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castleknock • Blakestown • Hartstown • Tyrrelstown • Laurel Lodge • Corduff • Mulhuddart • Ongar

INSIDE: Don’t get in a flap over Mother’s Day – we have great gift ideas See Inside

Soccer:

Castleknock beat the snow and Leixlip Page 30

Tennis:

Local club set to host Irish Davis Cup tie Page 32

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ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES..................... 10 DUBLIN LIFE................... 13 OUT&ABOUT...................17 CLASSIFIEDS.................26 SPORT............................28

PJ’s tips: Timing is everything for a day in the life of funnyman Gallagher See P13

Plan for school is picking up pace  keith bellew

ST MOCHTA’S National School has submitted its long-awaited planning application for the construction of a new school on the existing site.

The school has been pushing for a new building for a number of years.

The process had slowed down last year as the school had to wait more than four months for a date for its planning Stage 2A meeting with the

Department of Education.

As part of the plan the old, white school building will be preserved and incorporated into the new building.

Cllr Roderic O’Gorman (GP) welcomed the submission saying: “This is a really large national school with four separate streams, giving 32 classes in total. The current school is absolutely no longer fit for purpose.”

Full Story on Page 4

Positive steps: Getting a kick out of walking for mental health clodagh Harrington, Tracy O’Keeffe and Sinead Deasy on the Donal Walsh Live Life Foundation walk on March 1 from Thomand Park to the Aviva Stadium.

Coolmine Rugby Club took part to help support positive mental

health for teenagers. The foundation was set up by Donal’s parents after his death. A cheque for €700 and a painting of Donal by caricaturist Niall O’Loughlin was presented to his parents.

Picture: Simon Jeacle

2 BLANCH Gazette 5 March 2015

politics Selection fair and democratic, counters Chambers

I was shafted in FF class war, says McGuinness FIANNA Fail’s Cllr Jack Chambers has refuted claims by colleague Cllr David McGuinness that there is a class distinction within the party.

Cllr Chambers was recently nominated as the party candidate for the Dublin West constituency in the 2016 general election. Both councillors sought the nomination. Cllr McGuinness said that he did not receive the nomination because he

 keith bellew kbellew@dublingazette.com

was from a working class background.

Cllr McGuinness grew up in the working class Corduff area while Cllr Chambers grew up in Casteknock, and McGuinness believes

that Chambers won the nomination for this reason alone McGuinness described the result of the selection convention as “a complete shafting.”

He said: “I think it’s a fundamental issue with Fianna Fail and the type of electorate that they try to attract. It’s been a consistent trend. The fact that I’m from Corduff has always been an issue for me within the party and that then feeds into

the wider election strategy of Fianna Fail.

“I think what I had to offer people was a proven electoral track record, outlined to the party members that I had twice topped the polls in Castleknock, but I also polled a huge load from the other end of the constituency, namely Huntstown, Hartstown and Mulhuddart that wasn’t traditionally strong for Fianna Fail.

“Unfortunately for some people within Fianna Fail that’s not good enough and it’s not about winning votes, it’s not about winning seats, it’s about the person and the personality and who goes forward on that basis.

“People lied to my face in this process.

“I would have counted votes based on people giving me a commitment and outlining the reason they wanted to vote for me.

“I was down at least 20 votes so people would have lied to me.”

He said he believed Fianna Fail had made a blunder and it was not likely that the party could win a seat in the election.

He said the party was supporting upper middleclass people with money behind them and he would now seek guidance in deciding whether or not to break with the party.

Corduff man Cllr David McGuinness lost out on chance to run for Dail seat

Cllr Chambers said: “There is no class divide in Fianna Fail, and Fianna Fail is here to represent all communities and do so in a proper and committed way.

“It’s important to note that the Fianna Fail members in Dublin West selected David McGuinness in two previous byeelections and in a general election, so I don’t believe that it’s necessarily true that that’s the case.

“T here was a fair, open, democratic process and we both contested this convention as two nominated candidates for one position and I was delighted to be selected. I know David is disappointed and I feel for him in that regard.”

Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Top Floor, Clarendon House, 39 Clarendon Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers

He went on to say that he believed he had a good chance of winning the seat.

He said: “I’m going to go full throttle in trying to regain the late Brian

Lenihan’s seat.

“I’ll be taking every opportunity to bring a positive input to the party and bring new and implementable policies [to it].”

5 March 2015 BLANCH Gazette 3

drugs: garda Drugs Unit has been cut from 35 to 24 since 2011

council

Homes sought for rent

Cannabis herb seizure welcomed  keith bellew

GARDAI in Blanchardstown recently seized eight kilos of cannabis herb with an estimated value of €160,000, pending analysis, during the planned search of a premises at Lohunda Downs, Clonsilla.

The search was carried out as part of a joint operation into the illegal sale and supply of controlled drugs in the Dublin West area in which gardai from the Blanchardstow n Drugs Unit, were assisted by the Garda National Drugs Unit and officers from Revenue’s Customs Service. The seizure was on Tuesday morning, February 24, 2015.

Two men, aged 22 and 37 years, were arrested at the scene and detained at Blanchardstown Garda Station under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. They have since been released from Garda custody without charge.

Files are being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

This will be seen as a positive achievement for the drugs unit, which has seen a significant reduction in staff numbers since 2011. Eleven gardai have been pulled from the drugs unit in Dublin West, which has been slashed from 35 officers in 2011 to 24 last year.

However, the Government has said it was now

beginning to recruit again to get more gardai back into communities.

Cllr Jack Chambers (FF) welcomed this as a blow dealt by local gardai to drug dealers in the area but stressed that for every drug dealer who is caught, many more get away.

He said: “It’s positive that gardai are intervening with drug seizures like that, but it illustrates the systemic problem we have where there are intermittent seizures. But for every seizure there is 100 other people getting away with it and destroying communities with drugs, intimidation and other factors that are dividing different communities.”

Dancing queens: Took a trip down memory lane to help job hunters Pictured at a fundraiser in the Bell Pub in aid of Blanchardstown

Centre for the Unemployed were Geraldine O’Neill, Geraldine Donohoe and Mary Rudden, who danced their way down memory lane to favourites from the 1960s, 1970sand 1980s. The centre offers computer, CV and cover letter writing courses for job hunters, and photocopying services. It publishes a monthly newsletter and runs a mobile information service. Raffle prize sponsors included the Ben Dunne Gym, the Crown Plaza hotel, Castleknock Hotel, McCabes Pharmacy, Gleeson Butchers, Village Meats (Mulhuddart), Urban Dolls Hairdressing and Angel Hairdressing.

OWNERS of vacant homes in Fingal can rent their properties to Fingal County Council for its rental accommodation and long-term leasing schemes.

The council is looking for good quality fully furnished one-, two-, threeand four-bedroom homes across the Fingal area, and is happy to consider single or multiple leases.

The council’s director of housing, Annmarie Farrelly, said: “Renting your house or apartment is a good way to have a guaranteed secure monthly income from your property, with regular rent reviews.”

For further information, contact the housing procurement team at 01 870 8425, or email ras@fingal. ie or leasing@fingal.ie.

4 BLANCH Gazette 5 March 2015

new building School’s long wait begins to bear fruit

St Mochta’s project takes step forward  Keith Bellew kbellew@gazettegroup.com

St Mochta’s National School has submitted its long awaited planning application for the construction of a new school on the existing site.

The school has been pushing for a new building for a number of years and the process had slowed down last year as the school had to wait over four months for a date for its planning Stage 2A meeting with the Department of Education.

Tanaiste Joan Burton has welcomed the submission saying: “The

planning application is a very positive step forward for the school, and I am conscious that the school has a strong case for this project.

“I met the school’s representatives on this matter, and was delighted to be able to arrange a meeting for them with my colleague, Minister for Education Jan O’Sullivan, to push the project forward.

“The board of management set up a special task force on this issue several years ago, and it has been very successful in driving forward the plans.

“The members of the task force are to be

commended for getting the project to this stage already, and I wish all involved well with its future progress.”

Cllr Roderic O’Gorman (GP) also welcomed the submission saying: “I warmly welcome this application for the rebuilding of a new school at St Mochta’s.

“This is a really large national school with four separate streams, giving 32 classes in total.

“The current school is absolutely no longer fit for pur pose. T he existing building is far too small for the population of over 800

pupils. Some of the prefabs in which students are taught are dark and extremely damp.

“A task force was established by the school’s board of management a number of years ago, to progress this building project.

“It has gone to great lengths to keep both the school community and those living in the vicinity informed about the development.

“A big school like St Mochta’s generates significant traffic. A lot of work in designing the layout of the new building has focused on reducing this as much as possible.

“Once finished, the new layout will have a much larger drop off area for parents, which will no longer be directly on the Porterstown

Cllr Roderic O’Gorman: “This is a really large national school with four separate streams, giving 32 classes ... The current school is no longer fit for purpose.”

Road. This will go some way to reducing current levels of congestion.

“The architects have also incorporated the old ‘White School’ building into the new

Start-ups get €112k boost ing start-ups to flourish in their first year ... This FOUR Dublin 15 compa- month we have a great nies are among six Fingal crop of exciting new small start-up companies that businesses and these have will share more than strong prospects to create €112,000 in finance cour- further jobs in Fingal in tesy of the Fingal Local the coming years.”

Enterprise Office (LEO).

Paul Reid, council chief The four companies, all executive, said: “With of which operate in the Fingal’s infrastructure, food and beverage sector transport links and its are Queen Margherita, H highly educated young & A Foil, Delish Melish population, more entreand RTM Beverages Ltd. preneurs are choosing to Oisin Geoghegan, start-up their new venhead of enterprise with tures here, bringing ecoFingal County Council, nomic growth and jobs confirmed that the small to the area. Fingal County businesses approved for Council, through the funding are creating at LEO, is actively encourleast 10 jobs immedi- aging new start-ups.” ately, and this is expected More information about to double in the next 12 the supports available to months. Geoghegan said: small businesses and start“Financial supports pro- ups in Fingal is available vided by the Fingal LEO at www.localenterprise. can be crucial in help- ie/Fingal  Keith bellew

design, so this Clonsilla landmark will be preserved and continue to have a function in the school.

“Real thought and attention has gone into

the planning of this new school building.

“WI strongly support it and I hope that it is swiftly granted planning permission by the Fingal County Council planners.”

5 March 2015 BLANCH Gazette 5

education Yellow Flag marks importance of multiculturalism for school

Diversity is celebrated over coffee  keith bellew news@gazettegroup.com

AS part of its Yellow Flag Initiative, Sacred Heart National School in Huntstown recently held an international coffee morning, organised by the parents on the Yellow Flag diversity committee.

The Yellow Flag prog r a m m e p r ov i d e s a practical series of eight steps that bring issues of interculturalism, equality and diversity into the whole-school programme and allow

schools to apply them to their day-to-day running.

It works with students, staff, management, parents and wider community groups so that issues of diversity and equality can be understood and taken outside the school setting into everyone’s personal lives.

There was an impressive turn-out of parents of junior infants and second class pupils. Many nations were represented including Nigeria, Romania, Congo, Scotland, Netherlands, Ireland,

Poland and the Philippines.

The parents on the diversity committee provided snacks, including biscuit salami from Romania, roasted plantains from Nigeria and oatmeal biscuits from Ireland.

T he school’s Yellow Flag co-ordinator, Margaret Mullany, and school principal Sean O Diomasaigh spoke briefly about the school’s Yellow Flag initiative.

During the coffee morning, the significance of the school’s Yellow

Pupils display some of the food from around the world, including Nigeria and Romania, that they prepared especially for the multicultural event

Blanket was explained as a symbol of the school’s environment within which all feel protected and secure.

The blanket is made up of knitted squares of many different shades o f y e l l ow a l l s e w n

together. It portrays how, even though the school population is made up of many children of different races and religions, it is still one school, working and playing together in a safe, friendly and

respectful environment.

The Yellow Flag knitting committee pro duced bags with yellow wool and knitting needles and invited parents attending the coffee morning to knit a square to be included

in the school’s Yellow Blanket. Ms Mullany said the Sacred Heart was looking forward to producing a sizeable Yellow Blanket and also to hosting many more international coffee mornings.

6 BLANCH Gazette 5 March 2015

complaints Council to monitor stretch

Blindspots caused by people parking illegally in the area are a cause of concern for residents by Church Avenue

Church Avenue car parking highlighted  keith bellew

PARKING along Church Avenue in Blanchardstown Village will be monitored in the coming weeks by the traffic management department of Fingal County Council to determine if consultation with An Garda Siochana is required for parking control measures.

Residents have raised concerns about people parking illegally in the area and creating blindspots which make it dangerous and create the potential for accidents.

Cllr Matt Waine (AAA) said that the imposition of pay and display parking at a number of business premises in the village has meant that people using these businesses are parking in the side streets of the village, such as Church Avenue.

The grounds of the church on the avenue which also house the community centre recently imposed pay and display parking, and Cllr Eithne Loftus (FG) said this had caused problems.

She said: “This is causing considerable concern for people using the [community] centre.

There is the active retirement group, there are other religious groups who use the community centre to hold their services, there are lots of other organisations who use the community centre who do not have parking permits there.

“I have got loads of complaints about the situation since the meters went in.

“I have great sympathy for the church authorities who employ the meter operators because their parking spaces were being taken up by commuters,” she said.

According to Cllr Paul Donnelly (SF), one of the biggest issues in the area is that “there are cars coming into Blanchardstown and parking all day.

“There are also times where people are parking on the left-hand side of the road and it’s basically commuters – people who are getting buses or trains into town and leaving the

cars there all day.”

The street is very narrow and Cllr Donnelly said the cars parked along the road are causing problems for business owners based there who use large vehicles in their work.

A council official said that people should not be parking along parts of the road which cause obstruction and prevent

people from getting in and out, as in the case of the business owners, and that this is illegal, but that the problem is with enforcement, which is difficult for gardai.

She said that the council will continue to monitor the area to determine if consultation with An Garda Siochana is required.

5 March 2015 BLANCH Gazette 7

C o m m e r c i a l F e at u r e

EVEN BIGGER EVEN BETTER Beauty at a premium at Reba Reborn  laura webb

LOCAL hair and beauty salon Reba has reopened with a new concept, a new look and a new name which marks the business’s success over the last decade.

Just two weeks before Christmas, Reba Reborn was opened to the delight of its loyal clients who are now treated to an even bigger and better hair and beauty experience.

In December 2015 owners John and Orla Deering will celebrate 10 years of being in business.

Since their first salon opened in Ongar, the business has grown from two staff in one outlet to 34 staff across two: the one in Ongar and the one in Rathborne.

Salon regulars were not put out during the Ongar salon move since it relocated just four doors down the street. The owners just opened one stylish door before closing the other.

Speaking to The Gazette, Orla explained what’s different and why they changed the name slightly.

“We wanted to reo-

pen it with a new name because it is a new salon and a new concept. So we made it Reba Reborn – it’s always been there but it’s a rejuvenation of what it was.

“This time around we have a beauty spa in our new 3,000 sq ft salon.

“We have a relaxation room, two beauty rooms, a closed room for people who want to get their hair cut or blow-dried in peace and we facilitate wedding parties.”

Another new aspect to the salon is their unique client book, which Orla refers to as The Bible.

“This is for every client who comes in. It sets out the client’s journey.

“They bring it with them every time and we tell them what products we used and note if they had patch tests, things like that.

“They bring it home, see what was used and whether it worked for them so the next time they come in we ask how they felt about what was used, so it’s very specific to the client.”

Owners John and Orla Deering with the staff of Reba Reborn

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‘We wanted to reopen it with a new name because it is a new salon and a new concept. It’s a rejuvenation of what it was.’

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With 14,000 clients, the secret to their success is the fact that they listen to their clients, make a fuss of them and treat them as best they can, giving them a five-star treatment.

“We do little silly things like if you forget your glasses we have a pair in the salon; if it is raining

we have an umbrella.

“We have a coffee bar [operated by local coffee supplier Java Republic] where we offer a speciality coffee of the month –

this month with Paddy’s Day, [we’ll have] a mint hot-chocolate drink – so it’s the things like that that clients want.”

Since Reba Reborn opened its doors it has been getting fantastic feedback from clients and John and Orla are hopeful that this new chapter in the business will be just as successful as the last 10 years.

Adrienne Lawlor, manager with Expose presenter Aisling O’Loughlin and Orla Deering, owner

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8 BLANCH Gazette 5 March 2015

ask the politician A weekly Q&A with local representatives looks A Youth Council of Ireland survey recently found that 44% of 18- to 24-year-old JobBridge interns believe employers are using the scheme as a source of free labour. The Gazette asks politicians from the four Dublin local authority areas if they think the JobBridge scheme is exploitative and whether there is an alternative to replace it.

Tanaiste and Minister for Social Protection, joan burton

Over 97% of all internships monitored were complying with scheme’s criteria The purpose of the JobBridge scheme is to provide opportunities for all jobseekers to gain critical experience in the workplace, particularly in their chosen field. Independent studies speak to the very real success of the scheme – three in five participants in JobBridge secured employment following their internship. The really positive thing about the JobBridge scheme is that so many people want to be involved.

I welcome the NYCI’s report on JobBridge and intend to carefully consider the findings

and conclusions. On balance the report has some very positive things to say about the JobBridge scheme. For instance, over two-thirds of people who participated said JobBridge gave them valuable work experience, and two-thirds of interns report having moved out of unemployment on finishing their internship.

It’s important to state that the scheme is voluntary; there is no compulsion on jobseekers to take part. My Department has carried out more than 9,000 monitoring visits, and over 97%

of all internships monitored were found to be complying with the criteria laid down under the scheme. Where it is felt that a specific internships is falling below the standard required, my Department will take remedial action.

Many of its critics, however, particularly in the opposition in the Dail, seem to offer very little by way of solutions in terms of how we create jobs, and how we help people get back to work, particularly for those who lack the critical experience needed in gaining employment.

dun laoghaire-rathdown county council: Cllr Karl Gill (PBP)

This is a con job designed to assist the wealthiest people in our society JobBridge, as one of many of the social welfare based internship schemes, has faced much criticism from all angles since its establishment.

Participants on the scheme have commented on how they have been forced into it by way of threat of their payments being cut.

I myself was told by a social welfare manager that if I failed to be elected I would be made take up a JobBridge internship or face having my payment slashed. People of all ages are being bullied into these schemes. For participants on these schemes there are no provisions for travel expenses, lunch payments or childcare while they work for free, often for private companies.

People with masters degrees and even Phds have found themselves with no choice but to take up these schemes. Some young people don’t have a problem with this because they might have parents who can fully support them while they are on the scheme. However this is not a position most people are in. Most of the internship placements are not offering paid positions for when people complete them and most companies effectively have a revolving door policy of free labour interns.

A report done for the Department of Social Protection, called the Indecon report, shows 29% of employers using JobBridge admitted they would have offered full time paid employment in the scheme’s absence but since the scheme is in place they are availing of free labour. Also just 19.5% of interns actually got a job with the

company at the end.

We need a real public works scheme in place to get people back to work in the areas that they trained in. The Labour Party seem to expect people who have studied for four years in a third/ fourth level degree course and paid over €12,000 in fees to work for free stacking shelves in Tescos.

This is not a back-to-work scheme. It’s a con job designed to assist the wealthiest in our society.

5 March 2015 BLANCH Gazette 9

at that are concentrating minds across the city and county Duntopics Laoghaire-Rathdown County: Cllr Neale Richmond (FG) Mayor of South Dublin County Council: Fintan Warfield (SF)

Dublin City Council: Cllr Andrew Montague (Lab)

JobBridge should be replaced

The results have been very positive

As a young political representative, I mix with countless people who are currently serving internships on the JobBridge scheme. Many have had a positive experience but many more believe that JobBridge displaces paid work, depresses wages and facilitates abuse by some employers.

This must not be allowed to continue.

The JobBridge scheme should be closed and replaced with a new model.

Since June 2011, JobBridge has become the central plank of the Government’s jobs strategy. Although some individuals may have had a positive experience, it is a scheme which leaves thousands of jobseekers vulnerable to exploitation.

It is a scheme that has already reduced the number of job opportunities available and if not closed now, thousands of future positions will emerge as unpaid internships instead.

Sinn Fein propose to replace the one-sizefits-all JobBridge scheme with a new participant centred model for internships, compiled with the support of key stakeholders including major unions, the National Youth Council of Ireland, INOU and We’re Not Leaving, along

I met a young woman recently who left school early and remained unemployed for several years. She was losing hope of ever having a decent future for herself. So when she was offered a JobBridge post in the local SuperValu she grabbed the chance.

On her first day in work, the SuperValu mystery shopper came into the store in order to give feedback to the manager.

The mystery shopper went to the counter that the JobBridge intern was on and asked her for help. The mystery shopper didn’t know that this young woman was on JobBridge and our intern didn’t know she was dealing with a mystery shopper. The mystery shopper was so impressed with the service that she received that she reported to the manager that the young woman was one of the best shop assistants that she ever came across.

The young intern finished her JobBridge term and with a new sense of confidence decided to go back to college. JobBridge had given her the start that she needed to build a brighter future and to give her a real sense of confidence in herself. Like many other people who are unemployed, she found it difficult to get a

with many individual JobBridge participants.

Ta i l o r e d internships would be developed sector by sector, in full cooperation with trade unions and Education and Training Boards. Employers would be supported to be the best mentors that they can be.

Internships under the scheme would be short and agreed on a sector-by-sector basis.

Importantly, companies which have been found in breach of employment law in the previous two years would not be allowed to take on an intern.

The names of all employers participating in the scheme would be open to the public, acting as an additional incentive to ensure the proper use of the scheme.

start because she lacked experience. JobBridge gave her the chance to get that experience.

It’s a scheme for people who want to take opportunities that come up.

It’s not compulsory. It’s only for those that want to give it a go. So there is no question of exploitation. But for many of those that do take it up, like this young woman, the results have been very positive. Nearly two out of every three people that go on JobBridge end up in a job within six months. That’s a much higher success rate than most other schemes.

Many schemes and programmes over the years have been tried to get long-term unemployed people back to work but most have had very poor results. Here’s a scheme that actually works. Let’s not abandon JobBridge. Let’s not abandon our long-term unemployed.

10 BLANCH Gazette 5 March 2015

gazetteGALLERIES

Jennie Cruise and Wayne Dodrill

Stephanie McLoughlin, Stephen Hall, Rob Vavasour and Eric Hall at a special fundraising night for St Francis Hospice Blanchardstown at the Clonsilla Inn. Pictures: Simon Jeacle

Geuiein Chaney and Carl Oglesby

Yvonne McCann and Deborah Roberts

Muriel Slattery with Sandra, Susan, Denise and Carol Oglesby with Edel Maher, Paul and Gary Mitchell, Gillian Chancey and Carl Oglesby

5 March 2015 BLANCH Gazette 11

Aimee Mulligan, Emmett Rogers and Ann Marie Vavasour

Marie Harrington, Lorraine Lorna Hillery, Judith Kenneally and Claudine Myles

McCormac and Barbara McDade

Ben Dunleavy, Pixie Woo and Magda Kajzar

creating awareness: LGBT society parties at ITB Blanch

B

lanchardstown IT recently celebrated LGBT Awareness Day which was a great opportunity to announce the LGBT society as a presence in the college and to show the college that the Yes campaign for the upcoming marriage referendum is active.

Tracey Barry, Dessie Barry and Elaine Sweeney

Michelle Donohoe, Darren Smith and Gillian Callan

Claire, Sharon, Derek, Mark and Dermot McGregor with Rachel Hannon

Clonsilla Inn: St Francis Hospice fundraiser

Showing support for worthy cause

William O’Connor and Fernanda Faria

Courtney Sleith, Shauna O’Regan, Zara Donohoe and Tracey Gallagher.

Laura Masterson with Pixie

Kelsie Campbell, Kelly Tormey and Nicole Sutcliffe. Pictures: Simon Jeacle Dolores and Joe Reilly

Barbara Doyle, Lorraine Cummins and Sarah McCabe

12 gazette 5 March 2015

gazetteGALLERY

Orla Morrison Toolen and Carol Morris

Actors David Rawle (Martin Moone), Deirdre O’Kane (Debra Moone) and Peter McDonald (Liam Moone) at the world premiere of Moone Boy series 3 at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin recently. The new series of Chris O’Dowd’s international Emmy-winning comedy begins on Sky 1 on Monday, March 2. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

World Premiere: season 3 brings the stars to kilmainham

Moone Boy set to give us a laugh a third time Sophie McNally and Laura Booth

Maria Hennessy and Maria Connor

Barbara and Brian Kearns

Olive Kelly, Sarah Jennings and Michelle Davis

Aine Killilea and Ollie Canning

5 March 2015 Gazette 13

business P16

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

a day in the life: we catch up with funnyman pj gallagher

what’son

His perfect timing is key to a full day  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

EVER-popular comedian PJ Gallagher took The Gazette on a trip through an average day in his life ahead of his upcoming tour date in Vicar Street this April.

Waking up at 5am before heading into studio to broadcast his breakfast show on Classic Hits FM, Gallagher makes sure to get a good aul brekkie to set him up for the day.

“The first thing I’ll do is have three Weetabix with skimmed milk, stuck into a bowl and a Berocca energy boost to make sure that I have a bit of energy inside me. Then I jump into the shower – I have my little routine timed perfectly.

“I stick on some Euronews and see what way the world is going, then let the dog out to the toilet if she wants to go but normally she just tries to jump into the bed when I get up.

“She loves the warm bit, and though she shouldn’t be in there I haven’t the heart to take her out because it’s so cold in the house when I get up.

“Then I look at the bicycle and try and talk myself into cycling – and every single morning I just jump on

be drawn to an anime and manga festival ANIME Dublin is back once again for 2015 with a unique, one-day anime event packed with special events, exclusive screenings, gaming, and late night activities.

Now in its fourth year, the animation convention takes place at O’Callaghan Alexander Hotel on Fenian Street on April 11.

Doors will open at 10am, and events will run right through until 10pm. There will be a pub quiz and general pub shenanigans from 8pm until 11.30pm in the hotel pub for over18s.

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‘I look at the bicycle and try and talk myself into cycling to work – and every single morning I just jump on the motorbike and head off’

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the motorbike [a Triumph 800] and head off,” he says.

Once in the studio, he checks the papers to see if there’s anything worth talking about on the show.

“The show runs from 6am to 10am with Damien [Farrelly]. The whole idea of the show is basically to convince people that it’s okay to get up out of bed and go into the world.

“We play 70s and 80s music, so a lot of dancing goes on.”

Then it’s home to take out his two dogs, Wendy and Lilo.

When it comes to dinner, it seems this comedian is more used to the phone dial than the cooker’s dial.

“If I don’t have a gig I’ll have dinner at 6.30pm. I’m a terrible cook!

“I don’t cook anything and the

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diary P14

Comedian PJ Gallagher, who will be playing at Vicar Street this April

days I don’t have a chopped salad, I get a Chinese [takeaway]. I’m either extremely healthy or extremely unhealthy.

“I always call up to my mother in the evening to say hello; she only lives up the road in Clontarf, and I’m in Marino.

“I spend an hour there and ramble home and either get stuck into Netflix or try and write some jokes for stand-

up.

“I go to bed at 9pm on the button every night. As soon as the news starts I run up to bed and hang all my clothes inside the bathroom so they’re all ready to jump into as soon as I get out of the shower in the morning.”

Tickets for PJ Gallagher’s show, Concussion, on April 17 at Vicar Street are available from www.ticketmaster.ie, priced €25.

Prizes The convention will feature a games room with plenty of consoles, tournaments, card games, role-playing games and lots of prizes. A purpose-designed allseated room will host exclusive screenings, panels, workshops and more.

Pre-registration has just opened and is advised as places are limited to 300 people. For further information see www. facebook.com/AnimeDublin, or email: animedublin@gmail. com.

GAZETTE

14 GAZETTE 5 March 2015

DUBLINLIFE

DIARY

Enda and Joan busting a move ing with footage of Enda Kenny and Joan Burton recently shown on RTE’s Operation Transformation.

While out and about on a walk in his home town of Castlebar, Enda performed a Thrilleresque shoulder shuffle that undoubtedly made

Michael Jackson spin in his grave. This isn’t the first time Enda busted an embarrassing move in public, who can forget his dancing to Happy by Pharrell Williams at last year’s Bloom Festival?

In the midst of a group of teenagers, Enda looked like the clueless father

embarrassing his children at their birthday party.

Meanwhile, Joanie performed what the girl beside her would probably call an “epic fail” as she tried to copy her dance steps but was always about three moves behind.

CIRQUE DU DAIL TAKES OFF AFTER TEDIOUS TANGENT 2015 may prove to be an entertaining year in the Dail if the first two months of the year are anything to go by.

The latest Cirque du Dail saw a number of amusing outbursts particularly from Fianna Fail deputies during an exchange between Gerry Adams and Enda Kenny over Bus Eireann’s plans to axe around 100 of its rural routes.

After a tedious tangent of details about the various routes in question, Kenny said he would be introducing a €4bn ruralaid package which would include transport.

Fianna Fail Deputy Barry Cowen, (brother of the illustrious Brian) said: “The only thing you brought to rural Ireland was the Fine Gael ardfheis.” This was followed by a roar from Michael Healy-Rae that the current Government was “the most anti-rural Government ever”.

The Ceann Comhairle told him to be quiet as it was not his turn to speak: “You’re not Deputy Adams,” he said.

“No, I’m not” he replied, “I shave.”

D’NORTHSIDE LIGHTS UP WITH FIVE LAMPS FEST THE Five Lamps Festival

From classic DJ posing to a dash of body popping with his shoulders, the Taoiseach threw down some moves in Operation Transformation. The Tanaiste, however, stuck to more traditional country-wedding-style steps in her segment. Pictures: YouTube

got off to a flying start this week with an elaborate opening night ceremony of music and entertainment launched by Love/ Hate actor John Connors at the Custom House.

The festival goes on for the next couple of weeks ending on March 14, with a host of entertaining things to do, see and hear.

Some highlights of this year’s festival include holistic events, children’s events such as a marionette show and a circus, dance events, plenty of live music and literary readings, drama and visual arts exhibitions.

One of the more unusual events is the Bus Eireann Tour of d’Northside on March 7. For two hours, you can take a tour of the north Inner City area where Roddy Doyle’s Barrytown Trilogy was set.

An actor will read excerpts from the books and Pia Dunne will sing soul songs

from The Commitments.

This is part of the One City One Book week.

For a full list of Five Lamps Festival, go to www.fivelamp sarts.ie.

Why advertise with the Gazette?

Let our advertisers tell you why:

“

Trabolgan Holiday Village, Cork have used the Dublin Gazette Newspapers for the last few years to advertise various aspects of our holiday village including special offers. We have always had an excellent reader response from the advertisements run and have found the area’s covered by all 8 papers of great value to Trabolgan.

The help and guidance we have received from the staff has made it easier for us to communicate our message efficiently and cost effectively ensuring we get the maximum from our budget. We would have no hesitation in recommending the Gazette to any business.

“

REMEMBER that moment in 1985 when Mick Jagger and David Bowie covered the great Motown hit Dancing in the Street? With the most cringeworthy dancing ever seen up to that point?

Well they can now move over and stop blush-

B E C A U S E L O C A L M AT T E R S

5 March 2015 Gazette 15

Gazette

16 Gazette 5 March 2015

dublinlife

Q&A liam farrell, founder, parkme.ie

Driving a market gap into a great business model THE founder and managing director of Parkme.ie, Liam Farrell, spotted a gap in the market while home for Christmas in 2011.

His firm has over 800 spaces around Dublin registered on its website and offers additional income to people who have an unused parking space.

He has extensive experience in

business How long have you been in business?

We have been in business for almost two years now.

What makes your business successful?

Our business is successful because it benefits all of our users. Members are either making or saving money where they did not before. Space owners are creating income from their parking space or driveway and drivers are saving money on their parking costs.

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

teaching, having among other accomplishments set up an English teaching institute in Argentina in 2010 With an educational background in economics, and having obtained his Masters in Boston University in 2005, Farrell is now also the managing director of his firm, and plans to continue expanding Parkme.ie.

Our main competitors are advertising sites like Gumtree.

However, these sites can be used to advertise a wide range of products and services.

There is no competitor in Ireland whose sole focus is advertising and renting parking spaces.

We do not just advertise the space; drivers can book the space online with a debit or credit card. This removes the possibility of numerous phone calls from interested parties or showing the space over and over again.

They can just put the space up

Increase in credit union’s car loans STILLORGAN Credit Union has seen a sizeable uplift in car loan applications in 2015.

Unlike garage or bank car finance packages, with a credit union loan the borrower owns the car from the outset. There are no administration charges or hidden fees and, with a credit union loan, you can pay off your car loan early without penalty.

Jennifer Finegan, marketing and business development officer with Stillorgan Credit Union, said: “We always advise our members to shop around and check out other lenders rates, but to be careful not to be influenced by repayments that sound too good to be true.

“Our advice is to look at the total offer or hire purchase price as this is what you must pay before you actually own the car.”

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

‘We aim to become a booking platform not just for individual home owners, but also for larger commercial car parks’

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

and wait for bookings to come in and then get paid straight into their bank account.

How has the recession affected your business?

While we did not exist before the recession, it certainly had both positive and negative effects for this kind of service.

Homeowners are now looking for innovative ways to earn money so the recession helped our business model in that sense.

On the other hand, drivers would now have less disposable income.

This works both ways for us in that drivers want to use our service to get cheaper parking but some drivers can no longer

afford to pay for parking at all.

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

Some of our users are concerned about the income tax payable on money earned on Parkme.ie. We suggest that they consult their financial adviser on this. We would like to see the rent-a-room scheme expanded to include driveways or parking spaces. Homeowners may earn up to €10,000 tax free by renting out their bedrooms to others. We see no reason why this should not include your parking space.

What is your ambition for the business?

I am very happy with how the business is progressing at this stage. We have new companies contacting us every week in need of extra parking spaces for their new offices.

We are currently making improvements to the site and we are in the process of adding some multi-storey car parks to the system. We aim to become a booking platform not just for individual home owners, but also for larger commercial car parks.

We are also planning on increasing the number of spaces in other cities in Ireland and the UK.

05 March 2015 Gazette 17

arts P23

asdfsdaf P27 health P24

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

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travel P19

Pets who is super bright and snuggly? Bella!

Offset is a three-day creative conference held annually in Dublin’s Bord Gais Energy Theatre which attracts visitors from around the world

Three-day festival: illustrator Tomi Ungerer expected to wow audience

Offset ready to impress  Ian Begley

Preparations are in full swing for this year’s highly-anticipated festival, Offset, which brings together in one place the most creative design talent in the world.

Offset is a three-day conference held annually in Dublin’s Bord Gais Energy Theatre over March 6-8.

Every year, the festival attracts visitors from around the world to come and hear speakers from different creative industries and to take part in panel discussions and interviews.

They outline their work, ideas and inspirations and give insights into their practices and personal perspectives.

Independently founded and run, Offset has grown from 450 to 3,000 delegates.

Bren Byrne, a festival director, is confident this year’s Offset will be a big success.

Speaking to The Gazette, he said: “We have a small team of about 200 people who help run the whole operation. The main stage will hold presentations by some of the world’s best creative professionals from graphic design, advertising, art, film, fashion and animation.

“We also have a second room which is a more intimate setting and holds about 300 people, where we do interviews, panel discussions and Q&As. “Here, people will gain insights into the creative process and different professional approaches on how to make it in the creative industry.

“We’ll have about 3,000 people there each day with about 60% of our audi-

ence working in the creative industry and the rest made up of students and creative enthusiasts.”

Asked what attendees will learn from this three-day festival, Byrne said: “People will get hands-on tips on how to improve their own creative work practices along with some inspiration from our speakers. People are going to get insights into how things are made and how to deal with clients in a very informal way.”

There is no VIP area and no green room at Offset.

The space facilitates speakers and attendees, allowing both to mingle freely and settle in for three days of inspiration.

The intimate surroundings of the second room of the Bord Gais Energy

Theatre allows delegates to get a little closer to some of the legendary speakers, who will give interviews, contribute to debates and take part in group discussions on topics that are at the heart of the creative agenda.

One highly anticipated speaker who will be attending this year’s Offset is illustrator and graphic designer Tomi Ungerer, who now lives in West Cork.

At 84-year’s old, Ungerer will talk about his youth in Nazi occupied France, along with his life in New York working as an illustrator and graphic designer, before moving to Ireland in the 1970s.

Tickets for Offset are €50 to €70 and are on sale now. For further information and to see the list of speakers taking part, visit www.iloveoffset.com.

the Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs.

Our Dog of the Week this week is is Bella, a fouryear-old female husky.

This is one super bright, super snuggly husky! She arrived into Dogs Trust pregnant and went on to have a beautiful litter of babies. They have all since been rehomed and now it’s Bella’s turn.

Bella has already lived in a home and thoroughly enjoys her creature comforts. This active lady is looking for an equally active home with adults or bigger kids who will commit to her for the rest of her life.

For more information on gorgeous Bella and her Dogs Trust pals, please call Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000 or pop into the centre. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.

Gazette

18 Gazette 5 March 2015

OUT&ABOUT

FOOD&DRINK

BITESIZEDNEWS

Tuck into delicious Boutique Bake lemon meringues

A Mother’s Day treat with lemon meringues THIS week, Boutique Bake has a delicious lemon meringue cupcake recipe using its very own lemon drizzle cake mix. You can use either one to two lemon mixes, depending on how many cupcakes you would like to make. Here, Boutique Bake used one lemon mix, which makes about 12 cupcakes.

Boutique Bake is available nationwide in selected Tesco stores, SuperValu, Dunnes, Avoca, Morton’s and many other grocery stores. For further information, see www.boutiquebake.ie.

Ingredients 1 Boutique Bake Lemon Drizzle Cake Mix 150g butter 3 eggs 1 lemon A few spoonfuls of lemon curd for the cupcakes For the meringue topping: 100g caster sugar 2 egg white Star-shaped nozzle (optional) to make a nice shape with the meringues with an icing bag

Preparation • Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with cases. In a large mixing bowl, beat The Zingy One with the butter and eggs.

• Divide the mixture between cases and bake for approx 18 minutes until a skewer poked in the cupcakes comes out clean.

• When you remove them from the oven, combine the drizzle mix provided in the Boutique Bake mix with the juice of one lemon. Prick your warm cupcakes all over and pour your drizzle over them. Allow them to cool before placing lemon curd on top.

• Once cupcakes have cooled, spread about a dessert spoon of lemon curd on top of each cupcake.

• Meanwhile, place the egg whites into a clean bowl, whisk until stiff peaks form, then whisk in your sugar, a tablespoon at a time. Keep whisking until the mixture looks glossy and has thickened a little, like shaving foam. Spoon the mixture into an icing bag with a star-shaped nozzle, or freezer bag (snip off the end to pipe).

• Pipe meringue on top of each cupcake. Use a blow torch to lightly brown and toast the meringue, or place under grill for a few minutes to lightly brown.

James Whelan Butchers in Avoca: “Irish bacon is fantastic and a great number of people consider bacon and cabbage a culinary triumph”

Butcher celebrates an Irish staple – bacon and cabbage James Whelan Butchers in Avoca is once again leading the trend when it comes to innovative and new cuts of meat for the dinner table.

There’s no doubt we Irish love our bacon and cabbage. In fact, 64% of people consider bacon and cabbage as the meal most associated with Ireland, so it’s fair to say, it’s an Irish staple. Whelan’s new rack of bacon is set

to elevate bacon to a new level and is perfect for a dinner party or Sunday lunch and with locations in Avoca Food in Monkstown, Rathcoole and Kilmacanogue, it’s easily accessible.

Pat Whelan of James Whelan Butchers said, “Irish bacon is fantastic and a great number of people consider bacon and cabbage a culinary triumph. The aroma of

bacon cooking instantly brings me back to my childhood, conjuring up great memories. It is such an intrinsically Irish dish and there are so many accompaniments that it can be enjoyed many different ways.”

Leaving bacon on the bone instantly enhances the taste, as the closer to the bone, the sweeter the meat, as well as creating a visual feast.

It has taken Pat Whelan months to perfect the JWB Rack of Bacon, but every second has been worth it. “Leaving meat cook on the bone adds a whole layer of flavour that’s hard to explain on paper. I can’t wait for my customers to taste it,” said Pat. Meat that has been cooked on the bone will naturally have a richer flavour and this is one of the

main features of the JWB Rack of Bacon. It has been dry cured using an artisan traditional method and the resulting flavour that has been achieved is mouth-watering.

James Whelan Butchers are at Avoca Food Market Monkstown, Rathcoole and Kilmacanogue, or check out www.

Jameswhelanbutchers. com and order online 24/7.

Let Secret Chef help you shine ALDI’S new range of dishes, aptly named The Secret Chef, are now in store and mean that you can do none of the work but take all of the credit.

Now available in all 113 stores nationwide, The Secret Chef range currently consists of 28 dishes based around beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, bacon and pork and will be updated regularly throughout the year to suit the seasons.

The full range currently offers a wide choice to suit all tastes, and is priced from just €2.99 to €9.99.

Dishes include Irish lamb as a mini joint served plain or infused with garlic butter and parsley (€7.99), or as a shoulder rack with either a bell pepper or mint

herb crust (€6.99).

Irish beef is served up as burgers with a choice of melted toppings (€2.99), a stirfry with vegetables and sauce (€4.99), a stroganoff (€4.99), or a striploin steak with either a pepper sauce or a pepper coating (€7.49).

Chicken breasts are served up with imagination – from Cajun chicken with a smashed bean salsa, garlic chicken with a creamy lemon sauce, and lime and chilli chicken with a sweet chilli sauce (all €3.69).

The Secret Chef range is available in store now and the current Aldi leaflet carries wine recommendations to accompany a selection of the dishes.

Aldi’s chicken with pesto style marinade and cherry tomatoes and a mozzarella crust

5 March 2015 Gazette 19

Paddy’s day deals  ian begley

If YOU’RE tempted by a last minute St Patrick’s weekend getaway, there is a host of luxury seasonal hotels and country houses to choose from.

From March 12 to 20, you can spend two nights at the Cashel House Hotel, Galway from €179pp. On your arrival, enjoy this year’s St Patrick’s Day in a classic country house retreat set in the heart of Connemara.

You can also sow some potatoes in the garden, hunt for hidden shamrocks or join in a singsong in the local pub in nearby Roundstone.

From €179, you can

stay at Rathsallagh House, Wicklow with a one-night escape from March 17 to18.

Experience the simple country life pleasures of country walks on the scenic estate.

At the Carrig Country House in Kerry, those eager for a Paddy’s weekend getaway can spend three nights there for €234 per person.

During your stay, you can choose from a round of golf or a one-hour body massage. A three-day stay here will give you plenty of time to explore the Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula and Killarney National Park.

This offer, which is valid from March 14

to17, also includes a fourcourse dinner on two evenings in the Lakeside Restaurant.

Make your friends green with env y by spending a one-night stay at Mount Juliet Country estate, Kilkenny from €140pp.

The package, which includes breakfast and dinner in the Lady Helen Restaurant, is valid for one night only on March 16.

For €245pp, spend St Patrick’s weekend at Dunbrody House, Wexford. Valid from March 13 to 18, enjoy two nights’ accommodation with dinner on one evening and on St Patrick’s Day the house will have a com-

plimentary shamrock for each of their guests.

There will also be live music and plenty of activities for all ages in the 16th century Duncannon Fort, and Ireland’s only beach parade in Duncannon village to enjoy.

With hiddenireland.ie, slow down with nature this St Patrick’s Day at Ashley Park House in Nenagh, Tipperary for €135pp.

Set in 76 acres of beech woodland and formal gardens, this historic 18th century country house welcomes guests to embrace life at a slower pace in the comfortable and beautifully decorated home, providing tranquillity and peace for those

Gazette

TRAVEL

Cashel House Hotel offers guests a luxurious welcome in delightful Connemara

hoping to escape the hustle and bustle of modern day living.

Take advantage of an early check-in as part of your one-night March 16-17 special retreat, which includes breakfast in bed the following morning, a four-course evening meal and a late

check-out.

Start your St Patrick’s Day early and in style at The Twelve Hotel in Galway for €140pp. Upstairs, its West restaurant is familiar to food lovers as a chic and clubby nighttime space.

Make a night of it with its “#lazysundayafter-

noons wes tpackage”, which includes an early check in on Sunday, a late check out on Monday, €40 food credit for West, overnight accommodation and breakfast the following morning.

You can also add a second night on March 16 from €99 per room.

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20 Gazette 5 March 2015

 laura webb

WHERE would we be without our Mammy or that special lady who has helped mould us into who we are today?

This Mother’s Day, show her how much you care with a gift you know she will love, or a quirky present you know you can both have a laugh about when you’re chatting with her over with a cuppa and a nice piece of cake.

Kilkenny Store Calvin Klein

Jade clutch €100

Gifts can be as expensive or as budget-friendly as you like, seeing that most mammies just think: “Isn’t it the thought that counts?”

To help you get thinking this Mother’s Day, here are a few ideas from Gazette Style and Beauty ...

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Free Butlers Chocolates when you spend €75

Kilkenny Store has an extra treat for customers doing their Mother’s Day shopping – from now until March 15, you can get a free box of luxury Butlers Chocolates (below, right) when you spend more than €75.

5 March 2015 Gazette 21

Gazette

STYLE

Carraig Donn Stripey cardigan €49.95

€72

iClothing.ie Electra rose print

H&M Midi skirt €39.99

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FOR many mammies this Mother’s Day, a day out is likely to be on the cards, which could include a nice dinner or lunch somewhere with their adorable kids.

However, the day is also just a darn good excuse to get dressed up, and feel like a yummy mummy who’s Fab dressed to impress. uc ci This week, Gazette Nud Co e le as Style brings you t2 ath er xD some ideas for what pee ol is pt ear oe to wear for your day ring sho s€ this March 15. eb 19 yM Whether you are a aria n€ mother of one or seven, 135 or a mum-to-be, you are bound to stand out from the crowd with these Mother’s Day outf its and accessories

22 Gazette 5 March 2015

5 March 2015 GAZETTE 23

ARTS

GAZETTE

OUT&ABOUT

Solo show Sea Wall won a bravura turn from Andrew Scott.

Picture: Kevin Cummins

Detecting a true talent  BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

Mixing fact and fiction, the actors at Collins Barracks restore the legacy of lost lives to heartbreaking reality for audiences in this remarkable production

PALS – THE IRISH AT GALLIPOLI: VIVIDLY RECALLING THE SACRIFICE OF IRISH SOLDIERS

Marrying art and history BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

COLLINS Barracks is trying something new for the next few months by marrying art and history to tell the story of Irish men’s participation in the First World War. Pals – The Irish at Gallipoli, is the result of a collaboration between Anu Productions, the National Museum of Ireland and the National Archives of Ireland.

It is a site-specific piece of moving and often interactive theatre set in Collins Barracks, where the original pals from the 7th Battalion did most of their training before

going to war.

In an empty Clarke Square in Collins Barracks, the swelling sound of It’s A Long Way to Tipperary blared out from megaphones.

The effect was eerie, as it rendered a ghostly glimpse into what it was like to be a part of the Irish contingent in the war effort and how their breasts must have swelled with jingoistic pride when the anthem was played to send them off to war.

A crowd of people collected in the square as the show was to begin.

A tour guide told us that Collins Barracks – then called the Royal Bar-

racks – was the first purpose-built barracks in the world, and that 733 soldiers would parade in Clarke Square on a regular basis.

Included among these was the 7th Battalion and, as she spoke, a woman in old-fashioned turn of the century dress approached us, appealing to know where the office was so she could have her separation allowance renewed.

The show had begun now in earnest. Across the square, a soldier in a British Army uniform was being reprimanded by a superior officer.

From the high window,

another soldier shouted down, teasing the other.

The spirit of camaraderie and high-jinks was palpable among the soldiers. “I only joined for the boots,” said one.

The whole audience then followed the soldiers who were in the square, up three flights of stone stairs in the barracks to their dorm.

It was here that we experienced something truly exceptional. The audience sat on the beds or on lockers as the soldiers of the 7th Battalion moved around us, telling tales of war to each other and re-enacting battle scenes.

Real letters written by the soldiers themselves were read out at times.

ANU is an extraordinary theatre company who summoned up the spirit of the past so effectively it was impossible not to be moved by it.

It is game-changing theatre, which reaches far beyond the ken of previous drama.

I found myself getting very upset at times as the real experience of what those young Irish men suffered was brought to such vivid and appalling life.

One of the most touching scenes revealed with simple efficacy the com-

Book delves into a killer Dublin plot BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

DON Cameron’s debut novel Marked Off won the RTE Today Show/New Island Get Your Book Published Competition 2014.

Cameron has been doing the rounds on radio and in print giving interviews about his winning book, which is a crime

novel about a serial killer on the loose in the Booterstown area.

Marked Off is a good read for anyone who loves a fastpaced whodunnit and, for the first half, I found myself really enjoying the story as told by a fully-committed Cameron.

The author displays a certain aptitude for crime drama and

has a modern style of writing which is very much in keeping with other successful authors writing in the same vein today.

There is never a moment of boredom and the characters interact very well with each other. In the main, the dialogue is snappy and sometimes quite insightful.

As a first novel, Marked Off

shows a good deal of real promise for Cameron as a crime writer and it keeps the reader engaged until the end.

As a barometer of what is to come from Cameron, it augurs well for the future of modern Irish crime fiction.

The book in on sale now at all good bookstores, priced €13.99.

plicated historical tension of double allegiance to Ireland and T he Crown.

One of the officers, as he was dying, looked up at his pal and asked: “Is Ireland proud of us?”

Pals – The Irish at Gallipoli is an experience not to be missed by any Irish person or anyone who is interested in Irish history.

The performance runs at Collins Barracks daily from Wednesday to Saturday, with shows at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm, and at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm on Sunday until April 30, with tickets priced €5.

A PR ODUC T IO N of Simon Stephens’s Sea Wall brought the incomparable Andrew Scott to Dublin recently, courtesy of the Dublin Theatre Festival.

A Dundrum native, Scott – who is a BAFTA winner, and an Olivier Award winner – is best known in his home country as Sherlock Holmes’s evil arch nemesis Moriarty, and is also due to appear in the next Bond movie Spectre.

Scott appeared in front of the audience of the Project Arts Centre, pacing back and forth as he waited for the audience to settle.

Transformed Once the crowd fell silent, Scott began to talk and soon transformed the space with his simple heartfelt story of love and tragic loss.

His acting is quite simply masterful, born of ice and fire and forged in his own experience.

Not just that, but his is the kind of performance that is not artifice, it is real emotion unfolding before us in real time.

At the end, Scott received a standing ovation, which was the least any audience could do to show their gratitude for such a rare talent.

Gazette

24 Gazette 5 March 2015

OUT&ABOUT

HEALTH

HEALTHSHORTS Viviscal hair supplement could give you luscious locks right from the root to the tip DAILY activities can lead to dull, damaged hair. You may have a little bit of hair envy with your friends. Good hair makes you feel better about the way you look; in particular, if there’s an occasion coming up and you want to look your best.

Hair growth begins beneath the scalp, where the hair follicle is formed, and in this stage of growth, the nutrients received by the hair follicle play a vital role in its health and appearance.

Supported by nine clinical studies, Viviscal Maximum Strength Supplements are scientifically formulated for women to promote healthy hair growth from within, to give your hair the boost it needs to look its very

best.

Viviscal Maximum Strength Supplements is a twice-daily food supplement that contains ingredients of natural origins, providing nutrition and boosting vitality to weak hair right from the root to the tip.

The supplement is available from Boots, leading pharmacies nationwide and health stores, and online at www.viviscal.ie.

Turn to Milltown Dental Clinic for expert oral treatments WHILE there is plenty of dental competition from abroad, you do have to take into consideration travel expenses and currency.

When it comes to post-operative care and patient support, it is paramount you choose a dental clinic near you.

Milltow n Dental Clinic is based in Dublin, and provides dental implants and final implant restorations.

They have an excellent reputation in treating nervous patients, and providing advanced cosmetic dentistry at an affordable cost.

Milltow n Dental Clinic uses the highest quality of materials and laboratories,

and use Nobel Biocare and Straumann dental implants.

They also offer “click tight” palate-free dentures supported by implants, which are ideal if you have loose, uncomfortable dentures.

For a free consultation, call 0146 23963 or 01260 3741, or the emergency number 086 801 2940.

Running footwear is very important to your exercise, so don’t be afraid to take the time and effort to find the pair that’s right for you

exercise: follow our tips to find the right footwear

Step by step advice to get running shoes  suzanne sheehy

ARE you a little overwhelmed at the thought of purchasing a pair of running shoes?

With the vast range of runners available, it is becoming more complicated. With so many brands, price tags and sports shops – as well as specialist shops – it’s difficult to know who to turn to for the right advice.

If you are a beginner, your mileage may not be as high; however, you may have “bi-mechanical” problems so purchasing shoes specific to your needs is of high importance.

Specialist shops are not just for the athlete who consistently runs more than 70 miles per week, they can give you the best advice on which shoes

work best with your feet.

This will help reduce any risk of injury, such as painful shins and joints, which can commonly occur if you’re wearing the wrong running shoes.

Gazette Health went along to The Run Hub, a technical running specialist store in Ashtown, and spoke to Kevin English for a guide to buying new runners.

He discussed how important it is to understand the runner’s profile, saying: “Questions we would ask are: ‘Are you new to running?’, ‘What distance do you plan on running?’, ‘What surface will you run on?’, ‘Are you training for a specific event?’ and ‘Have you had any running-related injuries?’ “ Also, knowing the footwear you currently

wear is important, and looking at the wear patterns gives us plenty of information.

“Body type is important, as the larger runner might need a wider-fitting shoe and a good specialist store will offer widths in the shoes. Getting your feet measured later in the day is always a good tip, as your feet will be expanded a little more, due to blood flow.”

In a good running shop, the specialist will analyse your running gait by videoing your run. On this process, English said: “This is done in the bare feet and on a hardback track where we video the runner and slow down the motion to talk them through their gait cycle.

“The gait is broken up into three cycles, where we look at the contact

phase and see if they are a heel striker or mid-foot striker.

“The next phase is the mid stance, when the foot is in full contact with the ground – our body loads four times our weight at this point. The final phase is the propulsion phase as the foot leaves the ground and the toe-off position is taken.”

Specialist shops will use all the information taken from a gait analysis and form an understanding of the runner’s profile, so that they will be able to choose the right shoe that offers their feet the unique support and fit they need.

You can try out up to four models, but remember: don’t shop by price or by fashion.

And what about barefoot running, also known

as minimalism? On this, English said: “Scientific research has yet to reach a clear consensus on the benefits of barefoot running. It remains a controversial topic and many might argue it is not suitable for all runners.

“Over the past six months, brands have come full circle and shoes have become more cushioned and some very minimal shoes have been discontinued.”

Gazette Health has now covered the main things you need to know when buying your first pair of running shoes.

Here comes the fun part – choosing a pair to suit you, and start clocking up those miles.

Always remember: “Whether it’s a 14-minute mile or a seven- minute mile, it’s still a mile.”

5 March 2015 gazette 25

Ginger Brown Woollen hand-embroidered chair €510

Ginger Brown Bone Inlay Jewellery Boxes (grey and white €120, blue and white €180, pink and white €225)

think PINK! CHECK out The Gazette’s new Interiors page and, this week, our theme is all things hearts and flowers, in honour of our mammies.

We didn’t have to look too far for all things pink, as it seems to be a recurring theme in lots of the spring/summer offerings from many of the big homeware

departments.

For example, look no further than the fabulous pink flamingo from Matthew Wiliamson’s collection for Debenhams.

Uplifting!

So, for some inspiration on what to buy your mum, or just some tips for doing up your home, check out these items ...

Marks&Spencer Floral cushion €27

Kilkenny Store Max Benjamin Persian Rose diffuser €26.95

Debenhams Laura Oakes lamp €75 Debenhams Matthew Williamson flamingo €18.50

Kilkenny Store Shannonbridge sugar bowl €10.95

Marks&Spencer Large floral print jug €13

Gazette

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Gazette

28 Gazette 5 March 2015

SPORT Confident toddlers kicking on

FastSport

soccer: little kickers giving kids a healthy start through sport

DCU secure semi-final date with Brunell:

DCU Mercy have been drawn against Singleton SuperValu Brunell in basketball’s women’s Premier League playoff semi-finals.

The Dublin side beat Courtyard Liffey Celtics 74-46 on the last day of the regular season to secure second place and home advantage in the second leg.

Liffey Celtics are also through to the post-season but they will have to play table toppers Team Montenotte Hotel Glanmire.

In the men’s Premier League, Conor Meany scored 40 points as UCD Marian reeled in Travelodge Swords Thunder and kept alive their hopes of a place in the end of season Champions Trophy.

It’s the highest score by an Irish player in the National League this season.

“I’m delighted that we were able to come back after a poor first-half” said the captain.

 stephen findlater sport@dublingazette.com

BASED on a “fun-first” principle, Little Kickers’ Joe Sullivan believes the initiative can play a strong

developmental role for young kids and potentially help them on the way to a healthier lifestyle The programme is currently enjoyed by around a 1,000 children around

Training balance for toddlers

the city from month to month. Open to children aged 18-months up to five years, Little Kickers combine football skills with important pre-school learning concepts such as colour and number recognition, sharing, following instructions and using imagination.

Speaking about the idea, Sullivan says it gives toddlers a great experience not just try out football but to help develop vital skills for all parts of their lives at an early age, “It’s an early learning school for boys and girls,” he said. “It is not just football but is based around football. The focus is on learning and helping kids develop.

“It is a unique thing, coming to us at 18 months

All Little Kickers sessions are run by qualified coaches

and staying with us until they are three or four years old. It has to have a lot of variety and is very well run. Parents are not stupid and they want the best.”

Sullivan previously played League of Ireland football with Shelbourne and Longford Town before going into management at local level, most recently with Phoenix on the Navan Road.

But his passion for promoting Little Kickers has seen him pour his efforts into the initiative to the point where he oversees groups all across the city including Castleknock, Ongar, Lucan, Portmarnock, Kinsealy, Swords, Sallynoggin and Foxrock among others.

Groups of up to 16 kids

at the different age groups take part in the different games under the guidance of two Garda-vetted and FAI qualified coaches in an indoor environment .

“There is a structure to it; each week it stays on the same format but with different games.

“We’re going about seven years, and parents love it as much as the kids because there is a great structure to it.

“It’s all about building confidence with the kids.

It builds a bit of everything; listening and learning skills.

“I have a great passion for it and love to see the kids come on from the first day they come in, holding on to mammy or daddy’s leg, until they finish.

“We’re not saying the kids are going to go on and be footballers; it’s just about having confidence and bringing them on, developing them through sport.”

And Sullivan believes that Little Kickers can give youngsters a great start in life on the road to a healthier lifestyle.

“It’s all about developing kids and there is not enough of that out there.

Too many kids don’t do enough exercise; I hear this all the time from such an early age.

“Even at two-yearsold, you see some kids are overweight, stuck in front of their iPad or the television. We are not the answer but we do help them [on the way to a healthy lifestyle].”

Terenure back on track with strong win at Cork Con  sport@dublingazette.com

Terenure are second in the UBL Division 1A

TERENURE recaptured some of their best form with a 20-point first half display at Temple Hill, as James O’Donoghue, Robert Duke and Harry Moore all ran in tries to see off Cork Con 20-8 in the Ulster Bank League Division 1A last Saturday.

The result saw James Blaney’s men tighten their grip on second spot. They now hold a sevenpoint lead over third-placed Clontarf with just three rounds remaining.

Terenure made full use of

their early wind advantage on Leeside, with out-half Thornton landing a second minute penalty. Then a quick tap set up right winger O’Donoghue for a try in the corner.

Impressive f lanker Duke scored for the second week running, charging through from halfway to touch down to the right of the posts, and freescoring winger Moore grabbed his ninth try of the campaign to make it 20-0.

An unconverted effort from Munster Academy member Darren Sweetnam reduced the

arrears for Cork Constitution to 15 points, but the visitors always looked in control despite Tomas Quinlan tagging on a 55th minute penalty.

Clontarf, themselves, slumped to a disappointing 21-17 defeat to St Mary’s at Templeville Road on Friday night. Seventh-placed Mary’s may still be battling relegation but with the table particularly tight, they are only four points adrift of the fourth playoff position.

Peter Smyth’s charges were hammered 44-15 by Clontarf in early January, but they turned

the tables on the title holders.

With a big wind behind them, Mary’s burst into a 21-3 interval lead thanks to 11 points from Ray Crotty’s boot and tries from Brian McGovern and Ryan O’Loughlin, who finished off an excellent team score.

Clontarf capitalised on Mary’s indiscipline to run in tries through Rob Keogh and Ireland club international captain Matt D’Arcy.

However, despite being down to 13 men, the home side hung on to win by a four-point margin.

5 March 2015 Gazette 29

Gazette

Settled St Pat’s eye huge Rovers battle The League of Ireland fixture list has thrown up a massive Dublin derby to start the 2015 season with St Pat’s Liam Buckley and Ger O’Brien hotly anticipating a lively fixture THIS Friday night, Tallaght stadium will host a Dublin Derby between Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic in what is the standout curtainraiser in the season’s SSE Airtricity League.

Keith Fahey’s much discussed switch to the Hoops from Richmond Park, as well as Ciaran Kilduff, Jason McGuinness and Conor O’Malley heading in the other direction from Tallaght to Inchicore will fuel the fire even more in what is always a key fixture in the League of Ireland.

Speaking to GazetteSport at the launch of the league at the Aviva Stadium last Friday, Pat’s manager Liam Buckley previewed the feisty opening day fixture. “It’ll be a big test,” he said. “I think it’s a great opener for the league and we’ll be looking to do as well as we can.”

 nathan kelly sport@dublingazette.com

After a cup winning season and third place finish last time round, the Super Saints enjoyed a perfect pre-season in terms of results up until the defeat to Dundalk in the President’s Cup last Saturday.

Buckley and his backroom staff have been shrewd in their transfer activity in preparation for the 2015 season, signing just four players in the form of ex-Rovers trio Kilduff, O’Malley, and McGuinness along with Lee Desmond from Shelbourne.

Does this represent an emphasis on quality rather than quantity for

the squad? “I just didn’t think we needed to bring in too many,” said Buckley. “The bulk of my squad won the league two years ago, finished third the previous season and third last season too.

“We’ve been very competitive over the past few years. We’ve been in two cup finals in three years and won it last season.

I think who we have brought in will make an impact in the group.”

A f ter such a dramatic end to the league last year, with Dundalk snatching the title from Cork City on the final day, the Inchicore boss was asked who he felt could challenge for the title in 2015.

“Dundalk are going to be ver y competitive, Stephen [Kenny] has lost only one player [Pat Hoban]. Cork have brought in, Rovers have brought in, and Sligo

Ger O’Brien, St Patrick’s Athletic, and Conor Kenna, Shamrock Rovers, will meet on the opening day of the 2015 SSE Airtricity league season. Picture: David Maher / SPORTSFILE

have brought in so we’ll wait and see how the season goes. I think those four and ourselves all have a serious chance.”

The Saints skipper Ger O’Brien was also at the launch and like his manager, spoke with excitement about the return of the league. “I can’t wait,”

the season but don’t get me wrong; we don’t want to lose to Rovers, we want to win it.

“It’s important we prepare properly and go up to Tallaght and give a good account of ourselves.”

Providing his opinion on the squad for the new

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

It’s Pat’s vs Rovers; if you win, there’s the local bragging rights. Lose and you are on the end of that - Ger O’Brien --------------------------------------------------------

he said.

“The off-season is very long. It’s probably too long to be honest so when you get yourself into this situation where there’s just a few days to go the excitement starts to build. The fact that we’ve got a wonderful first couple of fixtures makes it even more special. It’s a very tough start for us but that’s what you want.”

On that opening fixture against Rovers, where O’Brien spent three years as a player, the right-back knows how much it means for the Inchicore faithful.

“Listen, it’s Rovers vs Pat’s. If you win there’s bragging rights for the fans, if you lose you’re going to be on the end of those bragging rights.

It’s obviously not make or break at this stage of

season, the club captain seemed content with the recruitment work done over the winter as well as offering his views on the transfer activity of the entire league.

He said: “Yeah I’m happy. I think most teams are a lot more settled this year. There haven’t been that many players floating on the market which I think is a good thing.

“You can’t have a 10 or 12 player turnaround in each team every year it just doesn’t bring any consistency.

“Having a settled squad allows fans to get to know players and it ensures players have an affiliation with the club which I think is very important.”

Pat’s visit to Rovers kicks off at 7.45pm in Tallaght Stadium this Friday, March 6.

ken’sDiary

Double session pushes Egan to limit of pain barrier Olympic silver medallist Ken Egan is to take part in this year’s Laurels Charity Crew Cycle from Galway to Dublin on April 19. In the run-up, Egan has partnered with Gazette Sport to document his training; here is his latest report from the road.

I DECIDED to head out early on Saturday morning with a group of six to tackle some hills for extra training before I joined up with the big gang at 10am.

I must admit from my time on the bike thus far, I have only really stayed on the flats but to tackle some steep bends, I really appreciate what any serious cyclist takes on.

Because I hadn’t a clue how far or how high I was climbing, I just got in to my own head and took one revolution at a time. I really enjoyed my first experience of the hills and felt like the Italian Marco Pantani, one of the best climbers cycling has ever witnessed.

We descended back towards the Laurels Pub for about 9.45am ready for phase two. I admit I had thoughts in my head of calling it a day. Word on the street was we had a rough ride ahead!

But I battled my demons and put them to the back of my mind and off we took at 10am with my personal target to break the 100km mark by the end of the cycle.

Our destination was Sallins and onto Naas and back up through Blessingtion; I was on the bike two hours and 30 minutes and on the verge of getting off and giving up. I just had nothing left to give and my body was running on empty.

But I heard we were stopping in Blessington and I saw a sign indicating just 9km so I soldiered on; five minutes later and another sign said 7km.

My head was in a bad place but I got through it and made it to our only pit stop.

I got some coffee and refilled my water bottle and got sugar into my body and was ready for the home run., We cycled right through Blessington and down towards Saggart, onto Clondalkin.

This was by far the toughest and the 8am start didn’t help, but it’s in the bank and I will benefit from it.

Total distance of 106km done so for that I am a happy man.

Gazette

30 BLANCH gazette 5 March 2015

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: celtic close in on top spot with stunning victory

Eagles sign long-term deal with Elmgreen ELM Eagles, the Special Olympics Golf Club that play their golf at Elmgreen Golf Club, have announced a new long-term arrangement with Elmgreen GC. It will see their golfers playing off the first tee on Saturday afternoons, from either 2.30 up to 3.30pm, depending upon the time of year.

Until now, the Eagles had been using the three academy holes at Elmgreen, which are now being partially taken into the exciting new developments of the main 18-hole course.

Speaking about the new deal, Rita McNally, the manager of Elm Eagles, said: “We are delighted with the new arrangement.

“Our golfers will now be playing the main course and we have a long-term commitment to our Special Olympics golf club.”

Elm Eagles Golf Club have a golf section plus a pitch and putt club to suit all standards of Special Olympics golfers. They are always looking to bring in new members.

If you know someone who would like to join Elm Eagles Special Olympics Golf Club or would like to be a volunteer to help run the club, contact Rita McNally on 086 824 7252 or Peter Carroll on 087 666 0931.

Verona stuck in seventh after Broadford tie VERONA’S senior soccer side fell to a 3-1 defeat away to Broadford Rovers last Friday night in LSL Sunday Senior Division 1.

Ian Croft put the Northside club ahead with an unbelievable strike from the left wing before Colm Gargan equalised matters before the break.

A strong second half performance from Rovers killed off Verona’s hopes of taking anything back to Coolmine. Verona are still on course for a better finish than last season as they remain seventh in the table, five points off their total tally for last season, with seven games to play.

St Mochta’s continue to lead the way with at least seven points to spare on all of their nearest rivals with nine rounds of matches to be played.

Porterstown Park was left snow-bound by a blizzard last Sunday morning, forcing the abandonment of some matches

Castleknock’s magic eight ddsl u-13a Castleknock Celtic Leixlip United sport@dublingazette.com

8 0

CASTLEKNOCK Celtic closed the gap to Leixlip United at the top of the DDSL Under-13A table in emphatic fashion last Saturday in Porterstown with a comprehensive 8-0 win over the leaders.

Despite the heav y scoreline, it was Leixlip who started the brighter and, for the first five minutes, had a lethargic looking Celtic pinned back.

H o w e v e r, h av i n g weathered the early storm, Celtic eased their way into the game and

scored the crucial first goal with 15 minutes on the clock.

Mark Hughes won the ball in midfield and played it up to Andrei Enache who, in turn, played the ball first time out right to Ciaran Collins. The mercurial Collins cut inside before beating three players and then planting the ball into the Leixlip net.

With the nerves eased, Celtic set about their task with relish. Dylan McDonagh was a constant thorn in Leixlip’s side as his raids on the left were only matched by his non-stop work rate.

Soon, it was two and, again, Collins was

flying flynn Coolmine man helps Clonliffe land Irish title COOLMINE’S David Flynn, centre, produced a fine tenth place finish at last Sunday’s GloHealth national inter club cross country championships in County Down to help Clonliffe Harriers to the men’s senior team title.

Flynn has recently returned to Ireland from the US where he studied at the University of Arkansas and aided a hugely impressive team effort, seeing off Raheny and Donore with plenty to spare.

involved, this time as provider when his cross from the right into the box was met by Alex Doyle who supplied a cool finish.

Leixlip were shaken and within minutes, Leigh Reilly made it three with a good finish. Celtic were dominant and it was no surprise when they made it four when again Collins was involved as his cross was cleverly dummied by Doyle to allow Reilly a simple finish, making it 4-0 at the break.

Celtic continued their upbeat performance in the second half. Reilly scored the fifth to complete a well deserved hattrick with Collins provid-

ing the assist.

Shortly after, Enache made it six when he broke clear beating the centre back and keeper before planting the ball home.

There was still more to come.

Kian Ryan got in on the act as he headed down a Leixlip clearance before he rattled the net with a screamer into the left hand corner. Reilly completed the scoring when he finished well from a Hughes through-ball.

Celtic now look forward to their cup quarter final meeting with the same side, Leixlip United, who remain on top of the league table, having

played five more games than Celtic who remain unbeaten this season in the league.

Castleknock are now back within six points of Leixlip who have just one game to go in the league this season.

Elsewhere, Dublin 15 saw a large number of cancellations.

Castleknock Celtic completed most of their programme of games last weekend despite the very inclement weather but, while, Sunday morning started with bright sunshine, it soon turned to wintry snow that left a white blanket across Porterstown Park.

5 March 2015 BLANCH gazette 31

Gazette

sevens as gaeilge

Castleknock host fun day of football at Somerton

st brigid’s

Castleknock marked the start of

Seachtain na Gaeilge with their first ever Seven’s tournament through Irish last Saturday.

Mens and ladies teams from Dublin and Kildare descended on Somerton for a competitive and fun day of football as Gaeilge.

The host team contested both finals but Raheny won the men’s competition with Carbery crowned ladies champions.

DUBLIN’S ladies footballers suffered their second successive defeat in the Tesco Homegrown NFL losing out to a strong well drilled Kerry outfit by 3-11 to 2-8.

St Brigid’s were well represented once again with Ciara Trant continuing in goals while Sorcha Furlong started in the number three jersey and Noelle Healy came back into the starting team in place of Eabha Rutledge in the half-forwards.

huge €15,000. Our next draw will take

club website.

place this Thursday, March 5 in The

8pm. Tickets are €25 euro and available from 087 6339238 or info@stbrigidsgaa.com or at the door.

Jackies undone by Kerry trio of goals The two sides were level at the interval registering 2-6 a piece having played out an entertaining 30 minutes of football despite the difficult weather conditions.

Lyndsey Davey and half forward Carla Rowe scored the Dubs first half goals while Sarah Houlihan and veteran forward Patrice Dennehy were on target for the Kingdom.

The second half was dominated by Kerry and this was reflected on the score board as the home side out-scored the visitors by 1-5 to 0-2. Louise Galvin sealed the victory for the Kingdom with her

The club lotto jackpot remains a

be paid online. All details are on the

is this Friday evening, March 6 from

St Brigid’s Noelle Healy was back in the Dublin starting team

Kerry 3-11 Dublin 2-8  sport@dublingazette.com

CLUB membership is now due and can

The next Texas Hold ’Em poker night

football: st brigid’s trio unable to turn tide

Tesco nfl division 1

Club Noticeboard

side’s third goal which came in the 17th minute of the second half.

Although disappointed with his teams last two results, Dublin boss Gregory McGonigle will be mindful that 12 of his Dublin squad were involved in O’Connor Cup action on Thursday last while a number of last year’s All Ireland starting 15 are still unavailable for selection.

Dublin will have two weeks to regroup as they travel to play bottom of the table side Laois on March 15.

Elsewhere, the Dublin minors, U-16s and U-14s

all enjoyed victories in the Leinster championship this weekend.

On Saturday the Dublin U-14s recorded a good win for over Meath with the full time score reading, Dublin 6-10 Meath 5-6.

The second game of the double bill played in Pairc Uí Murchu saw the Dublin U-16s edge out their Meath counterparts by 7-12 to 2-8.

The Dublin minor team completed the hat trick of Leinster victories for the Capital on Sunday afternoon when they saw off Kildare in a closely contest game by 1-12 to 1-6.

Roselawn Inn. Make sure you have your tickets, available online or from usual sellers.

The St Patrick’s weekend festival special, Vinyl Night, Forty Shades –

Strictly Come Brigid’s returns on

Truly Irish, real good stuff from the

March 28 with tickets now on sale from

60s, Dubliners, Wolfe Tones, Planxty

our dancers and in the club. Limited

and many more - is on Saturday,

numbers available so get yours fast!

March 14 at 9pm. Great fun and craic

Well done to all our juvenile and

guaranteed. Prizes for most original

adult teams who were in league action

head-dress. Light refreshments, no

over the weekend. Stand out results

cover charge.

were our minor A footballers who

Cardiac screening session in this

beat Clontarf 1-12 to 2-6 in Division 1

club this March. Highly recommend-

and our U-12footballers who beat the

ed for all players. See website for

same opposition.

details.

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

snow trouble: Celtic’s young stars beat the weather to run up huge win over Leixlip United in league P30

march 5 - 11, 2015

The big kick off: Pat’s and Rovers raise curtain on new season P29

James Cluskey will be among the star attractions at Castleknock LTC this weekend

Davis Cup comes to town Castleknock set to host international tennis fixture as Ireland take on Belarus in the first round, their third time to be awarded home status

 nathan kelly

sport@dublingazette.com

THE FIRSTweekend of March marks a momentous couple of days for Castleknock Lawn Tennis Club as the Dublin 15 club is hosting a Davis Cup fixture for the third time.

Ireland will welcome Belarus to the north Dublin facility from Friday to Sunday for three days packed with top quality tennis action.

The Irish squad selected by team captain Conor Niland includes Sam Barry, Daniel Glancy, James Cluskey and David O’Hare. Unfortunately, Ireland number one and Castleknock’s own James McGee was unavailable for selection due to tournament commitments at the quali-

fiers for Indian Wells.

Nonetheless, speaking to GazetteSport in the week leading up the event, president of Castleknock LTC Geoff Ross was hopeful the Irish squad could pull off an upset over the weekend.

“The previous two years have gone well in terms of the club’s organisation. We played Finland two years ago; Egypt last year and now Belarus are the opposition.

“The team would have played Belarus last year in Belarus and the Irish side lost 4-1 but we’re hoping that home advantage will make a difference.

“We’re hoping the club and Irish tennis supporters get behind the Irish team.”

On how the club are preparing for the event,

Ross said that there is plenty going in over the course of the weekend.

“We normally have social tennis on the Saturday night with food and music afterwards which brings a good buzz to the club,” he said.

“We’re expecting we’ll be busy on the Friday night too as there’s two matches scheduled to start at four so, in all probability, they’ll run into the evening, which will be good for the bar takings and provide a good atmosphere around the club.”

There will be added reason for positivity for Castleknock members this week after their former President; Dr Gerry More O’Ferrall received the Raymund Egan award on Wednesday night from Tennis Ireland. The award is

the most prestigious form of recognition any individual can achieve from Tennis Ireland and emphasises the outstanding contribution he has made to tennis in Ireland.

Looking ahead to the weekend’s task for the Irish side, Ross was under no illusions of how tricky the Belarus side will be. “On paper they would be slightly stronger,” he said.

“They have Max Mirnyi, who was previously ranked number one in the world in doubles and still plays at the highest level in the doubles circuit. He’s not declared on the team for now but I believe he is coming over with the team so there is a possibility he still might play in the doubles.

But as I said we’re just hoping home advantage can do the team a favour.”