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INSIDE: Some sunny insights into how RTE weather presenter Evelyn Cusack escapes the mayhem P13

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Dubs’ delight at All-Ireland final win over Kerry Page 31

Soccer:

Castleknock’s important win over Firhouse Page 30

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ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES....................... 8 DUBLIN LIFE....................11 OUT&ABOUT...................17 CLASSIFIEDS.................26 SPORT............................28

syrian crisis: The UN and EU must do more for refugees – Barry Andrews P16

Fear of ‘Westies’ reigns in Corduff  Keith Bellew

Corduff residents have raised concerns about ongoing antisocial behaviour and crime in the area, saying that if the problem isn’t nipped in the bud, it could be a return to the days of “the Westies”.

Speaking to The Gazette, a Corduff resident said that in the past few weeks a group of youths aged in their mid-teens up to 20 years old have been wreaking havoc in

the area.

“We had this going back to when you had the ‘the Westies’. When they were around the age these lads are now, people were highlighting problems to the guards, youth services and nothing was done and it didn’t pan out too well for the area.”

Gardai told the Gazette they are investigating these incidents.

Full Story on Page 2

Daddy’s girls: Biggest fans on hand to celebrate hurling win st Brigid’s Junior B hurler

Stephen Moore is joined by his two biggest fans, twin daughters Alannah and Doireann, after his side won a narrow victory over O’Toole’s in O’Toole Park and won their championship title.

The game was an enthralling encounter on an ideal sunny September evening and both sides fought tooth and nail until the death. But Brigid’s won the thriller 1-13 to 0-15 to claim Championship glory.

2 BLANCH Gazette 24 September 2015

crime Anti-social behaviour not being tackled say residents

Fear of return to days of ‘Westies’ Corduff residents have raised concerns about ongoing antisocial behaviour and crime in the area, saying that if the problem isn’t nipped in the bud, it could be a return to the days of the Westies when a small group of criminals maintained a stranglehold on the area through violence and intimidation.

Speaking to The Gazette, a Corduff resident said that over the last number of weeks a group of youths aged in their mid-teens up to

 keith bellew kbellew@dublingazette.com

20 years old have been wreaking havoc in the area. He said that a particular resident has been singled out in a sustained campaign of abuse: “They’re smashing his windows, his car, throwing eggs, and he has two young children living in the house.

They’re living in terror.

This is from a group of youths who are consistently joy-riding motorbikes, cars the whole lot. The latest incident was Thursday 17 where they beat up a pizza man and stole his car.”

The resident said that the youths responsible were joy-riding the car around the estate throughout the night, and began again the following morning.

A spokesperson from An Garda Siochana, said gardai are investigating the car-jacking

of a vechicle at Corduff Road at 8.30pm on September 17.

“A man in his 20s was injured when he was assaulted and his car, a blue Toyota, was taken. The car was later found burnt-out close to Blanchardstown IT. Anyone with information is asked to contact Blanchardstown Garda Station.”

W hile gardai have said they are investigating the incident, residents says that they are not doing enough. “ We ’ ve b e e n t r y ing to put an immense amount of pressure on the guards to do something about this over the last five weeks, and it appears as if there’s not a whole lot being done.

“We had this going back to when you had the Westies. When they were around the age these lads are now, people were highlighting problems to the guards,

The local residents association is urging all residents to attend the next meeting of the Safer Blanchardstown Forum in Corduff Resource Centre

youth ser vices and nothing was done and it didn’t pan out too well for the area,” he said.

The Westies were a gang of violent criminals in Blanchardstown, the two leading members of which were from Corduff.

In the late 1990s this gang made nationwide headlines for the extreme violence and intimidation they used to control the dr ug trade in the area.

The resident said that, like the Westies, the group currently causing trouble in the area is a very small minority.

A spokesperson from An Garda Siochana said they do not respond to comments made by third parties.

The local residents association is urging all residents to attend the next meeting of the Safer Blanchardstown Forum, a community group which aims to

address crime in the area.

The meeting takes p l a c e o n T h u r s d ay, September 24 at 7pm in Corduff Resource Centre.

“Is this what our estate is heading back to? The vast majority of people in Corduff are honest, decent people.

We cannot continue to let these people bring the area down,” said a post from the group on Facebook.

Property occupied to highlight crisis  keith bellew

Anti-Austerity Alliance representatives in Dublin 15 along with around a dozen homeless families recently spent the night in a NAMA property currently being developed in Diswellstown for private housing.

Deputy Ruth Coppinger who led the protest said the property was occupied to raise awareness of the fact

that Blanchardstown has a “homeless epidemic” while NAMA has control of a lot of land and houses in the area.

“There’s no way we can solve the housing crisis without NAMA being turned into a vehicle for public housing, rather than everything being sold on the open market for a huge profit,” she said.

One of those protesting alongside Deputy

Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Second Floor, Heritage House, Dundrum Office Park, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers

Coppinger was 22-yearold mother of two Amy Brennan who has been homeless since her landlord evicted her.

Speaking to The Gazette, she said “I’m homeless since June. I was living in a threebedroom private rented accommodation and my rent went up over €1, 000 and I couldn’t afford it anymore.

“I didn’t stay in the house for a couple of days and my landlord changed the locks and threw everything [my possessions] out.”

She says she has had no stability in her emergency accommodation, and has not been able to stay in the same place

longer than a couple of nights at a time.

She went on to say that she is thankful that her children who are one- and two-years-old are not in school yet as she is currently in a hotel in the city centre, miles from Blanchardstown.

However, she still has to travel back to Blanchardstown for support from friends and family.

“I’m a mother of two and I’m only 22, I need a house for my children, I don’t know how much more we can take, it’s terrible, we’ve no routine, we’ve no roots, its mental torture,” she said.

24 September 2015 BLANCH Gazette 3

initiative

development: dirt and rubble on road from housing project

Over-55s invited to get busy

Concern leads to site litter clean-up  keith bellew

A PART of the R121 at a new housing development in Hollystown, which had been strewn with dirt and rubble, has been cleaned up and the site manager has committed to keeping it that way.

This follows representations by Cllr Mary McCamley (Lab) on behalf of residents and commuters, who were concerned about the dirt and rubble being swept onto the road from the wheels of the trucks exiting the site.

The residents were particularly worried about the approaching winter as they felt the effect of the wet weather on the

muck would leave the surface in a hazardous condition.

Cllr McCamley said she had visited the site on three occasions to see for herself how it was being managed.

“I noticed two access roads at the site; one had a tarmac surface while the other was just a dirt track.

I realised that residents were worried about the coming winter months, when rain and wet conditions would exacerbate the situation.”

As a result of those concerns, she met site manager John Maher, who she said was most helpful and appreciative of the concerns.

“He assured me that the road would be updat-

ed and improved.

“On my third visit, I noticed that stones had been laid and a sweeper had been installed to work at the site on a daily basis.”

The development will consist of 435 two- and three-storey houses, with a mixture of detached, semi-detached and terraced units.

Cllr McCamley said she was relieved to see that housing development was taking place again.

She said she hoped that these and all new builds going forward would be high-quality family homes in order to cater for all new residents, who wanted to move to the area.

Cooking up a storm: Local chef brings his talent to the Big Apple local chef Colin Brogan is cooking up a storm in the Big Apple and

making Dublin 15 proud. Now working in a top Michelin awarded restaurant in Manhattan, JUNI, Colin has embraced New York by immersing himself in what the city has to offer. Chef Brogan began experimenting with recipes at the young age of 10 after having shadowed his father in the kitchen. Later he studied Culinary Arts at DIT, Cathal Brugha Street. His cooking career began locally at Brasserie 15 in Castleknock. Since then his repertoire is ever expanding and has worked in some of the world’s best restaurants, including Thornton’s in Dublin and Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck in Berkshire.

Searching for opportunity, Colin embraced emigration – like it or not – as a path to personal success. But our loss is New York City’s gain.

MULHUDDART Community Centre is hosting a coffee morning on October 2 at 10am to promote activities available to people over 55 years in the community as part of its age-friendly initiative.

The centre is urging over-55s to come and meet new friends. The group is also looking for volunteers with particular skills, who are interested in teaching classes or workshops.

To launch the initiative, the centre will host a Halloween-themed event on October 20. Lunch will be served at 1.30pm and there will be a competition for best fancy dress.

The event is free, however, booking is essential. For more information, contact Mulhuddart Community Centre at 01 8215120, on Facebook or call in.

4 BLANCH Gazette 24 September 2015

charity

Ball to raise funds for CF

boundaries ‘Prefer DCC take control of estates’

 Keith Bellew

A charit y ball to raise funds for cystic fibrosis will take place at Crowne Plaza, Blanchardstown on November 14.

The Snowflake Ball is being held in memory of Elaine Galwey, who passed away last year after 31 years of living with cystic fibrosis.

Funds raised on the night will go towards providing more hospital beds in cystic fibrosis units, as well as funding for ongoing research and to further the education of young cystic fibrosis patients through a scholarship.

Informative According to organisers, the ball promises to be glamorous, fun and informative.

“There will be a drinks reception, a delicious four-course meal, entertainment, a silent auction and a lot of fun. All for €65 per ticket. Sixtyfive roses is how children are taught to pronounce cystic fibrosis so we feel it’s a suitable price.”

For more information visit www.snowflakeball4cf.com/

Dublin City Council is looking to expand its boundaries westward from Finglas in order to take control of areas which are currently under the auspices of Fingal County Council

City council may take over areas from Fingal  Keith Bellew

Dublin City Council is looking to expand its boundaries westward from Finglas in order to take control of the Heathfield, Dunsogly, Charlestown and Lanesboro areas which are

currently under the auspices of Fingal County Council.

This comes as a result of a motion tabled by Cllr Anthony Conaghan (SF) and passed unanimously at both the Cabra/Finglas area committee and the full

Dublin City Council in July.

Cllr Conaghan said that these areas are under the auspices of Fingal despite the fact that they are essentially a part of Finglas, and many residents would prefer Dublin City Council take control of their estates.

“My thinking is that these estates were given planning permission by Fingal, but they vote in the Dublin north-west general election, but when it comes to the local elections Heathfield have to go out to Mulhuddart to vote and Dunsogly have to go to Castleknock to vote.

These are people whose kids would be in school in Finglas, and they shop in Finglas, their whole life would be down this end, but their county

council is Fingal, which is Blanchardstown,” he said.

He said that the same applies to Lanesborough and Charlestown, which is why he proposed writing to Environment Minister Alan Kelly to request that Dublin City Council’s boundaries be extended as far as the M50 to take these areas in charge.

A huge issue for residents of Heathfield and Dunsogly is the condition of the road separating their estates from Cappagh Hospital, which has been left with rubble strewn over it for around 10 years following development in the area.

“We constantly get people from Dunsogly and Heathfield in with us asking about the road, and I have to con-

tact Fingal, and I don’t have the same contacts there that I do in Dublin City Council. Anyone who lives in Charlestown and Lanesborough would use our health care facilities, our schools, and our roads,” he said.

Fingal councillor Mary McCamley (Lab) was supportive of the proposal saying: “I think the people of Heathfield will be pleased with this as they feel that they are out on a limb. They also have different TDs representing them.”

Mulhuddart Cllr Paul Donnelly (SF) also said that the residents will certainly welcome the proposal but added that it may prove very complex, especially considering social housing units planned for the area by Fingal.

A spokesperson from the Department of Environment said Dublin City Council has been informed that the provisions of Part Five of the Local Government Act 1991 dealing with local authority boundar y alteration are available to Dublin City Council to initiate locally in conjunction with Fingal County Council.

A spokesperson from Dublin City Council said the Protocol Committee agreed on September 3 not to proceed down this route until it was ascertained how Fingal County Council would feel about the proposal, and that Fingal will be approached on this in the coming weeks.

A spokesperson from Fingal said they were unaware of any such proposal.

24 September 2015 BLANCH Gazette 5

don’sdublin Reflecting on the life and times of Dublin man Edmund Burke EDMUND Burke was born in Dublin on January 12, 1729 to a Protestant father, Richard, and Catholic mother, Mary Nagle, who was from County Cork. Richard was a prosperous solicitor and he sent young Edmund to be educated in a Quaker school in Ballitore, County Kildare.

Later, in 1744 he entered Trinity College and in 1747 established a debating society – the Edmund Burke Club. The society merged with the Historical Club in 1770 to form the College Historical Society which is the world’s second oldest student society.

He went to London in 1750 to study law, and against the wishes of his father, soon gave up and decided to earn his living by writing. His first published work, A Vindication of Natural Society: A View of the Miseries and Evils Arising to Mankind (1756), attacked social philosophy, especially that of Jean-Jacques Rousseau, the great Swiss philosopher.

By the late 1750s he counted Samuel Johnston, Oliver Goldsmith, David Garrick and Sir Joshua Reynolds among his circle of friends in London.

After a return to Dublin, where he acted as private secretary to William Hamilton, chief secretary for Ireland, he entered parliament in 1765. He spoke out against Britain’s actions in America and thought war was the wrong path to follow. Subsequently, he attacked the French Revolution, for which he was criticised. However, many of his desperate warnings were borne out with the execution of Louis XVI and the rise of the despotic Napoleon.

Here is a selection of his many famous quotes: “Reading without reflecting is like eating without digesting.”

“Never apologise for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologise for the truth.”

“You can never plan the future by the past.”

He died in Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire on July 9, 1797 and is buried in the local churchyard with his infant son Richard, whose loss affected him deeply.

Don Cameron

www.donsdublin.wordpress.com

Writer, lawyer and debater: Edmund Burke: “Never apologise for showing feeling. When you do so, you apologise for the truth.”

homelessness ‘Units can make an impact on crisis’

Units could ease housing crisis  Keith Bellew

A de v e l op m e n t in Parnell Estate, Mulhuddar t, which was originally developed for affordable housing, but leased by Fingal County Council in the private market, may be used to house homeless people when the current leases

are up.

T h e d e ve l o p m e n t originally comprised 178 units of affordable properties, together with an additional 94 social units. The units are a mixture of two and three bedroom apartments and duplexes.

Due to the downturn in the economy the coun-

cil succeeded in selling some units and decided to let all remaining unsold properties in the development on a pilot project using a private market rental model, until such time as the market improved.

162 of these units are still owned by the council and Cllr Paul Donnelly

(SF) said they can be used to ease the homeless crisis.

“I am convinced that the former affordable housing units in the Parnell Estate can make an impact on the homeless and social housing crisis.

I acknowledge that the vast majority of the units are locked into leasing

arrangements, however those leases will not be in place forever,” he said.

A council spokesperson said: “The council has committed to reviewing the filling of future vacancies in the context of the homeless situation, maintaining sustainable communities and other related matters.”

6 BLANCH Gazette 24 September 2015

housing €700,000 bond wiped out in bank dissolution

Council set to take charge of Allendale  keith bellew kbellew@dublingazette.com

FINGAL County Council has confirmed that Allendale estate is to be taken in charge in November.

The process that will see the council take on responsibility for the estage, had been delayed because a number of works had to be completed by the developer to bring the estate up to the standard necessary for Fingal to take it in charge.

T hese outstanding works were mainly water related and included sewer repairs to pipework, hydrants, inspec-

tion chambers, manhole covers and sluice valves.

The cost of completing these works was about €90,000, and is usually the responsibility of the developer, who initiated the development.

However in this case, d e ve l o p e r M e n o l l y Homes went into receivership.

Fingal County Council had a planning bond for the estate valued at €700,000 but when the developer went into receivership, the bond passed from Anglo Irish Bank to the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation.

When it was dissolved,

and its funds were transferred to Nama, the bond was wiped out.

However, all of these issues have now been resolved and the estate will be taken in charge following the council meeting on November 9.

Cllr Mary McCamley (Lab) said she was pleased and relieved to learn that the long process was finally coming to an end.

“At long last, the residents of Allendale have an end result and the residents’ association can see a culmination to their hard work undertaken over the past two to three years.”

She said she had worked on the issue since first becoming a councillor at the beginning of 2012, and had submitted a total of seven motions on Allendale in that time.

She had also written to Menolly Homes in September 2013 requesting it carry out the works necessary for the estate to be considered for been taken in charge.

“I think every councillor at some stage discussed this issue – I am so relived for the people of Allendale.

“Hopefully those of them who worked so hard on the matter might be able to rest for a while.”

The council is moving to take Ongar village in charge

Cllr David McGuinness (Ind) also welcomed the announcement, saying the Allendale community had campaigned tirelessly on this issue over the past few years and the council had worked

hard with them.

“Through legal complications and bond issues there has been a delay, but a public notice has gone up and it’s very welcome.

“I know there are a lot of people in that commu-

nity who are very happy with the news.”

He said the council was preparing for legal proceedings to secure bonds for the Ongar region, so other areas like Ongar village, can be taken in charge.

24 September 2015 BLANCH Gazette 7

conservation Hole in bucket teaches valuable lesson about scarce resource

Blakestown pupils win Water Explorer award  keith bellew

BLAKESTOWN Community School has been named the overall winner in the National Water Explorer Programme 2015.

Water Explorer is an online water conservation initiative organised by the charity Global Action Plan. The programme focuses on pupils aged eight to 14 years in developing their understanding of

how water affects lives, and how they can develop practical ideas to protect and save water in school.

Pupils from Blakestown Community School recently took home a specially commissioned trophy and framed certificate following an awards ceremony held at the Axis Theatre in Ballymun.

The award honours the pupils for their outstanding efforts across the whole pro-

gramme in taking action to protect and conserve fresh water and for excelling in the areas of raising awareness and community outreach. Last school year, the school saved 9,916 litres of water.

Speaking to The Gazette, teacher and Green School’s co-ordinator Shauna Keyes outlined some of the initiatives undertaken by the students.

She said the students put a lot of emphasis on what is

tributes: significant contribution

Partnership head to retire after 11 years  keith bellew kbellew@dublingazette.com

LINDA Curran, chief executive of the Blanchardstown Area Partnership, retires from her role on Friday, October 2, after 11 years.

For almost 20 years, Blanchardstown Area Partnership has been responsible for the implementation of a range of programmes to meet the needs of individuals, families and community groups in the area.

Key programmes delivered in Dublin 15 are the local and community development programme, and the local employment service (Joblink) and Tus. Most recently the group was awarded the contract to deliver the new social inclusion and community activation programme across Fingal.

Of the 20 years she had worked in management roles, Curran said her 11 years with Blanchardstown Area Partnership had been the most rewarding.

“While it has been a

Incoming chief executive of Blanchardstown Area Partnership, Terry McCabe with retiring chief executive Linda Curran and chairman Kieran Dennison

very challenging job, with many changes in what we can do and how we can do it, I believe that we have played a major role in supporting our community and our clients over the years.

“I am, of course, sad to be leaving colleagues that I have worked with for so long, but I am looking forward to the new challenges that lie ahead in retirement.”

Speaking on behalf of the partnership board, chairman Cllr Kieran Dennison (FG) paid tribute to the work Curran had overseen and carried out in the community.

“Linda has made a

significant contribution to the Blanchardstown Area Partnership over the 11 years she has been in charge.

“The company grew in that time to meet the challenging social and community needs in Dublin 15,” he said, adding that over the past four years in particular, Curran had managed to cater for a growing client list despite cuts to funding.

“I wish Linda a happy and rewarding retirement,” he said.

Curran will be replaced

by Terry McCabe, who has worked with the partnership for almost 20 years.

known as secret water. This is the water we use without realising it. For example, it takes 2,700 litres of water to make one cotton shirt, 8,000 litres to make one pair of shoes and 10,850 litres of water to make one pair of jeans. Also, it takes 2,400 litres of water to make just one burger, 130 litres to make a cup of coffee, 30 litres for a cup of tea, and a glass of drinking water takes up to two litres to treat before it comes

through a tap.

She said the students visited a number of primary schools in the area to educate the students on secret water, and water conservation in general. In order to make this more interesting, the transition year students created water-themed superheros and dressed up for the presentations.

Students came up with a song about water during music class and took on challenges

based on transporting water.

Keyes said this brought home the reality of the difficulties faced by people in developing countries in accessing drinking water. One such challenge was carrying a bucket of water with a hole in it for 5km.

Schools are now being encouraged to sign up for the Water Explorer 2016 programme which has just been launched. Details can be found at www.waterexplorer.ie

8 blanch Gazette 24 September 2015

gazetteGALLERIES

Rosalina Bukhatwa and Kashifa Sarumi from SARI

Opposing teams in close encounters of a soccer kind at the recent Soccerfest in the Phoenix Park

Julia Dourado, Talita Gussi and Julia Paini

Farin Said, Nasreen Abdulkarim and Murad Karim enjoy the day. Pictures: Ronan O’Sullivan Husayn Ayub

winner: diversity is Number 1 at soccerfest

A mini world cup

S Teams showed their skills

Sofiat Alani and Younus Mohammed

PORT Against Racism Ireland’s Soccerfest was held recently at the Garda sports grounds in the Phoenix Park. Diversity was the name of the game as the teams took to the pitch in the largest intercultural soccer tournament in Ireland. Over the years, Soccerfest has developed into a celebration of

cultural diversity , social inclusion and global development. A range of cultural activities including live entertainment was provided for all the family. Advice on mainstreaming into other sports organisations, including developing links with soccer clubs, was available on the day. Visit www.sari.ie for more information.

24 September 2015 Blanch Gazette 9

10 Gazette 24 September 2015

gazetteGALLERY

Ellie and David Galloway

Liona Cassidy with Sid, Ben and Casair Feidhlim. Pictures: Stephen Fleming

Dubliners have never been happier to be blue

O

’CONNELL Street was transformed into a sea of blue earlier this week when possibly the nation’s best-loved name – Sam Maguire – paid a visit, courtesy of the victorious Dublin Senior Football Team, the

David O’Dwyer

newly-crowned All-Ireland champions who were honoured with a city centre reception.

The famous trophy was hoisted into the air to a deafening cheer from the crowd, with

Dubliners and onlookers in the closed-off thoroughfare delighted to pay tribute to the Dublin team, following their 0-12 to

0-09 victory against Kerry at Croke Park last weekend, despite the terrible weather.

However, the match’s rain was banished for sunny smiles all round once Sam showed up, with even Kerry fans applauding the sight.

Sam and his new friends – Dublin captain Stephen Cluxton and the rest of the boys

James Dempsey

The wait was hard, but

Lord Mayor of Dublin, Criona Ni Dhalaigh, among the

worthwhile in the end

notable speakers paying tribute to the Dublin team

24 September 2015 Gazette 11

equality P14

asdfsdaf feature P27 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

a day in the life: Guinness ambassador Aaron Ridgeway

what’son

Storehouse job a taste of the good life

 Ian Begley

The many thousands of people who visit Ireland each year will always prioritise the Guinness Storehouse as one of their must-see attractions during their stay.

With such a vast obligation to meet expectations and to keep the Guinness brand as a key symbol of Ireland, it is no wonder that a huge amount of work goes into its operation.

This week The Gazette caught up with beer specialist and Guinness Storehouse ambassador Aaron Ridgeway to describe a typical day in his life.

“The time I’d leave my house at changes every day. I work shifts so the earliest I would head off would be around 7am.

“I live near the Phoenix Park, which is only about a 20-minute walk away from the Guinness Storehouse which is brilliant.

“My role is to basically make Guinness ambassadors out of anyone who walks into the building. I do that with interacting with anyone who comes through our doors by offering them a welcome, whoever they are.

strictly a fun night out with june rodgers

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

‘Usually I’m fairly okay when I’m meeting celebrities but when Chris Hadfield came into the Storehouse I was very excited and extremely nervous’

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

Aaron Ridgeway



Gazette

diary P12

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

Sharing the rich history of Guinness is part of the job for Aaron Ridgeway

“Personally, a big part of my job involves doing tasting sessions and talking about all of the different variants of Guinness that we have. I also do connoisseur sessions where our visitors get to try our variants in a private bar.”

Asked if he has ever crossed paths with anyone famous within the Guinness Storehouse, Ridgeway said that he had the pleasure of meeting actor and Anchor Man lead David Koechner and astronaut Chris Hadfield.

“Usually I’m fairly okay when I’m meeting celebrities but when Chris Hadfield came into the Storehouse I

was very excited and extremely nervous.

“The man has literally been to the outer regions of the earth so trying to impress him was a very big deal to us.”

Ridgeway added that travelling abroad to launch a new type of Guinness or to simply keep the Guinness brand in the minds of people outside Ireland is also a big part of his job.

“The last trip I was on was for the launching of a new variant in Mauritius. It was amazing to go over there and meet the people. We had a massive launch with lots of food and

drink, along with teaching the bartenders around the island how to pour our pints correctly.

“The time I get home at varies a lot too. I could walk in the door at 10 in the evening or even be out of here by 5pm. When I finish I may go for a pint or just chill at home and read.”

Guinness Storehouse is open seven days a week from 9.30am until 5pm.

Adult admission is €20, which includes a complimentary pint of Guinness in Gravity Bar, 5th floor restaurants or the Guinness Academy.

Book online at www.guinness-storehouse.com

THE June Rodgers Christmas Show is back again this year, and with Tristan McManus providing the choreography for the show, it promises to be a brilliant Christmas party night.

McManus, who is originally from Bray, is best known for his appearances on Dancing with the Stars, and Strictly Come Dancing.

McManus is now putting June and her troupe through their paces for this year’s Strictly Christmas Show at the Red Cow Moran Hotel.

The show promises plenty of Latin moves, glitz and glamour, along with June’s usual brand of comedic laughter.

June is also celebrating 25 years in showbusiness this year so there’s sure to be some unpredictable surprises throughout the shows.

The June Rodgers Strictly Christmas Shows will run from November 27 to November 29.

Tickets, which include a dinner and show, start from €55 per person, with special overnight packages available too.

For further information, see www.redcowmoranhotel.com.

Gazette

12 Gazette 24 September 2015

dublinlife

Celebrate 50 years of the best in antiques Over 15,000 people are expected to discover the delights of Irish antiques at the 50th Irish Antique Dealers Fair at the RDS, from September 25-27.

Antiques Roadshow stars Judith Miller and Mark Hill head a packed programme which has been organised to celebrate the golden jubilee of the annual fair that manages to combine contemporary design history with the best of Irish antiques.

The fair, the second oldest of its kind in the world, was founded by Dublin entrepreneur Louis O’Sullivan at a time when most antiques were being exported from the country.

George Stacpoole, chairman of the Irish Antique Dealers Association (IADA), said: “For the past 50 years, people have been attending the fair to discover something different, that magical piece that can make a home.

“We have a carefully selected blend of antique and contemporary exhibitors, allowing all ages to focus on the unique yet affordable design that appeals to

them.”

Admission to this fair is €10, available at the door.

getting out those festival gloves A boxing tournament and intercultural event is taking place this week in Aughrim Street Sports Centre in Smithfield.

Smithfield Box Fest is now in its sixth year and the main aim of the festival is to show how boxing can be used as a successful tool for integration both socially and culturally.

The week will take place from September 21 - 27 and will include a boxing tournament that will take place over two of the days (September 25 and 26) and will involve over 100 boxers from various countries along with a training camp for the participants and various intercultural activities.

Igor Khmil, coach of Smithfield amateur boxing club, said: “The festival will show how sport has no boundaries or limits and I know that all the teams will come together in a spirit of sportsmanship and fair-

diary

The Van Morrison tribute band, Celtic Soul, will play the Mill Theatre on October 24

ness.”

Tickets are available for purchase through the club on 087 955 2654 or 087 779 3475.

a friendly night of friends trivia Following their sold out Harry Potter table quiz in September, SpunOut.ie’s next quiz will be on the hit TV show Friends.

The event which takes place at 7pm on October 6 at D2 nightclub, Harcourt Street, will cover the length and breadth of all seasons featuring Monica, Chandler, Rachel, Ross, Joey and Phoebe.

With 238 episodes of the US series, those wishing to participate in the table quiz are advised to indulge themselves in the show. Episodes are currently being aired round-the-clock on Comedy Central.

There will be eight rounds of eight questions, including a video round and a picture round. Tickets are priced at €30 for a team of four or €8 per person.

All funds raised will be donated to SpunOut. ie, the youth information

Antique lovers are in for a treat at the Irish Antique Dealers Fair at the RDS

website.

SpunOut.ie aims to educate and inform readers about the importance of holistic wellbeing and how good health can be maintained, both physically and mentally.

van Tribute band to play dundrum THE Van Morrison tribute band, Celtic Soul, will return to the Mill Theatre in Dundrum on October 24.

The band, who recently played a show in Belfast to mark the eve of Morrison’s bir thday, previously played to the largest worldwide gathering of hardcore fans since the Astral Weeks

concerts at the Hollywood Bowl in 2009.

On the birthday itself, the band played in Bangor at the same time as Morrison played in Belfast. Then they raced up to see the man himself play before the gig finished that night.

Tickets are available for the Celtic Soul gig at www.milltheatre.ie

burton’s austere radio interview WHETHER deserved or not, Tanaiste Joan Burton takes a disproportionate amount of flak for Government decisions compared with her political colleagues – and usually with a smile.

The smile was dropped in a Morning Ireland interview with Gavin Jennings recently, when the Labour Party leader and Social Protection Minister was run through the mill with dogged questions about her policies on targeted increases in social welfare benefits.

Jennings backed her into a corner: “Yes, but with respect a child benefit increase to every child, to every family in the country, is not a targeted increase. What benefit cuts I have asked you about, are you going to reverse?”

Burton had had enough at that point and decided she wasn’t play-

ing nice anymore.

“Gavin, can I just say to you, I think that’s quite an extraordinary statement by RTE that child benefit doesn’t benefit families with children. I don’t know what world RTE inhabits, perhaps in Dublin 4.”

Apparently, Jennings was highly insulted by this and wrapped up the interview without further comment.

Afterwards, the exchange continued with Jennings telling Burton she had overstepped the mark. Finally, Morning Ireland editor Brendan Fitzpatrick intervened a n d p r e ve n t e d a ny bloodshed.

24 September 2015 Gazette 13

FEATURE escape the mayhem: ‘life’s too short for bad fiction’

Weather woman walks in sunshine  aisling kennedy

RTE weather report presenter, secretary of the Irish Meteorological Society, and all round science aficionado Evelyn Cusack is a busy woman as she juggles many different aspects of her career on a daily basis.

She is currently raising awareness for age-related macular degeneration and contributed to the booklet, Your Defining Moment, as part of the awareness campaign for people over 50 to

have their eyes tested.

She also regularly gives lectures on science and will be speaking at the Clifden Arts Festival this week.

Taking time out to escape the mayhem is something she doesn’t always see as a necessity but when she does she has an array of interesting ways to unwind after a long day.

“I’m not really a stressed person but I do think it’s important to exercise at least an hour a day as our bodies are

meant to exercise. I’d recommend everyone to go for a good walk, especially before breakfast if possible, because when you’re getting fresh air and, hopefully, some vitamin D from the sunshine, it’s a great start to the day.”

Cusack has a passion for science and explains that one of her favourite things to do is watch science documentaries such as Horizon on BBC Four and other science programmes.

“I also love Netflix so

I watch different series. I find that great. I love getting into a new series like Breaking Bad or Suits.”

Cusack also loves to read a good book and if it’s science related, she’s usually immediately hooked.

“I tend to read science books, I don’t really like fiction that much.

There’s a lot of bad fiction out there and I just think life is too short to read a bad book!”

One of the things Cusack really enjoys after a busy day is to sit

Evelyn Cusack on top of the world at work in the Met Office in Glasnevin

and listen to music. Her favourite radio stations are Newstalk and Lyric FM. “I listen to a lot of radio and my particular favourites are John Kelly on Lyric FM in the

afternoons, and also at night there’s a brilliant programme on between 10pm and 1am called Blue of the Night. I love listening to that because it plays very eclectic

music; it’s a really good show.”

To download Your Defining Moment and to find out where you can get your eyes tested for free see www.AMD.ie

Gazette

14 Gazette 24 September 2015

dublinlife

Trad for Trocaire will include fundraisers for refugee crisis  keith bellew

MUSICIANS across Dublin are getting ready for Trad for Trocaire week, which takes place from Friday, September 25, to Friday, October 2, in support of Syrian refugees.

Trocaire has reported an outpouring of concern from trad musicians for Syrian refugees and is asking people to support their local Trad for Trocaire seisiun to aid people living through poverty

and conflict.

The annual week of fundraising and traditional Irish music is run by Trocaire and Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann.

Trocaire community fundraising officer Katie Bolger said the charity had an overwhelming response from trad musicians and members of Comhaltas concerned about the suffering of refugees.

“This crisis has moved people to reach out to their communities and

to see what they can do to help people in the world, who are struggling through war and poverty.

“Some musicians are holding two sessions this year, one to support Trad for Trocaire, which funds Trocaire’s long-term overseas development projects, and a second to fundraise for our work with refugees from Syria and Iraq.”

To organise a session in Dublin or find out when sessions are taking place, see ww.trocaire.org/trad.

Marriage equality campaigners: including Moninne Griffith (extreme left), Senator David Norris, Deputy John Lyons (Lab) and Deputy Pat Carey (FF)

legislation: Details of bill yet to be ‘sifted through’

Gay couples expect to be able to marry soon  keith bellew

F OL L OW I N G t h e unprecedented voter turnout and resounding Yes vote in the Marriage Referendum in May, the Marriage Bill has been published by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald and approved by the Government. It is now hoped that same-sex couples will be able to marry by Christmas.

The key provisions of the Bill include the removal of the statutory impediment in section 2(2)(e) of the Civil Registration Act 2004, preventing parties of the same sex from marrying. This will enable two persons to marry without distinction as to their sex.

Couples who are already in civil partnerships will be able to marry one another without hav-

ing to dissolve their civil partnership. The civil partnership will be dissolved as of the date of the marriage.

Foreign marriages between same sex couples will be recognised under Irish law as marriages.

The Bill also specifies that religious bodies will not be compelled to recognise or sanction a particular form of marriage that they do not recognise.

Minister Fitzgerald also announced that she is working with the Department of Social Protection to reduce the fees for civil partners wishing to marry from €200 to €50.

Kieran Rose, co-chair of the Gay and Lesbian Equality Network (Glen), which campaigned for marriage equality said the group warmly welcomed the Government’s deci-

sion.

“The right to marry for lesbian and gay couples is now in the Irish Constitution, thanks to the people of Ireland who resoundingly voted in favour of it on May 22.

“We hope that the Bill can be brought through the Dail and Seanad as quickly as possible and that we will see lesbian and gay couples marry within the next couple of months.”

Speaking to The Gazette, Glen director and Yes Equality cofounder Brian Sheehan commended the Government for bringing the Bill forward quickly.

“These are the final steps to ensure equal citizenship for lesbian and gay people. All across the country there are many lesbian and gay people who have waited

decades to say ‘I do’ to the person they love and they’re counting down the weeks.

“We would hope that given the huge support for marriage equality across Ireland, from all political parties and so many independent TDs, that the Bill will go quickly through the Dail and Seanad and that we can see the first weddings between lesbian and gay couples before Christmas.”

He said he hadn’t sifted through the “gory details” of the Bill but the principles of it were great.

He said the reduction of fees for civil partners who married was “a very generous and important gesture”.

Minister Fitzgerald brought the Marriage Bill before the Dail on Wednesday, September 23 where it was approved.

24 September 2015 Gazette 15

Gazette

features food drive: call to help gather unwanted fruit from across the city to help charities

Plucking at a way to help the community  aisling kennedy

A GROUP of volunteers who want to give back to the community are organising a Falling Fruit project this autumn whereby they will collect fruit from trees around the Dublin area and redistribute it to food charities.

The group, WeShare Dublin, want to collect fruit that would otherwise go to waste due to it never being picked or rotting on the ground.

Bernie Brannick, coordinator of WeShare Dublin, told The Gazette that she came up with the idea of the Falling Fruit project when she watched a YouTube

video of a group called Abundance Manchester who were doing a similar fruit-collecting drive for charities in England.

Brannick said: “I was so impressed with the video and I thought this is something we could do in Dublin.”

She contacted FoodCloud.ie, an organisation which was set up by two young women in Trinity College to connect charities with available food around the city.

“I contacted them and they said that they would be willing to collect and distribute the fruit we find to local c h a r i t i e s . We we r e

delighted when they came on board.”

Brannick’s main challenge now is to find private gardens and community gardens that have fruit that may be going to waste.

“We’re trying to find large gardens with more than just one tree, we would like larger gardens with several trees with lots of fruit. For example, there is a community garden in DCU which has apple trees and DCU have agreed for us to come along and pick the fruit after the community have availed of the fruit they need.

“We would ask any owners of private gar-

dens who have a lot of fruit going to waste to get involved and allow us come along to pick the fruit.”

As well as providing fruit to charities, Brannick also envisages leaving a box of fruit in local community areas for people to avail of too.

“The whole idea is about sharing the fruit that would normally go to waste,” she said.

If you would like to volunteer to collect fruit with the Falling Fruit project, or if you know of any area where there is a lot of fruit that goes to waste, then contact Bernie Brannick at bernaidine@eircom.net.

Bernie Brannick, co-ordinator of WeShare Dublin: “We would ask any owners of private gardens who have a lot of fruit going to waste to get involved and allow us come along to pick the fruit”

Gazette

16 Gazette 24 September 2015

dublinlife

features

UN and EU must step up to Syrian challenge

EU efforts to solve the refugee crisis, writes Barry Andrews, are like using a teaspoon to empty a bath with the taps still running T H E Un i t e d Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, admitted last week that the UN had “failed the Syrian people”.

In truth, it was more a statement of the obvious than an admission.

After all, it has hardly gone unnoticed that little has been done to halt the nearly five years of carnage in Syria.

The UN has not been alone in its inaction.

The world has stood by while Syria’s cities and towns have been levelled by rocket and bomb, and its civilians slaughtered in their hundreds of thousands.

It is the innocent and the defenceless who suffer most in a conflict, and few have suffered more than the ordinary people of Syria.

Conser vative estimates have 250,000 people killed; more than one million injured; and in excess of 11.5 million (more than half the prewar population of 22 million) driven from their homes by the violence.

At least eight children are killed every day.

Goal has been working inside Syria since late 2012, and during that time the situation has worsened year on year.

We are delivering aid to one million people, and our staff witness at

firsthand the bereaved, injured and traumatised of this conflict.

They deal every day with the children left parentless; the parents left childless; and those left with neither home nor loved ones.

It has long been a cause of deep frustration for Goal that multinational organisations, supposedly dedicated to upholding the rights of the individual, have acted as spectators to this carnage.

120,000: a mere drop in the ocean, designed to ease pressure on Hungary, Italy and Greece rather than realistically address the crisis.

To do that, the conflict which is driving growing numbers of Syrian people to abandon their homeland must be alleviated.

With these minuscule proposals on refugees, the EU is addressing a symptom rather than the cause of this crisis – like trying to empty

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

‘It has long been a cause of deep frustration for Goal that multinational organisations have acted as spectators to this carnage. For its part, the EU has largely restricted itself to occasional hand-wringing statements on Syria.’

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

For its part, the EU has largely restricted itself to occasional hand-wringing statements on Syria.

Until now, that is.

Last week’s EU proposals on refugee quotas for member states marked a change in approach. But it is not nearly enough.

I welcome any initiative that eases the suffering of refugees, but there are, at least, four million Syrian refugees, and the EU is proposing to resettle only

a bath with a teaspoon while the taps are running.

The majority of Syria’s four million refugees are in neighbouring countries, with Turkey absorbing at least half the total.

It was notable that the EU proposal did not make any reference to providing further support to Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan.

These countries could only ever accommodate a finite number of refu-

gees.

It was hardly unpredictable then, with the conflict in Syria allowed continue uninterrupted, that the tide of people fleeing for their lives would eventually spread beyond the immediate region and into Europe.

This tide will continue, and in all likelihood grow, as long as the conflict rages.

It is beyond the gift of the EU, as a collective body, to directly affect the situation inside Syria. It cannot intervene to bring relief to the people.

But it can put pressure on the UN to do so, which certainly has the authority to intervene.

Given that the refugee crisis has begun to encroach on Europe, if for no other reason than self-interest, the EU should be lobbying the UN to do more.

Perhaps Mr Ban’s public admission that his organisation has failed the people of Syria is a precursor to that great wrong being righted.

Let us hope so, for if it isn’t the people of Syria will continue to suffer, and continue to flee the country.

After nearly five years of increasingly bloody conflict, the people of Syria have lost hope of a return to normality.

There is no prospect of this war abating of its

Barry Andrews, chief executive of Goal, says that until recently the EU had done little more than wring its hands regarding the unfolding refugee crisis

own accord. They have given up on anyone inter vening on their behalf.

If only for their children’s sake ever-increasing numbers are determined to leave.

Who among us can blame them? It is the most natural thing in

the world to want to flee to safety; to where life prospects for self and family are enhanced.

Goodness knows, enough of our ancestors did it.

Barry Andrews Goal chief executive

To donate to Goal’s work in Syria, or to sign a petition calling on European representatives to put pressure on the international community to find a solution to the Syrian crisis, please visit www. goalglobal.org

24 September 2015 Gazette 17

travel P20

foodasdfsdaf & drink P27 P21

OUT&ABOUT Never be out of the loop on what’s happening in Dublin! Let Out&About be your guide to all that is stylish, cultural and essential across the city and beyond this week



Gazette

style P18

Pets a quiet life for Gorgeous George

Caitriona O’Leary will perform the very best of Joni Mitchell’s songs, as Gaeilge

voyage of discovery: with irish language literary festival imram

Joni Mitchell as Gaeilge

 keith bellew news@gazettegroup.com

THE Irish Language Literature Festival returns to Dublin from October 10 to 18, in a multifaceted showcase of literature, music, theatre, dance, poetry, readings, talks, discussions and workshops.

The Irish word Imram means voyage of discovery. Festival organisers say that is what is in store for those attending regarding the contemporary, cutting edge and diverse Irish language literary scene.

Speaking to The Gazette, festival director Liam Carson says the idea for Imram came when he realised there was no dedicated festival for Irish language literature.

“We’re trying to present Irish literature in a way that’s imaginative. There’s a multimedia context to what we do.

It’s not just people coming along to hear somebody droning on a stage.

There’s visuals always; we commission soundtracks, new music and visuals.”

He adds that the words are displayed on a screen throughout the readings so people can follow it more easily, as dialects and pronunciation often create barriers for the people trying to learn.

There are a number of unique and intriguing events planned this year, one of which is Trickster Bird, a multimedia show of poetry and song about corvids: ravens, magpies and, especially, crows.

“There’s a lot of literature in every

country about crows; every mythology has references to crows. It’s very strong in Irish culture.

“We’ve put together a series of poems and songs in Irish, English and Scots. Margaret Lonergan, who has been working with Imram for a number of years, has beautiful artwork and photographs of crows that will appear behind the pots as they read.

At the same time experimental musician and composer, Sean Mac Erlaine will play the clarinet and saxophone, creating sound effects including actual field recordings of crows.”

And Sweet Fire: The Joni Mitchell Project celebrates the very best of Mitchell’s songs, as Gaeilge.

Carson says that translating the music of famous folk artists into Irish

is something Imram does each year.

Initially, this stemmed from his own personal desire to translate the songs of Bob Dylan into Irish. Because it worked so well Imram has been translating other artists every year since.

“It worked very well because a lot of his songs come from the American folk tradition, which is connected to Irish, Scottish and English traditional music going way back. It’s not just literal translation. Gabriel Rosenstock, who is one of the translators on this project, will find an Irish place name or phrase to replace an American one.”

The poetry element of Imram 2015 is led by Homage to Nuala Ni Dhomhnaill, which honours this multi award winning Irish poet. For more information visit www.imram.ie

The Dublin Gazette Newspaper Group have teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs.

Our Dog of the Week this week is George, a five-yearold male German Shepherd crossbreed. He is finding kennel life quite stressful so we are very eager to find his forever home soon. George is looking for a quiet home with older teenagers or adults where he can feel safe and be allowed to relax.

If you think you could offer George his forever home, 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 www.facebook. com/dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE. Don’t forget that you can also support Dogs Trust by checking out their online shop www.dogstrustshop.ie

Gazette

18 Gazette 24 September 2015

OUT&ABOUT Accessorize Su per pom beanie €26 182 tasia fur coat € Monsoon Anas

de coat €620 Monsoon Henna mongolian sue

Biba Detachable faux fur collar leopard print coat €259

Furry nice styles for autumn escapades WITH much cooler days just around the corner and some predicting the worst winter in 40 years, what better way to keep warm than in some fake fur?

From Bet Lynch leopard print to more muted tones, fur is more doable than you might think. Just check out this chevron faux fur coat from Biba!

A faux fur gilet screams Kate Moss, while a navy pea coat with fur collar will be wearable to work.

If you are too scared to go all-out in fur, a cute beanie with a fur bobble is a nice way to give the trend a nod.

Biba Striped faux fur coat €249

9

Linea Weekend Newgrange gilet €12

Monsoon Mongolian fur coat €620

Biba Chevron faux fur coat €229

Therapy Navy pea coat with faux fur collar €129

Pied a Terre Faux fur striped coat €236

24 September 2015 GAZETTE 19

GAZETTE

STYLE

Style icon and creative director of Ciate London, Olivia Palermo, will launch her Olivia Palermo X Black floor-length gown, €149

Ciate London Make-Up collection on September 26

BT to welcome Olivia Palermo for launch

Ashley dress, €119

50s Cobalt Hero Dress, €119; Red Jayne Dress, €119

Lennon Courtney added to Dunnes Stores designers THE addition of Lennon Courtney adds to the growing reputation of Dunnes Stores as the premium high street store group bringing affordable fashion and some of the best contemporary Irish design to a much wider audience.

This latest collection brings a seductive, contemporary edge to Dunnes Stores’s existing fashion line-up, with strong and form-flattering silhouettes from Lennon Courtney.

Carolyn Donnelly, creative director for Dunnes Stores, said: “T he collaboration marks yet another significant development in reinforcing our position as a designer-led fashion business.”

For Lennon Courtney, this exclusive collaboration with Dunnes Stores provides an extensive and powerful retail platform which will bring their exciting designs to a much wider customer base.

Speaking on behalf

of Lennon Courtney, Sonya Lennon said: “Dunnes Stores is such a natural fit for us, given their stable of prestigious Irish designers. We feel we can now grow our visibility and accessibility as Irish designers. We love the idea that many more women will now be able to buy our clothes.”

Lennon Cour tney now joins the company of esteemed Irish designers such as Paul Costelloe, Carolyn Donnelly, Leigh Tucker and Helen James at Dunnes Stores.

Designers Brendan Courtney and Sonya Lennon

FASHIONISTAS will be thronging to Brown Thomas this Saturday when style icon and creative director of Ciate London, Olivia Palermo, will be in Grafton St on Saturday, September 26 to officially launch the highly-anticipated Olivia Palermo X Ciate London Make-Up collection.

Customers who make a Ciate London X Olivia Palermo purchase in Brown Thomas Dublin or online at BrownThomas.com from September 21 to 26 will have the opportunity to join Olivia for an exclusive meet-and-greet in store that Saturday, from noon to 3pm.

Upon purchase, customers will receive a special wristband that will grant access to the meet-and-greet, where they can get a photo with Olivia and have their product signed.

As guest creative director for the brand, Olivia has expanded the collection from nail polish to include makeup that reflects her own beauty style.

The new collection of cosmetics, housed in luxurious black and gold packaging, includes four Satin Kiss lipsticks,

a smoky eye palette in nine of Olivia’s favourite shades, two gel kohl eyeliners with blending tips and two Cheekbone Cheat blush/bronzer compacts designed to contour and add warmth.

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

‘I can’t wait for [everyone] to play and discover the products I had so much fun creating’ ------------------------

Olivia Palermo

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

Palermo said: “When developing the collection, I wanted to create a variety of textures and shades in the same way I love to mix patterns, fabrics and accessories to style the perfect outfit.

“Many of the names were chosen to represent not only the hue but the unique textures specially developed for this collection. Others are eclectic touches from my own life and style – I can’t wait for [everyone] to play and discover the products I had so much fun creating.”

20 Gazette 24 September 2015

Gazette

TRAVEL OUT&ABOUT fast TRAVEL NEWS Take a break now the kids are back in school

city sights: there is lots of short break choice this season

 ian begley

The Algarve is popular for late season sun. Picture: Ana Guzzo via Flickr Creative Commons

Snap up these late, great sunshine deals STILL hoping to enjoy a week in the sun before the winter sets in? Then why not spoil yourself in a country where the sun always shines.

If you are after a last minute dash to the sun, the Algarve is an extremely popular destination with holidaymakers of all ages. Budget Travel is offering a getaway for €319 per person from October 10. This sun-drenched corner of southern Portugal is the perfect choice, being home to spectacular beaches, secluded coves, a jaw-dropping rocky coastline, delicious local cuisine, year-round sunshine and amazing natural wonders, which are all waiting to be discovered.

For €359, a holiday in Benidorm, Spain, will surely get rid of any post summer blues. Located in sunny Costa Blanca, from October 17 visitors will be able to bask on the golden sandy beaches from morning until dusk, experience total luxury in one of Benidorm’s beach-front hotels, or be a short hop from amazing shopping opportunities at the hip boutiques, dine at stel-

lar restaurants or sip expertly crafted cocktails at the swanky bars.

If you adore spending time in the great outdoors then Majorca, which is the largest of the Balearics, is definitely a holiday destination worth going to. From October 6, at €419, you can explore sweeping bays, sandy coves and tiny inlets, and swim in turquoise waters.

For those who want to experience Majorca’s incredible party scene, Magaluf, with its electrifying nightlife, is not to be missed.

A sun holiday to Fuerteventura is a holiday like no other. Spend your days lazing on white sandy beaches, relax in peaceful resorts marvelling at the unbelievable year round sunshine.

Explore the famous volcanic landscape, be blown away by incredible sand dunes or just experience this Canary Island’s vibrant nightlife.

Caleta Garden in Caleta de Fuste is €479 from October 13.

For more information on these last summer deals, visit www.budgettravel.ie

IF you fancy a city break away without breaking the bank then you’re in luck as there are many tempting European deals on offer, now that the kids are back in school.

With GoHop.ie you can spend four nights in Lisbon at the four-star Hotel 3K Barcelona from €170 per person from November 9.

Lisbon, voted best city or short-break destination at the Travel Media Awards 2015, has something for everyone. Think quaint yellow trams, picturesque cafes, majestic monuments, impressive museums and stunning views.

If you fancy a weekend break in Paris, you can spend two nights in the four-star Park & Suites

Prestige Hotel from €215.

Flights leave on October 16, and a city break to Paris rarely disappoints.

Often deemed the most romantic city in the world, this wonderful destination boasts rich history and culture visible at every turn.

Indulge in the finest macaroons, get up close and personal with the Mona Lisa and enjoy a sumptuous glass of French wine in a streetside bistro.

On October 22, you can spend three nights in Prague at the four-star Relax Inn from €203.

Prague’s affordable prices and breathtaking sights undoubtedly make it one of Europe’s top destinations.

Head to the Prague Beer Museum to learn about the city’s brewing

history before strolling across the iconic Charles Bridge. The city’s majestic buildings and unique culture will continue to inspire long after you return home.

With Clickandgo.ie, those looking for a break in Berlin, one of the most energetic cities in Europe, can stay at the four-star Berlin Mark Hotel from €199 in November.

Berlin’s mixture of glamour and grit is bound to mesmerise anyone keen to explore its vibrant culture, cutting-edge architecture, fabulous food, wild nightlife and tangible history.

Some of the highlights of the German capital include the Berlin Wall, Checkpoint Charlie, the Brandenburg Gate and Potsdamer Platz.

Also in November,

Clickandgo.ie is offering a three-night break in Rome for €359 at the five-star La Griffe Roma MGallery Collection Hotel.

Rome is without a doubt one of the most impressive metropolises on the planet. Every year millions of people from around the world book a family holiday or short city break there.

The eternal city has lots of ways to entertain holidaymakers, from the superb thrill of feeling centuries of tumultuous history all around you to getting in touch with your inner gladiator at the Colosseum; or from being part of an audience with the Pope in the Vatican to tossing a coin into the Trevi Fountain For those really looking to spoil themselves, Low-

costholidays.ie is offering a five-night stay in New York at the 3-star Seton hotel from €1,050.

From Wall Street’s skyscrapers to the neon lights of Times Square to Central Park’s abundant paths, New York City is always buzzing with energy.

The city is the global centre of entertainment, fashion, media, and finance. Some of the must-see attractions include world-class museums like MoMA and unforgettable icons like the Statue of Liberty and the new World Trade Centre building.

Prices are per person sharing. For more information and to book these city deals, visit GoHop.ie, Clickandgo.ie and Lowcostholidays.ie.

Rome, Berlin and New York are just some of the cities offering culture, cuisine and fun on a short break. Pictures: Juan Cabanillas, Pablo Fernandez and Eva Abreu, all via Flickr Creative Commons

24 September 2015 GAZETTE 21

GAZETTE

FOOD&DRINK BITESIZEDNEWS

Boutique Bake’s Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies

Give brownies a swirl with this easy recipe Brioche in Ranelagh, with Chef Gavin McDonagh, will be holding a tester evening celebrating the unique taste of Irish-bred Dexter beef

Delectable Dexter delights BRIOCHE in Ranelagh will celebrate the unique qualities of Dexter beef with a special tasting event designed to showcase every aspect of this native Irish breed on October 9.

Earlier this year chef patron of Brioche restaurant in Ranelagh, Gavin McDonagh, took a trip to north Donegal to see Cathy and Sam Dill’s herds of Dexter cattle in their native environment, and decided to put on a taster evening in Brioche.

The Dills have been

farming Dexters since 2009 and now have one of the largest herds in the country. The cattle are 100% pasture reared, eating tough grasses and herbs that are found on fields exposed to the Atlantic winds.

Six weeks before the tasting evening, a Dexter will be slaughtered by the Dills and hung for 36 days before being delivered to Brioche for cooking.

Starting with a selection of canapes including beef fingers with hazelnut emulsion and

beef tartare, guests will then enjoy courses that include carpaccio, oyster and horseradish and shin and oxtail raviolo, roast parsnip and cognac consomme, parsnip crisps and puree. Other courses include a beautiful braised shoulder of beef, sauerkraut, potato dumpling, shallot and wild mushroom. Even the dessert will incorporate Dexter beef.

Described as having a rich, nutty taste and ‘sweeter’ than other beef, living a stress-free life on grass, meadow plants

and leaves, Dexter cattle produce a tasty, tender beef, rich in omega 3s and CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) and antioxidants and low in saturated fat.

The Dexter breed virtually disappeared in Ireland during the 1940s due to changes in farming practices but has been making a comeback, and is now seen more often on the grasslands and in the climate for which it was specifically bred.

Brioche’s modern tasting menus showcase

the very best of Irish produce using classic French techniques in beautifully composed and carefully crafted dishes.

Chef Gavin McDonagh selects only the very best in-season produce from hand-picked producers and suppliers to ensure flavour is always at a maximum.

The Celebration of Dexter Beef takes place on October 9 in Brioche restaurant in Ranelagh, and will cost €65 per person, with matching wines for €35. To book call (01) 497 9163.

Guinness go for the gold with a new golden ale GUINNESS has just launched Guinness Golden Ale the latest release from The Brewers Project, St James’s Gate, Dublin.

Named after its distinctive golden colour, Guinness Golden Ale is brewed using Guinness yeast, Irish barley, hops, and a specially selected amber malt that gives the new beer its rich golden hue.

Peter Simpson, the brewer

behind Guinness Golden Ale said: “My ambition was to create a beautifully balanced ale from Guinness that would appeal to a broad range of people and introduce them to the exciting world of premium ale.

The release of a golden ale from Guinness is a bold new step and I’m really proud to have created a great new beer that is worthy of the Guinness name.”

Head of innovation for

Guinness, Nick Curtis-Davis said: “There has never been a more exciting time for beer and at Guinness that inspires us.

People are interested in beer again, and in trying new styles and varieties of beer. Guinness Golden Ale gives beer lovers the chance to try something new from a much-loved brand; a flavourful golden ale with all the character and quality that Guinness is famous for.”

Peter Simpson, the brewer behind Guinness Golden Ale

PUT a new twist on a sweet classic with these decadent recipe for delights Peanut Butter Swirl Brownies, from Boutique Bake.

The delicious duo of peanut butter and chocolate combine to make rich, fudgy and seriously moreish treats that are sure to earn brownie points with your friends and family.

Boutique Bake’s range of gourmet baking mixes are ideal for bakers of all abilities who are short on time but do not want to compromise on quality.

Started in a small cottage in Donnybrook, Boutique Bake’s award-winning range includes this week’s tempting recipe pack Belgian Chocolate Brownie Mix – “The Gooey One”.

For a video tutorial showing exactly how to make these delicious brownies, see https://www. youtube.com/watch?v=3Dy51PN7ruw.

Ingredients For the brownies, you need 1 Boutique Bake Belgian Chocolate Brownie pack.

For the mix, you need 150g melted butter, 3 eggs and 200g peanut butter.

Preparation • Preheat your oven to 180C/160 fan.

• Mix the brownie mix with 3 eggs and 150g of melted butter until well combined.

• Spoon half your mixture into a greased/lined square tin (10x7” approx).

• Next, melt your peanut butter in the microwave for approx 30 seconds to loosen it up a bit.

• Place approx 6 teaspoonfuls of peanut butter equally spaced out across the brownie layer.

• Pour over the remaining brownie mixture, and place the remaining peanut butter in little dollops across the top.

• Using a sharp knife, pull the peanut butter into the brownie layer in sharp swirling motions until you have a lovely swirly pattern (above).

• Bake for 20-25 mins, depending on how gooey you like your brownies.

• Then just slice, serve and enjoy!

GAZETTE

22 GAZETTE 24 September 2015

OUT&ABOUT

MOTORING

road

NOISE Spacious Sorento gets stylish upgrade BY all accounts the Kia Sorento has come a long way since its introduction in 2001. Back at the start of the century, the Sorento models were infamously rigid, lacking much of the comfort you might escape in such a large vehicle, and fuel hungry to boot. There was a noticeable shift in 2010 when Kia majorly shifted the design – moving from the body being mounted on the frame to a unibody approach that acted as a remedy for much of the problems with the stiffness of the older models.

The third generation of the Sorento, introduced earlier this year, moves things a couple of notches further up the comfort meter. Sitting a world apart from its boxy truck debut the third generation Sorento boasts a smoother, more sculpted look. Elongated, wrap-around headlights and a polished curve that follows along the window-line cement this latest model as a sleek and muscular presence on the road. The move towards a more refined look follows through into the interior as well.

The cabin has a spacious feel, with wide seats and clean, well-defined panels.

There are plenty of touches of luxury here: an abundance of soft leather and muted chrome finishes, some incredibly comfortable power-adjusted front seats, and a panoramic sunroof that really increases the sense of spaciousness. And there is plenty of space inside, and a variety of ways to use it.

The Sorento can pop up a third row of seating to accommodate a total of seven, including the driver. Like the front seats, the second row is a comfortable space to travel in, with the middle seat converting to an armrest with drinks holder. The third row, seating two, is admittedly cramped with little leg or head room – but it would suit perfectly for kids or for squashing in the occasional extra passenger.

With the third row folded down, there is ample boot space; and the second row can either fold down fully, or part-way, to provide even more seating solutions. Kia’s greatest accomplishment with this new generation is managing to make the Sorento feel compact, despite its larger capacity.

It is a car that is at home on the motorway, where it is a real joy to cruise along. But negotiating tighter roads, the Sorento manages to feel deceptively slight and nifty.

Excellent driver visibility, a rear camera, and front and rear parking sensors make getting around the city centre and navigating older underground carparks a doddle.

Prices start from €43,995 for the seven- seater option.

Kia has made the Sorento feel compact, despite its larger capacity

It’s important to use a reputable company that complies with Government regulations on car recycling

Six steps to safely scrapping your car

 MARIA MCCARTHY

could be up to €150.

SO the time has come to say goodbye to your car. Its next destination has to be the Great Car Park in the Sky – via the local scrap yard. Here’s a handy guide to giving it a decent sendoff.

Get an instant quote It’s no longer necessary to phone around several scrap car recyclers or fill in forms on websites and wait for companies to reply. Now there’s the opportunity to go online.

“When customers enter their postcode and the registration number of the car they’d like to scrap on the CarTakeBack. ie website they get an instant online quote that’s valid for seven days,” says CarTakeBack manager Alison Price. “Motorists can also get a quote by using the online chat service or phoning 1800 844 389.”

Move with the times Back in the 1990s and early 2000s motorists often had to pay to have the car taken off their hands. But now most can get money for their scrap vehicle – though it’s important to use a reputable company that complies with Government regulations on car recycling and which will deal with the paperwork side responsibly. www.CarTakeBack.ie offers customers a choice between dropping off their old car or making use of their free collection service – so it’s ideal for cars without tax, insurance or an NCT certificate. Depending on the type of car you could get around €70 on average but it

Avoid dodgy dealers Steer clear of dodgy dealers when scrapping your car – they’ll be nothing but trouble.

They can offer unrealistically high amounts for your scrap car but then drop their offer dramatically on collection. There’s also the risk of negligence or dishonesty when dealing with your

car paperwork. Signs to watch out for include companies that only give mobile numbers and badly constructed, out-of-date websites full of mistakes.

Go green We’re all so used to separating out our household rubbish so that paper and glass can be recycled and other items properly disposed of. It’s even more important to make sure scrap cars are recycled properly so they don’t end up damaging the environment.

You should only scrap your car at a recycling centre with an authorised treatment facility waste licence or permit. It’s actually a criminal offence for someone to recycle a scrap car without one. Visit www.

CarTakeBack.ie to make sure you’re using a licensed recycling centre Get the paperwork sorted Most of us know how important it is to get the paperwork

sorted properly when selling a car. If legal ownership isn’t transferred correctly you remain responsible for the vehicle, including paying its tax – and could end up being fined.

And if the car falls into the wrong hands and ends up racking up speeding and parking fines – it’s your doormat they’ll be plopping onto!

The same principle applies when scrapping your car. When a car is scrapped the Department of Transport in Shannon needs to be notified using a Certificate of Destruction, which can only be issued by authorised treatment facilities.

Reclaim motor tax and insurance Finally don’t forget to call your car insurers and let them know your car has been scrapped. And if there’s a minimum of three complete months of road tax left on your car you will be able to get a refund for any complete months that remain.

24 September 2015 Gazette 23

Gazette

24 Gazette 24 September 2015

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

ReelReviews

walk in the woods

Wandering and wondering TWO elderly pals rekindle an old friendship by setting off to hike the 2,200 miles of the Appalachian Trail in A Walk in The Woods (Cert 15A, 104 mins). Mishaps and mild mayhem ensue as the two men – Robert Redford and Nick Nolte – step ever forward, grumbling and philosophising as they go.

It’s light fare, but there are worse journeys to take, and audiences are in safe hands with these two aging stars.

the visit

A typically twisty tale IN M Night Shyamalan’s The Visit (Cert 15A, 94 mins), two kids go on holiday to meet their estranged country grandparents for the first time, with their camcorder footage recording events. However, it isn’t long before the two grandparents start acting strange and creepy – could Shyamalan have a twist in store? With scattered laughs – not all intentional – it’s not awful, just a bit silly.

the scorch trials Running for the top

THE sequel to last year’s The Maze Runners – Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials (Cert 12A, 131 mins) – sees a group of young people running for their lives (again). Having spent the first film trying to escape a deadly, ever-shifting giant maze and its horrors, the young leads discover that the outside world is even worse ... With lots of CGI-driven set pieces, it’s exciting, if a bit predictable.

Anton Corbijn’s Life looks closely at the fleeting true life relationship between Dean (Dane DeHaan, left) and photographer Dennis Stock (Robert Pattinson)

anton corbijn’s life: a look into world of the original rebel james dean

A film with kind of a cause Life is a strange thing, as photographer turned movie maker Anton Corbijn knows. If you’re not familiar with the Dutchman’s feature films you are bound to have come into contact with some of his work over the decades.

For over 20 years, Corbijn has been the creative force behind bands like U2 and Depeche Mode, working on everything from album covers, to stage design and music videos.

Corbijn is the man behind long-standing MT V bulwarks like U2’s One and Nirvana’s Heart-Shaped Box. Corbijn demonstrated his cosiness with highs and lows of rock and roll in his 2007 feature-length debut Control, which chronicled the tragic

 Dave phillips

story of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis.

His latest film, Life carries certain thematic similarities. Following the story of a young James Dean in the months running up to his death, Corbjin is once again bringing us a tale that is focused on artistic expression, mental instability, and untimely demise.

Life looks closely at the fleeting true life relationship between Dean (Dane DeHaan) and photographer Dennis Stock (Robert Pattinson).

Stock is a jobbing photographer at Life magazine, whose regular assignments have him spending his time as a cog in the great Hollywood machine.

Snapping shots at the endless roulette of red carpet openings and vapid celebrity soirees is causing Stock’s faith in himself as an artist to wane, but he sees an opportunity to shine when he meets a promising but yet unknown young actor.

Stock realises that the James Dean phenomenon is just about to catch, and he has the perfect opportunity to capture it happening.

Poised between the industry success that the upcoming East of Eden is gathering, and the worldwide stardom that Rebel

Without a Cause will ignite, the perennially discomfited Dean is in an uncomfortable position.

Equally disillusioned with the mechanics of the industry, Stock and Dean fall into a state of transient and unlikely compatriotism when the photographer follows the actor over several weeks to shoot a photo essay for Life magazine.

It is an assignment that takes the two men on an unexpected trip across America, from the balmy reaches of California, to the rustic charms of the Dean family farm in Indiana, to the cold harshness of New York City (where Stock shot the iconic image of Dean mid-stride, ensconced in an overcoat with shoulders hunched against the rain).

As much as ever, Corbijn embraces the landscapes using the range of environments to illuminate the contrasting and divergent sides of Dean’s personality. And DeHaan is captivating in the role, convincingly capturing the Dean that is the life and soul of the party, the home-bird Dean nestled with his family, and the estranged Dean locked up in his small New York apartment.

The same unfortunately cannot be said for Pattinson, whose character remains somewhat aloof and impenetrable for most of the film. It becomes problematic that Stock is never fully developed, and yet he remains as half of the fundamental focus of the film.

There are some comic

moments with Ben Kingsley playing a pantovillainesque Jack Warner, but the lack of significance in the relationship between the two leads results in an abundance of scenes where despite solid performances, there is very little chance for the audience to connect in a meaningful way with the story.

Things improve dramatically during the scenes with Dean’s family in Indiana but by that stage we are already getting into the third act.

There are what feel like some legitimate great moments here but the trouble with Life is that by the time is starts to get interesting there is really not much left to it.

Verdict: 6/10

24 September 2015 GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

HEALTH SIDESTEPS

Happy participants reaching the finish line

Thousands take part in Great Dublin Bike Ride Men’s/Ladies’ Performance Winter Jacket €34.99 The Stormguard/thermal fleece panels will keep you warm, and the reflective print keeps you in sight of traffic on the road.

Men’s/Ladies’ Ultra Bright Cycling Shirt €12.99 Middle layer (See layer description, below.)

Round up some Aldi cycling gear DEVOTED to the road? Then don’t miss Aldi’s Cycling Pro range, in stores nationwide from Thursday, September 24 while stocks last.

The range includes innovative and technical apparel that will certainly help you get those wheels in motion.

Whether you like to cycle in style to work, or simply want to enjoy a weekend jaunt, get there in the right gear. With the clocks going back soon and the evenings getting darker, Aldi makes sure you’re safe and seen on the road with its premium bike lights and hi-viz winter cycling jacket, available in sizes S-XL. Although bike safety is critical, keeping warm means

that cycling in winter is more enjoyable. With Aldi’s range of waterproof lobster cycling gloves, waterproof socks and its Cycling Pro’s three-layer system, you will hop on the bike whatever the weather.

These layers are: 1. Base layer: keeps you warm on cooler days and transfers body moisture away from the skin.

2. Middle layer: an additional layer for warmth and comfort that helps regulate your temperature.

3. Outer layer: this is the topmost layer, designed to protect you from the elements.

So, stay dry, seen and warm this winter with Aldi’s Cycling Pro range.

Premium Cycling Shoes €29.99 These are practical and stylish and come with a pedal grip. They are available in two styles, in sizes 8-11.

 SUZANNE SHEEHY

Men’s/Ladies’ Waterproof Cycling Overtrousers €17.99 Packable, protective trousers to protect you from the elements.

These versatile and functional overtrousers are for everyday clothing, available in sizes S-XL.

THE Dreat Dublin Bike ride took place on September 14, marking the first cycling event of its kind to take place in Dublin.

More than 3,000 cyclists, 28 nationalities, and 30 of Ireland’s counties were represented on the day.

The bike ride rolled out of Smithfield Square at 8am, with participants covering either the 60km or 100km distance.

Along the route, cyclists took in the views of well-known landmarks such as Bull Island Bridge, Malahide Harbour, Portmarnock Coast and Dublin Airport.

Luckily, the rain held off for the best part of it.

Events like this are fantastic as they encourage people to get fit and cover a considerable distance they wouldn’t normally do by themselves, thus increasing their confidence and fitness levels.

At the finish line, cyclists refuelled with some warm pasta waiting for them. I hope this event takes place next year as it was positive and encouraged participants to get back in the saddle again.

Runners step up for half marathon Garmin Edge €109.99 This lightweight high-sensitivity GPS bike computer tracks your speed, distance, position, altitude, climb, descent and heart rate.

Cycling Wool Blend Socks €4.99 Available in sizes 4-11.

Men’s/Ladies Performance Cycling Bib Tight €34.99 These are breathable and feature an anti-bacterial Coolmax gel seatpad with front zip, optifit braces and thermal fleece panels.

AN OVERCAST morning greeted the SSE Airtricity Dublin Half Marathon on September 19, which saw up to 8,570 participants register from every county in Ireland, Northern Ireland and England.

In addition, more than 300 overseas athletes travelled from the USA, Germany, France, Italy, Holland, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and South Africa.

That’s what’s so great about the SSE Airtricity race series – it brings together thousands of people from all backgrounds and races.

Voice of the Dublin Marathon race series, Liam Moggan, was MC, and he saw everyone off at the start and welcomed them to the finish. His familiar voice, with his entertaining starting line speeches, helped to put nerves at ease.

26 BLANCH GAZETTE 24 September 2015

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28 gazette 24 September 2015

Gazette

SPORT expertView Muireann’s rapid rise from minor to major

Japan’s Brave Blossoms FOR the duration of the Rugby World Cup, ex-Edinburgh and Marlboro player and IRANZ Level 5 rugby coach Dennis Bowes will give his thoughts on the key battles in the RWC15.

WHAT a great advert for rugby the weekend proved to be.

England and Fiji served up a cracker until England brought on the heavy artillery with 25 to go and moved past a fighting Fijian team who can be proud of their work. But for a few missed kicks and a dropped ball, after a magical break from the scrumhalf, this could have gone to the wire.

In a feast of games on Saturday, Tonga v Georgia was just a war and a smart Georgian team squeezed home with a narrow but deserved win.

Ireland showed serious class and stamped their intentions loud and clear on this World Cup, a super team performance by the men in green!

Then came South Africa, twice winners, against the minnows of Japan; I was fortunate to spend three weeks working with their Head Coach Eddie Jones last February in New Zealand and got a very deep insight into their style and the way they work.

Japan invested in a specialist scrum coach and line-out specialist to give them a set piece platform and then a clear attack and defense policy which they have been working on for the last two years.

The result was just unbelievable; the stuff dreams are made of - a last play of the game - a try in the corner and a conversion to beat the once mighty Boks. This has shook up world rugby, go the Brave Blossoms!

While France came away with a solid win, the current holders New Zealand played out a thriller against a mean, tough and very skillful Argentina.

New Zealand went to their bench for relief and this was a clear indication of the depth as the game changed from this point and was there for the taking.

With the games coming thick and fast, everyone will be on the edge of their seat watching the underdogs and hoping for more amazing upsets - will we have another this week?

For coaching advice, call Dennis on 086 1742733.

In next to no time, Muireann ni Scanaill has gone from water girl to an integral part of the Dublin ladies footballers defence; she tells JAMES HENDICOTT about her meteoric ascent A YEAR ago, Muireann Ni Scanaill watched Dublin give up a 10-point lead with 20 minutes left on the clock to be pipped

by Cork in the dying seconds of the All-Ireland final.

She experienced the atmosphere – and the heartbreak – of a final loss, having been promoted to the senior panel three games from the end of the season. A devastating experience, no doubt, but also one that’s sure to leave a player wanting more: to play, to perform, to win.

That day, Ni Scanaill was the team water-girl, with no real expectations of getting into the side. A year later, up against the same opponents at the same stage, she’s had a stunning season that’s seen her make the number three jersey her own, and can fully expect to get a shot at helping to make amends for the girls in blue come

Sunday.

“Greg asked me into the panel a week or two before the quarter-final last year”, she recalls. “I’d always hoped to play for the seniors, but I didn’t expect to be moved up with the team playing so well. I didn’t think there would be room for extra players, but I got asked up along with two or three other girls, which was an absolute honour.”

At first, of course, there were challenges to be faced.

“It’s so much faster [than minor level] and more player driven, I felt,” Ni Scanaill explains.

“When you’re a minor, the managers kind of tell you what to do all the time, and hold your hand the whole way.

“At senior level, it’s the girls pushing you. The girls are bigger and it’s more physical, as well.

The intensity in training is high. It’s girls pushing each other, and encour-

Muireann ni Scanaill. Picture: GAAPics.com

aging each other. There’s a lot more camaraderie, really, with girls saying ‘well done, that was a good play’, or ‘if you do it this way, it might work better’. That kind of thing.”

Citing her four older brothers, she says she first picked up a football at the age of five or six, developing a tomboy, athletic style that also incorporated athletics and swimming.

She first made the Dublin county panel at Under-14 level, and has been around the county set up fairly consistently since.

She combines her athletic undertakings with studying and working at a fruit and vegetable company.

“It’s manageable, life wise,” Ni Scanaill says.

“It’s taught me a lot about time management.

I’m lucky in a way, in that I don’t go back to college until after the Al- Ireland,

so I’ll really have time to focus on getting ready for the final and making sure I’m fully focused on the game.”

The game, she expects, will offer new challenges.

“Against Armagh, we had a really strong team performance. But Cork are a different animal.

because I love football, but it’s always nice to see the women’s game doing well.

“Las t year, I was delighted to be on the panel and be training with the girls. This year I’m delighted to be part of it. There is a history for the other girls with Cork.

I lost to them at Under-

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

‘Last year, I was delighted to be on the panel. This year, I’m delighted to be part of it’ - Muireann ni Scanaill --------------------------------------------------------

We have to forget about the games that have passed and focus on the next sixty minutes.

“I’m just going to try and enjoy it. I don’t feel nervous yet. We’re just going to train the way we’ve been training and look forward to it. We don’t need to change anything. We’re training hard, and rest is just as important as training before a game like this.”

The flowing approach the ladies sides have to the game is making waves. Attendances have risen consistently over the last few years, and feedback is strong, too: “After watching the Armagh game, a lot of people told me they enjoyed it more than they enjoy the men’s game, because the men’s game is so physical,” Ni Scanaill tells us.

“I play football

14, Under-16 and other underage levels. They’re such a good county, full of great players.

“You just want to do the best you can with the players you have at the time.

“It’s good that there’s youth there, but the experience through girls like Sinead Goldrick and Sinead Finnegan is vital, too. There’s a great mix.

We’ve been playing so well together.”

Should she make the side - and she’s expected to - it’ll be the first time Ni Scanaill’s kicked a ball in anger at HQ. Having taken home an All-Ireland title earlier this year with Dublin Ladies Under-21 side, and experienced the noise of the season’s finale last time out, she tells us she feels ready. It’s all done bar the playing.

24 September 2015 gazette 29

Gazette

athletics: last stop for marathon hopefuls

FastSport

McGrath on the double for Clontarf Blackrock AC runners Michael Wood, Sarah Kelly, Niamh Bolger, Stephen Mulligan, Bryan Sheils and Patricia Forde

O’Callaghan wins Dublin half  sport@dublingazette.com

E OI N O ’ C a l l a g h a n took top honours in this year’s SSE Airtricity Dublin Half Marathon in an incredible time of 1.08.21. David Mansfield finished the race in second place a minute and a half back and was followed closely by Barry Minnock in 1.10.08.

Over 8,570 runners, joggers and walkers took part in the event with nearly all of the participants being welcomed across the finish line by perfect conditions.

Speaking after the race, O’Callaghan said: “I’m absolutely delighted

with the win.

“I woke up this morning and I wasn’t feeling the best so I decided to take the first half of the race a lot slower and then I picked up the pace then at the half way mark which definitely paid off .

“The Dublin Race Series has been fantastic this year and has been great preparation for the 26.2 miles for both a beginner and an experienced runner. It’ll be a tough four weeks of training ahead but I’m really looking forward to the full marathon in October.”

In the women’s race,

Flying finland

McCabe earns player award for Irish women SUE Ronan’s Republic of Ireland Senior Women’s fell to a 2-0 defeat against Finland in their opening UEFA Euro 2017 qualifier in Tallaght Stadium on Monday night.

A superb crowd of 2,905 turned out to see the girls in green, but they were ultimately undone by goals from Emma Koivisto and Linda Sallstrom in the Group 2 clash.

Shelbourne’s Katie McCabe, who was celebrating her birthday, was Ireland’s key player and earned the player of the match award and almost unlocked the door for Aine O’Gorman into space to shoot but it was not to be for the girls in green.

Karen Alexander crossed the finish line first with a time of 1.22.44. She was followed by Aine O’Reilly in second place and Tara Kennedy Monks in third.

Winner of the women’s race, Alexander said: “I’m surprised at how well it went for me.

“I came with the intention of finishing in the top five but to be honest it was a last minute decision to enter this race as I only signed up last week.

“I think I definitely set off too fast but after the 5km mark I pulled it back and took things a little easier so I felt good

at the end.

“I’ve been battling a hamstring injury for the last 12 months so I have not been able to compete in some of the races throughout the summer months but I’m over the moon with the win.”

In the wheelchair race, Patrick Monahan was also first over the finish line in an incredible time of 53 minutes and 56 seconds.

The half marathon is an important fixture in the Dublin calendar as it marks the end to the SSE Airtricity Race Series ahead of the main event, the 2015 Dublin Marathon on October 26.

ROB McGrath’s two-try haul from the opening round as Clontarf beat Old Belvedere 20-14 for their second league triumph in UBL Division 1A. The north Dubliners lost twice to Belvedere last season, so they were all out for revenge under the Castle Avenue floodlights. Winger McGrath’s intercept effort had them 7-3 ahead at half-time.

In the second half ‘Tarf brought on last season’s Division 1A Player of the Year Matt D’Arcy, whose short-term contract at Munster has been extended, but two more penalties from Belvedere winger Shane McDonald closed the gap to 10-9. Joey Carbery steadied the hosts with a well-struck penalty and a terrific weaving run from McGrath settled the tie at 20-9, before Rory O’Loughlin’s late try earned ‘Belvo a losing bonus point.

Gazette

30 BLANCH gazette 24 September 2015

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: porterstown club produce fine second half showing

Coolmine welcome in new season in style COOLMINE Rugby hit the ground running at the start of the new season with a host of events and activities for all age groups and a full fixtures’ list for the senior teams.

With a pre-season that practically started with the close of last season, the club is in good shape for 2015-16 as the senior squads look to build on the hard work put in over the last few months.

Last weekend saw the club host a family fun day around Ireland’s first game against Canada in the Rugby World Cup 2015 with barbecued food, ice cream and treats courtesy of Gary Clarke for the younger members who ran off the extra calories on the club’s all weather facilities while the older members answered Ireland’s call in the clubhouse bar. Further screenings of Ireland’s remaining games are planned.

Also last weekend the club welcomed over 100 young men aged between 14 and 18 in the inaugural pre World Cup youths 7s tournament.

The event was organised to attract new players to the ever-expanding club’s youth ranks and was a huge success with new players coming from all over Dublin 15 and Dunboyne.

The standard of play was excellent throughout. The club extended a warm thanks to sponsors Romayo’s of Blanchardstown who provided food and drinks for all players and coaches.

Coolmine RFC are currently looking for players of all ages from Under-6s up to the Wildebeests who provide rugby for those more mature players.

The Beests play North Meath next month in their first veteran outing this season. All willing ruck fodder are welcome every Monday night 7pm.

For information on youths or minis, contact John on 0868595227 or Oliver on 0879926404.

Senior training at the club takes place every night from 7pm during the week and early all weekend for all ages.

Tag remains as popular as ever and the club hosts a number of events weekly for tag enthusiasts. All other queries please contact 0872407480.

For any further info check the club out on Facebook, Twitter (@coolminerugby) and on www.coolminerugby.com.

Evan Nolan hits home Celtic’s second goal in their 3-1 home win over rivals for the DDSL Under-14 Major division this season

Celtic burn House down

ddsl under-14 major Castleknock Celtic Firhouse Carmel  sport@dublingazette.com

3 1

FOLLOWING a solid start to life in the DDSL Under-14 Major division the previous week, winning 4-0 away to Cabinteely, Castleknock welcomed Firhouse Carmel to Porterstown Park for their first home game of the season.

The two teams had been promoted last season and, over two closely fought games last season, honours had been shared.

Both were eager to gain an early advantage

in what is going to be a long season with some high quality teams in the division.

Celtic enjoyed the better of the early exchanges but struggled to make their possession count.

As the half wore on, Firhouse came more and more into the game.

Indeed they had the ball in the net following their first real attack only to see it disallowed for offside.

Celtic immediately responded with a goal of their own – Mark Hughes took the ball from a throw, turned inside and played a 25 yard square ball to Ciaran Collins

racing clear Dunboyne’s Dowling wins with ease in Co Wicklow DI DUNBOYNE’S Mark Dowling finished the road racing season with a commanding victory in last week’s Friends First Laragh Classic, earning himself a Leinster Championships gold medal in a sodden County Wicklow.

Dowling, who is now aiming for a valuable race in Taiwan, was clear of the main pack in a five-man breakaway when attacking up the 24km circuit’s toughest climb on lap two of four and a half and eventually won by over seven minutes.

who only had one thing in mind.

He looked up and powered home a shot from 25 yards out over the keeper and into the net, 1-0.

This should have been a launch pad for Celtic but Firhouse were having none of it. With five minutes of the half left, Firhouse thought they had equalised with another good finish but again the referee deemed it offside.

Just on half time, following a corner, Firhouse were awarded a penalty which they converted with aplomb, making it 1-1 at half-time.

Firhouse continued to force a lethargic Celtic back after the resumption. To their credit, Castleknock came back into what was becoming a game of attrition.

The next goal proved crucial. Evan Nolan won the ball and fed Hughes.

He cut in before playing the ball to the on-running Kian Ryan, who went past the defender, before driving the ball across the box where the on running Leigh Reilly forced the ball home from two yards out.

T he points were secured when Nolan volleyed home from six yards following a Hugh-

es corner for 3-1.

To their credit, Firhouse kept battling and despite creating the better chances in the dying minutes could not breach the Celtic defence.

While Celtic 14 Major made it two from two, their Under-15 elite team bounced back to winning ways.

They had beaten Belvedere on the opening day of the season, but went down to Malahide Utd last week, but in their third league game, they defeated a plucky Stella Maris, Johnny Giles’s old club, 2-0 away in Richmond Road.

24 Septmeber 2015 BLANCH gazette 31

Gazette

hurling: russell park men hold off o’toole’s

Club Noticeboard st brigid’s BEST of luck to Noelle Healy, Ciara

Thank you to all our club lotto par-

Trant, Colleen Barrett, Sorcha Fur-

ticipants for their support. Thanks

long and the Dublin ladies football

too to our wonderful lotto commit-

team in the All-Ireland final this Sun-

tee. There was no jackpot winner so

day in Croke Park.

the jackpot continues at €15,000 for

The St Brigid’s nursery runs every Saturday in Russell Park from 9.30

our next draw on September 24. The reserve jackpot is now €9,400.

to 11am. We welcome all four- to

St Brigid’s/Spleodar Irish Club

seven-year-olds in the Castleknock

runs on Thursdays in the club hall

and Blanchardstown area and new

from 7pm-9pm. Open for all teenag-

members and families are always

ers between 12 and 18 and the cost is

welcome.

€3 per week.

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

St Brigid’s GAA 1 to 2,500 fundraising initiative continues – see club

A great opportunity to practise Irish for important exams and for enjoyment. More information available on the club website.

website for further details. This fund-

The Cube will take place in St Brig-

raiser will require each section of the

id’s on Saturday, October 17. Each

Brigid’s battle way to bruising junior title

club to put in a big effort – thank you

section of the club will be represented

for your support.

with a fantastic prize up for grabs. If

jbhc final

CONGRATULATIONS to Ciaran Kilkenny

day a great success in Somerton on

and the Dublin senior football team on

Saturday.

St Brigid’s junior B hurlers celebrate their championship victory

St Brigid’s 1-13 O’Toole’s 0-15  sport@dublingazette.com

ST BRIGID’S junior hurlers savoured the sweet taste of Championship glory after a pulsating junior B final against O’Toole’s last week 1-13 to 0-15.

T he sun-soaked O’Toole Park played host to a fantastic game of hurling in front of a large crowd that was treated to a contest in which there was only ever four points in the difference but it was the Blanch men who led throughout.

B r i g i d ’s S t e p h e n Moore opened the scoring after a fine run but it was from dead balls in which most of the scores came from. Brigid’s Kieran O’Sullivan totalled 1-07, six of which were from frees while O’Toole’s keeper Sean Farrelly scored 0-6 from placed balls. Six of Keith Horgan’s seven points for O’Toole’s came from close-range frees but it seemed that over-reliance

on dead balls played a part in the Malahide side’s downfall as they only registered one point from play in the entire contest.

The Russell Park men held a 0-10 to 0-08 lead at the break with midfield duo Macdara Butler Moore and Seanie Keegan on target. The only goal of the final came in the 49th minute and it came Brigid’s way.

Fine play between Costigan, Thynne and Moore left Sullivan with plenty to do on the 21 but he unleashed a bullet which flew into the roof of the net.

The goal meant Brigid’s held a four point lead but O’Toole’s managed to claw it back to three and could have forced extratime but for Farrelly missing his late free to seal the win for the Dublin 15 men.

Brigid’s mentor Donal O’Doherty needed just one word to sum up how it felt when the whistle finally blew. “Relieved,” was that word. “Certainly from my point of view

and the view of Mickey O’Sullivan, relief was definitely the feeling,” O’Doherty then added.

“We lost out in the semi-final last year so to go all the way this year makes all the hard work and dedication completely worth it. Beating Vincent’s in the semifinal and O’Toole’s in the final made it all taste a little sweeter too,” continued O’Doherty.

“It was tight game and

to be fair to O’Toole’s they really made us work for our win. They had a real experienced team out, with a few ex-Senior players and were that bit older in most areas but our lads did well to come out on top against that.

“But there was nothing in it in the main, they missed a chance late on which could have changed the result but thankfully they missed and we held on to win.”

The ticket draw for the All-Ireland football final will take place in the club

you wish to take part, contact Billy Quane.

bar on Thursday, September 17. See

The full range of St Brigid’s GAA

the club website for further informa-

gear is available on our online shop on

tion.

the club website.

castleknock winning the All-Ireland football final.

Well done to Claire Murray who

Our senior footballers had a good

was on the Dublin minor A camogie

win over St Peregrine’s in the league

team which won the shield final at

on Saturday evening maintaining their

the weekend. Congratulations also to

position on top of the league table. The

Castleknock’s Eimear Griffin who was

senior championship game against

selected as Dublin U-14 Ladies Player’s

Lucan is scheduled for Wednesday,

Player of the Year.

September 30 in Monastery Road at 7.30pm.

See details on the website of the Ultimate Ladies’ Night Out fundraiser,

This Saturday our intermediate

happening in the Castleknock Hotel on

hurlers play Erin’s Isle in the cham-

October 22. The club are delighted to

pionship quarter final replay. Venue

be hosting Strictly Dancing Part 2 in

and time to be confirmed. Big support

Westmanstown on Saturday, Novem-

welcome for this.

ber 21. Dancers wanted – send an email

Massive thanks to all who helped out and made our annual family fun

to castleknockgaaevents@gmail.com or call 086 8416431 for further info.

Erin go bragh CONGRATULATIONS to the Dublin sen-

Gaelic 4 Mothers and others train-

ior footballers on their All-Ireland win

ing continues Tuesdays and Thursdays

on Sunday.

at 8-9pm in Hunter’s Run. This is for

Well done to all our underage teams

women who want to play Gaelic foot-

at the weekend. Well done to our U-12

ball for fun and anyone is welcome, be

footballers. Hard luck to our U-13 hurl-

it beginner or past player. Just simply

ers.

turn up on the night or contact Ciara

Our U-9 girls are looking for new

Our adult ladies football and cam-

done to our U-11 ladies football team.

ogie teams are looking for players. Call

Our U-14 girls are looking for players.

Ciara on 087 9147154.

Call Linda on 087 9785053.

Hard luck to our U-16 and U-14 cam-

Goal scorer Kieran Sullivan with his father and manager Mickey Sullivan.

on 087 9147154.

players. Call Maria on 087 2380741. Well

Our men’s teams are always looking for players.

ogie teams over the weekend. Well

Anyone interested in playing foot-

done to our Gaelic 4 Mothers and oth-

ball can call Pat 0877642155. Anyone

ers who beat Fingallians during the

interested in playing hurling can con-

week.

tact Karl on 087 2352074.

GazetteSPORT all of your blanch sports coverage from page 28-31

kings of the castle: Celtic win key battle with arch rivals Firhouse Carmel to keep up strong early form P31

september 24-30, 2015

scanning for success: Dublin ladies footballers look to land capital double P29

Dublin in dreamland The Dublin senior footballers celebrate their All-Ireland success in Croke Park last Sunday. Picture: Stephen McCarthy

Brogan household’s medal haul jumps to nine as Bernard junior and Alan match their father’s tally of three All-Ireland senior football titles  nathan kelly

sport@dublingazette.com

THE number of All-Ireland medals in the Brogan household jumped from seven to nine on Sunday as Alan and Bernard (junior) added their third each to match the achievement of their father, Bernard senior.

Bernard senior won three All-Ireland medals as a player in the great Dublin teams of the 1970s, and his two sons added their third in five years in the 0-12 to 0-09 point win over Kerry last Sunday.

Bernard started in the forward line and gave a selfless display full of hard running defending high up the match. The rain which belted

down on Croke Park affected the quality of the football as countless balls were dropped high up the pitch by both sides. The Oliver Plunkett’s man still managed to hit 0-2 while older brother Alan entered the fray for the final five minutes and kicked the insurance point for the Dubs.

The Brogans were joined on the Dublin panel by fellow local stars Paddy Andrews and Philly Ryan of St Brigid’s, St Peregrine’s man Eric Lowndes, and Castleknock’s Ciaran Kilkenny, who started behind Brogan in the final.

Bernard stated after the final whistle of the work put in by the Dublin panel to become AllIreland champions.

“Any year you win an All-Ireland, they’re hard fought. We started training in December, it’s nine months later and a couple of hundred training sessions. Just delighted to be out there and get the just rewards,” he said.

Dublin booked their place in the final after two gruelling matches with Mayo in the semifinal and the Plunkett’s man is adamant those tests, particularly the replay, benefited Dublin in the final.

“The second Mayo game we learned a lot,” he said. “The first game, we were over-excited and over-exuberant, jumping around and undisciplined and moving frees forward and fouling lads.

“The second day we were a lot more cool

under pressure. The job was to be done and we did that. We took a lot of lessons from that to be emotionally in tune.”

He was also quick to highlight his older brother’s contribution after his cameo at the end of the game.

“That’s all you want to see, have Alan come on and try and settle the ship. He always does that but he actually went and drove at it which is probably what they didn’t expect,” said Brogan.

“He kicked a great score, so I’m delighted for him. My dad has three and I’m delighted to be able to match him. He doesn’t have the bragging rights in the house any more. Myself and Alan join him on three so that’s a bit of craic.”