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YOUR COMMUNITY • YOUR PAPER
INSIDE: Look out, there’s a new Doc in town P10
June 2, 2011
WORKING OUT (SIDE): New gym equipment put in parks See Page 7
A world of difference: At International Day Boxing: Jim Rock puts faith in protege Fitzgerald Page 32
PICTURED at Riversdale Community Collge are Goldie Makengo, Alice Titiloye and Ganiyat Jimoh where they were enjoying the school’s fifth annual International Day. With culinary dishes from around the world, singing and dancing from many different cultures, and a display of the broad range of arts and skills at the school, the event was truly a feast for the senses. Picture: Peter Doyle
Full Feature on Pages 8-9
Soccer: Legends come to Hartstown for fundraiser Page 28
Leo denies second bailout comments Q LAURA WEBB
ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ............8-9, 10 MOTORS ........................18 BUSINESS ................... 20 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26
‘A media storm gets created by these things’
TRANSPORT Minister and local TD, Leo Varadkar, has denied reports that he said Ireland would require a second bailout. Speaking exclusively to the Gazette, Varadkar said that comments made by him had not been very different to those of Finance Minister Michael Noonan or Central Bank Governor Patrick
Honohan. “I’m not going to say anything else on it because it will just go on and on.” But he added: “I actually never said anything about a second bailout. What I said was that, if we didn’t go back to the markets, that there would be a second programme. So I don’t really know what people think would happen other than a second programme if
we didn’t go back to the markets. “I don’t think what Michael Noonan has said, or what Patrick Honohan has said, is very different to what I said. It is just that a media storm gets created by these things sometimes.” Asked was the Government being straight with the taxpayer about the country’s finances he responded: “We are being straight, no doubt about it.”
2 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 June 2011
DUBLIN 15: NEW MOBILE PARK RANGER SERVICE
Initiative: Helping jobless JESSICA Clarke, Caroline Reid, Dr Mark Glynn, of BlueBrick.ie, Adrienne Harding and Assumpta Harvey, from IT Blanchardstown, at the launch of new initiative, Springboard, which will provide 6,000 new places on higher education programmes for unemployed people. The initiative is targeted at those who were previously working but lost their jobs or were made redundant.
The council says no park will be unsupervised
Anger at cuts to rangers LAURA WEBB
CUTS to the number of park rangers in the Dublin 15 area mean the remaining four rangers will be forced to cover eight public parks between them. Prior to the introduction of the new mobile park ranger service there were seven park rangers with responsibility for the eight public parks in Dublin 15. This saw allday supervision in parks, such as Millennium Park and Hartstown Park. However, following changes to the park ranger service, three of the seven rangers have been redeployed to heritage parks within Fingal. Fingal County Council said the four remaining park rangers in Dublin 15 will have a “wider responsibility” that will see “no park go unsupervised”. But the changes to the park ranger service has caused outrage amongst some local politicians, including Socialist Councillor Ruth Coppinger, who told a council meeting last week: “Our parks are choc-a-bloc. We need supervision of the parks.
What is going to be the impact of staff changes to the services in Dublin 15? I think as councillors we have a right to know.” Speaking in response to concerns by Cllr Coppinger and other councillors during the meeting, a spokesperson for FCC outlined the changes saying: “We will be running a four-man ranger system in Dublin 15. No park will be unsupervised, but they will not be supervised on a continual basis. “Rangers in Millennium Park who never left the park, that situation will change. They now have a wider responsibility in the area. That’s not to say they are never going to be there, but they will be there less often than they are at the moment.” Castleknock councillor Mags Murray (FF) said if the council was providing services in parks where the council has never provided before, then that “had to be good”. Meanwhile, Fine Gael councillor Kieran Dennison also welcomed the rangers’ mobile unit which, he said, would benefit other parks.
REPORT: BLANCHARDSTOWN GARDA STATION FIGURES RELEASED
Offensive weapons possession rise 35% LAURA WEBB news@gazettegroup.com
THE number of people arrested for being in possession of offensive weapons has soared by 35% in the first four months of 2011 when compared to the same period last year, according to new figures released by Blanchardstown gardai this week. In a report of Blanchardstown Garda Station to Fingal’s Joint Policing Committee, crime figures for January to April 2011 were presented. There were 11 categories detailed with figures from this year compared to last year. The biggest increase in reported crime figures was for Possession of Offensive Weapon,
which rose by 35%, from 23 cases in 2010 to 31 on the same period this year. Speaking to the G a z e t t e t h i s we e k , Labour councillor Michael O’Donovan said that, although the figures were worrying, they also showed that gardai are “seizing” more weapons which is to be “welcomed”. Meanwhile, the number of robberies from persons has increased by 32%, with 37 cases this year compared to 28 last year. “This is a disappointing figure. It goes down as a property-related offence but it is extremely traumatic for the victims involved. “I was at a meeting in Tyrrelstown recently and
a man’s wife was mugged for her bag in that area. “I have also heard that there have been a number of thefts from young people for expensive items like i-phones and push bikes being taken from them. It is very worrying. “I would say that anyone who sees anything suspicious, or gangs congregating, should contact the gardai straight away,” Cllr O’Donovan said. Drug seizures are up 7% from 27 in 2010, to 29 in 2011. “This is a good figure, it shows that gardai are acting on the information given to them, from confidential lines like the dial to stop drug dealing, which began in Blanchardstown,” the Mulhuddart councillor
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‘I would say that anyone who sees anything suspicious, or gangs congregating, should contact the gardai straight away’
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added. Meanwhile, the biggest decrease in the first quarter of this year is in robbery from establishments, down 40%. The figures show just nine cases compared to 15 in 2010. Thefts of MPV (motor propelled vehicle) such as cars, decreased by 33% to 139, compared to 209 in 2010. Theft from shops has also decreased by 33% to 195 – 97 less than the year before. There is no change
to assault causing harm with 16 incidents reported, the same number as last year. Discharge of firearms remains the same, with eight incidents reported. Burglary cases are down 3%, with 176 cases this year compared to 181 in 2010. Criminal damage is down 19% this year, with 352 compared to 432 last year for the same period. Public order offences are also down 3% from 148 in 2010 to 144 this year.
2 June 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 3
COURTS Gardai catch pair after report of noise
Staging a creative audition
Pensioner held in own home by two youths AYOUTH who broke into a man’s house, ransacked it and held him prisoner, will be sentenced later at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Matthew Hales, was 17 when he and an accomplice broke into the house and demanded money from its occupant. They were caught in the act when a patrolling garda entered the house after someone reported the noise made by the break-in. Hales (20), of Willowood Grove, Hartstown, pleaded guilty to assault causing harm, aggravated burglary while armed with a screwdriver and penknife, and false imprison-
ment at Oakview Court, Hartstown, on November 21, 2008. He has 35 previous convictions, mostly for road traffic offences. J u d g e To ny Hu n t remanded him on continuing bail until sentencing next July. Garda Keith Plunkett told prosecuting counsel, Mr Kerida Naidoo BL, that the victim was in his home when he heard glass breaking in the kitchen. He investigated and saw Hale and another man climb in through a broken window. The victim tried to get to the phone to call for help but was grabbed from behind and dragged back into the kitchen. He
was hit about the head by both men and held there while they “wrecked” his house. He was then taken to an upstairs bedroom where Hale and the other man demanded money and threatened him. Both intr uders were drinking bottles of beer and the co-accused smashed one over the victim’s head. Hale took out a screwdriver and threatened to “stick” it in him before threatening to kill him if he told anybody. Gda Plunkett was on patrol at the time and responded to a call from someone who had heard the men break into the
THEATRE: INVITE
Matthew Hales was remanded on continuing bail until sentencing in July
house. He went upstairs and found the victim in a state of shock with a large cut to his head. Both intruders were still in the house and were arrested. The victim required stitches to his head and is now nervous when in his home at night. Damage to his house cost €8,265 to repair. Hale was co-operative
in interview and pleaded guilty to the charges. He claimed he had very little recollection of the breakin. Defence counsel, Ms Aileen Donnelly SC, said there was a “gross delay” in bringing charges against her client which had caused him and his family great stress. She said this should be
taken into account when imposing sentence. She said Hale is now a different person to the youth who broke into the house and that he works steadily as a cabinet maker. She said he had stayed out of trouble since being charged and now has a young child and girlfriend.
ASPIRING young actors are invited to open auditions for a place in the Summer Project in Draiocht. On Sunday, June 19, at 11am, the youth theatre at Draiocht is holding group auditions for young people between the ages of 13-18 years who wish to take part in a theatre project. No former training is required, but an interest in theatre and a willingness to try new things would help. The project will then take place once a week throughout the summer months of July and August. For a registration pack and more information on auditions and youth theatre, email Sarah at sarah@ draiocht.ie. Registration will also be possible that morning, but pre-registration is recommended, as places fill up quickly.
4 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 June 2011
NATIONAL AQUATIC CENTRE: HSE Concern at ‘subject to funding’ response BLANCH: JUNE HUNGARIAN CHAMPIONS EVENTS
Top team on the way
TRIPLE Olympic gold medal waterpolo champions, Hungary, will play a test match against Great Britain this bank holiday Monday at the National Aquatic Centre. The legendary Hungary national squad will play their first ever international waterpolo match in Ireland on Monday, June 6 and Tuesday, June 7. The three-time Olympic gold medal winners accepted an invitation from the Irish Waterpolo Association to come to Dublin and play two test matches against Great Britain. This is seen as a major coup for the IWA for persuading the world champions to travel here,
as they receive regular invites to visit countries throughout the world. The two test matches form part of their warmup for next year’s Olympic Games in London. The British team, who will also be participating in next year’s Games as hosts, have agreed to provide the opposition. Fans will have the opportunity to see close up the top world’s top Waterpolo nation display their legendary skills. The waterpolo Test match, Hungary v Great Britain takes place on Monday, June 6 at the NAC with pre-match reception at 5.30pm followed by the 7pm match start.
Plenty going on at the library
Dublin West Sinn Fein representative, Paul Donnelly
Hospice phase 2 funding fears Q LAURA WEBB blanchardstown@gazettegroup.com
A DUBLIN West politician has expressed concern about the completion of the second phase of the St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown, following a HSE response to a party colleague stating that the opening of the 24 hospice bed units would be “subject to funding”. This week, Dublin West Sinn Fein representative, Paul Donnelly, said wording of a parliamentary reply from the HSE regarding the completion of phase 2 of the St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown is worrying. “Through the offices of my Sinn Fein colleague, Mary Lou McDonald TD, the HSE replied to a parliamentary question on the operational funding
for St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown. “Whilst it is very welcome news that phase one is near completion with the process of fitting out the building starting shortly, I am very concerned about the section of the reply in connection to phase two. “It is clear that the intention is to open it on a phased basis. However, the sting in the tail is in the second last paragraph, which clearly states that the opening of the beds would be ‘subject to funding’. “This is not acceptable. The people of Dublin 15 and in the wider community have campaigned and fundraised for what should be a State-funded service. “The least that they deserve is that the operational funding is guaran-
teed. “I, along with other Sinn Fein TDs, will continue to fight so that the funding be guaranteed to ensure the operational costs are fully met,” Donnelly said. In the Dail Question, the HSE said phase one, the Hospice Day Care and Out Patient service, has been allocated €1.5 million from the HSE towards the fit out of the hospice. Once the fit-out works of phase one are complete towards the second half of this year, “it is intended to open Hospice Day Care and Out Patient Services in Blanchardstown for two days a week”. “At this time, priority is being given to the completion of the fit-out within the phase one building, so that the hospice
day care and out patient services can commence in year 2011. “The fit-out of the phase two building, which is mainly the 24 single bed in-patient unit, will be completed until early 2012. As occurred at the St Francis Hospice, Raheny, it would be likely that the opening of hospice beds would be on a phased basis, subject to funding.” According to the HSE, the staffing required to commence the phase one services has been identified and the revenue funding of €193,000 for year 2011 has been secured from the HSE. The hospice’s home care team for Dublin West is now based in the D15 hospice buildings, which is funded through a grant allocation from the HSE.
AN exhibition of work by the members of St Bridget’s Photography Group is just one of the many events happening in the Blanchardstown Library this June. The St Bridget’s photography group have been exhibiting their work at Blanchardstown Library since May 28, and will continue until June 18. Following this, the Sportslink Photography Group will exhibit their work from June 20 until July 2.
Clubs Book clubs also take place in the library. The Wednesday morning book club meet at 11am on June 1 to discuss Fugitive Pieces by Anne Michaels. The Thursday morning book club meet at 11am on June 16 to discuss the 2011 Impact Shortlist. The Thursday evening book club meet at 7pm on June 30 to discuss the Somerset Maugham’s short stories. Junior events include a junior arts and crafts, with a make and painting your own paper mache piggy bank on Wednesday, June 8 at 3pm for seven to 11 years. Make a Father’s Day card class is on Thursday, June 16, at 3pm for ages four to eight years. Places are limited, so booking is essential. There is also a Parent and Toddler group who meet every Wednesday from 10am until 1pm. All are welcome to drop in at any stage of the session.
2 June 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 5
HEALTH New D15 facility is something to smile about
Dental outlet is opened Q LAURA WEBB blanchardstown@gazettegroup.com
A DENTAL group is making residents’ smiles brighter with the opening of its newest outlet in Blanchardstown. The opening of Smiles in Blanchardstown is the latest addition to the group’s nationwide network of dental clinics. This is the 14th outlet of the chain, creating six new, full-time jobs for Dublin West, and rising to 10 in the coming months. The 1,400 sq ft stateof-the-art premises comprises three fullyequipped surgeries. The clinic offers a full
complement of general dental treatments to customers, from check-ups, cleaning, polishing and fillings to orthodontics and dental implants. At the end of 2010, the group announced the creation of 100 new jobs, and is currently on-target to achieve this goal, having already fulfilled 25 of these posts.
Investment Emmet O’Neill, chief executive, Smiles Dental, says that “this investment of €250,000 reaffirms our commitment to delivering a premium value-driven service to our clients”. In tandem with the
TWEETING
Backing Obama’s visit Q LAURA WEBB
Donna Memery, Susie Kinsella, Emmet O’Neill and Conor Ryan
launch in Dublin 15, the company is also opening its first clinic in Northern Ireland next month – with standard prices across all markets – the Northern Irish prices currently available in Republic at Smiles will continue to be delivered. Smiles’ Dental accepts all form of patients – pri-
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vate, medical card and PRSI. The new Blanchardstown branch will be open six days a week, with late-opening from 8am to 8pm from Mon-
day to Thursday, and from 10am to 6pm on Fridays and Saturdays. Established in 2005 by businessman, Emmet O’Neill and or tho dontist, Hugh Bradley,
Smiles Dental Group offers customers a full complement of dental treatments in each of its 14 outlets. Last year, the group treated 125,000 dental patients.
GET on Twitter and back the global Twitter initiative to get the world talking about President Obama’s visit to Ireland. That’s the call coming from Dublin West TD and Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar. A week after the President’s speech, there’s a real online buzz with people taking to Twitter to comment on the short, but memorable, visit. Backing efforts to make President Obama’s visit to Ireland one of the most globally talked-about subjects on Twitter, Minister Varadkar hopes to get the world talking about the visit by encouraging Twitter users to use the #IRLday hashtag whenever they tweet.
6 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 June 2011
Laurel Lodge Carpenterstown
With Jim Lacey Phone: 087-2401308 Email: jimlacey@eircom.net
A taste of the exotic raises funds for hospital This year’s chosen charity was Our Lady’s Hospital in Crumlin
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HE Islamic Community in this area of West Dublin have been sponsoring an annual International Food Festival each year in aid of various charities, e.g. Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown, St Michael’s School, Chapelizod, the Alzheimer’s Society and St Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown. This year was the fifth year of the International Food Festival and their chosen charity was Our Lady’s Hospital, Crumlin. The event took place last Saturday week in Castleknock Community College and was very well attended. Minister Joan Burton and Cllr Kieran Dennison were amongst the gathering sampling culinary delicacies from the Orient. In fact, Minister Burton performed the honour of cutting a large cake inscribed with a photo of the organising
committee as a mark of their 5th anniversary celebration. I should mention that the organisers are just over 20 ladies representing Muslim Women Together and who hail from such diverse parts of the globe as Egypt, Sudan, Libya, Iraq, Somalia, Palestine, Nigeria, Bosnia, Albania and Malaysia. The foods on offer, both savoury and sweet represent the cuisine of these diverse countries and are succulent, mouth-watering delicacies. The only regret is that the festival is only held once a year – I wonder would the organisers consider a second event, say immediately after Ramadan? Apart from the novelty of the event, an experience of the wondrous world of foods on offer, it is a fantastic multi-cultural opportunity where we can get to know each
other better. T he International Food Festival this year raised €2,000 for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin and The National Research Centre. This will help in the purchase of medical equipment and assist in research and development of new treatments and surgical techniques. This year the festival included stands selling hand-made embroidery, mobile phone pockets, bookmarks, car mirror hangers and key rings. There was even an opportunity for henna tattooing. Mr Gerry Cully, who is the community fundraising manager of The Children’s Medical Foundation of Our Lady’s Hospital, thanked the organisers and their supporters for their generosity in helping the hospital. Well done to all concerned.
The organisers of the event were ladies representing Muslim Women Together
2 June 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 7
EXERCISE Council instals gym equipment in parks
Fancy building your biceps in the park? Q LAURA WEBB news@gazettegroup.com
YOUR local park can be the ideal place to enjoy a refreshing walk or an invigorating run but add to that outdoor exercise equipment and it would be hard to justify spending a penny in a gym. Now, following Fingal County Council’s installation of 17 exercise equipment units in four of its public parks in Dublin 15 there’s no excuse to not be in tip-top shape, particularly considering they are free of charge to use. Local residents, including some Gazette reporters, have been seen testing out the new outdoor
equipment, aimed at encouraging more and more people to use their local park, while in keeping with a healthy lifestyle. In Millennium Park, five exercise equipment units have been installed, and can be seen being used by residents, young and old. In Beechpark, Waterville Park and Porterstown Park, they have four exercise units dotted around the walkways. The easy-to-use equipment has instructions in both diagramme and written description form, making it easy for everyone who decides to use it.
Examples of the exercise equipment available in local parks include: Surfer - Build waist muscle groups, enhances co-ordination and flexibility; Air Walker - Exercise reproduces the running motion but avoids the problems runners may experience through excessive impact on knees and feet; Rider Conditions shoulders, back, thighs and calves; Waist Twister - Good for waist joints and helps to relax the waist and back muscles; Chest Press (additional unit in Millennium Park) which strengthens shoulders biceps and triceps. The initiative by Fin-
Mayor Cllr Ken Farrell trying out the new gym equipment in the Millenium Park, Blanchardstown
gal County Council cost €15,999 for all 17 units, and is maintained by the council itself. According to a council spokesperson, the main reason for installing the exercise equipment units is to “encourage more people to use our public parks, and avail more of these outdoor facilities,
which are free”. Following the success of the units of equipment in the parks, FCC said it “would like to continue adding these type of facilities into more of our parks”, but only if “budgets permit”. The council spokesperson went on to say that: “Fingal County Coun-
cil is keen to encourage more people of all ages to use the facilities available to them on their doorsteps, and to avail of these equipment units which are free. “The outdoor exercise units allows people of all ages to get out and about, and benefit from a bit of exercise.”
COOLMINE
Plenty to keep kids fit and healthy SUMMER camps will be held in the Coolmine Sports and Leisure Centre this July with six different activities daily to keep kids fit and entertained all day. There are two groups of summer camps, the Junior Camp for ages 4 -7 years from 10am until 1pm daily and the Senior Camp for ages 8-14 years from 10am until 4pm. The Summer Camp Dates are: Camp 1, Monday, July 4 until Friday, July 8. Camp 2, Monday, July 11, until Friday, July 15. Camp 3 takes place from Monday, July 18, until Friday, July 22, and Camp 4 is from Monday, July 25, until Friday, July 29. Early booking is advised. For fur ther information on costs or to book a place call 01-8214549.
8 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 June 2011
EVENT
Riversdale Community College enjoys a feast for
Members of the African Group enjoying the event
School principal Noel Gildea and a group of silver and bronze gaisce winners
Maeve Ennis and Ivanah Ryder
Alin Lunca
A display of dancing skills
The singing group
Celebrating of cultures Q LAURA WEBB
news@gazettegroup.com
I
t was a feast for the senses last week, when R iversdale Community College proudly displayed its diversity during its fifth annual International Day. Filled with culinary dishes from around the world and entertainment from different cultures, the event truly captured the broad range of arts
and skills at the school. T here was a buzz across the school last Friday with students singing and dancing in different styles, while some showed their own culture’s colourful and unique attire. Students and teachers were treated to a very interesting lunch with scrumptious dishes made from countries all over the world. “We have over 55 nationalities in the
school, so we like to celebrate diversity by allowing students see other people’s culture through music and dance and art and food. All the students get involved,” Ms Susan Robinson, Chaplain, told the Gazette. “This is the fifth annual International Festival. We have different groups in the school taking part in the show. We have a bodhran group, an African drumming group and all sorts of dance
groups and a lot of Irish dancing as well. “Students from different cultures take part in Irish dancing as well. We have a lot of talented dancers, singers and musicians in the school, so we like to promote that,” said Ms Robinson. The school was also celebrating its participation in the President’s award – the Gaisce Programme, with 18 students receiving a bronze
2 June 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 9
the senses at its fifth annual International Day
Goldie Makengo, Alice Titiloye and Ganiyat Jimoh
Lisa McDonagh, Leanne McCormack, Taylor Ryan, Stacey Nolan and Leanne Carey
(The President’s Awards)
Samuel Kocsis, Alin Lunca, Alda Shyti, Ambra Pruteanu and Estera Lunca
Louise Dixon and Elizabeth O’Connor
diversity at school medal for participation and 11 receiving silver during a special ceremony last week. M e a nw h i l e , s e ve n students are busy working on getting gold. “They do all sorts of work in the community, mostly looking after younger children through youth clubs, football clubs and creches. They get totally involved in it. They do all sorts of adventure pursuits as well, climb-
ing a mountain that is all part of what we do here. We do a lot of outdoor education, and that is part of their Gaisce as well,” Ms Robinson said. Principal Noel Gildea said there was a “great buzz and excitement” at the school and the international day always proved to be a success. “This is a great learning experience for everyone, including myself, sampling the food, etc,
it’s all very tasty. “We have very talented students, and very often these talents are hidden until we draw them out, and a lot of them have a natural ability. This day is always great fun in the school, and we are all looking forward to next year’s International Day,” Principal Gildea said. The school will celebrate its 25th anniversary during the next school year.
Siobhan Dunne, ARG Irish Dancing
10 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 June 2011
EVENT DocMorris Pharmacy opens Carpenterstown store
Doaa Morsy and Sanaa Hijazy Cormac Tobin, MD, Colm McGarvey, Business Development director, and customer Frank Dunne, who officially opened the store
Shimas Hatia, Lesley Anne Duffy, Mary Devoy, Jenny McCartan, Marian McGovern and Ross Loughran. Pictures: Peter Doyle
Look out, there’s a new Doc in town! HERE was exciting news for Carpenterstown residents recently when DocMorris Pharmacy invited friends and neighbours to the opening of its new store. The new pharmacy is a major boost for the location, not only for its health benefits but also bringing jobs to the area.
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As part of the celebrations there was plenty of special offers to be had on some favourite brands for customers who came to check out the special event. The honour of cutting the ribbon was given to Fank Dunne, a local customer who officially opened the new store.
Maureen Rocca and
Ann O’Connor and Cathy
Cormac Tobin, MD
Horgan
Cormac Tobin, MD, Lynn Doyle, Shenaaz Hatia, Marian McGovern, Lesley Ann Duffy, Ross Loughrin, Mary Devoy, Colm McGarvey, Deirdre O’Donavan, Conor Davey, Rachel O’Doherty and Donal McAuley
Michael Olaloko (3)
2 June 2011 GAZETTE 11
12 GAZETTE 2 June 2011
GazetteGAMING GAMING Only two more Kinect sensors left to be won! HE Gazette is continuing its incredible Xbox Kinect sensor competition this week, as we give away the third of our four terrific prizes. K inect for Xbox 360 brings games and entertainment to life in extraordinary new ways, without using a controller With Kinect, technology evaporates, letting the natural magic in all of us shine. Controllerfree gaming means fullbody play. Kinect responds to how you move. So, if you have to kick, then kick.
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If you have to jump, then jump. You already know how to play. All you have to do is get off the couch, “plug in� to your Xbox 360 console, and jump in to experience game play. Kinect Sports allows you to say goodbye to the buttons and controllers, and play six full sports games just as you always have, using your entire body. Become the heavyweight champ of the living room with boxing, or take to the sand with some high-flying beach volleyball action. With soccer, field and
track events, and even bowling, Kinect Sports has something for everyone. Meanwhile, Kinect Adventures will have you jumping, dodging, and kicking your way through 20 pulse-pounding adventures, set in exotic locations around the world. K inect Adventures gets you to work with your friends and navigate through roaring rapids, challenge obstacle courses, and even save a leaky underwater laboratory. The spirit of adventure awaits!
WIN A KINECT SENSOR AND TWO KINECT GAMES To be in with a chance to win a Kinect Sensor and two Kinect games, to use with your XBox 360 console, just answer the following question. How many Kinect sensors is the Gazette giving away in total? Post your answer to Kinect Competition, Gazette Group Newspapers, Block 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan, Co Dublin. Alternatively, you can email competition@gazettegroup.com. All entries must be received before Wednesday, June 8.
2 June 2011 GAZETTE 13
GazetteGROWING GROWING
In association with
SEEDLINGS: FUN IN THE GARDEN
The joy of growing up MICHAEL KELLY
DID a lot of transplanting this weekend, which is always a fun activity for a GIYer. There’s nothing like the satisfaction of planting seedlings – bare beds transformed in an instant with neat rows of little plants. There are always a few days of fretting after transplanting, however – will cold nights set the plants back? Will slugs or rabbits try and munch on them? Seed sowing is a relatively exact science – if you sow a seed at the right temperature and at the right depth, and you keep the potting compost moist, then it will generally germinate rather reliably. In addition, up to the point that they are transplanted, the seedlings have luxuriated in the 5-star comfort of my potting shed. They have been nurtured, spoiled, cossetted. I’ve carefully watered them each day, switched on heat underneath them at night and covered them with fleece. The potting shed is a controlled environment – there is no weather in there – no rain or wind. Nor are there any pests
to trouble them – leather jackets, slugs, snails, birds or rabbits. Planting a seedling out in the soil therefore is a watershed moment. It is the moment it leaves a very controlled environment in favour of something far more uncontrolled, unpredictable and messy. And like a parent sending a child off to school for the first time, you just have to have faith and let it go into the mad, bad world.
Things to do this month To-Do Watering and weeding duties step up a notch – the tunnel/greenhouse in particular will require a good deal of water from now on. Watch the weather and water outside as required. Continue to earth-up potato plants to prevent the spuds becoming green. Mu l c h a n d w a t e r tomato plants and continue to remove side shoots that appear in the leaf axils. Stake everything that grows tall – raspberries, peas, beans, tomatoes, etc. Net soft fruit against birds – it’s worth the effort.
Sow Sow courgettes, pumpkins, summer and winter squash, fennel, chicory. Succession sow: beans (French and Runner), kale, pea, spinach, spinach beet, summer broccoli, carrot, swede, leek, lettuce, brussels sprouts, b e e t r o o t , c h i c o r y, endive, turnip, kohlrabi, fennel. Plant out leeks, brussels sprouts, cabbage, autumn caulif lower, calabrese, sprouting broccoli, celery, celeriac, cucumbers, pumpkin, marrows, runner beans, aubergine. Harvest We are now really starting to see some payback from our GIYing - the first broad beans and peas as well as new potatoes, new carrots, soft fruit like gooseberries, cherries and strawberries. Herbs are in full flow. Also harvest kohlrabi, cabbage, caulif lower (month end), spinach, spring onion, shallots, salad leaves, elderflower, rhubarb, salad leaves, onions, carrots, beetroot, garlic, sea-kale. Michael Kelly is a freelance journalist, author and founder of GIY Ireland
Recipe of the Month – Broad Beans with Bacon JUNE is broad bean month – I love opening up the pods and seeing the little beans nestling in the comfy white fleece inside. The little green gems love to be paired with bacon. This recipe serves 4-6. Ingredients: • 30g butter • 4 slices unsmoked bacon • 1 medium onion, finely chopped • 500g broad beans, shelled • 125ml stock
MELT the butter in a pan. Add the bacon and onion and fry until the onion is soft but not coloured. Stir in the beans. Add the stock and bring to the boil. Cover and cook over a moderate heat for 6-8 minutes until the beans
are soft but not mushy. If there is too much liquid in the pan at the end, boil briskly for 1-2 minutes to evaporate it. Serve immediately – this will make a lovely side dish or served by itself with some crusty or toasted bread.
It’s now time to harvest and get some payback from all your hard work
14 GAZETTE 2 June 2011
GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY Get the Cheryl red carpet look SHE may not have become an American sweetheart, but Cheryl Cole proved in Cannes that there are few who can rival her on the Red Carpet. The glamorous singer took the French by storm when she appeared on the carpet with her hair slicked back to show off her stunning features and her gorgeous white dress with belt detail by Stephane Rolland. Lisa Laudat, L’Oréal Paris’ Celebrity Hair and Make-up artist was responsible for the star’s make-up. For a glowing complexion to add luminosity to Cheryl’s skin after arriving in Cannes from America, Lisa applied Youth Code Boosting Serum, followed by a light coat of Infallible Brush 24hr foundation in Golden Sand and contoured the cheeks with Glam Bronze Duo in Brunette. Under the eyes, Touche Magique concealer was gently applied. Meanwhile, her golden eyes were achieved by mixing New L’Or L’Or L’Or Color Infallible eye shadow in Goldmine (available from September) and Color Infallible eye shadow in Endless Chocolate to the lids of the eyes. Cheryl’s eyes were then framed with both Superliner and Contour Kohl eyeliners in black. To complete the golden eye look, Lisa applied Telescopic mascara in Carbon Black to Cheryl’s eye lashes.
Edited by Dawn Love
Spoiling your Dad on Father’s Day Roger & Gallet
FOUNDED in 1862 Roger & Gallet has a complete range of perfumes, shaving and fragrant care inspired by the masters of traditional barbering and is available from pharmacies nationwide. L’Homme Shaving Foam is priced €13 and is a rich, thick shaving foam, which respects the skin, thanks to allantoin, an active ingredient with softening and soothing properties and aloe vera, a plant renowned since ancient times for its moisturising action. It also contains an anti-bacterial agent to protect the skin. L’Homme Aftershave Balm is priced €15, and is formulated to provide extra-special care. Its gel cream texture contains aloe vera and white tea that gives stressed, tired Roger & Gallet L’Homme shaving skin a new radiance and vitality. Skin is left soft and matte Foam, €13, (left) and L’Homme from morning to night. Aftershave Balm, €15 La Roche-Posay
The well-known French brand has the perfect solution for every man’s skincare needs, especially those with sensitive skin. Its XY Homme range combats skin sensitivity and problems, which result from regular shaving, including post-shaving irritation, ingrown hairs and persistent redness and post-shaving dehydration. Check out its XY Homme Hydrating Barrier Gel (€18), which has customised hydration adapted to male skin physiology and its XY XY Homme Normalising AntiHomme Normalising Anti-redness Balm (€18), which not only soothes redness Balm, €18 (left) and XY razor burn, but hydrates sensitive skin. Homme Hydrating Barrier Gel,€18
MooGoo is packed full of natural ingredients and includes shampoos, specialist balms, moisturisers and lip balms
Aussie phenomenon hits the shelves IT’S one of the beauty industr y’s best kept secrets, but now the Aussie phenomenon, MooGoo, is being stocked in Kerins Pharmacies in Blackrock and Dalkey. The luxury band is
packed full of natural ingredients and includes shampoos, specialist balms, moisturisers and lip balms. Amongst its most popular products is the brand’s new anti-aging
cream, which promises to help reduce the appearance of lines and sun damage. According to the company, one of the key ingredients is Resveratrol, the latest break-
through compound found in red grapes. For more information on the broad range of MooGoo products, and how to achieve healthy skin, visit www.moogoo. ie
2 June 2011 GAZETTE 15
16 GAZETTE 2 June 2011
Gazette Contacts Block 3A Mill Bank Business Park Lucan Tel: 01 6010240 Fax: 01 6010251 Managing Director: Liam Holland email: lholland@gazettegroup.com General Manager: Michael McGovern email: mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com Editor: Cormac Curtis email: ccurtis@gazettegroup.com News Editor: Dawn Love email: dlove@gazettegroup.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile email: jmaile@gazettegroup.com Sports Editor: Rob Heigh email: sport@gazettegroup.com Financial Controller: Carly Lynch email: clynch@gazettegroup.com Advertising Production: Anita Ward email: ads@gazettegroup.com Advertising Sales: 01 6010240 email: sales@gazettegroup.com Gazette Group Newspapers Ltd. - Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements Reserve the right to omit or suspend or alter any advertisement(s) in any of its publications. We also decline any responsibility in the event of one or more of a series of advertisements being omitted for any reason whatever, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement. If your advertisement appears incorrectly, contact the Advertising Department immediately, as responsibility cannot be accepted for more than one week’s incorrect insertion. Responsibility cannot be accepted if the complaint is made more than two weeks after insertion. If one places an advertisement for more than one week and then cancels it after the first week, no refund or credit will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser undertakes to indemnify the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising out of the publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published in the Blanchardstown Gazette, Castleknock Gazette, Clondalkin Gazette, Dundrum Gazette, Dun Laoghaire Gazette, Lucan Gazette, Malahide Gazette and Swords Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.
GAZETTE COMMENT
By Councillor Michael O’Donovan
A man of war - a man of peace The recent royal visit prompted Labour’s Cllr Michael O’Donovan to put some thoughts on paper about Republicanism, about the Queen, and about his granduncle Pat.
LET me start by congratulating the Gazette on the excellent photos of the Queen’s visit. Her visit to the Garden of Remembrance was remarkable, the warmth of the welcome she experienced was close to universal, and it set me thinking of what Republicanism now means to this country. Growing up in Cork, the hero of our extended family was my granduncle, Pat O’Donovan. Back in 1920, Pat was a member of a unit known as the Flying Column, and he was one of the 40 or so riflemen who took on and wiped out two lorry loads of “Auxiliaries” at Kilmichael in West Cork. For several months previously these thugs in British uniform had been terrorising the villages and the countryside of Cork, particularly targeting and burning the homes of Republican supporters.
The fire-fight of Kilmichael lasted no more than half an hour, but at the end of it, all 18 of the British detachment lay dead, with the loss of three on the Republican side. After the ambush there was a price put on Pat O’Donovan’s head and he spent months on the run but he still fought with the Flying Column in a number of other bloody skirmishes. That year of war had a huge personal effect on Pat. When the truce came, he was unable to settle back
into farming life and his restlessness drove him, of all places, to Britain. There he took an industrial job, married an Irish emigrant lady, and raised his family in north Wales. Like all his comrades in the West Cork IRA, Pat despised the members of the Essex regiment and the Black and Tans, because of the brutal way they treated Republican prisoners, but he came to regard the British as a tolerant and welcoming people, and lived happily in the UK until his death in 1974.
Pat’s personal journey from man of war to man of peace mirrors, I think, the change in thinking that allowed the Queen’s visit to go ahead and be a success. We can never forget that we were the victims of a British Empire that ruled other nations by force and intimidation, but recent important initiatives have changed the landscape. These include the power-sharing executive which gives Nationalists a guaranteed role in government, the establishment of the PSNI, which has demonstrated that cross-community policing can work, and the fulsome apology given by David Cameron for the Bloody Sunday killings in Derry. The silent bow of respect by the Queen at the Garden of Remembrance said more than any speech. We may be moving to a definition of Republicanism that is more confident, and also more at ease, with our former occupier. There is now a chance that our future relationship with Britain will at least resemble a partnership of equals.”
2 June 2011 GAZETTE 17
GazettePETS PETS
Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA
THANK YOU: RECOGNISING THE COMMITMENT AND DEDICATION OF UNSUNG HEROES
Honouring the work of all our volunteers ID you know that 2011 has been designated European Year of the Volunteer? No! Well now you do; so, for those of you who’ve been thinking about volunteering but who’ve so far only paid this thought lip service, now is the time to do something about it. I mean, hasn’t your mother always told you that, “it’s far better to give than receive”. But, have you ever wondered why people volunteer? I mean, why work for no pay? Right! Well, while I believe there are various reasons why people choose to donate their free time and talents out of the goodness of their hearts, I would imagine that the most obvious one is having a sense of purpose. This is usually driven by a need to give something back. Believe me, it’s absolutely immeasurable the positive difference a volunteer can make to a struggling charitable organisation. So, with that sentiment in mind, I’d like to dedicate this week’s column to the Dublin SPCA’s unsung heroes, the lifeblood of our society; our wonderful, amazing, volunteers! Yes, you all know who you are! You are the people who make
D
it all possible, who give unselfishly of your time, your love, your support, your compassion, your friendship, your humanity and your dedication to our staff and our animals, day in, day out. You are a critical part of society. Without you we’d be lost. Every hour of every day you, the Dublin SPCA volunteers make a worthwhile contribution to our work, both economically and socially. In its 171-year history, the Dublin SPCA’s reputation has been steeped in tradition, not just for promoting humanity and compassion, not just for saving animals’ lives, but for its legion of volunteers who have imbued upon us, the staff, a sense of strength and spirit that has inspired us, making us realise just how privileged we are to have you. We rely heavily upon your commitment, your love for our animals, your eagerness to help and we appreciate every single minute you give us. You come here and you make a connection, not just with our animals but with us and with each other, giving everyone a sense of belonging, a sense that we are all working toward one common goal – to build
a better future for animals. So, if sometimes we hold back on telling you just what a wonderful human being you are, or forget to mention that you’re doing an amazing job, please understand, we have an unending supply of appreciation for you in our hearts. --------------------------
‘You are exceptional human beings, each and every single one of you’ --------------------------
We know and recognise your enthusiasm, it gives us heart. However, during those busy periods at the shelter, (er, like now while we’re in the middle of kitten season), we may forget to nurture that enthusiasm. We may forget to say thanks, forget to say how cherished you are, how your unselfishness has helped shape our shelter. But, deep down inside, we hold eternal gratitude for you and for the excellent work you do. You have made our concerns your concerns and, for this, we love you and will always love you. So, whether it’s simply
Dublin SPCA volunteers thanked for their fantastic contribution, every hour of every day
a case of saying “thank you for turning up today,” or “great job socialising those puppies,” you, our volunteers should know your contribution has managed to transform the repetitious tasks of daily shelter life into hours of mutual love, support and care. And, in spite of whatever stresses that may come our way, please understand that you are not taken for granted. Your help is appreciated, your presence enriches, you are the heart of our society, we honour your commitment and offer you our unyielding love and gratitude. You are exceptional human beings, each and every single one of you. For more information, log onto www.dspca.ie or email me at miriam. kerins@dspca.ie
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18 GAZETTE 2 June 2011
GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs MEN GET MORE STRESSED:
THEY may be the butt of chauvinist jokes but it seems women drivers could end up having the last laugh, according to new research by satnav firm, TomTom. T h a t ’s b e c a u s e men’s stress levels soar a staggering seven times higher than a woman’s when stuck in heavy traffic. Psychologists tested volunteers for the rise in stress chemicals in their saliva when caught up in a traffic jam. The levels for women in the study increased by 8.7% while stuck behind the wheel but for men it shot up by a worrying 60% in the same gridlock scenario. That could be unhealthy as it puts pressure on the heart and can cause dizziness and breathing problems yet, remarkably, many had no idea they were suffering from stress.
IMPORTS WON’T PAY OFF – VW: EUROPEAN buyers of a US-built lowerpriced Passat would face thousands of euros in import charges, VW says. Volkswagen has said that European customers importing lower-priced Passats built in its new US factory in Chattanooga, Tennessee, will end up paying more than if they buy a more expensive Germanbuilt Passat. VW has done a test calculation to prove that importing the US-built vehicle into Europe would not pay off. According to the calculation, transport, car testing and import duty costs, as well as the cost of retrofitting lights, will add thousands to the cost of the cars.
The new Ford Grand C-Max is the longer version of the C-Max, with seven seats and twin sliding doors
Ford take it to the Max Ford has boosted its C-Max options with a new seven-seat version. MICHAEL MORONEY drove the new Ford Grand C-Max ORD has added more options for the C-Max people carrier that was introduced to Ireland at the end of last year. The car retains its compact size and there is now the option of a sevenseat version. For Ireland, Ford offers only diesel power in response to a market that is now overwhelmingly diesel due to lower motor tax rates and obviously better economy. For the C-Max there is the option of a 1.6-litre entrylevel diesel model or two versions of the 2.0-litre diesel. My test car, which I took across the Irish Sea for a lengthy drive, was the smaller engine version with the higher Titanium specification. This 1.6-litre
F
SPECS: FORD C-MAX 1.6TDCI Top speed: 170 km/hr 0 – 100km/hr: 13.3 secs Economy: 21.7 km/litre (4.6 l/100km) CO2 emissions: 119g/km Road Tax Band: A (€104) Scrappage Eligible: Yes Warranty: 2 years Entry Price: €24,495
turbo-diesel engine has been upgraded, according to Ford, for better economy. My test covered over 1,200km across Irish and British roads, with lots of motorway cruising. The 95bhp engine performs well on the open road, but there is a noticeable lack of power when needed. The engine torque at 230Nm is lower than some of the similar
size competition, such as the Renault Grand Scenic or Mazda5, and that’s noticeable when you want to push on. The acceleration pace is 14.3 seconds for the bigger Grand C-Max; you shave a second off this for the slightly smaller fiveseat version. The Grand C-Max is a shade slower than the competition and that’s a power and torque feature, which the entry level, 1.6-litre diesel model is slightly short on. The economy rating of the car is impressive at 20km/litre (4.9 litre/100km) and that’s marginally better than the competition. Ford has a new sixspeed gearbox for the C-Max and it’s a joy to use. The gear shift is smooth
and easy with the lever in a convenient position. As a people carrier, a car like the Grand C-Max needs to have plenty of storage areas. With the seven seats in place, in my case six, as the smaller middle seat was absent, the boot storage area is a little limited. This makes cars like the Grand C-Max with the sevenseat capacity more suited to short, full-load runs. If you are planning on a long, full family holiday journey with all the seats occupied, then you’ll have to consider investing in a roof box; there’s simply no room for a significant luggage load. The extra row of seats is very useful for school runs and local jobs. The car has lots of lit-
tle storage areas in doors, etc, and there are loads of options in terms of styling, including seat back trays. The under-floor storage areas in the rear are a little small to be practical. The seven-seat Grand C-Max also comes with a new rear seat belt minder system. This alerts the driver if any of the seat belts in the second or third row seats are not correctly fastened; a helpful feature if young children are travelling in the car. The entry-level cars are well fitted out with 16” alloy wheels, front fog lights, rear privacy glass, heated windscreen, Bluetooth voice control, air conditioning, electric front windows, remote radio CD and leather steering
wheel and gear knob. The bigger Grand C-Max gets rear parking sensors and foldable mirrors, power child locks, rear seat belt minder and electric rear windows included in the extra €3,000 price. The safety deal also includes Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) which cannot be overridden. The entry price for the C-Max models is €24,495, while you need to spend an additional €3,000 for the seven-seat Grand C-Max model. The Grand C-Max is a solid car to drive, with a good driving position, modern styling and a high level of features. It needs more power at the lower end as it aims for better economy.
Don’t be mobile phone distracted this weekend IF you’re planning to be out on the roads this Bank Holiday weekend, you’d best focus on keeping safe and focused on driving. Gardai are expected to step up enforcement, not only for drink-driving and speeding offenders, but also for those talking and texting behind the wheel.
Every year there are thousands of injuries caused by people who talk or, worse still, text while driving their car or truck. I’ve seen them myself and it’s alarming, especially to see truck drivers sending texts. US research has shown that nine percent of all drivers are talking on
mobile phones, which make them four times as likely to crash; and drivers who read or type text messages contribute to thousands of crashes per year. There is plenty of local anecdotal evidence to show that people being distracted by mobile phones cause thousands of accidents each year, many of which are
never reported. We all need to spread the word about distraction and emphasise this point: No message or call is worth the risk; when you get into your car, truck or van, turn your phone off or use hands-free and, better still, put the mobile in the glovebox.
2 June 2011 GAZETTE 19
20 GAZETTE 2 June 2011
GazettePROPERTY PROPERTY PORTMARNOCK: ASKING The inside’s out: B&Q’s latest range PRICE OF €475,000 of cutting-edge patio furniture B&Q are leaping into the summer mood with the launch of a selection of coun-
try, contemporary and heritage products that can help create the ideal environment for relaxing and entertaining outdoors in your garden. The styles on offer are: Country, with rustic styles that never go out of fashion, including the Capri three-piece bistro set at €365; Contemporary, with sleek shapes and cool colours, with a range of B&Q’s cutting-edge chairs, tables and accessories to give a garden or conservatory a truly modern feel, with the Jersey garden set at €1,153; and Heritage, where B&Q can help introduce a sense of timeless elegance to your terrace or patio with woven rattan and intricate mosaic designs, including the Cobbo coffee set, at €970.
Number 104, Ardilaun, in Portmarnock is on the market with an asking price of €475,000
Super semi in Ardilaun NOEL Kelly Estate Agents are bringing No. 104 Ardilaun, Portmarnock, a four-bedroom semi-detatched family home, to the market for €475,000. From the moment you open the hall door, you are impressed by the space and light this Sorohan-built home has to offer. The vendor is keen to sell, so make it a priority to inspect. Modern in design and layout, this home provides comfort and flexible living accommodation that can adapt to the changing needs of any family. The house is complimented by a secluded landscaped rear garden which is laid in lawn with a variety of shrubs and bordered by a colourful display of plants that contribute to the welcoming aspect which the property presents. The orientation is south facing and there is a large decking, perfect for al fresco dining in those summer months. The front garden driveway is tarmacadam, providing parking for two or three cars. The property also features a garage, which could be easily converted into a study should
the new owners require more space. Viewing is by appointment only, and can be arranged by contacting Noel Kelly on 01 846 2752. The accommodation comprises entrance hall with decorative timber floor, kitchen with fitted wall and floor units, integrated fridge freezer, oven hob and extractor fan, ceramic tiled floor. The lounge has a marble fireplace and doors to the patio. Upstairs the bedrooms have fitted wardrobes, while the master bedroom has a walk-in wardrobe, sloping ceiling and storage space. The bathroom has a new white suite, electric Triton shower, tiled floor and walls, shower screen and accessories. The property also features a large garage, a side entrance and Upvc double-glazed windows. The garage could be easily converted into a study should the new owners require more space, and the carpets, curtains and blinds are included in the sale. Viewing is by appointment only, and can be arranged by contacting Noel Kelly on 01 846 2752.
PORTMARNOCK: A FOUR-BED DETACHED HOME FOR €695,000
Family home ultimate in relaxing elegance
NOEL Kelly Estate Agents are bringing No. 126, Drumnigh Wood, Portmarnock, a fourbedroom detatched family home set in a private estate, to the market for €695,000. Houses in Drumnigh Wood are always sought after and this will be no exception. This prestigious development, which extends to c 156 sq m or c1,680 sq ft, is in a fine setting and the estate avails of 24-hour security surveillance. No. 126, Drumnigh
Wood also features gas-fire central heating, decorative timber floors, a side entrance, two double garages, a cobblelock driveway, and a large, westerly orientation rear garden with patio. Stylish decor, a cheerful ambience, spacious accommodation makes this the perfect home in which to live, entertain and provide the ultimate in comfort and relaxing elegance. The accommodation comprises entrance hall with wooden floor, a large
Number 126, Drumnigh Wood, in Portmarnock
living room with a feature bay window, a feature fireplace and connecting doors to the sunroom, which features velux roof lights. The kitchen/dining room has fitted wall and floor units, integrated oven hob and extractor, dishwasher, fridge freezer, a feature island unit, as well as a marble worktop and a tiled floor, and has a door leading to the util-
ity room. The three main bedrooms have fitted wardrobes and the master bedroom is en suite, with a power shower and tiled floor. The main bathroom has a jacuzzi bath, tiled floor, recess lighting, and heated towel rail. There is a large rear garden, which is laid out in lawn, with a variety of plants, shrubs, and patio.
There are a host of amenities close by, including the famous Velvet Strand and Promenade, the breathtaking coastal walk from Portmarnock to Malahide, the Sports and Leisure Centre, as well as excellent shopping and transport facilities. Viewing is by appointment, and can be arranged by contacting Noel Kelly on 01 846 2752.
2 June 2011 GAZETTE 21
GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS
Supported by AIB
Interview: Mark Bownes, Carpet and Flooring Concepts
Husband and wife team know flooring
ANSWERS TO YOUR PERSONAL FINANCE QUESTIONS WEDDING FUNDS AND INSURANCE Q – We are saving for our wedding in 18 months time, and trying to save € 650 a month. Where
MARK Bownes is married to Niamh and has two children, Isobel, who is three-years-old, and Nathan, who is one. When not working in the showroom, Mark enjoys taking them walking by the seaside in Dun Laoghaire. Having worked in flooring retail for many years, Mark took over the family store with Niamh. Niamh previously ran Curves’ fashions from the store with her mother, Muriel. On Muriel’s retirement, Mark and Niamh have taken the business in a new direction, opening the successful Carpet and Flooring Concepts. The husband-and-wife team have a great understanding of the carpet business and follow the latest colour and design trends. Niamh is able to apply her fashion-buying background into helping customers put together the perfect colours when designing a room. Mark Bownes, of Carpet and Flooring Concepts
is the best place to save and can you insure any part of a wedding ? Patricia – Dun Laoghaire A - Congratulations on setting the date and saving together at this stage augurs well for your future. The very best type of account to save your money on a monthly basis is the Regular Saver Account – most of the deposit takers currently operate them. These were originally launched in 2007 by AIB Bank to continue the good saving habits of the SSIA investors. Simply put, you save between € 100 and € 1,000 per month for between 12 and 24 months, and you can earn up the 4% interest. Ulster Bank (Special Interest deposit account ) and EBS ( Family regular saver account ) are the two current best offering that 4%. In 18 months time, you will have saved € 11,700, plus interest to help you celebrate your big day. As regards the insurance, you can buy wedding insurance to cover such risks as • Cancellation
• Personal accident
• Rings, flowers and cake
• Wedding gifts
• Photography and video
• Legal expenses
• Ceremonial / bridal attire
• Personal liability
• Cars and transport
• Marquee extension
• Failure of suppliers
• Extended public liability
To cover a wedding up to c. €10,000 and take out three-star cover, the premium would be c. €80. Web sites to check out that offer such cover include,
Q&A Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be? A: A racing driver. Q: What was your first job? A: Selling furniture and beds in a department store.
Q: And your first pay cheque? A: Just about enough to pay for a couple of nights out at the weekend.
Q: When did you start your present job? A: Niamh and I opened carpet and flooring concepts in September 2010
Q: Have you ever done a job you loathed? A: Yes, I helped out in a restaurant kitchen for a short time, chefs are exactly as we see on TV! Crazy!
Q: What is the best thing about your job? A: Getting positive feedback from our customers, it means we all did our jobs well for them.
Q: have you achieved anything
www.weddinginsurance.ie and www.irishwedddin-
that you once thought you could not pull off? A: Yes, when we got engaged, I managed to surprise Niamh with a trip to Paris. She had no idea about the destination, even at the airport.
A: Pulp Fiction, never tire of watching it. Brilliant!
Q: Who best represents modern Ireland – David Norris or Jedward? A: Jedward.
Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously? A: Eating out occasionally. Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own? A: Five.
Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’? A: The floor fitting, apart from that, Niamh and I do everything.
Depeche Mode to UB40 and reggae.
Q: What’s currently on your desk that shouldn’t be? A: A cup of coffee!
Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook? A: Carpet and Flooring
Q: Is there anything about yourself that you would like to set the record straight on? A: I very rarely have coffee at
Concepts.
split his head open on a boys’ holiday! Very funny after though, the doctor stitched his head ok, but had to shave a patch of his hair off! A unique look for the rest of the holiday.
Q: What was your last Tweet/ status update? A: Probably carpet offers on
my desk!
Q: Describe your dream holiday? A: Richard Branson’s Necker
the shop’s Facebook page.
Q: What sport do you follow? A: I watch football, and I am a
Q: Describe your dream meal? A: I like most foods, especially
Island with my family! Can you arrange that?
Spurs’ supporter.
Indian or Italian, so either with a nice red wine.
occasionally with my friends.
Q: What is your guilty music/ TV or movie pleasure?
Q: Who would you rather have dinner with – Enda Kenny or Dame Edna? A: Enda Kenny.
Contact John with your money questions at jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at
Q: What music/pictures/movies do you have on your iPod/ iPad? A: Mainly music from the 80s,
Q: What sport can you play? A: I play poor snooker and golf
ginsurance.ie - best of luck Patricia !
www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor
Q: What was your worst holiday experience? A: My mate, Charlie, fell and
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22 GAZETTE 2 June 2011
GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel Belfast Titanic Maritime Festival and the Sea Bangor Maritime Festival NORTHERN Ireland will be marking its rich seafaring history with not one, but two, summer festivals celebrating all things maritime. The Belfast Titanic Maritime Festival and the Sea Bangor Maritime Festival run on consecutive weekends in June and the Northern Ireland Tourist Board (NITB) is urging visitors to jump aboard and enjoy the action-packed family events. The Belfast Titanic Maritime Festival, taking place from June 24 – 26 at Queen’s Quay and Abercorn Basin, offers a weekend of fun and activity for all ages. Some of the world’s most spectacular tall ships will sail into Belfast and members of the public will have the opportunity to board and explore many of the vessels. Among the flotilla will be the HMS Bounty, which proved very popular during its last visit to the city in 2009. The magnificent ship was built in 1784 and served in the British Admiralty after being commissioned as His Majesty’s Armed Vessel in 1787. Other famous tall ships docking for the festival include Lord Nelson, Pelican of London, Johanna Lucretia and Irene. A wide range of activities will run alongside the visiting ships and families can enjoy street entertainers, arts and crafts, live music, and a variety of other family fun activities. Not to be missed are water-based spectator events, including a pirate battle re-enactment on the River Lagan between ships Zebu and Vilma. Also arriving to Queen’s Quay as part of the festival will be the International Market, bringing tastes from all around the world. The sixth Sea Bangor Maritime Festival takes place on June 18 and 19 at Bangor Marina and seafront in Co Down and highlights of this year’s festival include the return of HMS Bangor to the Eisenhower Pier, where visitors will have the chance to find out what life on a military ship is really like. In the festival’s tented village, celebrity chef Matt Tebbutt joins many local suppliers to cook up a storm at the Food Fayre. Also in the tented village is Bangor’s first ever Baby Rave, complete with DJ, lighting, projections and pram parking. To find out more about the Maritime Festivals, the Titanic tours, or for further information on places to stay or things to see and do in Northern Ireland, check out the free booking and advice service at NITB’s Tourist Information Centre in Suffolk Street Dublin 2, callsave 1850 230 230 or click on www.discovernorthernireland.com.
Waiting to relax in style in Wicklow LAURA WEBB
IF anyone had heard me on the way to Wicklow, they would have thought they were travelling with a very impatient three-yearold... are we there yet, are we there yet, I chanted in my partner, Johnny’s ear. I’m not sure if it was the excitement of the weekend, or whether it was the fact that, in 45 minutes time, I was to be treated to a spa treatment that promised to rehydrate environmentally stressed skin and be the “ultimate indulgence” for anyone thinking of playing a spot of golf, or indeed after a round. The trip from Dublin 15 to Druids Glen Resort in Wicklow took less than expected, and we arrived just a half an hour before my appointment with relaxation.
Druids Glen Resort in Wicklow is surrounded by lush landscapes and has plenty of amenities to offer, including a spa (below, left) and is also one of Ireland’s renowned hotspots for golfers
Landscape
We had heard of the beautiful surroundings of Druids Glen Resort, and upon arrival we weren’t disappointed with the amazing landscape and views in the background. Walking into the hotel, we became extras in someone’s wedding who had arrived at the same time as us. Ducking our heads behind the newlyweds, I think we avoided ruining their welcoming and great picture opportunity. Like any other girl, I just couldn’t help but have a proper look at the bride, who looked stunning in an off-white satin gown. Her bridesmaids were also just as beautiful in peach, taking pictures in the stunning foyer of Druids Glen. With the bags now in the room, which are extremely spacious and well-designed, my other half and I were ready
for the “ultimate indulgence”. The relaxation room in the spa looked incredible, definitely an area I would have no problem relaxing in after a massage. We were both booked in for the Druids Glen signature treatment, also known as the Druids ritual involving a 45-minute all over massage and 30minute Elemis facial. Joanne, miracle hands we will call her, worked wonders on relaxing my ever stressed mind and body. The aroma in the
room, made by the smell of papaya in the Elemis skincare range, helped to send me deeper into relaxation. Combine that with the facial and it turns out that this ritual does exactly what it says on the tin. Golf hotspot
Walking through the grounds, anyone can see, including a non-golfer like myself, why this is one of Ireland’s renow ned hotspots for golfers. And for any enthusiast, it is certainly one to experience.
For dinner there was just one word Johnny used to describe his meal of caramelised smoked duck starter, steak with stuffed tomato and banoffee pie, and that was “EPIC”. For me, it was the tasty soup of the day, carrot and coriander. My main, baked crushed monkfish with pesto crust – was cooked to perfection with a leek and carrot ragout that left me wanting to lick the plate. A freshly cooked mixed-berry crumble with lemon posset also went down a treat.
Chatting with a lovely waitress, Maeve, rumours that the Welsh football team were staying at the hotel were confirmed, which made me love this hotel even more. Well, if it is good enough for an international football team like the handsome Welsh, then it’s good enough for me. To find out more about Druids Glen, or to see what special offers and room rates are available, log onto www.druidsglenresort.com
2 June 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 23
Edited by Mimi Murray
BudgetTravel Accommodation across the globe that won’t cost you the earth FOR a range of quirky and bizarre accommodation around the globe, that doesn’t cost the earth, go to www.hostelworld.com for some interesting and exciting choices. Choose from sleeping in a giant mushroom, floating on water, or even curling up with the local wildlife in a tree house, to make your holiday an adventure that will never be forgotten. For travellers looking for a change of scenery above and beyond the view outside the window, the travel experts at Hostelworld.com have handpicked their most popular unique and unusual hostels from around the world to excite the most adventurous of travellers.
Kadir’s Tree House in Turkey Scotland’s RockNess Festival has an iconic landmark as its backdrop
Rock the most beautiful, small festival in the world FESTIVAL fever is about to take over Scotland next weekend with RockNess, hailed as the Most Beautiful Festival in the World and winner of Best Small Festival at this year’s NME Awards. While most festivals take place in vast fields and campsites, RockNess provides a surprising way to experience an iconic Scottish landmark – the world famous Loch Ness from June 10 to 12. Over the weekend, festival-goers will experi-
ence the biggest headline acts with the mighty Kasabian unveiling tracks of their hotly anticipated new album for the first time on the Friday night, and dance icons, The Chemical Brothers, set to rock the Loch on Saturday night. Speaking about their return to RockNess, Ed and Tom, of The Chemical Brothers said: “This will be the first time we have played in Scotland since 2008, and so it’s really exciting to be head-
lining one of our favourite festivals. RockNess is an amazing place to play and we can’t wait to be back there again.” Buzzing
Scottish singer songwriter Paolo Nutini, who says he is “buzzing at the prospect”, will close the festival in a landmark gig on Sunday, June 12. Other acts appearing this year include Mark Ronson, Nero and Katy B on the Friday, The Cribs, Annie Mac, Exam-
ple and comedian Sean Hughes on Saturday, and Glasvegas, The Wombats, We Are Scientists and Beardyman on Sunday. Ticket details are available through www.rockness.co.uk, Ticketmaster or, for further information, email info@rockness.co.uk. To plan your break to RockNess, and for a range of offers on accommodation and attractions throughout Scotland, visit www.visitscotland. com/surprise.
The Irish Three Tenors help Relaxing summer dining celebrate hotel birthday at Cullen’s at the Cottage TO celebrate The Heritage Golf and Spa Resort’s sixth birthday, the Irish Three Tenors will be playing live at the resort on Friday, June 3. Joined by a star violinist, Ireland’s very own and hugely successful, John Scott, David Martin and Declan Kelly, the concert aims to raise funds for Emer O’Hora, team member at The Heritage Golf and Spa Resort, who is taking
part in the ladies, mini marathon on the June bank holiday weekend in Dublin in aid of the cancer support Cuisle Centre in Portlaoise. A r a t e o f € 18 0 for a double delu xe guestroom, including breakfast and two tickets to the Three Tenors Concert is also available. Visit www.theheritage.com, e-mail info@ theheritage.com or call 05786 45500.
CULLEN’S at the Cottage, on the grounds of Ashford Castle, opened its doors for informal summer dining recently. A short stroll across the bridge from the castle lies the thatched cottage of Cullen’s, where locally sourced produce can be enjoyed in a relaxed atmosphere. Offering an a la carte menu, with a little something for everyone, there is also an evening
bar service topped off with evening entertainment. Cullen’s is open to Castle residents and non-residents alike. Though reser vations are not essential, they are advised to avoid disappointment. Cullen’s at the Cottage is open seven days a week, from 12pm to 10pm. For more information contact 094 954 6003 or go to www.ashford.ie.
KADIR’S Tree House in Turkey gives every traveller the opportunity to live their childhood dream and sleep in a real tree house. There are over 45 to choose from and to get to them you must climb up ladders before resting for the evening. If you don’t feel like resting, you will enjoy a night out in one of the hostel’s three bars or two nightclubs. Rates are from €9.36 pp/per night – go to www.hostelworld. com/hosteldetails.php/Kadirs-Tree-House/Olympos/798.
Historic lighthouse in California ON the rugged California coast, just 25 miles south of San Francisco, sits the Point Montara Fog Signal and Light Station. Established in 1875, the historic lighthouse and turn-of-the-century buildings have been preserved and restored to create a unique and bizarre hostel. Today Point Montara Lighthouse is still a beacon for travellers from all over the world. Prices start at €19.30 pp/per night – go to http://www.hostelworld. com/hosteldetails.php/ HI-Point-Montara-Lighthouse/Montara/1838
Arkabarka Floating Hostel on the river Danube ARKABARKA Floating Hostel is situated in one of the most beautiful central parks of Belgrade, on the river Danube. This place uniquely combines the exotic natural feeling of the river, with the urban comfort of contemporary wooden architecture. There is a cozy cafe welcoming Belgradians, that gives guests the opportunity to mingle with locals. Prices from €15, or go to http://www.hostelworld. com/hosteldetails.php/ ArkaBarka-Floating-Hostel/Belgrade/24507
24 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 June 2011
GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT 1
GoingOUT GoingOUT MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 Corus Concert
COMPRISING singers who may not have trained academically, yet can sing beautifully with joy in their heart, Corus – the choir that does not have auditions, does not require members to be able to read music, and is open to anyone who loves to sing – will see 80 members performing a wide range of songs. From classic bands like The Beatles through to more contemporary acts like Bruno Mars, Chorus will hit all the right notes with an exciting and uplifting performance. The concert starts on Thursday, June 2, at 8pm, with admission costing €10.
Tarry Flynn THE life of a 1930s’ Cavan farmer, poet and dreamer will be brought to vibrant life in a celebratory fifth anniversary show at The Mill, which is marking its birthday in style with this superb production. There’s something for everyone in this production, with this tale of a simple man with a complex heart from a bygone era having much to enjoy for audiences today. The production runs from Wednesday, June 8 to Saturday, June 18, with admission priced at €18, €15.
DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 The Ballet Ruse
THE beautiful world of ballet may be sent spinning – or pirouetting – by two budding ballerinas, who go from bar to barre in a bid to fulfil their dreams. Lady GaGa rubs shoulders with Tchaikovsky in a show that’s not afraid to step up to the mark to present wonderful, imaginative dancing with a twist. The Ballet Ruse plays at 8pm in the Main Auditorium on Saturday, June 4, at 8pm, with admission priced at €15/€12 conc.
The Chastitute ONE of Ireland’s best-loved plays comes to life at Draiocht, as Going Out turns to another rural farmer, this time in Kerry, where John Bosco is a middle-aged countryman reflecting on his life. Stuck in eternal celibacy, thanks to all kinds of reasons – and not a little bad luck – John Bosco reflects on his predicament, even though not everything he blames for his situation may have actually happened ... Staged in style by the skilled members of the Coolmine Drama Circle, this is a fine, comedic play that theatregoers will love. The Chastitute plays at 8.15pm in Draiocht Circle until Saturday, June 4, with admission priced at €16/€13 conc.
PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929 Ghosts
AWARD-winning Irish playwright Frank McGuinness has turned his considerable skills to bear on a dramatic new version of Isben’s Ghosts, presented here by London Classic Theatre. Telling of the preparations for the opening of an orphanage in tribute to her husband, the widow Helene Alving is awaiting the return of her son, Oswald, for the momentous occasion. However, his return turns the fraught event down a road that could lead to tragedy, as the ghosts of long-past events and secrets begin to come out ... Ghosts will be staged at 8pm from Thursday, June 2 to Saturday, June 4, with admission priced from €15.20 to €21.
CIVIC THEATRE 01 4627477 The Witches
ROALD Dahl’s classic tale of witches and clever children comes screaming into town with a bewitching production, adapted by David Wood. Ranging in age from threeyears-old up to adults, Witches promises to put everyone under its spell, as dastardly plans must be foiled by some clever kids, if they can overcome their fears of the scary w-w-witches ... The production is running nightly at 7pm until this Saturday, June 4 with admission priced at €15, or €10 for children aged under 10.
In this reboot for the X-Men series, we turn to the 1960s where, once upon a time, Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael Fassbender) were friends, before Professor X (Charles) would use his special powers to protect Humanity, and Magneto (Erik) his, to attack it
The neXt instalment
With a stiff breeze from the Cold War behind it, this film franchise reboot should be a bit of a hot property again Q KATE CROWLEY
THESE are historic times we live in. Newspapers all around the world are cranking out articles based on the same big story, sharing something that the Irish people, and Dubliners, can all look back on and remember, for years to come. Yes, that’s right – Mel Gibson is almost back on our screens, with The Beaver. However, Mel, and his bizarre film (telling of a troubled man who learns to laugh, to live, to love again – all courtesy of the beaver hand puppet which he uses to communicate with the world) ain’t this week’s gem, folks, but we do have a highly-polished film for your consideration, instead. Remember the X-Men? No, not Simon Cowell and Louis Walsh, but, rather, the hit series of
FILM OF THE WEEK: X-Men: First Class ++++ (12A) 132 mins Director: Matthew Vaughn Starring: James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender, Oliver Platt, Kevin Bacon, January Jones, lots of determined Mutants
OUR VERDICT: PURISTS may moan about the origins of two of the most iconic comic book characters of all time, let alone the way in which they gather their respective gangs, but there’s still a briskly enjoyable film here. True, there are still a few too many lashings and lashings of angst, oh, the angst for Kate to stomach, but it’s a good, and thoughtful, reboot for a franchise that had become a little stale ...
films from a few years ago, telling of the popular Marvel Comics characters. Starring Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellan, as well as – well, nobody remembers the other characters, bar Hugh Jackman as Wolverine – the films were a pretty decent sci-fi series, before eventually wobbling and coming to a juddering halt under the weight of their own gravitas and the angst, ooh, the angst! Cue the inevitable Hollywood reboot for
the series, and, in triedand-tested fashion, it’s time to delve deeper into the origins of the X-Men, before they were X-Men, before Mutants came out of the woodwork (or walking through walls, or flying through the air, or turning into steam, or whatever). Following the mythology of the recent films, X-Men: First Class jumps back to the youth of the series’ chief protaganists; Charles Xavier (James McAvoy) and Erik Lehnsherr (Michael
Fassbender); back to the 1960s, before the world truly knew of the Mutants among Man. Here, when they were just Charles and Erik, rather than Professor X and Magneto, the two young men, coming from very different pasts, spark up an unlikely but intense friendship, respecting the opposing qualities in each other’s unique powers and skills. Howe ve r, w h e r e Charles seeks to educate the world about how Mutants should be respected as equals, Erik sees Mutants as the next step for humanity, and superior to ordinary men, whom he sees as an evolutionary dead end. With the world suddenly thrown into peril, thanks to the Cuban Missile Crisis, the opportunity to take Mutants out of hiding presents itself. However, where one
would seek to use extraordinary powers to stop the crisis, another sees an opportunity to change the order of things, on a global scale. The only problem is, the Hellfire Club, led by Sebastian Shaw (Kevin Bacon), is also working away behind the scenes, and the secret society will play a greater role on the X-Men’s future than at first appears ... The shadow of Stewart and McKellan looms large over First Class, but McAvoy and Fassbender do well, taking such iconic and defined characters and putting an interesting spin on them. Briskly moving along at a satisfying pace, coupled with some punchy action pieces, and with some interesting thoughts befhind all the bombast and CG set pieces, I have to give some good marks for this First Class ...
2 June 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 25
A Cloud is a core plan for Apple ADAM MAGUIRE
THE way that people buy and listen to music has changed dramatically in recent years –Apple’s iTunes has been at the centre of that. Now, Apple is about to launch a new product that could shake things up once more, so what will it do, and what makes it so special?
The idea Apple has recently been signing a number of agreements with music companies such as EMI and Sony to let its artists be carried on a new, online music service. The idea is that people will pay for access to songs “in the cloud”, rather than having them downloaded to their computer.
Why do this? People nowadays often use a lot of different devices on a daily basis. They might have a home and office computer, a phone in their pocket, and maybe even a tablet. Keeping all of your songs up to date on all of these things can be a bit of a balancing act, so the idea here is that you will not have to. If you want to hear the songs you bought, you just need to go online and play them, hassle-free. The cost Apple has been tight-
lipped about the service, so it is currently unclear how it will be offered. It might be that you pay for access on a songby-song basis; it is also quite possible to be a subscription service, where you pay a monthly fee to access the entire catalogue of music. Another potential route is that it simply acts as an online “locker”, where people can put the music they have already bought online so that it is accessible anywhere.
When will it launch? Rumours are it will be unveiled by Apple at a conference in early June. However, it might take a while for it to hit Irish shores, though, especially if country-specific rights deals have to be hammered out first.
Are there any alternatives? Yes. Amazon have a cloud player, and Google recently launched its Music Beta service in the US. Both allow users to upload their music online so that they can access it wherever they are. Another option is Spotify, which has a massive catalogue of music that can be streamed by users, without ads, for a monthly fee. However, that is also currently not available in Ireland ... Epson BX320FW While technically an office printer, the Epson BX320FW is affordable, and useful enough, to find pride of place in any home or even home office.
Boasting high print speeds, greater ink efficiency and an easy setup, there is a lot for the BX320FW to live up to. After all, the printe r m a r ke t is quite c r owd e d at the moment, e v e n when it comes to those that offer print, scan and copy facilities. However, this device holds its own in every regard. It is fast, quiet and efficient and, once you have a wireless network at home, it is very easy to set up. At the front of the device is a very straightforward panel – much like one you would see
on a photocopier, only more simple – which makes it very easy indeed to navigate and use. This printer is not the
smallest in the world, but it would be ideal for any user that will be printing a lot of documents, and the occasional photo. It also comes with a range of software to make the process of
editing and printing scanned documents all the easier. It’s cer tainly well worth considering for users looking for more
than your basic printer fare. The Epson BX320FW printer is available on Pixmania.ie for €193, plus P&P. Visit teic.ie for the latest tech news, reviews and views.
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26 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 June 2011
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PLANNING NOTICE
PLANNING NOTICE
FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL
FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL
Mr Peter Di Lucia seeks Planning Permission for an external seating area facing onto Ongar Square (16sqm), new external signage (2.7sqm) onto The Mall and 6no. external down-lighters to light the existing and proposed signage; and also seeks Permission for Retention for internal alterations to approved layout (Reg. Ref. F08A/1419) to allow for customer seating (24sqm) and WC ancillary to the main use, all at no. 2 Ongar Square, Ongar Village, Dublin 15. The 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 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.
Paul and Eileen Corr intend to apply for permission for development at a site on the corner of Woodvale Grove and Woodvale Avenue, part of the rear garden of 2 Woodvale Grove, Clonsilla, Dublin 15. The development will consist of building (i) a detached single storey house with vehicular access form Woodvale Avenue (ii) moving the existing rear boundary walls of the gardens at 2A and 2B Woodvale Grove back in a northerly direction by 1 metre to comply with Condition 4 of Registry Ref F06A/1125 and (iii) all associated site and drainage works. This planning application may be inspected or purchased between 9.30 - 15.30 Monday to Friday at Fingal County Council, Fingal County Hall, Main Street, Swords, Co. Dublin. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the Planning Authority on payment of a fee of €20 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by Fingal County Council of the application
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PLANNING NOTICE FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL Permission sought for a detached, two bedroom, single storey dwelling plus attic conversion for habitable accommodation to the side garden area, velux windows to the front and side, off street parking for 1 car for the new and 2 cars for the existing house, new 2m high boundary wall to side and associated site works at 154 Briarwood Avenue, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. For Ian Farrell. 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 authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (20 Euros) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of this application. 12781
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2 June 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 27
GazetteSPORT
MONTH OF MAY:
Last month’s Sports Awards winners are announced: Page 29
LADIES’ FOOTBALL: LOCAL PLAYERS NAMED IN THE DIVISION 2 TEAM OF THE YEAR
Jackies’ defence takes all places on Team of Year sport@gazettegroup.com
DUBLIN’S Cliodhna O’Connor (Naomh Mearnog), Sinéad Goldrick (Foxrock Cabinteely), Ailish McKenna (St Brigid’s), Gemma Fay (Ballyboden St Enda’s) and Sinead Aherne (St Sylvester’s), along with Siobhan McGrath, were named in the Bord Gais Energy Ladies’ Football Division 2 Team of the League at a ceremony in Croke Park last week.
In total, 26 counties are represented in the 60 players selected and each player was presented with a specially commissioned kit to mark their achievement. The selection process is led by team managers and referees who were asked to nominate players after each round of league matches, and managers are precluded from voting for their own players. Speaking at the
announcement Pat Quill, President of Ladies Gaelic Football said, “It is a great personal honour for the players to be selected. All counties have talented players and these awards may be the only opportunity that players from counties who do not reach the final stages of competitions get to be recognised. “I thank the county managers and referees for their diligence in their nominations. These are
Cliodhna O’Connor, Sinead Goldrick, Ailish McKenna, Gemma Fay and Sinead Aherne, with Siobhan McGrath
also coveted awards by the managers in recognition of their team building skills.” Division 2 champions, Dublin, will be thrilled with their contingent as they secured six places
and, with a goalkeeper and four defenders among them, perhaps it shows where others felt their true strength lay throughout a dominant league campaign. The other nine places
were shared between five counties, with Meath leading the way with four places – Shauna Bennett, Katie O’Brien, Gráinne Nulty and Mary Sheridan – while Cavan, the only team to beat Dublin all
year, took home two selections for Gráinne McGlade and Aisling Doonan. Armagh, Waterford and Sligo completed the Division 2 Team of the League selection with one player each.
28 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 June 2011
GazetteSport Sport Soccer
The Legends come to Hartstown-Huntstown A weekend that celebrated the Spirit of the Community in Dublin 15 saw John Aldridge’s soccer legends - featured some of the best known-names in world soccer - come to Dalymount Park HARTSTOWN-Huntstown United FC welcomed the John Aldridge Legends to Dublin recently as part of the Sprit of the Community initiative, in aid of Irish Autism Action and the club. The Spirit of the Community weekend also included a Golfing With The Stars classic featuring Boyzone’s Keith Duffy, Clondalkin boxer Bernard Dunne, John Aldridge and Waterford hurling manager, Davy Fitzgerald, and a 5k fun run. A strong squad that
included World Cup and European Cup winners, looked more than a little apprehensive when they arrived at Dalymount Park to see the opposition warming up. The Legends starting line-up included Argentine World Cup winners, Ossie Ardiles and Ricky Villa, two-time European Cup winner, Alan Kennedy, and Champions League winner, David May. Legends and former Manchester United and Northern Ireland player
Keith Gillespie, scored in the first few minutes and former Republic of Ireland international, Mark Kinsella, followed with another shortly after. Manchester United Legend, Lee Martin dropped a third goal into the net, with Gillespie scoring just before half time to bring the score to 4-0. Hartstown- Huntstown United FC came back fighting in the second half, scoring a goal straight away. Legends’ team captain, John Aldridge, scored a great goal shortly after,
before Gillespie scored yet another. Gillespie is creating something of a record in Legends’ terms, scoring a hat-trick at every Legends game he has played in during the past year. Jason McAteer scored the final goal before the whistle blew, bringing the final score to 7-1. Legends’ team captain, Aldridge commented, “It was a great game. We are all still very competitive when we get on the pitch, and I think we showed that. Thank you
The Legends XI line up ahead of their match with Huntstown-Hartstown United last weekend
to the hosts, HartstownHuntstown United FC for welcoming us and looking after us so well, and congratulations in raising a few quid for the charity, Irish Autism Action.” David Byrne, chairman of Hartstown-Huntstown United FC, said: “Saturday was fantastic fun. It was a thrill to play against so many sporting legends. They certainly put us through our paces. We’re delighted to have raised funds for Irish Autism Action with such a fun weekend of activity.”
John Aldridge and friends
Keith GIllespie and Chloe at the match
2 June 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 29
in association with
KARATE: CLUB SHOWS STRENGTH HOME AND AWAY
2011 DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS MAY WINNERS IN ASSOCIATION WITH
+ STARof theMONTH
RYAN O’DWYER KILMACUD Crokes’ star Ryan O’Dwyer produced a truly outstanding performance to help Dublin annex their first National Hurling League division one title since the 1930s. He was named man-ofthe-match in the Dubs’ comprehensive 0-22 to 1-7 success over Kilkenny in the final.
TEAMof theMONTH + SWORDS CELTIC
SWORDS Celtic enjoyed a memorable month, claiming nine league and cup titles across the various NDSL and DDSL competitions in a bumper three-week period. The titles ranged from U-8 up to U-17 level, with several Premier gongs among them.
MAY was another month when the great and good of Dublin sport came to the fore and the matter of choosing winners for the Dublin Sports Awards was particularly hard. But, looking at the achievements by each of the contenders, two clear champions emerged from among the pack. Ryan O’Dwyer’s huge performance for Dublin in the defeat of Kilkenny, the perennial hurling supremos of recent years, was worthy of our acknowledgement. And, with nine titles in league and cup competition across all age ranges at the club, Swoirds Celtic showed their commitment to youth develop-
ment and top-level coaching that will see them and their players be a part of our collective soccer consciousness for years to come. Let us know about your achievements in sport, so that the Gazette can tell the rest of Dublin — and give you, or your team, a chance of being one of our monthly stars. Contact us on 01 601 0240 or sport@gazettegroup.com to tell us all about your successes in the month of May, and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/gazettesport. You can also check out the latest stories from GazetteSport at our new website, www.gazettegroup. com.
Leeanne Royle accepts the Charles Naylor Memorial Trophy from Sensei Andy Sheery in Birmingham
Corduff hail a real Royle performance CORDUFF Karate Club’s Leeanne Royle was recently awarded the prestigious Charles Naylor Memorial Trophy for the most outstanding child competitor at the Karate Union of Great Britain’s National Championships at the NIA Birmingham. The competition, which is in it’s 45th year, is by far the largest championships in Britain, with over 1,000 competitors battling it out for a place in the finals. As part of the USKF Ireland team, Leanne stormed her way through
the eliminations of the girls kumite (fighting) event and went on to win the title. Leeanne also took home a bronze medal for the Under-16 kata event. This special award, presented by the KUGB chief instructor Sensei Andy Sherry, is a major achievement for Leeanne and the Corduff Karate Club, as it is the first time in the history of this tournament that an Irish person has won this particular prize or been placed first in their event. Four other students
Camp for champions: Leinster launch 2011 summer training LEINSTER players Eoin Reddan, Isa Nacewa and Richardt Strauss, along with local kids Neil Durkan, John Durkan,and James Durkan-Watson were on hand to launch the Volkswagen Leinster Rugby summer camps, which will run throughout the city in July and August. Players will be taught by fully-accredited IRFU coaches and two senior Leinster players are expected to visit each camp along with the Heineken Cup. For a full list of venues or to book a place please log on to www.leinsterrugby.ie/summercamps.
took part in the Karate Union of Great Britain’s National Championships as part of the USKF Ireland team. Corduff’s James Farrelly, Mark Maguire and Eleanore Coates fought well but narrowly missed out on places in the finals. In the junior male category, Ryan Cullen beat some tough opponents to secure a bronze medal in his event. The club also recently sent a squad of 30 students to compete in the tenth USKFI National Championships held in
the Institute of Technology, Blanchardstown. The competition, which was the largest to date, saw many of the Corduff competitors being placed in the finals. For some of their junior members, this was their first major national competition, and they displayed their competitive attitude and spirit, in particular, Yacine and Yusuf Ghanem. The two brothers fought some very spirited matches, but eventually Yacine pipped Yusuf to take home the prize.
30 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 June 2011
GazetteSport Sport FastSport Coolmine add Forbes to coaching staff for 11/12 COOLMINE have secured the services of former Suttonians’ RFC coach, Robert Forbes, as head coach for the 2011/12 season, taking over from Willie Anderson. Forbes had been in charge of the Ulster Bank League Division Three club since 2009 maintaining their position in the All-Ireland competition with ninth and 11th place finishes. He takes over the side pushing for promotion to the All-Ireland league having finished fourth in Leinster last time around, having swept through the provincial leagues in recent years.
Corduff close on league title CORDUFF moved a step closer to claiming the NDSL U-9 Premier Division 2 title with a 4-0 success against Clontarf. Donovan Troy netted a double while Peter Vrinciau was on the mark in the second half, along with Joey Keogh made it 4-0 to move them well clear. The result left them with hopes of the league still alive with two games to go.
Mountview take AUL title MOUNTVIEW United were crowned AUL Division 1 Saturday champions after they beat Baldoyle United 2-1 in a play-off on Saturday in the AUL Complex.
Joey Gunnery proved the hero for the Blanch side as he came off the bench to score a superb volley from Richie Coates’ cross to net the winner deep into the second half. It saw the ’View flop over the line after almost letting the title slip through their fingers. They needed a win from their final two league games but successive 1-1 draws with Castleknock Celtic and Baldoyle saw them tie for the top of the division at the end of the regular season. It meant a play-off date with Baldoyle and the north Dublin side took the lead through Tony Shenn for a half-time lead. But Gunnery created a leveller in the second period for Coates to tie the game up and the creator turned scorer to grab the winner.
Erin Go Gaelic4Girls: Local schools benefit from regional blitz OVER 30 girls from the Littlepace/Ongar area travelled to Moyle Rovers in Clonmel to participate in the Gaelic4girls regional blitz day. The girls had participated in the eight-week Gaelic4Girls programme. Most of the girls had never played Gaelic football before and learned the basics of the game in a fun and non-competitive environment. Girls interested in developing their GAA skills should contact Jason Forbes in Erin go Brágh on 086 2024770.
NDSL U-14A LEAGUE: SUCCESSFUL SEASON FOR LOCAL SIDE
Clonee United’s Andrei Botog, Daniel Matthews, Alan Byrne, Darragh Raymond, Kristian Comey, (Capt.) Jamie Cussen, Jason Conway, Ian Bonnie, Patrick Mutesa, Glen Foran, Jake Murphy. Subs Fred Lawal, Edgar Averlino, Eddie Francisco and Kelvin Olanrewaju
Clonee end with victory NDSL U-14A LEAGUE Clonee United 3 Dingle United 1 sport@gazettegroup.com
HAVING already secured promotion to next season’s Premier League, Clonee United’s U-14s finished off their 20102011 season with a hardfought 3-1 win at home to Dingle United. The home team started tentatively and struggled to find their rhythm. However, some resolute defending by the Clonee defence thwarted the Dingle attack, with Clonee’s goalkeeper Andrei Botog called into action to save a well-struck free kick. Chances did come
Clonee’s way, Jake Murphy pulling his shot wide of the target, and Jason Conway’s shot was initially parried before the keeper saved Jake Murphy’s follow-up from close range. With the first half coming to a close, the deadlock was finally broken, when Glen Foran latched onto a ball played inside the Dingle penalty area. In the second half, Clonee stepped up the pressure in an effort to increase their advantage. But in spite of several close efforts, Dingle did not fall further behind. Clonee’s endeavours were eventually rewarded when Conway beat the
Dingle defence to claim a long clearance from Clonee’s keeper, Botog, and slotted the ball past the helpless Dingle keeper to claim his tenth league goal of the season. Conway was again involved in the action two minutes later as he drove into the Dingle penalty area, his low cross eluding the attack, as the ball zipped across the six yerd box. Jamie Cussen then tested the Dingle keeper with a well-struck longrange free kick, but he safely gathered the ball as Clonee advanced. Clonee didn’t have it all their own way, as Dingle continued to turn defence
into attack. A timely tackle by Clonee centre half Edgar Avelino kept Dingle’s attack at bay as they looked to break down the Clonee defensive fortress. With ten minutes remaining, Dingle did manage to grab a goal after Clonee failed to clear their area, and the Dingle centre-forward volleyed into the Clonee goal from close range. Within minutes of Dingle giving themselves a lifeline, Clonee were awarded a penalty. Captain Cussen was taken down inside the penalty area as he bore down on goal, and he took the penalty himself, placing the
ball low into the corner ,giving the Dingle ’s goalkeeper no chance. The result was a fitting end to a fine season that saw the team pick up just 11 points from their first seven games. Excellent cup runs in both the U-14 SFAI Goodson Cup, narrowly losing 1-0 away to Abbeyleix Athletic in the last 64 of the competition, and NDSL Premier A Cup, again narrowly losing 1-0 away to finalists Balbriggan FC. Seven games unbeaten in the New Year saw the team turn around their league fortunes and pick up 26 points from eleven games.
2 June 2011 BLANCH GAZETTE 31
in association with
HURLING: SAINTS GET OUT OF BASEMENT WITH WIN
CLUB NOTICEBOARD ST BRIGID’S CONGRATULATIONS to Ken Nyhan
ian’s.
who managed the Dublin U-14 girls
Well done to Daire and Alan on
to their All-Ireland semi-final win
their win over Offaly. Best of luck to
ove r G a l wa y. Re p r e s e n t at i ve s
Barry, Sean and Declan vs Laois.
included Aoibheann Lynch, Katie
Junior C footballers face Cabint-
Nyhan, Ann-Marie Troy and Niamh
eely in the league on Thursday at
O’Neill.
7.30pm in Russell Park.
Well done to Donal Timoney who
Well done to Jack Kelly, Dabhach
won the Dublin U-14 one-wall con-
Dineen and Aodhran who were part
test.
of the Dublin juniors’ win over Wick-
Hard luck to Tadgh Branigan who lost in the U-16 final. The annual club mini-leagues will
low last week. Senior hurlers beat Lucan, while the juniors drew with ’Boden.
take place from Monday June 13
Best of luck to all students who
to Saturday, June 18. Go to www.
commence their Junior and Leav-
stbrigidsgaa.com to download your
ing Cert.
application form. Special thanks to everyone who supported the hugely successful golf classic. U-13A footballers beat Na Fianna in league. U-14 footballers beat Fin-
U-13A footballers beat Na Fianna in League. Club Lotto takes place in Russell Park this Thursday, with a jackpot of €13,000.
St Brigid’s success against Lucan Sarsfields has seen them rise from the foot of the Division 1 table
Brigid’s begin rise from foot of table AHL DIVISION 1 St Brigid’s 1-14 Lucan Sarsfields 0-15 sport@gazettegroup.com
ST BRIGID’S endured a mixed week in AHL1, but a last-minute victory over Lucan Sarsfields saw the Russell Park men get a vital win to move away from the bottom of the division. Aodhan McEnerney’s penalty gave the side a crucial second success of the season in midweek, coming from a point down to pile on the misery to bottomplaced Lucan. They followed up with a 2-10 to 1-9 setback at Silverpark against joint table-toppers Kilmacud Crokes on Saturday evening, but the Lucan game was the key effort. The basis for the win was laid in the first half, facing into a gale force wind and up in the hill. T he Lucanians had picked off the first three points of the night but McEnerney’s free got
Brigid’s off the mark. It broke up a r un of a half-dozen Lucan scores but Conor Woodgate and Diarmuid O’Mahony points reduced the deficit. And tremendous defending under severe pressure from the fullb a c k l i n e ke p t t h e score at a manageable level, with Domhnall O’Mahony to the fore. Jamie Winters’ point reduced the defict to 0-6 to 0-4 before Lucan hit the next four points, but a late flurry in the half from Cathal Doyle and Brendan McEnerney left four points in the game at the interval, 0-12 to 0-8. It left them in range but the game was a real grind in the second period with Sars taking their time, sitting deep and determined to make Brigid’s work for every score. Points were drying up but Lucan were still just a nose in front despite three points from the
reds in the third quarter of the game. Several missed opportunities looked like they were going to cost the Dublin 15 side but a final push in the closing 10 minutes saw them take the lead for the first time, at 0-14 to 0-13. It tempted Lucan out of their shell and they nabbed the next two points to nudge back into the lead. But, in a final throw of the dice, Alan Nolan launched a high ball into the Lucan fullback line, and Diarmuid
O ’ M a h o ny cl i m b e d highest to claim the sliotar and drive past two defenders before being felled. Aodhan McEnerney stepped up to bury the penalty to claim victory and move Brigid’s into ninth place at week’s end. Against Crokes on Saturday, the hosts led from pillar to post with Shane McGrath accounting for three quarters of Kilamcud’s scoring while Matthew Collins, Adrian Grogan and Shane O’Rorke were also influential.
ERIN GO BRAGH WELL done to the junior hurlers
Deposit of €20 required and peo-
who beat St Peregrine’s in the local
ple can pay in instalments over the
derby last Sunday.
coming months. Contact Natasha
Training for the junior hurlers is at 7pm on Wednesdays in Beech Park. New players are always welcome. Please contact Pat on 087 060 1567.
on 087 959 50 48, Maria on 087 238 0741 or Carol-Ann on 087 629 20 24. There was no winner of last week’s lotto jackpot.
Thanks to those who supported
Numbers were 1, 4, 11 and 18. This
our footballers’ table quiz last Fri-
week’s draw jackpot will be €11,700.
day. This is the last week of the club shop sale. For more information, contact Martin on 086 156 3040.
The draw will be held this Friday in the Paddocks. To be in with a chance to win the jackpot, please return your com-
Annual club dinner-dance is tak-
pleted lotto tickets to the box in
ing place on Saturday, November 5
the Paddocks bar before 9pm this
in Park Plaza, Tyrrelstown.
Friday.
T i c ke t s a r e € 6 0 p e r p e r s o n (strictly over-18s). Five-course meal, band, DJ, bar extension until 2am.
It is so easy to forget to return your Lotto tickets, so why not sign up to the annual draw membership?
ST PEREGRINE’S CONGRATULATIONS to Colm Hayes on
club for only €2 a week, and is also
his recent engagement to Sarah.
available to play on-line using the
Good win for our senior hurlers v Setanta last week.
link on the club website. Entertainment in clubhouse this
A busy week of league and cham-
Saturday in the club from DJ Vinny
pionship football ahead for our
and, on Bank Holiday Sunday, Char-
adult teams: our senior football-
donnay.
ers play away to Erin’s Isle and our
Club shop is open on Mondays,
senior ladies’ footballers play St
Wednesdays and Fridays from 6 to
Maurs in the Junior Championship;
7pm, and on Saturdays from 10am
on Thursday our junior B football-
to 12pm.
ers play Erin’s Isle on the club pitch again at 7.30pm. Club lotto was not won: Numbers drawn were 5, 6, 22 and 24.
Bingo is on Wednesday nights at 8.30pm. If anybody within the club would like to make a difference and join a
Next week’s jackpot is €4,400.
committee, please see club website
Any member not buying lotto tick-
for details and contacts online at
ets visit cnp.ie and support your
cnp.ie.
ALL OF YOUR BLANCHARDSTOWN SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31
BRIGID’S BUILD: Saints hurlers get
vital AHL1 win over struggling Lucan P31
JUNE 2, 2011
STARRY EYED: May award Sports Awards revealed P29
JONNY STAPLETON sport@gazettegroup.com
JIM Rock will hope to take a big step to adding yet another record to his long list of acheivements as his protege Brendan Fitzpatrick takes a massive step up in rounds and class when he takes on the experienced Ciaran Healy. The pair will meet in an eight-round contest on the Battle of the Counties June 25 show in the National Stadium, one which could go a long way to securing a national title bout. However, Rock’s charge isn’t worried about the quick career upgrade, saying that if people like four weight Irish champ, Rock and 2009 Irish trainer of the year, John Breen, believe he is ready, he must be. Fitzpatrick takes on fivetime Irish title challenger and a double-weight Irish champion, Healy in a non title fight after just three pro contests. The light-heavyweight
belt holder will certainly prove a stiff test for the fight novice. The Belfast 35-year-old is very experience and renowned as a tough pro, but Fitzpatrick remains undeterred and is confident of victory. “It is a big step but I feel like I am ready for Ciaran Healy. You can‘t just keep fighting four and six rounders, you have to step up at some stage and do as Jim and the lads in Breen’s gyms tell me.
Ready “If they didn’t think I was ready for it they wouldn’t have matched me with Ciaran. “They have seen it all and they think I am ready for the step-up in class and rounds. “I am training hard and I am fit enough to face him tomorrow. I had some issue breathing through my nose and we are waiting to see a specialist, but it won’t hamper my performance. My last performance was poor and I am looking to make amends this time
round.” For Rock, who claimed Irish titles at four different weights as well as becoming the first grandfather to do so, Fitzpatrick is showing the potential to be one of the first national champions under his wing. The Pink Panther and Breen are not the only ones who believe the Dubliner is ready for the experienced pro. I r i s h c r u i s e r we i g h t champion, Ian Tims, who fights in a four round contest on the National Stadium-hosted show, has been sharing the sparring ring with Fitzpatrick and believes he is ready to progress. “Brendan is well able for that step up. I believe a lot of that is in the mind. If you train for more rounds you should be able to do more rounds. “ I h ave b e e n s p a rring him for six and eight rounds and he is doing well. I am a lot stronger than Ciaran Healy and I know from our session Brendan can beat him.”
Brendan Fiztpatrick with manager, Jim Rock, in the background
GazetteSPORT
Big step for Rock’s Fitzy