin 15 event IRELAND’S most famous miler, Eamonn

Coghlan, and a host of local personalities, are asking people from all over Dublin 15 to join them for a GOAL Mile in Porterstown Park on St Stephen’s morning from 11am.

Organised by Metro-St. Brigid’s Athletic Club, it will be the first ever staging of a GOAL mile in the area and people of all abilities are welcome to come along and run, jog or walk a mile. For more information, visit www.goal.ie.

GAA: CLUB HOST VISITOR FROM NORTH POLE AT PARTY

Coomline host seventh annual business bash COOLMINE RFC’s seventh annual Business Lunch took place recently in Dunboyne Castle Hotel.

The guest speaker for the day was former threetime Olympian athlete and world 5,000m champion, Eamonn Coghlan.

After a short film summarising the highlights of his career he entertained the packed room with stories of his former victories and gave members of the club an insight into the mental and physical attributes that brought him to the heights of his chosen sport.

Following the meal, it was time for live music to keep the revellers entertained into the early hours.

Coolmine rugby would like to thank all the staff at Dunboyne Castle Hotel for a great day and, of course, their special guest on the day.

A big thanks also to all sponsors on the day, including The Fetherstone Group and Killarney Telecoms.

Yoga founder to visit Ireland for debut talk FOUNDER of the yoga discipline, Bikram Choudhury, is to make his firstever visit to Ireland on March 10 next.

Bikram Yoga Dublin, based in Dublin 15 are offering tickets to the talk at a special pre-Christmas rate of €39.

The seminar is to be held at a city centre location that is still to be announced.

For more information on the event, see the

Bikram Comes To Dublin page on Facebook.

Tickets will also be sold via Facebook.

Bikram began practising at four years of age with Bishnu Ghosh, the brother of Paramahansa Yogananda – acclaimed author of Autobiography of a Yogi. His series is derived from the 5,000 year-old practice of Hatha Yoga.

The yoga studio will be open over the Christmas holidays, with a reduced schedule, and details can be found at http://www. bikramdublin.ie

Santa Claus was a welcome visitor for all of the revellers at the Erin Go Bragh GAA club’s Christmas party last weekend

Santa makes an EGB visit sport@gazettegroup.com

LAST Saturday, two local firemen helped to save Christmas and gave the children of Erin Go Bragh GAA club a festive treat to remember.

Santa, having decided to rest his elite reindeer for the main event on Christmas Eve had chosen to use the younger, inexperienced ones to pull the sleigh to the Erin Go Bragh Christmas party. This decision almost put a stop to his visit, when the sleigh came down in an undisclosed location in north County Dublin en route to the party.

Up o n r e c e i v i n g a distress call from Erin G o B r a g h , t h e t wo local firemen, John O’Flaherty and Thomas Bowe, swung into action and, using all their experience, managed to rescue Santa and his elf.

They then gave the big man in the red suit a lift and sped them to the party, sirens blaring.

They were greeted upon their arrival by the gathered local children who were waiting in anticipation to see the travellers from the North Pole and their heroes from Dublin Fire Brigade.

T h a n k f u l l y, t h e r e were no more hiccups, and Santa, managed to see all the children and give them a present to take home.

After wards Santa spoke of the fright he got when the sleigh crashed but, thankfully, both of them were wearing their seatbelts which he was in no doubt saved them from serious injury.

Our thanks and gratitude go to Santa for taking time out of their busy schedule to pay us a visit and to our two heroes, Tom and John from Dublin Fire Brigade.

22 & 29 December 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 31

in association with

FOOTBALL: GARRYCASTLE PREVAIL BY ONE POINT .

CLUB NOTICEBOARD ST BRIGID’S HARD luck to our senior footballers

Sunday, January 8.

who were just edged out by Garry-

Thanks to everyone who contrib-

castle in the Leinster football final.

uted to the SVP Christmas Food and

We are very proud of you all and

Toy Appeal.

thanks for a year to remember.

Thanks to Gerry, Mark, Tom, Liam and Mick for their brilliant work with the team.

Congratulations to Barry Cahill on his Dub Stars’ Footballer of the Year award.

A night of celebration with Sam

We have collected 225 old mobile phones so far. We need 25 more to get our new AED. No matter how old the phone is, please drop it into the club bar.

New opening hours for our new club shop. Friday 7 to 8pm and Saturday 10 to 11.30am.

Maguire and our Dublin players will

Club lotto takes place in Russell

take place on Tuesday, December

Pakr this Thursday with a jackpot

27. This is a night not to be missed

of €15,000.

with live music, finger food,plenty of craic and the ideal opportunity to get photos with Sam. The AGM has been rescheduled to

Happy Christmas to everyone and best wishes for the new year.

Thanks to everyone for the superb work during 2011.

ERIN GO BRAGH HAPPY Christmas to the Erin go Bragh community in Dublin 15.

St Brigid’s senior footballers were unable to break Garrycastle to lose their Leinster final. PIcture: Chris Lynam

Brigid’s journey ends in thrilling final tie LEINSTER SFC FINAL St Brigid’s Garrycastle

0-10 1-8

sport@gazettegroup.com

THE stage was set for one of the greatest of comebacks as St Brigid’s reeled in an eight-point deficit in a little over ten minutes but Conor Cosgrove was the man to break the Russell Park side’s hearts with a lastgasp free to hand Garrycastle, and Westmeath, a first ever Leinster club SFC crown.

Cosgrove’s contentious left-foot free was Garrycastle’s first score for over 20 minutes, but proved the moment that will live on in forever in both sides’ memories in the wake of a gripping provincial final in Tullamore.

It denied the unlikeliest of outcomes after the Westmeath side had bossed the first 40 minutes as talisman Dessie Dolan got them up and running.

He cleared the bar four times by the 15-minute mark – three of those from play – en route to a 0-6 to 0-1 lead at halftime with just a solitary Ken Darcy free in the sixth minute going the Saints’ way.

They had their chances, with five wides recorded, but they were existing on scraps at this stage as Dolan – along with his brother Gary and cousin James – along with David O’Shaughnessy, were winning the key collisions.

And their control continued into the second period as Dessie nabbed an excellent point to start the second half scoring, and the game looked done and dusted when Gary Dolan arrived in the Brigid’s square at the right moment to net, making it 1-7 to 0-2.

But the Dublin 15 side brought Castle’s momentum to a halt with Barry Cahill and John O’Loughlin – as so

often in the campaign to date – stood tall to suddenly assert their towering influence.

With greater possession secured, Paddy Andrews was afforded room to manoeuvre for the first time and he duly recorded four quick-fire points in five minutes in an incredible hot-streak.

O’Loughlin weighed in with another couple, with Darcy adding another to bring the gap down to just one with Garrycastle seemingly capitulating with all the momentum seemingly going against them.

The run of scores,

though, was stemmed once the scores were tied up, as Garrycastle regrouped and found their markings once again.

While Brigid’s will contest the ultimate decision long and hard after Mark McCallon was tackled late with the free awarded by Syl Doyle where the ball landed, bringing it into Cosgrove’s range.

But the sub held his nerve to swing over his left-foot effort from distance and land a maiden Leinster title for club and county and end Brigid’s superb run.

On St Stephen’s Day there will be a community get-together in Hunt-

or Donal on 086 380 1621.

Lotto: Numbers drawn were 12, 13, 16 and 18. There was no jackpot winner.

er’s Run at 12 noon. Dermot Moloney

Nex t Frida y’s jackpot will be

is doing the organising. Watch out

€3,300. Draw to be held in The Pad-

on Facebook over the coming days

docks.

for more information.

On December 27, our ladies sections section would like as much

This is the last lotto of the year and everyone’s support would be appreciated.

support as possible in Russell Park

Roster as follows; John Kinsella,

as some of our U-12 girls have been

John Mc Leod, Sean Flood, Keith

asked to take part in a challenge

Edgely, Brian Padden and Peter

game.

Ennis.

Jason Forbes is organising it and

Draw to be held in The Paddocks,

more info on Facebook later this

L i t tl e p a c e . C o n t a c t JK o n 0 8 6

week.

8184054 for more info.

We are looking for adult football-

Follow us on Facebook, twitter

ers and hurlers for the 2012 sea-

and our website www.eringobragh-

son. Contact Cecil on 086 259 7789

gaa.ie.

ST PEREGRINE’S WE WOULD like to wish all our mem-

Club lotto was not won; numbers

bers a very Merry Christmas and a

drawn were 3, 7, 23 and 27. The next

prosperous New Year.

jackpot is €3,400.

Our annual Married v Sin-

Any member not buying lotto tick-

gles match will take place on St

ets visit CNP.ie and support your

Stephen’s Da y, meet at club at

club, for only €2 a week and lotto is

11am.

also available to play on-line using

We are now recruiting manag-

the link on the club website.

ers for the coming season for our

The f ir s t-ever St Peregrine’s

AFL 6 and AFL 9 teams; if you are

12-month calendar is now available,

interested, please contact Frank

a steal for only €5 and selling very

Henry.

well, please see Lorraine O’Connor

If you or you know somebody

for details.

wanting to play juvenile or adult

Club shop vouchers are also avail-

camogie, please contact Pat Dun-

able., details and contacts on the

can on 086 300 4845.

club website CNP.ie.

Follow GazetteSport on Facebook and Twitter and at www.gazettegroup.com

32 BLANCH GAZETTE 22 & 29 December 2011