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Blanchardstown • Blakestown • Hartstown • Coolmine • Tyrrelstown • Dunboyne • Corduff • Mulhuddart • Ongar Month XX, 2012
INSIDE: Back to school for former pupils as Coolmine CS celebrates 40 years P6
tsunami aid: Local school’s boat gift puts villagers back on track See Page 5
Picture perfect: Trophy given in memory of Tom in memory of the founder of St Brigid’s
Football:
St Brigid’s run as county champs ends Page 31
Soccer:
Fledgling Dublin 15 club in top class AUL form Page 30
ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES.......................6 DUBLIN LIFE....................11 OUT&ABOUT...................17 CLASSIFIEDS.................26 SPORT............................27
Photography Group,the late Tom Shanahan, Fingal County Council has offered the group a magnificent trophy. The bronze sculpture of a stag symbolises Tom’s connection with Phoenix Park and was given to the winner of the best photograph in this year’s annual Tom Shanahan Photography Competition. Pictured at the event are competition winners Derek Byrne, Tony McIntyre and Susan Gavin with Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Cian O’Callaghan (Lab) and competition judge Mark Sedgwick.
Shock over road crash deaths in Hartstown Two young men perish as their vehicle goes off road and crashes into tree
laura webb
There is shock and sadness among the local community this week following the death of two young men in a single vehicle car
crash in Hartstown. In the early hours of Monday morning [October 22] at around 4.15am, two young men, named locally as 21-year-old Dean Cullen from Clonsilla and 24-year-
old Simon Hand from Huntstown, were travelling on Hartstown Road when the car they were travelling in veered off the road, crashing into a tree. Dean, a passenger in
the car, died at the scene, while Simon, the driver of the car, was brought to Connolly Hospital were he passed away a short time later. Full Story on Page 4
2 BLANCH Gazette 25 October 2012
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hartstown Meeting fails to resolve issue
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Dublin 15 Disability Peer Support Group protested outside business premises in Hartstown
Lack of access ramps sparks disability protest
Members of the Dublin 15 Disability Peer Support Group protested outside business premises in Hartstown in reaction to a failure to provide access ramps at a local public house. A number of members staged the protest outside Eurospar in Hartstown and also Hartstown House Inn, where they are seeking to gain wheelchair access. Despite there being wheelchair accessible facilities in Hartstown House, there is no access ramp into it. The public house was built before such access was required. However, it recently opened an offlicence with no access, despite this being a condition of planning permission. The ongoing failure to provide a ramp is due to a dispute over the footpath that surrounds the public house, which is owned by John Furey of Eurospar.
laura webb lwebb@gazettegroup.com
A c c o r d i n g t o To m Meagher of Hartstown House, he can provide a ramp from a porch area, but is not legally allowed to encroach on the footpath, as it is owned by Mr Furey. Whereas, Mr Furey believes that Mr Meagher can build the access ramp internally from the public house. According to Michael Ryan of Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living, members of the group can’t access the premises where they meet for community activities, social events and postfuneral gatherings. The members decided to stage the protest so
they could have their say. Speaking at the protest last week, Gerry Lyons, a spokesperson for the group said: “It is not just about one person, it is a three-way process [between Furey, Meagher and Fingal County Council]. We don’t want to interfere with the rights of the workers or stop people going in shopping. We just want access. “No one seems to know who the problem is with… everyone is blaming everyone else. It is unfortunate we have to take this action, but it will be taken again until that ramp is sorted out.” The group brought the issue to arbitration two years ago, but it fell through. During the protest, Michael said: “[Hartstown House] is the only social place in the area and they can’t get in. We don’t want any business
damaged or closed down, we just want to get in.” Addressing his point, Mr Furey said there is misinformation being given out and that he is being targeted. “I will meet with members, with my advisor, in a room and we will establish the facts… then you would target and put pressure on the individual who is responsible for doing it… the problem is it is not my responsibility. “If we have an independent person telling me that it can’t be done [internally at the pub] then I will have an access there for you… I am being targeted as somebody who is in the wrong, but I am not,” he said. He went on to say that within a week he would provide an access ramp from the car park to the footpath, but it is up to Mr Meagher to provide the ramp to the pub.
When the protesters confronted Mr Meagher on the issue, he said: “We want to put a ramp in safely… just two bags of cement, about three foot long on the footpath and the whole problem could be solved for less than €500. “When you are talking about architects and taking up floors, you’re talking about six to nine months before it’s even started… If we touch this footpath, I am in court.” Both parties agreed to meet with local councillor Mary McCamley (Lab) as the mediator to discuss the issue. Unfortunately, according to Michael Ryan, no agreement was reached so the issue remains unresolved at this time. “Mary McCamley will now have a chat with the planning authorities [at Fingal] to see what we can do next,” he said.
25 October 2012 BLANCH Gazette 3
commuters
education: data used from olympics used to promote strategic thinking
Call for shelter at retail park
D15 students show off their maths skills laura webb
S t u d e n ts a c r o s s Dublin 15 showed off their mathematics skills at a special workshop hosted by the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown. Last week, first-year students from schools across Dublin 15 attended the Maths and Sport: Countdown to the Games programme as part of Maths Week in ITB. Hundreds of students from Blakestown Community School, Luttrellstown Community College, Hartstown Community School, Setanta Community College, Riversdale Community College, Mount Sackville Secondary School, Ratoath College and
Coolmine Community School took part as they used data from the recent Olympic and Paralympic Games as the basis for their calculations. The programme is part of the The Millennium Mathematics Project, an award-winning project at the University of Cambridge. Through the programme, students take part in a collection of hands-on mathematical puzzles, games and activities, designed to promote creative approaches to mathematics and strategic thinking. Mairead Murphy, marketing and development manager at ITB, said: “This event is financed from our access office, which has enabled us to run a number of hands-on
mathematics workshops for local schools. “The workshops give students an insight into how they can use mathematics on a day-to-day basis. The workshops take place on the ITB campus which also allows students to experience a day in the life of a third level student,” she said. According to Mairead, the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games offer the students an “extraordinary, exciting and unique opportunity to explore mathematics and science at work in real-world contexts”. “The Millennium Maths Project will bring to life for students some of the underlying mathematics of the Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Style stars: Community Counts Fashion Show helps local charities melissa moloney and Septa Igoe stepped out in style as the
Crowne Plaza, Blanchardstown, played host to the Community Counts Fashion Show. 98FM’s Teena Gates took her turn on the catwalk with organiser and local WeightWatchers’ leader Vera Baker A host of charities benefited from the night as the show raised funds for the Hope Foundation, Concern, and Suicide Awareness Dublin 15.
The management company behind the Blanchardstown Centre has applied for a new bus shelter near the retail park. Green Property Ltd submitted their planning application for a new shelter on Road E, located adjacent to the Blanchardstown Retail Park, where residents and visitors have complained about the lack of shelters available. Welcoming the move, Fianna Fail councillor David McGuinness said: “Blanchardstown residents and visitors have been complaining over the lack of shelters beside Captain America’s, where commuters need to wait for buses without any coverage whatsoever.
4 BLANCH Gazette 25 October 2012
FastNews
Inquiry Gardai investigating the incident roads:
speed limit review
Council works to make bend safer
A weekend of fun, fashion and beauty for locals Calling all fashionista’s, U Style at Blanchardstown is back to bring local residents a weekend of fun, fashion and beauty. From October 26 to 28, U Magazine and Blanchardstown Centre will team up to create a fashionista’s paradise featuring fashion shows, masterclasses, live demonstrations and beauty treats. This is a showcase for anyone looking to see the trends for this autumn/winter 2012. On Saturday and Sunday, there will be fashion shows taking place three times daily, showcasing the latest fashions in Blanchardstown. Guest speakers, including the U Magazine team, will be on hand to share their beauty and fashion knowledge and expertise.
Bomb disposal Mulhuddart team make to showcase device safe local services A viable explosive device was made safe by the Army Bomb Disposal team outside a house in Fortlawn last week. On Friday, October 19, the team was called out to Fortlawn Avenue in Blanchardstown at 9.25am. The device was made safe at 10.10am and handed over to gardai to assist in their investigations.
Mulhuddart Community Centre is promoting local services and the community during Mulhuddart Pride Day. On October 31 the community is coming together to showcase local services. There will be food, music, information stalls, facepainting and much more. This event takes place from 12 noon to 3pm at Mulhuddart Community Centre.
Flowers are laid at the site of the tragic crash. Gardai are asking witnesses to contact them.
Community in shock after death of men laura webb
lwebb@gazettegroup.com
The Dublin 15 community is in shock following the death of two young men in a single vehicle car crash in Hartstown earlier this week. In the early hours of Monday October 22 at around 4.15am, two young men, named locally as 21-year-old Dean Cullen from Clonsilla and 24-year-old Simon Hand from Huntstown, were travelling on Hartstown Road when the car they were travelling in veered off the road, crashing into
a tree. Dean, a passenger in the car, died at the scene, while Simon, the driver, was taken from the scene of the accident and brought to Connolly Hospital were he passed away a short time later. Gardai are now investigating the accident and are trying to establish whether speed played a factor in the lead up to the crash. According to reports, a Garda car was stopped at lights at the Hartstown Road junction when the mini the young men were driving went through a
green light at the junction, but it lost control soon after and ended up mounting the footpath before hitting with the tree. A detailed examination by the Garda forensic collision investigators was carried out at the scene. Such an examination enables investigators to work out the speed and trajectory of the car at the time of impact, and also looks into the road conditions of the area at that time. Toxicology tests will also be conducted on the deceased, which is a standard procedure in road fatalities. Gardai investigating the accident are now asking anyone who was in the area at the time to contact them at Blanchardstown Garda Station on 01 666 7000, the Garda Confidential Telephone Line 1800 666 111 or any garda station. Local councillor Michael O’Donovan (Lab) said the commu-
nity is “shocked and saddened” by the tragic accident. “I was at the scene and gardai had sealed off Hartstown Road beyond the shopping centre and the school. There were teams from the specialist unit who reconstruct what might have happened… A number of local people were standing around in shock. It was just so quiet… people are stunned and taken aback by this tragic accident. “[The victims] are both so very young, it’s so tragic. I just want to express my deepest sympathies to their families at this time.” Dublin West TD and Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar also extended his sympathies to the families involved saying: “As a local TD and Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I want to extend my deepest sympathies to the families of these two young men.”
Surface work on a dangerous bend in Dublin 15 has been carried out by Fingal County Council in an effort to combat accidents there, while a speed limit review is also being looked into. Tw o w e e k s a g o , another accident at a bend on Westmanstown Road was reported, adding to the 30 accidents that have been recorded since the start of this year.
Reduction Last week, local resident Terry O’Neill called for a reduction in the speed limit, which is currently 80km/h. He has rebuilt his wall 38 times over 25 years because of road traffic accidents. At the time, he told this paper he is afraid to let his grandchildren play in the front garden, saying: “I’m even afraid to go out to cut the grass in the front [garden], so definitely not [a place for] the grandchildren.” In response, a spokesperson for Fingal County Council said the section of the road has now been “sandblasted to improve skid resistance”, adding that a “speed limit review” is being carried out. According to the spokesperson, the introduction of a reduced speed limit would mean that it “would be necessary for the introduction of speed ramps for this road”. Meanwhile, flashing warning signs are due to be installed at the location in November.
25 October 2012 BLANCH Gazette 5
networking Blanch native aims to get locals ‘talking about days gone by’
Social media group page set up to help relive memories laura webb
lwebb@gazettegroup.com
Locals are remembering Blanchardstown past and present with a new social media group page set up especially for residents to talk about their memories and
growing up in the ever-changing area. The Facebook group page – Past and Present Blanchardstown – was set up by Blanchardstown native Olivia Leonard. With a keen interest in history, Olivia decided to set up the page and has been
working on it for over a year. “When I look for information about the history of Blanch on the internet, it is very basic; even when I go to the library it is quite basic. “I think it important [to share] these pictures and memories of a place before
people forget or pictures are lost.” Interesting
Pictures of old Blanchardstown are already making their way to the page and comments from residents remembering the old village
make for some interesting reads. Olivia’s aim is to “get people talking about Blanchardstown days gone by” and “for people to enjoy and share their memories”. So far there are over 250 members on the group and
for Olivia it’s not about making profit, just “retaining our Blanch heritage, memories and old photos before they are lost through time forever”. The group’s page can be seen at https://www.facebook. com/groups/368053791646/
Labour trio urge Budget to ‘shift away from austerity’ A trio of Labour representatives, including a Dublin West TD, have called for the upcoming budget to be a “shift away from austerity”. Patrick Nulty TD, Tommy Broughan TD and Nessa Childers MEP have jointly called for Budget 2013 to be a shift in Irish economic policy, and are looking for a shift in thinking away from “blunt austerity towards a progrowth agenda based on a sustainable tax model”. They recommend including a wealth
Former Irish rugby international Ron McCarten and his wife Edna, both residents of Blanchardstown, had the chance to go on a sea safari on the St Brigid’s NS, Blanchardstown when they holidayed in Sri Lanka
st brigid’s ns: tsunami aid to sri lanka
School’s boat gift puts villagers back on track laura webb
lwebb@gazettegroup.com
A l o ca l nati o nal school have seen proof that one of their fundraising ventures following the 2004 tsunami has helped a community in Sri Lanka. Scoil Bhride National School (St Brigid’s NS) Blanchardstown raised funds for victims of the catastrophe in the Indian Ocean in 2004. At the time, groups were raising money to buy basic boats for the local population to help people re-establish their livelihoods in fishing and tourism activities.
Eight years later, and the school’s boat has been seen in action. Principal Deirdre Kirwan explained how two local people holidaying in Sri Lanka made the discovery. “Former Irish rugby international Ron McCarten and his wife Edna, both residents of Blanchardstow n, holidayed in Sri Lanka. One of their trips took them through still partly ravaged areas in the southwest corner of Sri Lanka, to the village of Balapitiya near Kosgoda on the river Madu Ganga. “One of the features
of their journey involved a sea safari, and you can imagine their astonishment on being taken to their boat to find it was named St Brigid’s NS, Blanchardstown. Along with several other boats, it continues to provide livelihoods for a considerable number of the inhabitants of this region,” she said. Inspired
The initial fundraiser was set up by Siobhan Kirwan-Keane, a teacher at Scoil Bhride Cailini, National School, Blanchardstown. Inspired by the story of the school’s patron, St Brigid, Siob-
han encouraged her pupils to knit a woollen square and be sponsored for their efforts. The squares were sewn together to form a garment in the style of St Brigid’s cloak. This was then raffled to raise the required funding to purchase a boat. This was all successfully done and the boat was purchased, named by the children, and dispatched. The principal went on to say that the Irish proverb “ar scath a cheile a mhaireann na ndaoine” which means we all need each other’s help, continues to ring true.
tax, a bankers’ tax on financial transactions, and new 48% rate of income tax on incomes over €100,000. Dublin West TD Nulty said: “Since 2008, €25 billion has been sucked out of the economy through cuts and taxes on ordinary people. This cannot continue, and it is time to tax wealth in Ireland. “A model for a wealth tax already exists in France. If this was applied in Ireland, even Minister Noonan has admitted it could raise up €500 million per annum.”
6 BLANCH Gazette 25 October 2012
gazetteGALLERIES
The three current and former principals Trish McPhillips, Eileen Salmon and Sean O Beachain. Picture: Ronan O’Sullivan
REUNION: COOLMINE CS CELEBRATES 40 YEARS
It’s back to school for former pupils C
OOLMINE Community School in Clonsilla recently held a reunion at The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Blanchardstown to celebrate the school’s 40th anniversary, at which principal Trish McPhillips was joined by former principals Eileen Salmon and Sean O Beachain, as well as many guests who included 50 past and present teachers. Some of the guests travelled from as far away as America and Australia, and they all had a thoroughly enjoyable evening as they picked up where they had left off so many years ago. The reunion was sponsored mainly by the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre.
Ann Smith, Joan Dunne, Margaret Fagan and Una Delaney
Vanessa Thornton, Jimmy Byrne and Omar Dannielle Byrne and Amy Deacon
Comerford
Caroline, Anne and Val Forrest
25 October 2012 BLANCH Gazette 7
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Evelyn Lyons and Colm O’Brien
Siblings Dermot and Brenda Byrne
Emer Williams, Laura Behan, Aisling McCabe, Renata Higgins, Douglas Shirran and James Brennan
Sandra, Carol and Valerie McCrory
Angela Brady and Dympna Beegan
Shirley Doyle and Yvonne Flood
8 BLANCH Gazette 25 October 2012
environment Woodland management critical to help boost low numbers
Council takes action to protect red squirrels laura webb
Fingal County Council is due to carry out woodland management works this winter to help conserve the red squirrel population. The red squirrel population has reached critically low numbers and some local
authorities have launched projects that involve releasing red squirrels into the wild to help boost their numbers. According to Fingal County Council, a report was commissioned by the Howth Special Area Amenity Order (SAAO) committee in 2010/2011. This survey, car-
management works were carried out by the council in the Red Rock woodlands in spring 2012. During these works, sycamore trees were cleared and a tree-planting day, involving about 50 locals, planted Maritime and Corsican Pine trees, species which will provide food and shelter
for the red squirrel population,” a council report said. “All grey squirrels found during the sur vey were removed from the peninsula and there is on going participation by the public to monitor any sightings of greys. They will be trapped and removed. The council will carry out
more woodland management works during the 2012/2013 winter season.” The report came following a question by Mulhuddart Councillor Mary McCamley (Lab) asking management at FCC what plans it has to help the conservation of the red squirrel species.
Workshop: Learning with fun
FastNews Talk on Count Casimir Markievicz at Blanch library Finglas South West Heritage Society has a very special guest speaker coming to their November meeting. He is Patrick Quigley author of the recently published historical biography The Polish Irishman (The Life and Times of Count Casimir Markievicz) published by Liffey Press. Patrick lives locally in Coolmine and is a fountain of knowledge on Polish history and culture. He has done much research on Count Casimir Markievicz, the husband of one of Ireland’s best loved patriots Constance Markievicz. Until Patrick’s recent work of research relatively little was known of the countess’s private life or of her husband’s career as an artist and his work in Irish theatre. Patrick’s talk will be supported with a slide show revealing rare pictures of that era that you have never seen before. They invite you to come along to Blanchardstown Library on Saturday afternoon November 24 at 2pm for what promises to be a very enjoyable and informative event. All are welcome and there is no charge.
ried out by Dr William Carr, a zoologist from UCD found that the Howth Penninsula was the last stronghold in Dublin City for the red squirrel population with 21 animals marked in 2010, and eight new animals in 2011. “Based on the report provided by Dr Carr, woodland
adrian Mihutescu and Clare Hanley from Hartstown Community School pictured during the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB) exciting mathematics workshop titled Maths and Sport: Countdown to the Games, for maths week which took place onsite from October 15-19. The project ensured to make maths fun for over 280 first year students from local secondary schools.
blanchardstown sc: Volunteer knitters needed to create products
Knitting fair to take place in aid of St Francis Hospice JIM LACEY
I was chatting to Sally Palmer recently and she tells me that the knitting fair in aid of St Francis Hospice Blanchardstown will be taking place on December 8 and in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre at the Yellow Entrance. They are looking for volunteer knitters to create all of the products first. The items on sale can be knitted hairbands, baby cardigans, knitted brooches and knitted Christmas decorations and many other creations. Items for the fair can be dropped off at The Ora-
tory in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. You can see from the picture that Fr Eugene Kennedy and Fr Dan Joe O’Mahoney have got into the spirit of things. Fr Dan joked that given the number of times himself and Fr Eugene have appeared in photos publicising the event they are thinking of calling themselves The Nitwits. So if you can knit and you can spare the time you may like to help raise precious funds for the hospice and if you can’t knit why not pop along and pick up whatever catches your eye. Fr Eugene Kennedy and Fr Dan Joe O’Mahoney modelling woollen caps at last years Knitting Fair
25 October 2012 BLANCH Gazette 9
10 BLANCH Gazette 25 October 2012
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Michael Ryan
Peter Boucher and Terence Sheridan
Chamber president Siobhan Moore of the Dublin Airport Authority addresses the audience
Just the business
T
HE Fingal Dublin Corporate Responsibility Network was recently launched at the PayPal Offices in Ballycoolin Business Park. Everyone who attended the launch had the opportunity to meet and network with
a large group of business men and women from a wide range of business sectors that evening. The network is operated and administered through the Fingal Dublin Chamber with a board of trustees to oversee its work.
Helen Daly and Karl O’Neill
Mark Costello
25 October 2012 Gazette 11
schools P14
dublinlife
Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week, as well as the latest from our schools
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scary words: funtime at the ark, temple bar
Tall tales and spellbinding stories for kids of all ages THE children’s cultural centre, The Ark, in Temple Bar, is holding interactive book experiences every weekend in November called Telling Tall and Tiny Tales. There will be stories, activities and fun, as well as original artwork from well-known children’s books on display. Children can learn how to make up their own stories by choosing any one
of a selection of workshops on offer, and there will also be Halloweenthemed storytelling at the Ark every day throughout the mid-term break, with ghost stories to read. The workshops and special events start on Wednesday, October 31, with a Halloween special storytelling event with Niall de Burca. Children are encouraged to come dressed up
in their spookiest Halloween costumes. On the same day, at the National Gallery of Ireland, a Skulduggery Pleasant Extravanza takes place, where author of the acclaimed series, Derek Landy, its illustrator, Tom Percival, and editor Nick Lake will talk about the Skulduggery Pleasant books. Children are asked to come along as one of the
Skulduggery characters. In November, there are gigantic illustration workshops with Niamh Sharkey on November 3 at the Ark and, on November 9 and 16, there will be workshops for toddlers with Kate Wilson. On November 10 and 17, Jole Bortoli will host Plant a Book workshops, and on November 24 PJ Lynch is giving workshops for budding illustrators.
Niall de Burca will host the spookiest Halloween storytelling event
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12 Gazette 25 October 2012
dublinlife
diary
Travel fun day raises €35,000
THE inaugural Travel Trade Fun Day surpassed its fundraising target recently, when it successfully raised a massive €35,000 for Pieta House and the Irish Cancer Society. The fun day, which took place last month in the ALSAA Sports Club in Dublin Airport, was the first of its kind in Ireland and saw over 400 people attend. The Travel Trade Fun Day committee includes
Blue Insurances, Etihad Airways, Travelport, Royal Caribbean, Sunway and United Airlines, who presented the charities with a cheque on Thursday, October 11. Each charity received €17,500. Commenting on the event, the Travel Trade Fun Day committee said: “We would like to thank everyone in the travel trade who supported us in hosting this inaugural event. We are very grateful for all of the donations
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received, big and small, and we hope the funds raised go a long way in helping both of these worthwhile charities.”
Sports classes kick off for little champs AWARD-winning ClapHandies, which runs play and developmental classes for babies and toddlers, has joined forces with exercise experts Fit For Life to provide an exciting sport and fitness experi-
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ence for children aged three to eight in venues across the city. PlayFit classes are designed to develop the crucial basic movement skills, building the key elements of physical fitness endurance, strength and flexibility. The earlier these skills are learned, the more likely children are to develop an active lifestyle and love of sport. Mark Sweeny of Fit for Life says: “If a child does not learn how to run, jump and kick a ball adequately
The two cheques of €17,500 each were presented to Pieta House and the Irish Cancer Society after a fund-raising day organised by the travel trade
at an early age, their skill levels soon fail to match those of their peers, and they increasingly participate in sports and physical activity less.”
Play-Fit classes will start in October in a number of locations across Dublin before being rolled out to 10 new venues in January
2013. For further information, see www.playfit.ie.
Dublin taxi drivers voted fifth friendliest in the world HAILING a taxi this week could put more of a smile on your face than usual after the Diary found out that Dublin taxis have been ranked fifth in the world for their friendliness. The question of our Irish taxi drivers, “Are you bus y tonight?” clearly enhances the Irish charm, with Dublin drivers receiving 5% of the overall vote, in a survey compiled by Hotels. com. London topped the poll for the fifth consecutive year as the best cabs in the world, with Dublin sitting in 13th place, while New York were named as being the most available. Hugh Cregan, director of Transport Investment and Taxi Regulation, commented: “It’s great to see that Dublin’s taxi drivers continue to make such a good impression on visitors to our country and I congratulate them on that. “The taxi industr y nationwide is a vital part of our public-transport network, and good customer service benefits everyone.”
25 October 2012 Gazette 13
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dublinlife
schoolLife
Get involved with the Gazette As part of the relaunch of the Dublin Gazette Newspapers, we are reaching out to all the schools in our catchment areas to become a closer part of our community than ever before. Schools are the beating hearts of communities – one of the last places around which a community can gather. We are calling on budding writers and photographers from all of our schools to help fill the pages. In order to encourage the next generation of journalists and snappers to get involved, we are partnering with Harvey Norman to present the Dublin Gazette Newspapers Cub Reporter and Cub Photographer of the Year awards. For further details, contact me, Rob Heigh, news editor at rheigh@gazettegroup.com, or telephone me at 01 601 0240.
opinion: new junior cycle approach is to be welcomed
A refreshing change of direction mary slator
Colaiste Bride, Presentation School, Clondalkin
AS A student who has just recently completed my Junior Cycle of postprimary school, and who was also one of the thousands of students to be the last to take the Junior Cert exams, I, myself, was deeply interested in the fate of the next Junior Cycle nationwide. R ua iri Quinn, the Minister for Education, believes that if the whole
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‘This new programme offers teachers and students alike a flexible approach to learning and teaching’
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programme was changed, there would be a lessened likelihood of pressurised students dropping out of school at such a young age, because of the stress that comes with the exams.
Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn examining a project at the annual BT Young Scientist competition. There are hopes that the revised Junior Cycle at schools will see an improvement in academic results nationwide
The majority of settings that provided the JCSP are secondary schools, but it is also available in numerous other facilities,
such as special schools, children detention schools, Traveller training centres, and also Youth Encounter Projects.
I believe that Ruairi Quinn is worried, due to the fact that, countrywide, literacy levels have declined dramatically. This new programme offers teachers and students alike a flexible approach to learning and teaching, instead of a traditional, subject-based curriculum to follow. I’ve been told that the majority of the work to be done for the new programme is quite a lot of hands-on and group work. This, personally, sounds like a refreshing development in Irish education. The two major purposes of this programme statement are: to outline the nature and content of the JCSP, and to present examples of good practice changing for the JCSP. This new programme is completely different from the previous Junior Cert programme, as a certain percentage of your overall grade can be achieved through regular class tests, unlike just having exams at the end of three years in your junior cycle. As the quality of education and levels of basic literacy has faltered, there is only hope that the Minister for Education’s new techniques will turn the whole thing around and bring a brighter, more intelligent Ireland.
25 October 2012 Gazette 15
Gazette
schools talks: local issues
schoolLife
Students praise DLR Comhairle charlotte kennedy St Raphaela’s Secondary School, Stillorgan
S T R A P H A E L A’ S Secondary School in Stillorgan, along with other local schools, has taken part in Comhairle na nOg in [the] Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown [region]. The Comhairle, which can have up to two representatives per school or youth club, is a place
where discussions and solutions to problems are made for young people, by young people. This year, the focus of the Comhairle is on the Lost Years – the years between childhood and being an adult (basically, us moody teenagers). Many things are being discussed in this topic, for instance, voting at 16, and the fact that there are no student fares on public transport.
Fingal fifth years get a lot out of great Siemens talk
erica o’sullivan Fifth Year, Fingal Community College
Examining the Comhairle na nOg report
A simpler way to explain the Comhairle is by its slogan: Young Voices, Local Issues. Charlotte Kennedy, a furth year student at St Raphaela’s, said: “I had
never heard of the Comhairle before, but it was something I was immediately drawn to, as I love to argue and wanted to make my voice heard. “T he DLR Com-
hairle is a great place to make a change for young people. I have loved my experience so far, and can’t wait to see what the rest of the year brings.”
SIEMENS Diagnostics came to Fingal Community College last week and students in Fifth Year LCVP were treated to a talk by Michael Farrell, of Siemens, as part of [the] Enterprise Education [initiative]. He engaged the fifth years in a very interesting talk on the production of highquality and accurate products for the medical industry.
The students were especially impressed by a short film that brought the manufacturing process to life. All members of LCVP gained an insight into enterprise in the Swords area, learning that Siemens employs 300 people in the town.
Opportunity The fifth years were delighted with the opportunity to learn more about this local industry, and look forward to working with Siemens later in the year.
GAZETTE
16 GAZETTE 25 October 2012
DUBLINLIFE
Q&A
BUSINESS
Supported by AIB
Financial Planning – Part 3 Continued from last week
THE following is a checklist to help decide what you want from your financial planning. What should your financial objectives be? Here are some options:
TOM NAUGHTON, PW THERMAL BUILDING SOLUTIONS
Insulating against the impact of recession TOM Naughton is the general manager at Pw Thermal Building Solutions Ltd, which provide thermal solutions for the energy retrofit market, specialising in powerwall external insulation systems for homes and businesses nationwide. He studied construction management at GMIT in Galway, and spent the first seven years of his career working in both the residential and commercial construction sector in
both Britain and Ireland Tom joined Pw Thermal Building Solutions Ltd in 2009, having made the internal move from its parent company, The Sherling Group, based in Inchicore, and became general manager in January 2011. For further information, find them on Facebook at Powerwall External Insulation, email info@pwthermalsolutions.com, or see pwthermalsolutions.com.
How long have you been in business? We formed our company in early 2009
taken hold when we started our company, we never got too big for our boots and are constantly trying new angles and avenues in search of new business.
What makes your business successful? I believe the success of our company can be directly attributed to the people working within our company. They’re hard-working, innovative and hands-on dedicated staff with one common goal: a successful company with satisfied customers! What do you offer your clients that differs from your competitors? Some of our competitors are part of large multinational companies, supplying products and services all over Europe. We are a much smaller homegrown company, dealing with people on the ground locally and in a manner that is much easier for them to understand. Our customers find us much more approachable because of this. How has the recession impacted your business? We, like everyone else have taken a serious blow as a result of the economic downturn. Sales are down, confidence is down but we are still here, fighting. What have you changed about your business to combat the effects of the recession? We are constantly changing and evolving as a result of the recession, but because the recession had already
What law or regulation would you change overnight to help your business? There is a lot of talk at the moment about the residential property tax, which is going to be introduced at some stage in the near future. Our products and systems are aimed at making homes and businesses more energy-efficient, so I would like to see homes and businesses that are more energy-efficient paying less tax. This would provide an incentive to carry out this type of work, and would create more business and employment, benefiting all involved. How do you use social media (Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, etc) to help your business? We have a Facebook-like page which we use to keep people up to date with our special offers, as well as changes within the industry. We also upload project photos and details to show people what can be achieved with our products. What is your ambition for the business? To survive the current economic turmoil first and foremost, but to also see our company grow into a successful, proud business with satisfied clients.
• Having an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses. • Paying off any personal loans, credit-card debt, overdrafts, store cards, hire purchase, leases or other debts. • Building up short-term savings. • Protecting your most valuable asset – your income – in case you are unable to earn money for any reason. • Protecting yourself (and, if relevant, your partner) with life cover. • Starting a pension plan. • Buying a home. • Saving for major purchases. • Planning for education fees. • Building up your personal investments. To this, I suppose we could add planning for longterm care. Bear in mind the following principles when deciding what your financial priorities should be: 1. For most people, their greatest asset is their income. Under the circumstances, you don’t want to risk it, and you don’t want to waste it. There are all sorts of inexpensive insurance policies designed to protect your income.
2. Personal debt, by which I mean everything from store cards to mortgages, will be the biggest drain on your income. If you’ve borrowed money, then you should make it a priority to repay your loans as quickly as possible. 3. It’s vital to have a safety net or emergency fund to deal with those trials and extra expenses that life often throws our way. Also, you want to make as big a return as possible from your investments. 4. If you’ve got a good, secure income, it doesn’t actually matter what other assets you possess. Emotionally, it’s nice to have the security of owning your own home. But an investment that is just as good and maybe better is a really decent pension plan. 5. Know thyself. There’s no point in setting financial objectives that you’re going to find impossible to attain. Your financial objectives may involve modest changes to your behaviour, but they shouldn’t require a complete change in your personality. Contact John with your money questions at jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor
SEARCH: BEST MANAGED COMPANIES COMPETITION
Dublin businesses go on to top Deloitte contest
NATALIE BURKE
EIGHTEEN Dublinbased companies have been shortlisted to be among Ireland’s Best Managed Companies, according to a recent announcement by Deloitte, the business advisory firm. Now in its fifth year, the Best Managed Companies Awards recognise Irish companies across the country that are operating at the highest levels of business performance. Local companies through to the second phase of the competition include Dublin 15 companies, Blue Insurances Limited, NPP Group Limited, and Java Republic Roasting Company, the Now Factory in Sandy-
ford, and Noonan, located in Swords. For the next stage of the competition, the shortlisted companies will demonstrate to a judging panel how their organisations are meeting their strategic objectives and adding value to their business. The companies will work closely with coaches from Deloitte and Irish Life Corporate Business and will receive customised feedback, benefiting from the business advice and expertise. Kevin Sheehan, a partner at Deloitte, said it is “extremely positive” that the competition has such strong contenders this year. He said: “Feedback we have received from previous winners is that they
Judging panel members David Harney, chief executive, Irish Life Corporate Business; Siobhan McAleer, head of strategic partnerships, Irish Management Institute and Kevin Sheehan, partner, Deloitte
have found this process to be extremely beneficial and practical in relation to their company’s future strategy and it is a considerable benefit of participating in the programme.” The awards are open to companies from all 32 counties of the island of Ireland. It is the only awards programme that consid-
ers a business performance from every perspective, not just financial. The companies that have been awarded the Deloitte Best Managed Company accolade, to date, have total revenues of more than €10 billion, and employ more than 24,000 people. The winners of this year’s awards will be announced next March.
25 October 2012 Gazette 17
MOTORS P22
asdfsdaf P27 TRAVEl P24
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
MUSIC P19
Pets dog’s trust dog of the week
Witching hour can be a lot of fun for all ages
halloween: enjoy ghoulish action with spooky tours, parades and crafts
City fun will be a scream LAURA WEBB
GETTING spooky this Halloween? Are you attending one of the attractions around the city this All Hollow’s Eve? Out & About has trawled through the pumpkins and cobwebs to find out what’s on this Halloween mid-term. From ghostly tours to spooky arts and craft classes, from a horror farm to parades of ghouls, Dublin and its surroundings have every scare covered. Samhain 2012 is taking place at Marlay Park on Sunday, October 28. Each year, families flock to the park where, for one night only, it comes alive with freaky fog, ghastly spiders, skeletons, creepy pumpkins, chilling witches and demons. Residents are invited to walk in the Haunted Forest in their scariest cos-
tumes. This is a free event for those with wristbands which will be distributed on Saturday, October 27, at CoCo Market in Marlay Park from 10am to 4pm and on Sunday, October 28, from 10am until 3pm behind Marlay House. The Samhain 2012 sessions will take place that Sunday, October 28, at 3.30pm, 4.30pm, 5.30pm, 6.30pm and 7.30pm. Check out www.dlrevents.ie. Hidden Dublin Walks presents the Halloween Northside Ghost Walk every Friday and Saturday until November 1 from 8pm to 10pm. According to the organisers, Dublin is one of the most haunted cities in the world and these walks take visitors through one of the oldest parts of Dublin once know as Oxmanstown. Participants will have the chance to see
sites such as Saint Mary’s Abbey, one of the most powerful monastic settlements in Ireland in medieval times, now just a small ruin down an alleyway, and hear the story of Lord Norbury, the infamous and sadistic hanging judge who presided over the trial of Robert Emmet. Hated in life, in death he returns to continue his reign of terror, so the story goes. You will also hear tell of the mummies of Saint Michan’s Church, surely the most macabre tourist attraction in Ireland, and a major inspiration to the young Bram Stoker, native of Clontarf and author of Dracula. Tickets cost €13. Check out www.hiddenwalks.com. Threshold, the national housing charity, is hosting a Wacky Witches and Wizards Walk on Sunday, October 28, in Tibradden, South County Dublin. Start-
ing at 5pm, this three-hour walk is suitable for adults and children. Everyone is being asked to dress up and there will be prizes for the most whimsical wizard and wackiest witch among others. Registration is €50 for one adult and up to three children. Check out www.threshold.ie South Dublin County Council is celebrating Halloween on Wednesday, October 31 with a fun-filled spectacle for families in a safe environment. Over 200 young people from Tallaght and Clondalkin will create artistic pieces in arts and performance workshops to display on Halloween night from 5pm to 7pm. There will be a parade in Tallaght and a pageant in north Clondalkin with music, dance and games at both events. Continued on Page 23
Dublin Gazette Newspapers has teamed up with Dog’s Trust, Ireland’s largest dog welfare charity, to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. This week’s dog is Herbie, a 12-year-old crossbreed. This distinguished older gentleman adores his creature comforts and at this ripe age would love a home with a nice big soft bed to put his paws up and relax in. This independent little man is quite happy to potter around doing his own thing or in the company of other doggies and big kids. If you think you can give Herbie a loving home for his twilight years then contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. More information about their work can be found on their website www. dogstrust.ie All dogs that are adopted from Dogs Trust are vet-checked, vaccinated, neutered and micro-chipped before being rehomed.
Gazette
18 Gazette 25 October 2012
OUT&ABOUT
MUSIC
FASTtunes
New night in Tallaght proves hotbed of fresh local talent Two new acts, Lora & Amy and Cash Is King, will be appearing at Brady’s Pub in Terenure next Friday, October 26 as the first showcase of new acts managed by Keith McLoughlin. Lora & Amy are a songwriting duo from Balbriggan and veterans of the Ballyfermot Rocks festival, while Cash Is King are a four-piece with members from Dublin, Wicklow and Kilkenny. McLoughlin is involved with community radio and promoting unsigned artists, and this event is an official launch night at the home of The Brady’s Sessions, which is a monthly singer/ songwriter night.
Allo Darlin’ - guitarist Paul Rains, drummer Michael Collins, bassist Bill Botting and singer Elizabeth Morris
MUSIC REVIEW: pop perfection from london-based four-piece
Allo, allo, allo... AN INVESTIGATION of the current state of the musical firmament would tend to point t ow a r d a c o m p l e t e dearth of new ideas and fresh talent. Some would say we’ve heard it all before. Anyone who has listened to the Jake Bugg album would certainly agree. T i m e s l i ke t h e s e require ear bleach and a sense of perspective... and then, you hear a band who take all the elements that you love from all the bands you adore, and you really don’t mind a bit of nostalgia-tinged tunesmithery. Allo Darlin’, a fourpiece based in London, released their second
ROB HEIGH rheigh@gazettegroup.com
album proper, Europe, earlier this year and, damn, if I’m not annoyed I didn’t know about it before, because it would have been the soundtrack to the summer. Led by former Tender Trap member, Elizabeth Morris, the band have released a number of top-notch EPs - including the brilliantly titled Henry Rollins Don’t Dance - and their eponomously titled debut
album in 2010, which was singled out as a record of the year by several cognoscenti of the scene. Written around Morris’ ukelele and guitar, the record holds your attention utterly from start to finish, the combination of the classic tropes of jangle pop with lashings of ginger-beer flavoured slide guitar lines and string sections on the side create something that simultaneously transports you back to a more innocent and shinier time while being completely contemporary and excellent. Taking the shimmering girl guitar pop of the likes of BMX Bandits, the album contains 10
perfectly crafted songs that are infused with a lyrical wit and mastery of harmony and melody. Imagine if you will the best moments of the likes of The Magnetic Fields, Sufjan Stephens, The Vaselines, The Pipettes and Teenage Fanclub and you are someway close to what Allo Darlin’ are capable of, but even those comparisons are faint praise. The songs, from bubbly and wry opener Neil Armstrong to bittersweet closer My Sweet Friend, are uniformly straightfor ward and emotionally genuine, while underpinned by the band’s clearly innate understanding of how to craft a pop classic.
You’re held enraptured listening to where Morris is going to take you next with her words, which are never anything less than beguiling. Going all Louis Walsh for a moment, she reminds me of a young Billy Bragg, when he wrote songs like New England, full of charm and hope and love and disappointment and everything else that great pop music needs to understand as essential. There’s nothing revolutionary here, except four individuals creating a record that everyone with a pulse and a love of good music ought to hear. Which, in this pop day and age, is pretty revolutionary.
25 October 2012 Gazette 19
GAZETTE
20 GAZETTE 25 October 2012
R1
OUT&ABOUT
STYLE
Marks & Spencer from €15
Accessorize €5.50
BEAUTY news
Spooky Halloween Makeup Tutorial
! s e m u t s o C C r e e py
e for n is a fun tim ee w lo al H s, d to little ki from Tesco From big kids witch’s outf it y k o o sp is th like €10 dressing up star ting from
LAURA WEBB
Marks & Spencer from €13
Seeing that it’s the season of dressing up, Gazette Style is dedicating this week’s section to all things spooky. Make-up Forever is sharing one of their best looks - The Ventriloquist Doll, which is easy to re-create and is suitable for adults and children.
Marks & Spencer from €15
HERE IS A STEP BY STEP GUIDE: Step One: Complexion Use pale foundation in Mat Velvet No.15 to whiten the face creating the base for the Zombie look. Seal your foundation with a white powder in Velvet Finish No.21.
Accessorize €6 Tesco from €10 Accessorize €5.50
Step Two: Eyes Use eyeliner in Aqua Black Liner to create shape and widen the eyes for a doll-like effect. Build up your eyeshadow colour into solid blocks to create the false doll look using colours in White Matte in No.00, Pink Matte in No.75, Purple Matte in No.92 and Black Matte in No.40. Recreate the lower lash line using your eyeliner about 1-2 cm lower than your natural bottom lash line and then fill in with white eyeshadow in No.00. Finally add faux lashes to the upper and lower lashes along the false eyeliner line, the more exaggerated the lashes the better the doll effect. Faux Top Lashes: No.110 Bottom Faux Lashes: No.150. Step 3: Eyebrows Draw in the eyebrows with the same product and extend out the end of the eyebrow using Aqua Black for a very false look.
Accessorize €15 Accessorize €12.50
Marks & Spencer from €13 Accessorize €5.50
Accessorize €6
Step 4: Cheeks Use a pink or red blush in circular motions to apply the colour in Pink Matte in No.75. Add Strass Diamonds to create a speckled diamante finish in Pink Diamonds No.18, Red Diamonds No.19, Black Diamonds No.23 using Due Glue. Step 5: Chin Using your eyeliner, lightly mark the corner of your mouth down to your chin then once it is straight, take the eyeliner and draw a line down. This creates the effect of the doll’s mouth enabling it to move up and down. Add depth to the false chin look using Sculpting Kit in No.3. Step 6: Lips Apply lipstick as normal using N31 Bright Pink Lipstick, use a darker lipliner to outline the lips in 12C Aqua Lip liner and finish with Diamond Powder No.09 on top for added effect and sparkle.
Marks & Spencer €3.25
All make up is available at Make-Up Forever, 38 Clarendon St, Dublin, 01 6799043.
25 October 2012 Gazette 21
Gazette
GAMING BYTES&PIECES
A dashing design
XBox 360 interface gets a subtle revamp
In the rapidly deteriorating battle for earth, this team of pumped-up super-soldiers are potentially just a few moves away from mission failure – and being turned into a pile of ashes – in the challenging multi-platform title, XCOM: Enemy Unknown
XCOM Enemy Unknown: strategy classic’s excellent update
Challenging, but a blast shane dillon
GAMERS and techheads have a busy couple of months ahead, as the predictable deluge of end-of-year goodies has begun. Indeed, there are some terrific gaming titles due out in the very near future, as the crucial Christmas wars start between all manner of steely-eyed games developers, with a Darwinian battle of survival ahead between several triple-A titles. It’s hard to think of a harsher battle for survival than the one found in the wonderful multi-platform title, XCOM: Enemy Unknown, which was released very recently.
shane dillon sdillon@gazettegroup.com
It’s a reboot of a fondlyremembered (and deeply challenging) old strategy game from 1994. Here, aliens have started invading, with Earth belatedly waking up to the everincreasing threat of distinctly hostile foes. So, it’s time for a secret organisation to organise a crack team of elite soldiers with state-of-the-art secret weapons at a revolutionary base ... Only to watch them
BYTES&PIECES a starkly stylish work of beauty flies onto psn
die swiftly, and messily, at a variety of locations around the world, as this is a strategy title that demands brains a lot more than brawn. One wrong move; one step too far; one foolish oversight of a seemingly harmless alien out on the battlefield – which ranges from train stations to garage forecourts – can instantly turn the tide of battle, seeing not just one soldier, but your entire squad swiftly wiped out. Horribly. Assuming they survive the mission to hand, your soldiers can level up, gaining new abilities and increasing importance – all of which will make you curse your bad luck, and
miss their specialist skills, if they come a cropper a few missions later ... Wonderfully detailed presentation, and lots of gameplay flourishes (ranging from base expansion to research), add to the wide-ranging depth and fun of the title. The main gameplay is also pretty interesting, as you and the aliens take turns to position and attack with troops. Repeat such moves, until someone – or something – has won the mission, with great rewards to be claimed by the humans, or bitter regret if things don’t go so well. And if you mess up, entire countries begin to
SONY have a very creative title available now via PSN, in the stylish form of The Unfinished Swan. Developed by Giant Sparrow, this visually striking title is something of a melancholy treat. Starting with a blank canvas, the world is revealed by liberally splashing black paint around, with the paint’s splatters and tracks giving form and depth. More colours, and gameplay mechanics, eventually come into play through its brief life. As its name suggests, although it’s stark and not very long, this is a beautiful title indeed.
go dark ... As someone who’s routinely saved the world before breakfast, I have to say that XCOM isn’t remotely an easy prospect, which is great, as this is a strategy game, after all – immersive, engaging and explosive in equal amounts, but still something where planning, and thinking five steps ahead, is key. While there are certainly bigger titles coming out in the next couple of weeks, and months, XCOM deserves to be a hit. It’s definitely challenging and unforgiving, but that only adds to its appeal, making the outof-this-world title a true star on the retail shelves.
MANY people may have already noticed that their 360’s dashboard looks a little different – that’s because an update is rolling out to millions of consoles around the world as I type, with all consoles expected to be upgraded to the new format within a two-week period or so. The new dash has a number of interesting features, such as its Internet Explorer functionality, the new XBox Music service (with a monthly fee), a merging and reorganisation of tabs, and so on – all within the nowfamiliar Metro tiled format. Perhaps most interestingly, you can now pin favourite content to the dash, to allow quicker access to favourite games, sites, and so on. There are plenty of changes that you can all Google to your heart’s content – or simply wait for your console to update itself, if it hasn’t already – with the move a welcome one for the console and entertainment hub.
digging the new stuff
Game-changing update finally hits Minecraft STICKING with the 360, and presenting about my 1,278th nod at Minecraft, if you’re one of the literally millions of people who’ve been burning up the internet with impatient questions about when the long-awaited Update 1.8.2 (AKA the Adventure update, mate) would arrive – relax. It’s here, and deserves the hype. Apart from offering lots of new content, its most keenly-awaited feature is the new Creative mode, placing flight – and infinite blocks – at your blocky fingertips. There’s never been a better time to start building a giant gold statue of yourself, methinks ...
22 GAZETTE 25 October 2012
GAZETTE
& OUT ABOUT road
MOTORS
NOISE
Rob Kearney with the Audi A6 Avant S Line
Try out the 2013 Audi collection AUDI brand ambassador and rugby star Rob Kearney launched the Audi Future Now Sales event recently. Rob was on hand to launch the event as he received the keys to his stylish new Audi A6 Avant S Line. The Audi Future Now Sales event is effective until December 31st, and offers both existing and prospective customers the opportunity to enjoy the very latest award-winning 2013 Audi collection with significant savings of up to €8,344. Customers can now choose from a range of unique offers available on selected models across the range. From the Audi A1 right up to the exclusive A8, features such as xenon lights, automatic transmission and quattro four-wheel drive will now be available at unbeatable prices to those who place their order before the end of December. The Audi North Dublin event took place on October 20 and 21 where existing and potential Audi customers got the opportunity to experience the Future Now Audi range while families, adults and kids alike, were treated to a few hours of fun. A cooking demonstration was provided by Bon Appétit Dublin, where guests sampled the very best from Oliver Dunne’s award-winning Michelin Star Kitchen. Other events are being hosted around the country in Kilkenny, Galway and Offaly. Anyone that takes part in the Future Now test drive at these events will be in with a chance to win an Audi Sportscar Experience where customers will have the opportunity to experience the thrills of one of the world’s most exciting cars, the Audi R8 V10 Coupe, World Performance Car of the Year 2010. Customers wishing to experience Future Now and test drive the 2013 Audi collection can do so at their local Audi dealer. For information on a Future Now event in your area, visit www. audi.ie/futurenow
The Volkswagen Cross Polo in a shade of Magma Orange which makes it hard to ignore
VOLKSWAGEN: NEW BEEFED-UP CROSS POLO IS A REVELATION
Turning a ‘nice’ car into a mean machine
CORMAC CURTIS
I DON’T know who came up with the idea of bringing out a beefed-up version of the Volkswagen Cross Polo - but whoever it was, they should be given a corner office and made vice-president in charge of coolness. Seriously. W h o wo u l d h ave guessed that VW could take a car as downright ordinary as the Polo and make it so cool? To be fair, I’m pretty sure that the target audience probably don’t even use the word cool , and if they do they most likely spell it k-e-w-l or some such nonsense. B u t t h a t d o e s n ’t change the fact that the car has been given a huge new lease of life with
its latest incarnation. I spent a week with the Cross Polo recently and really had a blast. To be honest, an eyegrabbing motor like this always gives me a kick, but sometimes the highprofile can work against you a bit. L a t e o n e S u n d ay evening, I needed to get home quickly from the office, which involved some pretty erratic driving from yours truly. There may have been a few red lights broken, there is a chance I lost my patience with some other drivers, and it is quite possible that I may have even disregarded a speed limit or two. Despite my questionable driving that particular evening, I remain convinced that the gardai
who pulled me over only noticed me because I was driving the most orange car of all time. Yes, orange. VW refers to it as Magma Orange, and it’s so bright it doesn’t even need the metallic treatment. Did Xzibit bring this car to his paint shop for a little pimpin’? It wouldn’t surprise me if he did.
Styling Colour is one thing, but the styling of this car is absolutely spot one. Take a Polo, stretch it, pull it, and pump it up until it starts to bulge. Next, grab some very nifty alloys and give the body a few hunks of matt-finished dark grey plastic panels for a proper urban look and,
finally, give the interior some nice touches so the outside look is also carried inside. Not forgetting the silver anodised roof rails – there’s nothing I like more than when form and function are brought together with such a stylish approach. It all sounds so simple, but it’s amazing how many car manufacturers make a right pig’s ear of a model upgrade. The Cross Polo is also very well powered by a nicely tuned 70hp 1.2l diesel engine that’s matched to a solid 5-speed transmission. For the size of the car, 70hp might sound a little on the light side, but I found it to be a nice little mover, albeit not laden down with any extra
weight like the family or luggage. Like any car that stands out from the crowd, you do pay extra for the privilege. In this case, it’s a little over €17,000 but for the money, you do get plenty of kit, including: 17” Budapest alloys, climatic manual air conditioning, electric windows front and rear, ABS with brake assistant, ASR, EDL and EDTC, front fog lights sports front seats, silver anodised roof rails, bumpers in unique ‘cross’ design, silverpainted external mirrors, the ground clearance is increased by 15mm and it has hill-hold control. Volkswagen should be proud of this latest entry to the Polo family, and I hope we see plenty of them on the road.
25 October 2012 BLANCH gazette 23
Gazette
activities halloween: devilish plans are afoot for spine-tingling entertainment for all
Share the scares with lots of ghoulish and ghostly fun THERE is no excuse for anyone to be at home this Halloween thanks to the many events that are on offer. If your kids enjoy art, why not make some spooky arts and crafts with Imelda at Clondalkin Library on Tuesday, October 30, at 3pm? This is suitable for children aged eight to 12 and booking is essential. Contact Clondalkin Library at 01 459 3315. Most libraries have events happening throughout the Halloween mid-term to keep the kids happy, or to show them that making a costume themselves can be 10 times more fun than buying a readymade one in stores. So why not go into your nearest library to find out what’s on this Halloween? Elsewhere, the GAA Museum is being transformed into a spooky den,
with witches, ghouls and wizards there to welcome visitors. Activities include the Trick or Treat Trail, Terrifying Treats, Halloween Crafts, a Halloween Costume Competition and more. Visit www. crokepark.ie for further information. Even the animals at Dublin Zoo are getting involved this Halloween, but let’s hope all the visitors’ costumes don’t scare them too much. As part of the celebrations, the team at the zoo have organised the annual Boo at the Zoo which takes place this year on Sunday, October 28, and Wednesday, October 31, from 12 noon to 3pm on both days. Visitors will enjoy festive face painting, scary arts and crafts as well as spooky Halloween keeper talks. A monster disco will also take place on the lawn for young visitors to
Don’t look now: Drive In Movies at Halloween Horror Nights at Tattersalls Country House, in
Youngsters having fun at last year’s
Co Meath, may leave you feeling a wee bit uneasy in your car
Samhain event in Marlay Park, Dublin
enjoy. Meanwhile, the Haunted Spooktacular Horror Farm located deep in the Meath countryside is said to be Ireland’s biggest scare attraction and definitely worth the trek. This is the seventh year of an event that leaves people screaming with fright. With a devilish
plan to create 10 acres of fear, the scream team plan to push the boundaries this year even more with scenarios to produce new frights and claustrophobia. State-of-the-art special effects will also help to create an extreme scream experience. It combines live actors, special effects sounds
that help to create a fourdimensional attack on the senses. This will take place from Friday, October 26, to Wednesday, October 31, starting at 6.30pm and finishing at 10pm. Prebooking is essential and it’s priced at €25. Check out www.hiddendublinwalks.com. Finally, park your fear
at the door as Tattersalls Ireland presents Drive In Movies at Halloween Horror Nights featuring a haunted village with live actors, Halloween props, graveyards, spooky characters, and a spine-chilling selection of classic horror movies at Tattersalls Country House, Ratoath, Co Meath.
Enjoy a selection of Hollywood’s iconic horror movies while sitting in the comfort of your own car. Park in the best seats of the house for €20 per car, with two screenings per night to choose from. Tickets are available from the Tattersalls House on 01 886 4300, or visit www. tattersalls.ie/house.
Gazette
24 BLANCH gazette 25 October 2012
OUT&ABOUT
fast
TRAVEL
A bold and interesting menu at the Courtyard paul hosford
GETTING away from the hustle of Dublin can seem a lengthy enterprise. Planning, driving and organising for a night away isn’t exactly the most appealing to those with busy lifestyles. Luckily for me, the surrounds of Co Kildare are just on my doorstep and, 10 minutes drive from Clonsilla is the Courtyard Hotel in Leixlip. Conveniently located in the heart of Leixlip, the Courtyard is a beautifully laid-out hotel which features, unsurprisingly, a large courtyard which is used as an outdoor bar and, as was the case when we visited, is absolutely perfect for a warm day with friends. Sitting on the River Liffey, the area around the hotel is a great place to take a short walk. Hotel restaurants can often seem to go one of two ways. Either they play it safe, accept their lot as a convenient eatery for the weary traveller, or they try to be bolder and do something new and genuinely attempt to do excellent food. Luckily for me, the RiverBank restaurant in the Courtyard falls firmly into the latter category. My rabbit and ham hock terrine starter set the tone for a beautiful meal, while my girlfriend’s duck spring rolls left me wishing I could have had more than one starter. For mains, I opted for a herb-crusted cod with bacon and tomato salsa which was fresh and full of flavour, while the girlfriend went for a chickpea masala that was a revelation for a carnivore such as myself. Dessert consisted of a pavlova for the lady and sticky toffee pudding for myself, both of which perfectly rounded off an excellent meal and an ever better short break.
kinnitty castle: offaly hotel and restaurant is taste of excellence
Step back in time to luxurious grandeur Hiromi mooney hmooney@gazettegroup
IF you’re thinking about organising a weekend staycation, why not travel to the midlands and enjoy some of the countryside the Emerald Isle has to offer? One such place to stay is Kinnitty Castle in the quaint town of Kinnitty, just outside Birr in Co Offaly. The castle has a deep history which dates back to 1209, so not only do you have a chance to relax here, but it is a chance to
get away from the busy real world and feel as if you’re travelling back in time. Plus, it’s nestled at the foothills of the picturesque Slieve Bloom Mountains, so you can enjoy some breathtaking scenery along the way. Kinnitty Castle is a completely different experience from the modern hotels that we are more used to these days. From the moment my partner and I drove up the long driveway through the forest to
A beautiful seated area in Kinnitty Castle
the hotel entrance, we felt like we had travelled through to a different era. This feeling continued as we stepped inside the front door and were welcomed by stone steps which were lined with candles and two knights in shining armour. The walls were decorated with stuffed deer heads, large paintings and mirrors. The hotel houses 37 distinctively styled bedrooms, so your stay will be a unique experience each time. My partner
One of the distinctive bedrooms at Kinnitty Castle, Co Offaly
and I stayed in the lavish Hutchinson Suite, which was an extremely large room that overlooked the entire front lawn. We were told that Kinnitty Castle is a popular wedding destination, and it is rightly so. There was a wedding planned for the next night, so we had a quick peek at the banquet hall which was set up beautifully. It was quite a romantic setting for the bride and groom’s special day. It also seemed like a perfect venue to celebrate any other impor tant occasion like a birthday or communion. We enjoyed a nice m e a l i n t h e d r awing room, and as the evening progressed and it grew darker outside, the candles glowed more brightly and gave the room a completely different atmosphere.
We later went to the bar in the old dungeons where there was some traditional Irish music playing. Countryside
After a good night’s rest, we were up bright and early to avail of two of the activities available on site. We first went pony trekking around the grounds, which gave us a chance to explore the area and enjoy the fresh countryside air. We later tried clay pigeon shooting, which I discovered is not for the faint-hearted like myself. But my other half literally had a blast, shooting most of the clay pigeons that were fired out. If you’re the adventurous type, you should definitely take a shot, quite literally, and experience it for yourself. But if you are prone to
25 October 2012 BLAnch gazette 25
Gazette
Travel fast
TRAVEL
Five-star city style at a friendly price
THE Dylan hotel, one of Dublin’s leading five-star boutique hotels, is offering guests the perfect opportunity to spoil themselves as the winter temperatures begin to set in. The sophisticated urban retreat just 15 minutes’ walk from the heart of Dublin’s shopping street, Grafton St, is located on Eastmoreland Place off Upper Baggot Street and is set in an original Victorian building housing 44 bedrooms. A new package from the stylish hotel includes overnight accommodation, complimentary full Irish breakfast, complimentary valet parking and free wi-fi, with rooms available from €179 per night. With two Experience Suites, three Experience rooms and one Signature suite, guests are offered a unique experience, with each room individually designed in warm, autumnal colours. Bedroom accessories include Belleek pottery, REN products and a Bose sound dock with an iPod. For more information or to book an overnight city break, visit www.dylan.ie.
be easily startled like me, you are better off just watching from a safe distance – it’s just as enjoyable! There is plenty to do nearby as well, like walking or cycling through the nearby mountains. But if you’re looking to learn about some of the local heritage, Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre should be your next stop to visit. It’s only a 20 minute drive from the hotel and it’s easy enough to find. The centre was recently refurbished, and the displays were very impressive. Our tour began with a video in the auditorium which explained the history of Tullamore Dew whiskey and the story of Daniel E Williams. From here, we were given a guided walk through the process of making whiskey – from
harvesting the crops to the distilling process to when it’s finally made and bottled. In short, a weekend break in the midlands is a chance to unwind and enjoy the fresh air and countryside activities. For more information about Kinnitty Castle and nearby activities, v i s i t w w w. k i n n i t t y castlehotel.com. T he Cosy Castle Comforts package at Kinnitty Castle Hotel offers two nights’ accommodation with a full Irish breakfast each morning, dinner at Sli Dala Restaurant on the evening of your choice, followed by a complimentary night cap at the traditional library bar as well as a Cosy Comforts Hamper on arrival. The special offer is available from just €149 per person sharing.
The majestic Kinnitty Castle at dusk
A magnificent bedroom with a four-poster bed
26 blanch gazette 25 October 2012
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25 October 2012 blanch Gazette 27
monthly awards P28
asdfsdaf gaelic games P27 P31
dublinsport Let the Gazette keep you up to date with all the best local sporting action from around the city as we cover all the stories that matter to you and your community
Gazette
MOTORSPORT P29
FastSport taylor named boxer of year:
Members of the Lucan Boxing Club that met the Irish ambassador to Denmark following their exploits at the HSK Cup last week
boxing: local club claims six medals from international tournament
Brabazon hails epic showing from Lucan boxing’s octet EIGHT Lucan boxing club members last week took on one of the biggest competitions in Europe, competing against 330 boxers from 11 nations at the HSK Box Cup in Denmark. In the process, they claimed three gold and three silver medals, making for an historic couple of days for the west Dublin club with club coach Karl Brabazon proclaiming: “Sometimes the higher the standards are set, the higher we reach to achieve them.” Team captain Mick Clarke led the way pulling off a sensational knock-out in the first round of his heavyweight
final, a right hook that left his opponent face first on the canvas. It will provide a memorable part of his highlight reel as he intends to hang up the gloves this year. Luke Byrne produced the fight of the competition by hammering his opponents with his tight skills, regularly using guts, bravery and will to slip big heavy right crosses, brilliantly slipping six inches either way before landing power shots Conor Burke brought controlled work rate to his wins and a gold medal to boot. Brian Haskins and Petru Ursu
brought home silver in close fights that could have gone their way. Robbie Coyle and John Joyce showed heart, courage and toughness and came into touching distance of that silver medal. Then Adam Cross stepped up to finish off the tournament with the very last fight with a hometown favourite in opposition. As the shouts came in for the home lad from his supporters, the 10-strong Lucan team around the ring responded “ole, ole, ole, ole” to a thunderous noise that echoed and deafened any other sound in the sports hall. Cross
lost by split decision and one point. The Lucan team were subsequently hosted by the Irish ambassador to Denmark at the Irish embassy before returning home. Speaking about his club’s involvement in the competition, Brabazon added: “A quick rundown of these fights doesn’t do these lads justice, the skill, effort and determination put in warmed the hearts of each of us trainers. “Each of the lads put in all that hard work and dedication; this was a big moment for Lucan sport that they pulled off.”
THE AIBA confirmed that Katie Taylor will receive the 2012 AIBA World Elite Female Boxer of the Year Award for a historic third time. The 2012 AIBA Award Ceremony will take place in Armenia on December 7. Taylor scooped the prestigious award in 2008 and 2010. This year, the 26-year-old claimed the Olympic, world, European and European Union lightweight titles, picking up the best boxer award in China and London. “Katie has won the award three times now and that has never been done before. It’s a great honour and we’re absolutely delighted,” said Taylor’s coach and dad, Peter Taylor.
c o n ta c t s Acting Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@gazettegroup.com
For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@gazettegroup.com Phone: 01 651 6205
Gazette
28 BLANCH gazette 25 October 2012
SPORT
DublinGazetteNewspapers 2012 dublin sports awards october nominees
A WET and wild October proved a happy hunting ground for local GAA clubs as near neighbours Kilmacud Crokes and Cuala claimed two of the biggest prizes in the county game, finally ending their respective hoodoos in the senior hurling and inter football championships, respectively, and have Leinster campaigns to look forward to. On the individual front, the local stars have very much been looking to Europe as jiu jitsu star Darragh O’Conaill claimed a European title while Kenneth Egan showed class is permanent with a fourth gold medal from four trips to Finland. John Brophy, meanwhile, is hoping that he can play his way into the Republic of Ireland amateur squad on a more regular basis as they build toward a European championship in San Marino. November has the promise of plenty of other Leinster campaigns with Castlkenock also flying the GazetteSport flag.
H STARof the MONTH
darragh o’conaill
john brophy
kenneth egan
IRELAND’S youngest Brazillian jiu jitsu brown belt continued his fantastic form by claiming two gold medals in the middleweight division – one at the London Open and the other at the Nogi European Championships, which was also held in the English capital
THE Phoenix striker’s recent form with his club and with the Leinster senior league panel was good enough to earn him a first-ever Republic of Ireland amateur call-up, a just reward for his excellent start to the season with the Scribblestown club
BEIJING silver medallist Kenneth Egan showed there is plenty of life left in his career as he swept to a gold medal at the Tammer tournament in Finland. In a superb Irish showing, Egan was one of four gold medallists at the multi-nation event
kilmacud crokes
cuala
Round tower
THE Glenalbyn club bridged a 27-year gap to claim the Dublin senior hurling championship in excellent style. It could be the first half of a rare double as the club’s senior footballers are a step away from their third Dublin title in five years
AFTER two painful final defeats, the Dalkey club finally claimed the Dublin intermediate football championship title with a fine victory over Fingallians in Chanel College, winning out by four points off the back of a great first half showing
THE Clondalkin club made incredible strides this year at junior football level with both their AFL5 and AFL9 teams earning promotion this month. The latter did so despite being in danger of folding the team at the turn of the 2012 season
TEAMof the MONTH H
5k event draws huge crowds to Kilbogget Park sport@gazettegroup.com
Over 800 people took to the startline of the annual DLR Community 5k last week
THIS year’s DLR Community 5K in Kilbogget Park saw over 800 participants of all ages and fitness levels taking part. The event, once again kicked off Social Inclusion Week in the county. A great family atmosphere was brewing before the start with a mass warm-up run by an instructor from the DLR Leisure Services that had everyone set to go when An Cathaoirleach, CllrTom Joyce (Fine Gael) sounded the starter hooter. A constant stream of people,
from seasoned athletes to babies in prams, from 80-year-olds to teenagers, past the start line to do the 5km route at their own pace. Everyone who made it around the picturesque Kilbogget Park to the finish line was a winner with some groups using the event to fundraise for their chosen charity. With an entry fee of just €5 for adults (children were free) all participants received a t-shirt, medal and goodie bag as well as refreshments to keep energy levels up. Shane McArdle, co-ordinator with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown
sports partnership, commented: “Our key aim was to have an event that was open to everyone, from wheelchair users to joggers, to complete the course and have fun. “We are delighted to have had such a huge turnout and most importantly wide range of abilities take part and enjoy the family atmosphere.” The DLR Community 5K is organised by Dún LaoghaireRathdown sports partnership in conjunction with a number of partner agencies to provide a fun, inclusive event for everyone.
McArdle also added “a huge thank you has to go to Cabinteely FC for the use of their facilities, the Parks Department in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for their assistance, the Community Gardai and Dublin Civil Defence for their help on the day and of course the large number of volunteers who ensured that everyone was safe and had fun. “With their help, and for the fourth year in a row the appearance of the sun, the DLR Community 5k continues to become bigger every year.”
25 October 2012 BLANCH gazette 29
Gazette
Cruel twist of fate for D15’s Kennedy Jack Kennedy endured a traumatic end to his second season in the British Supersport championship when his bike gave way and he was denied the title seven laps from the finish CLONSILLA man Jack Kennedy is learning not to beat himself up after round 12 of the British Supersport championships, where a technical glitch forced him to retire, when he only needed a finish to claim the series title. As soon as championship leader Glen Richards went off the track on that fateful day, a seventh place finish was all Kennedy needed to seal the championship but, on lap eight the Blanchardstow n resident’s bike gave way and the despair of the pilot was seen as he was forced to roll the Martrain Yamaha into the pits.
peter carroll sport@gazettegroup.com
“I remember seeing my clipboard and knowing that Glen had gone off around the third lap,” said Kennedy. “I wasn’t trying to go hell for leather, I took it easy and I was thinking about challenging for a podium, but I definitely didn’t want to get involved in any scraps at the top of the field. “Then I just noticed the bike getting slower, the back brake seemed
to be interfering with the speed and I just knew it was finished then. “It’s been a tough time since it happened, but I’ve to learn not to beat myself up. “I had the championship won and it was the first mechanical failure of the year for the team. It was just very unlucky,” said the Supersport ace. Martrain had invested faith in the young Irishman after seeing him recover from a big injury the year before, with the rider’s comeback being a win at Brand’s Hatch. Kennedy admits that in signing him,
Jack Kennedy produced an excellent campaign only to fall short at the final hurdle
Martrain knew he was capable of some wins, but the Northern Irish team probably didn’t think that he would be in contention for the title. “They knew I had won races, they were probably expecting a
even though it didn’t work out in my favour. “We were the only team that challenged for a large part of the season on a bike that wasn’t running on a Triumph engine and that shows the skill and determination that was
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‘I’m hungrier, more determined and faster than ever. I’ll be up there looking for podiums. I certainly won’t be making up the numbers’ - Jack Kennedy
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fifth place finish in the championship, so it was great to be involved in a championship run,
present throughout the whole team. “To perform the way they did is a big deal for a small team for Northern Ireland, and the fact that the first mechanical fault came in the last race of the year shows how good the team are,” said Kennedy. Without the finances to re-enter the Supersport stakes for next year, Kennedy is now eyeing a ride in the main event, the British Superbikes championship, as Martrain are in talks to represent Yamaha on their R1. “I’m hungrier, more determined and faster than ever. If it’s superbikes I’ll be up there looking for podiums, I certainly won’t be there to make up the numbers,” said the confident 24-year-old.
FastSport
French side in driving seat in Leinster group FORMER Ireland and Lions manager Donal Lenihan believes Clermont Auvergne are looking an ominous force ahead of their double showdown with Leinster. The blues got over the challenge of Scarlets in Wales last Saturday but have still yet to hit top form in the Heineken Cup despite winning twice in succession. Churchtown resident Isa Nacewa got the blues’ only try of the game while Johnny Sexton kicked the rest of the points in the 20-13 result. Also included in the side were former Blackrock College men Ian Madigan, Brian O’Driscoll and Leo Cullen, Rathfarnham native Shane Jennings while Castleknock College alumni Devin Toner came off the bench. But Lenihan says Clermont will be a level above the offering of Scarlets and Exeter Chiefs in the past fortnight: “Clermont look in a league of their own at the moment. Their performance is on a different level. Clermont versus Leinster is the place to be for round three. “It’s not going to be easy for Leinster to click into gear as they will be handicapped by the autumn internationals. They will probably only have one more match together before Clermont. It’s a big ask. After two rounds you would have to say they [Clermont] are the team in the driving seat.” He was speaking about Leinster’s hopes in connection with the Heineken Star Predictor, a competition in which members of the public compete against high profile pundits to see who can predict the outcomes from this season’s Heineken Cup matches. Among the prizes are Heineken Cup match tickets while the ultimate prize of an exclusive VIP package to the Heineken Cup final at Aviva Stadium. Among those playing the game are Irish cricket star Niall O’Brien, Newstalk’s Ger Gilroy, rugby pundit Brent Pope, former Dublinstar Jason Sherlock and broadcaster Tom Dunne. To be in with a chance of winning Heineken Cup match tickets, and an opportunity of beating George Hook, play Heineken Star Predictor; log on to www.heineken.ie/heinekencup and register for round three by 5pm on Friday, December 7.
Gazette
30 blaNCH gazette 25 October 2012
SPORT
FastSport
soccer: Dublin 15 side continues to set premier c alight
Top quality coaches take in Porterstown event CASTLEKNOCK Celtic held an information session for their coaches at Porterstown as part of its new coaching programme last week with a top quality array of coaches on hand. First up was Neale Fenn, the former Republic of Ireland player and now senior coach of Just4Strikers, who provided the Celtic coaches with an insight into the art of finishing. Sixteen lucky children from the U-11s and U-12s were treated to an informative and funfilled session as Fenn coached the kids on various aspects of striking – movement, shooting, and volleying. Next up on a busy afternoon was chartered physiotherapist Orlagh Sampson (www.orlaghsampsom.com) who covered areas such as injury creation, prevention and recovery. The insight Sampson created was fascinating and the coaches certainly benefited greatly from Orlagh’s presentation and demonstrations. The coaches club sessions are for the benefit of coaches and players with information gained used to develop the club’s players, not just as footballers but as sports people. In turn it is hoped that exercises and techniques introduced will create good habits that will help in assisting a healthy and fit lifestyle. Meanwhile, Celtic welcomed Albion Rovers from the Dundalk league for their SFAI U-15s Evans Cup second round fixture on a morning and a pitch that were perfect for the occasion. It was obvious from the start that little would separate the teams in the end. Despite chances for both sides the game remained scoreless until the 35th minute of the first half when Darren Doyle passed to Alessandro Bologna who unleashed an unstoppable shot into the net. After half-time, Albion came at Celtic as they tried to force an equaliser. However, a strong back four superbly marshalled by Ruairi O’Flaherty, with Jack Carolan having his best game of the season so far, and a miraculous save from Celtic keeper Luke Kearney ensured that Celtic kept another clean sheet. Celtic’s Under-12As, who won the league and cup double last season, continued their fine start to the season with victory over a plucky Mount Merrion in Porterstown. Ciaran McGarry brought his goal tally for the season so far to eight. He was joined on the score sheet by Eugie Rowland.
Hartstown Huntstown made it six games unbeaten and over 350 minutes since they conceded their last goal with a 2-0 win over Newlands
Harts’ hunting success aul premier c Hartstown Huntstown Newlands Celtic peter carroll
2 0
sport@gazettegroup.com
HARTSTOWN Huntstown’s Premier C AUL side extended their unbeaten run to six games between league and cup ties while goalkeeper Kyle Delavri took his fourth clean sheet in as many games when they took on Newlands Celtic on Friday night in Hartstown Park. Taking a 2-0 victory on the night in a game played under lights on the all weather facility,
captain Darren McCabe explained how competition for places in the side has led to big results and even bigger decisions for manager Tommy McGuirk. “We had a big 3-0 win over DCU in the FAI Junior Cup last weekend, and a lot of the players who performed well in that game wouldn’t have been a part of the starting 11 over the last couple of seasons. But they took their chances and it would’ve been hard not to play them again. “The squad is very strong and the way it is now is, if you don’t show
wheelie good spin Blanch club run major St Francis fundraiser the blanch Wheelies, pictured at Straw-
berry Hall, enjoyed a successful Hospice Fundraising cycle with 58 cyclists participating. Over €6,200 was raised for the St Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown while the Strawberry Hall laid on food and beverages on arrival after the 100km spin. It was the Blanch wheelies’ first attempt at a fundraising cycle and is an initiative they hope to repeat in the future.
up for training you won’t start the match. We had one of the strongest benches we’ve ever had on Friday night, the likes of Seanie O’Reilly and Jarvis Doolan who are two of our strongest, but the lads played well and got the result,” said the centre half. One such man taking his chances is striker, Glen Dunne, who grabbed the first for Blanchardstown men when he nodded home from eight yards after getting on the end of Kevin Farrell cross goal header from a Liam Heffernan free kick 10 min-
utes from the end of the first half. Taking the lead, Hartstown Huntstown waited nervously as Celtic had the opportunity to regain parity after winning a penalty, but Delvari was equal to the attempt and his save kept his side in front going in at half time. Daniel Hannon cemented his side’s advantage with a fantastic individual effort in the second half when he picked up the ball in his own half, showing four defenders a clean set of heels on his way to cutting inside and finishing
for his team’s second goal. McCabe is still confident Hartstown Huntstown can gain promotion from the premier C ranks, and believes his team will be right behind league leaders Donnycarney when they play their games in hand. “We had three points taken off us at the start of the league when Strand dropped out. We’ll win our two games in hand and then we’ll be right behind Donnycarney. The league is our priority and with this squad we can definitely do it,” he finished.
25 October 2012 BLANCH gazette 31
sport@gazettegroup.com
ST Oliver Plunkett’s/ Eoghan Ruadh’s senior hurlers booked their place in the Dublin senior B hurling championship final last Saturday following a seven-point win over Kevin’s in O’Toole Park. They won out 2-18 to 2-11 as Stuart Mullen
clipped over 11 scores as they pushed on in the closing phases to secure their impressive victory. Plunkett’s were out of the traps the quickest, with Shane Bonfil scoring a well-taken point in the opening minute. But Kevin’s responded with a goal from fullforward Shane Watson but the tie went back and
forth with the Ashtown club’s Kieran Sexton (1-1) charged in from the halfforward line, breaking free of the oncoming full back and duly placing the sliotar into the top corner to give his side a narrow lead of 1-10 to 1-9 at halftime. P l u n ke t t ’s s c o r e d their second goal after the restart following a
drive from Bonfil whose deflected shot was tucked away following a goal mouth scramble. This goal, along with red card shown to Kevin’s Daithi O’Ceiran, allowed Plunkett’s to assert their superiority and Mullen scored six points in the second half for a convincing win, despite a late consolation goal.
Football: russell park men knocked out
Gazette
ASDFASDSAF Plunkett’s through to Senior B final Club Noticeboard st brigid’s HARD luck to our senior footballers
or see the club website for more
in the championship on Sunday.
information.
Congratulations to our U-16 hurl-
There is a new GAA show featuring
ers on reaching the championship
a weekly Brigid’s round-up every
final; the minor hurlers drew and
Monday evening on Phoenix FM at
our U-14B hurlers recorded a great
7.30pm.
league win. S eve r a l i m p o r t a n t f u n d r a i sing events coming up: November
The club lotto is €12,200 this week and takes place in Russell Park this Thursday.
9 - wine quiz night; November 16 -
Well done to all our handballers
race night. Tickets now available,
who took part in the world cham-
please make sure you support each
pionship last week in Citywest with
event.
Eugene Kennedy claiming the dia-
St Brigid’s GAA Club Nursery for fo u r -t o s eve n -ye a r - o l d s r u n s every Saturda y from 9.30am to 11am. New members and families welcome. Contact Paul on 087 9154748
mond masters title. See the website for this week’s adult and juvenile fixtures. Deepest sympathies to Bernard Prior on the loss of his wife last week.
St peregrine’s GREAT weekend on the pitch for
bers drawn were 4, 9, 10 and 25.
the club as the junior A footballers
Next week’s jackpot is €5,200.
clinched promotion with a great win
Friday, November 9 is players’
over St James Gaels. If they beat St
night; all members welcome and
Finbarr’s in their last game, they
music on the night is from Dakota
will be league champions.
5.
Well done to our senior camogie
The Penguin Ball is on December
girls who qualified for the league
8 in the Carlton Hotell; tickets are
final and, of course.
€50 and deposits need to be paid as
Well done to Greg and the U-13 girls on winning the championship. There was also a great win for the St Brigid’s Lorcan McCarthy in action during his side’s 1-14 to 2-9 SFC win over Templeogue Synge Street
Brigid’s title defence ended by Kilmacud sport@gazettegroup.com
S T BR IGI D ’ S s u ccumbed to an immense second half performance on Sunday to relinquish their Dublin senior football championship title after a brave defence of their crown, falling 2-18 to 2-12 in the semi-final. It followed hot on the heels of a dramatic, scrappy quarter-final victory over Templeogue Synge Street just four days earlier as a late goal from Barry Cahill proved critical. It came just four minutes from the end of a sodden night in Parnell
Park and ultimately saw Brigid’s over the line by two points. The Russell Park men carried much of that momentum into their date with Kilmacud on Sunday, building a 2-9 to 0-7 lead at the break. Craig Kilmurray and Paddy Andrews both netted in quick succession to build a commanding lead while John O’Loughlin furthered his claims to be the championship’s player of the competition with two brilliant scores. But half-time saw a sea-change in fortunes as Mark Coughlan cur-
tailed Cahill’s influence and it took barely five minutes to reduce the gap as Pat Burke and Cian O’Sullivan combined to bring the sides level. Brigid’s lost possession going forward for Burke’s goal but the powerful Crokes’ forward still had a lot to do when he won the ball 20 metres out, however, he found space before finding the corner of the net. A m i n u t e l a t e r, O’Sullivan drove at the heart of the Brigid’s defence and got a lucky ricochet before beating Shane Supple from 10
metres. A fine Craig Dias point brought the sides level before the influential Paul Mannion nosed his side ahead with a free. Crokes continued to apply pressure as Adrian Morrissey kicked three points in succession before Brigid’s temporarily arrested their slide with points from Cian Mullins and Ken Darcy. But Crokes found their rhythm again over the closing minutes with subs Stephen Williams and Barry O’Rorke kicking insurance scores as well as Mannion being on target.
minor hurlers against Kevin’s. The minor footballers are in action this Sunday against Naomh Iosolde on the main pitch at 11am. Congratulations to Conor Barry on landing the Dublin ladies minor football management job for 2013. The club lotto was not won; num-
soon as possible to Lorraine, Ciaran or Fiona. Our club shop vouchers are now available; details and contacts on the club website, CNP.ie. Follow us on Twitter @peregrinesgaa. Entertainment this Sunday comes from Playhouse. Bingo continues this Wednesday from 8.30pm. The jackpot is €950.
Westmanstown/garda THE end of year fund-raising event
In other footballing news, the
takes place on Saturday, December
U-8s beat St Anne’s while the U-9s
8 from 7.30pm.
lost to Naomh Olaf.
All senior club members are
Me a nw hil e , th e U-10 s h o s t e d
required to get at least one minor
Ballyboden, Lucan Sarsfields and
sponsor for the night. The deadline
Round Tower in their annual blitz
is November 10.
and came out on top.
G l o b a l s t o c k e xc h a n g e s a r e
Finally, the U-12s drew in the divi-
reporting a huge surge in metal
sional play-off and must meet their
prices this weekend.
opponents Cuala again.
Dav y analyst s put this solely
Thank you to team mentors, chil-
down to the huge hoard of silver-
dren, parents, Gaels supporters
ware collected by the Westmans-
that made this weekend a weekend
town Gaels girls’ teams this week-
to remember.
end. The U-15 girls won their division final against Clontarf on Saturday
A final thanks to the Westmanstown sports and conference centre staff.
while the U-16 girls beat Cuala to
They accommodated the event
complete the double in a weekend
and the winning teams brilliantly
of glittering successes.
at short notice.
GazetteSPORT all of your blanch sports coverage from page 27-31
happy hunting: Hartstown/Huntstown run up yet another strong victory to continue strong start P30
october 25, 2012
kennedy’s devastation: Clonsilla man within seven laps of glory P29
St Peregrine’s players Andy Larkin and Michael Barden celebrate on the final whistle as their win over St James Gaels put the cherry on top of a superb 2012 season. Picture: Lorraine O’Connor
Saints soar into AFL5 Peregrine’s Keogh says it is objective achieved as the Blakestown club nailed down promotion last weekend with victory at the Iveagh Grounds
peter carroll
sport@gazettegroup.com
ST Peregrine’s junior manager Robbie Keogh admitted that although he knew St James Gaels were a tough side, the game that guaranteed his side promotion from the AFL6 was closer than he would have liked with the Blakestown side coming out 2-8 to 1-9 winners, setting up a possible league winning encounter with Naomh Fionnbarra this Sunday. “Well it was quite close in the end, but we took a great lead at the start,” said the Blanch manager. “We were leading by 1-4 in the first seven minutes with Alan Nolan doing the brunt of the damage for us.
“Gaels just kept pegging the score back and we went in at the break with a two-point lead, and we managed to maintain that until the end. There were some fantastic spells of pressure for them, but we were ready for it because we had watched them play four times this season.” When Keogh, Declan Patton, John Nolan and Bernard Owens started out this season, they made promotion their priority and the club had been waiting a long time for the move up with the team being buoyed in the AFL6 since 2003. “Promotion was always our target. We didn’t want to be stuck in the same league for 10 seasons and the players really knuckled down
and showed great enthusiasm for the game. “It was just a matter of getting everybody committed to the cause, and the dedication the team had was fantastic – we had at least 20 players at every training session,” said Keogh. One of the strongest aspects to the Blakestown assault on the AFL6 was their backline this year, and Keogh highlighted that the presence in defence was one of the key factors in the hunt for promotion. “I think we averaged only eight points conceded on us throughout the season – so you’d have to say our backs made a huge difference. “As much as they have been key to the step up, it wouldn’t be fair not to mention the work of Conor Mackay and David Kitt in the for-
ward line, they have been in fantastic form all year,” insisted the young coach. Keogh also claimed that he has such confidence in the current form of the team, that if they were to approach their new league like they had this season, they could look at another possible promotion. “I think we are more than ready for the fifth division. We have a lot of numbers at the moment and we have some great minors coming through. “Realistically, I think we’re looking at a top half finish, but if the lads want it enough they could challenge again. That would be a great way to pay back the support we’ve had from chairman Paul Harte,” Keogh finished.