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Ben Affleck tells a stranger than fiction story of the CIA with Argo

CINEMA: PAGE 20 November 15, 2012 Find us on

Month XX, 2012 BLANCHARDSTOWN • BLAKESTOWN • HARTSTOWN • COOLMINE • TYRRELSTOWN • DUNBOYNE • CORDUFF • MULHUDDART • ONGAR

INSIDE: Take part in our reader survey and win a weekend in Birr and Des Bishop tickets P25

A LONG WAIT: HSE expects Corduff health centre to open in 2014 Page 4

St Brigid’s add another title to incredible year

Addiction facility gets vital funding

Page 31

 LAURA WEBB

Athletics:

Coolmine man qualifies for top US finals Page 30

Football:

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES......................6 DUBLIN LIFE...................11 OUT&ABOUT ..................17 CLASSIFIEDS ................26 SPORT ...........................27

IRELAND’S only mother and child residential drug addiction treatment service will remain open after it was announced that it is to receive vital funding needed to keep it going.

In September, Ashleigh House, which is part of the Coolmine Therapeutic Community (CTC), reached crisis point and had to stop taking referrals.

The facility allows mothers to stay with their children while they receive treatment, rather than leaving them with family members or in State care.

This week, CTC received news that Minister of State with responsibility for Primary Care and the National Drugs Strategy, Alex White, has allocated the required €100,000 to keep it running.

Full Story on Page 3

All in the family: ITB welcomes Class of 2012 back on campus IT’S A CAUSE for celebration as

Stephen Caulfield, from Blanchardstown, as he receives a Bachelor of Engineering in computer engineering from the Institute of Technology Blanchardstown (ITB). Some 653 students

were welcomed back on campus to graduate from their full, parttime and online courses. Stephen is pictured with Roxanne Walker and son Jack, who is just nine weeks old. Picture: Andres Poveda See Full Story on Page 9

2 BLANCH Gazette 15 November 2012

dublin GAZETTe millennium Park First growing season newspapers i n f o r m at i o n Block 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publish eight weekly quality free titles, covering the greater Dublin area from Swords to Dun Laoghaire

c o n ta c t s Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com Acting News Editor: Rob Heigh rheigh@gazettegroup.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@gazettegroup.com Picture Editor: Paul Hosford picturedesk@gazettegroup.com Acting Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sport@gazettegroup.com Advertising Production: Anita Ward ads@gazettegroup.com Financial Controller: Carly Lynch clynch@gazettegroup.com Advertising Sales: 01 - 6010240 sales@gazettegroup.com

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www.gazettegroup.com Gazette Group Newspapers Ltd. Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements Reserve the right to omit or suspend or alter any advertisement(s) in any of its publications. We also decline any responsibility in the event of one or more of a series of advertisements being omitted for any reason whatever, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement. If your advertisement appears incorrectly, contact the Advertising Department immediately, as responsibility cannot be accepted for more than one week’s incorrect insertion. Responsibility cannot be accepted if the complaint is made more than two weeks after insertion. If one places an advertisement for more than one week and then cancels it after the first week, no refund or credit will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser undertakes to indemnify the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising out of the publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published in the Blanchardstown Gazette, Castleknock Gazette, Clondalkin Gazette, Dundrum Gazette, Dun Laoghaire Gazette, Lucan Gazette, Malahide Gazette and Swords Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.

The Community Garden Project was launched earlier this year in March at the Millennium Park

Community garden needs new members to grow A community garden at a popular park in Dublin 15 is proving successful but new members are being urged to get involved in the project.

The Community Garden Project was launched earlier this year in March at the Millennium Park and is now approaching its first growing season.

Local groups such as Grow It Yourself (GIY) and the Coolmine Therapeutic Community are currently participating in the project and, to date, it has facilitated the growing of a vegetable garden, a soft fruit area, a newly-planted herbaceous garden and a polythene

 laura webb lwebb@gazettegroup.com

tunnel which is currently being installed.

According to a spokesperson for Fingal County Council, almost all of this work, including harvesting, has been carried out by volunteers.

“It is now planned at the end of 2012, and into 2013, to expand the numbers of participants, and to install composting areas, a wormery, and

other sustainable initiatives, including water collection and recycling facilities.”

The FCC spokesperson went on to say the educational dimension of the project is “critical”. It is also intended to involve the local schools more closely in all parts of the project.

On board

Discussing the issue at a recent area committee meeting in Blanchardstown, Fine Gael councillor Kieran Dennison said this is something he would like to see “more people on board” with.

“The issue I was con-

cerned with is that it is a community garden but not many there are not that many people involved,” he said.

In response, a spokesperson for the council said it is the type of project that “will grow over the next few years”, adding there is a “huge educational” aspect to it and groups from schools could come in to see how their initiatives work, and that the council is thinking of bringing in bees which would also have a great educational aspect.

Castleknock’s Labour councillor Peggy Hamill said it was a “great suc-

cess story” for the council but more people need to be aware of it saying “it needs to be out there in the community”.

The FCC spokesperson went on to say that the council is trying to work towards a model where there is a voluntary members committee but said they are “not quite there yet” but have a few people interested.

Enquiries from members of the public who wish to participate, or have ideas for other sites, are welcome, and should be directed to the Castleknock Mulhuddart Operational Division at Fingal County Council.

Witnesses sought after cash-in-transit robbery Gardai in Blanchardstown are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information about a cash-in-transit robbery that took place in the Blakestown area last week.

Just before 8am on Monday, November 12, two men

approached an employee of a cash-in-transit van outside Lidl supermarket at Blakestown and threatened the employee with an iron bar and what is believed to be an imitation firearm.

The thieves then made their escape with the cash box in a car.

The car was later recovered and has been taken away for technical examinations.

The amount stolen has not yet been disclosed. No one was injured in the robbery.

Gardai in Blanchardstown are now seeking assistance from the

public who may be able to help with their investigation and are asking to contact them on 01666 7000, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

At the time of going to print, no arrests were made.

15 November 2012 BLANCH Gazette 3

council Trouble spot now under scrutiny

Call to close ‘vital’ gate is rejected A call to close an access point at Allendale Estate and Stonebridge to curb antisocial behavior has been rejected by Fingal County Council.

In a council report, a

spokesperson from FCC said the kissing gate at the area in question is “vital” to pedestrians from both estates, and is widely used by people accessing the Ongar Road: “It is therefore

not proposed to close the gate.”

However, the council did say it would examine the area with a view to “improving visibility and minimising the potential for anti-social behav-

iour”.

The report came following a question by Fine Gael councillor Kieran Dennison asking to close the access point because of on-going antisocial behaviour there.

Award: Ladyswell gets flag Ladyswell National School, Mulhuddart, celebrated the school receiving a Yellow Flag last week. The programme, devised by the Irish Traveller Movement, honours schools for promoting equality and inclusion through an eight-step accredited programme and the students at Ladyswell were one of two schools awarded. Pictured here are students from the school and Aodhan O’Riordan TD (Lab).

drug addiction: mother and child service

Treatment facility gets vital funding  Laura Webb

Ireland’s only mother and child residential drug addiction treatment service has received the funding needed to keep it going.

In September, Ashleigh House, which is part of the Coolmine Therapeutic Community (CTC), reached crisis point and had to stop taking referrals. An urgent call for State funding to allocate €100,000 to keep it open was initiated.

The facility allows mothers to stay with their children while they receive treatment, rather than leaving them with family members or in State care.

T his week, CTC received news that Minister of State with responsibility for Primary Care and the National Drugs Strategy, Alex White, has allocated the required €100,000 to CTC. The funding will support the mother and child residential treatment service at Ashleigh House. It will be used to employ two full-time creche workers, who will care for the children while their mothers are attending therapy.

The board and management at CTC welcomed the allocation. Chief executive Paul Conlon said: “CTC provides the only mother and child facility for clients receiv-

ing residential therapy for addiction and this allocation of funding will allow them continue to provide a quality service for young women with their children.

“It allows us to start taking referrals again, which had ceased in September of this year. This basically means we will not only be helping these women overcome their addiction, it may well save their lives and ensure that the lives of their children will be enhanced also.”

The board and management of Coolmine also confirmed that the €100,000 capital funding will insure that their facilities within the men’s residential programme will be

upgraded and refurbished to the required standard.

They extended their appreciation to Minister White and his Department for supporting both residential services in this way.

We l c o m i n g t h e announcement Dublin West TD and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton (Lab), said the funding being provided will “ensure that potential barriers will be removed for women who wish to access this service and so increase their opportunities to achieve a life without drugs.”

“This reflects the Government’s ongoing commitment to the National Drugs Strategy.”

4 BLANCH Gazette 15 November 2012

Allendale Damaged ramps to be repaired by developer Damaged ramps at a D15 estate cannot be repaired by the council because the area is still under the ownership of the developer.

Local councillor Mary McCamley asked Fingal County Council to repair damaged ramps at Allendale Estate.

However, the council explained that it cannot repair the ramp because the estate has not been taken in charge by the council, and so the responsibility for the upkeep of the ramps “remains the responsibility of the developer”.

In a report, an FCC spokesperson said: “In order to progress the formal taking in charge process, the developer has agreed to replace the damaged ramps.”

corduff Design team being sought, says Minister

HSE expects health centre to open in 2014  paul hosford

The HSE has given an opening date of 2014 for the long-awaited health centre for Corduff, but members of a local group lobbying for the centre remain unconvinced, saying they will believe it when they see it.

Information received by local Labour TD Patrick Nulty shows the Corduff health centre is part of the HSE’s Capital Funding programme for 2012 to 2016 and will be Exchequer-funded.

The facility is listed to have a completion date of 2014.

In a letter to the TD, the HSE said they are “progressing with the feasibility study to establish suitability of its existing site”, which is to be completed by the end of November.

The HSE also said meetings are ongoing with local GPs to establish their involvement.

Deputy Nulty said it’s “good news” and “no more than local communities deserve”.

“The need for a perma-

nent primary care centre was identified 30 years ago. The Corduff Health Action group has demonstrated the evidencebased case for construction of the centre again and again. We must now ensure that the timeframe for the centre is met.”

However, members of the Corduff Health Action Group remain sceptical. Spokeswoman Ann Smith said: “If this is going to go ahead, we will be delighted, but we won’t be rushing to celebrate because we have been in

Members of the Corduff Health Action Group remain sceptical about the centre’s go-ahead

the capital budget before.

“Ten years ago a big announcement was made that there was going to be a health centre built and the next thing we knew we were off the list, and there were two attempts of public private partnerships, both failed.

“Over the last year, we have been lobbying more – the site is there. We have a primary care team but they are scattered around

the place… it wouldn’t be a huge cost to go ahead and build it.

“We will be delighted to see it built, but we are not going to welcome it until we see the sod turned,” she said.

Meanwhile, local Minister Leo Varadkar TD (FG) said a design team is now being sought.

“The HSE’s announcement is a breakthrough for the project, which

would be of huge benefit to Corduff and the wider area.

“However, there have been a lot of false starts for this project. I won’t be satisfied until the ribbon is finally cut on opening day,” he added.

In a statement to the Gazette, the HSE said they will shortly progress the engagement of a full design team for this project.

15 November 2012 BLANCH Gazette 5

big question How many other empty properties are being paid for - McGuinness

Council paying out to landlords without tenants  laura webb

Fingal County Council is paying up to €9,000 a month to landlords who do not have a tenant in their properties.

That’s according to local councillor David McGuinness (FF).

The Mulhuddart councillor said he is shocked by a response he received from

the council which states that 10 properties whose owners receive rent supplement do not have a single tenant living in them.

In a report to the councillor, FCC said two of the 10 properties are in the Blanchardstown area, while Balbriggan and Malahide/Howth have two each, and Swords have a further four.

“Seven of the units concerned have been offered to social housing applicants, four of which have been accepted to date. Five of these units have been procured since October 2012,” said the report.

According to Cllr McGuinness, the upper rate of rent supplement is €900 per month for a three-child family living in Fingal.

The council says the land on both sides of the road is zoned for general enterprise and employment, residential and high technology

dual carriageway: €24m project

March deadline for link road wrap-up Work on the €24 million N2-N3 link road, which will provide a dual carriageway link between Tyrrelstown at north Blanchardstown and Cherryhound on the new N2, is continuing and is set to be completed by March 2013.

Construction on the road began last year in November 2011 with contractor RoadBridge Ltd. According to Fingal County Council, the road will connect with the Ratoath Road at Hollystown and also Bay Lane.

“The road will also provide a spur to connect

with the roundabout at the ESB supply depot and at Mitchellstown at Dolly Heffernans.

“The new road will be bounded on each side by a footpath and cycle track. There are watermains and foul sewers laid as part of the works together with ESB and telecom ducting,” an FCC report said.

The road is scheduled to open to the public in March 2013 and is said to be on track for that date.

Funding for the €24 million project has come from a number of different sources, including a €10 million loan from

NAMA over a 10-year period. Other funding sources include a €6 million grant from the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, €3 million existing funding for the project and a €5 million FCC loan funded over 20 years.

The FCC report adds that the land on both sides of the new link road is zoned variously for general enterprise and employment, residential and high technology.

“T he development of these lands will be greatly facilitated by the provision of this road,” the report added.

“This rate can be higher in other local authorities. Fingal County Council outlines that up to €9,000 per month is being paid to landlords who do not have a tenant in their property. The big questions is, how many other properties are being paid for out of public money that also do not have anybody living in them?”

“If this problem persists in Fingal over a yearly basis, the bill accrued could rise to almost €100,000. There are 34 county and city council districts across the country.

If statistics like Fingal’s figures were replicated the State could be paying millions for properties that do not house a single individual,” added McGuinness.

“There are thousands of families on council waiting lists across the country. The fact that properties are lying idle is a scandal. The Government need to ensure, that where properties are vacant, that tenants can be placed in these properties without any delay to ensure State funds are being used appropriately,” he continued.

6 BLANCH Gazette 15 November 2012

gazetteGALLERIES

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Elisabeth, Wyanika, Aelaugo, Angel, Ikenna and Stephanie

Amy with her parents, Chris and Rachel. Pictures: Ronan O’Sullivan

arrival: Crowds turn out to meet the man in red

Kayleigh O’Brien and Leah Cluker

Aaliyah and mam Donna Gilmer

Santa sets down in Blanchardstown T

HE Christmas spirit arrived at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre recently as the man in red arrived in his very own helicopter. All the way from the North Pole, Santa arrived to the delight of local families who lined up with their eyes fixed on the skies.

It wasn’t long before Santa’s helicopter

could be seen and heard overhead.

The aircraft landed and Santa made his appearance along with his helpers. He went around to all the children to hear about their Christmas wish lists. Santa will take up his residency at the centre where he will eagerly await more boys and girls in the run up to December 25.

Gemma, James, Michael and Barry

Maria and her mother Beata

15 November 2012 BLANCH Gazette 7

8 BLANCH Gazette 15 November 2012

council Keep fit this winter at recently-launched Sli na Slainte

Residents are encouraged to keep on walking  laura webb

Local residents are being encouraged to keep fit by taking advantage of the many walking routes available at local parks.

Fingal County Council are advising local people that staying fit is not just a summer thing, and residents are being asked to keep on walking despite the darker evenings.

The recently-launched Sli na Slainte walking route at Whitestown Park, Dublin 15, is intended to encourage people not to forgo regular exercise through the winter months. There are two looped routes at Whitestown Park, a 1.3km and a 1.5k route, and both are suitable for all levels of walker, with a map board for the loop routes located at the

multi-use games area in the park.

Sli na Slainte is an initiative of the Irish Heart Foundation, and Tara Curran from IHF said: “Getting active makes such a big difference to your heart and overall health, helping to reduce stress, ease back pain and reduce the risk of heart disease. For heart health, adults need at least 30 minutes of

FastNews

Social media seminars

The Sli na Slainte walking route is intended to encourage people not to forgo regular exercise despite the darker evenings

physical activity, such as brisk walking, five days a week.

“By having a clearly marked and safe walking

route, we aim to make it easier for people in Dublin 15 to get active as part of their normal day.”

Therese Casey from Fingal County Council said: “Fingal County Council is committed to enhancing public parks and amenities and encouraging people to use them for exercise and recreation and now a number of Dublin 15 parks offer fitness trails for people to add something different to their routine. With the Sli na Slainte route people can measure how much

they’re walking and can see fitness improvements very quickly.”

Fingal County Council has installed a number of fitness trials with pieces of fitness equipment in four Dublin 15 parks Millennium Park, Beechpark, Waterville, and Porterstown Park.

The fitness trails feature a number of strategically-placed pieces of exercise equipment, such as a surfboard, a rider, a twister, an air walker or a chest press, with clear instructions beside each piece.

Sports clubs have just days to sign up for this year’s Social Media Seminar, designed to show clubs how to best utilise free online PR tools. Following on from last year’s successful Club Development Seminar, the Dublin and Kildare Local Sports Partnerships are calling all sports clubs to sign up for the 2012 Social Media Seminar for sports clubs at the Red Cow Inn on Saturday, November 17.

The 2012 seminar looks at social media platforms and will show how easily people can use them. The event runs from 9.30am to 1.30pm followed by lunch. For more information, log on to www.eventelephant. com/socialmediaforclubs.

Brass band performances Blanchardstown Brass Band will showcase their talents in some special Christmas performances. The band will perform in aid of the Peter McVerry Trust, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, A Little Lifetime Foundation and Debra Ireland on dates between Sunday, November 25 and Sunday, December 16. For more information, visit www.blanchards townbrassband.com.

Christmas fun at Farmleigh FARMLEIGH House and Estate will be hosting a range of events and activities for the Christmas season from Saturday, December 1 to Sunday, December 23.

The 2012 Christmas programme includes Christmas food markets, a festive crib, storytelling for children, horse and carriage rides and carol singing. For more information, visit http:// www.farmleigh.ie/.

15 November 2012 BLANCH Gazette 9

ITB: class of 2012 back on campus

vote Turnout was low at 35 per cent

Referendum Yes for Dublin West Dublin West registered a Yes return in last week’s children’s referendum, but the turnout for people casting their vote was low at 35%.

Overall turnout in the country was considered low, with just 33% of the 3.1 million people eligible to vote taking to the polling stations on November 10. The final result was

John Byrne, Engineering Student of the Year, from Castleknock

Students return for graduation  Laura Webb

Past students at the Institute of Technology in Blanchardstown returned to campus to graduate as the ITB Class of 2012 last week.

On Friday November 9, 653 students were back on campus to graduate from their full, part-time and online courses.

Graduating courses included computing, electronic and computer engineering, mechatronic engineering, sustainable electrical and control technology, horticulture, business, international business and applied social studies in social care.

This was also the first year for graduates of new courses at the institute, which include computing in information security and digital forensics and social and community development, honours graduates from sports management and coaching and creative digital media, and Masters graduates in business, arts and computing.

Four Student of the Year awards were presented to John Byrne from Castleknock for engineering, Brian Duignan from Navan for informatics, Kostyantyn Ogorodnikov

from Clonsilla for business and Nicola Gilsenan from Clonsilla for humanities.

Dr Mary Meaney, the president of ITB, said: “I wish to offer my congratulations to all our graduates. I am particularly proud that such a diverse group of graduates who have studied in a variety of modes, be it full-time, part-time or online, have been afforded the opportunity to gain internation-

ally recognised qualifications from ITB. “I know that these qualifications will benefit each graduate both personally and professionally and wish them every success, in their future careers.

“While I recognise the immense challenges that face our new graduates, I am confident that in their own way they will overcome these challenges and make excellent future leaders.”

won with 57.4% saying Yes and 42.6% saying No. In Dublin West, 22,008 people voted out of the 62,066 registered – a 35.46% turn-out. The final count saw 84 papers invalid and 21,924 valid.

Of the valid papers 13,338 (60.84%) voted in favour of the Children’s Referendum while 8,586 (39.16%) voted against it.

M a ny p o l i t i c i a n s expressed disappointment with the low turnout, but were happy with the end result.

Local TD and Minister for Transport, Sports and Tourism Leo Varakdar thanked everyone in Dublin West who supported the Children’s Referendum.

“They took part in a

historic vote to enshrine children’s rights in the Constitution. This important and democratic decision will be remembered for years to come as a landmark day for all our children.

“I would have preferred that the turnout was higher but I appreciate that a lot of people were undecided or unconvinced.”

10 blanch Gazette 15 November 2012

gazetteGALLERY

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Sarah Gannon and Alex Crean

Geraldine O’Sullivan, Pat Doyle and Valerie Ronan RTE presenter Miriam O’Callaghan, Fr Peter McVerry and comedian Barry Murphy who hosted the gala ball

Ball raises €15,000 T

Alec and Aveen Colvin

Patrick and Janice Peake

HE Peter McVerry Trust’s Annual Gala Ball recently took place in Clontarf Castle, and raised more than €15,000 for the charity.

The Peter McVerry Trust provides a wide range of services to homeless individuals.

The money raised will go directly towards providing

housing and support services to help young homeless people.

The charity expects to work with 1,500 individuals in 2012.

More than 300 guests turned out for the annual ball, which is now in its sixth year, and there was a lot of glamor-

ous fashion on the night.

The charity ball was hosted

by RTE presenter Miriam O’Callaghan and comedian Barry Murphy was the auctioneer.

For more information about The Peter McVerry Trust, log on to their website www. pmvtrust.ie.

15 November 2012 Gazette 11

Schools P14

asdfsdaf Business P27 P16

dublinlife

Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week, as well as the latest from our schools



Gazette

diary P12

charity: lUCY KENNEDY lends a helping hand

Calendar to raise funds for Friends of the Coombe CELEBRITY mum of two, Lucy Kennedy, recently launched a heart-warming 2013 calendar on behalf of Friends of the Coombe, the charitable organisation which raises funds to assist in the development of the Coombe Women and Infants University Hospital.

The calendar features 19 children born at the hospital who spent a sig-

nificant period of time being cared for in the Coombe’s neo-natal unit, which looks after more than 1,000 babies each year. Each month of the year shows a before and after image of the children illustrating their size when they were born and a current image of them, exploring their dreams of what they want to be when they grow up.

Speaking at the launch,

Kennedy said she was delighted to launch the initiative.

“I am always struck by how small and fragile new-born babies are but seeing how tiny some of the children in this calendar were at birth was a real eye opener.

It is truly wonderful to see them now – thriving and running around. I am delighted to be able to support this initiative

to help raise money to allow children who are born prematurely or ill to blossom and be allowed to dream of the future.”

The calendar, which features photographs taken by award-winning Giggles and Smiles Photography in Malahide can be purchased from both www.friendsofthecoombe.ie, and www. gigglesandsmiles.com for €10 including postage.

Lucy Kennedy with Tanya Crosbie from the Giggles and Smiles Studio and twins Alexandra and Taylor Hanley (4) from Celbridge, Co. Kildare.

Gazette

12 Gazette 15 November 2012

dublinlife

diary

Sew much help to mark 1913 Lockout A NEW tapestry commission, commemorating the 1913 Lockout, was launched by President Michael D Higgins in Liberty Hall on November 6.

The tapestry is a largescale collaborative visual arts project to commemorate the Dublin Lockout, and painters Cathy Henderson and Robert Ballagh were commissioned by

SIPTU, and the National College of Art and Design, to create a visual narrative of more than 30 panels.

The panels will be laid out in storyboard-style, and will be multimedia

textile pieces measuring two feet by two-and-ahalf feet.

The panels are being made by a wide range of volunteers, bodies, schools and societies across the

city and country.

share the joy of diwali DIWALI, the Indian Festival of Lights, is being celebrated at CityWest Convention Centre this month.

The multicultural event, which has been organised

by Unitas ISAC – a voluntary organisation set up and run by the Indian community in Ireland – will feature live music, performances celebrating Indian cinema, authentic Indian cuisine, and plenty of stalls and children’s entertainment, before a closing fireworks display.

Standing for the reaffirmation of hope, a celebration of the joys of life, and a renewed commitment

President Michael D Higgins is caught in the spotlight, as he helps to launch a specially commissioned tapestry series to commemorate the 1913 Lockout

to friendship and goodwill, the Irish Diwali celebrations will be held on Saturday, November 17 from 12pm. Tickets cost

€13 for adults, with free entry for under-12s.

For further information on all the activities, see www.festivaloflights.ie.

15 November 2012 Gazette 13

promote your school

tell us about your s c h o o l’ s e v e n t s

c o n tac t t h e G a z e t t e call 60 10 240

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14 Gazette 15 November 2012

dublinlife

trip: bellringing at christ church

An appealing visit  Kathryn Mullen Castleknock Community College

ON THE cold morning of October 25, some 20 students – including myself – from Castleknock Community College made a trip to Christ Church Cathedral.

Although the day required a much earlier start than usual, the excitement outweighed our tiredness.

After arriving at the cathedral on time, we were met by our tour guide, Lesley.

She shared with us a lot of knowledge about the history and architectural structure of Christ Church.

She showed us around the cathedral, and she also brought us down to the tombs, which hold a collection of costumes used in the popular television series, The Tudors.

O u r t e a c h e r, M r Stanley, then met us back at the entrance and we were introduced to a man, also named Lesley, who is the head bell ringer at the cathedral.

He brought us all the way up to the top bell tower, which was a very interesting experience.

We climbed the 86

Former Rose of Tralee winner, and noted Irish traditional musician, Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain, puts her musical skills to good use to help Castleknock Community College students ring the bells at Christ Church Cathedral, as Colum McGovern, Conrad JonesBrangan, Georgina Duffy, Una King, Cian Hegarty, Liam O’Driscoll and Kathryn Mullen look on

steps – to be precise – and we banged a few heads along the way, but we eventually got to the top.

He then explained to us the method of scientific change ringing.

All of this information was very new to us, and it made us realise how exact the science of bell ringing really is.

Lesley then allowed us to ring the bells by ourselves. All of the stu-

dents suddenly became children again.

The prospect of ringing an enormous bell appealed to everyone, and it was a race to the ropes.

Everyone got a turn but, regardless of Lesley’s attempts, we could not ring in time with one another.

It was a fantastic day out, and we highly recommend it for any and every school.

schoolLife Get involved with our new schools pages As part of the recent 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 and, 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 at rheigh@gazettegroup.com, or telephone 01 601 0240.

15 November 2012 Gazette 15

Gazette

schools dail na nog: more than 2,150 pupils take part in survey

Body image matters  emma storey, rosa barrell and fiona stinson Mount Sackville

A SURVEY was undertaken recently by Dail na nOg and aided by researchers from the School of Applied Social Studies in UCC on the subject of body image.

T h e r e s u l t s we r e based on the answers of 2,156 young people, aged between 10 to 21.

Mo r e t h a n t h r e e quarters of the participants said body image was important to them.

The main findings were that those under 12 were most content

with their body image, and 15-year-olds were the least.

It also showed that girls’ view their body image by comparison with others, whereas it’s bullying that most influences boys.

Activities More than half said their body image interferes with them taking part in certain activities, such as swimming.

There was a higher percentage of girls than boys that exercised for their appearance rather than enjoyment.

It’s clear that teenagers today have a poor body image. Drastic

action needs to be taken to alter the statistics of the survey’s results.

A recommendation is to introduce a body image module into SPHE class in schools – this would promote self-esteem and a positive body image.

Having noticed that bullying influences the way boys see themselves, it seems that it would be beneficial if schools were stricter on their anti-bullying policies.

Suggestion Another suggestion is to have a body image week, once a year, where everybody wears a stick-

er, on which they write a few positive things about themselves.

This way, people will think about their body

image and pick out the good aspects.

It should also raise confidence among the youth of today.

A survey on body image was undertaken by Dail na nOg and aided by researchers from the School of Applied Social Studies in UCC

GAZETTE

16 GAZETTE 15 November 2012

DUBLINLIFE

Q&A

JAMES KENNEDY, SAPORI ITALIANI

Bringing authentic Italian fare to Ireland GROWTH in the economy is slow to take off, but one local entrepreneur’s business is booming. Sapori Italiani, a new Dundrum company, imports high-end, authentic, fresh Italian foods to the Irish market.

James Kennedy started the company 18 months ago after returning from a trip to Italy. Having spotted a niche in the market for high-quality Italian fare, Kennedy started import-

ing and selling at markets stalls around Dublin city.

The company’s fare comes from the Liguria region of northern Italy, where pesto originated. The range is the only authentic non-pasteurised pesto imported to Ireland, and is certified by the Italian food board to call the long-shelf life products “fresh”.

For further information, see www. saporiitaliani.ie.

How long have you been in business?

customers informed of our products and where they are available from.

We regularly post recipes to show customers how versatile our products are.

My current business has been running since the beginning of 2011.

What makes your business successful?

Simple: good products.

What do you offer your clients that differs from your competitors?

We import the only fresh authentic Italian pesto range available in Ireland; all our competitors’ products are pasteurised, but pasteurisation kills the authentic taste of pesto.

How has the recession impacted your business?

Not a great deal, to be honest; it’s my belief that a good product at a good price will always sell.

How has the recession impacted your business?

The recession has made us very careful of what products we import, and in what quantities. Our product range has been reduced and our stock level also.

What law or regulation would you change overnight to help your business?

Nothing that I can think of.

How do you use social media (Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn, etc) to help your business?

We use Facebook to keep our

What is your ambition for the business?

My aim is to offer a range of highquality Italian food products, and maybe, one day, start selling Irish foods into Italy.

What is the best piece of business advice you ever received?

“It’s not the price you sell your products for that’s important – it’s the price you buy them for.”

What is your favourite thing about doing business in your local area?

Getting to see my products on my local shop’s shelf every time I do my shopping.

What living person do you most admire?

Valentino Rossi – a motorcycling legend!

What is your favourite Dublin restaurant?

JD’s steakhouse, Terenure.

Who would your three dream dinner guests be, and why?

Valentino Rossi, just because he’s my idol; John Bishop, as he would provide the laughs and Jennifer Maguire, funny and good-looking.

BUSINESS

Supported

by AIB

Investment made simple THE idea of not spending some of your money now, so that you can use it later, is called “saving”. Okay, okay, I know you know, but it had to be said.

But, to what end? So that you have cash on hand for emergencies, major purchases and irregular expenses.

You will also need savings if you want to buy property.

How big should your savings pot be? I would say enough to support yourself and your dependants for between three and six months (with such net annual income kept in a rainy day fund, or RDF).

Where should you keep your savings? Where you can get your hands on them quickly – an accessible, ondemand deposit account. Remember, with savings up to €100,000 per person, you are covered by the Deposit Protection Scheme via the Government (via the taxpayer – you and me).

The two best demand accounts currently are KBC Bank (at 3.25%), and AIB Direct (at 3.1%, with two withdrawals per annum allowed).

Investments differ from savings in that they represent money you either don’t need in a hurry or, if you are a risk-taker, you don’t mind losing. All investment involves risk, because either you are giving your money to someone else to make money for you, and there is always the chance they will turn out to be crooks or idiots (or both), or you are buying something that may be worth less when you come to sell it.

However, there are lots of investments that aren’t really risky. Normally, the more money you stand to make from the money you invest, the higher the risk.

As a general rule, if you do invest outside of deposit accounts, you should at least be aiming for double the return of the best deposit account (12-month fixed rate – Ulster Bank 3.75%) to justify this decision.

You will often hear people describe investment as being a case of “risk versus reward”. What they mean by this is how much risk they want to take for what sort of reward. The key things to remember about investment are that you should diversify. In other words, don’t keep all your eggs in one basket, but make sure you are spreading the risk by investing in different areas.

Over the long-term, the highest returns have come from the stock market.

The majority of your money, say 90% for most people, should be in relatively low-risk investments, such as the stock market, property, pensions and bonds (a posh word for Government and public company IOUs).

Start saving if you haven’t already and, once your RDF coffers are full, you can then plan an investment strategy to suit your needs.  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

UNIQUE ENVIRONMENT: MALTHOUSE CENTRE PRAISED

Shared designer space inspired and inspiring THE best of Irish design is set to flow at the old whiskey distillery building on Dublin’s North Circular Road, after a shared space for Irish designers was created recently.

T he brainchild of Arthur Duff and Greg Tisdal, the Malthouse Design Centre is creating a name for creative thinking, attracting designers of all disciplines including architects alongside interior, furniture, lighting, industrial and product designers, as well as textile, graphic and brand designers.

One of these, Bennis Design, has been nominated for an IDI award for excellence in design for the Enterprise Ireland Annual Report &

Accounts 2011.

Bennis Design & Brand Partners were founded in 2002 by Caroline Murphy and Alan Bennis.

Together, this husband and wife team help to bring brands to life, across a full range of digital and print media.

Over the past 10 years, Bennis Design has helped companies such as Enterprise Ireland, An Post, SEI, Visual Artists Ireland, BreastCheck, Cervical Check, The National Library of Ireland and Elan.

Murphy said: “The Malthouse Design Centre has a unique environment where the lines between design disciplines are allowed to be blurred.

“We each inspire and

Alan Bennis and Caroline Murphy, of Bennis Design

support each other, which is a huge positive as business people in today’s market.”

As a way of promoting the importance and value of design for Design Week, the Malthouse Design Centre invited well-known Irish design professionals to choose gems of beautifully-designed objects that hold a personal meaning for

them, familiar as well as unexpected objects, and concepts that have revolutionised the life of designers or their way of thinking.

The Living with Design exhibition is running until December 21 at the Malthouse Design Centre.

For further information, contact Alan Bennis of Bennis Design at 086 835 5494.

15 November 2012 Gazette 17

asdfsdaf P27 TRAVEl P24

MOTORS P22

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

US election night: a tense climax to the presidential campaign in D2

Pets

Dublin’s own Democratic convention  PAUL HOSFORD

“What’s at stake? The entire future of the United States.”

Dennis Desmond, the chairman of the Irish Democrats Abroad is unequivocal. It is just after midnight in The Arlington Hotel on Dublin’s Bachelors Walk and a group of about 70 Barack Obamasupporting Americans and Irish have dedicated themselves to staying up until the early hours of Wednesday morning to see the results from the anticipated American election roll in.

As the conversation carries on, burgers and hot dogs are served and a big screen displays CNN. The air of tension is palpable. Though most polling has Obama ahead, the race has been closer than anticipated, and that has set some supporters of the 44th president on edge.

“I don’t want to say it out loud, but if Romney can take Ohio, we could

be in trouble,” says one woman at the bar. It is the first time I’ve heard a mention of a possible defeat, but the theme of the night is recurrent — Ohio, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, Wisconsin, Colorado, Virginia, Pennsylvania and North Carolina — swing states.

The two words that dominated the final week of the campaign coverage have become so used that they have almost lost meaning, but all eyes here are firmly on those states holding the balance of power.

To understand why states like Ohio matter so much, you have to take for granted that certain states vote certain ways. In fact, before polling opened fully across the States last Tuesday, 41 states, plus Washington DC, were already coloured red or blue, depending on their allegiance to the Republican or Democratic parties.

With just nine states

that are likely to change from one election to the next, those states are bound to take a disproportionate amount of the media’s, and candidates, attention.

So, as Connecticut, Vermont, Delaware, DC and Maryland go in the president’s favour, there is little more than polite applause and barely an eyebrow is raised as the Republican challenger Mitt Romney takes Montana, Georgia, Louisiana and Alabama.

When New York goes to Obama, as it always was going to, the place erupts. There is a healthy New York contingent here.

“I think it’s about going forward with the president, rather than a candidate who wants to limit women’s rights, limit social welfare and squeeze those who have the least,” says Desmond. For him, the choice tonight is clearer than it has ever been.

With the 2010 victo-



Gazette

MUSIC P19

can you give Molly a home?

Irish Democrats Abroad chairman Dennis Desmond is all smiles after the result

ries of the far-right Tea Party, Dennis bristles at the notion they are in any way similar.

“There was a perception that we weren’t so far apart some time ago. But, now, you have a Republican Party that is so far radicalised to the right, without any idea of compromise.”

Picking up on Denni’s Boston accent, I ask how Romney’s links to Massachusetts, where he was governor, colour his view of the president’s opponent.

“Back when he was elected, we knew he was full of it. We knew he was just using Massachusetts to get to the presidency.”

Overall, most here are happy with the first four years under Obama.

“I’m happy, particu-

larly given the cards he was dealt. He stopped the haemorrhaging of 800,000 jobs every month and passed the Affordable Care Act, extending health coverage to 45 million Americans.

“He has got us going in the right direction. It’s hard to undo eight years of George W Bush in four years.”

That is the ongoing theme here; satisfaction rather than outright joy at the job done by the president. But, Dennis is far more bullish about the incumbent’s chances; he wants to win and win big.

With tiredness setting in, people begin to step outside into the frigid Dublin air just in order to wake up, to stave off the fatigue.

The first swing state

goes to Romney, North Carolina goes red and, for a brief minute, there is a chance he may win. My initial thought is of what the atmosphere in this room would become in that event.

That thought is quickly erased as Pennsylvania is comfortably won by Obama, with Wisconsin and Iowa following swiftly. The closing of west coast polls gives Obama California, Oregon and Washington.

The announcement that Ohio is won causes the Arlington bar to erupt.

At 4.28am Irish time, this is a room full of joy.

Dennis Desmond embraces all around him and tells me he’s glad it’s all over:“It has been such a hard few months, but it’s over now. We won.”

DUBLIN Gazette Newspapers has teamed up with Dogs Trust, Ireland’s largest dog welfare charity, to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs.

Molly is a one-year old Labrador crossbreed.

This stunning young lady is extremely affectionate and adores company.

She would love to go to a forever home that has big kids and possibly another dog as Molly finds being alone quite worrying so would cherish a canine pal to hang out and play with.

Long walks on the beach and splashing around in the water makes Molly a very happy dog indeed.

This lady is a true gem and a real favourite in Dogs Trust.

If you think you can give Molly a loving home for his twilight years, contact Dogs Trust at 01 879 1000.

Further information about their work can be found on their website at www. dogstrust.ie.

All dogs that are adopted from Dogs Trust are vet-checked, vaccinated, neutered and micro-chipped before being re-homed.

GAZETTE

18 GAZETTE 15 November 2012

OUT&ABOUT

STYLE

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STYLE focus Take a peek at the new Kardashian Kollection as it comes to Ireland  LAURA WEBB

THE wait is finally over, Kardashian fanatics are jumping out of their stilettos with joy and making their way to Dorothy Perkins stores across Dublin to get their fashionable hands on items from the long awaited Kardashian Kollection.

Kim, Kourtney and Khloe have brought their own style into their collection for Dorothy Perkins. Leather, leopard print, studs, oversized shirts, boho frills and figure hugging dresses are just some of the styles that can be seen throughout the collection.

The three girls, each so different in style and shape, are making it easy for

women of all shapes and sizes to find something that best suits their body within the collection.

The sisters are fast becoming style icons and their own collection started out in Sears in the US. Now they have landed in Ireland and are bringing some LA glamour and style to the streets of Dublin. The Kardashians shot to fame starring in reality TV show, Keeping Up with the Kardashians, which followed them and the rest of their unconventional family.

Speaking to Gazette Style this week, Dorothy Perkins store manager at Liffey Valley, Emer Macken said there is a great buzz about the place. “People were calling weeks in advance to the collection coming in, asking questions about when it’s going to be in, have we seen it ourselves, what’s it going to be

like? There is just a great buzz.

“The collection is going to be available here in Liffey Valley, Blanchardstown and Jervis Street in Dublin and we also have it in Killarney, Limerick and Galway.

Working in Dorothy Perkins the staff got a sneak preview of the fashion which Emer says just looks “fab”.

“It is very leopard print, black, purple – that’s a big colour. The bags are all very studded, it’s just gorgeous. It’s very them. You can pick out outfits and say that is what Kourtney would wear or Kim. There is even a Kourtney jean, a Khloe jean and a Kim jean and you just know by the look and the cut of the jean who it belongs to,” she told Gazette Style.

15 November 2012 Gazette 19

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exclusively with Dorothy Perkins Asked what makes the girls so likeable, Emer said: “I think it is that they are so real. They are so normal. I watch their show, Keeping up with the Kardashians, and they are just so very true to themselves, they are very - this is who I am, I have a big bum, I have the boobs and this is the figure that is going to inspire curvier women to wear the dresses they have always wanted to wear. Why shouldn’t they? just because they have big hips – just embrace the body that you are in. I do think the cut of the dresses is fabulous, they are all just gorgeous.

“Everyone here just wants to get their hands on everything, but we [staff] are under strict instructions not to purchase on the

first day. It is just great that we have it, it is going to be a really good boost for Dorothy Perkins and for retail,” Emer said.

An online preview of the collection was available to view on the Sunday before the official launch day Thursday, November 8, with 14 of the 100 item collection for sale it sold out completely within two hours.

This week, Gazette Style has chosen some of the collection which we think is going to be a hit with shoppers and fly off the shelves to replace items in the wardrobe.

The Kardashian Kollection is now available at participating Dorothy Perkins stores or online at www.dorothyperkins.co.uk.

Gazette

20 gazette 15 November 2012

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

theatre

THE pavilioN THEATRE 01 231 2929 Murdered to Death

THIS hilarious spoof of the best of the whodunnits, complete with a well-meaning amateur sleuth in twinset and pearls, is set in a country manor house in the 1930s.

The butler, an English Colonel, a shady French art dealer and his moll, and a bumbling police inspector are among the characters whose side-splitting antics follow the mysterious death of the house’s owner. It soon becomes clear that the murderer hasn’t finished yet, but will the murderer be unmasked before everyone else has met their doom, or will the audience die laughing first?

November 14-17, tickets are priced at €18/€15.

Draiocht 01 885 2622 Paddy Cole

PADDY Cole is legendary in Irish show business, ever since he first came to prominence in the 1960s with the Capitol Showband. He still attracts many of the people who danced in those days to his shows today. Paddy and his All Stars are renowned for giving audiences a good time - whether it’s jazz, rock ‘n roll, sixties or swing – the result is always the same – a thrilled and ecstatic reaction. November 20 at 8pm, tickets are priced at €22/€18.

Ben Affleck tries out as Jesse’s replacement. Walt is unimpressed

cinema: Ben affleck tells a weirder than fiction story of the cia

Get up and Argo  paul hosford

phosford@gazettegroup.com

REMEMBER Paycheck?

How about Bounce?

Surviving Christmas?

Gigli?

That many absolute turkeys would be enough to bury most careers, never mind them being coupled with being half of the most maligned showbiz couples ever.

How is it, then, that Ben Affleck is flying high as both an actor and a director, has received a slew of awards and nominations and is now generally loved?

T h e a n s we r, o f course, is simple; he is, and always has been, a supremely gifted man.

Affleck won an Oscar for the Good Will Hunt-

ing screenplay at the age of 25 and for his first major feature took on the adaptation of a Denis Lehane novel.

So, as well as being gifted, he is not short in the confidence stakes.

Which is why Argo makes perfect sense in a lot of ways.

The story of a CIA plot to rescue six hostages from revolutionera Iran, Argo mixes 1970s spy thriller with a bumbling farce comedy.

Based on a true story, the film takes us inside the CIA plot to remove the hostages from the grip of Ayatollah-friendly students.

To do so, it is decided to make a film.

Not a real film, but a fake, Canadian sci-fi blockbuster.

If the storyline seems too far-fetched, it is important to note that this all happened and the US government declassified the files in

Film of the Week: Argo h h h h (12A) 120mins Director: Ben Affleck Starring: Ben Affleck, Bryan Cranston, John Goodman, Alan Arkin, Kyle Chandler, Chris Messina, Tate Donovan

OUR VERDICT: OK, so Ben Affleck had that run of truly awful, awful films.

Addressing that is important because, for the last six years Affleck has stood head and shoulders above most of peers as an actor, a writer and a director. Argo, the third entry to his directorial canon, is a fine film which finds the one time Bennifer cohort establishing his style and signature as a film maker.

1997.

The film plays out very like the spy thrillers of the 1970s, arguably the heyday of American film making.

T he paranoia and clandestine dealings, not to mention the hair, give the film the perfect grounding and Affleck has clearly been watching his Parallax View and All The President’s Men. Whereas his previous directorial efforts, Gone Baby Gone and The Town, were set in Affleck’s Boston back yard (or, rather, yahd),

nailing a period drama with a comedic second act and a tricky, messy climax is a completely different challenge.

Again, we come back to the Bostonian confidence coursing through Affleck’s veins.

The film is led by Affleck’s steady hand and an understated lead performance.

A ff leck’s company man Tony Mendez is the antithesis of the Pearl Harbor Ben. He is all crumpled shirts, bad facial hair and slumped shoulders, a downtrodden

everyman thrust into an insane situation.

The star turns come from Alan Arkin as fading producer Lester Siegel, recr uited by the CIA via renowned make-up genius John Chambers, with John Goodman playing the Oscar winner, to provide a fake space opera that would provide the cover story for the agency’s Tehran-based exfiltration operation.

The Hollywood corner of the film, playing off the CIA side, means that the film becomes a balancing act of farce and drama, of comedy and suspense, For Aff leck, whose previous efforts were hardly known for their light-hearted notes, the achievement of turning in a genuinely funny film cannot be understated.

In the end, Argo is one of the year’s finest films and marks Affleck at the top of his game.

15 November 2012 gazette 21

Gazette

GAMING halo 4: the best yet in the popular series

Shoots for the very top  shane dillon

Apart from cutscenes, Halo 4 is, as ever, played from a first-person perspective (above) – all the better to face the challenging enemies in its expertly realised worlds and scenarios, which are presented with very pretty and engaging graphics – and gameplay throughout

THERE’S not much that can tear me away from shivering my timbers in the naval missions of Assassin’s Creed 3 at the moment, but Halo 4 has seen me swap Revolutionary America for (well, an almost) revolutionary shooter.

A while back, I shamelessly namedropped here my preview experience of playing Halo 4 in Madrid – oh look, I’ve done it again – and, now, the XBox 360-exclusive title has finally hit the shelves.

And it’s been worth the wait, indeed.

Developed by 343 Industries, it’s both a familiar, yet fresh, instalment in the popular franchise which, in my eyes, had become somewhat over-familiar.

Indeed, although Halo

 shane dillon sdillon@gazettegroup.com

2 and 3 had some great features, they never had the same impact as the original title did.

Luckily, Halo 4 builds upon the strengths of all of the best parts throughout the series, to date, but makes 4 very much its own game, with a sense of confidence driving the game ever forward.

For those who haven’t already snapped up the just-released title, or for those looking to buy a great Christmas gift, or for those new to the Halo universe, what’s it all about?

Well, I could sit here

filling the rest of the page with the plot alone, which is (sorry, Halo scribes), as ever, Sci-Fi tosh of the nth degree, although expertly presented.

Playing as the eponymous Master Chief, and largely accompanied by a helpful AI companion, you wander through a variety of superbly-created worlds and settings, stepping out (again) as the last, best hope for humanity (again), as an old, alien nemesis race goes to war (again), with, this time around, an ancient alien race also added to the mix (agai– err, actually, this is kind of a new element for the series).

In short, the singleplayer game sees a lot of terrific, and frequently challenging, setpieces and

challenges throughout, with a notably high level of visual polish.

Most importantly, the same cunning, antagonistic – and occasionally amusing – AI for which the series is famous is very much in place, presenting an occasionally formidable, and always entertaining challenge.

However, it’s the multiplayer side of Halo that many gamers will be gunning for and, again, Halo excels here.

With a wealth of game options that go beyond the usual multiplayer features, there’s a lot of highly-competitive fun in the war games on offer.

Interestingly, there’s a pretty detailed and diverse way in which to level up your Spartan-IV

BYTES&PIECES needs more vita-lity

Handheld’s performance still disappoints CASTING an eye over the latest quarterly sales figures for Sony’s Vita handheld, it’s hard not to wonder what Sony will do to give its sales a boost.

I’ve mentioned before that the Vita – in Dublin, at least, not to mention several other capital cities I’ve been in this year – seems rarer than hen’s teeth on the ground; a little like Bigfoot, I know that it’s out there, somewhere, but it’s proving frustratingly elusive to spot as I roam around ...

While the PlayStation 3 continues to do well enough with its strong gamer base, as well as offering its own platform-specific

triple-A titles (whether already available or upcoming in 2013), the Vita is a very different beast.

Despite having some excellent titles – some of which are variants of popular Sony/PlayStation franchises, others of which are quirky new franchises – the Vita

continues to struggle at retail.

(To be fair, I note Nintendo also dropped projected sales for its underperforming 3DS.) A diverse choice of gaming platforms is always to be welcomed, so I hope that Sony has better luck in 2013 with its handy handheld.

supersoldier to create a unique online soldier, with upgrades and loadouts that are anything but spartan on offer.

In short, while Halo purists may disagree, this feels like the quintessential Halo – the game it was always meant to be.

With an awful lot here to praise, Halo 4 definitely deserves taking a shot at on the XBox 360 this Christmas season.

Gazette

22 Gazette 15 November 2012

OUT&ABOUT

FASTtunes with Radio Nova’s Dee Woods

Walls of wonder with Waters set to return to Dublin for Aviva show Concerts come and go but every so often a gig comes along that has the potential to actually change you. Pink Floyd founder Roger Waters brought The Wall tour here last year, and to say it wowed crowds at The O2 would be an injustice.

I had the pleasure of playing chauffeur to my other half for the journey home as the radio station is right beside The O2. As envious as I was, I was glad I was there to pick him up though, because his reaction to what he had witnessed has always stayed with me.

Still in awe, he could barely string the words together as he tried to recount what he’d just seen on stage.

I remember shaking my head and cursing mid-week concerts, thinking that kind of show was a once-in-a-lifetime event. Happily, I was wrong.

Roger Waters and his band return to Dublin next year for an even bigger, more dramatic performance of The Wall. Run Like Hell for tickets.

MUSIC

Harmony and hope on devastating debut  ROB HEIGH rheigh@gazettegroup.com

THIS week was all set to be about the virtues of pop music and its lineage from the 50s to now, leading into a review of a new release from a returning hero of the form.

That was until I heard The Staves’ debut album.

History be damned, it’s time to embrace the future.

I wrote at the start of the year that The Staves were one of the acts to watch throughout 2012, and as we hit the home stretch of this annus mirabilis, they see fit to make everything just a little bit better and drop this astonishing record.

North Londoners Emily, Jessica and Camilla have a strong pedigree as far as their influences are concerned – among them Fleet Foxes, Simon and Garfunkel and Buffalo Springfield – but their unique harmonies and melding of bright English folk and sublime West Coast pop was something to mark them out as ones to watch.

Seemingly endless touring, on their own as well as in the company of fellow newcomer Michael Kiwanuka and esteemed luminary Bon Iver - who invited the girls to join him on stage this week at one of the gigs of the year at the O2 - has spread the good word. Justice will be served, however, when people get to hear this record in full.

The Staves - Emily, Jessica and Camilla Stavely-Taylor

Dead and Born and Grown gathers together everything that made them an act who would stop you in your tracks to listen and adds another layer to their appeal. The shuffling drums bass, as well as the mandolin and banjo fills, give depth to the sound behind the stunning vocal harmonies that the Staveley-Taylors were first acclaimed for.

There is a great variety within the tracks here, but all of them have in common the fact that these are some quite beautiful and goosebump-inducing songs.

Opening with the understated Wisely And Slow, and winding a gentle path to Mexico, the song that put them on my radar last year, this is top notch music by a trio who clearly adore and understand the form.

Coming in the wake of the recent folk resurgence, there is certainly a market there for The Staves’ deeply effecting stylings, but they plough a different furrow, less the bounce-along-aMumford, and more in the direction of stopwhat-you’re-doing-rightnow-and-listen acts like

Gillian Welch and Laura Marling.

In the wake of the growing recognition of their talents, the support slots and the television and radio appearance is paying off, with the girls set to return to Dublin on November 25 and their addition to the bill in Dingle for Other Voices.

It’s only right that they should go from being one of the bright hopes of 2012 to the brightest light at the end of the year as the dark nights draw in.

The Staves deserve your attention, their talent demands it.

15 November 2012 BLANCH gazette 23

Gazette

MOTORS road

NOISE

FordOptions new finance programme

The Renault Fluence, described as the best car built to suit the Irish driver

renault: raft of on-board innovations highly appealing

New Fluence steers its way to top of wish list n Cormac Curtis

At its launch in April 2010, the Renault Fluence was described as the best car built to suit the Irish driver.

Over two years later Fluence has become a best seller in its category, and there are over 6,000 Renault Fluences on Irish roads today.

The new look Fluence features Renault’s new styling identity, similar to that of the recently launched fourth generation Clio.

Its front end has the vertically-set logo at the centre of a broad black strip picked out by chrome beading which provides the car with a dynamic stance.

The LED daytime running lights and chrome/ gloss black inserts also contribute to the new-

comer’s modern appeal.

The design of the new Fluence interior is also more modern, including digital instrumentation for all versions.

The boot is still one of the biggest in its class easily fitting two sets of golf clubs. The cabin is as roomy as ever, and has been enhanced by the use of new upholsteries for segment-topping comfort.

A choice of petrol or diesel engines, with automatic transmission, is available. All diesel engines, either manual or automatic have CO2 emissions below 120g, so belong to the lowest tax band as per today.

The new Renault Fluence has a raft of on-board, connected technologies and innovations including numerous driver-aid technologies – Bluetooth

compatible radio, six airbags and hands-free card with remote central locking standard all across the range, LED lights, rear parking sensors, cruise control, dual zone climate control and a brand new multimedia system available depending on trim level.

From the basic equipment level up, all versions are “connected” thanks to the availability of new Bluetooth radios equipped with USB and jack sockets.

At the higher-end of the range, New Renault Fluence features a major innovation in the form of the Renault R-Link multimedia system which will provide connected services and is ideally suited to motoring use thanks to its touchscreen display and voice commands.

Renault R-Link incor-

porates the navigation system and telephony function and can be connected to portable music players.

The new Fluence comes with a five-year unlimited mileage warranty.

Renault Finance will offer finance packages on the new Fluence from €199 per month with Renault ReFlex, a personal contract plan which provides Irish consumers with reassurance and flexibility when financing a new Renault.

Julien Lelorrain, marketing director, Renault Ireland: “The fuel efficient diesel engine with lowest tax at €160, fiveyear unlimited mileage warranty and the ReFlex finance solution from €199 per month make New Fluence a very attractive 2013 purchase.”

For customers looking to buy a new car for 2013, Ford Ireland has announced a range of offers on key models that includes an extended five-year warranty. Under the banner of Ford’s Big Four, customers are invited to visit their local Ford dealer to avail of the offers over four weekends leading up to December 2.

The offers on Ford’s top-selling models, Fiesta, Focus and Mondeo, are as follows: Free road tax on the newly redesigned Fiesta. Free 16” alloys, front fogs, premium mats and upgraded console on Ireland’s top selling car, the Ford Focus. Single price bodystyle on Mondeo: wagon, hatchback or saloon just one price starting at €26,995.

And each model comes with an extended five years full warranty.

As part of the promotion, Ford is also introducing FordOptions, a new finance package that helps customers purchase their car with the security of a guaranteed minimum future value.

24 blanch gazette 15 November 2012

Gazette

Travel

Gazette

&ABOUT OUT fast TRAVEL

See the Big Apple in style from this hotel

THE Big Apple is still definitely one of the most popular destinations for anyone planning a trip to the United States, whether it is for shopping, sightseeing, or just a chance to see the city itself.

Ideally located for anyone keen to explore the streets of SoHo, Greenwich and downtown Manhattan, nyma – the New York Manhattan Hotel – could be the place to be in 2013.

With its close proximity to the city’s famous Madison Square Garden, a trip to NYC could coincide with the reopening of the Statue of Liberty’s Crown to the public, following renovations.

Rooms at nyma start from $114.99 per night (€44 per person) in February. As part of the Apple Core Hotel group, nyma boasts free wi-fi, complimentary continental breakfast, and free US calls. See www.thenewyorkmanhattanhotel.co.uk, or call 0044 808 178 6363.

Capital treasure Clontarf Castle Hotel benefits from being so close to everything, yet offers a comfortable break from city life

dublin: Big fires, warm welcome and an alluring presence

King of the castles  natalie burke

The nyma hotel is an ideal base to explore NYC

Get in shape with a boot camp retreat WITH the festive party season on the horizon, the beautiful Lisloughrey Lodge in County Mayo is running a pre-Christmas boot camp with TV fitness expert Karl Henry, to include luxurious accommodation, energetic fitness classes and specially-designed menus to promote health and well-being inside and out.

The boot camp will take place from Friday, November 23, until Monday, November 26, and includes three nights’ accommodation with breakfast, lunch and dinner, and two and a half days of boot camp, as well as a welcome dinner on the evening of arrival.

With menus carefully planned by Henry, alongside head chef Jonathan Keane, who was recently nominated for Best Chef in Connacht, the latest package is ideal for an end-of-year break for those hoping to get in shape for Christmas.

The pre-Christmas package is available for €395pps. Places are limited so, to book your place, call 094 954 5400, or see www. lisloughreylodge.com.

THERE’S been a recent upsurge of the popular “weekend away”, but that doesn’t necessarily involve taking a short flight, as people, instead, reap the benefits of holidaying in our own fair isle.

But, before you start preparing your playlist for the inevitable crosscountry road-trip, perhaps taking a glance at what sits on your own doorstep could be the break that surprises you the most.

Clontar f Castle is already a popular choice for tourists making Dublin a must-see destination.

It has character, a certain historic allure, and wideopen fires as well as real Irish charm.

The fact that it’s just two miles from the city centre is really the icing on the cake, with the castle located in a calm spot, and within walking distance of historic sites.

For the rest of us, living blissfully oblivious to the world surrounding us, this traditional castle could be the perfect passage to times gone by.

Beneath the 12th century turreted roof, and beyond the stained-glass windows, lies a castle still clinging to its traditional past.

The castle’s self-description illustrates it is “no longer the past, not quite the future”, and, despite a recent redesign, boasts more old than new in its blend of modern meets yesteryear.

For one evening, I travelled back in time when Clontarf Castle hosted a modern-day “grand feast”.

A banquet table stretched the length of the hotel’s main restaurant, the Fahrenheit Grill, where flags draped the walls and high-backed chairs sat around the table’s distinct centrepiece: a roasted pig.

The dining room was

packed with character, where the order of the day was much more than the lively conversation and atmospheric surroundings, but focused on the culinary talents of the Fahrenheit Grill chef.

The appetisers boasted crisp pancetta ham, terrine of duck, and herbcured salmon, while the chef ensured there was something to tempt everyone’s taste with an impressive selection of main courses; a citruscrusted roast Atlantic cod; a char-grilled rack of Wicklow lamb; a serrano-wrapped Irish pork fillet, and a roast orange tea supreme of Irish chicken.

Following a tasting of the chef’s choice dessert plate, the guests of honour were summoned for after-dinner drinks at the hotel’s Indigo bar, where an open-fire welcomed us to relax and chat following the meal.

While the hotel still

Clontarf Castle Hotel has the wow factor, successfully marrying modern touches with its rich heritage

holds firm its own traditions, its warm welcome, attentive service and innovative menus are a gentle reminder that the four-star hotel has no

hesitation when it comes to keeping up with the times.

For further information on the hotel, see www. clontarfcastle.ie.

15 November 2012 BLANCH gazette 25

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to: Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Block 3A Millbank Business Pk, Lower Road, Lucan, Co Dublin Send

W I N : 2 Nights B &B for 2 Adults & 2 T ickets to see D es B ishop Live at the County Arms Hotel & L eisure Club Simply fill in our questonaiire & post back to the address above & you will be entred into a draw the win this fantastic price. Birr is your entertainment hub this November with great gigs from international stars. The 4* County Arms Hotel plays host to folk legends The High Kings on November 22nd and on November 30th, it’s the turn of Ireland’s favourite comic, Des Bishop. For further information on the County Arms Hotel visit www.countyarmshotel.com

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planning Notice Fingal County Council

We Shane & Ciara O’Flynn are applying for planning permission for change of use of part of our domestic ground floor (19.0 sqm.) for use as a pre-school to operate during normal school term for the hours (9.00am - 12.30pm) At No.1 Riverwood Lawn, Castleknock, Dublin 15.

The application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during its’public opening hours and a submission or observation may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

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planning Notice Fingal County Council

We Khalid and Humera Khan are applying for full planning permission for the following: i) two storey extension to side of existing dwelling ii) two storey and single storey extension to rear of existing dwelling all with associated site works at 17 Riverwood Chase, Castleknock, Dublin 15. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (20Euros) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of this application.

16917

planning Notice Fingal County Council

I, Rev. Fr. Cyril Mangan ADM., on behalf of St. Laurence O’Toole Diocesan Trust, intend to apply for planning permission for development on a site consisting of lands attached to St. Brigid’s Church, Church Avenue, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. The Development will consist of:- a) Construction of a single storey Pastoral Centre contiguous to existing Church, St. Brigids, comprising Reception, Entrance Foyer, Parish Office, Coffee Dock, 3 No. Meeting Rooms, Kitchen and Toilets. b) Internal Renovations to existing Sacristy, within a protected structure. c) Renovations to existing Sacristy Annex, to provide Entrance Lobby, Altar Servers Room, Sacristans Office,Toilet and Boiler Room. d) Demolition of existing Porch attached to north side of existing Sac-

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risty, part of a protected structure. e) Associated siteworks including reconstruction of stone boundary wall to rear of Pastoral Centre, re-lining of existing Car Park and all drainage works. The development is within the curtilage of the lands attached to St. Brigid’s Church which is a protected structure as listed in the Fingal County Council Development Plan 2011-2017.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation may be made to the Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (20 Euros) within the period of 5weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of this application.

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gaelic games P31

asdfsdafP29 P27 motorsport

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

boxing P28

FastSport Taggers open to new members:

Members from local sports around the Lucan area and members of the Liffey Sound team pose for a photo at their Talking Sport launch night

community radio: quality programming delivers listeners, says mark sheridan

Liffey Sound launch sports schedule for local listeners LIFFEY Sound 96.4FM launched their sports schedule last week at their base in Ballyowen with a well-received meet and greet session with many local clubs on hand.

It served make those clubs aware of the community station that now provides six hours of sports broadcasting each week, feeding into the weekly Talking Sport that runs from 4-6pm every Saturday.

For the show’s Mark Sheridan, it offered a great opportunity to bring together the clubs around west Dublin a

chance, he told GazetteSport.

“The population around Lucan is such, now, that there are so many sports organisations. For example, there was someone from the Westmansown bowling club which I didn’t know existed until this week. It’s fantastic.

“We love our sport in Liffey Sound.

We cover all sorts of things because of the amount of sporting organisations in Lucan and the amount of people who love sport.”

Like many of the other panellists and presenters on the show, Sheridan

brings with him a wealth of sporting background. Previously, he lined out for Beech Park for a number of years while he has returned to the GAA with Lucan Sarsfields’ O-35s team, competed in a couple of marathons and also taken on a white collar boxing challenge.

“I love getting behind that mic [to talk about sport] and expressing my view and having people responding and texting in.

It’s a great avenue and once it gets into your blood, it sticks with you.”

Talking Sport has recently linked up with Boyle Sports to provide expert

betting advice while also offering charity bets for the show each week to add to their portfolio, a significant step for Sheridan and his team.

He has been with the station, which was founded in 2006, for three years and is proud of what has developed on a fully voluntary basis across the board.

“We have the second biggest listenership and the biggest English-speaking station in Dublin. “Maybe it’s our diaspora or the demographics in the area but I like to think it’s down to the quality of the programming.”

WESTMANSTOWN Taggers Special Olympics tag rugby team are welcoming new members to get involved with the club.

They meet up every Sunday at 11.30am until 1pm in the Westmanstown sports centre with training taking place indoors for the winter.

Leinster scrum-half Isaac Boss is among the regular coaches along with Jorge Zulkouski who can be contacted on 087 284 2584 for more information. The sport is open for those aged seven and upwards.

Currently, the side is building toward a showcase during the half-time show of Leinster’s Heineken Cup tie against Clermont Auvergne in the Aviva Stadium in December.

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 15 November 2012

SPORT

FastSport LUCAN leisure centre gets top award: FINNSTOWN Country House Hotel Leisure Club, Lucan was recently rewarded the 2012 White Flag Excellence Award at the prestigious White Flag Gala Awards Dinner held in the Heritage Golf and Spa Resort, Killenard, Co Laois achieving the bronze standard.

The White Flag award is an indication of excellence in the operation of leisure clubs; the award was presented

by Barry Walsh president of ILAM at a special awards ceremony. ILAM is the professional body representing the Irish leisure industry.

Ninety-one facilities entered this gruelling auditing process this year but only 86 received the White Flag Excellence 2012 award.

This mark of excellence ensures that the facility management have been independently assessed in the three key areas of safety, hygiene and customer service.

boxing: dundrum writer says taylor to retain amateur status

Myler launches new book  sport@gazettegroup.com

THOMAS Myler says he would be “astonished” if Katie Taylor were ever to turn professional due to the currently limited options for professional female boxers.

Speaking to GazetteSport about his new book, Ringside with the Celtic Warriors, the Dundrum resident said that with the current supports in place for Ireland’s golden girl, the background is there for her to stay in amateur boxing and take a shot at defending her Olympic title.

“Katie gets €40,000 a year and then endorses a lot of products – cars, sportswear and lucozade and other things like this,” he said.

“I’d be astonished if she turns pro. Women’s [professional] boxing is not very prominent in the world and there aren’t that many opportunities in the pros. As a man, yes, but there would be very limited opportunities for her to make progress, unfortunately.”

Indeed, the ability for amateur boxers to financially support themselves is a theme that spreads to the men’s game, too, with the development of the World Series of Boxing.

The competition allows boxers to retain amateur status but compete for financial incentives while not wearing headguards as required in the past.

“There was talk of Katie Taylor turning pro and then there was John Joe

Nevin, bouncing one way and another and joining up with Amir Khan.

“With the world series, they can have the best of both worlds and this could affect the pro game because people can get confused.

“Is he an amateur or professional? I don’t like the trend really. I’m a bit of a traditionalist and prefer amateurs as amateurs and pros as pros.

“These guys are going to be semi-pro in the Olympics which is basically meant to be an amateur set-up.”

Nonetheless, these boxers are well up there in the pantheon of greats that Myler chronicles in his latest book, one which traverses 200 years. It goes right back to the 1800s

Katie Taylor with Amy Farrell, age 13, from Swords, Dublin last Saturday

and Dublin boxer Dan Donnelly whose arm is still preserved in Kildare.

He started writing formally for the Evening Herald way back in 1967and has not stopped since.

From that vantage point, he got to witness many Irish greats who became the focus of this book from Jack Doyle through to Steve Collins and Barry McGuigan and subsequently Bernard Dunne.

Being so close to the action, Myler admits this book was his “favourite”

of the four he has written to date.

“I’ve written a few books on boxing, one on Sugar Ray Robinson, one on the great boxing upsets and another on the scandals, boxing’s hall of shame on general themes. But this is the first I’ve done on Irish boxing which would be my favourite because all the guys would be ones I knew and saw.”

When pushed for a favourite of all-time, he said he was fascinated by Jack Doyle, the Cork heavyweight of the 1930s.

But Steve Collins stood out as probably the island’s best ever.

“Collins was a good, gritty tough guy who could give it and take it.

He was one of the best.

It’s a pretty difficult thing to answer because the old-timers of the 1930s and 1940s were of a different era.

“There are more facilities for boxers to train, they have nutritionists and everything else so it’s different scene. But Collins might have been the best.”

DLR side make Waves with historic first win  sport@gazettegroup.com

The DLR Waves had a memorable weekend in the Women’s National League

HISTORY was made at Jackson Park as a rapidly improving DLR Waves claimed their first ever triumph in the Bus Eireann Women’s National League.

Inspired by Carla Moran DLR Waves, who had suffered five losses so far in the season, were eager to deliver a polished performance. That is exactly what they did against a Cork Women’s outfit, who actually took the lead in the 36th minute courtesy of a

Claire Shine goal.

Sylvia Gee equalised with her third in six matches and then Moran took centre stage after the restart as DLR Waves dominated.

In the 55th minute Moran edged DLR Waves in front and then she netted the insurance goal with eight minutes remaining.

Peamount United, meanwhile, maintained their blistering form with an emphatic 9-2 success over Shamrock Rovers at Greenogue.

The free scoring table top-

pers summoned a remarkable attacking display in the second period to blitz Rovers.

Stephanie Roche grabbed a brace in the first half as Peamount left at the interval protecting a two goal cushion.

That was halved within 90 seconds of the restart when the excellent Rachel Jenkins gave Rovers some hope, but Peamount were quickly back in the ascendancy.

Sara Lawlor amazingly scored a hat-trick inside six glorious minutes as Peamount

contributed to a splendid encounter.

Julie Anne Russell, sister of St Patrick’s Athletic star John, got in on the act with a 63rd minute goal and Lawlor took her afternoon’s tally to four on 74.

A minute later Russell was on target again and five minutes from time Jennifer Ferrari decorated the win with a neat goal.

Jenkins poked a late consolation for Rovers, who were soundly beaten by the current standard bearers, Peamount.

15 November 2012 BLANCH gazette 29

Gazette

Butler hoping to set English scene alight Churchtown biker Dave Butler hopes to keep the good times rolling by stepping up to the British Thundersport championship after a stellar performance in Ireland AFTER a life already devoted to motorsports, Churchtown man Dave Butler is hoping to make the biggest step of his career in 2013 by pursuing a move to compete in the British Thundersport series, a competition scaling 10 rounds of some of the best circuits in the world.

It comes following a stellar 2012 in which he won no less than four separate Irish championship titles as well as a second and two third place finishes.

In total, he recorded 19 wins from 43 races, setting a number of lap records on courses throughout Ireland

 stephen findlater sport@gazettegroup.com

along the way.

Despite making his debut on the Irish motorcycling scene in 2003, the past year has been the first in which wo r k c o m m i t m e n t s have allowed him to fully focus on the sport with immaculate results both on the track and on the road.

Riding a 650cc Stocktwin, he claimed the Irish/Ulster and Southern Ireland title with a

massive 15 wins while adding third in the Irish Supertwin championship.

Switching to the road for the first time last July, he secured victory at the first time of asking before making a maiden voyage to England to Mallory Park in late October.

Competing in the m i n i t w i n cl a s s , h e claimed three of the four races he entered – all televised on Motors TV – something that has whetted his appetite to try and raise his level further and contest a full season across the water.

Speaking to GazetteSport, he said pursuing

this elevated challenge is something that has been in the genes since his earliest memories.

“I’ve been around the sport all my life. My uncle still races and this year he sponsored me the bike.

“I’ve been mechanic

raced cars when I was a baby but I’ve kind of surpassed what they have done.

“Next year, I’m going to try and race in England and am trying to raise the money to do that.

“It will cost a for-

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

‘This year has been a dream, bascially achieving everything I can on a bike in Ireland. I’d like to continue that in England’ - Dave Butler

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

for him, following him all over the country, getting to know the ins and outs. My father

Champion rider Dave Butler celebrates success on the road during the summer Picture: Ryan Fegan

tune to do that as it’s something of a full-time hobby. Basically, I probably need to raise about €10,000.”

But he says that pushing these new horizons could lead to even further honours: “This year was a dream.

“It was always my dream to win an Irish championship but basically I’ve achieved everything I can on my current bike over here.

“I’d like to continue it on in England where many have gone on to be future world champions.

“The two who finished ahead of me in the supertwin championship [in Ireland] will go on to be British champions at some stage and they will probably race in the world championship in the future.”

FastSport

Celtic Clovers launch the new ice hockey season THE Celtic Clovers will be hosting a launch event for their ice hockey club in Castleknock On Ice on Thursday, November 22 with festivities getting under way at 7pm.

At the event, the club will showcase their junior section, the Dublin Ducks, as well as their senior team who will display their skills and drills.

Around the rink, a raffle will be run while there will also be chuck-a-puck games, making for a great family evening out. All are welcome to come along on the evening. For more information, contact club PRO Jamie Hickey on jamiehickey@gmail.com

Blues and Nix lead LSL bid BLUEBELL United and Phoenix will be hoping to hold up the local LSL Sunday Senior involvement in the FAI intermediate cup but they face tricky ties in round three of the competition, due to be played on December 2.

Harry Kenny’s Nix will be pleased, though, to have avoided the trip to Swilly Rovers, the draw handing them home advantage at Scribblestown for the game. Bluebell, however, make the long trip south to Douglas Hall in round three.

The early phases of the competition had obliterated clubs from the top level of intermediate football

in Leinster but there still remains plenty of local interest.

Glenville, currently topping Sunday 1A, bring Leeside up to Palmerstown as they bid to recreate the buzz that brought them all the way to a senior cup date with Bohemians a couple of years ago.

TEK United have a big ask ahead of them if they are to surprise Tolka Rovers as do Pegasus St James’s Athletic.

The recently amalgamated third tier side have lost just once this term but a trip to College Corinthians in Cork looks a daunting one.

The finalists for the last two years, Cherry Orchard and Avondale United, have been drawn against each other in the tie of the round.

Gazette

30 BLANCH gazette 15 November 2012

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: midfielder bangs in six goals in three games

Flynn qualifies for NCAA with top run in Arkansas COOLMINE man David Flynn showed a welcome return to form for Arkansas last week in the NCAA Division 1 South Central regional championship at Agri Park, Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Flynn was 23rd in the race held over 10,000m in 31.24.3 and was fifth scorer for his University, the Razorbacks, making the scoring for the first time since his season’s opener.

The Razorbacks, in finishing second in the team event, qualified for the NCAA division 1 championship which takes place on November 17.

Writing in his blog about the result, one which has helped him take up a place at one of the most prestigious events in US athletics calendar, he was forced to make a “bold” choice after being disappointed by his personal form.

“After the SEC conference I approached our coach and told him if I wasn`t in the top five scoring at regionals [the South Central championship] I would not have them fly me home for the intercounties in Ireland, a bold move on my part.

“But maybe it was just the motivation I needed at the time. When we came to the course that morning it was quite hot with 30mph winds.

“John McDonnell was there and he gave me probally the greatest advice I`ve ever heard: ‘this is how you will run the race. You will go all out for the first 5k and sprint the last 5k.’

“Nothing better then some Irish humour to calm the nerves before a race.”

Describing the race, Flynn said balancing this week’s hopes with potentially racing in the NCAA championships was particularly tough.

“The plan was to run the first 5k at race pace and cruise the last 5k because of NCAAs being next week, it would be tough to run two all out 10ks in two weeks. I kept with the lead pack to 5k and kept the last 5k conservative finishing in 31.24.

“After the race I said to my coach: ‘Better book that ticket home for the trials’. To be a scorer on the number 10 ranked team in the country is a great accomplishment for me and to keep the Arkansas tradition going in Clonliffe is even better.”

Hartstown Huntstown FC, with Noel Bligh far right in the front row, have been powering forward in the AUL Premier C division

HH’s Bligh on hot streak AUL premier c Hartstown Huntstown Donnycarney FC  peter carroll

3 2

sport@gazettegroup.com

NOEL Bligh has made a huge impact since his return to the Hartstown Huntstown fold, scoring six goals in his last three games, bagging a brace last Friday as the Blanchardstown side took three points against Premier C table toppers, Donnycarney.

With manager Tommy McGuirk playing the influential midfielder in a free role just behind t h e s t r i ke r s , B l i g h

bagged a double in the first half of the game to help his team to a 3-0 lead at the interval and despite a valiant comeback, Donnycarney left Hartstown Park as 3-2 losers.

The Hartstown man, who has just returned to the game having suffered a broken wrist, showed his class the week before in a FAI Junior Cup tie with Carrick Rovers, taking all the spoils with a hat trick which did the damage in a 3-1 win.

The goal run began for the midfielder on the last weekend of Octo-

sponsorship Dublin 15 club link up with Jennings funerals corduff’s Danny Duffy shakes hands

with John Kennedy of Jennings funerals following their support in the form of providiing new kit for the Dublin 15 club’s senior squad.

After a decent start to their season, they currently sit seventh in the AUL Premier B with three wins from their five league outings to date and are also through to third round of the Nivea for Men Cup after a 3-1 win over Valley Park.

ber when he was first played in the advanced position by McGuirk, when Hartstown Huntstown ran out 3-0 winners against Real Transylvania.

Bligh explained how it wasn’t easy to get back into the team and how he is feeling playing in the new formation.

“I really had to fight to get my place back,” he said.

“My first few games back I was coming off the bench, and rightfully so because the lads have been brilliant.

It gives everyone more

incentive to produce when there’s competition for places.

“The new role is great, I’ve been scoring goals in every game since I’ve been put in there and I’m really enjoying it.

“If we keep putting points on the board we’ll be in with a chance for the league, the game with Donnycarney was so close and we were really hanging on in the end.

“They are a brilliant team; they beat another team 16-0 in the cup the weekend before – I don’t think I could ever play again if I was beat-

en by that margin,” he laughed.

“So we’ve really played all of the top teams in the league, apart from Mountview, but we know those lads very well having been promoted with every year for the last five seasons.

“We have the squad to win the league and we’ll be right up there at the end of the league cup.

“If we just keep playing well and stick to the plan that Tommy and Gary Moore are giving us, we’re well capable,” he finished.

15 November 2012 BLANCH gazette 31

Gazette

Six St Brigid’s men on Dubs Stars shortlist  sport@gazettegroup.com

SIX St Brigid’s players, along St Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh’s Craig Dunleavy, are in the mix for a Dublin Bus Blue Star following the announcement of the nominees last Tuesday.

The Stars honour the top performers in the Dublin senior football

championship each year, and Brigid’s were well represented after their run to the semi-finals, when they were undone

by Kilmacud Crokes.

John O’Loughlin was a towering influence throughout that run and he duly earned a call-up in the midfield, where he is joined by former AllStar and Dublin hero,

Barry Cahill.

They are joined in the shortlist by former Ipswich Town goalkeeper Shane Supple, Alan Daly in the full-backs, and Conor Moran in the halfback selection.

Paddy Andrews proved a very slick operator toward the end of the campaign up front, especially in some tricky con-

ditions, kicking six points in the quarter-finals and 1-2 in the semis to show why he deserved his inclusion in the full-forward listings.

Champions Ballymun Kickhams dominated the selections with 13 nominees for the awards with the final selection to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

football: russell park tyros win fifth title

Club Noticeboard ST BRIGID’S THE club’s 80th anniversary celebra-

four-to seven-year olds runs every

tion takes place in the club on Thurs-

Saturday from 9.30am to 11am. New

day, November 29 at 8.30pm.

members and families welcome.

Congrats to our U-14 A footballers and management who claimed the division one league title on Saturday to complete an amazing year.

Well done also to Michelle and her

Contact Paul on 087 9154748 or see website for more info.

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

team on organising a hugely suc-

The club lotto is €12,800 this week

cessful wine night on Friday evening,

and takes place in the Vineyard this

special thanks to Ouzo’s Bar for their

Thursday evening.

support.

The minor hurlers face Whitehall

Club race night this Friday, Novem-

in the championship this Sunday

ber 16: horses and programme spon-

at 11am while the U-16 hurlers face

sors are still needed. Contact Tim

Setanta in the league at 2.30pm on

O’Mahony on 086 9314532 for more

Saturday. See the website for more

info. Please make sure you support

fixtures.

this event.

St Brigids GAA club nursery for

Our club AGM takes place on November 25.

ST PEREGRINE’S MASSIVE congratulations to our U-14

The club lotto was not won; numbers

Saturday and thanks to all members

drawn were 5, 13, 17 and 25. Next week’s

who supported, a fantastic achieve-

jackpot is €5,800.

ment.

Well done also to our U-13 hurlers on a fine win against Erin’s Isle.

Hard luck to our U-21 footballers who lost to Raheny despite a heroic effort.

Players night last Friday was a massive success; thanks to Ciaran for organising.

The St Brigid’s side that added the Dublin divisione one football title to the All-Ireland Feile they won in the summer

St Brigid’s complete immaculate season U-14 league final

St Brigid’s Clontarf  peter carroll

2-8 1-9

sport@gazettegroup.com

ST BRIGID’S U-14s finished off a fantastic year that saw them play and win five finals with victory in the league final against Clontarf who pushed the Russell Park side all the way before points from John McGuirk and Mark Donnelly pushed the game beyond their reach.

“It was a very good league final. Clontarf are such a good team,” said manager Keith Barr.

“It was our 50th com-

petitive game between Feile, league and hurling matches. You have to credit for the young players. They surprised me with how mentally strong they were throughout the year.”

“This is a phenomenal achievement and they are an exceptional group of players.

“We have seen a lot of indications that they were a special bunch of players in their will, commitment, enjoyment, friendship and the respect they have for each other and the coaches.

“I have no magic wand; there are no big secrets

but I would say the role of the coaches – Johnny McGuirk, Joey O’Shea, Turlough O’Sullivan, Keith O’Neill and Richie Holmes – and the parents, who are our main supporters in training and at the game, made the big difference.

“Timmy O’Mahony and Gerry McEntee have been amazing with the men too, and it’s all of this effort combined that has produced such a fantastic team who don’t seem to have the notion of losing in their repertoire,” said Barr.

As far as the future is concerned, many at the

club are already confident that some of the young side can make it all the way to the top of the intercounty game.

Barr prefers to keep his sights on the task at hand and, next year, he believes there is a big test in moving from Saturday to Sunday football.

“We had a very successful year, but with every new season comes a new challenge.

“At this age, there is always the trouble with the team maturing at different times, but with such a great support network behind the team – they are well equipped.”

possible to Lorraine, Ciaran or Fiona.

footballers on winning their league on

The Penguin Ball is on December 8 in the Carlton Hotel, tickets are €50 and deposits need to be paid as soon as

The club AGM is in the club hall on Monday, November 26 at 8.30pm.

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 The Mutts.

Bingo continues this Wednesday at 8.30pm. The jackpot is €1,100.

erin go bragh THE Erin Go Brágh, CLG AGM will take

bers are entitled to vote at the AGM.

place at 8.30pm on Thursday, Decem-

Please be advised that the annual

ber 6 in the clubhouse adjacent to

juvenile sponsored walk will take place

Mary Mother of Hope National School.

on Saturday, December 1 at 10.30am.

Nominations for officership/execu-

Sponsor cards have been printed

tive positions and motions must be

and will be circulated to all mentors

forwarded to the club secretary (jkin-

this week for distribution at training.

sella@kinsellamitchell.ie /086 818 4054)

by Friday, November 18.

Please note that only paid up mem-

The Erin Go Brágh Dinner Dance will be in the Carlton Hotel in Tyrellstown on Saturday, November 24.

westmanstown/garda COMMISERATIONS to the U-12 and the

ers. There is still an opportunity to be

U-14 boys. Both sides were involved in

an event sponsor and to advertise

divisional Finals this weekend but lost

your business on the event night on

to Kilmacud and Cu Chualainn respec-

Saturday, December 8.

tively. Well done to the teams, mentors

On the event night, you can network

and parents for your great efforts in

with close to 100 local businesses.

2012. Bring on 2013.

Have you got the hottest party ticket

Join us for our annual fund-raising

for this Christmas? Entry tickets for

project Who Wants To Be a Thou-

the event cost €10. Food and full bar

sandaire? oMany thanks to the event

available. For more information, visit

sponsors; 24 DOC, Copper Face Jacks,

www.westmanstowngaels.ie, call 086

Dermot Coyne Solicitors, DID Electri-

6082708 or contact stephen@west-

cal, McGowans of Phibsboro and Spic-

manstowngaels.ie.

GazetteSPORT all of your BLANCH sports coverage from page 27-31

november 15, 2012

hunting glory: Bligh in red-hot form for Dublin 15 Butler’s flying 2012 form: Dubliner looking to challenge club with six goals in last three AUL league games P31 best in England next year P29

Corduff duo answer Ireland’s call  peter carroll

sport@gazettegroup.com

JEAN-Yves Poame and Ismael Diallo have been selected to represent Ireland’s U-15 internationals, when the squad will travel to Qatar where they will face off against ASPIRE Academy, a team made up talented youths from all over the African continent, which runs from December 15 to 20.

Corduff manager Johnny Bootman praised the young prospects and insisted that the Dublin 15 club are on the rise and have plenty more players that will make an impact for Ireland further down the line.

“This is the first time we’ve had international representation at the club,” said Bootman. It’s a fantastic time for us all here. In the past you’d have to be at one of the ‘big clubs’ but now the lads have proved that you can do it at a club like Corduff.

“Our club has grown so much over the last few years; we have an amazing set-up with great facilities and excellent coaches and we are well able to produce more talented players in the years to come,” he said.

With a lot of clubs watching the young duo, the Corduff pair made big impacts when they lined out for NDSL panels as well as

their appearances in the Hibernia Cup for the Irish Emerging Talent squad, where they were two of the standout performers for the Boys in Green.

Bootman went on to describe the impact that the players have on the field.

“Johnny Poame has magical feet and he plays either on the wing or in the middle of the park. He has the ability to beat three or four players and can take the whole backline out with one pass. He really is special and it’s no wonder that teams like Manchester City, Blackburn, Wolves and Sunderland have expressed interest in him.

“Ismael is a centre-half but is equally effective as a full-back.

He is a fantastic defender with an unparalleled ability to read the game and when he plays as a wing back he can get forward with fantastic pace.”

Bootman also believes that the interest the clubs have shown in the players has spurred them on to new heights.

“If we ever see someone that we don’t know at the matches, we tell the players that it could be a scout and it really makes them play fantastically.

“Long may it last, we have about six or seven lads who are capable of going the whole way.”

Ismael Diallo and Jean-Yves Poame