Blanch

Gazette BLANCH

Spring is here so step over to some fresh new styles for the season

February 2 - 8, 2017

SEE P18

Find us on

INSIDE: See how The Boss ruled Irish press photography in 2016 P16

Choose Laughs:

T2 TRAINSPOTTING IS HIGH ON HILARITY & NOSTALGIA Martin Macnamara reviews the sequel we’ve all been waiting for...

See Pg 24

BOXING A twist for Christie’s LA dream 29

Fears grow that historic Liffey bridge may collapse  SYLVIA POWNALL

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

The bridge was built by the Guinness family

CA M PA IGN E R S h o p ing to save a 19th century bridge handed a petition to Fingal County Council and South Dublin County Council last Friday.

The cast-iron structure which spans the Liffey was built by the Guinness family and links Waterstown Park to Farmleigh estate.

It has lain in a state of disrepair for some time and almost 2,500 people

signed the petition calling for what’s locally known as the Silver Bridge to be restored.

The bridge was closed in the 1970s and, according to campaigners, requires maintenance “to bring

it back to its original grandeur”.

The structure is rusting and is at risk of collapsing into the Liffey unless the rivets in the lattice are replaced.

Full Story on Page 2

2 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 February 2017

LIFFEY | STRUCTURE LINKS WATERSTOWN PARK TO FARMLEIGH ESTATE

Campaigners hand in petition to save bridge  SYLVIA POWNALL CAMPAIGNERS hoping to save a 19th century bridge handed a petition to Fingal County Council and South Dublin County Council last Friday.

The cast-iron structure which spans the Liffey was built by the Guinness family and links Waterstown Park to Farmleigh estate.

It has lain in a state of disrepair for some time and almost 2,500 people signed the petition calling for what’s locally known as the Silver Bridge to be restored.

The bridge was closed in the 1970s and, according to campaigners, requires maintenance “to bring it

back to its original grandeur”.

The structure is rusting and is at risk of collapsing into the Liffey unless the rivets in the lattice are replaced.

A spokesperson for the Rebuild Silver Bridge group said: “It could serve as an access point for pedestrians to the Phoenix Park for Lucan and Palmerstown residents.

“It could also be used as an alternative route as part of the Liffey greenway plan.”

If restored for pedestrian use the bridge would connect Phoenix and Waterstown parks and could be included in walking, fishing or cycling routes.

SDCC Mayor Guss

O’Connell, who lives in Palmerstown, said: “This is a very historic bridge and a significant part of the heritage of the Liffey Valley which must be restored before it rusts away forever.”

Fingal Deputy Mayor Eithne Loftus accepted the petition on behalf of the council and said: “This is a wonderful occasion, and one I have waited for a long time.”

Palmerstown historian Hugh O’Connor spoke of playing across the bridge as a child and seeing workers lead horse and cart loads over it well into the 1950s.

An engineering report carried out a decade ago estimated the cost of sur-

FASTNews

Mary furnished with a €2k prize thanks to EZ Living

The group handing in the petition to save the bridge

veying and repairing the structure at €300,000.

The 52-metre box truss bridge was built between 1872 and 1880 by Edward Cecil Guinness.

It links the south side fields of Waterstown Park in Palmerstown to a tunnel connecting to the Farmleigh estate in the Phoenix Park.

Guinness built the bridge, also known as Silver Bridge, to supply electricity for Farmleigh House.

It also brought water to the Farmleigh clock tower and provided access to the Farmleigh estate for many of its workers who lived on the south side of the Liffey in Palmerstown.

Coast guard on alert for slick from vessel THE Coast Guard remains on high alert amid pollution fears after a fishing boat carrying 400 litres of diesel sank off Balbriggan harbour.

Fingal County Council was also on stand-by and moved anti-pollution equipment to a staging area beside the harbour in case it was needed.

The Atlantic Osprey – which was also carrying 30 litres of lube oil – sank in the early hours of Monday morning as attempts were being made by Skerries Coast Guard and the RNLI to tow the vessel back to port.

Its five crew members were safely rescued after the trawler got into difficulty south of Balbriggan and attempts to tow it clear failed. The council and coast guard monitored the waters for signs of fuel leakage on Monday and spotted a light film of diesel oil flowing in a northerly direction away from the shoreline.

A council spokesperson said: “It is projected that this light film of oil will evaporate or be broken up at sea.

However, it was decided to deploy anti-pollution equipment including booms, skimmers, tanks and pumps as a precautionary measure.”

The pollution response team remain on stand-by in case there is a change in wind direction and the oil starts to move towards the shoreline.

The council added: “The potential risk for harm to marine life including seabirds is considered small, given the nature and extent of the pollutant involved.”

The council has now reported that the fishing vessel has broken up and a salvage team has moved in to remove as much of the debris as possible before it is washed ashore. They are planning a salvage operation later today, Thursday, to remove what is left of the boat and have also committed to doing a clean-up along the coast to remove any debris that has already been washed ashore.

MARY Collins had a golden feeling at EZ Living when she picked up a ticket to happiness – €2,000, courtesy of the furniture chain’s nationwide Golden Ticket competition throughout January.

Held as part of the chain’s biggest sale ever, EZ Living gave away €10,000 a week across its several stores in Dublin, with Mary just one of the delighted shoppers happy to get an unexpected windfall, as staff member Lisa Halley presented it.

The chain has extended its January sale until this weekend, with Sunday, February 5 marking the last chance to get a great bargain and be in with a chance to win a €500 voucher. For further information, see www.ezlivingfurniture.ie/goldenticket.

Coolmine Musical Society set for its spring concert COOLMINE Musical Society is rehearsing for its spring concert “An Evening with Coolmine Musical Society” which takes place on Friday and Saturday, March 24 and 25 at 8pm in Draiocht.

This promises to be a night celebrating the great tapestry of musicals down through the years with songs from Mamma Mia, Les Miserables and My Fair Lady to name a few.

The talented production team for this show is Gladys Coyle (director), Mandy Geary (musical director), and Louise Hudson (choreographer).

The society is as always looking for new members. Anyone interested in joining can email coolminems@gmail.com and you’ll get all the information you need.

Tickets for these shows are on sale now, call 01-8852622 or www.draiocht.ie

Groups urged to seek a share of sport fund BEFORE Christmas, local TD and Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Shane Ross, announced that €30 million is being made available under the Sports Capital Programme to develop sports infrastructure around the country.

In order to submit an application, clubs must register with the department’s online application system before February 10.

Urging voluntary and community groups to also apply for funding for sporting activities, Minister Ross said the benefits of funding can impact an entire community and “cannot be underestimated”.

“The programme aims to maximise participation in sport and physical recreation.”

Online applications for funding are being accepted now on sportscapitalprogramme.ie.

2 February 2017 BLANCH GAZETTE 3

 SYLVIA POWNALL TWO Dublin actors are in the running to replace Daniel Craig as the next James Bond.

Clondalkin’s finest export Aidan Turner is now tipped as favourite to play 007 ahead of Tom Hardy and Tom Hiddlestone after his odds were slashed to 3/1.

Punters laid a flurry of bets over the weekend on the Poldark actor who’s staying tight lipped on whether he’s been approached for the spy role.

Castleknock A-lister Colin Farrell – best known for his role in The Lobster and black comedy In Bruges - has also seen his odds shorten from 50/1 to 25/1, according to Boylesports.

A spokesperson for the bookies chain said: “We have seen a few bets of twenties and tenners come in for Colin Farrell resulting in the Intermission actor’s price col-

lapsing to 25/1.” Turner – who at one point planned to follow in his father Pat’s footsteps and become an electrician – has avoided Bond questions like the plague.

The one-time ballroom dancer spent more time dodging reporters than he did posing for photographers on the red carpet at last week’s UK National Television Awards.

When asked whether or not he would be appearing in Ian Fleming’s next 007 instalment he replied: “No questions like that.

Can’t answer that one.”

One dogged journalist would not give up and rephrased the question, asking if he wanted to be the new Bond.

But Turner, 36, declared: “I’m moving!” before disappearing seamlessly into the crowd – a move that Bond himself would have been proud of. Kerry-born Shame hunk Michael Fassbender is also rumoured to be in the mix for the coveted spy role, along with Luther actor Idris Elba.

ABC CERTIFIED 52,958 COPIES EACH WEEK (ABC: Group MFD, Jan- Dec 2015).

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS CALL 01 60 10 240

4 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 February 2017

LUSK | BRISK BUSINESS AT APPLEGREEN AS WINNER STILL UNKNOWN

88.5m questions about who got the Lotto lolly  SYLVIA POWNALL BUSINESS has been brisk at Applegreen in Lusk ever since news broke last Friday that it sold the winning €88.5 million Euromillions jackpot.

The filling station just off the M1 northbound ran out of fuel on Friday morning after slashing prices to 88.5 cent per litre to celebrate the win.

And, although the identity of the thirdbiggest Irish jackpot still remains a mystery, the shop is still benefiting from the feel-good factor.

Site director Michael

Feeney revealed that they got news of the sale from the National Lottery on Thursday but had to wait until Friday morning to break it.

He added: “There is great excitement. We’re delighted to be the ones who sold the ticket. We get a lot of local trade but because we’re on a national motorway the winner could be anybody.

“We don’t know how much was spent on the ticket, so we don’t know if it was a syndicate.”

The winner has contacted Lotto HQ and is taking some time to decide whether they

want to go public or not.

National Lottery s p o ke s m a n M i c h a e l Hayes said: “An important thing to stress is that draw alone has generated €3.7m in funding

for good causes that we will pass on to the Government to help distribute.”

The rumour mill went into overdrive last week and actor and TV presenter Simon Delaney got in on the action.

He tweeted: “Yes I live in Lusk. Yes I buy my petrol in that station.

And yes I have bought l o t t o t i c ke t s t h e r e .

You work out the rest. #wheresmyswimsuit” Meanwhile, a member of staff at Tuthills newsagents at the Mill Shopping Centre in Clondalkin admitted starting a rumour that the winning ticket was sold there.

D av i d M c I n e r n e y said: “When it was announced that the winning ticket was bought in Ireland, I took to Facebook to say I sold it. “ Eve r y o n e s t a r t e d Liking and Sharing it, then I said that there’s a word going around that it was sold in Tuthills in the Mill Centre.

“I just thought it was hilarious and great fun s e e i n g h ow h o p e f u l everyone was.”

Say G’day to baby Matilda, delivered on Australia Day HEROES from Dublin Fire Brigade helped deliver an adorable baby girl last Friday morning.

The crew from Swords helped bring the baby into the world, and her mum named her ‘Matilda’ in honour of the fact that she arrived on Australia Day. The infant was born at home with the help of emergency services workers and paramedics.

Both mother and baby are said to be doing well following the emergency arrival, which was announced via this photo posted on social media.

DFB said on Twitter: “Congrats to baby Matilda born today on Australia Day with the assistance of our Swords fire and ambulance crew at home.”

Picture: Dublin Fire Brigade

Men assaulted in separate city incidents  AISLING KENNEDY A MAN was assaulted by a group of men on Anne’s Lane, off Grafton Street, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Gardai are currently investigating the assault but a description of the men has yet to be released.

The victim was taken to St James’ Hospital for treatment; however, his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.

The assault comes only two days after Dancing with the Stars celeb Hughie Maughan and his partner were viciously attacked in the city centre by a group of five men and one woman.

The attack came in the early hours of Sunday morning outside The George on George’s Street.

Hughie’s partner, Ryan Ruckledge, was left with a broken foot.

Hughie was left with a black eye and a lump on the side of his head where the woman was reported to have pulled out some of Hughie’s hair.

Hughie said that he tried to defend himself and his partner Ryan and fought back.

He said: “It was a group of about four or five lads and one girl. They were eating a take-away and seemed to be on their way home “We walked by them and they shouted after us. It was awful.”

2 February 2017 BLANCH GAZETTE 5

6 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 February 2017

GazetteGALLERY

| HARTSTOWN COMMUNITY SCHOOL LAUNCH THEIR BANK

Students gather with forms and passports for their Big Jordan Carroll with Principal John Bean

Roxanne Nagy, Jordan Carroll and Niamh May.

Bank applications

Students give big banks a run for their money S

School Principal John Bean gives a speech

TUDENTS at Hartstown Community School unveiled their Big Bank Theory at an official launch last week. A group of transition year students came up with the idea as their entry into the annual AIB Build a Bank competition.

The nationwide initiative aims to introduce the younger generation to the world of banking and business while offering them the chance to bank some great prizes along the way.

The programme links directly to the business curriculum offers a solid, practical preparation for learning about running a business. Participating students are tasked with sourcing new customers, encouraging regular savings, providing ongoing customer service and keeping accurate financial records. The Hartstown school bank team comprises Jordan Carroll (manager), Katherine (chief operating officer), Niamh (marketing manager), Roxanne (finance manager) and Tom (community outreach manager).

Jordan, who is considering studying accountancy after his Leaving Cert, told The Gazette: “We also set up a poster competition for first year IT classes. It is hitting two birds with one stone basically because they are doing some of our marketing and at the same time they are learning about banking and the benefits.�

Students with Mark Doran from AIB and teacher Ms Clifford

COMMERCIAL FEATURE

2 February 2017 BLANCH GAZETTE 7

THISISPOPBABY PRESENTS

PANTI BLISS: HIGH HEELS IN LOW PLACES ONE NIGHT ONLY! Draiocht Blanchardstown Sunday, March 12, 8pm.

Tickets: €20/€18 conc Box office: 01 885 2622 or see www.draiocht.ie

NATIONAL treasure, accidental activist and performance legend – join Panti in her smash-hit stand-up show, High Heels in Low Places – a warm and wicked evening of outrageously fun tales. Charting brushes with infamy, near misses with fame, and adventures in the seedy underbelly, the ‘High Queen of Ireland’ invites you in to her ultrapadded, hyper-real, stiletto-shaped world, as she swaps stories from the gutter and trades secrets of the stars.

Panti landed herself in the middle of a media storm christened ‘Pantigate’ that rocked Ireland in 2014. Soon after, she became a YouTube sensation with a speech she

made about homophobia, described as‘the most eloquent Irish speech’ in 200 years by Irish Times columnist Fintan O’Toole. The speech went viral, was broadcast around the world, debated in parliament and even remixed by The Pet Shop Boys, sparking a powerful conversation about equality.

High Heels in Low Places is Panti’s riotous stand-up show about life after Pantigate, which played to rave reviews and chock-a-block houses across Ireland. Critics called it “Hilarious” (Hotpress), and “a wickedly funny evening” (Irish Independent) with “impeccable one-liners” (The Evening Herald).

This is Panti’s fifth theatrical collaboration with THISISPOPBABY, following the recent smash-hit success of All Dolled Up Restitched at the Abbey Theatre and an ensuing Australian Tour. The multi award-winning Irish theatre and events production company has widely toured, played to many tens of thousands of people, and had multiple soldout theatre shows.

PANTI Panti is Ireland’s foremost gender illusionist, has run some of Dublin’s most seminal club nights, and hosted and produced the legendary Alternative Miss Ireland pageant, which raised money over 18 years for HIV/AIDS charities in Ireland. She is landlady of Pantibar in Dublin, where she performs a weekly drag show – The Pantishow.

Panti made her theatrical debut in 2007 with the criticall-acclaimed, sold-out In These Shoes? From there, she was invited to create All Dolled Up for The Dublin Fringe Festival. As a direct result, Panti was commissioned by Project Arts Centre and THISISPOPBABY to create a new piece for the Dublin Theatre Festival called A Woman in Progress.

In July 2013, Panti and THISISPOPBABY created All Dolled Up Restitched, a reimagining of her three hit shows, which played at the Abbey Theatre Dublin and went on to tour Australia.

In January 2014, Panti appeared on the Saturday Night Show on Ireland’s national broadcaster RTE, where she asserted that journalists and organisations that actively campaign for LGBT citizens to have less rights than their heterosexual counterparts were, in effect, homophobic. Those named threatened to sue the broadcaster, and were subsequently paid €85,000 in damages. The payout resulted in public and media outcry in Ireland, with the affair promptly being named PantiGate.

On February 1, 2014, in an act of solidarity, the Abbey Theatre invited Panti to speak after the final performance of historical drama ‘The Risen People’. She spoke about oppression and homophobia: “The word ‘homophobia’ is no longer available to gay people, which is a spectacular and neat Orwellian trick, because now it turns out that gay people are not the victims of homophobia – homophobes are.”

A video of the speech was posted on YouTube, and within hours it had gone viral with celebrities including Graham Norton, Stephen Fry, Martina Navratalova, RuPaul and Madonna sending words of support. http://www.draiocht.ie/events/panti_bliss_high_ heels_in_low_places

8 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 February 2017

GazetteGALLERY

| COOLMINE COMMUNITY SCHOOL’S DRAMATICAL ABILITIES

An insight to the talent at Coolmine Community School

Hollie Mahon and Rachael Devereux.

 BY SIXTH YEAR STUDENTS CAOIMHE HENNESSY AND BIANCA BANARES

Right: Elizabeth Ivanova Pictures: ALISON O’HANLON

A

Roberta Gogles, Diana Meriacri and Arine Jersova

Mirium Dongo and Jodie Cramer

‘We are the ones running the show’

Sarah Moran-Nolan

Sarah Moran-Nolan

FEAST of Coolmine Talent is an annual showcase in which the student body comes together to celebrate artistic expression and performance.

This year’s menu of acts came with a huge diversity ranging from magicians to singers to dancers.

As many said on the night, 2017 marks the best show the school has put on in years.

The line-up was incredible, with each act making the judges’ decisions more and more difficult.

Before the drama of the night, however, sound check had to be completed. Students ran around the stage holding microphone stands and wires, following directions left, right and centre.

The performers seemed to share a common feeling of determination and concentration.

Arguably, the hardest job was done by the students helping backstage, who said: “It’s a lot of pressure to be a backstage helper because if anything goes wrong it’s all our fault.

“To me, it’s more like a showcase rather than a talent show,” said Hollie Mahon, one of the performers.

“It doesn’t feel like it’s a competition” another voice agreed.

This was apparent in the friendly way the acts interacted in the dressing rooms.

From all corners of the room, students from different years sang along to the hum of each other’s instruments, sharing food and laughter.

The show opened with magician Amy Delaney wowing the audience with her impressive tricks. Despite it being her first time performing, she showed no sign of nerves and placed fourth.

Third place was taken by sixth-year Shalom Malonda singing “Summer-time” who transported the crowd to an era of jazz music and dazzling gold dresses. Sixth-year Sarah Moran-Nolan claimed second place, singing her original song “Fool For You”.

However, it was first year Karl Nolan who melted every heart in the audience with his rendition of “Make You Feel My Love” and charmed his way into first place.

Having only joined the school in September, this was an amazing achievement. Karl attributed part of his success to by the rest of the acts who were “helpful and calming” before he performed.

It was clear that Karl was not expecting to win but everyone agrees that his phenomenal performance deserved first place.

2 February 2017 BLANCH GAZETTE 9

10 GAZETTE 2 February 2017

HEALTH | DAD OF FOUR WHO BEAT KILLER DISEASE URGES OTHERS TO GET CHECKED

‘I went to the doctor’s to get my heartburn checked and found out I had cancer’

 SYLVIA POWNALL

DAD-OF-FOUR Peter Cosgrove has told how he was diagnosed with cancer after he went to the doctor suffering from heartburn.

Peter, 62, was shocked after a visit to his GP for acid reflux uncovered something far more sinister – oesophageal cancer.

The news struck fear in the Dubliner’s heart because his brother Tom died of the same illness five years ago, aged 55.

Peter said: “I was away on holidays two years before the diagnosis and something stuck in my throat. I went to the doctor and was referred for a scope, but they put it down to an ulcer I was being treated for.

“I had a lot of acid reflux. I had four or five scopes done. Eventually after the fifth one I was called in to see a surgeon. I thought I was going to be told everything was fine.

“But he said ‘I think you need to have your oesophagus removed’.”

Less than a week later Peter, from Artane in Dublin 5, was in Beaumont Hospital having surgery. He recalled: “I was knocked out at eight in the morning and woke up in the ward at 12 that night. The pain was horrendous. I got an epidural but when it wore off it was agony.”

Peter, a retired bricklayer, spent two weeks in intensive care before being let home.

He said: “They won’t let you go home until you can swallow and eat food.

Throat “The surgery pulls your stomach up just underneath your throat so it’s one third the size that it was.

“I couldn’t eat a three-course meal now because my stomach can’t hold it.

“I love my grub, but if I eat too much I feel nauseous and as if I’m going to pass out.”

A year after his 2014 operation Peter lost half a stone very quickly and had to have a ‘balloon’ procedure after medics discovered his throat was narrowing.

He said: “It’s like learning to live all over again, but I’m just glad they caught it. With my brother his throat was sticking and they presumed it was an ulcer.

“He was two years fighting it, he went through chemo, had his oesophagus removed, but he couldn’t fight it. They didn’t catch it on time.

“I would say if you’re using a lot of Rennies or whatever for heartburn, you should go and get a scope done. If it keeps you alive it’s worth it.

“I’d have a scope every week if I thought it would

FASTNews

Volunteers sought to protect North Bull Island

DUBLIN City Council is calling on volunteers to help protect the natural beauty of North Bull Island.

DCC are launching the North Bull Island Volunteer Programme, which they hope will help with the promotion and management of the island in Dublin Bay, which forms an integral part of the Dublin Bay UNESCO Biosphere.

All details of the North Bull Island Volunteer Programme, including details of the type of activities that may be involved, are on the DCC website.

Applications must be received on or before Friday, February 24.

Masked thugs hold up store MASKED men armed with a knife robbed a shop in Tallaght on Monday night.

Two men threatened staff at the store before making off with a sum of money in the direction of the Belfry estate around 9pm.

Gardai confirmed to DublinLive that CCTV footage of the scene will be reviewed, but there have been no arrests as yet.

Gigs off as Chilis singer gets chill Peter, daughter Karen and wife Joan collecting much need cash for Lollypop Day in aid of the Oesophageal Cancer Fund

keep me alive. Some people are afraid to have it done which is stupid because by the time you do it could be too late.”

Peter will take up his annual station at Northside Shopping Centre in Coolock

next month with his daughter Karen and wife Joan collecting for Lollipop Day. His brother’s widow also collects for the charity in Malahide.

Peter added: “It’s bittersweet for

IRELAND has one of the highest rates of oesophageal cancer in the world with 390 new cases diagnosed each year. It’s one of the deadliest forms of the disease, though survival rates are now 40% compared to just 25% in 2001.

Incidence of the disease amongst women is higher here (40% of sufferers) than the European average of 10-20%. The oesophagus is the hollow tube that brings food and liquids from the throat to the stomach. Common undiagnosed symptoms include acid reflux and food ‘sticking’ in the throat.

me – I’m glad I’m still here for my wife, my kids and for my grandchildren, but I’m sorry that my brother’s illness wasn’t caught in time.”

 THE Oesophageal Cancer Fund – which receives no money from the Government – is seeking volunteers to help with its annual Lollipop appeal on Friday, March the 3rd and Saturday, March the 4th.

Thousands of supporters will be selling lollipops for €2 nationwide.

Visit www.lollipopday.ie for more details.

RED Hot Chili Peppers fans were left blue in the face after the band was forced to postpone this week’s Dublin gigs.

The Under the Bridge stars were due to play the 3Arena on Tuesday and Wednesday nights, but had to put off the concerts because singer Anthony Kiedis came down with a nasty flu.

The band will now play two gigs on September 20 and 21, with all tickets issued valid for the new dates.

2 February 2017 GAZETTE 11

GAZETTE

12 GAZETTE 2 February 2017

DUBLINLIFE SURVEY: TWO-THIRDS SUPPORT NEARBY PRODUCE – BORD BIA SURVEY

Wastewater tech highlights diversity of research at UCD OXYMEM, a fast-growing Irish cleantech company, has been named in the prestigious 2017 Global Cleantech 100 list.

The company has been named in the global list, which is produced by the Cleantech Group (CTG), for the second year running.

OxyMem is a UCD spin-out company, and the only Irish company to make this list. The company is commercialising Membrane Aerated Biofilm Reactor (MABR) technology – an innovative solution to reduce costs for wastewater treatment.

Wayne Byrne, chief executive, OxyMem, said: “To be recognised for the second year running in the prestigious Global Cleantech 100 list is real validation of our efforts over the past four years.

“This highlights, to a highly conservative water market, a value proposition that makes OxyMem the stand-out contender in energy-efficient wastewater treatment.”

Pictured at UCD are the men behind the MABR technology – Prof Eoin Casey and Dr Eoin Syron, UCD School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering.

Local food still key to consumer spend  EMMA NOLAN

SOME two-thirds of Irish consumers believe it is “important to buy local food”.

The results of Bord Bia’s research into consumer attitudes to local food were presented to over 200 small food and drink producers at Bord Bia’s recent Small Business Open Day in Enfield, Co Meath.

The Bord Bia study has revealed that local food has become more widely available and there is a growing association for homegrown local food with gifting and special occasions.

The organisation estimates that the small food and drink business sector is worth some €400 million to the economy.

Opening the conference, Minister of the State at the Department of Agriculture and Food, Andrew Doyle told delegates: “Bord Bia will continue to

Bord Bia’s Mary Morrissey with Minister of State for Food, Forestry and Horticulture, Andrew Doyle, and Grainne Walsh, Metalman Brewing. Picture: Jeff Harvey

support Irish client companies in this regard, providing advice on market opportunities and emerging trends.

“The most immediate impact of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union has been Sterling depreciation and volatility.

“While demand for premium-quality, safe food products is increasing long-term, the advice and information provided here can help companies in very practical ways to hold on to business.”

B o r d B i a ’s s t u d y explores Irish consumers’

definition of ‘local food’, and their attitudes towards it, whilst understanding what motivates them to purchase such produce.

Speaking about the research findings, Mary Morrissey, Bord Bia’s Food and Beverage Manager, said: “It is encour-

aging for small food businesses to hear consumers saying they buy local food products at least once a week and that one-third are purchasing more today than they did a year ago.

“It is clear that the sector continues to offer opportunities for small producers to deliver on demand for local and quality foods directly linked back to the producer. Consumers want to connect with the story of the producer.”

The study’s findings were a key part of the Bord Bia conference, which also covered a wide range of categories foe the key agri sector, ranging from food waste to the rise of premium dairy, craft beer and healthy snacking produce.

The conference presentations also focused on how small businesses can interpret changing environmental trends and use them to grow their business.

ICS add new mortgage package DILOSK’S chief executive Fergal McGrath and chief operations officer Oran McGrath are pictured deep in enthusiastic conversation at the announcement of its new 10-year, interest-only, buy-to-let mortgage now available nationwide from ICS Mortgages. Supported by an initial facility of €200 million, the new mortgage type is for individuals or companies wishing to enter the rental market, and available from the Irish specialist mortgage lender Dilosk, who acquired ICS Mortgages from Bank of Ireland in 2014. The move by ICS Mortgages is another vote of confidence in the vitality returning to the property market. Picture: Naoise Culhane

2 February 2017 GAZETTE 13

Boxing legend teams up with Windsor Motor Group IRISH boxing legend Katie Taylor, Olympic Gold Medallist, five-times World Boxing Champion and six-times European Champion and now Windsor Motor Group brand ambassador has recently took delivery of her all-new 171 Nissan X-Trail. “The X-Trail is the perfect car for me, it’s comfortable, has tons of space, which is great for all my training gear and is really economical.”

Peter Nicholson, managing director, Windsor Motor Group said: “The entire Windsor Motor Group team is looking forward to working with Katie and exploring the synergies between us.”

Butcher to expand with €30k funding THE Village Butcher in Firhouse has raised €30,000 through Linked Finance, thanks to its online lending platform, www.linkedfinance.com.

The funding is being used to facilitate the company’s expansion with the establishment and fit-out of a second premises in Firhouse.

Husband and wife, Michael Madden and Sarah Kelly have over 25 years of experience in the industry and established their first family-

owned and run butchers in Ranelagh in 2012, after a number of years spent running a meat wholesalers.

The Village Butcher has teamed up with Strongbodies in Firhouse to further extend its protein range.

The butchers has won multiple prestigious awards, including the McKenna Best in Ireland Award, a Taste of Leinster Award and a Taste of Ireland award for their standards of butchery.

GAZETTE

BUSINESS

GAZETTE

14 GAZETTE 2 February 2017

DUBLINLIFE

FEATURE

Serving up some tales of the unexpectedly sinister  EMMA NOLAN THE responsibility of portraying a character in an iconic Irish play is not lost on Janet Moran.

“It’s funny doing a play like The Weir, that so many people have seen or read and have high expectations of,” the Dublin actress explained.

“You really feel the responsibility and the pressure of it.”

Audiences often have their own ideas of how a production should be Janet explains but when the material is as rich as a play like The Weir, it’s a pleasure to be a part of.

“It’s just such a solid brilliant play, I think that’s why it’s a favourite for so many people.”

Written by Conor McPherson in 1997, The Weir is often described as an eerie masterpiece of modern theatre.

S e t o n a s t o r my n i g h t i n Brendan’s pub in an isolated Leitrim town, the men are gathering for their daily pint. The arrival of a stranger in their midst – a beautiful woman – spurs them to impress her with stories.

They are stories of “souls past, spirits present and spectres unforeseen”. One story, however, is more sinister than expected.

And on her performance, Janet says: “When you have a play like that you’re halfway there.”

In this production, Janet stars alongside Gary Lydon (Brooklyn, Borstal Boy, The Pillowman), Janet Patrick Ryan (Red Rock) Garrett

OUTDOORSY GEORGE IS A BUNDLE OF JOY AND ENERGY!

Janet Moran and Garrett Keogh in The Weir

Keogh (A Skull in Connemara, The Clinic, Veronica Guerin) and Frankie McCafferty (Vikings, Trial of the Century, In the Name of the Father).

Speaking on her fellow cast mates, Janet admits that they are “terrific” but that she was initially intimidated about working with such established actors.

“The four men are just terrific, I’ve been a big fan of theirs for years so I think I was a little bit

intimated when I first walked in because they’re so good.

“Last time we performed this together we had a great response so this time we know it works and we’re all very happy with it and can’t wait to get started.”

Irish theatre is very close to Janet’s heart having acted in the works of Brian Friel, Sean O’Casey and of course McPherson.

“I love doing new plays because

you don’t know how it’s going to turn out but when you do something from Friel or somebody, you’re on much surer ground.”

This production by Decadent Theatre Company & Verdant Productions will run in The Gaiety from February 20 to March 4 for a strictly limited run.

The Gazette have one pair of tickets to give away – just visit our Facebook page to enter.

OUR Dog of the Week looking for their #SpecialSomeone* is George, a gorgeous 18-month-old Labrador crossbreed.

He’s not just a handsome face, he has brains to burn and is looking for an active adopter with an interest in keeping his mind engaged and his paws moving.

George loves the great outdoors and would love to go on lots of outdoorsy adventures, such as hiking or long beach walks.

He is looking for an adult-only home as he can take some time to get to know people; however, once acquainted, you’ll have a friend for life that will stick to you like glue.

George also gets on well with other dogs.

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

2 February 2017 GAZETTE 15

GAZETTE

DIARY CITY CENTRE: NEW 10K ROUTE WINDS THROUGH LOTS OF LANDMARKS AND KEY PARTS OF DUBLIN

Why not take a night run with 10,000 others TV3’S Xpose’s newest star, Cassie Stokes, helped launch Virgin Media’s 10K Night Run for Dublin city, which will burn brighter than ever on Sunday, April 23 at 9pm.

An expected 10,000 runners are set to take to the streets for the night run, in partnership with Athletics Ireland and TITAN Experience.

With a new 10K route for 2017, runners will start at North Wall Quay/New Wapping Street and take in O’Connell Street, the city quays, Grand Canal Dock and R ingsend before crossing the East Link and finishing at the Samuel Beckett Bridge.

For those looking for a New Year challenge, the Night Run is ideal. There is plenty of time to get out training with family, friends or work colleagues.

On the night, all runners will receive a Virgin Media Running Pack containing a branded running top (to be worn on the night).

GIVE OLD CHRISTMAS GIFTS A NEW LIFE CHRISTMAS gifts can gain a new life by donating to charity. GortaSelf Help Africa, a leading Irish development charity, is asking households to donate their unwanted Christmas gifts to its charity shop this month.

Gorta-Self Help Afri-

ca retail manager Maggie Dwyer said: “Households across Dublin are busy clearing up after the long holiday break.

Inevitably, some people would have received gifts that they either don’t like or don’t have any use for; plus, we all have goods in our homes and our wardrobes that we never use.”

Donating unwanted gifts, or other unused items, to a Gorta shop is a great way to give them a new life while contributing vital funds to support the charitable projects that Gorta-Self Help Africa is implementing to end hunger and poverty in rural Africa.

Funds can support a variety of projects to support families and individuals. For further information, see www. selfhelpafrica.org.

SOAK YOURSELF IN PURPLE RAIN SOUNDS PURPLE Rain – a worldclass live celebration of the music, life and legacy of Prince – will take to the Vicar Street stage this May. This full eight-piece live band delivers a nonstop, hit-packed show spanning more than two hours, complete with backing vocals, horn section, keys and Jimi Love as the unsurpassed Prince.

Expect to see, hear and feel all of the hits from one of the most

loved artists of all time, including 1999, Little Red Corvette, Purple Rain, Kiss, Diamonds And Pearls, U Got The Look, When Doves Cry, Cream, I Wanna Be Your Lover and many more..

Hailed by original Prince and the Revolution drummer Bobby Z as “authentic and on the money”, don’t miss your chance to see Purple Rain live.

Tickets priced €32.50 are on sale through www. ticketmaster.ie, and Ticketmaster outlets nationwide.

A CHARITY CONCERT TO HELP CHILDREN WITH 2017 marking the Jack and Jill Foundation’s 20th year, the foundation is holding a special charity gala on Wednesday, February 8 to help raise the €3m it needs for its unique home nursing care and respite service.

Perfect as an early valentine’s gift, or to help support the foundation’s work, the concert promises to a treat for all.

T he RTE Concer t Orchestra will be accompanied by soloists Niall O’Sullivan (trumpeter) and vocalists Shona Henneberry and Simon Morgan, who will perform a programme of film and classical favourites including Il Postino (from The Postman); Por Una Cabeza (Scent of a Woman); Dream a Little

Dream of Me; Moon River, and many other favourites.

Tickets for the special performance of classical and popular music are available from www.rte. ie/co, priced from €12 to €39.50.

TV3’s Cassie Stokes wants you to swap the counch for Virgin Media’s 10K Night Run throughout Dublin City Centre, with 10,000 expected to take part

16 GAZETTE 2 February 2017

2 February 2017 GAZETTE 17

The Big Picture

ANNUAL AWARDS OF THE PRESS PHOTOGRAPHERS ASSOCIATION OF IRELAND

PRESS photographers from across the island of Ireland gathered last week as the winners of the Press Photographers Association of Ireland ‘Press Photographer of the Year 2017’ awards were announced.

Independent News & Media photographer Gerry Mooney was named ‘Press Photographer of the Year 2017’.

Commenting on Mooney’s impressive portfolio, the judges said: “The broad range of strong images demonstrates the photographer’s talent across the many disciplines of press photography.”

BROTHER IN ARMS

First place - Sports Feature following the Men’s Lightweight Paul O’Donovan and Gary O’Donovan of Ireland celebrate in Rio de Janeiro Brazil.

Games Olympic r Summe Rio 2016 the during final Sculls Double Stephen McCarthy Sportsfile

AILEEN REID

First place - Portrait Triathlete Aileen Reid photographed for a series of portrai ts on Irish Olympians Morgan Treacy INPHO

Pictured are Marita and Gerr y Mooney ‘Press Photographer of the Year 2017’ Picture: Shane O’Neill Photography

s Michael Chester, President, Pres nd Irela of ion ciat Asso s Photographer Picture: Shane O’Neill Photography

Y TRAIN ALL ABOARD THE SK Environment

First place - Nature and the Lough Boora Discovery n’ created by Michael Bulfin at Trai ‘Sky The Park Co. Offaly Cathal Noonan

MASK PROTEST

le First place - Daily Life & Peop protests at Dail Eireann ohoe Don te rlot Cha erer suff Cystic Fibrosis e affordable Gary Ashe/The Star to make a treatment drug mor

ONE ARM. ONE LEG. NO LIMITS

ALL EYES ON BRUCE 2nd Place - Arts and Entertainment - Ramsey Cardy/SPORTSFILE

First place - Sports Action

FIRE

An Irish Volunteer engages fire with an RIC officer during the recreation of the 1916 battle of ambush in which several RIC Ashbourne officers and volunteers were killed Gerry Mooney, Independ ent News & Media

RUGBY MATCH

Juan José Méndez Fernández of Spain competes during the Men’s Road Race during the Rio 2016 Paralympic

Ireland and Leinster Rugby player Devin Toner and Mary Scott celebrate their Wedding Day at the Church

Games in Rio de Janeiro Brazil.

of the Nativity in Moynalvey Summerhill Co Meath. Steve Humphreys, Independent News & Media

Diarmuid Greene Sportsfile

GAZETTE

18 GAZETTE 2 February 2017

DUBLINLIFE H&M Pink knitted jumper €39.99

Cos

& Other Stories

H&M Sheer 39.90 panel dress €

River Island

& Other Stories

H&M Black vinyl skirt €39.99

H&M Pink pencil vinyl skirt €39.99

River Island

SPRING TRENDS  EMMA NOLAN

AFTER what seemed like the longest month ever, February has arrived with some interesting takes on Spring trends.

Using the term ‘Spring’ lightly, I’ve selected some high street versions of key trends for the coming season.

Expect to see a strong presence of vinyl, sheer, Mexicanstyle embroidery, oversized blazers, statement shirts,

concept sleeves, and in Dublin, the presence of REPEAL jumpers.

Zara, H&M, Cos, River Island and & Other Stories – these Grafton Street stores will be updating their stock in the next few weeks, and finally ditching the last of the sale lines, to reveal some amazing spring selections to mirror the runways.

2017 will see a resurgence of 80s aesthetic, so think big,

bold and bright!

With such political upheaval globally at the moment, it will be interesting to see how it reflects on popular culture, especially on fashion.

Counter-culture fashion movements like punk have always stemmed from times of anti-establishment rebellion and, in days when pink is the new black, who knows what’s ahead?

2 February 2017 GAZETTE 19

GAZETTE

FEATURES

& Other Stories

9.99 H&M Long ruffle skirt €4

H&M Grey kick flare pant €39.90

LittlewoodsIreland Printed multi-strap dress €60

9.99 5 ized blazer € H&M Overs

GAZETTE

20 GAZETTE 2 February 2017

DUBLINLIFE

Super green stir fry loaded with fresh flavours

FOOD&DRINK

Create a taste explosion in your mouth Chocolate and Raspberry Balls Ingredients 175g butter at room temperature 180g Siucra Rich Dark Brown Sugar  ½ tsp vanilla extract  Three tbsp cocoa powder  50g dark chocolate, finely chopped  210g porridge oats  1tbsp apple juice  2tbsp raspberries, freeze-dried, crushed 

 AISLING KENNEDY

CHEF Domini Kemp has teamed up with Camile Thai restaurant and takeaway to launch a new super green stir fry for the month of February.

Domini’s super green stir fry is inspired by her recent book with Patricia Daly, The Ketogenic K itchen, which promotes a low carbohydrate, healthy fat and moderate protein diet.

The new dish includes chicken, savoy

cabbage, broccoli, fine beans, celery, spring onion, muki beans and basil and is served with a gluten free seasoning sauce.

Having tasted the new super green stir fry dish, the Gazette highly recommends it especially if you are maintaining a healthy eating plan for the new year!

Domini Kemp’s Super Green Stir Fry will be available in all Camile outlets for €12.95 from now until February 28.



To decorate  100g dark chocolate, melted  Raspberries, freeze-dried, crushed Method  Beat the butter and sugar until smooth.  Fold in the vanilla extract then cocoa powder, chocolate, oats and apple juice. Finally, fold in the freeze-dried raspberries.  Form into balls, dip in the melted chocolate, place on a baking sheet and decorate with a few freeze-dried raspberries.

Recipe courtesy of Siucra.

For more information and more recipes see www.siucra.ie

Get your healthy eating plan on an upward spiral  AISLING KENNEDY

FOLLOW US TODAY ON OUR SOCIAL NETWORK Visit: Facebook: www.facebook.com/DublinGazetteNewspapers Twitter: @DublinGazette

IF you’re still on the healthy eating plan for the new year then you can’t go too far wrong by investing in the Kenwood Spiralizer.

It’s a handy little gadget that cuts spaghetti, vegetables, fruit and anything you can think of into spirals.

It can be used to make dishes such as salads, stir fry’s, and soups.

It’s simple to use, you just drop the fruit and veg into the chamber and outcome the spirals.

There are two spiralizing cones with the Spiralizer – the charmingly named Pappardelle and Linguine – and of course it also comes with a handy container that catches the spirals when they come out.

The Kenwood Spiralizer comes in white and green and costs €49.99.

Visit www.currys.ie for more information.

2 February 2017 GAZETTE 21

GAZETTE

TRAVEL

Lanzarote TAKE FIVE: WITH CHEAPER FLIGHTS LOOMING, AMERICAN CITIES ARE BECKONING museum will make a splash AN UNDERWATER museum featuring more than 300 sculptural works opened to the public earlier this month.

Museo Atlantico in Lanzarote is the first of its kind in Europe, with installations 14 metres below the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.

The 2,500sqm site can be explored by scuba divers or from glass-bottomed boats.

The sculptures include a 30-metre wall weighing 100 tonnes and all installations have been created with Ph-neutral materials

designed to foster the reproduction of local fish species and create a habitat for marine life.

The artist who created the works, Jason Taylor, said: “I hope the Museo Atlantico represents an entry point into a different world and promotes a better understanding of our precious marine environment and how much we depend on it.”

The first underwater sculpture park opened in Grenada in the Caribbean in 2006. Others followed in Nassau, Bahamas and Cancun in Mexico.

New deals set to make the States even more accessible  SYLVIA POWNALL SOME cities merit more than one visit – and America is home to a whole host of them. With cheaper transatlantic flights on the cards this year thanks to Norwegian Airlines and Wow entering the fray (see right), what better excuse to check out some classic US destinations ...

NEW YORK IT’S the first port of call for most of us when we cross the Atlantic – and for many, the most memorable.

The Big Apple boasts the world’s most famous cityscape and has been wooing visitors from across the globe for generations.

Must-sees include a trip up the Empire State Building, shopping at Macy’s and Bloomingdales and a stroll around Central Park (or skating on ice, depending on the time of year).

That’s just the tip of the iceberg – to discover the

real NYC, from shopping in Soho to the quirky eateries and hidden speakeasies, you’re going to have to come back again, and again, and again.

NEW ORLEANS FROM the Big Apple to the Big Easy. Welcome to the home of the worldfamous Mardi Gras parade and reputedly the most haunted city in America!

The birthplace of jazz has, for the most part, found its rhythm again more than a decade on from the devastation caused by Hurricane

Katrina.

With its gabled houses, charming districts and traditional dialects it’s a real trip back in time. Embrace the laid-back Mississippi way of life, enjoy the warm welcome, and get swept up in the romance of it all.

SAN FRANCISCO CHANGE is the only constant and nowhere is that more relevant than in San Fran. This cultural west coast mecca is the birthplace of everything from jeans to jukeboxes – and even ice cream sandwiches.

Each visit throws up a new adventure, and the rolling scenery of the city (best seen by tram) is bursting with trendy microbreweries, themed restaurants, boho fashions and street art.

Take a wine tour to the vineyards of Napa Valley,

or catch a ferry to Alcatraz via the Golden Gate bridge. The city is full of surprises – not least its friendly locals, whose sense of humour matches our own.

LAS VEGAS WHAT happens in Vegas stays in Vegas, and we’re talking a whole lot of happening here. First on your list has to be a visit to The Strip – a 6km thoroughfare which has rightfully earned its reputation as the entertainment capital of the world.

Home to many of the largest hotels and casinos on the planet, its combination of hedonistic adult entertainment and family fun are an assault on the senses.

From the Bellagio to the Venetian, the opulence will take your breath away.

Return to earth with a trip

to the Hoover Dam, or a five-hour drive through the Nevada desert to witness the splendour of the 443-km long Grand Canyon.

HONOLULU HAWAII is a kaleidoscope of colour and nowhere is this more true than in Honolulu.

The clear blue skies, turquoise seas, sparkling sands and lush green jungles will take your breath away.

Every tourist handbook will steer you in the direction of Waikki – a beachfront suburb bursting with boutique hotels and tanned surfers.

However, getting off the tourist trail will yield even more charms like the hidden beaches, eateries of Chinatown, the grass skirts and the hypnotic music.

Flights to the US could be slashed NEW kids on the block, Norwegian Air International (NAI) and Wow are promising to slash fares on key Irish-US routes from summer.

Return fares with the low-cost airlines could plummet to below €300 in route launch promotions by the budget carriers. In response, Aer Lingus will now offer a whopping 2.5 million seats to the US this year – and will increase its US route schedule from 12 to 13 destinations.

Under its summer sale, Aer Lingus offers fully inclusive direct return fares to the US from €498 out of both Shannon and Dublin. United Airlines fares also start at around €500.

GAZETTE

22 GAZETTE 2 February 2017

DUBLINLIFE

FASTNews

Opel has a new and more compact SUV crossover on the way called the Crossland X designed as a city driving car with a higher driving position

Opel adds style in city with the Crossland X OPEL will soon be offering Dublin drivers a new compact SUV crossover option to join the Mokka X, with the arrival of the new Crossland X car. This car is designed as an urban crossover model and is being launched in Berlin this week.

With a length of 4.21 meters, the new Crossland X is 160mm (6in) shorter than an Astra while at the same time 100mm (4in) higher. The occupants get an elevated seating position and to give a better overview.

The new compact crossover comes with Adaptive Forward Lighting (AFL) with full LED headlights, head

Seat lands Ateca with value to SUV market

As the crossover SUV segment of the Irish car market continues to grow to over 20%, Seat is the latest brand to join this rapidly expanding market opportunity. Michael Moroney has taken Seat’s new Ateca SUV to the roads and compares its value-for-money offering.

up display and the 180-degree Panoramic Rear View Camera along with Advanced Park Assist, Forward Collision Alert with pedestrian detection and Automatic Emergency Braking[1], Driver Drowsiness System, Lane Keep Assist, Speed Sign Recognition and Side Blind Spot Alert. The new Crossland X also comes with the Opel OnStar as well as Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatible IntelliLink infotainment technology including up to eight-inch large colour touch screens. Irish prices will be announced closer to its launch on the Irish market.

David Thomas new managing director at Volvo Car Ireland DAVID Thomas has been appointed as the new managing director of Volvo Car Ireland, taking up this role from this week. David has significant industry experience, having worked with Volvo Cars for 22 years in various international posts.

zerland. Most recently,

He has worked in a

David has worked in the

number of senior man-

US market leading Cus-

agement roles within the

tomer Experience and

company; he has served

Network for America.

as managing director

Outgoing managing

of Russia, regional vice

director, Adrian Yeates,

president, based in

has left Volvo Car

Sweden, vice president

Ireland to pursue other

Global Fleet and manag-

opportunities outside

ing director of Swit-

the business.

SEAT is fresh to the SUV market with the Spanish named Ateca that combines a modern design that’s underpinned by Volkswagen technology.

The Ateca mid-range SUV is the latest to join what is becoming a crowded market as sales of so-called SUV crossover vehicles in Ireland and across Europe, continue to rise.

Seat deserves its share of the crossover cake with the new Ateca, which I’ve recently had for a test drive. The look is fresh to the Spanish brand which now enters this segment of the market with the Ateca brandishing a value for money message.

There are five different engine options for the Ateca, ranging from an entry level 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine to the top of the range 190bhp Xcellence version that’s powered by a 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine. All engines in the range are 100% Volkswagen in design, build and performance.

Given the strong Volk-

swagen influence it’s only natural that Ateca buyers will do their comparisons against Volkswagen’s new Tiguan, which was featured in this column some time back. What’s different about the Ateca is the brand name, some of the driving features and that value-for-money offer.

Seat offers three difference specification levels for the Ateca, S, SE and Xcellence. They tempted my driving desires by giving me the top of the range Xcellence model with little left to choose from the extra’s list, as my test vehicle.

And while this was a more powerful and interesting version to drive, the more practical version for most Dublin drivers will be the SE version in two-wheel-drive with a 150bhp rated 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine. And this is the version that I’ve used in my comparison notes and it’s also the one that puts the Ateca in a more favourable light.

T he higher power engine gives a more

exhilarating performance while the extra weight from the 4x4 system toned down its appetite a little. Most Dublin drivers will opt for the frontwheel-drive versions for reasons of fuel economy and limited need for extra road holding or off-road desires. For many SUV crossover drivers it’s the extra road visibility that brings the biggest advantages.

Relative to the competition, Seat is offering comparable performance from the 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine at the popular 150bhp rating level.

The Ateca is lighter than most of the other SUV crossovers that I’ve compared it with.

The fact that it’s over 100kg lighter than the r e l a t e d Vo l k s w a g e n Tiguan helps it to achieve slightly better fuel economy and make it marginally faster in terms of acceleration. On paper, the Ateca is the most economical of my comparison group of six midrange SUV crossovers.

The Seat Ateca is a new and strong looking SUV crossover that combines Spanish styling with Volkswagen’s German engineering in a package that offers value for money as the entry level 2.0-litre, turbo-diesel version comes with a starting price from €29,500

Seat Ateca 2.0 TDI 4x4

SPECIFICATIONS Engine Engine power 0 – 100km/hr Economy

2.0 litre 190hp 9.3 seconds 20km/litre (5.3l/100km or 53mpg)

Fuel Tank Capacity CO2 emissions Road Tax Band Main Service Euro NCAP Rating Towing rating Warranty Entry Price

50 litres 135g/km B2 €280 20,000km/12 mon 5 star (2016) 1900kgs 3 years (100,000km) €29,500

Seat Ateca DG reversing camera

However, in practice, the version that I drove with its full pack of features, including four-wheeldrive, as more than 30% poorer in economy terms than the rated figure.

I found that the DSG automatic seven-speed gearbox system makes the Ateca an easy car to drive,

while it adds €2,000 to the list price. This version has also the potential to be more economical and in the right driving hands, it will deliver good driving economy.

Out on the road, this Ateca accelerates well.

The road holding was impressive with the 4x4

2 February 2017 GAZETTE 23

GAZETTE

MOTORING

Michael Dwyer, senior sales executive, Windsor Motor Group, Katie Taylor and Conal O’Gorman, sales manager, Windsor Bray Nissan

Katie Taylor announced as Windsor Motor Group’s newest ambassador system included.

The test car was fitted with brown leather interior to give it a more luxury feel. Leather adds strength to car seating but can be cold to sit into first thing in the morning. Seat adjustment was good and I was quickly comfortable behind the wheel.

Compared to the Volkswagen Tiguan, there is a slightly less techie feel to the Ateca. It’s like the overall driver Ateca experience has been toned down a little to ease the competitive strains within the Volkswagen brands. It will be interesting to see how the new Skoda Kodiaq will look and drive when it appears shortly, as it too has a similar heritage.

There are loads of options available for the Ateca and for me the most useful is the Park Assist system. This makes parking so much easier, especially in supermarket car parks and it will save the Ateca bodywork from scratches over time.

The Ateca has a high safety rating with two

ISO-Fix attachments for the rear seats. It has an impressive five-star safety rating from the recent and more stringent EuroNCAP testing programme.

The test car came with a space saver spare wheel in the boot. The boot itself is rated at 510 litres for the two-wheel-drive versions; it gets slightly smaller when you take the four-wheel-drive option.

The boot load area is larger than that of the Ford Kuga and Nissan Qashqai but smaller than the Toyota RAV4 and Volkswagen Tiguan.

The entry price for the 150bhp Ateca 2.0-litre turbo-diesel is €29,500 which is competitive relative to the related Volkswagen Tiguan, but not so much so when you compare it with the likes of similar offers from the Ford Kuga or Toyota RAV4 with similar power and performance. The Ateca gives you all of the performance features of a Volkswagen family SUV crossover at a more affordable price with a unique Seat styling feel.

The Seat Ateca is spacious in terms of passenger area, with good wide door access

The steering wheel and dash area design is uniquely Seat while on closer look you can see the Volkswagen similarities in terms of the controls and the soft touch steering wheel

There are five engine options the most popular of which is this 2.0-litre turbo-diesel version that’s available with either 150bhp or 190bhp, which was the power rating of the test car

WINDSOR Motor Group is delighted to welcome Irish boxing legend, Katie Taylor as a Windsor Motor Group Ambassador. Katie, Olympic Gold Medallist, five-times World Boxing Champion and six-times European Champion, not to mention local and national hero, recently took delivery of her all-new 171 Nissan X-Trail.

Commenting on the partnership, Peter Nicholson, managing director, Windsor Motor Group said: “We’re very proud to welcome Katie Taylor to the Windsor Motor Group Ambassador family. Katie embodies everything the X-Trail has to offer – powerful, packs a punch when it comes to the competition and, just like Katie, the X-Trail manoeuvres beautifully.

“She’s a remarkable and inspirational lady, who is passionate, driven, and determined and clearly has her sights set on one goal – to be the best – these are attributes Windsor Motor Group mirrors.”

Sculpted for style, space and efficiency, the X-Trail is packed with class-leading technology and remarkable safety features. With its stunning features, its exterior aerodynamics that whisper through the wind, advanced engines and virtually gearless Xtronic transmission that maximises efficiency and performance.

With the X-Trail’s All-Mode 4x4-i, you’ve got a system that’s capable onroad and off. Auto Mode constantly monitors conditions and adjusts the balance of power between front and

rear wheels for best traction. Powering the all-new X-Trail is an advanced 1.6litre diesel engine, tuned to provide the performance of larger diesel powertrains, while offering enhanced fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions.

The engine also features Nissan’s automatic Start/Stop system, which shuts down the engine when it’s not needed, to save fuel, then smoothly and quickly restarts as you pull away.

“I can see why people fall in love with the X-Trail – it’s a beautiful car and drives like a dream”, said Katie Taylor. “The X-Trail is the perfect car for me, it’s comfortable, has tons of space, which is great for all my training gear and is really economical.”

Katie is driving the all-new Nissan X-Trail XE, with gravity inspired double-stitched leather trim seats with spinal support and LED interior lighting.

The X-Trial also features NissanConnect, which is packed with a range of features, and is incredibly easy to use thanks to the high resolution seven-inch anti-glare touchscreen. With a powerful combination of audio, navigation and communications functions, as well as cutting edge connectivity and smartphone integration features, all of which will keep Katie’s world within reach. The X-Trail also features Intelligent Driver Assistance and navigation functions, supporting Katie in all kinds of traffic situations.

GAZETTE

24 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 February 2017

DUBLINLIFE

CINEMA

ReelReviews

SING

Musical funfest LOVE animals? Love cartoons? Love music? Then feast your eyes on Sing. Sing, directed and written by Garth Jennings, is an animated musical comedy about a down-on-his-luck koala that holds a singing competition in hopes it will save his theatre. The film includes 60 songs and features the voices of top stars such as Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Seth MacFarlane and Scarlett Johansson.

LION

A truly engaging film BASED on a non-fiction book, Dev Patel impresses in Lion (Cert PG, 118 mins).

Despite having been raised by a good family (with Nicoloe Kidman as his mum), a man adopted as a child is compelled to discover his past, and driven to find out what happened to his birth family in India.

So begins an epic journey across a continent and cultures, with a compelling emotional narrative driving it forward.

The boys are back in town: Spud (Ewen Bremner), Renton (Ewan McGregor), Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller) and Begbie (Robert Carlyle)

T2 TRAINSPOTTING: MUCH ANTICIPATED SEQUAL IS HEAVY ON NOSTALGIA AND HUMOUR

On the right track FROM it’s cool, s h a r p l y, j u s t stylised openhow brilliantly ing onwards, in miserable 1996’s which the presTrainspotting ent day world of really was.

T2 TrainspotIt’s that reliting is cut with ance on our iconic shots adoration of  MARTIN MACNAMARA from the original, the original that Danny Boyle’s ultimately stops sequel to what is often hailed T2 from genuinely affecting the as one of the most important way Trainspotting did. The story British films ever made rides here takes place 20 years after high on an expected sense of the events of the first film and nostalgia. follows a much more straightIn case the images of a young forward narrative, rather than a Renton (Ewan McGregor) vignette style structure like the don’t do it for you, a tender, original’s string of interrelated instrumental reworking of moments joining up a number Lou Reed’s Perfect Day should of heroin-afflicted lives.

Unfortunately, T2 suffers force the wistful reminiscence into overdrive – that is, until a from its coherence – there’s no particularly heavy scene early stream of consciousness style on reminds us suddenly, and storytelling driving the nar-

rative, even if that same sense of storytelling becomes a plot point later on. T2 is a much simpler film and consequently, a far less interesting one.

Returning to Scotland from his new life in Amsterdam, Renton aims to make amends with the friends he robbed and abandoned, Spud (Ewen Bremner) and Sick Boy (Jonny Lee Miller). Spud still struggles with his addiction to heroin, “the only friend that never left him” while Sick Boy has replaced it with cocaine. However, recently escaped from prison, the psychotic Begbie (Robert Carlyle) has no intention of forgiving Renton’s past-sins, spitting his rage at anyone who gets in the way.

T2 is heavier on humour than tragedy. Still, Boyle’s given us

another very, very funny film – even if it’s somewhat stripped of the bleaker than bleak, black comedy of Trainspotting. Thematically, the focus here is midlife crises, middle-aged disillusions and powerlessness. Boyle and his leads do a superb job capturing a sense of what’s lost in the passage of time, where everything changes and everything stays exactly the same.

Again, the action here is highly stylised, consistently punctuated with expertly timed freeze frames. The style, narrative and dialogue relentlessly wink and nod to the 1996 original; at times there’s a comforting familiarity to it. Often, however, it feels unnatural, forced.

Renton’s updated “choose life” speech is an unfortunately strained example of this.

While T2 starts brilliantly, it relies too heavy on these updated reflections of the past and the audience’s nostalgia for the original. Early on, we wish this sequel would do its own thing – when it does, however, T2 transforms into somewhat of a straightforward, admittedly enjoyable dramatic thriller, its climax a million miles away from the open-ended uncertainty we’d expect.

This is a fine film – often hilarious, occasionally affecting and visually stimulating throughout – but while it attempts to capture the spirit of the original, T2 Trainspotting fails to achieve that which made the original so hilariously compelling and tragically inventive.

Was it ever really going to?

Verdict: 6/10

2 February 2017 BLANCH GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

TECH RESIDENT EVIL 7: REBOOTED CLASSIC FRANCHISE LIVES AGAIN WITH A BOLD NEW DIRECTION

Fresh blood for a horror series  SHANE DILLON

IN GAMING as in cinema, one of the oldest tropes has been that of the haunted house, or house of horror – somewhere terrif ying and mortally dangerous to escape from.

It’s a thematic journey for the onlooker/ obser ver that enjoys intermittent popularity, as do zombies, which are currently enjoying a new lease of (undead) life on the small screen.

Combine the two, and perhaps you’d end up with Resident Evil 7 (PC, PS4, XBO; Cert 18; c. €70)– the latest in the long, long-running

sur vival horror franchise that’s had a scary amount of spin-offs.

At heart, it’s a pure survival horror game, played out from a firstperson perspective.

An elevator pitch might say: “It’s a cross b e t we e n T h e Te x a s Chainsaw Massacre, and Night of the Living Dead – you have to survive and escape from a crumbling house and estate roamed by a hillbilly cannibal family, with monsters lurking about, too.”

And that’s it, in a nutshell. Scramble about as you try to evade the monstrous Baker family, survive and escape the ramshackle plantation

estate, which has a number of surprises in store.

It’s a fresh, Gothic twist for the series, and breathes new life into the once impressive franchise which had become a tired, stale pastiche of itself.

Interestingly, it’s possibly the first killer app – pun intended – to breathe life into the impressive but underused PlayStation VR headset, as the whole game can be played via virtual reality, adding extra immersion to an already impressive game.

It’s hard to think of a better game to sell VR, with RE7’s great graphics, and jump scares,

really showcasing the power of the tech as players roam the shabby house.

A number of niggling game design issues linger, relics of the franchise which are familiar problems to Resi gamers: juggling inventory space, hoping that what you’re using now won’t be needed later, and so on.

Still, for a series which had left many gamers cold with its previous, disastrous installment, the switch to an immersive new game engine away from the traditional third-person view has had an immediate effect.

Largely ditching the clapped-out threat of

zombies and shady corporate shenanigans for something more psychologically unsettling, RE7 has freshened up the franchise with a bold new direction that holds true to the core survival horror aspect of the series, while adding some more contemporary twists on dread.

It’s good to see the series return to life with a bold new direction, which has been executed in considerable style here.

F o r t h o s e w h o ’ ve lurched away from the series, RE7 is a welcome reboot that deser ves returning to – if only to try and escape from ...

A grimy, ‘video camera’ perspective pervades much of the visual aesthetic, adding to the creeping menace

26 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 February 2017

BLANCHCLASSIFIEDS CARPENTRY & CONSTRUCTION

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

WINDOWS

DENTAL MOULD REMOVAL

ROOFING

Ace Roofing & Guttering Family run business with 20 Year Guarantee Re-Slating • Re-Tiling • Felt Roofs • Flat & Asphalt Roofing • Roof Repairs Gutter Cleaning • Guttering Installation • Attic Insulation • All Home Improvements

01-9014850 / 01-5137136/085 7305786 www.acegutteringandroofing.com

30% off with this advert TV/LAPTOP REPAIRS

ABC CERTIFIED 52,958 COPIES EACH WEEK

DVDS

(ABC: Group MFD, Jan- Dec 2015).

HOME IMPROVEMENTS

LOCAL TEAM WIN? WE WANT TO KNOW! Call our SPORTS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email sport@dublingazette.com

GOT A PHOTO? Email news@dublingazette.com



ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS CALL 01 60 10 240

2 February 2017 BLANCH GAZETTE 27

BLANCHCLASSIFIEDS RECRUITMENT

PASSIONATE WORDPRESS DEV PATCHY CV? PERM JOB AVAIL E; DEREK@BUABUA.IE

GOT A STORY? Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 2 email news@dublingazette.com



GAZETTE

28 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 February 2017

SPORT

FastSport KANE & O’REGAN FIRST RUN INTO RECORD BOOKS: IRISH athlete Sinead Kane has made history by becoming the first visually impaired athlete ever to complete the World Marathon Challenge – entering the World Record Books in the process.

The 34-year-old competed in the challenge, which consists of seven marathons on seven continents in seven days, with the help of her guide runner John O’Regan from inner city Dublin. The duo began their journey in the Antarctica on January 23rd and ended it in Sydney last weekend with a time of 4.42.59.

Kane has a 95% deficit in her vision since birth and only started running seriously four years ago.

She recently told Ryan Tubridy that her New Year’s resolution was to create a Guinness World Record.

O’Regan works for Irish Rail but is an ultra-runner who has pulled on his trainers for races in some of the hottest and coldest places on Earth.

RUGBY: CLONTARF MOVE UP TO FOURTH WHILE TERENURE SECURE SECOND WIN

Lans-downed as Tarf test is too much for students

 KARL GRAHAM sport@dublingazette.com

THERE were wins for four Dublin sides in Division 1A during an action-packed weekend of Ulster Bank League rugby.

Clontarf moved up to fourth position in the table after a 29-0 win over Dublin University at College Park.

Mick McGrath was the star of the show as he crossed the line no fewer than four times for his side, with Rob Keogh converting three of them and kicking a penalty for Clontarf.

Dublin University held strong during the first half and only trailed by seven points going into the break, but Clontarf stepped it up after the restart against a side who have now dropped to second from bottom in the table, to run out as deserved winners.

St Mary’s College secured a much-needed 27-18 win over Old Belvedere at Templeville Road to move ahead of Dublin University and to within one point of their opponents in sixth position.

Dave Fanagan and Conor Hogan scored tries for the home side with the former also adding two conversions and a penalty.

Clontarf RFC in UBL Division 1A action

Brian McGovern also got his name on the score sheet with a penalty try.

Scoring tries for Old Belvedere were Shane McDonald and David Brandon, while Willie Staunton registered a conversion and two penalties.

Terenure College won their second league game of the season with an impressive 27-17 defeat of Garryowen at Lake-

lands Park but still find themselves adrift at the bottom of the table.

The home side trailed 10-0 at the break in a tight first half but a spirited second half performance saw them land their much-needed win.

Two penalties from Mark O’Neill got them back into the game before a penalty try put them in front.

Garryowen were reduced to 13 men and Terenure took advantage with a Mark Hiney try.

Hiney crossed the line again for his second try soon after Garryowen were shown another yellow card.

The visitors managed to put another try on the board during the dying embers of the game but it proved little more than a

consolation.

UCD secured their fourth league victory of the season with a 17-3 win over Cork Constitution at the Belfield Bowl to join St Mary’s College and Dublin University on 22 points.

The students got the first points on the board through a penalty after five minutes and the score remained that way until Cork tied it up with a penalty of their own on 25 minutes.

The hosts were forced to defend their line for the remainder of the half and could themselves lucky to go into the break on level terms.

They started the second half brighter and took the lead with a Stephen Murphy try that was converted by Matthew Gilsenan.

Peadar Timmins was next to score with his try also converted

by Gilsenan, and UCD held out to move up to seventh in the table.

Finally, Lansdowne had their lead at the top of the table cut to one point after a 19-10 loss to second placed Young Munster at Tom Clifford Park.

Alan Bennie scored a try for Lansdowne and Alan Tynan kicked four penalties and a conversion but it wasn’t enough.

Double joy for Dublin as Aidan’s and Holy Faith win  sport@dublingazette.com

St Aidan’s retained their Under-19 A title. Picture: inpho.ie

ST AIDAN’S CBS defended their SUBWAY Schools Under 19 A title in style this evening, coming back from a 14-point deficit at half time to drive on and win by 74-62.

The last game of the SUBWAY Schools Cup finals proved to be a fascinating match up once more as, in a repeat of last year’s Cup final.

Brian Ashton was one of the many stars for St Aidan’s today, and was the driving force behind their third quarter comeback,

with Matt Treacy on side to help net some vital scores. Ballincollig opened up a four-point lead at the end of the first with some good scores.

Momentum stayed with Ballincollig in a scrappy second quarter, as they added another 19 points to their tally. Brian Ashton and Treacy were on hand for St Aidan’s to try and stem the tide of the Cork attack, but Ballincollig maintained control, taking a 38-24 point lead in to the dressing room at half time.

A revitalized St Aidan’s emerged after the break, with

Treacy quickly closing the gap.

Aidan’s continued to shoot in style, with six three-pointers reducing the lead to just two points, before Emmet Lawless put the crowd on its feet by giving St Aidan’s the lead with two minutes on the clock.

With the supporters well and truly in a frenzy of excitement, the fourth quarter unfolded at pace once more. St Aidan’s continued to knock the scores in and were crowned Under-19 A Boys champions once more.

Holy Faith Clontarf also won their final but they did so in more

comfortable fashion with a 46-75 point victory over Dunshaughlin.

After a close and tense first quarter, Jerome Westbrooks’ charges took complete control of the game, closing down an in-form Rachel Huijsdens of Dunshaughlin to outscore them by 26 points in the second quarter which was effectively the quarter that won the game for them.

A strong fourth quarter from Dunshaughlin saw them outscore Holy Faith for the first time, as their never say die attitude brought them right up to the final buzzer with their heads held high.

2 February 2017 BLANCH GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

FASTSport

Christie helps beauty queen fight her critics Boxing coach who usually spends her time training stars of basketball and american football has teamed up with a former Miss America to help her forge a career in the world of boxing  JAMES HENDICOTT

Greyhound racing gets million euro Boyle boost IRISH Greyhound Racing celebrated its biggest sponsorship of recent years with the announcement that BoyleSports have signed a 3-year agreement worth €1 million in prizemoney to Greyhound Owners, Trainers and Breeders.

The new agreement will see BoyleSports renew their title sponsorship of the Irish Greyhound Derby.

Ireland’s biggest Greyhound Racing event, the derby runs through August and September at Shelbourne Park and attracts audiences from across the globe. The three-year agreement secures sponsorship of the event through 2017, 2018 and 2019.

The bookmakers have also committed to title sponsorship of another important classic event, the Champion Stakes, which is also run at the Dublin venue in July and August.

Both events run over the 550yd distance, and drawing to a close just in time for the Derby, the Champion Stakes attracts many big names as the perfect entree the main event.

The Champion Stakes sponsorship is based on an initial one-year term with the option to renew for a further two years.

Alongside the two high-profile events, BoyleSports will also sponsor 12 additional sweepstake events and 40 ‘Getting Out Races’.

The sweepstakes will cater for a variety of grades and distances and will be scheduled to ensure that there is no more than one per month, maximising greyhound owners and trainers opportunity to participate in the events.

John Boyle, the chief executive of BoyleSports, said: “We are very committed to Irish sport and this partnership with the IGB, cements BoyleSports position as the biggest supporter of Irish greyhound racing sponsoring two of the most prestigious events on the calendar, the BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby and the BoyleSports Champion Stakes.”

sport@dublingazette.com

LUCAN native Kerrie Christie’s Los Angeles dream has taken a new twist, as the boxing coach from west Dublin has found herself involved in coaching an unlikely amateur fighter over the past few months.

Having relocated to the city of angels in 2015, joining Olympian Tony Jeffries’ Box N’ Burn gym, Christie has recently found herself coaching former Miss America Whitney Miller.

The beauty queen has ditched her life of glam to focus on a new path in the much rougher world of amateur box-

ing.

Miller won the Miss America title in 2012, and first showed an interest in ju jitsu shortly after her time in the role, bef ore mov ing across to boxing during the last 18 months.

The Texan has been spending extended periods residing in LA to prepare herself, and won her first fight - an unsanctioned amateur bout against River Fuller - back in August.

Christie told GazetteSport of the project: “She wanted to be a fighter, and train like a fighter. She’d trained for a few years, and her first fight was put off.

She started with ju jitsu, and then she wanted to move to boxing. It was

decided it would be boxing first, and that’s how we got involved.”

Miller’s road wasn’t to be easy. “Her oppon e n t s a i d s t u f f l i ke ‘you’re coming into my sport and disrespecting it, how dare you think you’re a fighter,’” Christie explains.

“But I witnessed it.

Whitney lives in Austin, Texas and was coming to LA to be in training camp in the gym for a few weeks at a time.

She’d be in the gym during the day and at the track at night, she was training like a proper boxer, the real deal.”

“I don’t think her opponent saw that or gave her any credit for it. But it’s for a fight so I wouldn’t have done

Kerrie Christie moved to LA in 2015 to team up with Tony Jeffries’ Box N Burn gym. Picture: Instagram @ kerrie_bnb

her any favours going easy on her. If it was just a bit of training you’d just tap someone, but when it’s for a fight, and the opponent has a few fights already, you don’t want them to get any surprises on the night.

That means punching them in the face hard.”

“She didn’t seem concerned about it. She

Christie says of the gym.

“We have a lot of boxers, who come in for training camps. We’ve had Michael Conlon, and Conor McGregor.

Some of them are very serious, others are there for fitness.”

“A lot of basketball players and NFL types come into the gym, and I don’t know who a lot of

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

‘This is LA, your face is your calling card, but she never seemes to worry about it’ - Kerrie Christie

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

didn’t come across like that at all, and never took anything personally. If I caught her, she caught me a few times.

That’s sport.

“I’d tell her if she was dropping a hand, or how she could move to be a little bit better. She’d just take it in and be excited by it. This is LA, your face is your calling card, but she never seemed worried about it.”

“I love people that are in one world and then go to another, and I see a challenge in that,” Christie said of Miller.

“I can relate a lot to that. I was a fighter, and I competed as a physique model one year, just as I wanted a challenge.”

“70-80% of our members are boxing fanatics who enjoy getting in shape through boxing,”

those people are, I didn’t grow up watching those sports. That’s good for me, as it means I don’t train them any different.

When I don’t know who people are, I shine better at what I do, I’m a little bit more natural.”

“About six months in it kind of really took off with private clients, being a leader in classes, things like that,” Christie recalls. “A year and a half in and I feel it’s kind of perfect all around.”

Christie will soon be involved in helping to set up the Box N’ Burn Academy, a new project aimed at training future boxing trainers into the role, and the latest expansion of the successful boxing-focused gym.

With a year left on her visa, she is currently applying for a green card.

GAZETTE

30 BLANCH GAZETTE 2 February 2017

SPORT

FASTSport

SOCCER: VERONA FC’S UNDERAGE ACADEMY IS ON THE RISE

St Vincent’s take the spoils in Subway final UG ROLAND-Onuoha proved the deciding factor as St Vincent’s Castleknock College edged out Colaiste na Coiribe 51-50 in the nail-biting Subway Under-16 C boy’s cup final at the National Basketball Arena.

Onuoha netted a massive 25 points to help his side on their way to victory.

St Vincent’s Castleknock got us underway and took advantage of Colaiste na Coiribe’s nerves as they stormed through the first quarter.

It was a mixture of Castleknock’s great defence and the Galway side’s missed chances that led to St Vincent’s 11-2 lead at the end of the quarter.

Colaiste na Coiribe started the second better with Oisin O Gormaile making an impact.

Multiple steals from him led to fast break scores for the boys from Galway.

Strong rebounding from Castleknock’s Ulo Eruma Gborie and Roland-Onuoha produced multiple scores.This is what separated the two sides throughout the game. St Vincent’s were ahead 25-22 at the end of the first half.

Gborie and Onuoha were once again a huge factor on the offensive boards and they helped their team immensely with a mix of scores, rebounds and blocks.

O Gormaile, again, picked up a couple of steals.

Colaiste na Coiribe’s Cronan Mac an Bhaird made three huge shots in succession towards the end of the quarter to have the score tied.

It set up the fourth quarter perfectly as the sides traded scores up until the last minute.

St Vincent’s stars Gborie and Onuoha exchanged scores with O Gormaile and Mac an Bhaird to put on a show for the crowd.

Eventual MVP UG Roland-Onuoha put up a huge three pointer to break the deadlock with one minute remaining on the clock.

This didn’t faze Colaiste na Coiribe as they attacked with the same ferocity.

A huge block from Ulo Eruma Gborie started to put doubt in the minds of the Galway lads but they kept the intensity.

They had multiple free-throws in the final minute but were unable to convert. Oisín O Gormaile had a shot at the buzzer to win the game but good defence from Castleknock made it difficult for him.

Verona have renewed their contract with Coerver that has seen them link up with some of Europe’s biggest clubs

From Blanch to Benfica sport@dublingazette.com

VERONA FC’s underage section have been making strong progress over recent months, and lay the credit firmly at the door of a new coaching technique, one that’s seen the club hook up with some big names from around the world.

The Blanchardstown club recently signed an extension on their contract with leading soccer skills acadmey Coerver, and have seen their academy grow dramatically as their players focus on individual skills, and take up opportunities to travel and play with Coerver partner clubs such as; Benfica, Dortmund and Stoke City.

“The club is looking at adding four teams for the new season, on

top of the six new sides we added last season,” Tracy Gleeson, who manages at age group level, tells GazetteSport of the club’s progress. “We’ll also be entering girl’s teams into the MGL, at Under-10 and Under-11, for the first time this year. We have 80 kids training on the 4-9 age group every Sunday morning, and we’ve seen some great successes across these groups.”

“The Under-10, Under-11, Under-12, Under-14 and Under15 sides all finished in the top three in their league, with a few of them top of the table,” Gleeson continues. “The Under-15s also won their shield final, and a couple of the teams went unbeaten throughout the whole season.”

The club doesn’t prioritise winning, however, and welcomes

DUBLIN SPRING SERIES Dublin and Mayo set for another Croker replay THE Dublin Spring Series is almost back upon

us once again, meaning four mouth-watering clashes will soon hit Croke Park.

February 11th sees the capital’s senior hurlers and footballers take to the field against All-Ireland champions Kilkenny, and Tyrone respectively.

Then on March 4th the hurlers will take on Waterford before the footballers meet Mayo.

Tickets for the series can be purchased on the Dublin GAA website or in participating SuperValu and Centra stores.

players of all levels. “We have teams competing at different standards,” Gleeson explains.

“Players can join us playing at a good level, or playing for the first time. It’s great to see players going from, for example, a 3 at the start of the season to a 7 or an 8 by the end. That’s just as important.”

Skills The Coerver system - a widely used skill-based system - is a step away from the FA’s coaching standard, in that it focuses on individuals as opposed to teams.

Gleeson feels the skills learnt are very transferable, describing the system as “technical and individual,” and emphasising the way it allows players to see what they’ll be doing in training and

practise ahead of time.

One of the major benefits has been the trips, which has seen players train in Dortmund and Benfica, as well as a match for the Under-13s squad away to Stoke City - where they excelled in defeating Stoke’s Under-14 academy side in a friendly last year.

“You see a lot of the skills come out in the players. They all think they’re the best, and that’s great to see. Faints, stuff like that, come out in games. The training has really given them a boost,” Gleeson concludes.

A year’s membership for underage players at Verona FC currently costs €200, with much of the club’s funding coming from sources such as Lotto. As long as coaching spaces remain within the club, all are welcome.

2 February 2017 BLANCH GAZETTE 31

GAZETTE

2016 SAILING AWARDS

CLUB NOTICEBOARD

No shocks as Murphy lands Sailor of the Year

ST BRIGID’S ANNUAL Club Mass for St Brigid’s Day

ANNALISE Murphy was named Sailor of the

Year at the Volvo Irish Sailing Awards.

Murphy, a member of Dun Laoghaire’s National Yacht Club, was honoured at a ceremony hosted by the Irish Sailing Association at the RDS on Friday.

She became the first Irish sailor to medal in an individual event at the Olympics when she took home silver in the women’s laser radial in Rio last year.

Gaeltacht Scholarships are available

Park on Wednesday 1st February, all are

for this summer for club juvenile mem-

invited to attend.

bers from 1st to 5th year. Contact Sti-

Our HPC is under new management,

AFL4 team are asking for volunteers

and welcome to Niamh and Claire, see

to assist management for the team

details on the web www.stbrigidsgaa.

for the coming season and help is also

com.

requested in developing a database of

new Dublin Ladies senior captain and to

Leinster Senior Colleges Hurling Quarter-final Dublin North 1-15 Dublin South 1-10  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

DUBLIN North Colleges eventually overcame their Southern equivalent in tough conditions at Parnell Park on Sunday afternoon, seeing the North Dublin side top their postprimary group.

Dublin North made the early running, with Billy Ryan finding space almost straight from the opening, before Sean Currie hit a soaring free from the halfway line with two minutes

on the clock, and Michael Murphy added another shortly afterwards.

Ryan chipped in from play on 12 minutes, with Eoghan O’Neill quickly extending the lead.

Liam Murphy finally opened the South’s account with a free, added to with a nicely curling second in short order.

However, a beautiful turn from Sean Currie found him space to reassert the North’s control.

Liam Murphy - fast becoming the South’s only notable weapon soon upped his personal score to 0-6, but namesake Michael responded

and Billy Ryan grabbed his third from play.

South’s goalkeeper Conor O’Donoghue smashed home a penalty. to level things up at half time at 0-9 to 1-6, with the North having squandered a six point lead.

The second half saw a scrappy opening in which both teams missed chances, with it taking almost ten minutes of play before Ryan added a point that edged the North back in front. Powerful substitute Davy Keogh levelled for the South before Murphy had the North back in front.

Sean Currie’s break

and sharp finish into the South’s goal was to prove a pivotal moment, coming in the middle of a period of North dominance as they edged in front 1-14 to 1-9 with a series of quickfire points The quick reaction of the North’s ‘keeper Josh Rooney saw off a chance for the South, who were then reduced to 14 men.

Ultimately, that put an end to the South’s challenge, with a couple of late points exchanged but the North comfortably came out on top 1-15 to 1-10, to set up a tie with Kilkenny CBS on February 4th.

site.

Club membership is now due with a

for 2017. Noelle was named as the Gour-

facility via website to pay in three instal-

met Food Parlour Dublin player of the

ments.

match which saw Dublin win their open-

This week’s Lotto draw with €15,000

ing National League match last Sunday

Jackpot is on 2nd February in Russell

v Monaghan.

Park.

Well done to Castleknock Community

Nursery takes place every Saturday

College on their great win last Saturday

in Russell Park 9.30 to 11.00. New mem-

in the All Ireland Post Primary Senior

bers and families are most welcome. For

Camogie Quarter final, there are eight

further information and queries contact

Naomh Brid players on the panel. Well

David: 0858340169

done too to Loreto St Stephens Green

St Brigids wish to extend sincere sym-

and Mount Sackville who won their

pathy to the Keating, Bugler, O’Doherty,

respective finals recently, there was a

Mulvaney, Claffey and Collins families

strong Naomh Brid representation on

who have suffered bereavements.

CONGRATULATIONS to Shane, Eoin

man and grandmother to minor player

,Tom and our GPO Paul on winning the

Conor.

O’Byrne Cup in Drogheda on Sunday.

North trump South in battle of Dublin

players and members. Details on web-

our own Noelle Healy team vice-captain

CASTLEKNOCK

Dublin North take on Dublin South in the battle for capital bragging rights

ofán on 0876339238 for details

many thanks and best wishes to Damian

Congratulations to Sinead Aherne the

HURLING: CURRIE PROVES TOO HOT FOR SOUTHERN RIVALS

all teams.

is at 7.45pm in the Clubhouse in Russell

Club Celebration/Adult Awards

Our nursery with thanks to Tigers

night takes place at the Castleknock

Childcare continues at the Sports Hall

Hotel on Sat Feb 4th from 8pm. All

at Castleknock Community College.

mentors, adult players and friends of

Remember to put your blue tokens

the club invited. €25 tickets and you

in the Castleknock slot every time

can pay at the door, just text Lisa on

you shop at Tesco for the month of

086 1022296. There will be a meal and

Feburary.

DJ on the night.

Jive lessons start on Feb 14th; see Facebook/Twitter for full details.

Feile Fundraising quiz takes place on Friday Feb 17th at the Carpenter Pub

Club condolences go to the Dorman

from 8pm. Tables of 4 €40 or €10 per

Family on the death of Carmel (Teresa)

person. No quiz team-no hassle, Tony

Dorman mother of Mentor Mark Dor-

McKinley will sort you out 087-2530257.

ST PEREGRINE’S

WE are currently experiencing some

attitude.

technical issues with our new online

All GAA tickets are now overdue.

membership service for family mem-

Please return all sold/unsold tickets

berships. All other memberships

to the club a.s.a.p.

should be working as normal. We

We have all 36 contestants for our

are trying to rectify this problem as

2017 fundraiser The Kube. Our big

quickly as possible and apologies for

launch night will take place on Febru-

any inconvenience caused. Any monies

ary 16th at 8pm in the club lounge.

still due from 2016 must be paid in full.

The jackpot will increase once again

New membership must then be paid in

next week as there was no winner this

full or a direct debit set up which will

week. Numbers drawn: 4, 5, 12 & 28.

be divided into three payments. A no

Next week’s lucky winner will receive

pay, no play policy will be enforced for

€9000 and, as always, we will have 10

all members in 2017.

tickets selected at random to win €40.

We are currently looking for vol-

B i n g o i s eve r y We d n e s d a y at

unteers to fill various positions on

8.30pm. Last week’s jackpot was not

several committees. If you have a few

won so we will increase the pot by €50

hours spare a week and would like to

to leave it at €850.

assist in any area please get in con-

Highest dart score this Friday wins

tact with Secretary Paul Beecher. No

a €100 voucher for the Blanchards-

previous experience required just a

town Shopping Centre. Starts at 10pm

little of your free time and a can do

in the Bar.

GAZETTESPORT

ALL OF YOUR BLANCH SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31

LA QUEEN: Kerrie Christie teams up with former Miss America to help her build a new career in the ring P29

FEBRUARY 2-8, 2017

UBL: STRONG WINS FOR TARF, UCD AND TERENURE AS LANSDOWNE LOSE P28

Mochta’s win top of table clash  DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

St Mochta’s moved to the top of LSL Senior Sunday after coming from behind to beat title rivals Cherry Orchard 2-1 at Porterstown Road on Monday evening.

An equaliser from Alan McGreal and an own goal swung the tie for Mochta’s in six second-half minutes after a spectacular finish from Aidan Rafferty had given Orchard a deserved first-half lead.

It was a real six-pointer in Clonsilla as Saints knew a win would lift them above titleholders Bluebell United at the top, while

a win for Orchard would see them go above Mochta’s on goal difference.

And for a long time it seemed like the latter would come to pass after Rafferty pounced on a loose clearance from goalkeeper Morgan Cranley and finished first time from the touchline.

Mochta’s stepped up the intensity after the break and levelled after 74 minutes when, following a burst from his own half by Sean Byrne, McGreal was on hand to turn home Brian Fitzgerald’s cross.

And Fizgerald was the creator again ten minutes from the end as his cross for McGreal was turned into his own net by a Cherry

Orchard defender.

“In the first half they were the better side, but second half we came into it,” St Mochta’s manager Brian McCarthy told GazetteSport.

“Picking up results like this shows we’re in a good space. Since the turn of the year we’ve played Bluebell, Crumlin, Firhouse and Cherry Orchard and taken ten points.

“Goal difference would have put them ahead of us. “ They could have gone second but we’ve now gone six points ahead of them.

“It’s put a bit of breathing space between us, but there’ll be twists and turns in the league.

Once we keep doing what we’re doing, hope-

fully we’ll be there or thereabouts.”

The transfer window has seen Lee Dixon leave for Crumlin United, however McCarthy has added League of Ireland experience in the form of Ryan Robinson from Shelbourne.

The one-time Everton target, who has been called up to the home-based Ireland under-21 squad, had been due to sign for Bohemians.

“He was going to sign for Bohs but couldn’t commit to training four nights a week.

“He was willing to just take a step back because he needs to make a go of his job.

“I’m sure he’ll make the step up again when he finds his feet, but for the minute we’re thankful to have him.”