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Gazette BLANCH

September 1 -7, 2016

Brigid’s face off with Foxrock for ladies senior football title

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CINEMA Texas-set Western is terrific 24

‘Please help my Lucy to live a more normal life’  IAN BEGLEY

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

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A FUNDRAISING campaign has been launched to buy a specially adapted bike for an eight-year-old girl with a life-threatening genetic disorder.

Lucy and her mother Noeleen

Lucy Eccles from Corduff was born with an extremely rare condition called Coffin-Siris Syndrome, which affects all aspects of her life – intellectually and physically.

Her mother Noeleen

believes that a specially adapted bike would greatly benefit her daughter as it would help with her muscle strength and stamina and also give her some independence.

The more mobile Lucy is

the less likely she is to suffer from the repeated serious chest infections common with Coffin-Siris Syndrome.

However, specially adapted bikes are very expensive and cost as much as €2,000.

Full Story on Page 5

2 BLANCH GAZETTE 1 September 2016

SURVEY | HUGE POPULATION A PLUS

Blanch has pulling power for business  IAN BEGLEY

BLANCHARDSTOWN is becoming Ireland’s most attractive business hub as companies and organisations are now relocating to the area, according to a recent survey.

Recruitment agency Osborne, who conduct-

ed the survey, showed that most businesses that relocate are deciding to come here rather than anywhere else in Dublin and Ireland.

According to the results, Osborne believe this could be down to the companies having access to the huge population in the D15 area.

“Along with a wide range of facilities, there is a lot office space available to choose, easy access to the airport and M50, great area for commuter workers coming from M e a t h a n d i t s s u rrounding areas who don’t want to travel to the city centre each day.

FASTNews

Local GAA fan Sean Clarke

Sean’s on the ball to raise funds for good causes LOCAL GAA fan Sean Clarke, who caught the winning football at the All-Ireland semi-final match at Croke Park, is calling on each member of the Dublin team to sign the ball so he can raffle it off for charity.

Clarke (25) told The Gazette that the Irish Kidney Association is particularly close to his family as his younger brother Niall is currently on the waiting list to receive a kidney.

He was also very touched by the recent death of Ben ‘Batman’ Farrell and intends to donate some of the money he receives for the football to his family.

“After I get the football signed I plan on selling raffle tickets around the area. I will then ask some of the local pubs if they would mind hosting a night where I can draw the winning ticket and possibly some other donated prizes like a signed Dublin jersey.”

For more information, contact Sean on 085-2409406.

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1 September 2016 BLANCH GAZETTE 3

PEOPLE | CURVACEOUS CLONDALKIN SINGLE MUM WINS

The thighs and lows of learning to accept your body  SYLVIA POWNALL A SINGLE mum who struggled with body confidence has won a lingerie modelling competition in the UK. Seana Sweeney, 31, told of her delight after she beat 2,000 other entrants and secured a recordbreaking online ballot of more than 9,000 votes to

“I didn’t expect to get very far, and I definitely didn’t expect to win.”

The bubbly beauty believes her family definitely had a hand in her newfound success and huge online vote – and even her granny got in on the action.

She said: “My friends and my family were amazing. They were sharing my

a size 6 or 8.

“I had big everything – big freckles, big lips, big bum, big hips.

“A n d I hated all of it. I remember walking down the street,

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‘It’s something that’s important to me – women should feel comfortable in their skin, and love their bodies, no matter what size or shape they are’

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Seanaa Sweeney, Curvy Kate’s Star In A Bra 2016

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be named Curvy Kate’s Star In A Bra 2016.

The size 14 receptionist, who lives in Foxdene in Clondalkin, is the first mother to win the title, and she wants to spread the message that we should love our bodies.

Seana told The Gazette: “I couldn’t believe it when I won. I nearly died of shock! I buy their underwear all the time, and when I saw there was no size requirement to enter I thought, ‘To hell with it’.

entry everywhere; it was all over Facebook.

“My Granny was even going around the local shops asking people to vote for me and stuff!”

Curvy Seana, mum to eight-year-old Drew, suffered her fair share of insecurities as a teenager.

She said: “I absolutely hated my body growing up. I was always bigger and more awkward than my friends, who were all gorgeous and petite.

“Back then, I would have given anything to be

aged 14, in my new cream Levi jeans. I thought I looked great, until some guy shouted ‘Thunder thighs’.

“I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. But when I became pregnant, I began to appreciate how amazing my body was.

“I’ve come through the other side of accepting myself now, and being genuinely happy in my own skin.

CURVE YOUR ENTHUSIASM: Above and left: Seana in official shots for Curvy Kate’s Star In A Bra 2016 campaign; Right: It’s hard not to swoon over voluptuous Ms Sweeney

“It’s somet h i n g t h a t ’ s important to me – women should feel comfortable in their skin, and love their bodies, no matter what size or shape they are.”

Curv y Kate specialises in lingerie for b i g g e r- b u s t e d women, with an ‘open to all’ poli-

cy, and Seana – a 32FF – is delighted to be the face of the brand for the next 12 months.

She said: “I have a photoshoot with them for their catalogue in October, and I’ll feature in their online campaigns and adverts.

“I also won a one-year contract with Bridge Models, who specialise in plus-size models, so I’m very excited about that.

I’m delighted to break the UK [market]!”

Seana also wins an allexpenses paid trip to London and a year’s supply of Curvy Kate lingerie.

LINGERIE CONTEST

4 BLANCH GAZETTE 1 September 2016

COURTS | SUB MACHINE GUN AND AMMUNITION RECOVERED FROM APARTMENT PROJECT

Tanning salon operator is granted bail after €300k cocaine seizure A TANNING salon operator from Castleknock has been granted bail after he was charged over a seizure of cocaine at a north Dublin apartment.

Gardai from the drugs and organised crime bureau including the serious crime task force supported by local units carried out a search of an apartment at Auburn Park in Castleknock on Monday.

A sub machine gun and ammunition were recovered and a quantity of cocaine worth more than €300,000.

David Tennyson, 37, with an address at Carrigallen Drive in Finglas, was arrested at his home

on Monday and was then detained at Blanchardstown Garda Station under the provisions of Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act. He was charged and brought to appear before Judge Grainne O’Neill at Dublin District Court on Thursday morning.

He faces two charges under the Misuse of Drugs Act for unlawfully possessing cocaine at the apartment at Auburn Park in Castleknock and having it for the purpose of sale or supply.

However, Det Garda William Armstrong told Judge Grainne O’Neill that there was a possibility of another serious charge

being brought.

He said Mr Tennyson replied “no comment” when the two charges were put to him.

Det Garda Armstrong objected to bail citing the seriousness of the charges.

He said the value of the cocaine was in excess of €300,000 and he also said there was a possibility of a “further serious charge”.

Det Garda Armstrong agreed with defence solicitor Richard Young

that Mr Tennyson had no prior criminal convictions and gardai were satisfied that he lived at his given address.

Mr Young said his client would abide by bail conditions and his wife would offer to act as an independent surety.

The defence solicitor also asked the court to note there was no evidence that he was a flight risk or would interfere with witnesses.

He said Mr Tennyson

was arrested at his home and had been aware gardai wanted to speak with him.

Judge O’Neill said the allegations are serious but he is entitled to the presumption of innocence.

She granted bail in Mr Tennyson’s own bond of €5,000 along with an independent surety of €5,000.

The court ordered him to reside at his current address, have a phone on

which he can be contacted by gardai at all times and to sign on daily at his local garda station.

He has already surrendered his passport and the judge agreed to Det Garda’s Armstrong request to impose an other condition that he would not apply for new travel documents or leave the jurisdiction.

Mr Tennyson spoke briefly saying “I understand” after the judge read out his bail terms.

First steps for this 60kg baby MEET ... well, in fact, this latest addition to Dublin Zoo doesn’t have a name just yet, but the children of Ireland are invited to help come up with a suitable name for this southern white rhinoceros calf. Weighing in at about 60kg, he has joined the rest of the herd – Sam, Reni, Chaka, Zanta, Nyala, and his mother, Ashanti - at the African Savanna, where plenty of cooling mud (courtesy of the Irish summer) helped him to mark out some messy first steps in front of delighted zoo visitors.

The calf’s arrival marks the latest addition for the zoo, which is enjoying a boom in visitor numbers following extensive upgrades and the addition of diverse enclosures. Children are invited to suggest a name for the calf, based on his African origin, via www.DublinZoo.ie. Picture: Patrick Bolger

Plan for over 200 homes moves forward

A MULTI-MILLION plan to develop more than 200 homes in Dublin West has been advanced in a scheme backed by the Bank of Ireland.

The proposed development by Garlandbrook will include 219 homes, which will be part of the Hansfield Strategic Development Zone, south of the Ongar Road.

Development Company director Liam McGreal was also given permission by Fingal County Council at the start of 2016 for another development of 206 homes within the same zone.

This includes a mix of three and four-bedroom homes, as well as 36 apartments and are expected to go on sale this autumn.

T h e d e ve l o p m e n t that Garlandbrook is seeking permission for includes eight apartments, with the remainder comprising primarily of three and four-bedroom semi-detached and terraced houses.

In 2003, a draft scheme was approved by the council for the construction of between 1,700 and 1,900 houses in the area, which includes just over 80 hectares south-west of Blanchardstown.

A new train station had also opened at Hansfied last year, while other amenities including a primar y school and secondary school, have also been opened.

Minister for Housing Simon Coveney said recently that new houses costing about €250,000 would become available in the capital due to Government initiatives.

1 September 2016 BLANCH GAZETTE 5

FUNDRAISING | ‘IT WOULD NORMALISE LIFE SO MUCH FOR HER AND MAKE HER SO HAPPY’

Campaigning to get bike for Lucy  IAN BEGLEY A FUNDRAISING campaign has been launched to buy a specially adapted bike for an eight-year-old girl with a lifethreatening genetic disorder.

Lucy Eccles, from Corduff, was born with an extremely rare condition called CoffinSiris Syndrome, which affects all aspects of her life – intellectually and physically.

Her mother Noeleen believes that a specially adapted bike would greatly benefit Lucy as it would help with her muscle strength and stamina and also give her some independence.

The more mobile Lucy is the less likely she is to suffer from the repeated serious chest infections common with Coffin-Siris Syndrome.

However, specially adapted bikes are very expensive and cost as much as €2,000.

Noeleen told The Gazette

this week that her daughter is a very positive little girl despite her condition and has progressed a lot through her involvement in St Patrick’s Brownies, Corduff.

She said: “We’ve had many worries throughout the years, but Lucy keeps smiling and is very brave at whatever she comes up against.

“At the moment we have between a buggy and a wheelchair for Lucy which isn’t very ideal if she wants to get around independently.

“I became aware of these specially adapted bikes during an outing one day with the Brownies, who decided to go to the playground.

“The walk itself was very difficult for me as I didn’t bring the buggy, but once we got there I noticed that another child was flying around the playground on a specially adapted bike designed for her, and I thought, wouldn’t it be

Lucy and her mother Noeleen

great to get something like that for Lucy.

“I didn’t think any more about it, but about a month later the Brownie leader asked

me to meet up with her and told me that they would love to try and fundraise for a bike for my daughter.

“Basically, the bike we want

is designed in such a way that’s its suited to the child’s individual abilities. It’s much easier to peddle than a normal bike, but Lucy will still get the exercise and back support she needs.

“With her condition, breathing problems like pneumonia are very common so the more active she is the better.

“She just wants to be like anyone else and I think the bike would be brilliant for her confidence.

“The bike itself is about 1,800 euros, but there are other add-ons she would need like a parent handle along with backprotection padding.

“It would normalise life so much for her and it would make her so happy and fit in with other children her age.

The brownies are brilliant and they want to help out so much.”

The parents, leaders and friends of St Patrick’s Brownie Guides, Corduff are hold-

ing a bag pack for Lucy on Saturday, September 10 in Dunnes Stores, Blanchardstown Centre.

All offers of help to bag pack will be greatly appreciated, but donations would also be greatly appreciated.

Contact Mar y on 086 1260748 or Noeleen on 087 9249983 for more information.

Lucy with her trophy when she won Brownie of the week

6 BLANCH GAZETTE 1 September 2016

GazetteGALLERY

| ENJOYING A FAMILY FUN DAY OUT AT CONNOLLY HOSPITAL

A big dinosaur roar from Alia Cooper with Wesley Cooper and Ruth O’Rourke

A healthy dose of enjoyment

Jim, Paddy, Denis and Don Doran. Pictures: STEPHEN FLEMING

T

HE sun was shining for a family fun day for residents, relatives and staff of Connolly Hospital last weekend. There was plenty of activities to enjoy, including music, a visit by the Civil Defence and the gardai.

Moshood, Bimbo, Mysha and Fayisat Afolabi

Abbey and Adam Kelly

Poppy-Grace Kearns, Martin and Josie Doyle

Jamie Thormley

Jamie Murphy with Barbara O’Neill and Christy Dunne

1 September 2016 BLANCH GAZETTE 7

Need a loan for college?

At Blanchardstown & District Credit Union Ltd we have an excellent rate of 5.64% APR with flexible payments to suit your needs Amount borrowed €3,000.00 5.50% Variable rate APR 5.64% 60 months Repayment period Repayment amount €57.31 Total interest €438.04 €3,438.04 Total repayments

Amount borrowed €5,000.00 5.50% Variable rate APR 5.64% 60 months Repayment period Repayment amount €95.51 Total interest €730.13 €5,730.13 Total repayments

Loans are subject to terms and conditions, Subject to loans approved and drawn down between 1st Sept- 31st Oct

Contact the loans team on

01-8203495 email Loans@blanchardstowncu.ie or apply online today

Blanchardstown & District Credit Union Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

8 BLANCH GAZETTE 1 September 2016

‘FAST NEWS | CEREAL SHOP

DUNBOYNE

It’s a snap, crackle...  IAN BEGLEY

A NEW and unique pop-up cereal shop has opened up at Blanchardstow n Shopping Centre with many breakfast lovers reeling at its launch.

Similar to the iconic and also controversial cereal cafe in London, which was set up by Belfast Twins Alan and Gary Keery, the Nestle Breakfast Cereal’s Aisle of Wonder was launched by Xpose presenter Cassie Stokes.

Mixing up breakfast time with a unique popup cereal experience,

visitors of the Aisle of Wonder will be able to start the day with their own pick and mix combination of their favourite Nestle breakfast cereals including family favourities, Cheerios, Shreddies and Shredded Wheat.

Individual Visitors of the Aisle of Wonder have the opportunity to create and enjoy their very own individual cereal creation by adding a variety of cereal choices, toppings, milk and yoghurt available at this unique pop-up cereal experience.

Man dies folowing road crash

A tribute to brave Batman Ben FRESH after Sunday’s AllIreland semi-final victory for Dublin over Kerry, Philly Mc Mahon paid tribute to Ben Farrell aka Batman Ben who died recently after losing his battle with cancer. The

little batman was watching over us he wrote on his Twitter page. Ben was a huge Dubs fan and would surely have been very proud of the boys in blue after their fantastic victory.

A 91-year-man has died following a road crash in Dunboyne.

The man was seriously injured when his car collided with a lorry at Pace at around 1pm on August 28.

H e w a s t a ke n t o Connolly Hospit a l B l a n c h a r d s t ow n where he was later pronounced dead.

The lorry driver was treated for minor injuries.

The road was closed for a technical examination but has since reopened.

Gardai have appealed to anyone who witnessed the collision to contact Ashbourne Garda Station on 01-8010600, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666111 or any garda station.

1 September 2016 BLANCH GAZETTE 9

10 GAZETTE 1 September 2016

GazetteGALLERY

| PHOENIX PARK WELCOMES THOUSANDS FOR GREAT

Cathy O’Connor

People take part in the Breast Cancer Ireland Great Pink Run with Avonmore Slimline Milk in the Phoenix Park Dublin. Pictures: Leon Farrell/ Photocall Ireland

Pretty fast in pink!

Woman’s best friend: Ralph, a two-year-old Pugg, stands beside his owner Sarah Delaney

Janet Canoy and Anna Mae Pareja

Sibonisiwe Ndzukuma

1 September 2016 GAZETTE 11

PINK RUN 2016 TO RAISE FUNDS FOR CHARITY BREAST CANCER IRELAND

Lottie Ryan and her mother Morah

Stopping for a selfie

Tickled pink to support charity O

LYMPIC silver medallist Sonia O’Sullivan and Irish rugby legend Shane Byrne were among over 6,000 women, men and children to cross the finish line for the sixth year of Breast Cancer Ireland’s Great Pink Run in the Phoenix Park.

The event aims to raise funds for the charity Breast Cancer Ireland which works on research and awareness programmes. Each year, two-and-half thousand women are diagnosed with breast cancer in Ireland, while 1 in 9 women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime.

Former world champion and Olympian Sonia O’Sullivan, 2FM star Lottie Ryan and Irish rugby legend Shane Byrne

GAZETTE

12 GAZETTE 1 September 2016

DUBLINBUSINESS

Zevas expansion to create 40 jobs ZEVAS Communications, a leading provider of outsourced customer contact services, has announced the creation of 40 new jobs at its Cork and Dublin offices.

T he jobs come on the back of sustained growth and expansion at Zevas, an Irish company that’s grown rapidly to become a leading player in outsourced customer service.

Founded in 2001, Zevas has Irish offices in Cork and Dublin, with satellite branches in Hamburg and Mosc ow. T h e c o m p a ny

delivers customer sales and support services on behalf of leading global brands including Google and PayPal, together with Irish technology companies in a range of sectors including utilities.

Boosting

Headquartered in Cork, Zevas is now looking to significantly scale up its Irish operations by boosting its staff numbers from 145 to 185, with recruitment for the new jobs to begin immediately.

The majority of the 40

jobs will be based in Cork, and range from roles in telesales, business development and quality.

Commenting on the announcement, John O’Sullivan, chief operating officer at Zevas said: “We specialise in providing outsourced and insource customer suppor t ser vices to major global brands across a diverse mix of sectors including technology, on-line commerce and financial services, across Europe and North American markets.

FINTECH START-UP | SEEKING TO EXPAND

Rubicoin raises €1.2m as invest app goes Global RUBICOIN, the Irish fintech start-up which has developed a suite of apps designed to transform anyone into an informed and confident investor, has announced that it has raised €1.2 million in funding.

This funding round, which will assist Rubicoin to expand into new markets, was from existing and new private investors, and brings to €3 million the total amount raised to date.

The company also announced that its Invest by Rubicoin app is now available to users around the world.

To date, the app was only accessible to US customers but now, with a global reach to 140+ countries, worldwide investing in their cherry picked “showroom” is now possible.

The ability to find and buy outstanding shares in one place has never been easier.

Through its products, Rubicoin aims to demystify the stock market, and create a fully accessible experience for would-be investors through a completely mobile-led offering.

Rubicoin was co-founded by Emmet Savage and John Tyrrell in 2013 as they wanted to design a product that would create millions of successful stock investors by making the investing process

both engaging and enjoyable.

Supported by a long-standing and fully audited investing trackrecord, Rubicoin has produced two apps that places user experience front and centre, Learn by Rubicoin and Invest by Rubicoin.

“From the ver y beginning, our mission has been ‘to get the world investing successfully’.

We recently opened up our Invest by Rubicoin app to users across the world which has so far created tens of thousands of new stock investors.

Our latest funding round will assist our successful expansion into new markets, which is a very exciting prospect for us,”

said John Tyrrell, Rubicoin, cofounder and COO. Emmet Savage, Rubicoin CEO added: “The last year has been a period of rapid growth for Rubicoin. We graduated from NovaUCD to our new offices in Dublin’s Merrion Row with our team more than doubling from six to 13 employees.

“We have also enjoyed a rapid increase in customer uptake, with over 150,000 app downloads in the same period. We are confident that our apps will continue to grow in popularity around the globe.”

To find out more visit www. rubicoin.com.

Top tips for job searching in today’s market THE recruitment industry has changed significantly in the past five years, according to one of Ireland’s leading recruitment consultancies, Osborne.

Having recently undergone a complete r e b r a n d , O s b o r n e ’s experts advise job seekers to do the same in their approach to finding the right role for them.

It’s rare to walk by a shop window and see a company advertis-

ing for positions, so Osborne has compiled five, top tips from its recruitment experts on how to search for a new job in today’s market.

1. Ever y thing and everyone is online now.

W hen CVs land on employers and recruiters desks, a candidate’s online profile is often checked.

Before applying for a role or sending out a CV, view your public online profile from a prospective employer’s position.

Maybe it’s time to tidy up your online and social media presence?

2. Optimise your L i n ke d I n p a g e a n d ensure your profile is completely up-to-date and focused on the sector or industry you would like to work in.

Also, ensure you can be easily found (via keywords) and contacted online by potential employers.

3. Use your existing networks and contacts and don’t burn bridges!

4. As cultural fit becomes more and more important to employees and employers, investigate the companies you are applying to and make sure their organisational culture is aligned with your values.

5. Personalise your application to the role and company you are applying for.

Employers are looking for people with a genuine interest in working for their company.

1 September 2016 GAZETTE 13

ASDFSDAF P27 TRAVEL P20

FEATURE P16

DUBLINLIFE Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week

INTERVIEW: DON CONROY IS STILL INSPIRING EVERYONE TO KEEP DRAWING

TERRIFIC TIGHE MAY BE YOUR BEST FRIEND

A brush with one of Ireland’s most popular children’s artists  EMMA NOLAN

THERE is a sense of nostalgia that surrounds Don Conroy as countless Irish people recall watching him on The Den after school when they were young.

The Gazette caught up with the legendary artist to find out what he’s up to, and how technology is changing the way younger generations engage with art.

He said: “I first went on The Den 30 years ago, and every five years you have a new generation of viewers, so you get to reach so many people, which is lovely.

“There’s an amazing connection between the generations – I talk to kids who are 10 years old who have watched me on Draw With Don, as well as 20and 30-year-olds who used to watch it.

“I was in a very privileged position, because I was beamed into people’s houses and I could talk directly to them, and I would be able to say hello to the people I’d met.”

Don says that while he was working on The Den, he was also writing his Draw With Don books.

“With the books, I was visiting libraries and schools to give talks, so I became an ambassador for The Den even when I wasn’t on it.”

Don is still an avid painter and drawer who tries to make some form of art every day.

“If I hear of a fundraiser or something like that, I try to do a drawing or painting for it. Recently, I drew some barn owls for a hospice fundraiser,” he says. “I’m drawing and painting all the time anyway, so it’s nice if people can get some enjoyment out of it.”

With newer design software and techniques being made available, Don still maintains that you just can’t beat the classic pen and paper combination.

“I’ve never used computers for my art – and I have been tempted with the effects that you can do – but there is nothing more natural that putting a pencil to paper.

“As Michelangelo said, ‘It’s not about the result, it’s about the action,’ so when you’re doing a drawing you’re connected with every artist who has ever tried to draw.”

Don believes that with the widespread use of tablets and technology, a lot of children may lose their drawing skills.

“I think caring parents and teachers want to get them to realise that entertainment is not always presented to them professionally, but that they can



GAZETTE

DIARY P14

Popular with generations of children, artist Don Conroy is still inspiring people to draw and colour. (Above) Alice Brennan helps Don launch Haven Pharmacy’s Back To School Expert Hands Colouring Competition. Pictures: Andres Poveda

create something and it teaches them to look at the world with creative eyes, and to me that’s so important.

“The more we’re pushing down this technological road, I think that sometimes people just need to stop and take a break and get a bit of balance.”

Don has teamed up with Haven Pharmacy’s Back to School Expert Hands Colouring Competition for children, creating a back to school-inspired illustration for kids to colour in and be in with a

change to win some great prizes.

Copies of the illustration can be picked up in any of the 52 Haven Pharmacy outlets nationwide.

“Colouring is a great way for young people to be introduced to the creative form, and can kick-start their imagination, opening up the creative journey that will enrich their lives.”

“I want to wish all the children who take part in the competition the best of luck,” he says.

OUR Dog of the Week looking for her #SpecialSomeone* is Tighe, a four-year-old male Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross.

He is a little nervous sometimes and worries when his favourite people aren’t around, so he is looking for a home with lots of company.

It would be even better if there is another dog in his new home so he will have a best friend to show him the ropes and help him settle in.

If you can be Tighe’s #SpecialSomeone*, and help him realise his great potential, then please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off Exit 5 on the M50.

Map and directions can be found on their website, www.dogstrust. ie. You can also find them on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline, or on Twitter @ DogsTrust_IE. *Dogs Trust has launched their new TV ad; the #SpecialSomeone campaign aims to bring to life just how important a new owner is to the dogs they rehome.

GAZETTE

14 GAZETTE 1 September 2016

DUBLINLIFE

DIARY

Brewing up ways to help MARIO Rosenstock has joined forces with Bewley’s to call on everyone to get on board for Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice on Thursday, September 15.

That’s the day when people everywhere will share a cup of Bewley’s Coffee to support their local hospice and their vital work caring for people in their local communities nationwide.

This year is Ireland’s 24th such fundraising morning for Hospice since the annual initiative first started in 1993, with some €32m raised, to date.

Last year, St Francis Hospice in Raheny and Blanchardstown raised more than €242,000 through 545 coffee mornings. Bewley’s provides all of the coffee – free of charge – and all money raised locally goes directly to local hospice care services.

Money raised from Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice will go towards the provision of specialist palliative care to people of North

Dublin City and county.

To host a coffee morning, register at www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie to receive a free coffee pack of Bewley’s fresh ground coffee.

GET BEE-SY AND HELP SCIENTISTS SCIENTISTS at NUI Galway have put a call out to people from every county in Ireland to keep an eye out for native Irish bees this autumn Beekeepers and beeenthusiasts in particular are being asked to report any feral or unmanaged hives in their area.

The team of scientists, with help from watchful members of the public, have already found more than 20 feral Irish honey bee hives, including one in the statue of a lion on the estate of Mote Park, Roscommon.

Of particular interest at this stage are old abandoned houses and castles, outbuildings, residential houses, and woodlands.

The overall aim of the project is to settle the debate as to whether there truly remain any

Sharing a cuppa ways to help hospices ... Legendary Clare manager Davy Fitzgerald; comic and impressionist Mario Rosenstock, and Mark Saunders, brand director at Bewleys. Picture: Marc O’Sullivan

indigenous Irish Honey Bees – Apis Mellifera Mellifera – persisting in the wild.

Members of the public who think they know of a “wild” hive, or who would like to know more

about the project, can email nuigbeeresearch@ gmail.com or visit the Bee Genes Facebook page.

GO WALKIES AT A FUN-FILLED DAY OUT THIS Year, the DSPCA’s Great Irish Dog Walk, in par tnership with PURINA, will be held on Saturday, September 10 in the grounds of the DSPCA in Rathfarnham.

It promises to be a fun-filled walk and doggie-themed festival in the grounds of the DSPCA Campus, surrounded by spectacular views over Dublin Bay and the surrounding countryside.

This event is open to all dog owners or simply people who love animals and wish to enjoy a fun day out, while supporting the work of the DSPCA. A wide range of fun activities for our fourlegged friends (and their two-legged owners) are

promised on the day.

Registration is €10 per adult, while kids and dogs go free, and signups are welcome on the day. To register, see www. dspca.ie.

A NOTEWORTHY SERIES OF CONCERTS TO CELEBRATE Music Network’s 30th anniversary year, a number of special events and commissions are planned in addition to its autumn tours, bringing diverse and vibrant performances to audiences across Ireland.

For the past 30 years, Music Network has travelled our highways and byways, bringing worldclass acts to towns.

For Culture Night on September 16, Music Network will present a very special concert in collaboration with longstanding media partner, RTE Lyric FM.

Join presenters Ellen Cranitch and Carl Corcoran and a stunning line-up of artists from the worlds of jazz, trad, classical and contemporary music on The Purple Vespertine live from RTE Studio 1.

Music Network’s mission is to make live music available and accessible to as many people as possible, and the autumn 2016 season provides an opportunity to see some of the world’s foremost musicians throughout the country at affordable prices.

Single tickets for Dublin concerts are available from €15 and can be purchased by calling Music Network at 01 475 0224, or by booking online at www.musicnetwork.ie.

TECH RESEARCH IS FOOD FOR THOUGHT TECHNOLOGY is a barrier to Irish family connection at mealtimes,

according to new survey

by Dolmio.

From iPads and phones at the dinner table to arguments over what Netflix show is on in the background – even mealtimes have become a tech minefield.

The Dolmio research shows that parents battle technology at mealtimes on a daily basis, with an average of 12 internetconnected gadgets/ devices per household.

Some two thirds of parents (66%) surveyed said that technology at mealtimes has a negative impact, 38% of parents have tried unsuccessfully to ban tech when eating, and close to half (48%) feel like they can’t stop stop tech at the table.

One helpful tip is to involve children in the preparation and cooking of meals to keep them busy and involved before dinner time.

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DUBLINLIFE

FEATURES

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16 GAZETTE 1 September 2016

DON’S DUBLIN Strike out to a place that’s magical fore more than golfers

IN THIS, the year that

we are celebrating the Easter Rising, I was reminded of another great struggle when I visited Woodstock House in Wicklow recently.

The Pikeman statue, a tall and arresting symbol of the 1798 Rebellion, and a reminder of brave and bloody times, stands guard in front of the fine Georgian house. It was built by Sir John Stratford in the 1770s and was designed by the famed architect and stuccodore Robert West, who worked on many of the country’s great houses.

It has been faithfully maintained and a visit is a veritable walk through history. In the basement there is a museum showing what it was like in ‘the big house’, and the circular gallery offers a history of Ireland.

Upstairs in The Yellow Room, there are some fine paintings of Irish heroes, including Michael Collins, CS Parnell and Robert Emmett. The tiled hall, with its tall golden columns, is particularly well preserved with the dining room off to the side.

It was interesting to find out that due to its superb acoustics, that none other than Rod Stewart and the Thompson Twins each used the space for recording in the 1980s.

Nowadays, the house is the centre of Druids Glen Golf Course, one of the best and most beautiful courses anywhere, and a regular on the must-play list for golfers.

I saw it described as the “Augusta of Europe”, and on the day that I visited – a warm day under a bright, blue sky – I could only agree with the scribe. The view from the roof down the coast and over to the Wicklow Mountains was memorable.

And, of course, there is more history in the name: Druids Glen. Apparently, during the construction of the golf course, a druids’ altar was discovered near the lake (by the 12th hole).

I don’t know what the druids think of golf, but they would certainly have been happy with what I saw the other day. It’s a magical place!

Don Cameron

www.donsdublin.wordpress.com

Druid’s Glen is not only a must-visit spot for golfers, but a fascinating historical venue in its own right

FEATURE: EMMA NOLAN MEETS IRELAND’S TOP GUNS

UPHOLDING CORPS VALUES  EMMA NOLAN

ON average, approximately 1,200 people apply to join the Irish Air Corps every year, but only 12 are accepted.

The Gazette took a trip to the Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel to see what it is that keeps new cadets coming year after year.

An Air Corps cadet engages in about 36 months of training in the Military College, Curragh Camp and the Air Corps College at the Aerodrome.

“We’re a one-stop shop for aviation and military training,” Captain Sean McCarthy told The Gazette.

“We do all our own training here. There’s a real mix of people who join, with different standards of education, but we’re looking for an aptitude – people that can work as part of a team and who show leadership skills and can show that they can make tough decisions.”

Air Corps cadets spend seven

months training with an army cadet class where they learn basic military skills and develop their leadership ability before they move on to flight training.

The cadets study the same curriculum that training commercial airline pilots study.

“Anyone can learn to fly, but we get our cadets up to a really high standard,” said Capt McCarthy.

The Air Corps currently operates 17 fixed wing aircraft and 10 rotary wing aircraft along with two simulators.

Capt McCarthy said: “Right now, I’m lucky to be flying the AW139 helicopter because it is so flexible and allows us to carry out the most diverse range of helicopter tasks of any organisation in the world.

“These include troop trans-

port and special forces insertion/extraction; we can carry 2.2 tonnes of equipment hanging from the aircraft. [Our other helicopter tasks include] air ambulance, fire-fighting, search and rescue, parachuting, air gunnery and sniper platform, reconnaissance and disaster relief.”

So, what is the role of the Irish Air Corps? They support the navy, the army and the

coastguard, perform search and rescue missions, provide an air ambulance service and they have a full neonatal kit and transport team to support mothers going into labour in rural areas.

Capt McCarthy said: “A few months ago we picked up a baby who was born at 29 weeks – she weighed only three pounds. We picked her up from Donegal and brought her down to Holles Street. We have a little incubator in the neonatal kit.

“We later found out that the baby survived and went on to make a full recovery. It was very

satisfying to know we played a small part in that family’s life.”

This service provided by the Air Corps aims to provide assistance to people who live in rural areas but require emergency access to specialist health services that aren’t available in most regional hospitals.

They also help to fight forest fires, of which there are two a year on average in Ireland.

Capt McCarthy said that, for him, the most rewarding aspect of a career in the Irish Air Corps is “the sense of purpose it provides by doing something that matters”.

“Our range of missions is really diverse. From highoctane counter-terrorism training or emergency air ambulance missions – no matter what role you have in the Air Corps, you know you are contributing to something bigger.”

Speaking on his career, Capt McCarthy said that the day he got his pilot wings was really special.

“It was the culmination of years of hard work, in which you build really special bonds with your classmates. These group of strangers quickly become family and remain so for life; that’s

something really special about a life in the defence forces.”

As for memorable missions, the pilot said that his six months with the UN in the Democratic Republic of Congo stands out, but that the best part was coming home to his fiancee.

This year, a highlight for the Air Corps was its involvement in the Easter parade to commemorate the 1916 Rising.

“It was very rewarding to see all of the logistical plans come to fruition in such a spectacular fashion, and to see so many people on the streets in such a positive and patriotic mood.”

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DUBLINLIFE

Treating and managing oily and blemished skin JUST in time for the back to school period, French dermocosmetic brand, Bioderma, launch their Sebium Promotions in pharmacies nationwide.

The Sebium skincare line is developed specifically to cleanse, treat and manage oily and blemished skin in both adolescents and adults.

The skin changes during puberty and with the arrival of blemishes the skin becomes thicker and shinier in appearance.

The imbalance of sebum results in changing lipid levels and squalene oxidation producing pimples, blemishes and imperfections in the skin.

Scientific data has shown changes in

sebum to be one of the key causes in the development of acne with acne affecting an estimated 80% percent of all people between the ages of 11 and 30.

Bioderma have developed their Fluidactiv formula to target these imbalances in problem skin.

It regulates sebum quality, protecting the squalene from oxidation and keeping it from thickening which prevent the formation of blackheads, pimples and other blemishes.

For the months of August and September, with every purchase of Sebium Global, Bioderma are offering a free SebiumFoaming Gel 100ml.

Available in pharmacies nationwide.

JUST IN TIME British watch brand Abbot Lyon are offering simply designed, large-faced minimalist watches at affordable prices

MINIMALIST watches with large faces and simple designs are really popular right now with brands like Danish Design and Skagen taking centre stage.

British watch brand Abbot Lyon offer a

similar style at an affordable price.

Available online, the brand’s sophisticated style is becoming increasingly coveted, adorning the wrists of prominent instagrammers.

With prices starting at around â‚Ź100, these time pieces are a classic investment. Delivery is free and ships to Ireland in two to three days. See www.abbotlyon. com

Nude Biege Rose Gold Kensington Rose Gold Face Ltd Edition

Tan Suede Gold Kensington Gold Face Ltd Edition

White Leather Rose Gold Kensington Rose Gold Face Ltd Edition

Silver Chain Kensington Silver Face Ltd Edition

1 September 2016 GAZETTE 19

GAZETTE

STYLE Essence to release an new line full of lush autumn colours AFFORDABLE make up brand Essence is set to release an entire new line for autumn.

Available at Penneys and pharmacies nationwide, the brand is great for adding to your make-up collection without breaking the bank.

Stand-out products from the new collection include the Matt Matt Matt Lipstick and Lipgloss. At just €2.90, the texture feels like that of a premium brand and with seven different shades, they are a worthy addition to any lipstick lover’s arsenal.

The Light Up Your Face Luminizer Palette (€4.95) contains three soft shades of highlighter that will pair well with many different skin tones and the Contouring Eyeshadow sets (€3.10) consists of two complimentary shades.

Overall, the collection contains some very handy products at very low prices.

nce Esse M att

tM Mat L att oss

ipgl

Essence Contouring Eye Pencil

ing ontour C e c n Esse adow Set Eyesh

Swedish clothing brand and H&M family member, & Other Stories is coming to Dublin this autumn

& OTHER STORIES TO GRACE

Grafton Street

MUCH-LOVED Swedish clothing brand & Other Stories is coming to Dublin this autumn.

The first Irish branch of the store is set to open on Grafton Street, replacing the recently closed HMV, much to the delight of Dublin fashion lovers who can currently shop the brand online but are missing out on the beautiful store experience. & Other Stories is one of the H&M family along with COS, Monki, Weekday and Cheap Monday and will offer women a wide range of shoes, bags, accessories, beauty and ready-to-wear.

The brand has creative ateliers in Paris and Stockholm who design diversified fashion collections with great attention to detail and quality at an affordable price.

They currently have stores in Aarhus, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Barcelona, Berlin, Bologna, Brussels, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Cologne, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Ghent, Hamburg, London, Madrid, Malaga, Milan, Munich, New York, Paris, Rome and Stockholm so far and Dublin is finally up next.

& Other Stories has creative ateliers in Paris and Stockholm who design diversified fashion collections for their stores across Europe

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DUBLINLIFE

fast

TRAVEL NEWS

GET YOUR KICKS: THE ESSENTIAL GREAT AMERICAN ROAD TRIP

Due to the popularity of Disney’s movie Frozen, over a million visitors have visited the Lofoten islands

Lofoten’s popularity is leaving residents frosty THE Norwegian tourism industry is booming thanks to the Disney classic Frozen, which is seeing visitors travelling to the Scandinavian country like never before.

While the rest of us have put the movie, the tacky Queen Else and Olaf merchandise and that damned theme song behind us, the Norwegian Lofoten Islands are now being overrun.

Travelweek.ca reports that one-in-five tourists to Norway have decided to visit because of Frozen and in 2015, over a million people set foot on the Lofoten Islands.

The movie was set in a Norwegian-like kingdom and was released with the support of the country’s tourism sector which grew by 7.5% again last year.

The situation is compounded as Hollywood star Matt Damon is currently shooting scenes for his upcoming movie, Downsizing.

Although the significance increase in visitors may seem like a good thing, it has

resulted in severe problems for the islands as facilities on Lofoten are stretched to the limit.

Local people are worried that aside from the pressure on its infrastructure such as narrow roads, the huge footfall has severely eroded paths leading to the coast.

The region’s authorities say the islands are reaching breaking point with litter being a particular problem in certain areas.

The mayor of the nearby town of Flakstad, Fredrik Sørdal, said the huge tourist spike was now “challenging”. He told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that his town would have to come up with several measures to counter the problems by 2017.

Take a journey down the “Main Street of America” and follow Route 66 through some spectacular sites like Chicago (right), Arizona and California (top left)

The mother of all roads

 IAN BEGLEY

EMBARK on the quintessential great American road trip all the way from Chicago to LA with an unforgettable 17 night holiday from Travel Department.

Constructed in 1926, Route 66 became known as the “Main Street of America” or “The Mother Road”, as it wound through towns, trading posts and small communities across the United States. Originally a major trucking route for American agriculture, it also became the main road for migrants travelling from the Dust Bowl to California during the years of the Great Depression.

On this once-in-alifetime journey, head out on the highway and travel from east to west across eight states, passing through the heart of America along the way.

Enjoy a full day of exploration in the “Windy City” of Chicago, where you will discover the extravagant shopping district of the Magnificent Mile, before crossing over the Chicago River to the downtown core, aka the Loop.

F r o m Illinois and into Missouri, the first state to place a historic marker on the o l d Mother Road.

Historic St Louis is well worth a stop-off while in the Show-Me State, with its famous Gateway Arch towering over the Mississippi River.

Next states up are Kansas (for all of about 10 miles) and Oklahoma

where the venerable highway’s old charm has been carefully preserved.

Heading west, you will cut across the top of Texas, passing through quaint towns like Shamrock and Amarillo, and into New Mexico, where the wild west

landscape looks almost lunar.

Then it’s Arizona, home of the Grand Canyon, where you’ll no doubt want to stretch your legs with a walk along its magnificent

South Rim, one of the highlights of this amazing trip.

A less known gem in Arizona – but one for the bucket list – is the Petrified Forest National Park, an eerie yet beautiful place that got its name from the fossilised wood found there which dates back to the late Triassic period, around 225million years ago.

Continue along the famed Route 66 to Las Vegas, the gaming capital of the world, glittering like a mirage in the desert.

Here, you can visit a casino, sip drinks by the pool, see a show such as Cirque du Soleil, or simply wander down the dazzling four-mile long Las Vegas strip, before enjoying a guided tour of the power plant at Hoover Dam the next day, which is one of the largest dams in the United States.

Your final stop on this epic journey will be the playground of the rich and famous – Los Angeles. Take a guided tour of the city where you will see everything from countless movie locations and the Walt Disney Concert Hall, to panoramic city views from the Griffith Park Observatory and the infamous Hollywood Boulevard.

Then, continue to the exclusive Beverly Hills and Rodeo Drive, followed by the nearby Santa Monica to indulge in some time at leisure by the Pacific Ocean, a walk along the boardwalk, or some souvenir shopping.

Prices start from €3,799 for 17 nights including return flights from Dublin, three-star and four-star B&B hotel accommodation, transfers, excursions and taxes and charges, with flight departing on May 3, 2017.

1 September 2016 GAZETTE 21

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TRAVEL Escape to Lough Erne

AS the leaves begin to turn from green to vibrant golds, take the time to escape to the picturesque lakeland district of Lough Erne Resort, Enniskillen – the perfect location for an autumn getaway.

Break away from the daily routine and enjoy a well-deserved retreat to this luxurious five-star property with the Fall into Autumn package available from €58 pps midweek, enjoy an overnight stay in one of the stunning luxury bedrooms and indulge your taste buds with a freshly prepared breakfast the following morning.

The Fall into Autumn package is available until October 31 with 40% off midweek breaks and 25% off weekend breaks.

For bookings call +44 (0) 28 6632 3230 or visit www.lougherneresort.com

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OVER 280,000* READERS EACH WEEK CALL 01 60 10 240 *Publishers Statement

GAZETTE

TRAVEL HIT THE DECK: CRUISE LINERS TRANSFORM INTO WINTER WONDERLANDS

Get into the festive spirit on a Christmastime cruise

 IAN BEGLEY

FROM ‘Snow Days on Deck’ to festive Santa parades and traditional tree lightings, there’s something for everyone onboard Royal Caribbean International’s festive sailings this Christmas.

Available throughout the month of December on all Caribbeanbound sailings from the US eastern seaboard and Puerto Rico, Royal Caribbean ships will be transformed into winter wonderlands. Guests will be able to enjoy the many festive experiences available onboard, including Christmas-themed films poolside, biscuit decorating, trivia competitions, traditional and popmusic carolling, Santa parades, special presents for suite guests and tree lighting ceremonies on every sailing.

“Royal Caribbean will deck the halls across 16 ships with carol singers, holiday wreaths and Christmas trees throughout the ships, festive dishes and drinks, and even the opportunity to meet Santa and his elves when he makes his stops onboard,” said Mark Tamis, senior vice president, hotel operations,

Royal Caribbean International.

“We are pulling out all the stops this holiday season, bringing together what people love most about this time of year – without any of the chores – to create the ultimate holiday celebration at sea and lasting memories of new traditions.”

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

‘We are pulling out all the stops this holiday season, bringing together what people love most about this time of year – without any of the chores ’

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

What’s more, on ships offering the DreamWorks experience, guests will be able to take festive photos with their favourite characters from films such as Kung Fu Panda, Shrek and Madagascar, and enjoy special holidaythemed character breakfasts. Whilst, for New Year’s Eve, guests can

Deck the halls... Royal Caribbean International’s festive sailings are said to be out of this winter-wonderworld

dress up and dance their way into 2017 with shipwide parties that include live music, balloon drops, confetti and champagne toasts at midnight just to name a few.

Sailings vary in length from three- to 12-night Caribbean itineraries.

Offering three ways to experience a holiday on the world’s largest cruise ships to the most soughtafter Caribbean island destinations, Royal Caribbean’s newest ship, Harmony of the Seas and sister-ship Allure of the Seas will offer seven-night

eastern and western Caribbean itineraries from Ft Lauderdale.

Whilst, Oasis of the Seas will sail from her new homeport in Port Canaveral with itineraries that range from fiveto 10-nights. Meanwhile, in the northeast, Anthem

of the Seas will offer seven-night sailings from Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne, NJ to the Bahamas and 10-night sailings to Eastern Caribbean islands including St Thomas, St Maarten, Puerto Rico and Labadee in Haiti.

Norwegian Royal mascot takes part in tattoo

Sir Nils “inspects” soldiers at the Edinburgh Zoo

THE King of Norway’s Guard recently visited the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland’s Edinburgh Zoo to add a unique honour to the resident royalty in the penguin enclosure.

The award was p-p-p-picked up during a ceremony with more than 50 uniformed soldiers from the King of Norway’s guard in attendance. The unflappable Brigadier Sir Nils Olaf ‘inspected’ the soldiers, who were taking part in the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, while parading his way up Penguin Walk.

The regal bird is the mascot of the Norwegian Guard and eight years ago was approved for a knighthood by King Harald V of Norway.

The zoo has had a long association with both Norway and penguins since the family of Christian Salvesen presented it with its first king penguin in 1914.

The acting chief executive officer for RZSS, Barbara Smith, said the zoo was honoured to host the occasion when a prestigious new title was being bestowed on “our king penguin, Sir Nils Olav”.

Back to school nutrition tips

22 GAZETTE 1 September 2016

help your child to eat well, not just for their school days, but for life

ho o l W IT H th e ne w sc tant ul year starting, cons ist ition dietician and nutr has ld a Caoimhe McDon vice ad rounded up some xes. bo h and tips for lunc

CHILDREN are increasingly developing digestive problems that were once the reserve of adults.

Issues such as tummy pain, bloating, gas, diarrhoea and constipation can result from a multitude of factors, but inappropriate eating habits can contribute.

With a new school year starting, here is some advice and tips for mums and dads on how to get ahead of the daily grind, preparing and packing healthy school

lunch boxes and balancing appeal and healthy options.

The foods that children eat – or don’t eat – can have a profound effect on their health.

Good nutri tion supp orts a child ’s immune system, brain function, growth and repair and supporting recovery from child hood illnes ses, vacci natio ns and sports injuries.

The eating habits that they acquire,

if they are good ones, can protect their health through all stages of life, including becoming a teenager, pregnancy and old age.

Influencing children at an early age to eat well is one of the most important things you can do for their health and well-being.

With this in mind, here are five ways to help support your child’s healthy diet – not just for school, but for life ...

’ h g i h ‘ y a S .

1 to fibre!

t. gh fibre in their die ildren don’t eat enou ch t tha s d ow an sh y rit rch bowel regula MOST resea re, helps to maintain fib ble olu ins ly ial Fibre, espec nstipation. are relieve or prevent co bowel bacteria that ain the “friendly” int ma to lps he o Fibre als ive system. ain a healthy digest ars – important to maint ch as apples and pe e fibre-rich foods su lud inc to s xe bo ch Plan lun ase! or with the peel on, ple ain bread, or wraps, made with whole-gr es ch wi nd sa r ide Also cons th seeds. any kind of berry wi

2. Replace juices and cordials with a bottle of water CHILDREN have a higher risk of getting dehydrated than grown ups, and need more water than adults in relation to their body weight.

It is recommended that children between the ages of 4-8 should be drinking at least 1.6 litres of water every day.

And, while adults can usually access water whenever they want or need it, for children this is not always as easy, particularly when they are at school.

Dehydration affects the digestive system and continuous low water intake leads to constipation and the build-up of toxins in the body, and this in turn increases a child’s risk of developing more complicated digestive issues.

3 . A dd d i p s a n d raw vegetables to their diet

1 September 2016 GAZETTE 23

d o o g a d d A .

4 o t c i t o p r ob i t e i d r i the to supONE of the best ways ren is to port gut health in child suppleintroduce a probiotic ment. not all Be careful though – ua l, an d sup ple me nts are eq ported only a handful are sup ce. by sound clinical eviden lorex Alf is nd me om rec I One just over Children’s Straws. At Alflo€1 a day (with a RSP for 2.95), rex straws priced at €3 lunchthese straws (right) are n’t need box friendly as they do can be to be refrigerated, and lk. taken with water or mi Chilin e tur cul ted ten A pa str ain dre n’s Al flo rex is a ically cif spe n bee s ha which ere sel ec ted to wo rk wh . gut n ma hu the in d neede

HUMMUS is great for children’s lunch boxes and is good for The great part abou the digestive system t hummus is that yo . u can make it from chickpeas – try wh a variety of ingredien ite beans, lentils, so ts, not just ak ed nu ts such as cashews, and more. chickpeas or black beans, You can add the hu mmus to a pita, wrap , br ead or even paired ers. You can add a few with veggie sticks or raw leafy greens to crackthe hummus, which a modest amount of will add live enzyme veggie goodness. s and add

5. Have a (protein) ball

easy recipe, are a quick and PROTEIN balls thy snack you want a heal perfect for when of goodness. that’s packed full be made -booster they can Great as an energy and cocoa r, nuts, dried fruits with peanut butte and are simhighly nutritious powder. They are t. they are low in fa ple to make, plus

GAZETTE

24 BLANCH GAZETTE 1 September 2016

DUBLINLIFE

CINEMA

ReelReviews

THE SHALLOWS Shallow by name ...

JUST when you thought it was safe to go back in the water at a deserted beach right by where sharks might be known to swim past sometimes ... comes The Shallows (Cert 12A, 86 mins), which pits a woman surfer against a fishy fiend in this nicely-shot but ultimately underwhelming film. It’s okay, but Jaws-t try not to think of any other classic shark-related films that are still a lot better.

THE PURGE 3

Gets a vote of approval TO GIVE it its full and correct name, The Purge: Election Year (Cert 16, 109 mins) isn’t going to win any votes for sharpness, but its twisted take on politics and violence in America is entertaining enough. A US senator and her team try to survive the annual Purge – 12 hours when any and all crime is legal – against the ever-shrinking odds. This latest Purge film provides some food for thought.

SAUSAGE PARTY A half-baked idea

Sausage Party (Cert 16, 89 mins) provides a side order of utterly foul-mouthed silliness, sprinkled with crudity. What would happen if your food could talk, only to realise that – gulp – it’s doomed to be skinned, burned, boiled and eaten alive? Sausage Party starts off well, but runs out of juice before the juice – and the sausages, and the eggs, and the milk – try to run off to freedom.

Ill winds set a pair of bank-robbing brothers drifting across Texas, with their small-town takes adding up to settle a large personal grievance they share

HELL OR HIGH WATER: SPLASH OUT ON A WORTHY ADDITION TO THE WESTERN GENRE

This Texan tale is tautly told  MARTIN MACNAMARA

THE gruff West Texans of Hell or High Water (Cert 15A, 102mins) constantly wax lyrical about an America that’s “long gone” – lost to banks and big business.

Accordingly, with this pensive and compelling crime thriller, director David McKenzie drags that most American of genres – the western – into the modern day, guns blazing.

The action here is carried out across vast, expansive Texan landscapes and small, backwater towns where the banks are seizing longheld family properties, and small hardware stores are being outpriced and shut down.

Brothers Toby (Chris Pine) and Tanner Howard (Ben Foster) are

robbing banks from one town to the next. Unlike typical banks robbers, the brothers steal only small amounts from each, and are hitting a specific chain – the bank that happens to be foreclosing on their family home.

Just a couple of weeks from retirement, surly but good-natured Texas Ranger Marcus Hamilton (Jeff Bridges) is hot on the boys’ heels. Having figured out a kind of logic in their unorthodox heists, he and partner Alberto (Gil Birmingham) begin to close in.

What begins as a fairly archetypal “good thug, bad thug” relationship between the Howard brothers rapidly gives way to a more nuanced, complicated dynamic.

While Toby’s motives seem more obvious at first, each brother has his

reasons for heading down this road.

Pine is surprisingly convincing here as the quieter, brooding Toby, betraying the usual cocky but likeable performance we know him for.

Foster shines, however, as ex-con Tanner, hamming it up from time to time, but expertly taking control of the script to deliver a compelling performance, revealing the ghosts of their familial past.

Bolstering everything here is the script from Taylor Sheridan, writer of last year’s ultra-dark narco-thriller, Sicario.

Peppered with a kind of witty, matter-of-fact banter that never grates, the dialogue maintains an expert functionality, touching on critical issues facing rural America and turning even the most

insignificant character into an elegiac social commentator.

Perhaps the message is driven home a little hard at times; each and every character has their part to say about this slowly dying America.

However, Sheridan’s ve r b a l c o m m e n t a r y works in harmonious tandem with McKenzie’s camera – each brooding chunk of dialogue is underlined by an expanse of abandoned farmland or borderlineghost town.

Inarguably, the most irresistible element of Hell or High is Wa t e r Bridges’ endeari n g turn a s

Ranger Marcus.

With a lifetime of experience under his belt, it doesn’t take long for him to decipher the Howard brothers’ pattern, and each twist in the investigation is worked out with words of grizzled, unvarnished Texan wisdom.

Hell or High Water takes place in an America where everyone carries a concealed weapons permit; perhaps Marcus’

job is made a little easier when every bank customer is holding a firearm, and when local good ol’ boys can engage in highspeed chases and shoot outs with perps.

All that this establishes, really, is a vast expanse of a moral grey area.

It’s impossible to know who to root for, and that makes it all the more compelling – we hang anxiously on each opposing strand of the story.

Hell or High Water is expertly paced; tense when it needs to be and emotional in all the right places – making it a pitchperfect neo-western.

Verdict: 9/10

Following close behind every crook is an experienced lawman, with Jeff Bridges doggedly trailing the robbers at the film’s heart

1 September 2016 BLANCH GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

GAMING

Gamers can choose and modify their character’s Prague’s winding streets feature a diverse mix of classic and modern architecture, creating a real sense of place. Screengrabs: Shane Dillon

 SHANE DILLON

Tech Editor

Fears of terrorism, and a whittling away of civil rights, provide an interesting undertone during the game

W H AT m a ke s y o u human? If you have replaced some or most of your body with metal and machine parts, are you still equal to ‘ordinary’ humans – or are you a superior (or inferior) being?

These are just some of the interesting questions and issues at the heart of Deus Ex: Mankind Divided (Cert 18; XBO, PS4, PC; c. €70); the latest addition to the long-running and classic cyberpunk franchise.

Building on the events in its prequel game (2011), Mankind Divided is set in

the near future, mostly in Prague, where global events are having explosive local effects as acts of terrorism play out in the heavily policed streets.

Humanity has almost split in two, with a majority of ‘Naturals’ – people without any limb or organ replacements or enhancements – turning against augmented people (‘Augs’, disparagingly referred to as ‘Clanks’) – people who may have, say, cyborg arms, artificially enhanced eyes, and so on.

At the game’s outset, the resentment and division between Naturals and Augs is at an all time high for various reasons, with widespread calls for

segregation, restricted rights, curtails on jobs and housing for Augs, and so on.

You step into this hostile atmosphere as an augmented agent working for an international agency, ostensibly on the trail of terrorists, but increasingly drawn into the murky underworld as other events take place.

Everything from crooked cops, gangs, powerhungry corporations and a shadowy organisation start pulling strings, tighter and tighter.

T h r ow i n d o u b l e crosses, hackers, shifty agents and cover-ups, and Mankind Divided’s plots become as labyrinthine

implants to gain new powers, or ‘augments’

as the streets of Prague ...

As always with the series, gamers are given an open set of tools by which to play the game, and tackle missions.

With upgrade trees that suit the player’s approach, gamers can customise their character to play the way they want to, with most parts of the game having multiple solutions.

Whether going for fullon violence or the softlysoftly sneaky approach, or pursuing other options in missions, it’s your choice how to play.

This means that Mankind Divided’s diverse options and approaches will suit multiple playthroughs.

It’s far from a perfect game – as always, PC owners with decent graphics cards get treated to the best visuals (which can be a mixed bag on the consoles), while it has some of the very worst lip-synching, and erratic character movements, that I’ve ever seen.

However, despite its weak points, Mankind Divided has largely united critics, thanks to its interesting noir-ish tone and open-ended gameplay.

With long-standing story elements that have perhaps gained extra currency from real-world current affairs, it’s a title that rewards visiting this version of Prague.

26 BLANCH GAZETTE 1 September 2016

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Also a single storey extension to the rear and a detached single storey domestic use garage to the rear garden with vehicular access onto the Old Navan Road at 1 Phoenix Gardens, Castleknock, Dublin 15. For Claire Doherty. This planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (€20) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

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GAZETTE

28 BLANCH GAZETTE 1 September 2016

SPORT H40 in top 10 free fall target

FastSport

SKYDIVING: CLONSILLA MAN CIARAN MCCARTNEY’S FORMATION TOUR

EDMONDSTOWN GOLF CLUB SHINES:

EDMONDSTOWN and Headfort Golf Clubs shared the spoils with one a piece as Edmondstown took the intermediate cup title and Headfort will represent East Leinster in the Challenge Cup at Dundalk Golf Club in the National Finals following their respective success at the AIG Ladies Cups and Shields District Finals.

Milltown took advantage of home ground when they defeated Donabate in the Senior Foursomes.

The Junior Foursomes was a very tight affair between Stackstown and 2015 District Champions Powerscourt. The first two matches needed extra tie holes and with a win for Stackstown, their first pairing emerged on top on the 22nd green.

It was 31 years since Castle won a Junior Cup title, but with the help of two mother and daughter duo’s Ann and Aly Doyle and Martha and Amy Jones 2016 was their year.

 STEPHEN FINDLATER sport@dublingazette.com

SKYDIVING is not a sport readily associated with Ireland due to our somewhat unpredictable weather, but that hasn’t stopped four Irishmen from pulling on a parachute to represent their country at the world parachuting championships in Chicago this month.

Dubliners Ciaran McCartney and Tony Higgins are joined by Steven Ross, Ronan W h e l a n a n d G av i n Brookfield in the team that will take to the skies.

The discipline they compete in is formation skydiving where four members jump from

the plane and have to compete six predefined formations as many times as they can in 35 seconds.

Each completed formation earns the team one point, with the competition consisting of 10 rounds. There must be complete separation between team members before building the next formation or the judges will deduct points from the final score.

The fifth member of the team follows them out of the plane and records their jump, before submitting the recording to a judge upon landing.

The team, known as H40, won the right to represent Ireland by winning the national

championships last year and Clonsilla man Ciaran McCartney spoke to GazetteSport about how the team came together and the significant costs involved in competing.

“We all jump at the Irish parachuting club in Offaly and all have similar interests in the competitive side of the sport. The last two years we have been training together with the goal of going to the world championships in Chicago.”

Last month saw the team compete in the UK nationals as a guest team. They set a new national record while there and know that a repeat performance will be needed at the world championships if they

The H40 skydiving team on a recent training trip to Spain.

are to break into the top 10.

“The top four or five teams in the world are all professional teams.

They train Monday to Friday, skydiving 10 to 12 times a day. That’s their job, and because we are an amateur team, we are aiming to be in the top 10 in the world,” McCartney explained.

Competing aside, it can cost huge amounts of money just to train, especially when some training abroad is necessary to perform at a

high standard.

“There is no funding whatsoever from the Irish Sports Council and it has cost us a significant amount this year individually. To break from the amateur level and push up the rankings you are talking ridiculous money – €100,000 per team member per year type of thing.

“We do a lot of our training abroad due to the Irish weather and there are bigger skydiving clubs abroad. We’ll

travel to Spain maybe a couple of times during the summer to train, but again all that cost is covered by ourselves,” said McCartney.

H40 are completely self-funded and while they are grateful for all the contributions they have received to date, they are always in need of as much funding as possible. If you would like to donate or sponsor the team you can do so at GoFundMe.com by searching “Irish Skydiving Team”.

Ashtown’s Campbell honoured with monthly award  sport@dublingazette.com

Peter Campbell in action in his Ford Fiesta. Picture: J-turn media

PETER Campbell, from Ashtown, in Dublin, has been selected as the Young Racing Driver of the Month for June.

The 23-year-old, who is in his first year of racing, scored a fine fifth place from a field of more than 30 drivers in the Procraft Tools Fiesta Zetec race at Mondello Park, behind four much more experienced rivals.

He began Rallycrossing last winter, and was unbeaten in the short mini-championship

for Fiestas, comfortably taking the title. He switched to circuit racing at the start of this season, and has worked his way up through the field from race to race, driving a car which he converted himself from a roadgoing Fiesta.

Camobell’s sponsor is Ti Auto Engineers, his father Gerry’s business, and he hopes to have a drive in a racing Alfa Romeo 155 at Mondello Park before the end of the year. He would like to progress to driving single seaters in future years.

He has just completed his Level A courses in manufacturing and design engineering at Dublin Institute of Technology, and is currently working in Ti Auto Engineers.

Having been selected as the third Driver of the Month for the 2016 season, he is now a contender for the prestigious Motorsport Ireland Young Racing Driver of the Year Award and the historic Sexton Trophy.

This award is presented annually and is supported by Sport Ireland (formerly the

Irish Sports Council) and Motorsport Ireland.

Elsewhere, in a close finish, three times National Rally champion Niall Maguire and his co-driver James O’Reilly, took top place in the Galway Summer Rally at Gort, leading from start to finish in their Subaru Impreza.

However, in a fine drive, the Ford Escort of Gary Kiernan and Ryan Moore was just five seconds behind after the nine stages, with Donegal pair Paddy McVeigh and Gar y McElhinney only two seconds.

1 September 2016 BLANCH GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

Horgan blows the whistle on Malawi hoop dreams

FASTSport

Marie Horgan tells JAMES HENDICOTT about unique opportunity to impart her basketball refereeing knowledge in a country where the sport is a poor relation to netball AS AN administrator on Irish basketball’s referee committee and long time refereeing coach, Marie Horgan never imagined she’d end up taking her craft to the tiny country of Malawi – a struggling “dust bowl” in Africa.

In July, however, after a tip-off from an Irish expat on the needs of the netball-loving country’s basketball community, Horgan found herself doing just that.

Training 26 local referees over the course of a week in July, Horgan brought her expertise to a group that she admits “in some cases didn’t really know the rules,” and in the process learnt about the challenges facing Malawian basketball.

The most obvious of those is really simple; not enough kit. Doing her best to contribute, Horgan collected shirts, shoes and basketballs

from around the Irish basketball community.

She handed them out to teams in poorest communities, including a number of refugee camps occupied largely by people from Somalia and Ethiopia.

“Some of the poorer areas had never seen a white person before,” Horgan told GazetteSport. “They have very little, but what I found fantastic about these communities is that they put so much emphasis on giving back.

“I went to places where I handed out the equipment, and I’d look back as I was walking away and they were already sharing it out between them, making sure everybody got something.

“It happened more than once. Some of these places have no electricity and no water, and yet when I turned up they

served me a lunch that probably cost them three days income. The welcome was unforgettable.”

The country is ranked among the world’s best at netball with the quality of available surfaces, perhaps, going a long way to explaining the difficulties in matching that achievement in basketball, which Horgan says has a lot of crossover.

“There’s only one indoor venue and it’s extremely difficult to get access to, especially for the average player,” she says. “It’s in a bible studies school, and totally out of their price range. Most of the courts are outdoors, and the surfaces are potholed, uneven and difficult to play on, but it doesn’t seem to bother them.”

Horgan’s main aim was to leave a more lasting legacy on the country, and to do this she organ-

Marie Horgan with a group of trainee basketball referees in Malawi

ised a referee training camp for 26 officials in the capital city of Lilongwe. The course had been intended to run for five days, as it does in Ireland, but with the attendees infectiously enthusiastic, Horgan needed little persuasion to extend the course by another couple of days to offer some extra feedback.

“The whole experience was a little bit different to Ireland. I think in Ireland a lot of people will try the course to learn the rules, test if it’s their thing, or even just to become a better player. Every person on the course in Malawi really wanted to be there.

They all had some experience as officials, and they all wanted to be referees.

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

‘Most of the courts were oustisde and potholed but it doesn’t seem to bother the locals’ - Marie Horgan

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

“They were all fascinated by the iPad, especially on the extra days when I had a chance to record the referees in action and give them some feedback,” Horgan recalls.

“The enthusiasm was incredible; there were so many questions.”

They saw it as a huge opportunity.”

Talking about the country in general, Horgan was shocked by the poverty but besotted with the people. “It’s a dustbowl,” she said. “The capital Lilongwe is just one main road with lots of little roads coming off it. None of the roads are tarmacked and here are big problems with water and electricity.

“People say the Irish are friendly, and I really believe we are. But in Malawi, despite their problems, they’ll give you everything. That generosity is what I’ll really take home with me.” ** Marie would like to thank the Dublin Men’s Basketball Board and the Dublin Official’s Association for helping her Malawian trip come to pass.

McCarthy’s truncated year yields triple crown DESPITE a spate of early season injuries, Julie McCarthy enjoyed a season to remember winning three provincial titles and an Irish close championship crown.

In March, the Irish international from Forrest Little was lying in third place heading into the second round of the French Ladies Amateur in St Cloud, Paris. But the 17-year-old sustained a wrist injury while warming up on the range and had to withdraw from the tournament.

On returning home, undergoing some MRI scans, she was prescribed a six-week layoff and a six-week recovery program, taking here out of the Helen Holm, Welsh & Irish Ladies, Munster and the Irish Girls Open Championships.

But she returned with a bang to competitive action at the Ulster Championships at the end of June, being the leading stroke play qualifier and when onto win the championship.

Next up, she took the Lenister Championships before being selected as the playing captain for the Irish team at the European championships where Ireland won Flight B in Oslo.

Returning from Oslo, the Irish Girls Close was held in Kilkenny; McCarthy previously won the Close in 2013 and was looking to repeat that victory in her last Close championship before heading over to Aurburn University in Alabama in August 2017. Second qualifier, she went onto to clinch the title for the second time on the 20th hole in an unbelievable final match against fellow International Niamh McSherry, that comprised of eight birdies and three eagles in regulation play.

The Connacht Championship was the last remaining provincial championship before the home international matches. She clinched the championship with a score of eight under par.

Ireland have been trying to win the home international matches for 47 years; this was McCarthy’s fourth time taking part in the home internationals with Ireland finishing runner up in the previous three years.

They duly won, capping an amazing, albeit truncated, season for the Swords woman. It was capped by an invitation from HRH Duke of York, Prince Andrew, to his champions’ tournament played at Royal Birkdale in September 2016.

GAZETTE

30 BLANCH GAZETTE 1 September 2016

SPORT

FASTSport

SOCCER: STUNNING START TO LIFE AS AN 11-A-SIDE OUTFIT

Saints draw all round on Sunday Senior return ST MOCHTA’S succumbed to a late comeback from Drumcondra to record their second successive draw to start their LSL Sunday Senior campaign on Monday evening.

The visitors came from 2-0 down to earn a point in Mochta’s opening home league game. Karl Somers opened the scoring in the seventh minute when he beat the offside trap and rounded the keeper to slot the ball home.

David Lacey made it 2-0 with a magnificent volley on the half hour mark after linking up with Marc Hughes.

Mark Cashin pulled a goal back on the stroke of half time with a low drive into the corner of the net.

Dylan Travers had a shot cleared off the line just after the break before David O’ Brien equalised on 51 minutes with a brilliant strike that left Morgan Cranley with no chance.

The Saints had a penalty appeal turned down late in the game when Karl Somers appeared to be bundled over. Both sides gave it everything in search of a winner, but it was to end with the points shared.

It came three days after Mochta’s had begun their season with a 1-1 draw against Bangor.

The Saints enjoyed plenty of possession in the opening 20 minutes. Travers had a shot cleared off the line.

The opening goal arrived on 44 minutes with a beautiful finish by Travers from Bryan Fitzpatrick’s cross. The home side responded immediately and hit the crossbar from a header.

Chances were limited in the second half with the home side finishing the stronger.

The equaliser arrived on 87 minutes with a powerful finish from Luke Synott into the corner of the net. The Saints had a very strong claim for a penalty for handball waved away in the 90th minute but a draw proved a fair result.

The Saints will get stronger, though, as times goes on with David Lacey, David Somers and Denis Moran all to come into the squad.

Castleknock Celtic’s Under-13 Major side celebrate their Harmony Cup success

Glue Gloves in perfect Harmony sport@dublingazette.com

CASTLEKNOCK Celtic’s DDSL Under-13 Major team secured their first trophy of the season in dramatic style, beating a valiant Esker Celtic on penalties.

After a good pre-season and with many new faces joining the club, this Castleknock team were looking forward to their first ever 11-a-side game.

Castleknock played with great style, keeping the ball on the perfect AUL Complex surface at all times. First up was Baldoyle and a super game all round. The first goal came from tricky wing

play by Gentian Ramadani, crossing to the oncoming Ibrahim Camara who slammed the ball home.

Ten minutes later, Camara returned the compliment, powering down the wing and finding Gentian in space in the penalty box and he slotted home with great skill. Baldoyle came back strong and scored in the dying moments but 2-1 it finished.

Game two was against Drumcondra and again Castleknock started the brighter. Dawide “Glue Gloves” Biernat in goal set the scene and played short to his full backs, Sam Power in particu-

SQUAD GOALS Somerton girls all set for head to head battle CASTLEKNOCK camogie are on the hunt to be crowned the most skilful players in Ireland when they face Kilkenny’s St Lachtains at Croke Park on September 11 in the final of the Liberty Insurance Squad Goals Challenge.

Having impressed judges in earlier rounds, Castleknock are the only Dublin team to progress in the competition and now have the chance to win a €5,000 prize in a head to head encounter during half time at the All-Ireland senior camogie final.

lar catching the eye with clever movement and passing.

Dylan Coyne was bossing midfield aided by the impressive Jake Rice, Ben Nolan, Ben McDonagh, Ciaran Murtagh and Awwab Melad and it was Coyne’s mazy dribble that brought the foul for the all-important penalty.

Camara stepped up and 1-0 it was. But Drumcondra battled hard and a long ball over the top was finished in some style to make it 1-1, the way the game ended.

Nonetheless, it led to a place in the cup final, a battle of the Celts, Castleknock versus the fancied

Esker. It was a tight contest all the way through, Dauda Danson in particular holding firm in defence, helped by Jatin Ramesh, James Murgatroyd and Ciaran Carey.

Castleknock were on top first half, with Esker improving second half.

With chances at a premium it was Dawide who made two fine saves and so it was the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

After 11 successful penalties, it was “Glue Gloves” who took centre stage, Dawide leaping to his right to make a fine save and finish the tournament with a welldeserved victory.

The last challenge was for Captain Ciaran Murtagh to lift the Harmony Cup to great cheers from his team mates and supporters and take the Fingal Harmony Cup back to Castleknock.

Elsewhere, Castleknock Celtic’s children’s football academy resumes this weekend on Saturday at 10am in Porterstown Park. New members are very welcome.

All the basic skills are taught in a fun-filled way where the enjoyment of the children is the priority. Text or phone Kieran at 086 8091699 if you require further information.

1 September 2016 BLANCH GAZETTE 31

GAZETTE

LADIES FOOTBALL: DUB STARS WORK ETHIC PAYING OFF

CLUB NOTICEBOARD

ST BRIGID’S BEST of luck to our ladies football team

Park on Saturday, September 10.

in the senior ladies county final on Fri-

Congratulations to our representa-

day, September 2 at 8.15pm in Parnell

tives on the Dublin senior ladies and

Park. Please come out and show your

men’s football teams who are both

support for the team.

through to All-Ireland finals in Sep-

The nursery returns on Saturday,

tember after two thrilling semi-finals

September 10 in Russell Park from

last weekend. See the club website in

9.30am to 11am. We welcome all four-

the coming days for ticket informa-

to seven-year-olds in the Castle-

tion.

knock and Blanchardstown area and

A juvenile camogie disco will take

new members and families are always

place for 11-13 year olds in the club on

welcome.

Friday, September 9 from 8-11pm. All

For further information and queries, contact David on 085 8340169.

welcome.

The lotto team are taking a summer

Congratulations to Eoin Kennedy on

break with our next draw on Septem-

a great win in the handball semi-final

ber 1 in Russell Park. Thank you to you

Brigid’s more ready than for 2015 finale

on Saturday. Eoin will play McCarthy

all for your support of our lotto and to

from Westmeath in the final in Croke

our great lotto committee.

LADIES SFC FINAL

tees them a league semi-final.

Foxrock Cabinteely’s captain Sarah Brophy and St Brigid’s Ciara Trant. Picture: Peter Hickey/GAAPics.com

 JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

ST BRIGID’S boss Con Brennan looked ahead to this Friday’s New Ireland Assurance Dublin Ladies’ football championship finale at Parnell Park by telling GazetteSport his players are “more ready” than they were facing the same match up in last year’s county decider.

Speaking ahead of the game with Foxrock Cabinteely, Brennan – who took over as manager at Brigid’s in April 2015 – said: “it tooks me the guts of a year to really get to know these girls.

“I think they were mentally happy to be in the final last year. That’s not the case this year, which shows how we’ve progressed. The semi-final win showed the guts they have as a team, especially as Boden is always a tough place to go. I think they’ve learnt a lot about how to get it right.”

Brennan credits a lot of the team’s success with the players from his side that have made it to the Dublin senior panel, with

Noelle Healy, Sorcha Furlong and star goalkeeper Ciara Trant all regulars for their county. Trant the star of Brigid’s semifinal win over Ballyboden St Enda’s - is described as “just ridiculously naturally talented,” with Brennan suggesting that the goalkeeper could equally play soccer, and pointing to her long-distance points scoring as a particular Brigid’s asset.

“The Dublin girls’ attitudes really rub off on the squad,” he explains.

“They train in a professional environment where everything is monitored, from food intake to fitness. I wouldn’t be surprised to hear they monitor the time they go to sleep.

“It rubs off. The team have taken on a mobility warm up that the Dublin girls use, for example and some of the other players have incorporated that into their own personal training.

“These girls are training 75-80 sessions a year – at least as much as any men’s team would – and the experience at county level really helps bring

that into focus.”

As for facing up to powerhouse rivals Foxrock Cabinteely this Friday, Brennan maintains he will be focused on his own team’s game.

“We need to concentrate on what we’re good at,” he tells us.

“Obviously you have to consider your opponents, but we’ll look after our own plan. To win any championship at any level is huge for any club, and this might come only once in a lifetime.

“I would expect a huge

crowd from our community along on Friday night, as it means a lot to us.

“The ladies game is only going to get bigger.

It’ll be the first time we’ve played under lights since January, so we’ll have a think about that in the build up.

“Hopefully the Dublin girls will be physically and emotionally recovered from Saturday [when Dublin edged past Mayo in the dying seconds in the All-Ireland semi-final], and we’ll be all ready to go.”

CASTLEKNOCK CONGRATS to Ciaran and the Dubs on

chance! Castleknock GAA are going to

a thrilling victory over the Kingdom.

the OsKars on Saturday, November 5

Brilliant win for our U-15 camogie girls

in Westmanstown.

over St Vincent’s in the championship

We are looking for 50 people aged 18

and a great away win for our minor

to 80 years-old to take part (no expe-

footballers over BSJ which guaran-

rience necessary). short; well known scenes from iconic

our adult A hurlers in the league over

movies which will be premiered on the

Finbarrs.

night. You could even win an OsKar! To

Our family day takes place this Saturday, September 3 in Somerton

take part, email chfcoskars@gmail. com or call Breda on 086 8416431.

Park. Activities for all the family, why

The Joe Coyle Memorial Walk, spon-

not drop down and enjoy the fun. Our

sored by Complete Office Equipment,

adult A footballers take on St Vincent’s

takes place from Bray to Greystones

at 6pm on Sat in Somerton.

this Saturday, September 3. This is a

Our Nursery is back in full swing and

fundraising initiative for the club so

new members are very welcome. Just

please support the walk and the walk-

come down on Saturdays at 10am and

ers.

say hello to one of our friendly coaches.

Have you ever dreamed of being on the silver screen? Well, now is your

We all send our best wishes to club member Ailbhe Kelly as she heads off to Rio to represent Ireland on the swim team in the Paralympics.

NAOMH PEREGRINE WELL done to Eric Lowndes and the

girls were well beaten in their football

Dublin squad/management beating

championship by Clanna Gael but

Kerry and reaching their second All-

showed great resilience the next day

Ireland final in a row.

in their camogie championship with a

Congratulations to the Dublin ladies

great win against Good Counsel.

footballers by going one better in

The club is running a draw for All-

reaching their third All-Ireland final in

Ireland tickets; books of tickets are

a row by beating Mayo.

available with proceeds going towards

The club will be running a bus for

a new electronic scoreboard.

the men’s and ladies All-Ireland finals

Bingo takes place every Wednesday

details will be circulated nearer the

night at 8.30pm; single book €10, double

finals.

book €15 and jackpot €200. Live music

Well done to the AHL9s who had a huge win against Erin’s Isle. Hard luck to the senior camogie team who were beaten by St Pat’s (P).

St Brigid’s Elaine Kelly in action. Picture: GAAPics.com

You will be starring in pre-recorded

Hard fought and deserved win for

on Saturday night. DJ every Sunday night. Sunday lunch available.

All gym users must sign in/out of the gym on each visit. Under no cir-

The U-15 girls had a big win against

cumstance is any member to be alone

Whitehall Colmcilles in the first round

in the gym at any time this includes

of the camogie championship. The U-13

mobility training.

GAZETTESPORT ALL OF YOUR BLANCH SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31

SAINTS REVENGE: Brigid’s looking to undo Foxrock in repeat of 2015 DLGFA senior championship final P31

SEPTEMBER 1-7, 2016

FREE FALLING FOR IRELAND: H40 set world top ten as skydiving formation target P28

Carl Gallagher, fourth from right, back row, with his Straight Blast Gym team

Carl and the Killing Fields

Clonsilla’s Gallagher making waves on the Irish mixed martial arts scene as one of the first major products from new Swords setup

 KARL GRAHAM

sport@dublingazette.com

CLONSILLA fighter Carl Gallagher returned to Dublin with a gold medal around his neck as he came out on top at the 2016 Cork MMA Open.

The 24-year-old Gallagher competed in the Over-21s featherweight division and won all three of his fights; two of them by decision and one by performing a straight arm lock.

Gallagher spoke to GazetteSport about how delighted he is to win his first tournament of this kind.

“It was the first MMA tournament or any style of striking competition I have ever entered

so I was delighted to take all the wins on the day.”

Gallagher fights out of the Straight Blast Gym in Swords, who only opened their doors last April, and has only been at the club three months but is already making significant progress under his trainers Chris “The Killing” Fields and Tom King.

“I have been back training for one year in MMA and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and I’ve been at SBG Swords for three months.

“From a teenager I did a few things: Judo, Muay Thai and a little bit of MMA so I kind of have a strong grappling background.

“I have been trying to improve my striking over the last while so on the day I kept it on

the feet to test my striking a little bit,” said Gallagher.

Next up for Gallagher is the North American Grappling Association’s [NAGA] Irish championship this Saturday in DCU, where he will be competing in the featherweight category.

“I then [after NAGA] hope to have a K1 fight at the end of November, before getting straight into some amateur MMA fights.”

Asked if he plans to stay at amateur level or aim to become the latest Irishman to trail the path to the UFC, Gallagher was keeping his options open.

“I would like to see how the amateur career goes but if I could have a successful career at amateur level then I don’t see why I wouldn’t go

pro. I suppose that would be the dream at the end of the day.”

If you asked young Irish fighters who they look up to in the sport, most would probably say Dubliner Conor McGregor.

However, Gallagher admires somebody a lot closer to home.

“My coach Chris Fields is a two-time world champion in Cage Contender and Cage Warriors so I have to talk the world about him. He was supposed to have a title fight on September 10 but that was cancelled because his opponent picked up an ankle injury.

“That was going to be a big event at the 3Arena so I definitely look up to Chris; he’s been there for me over the past year.”