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Blanchardstown • Blakestown • Hartstown • Coolmine • Tyrrelstown • Dunboyne • Corduff • Mulhuddart • Ongar

INSIDE: Toastmasters display their public speaking skills P2

family day: Ongar turns out in force

for day of fun and games Pages 8-9

Road safety: Children are delighted with hi-viz jackets Hurling:

Erin Go Bragh face huge day in club history Page 31

Motorsport: Clonsilla man eyes up Super series title Page 30

ALSOINSIDE: Galleries.......................8 BUSINESS..................... 18 MOTORS........................ 20 TRAVEL.......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT......... 24 CLASSIFIEDS................ 26

junior Infants at St Patrick’s

JNS, Corduff, show off their high-visibility jackets after receiving them from Trish Canty of Electric Ireland, left, their teacher Amy Curran and school principal Aine Kirwan.

The presentation came as Electric Ireland and the Road Safety Authority continued their partnership to promote road safety among our youngest road users and indeed their families.

160 jobs lost with Olhausen closure Blanchardstown one of three plants to cease trading

 laura webb

The Blanchardstown branch of Olhausen is one of three plants nationally to close, with the loss of 160 jobs.

Workers at the meat company were informed of the closure on Wednesday morning. The company has now

ceased trading and its plants in Blanchardstown, Coolock and in Co Monaghan have closed. Jim Hamilton of BDO, the receiver appointed

by Ulster Bank, informed representatives of the 160 workers that the company was no longer a going concern and had closed.

SIPTU organiser Colm Casserly said that discussions were continuing with the receiver over the payment of outstanding wages due to workers and on redundancy terms.

Olhausen was established in 1896 when it was originally a retail butcher shop in Talbot Street, Dublin.

2 BLANCH Gazette 11 October 2012

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halfway house Toastmasters display speaking skills

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Judge Joe Feeley, Barry Lane and judge Dermot O’Brien. Pictures: Ronan O’Sullivan

Clubs get together for a few laughs A NUMBER of toastmasters from the region came together last week to hold the Area 16 Final at the Halfway House on the Navan Road.

Local club Castleknock Toastmasters joined the Phoenix Tara Toastmasters and Navan Toastmasters for the public speaking competition that included the Table Topics Contest and the Humorous Speech

Chairperson Eugene Lucey

contest. Toastmasters is a great way to improve communication skills and helps members lose the fear of public speaking. It also helps to build confidence and leadership skills. Many members say they have got a lot from it, including a hectic social life. Membership is one of the greatest investments you can make in yourself.

Darius Grazulis and Richard Prenderville

Ronan Woods

Past president Deirdre Corrigan with new president Sinead Moore

Colm Woods

Speakers Eithne Brannigan and Jenny O’Halloran

11 October 2012 BLANCH Gazette 3

funding €100k needed to keep facility open

Around 20 mothers and their children are currently waiting to come into the residential treatment facility at Coolmine at any one time

Mother-child rehab centre faces closure  laura webb

A residential drug rehabilitation centre for mothers and their children has reached a crisis situation that sees it facing the prospect of closure because of a lack of funding.

The Ashleigh House centre, part of the Coolmine Therapeutic Community, stopped taking referrals last month, and say they need state funding of €100,000 to help them remain open.

According to Jennifer Donovan, fundraising manager at Coolmine Therapeutic Community, the programme is Ireland’s only mother-andchild residential treatment facility in Ireland, but is facing closure.

“Last year, we were over €100,000 in deficit.

We can’t physically keep going with [the centre].

“We were following [the situation] up with Roisin Shortall, but she

has since resigned, and Minister Frances Fitzgerald since earlier this year.

“Initially, we were funded by the local drugs task force when we set up in 2008 and since then we haven’t received any specific funding for it.” Donovan added that they have now contacted Shortall’s replacement, Alex White, and Minister for Health, James Reilly.

The creche facility can take on five children, but has the capacity to take 12. “If we were given an initial investment of €100,000, we could employ two full-time creche workers and relief staff, so that could extend into the weekends [for women who have weekend access to children].

It is just a waiting game now,” she added.

“While mothers are in therapy, their children would be looked after fulltime in the creche and, in the evenings, the mothers would have the children

themselves and would stay with them.

“Those that come through the service have found it’s an incentive to get through it, having their children with them.”

In a statement, the Department of Health outlined that the Coolmine Theraputic Community were allocated over €780,000 from the Drugs Initiative of the department this year, which includes €572,000 allocated through Drugs Task Forces for residential programmes and services, including those provided at Ashleigh House.

Speaking at the publication of the Coolmine Therapeutic Community 2011 annual report, its chief executive, Paul Conlon said: “Approximately 20 mothers, with their children, are currently waiting to come into the residential treatment facility at any one time. And this number is growing.

“Coolmine Therapeutic Community urgently needs State support to keep this mother and child facility open. These women, who are doubly disadvantaged, have worked very hard to overcome their addiction. If they don’t participate, there is a very high risk that they will not come into treatment, putting their lives and the lives of their children at risk,” he explained.

Asked about fundraising, Donovan said they have a number of plans, but that takes investment as well.

“It was suggested that we apply for Lottery funding, which we have done and are awaiting the outcome.

“We have made a commitment to mothers who came in before we stopped referrals, so I would say by spring of next year, once they finish the programme, that will be it.”

Coolmine’s Cockneys set to dazzle in show COOLMINE Musical Society is set to return with another spectacular stage production and, this year, it’s all about Me And My Girl.

Rehearsals are in full swing for the musical society’s production of the famous musical, which will run nightly at 8pm in Draiocht from Tuesday, November 13 to Saturday, November 17.

The show contains some wellknown songs, including Lambeth

Walk, The Sun Has Got Its Hat On, and Leaning On A Lampost.

A spokeswoman for the society said they are “thrilled” to welcome Karl Dawson to play Bill, with Sally to be played by Alison Denham.

She said: “Many faces are returning to the Coolmine gang this year, including Seamus Sullivan as Gerald, Robyn Poole, Paula Fay, Dolores Hughes and Paul Holloway and, with the exception-

ally strong and talented chorus, it promises to be another slick production by the society.

“With everyone working hard to make sure we all know our Lambeth Walk from our Cockney Beat, it promises to be a show not to be missed.”

Tickets cost €20 and are on sale from Draiocht at 01 885 2622, or at www.draiocht.ie, with an opening night offer of tickets priced €17.

4 BLANCH Gazette 11 October 2012

council

Twitter accounts hacked Three Twitter accounts run by Fingal County Council were hacked and bogus comments were sent to its followers.

Last month, three of 30 Twitter accounts from FCC were hacked and unauthorised comments were put up on the account.

According to a spokesperson for FCC, no data pertaining to Fingal residents were accessed as such information is not available on social media accounts.

“The council maintains a number of social media accounts. Three of the Twitter accounts, the arts, the sports and the heritage accounts were hacked on September 20 and 27, and spam messages were sent to people following those accounts.”

Once the problem was identified, the passwords on the accounts were changed and the problem resolved.

theatre One-man show brings sci-fi saga to life

Relive Star Wars trilogy in one hour One man has taken the nerds’ holy trinity, the Star Wars trilogy, and created an hour-long stage show that will be staged at Dublin 15’s Draiocht Theatre on October 18.

One Man Star Wars features performer Charles Ross playing all the characters from the legendary movie trilogy, and is unique in that it is officially licensed by LucasFilm, something few other force-filled works related to that universe have achieved.

Ross explained recently that he had no choice but to become a hard-core fan of Star Wars. Growing up on a farm in Prince George, Canada, he

endured very long winters, with some dropping to -40 degrees, and so watched a lot of TV. Unfortunately, there was no TV reception and so he relied on the video recorder, but his family had just three videos – one of which was the first Star Wars.

“We only had three movies - T he Blue Lagoon starring Brooke Shields, Shogun and Star Wars. So, nine times out of 10, I ended up watching Star Wars,” Charles explained.

“A lot of times, it would just be on as background noise, and I would think that a lot of it has gone into my head through osmosis and become

committed to my memory. That was something no one should do to themselves unless you intend to do something positive with it eventually – and so I have.”

One-Man Star Wars Trilogy began as a comedy sketch that turned into a one-hour piece.

“It went down really well when I performed it at a fringe event in Toronto – and everything’s gone on from there,” he added.

Although officially licensed by LucasFilm, Charles is not sure if the man behind the films, George Lucas, has seen his show.

Charles was hired to perform at the official fan

Charles Ross who plays all the characters from the legendary movie trilogy

conventions Celebration III and IV in the US and Celebration Europe in London, - “so, I assume that the people whose opinion he [Lucas] trusts think it is something he would enjoy”.

The tour has brought

him to all corners of the world, from North America to the UK, Dubai and Australasia.

“I’ve even performed the show while backpacking around Turkey - there are Star Wars fans everywhere.”

Dublin 15’s Draiocht Theatre can now be added to the list as he plays the local theatre on October 18 at 8pm. Tickets for the event cost €18 or €14 with concession, further details available at www.draiocht.ie

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6 BLANCH Gazette 11 October 2012

R1

amenity Residents urged to have their say on proposals before November 15

Park revamp aims to attract more visitors  laura Webb

St Catherine’s Park is to get a facelift with a number of new facilities being proposed to increase visitors to the public amenity.

The master plan for the park located near Westmanstown is currently

on public display for residents in Fingal to make submissions on what they think of the proposal. The deadline for submissions is November 15.

A children’s playground, a coffee shop, public toilets, an exercise circuit, multi-use games area, a dog run, a par three

golf course/pitch ’n’ putt, cricket pitch, skate park, a BMX bike track and new pedestrian bridge over the River Liffey are all included in the plan.

It also includes repairing St Catherine’s Church and restoring the farmyard and historic buildings. A woodland walk is

also being proposed.

Commenting on the new plans, Mulhuddart councillor Michael O’Donovan (Lab) said it was an exciting plan for the park.

“The most positive thing is that some of the work is done already.

The pitches to the south

of the access road are in place, the woodland walk is in place, the carpark is in place and the changing rooms and the toilets are in place – that is a start.

“There are a few other items that can be delivered relatively cheaply, including the

BMX track. But there are some that would be very expensive, for example, repairing the church, and that would be a fine feature.

“The council have submitted an application for funding from the Leader Programme. If the programme came on board

then the job would be done faster but hopefully it will be done,” Cllr O’Donovan said.

The plans are available to inspect at FCC offices in Blanchardstown and at the Blanchardstown library. They can also be accessed through www. fingalcoco.ie

Council supports same sex marriage Fingal County Council has joined other councils across Ireland to vote in favour of marriage equality, showing their support of civil marriage for same sex couples.

During this week’s county council meeting, a motion proposed by Mulhuddart councillor Mary McCamley (Lab) was passed with 12 of the 15 councillors present in favour of the motion and three abstentions.

“This is a wonderful step by Fingal County Council to raise awareness of this important issue at a local level. We’d like to thank all councillors involved for their initiative, and our supporters in Fingal who spoke to their councillors

over the last few months about raising the issue,” said the director of Marriage Equality, Moninne Griffith.

“Marriage equality is not just a national issue, it’s a local one. It’s about respecting and protecting loving couples and families who are part of our communities and treating them as equal. That is why putting the issue on the agenda at local level is so important,” she added.

The council joins Dublin City Council, which passed a similar motion in September; Cork and Belfast City Councils, who passed similar motions in June; as well as Omagh, Down, Moyle, Newry and Magherafelt District Councils which passed motions during the summer.

Councillor Ruth Coppinger (SP) said the park was “left strewn with rocks, with no reinstatement of grass or trees”

Tolka Valley: FCC says contractor back on site

‘Deplorable’ state of park is criticised

 Laura Webb

A Dublin 15 politician has slammed the “deplorable” condition Tolka Valley Park has been left in since the completion of road works at Mulhuddart Bridge.

Socialist Party councillor Ruth Coppinger said the park has been “left strewn with rocks, with no reinstatement of grass or trees and inferior pathways put in”.

According to Coppinger, local residents h ave b e e n w a i t i n g months for the park to be restored.

“For six months, the people of Mulhuddart have been left without a park they can enjoy.

It’s been left in a deplorable state,” she told the Gazette.

“Considering this

park was part-funded from the house sales of Castlecurragh and Tyrrelstown, in lieu of open space within our estates, this is totally unacceptable. It’s hard to take seriously that this is a regional park with the same status of Ardgillan or Malahide when it has been left like this.”

During a recent area committee meeting, Cllr Coppinger asked Fingal County Council management why it was taking so long to restore the local park.

In response to the councillor, the FCC Parks Department informed the committee that contractors would return to the park shortly in line with the planting season and better weather conditions.

The report went on

to say that a budget of €50,000, taken from the contract value of €1.35m for the Tolka Valley Park project, is earmarked for reinstatement of the park.

The council said work was suspended as ground conditions within the park were not suitable for planting or permanent ground clearance.

“The contractor has now returned to site and the park reinstatement work, including the removal of the large stones and rubble, will take place prior to top soiling and grass seeding of the area affected by the bridge construction contract,” said a council spokesperson.

“A more robust and safer surface material was provided during the replacement works to the

footpaths. Tarmacadam paths are a feature of many parks within Fingal and will blend into the park landscape when the final reinstatement and planting works are undertaken.”

However, according to Cllr Coppinger, residents and councillors should have been informed that there would be a sixmonth gap in restoring the park to standard.

“That budget would also seem insufficient to do what’s necessary to restore the park even to what it was. Tolka Valley Park is an important wildlife corridor and for local recreation.

The Socialist Party will monitor the works and calls on residents to press to ensure the park is restored to the best standard,” she added.

11 October 2012 BLANCH Gazette 7

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community event A host of entertainment ensures that

Such great neighbours in Ongar T

he local community turned out in large numbers to make sure that the recent Ongar Community Centre Family Fun Day was a huge success. There was plenty of fantastic fun events to keep the children occupied while their parents met with neighbours and made some new friends in the community. Bouncy castles, a mobile farm, Lambert’s world famous puppet show and Joe Daly’s fantastic magic show were some of the highlights which were enjoyed and made the event a very memorable occasion.

The staff at the centre said: “We hope you all enjoyed our Family Fun Day yesterday and thanks to all who came along on the day and made it such a success and for your lovely comments.”

Karl Feeney and Ellen, Jen, Leonard and Jack. Picture: Una Williams

Eoghan with dad Ruairi Garrihy

Helena Garrihy and Yeff O’Sullivan

Colin and Callum Kelly

Natalia Kollmar with daughter Fiona

Cara McAllorum, Emma Mulroney and Nicole Kelly

Dave and Josh Cunningham

11 October 2012 BLANCH Gazette 9

local families have a great day at a memorable occasion

Bill Brennan driving the train

Big Bird, Alan Falkner, Hailey and Ava Andrews with mam Rachel

David Supple with sons Jack and Ben

10 BLANCH Gazette 11 October 2012

television Launch of a dating show with a difference

10 10 10 10 10 10CASTLEKNOCK CASTLEKNOCK CASTLEKNOCK CASTLEKNOCK CASTLEKNOCK CASTLEKNOCK Gazette Gazette Gazette Gazette Gazette Gazette27 27 27 27 27 27 September September September September September September 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012 2012

Helen Goldin, Ronan O’Leary and Aisling O’Dwyer

Pamela Ryan

Sean Montague, Katie Jane Goldin and Jonny McCann

Make a date with the Love Clinic L

OTS of revellers mingled at the launch party of the new TV show Love Clinic in the grafton lounge, in the city centre recently.

The new TV show, which airs on Thursdays at 9pm, hit the small screen just a few weeks ago, on September 27th.

It is proving to be an untypical dating show in that it aims to take participants and with the help of experts in the areas

of psychotherapy, life coaching and styling, understand where they have gone wrong in their past relationships. Then, the hope is they will be equipped with tools and strategies to get on the road to finding the right partner.

Love Clinic is a new show format, created by Straywave Media, with the support of RTÉ and in association with Warner Bros International Television.

Brendan Marc Scully

Barry Finnegan and Catriona McGinley

11 October 2011 gazette 11

festival A cavalcade of arts for Dracula author

Celebration of Stoker, fangs to Cornwell  bairbre ni Bhraonain

Best-selling crime author Patricia Cornwell is coming to Dublin for the first Bram Stoker Festival which will take place this Halloween.

Cornwell will deliver a talk in Trinity College on the rise of the serial killer in crime fiction and its relation to the Dracula legacy. She will also be signing copies of her new book, Bone Bed. The talk, entitled The Anatomy of Fear – From Stoker to Scarpetta, takes place in the Edmund Burke T heatre, Ar ts Building in Trinity College at 7.30pm on October 26. Tickets are €12

and €10 for concessions.

Dublin will be celebrating Stoker and all things Dracula-related this October bank holiday weekend, October 26 to 28, with an array of vampire-based events throughout the city.

Bram Stoker’s Dublin walking tours will explore the city through the laneways of Victorian Dublin, as well as incorporating creepy visits to places like Christ Church Cathedral’s crypt.

There will also be a series of literary workshops on horror writing given by various wellknown authors, includi n g aw a r d - w i n n i n g children’s writer, Celine

McKiernan.

McKiernan will give a three-hour writing workshop for children aged 11 to 14, entitled Blood Red Ink in the conference room, Long Room Hub, Trinity College, on October 27 and 28 at 10am, and tickets are €5.

Street theatre company Spraoi will give a horror performance suitable for the whole family in the grounds of Dublin Castle, where Stoker worked as a civil servant.

Imagining Bram Stoker will be performed October 28 at 5pm, 6pm and 7pm and is a free event, but booking is required.

For adults, Ouroboros Theatre Ireland will stage

Author Patricia Cornwell: Coming to Dublin for first Bram Stoker Festival

Stoker, a new play by Paul Walker about the life of the creator of Dracula, and his rivalry with Oscar Wilde.

Tickets are €25 and €20 for concessions and the play will be on in the Samuel Beckett Theatre in Trinity College on October 26 and 27 at

7.30pm.

The iconic vampire film, and the first of all the Dracula screen representations, Nosferatu, will be shown for free in Meeting House Square in Temple Bar on Saturday, October 27 at 8pm. The silent film will be accompanied by atmospheric

music from 3epkano, a collective specialising in avant-garde cinema soundtracks. Booking is essential as demand is expected to be high.

For more information on all the events lined up for the festival, you can go online to www.bramstokerfestival.com.

eyesight

Doctor’s call for eye care A Dublin doctor has urged people in the city to take care of their eyesight.

The call from David Keegan, an eye doctor at the Mater Hospital and member of the Irish College of Ophthalmologists, comes as World Sight Day is celebrated on October 11.

“More than half of all sight loss is avoidable when detected early, and a regular eye test can identify early indications of eye diseases such as cataract, glaucoma, diabetes and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Many agerelated conditions can be successfully treated if detected early.

“In the next 15 years, the Irish population aged 65 and over is set to double and the number of patients with agerelated sight loss problems will increase,” said Keegan.

12 gazette 11 October 2012

filmfest Music on the screen celebrated D oc u m e n tari e s and films about Blur, folk legend Daniel Johnston and Ireland’s DIY scene are among the highlights of a new season of music films taking place at Dublin’s Lighthouse Cinema this month.

OneTwoOneTwo takes place over the weekend of October 19 – 21 in the recently re-opened Smithfield venue, and will feature new and old music documentaries, classic films including In Bed With Madonna and one of the best concert films of all time, Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense.

On the Irish front, there will be a free screening of A Joyful Slog, a documentary examining Ireland’s DIY scene.

Tickets are priced from €15, and there is a weekend pass for €65.

More information can be found at facebook.com/ onetwoonetwodublin.

health Life-changing leaders sought for show

Don’t think twice – go for Operation Transformation  LAURA WEBB

It’s time again to make a lasting change as Operation Transformation returns for its sixth season, and the show is on the look-out for people who wish to make 2013 the year to change their lifestyle and diet.

The Operation Transformation team are looking for people who may be struggling to keep the pounds off or feel their current weight is holding them back to leading the life they would like.

T he show returns next year on RTE for its sixth series and, once again, RTE Radio 1’s John Murray Show is on board as the radio home

for the series.

Radio presenter Murray recently joined four of the 2012 Operation Transformation leaders to put out a nationwide call to find five inspirational new leaders for the 2013 series. Those chosen need to be willing to radically change their eating and exercise habits, and be prepared to inspire viewers and listeners to follow their journey.

Speaking at the photocall, Murray said: “The John Murray Show is delighted to be involved with Operation Transformation once again, and I’m sure it will again inspire thousands of people around Ireland to change their life-

styles and become fitter, healthier and happier.

“If the next leaders are half as committed as those who have come before, I think we are guaranteed another successful campaign that will get people motivated to shed the pounds.”

The TV show’s presenter, Kathryn Thomas said: “The most difficult thing is filling in that application form and signing your name to it.

Don’t think twice – just do it. I know it’s a big deal for people, I know it’s a bit daunting, but if last year’s leaders are anything to go by you’ll be glad you applied. If you’re worried about a family member, friend or colleague, please

Participants from the last series of Operation Transformation Killian Byrne, Natalie Cox, Grace Batterberry and Adrian Brereton with RTE’s John Murray

encourage them to take part.

“We’re looking for families to take part, too, and ask that people be available to take part in filming between November 2012 and March 2013. I’d encourage anyone who’d like to change their lifestyle to get in touch with the production team. Don’t put it on the long finger,

do it today,” she added.

One of last year’s contestants, Natalie Cox said: “Operation Transformation is a great opportunity. Just take the risk, it will change your life and you’ll never be sorry. It changed my whole personality; I’m confident, happy and not afraid of anything. I am so glad I have changed.

I even love shopping

now. It was hard but I will never look back, I’m just happy.”

The closing date for applications is Friday, October 19.

If you think you have what it takes and want to change your life for the better, check out www.rte.ie/ot/featured/ applynow.html or call Sinead or Andy on 01 864 1444.

DublinGazetteNewspapers Advertising Sales Professionals Dublin Gazette Newspapers is Dublin’s fastest growing community weekly regional publisher, with 8 titles covering the M50 from Swords to Dun Laoghaire.

We are currently looking to recruit: We are now seeking experienced media sales executives to work in our advertising dept in our Lucan head office on a number of Dublin Gazette titles. Experience in newspaper advertising sales is preferable. Full clean driving licence and own car required; fluent written and oral English essential.

Excellent package on offer to suitable candidates.

If you can work on your own initiative within a team environment, are motivated, enthusiastic with an excellent work ethic, please send your cv to: mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com

11 October 2012 gazette 13

libraries: contest

music: attempt to get the most people ever dancing to jackson hit

Click! away to win an iPad 3

A great Thriller to enjoy  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

THE National Basketball Arena in Tallaght will host a Guinness World Record attempt to create the largest ever collective performance of Michael Jackson’s Thriller this month.

Thrill The World Dublin 2012 is a world record attempt and charity fundraiser to get the most people dancing simultaneously to the song.

The iconic dance will see performers dressed up as zombies executing the moves made famous

by Jackson in his video for the song, which was a worldwide hit in 1983.

G u i n n e s s Wo r l d Records listed Thriller as the most successful music video of all time in 2006, while, in 2009, the video was the first ever to receive the honour of being inducted into the National Film Registry in America by the Library of Congress, in recognition of being culturally, his-

torically or aesthetically significant.

The dance routine is more than 13 minutes long, and the fundraising is dedicated to raising money for the Carers Association of Ireland.

T he charity helps people who care for the elderly or infirm in their own homes and includes those who are seriously ill, people with disabilities and children with special needs.

The public is urged to go along to support the world record attempt, see a spectacle they won’t forget in a hurry, and help out the association.

If you wish to be part of the world record attempt, you should register by going online to the website at www.carersireland.com.

Thrill The World 2012 takes place on Saturday, October 27 at 6pm and will go on until 9.30pm in The National Basketball Arena, Tymon Park, Tallaght, Dublin 24.

Witch way to help? Girls spell out a great Cow & Gate way to support children’s hospital CLARE Dooley and Lauren Heary had a

horribly good time helping to launch Cow & Gate’s Spooky Smiles For Crumlin fundraising initiative. The girls were hoping to help the company cast a spell over people all over Ireland to help support the hospital, with everyone invited to hold a Halloween party to help support Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin’s cardiac and cancer care

wards, with a Cow & Gate party pack to help make the parties a scream.

A Facebook app (www.facebook.com/ cowandgateireland) also invites users to “spookify” little party goers, and share their picture, with Cow & Gate donating €1 to the hospital for each person that uses the app.

For further information on the hospital’s work, see www.smilesforcrumlin.ie.

AVID amateur photographers have a chance to show their skills and maybe pick up a prize this month when South Dublin Libraries runs its annual Digital Photo Competition.

This year, the competition has been renamed as Click!, and the organisers are looking for photos that capture the spirit of living, working in or even visiting South Dublin County.

Your photo should show something distinctive about the county’s admininistrative area that makes it special.

Photos can concentrate on any number of Dublin subjects, whether that means the people, the places, the culture or heritage at work or play and in everyday situations or extraordinary events.

Entry is free, and the closing date is October 31. The first prize for the winning photograph is an Apple iPad 3.

Entries are acceptable by email or in digital form only, and up to three photos can be emailed to sdc@ireland.com along with contact details, title of the photo and where it was taken.

14 gazette 11 October 2012

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One4All’s Decade in Design judges James Earley, Jerry Kennelly, founder of tweak.com, and Aoife Davey, marketing manager of Gift Voucher Shop with cake-carrying friend at the launch of the competition recently

One4All calling for cards to celebrate ten years Diary TO celebrate 10 years in business, gift voucher company One4all is asking budding designers from Dublin to help them mark the occasion by creating a unique graphic for a specially-commissioned birthday gift card.

The winner will receive a MacBook, in addition to their design being produced and sold across One4all’s various sales channels throughout the country.

Speaking at the launch, judging panel member, renowned graffiti artist, and graphic designer James Earley said: “This is a great opportunity for those in Dublin involved in commercial and graphic design or for anyone interested in a career within this industry. What better way to draw attention, literally, to your talents with a unique project like this in your portfolio?”

Closing date for Decade In Design is 5pm on Friday, October 26.

Those interested in entering or learning more about the competition should visit www.one4all.ie/ design.

Road Safety Authority highlight mobile danger STAR of the RTE hit drama Raw and RSA Road Safety Ambassador Keith McErlean this week launched the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and Setanta Insurance national road safety film competition, Keep Drama Off The Roads.

The competition, which will appeal to all young budding filmmakers, aims to generate awareness among young people of the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving, particularly texting while driving.

The competition marks the launch of Irish Road

Safety Week, which takes place from Monday, October 8 to Sunday, October 14.

To date this year, 131 people have been killed on Irish roads.

One third (31.3%) of those killed were aged 16 to 25. Last year, 56 young people in this age bracket were killed on Irish roads, representing one in three of all road fatalities.

A full list of entry requirements for the competition can be found on www.keepdramaofftheroads. ie.

Get ready for library festival coming to the Red Line this November South Dublin Libraries has announced the first Red Line Book Festival, taking place from November 13 to 17.

The Red Line Book Festival features both Irish and international contemporary authors, celebrating books, reading, and the written word.

The festival will incorporate the traditional Readers Day on Saturday, November 17, with Dermot Bolger as host, with esteemed guests President Michael D Higgins, Gerard Donovan, Anne Enright, Sean Moncrieff, Ferdia MacAnna, Christine Dwyer Hickey and Adrian Kenny.

Readers Day takes place in the The Civic Theatre, Tallaght. Tickets priced at €10 and €8 concession are on sale now.

Events will take place at the Civic Theatre, The Victory Centre, Firhouse, Rua Red, and South Dublin Library branches.

To browse the programme online, see www. redlinebookfestival.com All the events in the Civic Theatre including Readers Day can be booked online at www. redlinebookfestival.com, in person or by phone (01 4627477)

11 October 2012 gazette 15

retail Website brings virtual service to homes

The shopping centre in your living room  laura webb

A VIRTUAL online shopping centre has arrived, making e-commerce easier for the seller and buying easier for the shopper.

Fresh on the online market, shoppingcentre. ie is an innovative and convenient new way to shop online from the comfort of your home.

The website is designed to unite large and small retailers, service providers and other sellers directly with the customer online.

T he website rents space to businesses that want to sell online using an efficient platform with

integrated social media, stock management, discount systems and many other features.

This approach is designed to make local shopping even easier with a planned expansion of the site to include Ireland’s shopping centres and other locations, for example, blackrock.shoppingcentre.ie and swords. shoppingcentre.ie.

Commenting on the new website, James McGeogh, of Connemara Foods said: “I set up a virtual shop myself with its easy-to-use guide in under two hours, and it was launched almost i m m e d i a t e l y. T h a t removed a huge amount

of stress out of a normally time-consuming task.”

According to the team behind shoppingcentre. ie, it makes shopping fun, easy and cost-saving.

Buyers can easily browse and buy online, compare prices and choose the best option for them.

The buyer will be able to shop locally, regionally or even globally from many shops around Dublin, Ireland and overseas.

Multiple items can be bought and purchased using PayPal. Vendors then send the products directly to the buyer.

There are 21 stores currently “live” on the site, with 35 more on the way.

Interested businesses

Jurgita Glodenyte, the owner of shoppingcentre.ie

can join shoppingcentre. ie by registering online, paying the store set-up fee of €195. Sellers who register with shoppingcentre.ie before the middle of October will get the first six months “rent-free”.

Alternatively, they can choose to start paying monthly fees and avoid

the store set-up fee.

Jurgita Glodenyte, the owner of shoppingcentre.ie, says: “We use a flexible approach and will accommodate every business.”

After registration, sellers are coached in how to add products and pictures, prices and deliv-

ery instructions on the site. The team at shoppingcentre.ie can also arrange a PayPal set-up and recommend the best shipping companies to help them deliver their products.

For further information, see www.shoppingcentre.ie.

theatre

Thrill to new form on stage DUBLIN’S Project Arts Centre will this week play host to an elaborate experiment in theatre, when Your Brother, Remember? comes to town.

Written by reknowned American playwright Zachary Oberszan, the play uses the concept of before-and after photographs, and splices together home videos, Hollywood film footage and live performance within the proscenium arch.

Challenging expectations, Oberszan depicts the peculiar parallels of his childhood with his brother and the life of their hero, Jean Claude Van Damme, and explores how the brothers’ life paths diverged from the hopes of their past.

The show runs from October 11 to 13 at 7.45pm nightly, with a 5.45pm show on October 13.

Tickets, priced from €15-20 are available from www.projectartscentre.ie

16 gazette 11 October 2012

Gazettemusic review: tyler hilton releases the long-awaited forget the storm

Coming through stormy waters  Paul hosford

ACROSS the world, there are acts dreaming of landing a major-label deal.

Even in the changing musical landscape, the backing of a behemoth company to keep an act on the radar of news outlets, radio stations and tastemakers the world over can be an invaluable resource.

But, for every star that labels create, there are the others.

T he scrapheap of those promised the sun, moon and stars but come up short is littered with artists too talented not to continue making music.

For Tyler Hilton, prob-

ably best known for his role as Chris Keller on the hit show One Tree Hill and for playing Elvis Presley in the Johnny Cash biopic, Walk The Line, a five-year stint spent writing and eventually scrapping an album on Warner Bros was the beginning of something of a rebirth.

The Storms We Share may have proved ill-fated, but his new album, the aptly-titled Forget The Storm, sees him in fine form.

For a man who hasn’t released an album in eight years, Hilton has a remarkable swagger.

Opener Kicking My Heels features big, bassy drums and a huge chorus that recalls Match-

box Twenty in their prime, with Hilton singing “Even God needs the Devil/And I’m one hell of a friend/If it makes you feel better/At least we’re going down together” before embracing his faith, exclaiming “Ha!”.

Prince of Nothing Charming is another chorus-driven pop song, with the raspy vocals, the earnest lyrics (“And I got nothin’ when you smile like Mona Lisa/ Cos I need ya/I need ya tonight”) and the big guitars-and-piano-driven chorus proclaiming “Baby, You’re Beautiful”. It is quintessentially American teen-dramasoundtrack standard, but is no worse for it.

It is, like the vast

majority of the tracks on the album, a well-crafted, catchy and ever-somelodic song.

Hilton is a writer capable of writing big, commercial-sounding hooks, which many scoff at and deride as a skill.

But, the reality is, there are many, many hugely talented bands that are a good hook away from being great.

Singalong hooks, choruses and riffs are priceless in this day and age as they can command attention in a world where the average music career lasts as long as a Kim Kardashian marriage.

But, Hilton himself seems to be aware of his skill and branches out

on Forget The Storm.

Leadoff single Loaded Gun is a bluesy piece of stomp rock and Ain’t No Fooling Me sees Hilton in touch with southern rock.

The songs come as a breath of fresh air in the album, even if, personally, I prefer the acoustic/piano efforts, with Leave Him and I Belong being absolute highlights and You’ll Ask Me the best song on the album, showing Hilton as a writer of massive talent and potential.

Let’s just hope it’s not another eight years to the follow-up.

Hilton is on his way to Dublin for a gig at The Academy on October 25 with tickets €20.

Tyler Hilton’s all-American face is matched by his sound

11 October 2012 GAZETTE 17

GazetteBEAUTY

Edited by Laura Webb

Use the scent of summer to banish the winter blues

S

O IT’S the end of the summer – not that we actually had one, but who says we can’t still enjoy the fresh and revitalising scents that are associated with the summer season?

Roger and Gallet Paris, a perfumery since 1862, has two great fresh fragrant water sprays that are sun-filled to brighten up even the darkest days.

The first is Eau Sublime Or – Boise D’Orange.

This fragrant water has fresh notes of mandarin, with a hint of coconut and vanilla.

What is great about this product is that it adds an elegant glow to the skin, courtesy of the little speckles of golden sparkles incorporated into the spray.

Another fragrance from this perfumery is Rose Imaginaire – Eau fraiche parfumee. This natural spray has been inspired by the wonders of nature.

It, too, has a zesty fragrance of mandarin, complemented by strawberry, giving it a great fruity note, while jasmine and violet blend sweetly, leading to the heart of the

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

‘Be adventurous with your fragrances, and you will be surprised how they will lighten your mood’ --------------------------

fragrance.

These fragrances are not overpowering, and they each leave a subtle scent that will have everyone talking.

The recommended retail price is €39.75. For further information, and for a full list of stockists, see www.roger-gallet.ie.

Meanwhile, Lancome has launched its new shower gel and body lotion inspired, by its new fragrance – La vie est belle.

The shower gel and body lotion are now available, complete with a wonderful fresh scent, courtesy of the new Lancome fragrance.

La vie est belle shower gel and body lotion are now available from your nearest Lancome counter, with a RRP of €32 (shower gel) and €34

Eau Sublime Or – Bois D’Orange: fresh notes of mandarin, with a hint of coconut and vanilla

(body lotion).

La vie est belle eau de parfum is available from Lancome counters nationwide, priced from €47 (30ml).

So, instead of feeling the blues this autumn/ winter, let your senses be

your guide to make you feel and smell like the warmest day of summer.

Be adventurous with your fragrances, and you will be surprised how they will lighten your mood – the fruitier, the better!

Super search: Hunt is on for next top stylist THE search is on for a super stylist, with Oasis teaming up with TV3 to launch My Personal Stylist 2012, with a dream job as a personal stylist up for grabs.

Last year’s winners of the Oasis Personal Stylist search, Justine King and Sarah Blake, styled Britain and Ireland’s Next Top Model 2012 contestant, Lisa Madden (centre) to help launch the search.

For further information, and entry forms, call into your local Oasis outlet.

Eau Sublime Or (top), and Rose Imaginaire

Get ready – A&F is about to open FASHIONISTAS everywhere, hold on to your stylish hats – the legendary American chain that is Abercrombie & Fitch (A&F) opens its Dublin flagship store next month.

On November 1, at 11am, A&F will open its store, located at 34 College Green, with the historic location to be the first of its kind in the region.

Known for its exceptional quality, the international chain, which is more than 100 years old, has very well-known admirers, with the brand worn by some of America’s most notable visionaries and leaders.

Presidents Theodore Roosevelt and John F Kennedy were patrons, as well as American icons such as Amelia Earhart, Ernest Hemingway, James Dean and Katharine Hepburn.

A&F is known around the world for its iconic, provocative image of the perfectly toned and defined AllAmerican Guy. The iconic image of the “hot guy” honours the longstanding heritage of strength that A&F has been known for since 1892.

For the opening ceremony of the store, the hottest A&F Guys, carefully selected from their stores in the US, Italy, Britain, France, Germany, Denmark, Spain, Belgium, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong will be flown into Dublin.

During the week leading up to the opening, the A&F Hot Guys will be greeting and taking pictures with fans outside the store.

Follow A&F on Facebook and Twitter, and line up early on November 1 for the grand opening.

18 GAZETTE 11 October 2012

GazetteBUSINESS

Supported

by AIB

Interview: Jacqui Fogarty, Little Miss Party Nails, Little Miss Party Hair FINANCIAL PLANNING MADE EASY I USED to be a dreadful worrier. (Stick with me on this, because it is relevant.) I would lie awake at two in the morning, asking myself where I had gone wrong and a voice would answer back: “This is going to take more than one night.”

Then, I had the good fortune to work with a successful entrepreneur who, for the purposes of this article, I shall call Gerry, because that happens to be his name.

The thing I noticed straightaway about Gerry was that he had elevated list-making to an art form. Before he wanted to achieve something important – start a business, raise millions of euro a year for charity, launch a takeover – he would prepare a list of all the different steps involved.

Anyway, as someone who has elevated plagiarism to an art form, I copied him and, although I cheat (I often write down things I have already done for the satisfaction of being able to cross them off), I have found that the simple process of listing has dealt a deathblow to my nocturnal fretting.

What does this have to do with financial planning made easy? If more people realised that financial planning was nothing more than a bit of glorified list-making, they might be keener to take it on.

A well-executed plan What can a financial plan do for you? I’ll cut to the chase – financial plans are like a powerful amulet. This is what a good, well-executed financial plan could do for you: • Wipe out all your personal debts.

• Help you pay off your mortgage early.

• Make sure you never have to borrow again.

• Help you build up plenty of savings.

• Ensure that your money achieves the highest possible return.

• Give you enough money to retire early.

• Protect you and your dependants against financial hardship.

• Offer you financial freedom.

• Make you wealthy enough to never have to worry about the future, whatever it may bring.

Think I am overpromising or exaggerating? If anything, I am erring on the side of caution. A good financial plan can make you invincible.

What exactly is a financial plan? Perhaps the easiest way to explain how they work is to use an analogy.

If you were driving from Copenhagen to Zagreb – heaven knows why, but you are – and you don’t have one of those wizard satellite navigation systems, you would not choose a road at random and hope for the best, would you? No, you wouldn’t.

You would plan your journey. If you encountered diversions, you would get out the map and decide on a new route. Throughout the journey, you would check on your progress.

Your financial plan should have the same qualities. That is to say, it should help you reach your destination, make your journey as fast as possible and stop you from wasting time, energy and, of course, money.

Part Two continues next week ...  Contact John with your money questions at

jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor

Jacqui has nailed what little girls want WITH more than 15 years’ experience in the hair and beauty industry, Jacqui Fogarty, from Churchtown, felt there was a gap in the market when it came to hair and nail parties for little girls – hence, Little Miss Party Nails, and her newest party addition, Little Miss Party Hair, was born.

She said: “Little girls love nothing more than having their hair and nails done, but I wanted the whole party experience to be more than just that by introducing hair and nail demonstrations for all the guests to creating themselves, with dummy hands and doll heads.

“Our parties can be mixed and matched, and are very creative, developing each individual’s imaginative side while waiting their turn.”

Being very concerned about applying regular polish, Jacqui sourced award-winning Piggy Paint nail polish from America.

This child-friendly formula is non-toxic, hypo-allergenic and water-based, making it perfect for little nails. To seal the finishing touches, nail art/nail decals are applied with a glossy top-coat, glitzy hand tattoo and a ring of choice.

They also offer the optional extra of Little Miss Party Bags to really take the pressure off mothers.

While each individual guest has their nails or hair professionally crafted by an experienced nail technician/stylist, all the other guests will be busy having fun creating stunning designer nails and crafts or hair designs with gems and glitter as far as the eye can see.

Catering for a wide range of different events, and with party sizes covering the Dublin area and surrounding counties, parties start from €125 for approximately 150 minutes, depending on numbers.

Jacqui Fogarty

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

A: In the entertainment industry

Q: What was your first job?

A: Promotional work Q: And your first pay cheque?

A: A few pounds Q: Have you ever done a job you loathed?

A: No Q: When did you start your present job?

A: I created Little Miss Party Hair & Nails in March

Q: What is the best thing about your job?

A: The flexibility that it gives being a working mum

Q: What’s currently on your desk that shouldn’t be?

A: Chocolate

12 is listening to or watching, I am, too – I have to get into their world to be able to party with them

Q: Who would you rather have dinner with – Enda Kenny or Dame Edna?

A: Dame Edna

Q: Is there anything about yourself that you would like to set the record straight on?

A: Yes – I am a bit of a clean

Q: Who best represents modern Ireland – David Norris or Jedward?

A: It has to be Jedward

Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously?

A: Everywhere

freak and have to be organised

Q: What music/pictures/movies do you have on your iPod/ iPad? A: A mixed bag of everything

day ... I am a working mum

Q: What sport do you follow?

A: Golf, as it’s never off our television

Q: What sport can you play?

A: I love skiing Q: What habits would you like to lose?

A: Lost many a bad habit a long time ago, but there is still that chocolate on the desk

Q: Have you achieved anything that you once thought you could not pull off?

A: Being my own boss

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

A: A few days’ break away with

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

A: [Nothing, as] All day every

Q: What is your guilty music/ TV or movie pleasure?

A: Everything that a girl under

the hubby

Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?

A: Anyone that makes me laugh

Q: What was your last Tweet/ status update?

A: The fact that we are delighted to be promoting Oxfam Ireland’s Pass The Present campaign (www.oxfamireland. org/passthepresent)

Q: Describe your dream meal?

A: The one whereby you lose pounds as you eat ...

Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own?

A: About 20 Q: What was your worst holiday experience?

A: Lots of great holidays when I would arrive – but always drama, getting there and back

Q: Describe your dream holiday?

A: The one that never ends ...

Q: What would be your dream job?

A: I am in it now. Partying every week with happy faces – who could ask for more?

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

A: Keep partying

11 October 2012 GAZETTE 19

GazetteBUSINESS Many happy returns for 2011 taxes

Supported

by AIB

ADVICE: HINTS AND TIPS ON NEGOTIATING THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED

Paul Brady AITI BL BCL, a chartered tax adviser and founder of taxandlegal.ie, recently spoke to GazetteBusiness about the upcoming tax return deadline, and had some hints and tips to help people to complete their returns.

It is tax return time again.

If you were self employed and/or a landlord in 2011, you are required to file a return and pay tax on or before October 31 next.

The following are some tips for those faced with a looming tax bill:

1. Do not bury your head in the sand Do not develop a false sense of security because there is no one banging down your door. A tax liability will not disappear if you ignore it. In fact, it will grow at 8% per annum interest and that is ignoring surcharges and penalties which may apply.

2. Working from

home Many self employed individuals operate from their own home. Remember, you can deduct part of the cost of electricity, heating, telephone and internet. You must apportion costs between private and business use on a reasonable basis. In many cases, people will use square footage, usage or time spent as a basis. If you are renting, a portion of the rent attributable to a home office could be claimed. If you are in receipt of mortgage interest relief at source (TRS), be careful in trying to claim mortgage interest payments as a deduction.

3. Use actual expenses Some sole traders estimate their expenses based on the angle of the sun and direction of the wind. This is not a good idea. If you are audited, Revenue may seek the supporting documentation for expenses claimed

and, if they do not exist, Revenue can use their own estimate of what your expenses were.

Needless to say, that is not a desirable situation.

4. Preliminary tax Once your business is up and running for two years, you will have to pay the balance of tax due for last year (ie 2011) and preliminary tax in respect of this year (ie 2012). Preliminary tax is an amount equal to 100% of last year’s tax or 90% of this year’s total. Some banks are offering loans to meet preliminary tax liabilities.

If you can pay last year’s tax but preliminary tax is causing you difficulty, you should get in touch with your local Revenue office. Despite the impression given in the media, the Revenue Commissioners are not looking to put people out of business and will work with you.

5. Mortgage deduc-

tions for Landlords Normally, mor tgage repayments will have both a capital and an interest element. If you are renting a residential property, remember that only 75% of the interest element of the mortgage repayments is deductible.

Do not make the mistake of assuming that because the mortgage exceeds the rent, no tax arises.

Besides, if you declare losses now, they can be offset against profits in the future (here’s hoping!).

6. Spare cash If you have cash to spare, you could reduce your tax bill by investing in a tax relieved film or an EIIS scheme. Investments made now will reduce your 2012 liability. You could also make a contribution to a PRSA or other pension in respect of 2011. Again, up to certain limits, your taxable income will be reduced by the amount of the contribution.

Paul Brady AITI BL BCL, chartered tax adviser and founder of taxandlegal.ie with some tax tips

www.gazette group.com All of your latest local news, sport, features and pictures are now just a click away

20 gazette 11 October 2012

GazetteMOTORS Bose edition RoadSigns bodes well for Renault’s Grand Scenic Over €2k of extras for loyal customers

When a car hits the right notes, manufacturers are often faced with a dilemma about where to go next?

It could easily be seen as arrogant to assume that a successful offering is so good that it needs no refinement, yet at the same time, to mess with a successful concept can often detract from its original appeal.

The Skoda Yeti is a car that I have great affection for - it was the very first car that I test drove as a motoring journalist, and it put a big smile on my face.

n Cormac Curtis

The Skoda Yeti Urban

At the time, my own car was a big SUV that guzzled petrol if you so much as looked at it, and it didn’t really like to move very much.

The Yeti, on the other hand, politely sipped from its diesel tank and ate up motorway in exceptional comfort. To say I was smitten would be putting it mildly. This car offers so much to so many it has been widely hailed as one of the most complete cars on the road. It’s an incredibly eye-catching and attractive car, and it’s big, but it’s not so big that it becomes impractical for city living.

For getting away from it all – it has everything you need for a rural break, no matter how outdoorsy your demands may be.

Even using the standard seating configuration, the car has enough clever nets, hooks and storage areas to keep all your gear stowed safely.

It offers Skoda’s VarioFlex rear seating system – so even skiing and surf gear can be carried while passengers still ride in comfort. The Yeti Urban is powered by Skoda’s efficient 2.0 TFI (110bhp) engine, which gives it a nice bit of power when you need it.

So, in short, Skoda is offering its loyal Yeti customers over €2,000 worth of extras for just €220 with the Urban spec.

The car comes with the extraordinary panoramic sunroof, attractive 17” black/silver alloy wheels, a Bolero Radio, multifunction leather steering wheel with Bluetooth, the VarioFlex seating, tinted sunset windows, cruise control, airconditioning, ESP and a total of seven airbags for added safety.

For €25,495 you are certainly getting a lot of car for your money.

I was a little taken aback when I heard about the Renault Grand Scenic Bose Edition.

Q u i t e h o n e s t l y, I really couldn’t understand how Renault were going to marry a car with a premium sound system as a special edition model.

My confusion dissipated as soon as I saw the car.

The designers really did manage to capture a variety of musical elements and translate them into style points on an already impres-

sive vehicle.

The Grand Scenic itself defies accepted wisdom by providing an incredibly roomy car with a selection of very economical – and comfortable – diesel engines that don’t disappoint when it comes to performance.

I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating, the efficiency that car manufacturers can squeeze out of such small engines continues to impress me.

The model I drove came with the 1.6 dCi engine producing 130 bhp, more than enough poke to balance the

power-to-weight ratio of this particular cruising machine in the driver’s favour.

Not only that, it will use just 4.4 litres of fuel per 100km on a combined cycle.

The look of the car really does set it apart.

The pearl white paint is the perfect canvas on which to show off the obvious as well as the more subtle design cues.

A good place to start is the lights. The rear shows off L -shaped clusters that w rap around the side as well as up towards the roof of the car.

This lifts what could have been the least attractive aspect of the Scenic.

The boot boasts an attractive chrome strip across the handle, and, moving around to the side, and we are presented with more beautifully understated chrome strips set just above the bottom of the doors.

This chrome pack is finished off at the front, where we are presented with three strips accenting the dramatic black, low-set grille.

The middle strip has a cluster of LED lights set in to give the front

The Grand Scenic did not

an impressive look at night.

On the inside, I can only describe the dash as being lifted straight from a grand piano.

There is some of the

11 October 2012 GAZETTE 21

Edited by Cormac Curtis

RoadSigns

The new Panda’s looks are all about practicality

Fiat introduces its new Panda

disappoint when it came to performance

most highly polished panels I have ever seen in a car adorning the console, and only the mere mention of Bose, a name that only appears very subtly on the car, inside and out.

In terms of sound – anyone with a passing interest in music will be completely blown away by what the system is capable of producing across its nine speakers.

My own choice of very loud guitar and hip hop really must have seemed at odds with the somewhat practical image of the Grand Scenic.

The comfort of the driver and passengers is, of course, well taken care of with a list of features including a combined odour/particle filter, dual-zone climate control, electrically operated heated folding door mirrors, a

heated rear windscreen, automatic headlights and windscreen wipers, electric front windows (driver’s one touch) , the innovative handsfree Renault card and the very useful hill start assist.

For safety, electronic parking brake, ABS - Emergency brake assist, front lateral and curtain airbags, ISOFIX child seat mounting points (rear side seats), front fog lights, a perimeter alarm and a safety pack are all standard in the Bose edition.

Not forgetting the Bose® Energy Efficient Series Sound System with Bluetooth® and Plug & Music.

The sat nav features Britain and Ireland maps and the Carminat

TomTom Live navigation system Controls include cruise control and speed limiter, rear parking proximity sensors, electric parking brake, daytime running lights and motorway mode

indicators.

I felt the dark grey upholstery with Teflon treatment and leathertype inserts complemented the console, and the leather steering wheel gave one of the most important points

of contact a very luxurious feel.

The car’s 17” alloy wheels, extra tinted rear windows and black sari aluminium wheel rim all added to a very exclusive package that made this dad feel very young at heart.

THERE are certain cars that will always have a place in the hearts of Irish motorists. One such car is the Fiat Panda.

Many consider it a design classic, with a shape that first hit the streets in 1980. It has had just two significant makeovers in Europe over the last three decades.

The most recent shape came off its Italian production line in 2011 and hit the Irish market earlier this year. If you’re honest, the idea of a Panda will probably bring a smile to your face, with just a hint of a smug grin at the thought of the original boxy shape. But let’s not forget that the Panda comes from Italy – and the Italians know a thing or two about style, even if the dependability of their cars wasn’t always world class.

At first glance, I liked the look of the Panda – it’s clearly all about practicality, but there are playful elements of design all over this car. The brief here is user-friendly, with a smile.

Several features of the second generation of the Panda have been nicely redesigned, such as the vertical rear light cluster and third window, now with softened angles that create the effect of an uninterrupted glazed surface. Smooth, rounded shapes are also found in the strips applied to the bumpers and side panels. Finally, the lower section of the tailgate protrudes with respect to the rear window. Combined with the side line, this gives a distinct impression of a roof panel resting on the bodywork.

The interior of the Panda is roomy and comfortable, where flexibility and versatility become the city car’s real strong points. The dashboard – enveloped in a colourful frame – has been designed as a practical multipurpose shell containing a large and roomy storage pocket for very useful stowing.

The raised gear lever in the centre of the dashboard, up close to the steering wheel, guarantees comfortable driving. Another stylistic and functional feature is the distinctive shape of the parking brake whose smaller size allows the space to be used more efficiently.

This is an agile, manoeuvrable and really big city car - but it faces stiff competition from a wave of small cars that are fighting aggressively for a share of the Irish market, including the Skoda CitiGo, VW Up! and Seat Mii.

22 gazette 11 October 2012

GazetteTravel FastTravel A superb celebration of the arts at Queen’s University Belfast festival WHETHER it’s spending an evening in the company of Van Morrison, listening to the tunes of Ray Davies or enjoying a world-class production of Macbeth, the 2012 Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen’s University in Belfast is one stop that should be made this month – to a city that’s really made an impact this year.

In what is the 50th instalment of the festival, the Belfast arts celebration has come a long way since the modest campus event that first took place in 1961. Over the past 50 years, the festival has showcased some of the world’s biggest acts, including Jimi Hendrix, Kylie Minogue, Rowan Atkinson and Michael Palin.

This year, the festival features more than 180 events across 17 days, with world premieres and international acts taking to the stage of Belfast City.

Holidays for Halloween needn’t be hellish at all

n natalie burke

Golden anniversary ... Shan McAnena, Belfast Festival director; Fiona Cunningham, Northern Ireland Tourism Board’s market manager for the Republic of Ireland, and Anne McMullan, Belfast Visitor and Convention Bureau, mark a big event

International acts From October 19 until November 4, Belfast will be featuring both home-grown and international artists, authors and performers.

Performances by Dublin’s Junk Ensemble, WillFredd Theatre, the Project Arts Centre and the Everyman Theatre in Cork will be highlights of the festival, while productions from across the world will be making their Irish debut.

See the National Theatre of Scotland’s production of Enquirer, the controversial production Minsk 2011, by the Belarus Free Theatre, or the Tron Theatre Company’s brilliant re-imagining of Joyce’s Ulysses.

Speaking at the launch, festival director Shan McAnena summed up the heart of the festival, saying: “There’s music in shopping centres, churches and museums, comedy at the heart of Queen’s University, theatre in offices, public baths and bars, and art in the open air.

“From hip-hop to opera, hunting for fairies to ghosts in the dark, from international superstars to local heroes, we are proud to present the largest and most eclectic festival in Ireland.”

For further information, places to stay and things to do, see www.discovernorthernireland. com, or call 1850 230 230.

Halloween is almost here and along with pumpkins, goblins and the other ghoulish types that haunt this time of year, some families may be hoping to make an escape from the regular trick or treating trail.

With ghost tours, pumpkin festivals and fancy dress balls on the getaway menu, it appears to be full scream ahead when it comes to choosing a daunting destination this October bank holiday.

Killer Killarney Killarney is known for having its fair share of ghosts and legends and this year’s Halloween festival at the four-star

Malton hotel does its best to awaken the best of them.

With party games such as Pass the Pumpkin and Musical Zombies, as well as a programme filled with ar ts and

Two nights B&B with one evening meal is available midweek from just €149 per adult sharing and €60 per child (three to 12 years). See w w w.themalton.com online.

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

‘With ghost tours, pumpkin festivals, fancy-dress balls and creepy cruises on the getaway menu, it’s looking like full scream ahead for Halloween destinations’

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

crafts, a spider hunt and a ghost bus tour, taking guests on a frightening trip to see some of Killarney’s scariest spots, The Malton has plenty of horrors for the whole family to enjoy.

A family room at the Castlecourt Hotel in Co Mayo

Macabre Mayo Elsewhere, the Westport Plaza and Castlecourt Hotel Resorts in Co Mayo are offering a host of tricks and treats for all the family, from Monday, October 29 to

Sunday, November 4.

Just minutes away from the haunted house and fireworks display at the Halloween Fest, Wespor t House, the hotels are tailormade for a Halloween break.

The “spooktacular” packages offer a Halloween party night and karaoke for the kids, while mum and dad can escape for some relaxation at the Spa Sula.

Three nights’ B&B, plus two evening meals a r e av a i l a b l e f r o m €409 at the Castlecourt Hotel (see www.castelecourthotel.ie online) or from just €449 at the Westport Plaza (online at www.westportplazahotel.ie).

See Travel Briefs for a chance to win a break away.

Petrifying Pumpkins For a town normally home to just over 3,000 people, Virginia, Co Cavan, cer tainly knows how to cater for the crowds as a total of 20,000 people are expected to descend in time for the annual Pumpkin Festival, taking place from October 25 to October 29.

In what is the town’s sixth year to host the popular Halloween celebration, the event will be headlined by the Hothouse Flowers and

Smashing little pumpkins

the Garth Brooks Experience, and will entertain out-of-towners with a pumpkin weigh-in competition, a haunted forest walk and Ireland’s largest fancy dress party.

K nowing where to stay is easy, with plenty of hotels offering some scarily good prices.

Stay at the Lakeside Manor Hotel from just €55 per room or treat yourself at the Park Hotel on its own private 100-acre estate from €109 per room.

Visit www.pumpkinfestival.ie or www.hotels. com.

Creepy Killiney If there’s one type of hotel that really sells the Halloween theme, it’s got to be an original 18th century castle.

And for families who don’t want to travel too far, the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel, Killiney, could

11 October 2012 BLANCH gazette 23

Edited by Natalie Burke

Competition Win a wickedly good weekend in Westport this Halloween Dublin Gazette Newspapers and the Castlecourt Hotel, Westport, Co Mayo, have joined together to offer our readers the chance to win a frightfully good getaway this Halloween mid-term, with a two-night stay at the four-star resort for two adults and two children sharing, with breakfast each morning and dinner on one evening of your choice.

Children can avail of the Buzz Club during their stay, with daily sports, treasure hunts and talent shows.

The dates for the prize are Thursday, November 1, and Friday, November 2, and to win, answer this simple question: What day of the week does Halloween fall on this year?

Send your answers (including name, address and contact number) by email, with the subject line, Halloween, to competition@gazettegroup. com, by Friday, October 19.

Max and Ruby Kelly helped launch the 2012 Virginia Pumpkin Festival. Inset, the spooky exterior of the Malton Hotel in Killarney.

be just the haunt.

From just €370, families can enjoy two nights’ B&B with one evening dinner for two adults and two children.

Guests will be greeted by wine and chocolates as well as a spooky Halloween gift for the children. Available from October 29 to November 2, email reservations@ fitzpatricks.com.

Scary Co Derry One of Europe’s greatest Halloween festivals, the Bank of the Foyle Halloween Carnival, is set to return to Co Derry once again this year, with five days of family fun leading up to the spectacular carnival parade and fireworks display on October 31.

With events organised for all ages, visitors can dress up in creepy costumes joining the throngs of witches,

warlocks, vampires and monsters haunting the streets.

W hy not take up Northern Ireland Tourists Board’s (NITB) special accommodation offer at the Everglades Hotel, Co. Derry with two nights’ B&B and one evening meal from just £95 (€118) per person sharing.

For more information or to book, visit www. discovernor thernireland.com or call 1850 230230.

King Cong Spending a night in bewitching surroundings is one theme that sells to both the children and their parents when it comes to taking a Halloween family break.

A “ghoulish getaway” package at Lisloughrey Lodge in Cong, Co Mayo will keep the little monsters entertained in

the Skeleton Club with scary movie evenings, Halloween games and ghost story telling, while the family can enjoy breakfast each morning, a delicious dining experience with the “Best Chef in Connacht” at W i l d e ’s R e s t a u r a n t before the Halloween Party pumpkin carving and old-style trick or treating.

Available from €390 for a family of two adults and two children, visit www.lisloughreylodge. com.

Sail from Ross-scare Off-shore, ghost ships make up the biggest part of seafaring lore and Stena Line have created the perfect package to create your own legend this Halloween.

The Halloween Family fun day cruise takes place on Wednesday, October 31, setting sail

across the Irish sea on a non-landing cruise from both Dublin Port and Rosslare.

Passengers can enjoy a scarily good day of Halloween balloon modelling, scary face painting, spooky treasure hunts and Halloween arts and crafts.

With a prize for the

best dressed, families can take their trick or treating on board from just €35 for one adult and one child, €60 for two adults and two children or €70 for two adults and three children.

Visit www.stenaline. ie/halloween to book your place.

Lighting up the Halloween night in Derry

24 BLANCH Gazette 11 October 2012

GazetteENTERTAINMENT

GoingOUT THE pavilioN THEATRE 01 231 2929 Brendan Grace

THE greatest family comedian of his generation proudly presents 40 years in the comedy business, Brendan’s new show features some brand new material and some old favourites from his vast repertoire over the last 40 years including all time favourite parodies Father of the Bride and Chinese Takeaway. As always it is advisable to secure your ticket early. Grace is playing two shows, October 19 and 20 and tickets are priced at €31.

mill theatre 01 296 9340 Sylvia’s Quest

THIS innovative promenade show uses cutting edge radio technology, which empowers you to listen to the sounds, voices and worlds which only Sylvia can usually see and hear on headphones, as you follow her through her labyrinth. Sylvia’s Quest invites you to take to Dundrum and follow Sylvia on her thrilling quest through the centre’s labyrinth. Sylvia shares her multiple worlds with you, her new friend, as she guides you through her labyrinth of secret streets and time portals. October 17-21 tickets priced at €10/€12.

CIVIC THEATRE 01 462 7477 Gay Byrne Live on Stage

THE Civic Theatre is proud to announce a rare opportunity to see Gay Byrne, one of the most loved television and radio personalities in history, for a live performance. In his five decade broadcasting career, Gay Byrne was “the man who changed Ireland”. From senior politicians to senior clergy to the brightest stars in the Hollywood firmament, he has been a confessor figure to the good, the bad and the ugly. Catch the legendary Gaybo on Wednesday, October 17 at 8pm, with tickets priced at €20.

draiocht 01 885 2622 One-Man Star Wars Trilogy

GROWING up on an isolated farm in Canada, young Charles Ross was starved for entertainment. His family owned just three VCR tapes, one of which was the first Star Wars. Ross watched the film more than 400 times, committing every line to memory. And what was once a childhood obsession has now become a career. The actor’s One-Man Star Wars Trilogy takes fans on a whirlwind adventure through a film franchise that has preoccupied the imaginations of so many children around the world. October 18 at 8pm, tickets €18/14.

Brad Pitt, looking less than Hollywood gorgeous, takes aim in Killing Them Softly

No soft sell for Pitt

Visceral, brutal and violent, there is plenty to like about this gangster film, with a return to form by Ray Liotta

 PAUL HOSFORD

AF TER a couple of weeks in the sun, an easygoing, light-hearted film was just what I was after to ease me back into the reviewer’s chair.

Un f o r t u n a t e l y f o r me, Brad Pitt has reteamed with the director of 2007’s criminally overlooked and underrated The Assassination of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford and the lure of that team was, quite honestly, too strong.

Assassination was, simply put, one of the finest films of the 21st century and director Andrew Dominik, who announced his arrival with 2000’s hilarious and violent Chopper, could very well become

Film of the Week: Killing Them Softly hhhh (18) 97 mins Director: Andrew Dominik Starring: Brad Pitt, Ray Liotta, Richard Jenkins, James Gandolfini, Scoot McNairy, Ben Mendehlson, Sam Shepard,

OUR VERDICT:

IT won’t please everyone, with some violent overtures, a television news narration of the wider world and nothing that is truly original on show. But, what Killing Me Softly does is recall 1970s film-making at its finest. Gritty, dirty and drained of colour, Dominik creates a world where no character occupies the moral high ground and all are merely shades of grey.

a very important part of the American film landscape (granted, he’s Australian).

Without wanting to anoint anyone, Dominik has the visual flair, the technical ability and the violent streak to position him as his generation’s successor to Martin Scorsese.

Heady praise, indeed, but with Killing Them Softly his third film, it is hard to ignore the fact that, forgive the cliche,

they just don’t make them like this anymore.

Dominik takes his own gangster script, set in the days of the handover from George W Bush to Barack Obama, and forgets the last 20 years of gangster films ever existed.

No Tarantino-esque fizz to the conversations, no pop culture references and no jumping around the timeline.

This is a film about

two men, Frankie and Russell (McNairy and Mendehlson, respectively), who are hired to rob a mob-protected card game run by local hood Markie Trattman (Ray Liotta, on excellent form).

Of course, it is Markie who has hired the hapless duo to rob his game, but nobody involved in the plan is as smart as they think they are.

That’s where Pitt and Gandolfini come in as outside enforcers for the various mobsters smarting at the loss of their money.

Of course, they are not just in tow n to s h a ke p o c ke t s a n d kindly request that the money be returned and, soon, Frankie and Russell are in a desperate situation, with no way

out in sight.

Although some elements of the film are slightly heavy-handed ( T h e Ve l ve t Un d e rground’s Heroin for when a character is on drugs feels a little too on the nose), the strong characters and often beguiling, almost honourable code that they live by are captivating.

This is where Pitt, who is surely the world’s finest actor over the last five years (Tree of Life, Benjamin Button, Jess James, Moneyball, Inglourious Basterds and Burn After Reading), steals the show.

His Jack Cogan navigates a messy world, but his job remains the same.

The lesson, seemingly is, things don’t always change.

11 October 2012 BLANCH GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING

Exclusive: We play Halo 4 (and talk to a key Chief)  SHANE DILLON

JUST a week ago or so, I dropped in to Microsoft’s HQ in Madrid – as you do – for an exclusive, handson playtest (see below) and look at the upcoming and exclusive XBox 360 title, Halo 4.

The latest in a longrunning series (of pure, classic space opera), a lone hero – Master Chief – must work with scant allies and over-stretched resources to deal with hostile alien threats.

Which he resolves with lots and lots of shiny space guns, as well as occasional forays into vehicle-based combat ...

In my role as the only Irish journalist invited to the Madrid showing, I was also able to bag a second exclusive – an interview with Frank O’Connor, a key figure in the long-running Halo franchise.

Indeed, as franchise development director for Halo 4 (and with his extensive Halo background), Frank is, basically, “Mr Halo”, making him the perfect person to talk to about the latest title in

the series, what will make Halo 4 appeal to all-new players and diehard fans alike, developing for the 360, and more ...

of creating. But, to be honest, this time we didn’t drop that many features, compared to the number that we were able to add.

Was it pretty hard to come up with new stuff for Halo 4, or was it just an iteration of concepts, rather than all-out revolution?

The first game basically created the template for how you create [this type of] videogame on this type of hardware, from “muscle memory” and control through to networking games and usergenerated content.

But, yes, we have to have evolution, too, so we had to have some really big things change, to make it exciting, creatively.

Do you think you have pushed the 360 to its limit with Halo 4?

No. This was our team’s first effort on Xbox, yet this is what we [could do]. You have to imagine that our next effort will be even better than this one!

We’re supporting the 360 for quite some time [to come] with new map packs, and other content that we’re still creating right now. The old girl’s got a lot of life left in her!

(Above) Halo’s hero, Master Chief, stands by, ready for the global launch of Halo 4 in November; (right)

Were there a lot of ideas that you had to drop through development?

When you’re building games, it’s a funny thing because some of the best ideas you have, the most ambitious ideas you have tend to get dropped.

We try to be realistic from the outset, and think about what we’re capable

Can you sum up Halo 4 in one thing?

I can’t! And the reason is that there are too many constituents to it. But, one thing is that Halo 4 is a fantastic piece of value.

Say, back in America, I go to the movies. By the time I pay for my parking, tickets, popcorn etc, I’m up in the $40 range – and if two people go … It can be an expensive night out, just for an hour and 45 minutes of entertainment!

Frank O’Connor, franchise development director for 343 Industries, Halo 4’s developer. Pictures: Shane Dillon

But Halo, for $60, will give me literally hundreds of hours of entertainment.

Do you think Halo will reach out to new audiences with its latest addition?

Halo will definitely bring in new audiences, this time; it’s been a fiveyear break since Halo 3.

A lot of people didn’t have a 360 five years ago, and will be looking for new experiences.

Our job is to make sure that the new audiences have a smooth “on-board” experience with Halo, but we also have to make sure that our 10-year Halo veterans are happy, too.

Will Halo 4 be accessible to everyone, or is it something more suited to long-term players?

A lot of people are intimidated by that Halo

So, after an extensive preview, what’s Halo 4 really like to play?

I PLAYED through several hours of a number of Halo 4’s modes; and had quite a blast! (Sorry!)

After playing through a couple of Single Player campaign missions, it’s just as you’d expect from Halo, but more so – a mixture of the old and the new, with an elaborate, unfolding plot that’s presented with noticeable polish, thanks to intricate graphics and audio – if you’ve time to notice such things, as the hectic

gameplay (with Halo’s famous AI to the fore) remains as engaging and challenging as ever.

The Co-op play (with fellow hacks) was also plenty of fun, with expansive locales and a number of strategic chokeholds mixing up gameplay challenges.

Finally, what many gamers still see as its strongest point – Halo’s Deathmatch games – were great, with a terrific must-try surprise giv-

ing a real kick to some of the levels.

In short, as an old Halo fan, 343 Industries definitely seem to have nailed the series at its best, with all of the above.

Thanks to its unique identity, its strong pedigree, and a clear vision of what Halo “is”, Halo 4 should shoot to the top of the charts upon its release. I’ll certainly be playing along ...

number – 4 – and ask: “Well, will I have to play 1, 2 and 3 [first]?”, but this is a new story, and quite complete.

If you ask me which game to start with, I would say to start with Halo 4.

Then, when you love that universe – and we hope you do – you can go back and try the other games [to flesh out the Halo universe some more].

And, with that, Frank had to go, though there were, of course, many other Halo and XBox topics that I could have asked him about. I guess they’ll just have to wait until Halo 5 or 6 …

Halo 4 is released exclusively for the XBox 360 on Tuesday, November 6 with a RRP of €69.99, or €89.99 for a limited edition.

GAZETTE

26 BLANCH GAZETTE 11 October 2012

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GazetteSPORT

11 October 2012 BLANCH gazette 27

glorious gaa: All the best stories as the championships reach fever pitch: Page 31

soccer: local clubs line up exciting ties in second round of intermediate cup

LSL’s top two face off as Merrion get Phoenix showdown

 sport@gazettegroup.com

THE second round of the FAI Intermediate Cup draw threw up some tasty fixtures, set to be played on the weekend of October 28.

LSL Sunday Senior high-flyers Mount Merrion have been handed a home draw against Phoenix should they be able to get past the challenge of Glebe North in the first round in what could be the pick of the

bunch.

Merrion have been transformed this season since their dalliance with relegation a year ago in the league, winning five of their first six ties before enduring a blip. Among their two losses was a 2-1 setback to Phoenix who have now nestled into second place in the division with an unbeaten start to the campaign.

Another Sunday Senior contender, Bluebell United, have also

picked up a home tie as they welcome Belgrove Home Farm to the Red Cow and eye another bid for the competition in which they have such a proud record.

Elsewhere, Wayside and Dublin Bus have unfinished first round business but, if they make it through, they face an away day at St Patrick’s CY who have yet to pick up a win in the league.

Verona are at Greystones while Broadford

Lucan United and Phoenix are once again hoping to push on in the FAI Intermediate Cup

Rovers have a huge task ahead of them as they face last year’s finalists Cherry Orchard.

The Cherries, runners-up to Avondale for the past two years, had an 8-2 win away to Skerries Town in the first round and must travel again in round two, this

time to Broadford who had a bye in the opening round.

After last year’s heroics in this competition, Lucan United may fancy an upset despite the two divisions that separate them and Greystones A F C . T h e W i c k l ow team have struggled in

the Senior 1 this term and lie in the relegation zone while the Airlie Heights men have risen from a slow start with three wins from four.

Lucan beat a number of higher division sides last season, earning a place in the FAI Senior Cup for their efforts,

notably bringing Phoenix to a replay after an epic tie at Scribblestown.

TEK United go to Kilnamanagh; Glenmore Dundrum meet Newbridge Town in St Tiernan’s while St Mochta’s take on Pegasus St James Athletic.

28 BLANCH Gazette 11 October 2012

GazetteSport FastSport

To Hell and Back: Huge turnout for annual adventure race over 1500 participants came through the

third annual “Hell and Back”, Ireland’s toughest 10k race at Kilruddery Estate last Sunday.

Barbed wire, electric shocks, ponds of peril, and Satan’s Pit were all obstacles on the man-made hell on earth covering 1,200 acres.

The event was run by Alive Outside, a full time professional sports events company in Patrick Street, Dun Laoghaire.

The next event on their schedule will take place on January 27, 2013, and will be the Ultimate Test of Winter Hell and Back.

hurling: new initiative offers €10,000 prize fund

Leixlip handballers Court’ success LEIXLIP’s handballers are ready for battle at the world handball championships after they received their brand new, specially designed gear at the Courtyard Hotel last week.

The Courtyard Hotel is the main sponsor of Leixlip Handball and, in handing over the new jersey to club captain Una Wrynn, the proprietor of the hotel, Luke Moriarty, said he was delighted to be sponsoring the side.

“Leixlip has a proud handball tradition,” said Sean O’Connor, chairman of the Leixlip Handball Worlds Committee, “and since I became involved with the club, a number of years ago I am aware that they have represented their club and community with distinction both at home and abroad, winning many All-Ireland and international competitions.

We are proud to sponsor them,” he said.

“We have 27 players competing in the world championships (14 juveniles and 13 adults) which take place in City West from October 11 to 21.

“We have been looking forward to this since the last championships in Portland, Oregon in the US three years ago. Our preparations have gone well and we are satisfied that this is the best-prepared team to represent Leixlip since the foundation of the club” said Sean.

“We are satisfied that a number of our players will reach the latter stages of the competition and we are quietly confident that, with a bit of luck, we might bring home a title or two.”

In paying tribute to the Courtyard and Luke Moriarty for their generous sponsorship, Seán also thanked Leixlip Town Council and all the other benefactors who have contributed so generously to the club’s fundraising campaign.

The event in Citywest sees some of the best handballers from around the world compete, including Dublin 15 native and multiple AllIreland champions Eoin Kennedy.

Galway’s Joe Canning and and Kilkenny’s Eoin Larkin with flight attendants Joanne Walsh, Natalie Morton, Jessica Reilly and Grainne Nagle

Etihad set to raise the bar  sport@gazettegroup.com

ETIHAD Air ways, sponsor of the GA A Hurling All Ireland Senior Championships, has launched a new competition for clubs across the country with the ultimate prize, a year’s sponsorship package with the Abu Dhabibased airline.

The winning club will receive €10,000 cash sponsorship fund; new branded playing and training kit; as wellas mentoring, coaching and social visits from key figures inside and outside hurling.

Among the other prizes on offer are Etihad Airways flights and All-Ireland hurling final tickets.

D ave Wa l s h , E t i had Airways’ Ireland country manager, said: “Sports clubs are always looking for sponsorship opportunities and we are delighted to launch the competition with this incredible prize.

We are looking for the club that wants to raise the bar and show us why they deserve to be the winner.”

Uachtaran Chumann Luthchleas Gael Liam Ó Néill urged hurling

clubs ever y where to engage with the initiative.

Engaging He said: “This is an excellent way of engaging with our sponsors Etihad Air ways and there is an attractive prize on offer for the lucky winning club.

“It’s innovative and exciting, and participation alone has the potential to stir interest and vibrancy in our clubs as they look at different ways of making them and what they do stand out from other clubs.”

Clubs enter the competition by submitting written and video entries that show how they “Raise The Bar” and why they deserve to win the sponsorship package.

Achievement comes in many forms, not just silverware. Etihad Airways wants to reward one special club, whether the focal point of their community, or managing to keep the club going against the odds or even growing their club in recent times.

Details can be found online at etihadgaa.ie.

T he winning club will be decided by a public vote and a panel of judges consisting of Nicky English, Des Cahill and Micheal O Muircheartaigh.

Etihad Airways has a rich history in innovative hurling competitions and “Raise The Bar” follows the hugely successful “Best Club Under the Sun” competition.

T his was won last year was won by Clarinbridge GAA Club in Co Galway and previously saw Lucan Sarsfields claim the prestigious title.

11 October 2012 BLANCH gazette 29

Paralympic road to Rio laid open

FastSport

Next Saturday, potential Paralympic medallists can make their first move toward pursuing their Young boxers take on sporting dreams, writes PETER CARROLL Newcastle’s finest THIS Saturday, fresh off the amazing success of London 2012, Paralympics Ireland will be on the hunt for the next generation of talent, with chief executive Liam Harbison claiming to be confident that “someone will walk through the door this weekend that will go on to be a medallist for Ireland at the Rio Games in 2016”.

The Paralympics Talent Search is a chance for all people interested in sport that have a disability or visual impairment to try their hand.

The event will need all interested parties to be in the UCD Sports Centre between 10.30 am and 3pm on Saturday, October 13.

Harbison claims that in light of the success of Team Ireland at the Paralympic Games, this talent search could be

a massive success with a lot of people becoming aware of Paralympic sport for the first time this year.

“For the first time the Paralympic Games got blanket coverage – everyone was exposed to it and I’m sure a lot of

many people that wanted to give these sports a try.

“What’s really fantastic is finding people that are already athletes and turning them toward a sport that they maybe wouldn’t have been aware of had they not

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‘Someone wilI walk through the door this weekend that will go on to be a medallist for Ireland at the Rio Games in 2016’ - Liam Harbison

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people will want to get involved with it now that have physical disabilities or visual impairments.

“We ran a similar project in 2009, on a far smaller scale, and we expected about 50 people to turn out on the day. It turned out to be 400. There were just so

come out to the open day.

“I can remember we had a lot of amputees showing up on the day who had been playing soccer, but there is no amputee soccer in the Paralympics so we put them on to different sports and they went

Liam Harbison, far left, with Paralympic medallists and ones for the future

on to really enjoy them, something that wouldn’t have happened if they hadn’t shown up that day,” said Harbison.

Although many people dream of representing Ireland at the Paralympic Games, Harbison underlined that the point of the talent search is not strictly to find some new members for Team Ireland, but rather to get disabled people involved in sports and to find them something they can enjoy doing.

“The primary goal of The Paralympic Talent Search is to get people who have disabilities and visual impairments active and get them involved in sport in general.

“From there the enjoyment factor comes into it and then there is always the goal to gain a mastery of the skill involved in the activity and that’s where our Paralympians generally come from.

“The process of getting to the Paralympic Games is a huge one.

“It takes a lot of effort from coaches and the athletes but there have been some cases where people have done great things very quickly and that’s an amazing thing to see,” said Harbison.

With a talent search on a much lesser scale in 2009, Harbison witnessed himself how much a life can be changed by simply try-

ing to get involved in sport.

“I remember a woman coming into us and she seemed completely debilitated and she wanted to try out one of the cycling sports.

“She had been waiting quite a while and one of the coaches suggested that she should try one of the rowing machines while she was waiting so she gave it a go.

“T hat woman was Anne Marie McDaid and she went on to represent Team Ireland this year at the Paralympic Games.

“It completely changed her and the quality of life she enjoys now is amazing.

“Similarly with Mark Rohan, he crashed his motorcycle and suffered terrible injuries and started off his Paralympic journey playing wheelchair rugby.

He just decided to give hand cycling a try and now he’s a double Paralympic champion,” said Harbison.

The event includes exhibition areas for Paralympic Sports, opportunities to take part, expert advice on what sports suit your disability type, demonstrations of elite Paralympic team sports including wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and cerebral palsy football and presentations by some of Ireland’s Paralympic heroes including Michael McKillop.

MONKSTOWN’S Cameron Fox and Eoin Larkin, Whitechurch’s Sean Mari and Mulhuddart’s Killian McDaid were all part of a Dublin schoolboy’s boxing team (aged from 11 to 14) that travelled over to Newcastle recently.

They went there to box against the Tyne, Tees and Wearside regional schoolboys champions, many of who were ABA Champions – the equivalent of an All-Ireland champion.

The boxing took place in the newly built Gateshead Academy of Sport and, after 15 bouts, the Dublin schoolboys came away with an 8-7 win, quite an achievement against one of England’s most successful regions.

Mari (27kg) and Larkin (31kg) got the side off to a fine start when they saw off Spennymoor’s Charlie Eddy and Kieran Lindsay, respectively.

Cameron Fox boxed well but was undone

by Newbiggin’s Rhys Harrison while McDaid also found Wellington’s Morgan Guest a formidable opponent at 44kg level.

But the event proved a high quality exercise for all concerned with Ed Griffin (Esker ABC) and JP Kinsella (Monkstown BC) among the backroom team helping the side progress.

Dublin 15 hosts All-Ireland WESTMANSTOWN GC will play host to the Míele All-Ireland Ladies Fourball Championship 2012 national finals next weekend with 32 lady golfers teeing off with high hopes of claiming a national green pennant for their club.

T he competition continues to grow from strength to strength and this

year ’s tournament which teed off mid May, saw a record number of 235 clubs involved and over 2,200 woman golfers from across the North, East, South and West taking part.

T his tournament provides lady golfers across the country the opportunity to win an All-Ireland national pennant in a fourball matchplay format.

Eastern Region winners Dublin City, having defeated Lucan, last year’s winners,

30

blanch gazette 11 October 2012

GazetteSport FastSport

football: castleknock super side produce big win

Judgement day this weekend for Kennedy THIS weekend is likely to be a massive one for British Supersport ace, Jack Kennedy, as the Clonsilla man looks to land the championship gold around one of his most prolific tracks, Brand’s Hatch.

The 24-year-old Blanchardstown native trails in the standings by 12.5 points to veteran Glen Richards at the moment, but with 25 points going to the victor of both scheduled meetings over the weekend, it’s still all to play for.

Kennedy started off this season with a victory on the Sunday meeting at Brand’s Hatch, riding on a new Martrain Yamaha, the same bike he had finished the last race of the previous series in the colours of team Appleyard.

From the start of the campaign, the young Dubliner looked a new man, reinvigorated on his new bike, and he continued his good form into round two of the series, taking fourth in the Saturday race and second in the feature race the following day.

Then taking a lead with half of a point at the top of the championship, Kennedy went on to take the first win at Oulton Park where Glen Richards took the feature race, creating tension at the top of the table between the two.

It was the youngster that taught the old dog Richards (39) some new tricks at the Snetterton 300, where he took first place on both races to give him some space at the top of the table.

Taking a win each around Brand’s Hatch, it was Richards who claimed the maximum in the feature race at Caldwell Park as Kennedy slipped behind his rival for the first time by 9.5 points.

He went back on top of the table with a second and first place over the weekend at Donington Park, and that was followed by a back to front demolition by Kennedy when he started at 31st to finish first at the first race at Assen.

With only a 4.5 lead in the championship he did the unthinkable and crashed out, destroying his Martrain Yamaha on the first race day of Silverstone, before taking fourth place in the second race on a completely new bike.

However, with a lot of riders finding their pace at Silverstone, this could be a lot more than Richards vs Kennedy come Saturday and with the Dub setting some fantastic times, he will hope to be as electrifying as ever.

Barry Linnane heads home one of Castleknock Celtic’s goals in a 2-1 win over St Patrick’s Athletic in the DDSL 18 Super League in Porterstown.

Celtic’s U-18s keep on winning

 sport@gazettegroup.com

Castleknock Under18 DDSL Super side continued their 100% start to the season with a narrow 2-1 win over visiting St Patrick’s Athletic.

Celtic were delighted to maintain their unbeaten run after defeating Dundalk and St Kevin’s Boys in their previous league games.

The home side found it difficult to find their rhythm, and they went 1-0 behind early in the second half. This is, however, a very experienced Celtic side and they continued to compete for every ball. With 15 minutes remaining, there was an exchange of passes

in the St Pat’s box, and Barry Linnane seized on a cross from Aaron O’Brien and it was 1-1.

Minutes later, it was Aaron O’Brien who poked home his effort following a pass from Pat Majeski which put Celtic ahead.

St Pat’s were stunned as they had appeared to have gone 2-0 ahead not long before the equaliser, when a scintillating run on their left was finished off superbly, only to be ruled offside. Celtic manager Brian Kennedy was delighted to get the points, especially when his team had played below their high standards.

Celtic’s Under-8s put

Chasing success: New Ongar seeking to grow quickly the recently formed Ongar Chasers are looking for new members either to play, coach or volunteer for Dublin 15’s newest, youth focused club.

Currently, the club are running two boys teams to compete in the DMBB U-15 and U-17 leagues and are keen to start other age group teams as well a couple of two girls’ teams.

If you are interested in helping out, contact secretary@OngarChases.com.

in a goal-scoring exhibition in Porterstown when they put eight past Willows FC, with Cillian Mooney hitting four of the total, in a match that ended 8-5.

The Under-9 red team were also victorious when they were 7-2 winners over Rivermeade FC, and Cillian Hegarty hitting a hat-trick.

The U-9 black team also celebrated with a hattrick hero, Neil Kirtane, helping his side to a 4-1 win over Grangewoodbine in Porterstown.

After their defeat the previous week, Celtic’s Under-11s got back in the groove with a 4-1 win over local rivals, Phoenix FC, with goals from

Matthew Elliott (two), Mark Hughes and Conor Aughney.

Verona and Celtic had shared the points recently, but it was the Celts who emerged victorious in this Hillary Cup match when they put four past their local rivals, with goals from the Lynch twins, Robert and Arran, and one each for Adam Kelly and Dylan Mulhearn.

Celtic’s Under-12A team were in Cup action against Raheny Utd, and it proved a close affair, with Celtic edging it 2-1 with a Brian Dalton strike and an own goal.

The Under-14A team also took on local rivals Phoenix FC in Ashtown

in the first round of the Harmon Cup. It was the Celts who emerged 4-1 victors hitting four past the hosts. Cormac Downdes is enjoying his first season since his promotion from the Celtic B team, and he hit a hattrick, which with Dave Tumana’s strike gave Celtic a comfortable margin and a place in the second round Draw.

Celtic’s U-4B team were also in successful Cup mode when they defeated Palmerstown Rangers 4-2 in the Hollywood Cup in Porterstown. On the mark for Celtic were Andrew Murphy, Kevin Udhin, Tameen Chaal, and Padraig Collins.

11 October 2012 blanch Gazette 31

hurling: erin go bragh’s final mission

Club Noticeboard st brigid’s WELL done to our senior footballers

from 7 to 9pm in the club hall. The cost

on their last 16 championship win over

is €3 per week and everyone is wel-

Thomas Davis. They now face St Pat’s,

come.

Palmerstown or TSS on Saturday at 3.15pm in O’Toole Park.

Some juvenile weekend results: wins

A new GAA Show featuring a weekly Brigid’s round-up every Monday evening is on Phoenix FM at 7.30pm.

for our U-11 and 12 footballers, U-14A

The club lotto is €11,800 this week

and B hurlers, U-13 A hurlers won,

and takes place in the Roselawn Inn

U-13B hurlers drew and U-16 hurlers

this Thursday.

won in their championships.

The minor A footballers begin their

Several important fundraising

championship campaign against

events coming up: October 12 – girls’

Castleknock in Russell Park, Sunday

Feile 2013 disco; November 9 - wine

at 11am while the U-15 footballers are

quiz night and November 19 - Race

in championship semi-final action on

Night.

Sunday.

St Brigid’s Spleodar Irish club for teenagers continues on Thursdays

See website for more of this week’s fixtures.

WESTMANSTOWN/GARDA Erin Go Bragh’s junior hurlers are gearing up for one of the biggest games in the club’s history

Dalton brings new zeal to Littlepace  sport@gazettegroup.com

KARL Scanlon, corner back stalwart for Erin Go Bragh, is looking forward to the biggest day in his hurling side’s history when they meet St Mark’s this weekend at O’Toole Park to decide the junior E hurling championship.

The corner back has been playing for the Littlepace club since 2007, and after a long time of playing and suffering some big defeats, the Kildare man believes the side have finally found their feet under the guidance of ex-St Vincent’s and former Dublin minor Gareth Dalton along with the assistance of Karl Johnson.

“Everything has just grown so much this season. I can remember days when we would show up and barely have the 15 lads to play the game. Gareth has come in and completely refocused us now and we

have the squad to compete in the league and in the championship,” said Scanlon.

Dalton, came into the squad at the start of this season and acknowledged that a lot of the players came into the game quite late in their lives.

However, after seeing potential in the side, he used his experience and managed to negotiate the men through Good Counsel and the hurling stronghold of Castleknock to reach the final and believes the players are finally getting their just desserts for their efforts for the club. “ T h e s e l a d s we r e showing up on cold, wet November mornings and they suffered some big losses. It is through their own self belief and self determination that they got here, all I had to do was guide them in the right direction and this final is what they deserve,” said Dalton.

Scanlon highlighted

that when he looked at the championship fixtures this year, he picked out St Mark’s and Commercials as the sides that could be the most difficult.

However, now that the Littlepace men are in the final, he believes they’re more than capable of taking the win on the day.

“St Mark’s are a really strong side, and they did well to put Commercials out in the semis, but we had our own battles too with Good Counsel and Castleknock and we are very comfortable with the underdog tag,” said Scanlon.

This notion is reflected in Dalton’s attitude to the final: “It’s 15 versus 15 out there. We can only go out and play to our full potential, so we shouldn’t worry about what club or player we are up against – for 60 minutes it shouldn’t mean anything.

“You’re only as good as your last match and anything can happen in a final, the lads are more than capable of taking the win,” he finished.

If you are interested in playing for Erin Go Bragh, contact Gareth Dalton on 087 699 5134 or gazsandalton@yahoo. com

THE season is drawing to a close with

ticipating in the All-Ireland intermediate

most playing schedules coming to an

sevens at Naomh Mearnog. Well done

end. The intermediates had a good

to all who took part. A date for your

win over Garristown in their league

diary, please note Saturday, December

fixture at Westmanstown, winning 1-13

8 is the annual awards night.

to 0-13.

The busy football weekend saw the

Their final league fixture is away to

U-8s lose out to St Jude’s at home. The

Crumlin at Pearse Park next Saturday,

U-9s lost to Clann na Gaels away but

October 13 at 4.45pm. The junior 2s won

the U-10s continued their winning ways,

their final league fixture away to White-

beating Ballyboden St Enda’s.

hall Colmcilles coming out on top by two points.

The ladies finished their season par-

The U-12s played Foxrock away to complete their final competitive game of the season.

erin go bragh HURLING championship final this Sun-

be held in the Carlton Hotel in Tyrell-

day, October 14 – our junior hurlers are

stown on Saturday, November 24 2012.

playing St Marks at 10.30am in O’Toole

Places are limited. Tickets cost €55 each

Park. Please support the boys in green

Deposits of €20 must be paid this week.

and well done to all involved.

This Saturday we are holding a coffee

More info to follow on Facebook and

morning in aid of St Francis hospice. It

twitter. Well done to the junior football-

will run from 10-1pm and will be held in

ers who had a good win against Fingal-

the clubhouse.

lians last Sunday.

Don’t forget each Monday to tune into

We are looking for adult football-

Phoenix FM to listen to The Throw In

ers and hurlers for the 2013 season.

focusing on GAA in Dublin 15, Mondays

Contact, for hurling, Gareth Dalton

at 7.30pm on 92.5FM.

(gazsandalton@yahoo.ie) and, for football, Cecil on 086 259 7789.

The Erin Go Brágh Dinner Dance will

The club lotto winning numbers were 4, 12, 16 and 19. There was no jackpot winner. This Friday’s jackpot is €7,300.

tyrrelstown OUR U-7 team played against Castle-

details.

knock in their first ever match on

Training times for juvenile age groups

Saturday. Great day for our club and

are as follows: nursery – Wednesday,

a fun day was had by all.

6-7pm, and Saturday 10-11am at the

Club lotto numbers this week were:

Tyrrelstown Community Centre. The

3, 10, 13 and 29. There were no winner.

U-7 and U-8s – Wednesday, 6-7pm,

Lotto tickets can be bought from club

at the Belgree pitch. U-9 – Tuesday,

executive and at training. The race

6-7pm, at the Belgree pitch. U-11 –

night fundraiser is October 27 in Jack

7-8pm, Wednesday at the Belgree

O Neill’s. See website and Facebook for

Pitch.

Follow GazetteSport on

Facebook and Twitter and online at www.gazettegroup.com

all of your blanchardstown sports coverage from page 27-31

october 11, 2012

championship matters: Dublin GAA season builds success set to lay pathway for Rio glory P29 to a crescendo P31

Paralympic dreams: London

Thrill of world championship coming to Dublin rubs off on St Brigid’s ahead of international showcase of handball  blanchardstownsport@gazettegroup.com

St Brigid’s are excited to be one of the hosts of the 2012 Handball World Championships, with their legendary competitor, Eoin Kennedy, set for action in a bid to win his third doubles championship.

With City West being the main venue for the tournament, Kennedy believes it’s a huge honour for Brigid’s to be one of the co-hosts having seen the volume and size of the tournament himself on his visits to Canada and the United States.

“Having made the trip to Edmonton and Oregon in the past, I’ve seen how massive the scale of the competition is, bringing people together from all over the world. It will be unique in Ireland to have so many games played under one roof, because our tournaments are usually played across a number of venues,” said the handball legend.

“It’s huge for the club. There’s going to be 200

people there, and that’s why they’ve had to get some club courts involved. The amount of people there will be amazing and everyone is really looking forward to it around the club.

Having played across the world, Kennedy notes how some people might spot differences in the way some of the athletes from different countries hit the ball, but underlines that a lot of the styles have been integrated into the same stroke after years of competition.

“You might see the Americans stroke the ball with a side-arm effort, similar to something you would see in baseball. Whereas the Irish have traditionally used an underarm technique but they have integrated a lot over the years with international competition,” said Kennedy.

Kennedy, who has already amassed an amazing trophy collection, will play for the first time with Meath’s Tom Sheridan when he sets his eyes on a third doubles title, and the current champion seems very excited about the prospect.

GazetteSPORT

Kennedy set for Worlds in CityWest St Brigid’s Eoin Kennedy is eyeing the possibility of a third world title at the upcoming world championships at CityWest

“I’ve been training with Tom over the last few weeks and the preparation is going very well even though we have only recently started playing together.

Brigid’s will be well represented on the day and Kennedy believes the club will be very proud after the hard work the team have put in.

“We’ve got two very skilful lads in Tom Mulvey and Donal Timoney plaing in the men’s singles, they’re two very stylish players I look forward to seeing. John Westlake and Darren Flynn have put in a great effort getting ready for the doubles, as have Noel Mulryan and Conor Devine, another great team.

“The girls – Maria McCarthy, Audrey McCormack and Sabrina Hughes – could cause a few upsets. They’re very driven competitors.

“Enda Timoney is a very crafty player and my dad, Eugene Kennedy, has always been a brilliant player and he has a great history of top performances in competition,” he finished.