Castleknock GAZET TE FREE
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YOUR COMMUNITY • YOUR PAPER
A CITY UNDER WATER: Send your flood pictures to news@gazettegroup.com
October 27, 2011
SPOOKTASTIC FUN: Your guide to Dublin’s creepiest ‘haunts’: See P6
All in a spin: 12-hour event raises €5,000 for D15 Hospice Football: Brogan brothers claim top AllStar honours Page 32
MIRIAM Haskins, Pete Mahon
of St Pat’s FC; Vicky Fisher, Chris Bennick and Derek Pender, also from St Pat’s, pictured at a 12-hour Spinathon at Laurel Lodge shopping Centre for the D15 Hospice. Over 400 people were involved in the fundraiser and the huge effort raised a fantastic €5,000. Full Story on Page 7
Sports Awards: October nominees are announced Page 29
ALSOINSIDE: MOTORS ........................18 PROPERTY ................... 20 BUSINESS .....................21 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ......... 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26
A month’s worth of rain in just one day Deluge leaves trail of destruction and disruption behind
Q LAURA WEBB
PARTS of Castleknock were left impassable this week, after a month’s worth of rain fell in just one day, leaving a trail of destruction behind it. Roads were closed leading to massive traffic delays and stores in Dublin 15 had to shut
because of flooding. Locations across D15 were declared impassible because of extreme flooding, including the Strawberry Beds, which was closed from Monday afternoon until Tuesday lunchtime. There was also serious flooding on the Castleknock Road with reports of manholes overflow-
ing and Blackhorse Avenue was also badly affected. Meanwhile, traffic on the N3 inbound was extremely busy on Tuesday morning with reports of the journey from Clonee to M50 taking 45 minutes and a further 45 minutes from the M50 to Ashtown roundabout. Full Story on Page 4
2 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 27 October 2011
DUBLIN 15
Putting Ireland on the menu: Farmleigh features on British MasterChef
Retail event a success A TOTAL of 61 proactive job seekers attended a successful D15 retail connect event recently, organised by Blanchardstown Area Partnership Local Employment Service. The event, which took place in Draiocht Theatre, was to provide local job seekers with advice on how to increase their chances of securing employment and developing a career in the retail sector. Speakers on the day included retail industry experts, including Senator Fergal Quinn, Teamworx Retail Consultants, Stylefish Image Consultants, The Molloy Group and McDonalds Restaurants of Ireland. Following the event, Blanchardstown Area Partnership Local Employment Service thanked all those involved for helping make the event a success. It is hoped that connections were made to help assist job seekers looking to develop a career in retail and move that little closer to finding and securing a job in that sector.
LOCAL MATTERS SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS
ADVERTISE WITH THE GAZETTE CALL 60 10 240
DUBLIN’S Farmleigh Estate is no stranger to taking centre stage having hosted Queen Elizabeth and President Obama, and last week was no exception with BBC’s Celebrity MasterChef using the State venue to film participants testing their culinary skills. Last week, the popular celebrity version of British show, MasterChef 2011, was aired and several Irish locations, including Farmleigh, featured as part of the show. The shows’ presenters, John Torode and Gregg Wallace, challenged the celebrity finalists to cook lunch for the workers on Patrick Howard’s Farm in Bellewstown, Co Louth, preparing three local recipes each for the hungry workers. All of lunches had to contain the potato, including desserts. The participants then travelled to Farmleigh, where the finalists devised their own menus and were given three hours to prepare lunch for five of Ireland’s leading contemporary writers - Sinead Moriarty, Eoin Colfer, John Boyne, John Connolly and Jane Alger. Failte Ireland’s CEO Shaun Quinn said: “This is a fantastic opportunity to promote Ireland and Irish food on one of British television’s most watched programmes. Indeed, food tourism is becoming a bigger and bigger deal and, hopefully, the programme will showcase Irish fare and food and encourage foodies from all over Britain to put Ireland firmly on their holiday menu for next year.”
INITIATIVE: FINGAL COUNTY COUNCIL LAUNCHES SCHEME TO HELP BUSINESSES
Pop-Up shops planned for empty premises FINGAL County Council has launched a new Pop-Up shop initiative offering support to startup retail businesses by making use of empty commercial property for a temporary period at a low cost. The Pop-Up shop initiative is open to local entrepreneurs, artists and community groups who are looking to test out the market to see if their business is viable on a permanent basis. According to Fingal County Council the economic downturn has meant there has been an increase in vacant commercial properties
and this initiative is offering an opportunity, not only to local companies and groups, but to help revitalise shopping areas, main streets and town centres. Senior executive planner with Fingal County Council, Stewar t Logan, said: “The sharp downturn caused by the recession has impacted severely on retailers, and particularly on the smaller start-ups, and although it is accepted that a time of recession is the very time for new oppor tunities, many people who would love to start their own business, or move from
online sales to retail space, simply cannot because of the financial climate. “Here in Fingal County Council we looked for examples of new creative ways to help retail business flourish, and saw that Pop-Up Shops are a simple and very imaginative way to provide well-located space for small retailers and at the same time, help drive investment and new business in our towns,” Stewart said. The local authority is now calling on landlords of vacant retail units, as well as smallscale retailers, local
entrepreneurs, community groups and artists to contact Fingal County Council if interested in the initiative. P r o s p e c t i ve b u s i nesses will be vetted by the council to ensure that the venture offers a retail element with attractive display area; the retail use proposed complements adjoining established retailers; the proposal is a high quality business/artistic/ community initiative and that the proposal is not in conflict with planning and licensing regulations. It is hoped that pilot Pop-Up Shops would be
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‘Here in FCC we looked for examples of new creative ways to help retail business flourish, and saw that Pop-Up Shops are a simple and very imaginative way’
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in place in the lead-up to Christmas to exploit the increased retail activity at this time of the year. 2011 is the Year of the Craft, and the growing interest nationally in all types of crafted products makes this an ideal time for budding artists, designers, jeweller y makers, etc, to test out
a bigger market for their products. New businesses that are successful will be encouraged to set up permanently in the New Year. For further information, please see www. fingalcoco.ie, or email popupshop@fingalcoco.ie or call 01-890 5708 or 01-890 5687.
27 October 2011 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 3
EVENT ‘A true lady’ marks a milestone in style
Nora enjoys a birthday bash with staff and family at St Mary’s Hospital in the Phoenix Park
Nora celebrates 100th birthday LAURA WEBB
A RESIDENT of St Mary’s Hospital in the Phoenix Park has celebrated her 100th birthday with family, friends, residents and staff in the Oisin unit. Nora Ward, celebrated her milestone birthday with a special party this week. Nora was born in 1911 in Dundalk and lived in
Donegal for many years. An only child, Nora’s best friend was a deaf white cat and her love for cats remained with her throughout her life. She has a great love of literature and was a civil servant until she married. She had six children and was widowed very young. More than 50 years ago, she returned to work in the Department of Education and retired at
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‘Nora is a true lady, a person of few words, so gentle and so generous to those in need’
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the age of 60 years. Nora continued to look after others by volunteering in a homeless women’s hos-
tel for the next 17 years. The Oisin unit manager, Alicia McCabe, who had the honour of presenting Nora with the President’s letter and cheque said: “Nora is a true lady, a person of few words, so gentle and so generous to those in need and as she says ‘my needs are simple’. She continues to be an inspiration to all who come into contact with her.”
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60 10 240
CHARITY
Local girl records song A YOUNG Castleknock local has recorded her own version of the King of Pop, Michael Jackson’s song, You Are Not Alone, in aid of the Save Our Sons and Daughters (SOSAD) charity. Sophia Rocca, from Castleknock, launched her ow n version of the popular song. The 12-year-old was at a special fashion show event for the charity in Drogheda on Wednesday, October 26, where she sold copies of the CD with all proceeds going to the charity. Save Our Sons and Daughters is a charity started by Peter Moroney four years ago. The mission of the charity is help reduce the number of suicides in Ireland through awareness campaigns, and by providing muchneeded counselling. For more information on SOSAD log onto www.sosad.ie
4 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 27 October 2011
COURTS Mother says she needed money to pay staff and keep business running
Director failed to remit €380,730 in VAT invoices Q STAFF REPORTER
A COMPANY director, who failed to remit VAT invoices totalling €380,730 to the Revenue Commissioners in order to keep a failing business afloat, has been given a four-year suspended sentence Fifty-four-year-old motherof-two Frances Rowland, who was director at Keveller Limited, had a key contract with food processing company, Kepak, based in Clonee, Co Meath, supplying staff to the company.
Following an audit by the Revenue Commissioners, Rowland admitted she had not remitted her VAT invoices as she “needed the money to pay staff and keep the business running”. Rowland, of Meadow Green, Clonsilla, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to filing incorrect VAT returns on May 31, 2001 for the period March 9, 2000 to February 28, 2001. Ms Shelia Hanley, assistant principal officer at the Revenue Commissioners, told Mr Keri-
da Naidoo BL, prosecuting, that during a spot-check audit, Rowland admitted she claimed €85,000 was for purchases for the company but that this was incorrect and should have been for €9,000. On further examination by the Revenue Commissioners, it was found that these purchases were for €1,500. “Ms Rowland claimed she was under financial pressure and wasn’t able to pay staff,” said Ms Hanley. Rowland participated in a voluntary interview with the
Commissioners and, following a search of her private residence for company records, no records were found for March 2000 to March 2006. “She claimed she had thrown the records away so we compared Kepak’s invoice figures and VAT that was charged by Keveller Limited and the VAT had not been paid across to the Commissioners,” explained Ms Hanley. Keveller Limited ceased trading in 2006 when it lost its contract with Kepak. Mr Sean Gillane SC, defend-
ing told the court that Keveller Limited was not making a profit and Ms Rowland began to take from what was due to the Revenue Commissioners to pay operating costs and wages. “She does not have any assets or personal wealth,” said Mr Gillane. He told the court that the business was set up after Rowland, who was originally a meat packer for Kepak, saw an opportunity to get involved with supplying labour to Kepak after another company’s con-
tract was not renewed. “It appears that when she was out of her depth and when the company became unworkable, rather than winding up the failing business Ms Rowland began the process of using VAT to fill short-term holes within the company,” he added. “She was not lining her own pocket,” he explained and asked Judge Martin Nolan to treat the case as leniently as possible as “she hasn’t gained personally from what she did”.
SHOPPING CENTRE: DELUGE: MONTH’S RAINFALL COMES IN JUST ONE DAY LATEST TRENDS ON SHOW
Enjoy a feast of fashion Q LAURA WEBB
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news@gazettegroup.com
‘There will be a professional, staged catwalk, produced by Assets Model Agency’
HEAD down to the nearby Blanchardstown Centre this Bank Holiday weekend for fashion shows and a Halloween fancy dress party for children. On Saturday, October 29 and Sunday, October 30, a number of fashion shows will take place at the centre. Castleknock fashionistas will get a chance to see the latest in Autumn/ Winter fashion from stores in the centre. There will be a professional, staged catwalk, produced by Assets Model Agency, featuring their top models. Fashion
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shows take place at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm and 4pm and spot prizes will be won at all shows. Meanwhile, on Monday, October 31, there is a Halloween fun for the children visiting the centre. The centre will host a Halloween Disco and will have a fancy dress competition. This takes place from 12-3pm.
Floods leave a trail of ruin Q LAURA WEBB
news@gazettegroup.com
PARTS of Castleknock and Blanchardstown were left impassable this week, after a month’s worth of rainfall fell in just one day, leaving a trail of destruction behind it. Roads were closed and there were massive traffic delays and a number of local stores were flooded. In Mulhuddart, the Tesco Express store b e h i n d P a i d i O g ’s public house had to close because of flooding. Local Mulhuddart councillor David McGuinness (FF), was at the scene on Tuesday morning following a day and night of rainfall in the area. “It is swamped. Noone can get in the door. It is totally f looded. There are four steps at the entrance, now you can only see two. T here is a pumping station near Tesco and
it doesn’t seem to be working very well. “The council engineer is coming out to assess it. “Trains were delayed this morning [Tuesday] for 40 minutes and then up to two hours. “T here have been some serious disrupt i o n s i n D u b l i n 15 because of it,” Cllr McGuinness said. The Strawberry Beds was declared impassable because of extreme flooding and were closed Monday afternoon until Tuesday lunchtime. Meanwhile, traffic on the N3 inbound was extremely busy on Tuesday morning with reports of the journey from Clonee to M50 taking 45 minutes and a further 45 minutes from M50 to Ashtown roundabout. With rain easing up on Tuesday, Fingal County Council was still warning commuters to drive slowly and watch out for debris
Councillor David McGuinness with an engineer at flooding of Tesco store in Mulhuddart village
and missing manhole covers that could cause accidents. There was also serious f looding on the Castleknock Road with manholes overflowing, and Blackhorse Avenue was also badly affected. According to local councillor Michael O’Donovan, delays in traffic on the N3 and Navan Road on Mon-
day evening and Tuesday morning because of flooding were increased because of road closures in the local area. “Chesterfield Avenue, the main road in the Phoenix Park coming into Castleknock, is closed for road works. “It’s a pity the OPW did not keep one lane of this road open. “With this, and flood-
ing on the Blackhorse Avenue, it put traffic onto the Navan Road causing unmerciful delays. “T he Strawberr y Beds is another valve for motorists to get to Dublin 15, but this was impassable. Thankfully it is drying up now.” At the time of going to press, Fingal County Council were unavailable for comment.
27 October 2011 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 5
HALLOWEEN EPA’s cautions over fines, health risks
All-day seminar on yoga
Don’t use bonfires to burn waste Q LAURA WEBB castleknock
@gazettegroup.com
JUST days before Halloween celebrations get under way, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has appealed to local residents not to use bonfires as a tool to dispose of household or hazardous waste. T h e e nv i r o n m e n tal agency said it was reminding people that only someone carrying a waste collection permit is allowed to stockpile waste. According to an EPA survey, one in 10 adults admit to burning household waste. However, not many would be aware that a breach of waste regulations could lead to a fine of up to €3,000. Gerard O’Leary, of the EPA said: “Halloween is a fun time of year for everyone but should not be
used as an excuse to burn waste. The EPA wants everyone to enjoy a safe and happy Halloween, so it is unfortunate when some people use this festive time to dispose of waste illegally. “We want to remind people that Halloween should not be used as an excuse to burn waste. “Burning waste in this way contributes to more than half of all dioxin emissions in the country,” he said. Old car tyres are a particular favourite for Halloween bonfires. However, they produce toxic fumes that can damage both health and the environment. O’Leary said: “It is important that people in Fingal know the dangers of burning materials such as tyres. “Burning tyres and other waste materials causes the release of
HEALTH: EXERCISE
Q LAURA WEBB castleknock@gazettegroup.com
With Halloween almost upon us, the unwelcome consequences of bonfires are once again to the fore
dioxins. “This creates a real hazard for people’s health. And, in addition, it’s illegal and can result in prosecution by your local authority,” he said. W hile some local authorities organise approved bonfire events at this time of the year, backyard burning and unauthorised bonfires should be reported to the local authority, or to the national lo-call “Dump the Dumpers” phone line at 1850 365 121.
AN ALL-day seminar by Lynn Whitlow on Bikram and Rajashree will be held by Bikram Yoga D15 in Blanchardstown on Sunday, November 17. Whitlow studied extensively on Bikrima and Rajashree, and is one of the top female teachers in the US. The seminar starts with a 10am class. This follows a comprehensive analysis of the 26 posture series. The seminar will end at 3.45pm. The class and seminar will cost €55. Reservations may be made at the studio, by emailing annemarie@ bikramdublin.ie, telephoning 01 820 2273; see www.bikramdublin.ie.
6 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 27 October 2011
SCARY STUFF A Gazette guide to Halloween fun around Dublin
GHOULISHFUN Join in Airfield’s annual Halloween celebration THERE will be a Halloween Family Fun Day on Saturday, October 29, between 12-4pm at Airfield in Dundrum. Join in Airfield’s annual Halloween celebration for all the family. There’s lots to enjoy, including a special Halloween trail, the chance to make a miniature ghost and a live ceili. Airfield would like you to come along dressed as a scarecrow, with families of scarecrows particularly welcome – the more weird and wonderful the better! There will be spot prizes for imaginative costumes. Price included in entry fee to the walk; season ticket holders come free.
It’s set to be a spooktacular time in The Haunted Forest this Halloween at Marlay Park ON SUNDAY, October 30, Marlay Park will be a free fright-fest of spooky thrills and chills for Samhain, hosted by DLR Events. The forest at Marlay Park comes alive in the night for one evening only with freaky fog, ghastly spiders and skeletons, creepy eyeballs and pumpkins, the spinechilling boat house preachers and menacing witches and demons. Festoon lighting, sound effects and smoke make the adventure all the more exciting but this year, there will be no fireworks so the haunted forest can stay open until 9pm. The free Haunted Woods will be open between 4pm and 9pm. The walk is approx 1.5km long, and is on a path suitable for buggies/wheelchairs. Halloween costumes are recommended; warm clothing is recommended.
A Guided Trip to The Hellfire Club GUIDED Trip to The Hellfire Club Monday, October 31. Bus Leaves from the Square Luas Stop at 5pm SHARP. Age 12+. Advance Booking Essential and is €3 per person. Contact Alison 086 851 6669, or Paula at 086 829 2443.
Local legend believes the Devil’s Mill, known at Shackleton’s Mill today, is where Luttrell wagered the devil that he couldn’t build the mill in a day
A look at the area’s most haunted sites Q LAURA WEBB
AS the nights get longer ghosts and ghouls from around the world get ready for another frightful night this Halloween, so the Gazette has gathered together some local scary stories to get readers ready for October 31. The holiday that celebrates the dead has a number of different traditions associated with it, including trick or treating, bonfires and costume parties, but one thing that everyone loves about it is ghostly stories of haunted houses or places near and far. Here are some frightfully good stories from places more close to home across Dublin. In Dublin West, the Strawberry Beds has many a story of ghosts but there is only one true villain and that is Henry Luttrell. He is said to have sold his soul to the devil, and was a member of Dublin’s most known paranormal club – The Hellfire Club.
Luttrell was a supporter of King James I of England. Once hailed a hero after fighting in the Battle of the Boyne, his life soon spiralled downwards following a wave of deceit and treachery. After his death, there were many street ballads about his string of mistresses and
build the mill in a day. To his anger, the devil placed the last stone on one of the tallest mills in Liffey Valley. Years later, the Devil collected his debt at The Hellfire’s Club, but Luttrell – devious in his ways – tricked the Devil by pretending his shadow, cast
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‘Wearing a white, flowing dress, legend has it that she would leave the painting to wander the castle on quiet nights’
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his out-of-wedlock offspring. Doubts over his allegiance to Ireland were confirmed after he was court marshalled for treachery after given vital information about a ford on the Shannon during the Siege of Limerick. But, connections with Patrick Sarsfield saved him. Local legend believes the Devil’s Mill, known at Shackleton’s Mill today, is where Luttrell wagered the devil that he couldn’t
from candlelight, was the real Henry Luttrell. As the Devil grasped the shadow, Luttrell escaped. In 1717, he was shot dead. Noone was ever convicted, as there were too many people with a motive to assassinate him. Nearer to the coast, Malahide Castle has its fair share of mysterious sightings. One such story is of the White Lady. For years, the portrait of a beautiful, unidentified lady hung in the Great Hall of the Castle. The
artist is also unknown. Wearing a white, flowing dress, legend has it that she would leave the painting to wander the castle on quiet nights. She has been spotted by a number of people over the years and is now known as the White Lady. Meanwhile, Cabinteely House in South Dublin was built in 1769, by Robert Nugent, Earl Clare. The 18th-century house has been associated with some strange happenings. It has been said that staff in the house have, over the years, encountered some ghostly experiences, with footsteps coming up a long corridor toward a room where staff were working. The footsteps stop outside the door, and when the door was opened, no one was to be seen. No one is sure who it might be, but it’s thought it may be the gardener [of Robert Nugent], Postule who was arrested in 1798 and tortured and hanged.
27 October 2011 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 7
EVENT 12-hour fundraiser raises over €5,000
EVENT
Race night for local service
Top: Technician on the day and donator Conor Cleary with Lorriaine Vicky Fisher, Lorraine Reid and Miriam Haskins, organisers of the event
Above: Derick Pender and Brian Shortall of St Pat’s
Spinathon raises money for hospice Q LAURA WEBB news@gazettegroup.com
PROMOTERS and participants of a 12-hour spinathon raised over €5,000 for the D15 hospice, showing true community spirit is alive and spinning in Laurel Lodge. Described as one of the biggest community fundraisers to ever hit Laurel Lodge shopping Centre, over 400 people were involved throughout the 12-hour fundraiser, which took place outside Boylesports on Saturday, October 22. First to take to the bike was founder of mobile spinning class, Butterfly Spinning, and fundraiser organiser, Miriam Haskins, with Vicky Fisher and Richie Flanagan. “Soon after we started crowds began to form and it wasn’t long until
we had five bikes spinning. “Throughout the day, more and more people wanted to become involved and it meant Vicky and I became coordinators rather than spinners. “By the end of the day we had nine spinners giving it their all for charity on the bike with the help of some disco lights for motivation. “Although a championship match was being played that day, Dublin hurling star Micheal Carton and footballers Bernard Brogan and Declan Lally dropped down to sweat their bit for charity. “The League of Ireland team St Pat’s, did a stint on the bikes under the watchful eye of their manager Pete Mahon. Roddy Collins then showed the boys he hasn’t lost it and
Chris Bennick, of St Pat’s FC, with Vicky Fisher and Miriam Haskins
worked it out on the bike,” Miriam told the Gazette. Each participant was on a bike for a minimum of 15 minutes, but local man Richie Flanagan was the only person to stay on the bike for the full 12 hours. “Local politicians and community guards also done their bit for charity, but a special thank you went to the bucket collectors who stood in
the cold collecting for the worthy cause. “I just want to thank ever ybody involved. The two biggest things to come out of the day was raising €5,000 and the community spirit. “Lorraine Reid, Liz Walsh and Dorothy Fisher were driving the atmosphere throughout the day and none of this would of been possible without their help,” she said.
THE Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living is hosting a race night in St Peregrine’s GAA Club in aid of the local service. Blanchardstown Centre for Independent Living is a non-profit organisation to assist people with disabilities to allow them live independently of their own choice. Recent cut-backs have meant the service is struggling to provide its much-needed services. To help raise funds for the service, the organisation is hosting a race n i g h t o n T h u r s d ay, November 24 in St Peregrine’s GAA centre on the Blakestown Road, Clonsilla, Dublin 15. A raff le with great prizes will also be on the night. Doors open at 8pm.
8 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 27 October 2011
AWARDS: VOLUNTEERS
EVENT D15 Chamber President’s Gala presentation
Search for local heroes VOLUNTEER Ireland is calling on Dublin residents to nominate an outstanding volunteer in their community. It’s the last chance to help local heroes achieve national recognition and the deadline for Ireland Involved Awards is Monday, October 31. The awards celebrate the extraordinary work of volunteers across the county. Dublin residents are now invited to nominate an individual that has done something for the community.
The Award scheme, sponsored by Panadol, will shortlist 30 outstanding individuals. CEO Yvonne McKenna said: “The Ireland Involved Awards are an opportunity for us to truly recognise and say thanks to those people who have had a remarkable impact on the lives of others; 2011 is European Year of Volunteering, one of the objectives of which is to celebrate volunteering.” Check out www.irelandinvolvedawards.ie to nominate.
D15 Chamber President, David Donnelly, (centre), presenting the winners, Blanchardstown Ford in Coolmine
Blanch Ford win top D15 honour Q LAURA WEBB
castleknock@gazettegroup.com
A LOCAL campaign that raised money for the D15 hospice and other local organisations, while highlighting the tremendous work done by local residents, has won the D15 Chamber President’s Award. Blanchardstow n Ford in Coolmine, was declared the winner of the D15 Chamber President’s Award during the glittering D15 Chamber Business and Community Gala presentation ball. Over 200 people from local business and community groups attended the event at the Crowne Plaza Blanchardstown Hotel. The winner of the prestigious award is chosen by the President
of the D15 Chamber, David Donnelly. Delighted with the win, Enda O’Connor m a n a g i n g d i r e c t o r, Blanchardstown and Finglas Ford, said the hard work paid off. “It’s a super win. It was so nice to get some recognition for the campaign. “The president could have given it to anyone, so we are ver y honoured.”
Campaign When asked if this campaign is something the company might look into again, he said: “I think we have to. There is a model there now. I think we would allow more time to do it this time. “The main basis was to support the D15 hospice and they received
€56,000 out of the €150,000 that went to different local charities and organisations. “It was also a great way to highlight the amazing work that is done in the community by so many different people,” he said. T he Unsung Hero campaign ended earlier this year in May. Over 74,000 votes were cast for nominated heroes from areas in Dublin 15 and Finglas. In total, €150,000 was raised through corporate donations and raffle sales, with €25,000 donated by the company behind the campaign, Blanchardstown and Finglas Ford. Of the money raised, €40,000 went to the Dublin 15 St Francis Hospice. As well, 60,000 was
divided out between the 10 unsung hero finalists to give to a charity or organisation of their choice. A further €20k was spread out between 20 local charities and organisations in D15 and Finglas. Raffle prizes worth €25k were won throughout the campaign, and the remaining €5,000 goes towards the running cost of a minibus that one lucky organisation won for a year. A number of heroes donated their winnings to the D15 hospice, which meant the hospice actually received a total of €56,000 from the campaign. The winner of the Unsung Hero campaign 2011 was Valerie Murphy, of the East Finglas Scouts.
27 October 2011 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 9
10 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 27 October 2011
Laurel Lodge Carpenterstown
With Jim Lacey Phone: 087-2401308 Email: jimlacey@eircom.net
A spook-tastic tour of St Brigid’s graveyard HE Fingal South West Heritage Society is hosting a tour of St Brigid’s Churchyard, Castleknock on Saturday, October 29 at 2pm. There will be a talk on the historic church of St Brigid’s, a centre of Christian worship for nigh on 1,500 years. It will include references to some of the prominent former residents of the locality, who now rest in the adjoining churchyard, and their part in the history of greater Castleknock. Afterwards, there will be a visit to Myo’s to hear some tales of intrigue and mystery. As it is the season of Halloween, expect some tales of the macabre and supernatural – not for the faint-hearted! The outing is open to all paid up members of the Society, and visitors are also welcome on payment of a small membership fee. That fee will entitle them to attend future events. Contact Christine at 086 347 4375, or Angela at 085 217 9587.
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Locals invited to join in residents’ association ABNEY Melia, of Carpenterstown Park Residents’ Association, tells me that their AGM is being held on Wednesday, November 9 at 8pm in Castleknock Community Centre, Laurel Lodge. There will be an election to fill vacancies on the officer board of the association for the coming year. The roles of chairperson and secretary are being vacated, and the association are requesting local residents to step forward for nomination to these posts for the coming year. The AGM will also report on the Residents’ Association 2010/2011 activities, and their involvement in local community projects. They have invited all the local TDs and councillors to the meeting. For those who wish to have some input into the shaping and planning of the future of their community, the local residents’ association is a great introduction to how local politics works and gives a valuable insight into learning how to negotiate with public and corporate bodies. Dabney says they are hoping for a good turnout, so try and make time to attend the AGM.
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Fr Dan Joe, the well-known local fundraiser (and lesser-known master knitter) is pictured at last year’s Hospice knitted goods sale
What a woolly great idea! L
AST winter, knitters from all across Ireland volunteered to knit for St Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown. Sally Palmer, who organised this woolathon, tells me that they raised €6,000 for the hospice. There were knitted hairbands, baby cardi-
gans, brooches – all sorts of knitted items including, would you believe, woollen Christmas decorations on sale at their craft fair. They are asking for those who helped last year to knit again, and those who haven’t to knit now – it’s all for a great cause, and it’s not too
late to start. All items knitted can be sent to the Oratory in Blanchardstown Centre, and a craft fair will be held over the weekend of Saturday, December 3, and Sunday, December 4 in Blanchardstown Centre, when the knitted items may be purchased. You may remember I
had a picture on this page of Fr Dan Joe O’Mahony, and Fr. Eugene Kennedy knitting for the hospice this time last year.
Knitted socks Fr Eugene did actually knit a pair of socks (and he turned the heel himself!) for Fr Dan Joe (above).
They certainly came in handy during the snow. To coin a phrase – the severity of the weather was enough to freeze the toes off a Capuchin! So, give Sally a call at 085 286 9380, or her colleague, Maeve, at 087 202 9622, and volunteer your knitting skills for a great cause.
27 October 2011 GAZETTE 11
12 GAZETTE 27 October 2011
GazetteNUTRITION NUTRITION A healthy Halloween LEILA JOHARI
TRICK or treat, what to eat? There is something scarier than witches and ghouls this Halloween. It is the amount of sweets and chocolate that we eat. It’s not only children who aren’t afraid to overindulge in candies and chocolate, ninety percent of parents admit to occasionally dipping into their kiddies’ stash. Maybe this fact should scare us more than the ghosts. Do not fear. There are ways to banish those sugar demons and have
a healthy Halloween. Pumpkin, nuts and kale are all traditional Halloween foods that are nutritious and provide a healthy alternative at this time of feasting. Pumpkin contains no saturated fats or cholesterol; but is a rich source of dietary fibre, monounsaturated fatty acids and anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamins A, C and E. Vitamin A is a powerful natural anti-oxidant and is required by the body for maintaining the integrity of the skin and mucus membranes. It is also an essential vitamin
for vision not to mention an excellent source of poly-phenolic flavonoid compounds like alpha and beta carotenes. The B-complex group of vitamin-folates, niacin, pyridoxine, thiamine and pantothenic acid are also in this Halloween staple. Pumpkin is a rich source of minerals like copper, calcium, potassium and phosphorous. Pumpkin seeds are a healthy snack rich in zinc, which nourishes the brain. They also contain magnesium, which helps muscle, nerve, heart and bone function and help
As well as making a great Halloween decoration, pumpkin is a very healthy food
the body generate protein and absorb energy from food. Peanuts are rich in energy and contain many health-benefiting nutrients, minerals, anti-oxidants and vitamins that are essential to optimum health. They are especially rich in mono-unsaturated fatty acids that help to lower LDL or bad choles-
terol and increase HDL or good cholesterol. These nuts are a good source of dietary proteins with amino acids that are vital for growth and repair of body cells. They contain high quantities of minerals, such as copper, manganese, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc and selenium. Just a handful of peanuts a day provides the recommended levels of phenolic anti-oxidants, minerals, vitamins and protein. A word of warning though – honeyroasted and sugar-coated should be avoided, choose whole and raw instead. Finally, Kale is a dark
green leafy vegetable that is a traditional part of the Irish Halloween feast. It is used in a potato dish known as colcannon. Kale is an excellent source of vitamins A, C and K and a good source of calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium and vitamin C while being low in sodium. If you really can’t fly away on your broomstick and crave something sweet, the traditional Irish Halloween fruit cake, known as Bairin Breac, is a nutritious and delicious alternative. For a healthy, happy Halloween why not try this spicy pumpkin dip? Served with warm pitta.
Spicy Pumpkin Dip 1½ cups canned pumpkin puree 1½ cups canned chickpeas, drained and rinsed 3 tablespoons tahini, sesame paste 1 clove garlic 1 teaspoon cayenne 1 teaspoon cumin 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons lemon juice Salt and pepper In a food processor, blend pumpkin and chickpeas until fairly smooth. Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth, season to taste.
27 October 2011 GAZETTE 13
14 GAZETTE 27 October 2011
GazettePETS PETS Dealing with those pesky parasites Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA
THE FACTS: WORMS ARE ONE OF THE MOST COMMON HEALTH PROBLEMS FOR DOGS
S an animal welfare education officer, I’m asked a variety of questions regarding all sorts of health queries concerning dogs, but the most popular one seems to be: “Do I need to de-worm my puppy/dog and how do I do it?” So, with that in mind, I thought I’d focus this week’s column on worms - one of the most common health problems affecting dogs and why it’s important to try to eliminate the risk of your pet being infected by them. Before we start, please bear in mind that parasites or worms are very common in pets; especially those who live closely with other animals or who roam freely, ie. hunting dogs, as this makes them more susceptible. Remember many internal parasites have intermediate hosts; animals or insects that ingest or harbour the early stages of development and then pass the parasite onto your own family pet. For example, tapeworms are carried by fleas and heartworms are carried by mosquitoes. So, below, are your FAQs and my attempts to answer them. I hope they prove helpful.
A
It’s very important to try to eliminate the risk of your pet dog becoming infected with worms
Is it important to de-worm? Absolutely. What about puppies? No matter how healthy mom is, her puppies are highly likely
to have worms. This is normal and treatment – under veterinary advice – should be carried out from as early as two to three weeks, depending on the health status of the animal and the product being used. --------------------------
‘The most important thing to remember is to do the followup treatments’ --------------------------
Always, always, check with your vet and follow his/her advice and instructions to the letter. When the puppy has reached three months, he should be wormed every four weeks until he reaches six months and then he can be treated as an adult. Again, it depends on the product and health status of the animal and I recommend you seek the advice of your vet and don’t purchase so-called over-the-counter medications as they are never strong enough to eliminate all parasites.
How often do I deworm an adult dog? Again this depends on the risk factor and status of the dog. If, for example, you have a nice little house dog who hardly ever goes outside to play or dig and is only ever walked on a lead and never mixes with other dogs; then the risk is low and my advice would be to de-worm this animal
every three months, but, again, check with your vet. If, however, you’ve right little rascals like mine who are forever foraging, digging, running through the woods and getting up to all sorts of activities, then prevention is better than cure and, depending on the time of year and their activities, I usually de-worm my babies once a month but never allow it go any longer than three months. You see, every dog is different, but the most impor tant thing to remember is to do the follow-up treatments because the first dose kills the worms that are living, the second kills the ones that have developed since the previous treatment.
How do I know if my dog has worms? Well, in order to be certain of an infestation and type, a fecal examination needs to be performed. If you feel unable to do this yourself, then visit your vet with a fresh sample of your dog’s poo. However, here are some guidelines. • Bloated stomach – often visible in puppies that’ve been infected from their mother. • Weakness, increased appetite, constant hunger, weight loss – all signs the parasites are stealing your pet’s vital nutrition. • Diarrhoea – containing blood • Worms visible in vomit • Worms visible in dog’s poo • Worms visible in dog’s
fur or around his ear area – tapeworms can appear as moving segments which can dry out and resemble grains of rice.
What types of worms are likely to affect my dog? Round Worms: The most common type of parasite. They can be life-threatening but are usually not considered as dangerous as hook worms, which can cause bloody diarrhoea and dehydration. Very common in warm, moist weather. Both round and hook are transmitted through poo, so it’s important to keep kennels and gardens clean. Tape Worms: Can be transmitted through the infestation of a flea. Effective treatment is available from your vet. Heartworms: Carried by mosquitoes. These are an insidious insult to the circulatory system, heart, lungs and kidneys of the poor infected animal. If your dog has an active case of heartworm, I recommend an immediate visit to your vet for treatment and he/she will most likely prescribe annual blood tests. Remember, my advice is only a guideline and is not a substitute for professional veterinary care. If you have a concern about an animal in your care, contact your vet. For more information, log on to our website at www.dspca.ie or email me at Miriam.kerins@ dspca.ie
27 October 2011 GAZETTE 15
GazetteMUSIC MUSIC REVIEW: NO REINVENTION BUT NO PROBLEM
Coldplay shine in the light of reflection Q ROB HEIGH
THERE are some bands that everyone loves. There are some bands everyone hates. And then there’s Coldplay. Having divided music fans since 2000, Chris Martin’s band of brothers tend to fall into the Marmite hinterland for bands. But anyone paying attention at this year’s Glastonbury festival on the Friday and Saturday would have seen something quite remarkable and that should give an indication of how far Coldplay have come, 50 million record sales not-
withstanding. On the Friday, the palapable sense of expectation around U2s’ set, delayed a year after Bono’s back problems forced them to pull out, fizzled out pretty quickly when the first half-hour of their set turned into a blatant advert for the 20th anniversary of Achtung Baby (coming to a record shop near you in all formats, music lovers!) As Bono ad-libbed lyrics straight from his teleprompter, the deflation felt immense. A career-defining moment to bookend the period from their appearance at Live Aid went AWOL. Saturday saw the other
“biggest act in the world” take to the stage and, frankly, Coldplay smashed it. Ninety glorious minutes saw a confident band play their biggest hit second in the setlist, and included an unfamiliar selection of songs from an album that would not see the racks until four months later among their singalong classics. U2 should consider their time with the torch over. And at last, those four months have rolled around, and Xylo Myloto arrives with as much fanfare as vitriol poured upon it’s graffiti-adorned sleeve. Five albums in and they
are still doing what they do better than almost anyone else, reaching the parts few other acts can in this day and age. The first six complete songs (the record features interludes and motifs that introduce and preface tracks) are those that anyone who saw Coldplay over the summer at one of the many festivals that they appeared at across the world will recognise. The euphoric Hurts Like Heaven and Every Teardrop, the songs that opened and closed those performances are pop classics, while Charlie Brown and Major Minus are stand-outs in their
Coldplay have produced another collection of engaging pop classics
own right, alongside the new single, Paradise. As for the newer songs, the one that will get the most attention will undoubtedly be the collaboration with Rihanna, which is a huge grower. To the haters, get over yourselves. No one else does Big Music this well.
Yes, there’s not much substance in the lyrics; yes, it’s unashamedly poppy; yes, it is populist and connects with huge numbers of people. So what? People enjoy what they do and while the record is a step forward, it’s not a massive one - but when it’s not broke, why fix it?
If I had one criticism, it’s the fact that the huge sound the band create live, and especially the piledriver drumming of Will Champion, is a little diminished in the mix. They are a revelation in a live setting, and here’s hoping they make a return to the O2 soon.
16 GAZETTE 27 October 2011
GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY A special edition of the popular YSL Touche Eclat IT’S THE multitalented highlighter that hides a multitude of sins and, for this season only, the legendary Touche Eclat is to don a velvet strip in a special edition that celebrates the history and beauty of the YSL tuxedo look. With its unique formula, Touche Eclat sculpts the features and banishes shadows in a stroke. With just a few sweeps of the brush, the face lights up with radiance. Launched in 1992, Touche Eclat has never fallen from its pedestal, with one sold worldwide 20 seconds. And if you fancy discovering new ways to apply this magical pen, why not check out the Touche Eclat website, www.touche-eclat.com/en Available at YSL counters nationwide whilst stocks last. Recommended Retail Price: €35.
Give dry, irritated skin the heave-ho and go organic I’VE always been conscious of ingredients in cosmetics and skincare ranges, probably ever since I read beauty journalist Josephine Fairley’s book, Organic Beauty. Since I’ve become a mum, I’ve become even more conscious of what I put on my skin and my family’s. Now, one of my favourite ranges, Burt’s Bees has launched a new Sensitive Skin Care Line. It’s an ideal range for people who tend to react to various ingredients or products, or whose skin feels tight and sensitive or, indeed, can be dry and irritated.
Burt’s Bees has launched a new Sensitive Skin Care Line
Packed full of gentle, skin-friendly and distinctly formulated with cotton extract, rice extract and aloe, the new range includes a Soap Free Facial Cleanser (€12.95) that has been clinically
proven to moisturise sensitive skin, while gently cleansing away dirt, oil and make-up without drying or causing redness or irritation. Meanwhile, the Daily Moisturiser (€17.95) has
also been designed to leave your complexion nourished and protected. Other products include a lightweight Eye Cream (€17.95) and Night Cream (€17.95).
All products from the sensitive range are soapfree and fragrance-free. Burt’s Bees new Sensitive Skin Care Line is available from pharmacies and health stores nationwide.
27 October 2011 GAZETTE 17
Edited by Dawn Love
Let your complexion glow this winter with Karora THE days of slathering yourself in primitive fake tanning creams are long gone and, thankfully, many of the products now on the market leave you with a healthy, glowing complexion rather than the tangerine shade of old. Natural
One of the latest creams to come on the market is Irish brand Karora’s organic Gradual Bronzing Moisturiser with Barrier Cream. Combining leading-edge skincare with advanced tanning ingredients, this delicious new cream will leave you with a natural golden radiance, while protecting your face
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against the cold and windy Irish winter. Formulated for all skin types, Karora’s Gradual Bronzing Moisturiser has an array of special ingredients, including jojoba oil to guard and protect the skin against environmental stress and it is rich in natural nutrients. Meanwhile, Karora’s signature ingredient, argan oil, has a naturally high concentration of Vitamin E and essential fatty acids, which alleviate dry skin and rough patches. Argan is rapidly absorbed by the skin and provides a high-level of balanced moisturisation to help keep your skin
protected, energised and glowing. With advanced organic tanning ingredients, it develops over one to two applications per week. Verdict
My verdict? Well, as a mum of a 17-monthold toddler who had a bad dose of teething last week, I looked like I had a month’s sleep after just one application. Definitely one for the Christmas stocking this year! Karora is available at Unicare, McCabes, Sam McCauleys and Independent Pharmacies nationwide, or you can shop online at karoracosmetics.com
One of the latest creams to come on the market is Irish brand Karora’s organic Gradual Bronzing Moisturiser with Barrier Cream
18 GAZETTE 27 October 2011
GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs IN RECESSION, SUPER RICH BUY A ROLLS: SUPER rich people across the world are investing in Rolls-Royce cars as a means of beating a possible global recession caused by currency fluctuations. The BMW-owned luxury British car brand has reported full order books. The company is operating three production shifts to meet demand, according to the company CEO Torsten MuellerOetvoes, in an interview with Automotive News Europe. “The Rolls-Royce brand holds its value. We represent a valuable long-term asset, particularly in times of uncertain investment opportunities,” Mueller-Oetvoes said.
Peugeot’s 508 brings MICHAEL MORONEY
gives his view on the new, spacious Peugeot 508 SW EUGEOT’S new 508 is a spacious and solid looking car. The car has been designed as a purpose-built estate, and that gives it a presence and standing on the road that’s volumes ahead of the previous 407 model. The comfort levels are good and there’s plenty of space on board, from the large boot to the rear seats. The car has a solid, functional feel to it that was made special by the
P The new estate version of the Peugeot 508 called the SW has great looks, good economy and reasonable pulling towing power, with an entry price of €30,600
extra features included in the test car. The inside is made feel more airy with the panoramic sunroof that runs the length of the car, well almost. This is a standard feature as the car is available with the Active specification as the entry level. This has an electrically operated curtain on the inside if the high light gets too much for you. That’s not likely to happen between now and
27 October 2011 GAZETTE 19
style in SW format next May, so I opted to keep it open for much of the test drive. Sometimes it’s the little things that attract me to a car. The bits that you take for granted include good comfort, economy and road-holding where you never feel nervous and they are a feature of this Peugeot 508 SW. Then there are the extras and, for me, a coffee cup holder is a must, as I do a lot of driving each week. And there are two on the dash of the Peugeot 508, which fold out of the way when not in use. And they are mounted high enough that you are not bending down to find that cup. Peugeot offers two engine choices for the car. I had the bigger 2.0litre turbo-diesel version
SPECS: PEUGEOT 508 SW 2.0 TDI
Top speed: 210 km/hr 0 – 100km/hr: 10.1 sec Economy: 20 km/litre (5.0 l/100km) CO2 emissions: 125g/km Road Tax Band: B (€156) Euro NCAP Rating: 5 Stars (2011) Warranty: 2 years Entry Price: €30,600
on the road for a recent test drive. There is a difference in power and pace from the bigger engine version, which adds about a little less than €2,000 extra to the price. Opting for the bigger engine gives significantly more power and torque without much loss in fuel economy. Both cars are within
Band B for annual road tax purposes, so equally competitive to run. That’s why the 2.0-litre version had to be my choice. This is a big car, weighing in at 1.6 tonnes before the load, so the extra engine power allows it to accelerate from 0 to 100km/hr in just 10.3 seconds. That’s over 10% faster than the small 1.6litre engine version. It’s also heavier than the 2.0-litre Ford Mondeo estate and the Toyota Avensis estate and it’s faster and more economical than both. The economy figure for this big car is 20 km/litre (5.0 l/100km). The Peugeot 508 SW has a 72-litre capacity fuel tank and should give well over 1,200km on a full tank. That’s what we have now come to expect as
fuel economy barriers are shattered with each new model in a range. I didn’t get the rated economy figures – I came in somewhere closer to 15% more, but the car still had the capacity to cover 1,200km before a re-fill. Volkswagen’s Passat presents a different challenge and it’s the one that Peugeot was aiming at. With its BlueMotion technology the Passat 2.0 TDi is heavier, more economical and faster than the equivalent engine Peugeot 508 estate. There will be a difference in price, even if the entry-level Passat looks attractive. The Peugeot deal is better with the entry-level 508 packed with features for an entry price of €30,600, before delivery charges.
The kit on the car is impressive. It includes rear parking aid, automatic wipers and headlamps and new-style electric child locks. The Bluetooth connection was easy and very effective. The car comes with decent size, 17-inch alloy wheels and there’s even a full-size spare, which in the case of the 508 seems to have no detrimental impact on the car’s weight and CO2 rating. The hillassist system is easy to use and effective, without being too obvious or a challenge. The car has achieved a five-star Euro NCAP crash safety rating this year and that’s due to the driver, passenger, side and curtain airbags fitted. It also comes with stability control, traction control,
emergency brake assist and an electronic brake force distribution system for good road handling in difficult situations. In the estate form, this car is particularly impressive and different. My personal preference is that the rear-end design of the estate is better matched to the front end, giving an overall better looking car than in saloon format. The Peugeot 508 is not on the road long enough to judge its reliability performance. The 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine has lots of road experience to be as reliable as it is economical. The 508 SW is a solid and good-looking car, where the small things are as important as the impressive overall package.
20 GAZETTE 27 October 2011
GazettePROPERTY PROPERTY ATHBOY: FOUR-BEDROOM ACCOMMODATION IN MEATH FOR €180,000
Good-priced living at Castlelawns
Number 36, Wilson Road, Mount Merrion is on the market for €540,000
MOUNT MERRION: FOURBEDROOM BUNGALOW
A Merrion mansion in Wilson Road HASSETT & Fitzsimons are bringing number 36, Wilson Road, Mount Merrion, Dublin 4, a spacious four-bedroom bungalow, to the market for the asking price of €540,000. Set in a sought-after residential area close to Belfield University, the property comprises three reception rooms, sitting and living rooms, kitchen, four bedrooms and a garage. The accommodation comprises a porch with coloured leaded lights, which leads to an inner and outer hell with modern white wood panelling. The sitting room features a white marble gas fireplace, and has sliding doors which lead to an open-plan dining room and kitchen. The kitchen is well-appointed and contains an electric oven and gas hob, an extractor fan, dishwasher and fridge. The utility room contains a washing machine, dryer and freezer. The living room contains double doors to raised decking in the rear garden. The buildings contain built-in units, and two are contained in the attic conversion in the property which is accessed by a staircase. Number 36, Wilson Road has a mature landscaped front garden with parking for up to five cars. The property also has a garage, and has a side entrance to the rear garden. The rear garden features a garden shed, a raised decking area, a sizable area of rear decking and an equally large lawned area. Viewing is strictly by appointment with Hassett & Fitzsimons. For more information, see www.hassettandfitzsimons.ie or e-mail info@hassettandfitzsimons.ie.
CARTY Estate Agents in Trip are bringing 4B Castlelawns in Athboy, County Meath, a modern red-brick-fronted detached dormer bungalow with detached garage to the market for the attractive price of €180,000. Situated in a small residential development, which is within walking distance of the town of Athboy, number 4B, Castlelawns, was constructed to a very high standard and has been maintained in e xc e l l e n t c o n d i t i o n throughout and would make an ideal family home. The accommodation comprises entrance
hall, a lounge with open-plan dining area, a kitchen with dining area, four bedrooms, of which the master is en suite, and two bathrooms, situated on each level of the property. T he proper ty also benefits from a detached garage with utility area. Particular features of 4B Castlelawns include PVC double-glazed windows, oil-fired radiator central heating, as well as not being overlooked to the rear. The property is approached by a tarmac driveway with lawns to the front and rear. There is also a patio area to the rear. The property also features a large, detached garage
Number 4B, Castlelawns, is on the market for €180,000
plumbed for washing machine. Athboy has an excellent range of amenities and services. For the commuter there is easy access to the new M3 motorway and a regu-
lar daily bus service to Dublin City Centre. Number 4B, Castlelawns, would provide a perfect family home which is ready for immediate occupation and viewing is strictly
by appointment only. To arrange a viewing, contact Carty Estate Agents on 046-9486860, or email cartyproperty@eircom.net. For more information, see www.carty.ie
MALAHIDE: FOUR BEDROOM SEMI-DETATCHED HOME FOR €495,000
Home on the range high on Texas Lane PROPERTY Team Noel Kelly Auctioneers are bringing number 2, Texas Lane, Chalfont in Malahide, a four-bedroom semi-detached family home offering bright generously proportioned and a flexible layout, to the market for €495,000. The property, which extends to c 1,650 sq ft, has been extended throughout and is situated in a much soughtafter location. The accommodation comprises an entrance hall, a guest WC with ceramic tiled floor, mirror, understairs storage, accessories, WC and WHB. The property features a garden conversion wth timber f looring. There are two reception rooms which are conjoined by double doors, and the larger
is an extended dining room or tv room, featuring sliding doors to rear garden, and recessed lights. There is an extended kitchen and breakfast area, which contain fitted wall and floor units, and all electrical appliances are included. The utility room also has all electrical appliances included. The landing at the top of the stairwell allows access to the attic and has a hot press. The four bedrooms in the proper ty are upstairs, all of which feature timber floors, and the main bedrooms have built-in wardrobes. The master bathroom has a ceramic tiled floor, tiled walls, w.c, w.h.b, Triton T90i shower, accessories. The front of the prop-
erty has a cobblelock drive for three cars, and a side entrance to the rear garden. The garden features a deck area, a timber garden shed, and is fully walled.
The property is within walking distance of all amenities, including Malahide village and DART station, and is located byside Malahide estuary.
Viewing is by appointment, which can be arranged with Property Team Noel Kelly Auctioneers’ representative, Darren Kelly on 01 8462752.
Number 2, Texas lane, Chalfont, Malahide is on the market for €495,000
27 October 2011 GAZETTE 21
GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS
Supported by AIB
Interview: Sonja Ewen, Organiser of Marlay Craft Fair
Crafting very high standards for fair THIS year, the Marlay Craft Fair is celebrating its 10th birthday. Originally the brainchild of Valerie McGurdy, one of the Marlay Craft Courtyard’s chief go-doers, organiser Sonja Ewen tells the Gazette a little about the history of the event. “To start out with, it was a very small affair, where the Craft Courtyard studios invited their regular customers to view their works before Christmas. They would have served up mulled wine and mince pies to add to the festive cheer. This kind of snowballed when it was decided to bring in a range of other craftspeople that were not based in the courtyard. “When I moved to the Courtyard as a full-time jeweller in about 2003, I was keen to help out with the fair, actually I think it was a given, I just had to help out. It was all hands on deck,” she says. “Times have changed; there are fewer of us still surviving on craft alone; Marlay Ceramics and I have both had to find other sources of income with this new economic climate in Ireland. “But, true to my heart is to keep Marlay Craft Fair running as a makers’ craft fair. “What is fantastic about the fair is that it now has a reputation of being a ‘high-standard craft-makers’ fair. Every year we take on a new charity, we ask for a small entrance fee of €2.50 and this enables us to support the charity.” For more information, contact Sonja on 087 675 33 58 or visit the website www.MarlayCraftFair.com Marlay Craft Fair November 25-27, 2011.
ily, so I think I always had an idea to work as a crafts person of some sort.
Q: What was your first job? A: My first job as a student was
ounce during the last weeks. I was told over four years ago to buy the yellow metal then – what is your view in 2011 ? Pauline - Templeogue A - James Goldsmith once quipped “When you see a bandwagon, it’s too late” – but the statistics about gold are both startling and alarming. In 1980, gold reached an all-time high price of $850 per troy ounce (slightly lighter than our own avoirdupois ounce) BUT it took 27 years to return to this high of € 850 only four years ago in 2007. Add inflation to the 1980 price, and you are looking at a more realistic value of over $2,500. At the current price - an increase of over 107% in those four years since 2007 - 2 lbs of gold will cost you just short of €40,000 ... a lot of money for a small amount of metal. JP Morgan and Merrill Lynch, however, came out in recent weeks to predict gold WILL reach the $2,500 price before the year end. But more important than price is tradability. The reason why gold prices are surging ahead is the market volatility. Only when governments, banking, stockmarkets and property regain confidence will we see a normalisation in gold prices. Originally, all Bank of England notes for instance were backed by gold bullion in their mint – Sonja Ewen, Organiser of Marlay Craft Fair
other things put paid to that.
Marlay Craft Fair at about the same time.
Jedward? A: Oh jeepers, poor David
Q: What is the best thing about your job? A: What’s good about organis-
hasn’t had the best time of it recently with the presidential saga, and thinking back to Jedward and the last Eurovision just makes me laugh – have you ever seen such unreleased energy just busting to get out…
ing the Marlay Craft Fair is being able to keep it as a proper craft fair.
Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’? A: I need to be able to delegate
Q: And your first pay cheque? A: I can’t remember, but I
in the running of the fair. This year, Des Keaney is my righthand man and there are things that he can do much better than I can, and vice versa. so I don’t have any issues just handing stuff over to him
Q: Have you ever done a job you loathed? A: Yes, I worked as a secretary for a while and hated it.
Q: When did you start your present job? A: I moved into the Marlay Craft Courtyard in approximately 2003, and was roped into assisting Valerie McGurdy to organise the running of
“I
promise to pay the bearer the sum of…” Quantative easing i.e. printing your own money, among
in McCullough’s Department Store of Dun Laoghaire, the old-fashioned style shop.
saved like mad to buy a canoe. There used to be a little sports shop in Blackrock called Venture Sports, I think it was. I managed to scrape enough money for that boat. I loved it.
ALL THAT GLITTERS IS NOT GOLD…. OR IS IT ? Q – Gold prices reached over $1,760 per troy
Q&A Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be? A: I come from a creative fam-
THE ANSWERS TO ALL OF YOUR PERSONAL FINANCE QUESTIONS
Q: What sport can you play? A: I’m a sea kayaker, so playing in the waves is my game.
Q: What is your guilty music/ TV or movie pleasure? A: I love all sorts of music, so play lots of varied sorts. We don’t have a TV, but love to watch the odd replay on the computer.
Q: Who best represents modern Ireland – David Norris or
Q: What music/pictures/movies do you have on your iPod/ iPad? A: iPod/iPad “món” if I were so lucky, haven’t made it to that plateau yet, I’m working on it though!!
Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook? A: I like to keep tabs on the Whale and Dolphin society. They get continuous listings of sightings of whales and dolphins around the coast of Ireland – fascinating stuff.
Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously? A: I do have a secret shoe fettish. I could always buy shoes, needed or not, in fact, suitable or not, it never really matters.
Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own? A: Ha! That’s not fair! Maybe I
Peter Schiff is a major precious metals analyst in New York (regularly on CNBC TV) and has predicted the price will go to $5,000 per troy ounce.
should have read all the questions first!!
Not sure that I agree with him, but I do think that
Q: What would be your dream job? A: Well the dream job would
have about 10% exposure to this commodity. The
have to be the one that would have lots of time off and that would pay well enough, so that when it was time off, you’d have enough money to be able to go and do something.
(exchange traded funds – the cheapest way on
Q: Describe your dream holiday? A: I like the idea of pootling
cate programme ? With this latter option, your
around in a camper van with no fixed agenda and no time restraints and there would have to be nice places to go and eat out and good scenery. I’ll send you a postcard when I find out where it is.
government (the only government to give such a
if you have a fairly sizeable portfolio, you should decision though to make is what form you buy the precious metal – mine shares, Gold funds the stock market) krugerrand – the world’s first one ounce gold bullion coin, brought to market in 1967 and costing up to $ 2,000 each currently – and similar style coins like gold sovereigns etc, or through the innovative Perth Mint Gold Certifigold bullion is stored in the Perth Mint in Australia, guaranteed by the AAA-rated Western Australian guarantee) and you receive a certificate that you can redeem at any time rather than hold the bullion, saving security problems. Email me for details of this or any gold issues you may have.
Q: What do you plan to do when you retire? A: Well, maybe that’ll be when
jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at
I’ll go off pootling in that camper van.
Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing
Contact John with your money questions at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the director of Money Doctor
22 GAZETTE 27 October 2011
GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel The Cliffs of Moher in County Clare
Take in the wonder of the Cliffs of Moher and explore the West ONE of our very own tourist hot spots is on the shortlist as one of the new Seven Wonders of Nature competition. The Cliffs of Moher are in the final 28, which is hardly surprising given the magnificence of this landscape in County Clare. The Cliffs are 320 million years old and are Ireland’s most visited natural attraction, with almost 100 million visitors every year. The reasons for the popularity are manifold, some visitors flock to see a Special Protected Area for seabirds, as the Cliffs are home to over 30,000 nesting pairs each year, including puffins, guillemots, razorbills, fulmars, and kittiwakes and makes for a bird watcher’s paradise. However, for most, it is the striking scenery where nature, history and geology merge. To vote for the Cliffs inclusion, log onto www. new7wonders.com or Text MOHER 53131 (€0.30C) to vote for their inclusion in the New 7 Wonders of Nature. For more information on inspirational places to visit and great value holidays check out www.discoverireland.ie
D4 Berkeley offers a variety of special offers for theatre, sport and concert goers
QUICK GETAWAY: A STYLISH NIGHT AT D4 BERKELEY
Enjoying the city you’re living in LAURA WEBB
IT HAD been a few months since my partner and I had taken a city break to let loose and leave the responsibilities of parenthood behind with the grandparents. When thinking about where to go, we decided we wanted to do something different and enjoy a city we both love – Dublin. Even though we live in the suburbs and going out usually only means a taxi into town, it can often be an expensive round trip, so we thought we would stay in a city hotel, as there are some amazing deals around at the moment.
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‘Although we weren’t far from home it was still a great mini-break and it actually made us appreciate what Dublin has on offer’
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I had tickets to Mamma Mia at the Grand Canal Theatre and we thought we could stay at the D4 Berkeley. Stylish
Our room was both spacious and stylish, and with a couple of hours to spare before dinner time, we headed out to see what the hotel’s location had to offer. Just a five minute walk from the RDS and located just minutes from the Aviva
stadium, the hotel is ideal for anyone going to watch a match, concert, exhibition or show. We walked back just in time for dinner and were greeted by the lovely restaurant manager, Oscar, and the waiting staff in Berkeley Brasserie were just as friendly. The live piano added to the relaxed atmosphere of the contemporary restaurant. For starters, I ordered crispy calamari with a
tomato and chilli sauce. Johnny went for soupof-the-day and for his main, Irish grilled fillet steak, served with home cut chips, onion rings and peppercorn sauce. I chose the chicken supreme with wilted spinach, sundried tomato and orzo pasta. Describing his meal Johnny said it ticked all the boxes for flavour, portion size and affordability, as did mine. We headed off to the Grand Canal Theatre
to see the show and enjoy the many smashhit songs from Abba. Even though he’s not a fan, Johnny reluctantly agreed he enjoyed it. The next morning. we headed to the Berkeley Brasserie, which was also delicious. Although we weren’t far from home, it was still a great a mini-break and it actually made us appreciate what Dublin has on offer. D4 Berkeley offers a variety of special deals for theatre, sport and concert goers, which are available to see online at www.d4berkeley.ie or by phoning the reservation team at 01- 4373444.
27 October 2011 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 23
Edited by Mimi Murray
HALLOWEEN: HAUNTED CASTLES AND STREETS
Travel B ri e fs Go ghost hunting in
haunting Scotland FANS of ghouls and ghosts should make their way to Scotland this Halloween. With haunted castles, churches and streets, there are few countries with a more fascinating or spookier history than Scotland. Fans of the Da Vinci Code will be captivated by Rosslyn Chapel, the church built for the Sinclair Family in the 15th century. Ghostly flames apparently flicker in the burial vault when one of the Sinclairs is about to die and an apparition of the apprentice who carved the famous Apprentice Pillar and was murdered by his teachers, can sometimes be seen or heard. With a long and bloody history, Edinburgh Castle is said to be home to many spirits, including that of a headless drummer boy. Rumour has it, that the appearance of
Rosslyn Chapel
the ghostly drummer boy is a warning that the castle is about to be besieged and was first seen in 1650, before Oliver Cromwell and his English army attacked. Believed to be the most haunted place in Edinburgh, The Royal Mile as it is known, is the street leading from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of
Holyroodhouse. Taking a stroll down this street you may be in for a few surprises as No.1 Mary Kings’s Close, which was bricked up during an outbreak of the plague, is said to be haunted by the spirit of a young girl. Cruden Bay, located on the Aberdeenshire coast, may seem like a pleasant looking fishing village,
but you may be surprised to know that, in the 19th century, it was the holiday haunt of Bram Stoker. The ruins of Slains Castle, which drape down from the headland inspired Stoker’s vision of Count Dracula’s Castle. The Kilmarnock Arms Inn, where Stoker stayed in 1895, is still there for those brave enough to pay a visit. On the west coast of Scotland, close to the town of Oban, lies Dunstaffnage Castle. The castle is said to be haunted by a lady dressed in green, who walks the ramparts when events are about to unfold for the castle owners. When she is smiling it said that good fortune awaits but if she is weeping, trouble lies ahead. The castle is open daily, but visiting hours are restricted in the winter. For more details www. visitscotland/surprise
Travelling Far and Away FOR anyone considering a long-haul trip, Thomas Cook Ireland’s newly launched Far and Away brochure is a must. The range covers traditional package holidays, escorted tours to exotic destinations and far-flung cruises. Customers can also tailor their holidays to suit their preferences and schedules.
Though January may be months away, Irish Ferries has already welcomed in the New Year with the announcement that their reservations system has been opened for 2012 bookings on their services to France. To get bookings off to a quick start and encourage those anxious to secure preferred sailing dates and choice of cabin accommodation, the company is offering a three-tiered incentives package, beginning with an early booking discount of 10% off all fares booked before December 15. The second offer is the chance to secure one’s booking on payment of a low €100 non-refundable deposit with the balance payable six weeks before departure – one that contrasts with others who seek payment in full or a more significant deposit at time of booking. Finally, repeated again, next year is the offer of a free trip to Britain for a car plus two passengers for all motorist return bookings to France during June, July and August. For bookings and information, visit www.irishferries.ie or call 0818 300 400.
Scandinavian Airlines offering bargain fares to Bangkok and all this exotic city has to offer SCANDINAVIAN Airlines have some bargain fares to Bangkok at the moment. Bangkok is fantastic for shopping, nightlife, restaurants and culture and is a great place to stop off before heading to the luxury of the tourist resorts. SAS can offer quick connections through Copenhagen airport where you only need 45 minutes to connect. For Irish travellers travelling to Bangkok, it is normally only a 15-metre walk from gate to gate to change plane in Copenhagen Airport. Fly from Dublin to Bangkok from as little as €799 return, including all taxes and charges. Book before November 1, 2011 to secure this special fare. Go to www. flysas.ie for more details.
Concorde Travel is offering great deals to the Portuguese capital of Lisbon for a great city break
Feature
Cuba, Mexico, Dominican Republic, India (Goa), Gambia, Jamaica and Florida all feature strongly in the new Far and Away brochure. As Thomas Cook can avail of its own accommodation and charters from the UK to these destinations, customers can find more competitive
Irish Ferries is welcoming the New Year with great offers, so book your 2012 reservation early
A Mexican beach and (inset) Old Havana in Cuba
and comprehensive pricing. Eleven nights in the four-star Laico Atlantic in Banjul Beach in Gambia next March is available
all-inclusive from just €849, while 14 nights over Christmas and New Year in Goa in the threestar Colonia Santa Maria
at Baga Beach, also all inclusive, is on offer for €1,789, departing December 20. (Prices are from UK airports).
ARGUABLY one of the nicest European capitals, Lisbon is a city that captures the imagination of the visitor with its magnificent architecture, reminiscent of a glorious maritime past as well as the majestic Tagus River and the dominant Castelo de San Jorge. Exploring the city on foot is a delight – there is something around every corner that will surprise you. Lisbon is a lively city boasting bars, clubs and cafes, where you can simply relax and enjoy a powerful Portuguese-style coffee or party all night long in some of the trendiest clubs. Concorde Travel is offering great deals to the Portuguese capital this winter from only €349. Stay three nights on a B&B basis at the three-star Hotel Evidência Tejo, from €349, four-star Tivoli Jardim, from €419, and five-star Tivoli Lisboa, from €499. Visit www.concordetravel.ie to book your city break to Lisbon today.
24 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 27 October 2011
GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT 1GoingOUT PAVILION 01 231 2929 Snow Play
CHILDREN aged from three to seven will be delighted with this show, which tells of how snow-hating Mr Green returns from his Christmas holidays only to find that Mr White has moved in, and covered everything with snow! Children will help to make a giant snowman, have a snowball fight and more in this highly-interactive production. Snow Play takes place on at 2pm and 4pm on Saturday, October 29, and at 2pm on Sunday, October 30, with tickets priced at €8 for children, and €10 for adults.
MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 One Act Festival
THEATRE lovers are in for a treat, thanks to the Mill Theatre’s quick-moving festival that will present eight plays across two nights. Actors, directors and drama enthusiasts from all across the country will be found at the theatre, as an eclectic range of productions whirl through their paces. Following the plays’ productions, adjudicator Tom Byrne will provide an engaging analysis. For full details of the plays, which take place from 7pm on Friday, October 27 and Saturday, October 28, see www.milltheatre.ie.
DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 My Way
GARVAN Gallagher’s commendable exhibition examines the “invisible” status of older citizens, with a diverse range of work examing the status and self-image of our elders. Whether personal texts, short films, or even fashion shoots replacing younger models with more mature citizens, My Way is an excellent, diverse project underlining how valuable our “invisible” citizens are. My Way runs at Driaocht’s ground floor gallery until Saturday, November 5.
Mitch Emhoff (Matt Damon) can’t quite take in the news from a doctor that his healthy wife, Beth (Gwynneth Paltrow) has suddenly died from a mysterious new virus, with a mass outbreak killing thousands of people around the world in this week’s film, Contagion
Germinating ideas What if ... a new, deadly virus sprang up all around the world? The prognosis is poor in this interesting new film Q KATE CROWLEY
NOW is the winter of our discontent most keenly felt ... largely through red noses, hoarse throats and a thousand rasping coughs, it would seem, as the emaciated Flu crow has slowly but surely flapped its way back to Ireland’s shores for its annual winter sojourn. Thanks to this unwanted visitor, all around the Crowley household, a hundred flu sufferers seem to be blearily making their way through the streets, while Mr Crowley has a touch of Man Flu, which, he tells me, is “a thousand times worse than ordinary flu” (yet which doesn’t seem to stop him from eating chocolate biscuits and watching football). However, as unpleasant as the flu is for those battling it – such as yours truly, still croaking her way through a lingering two-week chest infection
FILM OF THE WEEK: Contagion +++ (12A) 106 mins Director: Steven Soderbergh Starring: Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Damon, Kate Winslet, Jude Law, Laurence Fishburne
OUR VERDICT: LOTS of stars with lots of storylines, yet one overall plot ... While the world seems to have mostly forgotten the perils and fears over Swine Flu and Bird Flu, here comes a film to play on the fears of those recent pandemics. Slow-moving, and perhaps constrained by being a film about, well, deadly germs, it’s still an interesting tale that director Soderbergh helms well enough ...
– for most, it’s not the end of the world. No, the end of the world is, instead, the underlying theme of this week’s film, which takes the flu theme and runs with it to a much more frightening, logical outcome. In Contagion, several plotlines converge as a business exec (Paltrow) returns from a business trip to Hong Kong with a bad dose of jet lag. That’s “jet lag” as in “she’ll be dead within two days of a mysterious new virus, folks” jet lag, of the kind that most travellers would rather avoid.
Exit Paltrow, leaving bemused hubby (Damon) to soldier on, despite the fact that their family isn’t quite through the worst of the horror just yet ... Of course, his wife’s death is just one of many deaths, as it’s obvious that a deadly pandemic is spreading across the world at frightning speed, with equally frightening mortality rates. Although, as with any virus and contagion, there are plenty of people who are immune – such as Damon’s character – most people aren’t, and, without an antidote, it looks
like goodnight, Seattle, for most of humanity. For those readers shouting at my review: “Science will save us!”, that sounds like an appropriate time to send in the clow- err, scientists, in the forms of Winslet and Fishburne. That almost sounds like a double act, but there’s nothing amusing about their characters as, working in different ways, they’re on a race against time to trace the virus back to Patient X – the first recorded victim – and then, with a bit of luck, figure out where the infection came from, and thus possibly come up with an antidote. However, all of this takes time, and, as every passing day exponentially increases the pandemic’s infection – and consequent sudden mortality – rates around the world, there’s a desperate race against time to get ahead of the virus’ deadly infec-
tion, and stop the global contagion. Unfortunately, quite apart from the dangers of the virus itself, the characters are also faced with problems posed by people, whether that’s nefarious journalists (Law) or the bureaucracies of various political and medical systems. With social order rapidly collapsing all over the world, and with governments resorting to desperate measures to quarantine people, the race is on to find a cure ... As usual, director Soderbergh has created an unconventional tale, with lots of Hollywood stars and stalwarts fighting for screen time in an occasionally busy story. Not a film for the germwary, it’s a thoughtful tale that shows that, maybe, just maybe, there are worse things than the flu to worry about. Now, Man Flu, that’s a thousand times worse, I hear ...
27 October 2011 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 25
GazetteGAMING GAMING More Final Fantasy XIII-2 facts emerge SHANE DILLON
THE hit Playstation (and, more latterly, also available on the XBox 360) Final Fantasy franchise is set for another stab at the previous cross-platform title in the series, Final Fantasy XIII. In a similar manner to the last major title I reviewed, last week (Dead Rising 2: Off The Record), Final Fantasy XIII-2 is a largely similar, but rejigged, version of its predecessor title, FFXIII. However, much as twins may appear to be quite similar at first sight – and I say that as a twin, myself – there are several notable differences between the two, making XIII-2 similar, but yet quite different to, its predessor, XIII. The Final Fantasy series of games have had a long and illustrious past on a number of platforms, yet, arguably, found their greatest success on Sony’s PlayStation 2 – at least here in the West – while the franchise has remained a key part of Sony’s PlayStation brand. Here, “Final” is something of a misnomer, as the series has been spun out through many titles that far exceed the numerical titles in the series, with characters from the franchise popping up in everything from farming games to dance titles, beat-em-ups to platformers, and more. However, at heart, the Final Fantasy series remains a fundamentally structured role-playing game, typically created with strong undercurrents of Japanese culture, gaming memes, and ideas that seem unique to the series, with regular recurring themes of personal
Bytesandpieces It’s a case of so four-za, so good IN ONE of the most predictable gaming events of the year, Forza Motorsport 4 – or Forza 4, for short – recently roared straight to the top of the charts, with racing and motoring fans driving the XBox 360-exclusive title straight to the top. For those who like exquisitely-modelled cars, stunning landscapes, top-notch graphics, a Top Gear association (with Clarkson on voiceover duties) and an awfully big game to play around with – and that’s an awful lot of gamers – it’s hard to see any other racers appearing in the rear mirror in the near future, with Forza 4 set to hold pole position in the racing genre for quite some time.
Forza 4 certainly sets a noticeably-high benchmark in graphics on current platforms
A typically exotic and stylish branding design for Final Fantasy XIII-2, with strong artwork helping shape the series
strife, responsibility, duty and honour appealing to a global audience. With its superb designs, always evolving gameplay and game mechanics, striking music and a generally strong direction, it’s been no surprise that, today, the “Final” franchise is a key PlayStation brand, with Microsof t also coming on board for the release of previous title in the series, Final Fantasy XIII. Curiously, despite
being a game that was specifically developed for, and aimed at engaging Western audiences, rather than, debatably, a core Japanese and cult American fanbase, FFXIII was largely greeted with a lukewarm critical reception, and not especially notable sales figures. Still, early next year, a “remodelled” version of FFXIII – neatly called FFXIII-2 – will be released, set in the same world as its pred-
ecessor, and with many of the same characters, yet with a new storyline, new characters, and new gameplay mechanics – all with the hope for the developer, Squaresoft, to create greater respect for (and higher sales figures) for an experimental title that was, perhaps, a little overlooked once released. Collectors’s edition packs will include all of the usual items, ranging from CDs of the game music, to t-shirts, art
books, special cases and more, creating releases to take up plenty of space on gamers’ shelves – and leave plenty of corresponding space in their wallets, too. It’s an interesting development, seeing game companies take a “Take Two” attitude towards titles that didn’t quite hit expectations on release, but which were perfectly decent. If this sequel, of sorts, does well, perhaps it won’t be the final case of such rejigged releases.
www.gazette group.com All of your latest local news, sport, features and pictures are now just a click away
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26 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 27 October 2011
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CATERING EQUIPMENT CATERING EQUIPMENT As New Convotherm Combi Ovens, Food Service Counters And Catering Equipment For Sale. Phone; 087 2592846/ 01 4600555
CLASSES SEWING CLASSES/ CURTAIN MAKING Beginners and Improvers Sewing Classes on Curtain and Roman Blind Making and ‘Crafts & Patchwork’ starting in November. Half Day Workshops on ‘Getting to Know Your Machine’ and Curtain and Roman Blind Making. We also reline and re-pleat all curtains and offer a Curtain and Roman Blind making service at competitive prices, full selection of Poles and Rails available. Contact us at www.sewgreat.ie or www. pressxpress.ie. Call 01 8227650 or email us info@ pressxpress.ie
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Email us at sales@gazettegroup.com PLANNING NOTICE
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Permission sought for retention of the change of use from retail use to financial services outlet at Unit 2, St. Brigid’s Cottages Shopping Centre, Main Street, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, For James Durkan. This planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (20 Euros) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of this application.
Planning permission is sought for construction of new single storey granny flat, and associated site works to side of existing dwelling to include widening of existing driveway entrance to accommodate new wheelchair access ramp at 20 Blakestown Drive, Mulhuddart, Dublin 15. signed Eamonn & Carmel Mulligan. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (20Euros) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of this application.
We, Xeon Dental Services Ltd, intend to apply for Retention Permission for development at the ground floor unit on the junction of Main Street/Church Avenue, Blanchardstown Village, Dublin 15. The development consists of a change of use from Class 1 (retail) to Class 8 (dental clinic) including internal alterations (reconfigure layout) and external alterations (new signage) and all associated site works. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee (20Euros) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of this application.
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R1
GazetteSPORT
OCTOBER STARS: Nominations for Dublin Sports Stars are announced Page 29
TENNIS: SWORDS STAR HITTING THE HEIGHTS ON THE ITF FUTURES TOUR IN EUROPE
Cluskey makes fifth final out of six competitions sport@gazettegroup.com
JAMES Cluskey continued his superb recent run of form last week on the ITF Futures tour as he reached the final of the doubles at the Le RocheSur-Yon F19 event in France. It was his fifth final in his last six outings since mid-September – the other seeing him make the semi-final – marking one of the his best runs on the circuit.
On Sunday, playing with South African Jean Anderson, he was denied the title in a super-set by home-town pair Jeremy Blandin and Gleb Sakharov. It was a tight game, losing the first set on a tiebreak before bouncing back to claim the second 6-3. But the super-set was lost ten points to seven, leaving the Swords’ man to have to be content with a third runners-up medal in October.
In the other competition played this month, though, Cluskey and Andersen claimed the F16 Futures title in Forbach, beating Germany’s Sebastian Fitz and Russia’s Vitaliy Kachanovskiy. Again, the final was decided on a super-set as the Irishman was part of a superb comeback having fallen a set down, 7-5. He and Andersen snagged the second in comprehensive fashion with a 6-1 success before
Tennis ace James Cluskey maintained his fine run of form, reaching another final last week in France
closing out the deciding game 10-3. It continues a brilliant run of form on the hard court and carpets of France, taking in an F18 Futures final in St Dizier, Mulhouse and Nevers as
well as that semi-final in Brusoporto, Italy. It is a superb return to form following a summer in which Cluskey was part of the Irish Davis Cup side, and also reached the final of the Irish Open.
In the wake of that competition, the Swords LTC man has been quiet in August and September, but this sustained period abroad has been a very fruitful one. Elsewhere, former St
Andrew’s student Amy Bowtell earned a place in the women’s singles main draw at the AEGON GB Pro Series Glasgow after defeating number three seeded Michaela Honcova (SVK) in Scotland.
28 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 27 October 2011
GazetteSport Sport FastSport
RUGBY: COOLMINE SHOW NO NERVES IN ALL-IRELAND DEBUT
St Oliver Plunkett’s and St Brigid’s progress
Local sides progress in football championship Coolmine were ruthless against opponents Tralee when the sides took to the field at Ashbrook for the D15 side’s first All-Ireland match
ST OLIVER Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh and St Brigid’s both continued their progress through the Dublin senior football championship when they got the better of St Vincent’s and Ballyboden St Enda’s, respectively. Plunkett’s were grateful to second-half goals from Jason Sherlock and David Matthews as they overturned a first-half deficit at half-time as the 2008 All-Ireland club champions Vincent’s went in at the break leading 1-5 to 0-6. Ruairi Trainor’s goal provided that gap, but Matthews crashed home to the net two minutes after the break to nab the lead. Diarmuid Connolly’s 45 levelled matters in an isolated score, the only point for over ten minutes. But Sherlock provided the impetus for the win when he latched onto Bernard Brogan’s pass to finish off deftly. Brogan weighed in with a half-dozen points, too, while Philly Brogan was drawn into a couple of great saves late on to deny Connolly and Kevin Golden, to see Plunkett’s hold on for a 2-9 to 1-9 win. They now play Lucan Sarsfields in the final four at Parnell Park on Saturday (3pm). Brigid’s reward for their success is a date with Ballymun Kickhams (4.30pm) as part of a double-header. Brigid’s route to the semis was more serene, beating the 2009 champions 1-17 to 1-7 in O’Toole Park. Barry Cahill and John O’Loughlin bossed the midfield battle to help build a 1-7 to 0-4 lead at half-time with Philly Ryan getting the goal. Andrew Kerin and Sean Gibbons scores had reduced the gap at one stage but three Mark Cahill frees and a score from Ken Darcy saw the Russell Park men push on. They strode over the line with more scores from Paddy Andrews, Barry Cahill and Darcy.
Tralee take a trouncing ALL-IRELAND LEAGUE Coolmine RFC Tralee RFC
87 21
sport@gazettegroup.com
C O OL M I N E R u g b y Club had a double celebration last Saturday when the Ashbrook club hosted their first-ever All-Ireland competitive game against Tralee, which ended in what can only be described as a cricket score for the home side. After the long journey up the country, the visitors opened up the Coolmine defence in the opening seconds and strolled through unopposed to score under the posts. Coolmine were 0-7 down after 90 seconds, and it looked like they might have been out of their depth. However, the home
side regrouped and steadily worked their way into Tralee territory. A break from Donal Crotty after 11 minutes made vital ground, and the off-load went through the hands of Brian Moran to eventually find its way to D av i d S t a c e y, w h o scored under the posts, and the conversion left the sides level. From this passage of play onward, the Coolmine support was entertained with 30 minutes of champagne rugby, with the tries coming thick and fast. Coolmine played an open style of game and were off-loading at every tackle. Five minutes after the first try, Liam McGrath was on the receiving end of quick ball, and
hared off under the posts for Coolmine’s second. Three minutes later, Ger O’Rourke did the hard work before offloading to Steo Connelly for tr y number three. Coolmine dominated the scrum, giving the back line a platform to run the ball at every chance.
Captain’s run Captain Brian Moran showed his strength by cutting up the centre for a fine individual try on 30 minutes, before back-row Harley Murray scored a very similar try seconds later from the restart. T he first half was coming to a close, but there was still plenty of tries left in the home side.
Liam McGrath was next on the list, followed by David Stacey, when he was on the receiving end of a welljudged crossfield kick into the left corner. John Lee finished the half off, barging over into the right corner to put the game well beyond Tralee with the score at 56-7. Coolmine sprung players from the bench for the second half, but never lost any momentum. David Fagan peeled off the back of a driving maul to register yet another score. The visitors did have short periods of pressure, but never looked like penetrating the solid Coolmine defence. A fine solo try from Fionn Lacey followed on the 14-minute mark,
a trademark jinking run up the right wing while holding the ball in one hand, before eventually cutting inside to score under the posts. Brian Moran was still causing problems up the centre, and his pop pass set Rob Kiersey free for his first try of the game. Two more tries in quick succession on the 30-minute mark followed, when first John Lee touched down for his second of the day, before replacement scrum-half Keith Moloney capitalised on the dominant Coolmine scrum to bring the tally to 87 points. Tralee started as they finished, having the last say with two wellworked tries to restore some pride and leave the final score at 87-21.
27 October 2011 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 29
in association with
2011 DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS - OCTOBER NOMINEES
FastSport
IN ASSOCIATION WITH
+ STARof the MONTH
Masters meet at NAC a massive swim success JAKE CARROLL
PAUL RYAN
ALAN BROGAN
A YOUNG man who has graduated through the ranks of local soccer to attain the heights of a place in the League of Ireland firmament, Carroll was instrumental in helping St Parts to the Leinster Senior Cup title.
BALLYBODEN St Enda’s Paul Ryan has been at the forefront of his club’s drive for five, thumping 2-6 against Lucan Sarsfields in the Dublin SHC semi-final including 1-4 of his side’s opening 1-5.
THE “other” Brogan brother’s immense contribution to Dublin’s AllIreland campaign in this and every other championship run he has been a part of was rewarded with a hugely deserved Player of the Year award.
+ TEAMof the
THE first Celtic Open Masters Short Course swim meet was held at the National Aquatic Centre, Blanchardstown last week. The meet, jointly organised by Aer Lingus Masters and NAC Masters swimming clubs, attracted 285 entries from the length and breadth of Ireland, ranging in ages from 20 to 80. The competitors represented no fewer than 43 Masters clubs, including six overseas clubs from Britain and Spain, all competing in a packed gala programme. It is envisaged that the Celtic Open Masters could go on to become a regular event, adding to the existing Masters Swim Meet calendar in Ireland.
Fingal futsal competition a local success
MONTH
SOUTH DUBLIN SWANS
LUCAN GOLF
EGAN AND FLEMING
THE South Dublin Swans, featuring a number of the players who annexed the International Cup title in Melbourne earlier in the year won the Irish Aussie Rules Premiership title this month, defeating Leeside Lions in Laois
LUCAN Golf CLub’s ladies players claimed the Miele All-Ireland Fourball title this month in a nail-biting finale to the national competition at Kilkenny GC, defeating Faithlegg on the fifth play-off hole.
SALMON Leap Canoe CLub members Peter Egan and Neil Fleming took the Liffey Descent title to add to their huge achievements in claiming the Irish and British canoeing championships in 2011.
WELCOME to the 2011 Dublin Sports Awards, as we mark our local sportsmen and women’s October sporting achievements across the capital and, indeed, across the nation. We’re delighted to once again be able to celebrate the finest achievements in Dub-
lin sport, with some huge efforts at local levels coming to our attention in a variety of well-known, and some, less prominent, sports. Ever y form of sporting achievement, at any level and in any sport, is valuable and gives an indication of the diversity of sporting commit-
ment there is around our fair city at all times of the year.
Let us know! Let us know about your achievements in sport, so that the Gazette can tell the rest of Dublin — and give you, or your team, a chance of being one of our monthly stars.
Contact us on 01 601 0240 or sport@gazettegroup.com to tell us all about your successes, and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ gazettesport. You can also check out the latest stories from GazetteSport at our new website, www.gazettegroup.com
ST FINIAN’S Community College, Swords, played host to the FAI co-ordinated AllIreland Secondary School Futsal competition for first year boys. The tournament was a great success with three schools from Swords — St Finian’s, Fingal Community College and Colaiste Choilm — and Donabate Community College competing for the title and the opportunity to represent their area at the Dublin finals. The title went to Donabate Community College with a 3-1 win over
Fingal Community College in a competitive final. Next up is the girls’ competition in St. Finian’s on October 26, with teams representing Balbriggan, Donabate, Rush and Swords all taking part. The winners of these North Dublin Sections will progress to the Dublin Finals, which take place in Corduff, Blanchardstown, on November 16. For further information on the FAI/Fingal Secondary Schools Futsal Competition contact Paul Keogh, Football in the Community Development Officer at 086-0444435 or email paul.keogh@ fai.ie
30 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 27 October 2011
GazetteSport Sport FastSport
SOCCER: CASTLEKNOCK REGISTER NUMBER OF CUP VICTORIES
Club Notes: St Oliver Plunkett’s ER Congratulations to Alan Brogan who was named GPA/GAA Footballer of the Year. Congratulations also to Bernard Brogan who was named on the All-Star Football team. Best of luck to our senior footballers in their championship semi-final against Lucan Sarsfields in Parnell Park on Saturday at 3pm. Support for our teams is always greatly appreciated. Commiserations to our U-14 and 15 camogie teams who were both beaten by Lucan Sarsfields in their championship finals. Thanks to all who came out to support the girls in the wet conditions. Congratulations to our U-11 and 12 ladies football teams who have both qualified for their championship finals. Both teams will face Cabinteely/Foxrock in the finals on the weekend of November 5 and 6. Time and venues TBC. Ardrialla O’Donoghue’s Irish dancing classes have commenced in the clubhouse on Saturday mornings from 11am to 12 noon. No term fees, drop-in classes at €5, all ages are welcome. Contact Aisling Carolan (087-6135833) for further details.
Summerfest set for next weekend THE 2011 Tesco mobile SARI Summerfest, the largest intercultural soccer tournament in Ireland, is set to take part this year at the Garda and Camogie Sports Grounds, in Phoenix Park on September 10 and 11 from 11am to 5pm each day. The Summerfest will also coinciude with the CONCERN kitefest, where kite flyers from around the world will display their kites and give kite workshops for children. The two-day festival also includes a wide array of entertainment for all the family.
For more information, see www. facebook.com/sarireland.
Castleknock Celtic seeking ladies talent CASTLEKNOCK Celtic FC’s ladies and girls section are recruiting new talent to the cllub for the soccer season starting later this month. If you were born in 1996 or earlier, visit the club’s website at www.castleknockceltic.com, and pass on your name and contact details in the How To Join section provided on the site. The club are also looking to recruit girls born in 2001/2002 to play soccer in the DubliGirls Soccer League.
Aran Mooney completes his hat-trick for Celtic in their 4-0 win over the visiting St Joseph’s Sallynoggin in the Leinster Youths Cup
Celtic dominate in cup tie sport@gazettegroup.com
IN WHAT was billed as the match of the day in Porterstown, Celtic took on St Joseph’s of Sallynoggin in the Leinster Youths’ Cup second round. Joey’s, from the Premier Division, were firm favourites to progress, but it was Celtic who dominated from start to finish. Never during the game were Celtic under threat of losing. Their dominance was built on hard work from each member of the team, and they created several chances early on. They were rewarded on the half-hour, when great
work by David Beatty on the right-hand side led to Aran Mooney getting the first goal of his hat-trick. Celtic doubled their advantage with five minutes remaining in the first half, when another passage of play led to a superb cross by Nicky Kelly on the left-hand side. His cross was deftly controlled by Beatty who came in from the right hand side to finish in style. The second half was more of the same, with Celtic in complete control. On 55 minutes, the game was over as a contest when Eoin Newman, who was industrious
Fantastic four: Elmgreen in AllIreland action ELMGREEN Golf Club finished fourth at the 2011 Musgrave Crumlin Hospital Club Challenge All-Ireland final in the Algarve last week. Pictured are Brian Smith, Graham Temple and Denis Murphy with club captain, Robert Pierce, along with Seamus Scally of the Musgrave Group and Crumlin Hospital’s Joe Quinsey. The title was decided over 36 holes at Palmares Golf Club and Pinta Golf Club.
throughout, crossed perfectly for Mooney to double his tally. The final half-hour saw Celtic create chance after chance, and the inevitable fourth goal arrived after fresh legs were introduced, when Kyle Turner threaded through the perfect ball for Mooney to complete his hat-trick, rifling home from 10 yards. Speaking after the game, manager Brian Kennedy was not surprised by his team’s victory: “They have been showing great form in recent times. Their progress has been significant over the past year or so, and they only missed
out on promotion by the narrowest of margins.” Kennedy and assistant manager, Vinny Newman, were quick to emphasise the importance of the team’s work ethic which was abundantly evident. That commitment has been behind their progress to date and the management team are certain that it will ensure that progress is maintained over the months ahead. Brian himself is just back from a visit to the Coventry City Academy in England as he develops his coaching techniques, while forging links with the championship side.
Against the same opposition in the Under-13 SFAI Cup, Castleknock also registered a 6-1 victory. Gabby Aghinita, Ruairi Paton, Max Trigub, Conor Cummins and Sean Brennan scored for Celtic. Celtic’s fifth arrived through a penalty taken by Naoise McAloon, who has just completed a remarkable period of coaching. Firstly she was away in England at a top coaching academy by special invitation, and last week she was the guest of Ireland team keeper, Emma Byrne, who plays forArsenal Ladies.
27 October 2011 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 31
in association with
HURLING: LUCAN LAID LOW AS SOMERTON PREVAIL .
CLUB NOTICEBOARD CASTLEKNOCK A GREAT concert in aid of the Dub-
field to the greater Castleknock
lin 15 Hospice was organised by the
community, well done to all.
club and took place last Thursday.
Knitters are needed to knit for
Many thanks to all who helped with
the Hospice for a Christmas craft
the planning and organisation and
fair. Please contact Maeve on 087
sincere thanks to all the perform-
3744159.
ers who gave the audience a night to remember. It showcased the great
Well done to our U-13 footballers who clinched promotion.
talent this is in the area. Sincere
Juvenile awards night on Novem-
thanks also to all those who sup-
ber 11 and the AGM is on November
ported the concert and the Hospice.
14, both in the Castleknock Hotel and
Our juvenile disco took place
Country Club.
last Friday and was extremely well
Registration fees for next year are
attended. All the kids had great time
now due. Registration forms can be
and, again, sincere thanks to the
downloaded from www.castleknock.
Juvenile Social Committee for all the
net
hard work and all those who helped out on the night. These two events show the contribution the club is making off-the-
Castleknock GAA Nursery for four to seven-year-olds takes place at CCC on Saturdays 10 to 11.30am. Just come on down and join the fun.
ST BRIGID’S MAKE sure you get signed up for the Castleknock’s Under-15 hurlers celebrate at Blakestown after their championship success
Castleknock succeed at U-15 level again DUBLIN U-15B FINAL Castleknock Lucan Sarsfields
1-12 1-8
sport@gazettegroup.com
CASTLEKNOCK GAA Club’s trophy cabinet swelled again recently when their Under-15 hurlers annexed the Dublin U-15B hurling championship title at Blakestown. They were cheered on their way to the crown by members of the Castleknock side who had previously won the All-Ireland Feile title in 2007, the Under-15s impressively swept past a determined Lucan Sarsfields side. Castleknock got off to a flying start and had established a four-point lead before ten minutes were on the clock, four points that were eventually to be the difference between the sides. Luke Whelan scored six frees in the course of the day, some long-range efforts that impressed
the spectators, with Colum Breslin weighing in to establish a fourpoint margin between the sides at half time, with the scores at 0-9 to 1-2, Castleknock’s keeper Ali Hannigan being beaten only once between the posts to give Lucan their only goal. The second half started with Lucan in the ascendancy, pulling back the points to put the minimum between the sides, before Mick McCloskey and Richie McInerney made their contributions to the tally. T h e g a m e f l owe d from end to end, keeping the large support on the edge of their seats, and many of the Castleknock players, including Sean Dunning, Cian Kelly, and Daniel Carroll proved their worth to the team to bring Castleknock over the line, delivering a superb four-point victory.
The 22 members of the side all contributed to the final result, A spokesman for the side said: “This was a victory of heart, commitment and fight from the Castleknock boys. This year and age level isn’t easy for young lads, but they’ve shown throughout this championship what they’re made of. They are an example of the fight and spirit needed at this level.” The U-15 team and mentors would like to thank all the family and club support who came
along on the day, club chairman Mick Lynch, juvenile chairman and secretary Bernard O’Keeffe, and Padraig Purcell for their continued support. Castleknock: Ali Hannigan, Cian Kelly, Daniel Carroll, Aidan O’Gara, Kevin Stephenson, Conor Gormally, Michael McKiernan, Eoin McDonald-Kelly, Shane Coffey, Luke Whelan, Colum Breslin, Sean Dunning, Richie McInerney, Michael McCloskey, Kane Hogan, Jordan Toland, Cathel Sheerin (c), Daire Murphy, Donal Heveran, Ciaran Fay, Jamie Holland, and Luke Lynch
great night.
new pitch scheme. With more than
Hard luck to our Senior Hurlers
€50k already raised, we need a final
who lost out to O’Tooles in their
push for the €100k target.
semi-final. Well done to our senior
Sam came to the Nursery on Sat-
footballers who beat Ballyboden to
urday. It was a great occasion and
advance to the semi-finals where
loads of photos are now on the club
they will face Ballymun on Saturday
website.
at 4.30pm in Parnell Park.
Scrap weekend was a huge suc-
Congratulations to our U-13A and
cess and special thanks to everyone
B footballers who won the Div 1 and
who helped out.
Div 7 leagues last Saturday.
Foundation and Level One coaching
Hard luck to our U-13 and U-16
courses will take place in November.
camogie girls who lost out in their
This is a great opportunity for men-
f inals. Our minor footballers
tors to pick up more skills. Check out
reached the semi-finals, beating
the club website for more info.
Lucan.
Club night at the dogs was a great success with everyone enjoying a
Minor hurlers face St David’s on Sunday at 11am in Russell Park.
GARDA/WESTMANSTOWN GAELS THE junior 1s lost away in their league
Thank you to everyone that sup-
fixture to Cuala last Sunday morn-
ported the sponsored solo last Sat-
ing. Their next match is away to Fin-
urday. Well done to all of the teams
gallians at Lawless Park next Sunday,
that participated.
October 30, at 11am.
The mid-term blitz is taking place
Congratulations to four Westmans-
during the school break. Details on
town Gaels girls on making the Dublin
www.westmanstowngaels.ie, or con-
U-17 development squad.
tact club GPO Micheal Ahern at 087-
The Big Fight Night is in Croke Park on Friday, November 25, when the
7758346 if you require more information.
Garda GAA Club take on the Garda
Re: the ongoing membership drive,
Rugby Club in the boxing ring. The
thank you to everyone that has dis-
Battle of the Thin Blue Line is a fund-
tributed leaflets in local estates. If you
raiser for both clubs, as well as rais-
can distribute help leaflets outside
ing money for the Tania McCabe Foun-
your local school or estate, please
dation. Tickets cost €20 and can be
contact Eddie Martin at 0871214658.
purchased from any member of the
Well done to the U-14 and U-16 girls
Garda GAA or Rugby clubs, or from
who have qualified for their champi-
Eddie Fallon on 0863726754.
onship finals.
Follow GazetteSport on Facebook and Twitter, and at www.gazettegroup.com
ALL OF YOUR CASTLEKNOCK SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31
A COOL TOTAL: Coolmine RFC obliterate Tralee in opening All-Ireland encounter P28
OCTOBER HEROES Sports Awards nominations announced P29
GazetteSPORT
Alan Brogan, Dublin, with his GAA GPA All-Star Football award at the GAA GPA All-Star Awards 2011
OCTOBER 27, 2011
Brogans honoured for All-Star year Back-to-back Player of the Year awards for Alan and Bernard, as Plunkett’s face SFC semi-final Q STEPHEN FINDLATER
castleknocksport@gazettegroup.com
SAINT Oliver Plunkett’s/Eoghan Ruadh look set to have newly-crowned footballer of the year Alan Brogan available to their side for their huge Dublin SFC semi-final with Lucan Sarsfields on Saturday. Brogan underwent minor surgery to clear cartilage damage on his knee in the wake of the All-Ireland final against Kerry in mid-September but could be back in the frame for Mick Galvin’s side. Plunketts got the better of Ballyboden St Enda’s in the quarter-finals with plenty to spare a day after Brogan was handed the Footballer of the Year honour at the National Convention Centre. He followed in the footsteps of younger brother Bernard – who also received an All-Star gong – in claiming the highest possible individual award.
Speaking about the awards season in the aftermath of the All-Ireland run, he says it has been a busy few months but the celebrations still have a way to go. “It’s been a bit hectic for the last few weeks but it’s been a great time and we have thoroughly enjoyed it and I think we’ve another month or two in us, yet before we go back training,” he said. “We’ve suffered our fair share of defeats over the years. I’ve lost four All-Ireland semi-finals in nine years. To get to a final was an achievement for ourselves in itself and to win our first one when we got there was fantastic.” While he admits that he and his team-mates have taken a step back, the hunger will be back with a vengeance when the Dubs return to full training on January 2. “You look to the likes of Kilkenny and some of the team like Kerry in the football. They’re the benchmark and what we have to aim for. We’ll
enjoy the next couple of months but, when we come back in January, that’s what we aim for, trying to get to another All-Ireland semi-final in September. “At the start of January, we just decided we had to go at it hell for leather. We left no stone unturned. This particular Dublin team in the last nine of ten years has been through hell and back in the defeats we have had. That steeled us going into this year. Some of the games, especially in Leinster, were all tight games and they really stood to us as we moved on in the championship.” For now, though, winning a maiden Dublin title is the goal for Plunkett’s and the prospect of a local derby tie against St Brigid’s remains on the cards. The Russell Park men, inspired by Barry Cahill, are lurking on the other side of the draw where they will face Ballymun Kickhams for a place in the final.