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INSIDE: Enterprise Board is open for business P9

Hurling: St Brigid’s retain their AHL 1 status Page 32

Rugby: Coolmine claim the Spencer Cup title in derby Page 30

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ......................8 BUSINESS .....................16 MOTORS ....................... 18 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT .. 24-25 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

February 23, 2012

JOBS FAIR: Blanch Centre set to

host employment event See Page 7

Green light for school site store I LAURA WEBB

A CONTROVERSIAL planning application to construct a new supermarket at the site of the former Mulhuddart National School has been given the green light by planners in Fingal County Council.

The application for the supermarket, speculated to be discount superstore Aldi, was approved on February 9.

Permission was given to demolish the existing building at the Main Street site to make way for a single-storey food store.

The planning application received a mixed reaction from local councillors who wanted to see the old school building remain on site and used by community organisations.

Full Story on Page 2

Happy swappers: A great way of refreshing your wardrobe JENNIFER Duffy and Millie Maguire, were only to happy to pose for our photographer when they attended a recent Swap Style event at the Grasshopper Inn in Clonee.

And we’re sure they were also very

happy to browse through the selection of fantastic clothes in the hope of picking up a new addition to their wardrobes. The event allows ladies to swap unwanted clothes for something new.

Full Gallery on Page 8

2 BLANCH GAZETTE 23 February 2012

HEALTH: RANGE OF TREATMENTS

Put your best feet forward at clinic LAURA WEBB

news@gazettegroup.com

PUTTING best feet forward is a new foot care practitioner, who recently commenced The Foot Clinic at Doc Morris Pharmacy in Blanchardstown.

The Foot Clinic is run

by Foot Care Practitioner, Catriona Byrne, and is located at Doc Morris, Superquinn Shopping Centre in Blanchardstown. The clinic is fully registered and insured.

Feet are easily worn, and can fall victim to a number of conditions that can be treated.

Treatments at The Foot Clinic include toenail conditions, verrucae, corns, callus, athlete’s foot, toe-nail cutting, diabetic foot care management, fallen arches/ flat feet, knock knees and gait abnormality, general foot pain – orthotics assessment and prescription.

Services also include the full range of chiropody treatments but the practice focuses not only on foot treatment, but also on preventative and corrective measures.

There is also treatment available for a range of sports-related injuries. Both adults and children are catered for.

Appointment costs are: Up to 20 mins - €35, Up to 30 Mins - €45.

For an appointment, contact Doc Morris on 01 8210807 or Catriona on 087 2982214.

R1

PLANNING Permission given to demolish building on Main Street

Council gives thumbs-up for food store LAURA WEBB

A NEW supermarket could be on its way to Mulhuddart after the planning department at Fingal County Council gave the thumbs-up for a single-storey licensed convenience food store.

Planning permission was given on February 9 to demolish the existing building at the Main

Street site, formerly Mulhuddart National School, to make way for a single-storey food store with a gross floor area of 1,476sqm and 71 car parking spaces.

The planning application received mixed reactions from local councillors who wanted to see the old school building remain on site to be used by communi-

ty organisations, while others were concerned that this licensed supermarket would bring the number of off-licences in the area to six.

T he possibility of bringing jobs and life to the area was welcomed.

Speculation is that the company behind the application is discount supermarket, Aldi.

When contacted by the Gazette to confirm this, a spokesperson for the supermarket said they had “no comment to make”.

Commenting on the council’s decision, Mulhuddart councillor David McGuinness (FF) said: “The proposed development, believed to facilitate an Aldi supermarket, was the point of

some discussion at this month’s county council meeting.

“On my Facebook page, I f lagged the prospect of a new Aldi on the site of the former Mulhuddart National School.

“The contributions were unanimous, the development was welcome; the prospect of jobs, close vicinity to a

value supermarket and increasing activity in the village area were all mentioned publicly and privately.

“Aldi went into Clonee and has been frequented by consumers on both sides of the Meath/Dublin border. If early indications are anything to go by, Aldi in Mulhuddart village could prove popular,” Cllr McGuinness said.

€645 million savings in social welfare LAURA WEBB

Award winner: Local business takes home prize from Horticulture Quality Awards AARON O’Reilly of Redlough Landscapes Limited, Hollystown, pictured accepting a Bord Bia Landscape Quality Special Award for Customer Service and Marketing at Bord Bia’s National Amenity Horticulture Quality Awards.

The awards were presented by Aidan

Cotter, chief executive, Bord Bia and Shane McEntee TD, Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and Marine. The National Amenity Horticulture Quality Awards recognise and promote excellence across three key sectors of the industry.

THE Depar tment of Social Welfare saved €167 million in 2011 following reviews of oneparent family payments, while savings of €87 million in Jobseekers payments were made the same year.

That’s according to the latest figures from the Department, who revealed that over €645 million was saved through social welfare control measures in 2011.

More than 982,000 individual social welfare claims were reviewed, including the one-parent payment.

The savings of €167 million followed reviews o f 10 3 , 5 6 2 cl a i m s .

The review of 222,272 reviews in Jobseeker claims yielded a saving of €87 million.

Pension savings of almost €142 million, and over €92 million through illness payments were also made. Over 392,000 child benefit payment claims were reviewed resulting in savings of

almost €88 million.

Welcoming the figures, Dublin West TD and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton (Lab) said: “The level of savings achieved by the Department is well in excess of the target of €540 million set at the start of 2011 and it shows our commitment to tackling fraud and abuse of the social welfare system across our broad range of schemes.”

These savings refer to future expenditure that would have been incurred but for this control work. Without this investigation the Social Welfare Bill would, over time, increase by this €645 million.

Minister Burton launched a new fraud strategy, the Fraud Initiative 2011-2013, last September.

In total, the department received 16,920 anonymous reports in 2011 in areas where people are working and claiming, cohabiting, living outside the country, employer issues and others.

23 February 2012 BLANCH GAZETTE 3

CRECHE Local nursery a first for Ireland

Brigid Lowe, at the Kiddies Day Nursery on the Clonsilla Road, with her first grandson, George

Celebrating 30 years of caring for kids I LAURA WEBB blanchardstown@gazettegroup.com

ONE of Ireland’s first ever creches, based in Dublin 15, has seen the childcare market change over the last 30 years, and parents becoming more reliant on the valued service.

In the early 80s, Brigid Lowe and Mary Sheehan embarked in the then relatively unknown profession of childminding, known as creche.

Following years of travelling, Mary noticed a lot of European countries used the service and later approached Brigid with the idea of setting up their own in Ireland. The first Kiddies Day Nursery was set up in Raheny, two years later in Castleknock

and after 15 years there it moved to the Clonsilla Road, where it has been for the last 15 years.

No such thing “We had opened the first creche of this type.

When we opened there was no such thing as insurance [for this line or work] and so we had to go through Lloyds in London to get insurance.

When we mentioned ‘creche’ people didn’t know what it meant, and when we would say ‘a nursery’, they thought we were talking about flowers - that’s all changed now,” Brigid told the Gazette.

“Back then, mothers stayed at home until children went to playschool or school, and if they

needed someone to mind their children, they just had someone they knew, but you weren’t really getting the professionalism that a creche offers.

“The creche tells you what time the child was fed, what time and for how long did the child sleep rather than knowing nothing. We turned it into a professional service and it grew from there. Now we have Playschool, Montessori and now After-school.

“W hen we star ted there were no childcare courses available. A lot of people were copying from our style, now it’s regulated and there are hundreds of courses available.

“Mothers of today are so well educated, they

don’t want to stay at home and miss out. It is only a few years of expense, and then children go to school… We met so many past children around the area, who are now in school, university or now parents themselves – it’s great to know what they are up to now, even if I do feel old thinking about it,” Brigid laughed.

Customers Brigid went on to thank her loyal customers and her staff, for their help over the past 30 years.

A special thank you was given to her manageress, Michelle Cummins.

Kiddies Day Nursery is located on the Clonsilla Road, for further information phone 01-820 6084.

O’Doherty ‘Looking Up’ with a new show FUNNYMAN David O’Doherty is ‘Looking Up’ with his new show taking centre stage in Dublin 15.

On March 2, the 2008 Edinburgh Comedy Awards winner, 2010 Hot Press Irish Comedian of the Year, founder member of Des-

tiny’s Child, inventor of the iPad, well maybe not all of the above, but David has toured around Ireland with Tommy Tiernan, around Britain with Rich Hall and recently around America. He returns to Draiocht with his small

keyboard and a lot of comedy.

David O’Doherty ‘Looking Up’ takes place on Friday, March 2 at 8pm. Tickets for the event cost €16 and are available through Draiocht box office at 01-885 2622.

4 BLANCH GAZETTE 23 February 2012

RETAIL: INVESTORS SAVE FASHION COMPANY

132 A-wear jobs saved A GROUP of international investors have acquired the fashion retail company A-wear, securing all 132 jobs in Dublin.

The store will continue to trade as normal at its eight Dublin stores, including one in Blanchardstown, and all its stores across the country following the acquisition by a group of international investors headed

by British businessman Michael Flacks of Flacks group.

Jim Luby, of McStay Luby, was appointed as Receiver to A-wear by previous owners Hilco earlier this week, and reached agreement with the international group of investors to sell the business.

The transaction means all 460 full and part-time jobs across the 32 stores in Ireland - 132 of which are in the Dublin stores will be protected.

It also secures the

long- term viability of the A-wear business and ensures that shoppers in Dublin can continue to enjoy the product offering.

Commenting on the transaction, Michael Flacks, President and CEO of Flacks Group said: “This acquisition is a very positive development for A-wear, its employees and customers. I have been highly impressed by the strength of the brand, its excellent standing as a leading fashion retailer in this market and its potential for future growth.

“My colleagues and I are here to develop and grow this business, not shrink it.” Adding: “We look forward to working with the management team and staff at A|wear and its suppliers – we have a common goal and look forward to delivering on the potential that lies ahead.”

In safe hands: Local company scoops award BLANCHARDSTOWN-BASED company, Safefood 360, was among five Dublin companies presented with business awards at the Leinster provincial final of the Ulster Bank Business Achievers Awards recently. The company, which is an online food safety management software solution, was presented with the Innovation and Emerging Technology Award.

Pictured at the awards are Sean Martyn, director of Business Banking, Ulster Bank; Philip Gillen, Safefood 360, winner of the Innovation and Emerging Technol-

ogy Award; Michael McElroy, TAM Ireland, winner of the Family-Run Business Award; Ian Barrett, Joule, winner of the Green Business Award; Sean Walsh, TERMINALFOUR, winner of the International Business Award and Cathy Kelly, Pieta House, winner of the Social Entrepreneurship Award.

These businesses will now go on to compete with provincial winners from Munster, Ulster and Connacht for the national title and individual category title at the all-island finals in April.

COURTS: NO DECISION ON FALSE IMPRISONMENT CHARGE

Man convicted of theft of tobacco products A MEATH man has been convicted of the theft of almost €315,000 worth of tobacco products and the unlawful use of a car.

Francis (Frank) Cunningham, of Bog Road, Longwood, was convicted at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court by a jury after nearly 13 hours deliberation and a 17-day trial.

The jur y failed to reach a verdict on the charge of robbery of the tobacco products, worth €314,916, and returned a guilty verdict on the charge of theft.

They also failed to reach a verdict on the charge of false imprisonment of Edward Postol in Blanchardstown on March 14, 2007. They found Cunningham (63) not guilty of the false imprisonment of Joseph O’Toole and not guilty to possession of a firearm.

Cunningham, who has 13 previous convictions,

was remanded in custody for sentencing in July.

During the trial, evidence was heard that Mr O’Toole and Mr Postol were working for Bond Delivery and taking the cigarettes from a premises in Snugborough in north Dublin.

Paul Carroll BL, prosecuting, said they stopped at a Texaco garage at Ballycoolin, possibly to get one of the wheels of their Mercedes Sprinter van checked.

Mr Postol told the jury he was approached by an individual with either a gun or an imitation gun and was then forced to drive to the car park of Dolly Heffernan’s pub where a white Transit van was waiting.

Mr O’Toole said he was forced to put the cigarettes from his van into the other van and then both him and Mr Postol were tied up with plastic cable ties and locked into

their van.

The Transit van was reported stolen from outside a house in Coolock at 10.40am, several hours after the robbery had taken place.

Mr Cunningham, who was driving a blue R e n a u l t c a r, d r ove towards the Enfield roundabout on the M4 with the white Transit van following behind him. Both vehicles were stopped by armed gardai at the roundabout.

Both Mr Cunningham and the driver of the van, Aaron O’Driscoll, were arrested at the scene.

When Mr Cunnningham was arrested, two mobile phones were found in the car and two were found in the van.

Mr Cunningham denied he was part of the robbery and claimed he was driving in front of the stolen Transit van because he was giving the driver of the van direc-

tions to Daingean, in Co Offaly, as a favour to a colleague.

Mr Cunningham told Blaise O’Carroll SC, defending, he called Eamonn Kavanagh, now deceased, the previous night in relation to taking a look at his site in Bray to do excavation work.

“The following morning, we spoke again and I told him I was in Blanchardstown to meet an auctioneer to give him plans. He then asked me would I be able to give one of his van drivers directions to Daingean, in Co Offaly, as he knew I lived out that direction,” said Mr Cunningham.

“I then received a call from a van driver looking for the directions as Mr Kavanagh gave him my phone number so when I told him how to get to Daingean, he said he couldn’t make out the way,” he said.

“I said I would be head-

ing back towards Enfield in about half an hour as I had a meeting with a builder in the Marriott Hotel to bring him to the land in Bray and would meet the van driver at Texaco Garage on the Kilbride Road and show him the way.”

The van followed him towards Enfield and Mr Cunningham said by the time he reached the Enfield roundabout a number of men with guns approached his window and he thought it was a hold up.

He denied he had a gun in his possession and said he had no knowledge of the van being stolen; denied knowing the van driver Mr O’Driscoll and denied any involvement in the robbery and false imprisonment.

He denied being involved in a ‘giant enterprise’ saying: “I am a bit too old for that. It has nothing to do with me.”

23 February 2012 BLANCH GAZETTE 5

6 BLANCH GAZETTE 23 February 2012

FastNews

POLITICS Dublin West byelection figures are released

Celebrity chef to give demonstration Councillor David McGuinness (FF)

Councillor Ruth Coppinger (Socialist)

Roderic O’Gorman (Green )

Councillor Eithne Loftus (FG)

Paul Donnelly (Sinn Fein)

Patrick Nulty (Labour)

Catherine Fulvio

IRISH celebrity chef Catherine Fulvio will be showing off her culinary skills next month during a cookery demonstration at Dunboyne Castle Hotel.

Dunboyne Castle Hotel is hosting the cookery demonstration in aid of local school, Culmullen National School. The TV personality, food writer and author will dazzle audience with great recipes and give tips on how to be a top chef in your own home. The popular hotel is located just 10 minutes outside Dublin 15 in Dunboyne, County Meath.

This event takes place on Thursday, March 8 at 8pm. Tickets for this event cost €20 and are available by calling Fiona on 087 7746065 or Mairead on 087 2410167.

If audience members are thinking of making an evening out of it, why not take advantage of the hotel’s special early bird menu for €25 before watching Catherine at work during the cooking demonstration. Pre-booking for this offer is essential by phoning 01-6816520.

Local candidates spent over €140k on byelection I LAURA WEBB

news@gazettegroup.com

DUBLIN West byelection candidates incurred over €140k in expenses during the byelection campaign last year, with Fianna Fail’s candidate declared the biggest spender.

Figures released by the Standards in Public Office Commission reveal the total expenditure disclosed by election agents and national agents at the Dublin West byelection on October 27, 2011, amounted to €143,571.02.

The total donations disclosed by candidates totalled €22,608.

Spending limit for bye-

lection candidates was marked at €37,650. In the report the commission found no evidence of overspending.

According to the report, the top four spenders were from prominent political parties. The highest expenditure incurred by candidates was by David McGuinness, a local Fianna Fail councillor, declaring €33,905.61. Fine Gael’s candidate, Castleknock councillor Eithne Loftus, came in second, spending €31,073.18, followed by Ruth Coppinger, Socialist Party councillor, at €28,454.44. Labour’s Patrick Nulty, the successful candidate, spent

€26,739.33.

Other candidates from political parties included Sinn Fein’s Paul Donnelly who declared expenses of €9,469.58, the most being spent on posters at a cost of €3,435.

The Green Party candidate, Roderic O’Gorman, incurred expenses of €6,429, spending the bulk of the cost on posters, at €2,286.90.

Political party candidates can assign a portion of their money to their party to spend on their campaign. Fianna Fail’s David McGuinness assigned €35,650 to his party, who spent 33,905.61 on the election.

Ruth Coppinger assigned €21,000 to her party, who spent €16,454.14 on her campaign. Fine Gael’s Eithne Loftus assigned €10,000 to her party, and they spent €6,750.87 on her campaign. The successful candidate Patrick Nulty assigned €15,060 to the Labour party, of which they spent €11,102.35 Out of the five independent candidates, John Frank Kidd had the highest expenditure, €4,800, while entrepreneur and former The Apprentice candidate, Barry Caesar Hunt, followed with €3,644.17 Three of the unsuccessful candidates gave a

donation statement that they had received a donation valued in excess of €634.87 in relation to the byelection. The largest donation, according to the report, was by Ruth Coppinger with €15,693.40 Meanwhile, six candidates qualified for a reimbursement of election expenditure. Four candidates, Deputy Patrick Nulty, Ruth Coppinger, David McGuinness and Eithne Loftus qualify for the maximum reimbursement of €8,700.

Roderic O’Gorman and Paul Donnelly qualify for reimbursement of €6,429.15 and €6,104.88 respectively.

Swapping stylish clothes for charity STYLISH Dublin 15 residents were out in force at a charity swap style event to help raise money for the St. Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown.

Organiser and Blanchardstown native, Aoife Keogh, said the event on February 12 had a good turn out and raised €400 for the worthy cause.

The Swap Style event involves people clearing out their wardrobe and bringing their unwanted stylish goods to the chosen location, which this time was the Grasshopper Inn in Clonee.

Once participants pay a small

admittance fee, they hand over their clothes which are then graded according to their quality.

Participants then look through the racks of amazing clothes, and swap. According to Aoife, it’s a great way of refreshing and revitalising wardrobes without putting your hand deep into the pocket. “It’s a great wardrobe clearout. People pick out their best bits and bring them to the event. That one dress worn to a wedding that you will probably never wear again or that impulse sale item you bought that still has the tag on. You pick the best

ones and bring them in. They get graded into three different levels, gold, pink and blue. It is generally couture, boutique and high street is the level we would be looking at. One stamp equals to one item off the colour coded rack. Once people go once they get the bug and keep coming back… The aim is to have one every three to four months,” she continued.

Each swap style event raises money for charity. The recent event was in aid of St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown. “I know Fr Dan Joe [an active fundraiser for the Hospice] quite

well and it is a local charity that means so much to the community. I have friends whose parents have been affected by cancer, and friends with cancer. The hospice is needed in the area, and touches the hearts of so many people here.”

For further information about the event, or to find out when the next event is taking place, find Swap Style on Facebook at Sshh Ie page. A website for Swap Style is currently under construction and is due to launched in the coming weeks.

Full Gallery on Page 8

23 February 2012 BLANCH GAZETTE 7

JOBS Employers and agencies to attend event

Employment Fair coming to Dublin 15 I LAURA WEBB

OFFICIALS from the Fingal Dublin Chamber joined Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton, last week, to officially launch an upcoming jobs fair in Dublin 15.

The Employment and Advice Fair will feature local and international companies, and is due to take place on Thursday, March 1, from 4-9pm and Friday, March 2, from 12-5pm at the Blanchardstown Centre.

Speaking during the launch Dublin West TD and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton said: “The Employment and Advice Fair, which is

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funded by the European Commission, on March 1 and 2 will be attended by 17 local and national companies, including Hewlett Packard, IBM, Symantec and Penney’s.

“T hese companies have, between them, several hundred high-quality jobs covering a range of qualifications and experience.

“There will be a variety of employment related advice available and a number of training agencies will be attending to help job seekers with their career planning and examine, with them, the range of options available.

“Our partners in this

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

‘These companies have, between them, several hundred high quality jobs’

-------------------------Francis Dunne, Joe Gavin, Siobhan Moore, President of the Chamber of

local, national and international Jobs Fair are the Fingal Dublin Chamber and the Blanchardstown Centre and I very much appreciate their support with this venture.

“Information about all of the services of the Department of Social Protection will be available to jobseekers, and

Commerce, Kevin Quinn, Blanchardstown Town centre manager and Tony Lambert, chief executive of Fingal Dublin Chamber

former FAS staff, who are now par t of my Depar tment, will be there to help in any way they can.

“A CV clinic will be conducted throughout the event which will help people develop their CV’s

to the standard which is demanded by employers,” Minister Burton added.

Tony Lambert, chief executive from Fingal Dublin Chamber, joined Minister Burton to officially launch the major

jobs fair, which hopes to attract over 5,000 visitors.

Organisers are inviting all members of the public to head down to the centre to get some valued advice, and maybe even a new job here or abroad.

CAMPAIGN Consider a career as engineer DUBLIN students, schools and parents are being urged to get involved in Engineers’ Week taking place across Ireland next week.

For one week, from February 27 until March 4, 2012 a series of activities will take place across the country, run by Engineers Ireland. The campaign is held annually to promote engineering as a career and the importance of the profession to Ireland.

Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, joined Engineers Ireland in encouraging local students, schools and parents to get involved in the week.

Minister Quinn said: “I hope that the events planned as part of Engineers’ Week 2012 will show students that maths is important in every day life.”

For information log onto w w w.engineersweek.ie

8 BLANCH GAZETTE 23 February 2012

EVENT

R1

Swap Style event

at the Grasshopper Inn

Sarah Fagan and Aoife McGarvey

Frankie and Dani Cullen Gemma McNamara and Kasey Larkin

Style central

T Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown was the beneficiary of a recent Swap Style event at the Grasshopper Inn in Clonee. These events are a great way of refreshing tired wardrobes as ladies bring some great unwanted clothes, old and new, and then search high and low through the rails for any item of interest to them so they can swap and take it home.

The event, which grades donated clothes in three different colours, depending on their value, allows participants to carry over the loyalty stamp card to other swap style events.

S

Sheena Devaney

Louise Gear

Jennifer Duffy and Millie Maguire

Petra Cernikova and Fiona Murphy

John McLaughlin and Aoife Keogh

23 February 2012 BLANCH GAZETTE 9

LETTER TO THE EDITOR Clarification of Govt plan

Enterprise Board is open for business

M

“I WRITE to you in connection with the recent announcement of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs 2012. Included in the new plan is a proposal to dissolve the County and City Enterprise Boards and this announcement has caused some concern among our many clients and affiliated organisations. Since the news broke, we have received a large number of enquiries from businesses and entrepreneurs seeking clarification as to how this decision may affect them.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I would like to share with you what we know and to assure you of our continued commitment to the provision of the highest level of service. I also wish to confirm that we are OPEN for business.

The Government has announced a re-focusing of enterprise support structures, which calls for the establishment of Local Enterprise Offices (One Stop Shops) in each Local Authority area, working with Enterprise Ireland’s new Small Business Unit. The intention is that the County and City Enterprise Boards will migrate into this new structure. As yet, there is very little detail on matters such as reporting responsibilities, levels of autonomy, advisory structures and staffing levels. There has been no mention of changes in the range of services that county and city Enterprise Boards provide by way of business supports and the budget line available.

We feel strongly that the role currently undertaken by our Board of Directors and Evaluation Committee, all undertaken on a voluntary basis and providing much guidance and direction, must be brought into any new system.

The impending changes represent an opportunity to improve the efficiency and efficacy of local service delivery to businesses throughout Ireland. The real challenge will be to avoid creating labyrinthine structures, which, quite frankly, do not deliver a quality service to clients

Heavenly Hendricks: Getting your own red carpet look

and are not an efficient use of limited resources. The new approach needs to eliminate duplication, reduce red tape and introduce synergies into the national enterprise support structure.

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

‘The impending changes represent an opportunity to improve the efficiency and efficacy of local service delivery to businesses throughout Ireland’

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

In Fingal, I have no doubt that the outcome to this change can be successful, and, by success, I mean better service, greater coordination and joined-up thinking. It is our intention to embrace this change and facilitate a move forward to an exciting future, where entrepreneurs get the right support and conditions to create and grow businesses that will, in turn, create the jobs of the future for our families and citizens.

We promise to keep you informed about progress on the new arrangements and would welcome your input on how the new structures need to operate from your perspective as a cust o m e r and stakeholder.”

Oisin Geoghegan CEO, Fingal County Enterprise Board

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Oisin Geoghegan, CEO, Fingal County Enterprise Board

BEAUTY PAGE 14

10 BLANCH GAZETTE 23 February 2012

23 February 2012 GAZETTE 11

HEALTH: NATIONWIDE SCHOOL’S CONTEST

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Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email news@gazettegroup.com

TELL US ABOUT YOUR LOCAL EVENT, CELEBRATION OR FUNCTION!

Professor Niall Moyna and RTE Radio 1’s John Murray are calling on first-year secondary school students to put themselves forward to have their fitness levels tested by the commonly-used “bleep test” method

Improve kids’ fitness with Beat the Bleep RTE Radio 1’s John Murray Show has teamed up with Dublin City University to challenge 9,000 secondary school students to improve fitness by taking part in a Beat the Bleep competition.

Beat the Bleep was launched on the popular show, last week, by Professor Niall Moyna, head of the School of Health and Human Performance at DCU, and fitness advisor to the Dublin GAA club.

Students from 125 different secondary schools nationwide have been challenged to beat their previously recorded class average fitness levels over the next six weeks.

The class with the best result will be awarded €1,000 towards their school’s physical education programme, and a place for each participating student on a three-day live-in sports and activity camp at DCU. In January, John Mur-

ray and Prof Moyna called on first-year secondary school students to put themselves forward to have their fitness levels tested by the commonlyused “bleep test” method, which involves continuous running between two lines 20m apart in time to recorded beeps.

The student’s score is the level and number of 20m shuttles reached before they were unable to keep up with the “bleep”.

12 GAZETTE 23 February 2012

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CHARITY Public urged to use books to help

Start a new chapter for St Michael’s House ST MICHAEL’S House, who provide communitybased services for children and adults with an intellectual disability, has this week launched its 2012 Bring A Book, Buy A Book campaign.

RTE presenter Miriam O’Callaghan was on hand at the launch of the campaign to lend her support.

She said that she hoped as many people as possible would become involved.

“I am delighted to support the St Michael’s House Bring A Book, Buy A Book campaign this year.

“Setting up a cam-

paign location in work, at home or in the classroom couldn’t be easier, and is a great way to encourage reading.

“I urge as many people as possible to take part in this great initiative to support St Michael’s House in raising funds to provide essential communitybased services for people with an intellectual disability,” she said.

The campaign asks volunteers to set up campaign locations in their offices, schools, colleges, clubs or homes.

Volunteers contribute their second-hand books, and purchase books donated by their col-

leagues, fellow students, friends or family, at a cost of €2 per book.

The campaign encourages reading for all, and all funds raised will go directly to St Michael’s House.

Inez Bailey, director, National Adult Literacy Agency, said: “Not only does the campaign encourage people to read and share books, but it also raises much-needed funds for St Michael’s House.

“So, if you can’t donate, why not buy your books from one of the many locations around the country, and make a difference with your pur-

chase?” she asked.

Eamonn Fitzgerald, chairman, St Michael’s House, said that the aim this year was to raise more money than last year.

He said: “We are delighted to launch the Bring A Book, Buy A Book campaign. We raised €45,000 last year, and aim to exceed that figure this year.

“We look forward to welcoming back those who have supported the initiative in the past, and we hope to see some new schools, clubs, families and companies taking part this year, too.

“This is a great way for companies to boost

morale, while participating in a worthwhile programme,” said Fitzgerald.

A number of pop-up shops will be set up for the Bring A Book, Buy A Book campaign.

This year, pop-up shops can be found in a number of Dublin city centre locations, including Connolly Station and Grafton Street.

St Michael’s House has also teamed up with Eight Twenty Cabs to provide their customers with free books to celebrate the campaign, while the institution will also be leaving free books in selected Eight Twenty cabs around the city.

WE HAVE 146,000* READERS EACH WEEK *based on standard industry measurements

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS CALL 60 10 240

23 February 2012 GAZETTE 13

support a special, nationwide fundraising initiative

M

Penn-ing a winner: The story of a fading rockstar Eamon Fitzgerald, chairman, St Michael’s House and RTE broadcaster, Miriam O’Callaghan, were joined by St Michael’s House service users, Ruthanne and Dylan, to help launch the event

Miriam O’Callaghan shares a story with Ruthanne Gallagher and Dylan Campbell

Sarah Mullins, general manager, Eight Twenty Cabs, said: “The drivers have had a great response from their passengers, and we are delighted to be a part of this very worthwhile cause, and it is fantastic to see this campaign growing in support every year.”

The Bring A Book, Buy

a Book campaign was first piloted in 2008, with 15 different locations taking part.

The campaign has since enjoyed growing success, with 140 locations taking part in 2011, and a total of 90,000 books exchanged and €45,000 raised for St Michael’s House.

The campaign will take

place from March 1 to March 8. To register your location and receive a starter pack for the campaign, see the Facebook page at www.facebook. com/stmichaelshouse; visit the website at: www. smh.ie or www.bringabookbuyabook.ie, email: fundraising@smh.ie, or phone 01 884 0200.

ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 24

14 GAZETTE 23 February 2012

SYMPTOMS

Check for signs of diabetes ARE you at risk from diabetes? Staff at Lucan Village Pharmacy are encouraging locals, and all Dubliners, to be aware of the symptoms as part of being more health-aware.

Diabetes results when the body is unable to remove sufficient amounts of glucose from the blood. It is estimated that there are about 146,000 undetected prediabetics in Ireland at present.

Uncontrolled diabetes dramatically increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, and can lead to nerve damage, kidney damage, and damage to the eyes, foot ulcers and risk of infections.

If you suffer from constant thirst, frequent urination or regular infections, visit your local pharmacy for a five-minute glucose test to rule out this disease. With thanks to the staff at Lucan Village Pharmacy

GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY

By Laura Webb

A heavenly look from Hendricks I LAURA WEBB

THE award ceremony season is about to take a bow for another year when the biggest event, the Oscars, hits the small screen this week, but before it ends, Gazette Beauty looks back at one of the best BAFTA looks, courtesy of Mad Men star, Christina Hendricks.

The American beauty is not seen as one to shy away from a hint of colour, and her amazing pale complexion means everything and anything suits her flawlessly.

Her BAFTA, red-carpet look perfectly complemented her fiery red hair and elegant black gown. Coral gloss and peach blush brought great warmth to her pale skin, and can easily be repeated in the front of a bathroom mirror with a little help from Maybelline.

To get the look, use medium coverage foundation like Dream Satin Liquid by Maybelline (€11.99) for that dewy complexion.

Warm tones on blue or green eyes work wonders on highlighting that colour. Choose complemetary toned shades such as those used in Maybelline’s Eye Studio Quad in Coral Drama (€9.99). The lightest base shade should be used all over the lid, including the inner eye then blend the brighter coral tones into the lash line and socket line. Use Maybelline’s Eye Studio Gel liner (€11.99) to give lashes a full and thick look by adding a flick to the eye, finishing off with the New Falsies Flared mascara (€11.99) on top lashes only.

Cheeks look healthy with a touch of cream blusher, Maybelline’s Dream Touch blusher in Peach (€10.89) is best applied to the apples of your cheek using light criss-cross motions, for a perfectly blended result.

Finish the make-up by adding a splash of colour to lips with Maybelline’s Colour Sensational lipstick in Coral Pop (€10.49); for a stonger colour apply one coat then blot with tissue paper and apply another coat. For added shine, and to make lips appear fuller, use a clear lip gloss on top.

Maybelline Falsies Flared Mascara

Maybelline Dream Touch Blush Peach

Maybelline Dream Satin Liquid

Maybelline Eye Studio Quad Coral Drama

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Mad Men star, Christina Hendricks

23 February 2012 GAZETTE 15

GazettePETS PETS

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: WHEN YOU SHOULD – AND SHOULD NOT – INTERACT WITH KITTENS

Preparing for the annual wave of ‘unwanted’ kittens S I write, we are in the throes or organising, stocking up and preparing for kitten season here at the DSPCA. However, even though it’s still February, and kitten season doesn’t historically start until April, this week, we welcomed our first orphaned kittens of the year – little Starsky and Hutch – through our shelter doors.

Last year, the DSPCA rescued 2,038 cats, some of which were injured strays, felines abandoned by their owners, victims of road traffic accidents, or “surrenders” by members of the public.

Sometimes, a wellmeaning member of the public brings in a litter, assuming they’ve been abandoned by the mother, when she is actually away finding food, or trying to keep humans and other unwelcome prey away from her nest area.

Other rescue cats we see are mothers with newborns, and many orphaned babies who were brought directly into the nursery, where staff work round the clock providing the critical care they so desperately need.

So, where do they all

A

Tending to the needs of another newborn kitten that has ended up in the tender care of the DSPCA

come from?

They are usually the offspring of former domestic cats who’ve been abandoned by their owners, and are now giving birth, flooding our shelter with homeless litters.

As you can imagine, the cats are not the only ones feeling the effects of the stress.

The burden also presents enormous challenges for us here at the DSPCA, with space and finances stretched to the limit and, on top of our usual complement of rescued animals, we are inundated with hundreds of homeless cats.

So, what can readers do to help?

Firstly, the most efficient way to reduce the overwhelming burden of

unwanted cats is to spay or neuter your own cat.

Unaltered cats are driven by hormones, and will sneak outdoors in search of a mate. It’s important to know that mating just the once can start a cycle that will result in thousands of unwanted animals, who are often left to fend for themselves and end up arriving en masse here at the DSPCA. Here are some guidelines to follow if you come across a mother cat and her litter.

Firstly, try to establish if the family is tame or feral.

If the mother cat miaows and responds to you giving her food and water (never offer milk), then she’s most likely tame.

Give the family shelter, but do not separate

mother and kittens – keep them together in a garden shed, downstairs loo, cloakroom or utility room – and ring the DSPCA at 01 – 499 4700 for advice.

If the mother and her kittens hiss and warn you off, then it’s likely they’re feral. If the kittens have opened their eyes fully (this usually occurs at around two weeks), it’s likely the kittens can see, and may try to defend themselves by biting you.

In this case, leave them alone and, again, do not remove kittens from the mother, but ring the DSPCA and we will offer you advice.

It’s important to understand that, even though the family is feral, there is every chance we can tame the kittens, re-home them when they are ready to leave their mother, and spay the mother, so that this situation does not recur.

Either way, it is imperative that you do not ever remove or separate the kittens from their mother – to do so could mean their certain death.

For more

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

16 GAZETTE 23 February 2012

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS

Supported by AIB

Interview: Andrew Kavanagh, director, Sales and Marketing, Castleknock Hotel & Country Club

TRACKER – PAY OFF OR INVEST ?

Q – MY MORTGAGE has a balance of €175,000.

It is on a current tracker rate of 1.75% (0.75% margin) but, last month, my mother’s probate came through, leaving me with just over €200,000 tax-free. What would you advise - pay off the mortgage, or invest ? Gerry - Kimmage A - While it is very tempting to have your home debt-free, the fact is that you could earn greater net interest on a deposit account than paying mortgage interest.

For example, the best demand deposit account currently is 3.1% - net 2.17%, after deduction of 30% DIRT tax – or 0.42% greater interest. However, you might want the cash flow and, therefore, it still comes down to your annual budget.

On a 25-year capital and interest term, you are paying c. €720 every month – including the capital.

While you would earn €61.25 more interest each month on the deposit than you would be paying the mortgage interest, you still have to pay that capital back monthly.

Paying off the loan entirely eliminates that monthly debt completely, and your cash flow immediately improves. Does this suit you, or have you something better to do with the money ... if you can afford to continue those payments ?

For example: - Invest in your own start-up business - Pay off any debts - Help any family members in trouble - Improve and update your home – iPad, iPhone, 3D tv, etc .

One thing you do have is time. With tracker rates likely to remain low for the next two years, you do not have to make this decision now. Take professional advice.

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.

Enjoying working with the community ANDREW Kavanagh is the director of Sales and Marketing at Castleknock Hotel & Country Club, part of the FBD Hotel group, a role he has held since May, 2008.

Andrew was born and raised in Hartstown, attending St Ciaran’s National School and Hartstown Community School. He has a BA Honours Degree in Marketing Management, and started working in the hospitality industry at CentralR.com, an online travel website, as a sales executive.

He worked his way up to sales manager before opening their new Asia-Pacific office in Sydney as operations manager in June, 2006. Upon his return to Ireland, he worked in sales and marketing roles in both the Morgan Hotel and the Ballymun Plaza Hotel before beginning in Castleknock Hotel & Country Club.

He says: “I really enjoy working with the local community and trying to make the hotel a focal point for the local area. We sponsor teams like Castleknock GAA and Castleknock Celtic, trying to give them as much support as possible, and we’ve been delighted with the progress that both clubs have made with their facilities.”

Andrew has described the hotel’s recent performance as very positive after a difficult couple of years for the Irish hotel industry as a whole. The hotel has seen huge growth in the level of weddings and conferences booked in the past 18 months, and this looks to be continuing with new capital projects in the pipeline and 19 new staff recruited last year.

He currently lives in Clonsilla with his fiancee, Pamela Nolan, who is the HR manager at Castleknock Hotel & Country Club.

Andrew Kanavagh, Castleknock Hotel & Country Club

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

A: A pilot Q: What was your first job?

A: Packing shelves in Roches’ Stores, Blanchardstown

Q: Have you ever done a

job you loathed?

A: Wondering if our general manager reads your paper ... Never!

Q: What is the best thing about your job?

A: Working in the area I was born and raised in

Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’?

A: Making the tea Q: What’s currently on your desk that shouldn’t be?

A: A can of gin and tonic mixer that’s been there for about 18

months.

Q: What sport do you follow?

A: I get told that I would

late, and promising each morning to change my ways the next night – only to repeat the cycle.

watch two insects running up the wall for sport. I’m a bit of a fanatic.

Q: At the moment, what are you looking forward to?

A: My wedding next

Q: What sport can you play?

A: I like to play golf, soccer, tennis, cricket with Clonee Cricket Club, but I’m not the best.

Q: What habits would you like to lose?

A: Going to bed far too

LOCALMATTERS SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

week

Q: What music/pictures/movies do you have on your iPod/ iPad? A: Wall Street 2 – I don’t know why, it’s not even that good

Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?

A: I really like to follow some of the presenters on Newstalk, and some football journalists

Q: What was your last Tweet/status update?

A: Giving out about my team, Liverpool

ADVERTISE WITH THE GAZETTE CALL 60 10 240

Q: Describe your dream meal?

A: Homemade lasagne, fat chips and coleslaw

Q: Where do you enjoy

spending money frivolously?

A: Like many people, I tend to find I like spending frivolously on my mortgage.

Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own?

A: About six or seven Q: What was your worst holiday experience?

A: Playa de Los Americas, Tenerife. A lads’ holiday when I was 19.

Let’s just say, we didn’t live or dine in luxury.

Q: Describe your dream holiday?

A: Road trip around the USA for a couple of months

Q: What would be your dream job?

A: To own my own travel business

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

A: Lots of holidays, lots of golf, lots of grandchildren

23 February 2012 GAZETTE 17

18 GAZETTE 23 February 2012

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS

Edited by Cormac Curtis

RoadSigns Road Signs HONDAS GET A HART TO HELP WITH UPGRADES D U BL I N Ho n d a owners can now avail of the company’s latest innovation, HART (Honda Advanced Repair Technology).

This wireless diagnostic technology is now available at all authorised Honda Dealers, and has been designed to assist after-sales technicians in communicating and upgrading software on Honda vehicles in a fast and efficient manner.

HART provides the technicians with a seamless integration of troubleshooting with the on-board vehicle diagnostic systems, not only improving efficiency, but also first-time repair.

While the interior of the Mazda TAKERI (inset) is as stylish and luxurious as one would expect, the company’s real focus for the TAKERI at the 2012 Geneva International Motor Show will be its wealth of notable features, ranging from its clever capture and storing of energy via its regenerative braking system to further improving fuel economy

Takeri – a Mazda marvel T T H E 2 01 2 Geneva International Motor Show Mazda is set to unveil, for the first time, its Mazda TAKERI concept – a next-generation mid-sized saloon featuring Mazda’s unique i-ELOOP regenerative braking technology.

It will be joined onstage by the Mazda CX-5, a new compact crossover SUV equipped with the full range of Mazda’s breakthrough SK YACTIV technology; the MX-5 Special Edition Spring 2012, designed exclusively for the European market, and an array of new technologies and production models.

A

Adapting Mazda’s new KODO – Soul of Motion design theme, the TAKERI concept brings a new level of strength and allure to sedan styling.

The TAKERI offers a taste of the future direction of Mazda’s next-generation CD sedan, having inherited the vision of the Mazda SHINARI, a four-door sports coupe concept showcased last year in Geneva.

Under this exterior, the TAKERI features Mazda’s highly-efficient new SKYACTIV-D diesel engine, with i-stop (idlestop) system, and sixspeed SKYACTIV-Drive automatic transmission.

The TAKERI aims for

the ultimate in energy efficiency without compromising on Mazda’s characteristic “zoomzoom” performance, and is the first car to be equipped with i-ELOOP. Kinetic energy Short for “Intelligent Energy Loop”, i-ELOOP – the company’s first regenerative braking system – uses a unique solution that converts kinetic energy to electricity during deceleration and stores it in an electric double layer capacitor.

The power is used to run the vehicle’s electric components, thereby reducing the engine load

and increasing fuel economy by up to 10%.

This contributes to the Mazda TAKERI’s outstanding fuel economy, which is achieved at no sacrifice to performance or comfort.

The all-new CX-5 is the first production model incorporating Mazda’s new KODO – Soul of Motion design theme, and is also the first built with the full SKYACTIV technology range of engines, transmissions, body and chassis.

The CX-5 thus delivers outstanding performance and responsive, yet predictable, handling, as well as a high-quality ride and exceptional safety.

Class-leading fuel economy and CO2 emissions come courtesy of the CX-5’s lightweight and aerodynamic design, together with the frugal SKYACTIV engines (all featuring i-stop), and fuel-saving SKYACTIV transmissions.

The new MX-5 Special Edition Spring 2012 has been given an extra touch of class with a host of premium features, including chrome headlamp inserts, grille surrounds and fog lamp bezels on the outside, and Havana Brown premium leather upholstery on the inside.

Available only in Europe, the latest ver-

sion of Mazda’s legendary roadster comes with soft-top or retractable hard-top, and a choice of four body colours: Radiant Ebony – exclusively for this model – along with Crystal White Pearl, Metropolitan Grey and Brilliant Black.

In addition to extended audio connectivity, the Special Edition Spring 2012 will be the first MX-5 with an integrated navigation system.

Mazda’s display at the 82nd Geneva International Motor Show will also showcase the company’s brand-new SK YACTIV technology, as well as all current models.

Number of prestigious awards for Ford from EURO NCAP EURO NCAP, Europe’s leading authority on auto safety, has named the Ford Focus the Best in Class small family car, in recognition of the vehicle’s crash-test rating and advanced safety technology.

The Focus scooped one of only five Best In Class awards accolades on the strength of its maximum five-star

Euro NCAP rating, as well as four Euro NCAP Advanced rewards last year – an achievement unmatched by any other high-volume car.

Euro NCAP also made special mention of the new Ford Ranger after it became the safest pickup yet tested by the organisation, achieving the only five-star Euro NCAP rating ever award-

ed to a pickup.

The Ranger scored highly in all areas of assessment, receiving particular credit for pedestrian protection.

Stephen Odell, chairman and CEO, Ford of Europe, said: “This award has special meaning, because designing and building the safest vehicles possible is a core value at Ford.

“The Focus exemplifies our approach to design cars that both help drivers avoid accidents and protect them when one is inevitable.”

The Focus five-star rating was achieved through an adult occupant score of 92%, child occupant rating of 82%, pedestrian score of 72% and safety assist rating of 71%.

23 February 2012 GAZETTE 19

&

CommunionsCONFIRMATIONS 20 GAZETTE 23 February 2012

A few tips for family day to A

time; planning all of the details and imagining how the day will go.

They will feel very grown-up, especially as they are all dressed up on the day.

The Communion photo is an important part of every Commun-

ion experience, and it’s important to preserve the memory of this special occasion in a timeless portrait.

There are a number of things to keep in mind that will help ensure you get photographs you will enjoy for years to come:

1. You should choose your photographer wisely, just as you would with any service provider you are thinking of hiring to work with your children.

Don’t just go with the cheapest, or the one that the school has coming in, without checking out their work.

Ask yourself a number of questions before booking: • Do you like their photographic style?

• Do they just take traditional, posed shots, or can they produce more relaxed, artistic work that shows some of your child’s personality?

• Are they technically

GET YOUR

CHILD’S First Holy Communion is a special milestone in their young lives, and in the life of their whole family.

They have probably been looking forward to this day for a very long

proficient? Do skin tones look right? Can they photograph a white dress without losing the detail?

• Are the photographs available in black and white or just colour?

• Can you buy the CD of photos for you to reproduce them for relatives if you really like them?

• Do they have experience working with children, settling any nerves and getting the best out of your child on a potentially stressful day?

2. Remember any accessories that make up part of your child’s Commun-

PARTY

STARTED ADVERTISE YOUR EVENT OR VENUE WITH THE GAZETTE... ...THE BEST IN LOW-COST ADVERTISING TO MAKE SURE YOUR EVENT IS TOP CLASS!

CALL THE GAZETTE NOW ON

60 10 240

23 February 2012 GAZETTE 21

CELEBRATING YOUR CHILD’S SPECIAL DAY

one special remember ion outfit, such as gloves, parasol, tie pins or cufflinks.

“Ever yone forgets either the rosary beads or a prayer book!” says professional photographer Denise Cannon.

“Keep them in Mammy’s handbag or Dad’s pocket until you need them, but don’t worry – a good photographer should always have spares on hand.”

Also remember any special gifts the child has been given for their day, such as a cross pendant or dove pin as it might be nice for your child to be photographed wearing them.

3. USE this opportunity to have the whole family photographed together.

It often takes a special occasion to prompt a family photo, so this is a perfect time to have one taken while everyone is dressed to the nines with their hair done!

Have your photographer take photos of the Communion child with all of the different members of the family for a unique record of the day.

Imagine how delighted Granny, or the child’s

godparents, would be if you give them a portrait of them together on their special day.

4. COMMUNION portraits are most often taken on the day itself, but you may be able to lessen some of the stress if you can have them taken beforehand.

If girls are practising their hairdo before the day, they can pop on the dress and they’re ready, while boys just have to change into their new clothes.

If you’re including the family in the pictures, it’s a good opportunity to see if everything fits everyone and if their outfits will look good together in a portrait.

You can also have the portrait taken after the occasion, but bear in mind that the dress, or suit, might not survive the Communion celebrations unscathed.

But a good photographer should be able to retouch any small stains or damage with little trouble.

Getting the right picture will help make a special day one to remember

22 GAZETTE 23 February 2012

GazetteTTRAVEL Travel EXTRA

Blag a bloomin’ bargain dahn the stalls at a luvverly London market BARGAIN hunters, and those looking to find some real gems, are well-served by London markets, with BMI ready to whisk you away in style.

Brick Lane Market is spread across several streets in the Brick Lane area, and features a wide range of market treasures while, of particular note, there are also some fantastic stalls selling exotic spices and colourful saris.

Camden Market offers an extensive range of goods, from designer clothes and accessories, to one-off pieces of art, food and furnishings.

Portobello Road Market has been a market since the 1800s, but became particularly famous for its antiques in the 1950s. Now, numerous stalls offer everything from fruit and bread to posters, clothes, music and of course, antiques.

Old Spitalfields Market is a popular, covered market, selling everything from clothes to food to artwork. Once you’ve finished shopping, the cool bars and clubs of Shoreditch are just a stone’s throw away.

Covent Garden London, housed in and around the iconic Market Building and piazzas, is an architectural masterpiece, with speciality shops, restaurants and cafes.

Petticoat Lane Market, despite its name, is actually located on Middlesex and Wentworth Streets, near Liverpool Street station, and has great fashion bargains and household goods.

For further information on London markets, log onto www.visitlondon.com; for flights to London, see www.flybmi.com.

Rugby’s cancelled? cosy up at Kinnitty K, I admit it occasionally I book weekends away – with my wife, but without the kids – to coincide with Ireland’s rugby internationals.

So, sue me.

But, to be fair, I am lucky enough to be married to someone who is as obsessed with rugby as I am – if not a little more so.

Imagine then, if you will, the opportunity to visit Kinnitty Castle, in Co Offaly, without the kids, for the weekend of the Ireland v France Six

O

Nations’ clash.

It is, as the younger readers might say, a nobrainer.

We knew little or nothing about Kinnitty Castle before this trip, so, just like any other couple would, the Mrs and I did a little digging around online to find out what was being said about the place.

I really wasn’t ready for what we found.

Bearing in mind that we’re talking about a Gothic revival castle in the country - why is it people expect a place like this to offer satellite

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

‘This is a castle with the kind of magic that reminds couples why they like to sneak off by themselves in the first place

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

TV, air con, double glazing and a mini bar?

This place was first destroyed in the year 1209, fast forward 700 years, and Republican forces burned the castle, after which it was rebuilt in 1928 to the building that stands today.

This is not a Jurys or a Holiday Inn, it’s not a

Four Seasons, A Carlton or even a Sheraton.

This is a castle that possesses the kind of magic that reminds couples why they like to sneak off to the country by themselves in the first place.

No two guest rooms are the same, each boasts its own distinctive design and character – if you’re

lucky, you’ll get to stay in the O’Carroll suite – without doubt the biggest and most elegant guest room I have ever had the pleasure of staying in.

Stunning period furniture and lighting make this a unique experience.

And, for those who enjoy a dramatic bed, this one will take your breath away.

A free-standing, highbacked bath finishes off the luxury here, so let’s talk about the food.

We sat in the magnificent dining room, and enjoyed starters of spiced cream of cauliflower soup

23 February 2012 BLANCH GAZETTE 23

Edited by Mimi Murray

FastTravel The Dominican Republic delights

A weekend at Kinnitty Castle, left, was just the thing for Cormac Curtis, above, and his wife. A lunch at The Thatch, in the nearby village of Crinkle, proved a successful outing ahead of the weekend’s rugby internationals

Special offer: Enjoy Easter with the family at Kinnitty APART from Christmas, Easter is one of the only holidays when the family can get together around a table full of food and eat until their hearts are content.

Kinnitty Castle Hotel is putting on a deliciously

So, just Castle as well as crab and avocado - a real treat, especially the soup.

Moving on to our mains, my hake on a fennel rosti served with langoustines was perfect, and my darling wife enjoyed a rump of lamb served with roast veg and a red wine jus – all cooked perfectly, and seasoned to perfection, the missus never once reached for the salt!

Mille feuilles chantilly cream strawberries and an almond and pear tart finished off a stunning meal.

After enjoying our food, the grounds of the castle

provided the perfect setting for an evening walk to help work off one or two calories!

The next day, after a terrific hot breakfast served to the table, NOT a buffet, we had a quick flick through the newspapers before heading for the nearby town of Birr.

As I said, it was a rugby weekend, so we needed to fit in a little sight-seeing before the matches kicked off.

The Birr Castle Demesne is a delightful, award-winning spot where guests can get some fresh air and enjoy

special three-course Easter Sunday Lunch for just €21.50 per person (or two courses for €17.50 per person), with a special Easter Egg hunt for the children at 11am around the Castle grounds, on Sunday, April 8.

Guests can extend their stay to include luxurious overnight accommodation with breakfast the next morning from an extra €75 per person.

Steeped in fascinating history and full of character, Kinnitty Castle Hotel is a blend of old-world style and taste, complete with charming bedrooms.

For details, call Kinnitty Castle Hotel on 057 9137318 or visit www.kinnittycastlehotel.com.

an afternoon coffee.

But you cannot visit Birr without swinging by the famous Thatch restaurant in Crinkle.

No prizes for guessing the kind of roof on this place – but the real magic is with the incredibly friendly staff and terrific value in delicious food.

Seafood chowder, garlic mushrooms, duck spring roll and tiger prawns all provided the perfect base for an evening in a local pub to catch the Six Nations...

Did I mention there were two matches to watch?

A little advice from the

local music shop owner led us to the Chestnut pub, a more perfect spot we would not have been able to find.

This place poured a great pint, had candles lit all over, a roaring fire, and a big screen - Pub perfection.

The Italians almost got the better of the English that afternoon, and the Ireland game has yet to be played – but that didn’t stop us getting back to the hotel to enjoy a few last hours of luxury.

This place comes highly, highly recommended.

FOR some luxury this summer, look to the Dominican Republic with Tropical Sky, which, from €1,079 per person, has a package for seven nights on an all-inclusive basis at the five-star Now Larimar in the Dominican Republic, making a saving of €340 per person.

The price includes scheduled flights from Dublin, a room upgrade with accommodation in a deluxe tropical view room, resort transfers, taxes and surcharges.

The package also includes a US$200 resort coupon per room per stay. Located on a picturesque white-sand beach, Now Larimar boasts gourmet restaurants, premium cocktails, a world-class spa and endless daytime and nighttime activities. For details on this, and other holidays, contact Tropical Sky at 01 807 7996, or see www.tropicalsky.ie.

24 BLANCH GAZETTE 23 February 2012

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT

GoingOUT PAVILION 01 231 2929 The Picture of Dorian Grey

YOU’LL be Wilde about this production of the classic play, with Oscar’s masterpiece being brought to life with ease by the expert players of Wonderland Productions Limited.

Presented by The Pavilion, yet to be hosted at Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney, Gate Theatre regulars Michael James Ford and Michael Winder will be joined by the RSC’s Simon Coury for an exquisite dinner theatre show at 7.30pm on Friday, February 24, with tickets priced €45, which includes a three-course meal.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 David O’Doherty CONTINUING The Mill’s eclectic range of entertainment for south Dublin arts lovers, and running nightly at 8.10pm in the Studio until Saturday, February 25, Studio Shorts will feature a number of brisk but memorable plays. Small Box Psychosis, Bar and Ger, and The Philadelphia, will entertain with their tales of being trapped in an elevator, the relationship between a brother and sister, and a man’s bizarre adventures, respectively, and all courtesy of The Balally Players, with tickets priced at €12/€10.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Johnny McEvoy THE dulcet tones of Irish legend, Johnny McEvoy, are sure to delight at Draiocht, with his return visit to the venue sure to strike a chord with his fans. A warm-hearted, nostalgic evening awaits music fans, featuring many of McEvoy’s songs, presented with a master’s touch for the best of Irish folk and ballads. Johnny will also feature a number of tracks from his new album. Catch his show on Saturday, February 25 at 8pm, with tickets priced €25/€23 conc.

The legendary, titular singer of Cheyenne and the Fellows (Sean Penn) finds his dull, boring life living in wealthy obscurity in Dublin is about to change when he heads off to New York to reconcile with his dying father – only to find himself travelling the States as an unlikely Nazi hunter

Penn-ing a winner Nazis, pop stars, New York and Blanchardstown – This Must Be The Place is anything but a conventional film ...

I KATE CROWLEY

AH, I love cinema! Just think of all the exotic sights and locations that a film can take you to, whisking you away from mundane, depressing reality! (The sorry sight of the Crowley household’s bedraggled back garden in February is reason enough to practically move into the nearest one-screener.)

I mean, just think of all the amazing locales that a film can take you to – such as, err... Blanchardstown Shopping Centre!

Yes, indeed, you read that right. Hollywood is all set to welcome the sights and sounds of humble BSC to her sun-kissed shore, courtesy of Sean Penn’s upcoming film, This Must Be The Place, which, some readers may have noted, was partly filmed in parts of Dublin some time back, with a number of other instantly recognisable Dublin loca-

FILM OF THE WEEK: This Must Be The Place #### (15A) 110 mins Director: Paolo Sorrentin Starring: Sean Penn, Frances McDormand, Judd Hirsh, Harry Dean Staunton, Eve Hewson, Blanchardstown Shopping Centre

OUR VERDICT: IN SOME ways, This Must Be The Place is like a lot of films you’ve seen before – yet, in other ways, it’s like nothing you’ve seen before. Mixing up several road movie tropes, and with much of the film having a familiar Americana setting, it still manages to create its own identity in an already crowded genre, largely thanks to Penn’s memorable character, and unusual subject matter.

tions and sights also popping up in the film’s first act. And now, this must be the review; a little in advance of its imminent release, but hey – my column, my rules, folks!

Cheyenne (Penn) is a faded pop star with a, um, rather distinctive look, mooching around in Dublin, living a thoroughly boring life in his mansion, supported by the royalties from his long-gone hits, and living with his lovely American wife of many years, Jane (McDormand).

Plodding around Dublin, Cheyenne’s life – bar

the delightful Jane – is more or less meaningless ... until, that is, meaning and purpose comes a-callin’, courtesy of his dying father back in the States, whom he hasn’t seen in 30 years.

Arriving too late to make things up with his old man, Cheyenne, the eternal (if aging) rock star, learns that his father, an Auschwitz survivor, had wanted to track down his Nazi tormentor from the camp, who is probably still alive and living somewhere in America.

With his lipstick, candyfloss hair, reading glasses

and wheely-suitcase, Cheyenne is probably the world’s least-likely Nazi hunter – but this lost cause sparks a flame in the somewhat lost star.

Despite his thin, weedy voice and an almost befuddled way of expressing himself, Cheyenne actually has plenty of depth of character to face up to the unlikely challenge of finding his father’s tormentor.

(Of course, all Dubs will know that any middle-aged man who can wander around our city, sporting bright lipstick and clad in The Cureinspired fashion, would have to be made of stern stuff, indeed.)

So begins a road movie, of sorts, as Cheyenne, rock star and Nazi-hunter, sets off to find an old Nazi and, in the process, find himself. (I feel contractually obliged to bung that one in there, folks.)

However, as he drifts through one rural back-

water after another, standing out like a visitor from another planet, one question remains – what will Cheyenne do if he ever catches up with his quarry? Will he be very mean, or will he be Nazi?

It’s a pretty interesting film, if slightly curious in its subject matter. I mean, who would have thought that aging stars, Americana, a road trip movie, Auschwitz, extensive David Byrne (he of Talking Heads fame) music, Sean Penn and, um, Blanchardstown Shopping Centre would make a great film?

However, luckily, this witches’ brew works, with Penn managing to tone down his usual Pennisms to create a memorable character.

Although we’ve seen much of this kind of content matter before, we’ve never seen it quite like this, making this The Place to spend an entertaining 110 minutes.

23 February 2012 BLANCH GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING GAMING Bytesandpieces Adding to controversial Heights with another interesting chapter I’VE written here before about Zynga’s controversial Apple IOS title, Dream Heights, and how it’s been accused in several quarters of the gaming press of too closely resembling another (and superior) title, Tiny Tower.

Well, in the continuing drama around this particular release, the latest chapter in Dream Heights’ life has seen the US iTunes store listing glowing reviews of the title, which is fair enough – until you note that some of the five-star rave reviews come from the people who created it.

With “cloning” of smash-hit titles proving an increasingly contentious issue in the gaming industry (and with apps particularly susceptible to this emerging trend), it can be difficult to spot the original among almost identical titles – especially if they clone its graphics and gameplay

When cloning around is no laughing matter SHANE DILLON

DID you know that, while games titles – and, rarely, characters, or other key components – may be patented and registered for protection under various copyright laws, the content itself is rarely given legal protection?

Incredibly, while gaming standalone titles, and franchises, continue to generate vast amounts of money for the lucky top-tier of developers and publishers, there tends to be very little legal protection for such intellectual property (IP).

If I were to announce to Gazette readers that I was about to write a children’s book about, say, a teenage magician called “Harold Porter”, who wears contact lenses, and who has a z-shaped scar on his forehead, and that my masterpiece would be entitled, Harold Porter And The Philosophical Rock, I might expect

to receive a number of legal letters, somewhat sharpish, from a variety of impressive law firms.

If, however, I wished to, say, make a smartphonebased, touchscreen-driven, physics-based game, where I catapulted a number of birds towards flimsy structures made of wood, glass and rock, principally with the aim of crushing some cyancoloured boars (and called my game, say, Annoyed Birds), there would be nothing to stop me.

Indeed, apart from keeping an eye on this very topic and how it’s regularly reported in a variety of international gaming websites and publications, I, myself, have seen a number of such “cloned” titles, available to buy or download on a leading app digital distribution portal.

Typically, the “developer” of such titles insist that, no, they’re not blatantly

copying an original title, but are, instead, merely adding a similar title to an established genre.

In this manner, I’ve seen leading games’ assets (principally, instantlyrecognisable characters, models, and textures) repackaged into someone else’s game, which tended to have identical gameplay and structures.

Wild West In this kind of anything-goes landscape, cloned titles – in the form of Harold Porter – is free to pop his head up in this Wild West that much, if not most, gaming IP inhabits, legally speaking.

So, where are the sherriffs for this bold – but wild – lawless landscape, where Harold Porter and his gang are free to ride into town, grab whatever original IP they find, and then ride off into the sunset, ready to flog “their” wares from the back of a digital distribution

wagon?

(I apologise for all of these Western cliches, but they seem to fit my points, perfectly!)

Well, while legal eagles have yet to properly police this largely lawless landscape in the same manner as publishing, music and cinema are protected, its inhabitants – gamers – are slowly but surely beginning to form posses, and bring vocal, frontier justice to bear on any questionable actions

by Porter, and pals.

Where such members of Porter’s Gang ride into town (principally, hitching themselves near the front of gaming sections on distribution hubs), and once they’ve been spotted, “vigilantes” – or, irate gamers, to you and me – start h a m mering up the equivalent of

“wanted” posters, in the form of highly-critical reviews, low grades and, most damningly of all, explicitly referring to the original title from whence the clone sprang.

While gamers are perfectly happy to engage in largely similar content, and games that are largely similar, they don’t take very kindly to the thought that Game B has been, basically, cloned from Game A – and especially when those behind Game B claim their innocence, despite any strong evidence to the contrary.

It’ll be interesting to see how the industry shapes up to the increasing threat of blatantly cloned titles, as new media platforms bring the issue increasingly to the fore, and will, potentially, railroad Porter’s Gang out of town in the near future ...

Descriptions As reported online, John Lerma, senior user experience designer, described it as “awesome”, while Matthew Ott, Zynga producer, wrote: “Dream Heights is beautiful, fun and polished.

Another must-play from Zynga!”

However, when it comes to selling apps and games online, the industry, and gamers, frown on what, to many, seems like a system open to abuse, if developers start praising their own work in a commercially-driven sector. Balancing out such glowing reviews, gamers have been busy leaving a wall of one-star reviews for Dream Heights, adding another interesting chapter to this tale ...

GAZETTE

26 BLANCH GAZETTE 23 February 2012

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Further Information/Revised Plans. I, Vitalie Berzan, under planning reference FW11B/0071 applied for permission, but due to a request for Further Information/Revised Plans the development will now consist of extension to existing hipped roof to form a gable roof at the sides of both dwellings for the purpose of attic storage, installation of solar panels to front section of both roofs and all associated site development works at both 82 & 84 The Village, Porterstown Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15. Further Informaton/Revised plans in relation to the application have been furnished to the Planning Authority, and are available for inspection or purchase at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the authority during office hours. A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the Planning Authority on payment of the prescribed fee. Submission or observations to be sent to the Planning Authority within two weeks of receipt by the Planning Authority of the newspaper notice and site notice or in the case of a planning application accompanied by an Environmental Impact Statement (E.I.S.), within 5 weeks of receipt of such notices by the Planning Authority.

We Jean Nannetti & Elaine Gahan intend to apply for Planning Permission for Dormer Style Extension to rear of house containing two bedrooms at 17 Willow Wood Walk, Hartstown, Dublin 15.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during the public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of five weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application

Permission sought for an attic conversion to store room and revised roof profile to enable access from existing hip roof to a gable end roof at 63 St. Mochta’s Green, Clonsilla, Dublin 15. For Stephen Kelly. This planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

I Tommy Goodman of No. 9 Georgian Village, Castleknock, Dublin15 intend to apply for planning permission for alterations to existing planning permission Reg Ref: f08/0626, An Bord Pleannala Ref Pl 06f.232456, for the addition of an external stairs to the basement at the side of each dwelling, 9 and 9a, also the inclusion of rooflights to both sides of each dwelling. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of this application.

Permission sought for a single storey extension to the front and a single storey extension to the rear of 4 Hadleigh Green, Castleknock, Dublin 15. For Anne & Declan McCarthy. This planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

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GazetteSPORT

ALL ROUND THE WORLD Documentary focuses on the Irish experience and GAA abroad: Page 29

SWIMMING: YEAR OF OLYMPIC PREPARATION SEES NAC SET FOR PRESTIGIOUS VISITORS

Aquatic Centre powers into the new year sport@gazettegroup.com

AS IT faces into one of it’s busiest and biggest years ever, the National Aquatic Centre has partnered with Electric Ireland to help power it through 2012.

This year is set to be a very busy one, with the NAC due to host preOlympic international teams, such as the USA Synchronised Swimming Squad, Olympic Water Polo Champions, Hun-

gary, and also the UK water polo squad as they prepare for the London games in summer. Similarly, Electric Ireland will also share a keen interest in the build-up to games as Energy Partner to Ireland’s Olympic team.

Last year, the NAC broke the 800,000 mark for the first time and became Ireland’s third most popular fee-paying attraction, with an overall 46% growth in numbers over the past five years.

As part of the 12month contract Electric Ireland will supply all the Dublin-based centre electricity requirements.

Energy efficiency is high on the centre’s agenda and their efforts were recently recognised when they were shortlisted for the Sustainable Energy Awards. With the help of Electric Ireland the National Aquatic Centre is making great progress in reducing its energy requirements.

Some young swimmers help cap the announcement of the NAC’s partnership with Electric Ireland

The centre, which is the premier venue for competitive swimming, diving and water polo in Ireland, has facilities which include a 50-metre pool, diving pool with Olympic diving boards and major leisure water park.

It successfully hosted the swimming events of the 2003 Special Olympics World Summer Games

and the European shortcourse championships.

David Conway, director of operations for the National Aquatic Centre, said: “We have enjoyed working with Electric Ireland over the last three years and are delighted with the energy efficiency we have managed to achieve. We look forward to another

mutually beneficial year together in 2012.”

He added: “It is the policy of the National Aquatic Centre not only to look for first-class suppliers, but also to ensure that we get the most competitive pricing possible and best value for money.”

Announcing the contract, Electric Ireland’s

customer relationship manager, Alan Daisey, said: “We are extremely pleased to be continuing to work with the centre; we have developed a highly flexible, innovative contract which will help drive cost-savings and energy efficiency for the National Aquatic Centre in the months to come.”

28 BLANCH GAZETTE 23 February 2012

GazetteSport Sport

John O’Loughlin and Megan Cassidy

Brothers Mark and Barry Cahill

RTE’s Damien O’Reilly

Brigid’s Awards

Saints send salute to the champions EARLY 300 people were in attendance at a glamorous Russell Park on Saturday evening when St Brigid’s adult players, male and female, were presented with their medals after a hugely successful 2011 season.

Amongst the stunning dresses and dapper tuxedoes, was the MC for the night, RTE’s Damien O’Reilly who directed the evening with aplomb. Top of the bill were the club’s senior footballers who claimed the Dublin Senior Football title in style back in late October after a breath-taking victory over St Oliver Plunkett’s.

Also honoured on the night were the junior ladies’ footballers who dramatically captured the Junior Championship in September, while the Minor Hurlers, who won the Minor Championship for the second consecutive season, also received their medals. The club’s Minor and Junior ladies brought extra style and swagger to the evening as they proudly received their Championship medals.

N

The 2011 Dublin senior football champions, St Brigid’s senior football players, and management

Alan Daly, Dave O’Connor, Ken Darcy, Kevin Bonner, Stephen St Brigid’s junior ladies, the county champions 2011

Moore, Shane Supple and Colin Freeman

23 February 2012 BLANCH GAZETTE 29

in association with

Once upon a time in America

FastSport

The experience of the Irish abroad in sport formed Sign up for RugbyForce and help your local club the basis for a fascinating documentary, as STEPHEN FINDLATER found when he spoke to its director THE player drain caused by the recession has been one of the bitter problems for the GAA in the past few years with clubs losing stalwarts to Australia, Canada and the US. On the flip side, that drain has been acting as a link to the homeland for many Irish abroad.

It is a connection that Ballinteer man, Cillian O’Chonchur, delicately helped to portray in the documentary, An Exile’s home in the Bronx, which airs throughout February on Setanta Ireland.

It follows the fortunes of the 2011 New York side and their struggles to prepare for a Connacht senior football championship date with Roscommon, hoping for a maiden win.

The result did not materialise but, along the journey, O’Chonchur, and directors Niall and Steven McCann, amassed over 80 hours of footage from

within the camp, with heart-felt and personal interviews with the players.

O’Chonchur, a sports journalist, came up with the original premise whilst

they’d be back in Ireland’,” he told GazetteSport.

“Although it’s based around the game with Roscommon, it hopefully comes across as not a straight, sports documen-

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

‘These guys [in the documentary] had to leave Ireland for New York while, at the same time, trying to cling onto their only bit of Irishness’

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on a Fulbright scholarship in New York and says the story told became very much that of the players and their situations.

“The New York team, itself, would not have any major stars in it. Dan Doona played minor and U-21 for Kerry and a few of them did similar but didn’t pursue it. One of them sums it up: ‘If football was their main goal,

tary, but as one which sees these guys have to leave Ireland for New York while at the same time trying to cling on to their only bit of Irishness.”

For some, this has meant 11 years away from home and, for Waterford man Aidan Power, nine years since seeing his father, having left Ireland to pursue work.

To add context, the likes

NY manager Seamus Sweeney puts the side through their paces

of Kevin Moran, Darragh O Se and Jack O’Connor lend their words on the American GAA experience, providing a context of the passion that exists in the Irish community.

Indeed, Moran suggested it was a seminal moment in his career, saying it was there he “got the love for football back”, going on to win two AllIrelands before signing for Manchester United.

But Moran and O Se’s experiences came from their position as “weekend players” unlike the central characters around Gaelic Park “There have been so many players to play over in the US, it was very hard to break it down. You can’t everything in it.

“Moran and O Se; they were weekend players.

One of the things we left was that Dara got banned for six months because he wasn’t authorised to play over there. As it happened, there was a meeting and it was lessened as there were so many players who had played over there without being sanctioned.

“For O Se, he’d go over for three days. It was far more common when there was more money around, mainly for the league finals, so it could have been a who’s who of players over there.”

O’Conchur – whose brother Padraic lines out for Ballinteer St John’s senior footballers – had initially looked at making

the documentary in 2010, centering on the American side’s much closer tussle with Galway.

He and another Irish masters’ student at New York University initially put together a piece for a college television project, building a rapport with the players and team management and approached Setanta with a view to broadcasting it.

The Irish sports channel backed the premise, and the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland came through with funding for the project in March of 2011.

With the transitive nature of the New York team, O’Chonchur and this team set about putting together a new story but the essence remained in place.

“We didn’t use any of what we shot the first year.

As it happened, the score was much closer in 2010 when they almost beat Galway, so we basically started afresh because some of the players weren’t there. The players we wanted to follow had stuck around.

“I came back to Ireland in May [2010] and started writing up a treatment and then found out last March we got the funding so, from then until two weeks ago, it was pretty much all I eat, dreamed and slept. There’s no better way to learn something than doing everything yourself.”

SOME of Dublin’s top local club rugby players lined out last week in their Ulster Bank League strips at Old Wesley RFC – flanked

by Irish rugby stars, Sean O’Brien, Sean Cronin and Shane Jennings – to help to launch Ulster Bank’s RugbyForce, an initiative which provides rugby clubs with support to renovate their club and upgrade their facilities.

RugbyForce encourages rugby supporters, their friends and families to give something back to their local community and rugby club by volunteering to undertake renovations to clubhouses and grounds.

Every registered club will be provided with online guidance and tools, and the first 25 clubs will also receive an increased support pack that includes €250 worth of materials, t-shirts for volunteers and an Ulster Bank RugbyForce plaque.

Four lucky clubs (one from each province) will be selected for a very special makeover, which will see them awarded with €5,000 of goods and resources to use during their RugbyForce makeover weekend.

Clubs must register for Ulster Bank RugbyForce online by April 13.

Ulster Bank introduced the RugbyForce programme last season, after joining forces with the IRFU to become their official Community Partner.

Ireland and Munster rugby legend, Alan Quinlan, is calling on clubs across Ireland to enter the programme.

“With the success of the Irish national team and the outstanding development of our provincial sides in recent years, support for Irish rugby has seen a dramatic increase.

The focus on young player development is at an all-time high and, thankfully, this professional development has been fed into rugby clubs across the country. Every week, exceptionally talented players line-out for their clubs in crunching showdowns.”

Speaking about RugbyForce, John Hussey, IRFU President, said: “I would encourage all rugby clubs to enter the Ulster Bank RugbyForce initiative. It is a unique way of providing an added incentive for helping clubs maintain their facilities. It also provides a fantastic opportunity to bring members, players and supporters together to improve their local club.”

For more information, log on to www. ulsterbank.com/rugby

30 BLANCH GAZETTE 23 February 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

RUGBY: ASHBROOK ROUSED AS ’MINE CLAIM THE CUP TITLE

Pinebrook move into top spot in AUL Senior PINEBROOK Celtic moved into a share of top spot in the AUL Senior Saturday when they picked up a resounding 3-0 victory over Baldoyle United last Saturday as they continue their incredible rise through the divisions.

Formed four years ago, the Blanch side have been promoted each season and now sit at the top of the Saturday pyramid, with seven rounds of league games still to be played.

The team has been battling with local rivals, Mountview United, for the past two years as they have flown up the leagues, quickly creating a derby atmosphere in Hartstown Park.

Pinebrook took the initial tie 3-2 in front of a bumper crowd but their next meeting could prove a league decider.

Mountview are 12 points back but have five games in hand and could form a late season charge to challenge Pinebrook and AUL stalwarts, Ballymun United.

Pinebrook confirmed a new sponsor at last week’s tie against Baldoyle, wearing the Teggart Transport logo on their new away kit.

Dunboyne trio make grade at Nenagh event THREE athletes from Dunboyne Athletic Club competed at the Leinster Indoor Juvenile Championships held in Nenagh last weekend.

Darragh Costigan won the boys’ U-16 60m hurdles on Saturday and jumped 5.60m in the long jump, a new PB and good enough for the bronze medal.

Darragh returned on Sunday to win the high jump with a new

PB of 1.74m.

Josh Costigan was second in the boys’ U-12 high jump, jumping 1.20m.

Caolean O’Flaherty was unlucky in the boys’ U-15 long jump, jumping 4.22m and finishing in fourth position. Caolean then competed in the heats of 60m where he finished third, narrowly missing out on a place in the final.

Both Darragh and Josh have now qualified for the All Ireland Indoor Championships, set to be held in March.

Coolmine RFC’s Martin Hayes in action against Garda in the Spencer Cup final at Ashbrook last weekend

Coolmine claim Spencer Cup I sport@gazettegroup.com

COOLMINE RFC grasped the Spencer Cup title with both hands last weekend when they faced local rivals, Garda, in the championship final at Ashbrook.

With home advantage, Coolmine showed their skill and determination to claim the title at a canter.

The sides have met twice this season in league action, with Coolmine winning both games, but Saturday’s final was far from a foregone conclusion, and a large crowd arrived in anticipation despite the bitter cold conditions.

The home side suffered a major blow long before the game had even begun, with out-half Donal Crotty limping off the field after pulling a calf muscle during the warm-up.

Garda started with a strong breeze at their backs and made good use of it, electing to kick into the corners at every opportunity. Coolmine kept the ball in hand, resulting in the home side having the majority of the possession while the visitors enjoyed far superior territory advantage.

It took well over 20 minutes before Coolmine eventually worked their way into the opposition

Captains ride in: Castleknock start season CASTLEKNOCKGolf Club captains, Dermot Conlon and Rita O’Dwyer, were on hand to open the new season in style last Saturday at the Captain’s Drive-In. They rode into town in full cowboy and cowgirl attire for a novel start to the 2012 year at the club.

For more information on the club, go to http://www.castleknockgolfclub.ie or contact 01 6406300.

22, but after multiple phases, Garda managed to turn the ball over and clear the danger.

It was another 15 minutes before Coolmine got back into the danger zone again, this time Rory Farrell blocked down a clearance kick which was touched down by an alert Morgan Smyth, but the referee deemed him to be offside.

However, Coolmine managed to maintain territory and, three minutes later, a show-and-go from Alan Cousins left the defence flat-footed, and he touched down under the posts.

The strong wind pulled

Liam McGrath’s conversion wide, but two minutes later, he converted a penalty from a similar position, despite the strong wind almost blowing the ball back over the crossbar.

Coolmine made use of the wind advantage from the restart, Bill Walsh stepping into the out-half position to gave a great display of positional kicking, keeping Garda on the back foot for most of the remaining 40 minutes.

Twelve minutes in, Alan Cousins’ pop-pass put Harley Murray in for Coolmine’s second try, before a Martin Hayes try put 20 on the board.

Coolmine were now

looking unstoppable, and Morgan Smyth ran on to a kick and chase ball and scored in the right corner.

Rory Farrell chased after a Coolmine clearance and was first to the isolated Garda defender who didn’t release quickly enough, giving away a penalty deep inside his own 22. With the ensuing possession, Ollie Prunty touched down with the last move of the game, leaving the final score at 30-0 to the home side.

Next week, Coolmine will have another opportunity to secure more silverware at home when the second XV take on sixth-place Skerries.

23 February 2012 BLANCH GAZETTE 31

in association with

HURLING: SAINTS MISS OUT ON UNDER-21 TITLE .

CLUB NOTICEBOARD ST BRIGID’S CONGRATULATIONS to senior foot-

action. Please support our teams.

baller Ken Darcy and his wife, Cao-

Our junior C footballers are looking

imhe, on the birth of their first child,

for a new coach/selectors. If you are

baby Saorla.

interested please email info@stbrig-

Well done to all those involved in

idsgaa.com.

organising a very successful adult

Tradesmen and volunteers are still

dinner-dance last Saturday night.

needed for work on our new gym.

Pictures now on the website.

If you can spare a few hours, email

Good wins this week for our junior hurlers V OP/ER, inter 1 footballers

martincahill1@gmail.com. Work to begin soon.

V Pat’s, senior hurlers V Na Fianna,

Big underage disco (13 to 15s) is

junior B footballers V Ballyfermot,

being held in Russell Park this Satur-

along with the U-13A and Bs, U-14s,

day, February 25. This is part of our

U-15s and U-16 footballers.

Feile fundraiser and tickets are €10.

Adult football leagues begin this

Joe Dolan Tribute Show with Johnny

weekend for our six teams, fixtures

Peters is our next live act on stage in

on website.

our newly revamped bar this Friday,

Minor hurlers are also in league

February 24, from 9pm.

ST PEREGRINE’S WELL done to our senior footballers and inter hurlers on good cup wins at the weekend.

St Brigid’s failed to bring their A game to the Under-21 final against Naomh FIonnbarra. Picture: Chris Lynam

Brigid’s brought back to earth by Finbarr’s U-21 CHAMPIONSHIP St Brigid’s Naomh Fionnbarra

1-8 4-6

I sport@gazettegroup.com

ST BRIGID’S Under-21 hurlers unfortunately failed to fire into life in their championship final against Naomh Fionnbarra in O’Toole Park last Saturday afternoon.

Dublin senior hurler Eamon Dillon stole the show for the Cabra outfit as Fionnbarra coasted to the title.

The Russell Park side never got into their stride in the game, which was especially disappointing for them given the undoubted potential of the team, they had demonstrated in both the quarter-final against Lucan Sarsfields and the semi-final against Thomas Davis.

Despite opening the game very well, with Jamie Winters landing the first two points to take the lead inside 10 minutes, Fionnbarra

kicked into their stride to hit the next 1-4 without reply, with Dillion bagging the first of his four goals.

Trailing 2-4 to 0-3 at the break, St Brigid’s could not turn the tide that was swelling against them, as Dillon continued to be a thorn in their side.

He finished with 4-4 from their 4 -6 total, which was exceptional scoring by any standard.

St Brigid’s cause was not helped by injuries to two of their key men, Dublin minor players Paul Winters and Conor Wo o d g a t e , b o t h o f whom picked up knocks in Brigid’s semi-final win over Thomas Davis.

In that match, St Brigid’s dug deep to overcome Davis at Russell Park to reach the final of the U-21 B hurling championship.

The first half was very much a ding-dong affair with the lead changing

hands on several occasions, ending 3-9 to 4-2.

Jamie Winters opened his account with a superb effort off his left but Thomas Davis responded instantly with a goal. Mark Ryan soon responded with a super strike but Davis replied with a goal of their own.

A scoring blitz just before half-time left Brigid’s in control at the break.

K ieran O’Sullivan and Daire Plunkett both scored goals, and the hosts started the second half well in control but missed several gilt-

edged chances to extend their lead.

However, O’Sullivan soon had the game level with a pointed free, before further scores from Dara Doyle and O’Sullivan sealed the game as stout defending by Cathal Doyle and Eoin O’Brien kept Davis at bay.

It will be back to the drawing board for the Under-21s now, and the club wishes to acknowledge the efforts and achievements of the whole panel, and the management team, in reaching the 2011 U-21B final.

without it being paid.

Any member not buying lotto tickets visit CNP.ie and support your

First league games for adult teams

club for only €2 a week. Lotto is also

this weekend; please see club for

available to play online using the link

details.

on the club website.

Club fundraising draw is now up and running and all members should now have their tickets. Tickets to be returned to club by March 21.

The nursery is being re-launched; please see clubhouse for details.

Entertainment in the club this Saturday from Something Else.

Lotto was not won; numbers drawn

The f ir st-ever St Peregrine’s

were 3, 6, 16 and 23. Next week’s

12-month calendar is now available,

jackpot is €4,800.

a steal for only €5 and selling very

Membership for the year is now

well. Please see Lorraine O’Connor

due; please make sure membership

for details. Club shop vouchers are

is paid, as you cannot take the field

also available.

ERIN GO BRAGH Coaching - run by our very own GPO,

Paddocks. Roster as follows; John

David Needham, there will be a Level

Kinsella, John McLeod, Sean Flood,

1 – Youths course on Thursday, Feb-

Brian Padden. Tom Madigan to do

ruary 23 at 7pm in Scoil Grainne. This

the run, assisted by Brian Padden.

course will run for seven weeks.

We would encourage all members to

If anyone is interested in this

support our weekly lotto tickets are

courses, please get back to either

€2 per ticket or three for €5. This is

John on (087) 754 1948 or Dave on

a key fundraiser for this club. There

(086)310 1034.

are tickets behind the bar in the Pad-

Well done to our U-13 boys who beat Ballinteer St John’s last Saturday.

docks or contact John Kinsella on 086 818 4054.

Our U-13s (kids born in 1999) are

Annual membership is now over-

looking for new players for both foot-

due. Please note all members fees

ball and hurling. Contact George at

go directly to insurance, the day-

087 328 7022 for more information.

to-day running of the club and to the

Thanks to all kids and parents of

long term development of the club.

our nursery and U-8s who travelled

Subscriptions are paid annually in

to the annual Gormanston indoor

advance in December for the cal-

tournament last Sunday.

endar year. Members subscriptions

There was no winner of last week’s

cover insurance costs. Children and

lotto draw. Numbers drawn were 8,

adults are not insured to participate

16, 27 and 28. Next Friday’s Jackpot

unless their subscriptions are fully

will be €4,100. Draw to be held in The

paid.

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ALL OF YOUR BLANCH SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

SPENCER SUCCESS: Coolmine arrest Garda progress to annex cup title P30

EXILES IN THE BRONX: Life as part of the New York GAA panel P29

GazetteSPORT

St Brigid’s remain in Division One after they ran out winners against Na Fianna in the relegation decider at Alfie Byrne Road last week

FEBRUARY 23, 2012

Brigid’s keep topflight AHL status AHL1 RELEGATION TIE St Brigid’s Na Fianna

1-13 0-10

I sport@gazettegroup.com

AN UNSTOPPABLE penalty from St Brigid’s and Dublin goalkeeper Alan Nolan midway through the second half proved to be the decisive score that helped to ensure St Brigid’s maintained their Adult Hurling League Division 1 status for the 2012 season.

The side’s 1-13 to 0-10 win over Na Fianna last week ensured that the nerves of the Russell Park faithful were allayed after the hurlers found themselves down to the wire with this play-off match set to determine their fate for the coming season.

Played on the excellent surface in Alfie Byrne Road, the Castleknock men started the brighter and, following scores from Jamie Winters and

Brendan McEnerney, it was St Brigid’s who led 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval.

As if suddenly realising that defeat would mean their relegation to Division 2, Na Fianna burst out of the blocks at the beginning of the second half, and scored four unanswered points that saw the Mobhi Road men storm into a two-point lead for the first time in the game.

Points were then traded before a John O’Loughlin point, and a monstrous free from man-of-the-match Aodhan McEnerney, left Na Fianna ahead by the narrowest of margins with only 15 minutes left on the clock.

Concern was high with such a narrow margin between the sides, but the Russell Park men finally took total control of proceedings when two well-taken scores from Dublin star, Daire Plunkett, the second from all of 80 yards, saw St Brigid’s move back into the lead.

Then came a crucial moment in the game,

when Kieran Kellett expertly latched onto a through ball before begin hauled down as he bore down on goal.

Alan Nolan made the long trip up from his goal to take the penalty, which he duly buried in the net.

Brigid’s were now four points up with the game entering its final five minutes, and two insurance points from Aodhan McEnerney, one coming after excellent work by Joey O’Callaghan, deservedly sealed Brigid’s status in Dublin’s premier league for another season.

St Brigid’s: Alan Nolan (1-0 pen), 2. Mick Cussen, 3. Conor Kenny, 4. Sean Brady, 5. Conor Morris, 6. Aodhan McEnerney (0-5 3f), 7. Aidan O’ Leary, 8. Cathal Doyle, 9. Willie Tyrell, 10. Daire Plunkett (0-2), 11. John O’Loughlin (0-3 1f), 12.

Brendan McEnerney (0-1), 13. Daire Doyle, 14.J amie Winters (0-1f), 15. Kieran Kellett (0-1). Subs - D O’Mahony for Winters (28), R Kelly for Tyrell (30), J O’Callaghan for Morris (45).