Gazette DUBLIN CITY
May 11 - 17, 2017
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Average Dublin rent has rocketed up to €1,690 Rents soaring into the stratosphere, according to the latest Daft.ie report
AISLING KENNEDY RENTS in Dublin City have reached an all-time high with the average rental price around the capital now reported to be an eye-watering €1,690 per month.
Property website Daft. ie’s latest quartely Rental Price Report, released this week, showed that rents for a 3-bed home soared by an average of 13.4% nationally in the first three months of 2017 alone. Dublin rents are now
an average of 16.2% above their previous peak, in 2008. Dublin now has the most expensive monthly rent in the country, followed by Wicklow (€1,168), and Kildare (€1,131). However, at the other
end of the scale, the average rent in Leitrim is €517. The Daft.ie report also showed that there were just 1,074 properties available to rent in Dublin on May 1 – the lowest figure recorded since January, 2006. Continued on Page 9
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FASTNews
COLLEGE GREEN | SAFETY CONCERNS, IMPACT ON TRAFFIC CITED
Mixed views of €10m plan for central plaza AISLING KENNEDY
DUBLIN City Council’s (DCC) €10m plan to redesign College Green as a pedestrian plaza needs more clarification, according to city councillors. The plans, which were designed by Dixon Jones/ Paul Keogh Architects as part of a joint initiative between DCC and the National Transport Authority, will see a ban on all private cars around College Green. Cllr Nial Ring (Ind) told The Gazette that he believes the plan is interesting, but that a lot still needs to be done. He said: “I am worried that DCC seems to be going headlong into pedestrianisation and increasing cycle lanes without a coherent joinedup approach to all traffic issues. “We have already seen the council rowing back on proposals for closing off Eden Quay to cars and coming up with [another option] for the Liffey Cycle route along the quays. “Unless and until DCC show councillors and the public that there are alternative routes for traffic through the city, then I will not support this plan.” As part of the new
designs for College Green, a 7,300sq m open space will be constructed for pedestrians to walk around and enjoy the plaza. A cycle way for cyclists will also be constructed, although how that will work in a pedestrianised area has yet to be confirmed. In terms of public transport, a new turning circle for buses will be built at the western side of the plaza, while taxi ranks that are currently in the College Green area will be relocated to nearby streets. There will also be twoway traffic routes for taxis and buses, with the new Luas Cross City running in a north-south direction
around the front of Trinity College. Cllr Andrew Keegan (PBP) said he supports the plans, but it depends on how DCC go about it.
Integration He said: “I think there will be teething problems and I am concerned about how the safety of pedestrian and cyclists will be dealt with, but DCC will, I think, solve these integration problems. “We need to keep all users of the space safe from each other, and this may or may not be successful. I’m hopeful, but I think we have a problem here.” The Dublin Chamber of Commerce, which repre-
sents businesses in Dublin city, agreed and said it is worried about how traffic will move around the city once the new Luas line opens later this year. The chamber called on DCC to publicly publish details of how the proposed changes will impact on traffic movements in the centre. Graeme McQueen, head of public affairs at the chamber, said: “In principal, the creation of a pedestrian plaza on College Green could be great for the city. “However, a lot of questions remain about how College Green – and other areas of the city centre – will work in practice once the proposed changes are
What are the big changes? THE new granite paved space in the plaza will be used for major public gatherings and events as it will have the capacity to hold up to 15,000 people. DCC plan to remove existing trees in the area and re-plant 22 new trees. The Henry Grattan and Thomas Davis monuments will be restored and retained
as key focal points, along with the gates of Trinity College. The Thomas Davis monument will be set slightly further west of its current position. An open water sculpture with 32 individual water jets which will be controlled depending on the seasons will also be built as an added feature to the plaza.
introduced. “Crucially, uncertainty remains as to whether the traffic which will be pushed out of College Green can be accommodated on other, already congested city centre streets. “The council says it has done modelling work to show what impact the displacement of cars will have. This data should be made publicly available.” However, Cllr Claire Byrne (GP) said she believes the College Green design works for all users, and welcomed the move to prioritise pedestrians, cyclists and public transport over private motorised traffic. She said: “This design is all about giving College Green back to the citizens of Dublin, as well as attracting visitors. “I have no doubt that it will become a place for celebrations, protests, markets and major events, and will become once more a civic heart for the city.” DCC will submit the project to An Bord Pleanala later this month and, subject to planning permission, building works will begin next January. It is estimated that the works will take a year to complete.
City Hall to fly Palestinian flag in gesture of solidarity THE Palestinian flag will fly over City Hall for a month in solidarity with the people of Palestine who are living under Israeli occupation. A majority of Dublin City Councillors supported a motion proposed by Cllr John Lyons (PBP) to fly the flag for four weeks. Some 42 councillors voted in favour of the motion, 11 against, and seven abstained. The flag fies from May 15, Nakba Day (Israel’s Independence Day). However, Thejournal.ie reported that Irish4Israel condemned the decision and stated that “such a move will have an extremely negative impact on Dublin’s international image and tourism”.
Ladies welcome to get Fit For Life at a park event A FIVE-step Operation Transformation-style programme called Fit For Life will launch at Orchard View Day Service at St Louise’s Centre in the Phoenix Park on May 23. The Orchard View Day Service in Glenmaroon at the top of Knockmaroon Hill will host the Fit For Life launch day on May 23, to help support ladies with intellectual disabilities to become more focused on nutrition, fitness, mind & body health. There will be all kinds of stalls on the day, with the Irish Heart Foundation, Siel Bleu and Slimming World present, as well as entertainment. The event runs from 11am to 1pm, and all are welcome.
Cities and songs to help support Repeal coalition THE Vinyl Love Collective will hold eight events simultaneously across eight cities on Sunday, May 14 in aid of the Coalition to Repeal the Eighth Amendment. The day will see a range of DJs and music lovers playing a set that features eight of their favourite vinyl records. It starts at 2pm in each city, with Dub supporters invited to attend the Wah Wah Club, where a donation of €10 is suggested at the door. For further information, see http://vinyllove.co/ Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Second Floor, Heritage House, Dundrum Office Park, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers
11 May 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 3
SURVEY | HALF OF US GO TO THE PUB EVERY WEEK - BUT A BREXIT HANGOVER IS BREWING
MORE than half of the population goes to the pub at least once a week, a new survey has found – but publicans have warned that they could face a Brexit hangover.
Which pub will get your vote for Best of Dublin?
WITH just two days left to vote, there are five pubs in the running for 98FM’s Best of Dublin awards in the Bar category. They are the Confession Box, the popular Marlborough St pub that won last year, the Clonsilla Inn, Rush local the Strand Bar, The Old Schoolhouse in Swords, and Tallaght’s Abberley Court. Get over to www.98fm.ie/BestofDublin and get one in before closing.
The findings of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland’s (VFI) poll of 1,500 people suggests most of us still see the local boozer as a social hub at the heart of the community. Some 88% of respondents said they want to see Ireland’s pub culture preserved, and 62% reckon it plays a “pivotal role in local communities”. Not surprisingly, 53% said they had enjoyed a first date in a pub (the poll didn’t mention pub break-ups, unfortunately). Some 52% of Irish people hit the pub at least once a week, with 80% stating the main reason is to meet friends or family. The lure of the Irish pub is even stronger for tourists, with 88% of previous visitors here saying they went for a pint. But while the research points to an industry bouncing back
after years of decline, VFI president Pat Crotty warned of challenges facing the industry, saying “the cost of public liability insurance is causing havoc”. He added: “Overall the trade is in a much better place and we are looking forward to the future with great optimism, but we are still facing some significant challenges. Brexit is already having an effect as the numbers visiting Ireland from the UK have fallen this year. “The value of Sterling is a key issue for us as a tourist destination, and with the negotiations around the UK’s departure from the EU only starting, we can be sure of more uncertainty in the coming years.” But as one punter quipped yesterday: “There’s one thing there’s no uncertainty about – the price of a pint coming down!”
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Docklands volunteers proved to be dab hands at cleaning
WITH many thousands of people living and working in the sprawlings Docklands areas there was no shortage of helping hands for the seventh annual Bank of Ireland-sponsored Docklands Volunteer Day at Grand Canal Dock, which saw cleaning, graffiti removed and a mural painted. PIctured are Michael Noel Harte, Dockland Business Forum; Morgan O’Regan, Bank of Ireland and Alan Robinson, Docklands Business Forum; Dan Irwin (right) and Garda Rob Reid, of the community policing unit at Pearse St Garda Station with Laura O’Donovan (far right).
NEWSbriefs Dublin has a new millionaire A LUCKY Dub has become an instant millionaire after scooping the Daily Millions jackpot. The winning QuickPick ticket for Sunday last’s draw was sold at Spar on Liffey St. The same store that sold a whopping €3.6 million winning National Lottery ticket back in December 2004.
docklands mini
Armed raiders hold up D4 pub
PEOPLE | STONEYBATTER SHOP HELPS HONOUR A UNIQUE DUBLIN CHARACTER
Aiming to give legendary Bang Bang a gravestone
EMMA NOLAN A STONEYBATTER shop named after the legendary Dublin character “Bang Bang” has raised the money to buy a gravestone for him after discovering he was buried without one. As many Dubliners know, Bang Bang (Thomas Dudley, April 19, 1906 – January 11, 1981) was an eccentric elderly gentleman in Dublin in the 1950s and 1960s. A fan of cowboy films, Bang Bang used to travel the buses and trams of the city staging mock shoot-outs with passing people, hence his nickname. He carried a large church key in his pocket which he used as a gun and Dubliners, who enjoyed his good-natured antics, used to participate in his games, sometimes “returning fire” by pretending they had a gun in their hands and shouting “bang bang” back at him, or by falling down and playing dead when he pretended to shoot them. Owner Daniel Lambert said: “I called my shop after Bang Bang for a couple of reasons. “He was raised in an orphanage in Cabra and buried in Drumcondra, and the shop is half-way between where he was raised and where he’s buried. “More than that, I think the world and Ireland is pretty boring – some kids can’t even run in the yard in school any more in
case they hurt themselves. “So everything is boring I think – that sounds pessimistic but life is sanitised a lot and people don’t really do a whole lot of interesting stuff, and Bang Bang went around and did exactly what he wanted to do in his city. “He had a laugh each day, he didn’t take himself too seriously, and that’s why we called the shop after him. We’re not Bang Bang in Stoneybatter one thing [in the busi- and its fundraising efforts for ness] – there’s all sorts Thomas Dudley (1906-1981), going on because we affectionately known as ‘Bang wanted to try and be a Bang’ by generations of Dubs bit like him.” Daniel said that a friend’s father knew and poems, in The Dubliner’s song, the man who buried Bang Bang – Joe Mero – he comes up so much in Irish Tyrrell, the groundskeeper at St Joseph’s folklore, music and culture, and for him Cemetery in Drumcondra. not to have a gravestone I thought was Daniel accepted Joe’s offer to see wrong, so I said we’d get one.” where Bang Bang was buried, but was Between the Go Fund Me page and saddened to find that there was no in-store donations, more than €1,000 gravestone for a person who left a last- was raised and Daniel says they should ing legacy on the city and its inhabit- have the gravestone in place in the next ants. month. “He’s mentioned in loads of books The response from Daniel’s custom-
Bang! Bang!
ers has been “huge”, he says, and even though he was surprised by some locals not knowing about Bang Bang, he is happy to be able to tell them and to keep his memory alive. He added: “Bang Bang should have a better grave – he was such a big Dublin character.”
A PAIR of masked raiders armed with a gun and knife robbed a popular pub in Ballsbridge last week. Customers and staff were tied up during the ordeal which took place at Bar 51 around 1am on Wednesday last. Gardai told Dublin Live the men left the scene with an undisclosed amount of cash.
Nurses strike over pensions PYCHIATRIC nurses at St Patrick’s Mental Health Services are to strike this Sunday over the decision to end the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme without staff consultation. The hospital said the decision to end the scheme was taken to protect workers as it was likely to decline in the coming years.
‘Make Poolbeg data available’ CONCERNS over steam clouds coming from the new Poolbeg incinerator during test firing has led to calls for data on the new waste management facility to be made public. The Green Party has called for all monitoring on the plant, which began burning waste this week to be made available to the public.
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Out and About
Taine King and Robin McGonigle
Daniel Pereira, Sinead Flynn and Matthew Jordan
Enjoying the start of summer in style Sarah Curran, Susan Knox and Lorraine Moran. Left: Dee Maher and Alannah Beirne Pictures: Robbie Reynolds
T
HE Gibson Hotel celebrated the start of the summer with a stylish summer BBQ event. Guests were treated to a summer cocktail reception upon arrival before heading to the hotels indoor courtyard or heated terrace overlooking Dublin port, the perfect spot for a lazy summer evening. The BBQ menu has something for everyone and isn’t just about burgers and hot dogs. The BBQ area can accommodate BBQs from 25-800 people and is priced at €25 per person.
Edele O’Reilly, Garret Marrinan, Nuala Carey and Brenda Carey
Emma McMenamy and Elaine Doyle
Robin McGonigle, Dean Nguyen and Taine King
Ali Ryan and Edward Smith
Nirina Plunkett and Filomena Kaguako
11 May 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 7
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CRIME | DRUGS, THEFTS AND INJURIES COME BEFORE THE COURTS
Life-changing injuries for woman cyclist hit by a careless driver A MAN whose careless driving left a cyclist without the ability to speak, walk or hear has been given a suspended sentence of nine months imprisonment. Robert Faherty (63), of Elton Walk, Ard na Greine, Dublin was driving without headlights when Grainne Duncan’s bike hit his car. Mr Faherty was starting out on his journey on the evening of February 4, 2015 and had driven for 200m before the crash. Judge Pauline Codd said this was not a typical case of careless driving and there was a difference between a person engaged in patently dangerous behaviour and a momentary lapse of attention by a driver otherwise engaged in careful driving. She noted that Faherty was a man with no previous convictions and a clean driving record. She said he is an upstanding and decent member of the community. Judge Codd also noted a psychiatric report describing his “real, palpable and significant” distress
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‘Judge Codd said the accident left Ms Duncan in a vegetative state and she now requires “100% help” with her general wellbeing’ ----------------------------------
and remorse at the results of his driving. She did not impose a ban on his driving after hearing that he uses his car on a daily basis and that his own father, who lives in Galway, is in ill health. Faherty Dublin pleaded guilty last February at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of careless driving causing serious harm. Ms Duncan (45) was in a coma for two months after the accident and only became aware of her situation recently, which has result-
ed in her requiring treatment for depression. Judge Codd said the accident left Ms Duncan in a vegetative state and she now requires “100% help” with her general wellbeing. The court heard that neither speed or alcohol were a factor in the accident, and that road conditions were normal. Garda Keith Murphy said that Ms Duncan had been cycling on the left side of the road when she decided to turn right at a junction with Greencastle Road. Both parties had a green light. Gda Murphy said that the main contributing factor to the accident was that Ms Duncan was unable to see Mr Faherty’s car because he did not have his lights on. “I think that she may have noticed the car when she went to make the turn,, but by then it was too late,” said Gda Murphy. “It would have been completely safe for her to make the turn if there had not been oncoming traffic.” The court heard that Ms Dun-
can was wearing a high-vis jacket, a helmet, and had a light on her bike at the time of the incident. Judge Codd said there was an imbalance between the catastrophic harm caused by Faherty’s actions and his culpability. She noted case law stating that the wellbeing of a person cannot be restored or its loss measured by a sentence. She said no sentence can reconcile Ms Duncan’s family to the impact of this accident on her. A victim impact statement was presented on behalf of Patrick Duncan, the victim’s husband, who said his wife’s disability had had a profound effect on her daily living. Her favourite pastime was reading, but due to short-term memory loss caused by the brain damage, she could not read more than one or two pages at a time. At the time of the incident he had returned to college as a mature student, but he had since given up his studies to care for Ms Duncan.
Man to face sentencing for his ‘stupid’ Apple thefts worth €27k
A PC World worker stole €27,000-worth of Apple products from his workplace and sold it to another store in a “stupid” attempt to make money, a court has heard. Eoin Giles (21) of Thornville Ave, Kilbarrack, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of stealing a quantity of Apple Macbook laptops, Apple watches and iPads from the Blanchardstown shopping centre store on April 15, 2016. Judge Karen O’Connor noted the offence represented a great breach of
trust, given that Giles was a trusted employee of PC World. She adjourned sentencing until next month to allow Giles gather €2,000 to offer as redress and engage with the Probation Service. Garda Niamh Dunphy told Dean Kelly BL, prosecuting, that gardai were called to the store in April 2016 after a stock-take showed that a large quantity of stock was missing. Staff reviewed CCTV footage which showed Giles, who had worked at the store for nearly three years, moving the stock
out of the stockroom in a suspicious manner. PC World management staff told gardai that Giles stole 21 laptops, six Apple watches and seven iPad pros from the shop. When arrested, Giles made some immediate admissions, but maintained he stole 13 laptops, three watches and seven iPads. Ultimately, the exact quantity of stolen goods could not be determined, Mr Kelly said. However, the value of the goods Giles said he stole came to €27,000. The court heard Giles
sold all of the products, bar one Macbook, to a man who worked in an electronic store in the city. Giles was given €2,000 for the initial handover and was promised a further €10,000 once the stolen goods were sold. He kept one of the Macbooks for himself. Giles was unable to name the man he sold the items to, but from information he gave gardai, that man was later identified as Muhammed Amjad (31), of Merchants Square, East Wall. Amjad was given a suspended 18-month
sentence for his role in handling stolen goods last February. When asked why he stole the goods, Giles said he was “stupidly trying to make money”. He said he did not have a gambling or drug problem. He has no previous convictions. Defence barrister, Karl Monahan BL, said Giles previously worked for two charity organisations. He was sacked from PC World in the wake of the offence and now works in car sales. He said Giles, who is in a longterm relationship, deeply regretted his actions.
‘Family man’ jailed for four years after being found with a €522k drug haul A “FAMILY MAN” who agreed to hold drugs valued at more than half a million euro in return for €500 after falling into financial difficulties has been jailed for four years. John Barnes (48), of The Bottleworks Apartments, O’Hurley Avenue, Dublin was “vulnerable” and in financial trouble after having a €42,000 judgement made against him in a Revenue matter. He was also in ill health, having suffered a stroke and heart attack. Barnes pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of cannabis and cocaine at his home on October 17, 2015. The court heard that gardai acting on confidential information searched his home and two vehicles linked to him. They recovered cocaine and cannabis
herb with a total value of €522,400. Barnes accepted responsibility for the drugs and told gardai he was to be paid €500 for holding the drugs, which he had recently picked up. He had not been paid at the time of his arrest. Judge Karen O’Connor noted that Barnes had not been on the garda radar and had no relevant previous convictions. She noted “very impressive” testimonials had been handed into court outlining his extensive work history and contributions to his community. Judge O’Connor imposed a seven-year sentence but suspended the final three years on condition he be of good behaviour and undergo one year probation supervision upon release.
Man continued to claim late father’s pension for years
A MAN who was claiming pension payments on behalf of his deceased father has received a suspended jail sentence. Reginald O’Donnell (64), of York St, Dublin city, was caught when social welfare officials attempted to contact his father to present him with a Presidential Bounty cheque for turning 100 in 2009. Inspectors went to the last known address of Thomas O’Donnell to locate him. On making further inquiries, they discovered he had died in 1988. Social welfare inspectors went to gardai in September, 2009, and an investigation was launched. The defendant had been appointed in 1984 as an agent to collect his father’s pension. Footage obtained from post office CCTV showed him continuing to claim payments. O’Donnell pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three sample counts of theft from the Department of Social Protection. The sample charges date from 2002, 2007 and 2011, and come to a total of €597. Diarmaid McGuinness SC, defending, said his client was in receipt of a disability benefit and had paid back the stolen monies outlined in the charges. Judge Patricia Ryan suspended a sentence of two years on condition he keep the peace for that period.
11 May 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 9
TRANSPORT | ONGOING SPATE OF INCIDENTS ALONG KEY TRAM LINK HOUSING | LATEST RISE
Calls to step up security along the Luas Red Line SYLVIA POWNALL THERE have been calls for a dedicated transport police to patrol the Luas Red Line following a string of assaults and public order incidents. The surge in violence and intimidation has prompted Deputy John Curran (FF) to petition for more to be done to protect commuters using the tram network. The Dublin West TD said the journey from Tallaght to Saggart was particularly treacherous – but there has been a rise in reports elsewhere on the route. In April, thugs hurling rocks smashed the windows of a rush-hour
Commuters have described the Red Line as ‘the junkie tram’
tram near the Fatima stop, which had to be evacuated. In March, a man was arrested and one woman injured after the emergency brake was pulled near the Goldenbridge stop, bringing the Luas to a sudden halt. Earlier this week, two Clondalkin men went on trial charged with assault
causing harm in connection with an alleged Luas attack in late 2015. In February, two men were jailed for an unprovoked attack at the Tallaght stop which left two other men returning from the St Patrick’s Day parade with serious injuries. Deputy Curran said: “The intimidation of transport users, and driv-
TRAINING | INNOVATIVE STUDY VISIT
Man from Finglas goes the extra mile to upskill – to Malta WHILE many of us are used to travelling a bit to study or train, one Finglas man went further than most – all the way to Malta to learn new skills. William Kellett was taking part in a workplace study visit organised by AONTAS, the National Adult Learning Organisation. William has worked with Geodis as a general operative in the pharmaceutical logistics area for the past 14 years. He engaged in the IT skills programme with Skills for Work – an EU-funded project that aims to increase the number of people taking part in adult learning. He was joined by a group of four other Skills for Work participants from across Ireland. Hosted by the Ministry for Education and Employment of Malta, the group mixed practical training with site visits. Their itinerary also included visits to a Toyota showroom and training on presentation and communication skills. William said: “I was particularly interested in the training element of the visit, and we joined Maltese adult learners to learn more about self-empowerment.
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‘We joined Maltese adult learners to learn more about selfempowerment. These are skills we can use in all aspects of life.’ ----------------------------------------
William Kellett
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These are skills we can use in all aspects of life.” Speaking about the visit, AONTAS’s chief executive Niamh O’Reilly said: “AONTAS is delighted to offer this opportunity to learners from Dublin so that they can bring back new ideas to their own workplaces and communities.” Echoing her words, William added: “The trip was an amazing experience and a brilliant learning curve for all in the group – everyone is taking new learning back to Ireland.”
ers, which has recently escalated must stop and a zero-tolerance approach must be taken. “This can only be done by a number of dedicated transport police, possibly from the traffic corps of An Garda Siochana, who are visible and frequently patrolling our Luas in an attempt to deter crime on public transport. “While there is a security presence, they have very limited authority and there appears to have been little progress in implementing various security initiatives that Transdev committed to in its bid to combat incidents of public disorder.” G a r d a b a c k- u p i s unlikely since the number of officers deployed to
the Traffic Corps fell last year. Sweeping changes are also being considered that would see the unit scrapped ,in light of recent scandals. Social media criticism of the Luas service has seen it described as “the junkie tram” and being “full of nothing but intimidating scum abusing people”. Last year, staff from STT Risk Management – the private company providing security for Luas operator Transdev – complained that standard issue stab vests did not protect against syringe attacks. There was no response to questions put to Transdev by The Gazette about Luas security and passenger safety.
Call to review rent pressures Continued from Page 1
Deputy Eoin O’Broin (SF), the party’s spokesperson for Housing, has called on the Department of Housing to conduct an urgent review of rent pressure zones He said: “Daft’s figures for Q1 show that rents are continuing to rise to unsustainable levels. “The introduction of rent pressure zones was supposed to restrain rents and limit annual increases. “This lacklustre attempt at cooling the rental market is not working and now the Minister for Housing needs to investigate why.” He added: “The Department needs to utilise existing vacant properties and amend existing legislation to
provide greater security to tenants.” In response, Minister of State for Housing Damien English said his department, alongside the local authorities, are investigating each vacant property. He said it is “not acceptable” that there h ave a l w ay s b e e n 200,000-plus vacant properties over the past 20 years. Minister English said: “We want to get these vacant properties back into use, but private people own them – they’re not our housing stock.” He said that the Government strategy on empty home re-use will be brought before the Dail either this week or next week, adding: “A vacant site levy will come into effect next year.”
10 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 11 May 2017
Out and About
Members of the Lusk Free Wheelers were delighted to support the worthy cause
Jimmy Powell from Kilmucridge and Aoife Crowley from Dalkey
Tristan Conway Behan and Louise Corrigan
dcaster , 2fm broa Colm Hayes
Where there is light, B
ACK in 2009, a modest group of about 400 people gathered in the Phoenix Park to participate in the first Darkness into Light in aid of Irish suicide prevention charity Pieta House. Just nine years on, the event which Pieta House CEO Brian Higgins calls a “movement against suicide” has grown into a global phenomenon, with events this year taking place from Iceland to Australia. On Saturday in Ireland, 150,000 people got up from their beds at the crack of dawn on Saturday to walk, jog and even swim for hope. All across Dublin, in their distinctive yellow shirts, they met at parks at first light to raise funds and awareness, and to send out a message of hope to those who are struggling. Hours later , those in yellow were joined by the bright orange vests of the brave cyclists who had two weeks earlier headed off on the sixth annual Cycle Against Suicide, a journey that began in Swords before heading north to Belfast, west to Castlebar, south to Fermoy in Cork and then back to Dublin via Tipperary and Carlow – all to send out a message that help is there if you need it and it’s ok to ask. Almost 700 people die by suicide in Ireland every year, but as the events of last Saturday show, those who are struggling can indeed take hope – they are not alone. Well done to everyone who took part!
Dinagh Smyth and Sharon O’Callaghan
Caroline Keane and Muireann Coady from Dundrum
11 May 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 11
Cycle for Suicide: J oe Hunt a Murphy fr nd Grett om Blanc a hardstow n
Some of the 14,000 people who ran and walked through Phoenix Park from 04.15 in the morning in this year’s Darkness Into Light event, which was raising awareness of suicide and raising funds for Pieta House. Darkness into Light picture: Crispin Rodwell
hope  there is
Cycle for Suicide: Gary Purcell from Tipperary and Robbie Waterhouse from Clondalkin
GAZETTE
12 GAZETTE 11 May 2017
DUBLINBUSINESS
Keelings initiative plants a growing interest in the country’s key agri sector KEELING’S, the supplier and producer of fresh fruit, had the cream of the crop of people interested in the agri sector when it staged an initiative recently to help them get started in the industry. The annual Feeding Ireland’s Future initiative was aimed towards young unemployed people, to help them with interview tips, CV writing and business skills. This year’s participants had the opportunity to experience a day in the life at Keelings, with the day including a manual handling training session, a tour of the pack house, and a certificate presentation at the end of the day hosted by David Keeling, chief executive of Keelings Retail. Of the event, he said: “This is Keelings’ fourth year taking part in the scheme, which offers young people first-hand on-site experience. It was our pleasure to meet the participants of the 2017 Feeding Ireland’s Future, and we hope they enjoyed a valuable day with us at Keelings. He is pictured presenting Carl Kelly (left) with a manual training certificate at the event, with Carl securing a position with Keelings a few weeks after the event.
€750k fund to support female entrepreneurs CALLING all female entrepreneurs in Dublin – Enterprise Ireland has announced €750,000 in startup funding for women entrepreneurs. Up to €50,000 in equity funding is available to a maximum of 15 successful female applicants with early stage start-up companies. Last year, one in three companies who received CSF investment from Enterprise Ireland were female-led. As well as securing up to €50k in funding, 10 of the successful applicants will also have the opportunity to participate in Dublin BIC’s INNOVATE accelerator programme. Delivered over a 12-week period in the Guinness Enterprise Centre, the INNOVATE programme will increase the capabilities of the participants and move them to investor-ready stage within a short period Full details on the Competitive Start Fund for Female Entrepreneurs, including the application form and eligibility criteria, can be accessed on the Enterprise Ireland website www.enterprise-ireland. com/FemaleCSF, with the closing date being 3pm on Wednesday, May 17.
John Donnelly (second left) with some of the team from Eazi-App: “The last two years has seen phenomenal growth in the mobile app market”
Fingal’s Eazi-Apps set to grow firms’ reach
A DUBLIN-based Company, Eazi-Apps, is helping small businesses locally and nationally tackle the next frontier in technology: mobile apps. SMEs are always looking at affordable ways to engage their customers and leverage more business from them, whether it’s by sending them (free) push notifications, allowing them to order food, book appointments, buy products, pay membership as well as rewarding them with loyalty schemes
and special offers directly on their smartphone. The mobile app market is experiencing huge growth, with 86% of people in Ireland possessing or having access to a Smartphone. Mobile apps command almost 80% of the time spent on mobile phones. Eazi-Apps deals with all types of SMEs – from bars, restaurants and coffee shops to garden centres, salons, clubs and societies and any organisation that relies on
repeat business. In most cases, 90% of a company’s turnover is from existing customers and keeping those customers loyal to the business is the secret to success. John Donnelly of EaziApps said: “The last two years has seen phenomenal growth in the mobile app market and businesses are now realising they need a mobile marketing strategy to meet their customers’ expectations. “However, most small
businesses are currently out-priced when it comes to developing a custom app. “Eazi-Apps are working with businesses throughout the country to offer affordable mobile app solutions that allows businesses and customers to engage on a platform that is active 24 hours a day,” he said. Identifying this barrier has allowed Eazi-Apps to provide a solution that is cost-effective and allows small businesses to com-
pete with larger enterprises. With mobile usage set to increase at an alarming rate for the foreseeable future, the real challenge for businesses will be to compete for the attention of their customers and produce apps that provide value and encourage interaction. To find out more about how the company can help your business, contact Eazi-Apps at 086 223 0812, or email john@eaziapps.com.
Wheelie good efforts see wins for Smarter Travel THE Ashling Hotel welcomed the winners of the annual Smarter Travel awards recently, where several of the country’s most innovative transport leaders and companies were represented. Pictured are Aimee Reed, of Northern Trust, which won three awards including Overall Smarter Travel Workplace, alongside Ivan Griffin, winner of the Overall Smarter Travel Cam-
pus, with UCD, and with Anne Graham, chief executive, the National Transport Authority. Partners of the Smarter Travel Workplaces and Smarter Travel Campus programme from around the country submitted entries to the awards competition, which recognises and celebrates the efforts that workplaces and campuses make to promote sustainable travel. Picture: Julien Behal
11 May 2017 GAZETTE 13
TRAVEL: YES WE MEXICAN P21
GAZETTE
DUBLINLIFE Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on events taking place across the city and county
tour of the news and this week
Festival Fun I
t’s only May, yet many of both Ireland and Europe’s best festival offerings are now the preserve of those who bought early, or can afford the risky and overpriced world of the black ticketing market. Electric Picnic sold out without a single act announced. Glastonbury has undergone its annual (extremely brief) Spring resale and will offer no more. The biggest gigs of the summer including U2, Cold Play and Radio-
MOTORING: THE MICRA JUST GREW UP P22
CINEMA: GUARDIANS OF THE SEQUEL PREVAIL...JUST P24
OUR SWEET MARLEY IS A DARLING, CLEVER DOG
head - have largely seen tickets fly. The summer still holds plenty of promise for those music fans with a little less foresight, though, and there are some fantastic festival offerings still on sale both at home and abroad. As prime time for late ticket buyers arrives, we explore six of the best offerings you can still access, both at home and abroad...
Continued on pages 16-17
Artist Maser in front of his striking new The City Is My Garden mural, as seen when walking north from the Ha’Penny Bridge
Musing on a mural to help you nuture an interest in nature EMMA NOLAN
ONE of Ireland’s leading visual artists has painted a mural to encourage Dubliners to slow down and appreciate both art and nature in a different environment. Maser has teamed up with Arnotts and the National Botanic Gardens for
‘The City is my Garden’ concept, which celebrates the beauty of Dublin city and to bring the outdoors indoors. Maser has created a unique graffiti installation on the wall of Number 1, Liffey Street – a key landmark when approaching Arnotts from the Ha’Penny Bridge.
OUR Dog of the Week looking for their #SpecialSomeone* is Marley, a six-year-old female Collie crossbreed who has been at Dogs Trust for quite a while now, through no fault of her own. She is super sweet and affectionate but as people have abandoned her in the past, she has lost her ability to trust new people that she meets. Marley is exceptionally clever and would excel in all kinds of training – she is looking for an adult-only home with someone home fulltime to help build back up her confidence. If you are looking to give a very special dog the chance at life that they truly deserve, then Marley could be the dog for you! If you can be Marley’s #SpecialSomeone*, then please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off Exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website, www.dogstrust. ie. You can also find them on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline, or on Twitter @ DogsTrust_IE.
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DIARY
HEALTH: FUNDRAISER AND AWARENESS EVENT TO HIGHLIGHT NEED FOR DONATIONS
Run for a life – and help with an organ
POPULAR RTE broadcaster Ray D’Arcy stepped out with two lively young transplant recipients for a photocall to highlight the Irish Kidney Association’s upcoming annual family fun run, Run For A Life. The charity fundraiser which will take place at Corkagh Park, Dublin 22 on Saturday, May 20, celebrates the ‘gift of life’ and aims to raise awareness about the vital importance of organ donation and transplantation. At the photocall, Ray was joined by Shannen Proudfoot (age 10) from Nobber, Co Meath, who underwent a kidney transplant operation three years ago at Temple Street Hospital thanks to her donor aunt, Ann McGivney, whose donor operation took place at Beaumont Hospital. Representing Children’s Liver Disease Ireland (CLDI) was Elizabeth Murphy (age 11) from Ballyboughal, Dublin. Elizabeth underwent a liver transplant when she was just five months old at King’s College Hospital, in London, while under
the care of Crumlin’s Children’s Hospital. Run for a Life is open to people of all ages with the option of walking, jogging or running competitively in either a chiptimed 2.5km, 5km or 10km distance. For fur ther information, see the site at www.runforalife.ie.
IMMERSE YOURSELF IN A HIP-HOPPY GIG ORCHARD Thieves are inviting Dubliners into a hip-hop-infused, immersive experience in the city centre this weekend. The cider brand has set up an unusual event at Dame Lane in Dublin 2, where this Friday, May 12 and Saturday, May 13, running from 1pm through to 11:30pm, a “forbidden library”, and “a derelict chipshop” have been resurrected. Behind closed doors, ticketholders will be treated to a secret adventure; where staff with a mysterious edge will interact with them and offer clues to win. Dance breaks, MCs are just the tip of an iceberg of fun, with signature
cocktails and Orchard Thieves battered fish and chips from Beshoffs. Tickets are available at: startboldendbold. eventbrite.ie.
STORIES CELEBRATE OUR CAPITAL CITY INTERNATIONAL Literature Festival Dublin (ILFDublin) has announced details of its Fringe programme, Stories from the City. Celebrating the magic of our Capital’s literary heritage, the fringe programme brings the hidden characters of Dublin’s literary scene and beyond to the fore, with a mix including performance, talks, poetry, music and spoken word in venues across the city from May 20 to 29. An extensive programme of events is taking place over the course of the festival, including improv fest founder Neil Curran, who will take improv to a whole new level in Smock Alley Theatre; journalist and writer Brian Finnegan and Irish writers John Boyne, Mary Dorcey, Denis Kehoe and Claire Hennessy gather-
Ray Darcy was joined by Shannen Proudfoot and Elizabeth Murphy to help launch this year’s Run for A Life, which encourages people to sign up for life-saving organ donation. Picture: Conor McCabe Photography
ing for a special edition of GCN’s Town Hall Talks in Belvedere House, and ILFDublin Artist in Residence Inua Ellams, who will be in the Liquor R o o m s o n Mo n d ay, May 22 for a RAP party (rhythm and poetry). Poetry Ireland opens its doors at 7pm from Monday, May 22-24 at 7pm for the Poetry Ireland Introductions Series and Herstory, which tells the lost life-stories of historical, contemporary and mythological women. For full details of the programme and to purchase tickets, see www. ilfdublin.com.
DESIGN YOUR WAY TO AN EASONS WINNER THE 2017 Eason Creates Design competition is now open for entries, with the second annual competition providing a platform for third-level students across the country to become Eason’s next stationery designer. In the search to find Ireland’s next top student designer, Eason is giving entrants the opportunity to showcase their work online and in stores throughout Ireland. Any third-level student with a creative flair is invited to design an
original pattern for use on a fresh new range of Eason stationery. The contemporar y new range of fashion stationery will be produced with high-quality materials and the winning designer will have the opportunity to see their own stationery designs produced as well as winning a top-of-the-range Apple workstation, complete with Adobe Creative Suite. Five entrants will be shortlisted on Eason Edition and a winner chosen in June by a panel of experts in the design industry.
Last year’s winner, Rita O’Brien from Limerick, presented the judges with a suite of stationery focusing on colourful geometric patterns with fun, contemporary typography intertwined throughout. Drawing on inspiration from insects, Rita called for an emphasis on wings to symbolise transformation and new beginnings. To take part in this year’s competition, applicants can enter via www. easonedition.com. The competition is now open for entries and will close at midnight on May 25.
11 May 2017 GAZETTE 15
Want a FREE golf lesson from a pro?
FANCY taking up golf? The team at the fivestar Lough Erne Resort, Enniskillen, are offering the public the chance to enjoy a free two-hour golf lesson as part of a “taster” initiative to grow the game. Join head pro Lynn McCool (above) and her team at the Co Fermanagh resort’s Golf Academy on either May the 14th (Sun) or 17th (Wed). Tuition is complimentary and clubs are provided. Register your interest at www.lougherneresort. com/Give-Golf-A-Try
GAZETTE
WHAT’S ON
River me timbers All aboard for Dublin Port’s annual Liffeyside spectacular
Powerboat racing aces ThunderCats will create quite a splash on the Liffey this June Bank Holiday weekend
DUBLIN is set for a real treat this June bank holiday weekend with an action packed programme of fun for all the family at Dublin Port’s Riverfest 2017. The three-day festival of on and off-water attractions and entertainment takes place along North Wall Quay from June 3-5. Water activities include the UK ThunderCats’ racing display – a first for Ireland – kayak- ing, maritime demonstrations, food ing trips, stand-up paddle boarding and markets and a family fun fair, sessions, jetpack displays, boat tours all taking place. of the port and bay and the ever Movie lovers are in a for a spepopular international Tall Ships. cial treat, with screenings of Back Creating a carnival atmosphere to the Future and Jaws on Sunday on the quayside will be children’s 4th June at the North Docks on the art and pirate demonstrations, world’s biggest mobile LED screen. street theatre, zip lines, rock climb- Booking is essential.
11 May 2017 GAZETTE 17
DUBLINLIFE
Sublime summer musical outings yet to sell out
MUSIC
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16 GAZETTE 11 May 2017
N O S ’ T A H W
E D I U G S T N EVE
with JAMES HENDICOTT
Culture Date with Dublin 8
The west inner-city postcode that encompasses Phoenix Park and The Liberties hosts its first ‘Culture Date’ event, with tours, access to new venues and music. Check out the Magazine Fort, explore IMMA, or take a self guided tour through the app. May 13/14
Take That
The legendary boy band are still going strong, and drop in on the city to mix 90s nostalgia with their latter-day return to the charts. They’ll be doing two nights, both of which you’ll need a bit of luck to get into. May 15/16.
Resist: American Voices
American spoken word artists take to Smock Alley Theatre’s stage to explore their hopes, dreams and fears as they glance back at their homeland from Irish shores. Expect fireworks. May 14.
Churchill, Hitler and Ireland’s Emergency
A historical take on Ireland’s neutral (on paper, at least) view of World War II, and what really went on as Belfast got blitzed, Churchill got pissed and Ireland tested its constitutional neutrality to the limit. The Little Museum hosts a historical take. May 17.
Dublin Dance Festival
Dublin opens its doors to moves, as a festival taking in an ambitious programme of dancers and choreographers in varying styles includes ten days worth of events, running from May 18 to 28.
Hot Press Covers Exhibition
JAMES HENDICOTT
Indiependence €119
The steadily growing festival in Mitchelstown, County Cork has always had a monster of an atmosphere and well-curated quality deep into its lineup, in particular with its strong selection of local acts. Already on the last of their tickets for 2017, it’s a real bargain by Irish festival pricing standards, with the added bonus of being walking distance from the town’s pubs (where you’ll also find an additional music trail). Starring: Manic Street Preachers, Frank Turner, The Coronas, All Tvvins, Tom Odell and The Riptide Movement.
Roskilde €269
One of only a handful of European festivals to hold a torch to legendary Somerset offering Glastonbury, Danish super-fest Roskilde is also one of the most expensive festivals to get through the gates of, but makes up for it with eight days of camping for your money.
Highlights of that extended stay (which sees punters build their own villages amid the tents) include the traditional naked race, a penchant for the unusual when it comes to music, and a truly stellar headline line up. As well as the music, it comes with countless artsy zones and a charitable philosophy. Starring: Foo Fighters, Arcade Fire, A Tribe Called Quest, The Weeknd, The XX and Blink-182.
Sea Sessions €125
Combining surfing and music in beautiful Bundoran, Donegal, Sea Sessions has been growing consistently since the first edition in 2007, and has a unique selling point for an Irish festival, in that for many attendees the musical aspect of the event is very much an evening thing. Surfing and skating play a key role during the day. That’s not to say there’s not plenty of live musical entertainment too, and having sold out a few weeks before the event last year, they might do so earlier this time around, having pulled a mega-headliner in Primal Scream. Starring: Primal Scream, The Coronas, Sigma,
Badly Drawn Boy, Mr Scruff and Dreadzone.
Colours of Ostrava €105
The most ambitious festival on our list, perhaps (you’d need to fly to Prague and travel onwards to Ostrava, in the East of the Czech Republic), Colours of Ostrava rewards your efforts with bargain entry, beer (around €2 a pint) and food (around €4 a meal), as well as arguably the best setting of any European festival, the stunning, rustic grounds of a Soviet-era power plant. Amongst it all, there’s also a design zone, arts installations and 20 different stages, and plenty of side events to choose from. Starring: Alt-J, Norah Jones, Jamiroquai, Justice, Benjamin Clementine and Imagine Dragons.
Body and Soul €195
Clear the diary (it’s just a couple of weekends away), Body and Soul is billed as the Irish festival with an ethos. To many long-time Irish festival goers, it’s the spin off of the very best bits of Electric Picnic. Known for using its forest setting to improve
An entire wall of signed covers featuring U2 (yes, they’ve starred that many times!) also stars Brian O’Driscoll, Imelda May and just a few political statements as Hot Press celebrates 40 years at the National Photographic Archive. Until September.
atmosphere, it’s also strong on wellbeing aspects and artistic flair. The Westmeath-based event also features plenty in the way of talks and theatre on top of an impressively ‘of the minute’ alternative music line up. Starring: Sleaford Mods, Austra, Metronomy, Vitalic, Lambchop and Mykki Blanco
Dun Laoghaire Harbour Bicentenary
A celebration of south Dublin harbour life comes to Dun Laoghaire with art, talks, songs and sails. The celebration gets under way in early May, but runs throughout the summer with a host of events even taking in Viking long boats.
Reading/ Leeds Festivals circa �€250
The UK’s twin rock festivals are very rough around the edges, and to be brutally harsh, don’t offer a whole lot beyond the music. That said, with densely packed programs, a wild after-show campsite life and a penchant for bigname special guests, that’s never seemed to hold them back too much (and there’s always the air guitar competitions). Think setting up in front of sweaty stages and watching all kinds of chaos unfold, fuelled by a lot of cider. Unusually, this year’s offerings are not yet sold out. Starring: Eminem, Muse, Kasabian, Liam Gallagher, Bastille and Haim.
The Hot Sprockets
An unlikely mix of country/folk music and a distinctly local feel, The Hot Sprockets somehow live out the American mid-western lifestyle right here in Dublin. Get a taste of their surreal and memorable musicology at the Opium Rooms, May 13.
New album of the week
Paramore - After Laughter. Four years after their last release, Tennesse pop-punkers return with a revised line up and an album, apparently, about that feeling when laughter ceases and reality dawns. Typically moody, then. The Rubber Bandits
Paramore - After Laughter
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DUBLINLIFE
From Princess to Preppie, kids will be spoilt for choice with junior fashions at the brand-new store
Fresh new looks for Benetton at its first standalone kids store EMMA NOLAN Style Editor
THE newest addition to Grafton Street is the first ever United Colors of Benetton standalone kids store in Ireland. Fo r S u m m e r 2 0 1 7, the brand produced a fresh childrenswear line designed to make an impression on special occasions, and is available now. Romantic looks for little girls who want to look like princesses at summer parties include A-line dresses, broderie
anglaise tops and skirts, shirts and cardigans with jewel embellishments, as well as pieces in tulle, lurex and crisp cotton. This summer’s “preppy with personality” look for boys is a mini-version of a gentleman’s sartorial style. Pieces are sophisticated but with a playful attitude – bow-ties are printed on t-shirts, or worn with a mandarin-collar shirt in polka dot, stripe or mini anchor patterns, and paired with pique jackets, turn-up shorts and canvas slip-ons.
11 May 2017 GAZETTE 19
GAZETTE
STYLE
SUITS
YOU AT RIVER ISLAND EMMA NOLAN Style Editor
THE thought of investing in a good suit can be daunting – you have to question whether you’ll get good value for money, whether you can afford something that’s both good quality and stylish, and whether it’ll date after a season. L u c k i l y, R i ve r Island has launched a new tailoring collection with prices ranging from €45-€147, so lower suit budgets are considered. Apart from its appeal-
ing price point, the collection itself is elegant and versatile. Fits and fabrics have been chosen with the modern high street-shopping man in mind. The updated skinny, slim and tailored fit blocks are form-fitting smart essentials in the range, as bold pops of colour accent the classic palette of grey and navy. Nick Tahir, head of menswear buying at River Island, said: “We have implemented new fit blocks and a vast array of exciting new cloths and styles, keeping the quality and design handwriting that we’re known for frontof-mind throughout.” The collection is in store and online now.
River Island’s new tailoring collection has prices ranging from €45-€147
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FOOD&DRINK BITESIZEDNEWS An Innocent way to get some helpful protein in a healthy, balanced diet EMMA NOLAN
Gourmet Food Parlour Crofton Road Dun Laoghaire Although it’s part of a chain, there’s a strong flavour of individuality about the Dun Laoghaire outlet of
The Gourmet Food Parlour,
which put its own twist on some well-known dishes – to impressively delicious effect
The Picky Eater
SITUATED on Crofton Road, overlooking Dun Laoghaire harbour, there are few restaurants around Dublin that offer such beautiful scenic views. The Gourmet Food Parlour is a hidden gem amongst the many restaurants now popping up around the newly revitalised seaside town’s centre and it is one to definitely put on your to-try list. GFP Dun Laoghaire is part of a restaurant group that boasts locations all around the city, but it still manages to retain its own uniqueness that many other chain eateries tend not to do. Firstly, when you walk into the restaurant it has a funky, vibrant feel to it; it’s chic with a definite buzz about the place. It is very well laid out and offers amazing views – so try to book a table near the windows to make the most of it. The staff are very welcoming and attentive and, as an added bonus, they were very considerate of
my nut allergy, which was great as it can be a tricky subject to bring up when I dine out. We ate from the pretheatre menu which costs a very reasonable €22 and runs from 5–7pm, Wednesday to Sunday. It is a tapas menu, which I love, and I must admit I found it hard to choose just three dishes as each one sounded very appealing when I began reading the menu. I eventually decided, and chose the chicken wings in hot buffalo sauce; the Tiger prawns pil pil, in garlic, chilli, and lime with a smashed avocado toast; and the patatas bravas con chorizo. You certainly could not complain about the portions in GFP, which can only be described as extremely generous. The wings were huge, lightly crispy and golden, and had plenty of heat from the hot buffalo sauce. The Tiger prawns were cooked perfectly in the juices from the garlic,
chilli and lime and tasted divine. The smashed avocado toast was a lovely added touch, and was very refreshing on the taste buds after the spicy wings. The patatas bravas were a gluttonous delight and the chorizo certainly added an extra spicy kick to them. A nice twist on the average patatas bravas, it has to be said. My other half had the Iberico ham with caper berries, pecorino, and quince, the beef short rib crostini with Philly cheese and scallions, and the salt and pepper squid with chipotle aioli. The Iberico ham was a simple dish with outstanding flavours, the beef short rib crostini was flavoursome with the added extra of the indulgent Philly cheese which is always welcome, and the salt and pepper squid is always a dish he goes for, as it never disappoints. This time was no exception, and a special mention must go to the chipotle aioli as it was one of the
THE benefits of protein have really taken centre stage in recent years, with many food brands realising that their customers want options that are healthy and filling. Innocent Smoothies have taken this on board, with their new protein super smoothies range. With a choice of two flavours Berry, and Tropical (right), they contain a tasty blend of fruits, coconut milk and a hefty 8g of soya protein to help keep bones strong and muscles healthy too. This is a very strong choice indeed, and is a greaton-the-go option for breakfast or a handy post work out snack. Innocent protein super smoothies are available at Tesco, Dunnes Stores, Spar, Daybreak, Costcutter and Gala.
Italian experts to serve up a city centre eaterie AISLING KENNEDY
The welcoming interior provides food for the soul
best that we have tasted so far, and went very well with the squid. I would highly recommend a visit to the Gourmet Food Parlour in Dun Laoghaire. It has the best views, welcoming staff,
and delicious food. I’ll definitely be heading back for a visit again soon. For more information, see w w w.gourmetfoodparlour.com/ dun-laoghaire or call 01 280 5670.
Conclusion MAYBE you’ll go to Dun Laoghaire for the views, but you’ll stay for The Gourmet Food Parlour (at Unit 3 Harbour Square, Crofton Road, Dun Laoghaire; tel 01 280 5670). The restaurant is a must for foodies or visitors alike, serving up some unique recipes.
LEADING Irish pastry chef Aoife Noonan and pizza expert Michael Ryan will join the criticallyacclaimed Italian chef Francesco Mazzei in developing contemporary Italian food menus for The House of Peroni, which will return again to Dublin this month. The House of Peroni will open to the public at 1 Dame Lane, Dublin 2 from Thursday, May 25 until Sunday, June 4. This year, The House of Peroni will bring to life Gusto d’Italia (the flavours of Italy) with an exciting food offering that includes daily fresh pasta specials, Neapolitan-style pizza, cicchetti bites and a few fresh twists on traditional Italian gelato. Each weekend, the brunch menu will include dishes such as carbonara mac and cheese, smoked fish platter with avocado and soft-boiled egg, soft polenta sausage crumble with quail eggs, and The Italian Job – an Italian take on ‘The Full Irish’. There is no admission fee and no booking required for guests of the House of Peroni, with the restaurant working on a first-come, first-served basis for over-18s only.
11 May 2017 GAZETTE 21
Exclusive Asian cruise offer
THIS week we bring you an exclusive Click&Go cruise offer which is only available to the Irish market. How do you fancy a one-night stay in a fourstar hotel in Shanghai followed by a nine-night cruise to Japan on board Royal Caribbean’s Quantum of the Seas at a saving of €700 per person? This exclusive offer is for one date only (departing June 11) at amazing fares of €1,349 per person for an inside cabin or €1,449 for a balcony. The itinerary is fantastic: Shanghai, China - Kumamoto, Japan Kochi, Japan - Miyazaki, Japan - Shanghai, China. Price includes return flights from Dublin, all meals and snacks on board, full entertainment programme, 20kg of checked luggage plus all taxes and charges. *Prices are based on two sharing and subject to availability. Gratuities and port excursions are extra. Upgrades and other itineraries are available. Further details at www.Click&Go.com.
DEAL OF THE SUMMER? TWO WEEKS ALL-INCLUSIVE FOR LESS THAN €93 PER DAY
Make it Mexico for an epic summer getaway SYLVIA POWNALL
THIS has to be the deal of the summer – two weeks all-inclusive in Mexico for less than €93 per day. If you think about it, how much money do you spend on your summer holiday? First off there’s the actual cost of getting there: flights, baggage, transfers and your accommodation for the duration. Then once you get to your resort and you add meals, snacks and all your drinks for the week – it really adds up doesn’t it? All-inclusive packages are growing in popularity, with pretty
much everything included from food to drinks and entertainment too. The best thing about this type of holiday is that you can budget exactly what you’ll spend on your trip before you go. It means you only need money for souvenirs and any other extras and that’s it. The RIU Lupita on Mexico’s Caribbean Coast comes with a trio of pools, the main one flanked by gardens. There are four restaurants, including a Mexican a la carte and a steakhouse. Plus, live shows are on most nights of the week. The hotel is surrounded by
Deal
Long weekend in the Algarve in May. From €269pp for the 4* Paraiso de Albufeira Aparthotel. Price is per person based on two sharing in May 2017. Price includes:
The spectacular shores of Maroma Beach
• 4 nights in the 4* Paraiso de Albufeira Aparthotel, Albufeira • One bedroom apartment on an self catering basis • Return Aer Lingus flights from Dublin to Faro • Departure day, Thursday • Airport Transfers • Airport taxes & charges
Visit www.clickandgo. com or call (01) 539 7777 to talk to an experienced reservation agent today.
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Tulum’s spectacular coastline makes it one of the top coastal destinations in Mexico
tropical gardens, and there’s a free five-minute shuttle bus to the sandy beach. If it’s retail therapy you’re after, it’s just 15 minutes’ walk to the shops of Qinta Avenue in Playa del Carmen, a mile-long bustling strip perfect for evening strolls. With an average 340 days of sunshine per year this mainly expat resort near Cancun was voted in the top 10 places to visit in 2017. The beaches along this stretch of coast are gorgeous – from Playa del Carmen all the way south to Tulum and north to the spectacular shores of Maroma Beach. Splash your way among the
stalagmites and stalactites of Rio Secreto. The guided tour of the Riviera Maya’s ‘secret river’winds through a portion of a vast network of caves and cenotes. This deal at the RIU Lupita in Mexico comes in at just under €93pp per day. You’ll get your flights, transfers and 20kg baggage included and your room for the two weeks at the hotel on an all-Inclusive basis - and here’s the best bit. All Inclusive at the RIU Lupita means your breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner are included in the price you pay AS WELL AS local and imported drinks.
This hotel is 24 hour all Inclusive so it offers snacks and drinks around the clock. The only question is for less than €93 per day, can you afford not to go? I’d be quick about making up my mind if I were you…
Holiday deal
7-Jun-17, Dublin to Mexico, RIU Lupita, Playa car, 3T, All Inclusive, 14 nights from €1,299pp. Book through www.falconholidays.ie
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M50MOTORING
Fresh start for the Micra THE new Nissan Micra has all of a sudden grown up, and by introducing a one for two model move Nissan has made the car sexy in a single stroke. It has grown in size, capacity and it takes on a new persona that breaks the mould of the Micra of the past. Last week, Nissan announced a host of changes in terms of design and specifications for the latest generation Micra. You need to forget about the Micra of the past, because this new car offers so much more. This is no longer going to be the staid car of the older and more sensible drivers; even though age won’t be a deterrent to having some fun. Ev e r y t h i n g a b o u t the Micra has changed including the fact that it has replaced both the old one and the slightly bigger Note. Relative to the old Micra, the new car is longer and wider, while being lower than in the past. The design is very new and modern and it is in line with the rest of the cars in the Nissan range. On the mechanical side the new Micra has new engines, three in all, two of which are petrol, and a third diesel engine option. The petrol engines are three-cylinder ones, one of which comes with a turbo-charger, while the diesel option is the 1.5-litre Renault developed engine that’s widely used in both Nissan and Renault cars. I was surprised that Nissan didn’t introduce an electric drive option as this is very much a city car, given Nissan’s impressive Leaf electric car experience. Nissan has a new Leaf on the way for 2018 and James McCarthy, CEO of Nissan Ireland said that he would not be surprised to also see an electric version in
FASTNews Dublin grows in importance in falling national motor market NEW car sales in the Dublin region continue to grow as Ireland’s capital city region accounts for an increasing percentage of the national fleet according to the latest registration statistics issued by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI). The official statistics show that new car registrations in Dublin for the month of April account for 39.7% of
The entry model starts at €16,695 while accessorizes and specification options will tempt drivers up the price line.
all new car registrations, up from 37.4% for the same period in
Nissan Micra 1.0 petrol SPECIFICATIONS
Engine Engine power 0 – 100km/hr Economy Fuel Tank Capacity CO2 emissions Road Tax Band Main Service Warranty Entry Price
the near future. The new 0.9-litre turbo-petrol engine is an impressive one, developing 90bhp with plenty of torque at 140Nm for an engine of this size. Out on the road, the car delivered an impressive performance and on the M3 motorway to Navan it showed its ability.
0.9 litre 90hp 13.8 seconds 23km/litre (4.4/100km or 64mpg) 41 litres 99g/km A2 €180 30,000km/12 months 3 years /100,000km €16,695
Being a relatively small petrol engine can push the rev counter into the uneconomical zone and that’s when the engine r e v s c o m e cl o s e t o 3000rpm. At that speed the car achieves the motorway maximum of 120km/hr and the Micra was steady and powerful on the road
Nissan’s Micra has been a top selling starter car for generations of Irish drivers and has a reputation for being a rather timid, dull little motor. However, as Michael Moroney found this week, the new generation Micra has grown up, and far from being boring – she’s sexy.
2016. The SIMI figures
with no hint of its threecylinder design configuration. Nissan claims that this new engine has given improved fuel economy with a combined economy figure of 23km/litre (4.4/100km or 64mpg). In theory that should give a range of over 900km given the car’s 41 litre fuel tank capacity. City driving will probably be less, but it is still a relatively economical smaller car. In performance and size terms, this new Nissan Micra is a match for the best. The improved engine is great to drive and meets all of the economy and CO2 standards giving relatively low cost motoring. The turbo-petrol engine is the better option but it adds €1,000 to the entry price. This engine is more
-10% (83,831) on the
powerful and slightly more economical and that’s what you’ll be paying the extra money for. The standard specification Micra comes in the entry XE grade with a high level of specification. This includes 15-inch steel wheels/covers, LED daytime running lights, electric door mirrors with integrated turn signals, electric front windows, rear spoiler, hill start assist, trip computer with gear-shift indicator and outside temperature read-out, manual air conditioning, heightadjustable driver’s seat, rake/reach adjustable steering wheel, two-tone dashboard. The top SVE grade Micra was available to me for the car launch and that’s €4,000 more expensive than the entry car.
This version comes with 17-inch alloy wheels, Nissan Intelligent Key with engine start button, rear view camera with rear parking sensors, BOSE Personal audio system with six speakers, safety pack, leather steering wheel and gearshift, three rear headrests and SVE black and grey cloth trim. So there’s a lot of kit in there, making the car feel so much more impressive than the Micra of old. This new Micra will break the mould in terms of the car’s perception. The entry prices are temptingly competitive relative to the Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo, while this car seems bigger and is more exciting and modern to look at. The new generation Micra has changed and it’s here.
show that 33,292 new cars were registered in Dublin so far this year. The overall national car market in April was down by -24% (7,865) compared to (10,381) in April 2016. New car registrations year to date are down same period last year (93,205). The decline in new car sales in the Dublin region was 4%, which is significantly lower than the national average decline of 10% for the year to date. The Hyundai Tucson remains Ireland’s best-selling car, followed by the Nissan Qashqai, Skoda Octavia, Ford Focus and Volkswagen Golf. Toyota remains the top-selling brand and grey was the most popular car colour in Ireland so far this year. Registrations of light commercial vehicles are also showing a decline with the April market in Ireland down by a massive 25% compared with April 2016.
11 May 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 23
5 Series gets top marks in Euro NCAP results EURO NCAP recently released the crash test results of two new cars – the BMW 5 Series which achieved a top five-star safety rating; and Fiat’s made-over Doblo which received three stars. The seventh-generation BMW 5 Series continues its successful track record in Euro NCAP’s executive car segment. The car showed good all-round performance in crash protection and avoidance tests thanks to its new platform, body and updated safety features. Track tests demonstrated that the autonomous braking system can effectively assist the driver in avoiding or mitigating critical rear-end crashes with other cars and pedestrians. With an 81% score, the 5-series particularly impressed in pedestrian safety through its standard-fit “Person Warning”
system and active bonnet. Thirteen years after the tests on the original Fiat Doblo, Euro NCAP has taken another look at the versatile small MPV. The latest generation Doblo was already introduced in 2010 and is also sold by Opel and Vauxhall brands as Combo. The version tested by Euro NCAP is the 2015 Doblo facelift that includes, apart from small safety updates, cosmetic upgrades aimed at extending the lifecycle of the car. The three-star Euro NCAP safety rating, however, reveals the car’s true age and highlights the lack of ambition to compete on safety with other, more modern competitors in the segment. The Opel/Vauxhall Combo has not received a similar facelift, so would be expected to end up with even fewer stars, but Opel have their eyes fixed on
the future. Euro NCAP’s Secretary General, Michiel van Ratingen, said, “Fiat’s line-up now features several cars that have been on the market for a long
time and their safety is well behind the class leaders. Opel have made a clear decision not to implement the changes that Fiat made to get to a threestar rating, but instead have
focussed their attention on a complete new Combo, that is being co-developed with Opel’s new owners, PSA, and which Euro NCAP expects to test early next year. In this
release, however, BMW has led the way with a new 5 Series that features lots of driver assistance systems which Euro NCAP believes will transform safety in the years to come.”
The seventh-generation BMW 5 Series continues its successful track record in Euro NCAP
LDV offers new electric people carrier
THE LDV range, which is imported into Ireland by the Harris Group, is growing its electric vehicle (EV) fleet. Its latest zero-emission model, the EG10 is the second EV from LDV, and follows last year’s unveiling of the EV80. Prices are not yet confirmed for the new model The new EG10 claims a driving with a range of 160km (100 miles) on a single battery charge. The Harris Group says that this model will be followed by petrol and diesel variants. The new LDV EG10 is a large people carrier available in two models, Flagship and Elite. It is powered by a Ternary Lithium battery, with peak power of 190bhp (150kw) and an impressive peak torque of 800Nm. The specification includes a progressive, pure electric power system that claims to provide a highly- efficient, steady power supply and an electric parking braking (EPB) system that is claimed to be both convenient and dependable. The EG10 comes with a multi-function steering wheel, front and back radars and a rear camera. The EG10 is fitted with dual sliding doors and keyless entry. There is a 6-way adjustable driver seat to suit driving height preferences. The 5.2m capacity claims to provide extra leg room and space for longer journeys.
Next-gen Yaris adds to Toyota’s hybrid arsenal
TOYOTA’S new Yaris sees significant improvements to the outgoing model’s design. Toyota claims that the car brings more dynamic performance and styling. T he new Yaris has 900 new par ts compared with the outgoing model and gives Toyota a unique offering in hybrid drive for the smaller car market. The Yaris is now available in five grade options: Terra, Aura Luna, Luna Sport and Sol, four of which, uniquely for the B segment, are all available in hybrid. Toyota says hybrids currently account for more than 35% of Yaris sales in Ireland. The new Yaris comes with more refined front and rear designs that give the car a more active and dynamic look. There are some interior changes and new colour choices available.
The hybrid version remains a unique option in its segment, with bestin-class CO2 emissions. Toyota claims that the Yaris Hybrid noise and vibration levels have been significantly reduced with new engine mounts, roll restrictor, front driveshaft and sub frame. New-design engine mounting system, shock absorber adjustments and retuned electric power steering claim to improve Yaris Hybrid’s ride comfort and steering accuracy. Toyota says that the new Yaris brings bigcar safety into a small, city-sized package with the adoption of Toyota Safety Sense as standard across the range. This feature comes with a Pre-Collision System with Autonomous Emergency Braking, Automatic High Beam, and Lane Depar-
ture Alert. Road Sign Assist is also available as standard on all but the Luna grade. Toyota has added a new 111bhp, 1.5-litre petrol engine to the range offering. This new engine is designed to meet more stringent emissions standards and “real world” fuel economy measurement. The new engine claims to deliver 10%
more power and torque than the previous 1.33litre engine, yet also posts an improvement in fuel economy of up to 12%. Toyota will be offering four engine choices in the new Yaris, 1.0 and 1.5 litre petrol engines, a 1.4 litre D4D diesel engine and an improved hybrid petrol engine choice. Entry prices start from €15,950 for the 1.0-litre three-door version.
Entry prices start at €15,950, before delivery charges
GAZETTE
24 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 11 May 2017
DUBLINLIFE
CINEMA
ReelReviews
KING ARTHUR
Not very Excaliburing WITH Michael Bay soon to unleash his latest truly terrible Transformers film – and this one incorporates King Arthur as another cinema sin – Charlie Hunnam steps up to star in Guy Ritchie’s King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (Cert 12A, 126 mins) first. It’s a gritty yet fairly standard big budget beefcake blockbuster telling of Arfur and friends – best of all, not a Transformer in sight!
Following the old rule of ‘The enemy of my enemy is the guy I’ll bust out of this joint with’, Rocket (Bradley Cooper) and Yondu (Michael Rooker) team up in a highlight of the film
GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY VOL. 2: AN ENTERTAINING, NEON-SOAKED SEQUEL
THE PROMISE
A worthy historical tale CHRISTIAN Bale steps up to deliver a typically intense performance in The Promise (Cert 12A, 133 mins), which delves into the complex and almost completely unexplored (by Western cinema) Armenian Genocide, which saw 1.5 million people killed around 1915. There’s a lot to take in here with a complex tale to get to grips with, but it’s a decent cinematic stab at the barbaric incident.
THEIR FINEST
But not the stars’... EVERYONE loves character actor Bill Nighy, but his straightforward admission that he never watches any of the films he makes comes to mind with Their Finest (Cert 12A, 117 mins). Nighy’s on typical scenestealing form, but the film itself – another rosy-eyed look back at The Blitz and brave Lahndaners – is fairly forgettable fare. So, be like Bill, and don’t bother watching this one ...
Volumes of character
MARVEL’S 2012 “surprise” hit Guardians of the Galaxy appealed to our sense of humour, our sense of adventure and our yearning for genuine human (whatever the species) characters, warts and all – characters we learned to love as much for their insecurities and inconsistent quirks as their heroics. Consequently, the outthere space opera struck a chord with audiences young and old – a sequel was inevitable. Director James Gunn returns to the helm for Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (Cert 12A, 120 mins), making great effort to deliver on the promise of the original with its loveable crew, unique humour and way-over the top action and space adventure. However, perhaps for the first time since 2007’s Iron Man, Marvel have
MARTIN MACNAMARA
somewhat veered from their winning formula, omitting some key ingredients in their recipe for success and instead allowing the film to play out as somewhat of a – dare I say it – character study. As a sequel, Vol. 2 is stripped of the need for deep exposition and build-up; instead, it jumps straight into the action and digs a whole lot deeper into characterisation. Here, Gunn focuses on family drama rather than formulaic world-saving action (don’t worry – there’s time for some of that too). When we first meet
them, Peter Quill (Chris Pratt) and the Guardians have been hired by an alien race called The Sovereign to protect a precious array of batteries. When genetically engineered raccoon Rocket (Bradley Cooper) decides to take some for himself, The Sovereign hunt down the team, who only manage to escape certain doom thanks to the sudden appearance of a man claiming to be Peter’s father, Ego (Kurt Russell). As exciting as it is to see Russell enter the fray, Guardians 2 is a little too eager to show off its new character, shifting that emotional payload too early and denying the audience some muchneeded narrative build up. The sudden plot turn feels unearned. Indeed, that’s the one glaring problem here – the film’s narrative step is a little off, missing the riv-
eting pace of the original. We spend much of its two-hour run-time wondering where in the galaxy all this action and excitement is actually going. Beyond Quill’s budding relationship with his father, some soul searching on Yondu’s (Michael Rooker) part and furious sisterly drama between Gamora (Zoe Saldana) and Nebula (Karen Gillan), there’s very little resembling a plot to be found throughout the film’s first two acts. Still, Guardians 2 is a delight to watch, packed with impeccable character, creature and set design; an aesthetic that harks back to the eccentric indulgences of 70’s sci-fi rather than the slick, cool sheen of its contemporaries. The action is wonderfully cartoonish and the characters as loveable as ever, includ-
ing Dave Bautista as the hilariously literal Drax. Rooker’s Yondu is the standout here, delivering the best jokes and carrying out the best action with ultra-cool ease in the film’s most original action setpiece. Significantly, Yondu is there to deliver the film’s most important message to all the millions of kids who’ve come to worship this once u n k n ow n , unlikely group of superheroes. Guard ians 2 has cemented itself as the superhero
franchise with the most heart; Vol. 2 takes several leaps further in that direction. Despite its middling pace, Guardian 2 is always ‘on’, bursting at the seams with crude charm. While it’s unfortunate that it takes so long to find its feet, the deviation in formula allows everything to feel surprisingly fresh, despite occasionally diminishing returns.
Verdict: 7/10 The Sovereign’s leader, Ayesha (Elizabeth Debicki) provides an interesting secondary villain
11 May 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 25
Hank Scorpio
GAZETTE
TECH TRAILER: MASSIVELY INFLUENTIAL FILM’S SEQUEL DRAWS NEAR
“Don’t look at me – I’m the wrong Scorpio! Do you want some sugar? Now, run!”
What Microsoft could learn from everyone’s favourite supervillain SCORPIO looks well on track to make quite an impact on the world. No, not Hank Scorpio – everybody’s favourite most-awesomest-boss-ever-and-incidental-supervillain from The Simpsons, way back near the last ice age when the clapped-out show was still any good – but Microsoft’s Scorpio, AKA its next games console, though I’d expect that name to change. While the XBox One definitely had and has some absolutely terrific console-exclusive games and franchises, it’s widely regarded as trailing Sony’s PlayStation 4, with some terrible PR blunders along the way that didn’t help its image, and sales. Perhaps Microsoft have learned from those mistakes – Scorpio’s hardware is by all accounts, pretty impressive, going way past ‘mere’ 4K rendering to showcase even greater detail, at least via the tech demos The equally powerful (and less that have been showdangerous) other Scorpio cased. Once industry figures and innovators start seeing the tech, it’s usually a sign the hardware is well on the way – XBox head honcho Phil Spencer has just come out to say Scorpio is well on track for release, so we could well see it later this year. However, a much bigger issue will be to see if the company learns from its mistakes and can convince gamers that its focus with Scorpio will be games, games, games – rather than trying to position it as an entertainment hub that’s also a console, or vice versa. That kind of between-two-stools positioning spooked gamers when the XBox One came out, dealing it an early body blow from which, debatably, the console never truly recovered. And, with rumours of Sony tinkering with a new console to release next year – yes, even after its barely released PS4 Pro has made much of a mark on the gaming world – Scorpio really needs to learn from its Simpsons namesake. Namely, it needs to move fast, act decisively, hire the right people, have clear plans, and maintain a clear focus on world domination – at least, in gaming terms. If Microsoft can do all that, Scorpio should be able to create the right kind of “D’oh!” for the company …
The original Blade Runner continues to be referenced in many games today – but can its sequel (above) have the same impact, some 35 years later?
Blade Runner 2049
Harrison Ford and Ryan Gosling lead, with hopes that the first film’s enigmatic mood can be recreated
Broaden your photo horizons VERY quickly ... I don’t often refer to game updates, but Horizon Zero Dawn has just released a new automatically installed patch that adds even more options for in-game photographers. The PS4 game is great fun to play – as well as being one of the best-looking games of this generation – with the extra camera options added by the update making it even easier to create some pretty stunning images.
TECH purists may disagree, but this next bit absolutely belongs here rather than on the Cinema page – after months of teaser trailers, a proper trailer for Blade Runner 2049 has just been released, and as we all know, Blade Runners hunt replicants, and replicants are androids, and androids are pure tech, so there! After an awfully, awfully long wait (some 35 years or so) for fans of the truly classic sci-fi original to get a sequel, the new trailer suggests that much of the look and tone of the original film has been successfully captured. While the first film had mixed reviews – to say the least – it’s now regarded as a true cinema
SHANE DILLON sdillon@dublingazette.com
classic that had a significant cultural impact. It’s also a film which had an enormous and continuing impact on many games, from the cyberpunk thrillers that were once all the rage to more modern contemplative games about identity and purpose. To this very day, games and cinema alike continue to give nods to the seminal film in everything from design to visuals, stor y
and tone, making it a cross-cultural milestone to celebrate. As a disclaimer, I played the point-andcl i c k B l a d e R u n n e r adventure game on PC yonks ago, and proved utterly rubbish at chasing down and ‘retiring’ replicants, which probably all subsequently enjoyed brief but fulfilling lives murdering humans because I was the Worst Cop Ever in that city. Sorry about that. You’ll have to wait until October 6 for Blade Runner 2049’s standard, 3D and IMAX release, but check out Ryan Gosling and Harrison Ford in the trailer, today, with some screengrabs here to help whet your appetite ...
26 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 11 May 2017
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SPORT
FastSport DUKE RETURNS TO IRISH SIDE FOR USA TOUR: UCD captain Deirdre Duke will return to the Irish senior women’s international hockey side for their nine-day tour to Pennsylvania which gets underway on May 22. The striker led her club to a national trio of titles this season but missed out on Ireland’s victory at the World League Round 2 in January due to a shoulder injury. She is one of eight players added to the squad of 22 players with Ellen Curran from Hermes-Monkstown - the freshest face in the panel following her exploits with the Irish Under18s last summer. Railway Union’s Grace O’Flanagan comes back in as one of two goalkeepers in the panel ahead of UCD’s Clodagh Cassin. Loreto’s Ali Meeke, UCD’s Emma Russell, former Old Alex player Emily Beatty - now based in Belgium - Loreto’s Ali Meeke and HermesMonkstown’s Sinead Loughran are other returnees.
RUGBY: DUBLIN CLUB OUT-SCORE CON BY THREE TRIES TO ONE BUT STILL LOSE
Tarf foiled at final hurdle as Quinlan kicks Cork to UBL win
UBL DIVISION 1A FINAL Cork Constitution 25 Clontarf 21 JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com
CLONTARF fell just short as handling errors and penalties cost them in the Ulster Bank Division 1A final at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday as Cork Constitution held on to defeat their long-time rivals by 25 to 21. The Dublin side, bidding to maintain the title in their third consecutive final, faced a Cork Con squad looking to take title out of Leinster for the first time since their last win in 2010. And the Cork side drew first blood after four minutes through the boot of the impressive Thomas Quinlan. Quinlan added a second from another penalty with 11 minutes on the clock but, despite Constitution’s 6-0 lead, there were promising early signs for Clontarf, especially in some powerful forward play. It was the backs who were to make the breakthrough with a fine, battering run from Michael McGrath ending with a tee-up try for Matthew D’Arcy through the middle of the Constitution
Cork Con’s Gavin Duffy and Clontarf’s Ben Reilly. Picture: Morgan Treacy/Inpho
defence. McGrath had bashed away several of the Cork side’s backs on his way through the line, having been played in with a midfield switch. David Joyce converted to put Clontarf 7-6 in front. Constitution had much of the territory, however, and after Quinlan kicked them back in front with a third three-pointer, a period of pressure on the Clontarf line saw the Cork side
twice kick for the corner, only to concede a penalty right on the Clontarf goalline. By all rights, Clontarf should have conceded. Instead, they battered their way into the Constitution half with key man McGrath stretching over for a contentious TMO try and a 14-9 lead through Joyce’s conversion. Their habit of conceding kickable penalties, however, was to mean a two tries to nil difference at half time met Quinlan’s
accurate kicking, and amounted to only 14-12 in Clontarf’s favour on the scoreboard, a lead they were fortunate to hold. Quinlan kicked Constitution back in front after halftime before a break from the Cork side – somewhat against the run of play – saw their first try of the game, finished off by Rob Jermyn after a Gerry Sweeney run to give Constitution a buffer at 22-14. Clontarf, for all their flair, were
simply not taking their chances and only a Michael Brown interception prevented Constitution from breaking through again. With Clontarf scrum half Sam Cronin sent to the sin bin on 59 minutes and Quinlan adding his seventh successful kick, Constitution looked huge odds on favourites. Unusually, the Cronin sin bin led to a period of dominance for the 14 men. Five minutes of sustained pressure on the Constitution line eventually set up the grandstand finale, with Michael Kearney tumbling over to close the gap to four point at 25-21 in Constitution’s favour. In the period that followed, Clontarf could – and arguably should – have won the game. Constitution’s habit of punting the ball back to the opposition was met only with a couple of fatal errors in a poor quality period, however, and the Cork side held out, 25 to 21. “This is special,” Constitution’s Quinlan reflected after the game, calling Clontarf a “super side”. The side that finished fourth in the regular season table to Clontarf’s second, though, were the ones to take the silverware.
McIntyre sisters Kill off Spartans in Premier final BERNARD DUFF sport@dublingazette.com
KADCA Killers’ Norma McIntyre. Picture: Jurij Smakov
KADCA Killers enjoyed the perfect finale to an anniversary season last Friday night as Badminton Premier League finals took place in a packed Terenure Badminton Centre. South Dublin Spartans, a feeder club from the Whitehall Road Junior Badminton Club formed in 2011, were the home side, taking on Baldoyle-based KADCA. The KADCA club, originally from Killester, have just finished their 40th anniversary and this was a chance
to end their year in style as well make up for defeat in last year’s inaugural BPL final. The first two rubbers in the final were the men’s singles and women’s singles. They were shared with victory for KADCA’s current Ireland international Sara Boyle over Vicky Pesti (3-0) with Spartans’ Tony Stephenson beating Mark Brady (3-0). Matches three and four were also shared meaning that it was two-a-piece with five rubbers to play. The Paul Reynolds/Mark Topping pairing won the first men’s doubles match for Spar-
tans. Sarah Boyle/Lauren Au took the first women’s doubles match for KADCA, keeping parity going once again. There was little to separate the sides. The next two matches both went to five sets and this would decide the final. Both matches went in favour of KADCA Killers. Ciaran Chambers/Mark Brady beat Tony Stephenson/Jack O’Brien in their fifth set as did Norma McIntyre/ Cara Elmes over Vicky Pesti/ Karen Nelson. From 7-3 down in the fifth, the McIntyre sisters fought back to
win 11-9. After the match, Norma McIntrye said: “It was a rollercoaster of a match. One team would win a couple of points and the other would get it back. “It might have been the experience of my sister and I that won it in the end.” Asked if they know how crucial the match was, Norma said: “No, it would have been a very different game for all players if we had realised that result on the night came down to those few points”. The remaining three rubbers went 2-1 in KADCA’s favour, sealing a 6-3 overall win.
11 May 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 29
GAZETTE
FASTSport
World medals on the mind of Natalya Coyle
Reflecting on her seventh place finish at the 2016 Olympics, the penathlete is keen to kick on further this year and push for the podium as she realises how close the summit of the sport is JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com
Six Dublin primary sides set for Leinster finals OUR Lady’s Milltown, Central Model School on Marlborough Street and St Ciaran’s Hartstown’s soccer teams are among the Dublin sides to contest the provincial finals of the SPAR FAI Primary School 5s Programme on Thursday, May 11 at the MDL grounds in Navan. They emerged from the Dublin county finals that featured 288 students and 36 schools in April to represent the county on the provincial stage with the dream of an All-Ireland stage on May 31 in the Aviva Stradium the target. The A Cup, open to boys and/or mixed teams from small schools, had 10 passionate schools taking part in Dublin. Our Lady’s, Milltown triumphed in what was a thrilling contest. The B Cup, for medium sized schools, again proved to be a compelling division with four teams involved. The final was eventually decided on by a narrow margin. Central Model School proved a little too strong over a talented St Mary’s, Booterstown side. The C Cup for large schools, was another hard fought contest between four very talented schools. St Ciaran’s eventually came out on top of the large schools division thanks to a win on penalties over Ballyroan BNS. The girls side of the competition was also played in Abbotstown recently. In the A Cup, for small schools, St Damian’s, Walkinstown defeated Good Shepherd, Churchtown in a really exciting and hard fought match to retain their title. The B Cup for medium sized schools saw Gaelscoil Cholmcille seal qualification to the next stage after they overcame a tough challenge from St. Patrick’s, Chapelizod. Our Lady of Good Counsel, Johnstown put in a fine display against St Vincent de Paul Girls to progress from the C Cup division for large schools. Our Lady of Good Counsel, Johnstown finished off the tournament unbeaten and look in fine form heading into the Leinster finals. The SPAR FAI Primary School 5s Programme competition has been in existence since the mid 1990s and has 28,256 participants from 1,483 schools involved this year, a 19% surge from last year.
NATALYA Coyle has spelled out her key goals for the coming year, as the pentathlete – one of Ireland’s best performers at the 2016 Rio Olympics – also continues in her role as an Aramark wellness ambassador. “It is a quiet year compared to an Olympic year,” she told the Gazette. “But I have the world championships. “I’ll be competing in the mixed relay with Arthur [Lanigan O’Keeffe, a fellow Dublin-based Olympian] in August. I’m really look forward to that. Pentathlon is a great individual sport, but that can also be isolating at times and Arthur’s great fun to work
with. He’s very lively and passionate about it all. I’m a bit more reserved, so we work well together.” Having had time to reflect, Coyle describes her Olympic performance in Rio as a “Catch 22”. She finished seventh overall, probably slightly above expectations going into the event. Coyle, who went to school at King’s Hospital in Palmerstown, said: “I gave it my all and went all out for personal bests which I got. But, of course, you can’t help thinking that it was so close. It was a good performance but it could have been something really special. My main aim now is to medal at the worlds.” Coyle’s training this year involves a gruelling
routine of 20-25 hours a week across the various sports. Pentathlon competitors compete in fencing, 200 metre freestyle swimming, show jumping and a final combined running and shooting event, meaning there’s a real range of disciplines to be developed and sustained. “I train six days a week, and divide my days into power days and technical days,” she says of her schedule. “On power days, I’ll be running and swimming, and on technical days its gym and fencing. It’s great having the institute of sport [an everdeveloping campus alongside the National Aquatic Centre in Blanchardstown], as all my coaches are there, all the experts are there. It definitely
Natayla Coyle is looking forward to this year’s pentathlon world championships. Picture: James Crombie/Inpho
makes life a lot easier.” One of the key areas of pentathlon has long been fencing. Relatively small differences in performance in the event can cause a huge swing in the overall results and event winners almost invariably come near the top of the field with the sabre in their hand. “There’s a lot of pres-
explains. “Most people only get an hour and a half to two hours exercise in a day, research shows.” We joke that Coyle probably has the average amount of exercise for the week done by 10am on Monday but the 26-yearold remembers her youth being very different to behaviour today, even with the relatively short
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‘I gave it my all but, of course, you can’t help thinking it was was so close [to a medal]’ - Natalya Coyle on Rio 2016
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sure on the fencing portion,” Coyle admits. “You can really dig yourself a hole mentally if you’re not careful. It’s important not to put yourself under pressure, and to make sure you take each hit separately, focus on each round.” As for the recent alteration of Olympic results due to drugs, Coyle says “you can’t think about that when you’re competing. There’s enough to worry about with getting in the right mind frame. You can’t think the right way if you’re worrying if you’re on a level playing field.” Last year, as well as the Olympics, Coyle took on a role as a wellness ambassador for Aramark, something she has just renewed, and is clearly passionate about. “I take part in wellness projects with young people in schools,” she
time that has passed. “The statistics on inactivity today are stark,” she says. “There’s just not enough exercise being done. “When I was young, I played sport for fun; I never thought I’d be good enough to go to an Olympics but I’m competitive by nature, and spent my summers with friends competing. A lot of children seem to sit inside playing games today. “I understand for some people it’s a safety concern but after school we’d always have been outside running around, not playing Playstation.” “I work as an ambassador because I think it’s so important this stuff changes.” With a wide variety of experience to draw on, and having gone to the very top of the sport, there could be few better spokespeople.”
GAZETTE
30 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 11 May 2017
SPORT
FASTSport
SOCCER: LIFFEY WANDERERS GET PROMOTION BONUS AHEAD OF FINAL
Sheriff contest fourth FAI final in five seasons SHERIFF YC will contest their fourth FAI Junior Cup final in five years when they take on Kilkenny side Evergreen FC at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday. The Dubliners beat Pike Rovers 1-0 in last year’s final but were surprise losers to fellow Dubs’ Liffey Wanderers the year before. Their two other final appearances saw them secure back to back victories over Kilbarrack United. Sheriff have dominated junior football over the last few years, winning the AUL Premier A six times over the last seven years and while they are third in the table this season they are five points off the top with four games in hand over both teams ahead of them. They have also won the Leinster junior cup three times since 2013 and will have the chance to make it four when they meet Collinstown FC in a mouth-watering decider. Last year’s Leinster final was against upcoming opponents Evergreen as the Dubliners took home the trophy after a 2-0 win. The Kilkenny side will be also be looking for revenge for that defeat in what is their first FAI Junior Cup final since 1984. Sheriff reached the final by squeezing past Killarney Celtic on penalties after a 1-1 draw – goalkeeper Lee Murphy went from zero to hero in that game after conceding a penalty in the last minute of extra time, but atoning for his error by converting one and saving two during the shoot-out. Murphy will need to be at his best once again against Evergreen if he is to prevent former Shamrock Rovers striker Mikey Drennan from finding the back of the net on Saturday. Anybody who fancies their chances of scoring a penalty against a celebrity goalkeeper on the Aviva pitch, meanwhile, should bring their boots with them to the game. This will enter them into a draw for a chance to be one of 10 people given the opportunity to win prizes ranging from signed boots to gear for their local team. The players will then take to the pitch for the final, with kickoff set for 6pm.
Liffey Wanderers before their recent FAI Senior Cup tie against Everton in Cork
Three leagues high and rising sport@dublingazette.com
L I F F E Y Wa n d e r e r s ’ purple patch continues apace as they recently secured their four th promotion in a row, the perfect tonic ahead of Saturday’s FAI Umbro Intermediate Cup final. Next season will see the club compete in the second tier of Sunday football as a 3-0 win over Maynooth University Town last weekend saw them guarantee a finish in the top three of the LSL Sunday Senior 1A. In fact, they currently occupy top spot with a
five-point advantage and a game in hand over second placed Tullamore Town so they are in a strong position to add the league title to go with promotion. Against May nooth, Wanderers got off to a great start and took the lead after just four minutes when winger Clayton Maher’s crosscome-shot ended up in the back of the net. It was another goal for Maher who has had an impressive season. Maher was involved again 10 minutes later as the home side doubled their advantage. He
BASKETBALL MASTERS Thirty eight sides set for fifth annual event THE FIFTH Dublin Masters International
Basketball Tournament takes place this weekend, May 12 to 14, across a number of playing venues in South Dublin. This year’s tournament is the biggest so far and has grown to be one of the biggest in Europe with 38 teams competing across three age categories – Over 40 Men, Over 40 Ladies and Over 50 Men. This year’s tournament hosts teams from Russia, Slovenia, Lithuania, Estonia, Italy, England, Scotland, Belgium and a host of Irish teams.
worked his way down the wing before putting a cross into the box that top scorer Aidan Roche got on the end of to convert past the keeper. Roche then got his second of the game to wrap up the win for his side. As well as their success rising through the league divisions, Wanderers have a great record in cup competitions. They won the FAI Junior Cup in 2015 thanks to an extraordinary win over the mighty Sheriff and, two years on from that success, the team will now compete in this year’s Intermedi-
ate Cup final. Wanderers reached the final thanks to a 2-0 win over College Corinthians in the semi-finals. After making the trip down to Cork, they had to play the majority of the match with 10 men despite having a player sent off early on and conceding a penalty just before the break. They still managed to progress after scoring twice during the last quarter of the game. The quarter final wasn’t plain sailing for the Dubliners either as a 2-2 draw with Edenderry Town FC saw the tie
go to a replay. A trip to Offaly looked daunting for Wanderers but they once again managed to defy the odds by securing a 2-0 victory after a penalty from Carl O’Brien on 12 minutes was followed up by a Gary Young strike 13 minutes later. The final will not be easy for Wanderers as a very strong Cobh Wanderers side stand in their way. It is the first time Wanderers have reached this stage of the competition, while Cobh will be taking part in the decider for the first time since 1983.
11 May 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 31
GAZETTE
FOOTBALL: CLONTARF MAN LOOKING FORWARD TO RETURN
LEINSTERFINAL
Jack McCaffrey at AIB’s ‘Club Fuels County’ launch of the senior football championship. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
McCaffrey’s African inspiration for Dubs sport@dublingazette.com
CLONTARF Jack McCaffrey is zoning in on a return to championship action against either Carlow or Wexford in early June after he took a year out from the Dubs in 2016 Indeed, it’s fair to say that 2015 Footballer of the Year doesn’t follow the herd. Yet there was still huge surprise when Dublin’s All-Star wing-back took a pretty left-field decision last year. A great chance of a third All-Ireland title beckoned yet he took the summer off from football. It was a decision that reflected an independent thinker for whom Gaelic is a joy but never a chore or obsession. After winning a Sigerson with UCD the young medical student took a break to do an 11-week trip in Africa, where he was an ambassador for GOAL, visiting their many projects and doing a stint in a hospital. He got back home in August, just in time to watch the Dubs’ All-Ireland semi-final against Kerry from the stands, but
his time away was a football-free zone. “I was in Dar es Salaam [in Tanzania] for the Donegal game and managed to get wi-fi to watch it but, otherwise, apart from getting the texts with the Clontarf results, the football was left behind,” he says. Last summer’s trip wasn’t McCaffrey’s first visit to Africa. It was prompted by his family’s month-long stay there when he was just 14, which included a visit to a small charity in Zambia. But he’s keen to play down any noble aspirations, saying it was just something that appealed to him to give him a complete break from football which he’s been immersed in since his early teens. He lost an All-Ireland minor final to Tipperary in 2011 and won an Under-21 a year later – managed by Jim Gavin – when Pat Gilroy also added him to the county senior panel and he won the first of his two senior All-Irelands and was voted Young Footballer of the Year. “I love Gaelic, it wasn’t
that I wanted a complete disconnect, but when you’re there [Africa] it’s such a different sphere,” he explains. McCaffrey’s trip to Africa did gave him a new perspective on life and he has no regrets about missing out last year’s thrilling two-game All-Ireland saga. “You look down on the parade before the game and you’re like, ‘it would be cool to be down there’, but once the ball is thrown in you’re just effing and blinding along with everyone beside you,” he says. “It was just a matter of thinking ‘what do I really
enjoy doing?’ when I got back and the answer is playing football at the highest level I can. Luckily, Jim invited me back in and it’s going well.” A hamstring injury kept him out of the National League final when Dublin lost their title to Kerry but he is now raring to go again. “Playing for Dublin is a massive honour and a huge privilege, it’s something you should have to work hard for,” McCaffrey reflects. We all just go at it, toeto-toe and see what championship team comes together.”
The Dublin Under-14 side celebrate their victory. Picture: GAAPics.com
Mangan’s second half double propels U-14s DUBLIN captured the Leinster Under-14 championship title for the first time in three years on Saturday following a 14-point, 3-14 to 1-6, win over Meath in Clane. The opening half of the contest between these two great rivals was a somewhat nervy affair as both sides took time to settle. Dublin, with the aid of a strong breeze, took a slender two point lead into the half time dressing room despite Meath bagging the opening goal of the game when Nicole Smith was on target for the Royals in the 21st minute to reduce the deficit to 0-6 to 1-1 at the break. The girls from the capital upped their game in the second half playing with much more confidence and indeed conviction. Indeed, the game as a contest was over after a couple of quickfire goals in the 37th and 39th minutes when corner forward Eimear Mangan netted twice for the Dubs, much to the delight of the large support in attendance. Dublin grew in confidence as the game progressed despite the best efforts of the girls from the Royal County. The contest was sealed for Dublin in the 56th minute when Ciara O’Connor kicked a high ball into the danger area only to lob and deceive Meath keeper Amy O’Leary. Aoife O’Sullivan, Roisin Quigley, Eimear Mangan and Aoibhinn McCarthy shone brightly for Dublin while Alanna McNulty, Siofra Murphy and Nicole Smith gave wholehearted performances for the Royals. Next Saturday Dublin will compete in the All Ireland Under-14 blitz in Portlaoise.
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GAZETTESPORT
ALL OF YOUR DUBLIN CITY SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31
JACK’S BACK: McCaffrey looking forward to battling his way back into Jim Gavin’s championship team P31
MAY 11 -17, 2017
FIGHTING ON FIVE FRONTS: Pentathlon star Coyle eyes up world championship medal P29
The St Kevin’s SFAI final teams, clockwise from top left, at Under-16s, Under-14, Under-12 and Under-13 level
Kevin’s fantastic four
Shanowen Road club relocates to Jackson Park, Kilternan for the weekend to contest four SFAI All-Ireland club titles, showing their incredible strength
KARL GRAHAM
sport@dublingazette.com
ST KEVIN’S Boys are looking to make history this weekend as they attempt to win four of the five SFAI all-Ireland trophies on offer and, in turn, cement their position as the best schoolboy club in the country. The club’s Under-12s, Under-13s, Under-14s and Under-16s will all compete in the final of their age group, while the Under-15 side were unlucky to be knocked out by eventual semi-finalists St Joseph’s Boys. Between the different sides, the club have travelled up and down the country as they came up against teams from numerous different counties, all vying to land the top prize in
schoolboy football. The Under-14s have the task of trying to get the club off to a good start when they take to the field against Belvedere FC at Jackson Park in Kilternan on Saturday at 12pm. They reached this stage by hammering Cherry Orchard 5-0 in the final of the DDSL section, before dispatching of Dublin Trio Knockmitten United, Cherry Orchard and Crumlin United to reach the semi-finals. Kevin’s drew a home tie for that game against Cork’s Midleton and ran out easy 3-0 winners. Once that game ends, the Under-16 side will take to the same pitch at 2pm with Mervue United standing in their way of success. They actually lost their DDSL final 2-1 against Athlone Town
but defeated Ringmahon Rangers, Drogheda Town, Corduff and Villa to reach the all-Ireland final. Sunday sees the two youngest sides make their way to Jackson Park to tackle their finals, with the Under-12s game against Shamrock Rovers up first at 12pm. The two sides have already met in the DDSL final with Kevin’s winning that tie 3-1. They then saw off Ringmahon Rangers, Ardee Celtic, Cardonagh and Midleton to book their place in the decider. Last up is the Under-13 side that will go head to head with Dublin rivals St Joseph’s Boys at 2pm. The two met in the regional playoffs of the DDSL section and it will be Kevin’s who will be seeking revenge after losing that game 3-1.
They will, however, have gained great confidence by taking apart Kells Blackwater FC, Belvedere, Cappry Rovers and Evergreen during a 21 goal run to the final. It is another big weekend for everybody involved at Kevin’s to look forward to with the club still fresh from their successful Academy Cup that saw Barcelona, Olympique Marseille, Deportivo La Coruna and West Bromwich Albion all visit Shanowen Park. They have also being in the news recently due to the difficulties they have experienced trying to become part of the FAI’s new national leagues – a situation that places a question mark over the continued existence of a club that has produced several international stars from the past and present.