Castleknock GAZET TE FREE
MAY 31, 2012
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CASTLEKNOCK • CARPENTERSTOWN • LAUREL LODGE • ROSELAWN
INSIDE: A lovely day for D15 Charity garden luncheon P8
TENANT RIGHTS: TD Patrick Nulty (Lab) on protecting deposits Page 15
Green and clean: Volunteers help clean up canal DUBLIN WEST’S Green Party
Golf: Lawrie claims place at the 2012 US Open Page 32
representative headed up this year’s annual Royal Canal bank clean-up at the weekend. Roderic O’Gorman was joined by a group of litter conscious volunteers to help clean up the bank of the Royal Canal during the annual Green Party cleanup. Pictured on the day are Marie Butterly, Daire Queenan, Enid Bebbington, Bones the dog, Amy Bebbington and Roderic O’Gorman. Picture: Ian Fleming
See Story on Page 2
Camogie: Castleknock claim the Feile crown at Parnell Page 31
ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ......................8 BUSINESS .................... 19 MOTORS ........................21 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ......... 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26
Members briefed on tennis club revamp Consultation is ‘one step’ in bid for consensus
I LAURA WEBB
OVER 100 members from the Castleknock Lawn Tennis Club (CLTC) were briefed on options being considered for a multimillion euro development at the popular facility, at a meeting held earlier this week. Four possible redevelop-
ment options were outlined for the club, which will be funded by the €9.75 million compensation received from the National Roads Authority last year for lands transferred through a Compulsory Purchase Order for the N3/M50 works. According to CLTC chairperson, Kevin Houston, the meeting was just “one
step” in the consultation process. “There is much more consultation before we arrive at a decision. There are so many members and so many different views, it’s an ongoing process and we will keep consulting until we get consensus.” Full Story on Page 5
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CLEAN CONSCIENCE: GETTING RID OF LITTER
O’Gorman joins cause to clean up Royal Canal I LAURA WEBB
lwebb@gazettegroup.com
DUBLIN West’s Green Par ty representative headed up this year’s annual Royal Canal bank clean-up at the weekend. Roderic O’Gorman was joined by a group of litter conscious volunteers to help clean up the bank of the Royal Canal during the annual Green Party clean-up. Volunteers met on Saturday, May 26 at the Castleknock Train Station, where they were provided with gloves and plastic sacks. The group of volunteers worked on the bank between the Twelfth Lock and Kirkpatrick Bridge, collecting cans, bottles and other litter from the canal bank. Commenting on the day, the Green Party representative said: “I want to thank the volunteers who joined us to undertake the clean up on Saturday. It was an absolutely fantastic
CULTURE Music school lifts curtain on great show
Professor Anthony Byrne of RIAM joins Eileen Brogan, School Director to award medals to successful students.
day to carry out this work. The Royal Canal is a huge resource for people living in Dublin 15. While it is disappointing that some people are prepared to abuse it through littering, we have noticed a significant decrease in the amount of litter each year,” O’Gorman said.
Antonello D’Orazio
Welcomed
Meanwhile, submissions for Fingal County Council and Waterways Ireland’s pro posal to upgrade the towpath of the Royal Canal by transforming it into a pedestrian and cycle route closed on May 25. According to O’Gorman, this is a welcome proposal for the area: “The canal is a significant resource in Dublin 15, be it for walking, cycling or fishing. “The opening up of the entire canal to cruisers means that it now also has tourism potential, which should be encouraged,” he added.
Cristina Ryan
Muireann Ni Dhubhghaill
There were numerous medallists on the night
Wei Jie Lam and Yong Jie Lam showcase their piano skills
The Bonham siblings receive their string trio medals.
Smiles all round from the medallists
Students perform on the evening
Zoe Donoghue. Pictures: Frank and Joan Sutcliffe
Musical royalty in this Castle HE CASTLEKNOCK School of Music held their annual awards concert on May 13. Prizes were awarded to the students of the year (of varying ability) and to ensemble and duet acts. All awards were handed out by Professor Anthony Byrne of the Royal
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Irish Academy of Music. The school’s philosophy is to provide excellent music tuition and to provide stimulating music classes that will develop a real and lasting love of music in their students.
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ANIMALS Chimp finds a place in the circle of life
Ducklings rescued by a heroic chimp I LAURA WEBB
A CHIMPANZEE has been hailed a hero after he rescued three adorable ducklings from possible injury or worse by moving them out of harm’s way. The ducklings’ mammy, a resident of Dublin Zoo, located her nest at the edge of the Zoo’s Chimp Island. Just days after the ducklings hatched, nineyear-old Bossou became worried the little ones were in danger from his island mates. The quick thinking chimp went to the edge of the island and gently took the three ducklings from the water’s edge. He then cradled them close to his
chest and kept them with him. Dublin Zoo Keeper Yvonne McCann explained that “a worried member of the public alerted her saying she’d noticed a large chimp holding onto the ducklings”. As soon as the zoo keeper realised that Bossou was actually protecting the babies, she knew she had to act immediately. Yvonne called Bossou and enticed him to the edge of the chimp island. K nowing the chimps very well, she knew exactly what to do and expertly traded each duckling for a banana, taking all three to safety.
Yvonne then contacted the Dublin SPCA looking for sanctuary for the little ducklings. Spokesperson for the Dublin SPCA, Miriam Kerins said: “This is an incredible, truly touching and inspiring story of humanity and compassion shown by a gentle giant. Bossou is indeed a hero. The Dublin SPCA is pleased to announce that Paddle, Waddle and Drake are none the worse for their adventure and are having the time of their lives at the shelter.” Meanwhile, two female Asian lion cubs are settling well into their new habitat at the Asian forests at Dublin Zoo. They
Bossou enjoys saving ducks, taking long walks on the beach, and monkeying about
came to the zoo earlier this month and this is the first time the popular tourist attraction has homed Asian lions. The lionesses are 19-monthold sisters from Mulhouse Zoo in France. Asian lions are critically endangered in the wild with only 400 remain-
ing. The new Asian forest development at Dublin Zoo marks the beginning of a significant breeding programme. In the next six months the zoo hopes to welcome a male lion into the habitat to help increase the population of the highly endangered species.
Dublin Zoo is now inviting people to suggest names for the female lions based on their Indian origin. Suggestions are being accepted through the Dublin Zoo Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dublinzoo or email: info@dublinzoo. ie or by post.
GARDENING
Bloom flowers yet again IRELAND’S answer to the Chelsea flower show is back this weekend with gardening, food stalls and family fun taking over the Phoenix Park. Now in its sixth year, the popular event attracted over 90,000 people last year. This year’s show features 27 show-gardens, over 100 Irish food and drink producers, 40 nurseries within the floral marquee, 25 cookery demonstrations and over 160 retailers. President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins will officially open Bloom on Thursday, May 31. This year shows off the talents of the younger generation with a show-garden designed by 10-year-old Miah Ni Nuallain from Crumlin. Meanwhile, GIY Ireland will attempt to break the Guinness world record for the largest number of people sowing seedlings all at the one time.
DublinGazetteNewspapers Advertising Sales Professionals Dublin Gazette Newspapers is Dublin’s fastest growing community weekly regional publisher, with 8 titles covering the M50 from Swords to Dun Laoghaire. We are currently looking to recruit: We are now seeking experienced media sales executives to work in our advertising dept in our Lucan head office on a number of Dublin Gazette titles. Experience in newspaper advertising sales is preferable. Full clean driving licence and own car required; fluent written and oral English essential. Excellent package on offer to suitable candidates. If you can work on your own initiative within a team environment, are motivated, enthusiastic with an excellent work ethic, please send your cv to: mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com
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CONSULTATION: CASTLKNOCK LAWN AND TENNIS CLUB DISCUSS OPTIONS
COMMUNITY
Guides patrol the zoo
Club briefed on redevelopment I LAURA WEBB lwebb@gazettegroup.com
www.
OVER 100 members from the Castleknock L aw n Te n n i s C l u b (CLTC) were briefed on options being considered for a multimillion euro development at the popular facility. The meeting, which took place on Monday night, was another step in consultation with members and the club’s Executive and Development committee on redevelopment options for the club, outlining four options being considered. The first option costs €4.012 million and will see the club have 15 courts, five indoor courts and 10 outdoor courts. Option two is for 13 courts at a cost of €4.568 million, six indoor courts and seven outdoor
courts. The third option outlined costs €4.091 million for development and will have 13 courts, five indoor courts and eight outdoor courts. The fourth option is for 14 courts, six indoor and eight outdoor, a new clubhouse and viewing facilities both indoor and outdoor at a cost of €5.52 million. The first three options will also see the clubhouse refurbished and extended by 25%. The money funding the upgrade is taken from the €9.75 million compensation the club received from the National Roads Authority last year for lands transferred through a Compulsory Purchase Order for the N3/M50 upgrade works. Speaking to the Gazette this week, CTLC chairperson, Kevin Hou-
ston said the meeting wasn’t a decision making forum, it was “one step” in the consultation process. “There is much more consultation before we arrive at a decision. There are so many members and so many different views, it’s an ongoing process and we will keep consulting until we get consensus.” According to Kevin, it’s important to keep members informed. “It is their club and they will make the decision, not the executive. They will vote on the option. “We won’t move quickly on this. If the consultation takes three months or a year, it is only then we can kick start the design phase before it goes to construction. We are going to make the right decision so we are going to take our time.”
Captaining a cause: A Dine and Donate Scheme for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital IRELAND’S OWN Captain America joined with three-year-old Senan
Miland from Artane, on Grafton Street, Dublin to celebrate the launch of the Irish owned family restaurant’s Dine and Donate Scheme for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin. Visitors to any Captain America’s steakhouse in Grafton Street, Tallaght, Blanchardstown and Cork will be able to make a €1 donation to the kids’ hospital directly on their bill. Captain America’s will kick start the scheme with live music concerts and DJ’s across all restaurants on the evening of Friday, June 8. See www.captainamericas.com for more details.
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OVER 1,000 girl guides from across Ireland explored the wonders of Dublin Zoo when they took part in one of the organisation’s largest outdoor events. Last Saturday, the Catholic Guides of Ireland (CGI) took over the popular tourist attraction when they attended Dublin Zoo for a full day. The girls aged between five to 18 years included local groups from around the country. The CGI Zoo Day was a chance for groups from around the country to get together for a day of action, learning and fun. Activities on the day included Meet the Keeper, treasure hunts, educational initiatives, sponsor the animals and much more. Phil Dempsey, Zoo Day co-ordinator said it was an opportunity for members to “meet again and make new friends with their sisters in guiding.”
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Laurel Lodge Carpenterstown
With Jim Lacey Phone: 087-2401308 Email: jimlacey@eircom.net
Castleknock Tennis Club to serve a great hospice night
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HERE is a great night of Irish traditional music, singing, storytelling and dancing being organised in Castleknock Tennis Club in aid of St Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown. The event, entitled, From Clare to Here, will be on Saturday, June 9, and the tickets are only €15 each. That includes finger food and spot prizes, and there will also be a gala raffle. I spoke to Margaret Darragh, who has been organising the event
each year for the past three years in aid of the hospice, and she tells me that there will be musicians, singers and seanchais and dancers from the length and breadth of Ireland but, in particular, from those treasure troves of Irish culture – the counties of Clare, Galway and Roscommon. Paddy Regan, from Cork, will be Fear an Ti on the night, and members of Castleknock Tennis Club are no slouches either when it comes to Irish music and singing.
Sure, I knew that well from the odd night I spent with my nose stuck into a glass of Uncle Arthur’s finest lemonade, imbibing culture and craic in Castleknock Tennis Club.
A superb location Apart from the music, the craic and the entertainment, the tennis club is a superb location, and the club has always laid on a great welcome to visitors. It has to be said, too, that Castle-
knock Tennis Club have been unstinting in offering their facilities over the years for community events and fundraisers for charity. Personnel from St Francis Hospice will be in attendance, to provide an update on the hospice facilities that are currently in operation, and to give an outline as to how progress is taking place for the remaining works. The work of fundraising for the hospice must continue – okay, the building is there, but loans have to
be discharged, while maintenance costs, salaries and running costs, etc, all have to be met.
Essential fundraising So, fundraising is essential for the hospice to carry on the wonderful work it does for our community. For further information about the great night – and I kid you not, it is a great night out – contact John at 087 137 6604, or Margaret at 087 758 8753.
God rest the late Lenihan
HERITAGE NETWORK’S NIGHT IS A RECESSIONBUSTER BARGAIN: FINGAL Heritage Network is an organisation supported by Fingal County Council, and represents 12 historical and heritage societies, from Balbriggan to Howth, and from the shores of fair Fingal to the borders of Meath and Kildare and the sweet banks of Anna Liffey. Each year, the societies get together for a night of music, singing, storytelling, recitations, dancing and conversation. Last year, Fingal South West Heritage Society and Liffey Valley Alliance – the two local societies in this part of Fingal – hosted the event. This year, it is the turn of East Fingal societies to return the compliment – it’s like the Olympic Games, alternately changing hemispheres (albeit on a smaller scale). The Swords Historical Group are hosting this year’s Cultural Night on Friday, June 8 at 8pm in The Carnegie Court Hotel, Swords, and it’s free in – so there’s a recessionbuster bargain! For further details, telephone 01 840 0080, or email fingalheritagenetwork@ gmail.com.
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Stunning Luttrellstown Castle’s grounds will play host to St Mochta’s Parish Picnic and fun day on Sunday, June 24
St Mochta’s parish picnic and fun day set to delight L
UTTRELLSTOWN Castle and its demesne is, without doubt, the most beautiful location in West County Dublin for any event. If you don’t believe me, check it out, as did David Beckham and Victoria Adams, who chose it for their wedding ceremony. Other visitors included US President Ronald Regan, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace of Monaco, The Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. Hollywood stars such as David Niven, Fred Astaire, Paul Newman,
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‘So, follow in the footsteps of the royal, the rich and the renowned and pop along’
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Gerard Depardieu and the pop group REM were also guests, while Queen Victoria liked it so much, she visited twice! So, follow in the footsteps of the royal, the rich and the renowned and pop along to St Mochta’s Parish Picnic and Funday in the grounds of
Luttrellstown Castle on Sunday, June 24 at 1pm, and experience the elegance and grandeur of the demesne. The picnic and family day runs until 8pm, and there will be a host of live entertainment, including a brass band, a youth and rock band, country and western music, traditional Irish music, Irish dancing and a magic show for children. The Master of Ceremonies on the day is Gerry Healy, from The Friday Feeling on Spirit Radio. There will be a farmers’ market, games, football, athletic contests for all
ages, a Tumbling Toddlers area and pony rides. There will also be a Bonny Baby competition, an old-style carnival, bouncing castle, face painting and a barbecue. Tickets are only €10 per family/car. This is a very popular and wellestablished local event, and attracted 4,300 people last year – the 11th year of the event, and the fourth year to be held in Luttrellstown Demesne. I remember about 30-odd years ago there used to be a garden fete in the demesne in aid of St Brigid’s, Castleknock. The Hon Aileen Plunkett
lived in the castle at the time. I recall the comedian Jack Cruise, formerly of the Theatre Royal, acting as MC. Jack, who lived locally, died in 1979 at the relatively young age of 63. Many readers will remember him, and the fun and laughter he provided, along with his sidekick, the diminutive Mickser Reid, in shows such as Holiday Hayride. So, mark the date – Sunday, June 24 – in your diary, and pop along to Luttrellstown, where you will be guaranteed a great day’s entertainment.
READ in a recent Sunday newspaper that the late FF politician, Brian Lenihan, who died in June 2011, left €368,290 in his will. Someone remarked to me that they thought a man in his position would have left a lot more. However, the fact is that he did – his monuments are all around Dublin West, such as the new St Francis Hospice, Blanchardstown; the fine playing fields at Somerton for Castleknock Hurling and Football Club; and the many schools and public buildings in the area. Needless to say, these facilities are not there as a result of his singlehanded work, as many people worked hard to bring about these facilities, and it included people of all political persuasions and none. Still, it is fair to say that it was due to his intervention at crucial stages that these important facilities came to fruition when they did. I used to bump into Brian frequently, and we would usually get fairly quickly into a discussion on history or politics, and the breadth and depth of his knowledge was truly extraordinary – he is sadly missed. God rest his noble soul.
31 May 2012 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 7
EVENT Level 3 Diploma in body massage techniques
Summer camps sell out
Graduates’ glee at getting certificates I LAURA WEBB
THE SUN was shining down for Castleknock Beauty Academy’s first graduates when they were awarded their industry recognised certificate of completion. Sarah McDonald and Christina Martin, are celebrating this week after getting their Level 3 Diploma in Body Massage Techniques following an intense nine month course at Castleknock’s first private beauty school. Castleknock model Alison Cavanagh was down on the day to support the graduates. Castleknock Beauty Academy owner, Patricia
Sheridan, who also owns Lavender Beauty Rooms, said she was delighted to see the first graduates of the school do so well. “I just want to wish them the best of luck in the future. They were excellent students and I really enjoyed working with them, they are excellent therapists.” For many of the students, they are coming into the school with no previous experience but leave with top class qualifications. “People are retiring early, or have lost their job and want to retrain. It’s a great skill to have.” Graduate Sarah McDonald was let go
from her administration job and decided to pursue her dream of becoming a massage therapist. She hopes to continue beauty training and is honoured to be one of the first to graduate from the school. “It was a great course and Patricia was great to work with and so helpful,” she said. “I live in Roselawn so it’s handy to have it in the area. I hope to work in a salon and as I progress maybe one day open my own salon,” she said. A s ke d a b o u t t h e course, Sarah said it was tough but worth it. “You think it is all prac-
LEARN IT
Sarah McDonald pictured with Anatomy and Physiology tutor, Aidan Kelly; Castleknock Beauty Academy owner, Patricia Sheridan and Castleknock model, Alison Cavanagh
tical, but there is theory behind it. The biology side is the equivalent of first year nursing, it’s a shock but really enjoyable and when you hear how happy clients are, it’s rewarding like that; I would recommend it to anyone.” Anatomy and pysiology tutor, Aidan Kelly, said
the courses are never easy and that it’s the effort of the students that gets them the results. “It’s ongoing, so students have to be continuously on top of their work; each course starts at the basics and gets deeper into it. Today is about actually achieving it – it’s a great day.”
According to Kelly, a recent survey in the UK showed that beauty therapy is the happiest industry to work in, and with smiles on the graduates’ and teachers’ faces, it might just be true. For further information about courses log onto www.castleknockbeautyacademy.ie
THERE is a huge demand for young kids to learn more about engineering as Learn It summer camps in Castleknock sell out. Summer camps are big within communities over the holidays and this year it seems learning more about engineering and mechanics is top of the summer camp list. Learn It Junior Engineer summer camp at Castleknock Community Centre being held in August is already sold out and a waiting list has been opened on its website. The Junior Engineer Camps are for children aged six to 12 years. Children learn about engineering and mechanical principles, and work on various structural and mechanical projects throughout the week. T his camp has a number of locations and dates across Dublin so check out www.learnit.ie for a list of locations.
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EVENT Guests enjoy a day of entertainment at the D15
Kay Hatton, Patrice Ahearne, Eileen Duffy, Rita Condon, Helen Cox, Sheila Clarke and Susan McClafferty
The Minister for Social Protection,
Stephanie White and Emma White
Rita O’Reilly, Angela Lynch, Marian Smith, Sean Boland and Vera Weldon
Sinead Doyle, (Sinead Doyle Design), Chris Curly and Sinead Clarke, (Project 51)
Show of support for a worthy cause HE D15 Charity held a garden luncheon in Lisnagree recently to support St Vincent De Paul. Guests arrived to a champagne reception where they enjoyed the amazing voice of soprano Sarah Bass. They then satisfied their appetites with some delicious gourmet meals and fine wines. Dinner was followed by a fashion show
T Kathy O’Connor and Jackie Curly
presented by Alison Canavan where professional models strutted their stuff giving the audience a look at the work of Irish designers, Clare Garvey and Project 51. Singer Sean Boland performed some smooth, easy-listening classics from the likes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Claire O’Loughlin of The Voice Of Ireland was also in attendance.
31 May 2012 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 9
Charity garden luncheon supporting St Vincent De Paul
Catherine Haugh, Tara O’Connell and Sean Boland
Joan Burton TD, Kathleen McMahon and Rebecca Matthews. Pictures: James Devon
designers Models give the audience a look at some top t styles t l ffrom IIrish i hd i
Dorothy Moynihan, Aileen Gilson, Julie Fitzgerald and Ciara Lagan
Singer Sean Boland
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FUNDRAISER Models strut their stuff in support of Kasey
Kelly Donegan and Aoibheann McCaul
Brian Kennedy poses with Audrey Whelan on the dance floor Pictures: Una Williams
Celebrity fashion show Kares4Kasey CELEBRITY fashion show was the latest fund raising event held for the Kare4Kasey trust fund. Hosted in the Vanilla Nightclub of Hampton Hotel on Friday of May 18, the night was attended by many well-known faces. The trust fund looks to raise money in support of Kasey Kelly, a girl born in December 2010. At 10 months Kasey was diagnosed with a malig-
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nant brain tumour known as atypical teratoid/ rhabdoid or ATRT, which is very aggressive and extremely rare. Currently living in Boston awaiting treatment for Kasey, the Kelly family has already raised €200,000 from kind donations. To donate to Kasey’s trust fund, please visit www.mycharity.ie/charity/kare4kasey or for more information, www.kare4kasey.com.
Yomyko Chen and Sarah Morrissey
Co-hosts Kirsteen O’Sullivan and Edward Smith
Niamh Kavanagh and Adam Costello Doherty and Judi Costello
Danika Skeen
31 May 2012 GAZETTE 11
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PEOPLE TV3 figure talks to The Gazette on being a busy mum
Lucia Wright, Peter McGowan and Juno Treanor joined Sybil Mulcahy at the Radisson Blu hotel to help launch CaldeSpray, a new product in the Caldesene range to help prevent nappy rash
Sybil isn’t nappy-ing on maternity leave I BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN
NEW mother, and Monkstown resident, Sybil Mulcahy of TV3’s The Morning Show, may only have given birth six weeks ago, but she has bounced back into shape and looked fit, healthy and well-rested at the launch of a new treatment for nappy rash, CaldeSpray. Sybil launched the new product, of which she is ambassador, in the Radisson Blu Hotel on May 21, and she had her six-weekold son, Michael, there, too. She is enjoying her new baby son, but said three children were a lot more work than two, and added: “I think Michael has reflux. He’s up every two hours, so I’m up about three times a night, but it’s not too bad.”
Although six-week-old Michael may have reflux, at present, Sybil says “it’s not too bad”
In a frank interview with The Gazette, she said that while she wanted a third child “at some stage”, Michael was “an accident”, but they were certain they would have a third child in the future. “I’m just in the first few weeks so I’m watching a lot of late night TV and even infomercials,” she said. Sybil now plans to take part in the mini-mara-
thon this June, but will walk it instead of running it. “I’ll be walking – sure, I can barely run down the stairs! I’m not very fit, and have never been to the gym. I did it last year too, and for the same charity, called, Third Age, and it’s like a Childline for the elderly. “It’s really for elderly people living in remote areas or all alone, and
they often just ring up to say goodnight, not having spoken to a soul all day. So I’m walking it for them,” said Sybil. With three children to mind, which she describes as “chaos”, Sybil was thankful that she has a childminder to help out. “I couldn’t cope, otherwise,” she said. “Fair play to anyone doing it all on their own, though. It’s a
thankless job, but it’s a lot easier if they’re sleeping at night. When you get no sleep, every problem becomes a mountain.” She intends to enjoy her six months’ maternity leave to the fullest, and is also trying to buy a house in Monkstown or the surrounding areas. “You don’t get a chance to do these things when you’re working. We’re in the process of getting
mortgage approval, and are looking at houses now. “It takes a good chunk of time, so until I go back to work in October, I’m concentrating on finding my house. If anyone out there knows of a nice five-bedroom, let me know!” Whilst on maternity leave previously, Sybil cut it short as her colleague on Ireland AM, Sinead Desmond was unwell and Sybil filled in. However, as for her current leave, she said: “This time, I’m enjoying it.” When asked how the other two children were adjusting to the new baby, she said: “Sure, they’re killing each other. I caught my daughter trying to carry the baby down the stairs the other morning.
“She gets jealous if I give the baby attention; the other fellow is not too bad, but I suppose it’ll take a while for things to settle.” She is due back on The Morning Show in October, and is also looking forward to returning. “The ratings are up, and it’s a show that’s become a part of people’s morning routine. I’m also looking forward to working with Martin [King] again.” Speaking about the product that she is ambassador for, Sybil said: “It’s a great product, and Caldesene has been on the market for 40 years. “They had no brand ambassador before, and I’m happy to do it. The spray is an updated version [of the existing product].”
31 May 2012 GAZETTE 13
SCHOOLS National search for Teacher of the Year
Your chance to name the top educator BHRAONAIN
RORY Kavanagh, Donegal GAA footballer and teacher at Scoil Colmcille National School in Letterkenny, launched the Teacher of the Year Awards last week. Students from all across Dublin are being given the opportunity to celebrate their best teachers, and they can give top marks to their favourite teacher by entering her or him into a national awards competition to find the best teacher in the country. The Teacher of the Year awards are being organised by www.abcbooks.ie, and will allow students, colleagues and family members to nominate a teacher with vision, expertise, passion and creativity for the accolade. The competition is open to students from all schools around Ireland, both national and secondary, and each nominating student will get a free consultation for fixed braces with David McConville Orthodontists. At the launch, Mark Bundschu, of abcbooks. ie, said: “We deal with teachers daily and have
great respect for the job they do. “When we realised there wasn’t a national awards programme to honour the great work of our primary and secondary school teachers, we decided to take on the mantle.” If you would like to nominate a teacher, all you have to do is write a piece all about them in 500 words or less. --------------------------
‘The Teacher of the Year judging panel will apply tough criteria in their selection process’ --------------------------
You need to convince the judging panel of why your teacher deserves to be crowned Teacher of the Year 2012, and you can include additional primary evidence of their merit, such as photos, videos, or stories. Speaking to The Gazette, Kavanagh said that he was pleased to support any initiative that promotes the work done by teachers. “It’s a great opportunity for parents and stu-
dents to nominate their teacher. “T he nominations come at the end of term, in order to give students the chance to work closely with that teacher throughout the year. “This is a great chance to promote teaching, and all of the good work done behind closed doors,” he said. When asked about his own likelihood of nomination at Scoil Colmcille, Kavanagh said: “I wish!”, and went on to say: “As a teacher, you work with these fellows for years, and don’t realise the impact you have on them. “It’s only when they come back to you years later when they’re in secondary school and talk to you and thank you that you realise it, and it’s very rewarding.” The judging panel will apply tough criteria in their selection process, which include ability to teach and explain a difficult topic, commitment, creativity, innovation, rapport with students and involvement in extra-curricular activities. Nominations can be made online at www.abcbooks.ie.
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I BAIRBRE NI
Pole position: ‘Making the most of your UEFA trip to Poznan’
Emma Bundschu and Filip Blazejczak help their teacher (and Donegal GAA footballer) Rory Kavanagh launch the Teacher of the Year 2012 awards search
TRAVEL PAGE 22
14 GAZETTE 31 May 2012
MUSIC Ireland’s newest festival celebrates all things folk
Spirit of Folk 2012 will see musicians and storytellers from all over Ireland and the UK come together for a weekend of music, arts and craft
Getting into the spirit of things in Dunderry GazetteContacts Block 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan Tel: 01 6010240 Fax: 01 6010251 Managing Director: Michael McGovern email:mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com Acting News Editor: Mimi Murray email: mmurray@gazettegroup.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile email: jmaile@gazettegroup.com Sports Editor: Rob Heigh email: sport@gazettegroup.com Picture Editor: Paul Hosford email: picturedesk@gazettegroup.com Ad Manager: Louise Fitzgerald email: lfitzgerald@gazettegroup.com Advertising Production: Anita Ward email: ads@gazettegroup.com Financial Controller: Carly Lynch email: clynch@gazettegroup.com
Advertising Sales: 01 6010240 email: sales@gazettegroup.com www.gazettegroup.com Gazette Group Newspapers Ltd. Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements Reserve the right to omit or suspend or alter any advertisement(s) in any of its publications. We also decline any responsibility in the event of one or more of a series of advertisements being omitted for any reason whatever, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement. If your advertisement appears incorrectly, contact the Advertising Department immediately, as responsibility cannot be accepted for more than one week’s incorrect insertion. Responsibility cannot be accepted if the complaint is made more than two weeks after insertion. If one places an advertisement for more than one week and then cancels it after the first week, no refund or credit will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser undertakes to indemnify the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising out of the publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published in the Blanchardstown Gazette, Castleknock Gazette, Clondalkin Gazette, Dundrum Gazette, Dun Laoghaire Gazette, Lucan Gazette, Malahide Gazette and Swords Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.
SPIRIT of Folk, Ireland’s newest festival “celebrating all things folk”, has announced a stellar lineup and the addition of an extra night for this year’s festival, once again taking place in the idyllic surroundings of Dunderry Park, Co Meath. Returning this year from September 21 to 23, Spirit of Folk 2012 will see musicians and storytellers from all over Ireland and the UK come together for a weekend of music, arts, craft, spirituality, philosophy and folklore. This year’s family-friendly festival line up boasts an impressive mix of traditional Irish music, folk, bluegrass and country; from established Irish singer songwriters to emerging acts, the beautiful and bespoke three-day event will truly embody the spirit of all things folk. This year’s Spirit of Folk festival line up features: Irish singer/songwriter and twice winner of the Meteor award for Best Folk/Trad, John Spillane; The Lost Brothers, an Irish duo hailing from Omagh and Navan, as seen on RTE’s Other Voices; Lisa O’Neill, rapidly emerging as one of the
truest contemporary Irish folk voices and recently returned from touring with Welsh singer David Gray; I Draw Slow, a fivepiece outfit comprising alt-country, folk, roots, old-time Americana; Spook of the Thirteenth Lock, Irish folk rock band delving into the realms of psych, prog and post rock and Cry Monster Cry, who have just launched their new EP. F e s t i v a l d i r e c t o r, Natasha Duffy, commented: “We are delighted and proud to announce the fantastic line up we have planned for this year’s Spirit of Folk festival. In our sophomore year, we aim to truly celebrate Irish folk in a relaxed family-friendly setting with great music and events for everyone to enjoy – a magical way to bid farewell to summer and finish the festival season in style!” Other acts featuring at this year’s festival include: Tucan; The Hot Sprockets; Mossy Nolan; The Henry Girls; The Young Folk; Tir na nOg; Aoife Scott; Jig away the Donkey; Pete Cummins; The Bonny Men; Traz; The Man Whom, Gypsy Rebble Rabble; Bunoscionn;
Trad side of the moon; Wookalilly; Alpaca Jamboree; Miriam Donohue; Joy Booth; TAC; Twin Headed Wolf; The Eskies; Hidden Highways and JP Trio and Niamh. To accompany this feast of musical acts, there will be an abundance of alternative events for all to enjoy, including storytelling and poetry reading by Pat Speight, Eddie Lenihan, Tim Evans, Jack Sheehan and Stephen James Smith; as well as talks and workshops on ancient druidism and shamanism; Tibetan Mandala making and singing bowls; Native American pipe ceremonies; dreams analysis; and ancient astronomy and permaculture. A limited supply of Early Bird weekend tickets for €65 and day tickets for €35 will be available until May 31 only. From June onwards, weekend tickets will cost €85 and day tickets will cost €45. To purchase your Spirit of Folk 2012 tickets go to www.tickets.ie. For more information, check out www.spiritoffolk.com or follow us on Twitter (@ Spirit_of_Folk) or like us on Facebook.com/spiritoffolkfestival.
31 May 2012 GAZETTE 15
RENT Landlords can keep deposits in ways inconsistent with law
Tilting balance of fairness back in favour of tenants P N TD on a bill to reduce the number ATRICK
ULTY
of times tenants unfairly lose their deposits BEFORE I was elected a TD, I was employed as a policy analyst with Focus Ireland, who work on housing issues affecting those on the front line of our housing crisis. That is those who have lost their homes, or are at risk of becoming homeless. Almost one in seven of those currently accessing Focus Ireland homeless services are children. But no statistic can describe the pain of those experiencing life without a home. And yet, the facts and figures of our housing crisis need to be understood. • 300,000 homes in Ireland are currently unoccupied. • 100,000 households are currently on the housing list. • One in 10 mortgages are now in arrears. Our housing system is dysfunctional and in crisis. Individuals and families want security, whether they are renting their homes or paying mortgages. In particular, issues of security frequently arise in the private rented sector with regard to deposits. Tenants are required to come up with at least one month’s rent as a deposit. For many, the deposit is a form of saving. They rely on the deposit to use for their next home; if and when they move out of their current accommodation. There are approximately one quarter of a million tenancies registered in the country with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB). Illegal deposit retention is one of the most common problems experienced by tenants in the private rented sector. The Residential Tenancies Act 2004, sets how a
deposit can be retained by the landlord in very specific instances such as rent arrears, damage beyond normal wear and tear or outstanding utility bills. The Threshold Annual Report for 2011 shows that some landlords are withholding deposits in a way which is totally inconsistent with the law. Tenants are at risk of becoming homeless when a landlord unfairly withholds their deposit. In 2010, Threshold dealt with 3,224 deposit queries. In 79% of these cases, they were successful in ensuring a full or partial refund of the deposit for the tenant. Many of these cases have to be referred back to the PRTB and some reach the courts. This has been a time consuming process, and a burden for those who need the deposit for a new home. Last week, I sought leave to introduce a bill which, if passed by the Dail and Seanad, will bring in a deposit retention scheme for those renting in the private rented sector. The bill, if passed, will allow for rental deposits to be held by an independent third party. This bill will now be debated in Dail private members’ time within the next few months. I hope the Government will accept the bill as a review of potential deposit retention schemes is already underway within the Department of the Environment. This bill (if passed) would ensure that deposits are returned promptly, unless a landlord has valid claims for damage, withheld rent or unpaid bills. There are examples of such models in Britain and Australia. According to Threshold,
these schemes have greatly reduced the number of times tenants unfairly lose their deposits. The deposits can be managed by the National Treasury Management Agency. Any surplus or interest generated could be used to regulate and improve standards in the private rented sector. A recent PrimeTime programme (May 10) estimated that in 2010 local authorities only inspected 7% of private rented dwellings.
This is unacceptable. There is widespread recognition that a deposit retention scheme makes sense. In November of last year, the then Minister for Housing Willie Penrose said: “I have asked the PRTB to research potential schemes and to provide me with a sound evidential base on which I can make a decision in this regard and I intend to make recommendations to Government on this topic in 2012. A deposit retention
scheme was also included in the Labour Party manifesto for the 2011 General Election. I am very hopeful that the Dail and Seanad will accept the proposal and a deposit retention scheme will be established. It would be a first step in tilting the balance of fairness back in favour of tenants.
Patrick Nulty TD Labour Party TD for Dublin West and Swords
Patrick Nulty TD (Lab): “No statistic can describe the pain of those experiencing life without a home.”
16 GAZETTE 31 May 2012
GazetteSTYLE STYLE Facts about treating angina ALMOST 1-in-25 Irish adults have had an angina or heart attack, according to a recent report. Angina is a message from your heart telling you that it is suffering from a lack of blood-carrying oxygen. There is an important balance between the amount of blood your heart muscle demands and the ability of the coronary arteries to supply that blood. The heart demands are increased by infections, and high blood pressure. The blood supply is reduced by narrowed arteries, or a low blood count. Correcting this balanced is achieved through lifestyle changes and use of anti-anginal drugs. The other important aspect of treating angina is to prevent the disease in the arteries getting worse through modifying risk factors, such as cholesterol, blood pressure, smoking, weight and inactivity. Speak to your GP or pharmacist for information about angina and its risk factors. With thanks to the staff at Lucan Village Pharmacy
Edited by Laura Webb
Getting fit is a ‘Sure’ thing at Zumba class T claims to be “unapologetically strong” offering women “maximum protection”, so when Gazette Style got the chance to trial out Sure’s new deodorant, we were ready to put it to the test. What better way to spend a Saturday afternoon than getting in a little gentle exercise, or so we thought. The Zumba class, organised by Sure for Women, turned out to be an energetic hour that definitely tests endurance and sweat glands. The instructor putting us through our paces was Zumba guru, Larissa Atkinson. Before starting, the group of about 20 women (and a few men) lathered the cream-like deodorant under arms before testing it during the class. Starting off, it seemed like a walk in the park, a bit of Latin dancing moves here and there. Then, as if someone had changed the record to fast forward, the moves
I
got faster and a bit more intense and it was then we knew we were in for a good workout. After each song, we were given a short water break, but that didn’t last long and we were back into the swing of it before we could say agua. Zumba offers a really good cardio workout, but at the same time, it is a lot of fun. After a good hour of jumping, salsa, bellydancing and squatting it was time to check how Sure’s Maximum Protection deodorant worked out. Lifting arms it was clear to see that this deodorant does exactly what it says on the bottle – it keeps you dry in any situation. Even talking to the instructor, Larissa, she was pleasantly surprised by it and said she would be recommending it to her class participants. Aches and pains throughout the body days after the session showed us that Zumba works well as a workout.
A good hour of jumping, salsa and bellydancing at a Zumba class was no match for Sure Maximum Protection
So, here comes the science, how does the deodorant work? According to Sure, this product is two times stronger than the leading antiperspirant and is designed to keep you protected whatever the situation. Sure Maximum Protection has a TRIsolid formula made
up of three components. Firstly, it has extra strength dryness protection. While you sleep it forms a level of protection, giving you unbeatable wetness protection for the day ahead. The second component is its patented fragrance technology containing
odour-protecting microcapsules. The microcapsules dissolve when you sweat, so you keep smelling fresh throughout the day and, thirdly, it has skin conditioning ingredients that help to protect the skin from irritation. Use Sure Maximum
Protection in Confidence for an extra boost in a stressful situation. For delicate skin, try Sensitive to keep dry without compromising the skin and for an everyday clean feeling use the classic Clean Fresh Scent. The RRP for Sure Maximum Protection is €6.87
‘Unleash your upper East Side girl’ this summer at Forever 21
Beige skirt, ¤19.90
Light pink dress, ¤28.90
Turquoise jeans, ¤21.90
THIS summer, why not become a lady what lunches and use stylish restaurants and bistros as your very own catwalk with a little help from clothing giant Forever 21. This season Forever 21 is urging Dubliners to “unleash your upper East Side girl” with a fabulous collection of muted pastels and gorgeous neutrals – a must have this spring/summer and great for when out lunching. Key pieces from the collection can transform a wardrobe and create numerous different styles that suit every day of the week, or even help transition from day to night wear.
This collection has delicate lace and textured knits that pair with fitted skirts or fab block colour skinnies – great for those dull days that see bursts of sun come through making you unsure about what to wear. Don’t be too quick to put the cardi at the back of the wardrobe, as they are good to keep at arm’s length, just in case the weather takes a turn for the worst. What’s even better about this collection, is that not only is it right on trend in terms of colour and style, it has very affordable price tags that won’t see you dipping in to your holiday savings. Looking through
some of the items, there is a chic cami for just €12.90 and a stunning dress that would make even Sienna Miller green with envy, as it is priced at a very affordable €28.90. The collection also has a number of different delicate blouses with a Peter Pan collar, which sits well on most necklines. Block colours, another must have, can be brought to life with some great skinnies at €21.90. Cozy cardigans and jumpers are also available at prices that make it hard to leave them sitting on the rails. Forever 21 is located in Jervis Street shopping centre.
31 May 2012 GAZETTE 17
GazetteMUSIC MUSIC
Edited by Rob Heigh
FastTunes with Radio Nova’s Dee Woods REMEMBER when you were in the awkward adolescent phase of hating everyone who was good to you (i.e. your parents) while spending your days vying for the attention of people who didn’t like you at all (i.e. the cool gang in school)? A rite of passage for many an agsty-teenager I thought, so since when did rock cleanse away the embarrassing-dad sydrome experienced by most of us during our younger days? Steven Tyler has spent the past season of American Idol making eyes and inappropriate comments at many female auditionees; Tom Jones has been deemed “down with the kids” enough to be given a judge’s seat on The Voice UK, while Rod Stewart will no doubt have to be introduced to Gary Barlow and Tulisa Contostavlos when he sits in as temporary judge for the next season of The X Factor. I’m in two minds whether to shout “over the hill!” or “still got it” at my TV screen.
The Walls and, inset, Jape, two of the acts who will be taking to the stage at Leopardstown Live this summer
FESTIVAL: A DAY AT THE RACES WITH ADDED ROCK
Leaping live at Leopardstown I ELLEN COONEY
M U S IC l ove r s w i l l have the chance to be up close and personal with Dublin talent this summer when Live At Leopardstown launches for a series of concerts that run from June 8 to August 16. There will be nine gigs spaced out over nine evenings, and Live at Leopardstown has managed to pack ten of Dublin’s brightest bands into their programme to play alongside other Irish greats. As if this ratio wasn’t impressive enough, eight out of the nine nights have a Dublin-based headliner. T he only night missing a Metropolitan monster of rock is the last night when a true national treasure, the Saw Doctors will take to the stage. Not only is the line-
up completely homegrown, but it’s prestigious to boot. Bipolar Empire will headline first on June 8, followed over the proceeding weeks with sets from The Original Rudeboys, The Walls, Kila, Jape, Royseven, The Minutes and Ryan Sheridan. These Dublin acts have shared the stage with some of the world’s greatest legends of rock, including U2, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Faithless and The Flaming Lips, and have performed at festivals such as Oxegen, Glastonbury and Electric Picnic. This is a lineup which is as eclectic as it is impressive, and will surely cater for the tastes of anyone wishing to attend. From Jape’s electronic rock to Ryan Sheridan’s acoustic sounds, there’s definitely something for
everyone. The support acts are also sure to draw in a crowd, with Cavan’s The Would Be’s stirring up some nostalgia and Cork’s Dead School throwing some post punk into the mix.
Horsing around Leopardstown will also be hosting its horse races alongside these music events, making sure that everyone is in for a fun-filled evening, combining the atmosphere of a boutique music festival with the thrill of a night at the races. In what is a somewhat precipitous move, the racecourse has decided to hold each of the live gigs in a weatherproofed Big Top, ensuring that the attendees can be certain of a warm and more importantly dry evening of entertain-
ment with the possibility of a true Irish summer always on the horizon. Ciaran Conroy, commercial manager of Leopardstow n said: “Now in its fourth year, we’re proud that Live at Leopardstown has enabled many people to experience racing for the first time. “We are delighted to enhance the customer experience by hosting all our concerts under canvas in the Leopardstown Big Top. “ F o r 2 01 2 , we ’ ve added top-class support acts to further enhance the music element of the festival.” Racing will go to post between 5.30pm and 6.00pm and finishes up in time for the live music to commence between 8.30pm and 9.00pm. To find out more, go online to www.liveatleopardstown.com.
18 GAZETTE 31 May 2012
GazettePETS PETS
Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA
THE FACTS: A NUMBER OF GARDEN HAZARDS COULD PUT YOUR ANIMAL AT RISK
Keep your pet safe for summer UMMER has arrived at last and, as usual, our thoughts turn to the garden. However, this is also a time when the pet parent in me switches to “cautious” mode as I make a quick inventory of all the possible summer garden hazards that could place my doggies at risk. And no, I don’t mean weeds, I mean the following: And do bear in mind, these are only guidelines, I don’t have the full list, nor am I able to give information regarding the lethal dosage so if you are concerned, contact your vet.
S
Fertilizer T he fer tilizer that feeds your plants could
be the very thing that upsets your dog, especially if it contains ammonium nitrate which is toxic to animals.
Common plants Rhododendron and azalea, daffodil, hyacinth, tulip, hydrangea and foxglove to name but a few. Insecticides Insecticide baits, sprays, granules and herbicides are great for your garden but are not friendly to your dog, especially if they include ingredients like snail bait with metaldehyde and fly bait with methomyl. A tip! Don’t wear gardening shoes in the house; (those who
From garden tools to fertilizers, your garden could feature a number of threats for doggies
live chez moi already know the dangers of wearing muddy shoes in the house), they bring extra pesticides and dirt indoors, further exposing my pets when they lick their paws.
Coco mulch Ver y popular with the landscape gardener, but, as it’s a by-product
of chocolate it attracts dogs with its sweet aroma. Depending on the amount ingested, this can cause a variety of symptoms ranging from vomiting, diarrhoea, hyperactivity and even seizures. Consider using shredded pine or cedar instead?
Compost As an eco friendly kinda gal I understand the whole Mother Earth thing and composting is definitely the right way to go, but as an animal lover, I have to say, you’re posing a huge risk to your pets if you don’t do it properly and responsibly. We see a lot of incidents where dogs are being poisoned due to what is often referred to as “garbage gut”. Yo u s e e , t h e f e rmentation of certain items such as meat and dairy products means they produce clostridial toxins; these toxins languish in compost heaps, get raided by nosy canines who may then experience severe
symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea, resulting in you having to rush them to the family vet for urgent attention.
Tools of the Trade Keep an eye on rakes, hoes and trowels etc, they can prove dangerous to your pet’s nose, paws and other parts of his body, especially if they puncture his skin. If the tools are rusty or mucky, there is a danger of your dog getting tetanus. Make sure your dog’s vaccinations are up to date and lock your gardening tools in the shed. Allergies Yep, pets have allergies just like you and
me and, if the reaction is severe it can cause anaphylactic shock. If you’re concerned or suspect your pet suffers from an allergy, have your vet give him the once over and he/she will best advise regarding medications and course of action to take. P l e a s e r e m e m b e r, the above information is only a guideline and is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional veterinary advice. If you are concerned about your pet, contact your family vet. For more information, log onto w w w. dspca.ie or contact your vet or email me at miriam.kerins@dspca.ie
31 May 2012 GAZETTE 19
GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS Taking account of real concerns
Supported by AIB
Interview: Kevin Kelly from TaxAssist Accountants in Dun Laoghaire
A NEW walk-in tax and accountancy advice service, TaxAssist Accountants, servicing small businesses and the self employed in the Dun Laoghaire area opened last year. The new business was launched by Kevin Kelly, an accountant with over 10 years’ experience. Having worked in various accounting roles throughout his career, Kevin decided to fulfil his ambition of opening his own business. The new practice aims to simplify the accounts and tax process and offer real value to clients. Clients can avail of a range of services such as tax returns, payroll, endof-year accounts and book-keeping all on a fixed fee basis. TaxAssist Accountants operates from a bright, open shop front on Patrick Street. The idea of the shop front is that clients can simply call in off the street to discuss their accountancy and tax matters without an appointment. Kevin said: “Traditionally, the accountants office is hidden away upstairs. I wanted to take away any of the formalities and make a trip to the accountants a more comfortable experience.” “Clients want a good, proactive service from their accountant without the expensive hourly rates that usually brings. We offer a free one hour consultation, and we always work on a fixed fee basis so there are no hidden fees and no shocks,” he concluded.
SAFETY OF DEPOSIT TAKER Q – I have €90,000 to invest and see that KBC Bank are doing an awful lot of advertising lately. How safe are they? Mark – Mount Merrion
Kevin Kelly of TaxAssist Accountants: “I want to make a trip to the accountants a more comfortable experience”
Q: What sport do you follow? A: I follow hurling, football
Q: What was your last Tweet/status update? A: Few comments on a re-
Q: What was your worst holiday experience? A: Ring of Kerry when we
Q: What was your first job? A: Helping out in my fa-
and basketball.
cent networking event.
Q: What is your guilty music/TV or movie pleasure? A: Bad action movies.
Q: Describe your dream meal? A: Starter: Smoked Salmon.
were young – it rained and we all got food poisoning. Been back a few times since and it was very enjoyable.
Q: Who best represents modern Ireland – David Norris or Jedward? A: Jedward – double person-
Main (depends): Chicken rogan josh or steak and chips or penne arrabiata. Dessert: Chocolate and coffee.
Q: Describe your dream holiday? A: Family holiday by the sea
Q: Who would you rather have dinner with – Enda Kenny or Dame Edna? A: Enda Kenny.
Q: What would be your dream job? A: As the bass player in a
York for a summer during college.
Q: When did you start your present job? A: In January 2011. Q: What is the best thing about your job? A: I enjoy helping and advising a mix of businesses and individuals.
Q: What part of your working day do you “delegate”? A: Filing.
A – The easy answer to this is simply write to AIB and ask them to cancel the PPI element of your monthly payment. PPI gave some people peace of mind should they fall sick, have an accident or be made redundant. Your payments were paid up to 12 months until you recovered on any of the three fronts. Unfortunately, you will not be able to claim a refund, as you enjoyed the protection insurance during this period (a little like asking for refunds on life cover while you were covered all along). However, it was also massively missold because certain categories were unable to claim and should have been told at the outset by the sellers. Those NOT covered included:
If you are in any of these categories, email me for further details.
Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be? A: A Limerick hurler.
Q: And your first pay cheque? A: As a doorman in New
Q – I have had PPI on my AIB Visa card for years. How do I get rid of it and am I entitled to any refund of premiums ? Carmel – Blanchardstown
• Aged under 18, or over 65 years of age • Working less than 16 hours a week • Self-employed or unemployed • Have existing medical conditions • On contract or temporary work
Q&A
ther’s accountancy practice.
PAYMENT PROTECTION INSURANCE
ality with a short attention span and annoyingly entertaining.
Q: What music/pictures/ movies do you have on your iPod/iPad? A: Alternative and electronic music, wedding photos, comedy films.
Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook? A: Local businesses, music, sport and current affairs.
Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously? A: On holidays. Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own? A: Five pairs of shoes and five pairs of trainers.
and close to a town, with lots of good food.
well-respected and not too famous band.
Q: What do you plan to do when you retire? A: More family time, gigs, sporting events and travel.
A – As it happens, KBC Bank currently have the best interest rates both in the demand (fully accessible day to day – 3.25%) and 12-month fixed (4.15%) categories. They also bask in the comfort of the Deposit Protection Scheme guaranteeing up to €100,000 per person (underwritten ultimately by the Irish taxpayer) like all the Irish deposit takers in Ireland. The bigger picture is also reassuring, in that they have been in Ireland over 35 years with centres in Dublin, Cork, Belfast, Limerick, Cork and Galway, employing over 450 people. They are part of the Belgian KBC Group – KBC Bank NV based in Brussels and enjoy an A rating. So, with €90,000, you are safe as houses as the saying goes to deposit with them. You could go to any of their formally appointed agents and transact through them at no cost to you. Email me for details. Contact John with your money questions at
jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor
LOCALMATTERS SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS
ADVERTISE WITH THE GAZETTE CALL 60 10 240
20 GAZETTE 31 May 2012
GazettePROPERTY PROPERTY New design is a Knott classic IRELAND’S best known interior designer, Neville Knott, travelled to Rathfarnham for next week’s edition of Neville’s Doorstep Challenge on TV3, and the show sees him pay a visit to homeowner Mary in her apartment in Rathfarnham as she’s desperate to stop her home looking like a characterless rental. Talking about his design, Neville said: “Mary wanted a space she would be proud to have photos taken in on the day of her wedding. I created a strong focal point in the room by painting thick stripes in mink and soft grey which gave the room great width and a definite personality which it lacked before.” As well as being a famous face on TV, Neville is also colour consultant to Crown Paints and head of interior design at the Dublin Institute of Technology. Neville’s Door Step Challenge, in association with Crown Paints and Woodies DIY is on TV3 on Tuesdays at 7.30pm. To find out how Neville achieved the look, see www.facebook.com/crownpaints.
A beautiful extension might increase the value of your property, but understanding the costs of renovation is important, too
EXTENSIONS: TAKING INTO ACCOUNT ALL OF THE POSSIBLE COSTS
Understanding the costs of renovation When you are planning on extending your home, one question will occupy you more than any other: How much will the extension cost? There are a variety of answers, depending on the set of variables that makes up your building project. Each project is unique and each will have its own set of costs. When planning your project it’s very helpful to have an understanding of the items and factors that can affect costings. In this article we’ll cover the more common items, so when you look at a set of plans, you will be more knowledgeable about how costings are drawn up.
Your Site Access No matter what type of build you are planning, there will be some digging involved. The
access to the site can have a cost impact in a very simple way. If the build is happening at the rear of your house, can a digger gain access? Foundations can be excavated very quickly and efficiently with a digger. If there is no vehicular rear access, there may be no choice but for the foundations to be dug the old fashioned way, by hand, which will be more expensive in terms of time and money. Soil conditions: If there a massive depth of soil beneath your house, your builder may need to double to ensure solid foundations.
Drainage and pipes If there is a large manhole in your garden this is more than likely an access point to the community sewerage scheme which your local authority need to
have access to on a permanent basis. Perhaps the shape of the foundations will have to be altered or adjusted to take the manhole into account. Design changes above standard layouts will be more costly.
The new structure A standard, off the shelf design is more cost effective to build then a complex, once off, unique, project. All that aside, this is your home you are dealing with so as long as you are aware that complexity equals additional expense, you are going into the project with your eyes open. Materials, finishes You would be amazed at the impact seemingly insignificant decisions can have on the bottom line cost of a building project. Bear items on
this list in mind when you are putting your budget together. Insulation - standard or future proof? It may be cheaper up front to just go for a standard insulation, but more high quality products may have a future saving in terms of running costs of the finished property. Inside finishes – kitchen/tiles/layout/electrical points/plumbing/ electrical points. More than likely you will be buying a new kitchen as part of your build. The quality and costs of kitchen units can vary widely, so shop around before you buy. If you put your new kitchen in the same position as your old kitchen there will be a lower building cost as pipes/electrics may not
have to be moved. If you swap your kitchen and your dining room around, there will be a big cost in new pipework. Do you really need those marble tiles in the hall? And what about those brushed chrome light switches, gorgeous to look at, but standard white plastic one do the exact same job at a much lower cost. Hopefully after reading this article, you will have a better idea of the costs involved in building your dream home and when you go to put your project out to tender, you will be able to digest the different quotes with a bit more understanding. To get in touch with HSLC, find them online at www.hslc.ie or call Gerhard on 087 774 9470 or info@hslc.ie
31 May 2012 GAZETTE 21
GazetteMOTORS MOTORS
Edited by Cormac Curtis
RoadSigns Road Signs NEW FOCUS LIMITED EDITION:
All in all, the new Mercedes B-Class is a seriously attractive car
Taking it to a new level CORMAC CURTIS
MERCEDES Benz have not been sitting on their laurels in recent times. Even a cursory glance at the striking and imaginative marketing and advertising campaigns they have been rolling out will tell you that the German brand have their sights firmly on younger drivers. This is new territory for the marque, who have more traditionally appealed to an older, more executive level of driver. But this new direction shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise. It was as far back as 2005 when the company first broke ranks by introducing the family-friendly B-Class. What is both encouraging and reassuring is that, despite all the attention and resources being devoted to some new models in the line-up, cars such as the B-Class are being revamped and improved to a staggering extent. For 2012, not only has
SPECS: MERCEDES BENZ B-CLASS Top speed: 0 – 100km/hr: 10.9 secs Economy: 4.4 – 4.6 l/100km Combined CO2 emissions: 114 – 121 g/km Entry Price: €29,330
the B-Class been given an incredibly sexy new look, it brings the compact class to an entirely new level as it is the first model change in the company’s history to have so many new features introduced at one time. It also comes on the market with an entry-level price that Mercedes-Benz says is 11% lower than the model it replaces. Putting the new features and sticker price to one side, when it comes to a car like the B-Class, to put it through its paces requires a few passengers, as well as some distance to travel. So, the timing of the B-Class road test couldn’t have been better – the May Bank Holiday week-
end was coming up, so, I made preparations to take the family south to West Cork for a few days. En route, we had to stop for a night in Kinsale, the Kinsale Rugby Sevens event was on, so we had to swing by to soak up some of the atmosphere. Kinsale may have a reputation for excellent seafood, but what they don’t tell you in the tourist brochure is that the town is like a maze, with some exceptionally narrow little alleys to navigate. After taking one wrong turn on the way to our rented holiday home, I was seriously impressed with the tight turning circle of the B-Class – one hard lock of the steering wheel and we pulled off a perfect U-turn. That’s skipping ahead a little – let’s get back to the start. Mercedes have managed to fit an enormous amount of space in to the B-Class. They tell us that the seats are more upright and set lower to the road, resulting in improved headroom. Rear-seat passengers
have bundles of space, and there is serious load capacity in the boot, 486-1,545 litres in fact. There is even an optional feature that allows the rear seats to be adjusted forwards/ backwards to facilitate bulkier items. All this passenger and storage space has not translated into a bulky, gas-guzzling machine – far from it. Outstanding aerodynamics help to deliver low fuel consumption and reduced CO2 emissions, while a standard item on all B-Class models is an ECO start/stop function. I have to admit, I wasn’t a huge fan of this particular start/stop system, but it’s one of those features that you do get used to, and it does make life easier on the wallet! The car comes with a number of engine options, in Ireland, the model likely to account for the bulk of sales is the 109bhp entry level B180 CDI, which comes on the market at €29,330, with annual road tax of €160. A second diesel is
a 2.0-litre/136bhp unit, the price of which will be announced later. In petrol form, the first version to go on sale is the 122bhp B180BlueEFFICIENCY selling at €29,890 with annual road tax of €225. A 2.0-litre/156bhp BlueEFFICIENCY version will be added to the range at a later date. There is a completely new six-speed manual transmission, boasting easy gear change and low shift forces, although my biggest gripe with this car is the reverse gear – I just couldn’t get used to the unusual position, the upper left, as well as the push/pull mechanism to get the gear lever through the gate. Most of the time, the only occasion for a reviewer to see emergency stopping features in effect is at demonstrations laid on by the manufacturer, but in this case I got a taste of just how good the Mercedes safety kit is. While driving through North Strand in heavy traffic, my attention was not what it should have
been, and I was driving a little quickly towards a stopped car. The new radar-based collision prevention warning system kicked in and an alarm sounded. Thankfully, I braked in time and avoided any kind of contact – much to the relief of Mercedes I’m sure. Other safety features on board the new B-Class include items imported from larger MercedesBenz such as adaptive headlamp, blind spot, lane keeping and speed limit assist systems along with parking assist, hill hold brake function, reversing camera and distance control. All in all, this is a seriously attractive car. The interior is pure Mercedes, with some nice, subtle nods to a more modern look and feel. The quality is everything you would expect, and the performance, safety, and economy have all taken large steps forward, and all for a seriously competitive price. This is a car that will fit the bill for any family on the move.
THE Ford Focus, has seen its range extended with the announcement of a new Focus Limited Edition Series. The new models are badged as Focus Zetec S and Titanium X. The Zetec S combines a strong visual appeal with a sporty image and relies on Ford’s fuel efficient 1.6-TDCi diesel engine with the option of 95PS or 115PS outputs (5-door only). The Titanium X is available in 4- and 5-door models and is powered by the same 1.6-TDCi diesel engine. The spec includes the following features: 17” titanium alloys; deflation detection system; active park assist; visibility pack; Bluetooth Voice Control and USB connectivity; and full size spare wheel. Prices start at €24,927 ex–works.
22 GAZETTE 31 May 2012
GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel Joe Walsh tours is offering escorted tours to explore Italy and Portugal in style THE days of the sun lounger may be numbered as Irish tourists search for alternative ways to see Europe. Ireland’s longest running tour operator, Joe Walsh Tours, currently has four fabulous escorted tours on offer for those wanting a different kind of holiday this summer. These group tours will allow you to explore the culture and history of Italy or the beauty and heritage of Portugal. Whether you want to soak up the sun while relaxing on the Lisbon Coast, exploring the winding streets of Venice, taking an evening stroll to the Trevi fountain or simply discovering the beauty of Rome, Joe Walsh tours will let you do it in comfort. You will travel on a luxury coach to each of your destinations, and spend each night in a four-star hotel. Each tour differs from the others, and covers a vast amount of sightseeing, relaxation and fun, ensuring that there is something for everyone. Each tour is accompanied by an experienced Joe Walsh Tours representative, so you can be certain you will see the most wonderful regions of each country, and the gems of each city. All four tours are seven nights in length and range in price from €774 to €975. Each tour is an all-inclusive package and includes your return flights (including taxes and charges), airport transfers, hotel accommodation, tours and excursions on a luxury coach and the assistance of a Joe Walsh representative. As the longest established tour operator in Ireland, with over 50 years’ experience, Joe Walsh Tours will make sure that your holiday is definitely one to remember. For further information on these tours or to book, visit www.joewalshtours.ie, call 012410800 or email info@joewalshtours.ies
Edited by Mimi Murray
PORT OF CALL: LET AMERICAN HOLIDAYS SHOW YOU THE SITES
Getting the best from the US SUMMER can be a busy time for some people, making it difficult to avail of standard package holidays. American Holidays are now offering beautiful autumn cruises throughout the months of October and November. There are three different cruises to choose from, covering six of the United State’s most popular and influential cities, and also providing a number of nights to sail the seas in luxury. The cruises range in price from €1,695pp to €1,829pp. The first of these trips begins in Orlando, Florida, where you will stay for five nights in The Rosen Inn, just a stone’s throw away from all of Orlando’s attractions.
Enjoy some southern hospitality in Nashville, Tennessee
Next on the agenda is four nights aboard Royal Caribbean’s Monarch of the Seas. On your fifth day aboard, you will dock in Nashville, Tennessee to enjoy some southern hospitality and comfort food at the Doubletree Hotel.
If you’re looking for a taste of politics, culture art and music, why not choose a trip which starts with a luxury hotel stay in Washington DC and includes a cruise covering New England and Canada.
Your trip will be rounded off with eight nights aboard Royal Caribbean’s Enchantment of the Seas, where you will have the chance to visit five different ports of call including Portland, Maine and Halifax, Nova Scotia.
For a little glamour with your sun, why not try the Eastern Caribbean cruise. Starting at the Miami Beach Resort and Spa Hotel, you will relax in the tropical surroundings complete with a semi-private beach. After resting up, you will spend seven nights aboard the Norwegian Cruise line ship, Norwegian Epic, before arriving in Las Vegas for four nights. Here you can take in the sights, avail of the attractions on the Las Vegas Strip. For more information or to make a booking, call American Holidays on 01 6733800, or call into 18-19 Duke Street, Dublin 2 to speak with their expert staff.
CITY BREAK: POLISH CITY HAS BECOME A HUB OF ACTIVITY
Poznan preparing for a world of fans I ELLEN COONEY
HE city on everyone’s lips this summer is Poznan, host to UEFA EURO 2012. Previously, a relatively unknown city among the Irish, Poznan has been busy in preparation to offer our fans a spectacular welcome. Despite being one of the oldest cities in Poland, Poznan is home to some incredible and modern architecture. Its new railway station with its smooth curves, glass walls and geometric garden areas is the perfect welcome to this ever developing city. These sleek developments offer a perfect contrast to the city’s picturesque recreation areas which include four lakes, 40 parks and 100 green areas.
T
There is no shortage of entertainment in the city which thrives on the energy of the new European countries while meeting with the culture of Western civilisation. For beer lovers there are beer tasting events and free tours of the Lech brewery, and Poznan has one of the largest numbers of pubs in Poland. There is also a variety of shopping options and an all-year-round ski slope for those seeking something a little different. This bustling city has recently become a big player in the world of sporting events. The stadium which will hold this year’s UEFA EURO 2012 was finished in September 2010 and has since hosted four Europa League matches and the Red Bull X Fighters. The
Poznan is host to UEFA EURO 2012
city is also a popular destination for canoe teams and the Lake of Malta has been deemed one of the finest rowing venues in the world. Especially for UEFA EURO 2012 the city will designate a specialised FanZone, which will
hold around 30,000 and will be a hive of activity for fans during the final tournament. There will be events every day from June 8 until July 1, including live music acts. There are also two Fan Camps planned in Poznan with 10,000
places. Attendants can rent student dormitories, flats and houses. With thousands of fans destined for this stunning city in the coming months, Poznan will surely become a popular destination for global travellers in the future.
31 May 2012 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 23
24 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 31 May 2012
GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT
GoingOUT THE PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929 Travesties
FOLLOWING the hugely successful and popular Plaza Suite, Rough Magic are back at the Pavilion Theatre with the delicious comedy Travesties by Tom Stoppard. Best-known as the author of the Oscar-winning film Shakespeare in Love and the plays Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Arcadia, Stoppard is at his best in this absurdly funny masterpiece featuring James Joyce, Vladimir Lenin and Dadaist Tristan Tzara. Running from June 7 to 23, tickets are priced from €18 to €25.
MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 Bloomsday Celebration THE Mill Theatre and Roly Saul’s present a special Bloomsday Celebration Brunch to mark the 90th anniversary of the publication of Ulysses. Join the team in Roly Saul’s restaurant for a buffet brunch with fare inspired by Leopold Bloom’s breakfast, including a glass of burgundy! Brunch will be accompanied by theatrical readings from Ulysses and music and song from the Joyce era. The celebration takes place on Saturday, June 16 from 11.30am. Tickets are priced at €15.
CIVIC THEATRE 01 462 7477 Ardal O’Hanlon AWARD winning comedian, actor, writer - and star of Father Ted (C4), My Hero (BBC 1), Val Falvey (RTE) and Leagues Apart (RTE), Ardal O’Hanlon brings his unique brand of stand up comedy back to Ireland. A highly acclaimed stand up, Ardal has toured to sell out audiences internationally and has released two Top 10 stand up DVDs. He continues to be one of the most sought after comedians working with regular sell out solo tours in the UK, USA and Australia. Catch him on June 6 at 8pm, tickets are €20.
DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Niamh Kavanagh and her band NIAMH’S back with her brilliant blend of rock, soul, r&b, Eurovision hits, tracks from her successful albums and her own favourites with that amazing voice Commitments’ director Alan Parker ‘‘had to have’’. Described as the ‘‘Rolls Royce’’ of Irish singers, Niamh Kavanagh represented Ireland at the Eurovision twice, collecting maximum points from the Irish vote, and is the voice behind three of the biggest hits from the Commitments ever. Catch her on June 30 with tickets €20/€16.
There are fights in apartment rooms, in the corridors, through the floors, out the windows... Basically there are a lot of fights.
Films still fighting fit A Welsh man has made the newest non stop, adrenalin pumping, action classic... In Indonesia. Are you sure? I NIALL BERMINGHAM
THE BRAINCHILD of Welsh writer/director, Gareth Evans, and a completely Indonesian cast and crew, The Raid is without doubt one of the best action films to come along since the heyday of action. Garnering huge interest for itself with tremendously successful festival showings (winning both the Dublin Film Critics Circle Best Film and Audience Award at the Jameson Dublin International Film Festival), it lives up to the hype and some. The film has been made to showcase the traditional Indonesian martial art Pencak Silat, which lends itself very well to film. It is a hard hitting, high kicking, and bone crunching style of martial arts that has no qualms about integrating weapons when the need is there.
FILM OF THE WEEK: The Raid ##### (18) 101 mins Director: Gareth Evans Starring: Iko Uwais, Donny Alamsyah, Joe Taslim, Ray Sahetapy, Yayan Ruhian, Tegar Satrya
OUR VERDICT:
Better than any recent action film produced in Hollywood, or anywhere for that matter, The Raid will tick all the boxes for action fans of any age. The eastern insanity works brilliantly with director Evans’ western sensibilities. It’s probably not one for an evening of romance, but for a straight up, balls-to-the-wall action experience, this is as good as it gets.
Perhaps not for the faint of heart, The Raid does not shy away from visceral action; however that is not the only thing on show. Scenes of extreme tension and genuine comedy are also offered up by Evans. T he stor y follows a SWAT team as they try to overthrow drug lord, Tama Riyadi (Ray Sahetapy) from within his base of operations in a multi-storey apartment block in the centre of the Jakarta slums. The team has everything you’d expect, new guys, tough guys, old guys, and a level headed
and well respected leader. They all have their place in the film and each one fits fabulously. The lead is played by Iko Uwais (who along with Yayan Ruhlan mapped out all the action), a new member to the SWAT team, who has personal reasons for entering the apartment block. As the team work their way up floor by floor, not everything goes to plan (if it had, it wouldn’t have been much of a film) and soon all hell breaks loose. The team are left fighting for their lives with their weapons
and soon their fists and then just about whatever they can find (the most novel being a fridge). Meanwhile we see drug lord Tama as he reacts to the police invasion and seeing as he is a paranoid mob boss his decisions are not the most rational. He calls on wave after wave of his henchmen to attack the quickly diminishing SWAT force. When he finds that there are still some police left he unleashes his two right hand men to personally take care of it. Here, we are introduced to the two most interesting characters of the film. Andi (Donny Alamsyah) and “Mad Dog” (Yayan Ruhlan) have two different roles in the movie. “Mad Dog” is the main antagonist, engaging in prolonged fight scenes with some of the remaining SWAT team, whereas Andi operates from the shadows,
scheming and brooding. With tremendous variety separating all the set pieces, you will spend all evening recounting your favourite punch, or the kick that made you grimace the most. My favourite scene involved a fire escape and a three storey fall. It all culminates for a fantastic ending leaving you wanting more and, thankfully, Evans has something up his sleeve to offer. Plans to turn this film into a trilogy began as early as script development so of course there is a wide open ending, and as this is an Asian film that has performed well internationally, there are talks of an American remake. Now af ter all the gushing I’ll just say that if you like action, you’ll love this, and if not, then there’s always the new American Pie...
31 May 2012 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 25
GazetteGAMING GAMING Bytesandpieces Arise, Sir iconic Apple designer ...
Clementine’s parents are missing now that zombies have overrun America, and possibly the world – but, luckily, she can rely on Lee to look out for her, when they cross paths in the surprisingly strong character-driven first chapter of the cross-platform title, The Walking Dead
Dead entertaining SHANE DILLON
I’M NOT quite sure why, but the zombie genre has risen again in popular media, and is shuffling forward once more, relentlessly making tracks into popular culture. While the world and his dog awaits the Brad Pittstarring World War Z at cinemas at the end of the year, the small screen has been well served with the surprise hit, The Walking Dead, based on the popular, long-running graphic novels of the same name. In a canny move, and in a pretty shrewd marrying of adventure gaming with
survival horror, developer Telltale Games rolled out its version of The Walking Dead recently which, for some – and apologies here – will be dead entertaining, while other gamers may not see it as a very lively title. Telltale has made a name for itself with its adventure titles, which range from decent hits to dreadful misses, as with any other developer out there. However, The Walking Dead – and the major intellectual property that the title represents, these days – gave the developer the chance to step
away from conventional adventure gaming scenarios and puzzles into darker territory. Set in the by now familiar setting of a post-apocalyptic America, courtesy of the long-promised zombie armageddon, in The Walking Dead: A New Day, the player takes control of Lee Everett, a man with a murky past, who starts off in the back of a patrol car, on his way to jail. One unexpected crash later, and Lee comes to – only to find that there are Walkers – zombies – everywhere, and the world’s falling to pieces.
Anotherweebyte... Questions over Facebook’s tumbling shares ... AS EXPECTED, there was enormous interest over the inevitable initial public offering (IPO) of Facebook, which went public very recently with a barely comprehensible value of $104 billion. However, market analysts almost immediately started asking questions about the subsequent tumble in the company’s share values, with negative shifts reported in a short period – three days after floating on Nasdaq, shares were trading at 18% below the $38 offer price, seeing billions (at the time of writing) written down from the company’s value – not what many expected, though, no doubt, shares will bounce back. Also at the time of writing, a number of American lawsuits querying how the company had been valued emerged, focusing on how the company had been valued, and who has acccess to such valuations. Regardless of how such developments pan out, it’s interesting to see such unexpected stories centred around the normally unassailable social media giant ...
From there on, it’s down to the player to steer Lee down a linear route in this, the first downloadable chapter of a series, as he meets other survivors, tries to stay alive, and begins to work out what’s going on. However, as it’s a Telltale game, this means lots of looking around screens/the environment for items to use, collect or activate, with occasional bursts of Quick Time Event (QTE) action breaking up events. After all, checking out the kitchen of a seemingly deserted house – only for a Walker to
suddenly jump out of the shadows – practically demands a QTE event, for Lee to frantically try and escape. Interestingly, while such action set pieces aren’t very common, there’s a lot of character interaction, as Lee meets other survivors and the things he says affect how they treat him. With this divertingly interesting first instalment, which is available on a number of gaming platforms (bar IOS), here’s hoping that Telltale can continue with the quality it’s established in this chapter.
Gaming star treks off to a movie role CONTINUING to name significant people that many readers may not know of, one of Gaming’s most prolific and well-known (yet littleknown to non-gamers) stars, Nolan North, has made another addition to his already colossal CV. While it’s very common for cinema stars to do voiceover work for games, Nolan – “the” voice of gaming, for many, given the staggering range of characters he has voiced – has reversed the trend, and has been given a role on the upcoming blockbuster, Star Trek 2, thanks to his impressive voiceover skills. No doubt the news that he’s joining Kirk and co has left him beaming with happiness ...
WHILE I couldn’t throw an iPad out the window without probably hitting someone who immediately piped up with “Steve Jobs” if I asked him or her who had created it, that’s not strictly true. In fact, British designer Jonathan Ives is the man behind many of Apple’s iconic products’ designs over the past two decades, with the 45-year-old responsible for the 1993 iMac G3’s design, and, from there, other such iconic Apple products as the iPod, iPhone and iPad. While you’d have to search long and hard up and down streets all around the world to find people who’d be able to pull Ives out of a line-up, such general anonymity doesn’t bother the designer, with, perhaps, such design achievements under his belt to comfort him – not to mention a significant amassed fortune from his work, innumerable awards, and such titles as Commander of the British Empire, which he was awarded in 2005. Last week, the latest honour for Ives was being knighted by Princess Anne. (Now) Sir Ives continues to prove that visionary designers are still very much a core component of Apple’s success ...
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26 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 31 May 2012
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Teagasc wish to apply for Planning Permission for the construction of the following:- 1) extension to existing conference facility to contain staff canteen, lecture hall, new entrance, offices, toilets and circulation space; 2) 949.66m² mushroom tunnel building; 3) 692.90m² agricultural storage/workshop building; 4) 2663.37m² glasshouse, 5) 233.17m² combined heat and power building; 6) two 822.82m² polytunnels building; 7) all associated and ancillary siteworks and services and ancillary accommodation. Also retention permission of the following items, 200,000 litre water storage tank, 2.4m high paladin boundary fence, extension to road and footpath network, extension of existing carparking areas coupled with all ancillary site services. All the above works to be undertaken on our site at Teagasc, Ashtown
Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15. 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 the public opening hours of 9.30 - 16.30 Monday - Friday at Fingal County Council, Grove Road, Blanchardstown, Fingal, Dublin 15. A submission or observation in relation to the Application may be made in writing to the Planning Authority on payment of a fee of €20, within the period of 5 weeks, beginning on the date of receipt by Fingal County Council of the Application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to orwithout conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.
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I, Keith Wall Intend to apply for Planning Permission for, single storey extension to side And all associated site works at No 41 Alderwood, Hollystown,Dublin 15. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of Fingal County Council, Grove Road, Blanchardstown Dublin 15 during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of a prescribed fee (20 euro) within a period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.
I Patrick Ryan , intend to apply for planning permission for development at this site, 48 College Grove Castleknock Dublin 15. The development consists of the replacement of existing flat roof on single storey, entrance porch and living room at side with a concrete tiled pitched, lean-to roof. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of Fingal County Council during its public opening hours of 9.30 - 16.30 Monday Friday at Fingal County Council Fingal County Hall Main St., Swords, Fingal, Co. Dublin. (to inspect Planning Applications on all lands except those lands to the west of the N2). Fingal County Council Offices, Grove Rd. Blanchardstown, Fingal Dublin 15 (to inspect Planning Applications on all lands to the west of the N2) A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the Planning Authority on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application
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31 May 2012 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 27
GazetteSPORT
MAY YOU BE CHAMPS: This month’s Sports Awards winners are announced: Page 29
GAELIC GAMES: OPEL ANNOUNCE 2012 INITIATIVE TO HELP LOCAL CLUBS KIT UP
Rushe on points for clubs seeking new equipment sport@gazettegroup.com
ST PAT’S Palmerstown and Dublin senior hurling star Liam Rushe was on hand last week when the Opel Ireland 2012 Kit For Clubs initiative was launched at Croke Park, with all sports fans across the city called upon to support their local GAA clubs. Dublin GAA fans can collect points to earn free sports kit and equipment for their local GAA club
through the initiative. For every car service (10 points), test drive (10 points), or Opel purchase (200 points) made through the Opel Dealer Network, the club you support is awarded points which can be built up and redeemed against highquality kit. GAA clubs can choose from an extensive range of kit which includes everything from sliotars (5 points) to footballs (10 points) and from
goal posts (100 points) to tackle bags (100 points). New to the programme this year is the addition of juvenile club jerseys (800 points) and senior club jerseys (1,000 points), provided by Masita, official supplier of the GAA. The Kit for Clubs initiative is about supporting local Dublin GAA clubs across the county. Liam Ware from Mallow GAA Club, outlines how his club has benefited from the initiative: “Since
Liam Rushe, Colm Cooper and Jackie Tyrrell with Derry and Christian Finlay at the launch of Kit For Clubs
this scheme started, Mallow GAA club have been able to obtain both playing kit and training equipment, otherwise, we probably would not have been able to get this gear due to limited resources.”
Paraic Duffy, the GAA’s director general said: “The advantages of being involved in a scheme such as this are obvious and the provision of training and playing gear is a welcome payback to our members
and clubs who look to Opel for their motoring needs. It is also encouraging to see some of our top players supporting this scheme and lending their profile to help raise awareness about what is
an excellent initiative.” Log onto www.opelkitforclubs.com, on Facebook or visit your local Opel dealer to register your club and start building your GAA club’s points.
28 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 31 May 2012
GazetteSport Sport
Fantastic performances were on display from all the teams
Na Fianna proved just too much to handle
The St Peregrine’s team played valiantly even when it was clear they could not progress
Na Fianna were the favourites to top the group
U-14 Hurling Youth teams show great skill at Feile O
N A cool, overcast, May Saturday morning, all the U-14 hurling teams in Dublin were preparing for Feile day. The teams involved in this particular Feile were Skerries Harps, Clanna Gael, Na Fianna B, Trinity Gaels, and hosts, St Peregrine’s. With the pitch in perfect condition, the matches got under way. To progress to the semi-finals teams would have to win three out of the four games they played. Unfortunately for the hosts, they only managed to win two of their games despite some brilliant play. The players will have lots of time to reflect on what was an excellent experience that will benefit them greatly.
A determined push in the second half by Peregrine’s was not enough to overcome Na Fianna
St Peregrine’s comfortably beat Clanna Gael in their second match
A dominant first half put Na Fianna up 3-2 to St Peregrine’s 1-2
31 May 2012 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 29
ATHLETICS: GREAT DAY OUT ON SANDYMOUNT
2012 DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS MAY WINNERS
STARof theMONTH LEO CULLEN BLACKROCK College man Leo Cullen further enshrined his name in Heineken Cup folklore this month when he led Leinster to a third success in four years in the competition against Ulster. It confirmed the current Blues’ crop as the greatest team in the competition’s history, becoming the first side to go through a season unbeaten.
TEAMof theMONTH ST BRIGID’S U-14S
ST BRIGID’S Under-14 hurlers and footballers celebrated a unique success this month when they claimed their respective Division 1 Feile titles at Parnell Park. Two weeks after the footballers captured their Feile title with a superb win over St Sylvester’s, the hurling side completed the double thanks to a memorable victory over Na Fianna. SUMMERTIME has officially arrived and while that unfamiliar orb hangs in the sky, let’s celebrate the achievements of the stars of Dublin sport for the month of May. Leo Cullen once again proved that he is the epitome of captainhood after he helped steer Leinster through the vagaries of the Heineken Cup unbeaten and unbowed, to claim their third title in the course of four years.
Dublin’s Lord Mayor Andrew Montague starts the race horn at Camara’s Sandymount 10K
Camara race nets €6k sport@gazettegroup.com
LAST Saturday morning saw the sun come out for the many dedicated runners who lined out for Camara’s 10K along the scenic backdrop of Sandymount strand. Dublin’s Lord Mayor, Andrew Montague, sounded the starter’s horn to a high-spirited crowd as everyone soaked up the atmosphere to help raise vital funds for eLearning opportunities in Irish schools.
Camara Education, a charity and social enterprise, works to deliver eLearning opportunities to schools in disadvantaged communities in Ireland, Africa and Jamaica through the reuse of technology. The annual 10K run, now in its third year, was a huge success as over €6,000 was raised on the day for Camara’s I r i s h S c h o o l ’s P r o gramme. T he proceeds will go to supply 55 Irish schools in need of
affordable IT with 1,100 computers and to train 300 school teachers in ICT in 2012. Commencing on the Promenade, Strand Road, the course stretched around Sean Moore Park and the Irishtown Nature Reser ve providing beautiful scenic views o f D u b l i n B ay f o r entrants. Lord Mayor Montague said: “I have been a long-time supporter of Camara. Having worked with them as a volunteer
Captains in Canada: All-Star ladies in Toronto St Brigid’s, in turn, showed the experience of youth in registering a unique double success in claiming the Dublin hurling and footballing Feile titles at Parnell Park, an achievement last recorded in the city by Ballyboden St Enda’s. Let us know about your achievements in sport, so that the Gazette can tell the rest of Dublin. Contact us on 01 601 0240 or sport@gazettegroup.com to tell us all about your successes.
MEETING on an unfamiliar field last weekend were team captains Juliet Murphy, left, of Cork and the 2011 All Stars, and Denise Masterson, of Dublin and the 2010 All Stars, in the company of referee Keith Delahunty. The picture was taken before the game between the 2010 All Stars and 2011 All Stars in Centennial Park, Toronto, Canada, an exhibition game which took place as part of the 2012 TG4/O’Neills Ladies All-Star Tour.
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in Uganda, Zambia and Tanzania, I am aware of the excellent work they do with children in Africa, Jamaica and Ireland to develop computer skills.” The first place prize on the morning went to Hugh Hunt who came in at 36:17. Accepting his first place trophy and medal, he said: “Today has been a fantastic day, great atmosphere and a beautiful course along the Strand on a sunny morning and all for a great cause.”
30 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 31 May 2012
GazetteSport Sport FastSport
SOCCER: CASTLEKNOCK HOST NORTHERN VISITORS
2012 sees hosting of 15th Mini-Leagues On the back of a very successful year for St Brigid’s GAA club’s underage sides, with double victories in the Dublin Under-14 Feile for football and hurling, the club is launching its 2012 mini-leagues, the 15th time that the event has been held at the club. Over 500 boys and girls from ages four to 12 from Castleknock, Blanchardstown and the surrounding areas are expected to take part in this great community event. The mini-leagues take place throughout the week of June 11, finishing off with an all-day family festival on Saturday, June 16, in Russell Park. Karmann Volkswaen’s North Side distributors have kindly sponsored the event. Karmann’s general manager, Thomas Brady said: “We are delighted to continue to be sponsor of this important event in the community. “The St Brigid’s Mini-Leagues is a great festival which encourages children of all ages and their families to participate in GAA activities in the local area.” Noel McLoughlin, co-ordinator of the events for St Brigid’s said: “Karmann’s continued sponsorship of the mini-leagues is very much appreciated in these difficult economic times. “In all, over 2,000 people of the local community will attend the event over the week, between participants, mentors, volunteers, parents and grandparents. “It’s an important milestone in the St Brigid’s GAA calendar and is also a great way for new members to get introduced to the club.” A new on-line sign up facility is now available on the St Brigid’s GAA website at www. stbrigidsgaa.ie Medals and jerseys are awarded to all participants and are presented by some of Dublin’s famous senior players.
Castleknock Celtic hosted three games against Lower Maze FC from Lisburn
Celtic welcome Lower Maze I sport@gazettegroup.com
CASTLEKNOCK Celtic recently played host to Lower Maze FC from Lisburn, Northern Ireland, who were the guests of Castleknock Celtic last weekend when three of their teams played against C e l t i c ’s Un d e r-15 s , Under-14s, and Under13s in the brilliant sunshine at Porterstown. T his follows visits from other Northern clubs in recent years which is part of Castleknock Celtic’s pro gramme of developing cross-border friendships.
Plans are already afoot for Celtic to make a return visit to Lisburn in the near future. D av i d M c M a h o n , Lower Maze’s chairman, was delighted with the hospitality shown to the three teams and their coaches. The results went in favour of the visitors in the matches between the clubs’ respective Under-14 and 15 sides, but Lower Maze lost the Under-13s encounter against John Ronan’s side. All the players then headed off to the Aviva Stadium to see Ireland win against Bosnia in
Saints for Feile: Leah gets award ahead of festival LEAH Pearson from Naomh Oliver Plunkett’s GAA club was presented with her prize by Uachtaran CLG, Liam O’Neill, and President of the Camogie Association, Aileen Lawlor, at the launch of Dublin Feile na nGael last week at Parnell Park. Dublin will be hosting this year’s Feile finals from July 5 to 7, with the finals of the tournament being played at Croke Park. Picture: Barry Cregg / SPORTSFILE
their last game before the Euro 2012 finals begin in a week’s time. It proved to be a memorable day indeed for all the players, and preparations are already afoot for Celtic to travel up to the North in the near future.
Mini World-Cup Castleknock Celtic are holding their annual Mini World-Cup for children born between 1999 to 2004 (ages eight to 13) from June 5 to 9. I t ’s a c o m m u n i t y event and open to all. The finals will take place alongside a family day on Saturday, June 9,
with a barbecue, bouncy castles, and games for all the family. This year, to help support the Boys in Green, the theme is the Euros. T he final date for registering has been extended to Friday, June 1, so if you are
interested in taking part, contact club representatives on 083 411 1721, 086 172 3755 or 087 413 8099. E n t r y f e e i s € 15 , and more information can be found online at www.castleknockceltic. com.
31 May 2012 CASTLEKNOCK GAZETTE 31
CAMOGIE: SOMERTON LADIES CLAIM DIVISION 3 .
CLUB NOTICEBOARD CASTLEKNOCK IF YOU would like to make your dona-
next draw in The Bell on May 31.
tion to the clubhouse appeal, please
The club would like to send its
contact a member of the executive
deepest sympathies to the Bergin
committee.
family on the death of Brid Bergin.
For more information, log onto
The Castleknock GAA Annual Golf
castleknock.net/fundraising or call
Classic will take place in Castle-
Pearse on 086 247 8961.
knock Golf Club on June 22. Team of
Well done to our U-14 camogie team who won the Div 3 Feile on Sunday. Congratulations to Ciaran Kilkenny, who was honoured as 2012 Cadbury Hero of the Future. Well done to U-12 girls who won their league last Sunday.
four costs €400 and tee-boxes can be sponsored for €100. For more info, contact Mick on 086 253 1600. Please keep sending in your match reports and photos. All entries are entered into a draw to win prizes each month.
This year’s mini-leagues will take
To subscribe to our e-Newsletters
place next week in Castleknock
and text alerts send email address
Community College. More informa-
or number to pro@castleknock.net
tion on the website.
or 087 753 2030.
Signs surrounding the main pitch
New players at all ages and levels
in Somerton are now on sale. For
are always welcome. Contact club
more information on how to get
coach Brendan on 085 132 9397 for
your sign seen, contact Charlie on
details, or check the website for
085 110 1008.
contact information on each men-
Lotto: Jackpot is €2,400 with the
tor.
Castleknock’s team, led by captain Claire Murray, climbed the steps of the Parnell Park stand to collect the trophy
Camogie class of 2012 take Div 3 title I sport@gazettegroup.com
ANOTHER milestone was achieved by Castleknock GAA last weekend when their young camogie players recorded a fine set of results to claim the 2012 Dublin Feile title at Parnell Park. The majority of the girls had had great success in the football Feile a few weeks previously, where they were runners-up to Foxrock and, this time, they were determined to go one better. Castleknock were placed in Division 3 for the 2012 Feile, the same division where Castleknock had scored its first camogie Feile competition victory two years previously. Several members of this team had played on that team and were very keen to repeat that success. The girls opened their campaign at Portmarnock at Naomh Mearnog’s grounds with a tie against Lucan Sarsfields’
B team. Castleknock got off to a great start with a goal in the first few seconds. This settled the team and set the tone for the rest of the game, resulting in a comfortable win. After what appeared to be a very long break, Castleknock had two back-to-back matches, the first against Crumlin and the second against the hosts, Naomh Mearnog. As in the first game, a quick goal at the start gave the team the advantage over Crumlin and, eventually, Castleknock pressed home their advantage and secured a comprehensive victory. This set the scene for the final pool against Naomh Mearnog, who had also won their other pool games, meaning that the winner of this game would top the group and have the advantage of playing the runners-up in the other pool in the semifinal.
The game was a step up in intensity against strong opposition but Castleknock took the early pressure and finished comfortable winners. The semi-final against St Maur’s/Dwyer’s was fairly one-sided, with Castleknock dominating from the start. In the other semi-final, Mearnog were also victorious, setting the scene for a tough final in Parnell Park the following afternoon - one which would prove to match two of the best sides in the competition. Mearnog dominated the early exchanges, crowding out the Castleknock forwards and putting great pressure on the backs. The first quarter of the game was played in the Castleknock half of the pitch, but the team held on and Mearnog failed to score. After ten minutes, Castleknock scored the first point and recovered from their nervous start,
and were leading 2–2 to 0-0 by half-time. It was a very hardfought, physical game, played in very hot conditions, but neither team gave up. Although Castleknock were ahead, Mearnog kept fighting, and both teams had periods of dominance. It was also a tense second half, in which Castleknock added three further points. Naomh Mearnog came really close to scoring on a number of occasions, but failed to get past the very determined Castleknock defence. The final score was 2-5 to 0-0. Castleknock GAA: Emma Ivers, Eleanor Kiernan, Molly O’Neill, Emma Farrell, Sarah Byrne, Megan Yeates, Claire Murray, Aoife Whelan, Sadbh Dwyer, Chloe Kelly, Emma Finney, Ciara Murray, Jean O’Brien, Rachel Agnoli, Laoise Cullen, Aisling Andrews, Chloe Holland, Caoimhe Hughes, Niamh Mulroney, Claire Nulty, Mairead McCarthy, Niamh Rafferty
ST BRIGID’S WELL done to all those involved in
Well done to all those involved in
hosting the Division 1 camogie Feile
the annual golf classic which took
in Russell Park on Saturday.
place in Royal Tara on Friday.
The club was looking spectacular
TG4 are doing a new programme
and the visiting clubs complimented
on Dublin supporters and they are
us on the organisation of the day.
looking for Irish speakers from St
Our Division 1 girls lost by a point in
Brigid’s to take part in the show.
the semi-finals after several great
If you would like to take part email
performances.
info@stbrigidsgaa.com.
Super league win for our senior
Club snooker table now available
hurlers v Crumlin in AHL1, while the
to rent to all members during bar
juniors game was postponed.
hours. Info on website.
Register online for Summer MiniLeagues festival on June 11 to 16. Big week of adult league football ahead, with all our six adult teams in action. Fixtures and venues on website.
Congratulations to Jim Daly who won the €15,000 Lotto jackpot last week. Club Lotto is now €8,800 this week and takes place in Myo’s on Friday. New players are always welcome.
WESTMANSTOWN GAELS WELL done to the senior ladies’ team who qualified for the county intermediate semi-final with an impressive 4-17 to 0-16 win away at Raheny last Wednesday night. The semi-f inal f ix ture will be played on July 25.
Their next league fixture is away to Ballymun Kickhams. Junior 1s have a home league fixture against Civil Service. A busy football week for the Gaels teams with the U-8s losing away to Kilmacud.
Back to work on the training field
The U-9s blitz hosted by Round
this week with a challenge match,
Towers saw the Gaels top their
opposition and time to be con-
group, and the U-12s also beat Ball-
firmed; please contact team men-
inteer St Johns away.
tors. Training as usual on Saturda y morning at 9am. Intermediates kept their 100%
The U-15 girls completed their league with a win to finish top, while the U-12 girls recorded an impressive win away to Crokes.
record in the league with a home win
To order Dublin v Louth tickets
over Man O War at a sunny West-
online for Sunda y, June 3, visit
manstown last Saturday evening,
http://www.westmanstowngaels.
winning on a score of 1-16 to 1-9.
ie.
ALL OF YOUR CASTLEKNOCK SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31
MAY 31, 2012
KINGS OF DUBLIN: Leo and St Brigid’s camogie starlets claim their Feile title P31 teams are Dublin Stars P29
CASTLE CROWNED: Castleknock
sport@gazettegroup.com
PETER Law rie pro duced a brilliant five days of golf to not only net fourth place at the BMW PGA Championship last Sunday — and with it a €225,000 pay-day — but also to follow that success up in superb fashion on Monday to grab a place at this year’s US Open. He claimed one of the 11 spots up for grabs at the Walton Heath qualifier for the major on Monday. He emerged from a tense five-man play-off for the four available US Open berths alongside Italian Matteo Manassero, England’s Matthew Baldwin and
Frenchman Raphael Jacquelin. Manassero and Baldwin birdied the first play-off hole to go through, while Jacquelin and Lawrie advanced at the second play-off hole after Korean Sihwan Kim bogeyed after falling into a greenside bunker when attempting to get up and down. It means Lawrie will participate in his first ever US Open, the second major of the season, on June 14 to 17 as he hopes to capitalise on his excellent results of late. Coming into the BMW event, a 16th place finish in the Spanish Open showed decent form, and he swung freely
Castleknock golfing star Peter Lawrie produced a run of excellent golf to claim a place at this year’s US Open
last Thursday to put together a brilliant first round of 66 for a share of the lead with David Drysdale. From there, he remained steady with a 71 in round two and a level par 72 in his third round to remain in among the top ten. But he looked in danger when a treble-bogey seven in his final round left him with plenty of
ground to recover. Birdies on ten and 12 assuaged some of the damage before a pair of bogeys dropped him back to six under. One final twist of fortune, though, saw him claim shots back on the last two holes to move above Richard Sterne and Branden Grace to move into fourth place on his own. “I birdied the last
two, the last which was worth quite a few quid for me to jump out of the tie for fourth alone,” the Castleknock GC man said of the late charge. “If you told me at the start of the week, on this kind of golf course and this kind of field, I would have jumped at it. The way I played, it was great golf this week. I think I led the stats in
GazetteSPORT
Lawrie makes grade for US Open
driving and greens in regulation – accuracy driving of course, not length – but I didn’t hold my share of putts. So, to see those last few putts go in was nice. “I’ve got off to a good start every day, making a couple of birdies starting out. But I feel I’ve been patient, playing a lot of good shots early on and waited for the birdies to come.”