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June 15 -21, 2017

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‘My nine-year-old boy is being denied an education’ Mother of lad with behavioural disorder says the system has failed her son Sean

 MARK O’BRIEN A BLANCHARDSTOWN mother whose son suffers from behavioural difficulties says that he is being denied the right to an education.

Doreen Devine’s nine-

year-old son Sean has recently been diagnosed with Teenage Conduct Disorder.

The disorder is a serious behavioural and emotional disorder that can occur in children and teenagers.

Children who suffer from

this disorder often display disruptive behaviour and have problems following rules.

Because of his condition, Sean has been unable to attend a mainstream school and Doreen told The Gazette

that special needs schools have also failed him.

“He has no education,” she said.

“He’s nine years of age and he doesn’t know how to spell.

Continues on Page 5

2 BLANCH GAZETTE 15 June 2017

NOT-FOR-PROFIT | PILOT SCHEME PUT FORWARD BY COUNCILLOR

Fingal proposed as a location to pilot local people’s bank  MARK O’BRIEN

A NUMBER of Dublin 15 councillors are backing proposals that Fingal be used as a pilot location for a people’s bank.

German bank Sparkassen are a second-tier bank that offer low interest mortgages to individuals and loans to SMEs and have expressed an interest in entering the Irish market.

The group operate on a not-for-profit basis and have proved to be popular in Germany where they

have over 14,500 branches and employ over 233,000 people.

Cllr Tom O’Leary has suggested that Fingal would the ideal location for a pilot scheme and has a motion pending with Fingal County Council requesting that they consider the idea.

The motion is supported

by Dublin 15 councillors Kieran Dennison, Eithne Loftus and Ted Leddy.

Cllr Dennison told The Gazette that he believed that a model such as this would be of benefit to the

local community.

“It’s not profit-driven even though they fulfil the obligations for banking purposes but they would be based in the community,” he said.

“They would consider themselves relationship bankers so people that are working in the bank would know the local businesses and they base their lending more on cash flow rather than on collateral.”

While operating on a similar model to a credit union, a people’s bank can lend to businesses and

offer mortgages and Cllr Dennison believes that this model would complement the credit union market in Ireland.

“People have been talking about the €11 billion that the credit unions have that they can’t actually do much with so this would be an outlet for those deposits, that they could put that money to use.”

While a number of locations across Ireland have expressed an interest in becoming the pilot location for the project, Cllr Dennison said that he

believed that Fingal was the ideal location for such a project.

“We’ve a lot of SMEs and we’ve a lot of young people who want to get into the mortgage market as well,” he said.

A motion had originally been scheduled to be put forward at the full Fingal County Council meeting on Monday but time limitations meant that it was not discussed.

The motion is expected to be put forward for discussion again in the near future.

FASTNews

Aldi workers take part in Cancer Colour Dash INJECTING some colour into the summer is Aldi’s Mulhuddart store team Magdalena Mroczek, Joanna Ciemniewska and Iuliana Nichifor taking part in the Irish Cancer Society’s Colour Dash sponsored

by Aldi at the Phoenix Park on Sunday, June 11.

Colour Dash sponsored by Aldi is a 5km race where colourful paint representing different types of cancer and cancer survivorship are thrown at participants as they complete the course.

Money raised will go towards the Irish Cancer Society’s work to help people reduce their risk of getting cancer, to support those living with cancer and to fund on-going cancer research. For more information visit www.cancer.ie

Society to host special event for Heritage Week THE Blanchardstown-Castleknock History Society will host a special event in Blanchardstown Library as part of National Heritage Week.

Chairperson Frank O’Connor will give a talk on garden birds at Blanchardstown Library, August 19 at 2.15pm. National Heritage Week which place from August 19 to 27.

For more details about the society please contact Jim Lacey: jimlacey@eircom.net Phone 087 240 1308 or Hon. Secretary Aingeal McMorrow Phone 087 171 7328.

Marie Davis, Ted Leddy and Susan Stewart of Castleknock Lions Club with Joan Logue

Kay and Henry Doherty

Roar-ing to go on a summer holiday MEMBERS of the Castleknock Lions Club were at Hueston Station to say Bon Voyage to a group of nine very excited senior citizens last week. Their final destination was Trabolgan Holiday Village. They will be staying at Trabolgan as part of an annual community project sponsored by the Lions Club of Ireland.

A celebration of astronomy at Dunsink Observatory SOLARFEST will take place at Dunsink Observatory, Castleknock from June 16 to 18.

This annual event is a celebration of solar astronomy for professional and amateur astronomers, as well as the general public.

The free event conasists of a public open evening on June 16, an all-day public event on June 17 and an afternoon family event on June 18. The events include talks by enthusiastic astronomers, access to/ tours of the observatory, and solar observing if the weather permits.

Solarfest is a fun way to find out more about the sun and its place among the other stars, as well as its crucial importance to Earth. To book free tickets visit www.dunsink.dias.ie/solarfest/ Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Second Floor, Heritage House, Dundrum Office Park, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers

15 June 2017 BLANCH GAZETTE 3

FURY | MUSICGOERS SLAM ‘ABSOLUTE CARNAGE’ AS BELONGINGS FOUND SCATTERED OUTSIDE

3Arena music fans pour out anger as bags dumped in rain  EMMA NOLAN THERE was “absolute carnage” at the 3Arena last week as concertgoers’ bags were found dumped outside in the rain after the Eddie Vedder show.

Heightened security measures at the venue saw new rules introduced where bags “bigger than an A4 page” are not allowed.

The 3Arena issued a notice ahead of the shows outlining the new rules, but many ticketholders were not aware due to the short notice given and were told to leave their bags at security and collect them after the gig.

However, when the show ended, the bags were not where they had been left and instead the concertgoers found their bags unattended outside in the rain.

The same thing happened the previous night at a Michael Bolton show.

A source who was present on the night told The Gazette that the bags were scattered outside under the pouring rain, saying: “It was absolute carnage.”

They added: “Peoples’ belongings strewn all over the ground in the rain; no way to determine who owned what – it was a freefor-all.”

Another person told The Gazette that she was “shocked” to find her bag left unattended outside the building.

She said: “I totally see the point [of the security measures] but I wasn’t told my bag was just going to be left outside when I left it with security. It was a bit disrespectful.

“I was peeved at the time, but looking back, we

were warned. I wasn’t told they [the bags] were going to be thrown out of the building though.”

The 3Arena had issued a statement ahead of the gigs (see inset, below) outlining its updated security restrictions and protocols.

It stated: “Backpacks, larger purses or bags are not allowed; only purses or clutches measuring 4.5in/11.4cm x 6.5in/16.51cm or smaller will be allowed.”

H o w e v e r, t h e annoyed source told The Gazette that while warnings were issued ahead of the s h o w, there were n o warni n g s

“about how bags will be dumped outside in the pouring rain if you don’t adhere to the security requirements”.

They added: “Security weren’t looking after the bags either – literally anyone could have walked up and had a lucky dip.”

In response to the issues raised, a spokesperson for 3Arena told The Gazette that restrictions on items were clearly identified on its website and via social media posts.

The security ban on cert a i n items is echoed across the city, with organisers MCD

The 3Arena notification put out ahead of the concert by Eddie Vedder last week

Video stills shows concertgoers sifting through their bags scattered on the ground outside the 3Arena as rain bucketed down on everything

warning that backpacks large bags, and bags larger than an A4 page, along with plenty of other items, won’t be allowed at the Robbie Williams (left) gig

at the Aviva Stadium this weekend.

Across town, and similar bans and restrictions also affect what people can bring into the The

1975 gig this weekend at Malahide Castle.

Music fans are urged to check all bans in place at venues before taking in any gigs this summer.

4 BLANCH GAZETTE 15 June 2017

FASTNews

Blanch staff come together to help improve their community STAFF at Marks & Spencer Blanchardstown have come together to help improve their local community. The initiative is part of Marks & Spencer’s Plan A sustainability plan which aims to “Make It Matter” by supporting communities across the UK and Ireland.

The staff at M&S Blanchardstown pledged their support to Home-Start, an organisation that supports vulnerable families with young children to deal with the challenges they face which could include anything from financial difficulties, post-natal depression, isolation, physical health problems and bereavement.

The 15-strong team from M&S Blanchardstown volunteered their time to bag pack in store and raise the necessary monies required to rejuvenate the playground at the Home-Start centre.

The staff raised €1,800 which was used directly to purchase paint supplies and new fencing for the garden.

M&S staff then pledged their time to work together on building a family garden and bringing the playground back to life.

Green teens honoured at Young Environmentalist Awards

BLAKESTOWN Community School students have scooped the peopple’s choice award at the ECO-UNESCO’s annual Young Environmentalist Showcase and Awards Ceremony held in the Round Room of the Mansion House.

Transition year and fifth year students entered their recycling rangers entry in the

competition which impressed the nation and the judges.

As part of their work on recycling the rangers set up a Facebook page, wrote and recorded a song and created an exhibition along with a video game that educated people about the importance of recycling and how to do it.

ADAPT staff ‘are quite determined to save centre’

 MARK O’BRIEN

A C A M PA I G N h a s begun to save the ADAPT drug and alcohol treatment centre from closure.

The Coolmine based service supports hundreds of clients and their families but staff were recently told that the service was to close in July.

However, two weeks ago, an arson attack forced the early closure of the service.

The centre offered one-to-one support, a drop-in service, needle exchange and childcare.

Maureen Penrose, one of the founders of ADAPT who has been involved in community treatment for 18 years, says the loss of ADAPT will be “catastrophic” in

a young, growing, urban community with a significant drug problem.

Cllr Matt Waine said that the loss of ADAPT would have an adverse effect on the area as there was no other facility that offered such a complete, holistic service.

“All of the staff that I’ve spoken to are quite d e t e r m i n e d t o s ave ADAPT,” he said.

“It’s not just a question of protecting services and sharing out the services to the different organisations in the area to try and maintain something on the ground, that’s not enough.

“W hat ADAP T has managed to do over 18 years is really fine-tune a whole wraparound service around addiction issues.”

A protest of workers, service users and the local community took place yesterday (Wednesday) outside a meeting of the Blanchardstown Drug Task Force in Mulhuddart village.

An online petition has also been set up.

Workers insist that the services provided by ADAPT cannot be replicated in local existing services and are seeking a meeting with Minister of State for Communities and National Drug Strategy Catherine Byrne.

The board of ADAPT declined to comment when asked by T he Gazette if they would reconsider their decision to close the service.

A spokesperson for Minster Catherine Byrne declined to com-

ment when contacted by The Gazette.

Joan Burton TD met with Minister By rne regarding the sudden decision to close ADAPT. Commenting she said: “The Minister has assured me that she is dealing with the matter at the highest level in the HSE. This is crucial not only for employees but the many families that use the service.

“I will continue to pursue the matter with the incoming Taoiseach and call upon him to take an active role in resolving this problem and ensure there are not only new placements for ADAPT clients but that the staff and their union IMPACT receive wholehearted engagement and consultation from the HSE.”

15 June 2017 BLANCH GAZETTE 5

CCTV to be used to fight illegal dumping in D15  MARK O’BRIEN MOBILE CCTV will be used to fight illegal dumping in Dublin 15 amid reports of it at Porterstown Park.

A concerned resident contacted The Gazette after he came across a large amount of rubbish dumped in the carpark of Porterstown Park.

He man, who walks his dog in the park every morning, said that this was the second time that there had been dumping in recent weeks.

He commended Fingal County Council for their swift response in cleaning up the refuse but added that he felt that unsightly dumping may alter people’s perception of the park.

He said: “There are a lot of women on their own who might not even be dog walkers or anything like that and they probably feel a sense of security because there’s no anti-social behaviour up there but this might make their mind uneasy a little bit.

“So instead of enjoying a peaceful walk in the morning, they’re more concerned about this kind of stuff.”

Fingal County Council did not respond to requests for confirmation that they were investigating this particular incident of illegal dumping however it has emerged that the council plan to use mobile CCTV across Dublin 15.

The move comes following a motion put down by Cllr Roderic O’Gorman.

“I’m delighted that Fingal has confirmed that it has started using mobile CCTV units as part of the fight against illegal dumping,” said Cllr O’Gorman.

“The council has confirmed that up to €30,000 has been spent on a service to install and monitor mobile CCTV units across Fingal. These have already been deployed at one particular dumping blackspot in the Dublin 15 area and will be used again.

“Some of the money for this is coming from central Government initiatives to prevent dumping.”

Cllr O’Gorman also said that illegal dumping can have a negative effect on the community.

“Obviously there is a major financial cost for Fingal in having to clean up dumping, which means there are fewer resources for other services,” he said.

“But there’s also a significant social cost, in that sustained dumping can really undermine the fabric of a community”

A large amount of rubbish was dumped in the carpark of Porterstown Park

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Mother is desperate to give son education that he deserves ----------------------------------

 MARK O’BRIEN “I don’t think it’s fair on him.

“I’ve never seen a child treated like this.”

Due to his condition, Sean has already missed a whole year of school.

He previously attended Phoenix Park Special School and now attends Casa Caitriona in Cabra.

However, due to his behavioural issues Sean has never completed a full week in school and currently only attends Casa Caitriona two days a week.

Doreen said that she feels let down by the system and that a special needs school should be able to offer her son a full education.

“He has difficulties but they should be able to manage this

‘I need to get to the bottom of this. I need to get my child back in school’ ----------------------------------

because it’s a special needs school and that’s what it stands for,” she said.

“I’ve had no help at all with Sean.”

Doreen has requested previously meetings with the principal of Casa Caitriona in an attempt to resolve the issue but now the principal won’t come to meetings with her.

“The principal won’t even come to a meeting,” she said.

“She won’t speak to me, it’s always the teacher.”

Casa Caitriona declined to comment when contacted by The Gazette.

Doreen said that in spite of his difficulties Sean is a loveable child who deserves an education.

“He’s really hearty and he’s really loveable,” she said.

She added that she is desperate to have the issue resolved and give Sean the education that he deserves.

“I need to get to the bottom of this,” she said.

“I need to get my child back in school.”

The Gazette contacted the Department of Education in relation to Sean’s case.

The Department said that they could not comment on individual cases but said: “The policy of this Depar tment

is that children with special educational needs should be included, where possible and appropriate, in mainstream school placements with additional supports provided.

“In circumstances where children with special educational needs require more specialised interventions, special school or special class places are also available.”

The statement added: “Parents/guardians who may need advice or are experiencing difficulties regarding an appropriate school placement should contact their local Special Educational Needs Organiser (SENO) who can assist in identifying an appropriate educational placement for their child.

“Contact details are available on www.ncse.ie.”

6 BLANCH GAZETTE 15 June 2017

Out and About

It’s lights, camera, action for arts group T

HE Cecilian Theatre Arts took to the studio and stage for their annual project last week, recording and shooting a music video. Students from age 3 to 18 took to the stage in Draiocht Theatre and Jealoustown Studios for this memorable unique recording experience. The project is designed to encourage creativity, confidence and communicational skills through the medium of film, while having copious amounts of fun. Pictures: Rob Kennedy

15 June 2017 BLANCH GAZETTE 7

Out and About

8 BLANCH GAZETTE 15 June 2017

POLITICS | LEFT WING SOCIAL PLATFORM

D15 resident at the forefront of ‘revolution’ for Indians in Ireland  MARK O’BRIEN A DUBLIN 15 resident is at the forefront of a new cultural and political organisation for left-leaning Indian people living in Ireland.

Varghese Joy, who lives in Ongar, is the president of Kranthi, which hopes to appeal to Indian people living all over Ireland.

He told The Gazette: “Kranthi is a cultural and political organisation aiming to unite all Indians in Ireland who share similar ideas on progressive, democratic and secular thoughts and also left ideologies.”

The word “kranthi” translates as “revolution” and Varghese said that he and the other founders set up the organisation as they felt that while there were many Indian groups in Ireland catering to cultural needs, there was no left wing social platform currently available.

The group say they plan to support various left-wing organisations and causes in Ireland.

They held their inaugural meeting in Walkinstown last weekend.

TD Ruth Coppinger at the Kranthi Ireland inaguration

Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger, Cllr Eilis Ryan (Worker’s Party) and Harsev Bains, vice-president of the Indian Worker’s Association of Great Britain all addressed the meeting.

The keynote speech was given by M A Baby, a politburo member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and former Education and Culture Minister of Kerala.

Varghese said that he believes that leftwing ideology is resurging in reaction to the rise of the far right in many parts of the world.

“Instead of the sectarian and ultracapitalist policies, class politics and class struggle is now being discussed,” he said.

He said that the group has taken inspiration from the strong showing of Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party in the recent UK General Election.

“We were delighted and inspired and we are encouraged now to go forward because that’s a new development within the aftermath of the global resurgence of far-right parties everywhere,” he said.

He added that it was heartening to see so many young people vote for Labour in that election.

“The major factor for the middle class or the working class youth are the lack of jobs, the lack of housing,” he said.

“We can see in Ireland how difficult it is for a newly qualified graduate to rent or buy a house.”

Kranthi currently operate in Dublin and Waterford and hope to establish units in Cork and Galway in the near future.

The group is open to all Indian people living in Ireland.

Anyone wishing to join the group can contact Varghese on 089 4662664 or the group’s secretary Abhilash Thomas on 087 9221625.

IRISH MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE EVENT

Rachel Wright, Ali Walsh and Niamh Menton. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Charity bash is a walk in the park

THE June Party In The Park in aid of Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association took place last week at the Polo Grounds in Dublin’s Pheonix Park. Guests on the days enjoyed prosecco and strawberries along with a gourmet food tasting menu and garden games while six polo teams took to the field.

Maeve and Emer Lynch

Louise O’Neill and Laura McParland

Caitriona O’Connor

Keva Graham and Marie Louise Healy

Margaret Folan and Aisling Began

15 June 2017 BLANCH GAZETTE 9

10 GAZETTE 15 June 2017

Out and About

Lauren Keegan, Aisha O’Keeffe and Shauna Johnston from Holy Child Community School, Sallynoggin. Picture: Rose Comiskey

Lauren Coyle, Aoife Byrne and Ciara Coates from Portmanock Community School. Picture: ALISON O’HANLON

Prebi Olobio, Yolly Okpe, Alice Minar and Niamh Farrelly from St Joseph’s College

Leaving Cert exams get underway across Dublin

T

Lucan. Picture: STEPHEN FLEMING

HE Gazette caught up with students from around the county as they headed to their school to sit the Leaving Cert exams. There were plenty of nerves on display as they joined the 120,000 students in total who will be sitting the exams across the country. English was up first and there were plenty of teachers on hand to offer last minute advice, like try to stay calm and not to get too stressed. The results of the Leaving Cert will be published on Wednesday, August 16, while the Junior Cert results will be out in September. Best of luck to one and all!

Jasmine Sheridan and Naomi Mooney from Holy Child Community School,

Roisin Dowd, Aoibhe Dillon, Lauren Tarpey, Abbie Mooney and Sarah Brennan from Portmanock Community

Sallynoggin. Picture: Rose Comiskey

School. Picture: ALISON O’HANLON

15 June 2017 GAZETTE 11

Karim Ghanem, Kasim Ali and Santiago Pompa from Ballinteer Community School.

Picture: Rose Comiskey

Holly Maglangit, Estephany Barba Matta and Sadaf Amir Kamvar from Ballinteer Community School.

Picture: Rose Comiskey

Eilidh Dunlop, Hannah O’Keeffe and Aisling Dolan from Colaiste Bride in Clondalkin. Picture: Aishling Conway

HERE WE GO: Blakestown Community School students on their way into the exam

GAZETTE

12 GAZETTE 15 June 2017

DUBLINBUSINESS

Telecoms firm rings up 15 jobs in €1.75m deal TELECOMS company Pure Telecom has signed a €1.75m deal with sales agency DSM Ltd, creating 15 jobs.

The deal will enable P ure to continue its opush to roll-out services across the country, with a particular focus on rural Ireland.

The Irish-owned company has been providing fixed line, broadband and cloud telecoms services since 2002 to Irish businesses and consumers.

All of the DSM positions will be field sales roles, with successful can-

didates having customerfacing experience and a track record in achieving ambitious sales targets, in addition to receiving ongoing training the company.

Anticipation With nationwide fibre roll-outs continue, and in anticipation of a decision on the National Broadband Plan, Pure Telecom is focusing on an increased presence of sales agents in key locations across the country t o h e l p it achieve an

Interviews make everyone nervous – but there are several questions you should be easily able to answer

Five top tips to help ace that interview

THE interview is the most common tool used to assess people for roles. Let’s look at five questions you may be asked and tips on responding to each ...

Pictured announcing Pure Telecom’s €1.75 million deal with DSM Ltd are Alan McGonnell and Paul Connell, Pure Telecom, and James Edinborough, DSM Ltd

aggressive growth plan.

Celebrating the deal, Paul Connell, Pure Tele-

Call for companies to seek best-managed recognition

ANYA Cummins, partner Deloitte; Nigel Owens, keynote speaker and Michael Torpey, chief executive, corporate and treasury, Bank of Ireland bounced a ball and some ideas around at the launch of Deloitte’s 10th Best Managed Companies Awards.

The trio are urging companies to enter this year’s programme, in association with new programme

sponsor Bank of Ireland, to showcase the success of indigenous companies and acknowledge the contribution that they make to the economy.

For further information, awards criteria and full details of how to enter the awards, see the site at www.deloittebestmanaged.ie, with a closing date for entries set for August 6. Picture: Jason Clarke

com chief executive, said: “This deal is part of our nationwide push to bring broadband to a lot more people and households in rural Ireland.

“We work very closely with some of Ireland’s major wholesale providers and want to ensure that we are there as soon as the broadband is – part of that means having an increased presence of sales representatives.

“We are very confident that this deal with DSM will play a significant role in helping us to grow our business and footprint outside of the major cities.”

Echoing his words, James Edinborough, DSM Ltd chief executive, added: “Pure Telecom is the kind of company that sales representatives want to work with because of its dedication to customer service and competitive pricing.

“Broadband across Ireland still has a long way to go, but we look forward to helping Pure Telecom roll out the muchneeded service across the country.

“Our relationship spans many years and we are delighted to have signed another deal with

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

‘A few years ago most people thought that the smartphone would see the demise of the landline ... but instead we are seeing huge demand for it’ --------------------------

Paul Connell, Pure Telecom

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

them. We look forward to providing Pure Telecom with sales support to help it continue on its impressive growth path.”

Connell said: ““What we have found interesting is that as more people become connected to broadband, the fixed line is making a comeback.

“A few years ago most people thought that the smartphone would see the demise of the landline, and we prepared ourselves for that, but instead we are seeing huge demand for it.

“The National Broadband Plan will only serve to increase that demand.”

What can you tell us about your career to date?

Many interviews start with this request. You should keep your answer brief and to the point.

Cover your education quickly, your general career and finish with your most recent history.

Keep it relatively simple and you’ll be off to a good start.

What aspects of your previous job did you like or dislike?

Concentrate on the ‘like’ part of your previous role. When addressing the ‘dislike’ part, it may be better to change the emphasis to what you would have changed rather than being negative.

Why should we employ you?

Outline your personal qualities as they relate to the role you are applying for and how they will benefit the company.

Yo u s h o u l d h ave established what the key aspects of the role are prior to the interview and Remember these tips, and it’ll make a huge difference in interviews. If you want to talk to someone about career opportunities, contact RecruitmentPlus at 01 2788 610, or also see www.recruitmentplus.ie.

build your answer around those key competencies.

What is a difficult situation that you handled well?

Highlight a difficult work situation and give the context, the actions you took and the result.

Don’t share confidential information; don’t dismiss the efforts of others and avoid positioning yourself as a victim or a knight in shining armour.

This question offers you the opportunity to show your reasoning skills and your ability to manage stress.

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

The natural inclination for the interviewee is to focus on the strengths while the natural tendency for the interviewer is to listen more closely to the weaknesses.

As a general rule of thumb, it makes good sense to cover strengths that are essential to the role and to raise a weakness that is non-essential.

15 June 2017 GAZETTE 13

TRAVEL P21 MOTORS P22

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

MAYBE IT’S MAISIE WHO COULD BE A DREAM PET OUR Dog of the Week looking for their #SpecialSomeone* is Maisie, a beautiful and very intelligent threeyear-old Collie cross.

She is an active dog and loves her daily walks and activities.

Maisie is really good at doggie brain games such as scent games, agility and obedience training, and her favourite game is Fetch.

Maisie is a typical collie and is full of beans, so she would suit an active household where she will have lots of company.

She really has huge potential and will make the perfect agility or flyball partner and a very loyal companion.

If you can be Maisie’s #SpecialSomeone*, then please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off Exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website, www.dogstrust. ie. You can also find them on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline, or on Twitter @ DogsTrust_IE.

The Coronas out to take their chances



GAZETTE

CINEMA P24

JAMES Hendicott talks to The Coronas frontman Danny O’Reilly about the making of Trust The Wire, the acclaimed new album that has seen the popular indie four piece evolve from ‘Ireland’s ultimate student band”.

Danny explains how moving from the hustle and bustle of London to the remote, unspoiled beauty of West Kerry subconsciously helped to inspire a more chilled, mature and electronic style and a record that shows they’re not afraid to take risks.

See Pages 16-17

GAZETTE

14 GAZETTE 15 June 2017

DUBLINLIFE

DIARY

Minister for Education and Skills Richard Bruton chats with Aoibheann Clancy as fellow pupils from St Vincent de Paul Infant School, Griffith Avenue (Henry Cronin, Michael O’Neill and Emma Lidierth), demonstrate the old maxim about ‘Hear no evil ...’, now updated for media, advertising and fake news. Picture: Andres Poveda

NEW INITIATIVE: HELPING OUR CHILDREN TO MAKE SENSE OF THE MEDIA WORLD AROUND THEM

‘Fake news’ course for kids A NEW, free educational resource to help teach primary schoolchildren about the media, advertising and fake news has been launched.

The “MediaWise” initiative from Safefood is an eight-week programme suitable for primary school children of all ages. It has been designed to help children makes sense of the media world around them. Education Minister Richard Bruton attended the launch.

Fiona Gilligan, director, marketing and communications, safefood said: “We know from research that children are bombarded with hundreds of media messages every day, whether that’s advertising, commercial sponsorships, online gaming or social media.

Our own research has revealed that children as young as three see upwards of 1,000 TV ads for unhealthy foods over the course of a year.

“Safefood’s rem it includes the promotion of health amongst children, and with their exposure to so many messages, MediaWise is about helping them evaluate, interpret and critique these to make healthy choices.”

ACCESSIBLE BUS FOR WHEELCHAIR USER’S B OY Z O N E ’ S K e i t h Duffy launched a new accessible bus for wheelchair user’s to support the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA) in Clontarf on June 7.

Duffy, along with IWA members and their families, local community sup-

porters, businesses, and Clontarf Castle assisted IWA to raise the necessary funds to purchase the bus. The launch was met by celebration afterwards which took place at IWA’s National Headquarters, in Clontarf.

customers to understand their entitlements and meet their tax and duty obligations.”

Revenue has warned users of its PAYE Anytime service that the function will no longer be available as of June 19.

MAJOR REDESIGN FOR REVENUE’S SITE

PETER PAN COMES TO POWERSCOURT

REVENUE has updated its website which is the first major redesign since 2008. Information through the website is now widely accessible through various different devices such as Android.

New features also include feedback facility which allows users to share their views and suggestions with Revenue at the click of a button.

According to their press release: “Our aim is to make it easier for

FOR one day only, on June 25, Neverland will be brought back to life with a production of Peter Pan in Powerscourt Gardens. This open air event begins at 1:30pm in Enniskerry, County Wicklow.

In association with Chapter House Theatre Company, award winning writer Laura Turner creates her own adaptation of JM Barrie’s original story.

Tickets can be booked

for €16 for children.

Adult prices are €19 and a family ticket (2 adults, 2 children) are €56.

SPORTS DAY FUN FOR A WORTHY CAUSE LAW firm, Eversheds Sutherland is hosting its 7th annual Sports Day corporate fundraising event in Herbert Park from 4pm onwards on Thursday, June 15.

Eversheds Sutherland’s aim is to join the business community together and encourage donations to the children’s charity, Barretstown.

By attending you can enjoy a fun filled day of sports, along with a barbecue later on, for a good cause.

Refresh your memory and embrace nostalgia with activities including the three legged race, the

egg and spoon race and the climbing wall, among numerous others.

Irish Olympic runner, David Matthews, has even arranged a special fitness challenge for those more adventurous hopefuls.

Barretstown’s ethos is

to aid children and their families whom have been affected by serious illness, with a specific focus on cancer.

You can take part in this event by contacting Mark Hughes at sportsday@barretstown.org or by calling 045-864115.

Former Boyzone singer Keith Duffy helps to launch a new accessible bus for wheelchair users

15 June 2017 GAZETTE 15

GAZETTE

FEATURE

BODY LANGUAGE: LEADING EXPERT TRACEY COX REVEALS WHAT’S BEHIND YOUR SQUEEZE

What your squeeze says about you?

AS part of the launch of the HTC U11, with a revolutionary new squeeze interaction, HTC has partnered with one of the world’s leading body language experts, Tracey Cox, to analyse our everyday “squeeze”; what it says about our personality and what that squeeze communicates to others.

The U11 brings a new age of phone interaction, where a simple squeeze allows the user to take photos, launch their favourite apps, text on the go and more.

Tracey said: “Nothing is more powerful and significant than a squeeze or touch. Even the smallest squeeze resonates so be aware of every touch and the implications it has – each has the power to make us feel loved and wanted or rejected.

“Don’t underestimate the

power of the daily squeeze – it’s needed now, more than ever. The more you touch and squeeze others and are touched and squeezed yourself, the happier and healthier we’ll all be.”

Tracey has identified eight types of everyday squeezes, the messages they communicate and the implications every squeeze has.

hold their torso away and there’s no direct eye contact.

Romantic Squeeze: This is when the upper torsos are press together. Effectively your holding the other person against your heart and saying ‘I love you’ using your entire body.

The Power Squeeze - Powerful people will shake with their palm turned down. A strong handshake from both individuals with palms parallel transmits respect and rapport.

Flirtatious Squeeze: If someone wants to let you know that they are interested in more than friendship, they will give you an extra squeeze at the end of a hug, and when pulling back make direct eye contact.

The Fake Squeeze - This squeeze is the equivalent of the air kiss: the person imitates a hug without giving one. They’ll lean forward with their shoulders but

The Sexy Squeeze - Hip hugs are naughtier and lustier than waist embraces. If the person tries to pull their torso away, they’re trying to keep the relationship platonic.

Insecure Squeeze: If we are unsure of someone’s feelings for us, we revert to the kind of hug we’d seek from our parents - we nestle our face into someone’s neck, implying a desire for security.

The Best Friend Squeeze: Most public squeezes involve embracing the shoulders, not the waist. The waist hug is often nicknamed ‘the friendly hug’.

The Dominant Squeeze: High squeezes show dominance: the person who hugs highest is nearly always the dominant one.

The HTC U11 can be purchased now, sim free on www.htc. com/ie from €749 and in a range of five colours.

15 June 2017 GAZETTE 17

DUBLINLIFE

 JAMES HENDICOTT LONG SEEN as Ireland’s ultimate student band, The Coronas’ evolution has been an odd one.

Rarely given the media credit that their sizeable sell-out shows might suggest they warrant, the lively four-piece are firmly established on our shores, having played the country’s largest indoor gig venue (the 3Arena) and headlined numerous festivals.

For much of the last few years, however, their Irish successes have been conducted from abroad, with The Coronas living together on London as they tried to break into a larger market, with mixed success.

Having now returned home – a move that, bizarrely, precedes their largest ever London show latest this year, in the Kentish Town Forum – life is moving on fast.

New album ‘Trust The Wire’ – a reference to taking chances – represents probably the band’s most substantive change in style since they started out 14 years ago, taking in a broad range of genres and instrumentation. It’ll be released on a newly-established band-run label, too.

“We didn’t sit down and decide to do things differently,” frontman Danny O’Reilly told The Gazette.

“It just evolved. We wrote the album in Dingle, instead of London like the last album, and I think there was a subconscious impact of that in the sound.

“It’s very electronic, chilled and mature, written from a place of calm. I think you can sense the change lyrically, too.”

“It’ll be our first record on the new label, and we’re excited about that,” he adds.

“It makes sense for us financially now that we’re in a place where we can promote ourselves, and really take control of what we’re doing. We’ve actually done more promotion on this album than other ones, even though we didn’t have that major label backing, so it seems to be going well.”

Label “I don’t want to say anything that sounds like I’m putting down [previous label] Universal, as they were really good to us, but this is the right move, and it’s a really exciting time. With a bit of luck, the label might outlive the band.”

The band, clearly, are growing up fast.

O’Reilly is the son of Mary Black, so he’s always been around the music scene, and recalls attending shows before his age hit double figures, and seems to live for the music.

With marriage and life commitments coming into play for other members of the band, however sharing a house all together in London wasn’t proving practical anymore.

If anything, the time apart – and separate experiences – has made The Coronas’ writing process more imaginative when they’ve come back together.

A TRIP THROUGH THE WIRE

The Coronas are back from London with a new sound, a new album, and a Dingle take on life

MUSIC

N O S ’ T A H W

E D I U G S T N EVE

with JAMES HENDICOTT

Jeff Goldblum Day

Lighthouse Cinema celebrates the American actor in the first of what it plans to be an annual day in his honour. The first offering - on June 16 - will feature The Lost World, Independence Day and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, scheduled to allow viewing of all three back to back.

Radiohead

Long since sold out, the trendy Oxford indie-stars hit up the 3Arena for a sure-to-impress show with its textured variety and nuance hits. Expect a few big tracks, an exploration of the RADIOHEAD, 3 ARENA dingy corners of the back catalogue and lots of beautifully dark rumblings to bed it all down. June 20

Redhead Fest

A whole weekend celebrating what it is to be ginger. South Park might have joked that the carrot-topped have no soul, but we beg to differ: Bar Rua’s celebration of all things ‘strawberry blonde’ on the 17th and 18th of June is in honour of MS Ireland, and features music and themed fun.

Renegrade

Like an open mic, but for circus performers, Renegade returns to the Dublin Circus Project on June 17 for a weird and wacky BYOB event designed to offer a showcase for any member of the audience choosing to step on stage. They’ll be rewards for participation in a lively show.

The Great Gatsby Rave

Morning Gloryville bring their weekday morning party concept to Cafe En Seine for a 6.30am ‘rave’ based on the classic novel.

That means being suited and booted for a Wednesday morning of high-class shape throwing on June 21.

Ham Sandwich at Leopardstown

The Bulmers Live at Leopardstown events continue with one of Ireland’s finest live acts. Ham Sandwich will join the horses at the racetrack for the great-value music and racing event on June 22.

Wandering Rocks: Journey Inside Ulysses

Joyce’s classic story gets a revamp for the annual Bloomsday celebrations courtesy of Happenings, who have set up a citywide exploration involving performance and interactive maps.

“We work best just locked away for a month,” O’Reilly explains of the trip to Dingle to write this record, after deciding they needed some “time off, including from the high rent,” and time to spend on their own lives. Dingle, and the album recording, was the perfect reunion.

“They’ve got the whole musical history down there, with [RTE televised festival] OtherVoices, as well as all kinds of artists, films, food, and it’s that extra hour away from Killarney, which makes it that much more out of the way. We’ve all been down to Dingle since we were

on kids’ holidays, so it feels very normal to be there, but it’s a special place.”

Initial reactions to the album have been strong, though O’Reilly admits that he’s developed a high tolerance of negative reviews and critical commentary, preferring to let fans judge.

Critical “We were never really critical darlings, and often written off as ‘just’ a student band,” O’Reilly argues.

“I’ve got pretty thick skin about it now, to the point

where, as is often the case in music, I’d worry that a good review might mean it won’t sell. But then again, this has been getting quite good reviews. We’ve played a few tracks live over the last few months, and they’ve been going down well, and the single seems popular with fans. That’s more important, really.”

The fans are certainly still buying from the band, anyhow, with The Coronas set to play their biggest headline show to date this summer, at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in front of an audience of 15,000.

“We’re sort of at different stages as a band in differ-

ent places,” O’Reilly says of the huge range of audience sizes they perform before regularly. “We play big venues in Ireland. We’d play Ulster Hall in Belfast and we’re a bit bigger in London than in the rest of the UK. It’s totally different depending on where you go.”

“We’d be looking at Coldplay and trying to take aspects of their show that we like, trying to put on a really big stage show for something like Kilmainham.

We’ve always invested in production; in our performance. Obviously you can’t do that in the same way when you’re playing in front of an audience of a few

hundred, and that would totally change your setlist, too. But for something like Kilmainham, it’s really important for us to make an effort with what we do on stage; for it to be about more than the music.”

As for their latest incarnation as a band – the more mature, evolved version of The Coronas?

“We chose the title ‘Trust The Wire’ because it represents us as a band on this album. We’re refocusing, realigning our own ambition and trying not to doubt ourselves,” O’Reilly concludes. “We’re really taking the plunge.”

GAZETTE

GAZETTE

16 GAZETTE 15 June 2017

Summer Solstice

Celebrate the first day of summer with a Merrion Square picnic event to feature music and yoga, a slackline, and a lot of extras yet to be announced. With a little luck, the weather will match the mood...

New album of the week

Royal Blood - How Did We Get So Dark? Fresh from supporting Guns N’ Roses at Slane, the brazen two-piece return with a short, pulsating second album that’s sure to see the Brighton pair shaking a few floorboards once again.

DUBLINLIFE Ravenscliff waterproof shell €160 Regatta Great Outdoors, hunter green

Rolex C Weir osmogra p & So ns €P h Dayton a OA

GAZETTE

18 GAZETTE 15 June 2017

Arnotts

Happy

ay Gif ther’s D a F s k c So

5

t Set €2

Aldi Fathers Day Glasses €4.99 per set Aldi Moccasin Slippers €7.99

PAYOT H o m m e Soin Re En e r g iz veil in g Care €36

DELAROM Homme Eau Sport €34

ALEX AND ANI create bangle in aid of Pieta House

ALEX AND ANI Charity

by Design butterfly bangle will retail at €36

MEANINGFUL jewellery brand, ALEX AND ANI have created a Charity By Design bangle in aid of Pieta House.

The bangle, which has a butterfly charm, carries the meaning of renewal, strength and rebirth.

Ten percent of every bangle sold goes directly to Pieta House – which offers free-of-charge therapy to those suffering from suicidal ideation, those who have been bereaved by suicide and people who are engaging in self-harm - with a minimum donation of €5,000 promised.

The Charity By Design Collection focuses on

organisations whose mission aligns with the three main causes that ALEX AND ANI strive to support; community development and relief, health and wellness and environmental and animal care.

“The butterfly represents change, beauty, and diversity and it’s a great symbol of hope and strength and of a future for clients of Pieta House and for all of us,” said Pieta House CEO Brian Higgins.

The ALEX AND ANI Charity by Design butterfly bangle will retail at €36 from all ALEX AND ANI stockists and from www.Arnotts.ie and via the Detail of butterfly charm Pieta House website www.pieta.ie

15 June 2017 GAZETTE 19

GAZETTE

STYLE

Aldi ELECTRIC SHAVER €19.99

AppliancesDelivered.ie Krups Nespresso Pixie Coffee Machine €149.95

Blue Solid Oxford Button-down Tailored Fit Shirt, €89, Magee 1866, www.magee1866.com

KING Treat your dad like a

Genius, Powerscourt Centre, Saddler Belt €59.95

 EMMA NOLAN, Style Editor

River Island Brown LatticeDetail Holdall €60

Arnotts Kiehls Nourishing Beard Grooming Oil €30

Sony XB10 EXTRA BASS Portable Wireless Speaker €70

WITH Father’s Day coming up next week, The Gazette has put together some great gift ideas for the dads in your life.

Put a smile on his face with some thoughtful presents for all budgets and tastes, whether he’s into gadgets, clothes, grooming or something a little more quirky.

GAZETTE

20 GAZETTE 15 June 2017

DUBLINLIFE

FEATURE

THEATRE : TELLING A TALE IN HOPE PEOPLE WILL BETTER UNDERSTAND REALITIES OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Hard-hitting play exposes some awful, hidden abuse

 SYLVIA POWNALL

DUBLINER Fran Winston is daring to tread where few have gone before – delving into the world of domestic violence in a hard-hitting play inspired by her own experiences.

Fran’s experimental work – Arnica Was my Eyecream – will be staged at the International Bar on June 20, 21, 22 and 23 (see the Facebook page of the same title for details).

It tells the story of Nancy, a woman who finds herself masking black eyes with make-up when her new boyfriend, Marcus, turns out to be anything but Prince Charming.

Fran, originally from Ballymun but living in Rathgar, told The Gazette: “The play shows how sur prisingly ordinary the abusers are and how easy it is to fall victim.

“I decided to have Marcus appear to the audience as a virtual character, a looming shadow on the wall, because once you put a face on something it is nowhere near as terrifying as what you imagine in your head.”

Fran herself suffered domestic violence at the hands of a former partner who now lives abroad.

She recalls how despite describing herself as a “strong, intelligent woman” it took a drastic series of events for her to realise how she was being manipulated and abused.

She said: “Ironically I met him while I was rehearsing lines for MacBeth in the International Bar. I bumped into him again a few years later and he was very charm-

ing ...

“We had only been going out four weeks when he came home after having a row with someone at work and started throwing me around. The next day he was incredibly apologetic and I genuinely did think it was a one-off.

“But it got steadily worse.

There were nights when he’d pull me around by the hair and nearly pull it out of my head. He broke my eye socket one night.

“The night I graduated with my MA, gardai had to call an ambulance because he battered me so badly the whole right side of my face was swollen.

“Once they get to the point where they’ve hit you in the face and you’ve gone out in public and tried to cover it up, they think they won’t get caught and it gets more frequent.”

Fran, who plays the role of Nancy, hopes the production helps highlight the issue in the hope that others recognise the signs and victims feel better able to report it.

She also wants legislation to change to offer more protection from abusers.

She said: “[Gardai] have to take it seriously. One in five women will be victims of domestic abuse, yet nobody wants to talk about it.

“On average, a woman will be assaulted 35 times by her partner or ex before reporting it.

“This is Nancy’s story, but it is many people’s story, and it is happening to someone you know right now. She tells her tale in the hope that people will better understand the realities of domestic violence.”

Fran Winston has drawn on her own experience of being assaulted by a partner to create a play exploring the realities of hidden domestic abuse

15 June 2017 GAZETTE 21

EXPERIENCE the American dream this year for less – GoHop. ie is offering exclusive deals on USA United Airways flights booked

by June 19.

Try your luck in Las Vegas from only €580, or shop ‘til you drop at Bloomingdale’s on a weekend away in NYC from only €396.

Soak up the Californian sunshine with a visit to the home of the stars, Los Angeles, from only €388 or treat your kids to a fun-filled family getaway in the home of Disney, with flights to Orlando from only €468.

If those USA deals don’t whet your appetite, then why not head up north and explore the beautiful sights of Canada?

Explore the dynamic metropolis of Toronto from only €448 or choose a stunning city that blends cultures and landscapes with a visit to Vancouver from €326.

Make sure you book

by June 19 to avail of these amazing United Airways rates, exclusive to GoHop.ie.

Prices are subject to dates and availability.

All prices are flight only and based on return economy fares.

For more information or to book, see www.

GoHop.ie or call the experts at 01 241 2389.

Early Bird Package holiday newbies Ryanair are offering seven nights staying at the Atlantic Choice Studio 17 hotel in Portimao on the Algarve in Portugal for an amazing €188 PPS. The price is based on dates in October and includes flights, transfers, luggage and accommodation on a self-catering basis.

Spain’s hidden gems

GAZETTE

Hop to it and catch some great deals to the US, Canada

TRAVEL

HIDDEN GEM: Just an hour’s drive north from Barcelona, Besalu is a wonderful medieval town in Cataluna and is considered to be one of the most beautiful in Spain.

 SYLVIA POWNALL Travel Editor

The old prison right at the entrance to Pedraza

Arcos de la Frontera is one of Andalucia’s most dramatically positioned white villages

THE holiday map of the world is changing and fears of terror strikes mean old favourites like Egypt,Tunisia and Turkey are not looking quite as appealing.

Spain continues to top the list for Irish holidaymakers – but have you ever considered foregoing the fish bowls and foam parties of the livelier resorts in favour of some exploring off the beaten track instead?

Flights in and out of pretty much any Spanish airport have never been so affordable, and price comparison sites like Booking.com and Trivago can throw up hotel and guest house accommodation at a fraction of what you think they might cost.

Here are some of our favourite hidden gems.

Besalu Besalu might just be the most interesting Spanish village you’ve never heard of.

The moment you pass over the trademark 12th century bridge you know you’ve entered a magical medieval world.

It’s a picture postcard adventure at every turn from the narrow alleyways of the Jewish district adorned with Romanesque engravings to the seductive tapas bars boasting some of the best regional cuisine in Cataluna.

For a town with a population of just 2,500 it has plenty to offer – including the quirky Museum of Miniatures and the ruins of the 13th century Jewish baths. It’s a one-hour drive north from Barcelona, and well worth the visit.

Galicia Home to three islands off northwest Spain which were voted No 3 in Lonely Planet’s top 10 best up-andcoming destinations to visit in 2017.

And with their white sands, turquoise waters, rich marine life and laid-back pace it’s easy to see why.

The Romans referred to them as the “islands of the Gods” but more recently they’ve become known as the Galician Caribbean or Seychelles.

Rodas has been named as one of the 10 best beaches in the world and a strict limit of 2,200 tourists a day keeps the crowds away.

The islands are a ferry ride from the nearest airport in Vigo.

However the only accommodation is camping, so if you prefer things a little less rustic head for the rural hotel of Quinta de San Amaro just two miles inland in the O Salnes area of western Galicia. Here you can enjoy the gastronomic delights, unspoilt beaches and water sports with rooms from just €80 a night.

Arcos de la Frontera This is undisputedly the reigning king of Andalucia’s famous White Villages, though it has stiff competition from Frigiliana whose cluster of white washed homes and picturesque courtyards give it a good run for its money.

Arcos de la Frontera is a charming cliff-top hamlet only an hour’s drive from Cadiz.

Widely considered one of Spain’s most beautiful villages, its charm lies in its narrow streets and immaculate white walls decorated with flowering vines and colourful tilework.

One of this village’s main draws its location with the beach, the spectacular Donana National Park, the Grazalema Mountains, and the splendours of Seville all little more than an hour’s drive away.

Pedraza Drive 90 minutes north of Madrid and you will find one of the jewels of central Spain.

While the regional capital, Segovia, has attracted international travellers for years, Pedraza is a favourite among locals due to its imposing 2castle, impressive views, and an atmosphere steeped in 16th century history.

Photo ops abound and there is plenty of striking architecture to see, but Pedraza is most famous for its hearty cuisine based on local specialties like lamb and suckling pig roasted in wood-fire ovens.

Best of the rest: The sleepy village of Banyalbufar is nestled in the Tramontana Mountains of western Mallorca surrounded by countryside which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The tiny white village of Casares lies just 45 minutes west of the bustling tourist hub of Marbella, offering stunning views of the Straits of Gibraltar from its 12th century castle.

The fishing village of Cudillero boasts splendid views of mountain and sea, and a lively marina area.

The famous village of Ronda, best known for its bull fights and unrivalled scenery, recalls a regal era and is regarded as one of Spain’s most beautiful destinations.

GAZETTE

22 GAZETTE 15 June 2017

DUBLINLIFE

FASTNews

Dacia’s 5th birthday celebrations will take place at Dublin dealerships until this weekend, where there will be a test drive competition to win a new Sandero Stepway SE Summit Edition 1.5 dCi90 to the value of €17,290

Success Story – Duster wipes the floor with SUV competitors WITH over 14,000 cars registered since its launch in July 2012, Dacia has proved itself a massive success story in the Irish motor industry.

The Renault owned brand is now outperforming some well-established names that have been around for over 40 years.

Dacia has sold more than 8,000 versions of the Duster, with its chunky SUV style appealing to Irish motorists at its affordable price of €16,690. The first Dacia to arrive on Irish soil was Duster, followed by Sandero, then Sandero Stepway and finally the Logan MCV. The full range now includes new versions of all models as well as Stepway versions of Sandero and a newly launched Logan MCV Stepway.

To celebrate five years in Ireland, Dacia will offer zero deposit and 4.9% APR PCP finance across the range for all orders taken and registered by July 31.

Fiat dropping prices for 500X across the range FIAT is now offering a 172 registration guaranteed scrappage bonus of €3,000 for Pop Star and Cross versions of the Fiat 500X, plus price reductions of up to 12% across the range. The 500X comes in four trim levels and off-road versions are also available.

The Pop Star trim replaces Pop and prices start from €19,995, reduced from €22,250. It features 16” alloy wheels, 5” touchscreen radio with Bluetooth, Uconnect live services, body-coloured wing mirrors, leather steering wheel, rear parking sensors, electric windows, electric handbrake, cruise control with speed limiter, air-conditioning, fog lights with cornering function, space saver spare wheel and six speakers.

Fiat has dropped prices for the 500X range by 12% to stimulate demand for the Italian brand compact SUV

BMW bounces back with latest 5 series

BMW’s latest 5 Series models bounce back on the market with new levels of performance, economy and enhanced driver features. The 5 Series has always been a great driver’s car and the new generation brings that to a new level, as MICHAEL MORONEY found out when he pushed the BMW 520d M Sport saloon metal to the floor.

BMW’s new 520d M Sport saloon bounces back in the market with improved styling and a host of driver features designed to make the car an even better driving experience. The styling changes for the new BMW 5 Series are subtle, you’ll still not mistake the car for being a 5 Series, it’s just that the design is sharper and more modern, giving kind of faster look to it.

Almost every aspect of the new BMW 5 Series has been re-engineered for a level of performance that still keeps a focus on economy. The new car is lighter while being more powerful than before and marginally more spacious.

BMW rate the car in terms of power to weight and given that they have shaved over 100kg from the car’s weight and added more power, the figure of 11kg per kW of engine power, is impressive.

When you drive the seventh generation 520d M Sport saloon, the styling and optional features ensure that the driving experience is a good one.

The new 520d M Sport saloon is very much a driver’s car. The engine performance is such that irrespective of which of the performance settings chosen, Sport Comfort, EcoPro or Comfort, you’ll still enjoy the driving experience.

The four-cylinder twinturbo diesel engine powering the BMW 520d M Sport has an output of 190hp at 4,000rpm and that’s a match for the

The new BMW 520d M Sport saloon is impressive in performance and economy for such a large car. The entry prices start from €56,980 and the extra option list is extensive and sometime expensive adding over €16,000 to the cost of the test car driven.

BMW 520d M Sport Saloon

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine 2.0 litre Engine power 190hp 0 – 100km/hr 7.5 seconds Economy 21km/litre

(4.7/100km or 60mpg) Fuel Tank Capacity 66 litres CO2 emissions 114g/km Road Tax Band A4 €200 Main Service 20,000km/12 months Euro NCAP Rating 5 star (2017) Warranty 3 years (100,000km) Entry Price €56,980 competition in terms of the Audi A6 and Mercedes-Benz E220d. And the torque performance is a match too with all three coming in at a maximum torque figure of 400Nm. For the BMW 520d M Sport that converts to impressive range with the full 66 litre capacity fuel tank. While I recorded an economy figure of close to

40% off the rated figure of 23km/litre (4.3/100km or 65mpg), I was still getting over 950km on the tank.

That’s impressive economy for a big car and a car that can perform on the road, if and when needed.

The automatic gearbox is smooth running through an eight-speed Steptronic system. This helps to achieve the good fuel economy figures and

with the EcoPro setting you can maximise your economy targets.

BMW has put a lot of effort into reducing the overall weight of the new 5 Series as well as the drag co-efficient. They claim that the lower weight is achieved by using more aluminium including the boot lid, which alone shaved 4.2kg from the car’s weight.

This new car comes with a SIM card built in as standard for the ConnectedDrive Services.

The system brings new levels of connectivity and access to the portfolio of BMW services without being dependent on the customer’s own smartphone.

These services include the Concierge Service, Online Entertainment, and the RTTI (Real Time Traffic Information) that allows BMW 5 Series drivers to avoid traffic

jams. There’s also the Intelligent Emergency Call system.

There is a host of automatic safety features in the new BMW 520d M Sport saloon, including traffic sign recognition and the lane departure system that comes close to giving autonomous driving. The lane departure system took a little getting used to, and it’s a sign of what’s coming in future generations.

The new BMW 520d M Sport is a solidly impressive driver’s car that’s competitive at €56,980 with the A6 and E220d.

All three come with significant extras available in their options listing making it so easy to push up the price of your final choice of car.

This is a great driver’s car that should be costeffective to own due to its impressive economy and low CO2 rating.

15 June 2017 GAZETTE 23

SUPER STONIC

KIA has provided some teaser images of the new Kia Stonic compact crossover that will be unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The new car will go on sale in Ireland at the end of October.

The Stonic is comes with European design flair, inspired by the form and function of larger Kia SUV’s. The name ‘Stonic’ combines ‘Speedy’ and ‘Tonic’, which refers to the first and last note in the musical scale.

Kia claims that the Stonic suggests will offers something new and fresh in the compact SUV segment.

Kia claims that the Stonic will be the most customisable Kia ever – inside and out. The new car has unique tail lamp graphics to amplify Stonic’s young and futuristic appearance. It combines compact dimensions with a low centre of gravity.

The European-designed cabin echoes the appearance of the exterior, with straight lines, smooth surfaces and geometric design forms. The Stonic’s comes with claims of smart packaging to maximise space for all occupants.

GAZETTE

MOTORING

New Irish national sales manager for Citroen & DS IM European Motors Ltd, importers of the Citroen and DS brands in Ireland, has appointed Kevin Hilliard as national sales manager. With over 30 years’ experience in the motor industry in the UK and Ireland, Kevin has worked with several leading marques, including Ford, Honda, BMW and Mazda.

Kevin’s most recent role was national sales and after sales manager for Mazda Ireland. Previous to this, Kevin was director of operations for a large privately-owned group in the UK with 40 dealerships, responsible for Honda and BMW dealerships.

Kevin was also dealer principal for Inchcape BMW, running the flagship dealership of the division, in Kent.

On his relocation to Ireland in 2009, Kevin held the roles of BMW dealer principal and head of group and after sales with the Keary Motor Group, Cork. Kevin is married with three children.

In his spare time, he enjoys football Kevin Hilliard and Formula One.

GAZETTE

24 BLANCH GAZETTE 15 June 2017

DUBLINLIFE

CINEMA

WONDER WOMAN: IT’S FLAWED AND TOO LONG – BUT A GOOD INTRODUCTION FILM

ReelReviews

It’s almost a wonder that it’s a fun DC film

FINALLY, at long last, the DC “Expanded Universe” gives us a superhero worth rooting for – a worthy response to the boys club dominating top billing in Marvel’s pen, and a breath of fresh air after all the other brooding, dreary offerings in DC’s canon.

Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman (Cert 12A, 141 mins) is a hero we’re happy to follow into battle: powerful without inhabiting Superman’s tiresome god-mode; deep enough to provoke genuine empathy without all the sulkiness of Ben Affleck’s Batman.

Wonder Woman is a wonderfully well-rounded character, kicking ass while maintaining an optimism that always has us cheering from her corner, eager for the next battle.

Unfortunately, Wonder Woman, realised by filmmaker Patty Jenkins (director of 2003’s award-winning Monster), isn’t quite a strong enough vehicle to carry its titular heroine, suffer-

 MARTIN MACNAMARA

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

‘We’re very fortunate that ... Wonder Woman is as good as it is’

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

ing from a bloated running time and some poor supporting characterisation.

There’s a huge amount of promise here, but despite its stellar central turn, Wonder Woman fails to bring the fight on all fronts.

T h e f i l m ’s l a b o r i ous first act takes place entirely on the island paradise of Themiskira, where the Amazons – a race of warrior women created by the Gods of Olympus – live in peace.

Diana, princess of the Amazons, learns the way

of the warrior from her aunt, General Antiope (Robin Wright) , ever ready for the return of Ares, God of War. When American spy Steve Trevor ’s plane crash lands off the island’s coast, he is saved from drowning

by Diana, setting off a chain of events that will find her leaving home to fight alongside a rag-tag group of mercenaries in the First World War. It’s here that Wonder Woman really finds its feet. The second act plays out much like Marvel’s Captain America: The First Avenger, with its alternative history narrative of superheroes vs war-mongering Germans (the WWI setting is a nice change, leaving plenty of room of dynamic alternate history-building).

Wonder Women really evokes a space somewhere between the fishout-of-water fantasy of Thor and the man-outof-time adventure of Captain America.

The resultant humour in Wonder Woman is

THE MUMMY

So pharaoh, so bad FOR those of you looking to see what’s already being widely described as Tom Cruise’s worst film, here’s The Mummy (Cert 15A, 110 mins). The harshly received creature reboot hasn’t done Tom any favours, with its tired plot, unlikely setpieces and Russell Crowe’s scenerychewing hamminess about as welcome as sand in your sandwich. Mummy, let’s hope Universal finds a better franchise to reboot.

GUARDIANS 2

A colourful sequel indeed YES, Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2 (Cert 12A, 136 mins) is still playing at the cinema, bringing some technicolour cheer to the masses. Sure, it’s a bit of a derivative sequel, but it’s presented with such fan-pleasing confidence – and has Kurt Russell’s cheerfully hammy turn providing some fun laughs – that it’s hard not to like the Guardian’s latest adventure, with a small dash of soul searching too.

Israeli actress Gal Gadot brings the requisite beauty to the role of a princess, Diana (AKA Wonder Woman), as well as fleshing out Diana’s intelligence and humanity

arguably better than both, and the star gets to deliver all the film’s best lines.

Chris Pine does a great job as the film’s love interest, again turning things on their head as the dude in distress, rather than the damsel.

In fact, it’s Pine that shows the most skin in Wonder Woman – which leads us to another of the film’s finer points.

The camera never sexually aestheticises Diana; it never ogles her or lingers in the places a jaded,

more cynical moviegoer would expect it to.

This is a movie that needed to be made and we’re very fortunate that, given the state of DC’s cinematic output thus far, Wonder Woman is as good as it is.

However, following that wonderful middle act, Wonder Woman just isn’t good enough.

It drags on way too long, introduces characters that do little to further the plot or provide dramatic depth, and gets bogged down with an

over-abundance of slowmotion – without which Wonder Woman’s run time would have been a lot more bearable (Zach Snyder’s stylistic legacy is very much felt here).

Regardless, Wonder Woman inspires hope for future DC instalments – for an inevitable sequel, in particular.

DC may be beginning to hit its stride and it’s Wonder Woman leading the pack, rather than the Man of Steel ... an exciting prospect indeed!

Verdict: 6/10

BAYWATCH

Gives a sinking feeling NOW dropping out of cinemas quicker than an anchor chucked overboard, Baywatch (Cert 15A, 116 mins) looks set to hold onto its early title as one of the worst films of the year.

The foul-mouthed remake of the fondly-remembered (by some) silly old TV show hasn’t gone down well at all, with The Rock and Zac Efron pretty mismatched as a pair of would-be crimefighting lifeguards.

15 June 2017 BLANCH GAZETTE 25

Feeling un’appy after IOS change I HOPE all you Apple fans out there have enjoyed all the IOSdriven apps you’ve been using over the past few years – because several of them are probably about to stop working, if they haven’t already.

A major coding shift behind the scenes to take advantage of current processing power means lots of older apps are now incompatible with IOS 11.

Your apps are probably fine if they come from a large company with a dedicated support team to upgrade their app – but if it or they were created by a smaller team (or by that rare beast, a lone programmer), well, they may not have had the time or resources to update their app.

Many older app developers have also long since quit, gone bust or been assimilated into bigger companies.

While most people will just upgrade and roll the dice on whether all tehir apps will still work, others may be hesitant about the upgrade, afraid to ‘kill’ some apps.

(And that’s not to mention that older tech, such as the iPhone 5 or

5C, and iPad 4, will also be cold-shouldered for any new features and security updates from now on.)

No matter what, you’ll probably still have to upgrade in the end anyway – but for now, you can easily check on your IOS phone or tablet which apps are probably on ‘the Dodo list’. Just navigate to:

GAZETTE

TECH

Scorpio is dead – but long live the XBox One X?

Settings > General > About > Applications > App Compatibility and, if your app is listed there, there’s a good chance that it either no longer works, still works (but not very well any more), or will soon stop working. Either way, they’re in trouble.

It’s the nature of tech that once in a while it gives its master an unexpected bite, but on the whole these occasionally painful upgrades create a better-behaved beast that can do more tricks and perform better.

Good luck with the new lease of life your apps may be about to get – and my commiserations for those you could be about to lose ...

TCD talk on how tech affects us

THERE’S an interesting public lecture coming up at TCD next Monday, June 19, on tech and its increasing impact on our day-to-day lives.

Professor Shannon Vallor – a well-known awardwinning Silicon Valley figure with particular expertise in philosophy and ethics with a robotics and technology bent – is jetting over to Trinity for a lecture on Technomoral Virtues and the Future of Human Flourishing.

The fancy title is an overall way to describe her talk, which will discuss new technologies from digital media and surveillance to robotics and artificial intelligence, and how they are reshaping human institutions, providing lots of food for thought.

It’s on at the Trinity Long Room Hub in TCD, from 12.30pm to 2pm.

PROVING that Sony don’t have the monopoly of unimaginative platform names, Microsoft have followed its rival’s PlayStation 4 Pro by just announcing the sequel to its XBox One console: the XBox One X. Previously widely known as the coolersounding Scorpio, a souped-up sequel to the XBO has been in the works for some time, with arch nemesis Sony stealing a march with its PS4 Pro – itself a more powerful (but not otherwise terribly different) version of its hugely successful PS4 console.

However, the XBOX – ah, now I see what they did there – that Microsoft announced just before E3 (see panel below)

 SHANE DILLON sdillon@dublingazette.com

hopes to build on several advances that have begun making inroads into consumer tech in recent years and, one hopes, will have learned some big lessons from where the XBO went wrong.

For starters, the XBOX will ship on November 7 with an slightly steep initial price – $499/£449, which one can only imagine will have a striking euro price.

I n

Gathered in LA for the planet’s top games expo

development for quite a while, the new XBOX is smaller than the previous Xbox One models, with its refined build packing in much greater power, while (in a big win for Microsoft) being compatible with all current games – something which even Sony can’t boast.

Your eyes would glaze over as much as mine if I started blathering about its teraflop processing power and CPU speeds, so let’s just say that it’s significantly more powerful than the XBO or even the impressive PS4 Pro, packing in a lot of extra power under the hood.

Interestingly, it also features a UHD BluRay player, and will play games in native 4K resolution alongside HDR lighting effects,

THE greatest gaming show on Earth – E3 (Electronic Entertainment Expo) – is taking place right now in downtown Los Angeles, putting the likes of other events to shame.

At the time of writing, many of the world’s top games devel-

and beefy Dolby Atmos surround sound.

With 4K TVs and channels slowly but surely beginning to make some inroads into consumer territory, this puts it on a great footing to help futureproof its growth.

While the vast majority of us still don’t have 4K-anything, those without such high-end screens and TVs will still see some smoke and mirrors processing give their graphics a noticeable boost.

There’s much more that can be said about the XBOX, and no doubt I’ll be returning to it in coming months.

For now, the initial reactions h ave been

opers, companies and businesspeople are gathered in LA for the biggest annual international games and tech expo on the planet.

Every year, E3 sees all the next top titles, new tech, trends and deals unveiled to the indus-

warm, with its impressive specs garnering plenty of interest. However, the new console’s name has already been criticised, prompting fears of consumer confusion, as the almost identical name doesn’t quite move the brand along enough.

More than that, given Microsoft’s blunders when launching the XBO – spooking gamers by plugging it as an all-round entertainment hub rather than an impressive games console (which it is) – many are hoping the new console will be marketed and promoted with a purer, games-driven focus this time round.

Ultimately, it’s a welcome move by MIcrosoft that could be gamechanging for the sector – pun intended ...

try, gamers and media alike, along with plenty of surprises and all the usual shenanigans, fights, feuds and fun that the huge expo always brings.

Look out for my E3 special and analysis of its biggest stories in my next issue ...

26 BLANCH GAZETTE 15 June 2017

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SPORT

FastSport IRISH DUO SIGN TERMS WITH BELGIAN CLUBS: JEREMY Duncan and Lee Cole will both play their hockey in Belgium next season, switching to Herakles and Royal Oree, respectively, for the 2017/18 season.

Duncan moves from UCD following four seasons at Belfield having previously played with Railway Union.

He has linked up with the Lier-based club from the outskirts of Antwerp, signing terms with a club on the rise following their second place finish in the Audi Hockey League.

Cole, meanwhile, switches to Brusselsbased Oree from Monkstown where he has played his entire career to date.

Both players have been major parts of the Irish team since the turn of the year, lining out in the gold medal run at Hockey World League Round 2 in Stormont and in the series victory over Pakistan last week in Lisnagarvey. Next on the agenda is the Hamburg Masters in a fortnight’s time.

PENTATHLON: DUNDRUM STAR ADDING TO IRISH GROWTH IN FIVE-PRONG SPORT

Coleman Lenehan gunning for Dublin Laser-Run battle

 sport@dublingazette.com

DUNDRUM’s Kate Coleman Lenehan is hoping to raise her profile as one of Ireland’s rising pentathlon stars when Dublin hosts a major international event – the Laser-Run World Championships – in the unique city-centre location of Smithfield next year.

Laser-Run, a combination of running 800m loops and target-shooting with laser pistols, is usually the fifth element of modern pentathlon but is also a standalone sport.

The championships will take place in September 2018 and will attract 450 athletes from over 20 countries to Dublin and will also include a new competition for Irish schools.

And Coleman Lenehan was on hand to launch the event, saying: “I’m delighted to see this event come to Ireland.

We never had the opportunity to try out a dynamic sport like the laser-run when I was in school so I think it’s fantastic that children across Ireland can now have a go and even compete in a nationwide competition. The track will be

Kate Coleman Lenehan at the Laser-Run world championship announcement. Picture: Morgan Treacy./Inpho

open to the public on the eve of the 2018 World Championships so it’s an ideal opportunity for anyone to try it out!”

She recently qualified for the World Cup finals, joining the likes of Donnybrookbased Arthur LaniganO’Keeffe and former King’s

Hospital student Natalya Coyle in the upper realms of the sport.

Coyle hailed her protege, Coleman Lenehan, for her efforts: “It’s her first time to qualify for that and it’s really great to see that there’s more people coming through. She’ll

be competing in the individual event and is part of our high-performance squad who all train together.”

Coyle and LaniganO’Keeffe recently won gold on the World Cup mixed doubles circuit but their hopes of this variation of the sport

were dashed last week with news that the International Olympic Committee would not be adding it to the schedule of events for Tokyo 2020.

Individually, Coyle – who also swims with the NAC club – was ninth on her Olympic debut in London 2012 and has just been upgraded to sixth in Rio 2016 after the fourth-placed Chinese finisher was disqualified for doping.

Lanigan-O’Keeffe won the European title in 2015 and finished eighth in Rio yet they are even better as a pair.

The won relay gold at pentathlon’s World Cup Finals in America last year and travel to Lithuania on June 22-25 to defend that title after topping the relay podium again at the latest World Cup, in Poland.

“We are really well suited to relay because it is half the distance that we usually do individually and we’re both naturally ‘power athletes’ who are best suited to shorter, sprint distances,” Coyle explained.

Pentathlon Ireland is offering free training programmes for Irish schools. For more details see: www.pentathlon. ie.

Leinster Lightning blitz Knights with batting display  BERNARD DUFF sport@dublingazette.com

Leinster Lightning captain John Anderson saw his side home against the Northern Knights.

FOR Leinster Lighting, it was back to T20 cricket action on Friday evening in Merrion Cricket Club with the second round of games in the Hanley Interpro T20 Trophy.

Leinster had completed out a drawn first class fixture just 48 hours earlier in Belfast against the Northern Knights and it was the same opposition who did battle on Friday.

The Knights chose to bat and were given a head start by Leinster opening bowler Eddie Richardson

who gifted five separate wides in the first over leaving Knights, 13/0. The rest of the powerplay was a struggle as the Lightning claimed a wicket in each of the next three overs.

The Knights reached 48/3 at the end of the powerplay but next ball Shane Getkate (on four) drove the ball high into the hands of fellow Malahide product Peter Chase at mid-off off Bobby Gamble’s pace bowling. Gamble ended with figures of 3 for 25.

The Knights fought back through a hard hitting 40-run partnership by Knights’ cap-

tain James Shannon and Greg Thompson before recent Ireland debutant Simi Singh spun out Shannon on 51.

With four sixes in his 51, the Knights skipper had done his work. At 88/5 Nik Smith came to bat. A partnership was 57 runs resulted before Singh claimed his second wicket.

The tail didn’t wag for the Knights though and through unhittable spin from Singh, the Knights scored just 16 runs off their last three overs. Singh finished with match best figures of 3 for 19.

The Leinster reply, chasing 158 was swift and at times brutal.

Andrew Balbirnie opened the innings and powered to 71 not out off just 44 deliveries. Short cameos by Railway Union’s Kevin O’Brien and all-rounder Simi Singh kept Leinster ticking along.

Balbirnie was joined by Leinster captain John Anderson in the 10th over. Anderson, with a more crafty style of batting than Balbirnie, placed the ball impeccably.

He finished on 41 not out as Leinster reached 158 with a massive six at the start of the 18th over with seven wickets to spare.

15 June 2017 BLANCH GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

FASTSport

McIlroy offers unique Irish Open experience THE Dubai Duty Free Irish Open hosted by the Rory Foundation is teaming up with VOX Golf and Rory McIlroy to offer golfers a unique experience ahead of the prestigious Rolex Series event, which takes place from July 6-9.

Golf Sixes with Rory is a six-hole competition throughout the island of Ireland, with the qualifying events running until Wednesday, June 28.

The lucky winners of a six-hole competition will walk six holes inside the ropes with Rory McIlroy during this year’s tournament.

To compete, golfers need to download the VoxGolf app, select their course and enter the “Golf Sixes with Rory” competition by playing any run of six holes – it must be the first six, middle six or final six holes of any course of your choice.

After you have played your six holes, simply submit your score and view a live leaderboard.

The best six scores from each course will qualify into a draw to win a special six-hole walk inside the ropes with Rory during the opening two rounds of the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

Entry is completely free and golfers can enter as many times as they wish, with their best score counting. Entry is open to all GUI registered club members and MyGolf Group society players.

All golfers who enter the six-hole competition will receive the opportunity to purchase a discounted Dubai Duty Free Irish Open ticket and, in addition to that, will have the chance to win Nike apparel, Taylor Made equipment and tickets to the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open.

The Dubai Duty Free Irish Open this year forms part of the Rolex Series events, a premium category of eight European Tour events, with a record prize fund of $7 million.

As well as McIlroy, numerous golfing superstars have been already announced for the historic championship, including World Number Nine Jon Rahm and World Number 11 Justin Rose, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.

More details can be found at http://www. dubaidutyfreeirishopen.com/competition.

Joeys and Bray plot new pathway to elite football |Nestled in the foothills of the Dublin mountains, the SJB academy is looking to streamline the development of top young players at their new, high quality Carrickmines home  STEPHEN FINDLATER sport@dublingazette.com

BLINK and you will miss it. Tucked away on the Glenamuck Road, St Joseph’s Boys and Bray Wanderers’ ambitious incubator for youth talent got the grand opening last week with John Delaney and FAI high performance director Ruud Dokter negotiating the narrow, tree-lined country lane midway up the Dublin mountains.

It opens out to reveal the new training base, the SJB academy. For Joeys Director of Club Operations Will Clarke, the reclusive nature of the venue is a key benefit that lends itself to high performance.

Previously a training ground for Bective Rangers rugby club, the venue now comprises a fully floodlit grass pitch, a goalkeeper training area, two

fully floodlit small sided training pitches, dressing rooms, a medical room, a gym area, a performance analysis suite and meeting rooms.

It has been designed with an express purpose to streamline the pathway from schoolboy football at St Joseph’s Boys through to senior, professional football with Bray, working in line with the recently introduced League of Ireland Under-17 and 19 divisions with Under-15 and 13 leagues in the pipeline.

“It’s the nearest thing he has come to an English training ground in Ireland,” Clarke told GazetteSport. “It’s so isolated and you can do everything you want here. You have your goalkeeper’s areas, your striker’s areas, strength and conditioning, gym and video analysis all in one place.”

Speaking at the launch, St Joseph’s Niall O’Driscoll added: “We’d like to think this is the first dedicated academy for elite football in Ireland.

“We have a facility and an academy with the exclusive purpose of developing youth players in line with UEFA and the FAI directives.

“It is about the best of the best and developing kids into adults. If football is that medium through which they contribute to society, then so be it. If they want to be footballers, fantastic. Developing them as people is core to it.”

The facility will be used by the SJB Academy teams who will take part in the new League of Ireland underage divisions while Bray’s senior teams have been in situ since early 2017.

“The relationship with

Dennis O’Callaghan, Niall O’Driscoll, Mary Mitchell O’Connor, John Delaney, Ruud Dokter and Paul Osam at the SJB Academy launch. Picture: Karen Morgan

Bray and Joes is one which goes back a long way,” Clarke said of the link-up.

“We’ve had upwards of 70 players who have come through Joes and played professionally for Bray.

There’s a natural fit for the two clubs.

“Elite football in the country has undergone fundamental change and that effects the mindset in the club. We still have our schoolboy side of the club but there is now an elite pathway all the way through to Bray. For those who maybe aren’t yet on the elite pathway, they can continue with the grassroots of the club and enjoy the game. We’d like to think we will cater for all kids.

“It’s great that the academy guys are at the same venue as the senior side and, over a period of time, there will be a full integration of the four teams in the structure.

“We’d like to think the programme is of a standard that will allow us to achieve our objectives and be the number one academy in the country.”

It is part of a push in Irish football to raise the standard of facilities in Ireland, promoting the idea that players can reach the elite level without necessarily having to move to England in their midteens.

Shamrock Rovers have recently developed the Roadstone grounds while other schoolboy clubs are linking up with League of Ireland outfits to get their

ducks in a row for the increased League of Ireland campaigns.

“That’s what competition does,” Clarke adds. “I am sure Rovers will want to have the best academy.

We certainly want that too.

“We feel the facilities here are second to none.

Roadstone is a fantastic facility and it’s great to see clubs taking development so seriously. To be fair to the FAI, that’s what these new structures have done.”

St Kevin’s boys, meanwhile, have found their bid to link up with a League of Ireland club stymied to date which has left them worried that they will not be able to compete in the new structures.

It is a problem Clarke is thankful he does not have to deal with.

“We are lucky to have that ongoing link with Bray. It’s more of a natural hinterland; we’ve always had players from Bray and north Wicklow and vice versa. It’s just a good fit. We’re delighted to be involved with one of the best senior clubs in the country and they are delighted to be in with one of the best schoolboy clubs.

“You want everything to be as seamless as possible and that the guys don’t just play for a team but for a club.

“There will be movement between age groups, especially if we see moving someone up to aid their development. That really is the benefit of being here.”

GAZETTE

30 BLANCH GAZETTE 15 June 2017

SPORT

FASTSport

ATHLETICS: COOLMINE MAN RECORDS THIRD FASTEST TIME OF THE YEAR

Spectacular St Ciaran’s the national champions ST CIARAN’S National School can now call themselves national champions after they left the Aviva Stadium as the best SPAR FAI Primary Schools 5s side in the country.

Three games, 16 goals, and a rabona finish were all aspects of what has to go down as one of the biggest events in the school’s history.

Stepping out onto the home of Irish football is a major achievement for any young footballer, but becoming national champions in the way they did makes it extra special.

Sean Molly, Josh Clarke, Adam Kavanagh, Alex Jones, Callum Jameson, Belguy Manzambi, Jake Brady, Eric Marku were the players involved who became Leinster champions last month before going all the way. Over 28,000 players from 1,500 schools across Ireland started the journey to the Aviva alongside the lads from St Ciaran’s.

The team took on Nenagh CBS in the first game and ran out comfortable 5-0 winners, with Brady’s fantastic rabona strike a particular highlight. That wasn’t the only world class effort on show, however, as Jones also found the back of the net in spectacular fashion via an overhead kick.

St Ciaran’s came up against Ulster opposition in the second game in the form of Monaghan’s St. Joseph’s BNS, Carrickmacross. However, they were also on the end of a 5-0 hammering from the Dublin side.

Unlike the first game, the highlight of the match was a team effort rather than a moment of individual brilliance. The strike came straight from tip off in the second half as Jones played the ball back to Belguy who found Brady on the right with a beautiful defence splitting pass. He carried the ball into the box before teeing up Jones, who had started the move, to finish first time from the edge of the box.

Three of the four teams went into the final round of fixtures with a chance of taking the title but St Ciaran’s knew a draw with Scoil Iognaid of Galway would be enough to see them crowned champions.

The school from Hartstown would take all three points, however, in what was easily the most exciting of their three games. It was a high scoring game that finished 6-4 in favour of St Ciaran’s to ensure they would take maximum points and the title.

David Flynn in training in the US

Flynn Rocks out in San Diego  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

COOLMINE man David Fly nn came 10th of 30,000 in the Rock and Roll San Diego half marathon recently, running a 35-second personal best as he made the step up to longer distances following an impressive middle-distance campaign.

Flynn’s time of one hour, six minutes and 31 seconds saw him tackle a humid, hilly course in a time that ranks third in Ireland for 2017, behind only former Dublin marathon winner and world championship representative Sean Hehir, and

Olympian Kevin Seaward.

Despite this, Flynn says “there’s a lot of improvement to be made”.

Speaking of the build up to the race, Flynn told the Gazette “So far the season has gone very well. I’ve run two personal bests in the 5000m ranking me in the top 20 in Europe off only strength training, as everything was focused on this half marathon.

“I’m excited to start incorporating speed into my training and get back on the track to race. I put a huge amount of pressure on myself for this half marathon but that’s when I perform to my best abil-

MAJOR MAKEOVER Elmgreen unveils top quality refurbishment FINGAL Mayor, Darragh Butler (centre) and

Fingal County Council CEO, Paul Reid joined Carr Golf CEO Marty Carr to officially relaunch Elmgreen Golf Course following a recent one-million-euro investment.

Last October, Carr Golf was awarded the maintenance contract for Elmgreen This led to a series of on and off-course developments which were officially unveiled at the relaunch in Castleknock to a group of over 50 local councillors, TDs and golf industry specialists.

ity.

“I’m quite vocal about my training and goals on social media, not because I’m trying to brag or anything but more to inspire the younger generation of Ireland of the opportunities running can bring, and connect with the Blanchardstown/Castleknock community who have been a lot of support over the years, whether it was classmates from Coolmine community school or GAA players from Castleknock GAA club, who I used to play for.”

He continued “I’ve just returned from 14 weeks of high altitude training

in Mammoth Lakes, California. I’ve made huge sacrifices to get where I am today, and there’s definitely been a lot of setbacks along the way.

“But if I had advice for any young up and coming athletes in any sport it’s to stay focused on your goals don’t get distracted, especially between the ages 18 and 21 as these are pivotal times for development.

If you’re willing to make the sacrifices and believe in yourself the dream will become a reality.”

Shortly before the race, Flynn was shocked by the suicide of his Mammoth Lakes college teammate, an Ethiopian born runner

who relocated to the US at the age of seven, and had become a world class athlete training with the group, who use altitude and high-level training to condition themselves for racing at this level.

Flynn’s debut at full marathon distance is pencilled into the diary for the Los Angeles Marathon which takes place in March 2018, with the route from the Pasadena Rose Bowl to the LA shoreline.

Much sooner than that, he will represent Ireland at the European Team Championships in Vaasa, Finland between June 23 and 25.

15 June 2017 BLANCH GAZETTE 31

GAZETTE

CAMOGIE: SOMERTON SIDE MOVE UP TO SECOND TIER

CLUB NOTICEBOARD ST BRIGID’S CONGRATULATIONS to our €15,000 lotto

two of its past handballing heroes – Julie

jackpot winner last Thursday; the win-

Long and Shay O’Reilly.

ner was B McMahon. The coming week’s

The winners of the A, B and C grades

draw is in Russell Park on Thursday, June

were respectively Terry McElvaney

15. The jackpot will be €3,200.

and Cian O’Dalaigh, Sabrina Hughes and

This week is mini-leagues week, a big week for the club. Games for U-6s start

The format was a handball doubles

games for U-8s start at 6.30pm on Tues-

competition, followed by an exhibition

day and Friday.

match between two of Ireland’s finest

Games for U-10s start at 8pm on Mon-

young noe-wall talents and an after-

day and at 7.30pm on Thursday, and

party which proved a great occasion

games for U-12/13 start at 7.30pm on

for contemporaries of Julie and Shay to

Tuesday and 8pm on Friday.

recall their exploits and fun times, all in

start with U-6 at 1pm, running through to U-12/13 at 4pm.

Knock on effects of top class coaching  PADDY HEWSON sport@dublingazette.com

AN AIR of optimism prevails around Castleknock GAA these days as the Somerton club continues to break new ground on a regular basis. Still a teenager in years the local club has established its credentials on a number of fronts, most recently in adult camogie.

They were promoted to division one for the first time this year, taking their its place amongst the upper echelons of Dublin camogie.

It puts them just one step away from premier status, the highest league available to them, an incredible achievement with their rise going almost unabated through the divisions.

This year saw big wins in the league against the likes of Ballyboden St Enda’s, Clanna Gael Fontenoy and a crucial narrow margin win over neighbours St Brigid’s

to help the club soar to new heights.

They ended up with seven wins from eight outings in their regular season, winning seven and only coming undone by an all-conquering Good Counsel in mid-May amid a run of three games in seven days.

They finished with a flourish, notching a 3-10 to 0-2 to camogie specialists Portobello with a 3-10 to 0-2 scoreline.

W hen Jim Mahony took on the management of Castleknock’s first adult camogie team in 2012, he had little idea of the camogie odyssey would follow over the next five years.

Now Castleknock’s adult chair, he reflects on the journey: “We had one adult team and we won division 7 in our first year, it was a good start.

“This year we have two teams and both were promoted and some of that original 2012 team

are still playing camogie for the club.”

In common with other successful Castleknock teams, a youthful crop of players are to the fore. With many of the current adult team still in their teens trying to balance training and matches with the demands of the leaving cert, college exams and part time jobs has been a challenge.

Against this, current senior camogie manager Eilish Andrews says she is proud of what they have achieved. Speaking at her home – which overlooks at Tir na nOg, the park where many of the current squad first picked up a hurl – she says of her young charges: “they are so brave, so talented, they have no fear, they really don’t realise how quickly they have progressed.”

Both Andrews and Mahony point to work at juvenile level as the genesis of the clubs growth.

Te s t a m e n t t o t h e

rude health of camogie, Mahony adds: “We have improved ever y year, the club now has nearly three hundred playing camogie, the numbers are good” It wasn’t all plain sailing as Andrews recalls the pain of narrowly missing out on league, championship and feile titles in a single year. Citing this as one of the driving forces in the quest for honours, she says: “We upped the ante, worked harder, knowing what it was like to lose, and learning to win.

With growing numbers and winning ways that air of optimism seems to be justified.

Satisfied with the progress to date, Jim Mahony’s wish is that: “Castleknock provides camogie for everyone that wishes to play”.

They will now spend the summer in preparation for their championship assault in a couple of months.

and Dara Cloake.

at 6.30pm on Monday and Thursday,

The big finals day is Saturday, games

The Castleknock senior camogie side that earned another promotion.

Eddie McCavitt and Joanne McAndrew

all it was a brilliant day.

The club would like to extend its sympathy to the Lynch family on the death of

Last Saturday, the handball section

Father Jack Lynch who was a member of

held a hugely successful 10th anniversa-

the great 1958 team, ar dheis De go raibh

ry tournament to remember and honour

a anam uasal.

CASTLEKNOCK OUR nursery, with thanks to Tigers

Well done to the Division 6 hurlers on

Childcare, continues next Saturday at

a great win over St Kevin’s, 2-15 to 0-14,

Tir na nOg/Somerton/CCC. New mem-

in the league.

bers always welcome. Nursery enquiries to lisakiernan1@gmail.com.

There was no winner of our lotto

Hard luck to the senior hurlers who lost out to Oliver Plunketts earlier in the week.

jackpot, in association with Rialto Ford.

Registration now open for the Cul

The numbers drawn were 10, 16, 23 and

Camp (July 3-7) and the club camp

29 and there was one match 3 winner,

(August 14-18). Visit the club website for

Cathal Feeney, winning €300.

more details and to register your child.

The lucky dip winner was John Organ.

Topaz Cash for Clubs is back. Get your

Next draw is June 15 in Myo’s with a

loyalty card now and select Castle-

jackpot of €4,000.

knock GAA as your club.

NAOMH PEREGRINE

WHAT a win for the AHL Division 3 side on

lowed by Colm Foley’s goal. Great result

Saturday over Naomh Mearnog in Port-

from a team who are looking to drive on.

marnock. Within seconds of the game,

Well done team and management. St.

starting Mark Sweeney stuck one in the

Peregrines 6-13 to Naomh Mearnog 1-4

net to get CNP off to a flying start.

Congratulations to our 29 academy

Although the sun was shining, the

kids who travelled to Oliver Plunkett’s

wind was coming from all directions and

on Saturday morning to play both hurl-

both teams had few chances in the first

ing and football. A great display from

half but CNP stayed in front. Restarting

our youngest players and rising stars.

the game, Craig McPartlin followed in

Thank you to all the parents who trav-

Sweeney’s footsteps and scored a goal

elled and indeed our hosts.

within seconds.

The nursery and academy will be hav-

The great play just kept going with the

ing a one day (mini) mini-league on Sun-

goals and points clocking up with each

day, June 18 at 12pm on the astro. Open

skilful pass. David Carroll added two

to members and non-members so bring

goals, McPartlin added a second fol-

some friends; €3 entry fee.

ERIN GO BRAGH

THERE was no winner of our lotto jackpot

week of June 19, more information to

worth €10,000. Numbers drawn were 9,

follow.

20, 22 and 23.

This Friday, June 16 we are holding a smartphone table quiz in the Grashop-

Please remember when shopping in M3 Mulhuddart to put your token in the EGB tube.

per so come and join us for a great night

Don’t miss out on our summer camps.

of fun. Please contact Maria on 087 754

Kellogg’s Cul Camp is on July 17-21. Book-

5478 or Joe on 087 267 1557 to book your

ings can be made online.

table. Tickets for a signed, framed Dub-

Erin Go Bragh summer camp: nurs-

lin jersey are on sale for €5; draw takes

ery to U-11’s is on August 14 to 18 and

place on the night of the quiz.

our advanced camp for U-12 and over is

Street leagues are planned for the

August 15-17.

GAZETTESPORT

ALL OF YOUR BLANCH SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31

THE LONG ROAD: David Flynn produces significant personal best to move into frame for Irish team P30

JUNE 15 - 21, 2017

SJB ACADEMY’S BIG LAUNCH: Joeys and Bray come together with superb new facility P29

Diarmuid Nash and Terry McElvaney after their exhibition match, left; tournament winners Terry McElvaney and Cian O’Dalaigh, right

Julie and Shay remembered St Brigid’s pay tribute to handball heroes with tenth anniversary event as players and coaches travel from far and wide to be part of the action

 sport@dublingazette.com

ST BRIGID’S honoured two of the club’s past handball heroes, Julie Long and Shay O’Reilly, in style as they held a hugely successful 10th anniversary event last Saturday.

Players and coaches from as far away as Ballymote and Belfast gathered to witness an outstanding handball doubles competition, an exhibition match between two of Ireland’s finest young one-wall talents and an afterparty to recall their exploits and fun times.

Julie Behan (Long) was an incredibly talented young handballer from Blanchardstown who developed her skills in St Brigid’s GAA Club courts. She passed away aged 26 in 2007.

Her success in 1993 in the Under-14 Irish singles proved an early indicator of her prow-

ess. In 1995, she swept the boards in taking U-16 titles in Ireland and the United States and she was awarded Ireland’s Young Player of the Year Award. In 1997, she added titles in Ireland, Europe and the world 40x20 events.

Her success and that of many of her friends was testimony to the commitment of Shay O’Reilly who brought them to St Brigid’s handball courts several times a week.

He drove them all over Ireland to take part in provincial and All-Ireland competitions.

In spite of health difficulties, his dedication, energy and generosity of spirit in advancing ladies handball knew no bounds.

He was the Leinster representative on the Irish Ladies Handball Council for many years.

His contributions were recognised nationally when the Minister of Sport Dr Jim McDaid presented him with his Waterford Crystal

Coach of the Year award.

The day before he passed away was fully spent at handball matches supporting his young female players.

Long’s achievements were complemented by success at national level by Audrey McCormack and Sabrina Hughes, some of her wide circle of friends who so successfully organised Saturday’s Memorial Tournament.

The events began just after midday with a very competitive series of doubles matches over three grades involving players of all ages.

Games were played on the St Brigid’s indoor handball courts, the winners of the A, B and C grades were respectively Terry McElvaney and Cian O’Dalaigh, Sabrina Hughes and Eddie McCavitt and Joanne McAndrew and Dara Cloake.

McElvaney and O’Dalaigh were presented

with a Waterford Crystal bowl, donated by the Long family, to commemorate the 10th anniversary.

The Shay O’Reilly trophy for the Player of the Tournament was won by Mayo’s Pauline Gallagher who, like Long in her day, competed on equal terms with the men.

After the doubles competitions an exhibition match between Clare’s Diarmuid Nash and Monaghan’s Terry McElvaney took place.

In his short speech, Long’s father Tony thanked everyone who had helped in any way with the success of the tournament which gave him, his wife Rose and their extended families so much joy.

He joked that to mark the event Long was probably playing a match against the legendary Michael “Ducksie” Walsh who had recently passed away.