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December 13, 2012 Find us on

Month XX, 2012 Blanchardstown • Blakestown • Hartstown • Coolmine • Tyrrelstown • Dunboyne • Corduff • Mulhuddart • Ongar

INSIDE: Local GAA star shows his support for Dogs Trust fundraising event P3

budget 2013: Local politicians give their reactions to the latest austerity cuts P2

St Peregrine’s reach minor county final

Locals urged to ‘lock out’ burglars

Page 31

 laura webb

Rugby:

Coolmine up to second after Newbridge win Page 30

Hurling:

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

Residents across Dublin 15 are being urged to remember to securely lock up their homes when leaving the house in a bid to curb burglaries.

Lock Burglars Out is a new initiative by Safer Blanchardstown and gardai in Blanchardstown, which advises people on how to make it harder for burglars to target their

homes this Christmas.

Philip Jennings of Safer Blanchardstown said one third of all burglaries are preventable, and so the initiative targets this point.

“People are not taking the time to check their home security. They are rushing out the door to get a pint of milk, collect the kids from school and are not locking up properly.”

Full Story on Page 8

Say hello to Sam: Taggers meet with an All-Ireland champion elio Rabbitte and Adam Law-

lor from Westmanstown Taggers Special Needs Rugby club get their hands on the legendary Sam Maguire Cup presented to them

by Donegal’s Michael Murphy in the background who helped to win

the All-Ireland Championship in September.

Members of the Donegal team were attending a special ceremony where 25 Taggers were presented with their first club rugby kit.

See Gallery on Page 6

2 BLANCH Gazette 13 December 2012

dublin GAZETTe newspapers i n f o r m at i o n

economy Sharp divisions on national plan

Block 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publish eight weekly quality free titles, covering the greater Dublin area from Swords to Dun Laoghaire

c o n ta c t s Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com While there has been widespread national condemnation of many elements of Budget 2013, Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton

Acting News Editor: Rob Heigh rheigh@gazettegroup.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@gazettegroup.com Picture Editor: Paul Hosford picturedesk@gazettegroup.com Acting Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sport@gazettegroup.com Financial Controller: Carly Lynch clynch@gazettegroup.com Advertising Sales: 01 - 6010240 sales@gazettegroup.com

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www.gazettegroup.com Gazette Group Newspapers Ltd. Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements Reserve the right to omit or suspend or alter any advertisement(s) in any of its publications. We also decline any responsibility in the event of one or more of a series of advertisements being omitted for any reason whatever, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement. If your advertisement appears incorrectly, contact the Advertising Department immediately, as responsibility cannot be accepted for more than one week’s incorrect insertion.

Responsibility cannot be accepted if the complaint is made more than two weeks after insertion. If one places an advertisement for more than one week and then cancels it after the first week, no refund or credit will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser undertakes to indemnify the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising out of the publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published in the Blanchardstown Gazette, Castleknock Gazette, Clondalkin Gazette, Dundrum Gazette, Dun Laoghaire Gazette, Lucan Gazette, Malahide Gazette and Swords Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.

said: I feel the options I have chosen are ones that concentrate on maintaining basic weekly rates

Mixed responses to Budget 2013’s details The sixth austerity Budget for the State was announced over a week ago, with cuts to child benefit and carer’s allowance, the introduction of property tax and a hike in student fees just some of the major talking points of Budget 2013.

In reaction to the Budget, TD for Dublin West Joe Higgins (SP) said it was “another savage deflationary budget”.

Higgins believes the Budget will “unfortunately intensify the disastrous effects of austerity which have been reaped by the previous government and continued by Fine Gael and Labour”.

“The cuts in capital spending and further savage attacks on living standards are going to future depress the domestic economy and thereby affect demand, so unfortunately we are going to see a high level of unemploy-

 laura webb lwebb@gazettegroup.com

ment, continuing emigration and so on.

“Some of the meanest cuts affecting elderly people, affecting job seekers, savage increases in student fees and property tax particularly are going to have a catastrophic further effect on the incomes and living standards of ordinary people who are struggling already as a result of this agenda which are bailing out bondholders, bankers and speculators at the expense of our people,” said Higgins.

Defending her own department’s cuts, Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton said the most important thing about

child benefit is that it’s been “capped on a very high level of payment” at €130.

“From conversations with other mothers, what they most wanted was a guarantee of a universal payment that goes to the mother irrespective of the people that are in work or out of work.”

As far as the reductions to carer’s allowance was concerned, Burton said: “I know how hard carers work who are full time around the clock… in trying to balance the very difficult decision, I was trying to reach it in a way that kept the core weekly payment in tack and I feel I have been able to do that.

“Any reductions are difficult, but I feel the options I have chosen are ones that concentrate on maintaining basic weekly rates,” she said.

A spokesperson for The

Carers Association, Catherine Cox, said: “While we appreciate that core payments have not been targeted, family carers are contacting us very frightened and angry.

Particularly disappointing are cuts to the respite care grant on which many family carers are dependent on, not just for a break, but to pay essential bills.

“Family carers are one of the most vulnerable groups in our society and the Government is continuing to target them with a range of cuts,” she said.

Minister for Transport, Sports and Tourism Leo Varadkar said: “Budget 2013 is not the toughest in our history, nor in our recent history. Nevertheless, there are welcome measures in this Budget for hauliers, for tourism, the aviation sector, and job creation in the broader economy, in par-

ticular the diesel rebate, the aviation package, and the increased VAT threshold.”

Labour Party TD Patrick Nulty voted against last year’s budget and said this year would be no different. “Unfortunately, it was clear to me that last year’s budget would continue with the same austerity agenda – I know there is a better way to tackle the serious challenges faced by our country. That is why I voted against last year’s budget and why I had to vote against the Budget this year as well,” said Nulty.

“The cut to child benefit, back to school allowance and the respite care grant are outrageous attacks on ordinary families. They are avoidable and profoundly wrong.

“There are clear, costed alternatives which were not chosen on budget day,” he told the Gazette.

13 December 2012 BLANCH Gazette 3

R1

health Fourth Dublin branch for Motivation

New weight clinic opens in Blanch MOTIVATION Weight Management recently opened its fourth Dublin clinic in Blanchardstown.

The Blanchardstown clinic is managed by Mark Dowdall, who is looking forward to help clients achieve their ideal weight through the Moti-

vation Programme, which tackles clients’ overeating habits and attitudes.

Mark lost 2½ stone in 11 weeks when he completed the programme for himself.

“I feel passionate about our work. Having lost weight myself through the programme, I under-

stand what people are going through and I know we can help anyone who feels that they can’t lose weight,” he said.

Motivation claims that according to a recent study by University College Cork, the annual cost associated with excess weight and

obesity in the Republic of Ireland is approximately €1.13bn. €398m is directly attributable to healthcare costs, while a further €728m is due to lost productivity and absenteeism.

For more information, email blanchardstown@ motivation.ie.

Puppy love: Dog’s Trust fundraiser local gaa star Bernard

Brogan and model Michelle McGrath lent their time to support the Dogs Trust fundraiser in Buck’s Townhouse last week. Local band Bennett Vs Matrix were among the performers, with PJ Gallagher, Hilary Rose and Paddy Casey lending their talents on the evening as well. The night was a huge success and raised much needed funds for the puppies and dogs in care.

allocation: local politicians welcome funds

€562,929 in funding for sports projects  HIROMI MOONEY news@gazettegroup.com

A TOTAL of €562,929 will be allocated to 12 sports projects in Dublin west, as part of the new national Sports Capital Programme.

The allocation is part of a new €26m funding for local sports projects nationwide, announced

by Minister of State for Tourism and Sport Michael Ring on Monday, December 3.

The 2012 round of the Sports Capital Programme is the first round of the programme since 2008. New criteria were introduced for this

year’s programme, with a particular emphasis on clubs in disadvantaged areas.

Sports clubs benefiting from the funding include the following: Castleknock Celtic FC who will receive a total of €11,163; Coolmine Gymnastics Club will receive a total of €25,000; Coolmine RFC will receive a total of €159,045; while, €13,428 will go to St Margaret’s GAA Club; €172,752 to Ongar Community Centre; €48,000 to St Catherine’s Park; €29,146 to Phoenix Cricket Club; €40,328 to St Brigid’s GAA Club;

€18,040 to St Mochta’s Football Club; €22,783 to St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh GA A Club; €5,000 to Tyrrelstown GAA Club; and €18,244 to Westmans t ow n G a e l s / G a r d a GAA Club.

Local TD and Minister for Transport, Tourism a nd Spor t Leo Varadkar said the funding will help people throughout the constituency “by giving them more opportunities to get involved in sport, whatever their ability”.

“In times like this when resources are stretched, financial support is even more

significant,” he said In a statement, Minister Varadkar explained that funding could not be provided to nine other clubs or projects as the applications were ineligible. However, he said his department proposes to have another round of funding in the next year or so, and all clubs and local authorities will be entitled to apply.

Cllr David McGuinness (FF) also welcomed the news for the clubs who were successful but said many more local clubs who will be deeply disappointed with the news.

4 BLANCH Gazette 13 December 2012

Shop local The Gazette continues its focus on the many

Supporting our Sale local business Your

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advertise your sale with the Gazette...

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HOP local this Christmas and do your bit for the local economy and your community.

During this time of year, it is of ten too easy to forget the great amenities on your doorstep as you look for the best gifts.

But let’s not forget the many businesses, shops and community organisations that surround us.

For the woman in your life, why not look to buy her a beauty treatment that she will enjoy after the Christmas rush.

There are also treatments for the men that will be a nice alternative to the usual socks and aftershave.

Dinner at one of the many delicious restaurants in Dublin 15 would also go down a

treat for grandparents, and would make for a great Christmas gettogether with friends.

Community organisations and charities within the Dublin 15

area are always in need for help financially, so why not make a donation to a charity that means something to you or that might mean something to someone

close to you.

The old reliable is a beautiful bunch of f lowers that are easily accessibly from the local florist.

Not only is this a

great present for someone, but they can also help with some amazing centre-pieces that will make a simple table look fantastic.

T here is an abundance of great hotels in the area that are offering good over-night deals, and if you’re stuck for somewhere to go this New Year’s, then look no further than your local hotel or bar.

What’s great about staying local for New Year’s that you’re not far from home and so worr ying about how you will get back to base after a great night won’t be a challenge.

Vital support Tony Lambert, chief e xe c u t i ve o f F i n g a l Dublin Chamber, said the chamber believes it is vital for local people to “shop local”.

13 December 2012 BLANCH Gazette 5

ways that sustaining retailers in turn helps the community

The Castlecourt Centre could provide lots of interesting Christmas gifts

“Local retailers provide services and products and employ local people, and we must support them.

“T he centre of all economic activities in an area is local retailers, and they must be supported.

“I think the people of Dublin 15 and the people of the general Fingal area do support their local retailers and local shopping.

“It is important for people who need to buy gifts or various products they might need for Christmas, whether it is food, or whether it is goods for the house, they can get all of those in the local area.

“It is important that these shops are supported and the products they have for sale are being purchased by local people,” he said.

Castleknock Flowers has a range of Christmas

door wreaths, Christmas table arrangements, hall arrangements and Christmas bouquets which according to owner Conal McMenamin, are extremely popular every year.

Commenting on the

importance of shopping local, he said: “We are 22 years in the heart of the village providing a service for the community.

“Through the years we looked af ter the people of Castleknock

and Blanchardstown through happy or sad occasions.

“By shopping local you are going to insure that the village you have will remain what it is, which is important.

“If people want a flo-

rist in their village, if they want a local shoemaker, a local hairdresser or optician, you have to go into these people and give them your business – or at least give them a try,” he added.

6 blanch Gazette 13 December 2012

gazetteGALLERY

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Terry Hurrell, Una Barrett, Rebecca Rabbitte, Neville Ross, Edward Maliyakal and Jorge Zulkouski

Marian and Adam Lawlor, manager of All-Ireland winners Donegal Jim McGuiness, Elio and Rebbeca Rabbitte.

Pictures: Una Williams

Antoin McFadden, Martin McElhalley, Elio

Terry Hurrell, Jorge Zulkouski,

Rabbitte and Adam Lawlor

Gerry McCleery and Una Barrett

Donegal’s Michael Boyle

Eammon O’Grady, Gerry McCleery, Jorge Zulkouski, Robert McDermot, Rebbeca Donegal’s Michael Murphy

Rabbitte and Alfie Acheson

First club rugby kit presented to Taggers A

TOTAL of 25 players from Westmanstown Taggers Special Needs Rugby club were recently presented with their first club rugby kit. The kits are sponsored by local business Silvio Rabbitte & Sons Ltd. Members of the All-Ireland winning Donegal team were in attendence.

The club was founded and launched in September 2012 by Argentinian Coach Jorge

Lulkouski, whose son is also a player. Jorge has extensive coaching experience working with special needs children from St Michael’s house and St Vincent’s. Cubs, youths and senior teams of all ages are welcome to join the club. Training takes place every Sunday in Westmanstown Garda Rugby club from 11.45am to 1pm. For more information, log on to www.facebook. com/WestmanstownTaggers.

13 December 2012 blanch Gazette 7

8 BLANCH Gazette 13 December 2012

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safer blanchardstown Initiative launched

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Safer Blanchardstown are urging the public to lock all their windows and doors before leaving their homes

Lock Burglars Out call to residents

 Laura Webb

Lock up, and lock burglars out – that’s the message community organisations and local gardai are putting across to local residents in a bid to reduce burglaries in the area.

Safer Blanchardstown and gardai in Blanchardstown have developed the Lock Burglars Out initiative to urge people to lock all their windows and doors before leaving their homes, making it harder for burglars to target their properties.

Speaking to the Gazette this week, Philip Jennings of Safer Blanchardstown said one third of all burglaries are

preventable, and so the initiative targets this.

“People are not taking the time to check their home security. They are rushing out the door to get a pint of milk, collect the kids from school, and are not locking up properly.

“Burglaries are up all over the country, not just in Blanchardstown, and that is an important point to stress. [This time of year] every home is a potential Aladdin’s cave for a burglar who can get in.

“Apart from children’s toys, people buy phones and electronic items which are very manoeuvrable. Burglars bring in a haversack or a sports

bag and off they go.”

Last week, Safer Blanchardstown and Garda representatives were in the Blanchardstown Centre and Superquinn in Blanchardstown Village to promote the initiative and give advice on locking up.

“People thought it was a great idea… Some people may think their doors are locked, but one lock isn’t always enough,” explained Jennings.

“People have alarms and they don’t turn them on. That’s one thing use them - because burglars don’t like noise. I know people say: ‘Noone responds to the noise when my alarm is

going off’ but the burglar responds - he runs away.”

Philip went on to advise residents that if they have doubts that they locked up, to go back and check: “It can really make the difference in someone getting into your house or not.”

He also advised not to leave items on display.

“Burglars look in, see it, they knock, no-one answers and they try to get in. If they see a window open they will just take the opportunity, jump in and take it.”

For tips about crime prevention, log onto www.saferblanchardstow n.com or w w w. garda.ie

PHOENIX FM 92.5 is bringing the Irish language to local airwaves with their first Irish language news programme.

Anseo is Ansuid (Here and There) is broadcast every Wednesday evening from 8 to 9pm on the Dublin 15 community radio station located in Blanchardstown.

The show is presented by principal of Luttrellstown Community College, Fionnuala Ni Chaisil, and former Phoenix FM chairman, Sean O Beachain.

“Anseo is Ansiud will be a fantastic way for the people of the area to engage with the Irish language and Phoenix FM is delighted to be able to provide this service,” said the station’s chairman, Alan Connolly.

Ongar centre’s Christmas party Ongar Community Centre is celebrating Christmas with a special party just for kids on Friday, December 21 from 3 to 5pm.

The event for kids aged 10 and under includes a range of activities including a magic show, face painting and a mini disco.

Santa Claus will also make an appearance.

Tickets cost €5 each, and for bookings phone 01 825 0366 or email info@ongarcc.ie.

Parties show opposition to property tax A number of political parties have voiced opposition to the property tax announced in last week’s budget and vow to launch major campaigns against it.

Dublin West Sinn Fein representative, Paul Donnelly, said: “It is not yet law. It can be stopped” and “there are alternatives”.

“Many families up and down

the country will not be able to pay it,” he said.

“This home tax is the brainchild of Fianna Fail. If the Government is allowed to legislate for it, then it will be the tipping point for families across the state…and together we must make it clear to them that enough is enough”.

Meanwhile, the Socialist

Party are set to launch a separate campaign against the controversial tax.

Mulhuddart councillor Ruth Coppinger said: “This will be a despised tax for workers, the unemployed and pensioners who will look for a way to resist it,” she said.

“This budget is a continuation of the war on working

people, the unemployed and students. The figures available prior to this Budget in terms of household income surveys, mortgage arrears and various poverty indicators will all, without exception, get worse on the basis of the Budget announcement.”

The property tax will come into effect from July 1 2013.

Commercial Feature

13 December 2012 BLANCH Gazette 9

Hollystown Golf Club has a very special offer just for you Hollystown Golf Club has a very special offer just for you – the best value golf in Dublin with full membership only €795 from now until end of December 2013.

The popular 27- hole facility has a series of offers for golfers of all ages and lifestyles.

Hollystown is determined to offer golfers the best value possible in these trying times.

Just as founder Oliver Barry revolutionised the Irish golf scene with his golf for all policy back in 1992, so Hollystown is now offering better value than ever before.

“Our policy from day one was to offer quality golf at affordable prices for everyone,” said Oliver as the club released membership and green fee details for the new season.

“That philosophy is more relevant than ever today and Hollystown Golf Club will live up to it. It is our way and it has never been more important.

“We have a belief in our product and pricing and we are confident that there is not a golf club in Ireland than can offer 27 holes of golf for the same price.”

Now Hollystown is a vibrant and thriving club where guests are treated with the same welcome and respect as members and a tee-time is always available.

“We pride ourselves on our friendliness, our accessibility and our welcome,” added Oliver.

“Our doors are always open. Our three course options ensure golfers will always get a game and our course superintendent Joe Bedford has Hollystown looking and playing better than ever”.

“Hollystow n has

gone from strength to strength over the 20 years. We have a thriving ladies section, we want to encourage more boys and girls to come and learn the great game of golf at Hollystown and our club teams have won three pennants in the last three years. “My message to everyone is that member’s golf and visitor golf is alive and well at Hollystown.

We’d love to see you, we’d love to have a chat about our offers and we look forward to welcoming you to Hollystown.”

With the new M2-M3 link road about to make Hollystown more accessible than ever - the M50 at exit 5 will be just three minutes away - there has never been a better time to check out the course.

Early bird

Green fees are €20 midweek and €28 at weekends with early bird and twilight offers from as little as €15.

When it comes to membership, Hollystown offers exceptional value for the coming year.

The newly released membership fees for 2013, are great value for all golfers.

Full Membership is now available at just €795, inclusive of all GUI/ILGU levies. Tee times are available all day every day with a guest rate of €16 midweek and €20 on weekends for up to seven guests.

Five Day plus Membership, with no green fees payable from Monday to Friday and €16 payable at weekends, is available at just €565 per year.

Flexi Membership is now on offer at €295.

Green fees for fleximembers are €16 during the week and €20 at weekends.

Under 28s can avail of

Hollystown Golf Club proud of its reputation as the friendliest golf club in Ireland

full membership at €595 per year while student membership is just €250 for those under 21.

A husband and wife couple can enjoy a 10 per cent discount on Full and Five Day Plus memberships and a five per cent discount on Flexi Membership.

With over 200 competitions a year and a vibrant Ladies Society on a Wednesday, there really is something for everyone at Hollystown.

Resident PGA Pro Joe Murray offers tuition in all aspects of the game for all age groups and playing levels and is keen to encourage youngsters to

take up the game at Hollystown.

With excellent catering facilities and a welcoming bar, featuring the Johnny Giles trophy cabinet, Hollystown offers golfers the complete package without standing on ceremony.

As the website says, Dublin’s best value golf membership with no extra charges, no levies and no gimmicks is now available at http://www. hollystown.com/ With the original – and still the best – annual membership plans in Dublin there has never been a better time to join Hollystown Golf Club.

Special Readers’ Offer And as a very special offer for new members, the first 10 readers of the Gazette to arrive at Hollystown with a copy of the paper will receive a five per cent discount on Full Membership.

MEMBERSHIP Full Member €795p.a.

5 Day-plus Member €565p.a.

No green fees payable Mon-Fri Captain’s & President’s Prize. Weekend €16

Flexi Member €295p.a.

Green Fees: Weekday €16 Weekend €20 Membership inclusive of VAT & GUI/ILGU subscription

Benefits: 

All Members can compete in all Club Competitions and Inter- Club Teams



Guests rate: Weekday €16 Weekend €20 (up to 7 guests)



Monthly Payment Scheme Contact:

Hollystown, Dublin 15 Tel: +353- 1- 8207444 Fax: +353- 1- 8207447 info@hollystown.com

www.hollystown.com

10 BLANCH Gazette 13 December 2012

gazetteGALLERY

Paul Falvey and Suzanne Parker

Suzanne Knght and Marie Johnson

Dublin City 103.2 FM celebrate 20 years on air

D

UBLIN City 103.2FM has recently celebrated 20 years of broadcasting. The radio station reflected on its beginnings, when it was set up by seven radio enthusiasts in 1992 and was broadcasting as Anna Livia FM. The station has seen many changes over the years, including changing studio locations.

Have you seen yourself in the Gazette? Buy photos online from only â‚Ź6.99 at www.gazettephotos.com

However, the ethos of the station remains intact, and some of the original crew still remain with the station.

Since they came on the airwaves two decades ago, they estimate that over 2,000 people have been engaged in the station. It now looks forward to enjoying another 20 successful years ahead of them.

Mick Hanley, Margaret Roche and John Tierney

Regiane Almeida

Karen O’Connor and Grainne Lynch

13 December 2012 Gazette 11

asdfsdaf schools P27 P15

budget P14

dublinlife

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

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diary P12

poetry marathon: gathering of leading lights

Paradise for poets as epic work to be fully read TRINITY College Dublin will host Ireland’s first ever full reading of Paradise Lost this weekend.

One of the longest poems in the English language, Paradise Lost was written by 17th century English poet John Milton after he lost his sight.

The reading will take place as part of a poetry marathon, which will take place at Trinity College’s Graduate Memorial Building on Friday,

December 14, and later in the Gallery Chapel at the college. The session will run from 10am until 2pm. The epic poem was originally published in 1667 in 10 books, with a total of more than 10,000 individual lines of verse.

It is based on the biblical story of the fall of man – the temptation of Adam and Eve and their expulsion from the Garden of Eden.

A number of other

poets will be reading poetry at the marathon, some of whom include the Nobel Laureate, Seamus Heaney; performance poet, Dave Lordan; Milton expert, Professor Thomas Luxon; poet and Professor of Physics at Trinity, Gerald Dawe; David Norris, Eilean Ni Chuilleanain, Macdara Woods and Joseph Wood, director of Poetry Ireland.

They will be joined by

the Provost, Patrick Prendergast, and by the students and staff of Trinity College English department, including Professor Eve Patten.

All proceeds raised at the reading marathon will be donated to the National Council for the Blind in Ireland. For more information, log on to www. vermilliondesign.com, the co-sponsors of the event with TCD’s English department.

Paradise Lost was written by 17th century English poet John Milton

Gazette

12 Gazette 13 December 2012

dublinlife

Pictured at the launch of Sing for Simon were Patricia Eposegui, Maria Oxley Boardman and Helena Steemers

diary

Come sing a song for Simon this Christmas Dublin Simon Community’s Sing for Simon carol singing campaign which this year runs until Christmas Eve is an extremely important part of the homeless charity’s Christmas fundraising activities, and you can get involved, with the charity calling on local people to get on board.

Each year, Sing for Simon brings together over 100 groups and choirs who sing Christmas carols in numerous shopping centres and other areas across Dublin.

Thanks to the generosity and goodwill of Simon’s supporters it has grown into an annual fundraising campaign.

During the days leading up to Christmas, you can hold an event in your workplace canteen, shop floor at your Christmas Party, or you can join one of Dublin Simon’s organised venues in Dublin City Centre such as Grafton Street or one of Dublin’s

Shopping Centres.

Dublin Simon will provide your group with Sing for Simon t-shirts, buckets and banners.

Sing for Simon also includes a 24-hour Carolathon on Grafton St on December 21 at 5pm. For more information on Sing for Simon, log on to www.dubsimon.ie

launch of scheme to plant trees The Tree Council of Ireland, in partnership with Balfour Beatty CLG, has launched a community tree project grants scheme.

The scheme aims to support organisations at a local level that are attempting to improve their local area through the planting of trees.

The sites available for such projects are often unused or neglected areas, which can be transformed by the planting of trees.

“While the tree coun-

cil promotes recognition of the benefits of trees at national level, Ireland’s cities, towns and villages still need more of the right trees in the right places. The provision of a funding mechanism to assist the implementation of community tree projects will enable communities to derive these benefits for themselves,” explains director of the Tree Council of Ireland, Mary Keenan.

Successful applicants will receive up to 75% towards their project costs, subject to a maximum grant of €500 per project. For more information, visit www.treecouncil.ie

moving crib opens to the public The always popular moving crib is open to the public again this Christmas at Saint Martin’s Apostolate, Parnell Square.

The crib, with its moving statues, has been a staple visiting spot for families at Christmas in Dublin for generations.

Now in its 50th year, the moving crib traces the story of the old and new testaments from Adam and Eve right to the nativity scene and finally ending with the boy Jesus questioning the elders in the Temple.

There are over 100 figures in the crib, arranged in 14 different tableaux.

The figures are made of papier-mache with concealed motors moving the arms, heads and legs and stand around a metre tall.

T h e m ov i n g c r i b will be open throughout December, except Christmas Eve to Stephen’s Day and on January 1, right up until January 6 at St Martin Apostolate, 42 Parnell Square, Dublin 1, from 2pm to 6pm on weekdays and from 11.30am to 6pm at weekends.

13 December 2012 Gazette 13

festive: centre has choirs, kids’ workshops and shows

Christmas wonderland at Powerscourt Townhouse  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

If you like the idea of pampering yourself in the most tasteful possible surroundings, then the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre is for you this year.

It is going all out for Christmas with a variety of festive activities, entertainment, workshops and shows for the whole family.

The festivities got off to a musical start in Powerscourt as performers such as A Glor Gos-

pel Choir, Il Coro Italiano Di Dublino, as well as musicians, harpists and guitarists heralded in the beginning of the Christmas holidays.

Not only will Santa and his helpers be on hand at the centre but there will also be special storytelling sessions and Christmas themed workshops on offer.

This year, the Powerscour t Tow nhouse Centre is also inviting children to visit Father C h r i s t m a s ’s u n i q u e workroom for a behind the scenes look at an

authentic 18th century styled St Nichols’s den.

Children can visit Santa Claus and see him working hard behind the scenes every weekend from 12pm to 4pm. Tickets for this cost €12.

The Powerscourt Creative Christmas Workshops with the Magic Turtles teaches children how to make Christmas cards, gifts and decorations and will run every weekday in the run up to Christmas.

The workshops costs €5 per child and run from 2pm to 5pm in

Santa’s workroom each weekday and until 8pm on Thursday, December 20.

Theatre comes alive in the centre at the weekends, with productions for both children and adults.

On Saturdays, productions of the Gruffalo, based on the book

by Julia Donaldson, will feature followed by the show, of Ross O’Carroll Kelly for the adults.

Performance Each Saturday evening will be rounded

off with a performance by several choirs over the course of the next two weeks.

The Gruffalo theatre productions start on Saturdays at 2pm and cost €6 while the Ross O’Carroll-Kelly show is free from 3pm until 5pm.

On Christmas Eve, an exhibition called The Ort of Ross O’CarrollKelly will be held at 5pm beside Father Christmas’ workroom.

T he Powerscour t Christmas Festival is on now at 59 South William Street, Dublin 2.

Gazette

feature national gallery

View the holy family through the centuries A new exhibition of paintings, Imagining the Divine: The Holy Family in Art, is currently running at the National Gallery of Ireland.

The collection of 13 paintings follows the artistic representation of the Holy Family from the renaissance up to the 19th century.

Highlights include The Dawn of Christianity: The Rest on the Flight into Egypt

by JMW Turner the 19th century romantic landscape artist, on loan from the Ulster Museum as well as an early renaissance painted relief by Florentine sculptor, Lorenzo di Ghiberti.

Imagining the Divine: The Holy Family in Art runs until April 1. Admission is free.

Commercial Feature

milestone: a record thirty million passenger journeys this year

Luas Improvements and Investments in 2012

2012 was a good year for Luas and for Luas customers. Thirty million passenger journeys will be made on Luas this year a new record for the light rail system which opened in 2004.

Last year the Government carried out a root and branch review of all proposed capital projects.

One of the only projects to survive was the Luas linkup, which indicates the strength of the reputation which Luas has earned in less than a decade.

The Government has again given the go-ahead for the new Luas link-up, which will connect the Red and Green Lines in the city centre. Work will start on this project in 2013 and passengers will be on board in 2017.

Luas continues to operate without any state sub-

vention and continues to get exceptionally positive feedback from the Luas customer.

In addition to this, Luas has been very busy in 2012. It has completed a range of improvements throughout the year, ranging from new walking and cycling routes, improved signage, better collection and drop-off areas at Luas stops, new Luas mobile website and a whole raft of other improvements.

The Railway Procurement Agency together with the National Transport Authority has rolled out a number of improvements which will improve access to Luas stops. Simple improvements can make all the difference. For example, RPA and South Dublin County Council teamed up to improve access to the Cookstown Luas Stop for hundreds of residents in Ambervale and adjoining estates. A long

walk is a deterrent for people and ease of access benefits everybody.

Similarly, new cycle facilities have been provided at a range of Luas stops throughout the network with sheltered cycle parking at a number of locations.

Another bit of smart and sustainable thinking relates to successful trials of new energy efficient lighting technology on Luas in 2012. Next year it hopes to replace approximately 50% of existing Luas stop lighting bulbs with energy efficient bulbs.

A comprehensive survey of energy wastage will allow Luas to make future improvements that will make it more sustainable and reduce costs with direct benefits to the customer.

Luas has completed a range of improvements throughout the year, ranging from new walking and cycling routes, improved signage, better collection and drop-off areas at Luas stops

Gazette

14 Gazette 13 December 2012

dublinlife

feature

budget 2013: aN Overview of what’s ahead

Expert analysis of our financial future  mike sheehan,

tax Partner, Deloitte

BUDGET 2013 has continued on a similar path as Budget 2012, with the introduction of further incentives for the SME and agri food and farm sectors.

The Minister announced a helping hand to the SME sector in the form of a 10-point tax reform plan, which includes measures across a number of tax areas.

In recognition of the ongoing difficult credit environment, several of these provisions are aimed at providing cash flow benefits, such as the increase in the VAT cash accounting threshold from €1m to €1.25m; an increase in the de-minimus close company surcharge threshold from €635 to €2,000; and a reform of the three year

corporation tax relief for start-up companies to allow unused relief to be carried forward.

Other measures are positive developments, such as an increase in the amount qualifying for an R&D tax credit without reference to the 2003 threshold from €100,000 to €200,000 and an extension of the foreign earnings deduction for work related travel to additional African countries.

The R&D credit measure should, in particular, provide stimulus to smaller organisations engaged in research and development activities.

Given the dependence of the majority of SMEs on domestic demand, however, an important factor in creating and maintaining jobs in this sector is the level of disposable income of Irish consumers. As such,

whereas the 10-point tax reform plan is certainly a step in the right direction, the impact of Budget 2013 on individual incomes will continue to play a major role in the future success of the SME sector, impacting on the demand for goods and services.

In recognition of the importance of agri food and farming sectors to the Irish economy, the Minister has extended the various stock relief measures for farmers in general, young trained farmers and registered farm partnerships for three years to December 31 2015.

Following B udget 2013, there is finally clarity on the detail of the much speculated property tax. It will be administered by the Revenue Commissioners with the funds earmarked for the local authorities.

A rate of 0.18% will apply to properties with a value up to €1m, and for properties over €1m a rate of 0.25% will apply on the excess.

Revenue has stated it will be a self-assessment tax but will issue “guidance” on the various valuations. For those owning second homes, the NPPR charge of €200 will be abolished from January 1 2014.

While the Minister has kept his promise of not altering the income tax bands and rates, he has effectively introduced a number of stealth taxes through abolishing the PRSI exemption which will cost every PAYE worker €264 per year, increasing the DIRT rate from 30% to 33% and bringing unearned income (such as rents, interest, dividends) within the scope of PRSI from 2014.

Mike Sheehan, Tax Partner at Deloitte gives his verdict on the Budget

Over five successive budgets, the capital gains tax and capital acquisitions tax rates have increased from 20% to the current rates of 33%.

In addition, over the same period, the thresholds at which capital acquisitions tax becomes payable have decreased by almost 60%.

Budget 2013 sees an increase in excise duty on the “old reliables”, which includes a 10% increase in the duty on a pint of beer or cider and

a noteworthy €1 increase on a bottle of wine.

Vehicle registration tax and motor tax across all categories will increase from January 1 2013.

These increases will have an impact on Irish consumers and consequently the domestic economy, the full extent of which remains to be seen.

An ongoing commitment to the 12.5% corporate tax rate, underpinning Ireland’s corporate tax strategy, was noted

by the Minister, who also announced some positive changes to the R&D tax credit regime, as well as the introduction of accelerated capital allowances on aviation facilities.

Overall, Budget 2013 will underpin Ireland’s commitment to getting its house in order, which in turn will serve to enhance Ireland’s credibility and reputation amongst foreign investors and the international markets.

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13 December 2012 Gazette 15

Gazette

schools

initiative: colaiste bride works with tidy towns to help keep clondalkin clean

Growing great ideas for the area î Ž niamh balfe Colaiste Bride, Clondalkin

IN NOVEMBER, members from the Clondalkin Tidy Towns held a meeting with the Colaiste Bride Green Flag Committee.

T he students and teachers involved had a chance to discuss their ideas with Tidy Towns about how to reduce litter in the area, and how to get more youth involved.

During the meeting, it was decided that the transition-year students in Colaiste Bride would help by doing regular clean-ups around

With hopes to achieve the Biodiversity Green Flag at the school, students at Colaiste Bride, Clondalkin, are working with the local Tidy Towns group

Clondalkin in the new year. The students came up with excellent ideas on how to help, such as clean-ups, young volunteers and using social

media to promote the cause.

The Tidy Towns members were very enthusiastic and grateful to hear these ideas and are mak-

ing plans to use these in the near future.

Members from Tidy Towns, along with some volunteers, meet outside Tuthills in Clondalkin

village every Saturday at 10am and work for one hour cleaning up the area. They do fantastic work and would be extremely grateful to have further voluntary assistance.

Colaiste Bride has received four Green flags, to date, and is currently working towards their fifth, which is for biodiversity.

This is the variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat.

In the process of working to achieve this, the Green Flag committee have put up bird feeders at different areas outside the school, and plant-

ed daffodils along the entrance of the school.

They have further plans to promote biodiversity around the school, such as having a biodiversity garden.

There is to be more work between the Green

Flag members and Tidy Towns’ members in the new year, which will aid both Tidy Towns in their aim to reduce litter in Clondalkin, and also assist Colaiste Bride in their hope to receive their next Green Flag.

GAZETTE

16 GAZETTE 13 December 2012

DUBLINLIFE

Q&A

FERGAL LYNCH, CHILL INSURANCE

Taking the sting out of finding insurance FERGAL Lynch works in the marketing department at Chill Insurance and also take cares of their commercial ventures, the most recent of which was the launch of Chill Retail.

He has a BSc in Management and Marketing, and has over 20 years experience in marketing communications and business development.

Fergal said: “It is a really big challenge creating effective marketing campaigns in such a competitive

industry. “[In the campaign], the aim was to create an advertising campaign that is a little different to what we are all typically used to from other insurance providers. Our TV advertisments are quite humorous, but also get the message across to the consumer that we take the hassle out of insurance.

“I enjoy growing the Chill brand and aim to make Chill Insurance a household name in Ireland.”

How long have you been in business?

not a tied agent, which means that we don’t deal with just one insurer, we deal with 14. The fact that we are independent, also means that we will not and cannot force one particular product or insurer on a customer, thus giving the best choice and value in one go.

We also understand that not everyone wants to conduct their business online, so that’s why we give our customers the option to pop into one of our stores and have a chat face to face with a real person, or call us and let our friendly staff take it from here.

We are 100% Irish as well, which means we won’t sell out to large international companies. We are for the people, by the people. No one knows the Irish quite like the Irish.

Chill Insurance has been in business since 2007, and is one of Ireland’s largest online brokers. We compare 14 insurers to get you the best deal on your insurance. We are not a tied agent.

What makes your business successful?

Chill Insurance is unique in its offering in that it is the only broker that compares 14 underwriters to get our customers the best deal.

When everyone in Ireland knows that we are not a tied agent and the only broker that compares 14 insurers, we will have done our job!

Our customers can call us, visit us online or pop into one of our four retail stores in prominent locations in Dublin for a quote.

We employ professional and qualified sales agents who live and breathe our Chill mantra that we will do our best to get customers the best quote every time.

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

We look at insurance as the chore that everyone hates having to do, so we take the sting out of it by searching 14 insurers for customers in one go.

We are always told to “shop around” when making a purchase, whether it be a plumber, builder, or for insurance, but what makes us different is that we do the shopping around for you. Chill Insurance is

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

As I have mentioned before, we are 100% Irish and that is very, very important for us. Our head office is based in Blackrock, but through our retail stores, we can be part of several local communities.

Each of our locations are unique, and we love having the buzz of a shopping centre around our retail stores that allows us to conduct our business in local areas and bring great value insurance to the people of that area.

We want our customers to know that we are not a huge multinational company with one main office in the city centre, we bring our service to our customers and allow them to get to us in their locality.

BUSINESS

Supported

by AIB

Take action to reduce the cost of car insurance FROM December 21, a new EU ruling means insurance companies cannot price motor insurance based on gender, even though statistics indicate young males are a high accident risk.

Female drivers, in particular, may feel the pinch, although Chill Insurance says that simply “shopping around” can make a big difference to insurance costs.

The independent Irish brokers make it their business to “shop around” 14 different insurers for the best quote for customers, and, for younger drivers worried about rising motor insurance, Chill Insurance has some cost-cutting advice.

• Join a parent’s insurance as a named driver; get a safety record, and avail of discounts on ‘own name’

insurance, based on named driver records and driving experience.

• Having a full licence reduces car insurance premiums considerably.

• Choose a lower value car with a small engine; less powerful, less expensive cars are cheaper to insure.

• Opting for a higher ‘voluntary excess’, (what you pay if there is a claim), can lower policy costs and may suit safe, competent drivers rather than young inexperienced drivers.

• Ideally, pay premiums in full on taking out a policy, as monthly interest rates can be high.

• Don’t pay extra for windscreen cover, breakdown assistance, additional drivers etc. if you don’t need them.

Check what your policy covers.

• Companies often offer additional

discounts on more than one policy; so look at including car cover for other family members, or home or life insurance, with the same company.

• Third party fire and theft insurance is cheaper than fully comprehensive, and is an option for lowvalue cars and safe, ‘low-mileage’ drivers; but do remember that damage to your car is not covered other than for fire or theft • Shop Around!

For more information, log on to www.chill.ie, call 1890 30 20 20, or visit one of their stores at the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, The Swords Pavilions, Donaghmede Shopping Centre, and The Square, Tallaght, all of which are open seven days a week.

TECHNOLOGY: MONITORING WASTE TREATMENT PLANTS

Local firm works with European Space Agency TECHWORKS Marine in Dun Laoghaire has become the latest business among 40 companies to work with the European Space Agency (ESA).

The technology company has developed a set of earth-observation products which monitor environmental wastewater plants in Ireland and elsewhere on the planet.

Wastewater treatment plants are of particular interest to the ESA, due to their effect on the environment, and TechWorks Marine is focusing in on Donegal Bay, where there are a number of such plants.

T he new obser vation products are fixed onto existing ESA satellites which orbit the earth, collecting data for many different research projects.

T h e s e Te c h Wo r k s products monitor marine activity as well as watertreatment plants, and track any new ecological developments.

TechWork Marine’s managing director Charlotte O’Kelly said: “My company monitors the ocean in real time at very specific locations over very long periods of time at very high resolution.

“The ESA satellites give us the spatial coverage that our platforms don’t have and our platforms give the ESA images, the groundtruthing validation that they don’t have.”

Ireland has been a member of the ESA since its foundation in 1975.

Last month, Innovation Minister Sean Sherlock announced a €17m investment in the ESA

Astrium Metop-B weather satellite

with a view to creating up to 2,000 jobs in the sector, and growing exports up to €56m by 2015. Ireland is one of 20 member states in the ESA, which has an annual budget of about €4bn.

The ESA is funded through financial contributions from the member states and the amount each member pays is cal-

culated on the basis of gross national product.

Companies from member states can then tender for contracts up to the total value of the country’s contribution.

According to Enterprise Ireland, the spinoff export sales from Irish investment in the ESA was about €35m in 2010.

13 December 2012 Gazette 17

cinema P20

asdfsdaf P27 TRAVEl P24

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



Gazette

MUSIC P19

Pets

Nicha Maguire, Tamarin Blackmur and Terry Lyons have seen off 12 competitors to become the finalists of Masterchef 2012

Cooking: Masterchef finalists talk to the gazette ahead of showdown

To become the Master  Paul Hosford

THEN there were three.

The final of Irish Masterchef is upon us and the top 15 amateur chefs in the country have been whittled down to just three, with Terry Lyons, Tamarin Blackmur and Nicha Maguire set to battle it out for the title of Masterchef 2012.

Having started out in the kitchen under the watchful gaze of Michelin star chef Dylan McGrath and renowned restauranteur Nick Munier, the progression of the chefs has been phenomenal to watch, culminating in a semi-final which saw each of the four remaining contestants cook a course for every Michelin-starred chef in the country.

There, Nicha, Tamarin and Terry were left standing, ready to go into a three-

way battle, cluminating on Thursday, December 13.

Though their styles are quite different, the one thing that the chefs have in common is their experience in the kitchen before the competition.

“I was just a home cook,” says Tamarin. “I just always loved to cook for family and loved food. Some people buy books to read, I buy cook books.”

Terry echoes that, though he came to cooking late.

“I think I came to cooking a lot later than most of the others, probably only in the last six or seven years.

“I was a bit of a fussy eater when I was younger, and when I got married and started trying new things that’s when I really got into it.”

Former Malahide resident Nicha is

in the same camp, having been a home cook before taking the plunge on to the show.

“Food has always been my passion, ever since I was a child. But I only cooked Thai food until I came to Ireland, then I started trying out new ingredients.”

For South African-born Tamarin, the challenge has been huge, but the rewards even greater.

“It’s been a fantastic challenge and very overwhelming. It’s an amazing feeling to get through.

“I’ve always loved the show and thought I’d go for it this year after sitting at work and noticing the application was about to go online.

“I’d always wanted a career in food, but wasn’t sure how to go about it so

this gave me the push that I needed.

Terry says that he had aimed for the top 10 and worked extremely hard to get to the final.

“When I first applied, I never thought I would get this far. I just kept progressing and pushing myself harder and harder. Next thing, before I know it, I’m in the final.

“I thought I might get to the top 10, then the top five was a goal. To get to the top three and be in the final is huge.

“Now that I’m in the final, I want to go and win it.

“I think in the last couple of tasks you can see that I’m cooking from the heart and looking a lot more relaxed because of it.”

Continued on Page 21

The DSPCA rescues thousands of sick, injured and cruelly treated animals each year, from places and situations where otherwise they may not be alive today.

Scamp arrived to the DSPCA earlier this year in very bad condition.

He had serious parasite infestations, was underweight, malnourished and had severe dental issues.

DSPCA veterinary staff immediately got to work. He was given antibiotics and medicated baths to treat his skin infections. Most of his teeth had to be removed.

At first Scamp did not want to leave his kennel and would not interact with anybody. As he began to feel better and went to a loving foster home, he realised that life has much to offer and that people can be kind.

The DSPCA works hard to reduce suffering and create meaningful lives for these animals but we cannot do it without donations and support from the public.

To make a donation, text “Donate Chance” to 57977. Texts cost €2.50, with €1.75 going to the DSPCA. For more information, see www. dspca.ie.

Gazette

18 Gazette 13 December 2012

OUT&ABOUT NEXT €21-€24

STYLE NEXT €17-€19

Barbie Fashionistas Ultimate Closet €40

Littlewoods Earmuff Headphones €15

Christmas Guide – for kids  Laura Webb

Master Moves Mickey €90

It’s the last installment of Gazette Style’s wish list for everyone in the family. Two weeks ago, we started with some subtle hints about what to get the woman in your life. Then, last week it was all about the man in your life, and now this week we bring you the fun week – it’s ideas for the kids.

Here we have picked out some great toys, festive and fun clothing and board games which the whole family can enjoy. So happy shopping everyone, we hope we have helped in your search for great presents this year.

LeapFrog Leap Pad 2 Explorers €104

PS Vista 3GB Console €379 Jake and the Never Land Pirates Pirate Ship Bucky €70

Dunnes Stores Red Coat €25 Mattel Apptivity €15 Dunnes Stores Raindeer Booties €5 Thomas & Friends Steam n’ Speed RC Thomas €60

Hasbro Monopoly Board Games €22

Uno Roboto €35

Scrabble Original €25

13 December 2012 Gazette 19

Gazette

MUSIC singer-songwriter: rising star of Lewis Watson

It’s elementary, my dear Watson  Paul Hosford

IN the pantheon of musical stories it is not, perhaps, one that is that well worn.

Young man makes an EP with his music teacher, the EP goes viral, sells a load of copies, goes to number one on iTunes and young man picks up a record deal.

Aside from not being that well-worn, it is not that well known, either.

Yet. L e w i s Wa t s o n , a

2 0 - y e a r- o l d f r o m Oxford is the latest in the stable of earnest, guitar-weilding singersongwriters.

His English twang, soft lyrics and lovesick lyrics make him a comparison to Ed Sheeran.

The fact that people are dubbing him a successor to Sheeran’s c r ow n a s t h e U K ’s number one overly-literal singer/songwriter says more about expectations for Sheeran than Watson, if you ask me but, I digress.

Wa t s o n h a s b e e n spending the last number of months travelling across Europe with a host of acts, including Swords natives Kodaline, with whom he packed The Button Factor y last week.

There, Watson held his own in front of a crowd turning out for hometown heroes, no mean feat for a twentyyear-old and his guitar.

Of course, it is easy for Watson to capture the imagination of a crowd

because his songs are so well crafted and his voice is easy-listening defined.

After the release of his May 2012 breakthrough It’s Got 4 Sad Songs On It BT W, Watson released Another Four Sad Songs, a follow-up EP, in October.

It is the eight songs on the two releases that have seen him tipped, right along with his touring mates, as one of the acts to watch in 2013.

On the evidence so

Lewis Watson is tipped for big things in 2013, including a headline date in Dublin

far, it is hard to argue the label.

A g r ow i n g o n l i n e following, a winsome voice and songs that are about as commercially friendly as they come.

Watson has to be considered one of the UK’s

fasted rising stars and with backing from the aforementioned Sheeran, Zane Lowe and a tour to look forward to, he may well turn out to be a major talent.

The songs on his two EPs show major poten-

tial, particularly Sink or Swim, which comes from Another Four Sad Songs.

Watson will follow up his Button Factory slot with a headline show at the Academy 2 on March 22, tickets are €8.20.

Gazette

20 Gazette 13 December 2012

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

more

theatre THE pavilioN THEATRE 01 231 2929 O Holy Night

IN this intimate and spiritual night, Eimear Quinn will bring her own special rendition of Christmas songs and carols to The Pavilion Theatre for a memorable musical experience.

Eimear’s ethereal voice will blend beautifully with the Mamisa String Quartet, which features Maria and Michelle Mason. December 21 at 8pm, tickets are priced at €21.

Mill Theatre 01 296 9340

Christmas Crooners ENJOY the fantastic cast of West End Singers, backed by the superb band The Jazz All-Stars perform over 30 well known Christmas hits including Winter Wonderland, Let It Snow, Little Drummer Boy, White Christmas and swing arrangements of the wonderful Christmas carols, God Rest ye Merry Gentlemen and Deck the Halls.

Staged with style, this brilliant production of Christmas favourites of Bing Crosby, Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra is really enjoyable.

For one show only on December 17, tickets are priced at €20/18.

The brightly rendered and lovingly created characters of Rise Of The Guardians are discovered by a new generation of fan...

review: a colourful and classy tale of real superheroes

Bright night rises BRINGING children to the cinema on a seasonal holiday weekend can be a bit of a tortuous affair.

Given that most studios are playing catch-up with Pixar when putting together their slate of films made for a younger audience, there can be some horribly disappointing experiences, not just for the kids.

There can be the awful (any film with the word “Alvin” in the title), the mediocre (too many to mention) and the just downright odd (ParaNorman — a bazillion miles from the promise of its trailers).

Equally, the experience for a parent can go between sleeping for 90 minutes, trying not to leave the theatre traumatised with the infantalised scripts and hyperkinetic editing that passes for story and character development, or suffering permanent ocular damage

Film of the Week: Rise Of The Guardians h h h h h (G) 97 mins Director: Peter Ramsey Starring: Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Isla Fisher, Jude Law

 ROB HEIGH

rheigh@gazettegroup.com

from the obligatory and unnecessary 3D. Occasionally, however, you get a huge surprise.

That certainly happened when I saw Rise Of The Guardians last weekend.

My expectations were confounded from the outset, with beautiful character design and a tale filled with fun and wonder that should be on every kids’ Christmas list.

The movie is essentially The Avengers for kids, with superheroes of childhood (the titular Guardians) Santa Claus, The Easter Bunny, The Tooth Fairy and The Sandman setting out to battle the dark influences of Pitch

OUR VERDICT: AT THE close of the year comes one of the best children’s movies of the year, taking the dynamic of The Avengers and blending it with the beautifully crafted artwork and stories of William Joyce. Laugh-out loud moments mix with genuine scares to create a movie that your kids will adore... and which won’t have you looking at the back of your eyelids for 90 minutes.

Black, an incarnation of The Boogeyman, as he attempts to re-establish fear and doubt as currencies for childhood by making the children of the world lose their faith in the Big Four.

Joining the Guardians is Jack Frost, who Santa calls on to help their cause, but who cannot be seen in the tangible world as kids don’t believe in him enough.

The story is an origins story for Jack Frost himself, and his journey to believing in himself so that others can do the same, and that is just as it

should be – a good story very well told.

The screenplay by David Lindsay-Abaire, based on the books by William Joyce, is filled with heart and packed with ideas, bypassing the need for convoluted backstories for the Guardians as they are already so ingrained in our collective consciousness.

T hat presumption allows us to dive straight into the story and credits the audience with a degree of intelligence which is pretty refreshing in current children’s cinema.

There is a whole lot of fun to be had in the character design and voicing, with Hugh Jackman’s Aussie Easter Bunny providing the biggest laughs, while Alec Baldwin’s Soviet Santa brings a fresh take to the presence of the big man.

The absence of schmaltz, along with the presence of a tangible threat that affects the group dynamic for some of the duration of the movie, makes this an almost old-fashioned film, in that there is a genuine nod to the realities of life, loss and growth – all of which are powerful and important lessons for a kids’ movie.

It might not appear at first sight the most appealing of the movies for the season, but there is a core message and stylish look and feel that makes Rise Of The Guardians a whole lot more than the sum of its parts.

13 December 2012 Gazette 21

Gazette

feature Masterchef: Finalists prepare for showdown

Three Masters, but only one winner

Continued from P17 Nicha says that making the final has been a huge achievement, but a favourite moment is hard to pinpoint.

“I’ve loved every part of the Masterchef experience, even though some of them are really precious, like the masterclasses, particularly the one with Dylan [McGrath].

“I didn’t expect to win or come this far. I wanted the apron, but everything after that

was a bonus.

“I just like cooking.

It’s never a hassle for me.”

Cooking for a Michelin starred chef is not something many get to do, so to do it for four of Ireland’s top gastronomists must have been daunting.

“I’m not normally the kind of person who gets nervous,” says Terry “but when I walked in there, I was beginning to get nervous.

“Oliver Dunne said it was a great dish and I

thought, ‘Ok one good one, the rest will be negative’, but the positives kept coming.”

“You’re back” Tamarin says the judging and waiting were more of an ordeal than the cooking itself.

“I loved it when Nick and Dylan said I was back. I felt I’d gotten over my mistakes and I felt calm in the kitchen.

“The bits before going into the kitchen were worse than the actual cooking.”

As tough as it can be to compete, when the pressure was on, that was when Nicha found herself enjoying it the most.

“Sometimes it’s up and down. You have a tough day or a tough challenge and you can think about throwing in the towel, but when the heat comes around, you say, ‘here I come again’.

“When it comes to food, I’m a bit mad, I don’t give up that easily.

I’ll try things until they work.”

With long days, mys-

Masterchef judges Nick Munier and Dylan McGrath

tery challenges, ingredient swaps and harsh judges, it can be a gruelling experience, but Terry says that all of the contestants have bonded.

“We’re always on the phone to each other or on Facebook and we

meet up fairly regularly.

“Obviously, TV shows focus on a bit of fight, but if someone was struggling or lost, the rest of us would jump in or give advice. That’s how close we were.”

All three plan to keep

working in food in some capacity, but with other careers and stiff competition for jobs, their paths are unclear as yet.

After this week, however, one will have the title of Masterchef 2012 and €25,000 to help them on their way.

22 Gazette 13 December 2012

Gazette

&ABOUT OUT road

MOTORS

NOISE

DAA goes electric for latest fleet purchase The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has taken a big step towards reducing its carbon footprint this week, with the announcement that they are going electric for its latest fleet purchase.

The group has purchased nine electric Renault Kangoo mini-vans for use at Dublin and Cork airports, making the company one of the largest electric fleet operators in the country. DAA’s decision to opt for the nine electric vehicles will result in CO2 savings of more than 200,000kg over the lifetime of the vehicles, which is equivalent to planting more than 6,000 trees.

“With this investment, DAA has already become one of Ireland’s leading operators of electric vehicles, and we look forward to significantly expanding our electric fleet over the coming years,” said DAA’s head of sustainability, Mary Coveney.

“The trial helped us build confidence throughout the organisation that buying electric vehicles wasn’t just good for the environment, but also made sense from an operational perspective.

Electric vehicles are perfect for an airport environment, as they have a range of 120km and will always be close to a main charging point,” Ms Coveney said.

The new electric vehicles will be used on a daily basis in both airside and landside locations by DAA maintenance crews, and staff from its car park and terminal services departments.

The Mercedes A-Class’s sporty appearance will appeal to young motorists

a-class: new model takes a giant leap ahead of predecessor

New Mercedes is in a class by itself

n Cormac Curtis

Pictured at the handover of keys were Brendan Mullins, head of asset management, DAA; Dermot McArdle, head of ESB ecars; Paddy Magee, sales and network director, Renault Ireland; and Martin Doherty, environmental manager, DAA

The hotly anticipated new Mercedes-Benz A-Class – seen as the car that will give MercedesBenz access to a new, younger generation of motorists – is here and first models will appear in dealer showrooms during December ahead of the January registrations rush.

Two models will take centre stage initially: one is an A180 petrol version which comes on the market at €26,435 (ex works) and the other, an A180 CDI diesel version at €28,550, the version likely to attract most attention due, in part, to its greener CO2 emissions of just 98g/km.

Both models will come in a choice of three specifications and

equipment lines – style, urban and sports pack.

Entr y models sold here come equipped with style pack features including items which, were they purchased separately, would have a value of €1,600.

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

The new A-Class is as different from its predecessor as it is possible to be --------------------------

Compatible with the needs of the iPhone, iPad generation, its optional on board high-tech functionality is such that iPhone Siri voice-a ctiv a ted units and iPad music

and apps can be played through the car’s infotainment system.

The new A-Class is as different from its predecessor as it is possible to be.

Sitting some 18cm closer to the ground, its low-slung posture and SL-like fascia give it a positively sporty appearance that will appeal to young male and female motorists alike.

The front-wheel drive, all engines have an idlestop system as standard, is linked to a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.

Its new four-link rear suspension has a range of settings that includes an optional sports setting with direct steer.

Collision prevention assist, attention assist,

adaptive brake assist and brake hold are all part of its standard safety features.

Backlog Since it first appeared at the Geneva Motor Show earlier this year, worldwide interest in the new A-Class has been intense, so much so that a backlog of orders already exists.

Here in Ireland, Mercedes-Benz passenger carsales manager Ciaran Allen expects supply to keep pace with demand in the initial phases, at least.

“In keeping with its high-tech image, our launch plan will include a heavy concentration on Facebook and smart phone app technology to create an interactive platform whereby prospective customers can

learn about the A-Class and scroll through its features to model the version they like best,” said Allen.

Already something of a wunderkind in terms of its environmental features, the A-Class 180 CDI is acknowledged by the German TUV organisation as offering fuel savings of up to 26%, emissions as low as 98g CO2/km, a best in class CD value of 0.27 and petrol engines that comply with Euro six emissions standard.

Indeed, over its entire life cycle from production to recycling, it is estimated that the A-Class, in the guise of the A180 BE version, will produce 5.7 tons less emissions than its predecessor and will meet the stipulated recycling rate of 95% by weight.

13 December 2012 BLANCH gazette 23

Gazette

HOMES holidays: deck your halls with the m&s christmas range

The countdown to a stylish Christmas The countdow n to products, availChristmas morning is able online and definitely in full in store, have swing as we everything look around needed and see all t h i s the wonderChristful sparkling mas, and decorations what is outside homes, great is shopping centres that it is or just through busy Christmas tree all under bauble, €5.50 street corners. the one So, as people are roof. deciding just what to deck Life-size Christmas their homes with, Gazette trees, that are either plain Home has looked to or with lights, are availM&S to see just what able in a number of differtheir Christmas home ent colours. Decorations range has to offer. Their for the wonderful tree

are also available to help make it the centre point of the living area.

The fabulous lead picture this week includes: 6ft pre-lit white tree €170, baubles from €3.50, Maiko chair in Nilo Leather Red €1,199, honeycombe orbs €11 (for 2), chenille bauble cushion €16, chenille snowflake cushion €16, Fair Isle throw €47.50, Snowscene print cushion €16.

Placemats in festive decor always add a little extra to the table, while centrepieces, including candles and flower

arrangements, can really highlight the room that will entertain the guests.

Napkin rings are also available in various styles which suit the different kinds of themes that householders might be thinking of this year.

Why not make things a little different by adding items such as a gingerbread tree to the table, so people can admire and eat the centrepiece.

Crackers are definitely a must for the table too, and M&S have a wide range to suit kids, adults or the whole family.

JOY letters, €13

Faux bark tea light holder, €7

For further information on home products from M&S this Christmas, log onto www.marksandspencer.ie or visit your local M&S store.

A full list of store locations is also available online.

The M&S Christmas home range has many products on offer to spruce up your home for the holidays

Gazette

24 BLANCH gazette 13 December 2012

OUT&ABOUT

city break: The Christmas Market at Belfast City Hall

Getting into the  Laura Donnelly

The variety and quality of food available at the market are excellent

Once you have passed the age of writing a letter to Santa, it’s often not as easy to get into the spirit of Christmas. However, with not long left to go, if your festive feelings are lacking, a trip to Belfast will soon change that.

As a big fan of the season of goodwill, I was like a child at Christmas on a recent trip to Belfast! The Christmas Market at Belfast City Hall will lighten even the heaviest of hearts, and will help to tick a few names off the Christmas gift list, too.

Quality gifts for all the family – including pets – can be found at the large market, with jewellery, bags, hats, scarves, gloves and more on offer.

Arriving hungry at the Christmas Market is also a great idea, as the variety and quality of food available are excellent. While Kangaroo meat is one of the more unusual snacks available, festive shoppers can also find the old reliable macaroons, crepes, cakes, sweets and

Turkish delights. Mulled wine, mulled cider and varieties of hot chocolate (with or without Baileys) will keep you warm as you spend time browsing the outdoor market.

There’s also a carousel to entertain children, as well as Santa himself, and a lively bar to keep the adults occupied.

A festive afternoon tea at the five-star Merchant Hotel is an essential part of a visit to Belfast over Christmas. Up to 20 varieties of teas are available in the elegant hotel, to accompany finger sandwiches, scones, mince pies and other festive treats, while live music provides the perfect Christmas atmosphere.

Pampering

For those tempted to pamper themselves, an express manicure from the lovely staff in The Merchant Spa topped off the recent visit nicely.

After a busy afternoon of shopping in the Christmas Market, the fire in the Fitzwilliam Hotel is just what is needed. The Fitzwilliam Hotel, situ-

ated on Great Victoria Street, is ideally located for a shopping trip, with the Christmas Market and the main shopping hub and Victoria Square Shopping Centre just a five-minute walk away.

A cocktail making class with head bartender, Johnathan Magennis, is certainly an entertaining way to spend an evening in the hotel. The class involved making, and subsequently drinking, two cocktails – a bramble and a cosmopolitan.

The bramble comprises of gin, fresh blackberries, lime juice, and sugar syrup. We were greeted with a glass of prosecco and enjoyed canapes as we learned the inside secrets from Johnathan. Did you know that when serving or drinking cocktails, drinks without ice, such as the cosmopolitans we made, should not be served with a straw?

Johnathan joked that if he saw us out and about afterwards drinking cosmos through a straw, he wouldn’t be too impressed!

The cocktail making class is practical and informative, as well as being great fun, and the tips and recipes learned will no doubt be put to the test soon.

Dinner at James Street South is a key recommendation for an upcoming trip to Belfast. Located just minutes from The Fitzwilliam Hotel, every-

The Christmas Market at

thing on the menu comes from within a 40-mile radius. The restaurant prides itself on using only local ingredients, and I would go back simply for the smoked haddock and mussel gratin starter.

Belfast is one city that has everything you need for a relaxing festive city break, while picking up some stocking fillers of course.

To find out more information on Christmas events or for further information on places to stay or things to see and do in Northern Ireland, check out the free booking and advice service and callsave 1850 230 230, or visit NITB’s Tourist Information Centre in Suffolk Street Dublin 2 or click on www.discovernorthernireland.com.

13 December 2012 BLANCH gazette 25

Gazette

Travel

spirit of Christmas

Belfast City Hall will lighten even the heaviest of hearts, and will help to tick a few names off the Christmas gift list, too

26 blanch gazette 13 December 2012

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soccer P28

asdfsdaf gaelic games P27 P31

dublinsport Let the Gazette keep you up to date with all the best local sporting action from around the city as we cover all the stories that matter to you and your community

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cross country P29

FastSport DLR to honour volunteers:

Denis Bastick, Niall Corcoran, county board chairman Andy Kettle and senior football manager Jim Gavin, Eoghan O’Gara and Danny Sutcliffe

hurling: after a tough 2012, Crokes’ star defender says talent is still there

Kilmacud’s Corcoran hopes Dubs summon spirit of 2011 NIALL Corcoran is hoping the Dublin senior hurlers can find the impressive form they showed in 2011 and carry this onto the pitch going into this season’s National Hurling League.

Speaking at the launch of the new Dublin jersey at Parnell Park, the Kilmacud Crokes man said: “We’re going to get the heads down this year and take it game by game and, hopefully, find the form we had in 2011.”

While 2011 was seen as one step forward for the Dublin hurlers, winning the league title and falling just short of

a place in the All-Ireland senior hurling final, they took two steps backward in 2012 with relegation in the league and a lacklustre performance in the championship.

Corcoran believes their poor start to the league campaign last season certainly had an impact on how the season went for them and their inability to cope with the high expectations set for themselves culminated in a downward spiral from which the team was unable to recover.

“Looking back on it, we had a bad start to the league against Galway and

were unlucky with a couple of results.

The confidence was dented a bit.

“We performed well in 2011 and expected a lot of ourselves, but it didn’t happen for us. You have to learn to manage that pressure. If you do well, with that there will be pressure. So, it’s up to the players to manage it.

Speaking about 2013, Corcoran feels that the team as a whole must learn from the disappointment of last season in order for them to come out on top in the big games.

“That’s a lesson we learned this year. If

you go out in these big games, you have to perform and if you don’t, then you’re going to get criticised.”

Corcoran also dismissed the notion that Division 1B is Dublin’s for the taking and believes it is a highly competitive league and that they will have to focus on their performances if they wish to make the final.

“If you look at the teams in 1B, there are a lot of good ones like Wexford, Limerick and Offaly. We also have a game away to Antrim and none of these matches are going to be easy.”

DUN LAOGHAIRE Rathdown sports partnership will host an awards ceremony to acknowledge the work of volunteers of the sports clubs and organisations in the county.

The event will take place on January 30, 2013 in the Fitzpatrick Castle Hotel in Killiney and will include an awards presentation for the individuals and clubs that have demonstrated this volunteering ethos.

If you know of a club or a club member who you believe should be recognised for their efforts, you can find nomination forms and guidelines on the Sports Partnership website www. dlrsportspartnership. ie or call 01 271 9507 for more information.

c o n ta c t s Acting Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@gazettegroup.com

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@gazettegroup.com Phone: 01 651 6205

Gazette

28 BLANCH gazette 13 December 2012

SPORT

FastSport Kenealy starts new role at grass roots: SENIOR women’s cricket international Amy Kenealy began work this week in her new role as community development officer for the South Dublin County area.

Her role will be specifically geared towards running programmes for those with disabilities, the running of grass roots programmes designed to further increase participation in cricket while also working to develop emerging girls’ talent by assisting with the Leinster youth coaching programme.

This initiative also represents the outcome of an imaginative collaboration between Leinster Cricket and The Lord’s Taverners Ireland who have agreed to make a contribution of almost half of the cost of the project.

Kenealy’s appointment has come about following a very successful nine-month internship that was established through the government-driven Jobbridge initiative.

soccer: FAI intermediate cup draw comes up trumps for lsl sides

Glenville set for home tie  sport@gazettegroup.com

GLENVILLE , TEK United, Phoenix and Bluebell United have all gained home draws in the fourth round of the FAI Intermediate Cup following last week’s draw, set for the weekend of January 27 in the New Year.

For rapidly rising Glenville, they have been paired against either Beggsboro or Greystones AFC in the last 16 of the competition after they dismissed the challenge of Cork’s Leeside 3-0.

It continues the P a l m e r s t ow n cl u b ’s excellent recent history in the national competitions, moving a small step closer to repeating

their memorable run in the Senior Cup when they met Bohemians in 2010.

The third tier LSL side have been in flying form in the league, too, this term as they look for their ninth promotion in 11 years, currently second in the standings at the halfway stage in the LSL Sunday Senior 1A. Should Beggsboro make it through, the Glens will have the form guide in their favour having beaten the Crumlin side in the league in August.

Greystones, meanwhile, offer a tough task after a decent first half of the Senior 1 season.

TEK United have not yet reached the last 16

and are massive underdogs for their third round date with Tolka Rovers but, should they overcome that tie, they will be the hosts in the fourth round against either Tymon Celtic or Blarney United.

Harry Kenny’s Phoenix were comfortable 5-0 winners over Swilly Rovers last week to earn a date with Cork side Everton at Scribblestown.

They will have vengeance on their mind, meeting the side that knocked them out of last year’s competition.

John Brophy kept his good form going with a couple of goals while Gareth Cooney also chipped in with a couple.

Glenville have earned a home tie against either Beggsboro or Greystones AFC

Keith Dawson closed out the list of scorers.

Bluebell also host Cork opposition when they showdown against Bandon AFC in the fourth round at the Red Cow. Their passage came at the expense of Douglas Hall in a tough away date. Robert Douglas and Dara Satelle were their goalscorers in a 2-1 success.

Bangor Celtic will travel to St Patrick’s CY

in an all-Leinster date as they knocked out UCC 2-0 at the Iveagh Grounds with two goals in a minute around the 55 minute mark, Terry Gleeson and Paul Devlin on the mark.

Verona, meanwhile, could be set for a trip to Newbridge Tow n should they get past the challenge of Parkvilla in their unplayed round three fixture.

Elsewhere, hold-

ers Avondale United, who defeated the 2011 and 2012 runners-up Cherry Orchard in the third round, have been rewarded with a home tie against fellow Munster Senior League side, College Corinthians.

Leixlip United host St Mary’s in the other tie of the round, the last 16 phase also acting as a qualfier for the initial round of the Senior Cup.

Taoiseach opens top-class Belfield facility  sport@gazettegroup.com

Rachel Breslin, Dominic O’Keefe and Enda Kenny

AN Taoiseach Enda Kenny officially opened the new €50m sports and leisure facility at University College Dublin’s Belfield campus last week.

The new development has been wholly funded by the student body that has paid a self-imposed levy since 2007.

Amongst the facilities is an Olympic-specification 50-metre swimming pool, the only one on the southside of Dublin.

The facility has been in use since the beginning of the aca-

demic term and has attracted membership from many residents living in the suburbs around the university.

The 10-lane 50-metre pool at the heart of the complex has an adjustable floor to vary pool depth for user comfort and caters for beginners and advanced swimmers alike.

The design allows for recreational use as well as lane swimming with a tepidarium area featuring a sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, vitality walk and ice fountain.

Other facilities at the new

facility include a dedicated debating chamber named after former Taoiseach Garrett Fitzgerald.

This features retractable seating, a standing gallery and acoustics that allow the voice to carry.

There’s also an 88 seat cinema (available for private hire for birthday parties or movie nights), society offices, meeting rooms and a 112-seat theatre.

Located close to the Clonskeagh gate of the campus, the complex has an ‘internal street’ design, lined with seating and

screens where students display digital advertisements for events instead of their traditional posters.

Project co-ordinator Dominic O’Keeffe is very pleased with the take-up in usage of the facility.

He said: “We are very much part of the community around us and we welcome external membership from outside UCD which will help us to finance this facility.

“It is also a tremendous infrastructural addition to Dublin’s southside.”

13 December 2012 BLANCH gazette 29

Gazette

Winter wonderland

Local runners Hutchinson and Byrne help Ireland win European women’s team cross-country gold amid snow-laden conditions DSDAC runners Ava Hutchinson and Linda Byrne both tasted European cross-country glory last Sunday in Budapest amid minus five temperatures and a snow-laden course.

They were part of the Irish senior women’s team that claimed the team title, doubling up on Fionnuala Britton’s individual gold, by the narrowest of margins after a momentous performance.

Speaking soon after the race, Hutchinson said that while her team felt they were in the mix for a medal, she never envisaged that the hue would be gold.

“To be honest, not in a negative way, but no one said [we would win] gold this morning,” she said.

“We thought it would be close between second,

 stephen findlater sport@gazettegroup.com

third and fourth. The amount of times we’ve got fourth and missed out like in Dublin in 2009! So we said to ourselves, we’re not doing that again. We thought it would be close either way but never expected first.”

With Britton successfully retaining her individual title, it set the perfect base for the Irish team’s efforts.

The Wicklow woman was to the fore from the outset and pushed the pace ferociously. With two kilometres to go, the race was between her

and Belgium’s Almensch Belete.

However both Portugal’s Dulce Felix and Adrianne Herzog of the Netherlands were starting to make an impression before Britton lifted her game once again and propelled herself over the finishing line to take the title in a time of 27:45, two seconds ahead of Felix.

Following up, DSD’s Byrne was running an immaculate race as she stormed to an eighth place finish and was followed home by Hutchinson in 20th.

The rest of the team packed well with Lizzie Lee in 23rd, Sarah McCormack in 36th and Sarah Louise Treacy in 42nd.

It combined to make for a team score of 52 points, level with France

but Ireland were awarded the title on count back.

Hutchinson added that the result may take a while to sink in after her team bonded together perfectly on the day: “Everyone was cheering each other on and even Lizzie [Lee] and I were chatting in the middle of the race.

“I said ‘we have to push on’ as we found it hard at times, trying to move with some of the Spanish girls.”

“T he whole way around we were told we were in third and we always thought we’d be either second or third; we never thought first as we thought Portugal would be just too strong.

“But we knew if we could pack well, we could medal. No one had a bad run out there so it was a great day.”

Sara Treacy, Fionnuala Britton, Sarah McCormack, Linda Byrne, Ava Hutchinson and Lizzie Lee who won gold in the European Senior Women’s Cross Country Championships

On the men’s side, the senior team was led home

by DSDAC’s Brendan O’Neill in 22nd place.

O’Neill, a former team gold medallist at U23 level at these championships, performed impressively on his debut in the senior race.

He attacked the race bravely from the beginning as he occupied 12th place at the four-kilometre mark.

Although he lost a couple of places in the second half of the race.

O’Neill showed class to finish in 22nd, just ahead of his club mate Joe Sweeney in 27th.

David Rooney (Raheny) was the next of the Irish to finish in 38th place, while Sean Hehir was 52nd.

In the earlier junior races, middle distance specialist Siofra Cleirigh Buttner, another DSD runner, went across the line in 36th place in the junior girls’ race whileher club mate Clare McCarthy was 68th.

FastSport Unique fans’ gift can for Christmas: TEAM Colours online have launched their county team “Fan Can”, a can containing all the fan accessories for dedicated GAA fans to support their county team all day, every day.

Each can is available in a boy or girl version and includes, a pendant in county colours, a bar of chocolate dressed in a county jersey, a pack of four temporary tattoos among other items.

Fan cans are available online from www. teamcoloursonline. com for €24.95.

Gazette

30 BLANCH gazette 13 December 2012

SPORT

FastSport

rugby: ashbrook club makes it four wins in a row

Westmanstown Taggers ready for big Aviva date LAST weekend was an exciting one for the Westmanstown Taggers Special Needs Rugby club as the team’s 25 players were presented with their first club rugby kit, sponsored by local businessman Silvio Rabbitte & Sons Ltd by members of the Donegal All-Ireland winning team.

The presentation came in advance of the club’s impending appearance as part of the halftime entertainment in the Aviva Stadium on December 15 when Leinster take on Clermont Auvergne in the Heineken Cup. Over the past number of months, club coach Jorge Zulkouski – who originally hails from Argentina – has been putting the side through their paces. He brings extensive coaching experience to the group, having working with special needs children from St Michael’s house and St Vincent’s. His son is also a player and Zulkouski launched this unique rugby club in September 2012 with the support of Leinster rugby, bringing together an all-inclusive, male and female club with a range of ages and teams comprising a cubs, youth and senior team.

Speaking about the team, Westmanstown Taggers’ club secretary Rebecca Rabbitte, whose son is also a player, said: “The taggers is a fantastic opportunity for our children.

“It’s all about the players and their coach.

We’re here to support them and that’s who the Westmanstown Taggers are. It’s not just tag rugby, it’s tag rugby with a unique way of coaching that meets the players’ specific and unique needs and even better, the children are building fantastic friendships and the parents have developed a support network.

“We are delighted that [Leinster scrum-half] Issac Boss is patron of special needs Rugby.

There is always great excitement with the players when Issac arrives to train with them on a Sunday.”

The club also thanked Garda rugby club president Alfie Acheson and vice-president Eamon O’Grady for giving the club access to their indoor and outdoor training facilities.

All ages are welcome to join cub, youth and senior teams. Training takes place every Sunday in Westmanstown Garda Rugby club at 11.45am to 1pm. For more information, go to www.facebook.com/WestmanstownTaggers.

Swords Cetlic’s U-17A side became the first to score against Drumcondra this season when they shared the spoils in a 3-3 thriller

Coolmine storm ’Bridge leinster division 1a Coolmine 34 Newbridge 10  tadhg prendiville sport@gazettegroup.com

COOLMINE signed off 2012 in style with a fourth successive victory to rise to second in the Leinster league division 2A standings.

The Ashbrook club were in prime form to finish strong before the mid-season break.

However, early on things didn’t look all that promising as Newbridge applied pressure, even getting over the line, only for the would-be try to

be held up by the home side.

Newbridge won a penalty from the resulting scrum and opened the scoring with three points just in front of the posts.

Coolmine didn’t take this meekly, as both teams spent time in the opposition 22, but neither able to score that crucial first try.

Play was halted in the wake of this, as smoke was rising beyond the treeline on the far side of the pitch, accompanied by the whistle of the Santa Special steam train.

As the train disappeared, Newbridge

Verona-villa replay Blanch side eyeing cup progression on Friday VERONA will meet Parkvilla this Friday evening in Claremont at 7.45pm in their refixed FAI Intermediate Cup third round replay in the final series of games before the Christmas break.

Should they make it through this tie, they will travel to Newbridge for the fourth round of the competition in the new year. It is one of three outstanding replays to be concluded on Friday evening with TEK United hoping to shock Tolka Rovers.

reacted the livelier and chased down a loose ball they hacked over the Coolmine tryline, but fullback Donal Crotty was the one to get first to the ball, denying Newbridge once again.

This recovery seemed to lend new impetus to the home side and they worked their way up the pitch and a break to the Newbridge 22 preceded a phase or two out wide that allowed Brian Moran to dance his way inside the Newbridge defence to touch down the first try with Crotty converting.

Some stellar defence from Coolmine held off

the visitors in open play and from several set pieces before they eventually won a penalty and cleared their lines.

A notable break from winger Rory Farrell returned the favour and some more phases resulted in Coolmine slotting home another three points just before the break.

In the second half, Coolmine came out strong looking to extend their lead with Martin Hayes and Johnnie Lee both scoring tries converted by Crotty in a breath-taking spell.

And Coolmine didn’t

ease off even with the growing lead, as Hayes and Lee both followed up with another try a piece, earning the home side a bonus point.

A late converted try from the visitors showed they weren’t done just yet.

But they were denied a further consolation from turnover ball soon after as Coolmine scrambled their defence, denying Newbridge the last word in the minefield.

This being their fourth win in a row, it places Coolmine second in the league table and in an ideal position to strike in the new year.

13 December 2012 BLANCH gazette 31

Gazette

Castleknock minors’ run ended by Syl’s  sport@gazettegroup.com

CASTLEKNOCK’S minor footballers came up short in their championship quarter final match last Sunday when they faced off against St Sylvester’s of Malahide, despite holding the advantage at the interval by two points, 0-6 to 0-4.

With the majority of points coming through some fantastic movement and distribution to the half-for ward and forward lines, the Somerton men looked the likelier of the two to make their way into the final four of the competition, but St Sylvester’s came out after the break and played with a new

attacking mentality.

Castleknock were unable to score again and ultimately fell 1-11 to 0-6 in a bracing second half.

The Castleknock footballers will have wanted to go further no doubt, and after a particularly good first half, they will be disappointed with their second half of play.

However, the club will be looking to push for even more success, in a year that has already seen them lift junior county and provincial titles, when Tom McCormack takes his side to Manchester this weekend to play St Peter’s in Manchester in the quarter-final of the All Ireland junior championship.

hurling: blakestown side reach minor final

Club Noticeboard st brigid’s ST Brigid’s children’s Christmas party

2013 is now available in the club shop,

is on this Sunday, December 16 from

from behind the bar or by contacting

1.30pm to 5.30pm where a very special

Cathy on 086 8210502.

guest will be in attendance along with

The Throw In radio show continues

a DJ, face painting and lots of novelty

every Monday from 7.30pm on Phoe-

games too. All members young and old

nix FM.

welcome.

An update on the new club gym is on

St Brigid’s GAA Club Nursery for

the club website. Any business or indi-

four- to seven-year-olds will recom-

vidual interested in sponsoring any of

mence after the Christmas break on

the new equipment, please contact

January 12 and on every Saturday

stbrigidsgaagym@gmail.com.

morning from 9.30am to 11am. New

Conditioning training for all adult

members and families are welcome.

players takes place on Thursdays in

Contact Paul on 087 9154748 or see the

the hall. Contact Willie on 086 3148403

club website for more information.

for information. Thanks to all those

The club lotto jackpot is €13,600 this week and takes place on Thursday evening in The Vineyard.

See the website for last week’s 10x€30 winners. Our club calendar for

who supported our Vincent de Paul appeal on Saturday morning.

Deepest sympathies to the Bernie family on the passing of Kevin last week.

erin go bragh THE kids Christmas party will take

ner. This Friday’s jackpot is €8,200. The

place this Saturday, December 15,

draw is to be held in the Paddocks.

in the school hall of Mary Mother of Hope.

The St Peregrine’s minor hurlers will play their championship final early in 2013

Peregrine’s made to wait for final battle  peter carroll sport@gazettegroup.com

ST Peregrine’s minor hurlers will have to wait for the New Year before they play their crucial C hurling championship final, with the other semi-final, featuring Raheny and Thomas Davis, taking place this weekend to decide their final challenge.

A f ter a dominant win over Cuala in the quarter-final stages of the tournament, the Blakestown men faced tough opposition in Round Tower’s in the semi-final last weekend

in the Monastery Road ground.

In A fairly low scoring first half, Cillian Byrnes’ side took the advantage at 1-2 to 0-1 at half-time with centre for ward Michael Dadu striking home a goal for the Dublin 15 team.

In a moment that would have had many a Dublin fan holding their breath, an injury to dual prospect Eric Lowndes had a lot of people worried when an ambulance was called to take the young talent for a precautionary check. But Peregrine’s were galvanised by his absence and

strove on to glory.

A goal from Cian Donnelly really signalled the end for Tower’s despite a late comeback, with Peregrine’s leaving as winner 2-10 to 2-5.

Speaking to GazetteSport this week, Byrnes highlighted how there are some positives and negatives attached to the date of the final.

“It would have been nice to play now that we have a lot of momentum,” said Byrnes.

“But, we do have a few players missing and having them back for the final would be a huge boost.

“We thought that there was a possibility of getting it done before the New Year, but Raheny and Thomas Davis are only playing this weekend so it’s more than likely going to be mid January before we get to play it now.

“It will be a lot of the lads last year at minor so I think it will give them an added impetus to go and get the win.

“They have worked very hard and judging by the results in the last two games, they are more than capable of taking the championship,” he finished.

To be in with a chance to win the jackpot, please return your com-

Thanks to all who attended the AGM

pleted lotto tickets to the box in the

last Thursday. Good luck to the incom-

Paddocks before 9pm this Friday. It

ing executive for 2013.

is so easy to forget to return your

We are looking for adult football-

lotto tickets, so why not sign up to the

ers and hurlers for the 2013 season.

annual draw membership. Contact JK

For hurling, contact Gareth Dalton

on 086 8184054 for more info.

(gazsandalton@yahoo.ie) and for

Follow us on Facebook, twitter and

football, contact Cecil on 086 259 7789.

our website, www.eringobraghgaa.

Club lotto: there was no jackpot win-

ie.

westmanstown/garda WHAT a way to finish off a brilliant year

addition, we also thank our sponsors

for the Garda GAA Club and Westman-

McGowan’s of Phibsboro, Copper Face

stown Gaels. It’s the final round of our

Jacks, Spicers, 24HourDoc, DID Elec-

Thousandaire night, the final question

trical, Dermot Coyne Solicitors, FBD

is worth €1,000. The contestant has

Hotels and Resorts and advertisers

one lifeline.

for their support.

The tension was palpable. The crowd

The weekend also saw the pres-

waited in anticipation. The contestant,

entation of the annual club awards.

who will remain anonymous for legal

Congratulations to the winners: Alan

reasons, will long remember what the

Lynch, senior club person of the year;

language of the Walloon community is.

Eddie Martin, juvenile club person of

It just remains to say a big thank you

the year; and Rachel O’Shea, young

to everyone involved in the project. In

player of the year.

st peregrine’s WHAT a brilliant night had by all at our

All members who wish to help out on

Penguin Ball last Sunday in the Carlton

the day are welcome to attend and the

Hotel. Thanks to Lorraine, Ciaran and

meeting starts at 8.30pm.

Fiona for organising.

Congratulations to all our players of the year and well done to Eric Lowndes,

Congratulations to the incoming juvenile commitee and best of luck for the coming year.

Paul Harte and Conor Barry on receiv-

The club lotto was not won; num-

ing individual awards. The annual Dub

bers drawn were 5, 16, 18 and 25. Next

Stars is being held in the club on Janu-

week’s jackpot is €6,600.

ary 1 and there is a meeting this coming Thursday.

Entertainment this Saturday comes from DJ Vinny.

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

cool runnings: Ashbrook club enjoy their fourth win in a row to rise to second place in the league P30

december 13, 2012

local clubs discover fate: Intermediate cup draw sees plenty of home comforts P28

The annual Dublin Bus Dubs Stars games will be hosted by St Peregrine’s, an honour which club chairman Tom Kitt says is the “biggest occasion in the club’s history”

Peregrine’s see the Stars Blakestown awarded the honour of hosting of the annual Dubs Stars event on New Year’s Day as Dublin’s finest come to Blanchardstown  peter carroll

sport@gazettegroup.com

ST PEREGRINE’S club chairman Tom Kitt says his club’s hosting of the annual Dubs Stars’ games on New Year’s Day has the potential to be “the biggest occasion in the club’s history”.

It is expected that about 2,000 people will pack into the Blakestown ground as Peregrine’s play host to Jim Gavin’s first game at the helm of the Dublin senior football side as they take on the cream of the 2012 Dublin senior football championship.

Similarly, Anthony Daly’s county hurlers will play at the event when they take on the

2012 stars of the county hurling championship.

“We have hosted the Feile and an All-Ireland camogie semi-final,” said Kitt. “But this will certainly be the biggest occasion in the club’s history.

“It’s a huge day and we’re hoping to attract a lot of local spectators given the top-class talent that will be on display.

“A lot of people will be interested in seeing Jim Gavin’s first appearance as the Dublin boss, and it will also be Anthony Daly’s first time at the club. There will be a lot of people keeping a close eye on his interaction with the team from the touch line and we certainly hope that it will put our club on the map with

our 500-seater stand.

“We are the only club to have such facilities outside of Parnell Park in Dublin, and we hope that it will go some ways to keeping the crowd happy if we have some bad weather – frost, rain or snow – which is to be expected this time of year.

“Mick Fitzgerald, our grounds man, is heading the committee that are preparing for the day. He’s a great club man and I’m sure he will handle the pressure with ease. He also has a fantastic group of 50 volunteers that will help us in preparation, and on the day.

“The bar and hall will be open on the day and we really hope we can put the club on show for all the people that come out.

“Obviously we’ve covered up the pitch now to keep it in good shape before the games but any weather damage should be helped by our astroturf goalmouths.

“We have a great community around the club and that was evident from the 250 tickets we sold for our annual dinner dance. We hope that we can get a similar reaction from the Blanchardstown area and from Dublin fans in general. I’m sure all of our visitors on the day will be very happy with our facilities.

“Personally, I really hope the children in the area come out in force because we are always trying to promote the game and there is no better advertisement than having the best players in the county competing on your doorstep.”