Dublin Gazette: City Edition

DublinGazette JAN 30-FEB 5, 2020

GENERAL ELECTION 2020: This week

we bring you a full list of the candidates across the Dublin area SEE PAGES 17-20

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THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM THE DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL AREA

Council opposes plan for apartments RACHEL D’ARCY

BASKETBALL:

Party time for Killester as long wait ends. SEE P36

CityEdition

DUBLIN City Council (DCC) chief executive Owen Keegan has recommended to An Bord Pleanala (ABP) that planning permission for 675 apartments adjacent to St Anne’s Park be refused.

The controversial project took a new turn this week as DCC’s Keegan submitted a report to ABP, saying that the development by Crekav Trading isn’t ‘consist-

ent’ with the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022, and would be ‘contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development’ of the locality.

The new application, lodged in October 2019, states that the developers are looking to build 675 apartments across nine blocks, ranging in height from five to nine storeys across the 65,125sq m site.

Keegan also stated that there are ‘sig-

nificant outstanding’ biodiversity issues surrounding the development on the St Paul’s playing fields.

Residents in the Raheny area that are part of the I Love St Anne’s Facebook group agreed with the points put forward by Keegan, and have supported the rejection of the planning application by ABP.

POLSKA GAZETA

Check out the first of our new section for the Polish Community as we speak to the New Polish Ambassador SEE PAGE 26

SEE FULL STORY ON PAGE 4

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 30 January 2020

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‘NO URGENCY TO CLEAN LOCALE BY COUNCIL’

Residents ‘sick’ of level of dumping  RACHEL D’ARCY

FASTNews Campbell gets Dublin Town Chairman call-up DUBLINTOWN HAS appointed Managing Director of Bewley’s Grafton Street Cól Campbell as its new Chairperson.

In his new role, Campbell will represent 2,500 members to promote the city centre as the destination of choice, while also improving the district.

rdarcy@dublingazette.com

RESIDENTS in Finglas have said that the level of dumping and rubbish on the streets ‘makes them sick’, alleging that there’s no urgency to clean the locale up by Dublin City Council.

Those living in the area have mentioned that there are several litter black spots in the suburb, but now rubbish is also being dumped outside people’s homes also.

One woman shared images of the dumping of several household items and waste outside a home on Dunsink Drive last week, saying that this is an incident happening ‘every other day’ and is getting out of hand.

Residents have called for more bins to be installed in the area, as well as CCTV to try and capture those responsible for the dumping in the area.

Many are concerned that the levels of rubbish being deposited on the streets will attract rats and similar vermin to the area, particularly as they aren’t being cleaned up for two to three days, or sometimes even longer.

A resident said that there has been consistent dumping outside her home for several months, but when she contacted DCC to come and clean up the rubbish, she was allegedly told that the council ‘don’t have the manpower’.

She also said that someone else had seemingly dumped their rubbish in her bin, something that other locals echoed had happened to them.

In a statement to Dublin Gazette, a spokes-

New community centre in Charlemont Square

Residents say the dumping is getting out of hand

person for DCC said that they aim to tackle dumping on an ‘ongoing’ basis, and that street cleaning is also carried out regularly, particularly in areas ‘with known issues’.

“Initiatives to tackle littering and dumping within Dublin City are undertaken on an ongoing basis that include investigations of dumped waste, investigations of household waste management arrangements and the use of CCTV to prevent, deter and detect offences.

“Street cleaning and removal of dumping is carried out on an ongoing basis and areas with known issues are the focus of specific resource allocation.

“Local actions are undertaken including the engagement of local schools in anti- litter programmes and the provision of environmental initiatives through the Community Environment

Action Fund.

“Greening of areas that have been subjected to dumping have also taken place as part of efforts to enhance local areas under the Anti-Dumping Initiative.

“Local communities are supported and empowered to improve their areas and are engaged in and successful in the Dublin City Neighbourhoods Awards scheme,” a spokesperson said.

A NEW community and sports centre at Charlemont Square officially opened its doors last week.

Opened by the Charlemont Street Regeneration Board and Brian Hanney, South East Area Manager with Dublin City Council, the new Tom Kelly 2 (TK2) centre delivers exciting facilities and recreation space in the heart of Charlemont Street.

Facilities at the centre include a Sports Hall with changing rooms, that will cater for indoor football, boxing, fitness, gymnastics, yoga and more.

Jackie Brady, chairperson of the Charlemont Community Resource Centre, said: “We are delighted to officially open the new centre which is at the heart of this Charlemont community and a key part of the new Charlemont Square project.

“We have worked hard to ensure we honoured the heritage and history of this unique site while creating a modern looking centre which fits in with our overall community at Charlemont”.

Hanney said: “The regeneration of the former Tom Kelly flats at this site reflects the transformation taking place across inner-city Dublin as we work to address the needs of local communities, businesses and the demands placed on a thriving capital city.

“Dublin City Council remains committed to supporting this and we look forward to working with TK2 as a social enterprise to benefit the local community.”

For information on the TK2 Centre and to make bookings visit: www.TK2.ie

Croft seeks to improve wages and work conditions DUBLIN NORTH-WEST candidate Ian Croft is hoping to improve wages and work conditions for people, should he be elected to the 33rd Dáil.

Croft told Dublin Gazette, “During my campaign, my ability to demonstrate how I will be implementing reduced hours, and family friendly working hours has really impressed Dublin North-West constituents.

“If elected I will also be pushing for tax credits for those commuting to work by sustainable means and seeking the abolishment of the travel allowance for public representatives.

“I am also seeking a restructuring and reduction of pensions for all TDs.” Croft also seeks changes for those in the Army, both in terms of wages and more co-operation with the Gardaí.

“I am hoping to raise the wages of the army recruits and invite those serving our country out onto the streets to support An Garda Siochana, similar to the policing model adapted in Spain,” he said.

30 January 2020 CITY  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

AWARDS

Unsung heroes across the city honoured RACHEL D’ARCY rdarcy@dublingazette.com

ORGANISATIONS from across the c ity have been chosen as finalists for this year’s All Ireland Community & Council Awards.

The event which recognises communities and councils whose hard work remains widely unrecognised, takes place in Croke Park on February 15.

Over 400 attendees are expected to turn out to the awards ceremony this year, which is the 14th year of the awards.

Finalists from Dublin include RHD Housing Beech Hill for Best Social Housing Initiative, The Quiet Space for Best Disability Access & Inclusion Initiative and Solar powered cycling sensation for Best Energy Smart Initiative.

Hundreds of organisations from across Ireland have entered this year.

Speaking about the finalists who have made the shortlist for this year’s awards, event manager Michael O’Donoghue, said: “We anticipate this year’s event will be bigger and better than ever, with many unsung heroes being recognised for their outstanding contribution to their communities.

“Competition remains high with so many inspiring projects deserving awards.

“With over 400 people attending this year’s event, it’s set to be a night many will remember as they continue to carry out inspiring projects that positively impact people and their surrounding communities in some shape or form.”

To find out more about the All Ireland Community & Council Awards, see https://lamaawards.org.

FUNDRAISING: EFFORT TO RAISE MONEY NEEDED TO GET SON CANINE SUPPORT

Dad launches service dog campaign RACHEL D’ARCY

A CRUMLIN dad has launched a campaign to raise funds for a service dog for his five-year-old son, who is due to start school this September.

Little Harrison Humphrey was diagnosed with Autism when he was two and a half, and was nonverbal until he was almost four.

Now, Harrison is due to start school this September, with his dad Dean campaigning to raise the money for animal lover Harrison to have a service dog for when he begins school.

“He loves animals, all animals, but he loves dogs especially. We live

quite close to a park where people walk dogs, and if I was to leave the front door open and Harrison went missing, I’d know where he’s gone!

“It’s going to be a difficult transition in Harrison’s life, starting school, so we’re hoping a service dog would be able to help Harrison if he was to become over-stimulated or over-excited in the classroom by the whole thing,” Dean told Dublin Gazette.

As service dogs can assist in increasing safety levels and alleviating bolting behaviours, providing independence and freedom, and introducing a calming effect as well as friendship to a child with

autism.

“It’s not just for school, either. He has a tendency to run around places, if we got out of a car or anything in a car park, he tends to run because he thinks he’s playing hide and seek or chasing or something, or he can get quite upset in shopping centres and places like that.

“We’re hoping that having a service dog will change all that or help him out.”

In addition to the GoFundMe page, Dean has been organising several other fundraising events, all in an effort to raise the money needed to get Harrison some canine support.

“We did bag packing in

Salvation Army opens new community hub and church THE Salvation Army has officially opened a new community hub and church in the heart of Dublin. The charity received the keys to the state-of-the-art centre on Kings Inn Street – and corps officers Captain Tim and Lieutenant Charlotte Lennox say it will enable them to reach out and demonstrate God’s love to more people in their community through practical and spiritual support.

Commissioners Anthony and Gill Cotterill, leaders of the Salvation Army in the Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom territory, did the ribbon-cutting on (January 18).

The impressive building will house the Salvation Army’s Dublin City Corps (church) and feature a social enterprise cafe alongside a hub for the central support teams that enable the charity to serve many vulnerable people in Dublin. Picture: Lorraine O’Sullivan

Little Harrison Humphrey was diagnosed with Autism when he was two and a half

Dunnes Stores in Kilnamanagh about two weeks ago.

“We’re doing a sponsored walk on March 28 in Tymon North Park, called Do It For The Dog, with a lot of people signed up and sponsor cards and everything, and it’s only

January!”

Currently, Dean is looking to raise €10,000, with the funds raised going toward a support dog for Harrison.

Any remaining funds will be donated to the organisation My Canine Companion, who spe-

cialise in Autism support dogs.

To d o n a te to t h e campaign, please visit gofundme.com/f/caninecompanion-for-harrison.

For more information on My Canine Companion, visit mycaninecompanion.ie.

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 30 January 2020

LUCKY PUNTER: DISCOVERED THE MASSIVE WIN WHILE SITTING IN HIS WORK CANTEEN

Kimmage man to buy first home after winning €500,000 A DUBLIN man has said his entire life has changed, after discovering that he was the first Irish winner of the EuroMillions Plus prize of €500,000 last week.

The winning Quick Pick ticket was purchased at the Applegreen service station on Kimmage Road Lower. He collected his winnings late last week, and was joined by a group of his close friends at the National Lottery headquarters.

He found out that he won in the work canteen in front of all of his colleagues last Wednesday, but has decided to now keep his win private from the public.

“It was lunch time at work and I was in the

canteen with all of my colleagues when I was scrolling through my Facebook feed on my phone. Somebody had posted about my local shop selling a EuroMillions prize worth a half million euro.

“I knew I had bought a ticket there and before I had time to even think about it, I had the ticket taken out of my wallet and I scanned it on my phone in front of everybody.

“When the phone beeped to give me the good news, I just sat there stunned into silence.

“Instantly, everybody in the room knew that something was up and at that stage there was probably no chance I could have kept it to myself.

“Everybody is genuinely thrilled for my win so it does make it that more enjoyable to share the news with close friends and family,” he said.

The lucky winner said that every penny would be accounted for with the purchase of his first home and other gifts to close family members.

“I have been saving so hard for the longest to

“

buy my first home so the win could not have come at a better time. Saving as much as I have been, it’s given me a great perspective on the value of money so once I have my sights set on a house, I’ll be mortgage free for the rest of my life and that is something that I could never have dreamed of in my wildest dreams, it is absolutely magical.”

I’ll be mortgage free for the rest of my life and that is something that I could never have dreamed of in my wildest dreams

Plan for apartments near St Anne’s Park opposed RACHEL D’ARCY rdarcy@dublingazette.com

DU B L I N C i t y Co u n cil chief Owen Keegan has written to An Bord Pleanala recommending that permission for an apartment development adjacent to St Anne’s Park be refused.

Plans were lodged in late 2019 for 657 apartments near the park in Raheny by Crekav Trading, a subsidiary of Marlet Property Group.

This is the second set of plans lodged for the site, after an initial application in 2018 for 104 houses and 432 apartments was rejected

by An Bord Pleanala.

The new application, lodged in October 2019, states that the developers are looking to build nine blocks, ranging in height from five to nine storeys across the 65,125sq m site at St Paul’s College.

The application, which was made directly to An Bord Pleanala (ABP) under the strategic housing development plan, details that there will be 224 onebedroom apartments, 378 two-bed apartments and 55 three-bedroom units. Permission is also being sought for 499 car parking spaces and 1,646 bicycle parking spaces.

The development has long been opposed by councillors and residents in the locality, with several protests held in the park against the proposed development.

Now, in a document circulated to councillors, Dublin City Council’s chief executive Owen Keegan has said that he recommends the rejection of the project, saying that the proposed development isn’t consistent with the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022.

The report said: “The proposed development is not considered to be consistent with the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022 and with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area.

“The Planning Authority submits this report to An Bord Pleanala … and recommends that An Bord Pleanala refuse permission for the proposed development for the reasons and considerations outlined below.”

The report went on to outline that the Natura Impact Statement that was submitted ‘has not demonstrated that the evid ence given supports the assertion that no impact arises to the populations of protected Brent goose, black-tailed

FASTNews Bewleys raises 15k for Samaritans

BEWLEY’S Grafton Street has raised €15,000 for Samaritans Ireland over the Christmas period, thanks to their ‘Time for Joy’ exhibition.

The exhibition was designed and created by renowned Irish sculpture Paddy Campbell and funds were raised through the sales of items including Paddy’s work, as well as donations.

The exhibition was on display throughout Bewley’s Grafton Street from November until January.

Calendars and postcards of the exhibition were available to purchase at the café, with all proceeds going directly to The Samaritans.

Volunteers wanted

“

The proposed development is not considered to be consistent with the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022 and with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area

godwit or curlew of Dublin Bay’.

It also detailed that ‘it is considered that the proposed development would, therefore, materially contravene a

development objective GI23 indicated in the Dublin City Development Plan 2016-2022 for the protection of European sites, and would be contrary to the proper

planning and sustainable development of the area’.

Advocacy group ‘I Love St Anne’s’ posted the news to their Facebook page late last week,

voicing their support for Keegan’s report. Several residents also echoed in the comments of the post that permission for the application should be denied.

DUBLIN City Council are seeking volunteers to join the Conservation Volunteer programme at North Bull Island.

The programme, now in it’s fourth year, currently has a dedicated group of 18 volunteers, who completed 976 hours of volunteering in 2019 and carried out a range of surveys as well as workshops to over 400 people.

Now, DCC are seeking applications from members of the public who wish to become a Conservation Volunteer on North Bull Island.

For further information on the programme, seee dublincity.ie/crnbi.

30 January 2020 CITY  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

GENERAL ELECTION: DUBLIN FIREFIGHTERS WARN PUBLIC NOT TO BURN ELECTION POSTERS

Campaign heats up as election posters burned RACHEL D’ARCY rdarcy@dublingazette.com

DUBLIN Fire Brigade have said that the election is ‘heating up’, after they were called to the scene of an election poster on fire in the capital.

Taking to Facebook, DFB said firefighters in Kilbarrack were called to the scene of a poster set alight on a lamppost, showing a picture of a firefighter extinguishing the blaze.

They reminded the public that setting fire to posters can cause serious damage to public infrastructure such as bus stops, lampposts and more.

This comes the day after People Before Profit candidate Gillian Brien claimed that someone had been allegedly setting fire to her campaign posters maliciously following a confrontation with a constituent last Saturday.

In a post on social media, Dublin Central candidate Brien said when erecting poster last weekend, a man in his 60s approached

“

them to try and given them a leaflet and a CD, saying they were ‘a message from God’ to Brien.

“I asked ‘Is your God, a God that loves All human beings equally? As I’m an Allie [sic] of the LGBT+ community’.

“He turned aggressive, started shouting ‘You’re going to hell’ and screaming made up biblical quotes at us, saying ‘I will see’. I brushed him off, kept on putting me posters up.

“I did say at one stage, ‘No man or woman of God, preaches words of hate. God loves all of us equally, get away from me’.

“Honest, I’ve no time for these horrible human beings, the misery, pain and hurt they have done to women, LGBT+ community and children in Ireland.

“Since Saturday night my posters are getting burned. I don’t care about the posters. I care about making sure we continue to let these horrible human beings know, Ireland is a country that loves all its people.”

Dublin firefighters were called to an election poster on fire in Kilbarrack. Picture: Dublin Fire Brigade

Solidarity-People Before Profit candidate Gillien Brien’s poster

He turned aggressive, started shouting ‘You’re going to hell’ and screaming made up biblical quotes at us, saying ‘I will see’. I brushed him off, kept on putting me posters up.

Dublin is the 17th most congested city in the world A NEW traffic index has revealed that Dublin is the 17th most congested city in the world, with Dubliners spending an average of eight days and 21 hours sitting in peak traffic a year.

The TomTom Traffic Index details the traffic situation in 416 cities in 57 countries around the world.

The report showed that congestion has risen across Ireland, especially in Dublin where waiting times have gone up by 3%.

Dublin’s ten most congested roads include Parnell Road / Grove Road, Dalymount / North Circular Road, Dorset Street Lower, Merrion Road, Clanbrassil Street Upper, Drumcondra Road Upper, King Street North / Bolton Street, Church Street / Church Street Upper, Amiens Street and Harold’s Cross Road.

Stephanie Leonard, traffic advisor at TomTom, com-

ments: “When you consider its booming population and rapid economic growth, it’s not surprising that Dublin is one of the world’s most congested cities. Yet the demographic challenges of the city are clearly turning into a congestion nightmare for Dubliners.

“High congestion levels can indicate strong economic activity, but they also represent lost time, productivity and potential for Dublin’s workers.

It’s time for traffic to change and, while plans around congestion charges and new cycle lane networks will help the situation, they can’t come soon enough.”

The interactive TomTom Traffic Index report is available online and allows visitors to explore the traffic situation in their own city with more information available at tomtom.com/trafficindex.

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 30 January 2020

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Lisa McGowan celebrates 100K followers. Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon

Lisa goes live with Launch Party

Bernadine Grogan and Lisa McGowan

Katherine Taylor and Linda Simpson

L

ISA Mc Gowan, AKA Lisa’s Lust List, launched her very own website on Friday, January 25 in the The Hyatt Centric in The Liberties. Surrounded by followers, her loyal brands, family and friends, Lisa threw a party to rememeber. Lisa also reached 100k followers on Instagram on the same night so a double celebration was had by all.

Eliska McAndrew, Katie Geoghegan, Lisa McGowan, Mandy Maher, Dearbhla Silke and Lucy Slevin

Siobhan Dolan and Tara Dolan Brenda McCaffery and Clare O’Kane

Orla and Michelle Dardis

Jaela Burke, Lisa McGowan and Michelle Hardy

Eliska McAndrew and Katie Geoghegan

Judy Ryan and Annette Kelly

30 January 2020 CITY  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

PODDLE : ‘SCHEME WILL PROTECT AROUND 1,000 BUILDINGS IN A FLOOD EVENT’

Public submissions for river scheme due to open shortly DUBLIN City Council and South Dublin County Council have said that public submissions for the Poddle River Flood Alleviation Scheme (FAS) are due to open shortly.

This comes after several public consultations were held in various areas along the river, which runs through the council divide.

The River Poddle FAS has been in preliminary design since March 2018, with a proposed scheme finalised in September 2019.

The scheme is in response to the floods that occurred along the river Poddle in October 2011, and the loss of life following this flooding.

Speaking to Dublin Gazette, Gerry O’Connell from DCC’s Environment and Transportation Department said: “This scheme will protect around 1,000 buildings in a flood event. This has taken a while to get together, with the OPW funding it and giving advice.

“The OPW did a strategic study in 2014, with plans for about 3km of flood walls, but now we’re planning to have storage in Tymon Park up to 66,000 cubic meters, which will greatly reduce the amount of works that will be done elsewhere, including reducing the walls to about 1km.

“Works are planned mainly at Ravensdale Park

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There will be no ‘straightening’ of the river; in fact, we’re putting more meanders in

and Martin’s Row beside Poddles Park.

“There are 27 trees planned to be removed for the scheme, which will all be replaced, and the

number doubled.

“We are at a pre-planning stage, but we’ve had a large amount of consultations, we had seven public consultations to date which is a lot for before we go to planning.

“There will be no ‘straightening’ of the river; in fact, we’re putting more meanders in.

“Reaction to the scheme has been mainly positive, although there are a few negatives as there will be tree removal and some disturbance, but the vast majority is positive, particularly for those who have been flooded or nearly flooded in the past.”

Over 4,000 call on council to trial Liffey Cycle Route RACHEL D’ARCY rdarcy@dublingazette.com

OVER 4,000 people have signed a petition calling for the Liffey Cycle Route to be trialled in the city centre, with a massive protest taking place in the city last Sunday.

The family-friendly protest was organised in protest of continued delays to the proposed Liffey Cycle route along the quays in the city centre, and the most recently proposed plans for the project.

Cu r re n t p l a n s fo r the Liffey Cycle route wouldn’t see it introduced until 2024, over a decade since the project was first proposed in 2011 in the Dublin City Development Plan 2011-2017.

The project has suffered several setbacks since it was first introduced 11 years ago.

Multiple plans have been produced to keep cyclists, pedestrians, businesses and drivers appeased, with the most recent solution produced in May 2019 calling for the removal of trees, narrowing footpaths and removing pedestrian crossings.

“

However, the petition says the route is ‘not continuous’ and will leave cyclists exposed at junctions, in addition to being too narrow for the predicted level of cyclists that will use it.

The petition reads: “Cycling has increased in Dublin in the last decade but the creation of safe and attractive cycle routes has remained stalled long after economic recovery while at the same time extra lanes have been added to motorways near the city.

“Rather than keep spending years of planning each route, Dublin needs to start a quick-build network and there’s no better place to start than the quays which connects so much of the city.”

Last Sunday, hundreds of cyclists took to the streets, beginning a cycle in Grand Canal Square at 11am and continuing along the quays, before circling back to the original start point.

The trial implementation of the cycle route is expected to be discussed at next month’s Dublin City Council meeting on February 3.

Rather than keep spending years of planning each route, Dublin needs to start a quick-build network and there’s no better place to start than the quays which connects so much of the city

Hundreds of cyclists took to the streets in a massive protest in the city last Sunday

Cllr Neasa Hourigan of the Green Party at Liffey Cycle

FASTNews

Loreto College Crumlin opens new IT lab

LORETO College Crumlin has been gifted €2,000 by Griffith College to be used to improve STEAM related facilities within the school.

An additional 20 MAC computers were also donated by the college’s IT department, spearheaded by John Molohan.

Loreto’s principal Mary Ellen Murphy arranged for a space to be transformed to an IT lab. The lab was renovated with the help of locals and the school’s Parents Association.

The money was given to the school as part of Griffith College’s STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths) bursary.

Mary Ellen Murphy said, “With our new facilities, all of our students now have improved access to IT. Our Parents’ Association raised money for the new furniture and Paul Crampton of Keogh Interior Fitout, fitted the work tops and electrics. It was a great community effort.”

Griffith College’s schools liaison officer Sinead O’Callaghan said: “It’s fantastic to see these PCs being utilised. It will assist the students in developing their research skills and completing project work.

“The Schools Liaison and IT department at Griffith is delighted to be in a position to provide this support to Loreto Crumlin, supporting the College’s mission to encourage all students’ access to STEAM experiences in school.”

For more information, visit www.griffith.ie.

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 30 January 2020

CAMPAIGN: CONSULTANT GROUP PUT FORWARD SEVERAL POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS TO ADOPT

Appeal to Minister for Health to ‘put patients first’ in crisis KEAVY O’SULLIVAN

IN RECENT talks with Minister for Health Simon Harris, the Irish Hospital Consultant Association (IHCA) has appealed for him to “put politics aside and patients first”.

They presented a number of workable solutions to address the overwhelming public hospital capacity deficits which are causing unacceptable waiting lists and trolley crisis.

The IHCA represents more than 95% of Ireland’s hospital consul-

tants, and urged the Minister to take decisive action to immediately end consultant pay discrimination, saying “it would be a game-changer in attracting consultants to work in public hospitals, and ensuring patients can access hospital care when they need it”.

According to consultants, there are more than 500 unfilled permanent hospital consultant posts across Ireland’s public hospitals.

These vacancies are recognised as the root cause of the long waiting times now experienced by patients,

and the trolley crisis in public hospitals.

The IHCA identified the 2012 decision of the then Minister for Health Dr James Reilly (FG) regarding consultant pay as a contributing factor to today’s crisis, saying: “Patients have endured the adverse and severe impact of the government’s 2012 decision, which has driven hospital consultants away from our public hospitals to practise abroad and in private hospitals.”

The IHCA representatives have also called on Minister Harris and the

government to open up further public hospital beds and bring forward the delivery of additional beds from 2030 to 2025, which were promised under both the HSE Capacity Review 2018 and the National Development Plan.

They are also calling on it to introduce and resource a maximum waiting time of four hours for patients presenting at emergency departments to be admitted, discharged, or transferred.

They also want to introduce and resource a maximum waiting time of 18 weeks following a GP referral for

consultant outpatient appointments and inpatient/day-care public hospital treatments.

Speaking about the face-to-face talks more generally, Dr O’Hanlon said “Frontline hospital consultants appealed to Minister Harris to put politics aside and patients first, by committing to effective targets to deliver timely care to patients which at least match those in the [British] NHS. “The delivery of effective targets will require the implementation of practical workable solutions that the IHCA has recommended for years.”

‘Next government can end spiral of misery for families’ INCREASING eligibility for a scheme for people at risk of losing their homes could end the “spiral of misery” for thousands of Dublin families.

That is according to housing and homeless campaigner Fr Peter McVerry, who is calling for the Government’s mortgage to rent scheme to be made mandatory for banks when dealing with families in unsustainable debt.

According to the latest figures, more than 5,400 family home loans are in arrears for two years or more across Dublin, while more than 240 mortgage to rent cases have either been completed or are being actively progressed.

The scheme allows mortgage holders at risk of losing their homes to switch to paying a fair income-based affordable rent to their local authority while remaining in their current dwellings.

Fr McVerry also called on the incoming government to increase the scheme’s eligibility criteria so that a meaningful attempt can be made to solve many of the 27,000 cases where homeowners have been in arrears for at least two years.

At present, there are 1,200 active cases in the mortgage to rent process nationwide, but Fr McVerry wants to see that

number increased significantly this year.

He said: “What this housing crisis needs right now is radical thinking.

“Solutions won’t happen overnight, but if the will is there, then it can happen pretty quickly.

“If the next government was serious about tackling this huge mortgage debt legacy from the past decade, it should make it illegal over the next three years to evict people without an offer of mortgage to rent.

“However, the next government has to sit down and change the thresholds which limit the mortgage to rent scheme.”

Circumstances He added: “I am on record as saying that ma ny more fa milies should be included in this scheme, because it is the only way for many of them to resolve their current circumstances.

“The stress and misery that people are enduring must be relieved, and there must be an immediate review of extending the mortgage to rent boundaries.

“It saddens me to think that every week, there are thousands of homedwellers living in needless fear of a knock on the door or a visit from the postman.

FASTNews Enter now for the SMEDIA 2020 awards THE National Student Media Awards have announced that they will be opening for entries on March 2, with the awards ceremony to be held in the Aviva on April 22.

The National Student Media Awards (the SMEDIAs) celebrate students for their work in the areas of print, photography, blogging, radio, TV, film or animation.

There are also four Irish language categories. The opening date for entries is on March 2, with the closing date on March 19.

Information on categories and how to enter is available from Oxygen.ie, or on the SMEDIAs Facebook page.

Say ‘cello’ to a festival

Fr Peter McVerry (right) with Paul Cunningham, chief executive, Home for Life – one of the groups advocating for a change in governmental policy over mortgage to rent schemes, in a bid to help tackle the housing crisis

“

If the next government was serious about tackling this huge mortgage debt legacy from the past decade, it should make it illegal over the next three years to evict people without an offer of mortgage to rent “I would encourage them to engage with their local MABs [Money

Advice and Budgeting Service] people, or their lender, so that their cases

can be dealt with.

“If they do that, then they should be able to

stay in their home if they pay a rent, like all local authority tenants.”

SPIKE, Dublin’s alternative cello festival, returns for its fourth installation from Friday, February 7 to Sunday, February 9 in venues across Dublin.

After the festival’s hugely successful and entertaining previous incarnations in 2017, 18 and 2019, the 2020 programme will present unique events with some of the most talented and exciting cello artists and friends from home and abroad.

Taking place in Lost Lane, Hugh Lane Gallery, The Ark and Reformation over the weekend, events range from free to attend, to €35 tickets, with a range in between.

30 January 2020 CITY  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

BEAUMONT

Helen Steele, Irish artist and fashion designer; Lorna Quinn foundation student at NCAD and Thomas Jefferson Marketing Manager at Kingspan Water Energy Ltd

Local student named the runner-up of design competition

Customer bags bargain of a lifetime

PICTURED celebrating the winner of Saturday night’s Lotto Plus 1 top prize of €1 million which was sold at the Lidl store in Artane, are store manager Darren Molloy with Lidl staff members, Ann Flynn and Jero Stastny with Simon Reenan, area manager with the National Lottery.

Manager of the lucky Lidl store, Darren

Molloy said: “We are delighted to have sold the winning ticket. €1 million is truly a life changing prize so we are absolutely thrilled for one of our lucky customers. There’s a great atmosphere in store this morning with colleagues and customers checking their tickets – it’s all anyone is talking about.”

Picture: MacInnes Photography

A LOCAL student from Beaumont has been named the runner-up of a new design competition with jewellery created through pellets from reclaimed oil tanks.

Lorna Quinn is a first-year art and design student at the National College of Art & Design (NCAD), and has been named runner-up of the inaugural Kingspan ‘Reuse, Recreate’ design competition.

The student design challenge, created and sponsored by Kingspan Water & Energy, offered students from NCAD the opportunity to get creative with second life material. First-year students were tasked with redesigning an object using pellets from reclaimed Kingspan Oil Tanks.

Lorna used the pellets to create jewellery inspired by natural greenery, and a handheld fan.

Lorna said: “The inspiration for my project started with the colour of the Kingspan resin material.

“The deep green reminded me of the outdoors, leaves and grasses.

“I found that the pellets from Kingspan were not only green, but also had traces of black too, and when mixed with other materials, the pellets created unpredictable patterns that were fun to work with and manipulate into different shapes.”

The ‘Reuse, Recreate’ creations were put on display in the NCAD gallery and were judged by Irish designer Helen Steele, Dr. Coílín Dubhghailc, Lecturer at NCAD and Thomas Jefferson from Kingspan. Water & Energy Ltd.

Free recycling of election MOTORING... PAGE 24 posters offered by firm

A RECYCLING company have announced it will accept all election posters for recycling free of charge following the General Election on February 8.

Panda say that they recycled 42 tonnes of election posters, equal to 168,000 individual posters, in a similar scheme earlier this year.

The posters will be shredded in Ireland with the material then used to make products

such as paint tubs.

Cable ties will also be accepted at the waste collection sites and will be recycled to manufacture fruit and vegetable trays.

Speaking about the announcement, Des Crinion, managing director, Panda Recycling Division said: “Following the success of last year’s initiative, we are delighted to be able to offer this service around the

country and play our part in alleviating the issue of election waste.

“I would urge all political parties, candidates and local county councils to make use of the service we’re providing.”

The company have said that they hope this service will encourage candidates and parties to quickly remove and dispose of their posters following voting day next week.

Panda say there is no deadline for dropping the posters into their recycling centres, but ‘ideally’ they hope that posters will arrive in the days following the election as it is more efficient to recycle posters at the same time, in large batches.

Panda operates 21 recycling centres nationwide.

For further information on how to recycle election posters contact poster@panda.ie

Turn heads with this Mazda beauty

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 30 January 2020

GENERAL ELECTION 2020

CANDIDATES ADDRESS SOME OF

What candidates say CONTINUING on from last week’s initial focus, DUBLIN GAZETTE reached out to the confirmed candidates who will be campaigning in General Election 2020.

We asked them all the same set of questions, to help inform you about where they stand on just some of the main issues of the day.

Here is what the general election candidates had to say* – the following answers were from those who had responded by our print deadline this week.

QUESTION 1: HEALTH How would you address the chronic problems that are prevalent in the Health Service?

QUESTION 4: ENVIRONMENT What is your stance on Climate Change? How green/accessible is your campaign?

QUESTION 2: HOUSING How would you address the chronic problems in the housing sector?

QUESTION 5: TRANSPORT Do you think Public Transport in your area is sufficient? What changes might you make?

QUESTION 3: EDUCATION What ways would you address education issues in your area at a Government level?

QUESTION 6: YOUR MESSAGE Why do you think people should vote for you?

(*Some answers may have been edited to account for space, as necessary.)

DUBLIN NORTH WEST

ANDREW MONTAGUE, LABOUR

Q1 I believe there are some simple practical steps that can be taken quickly to address the problems we are having.

I would reverse the cuts to GP training and fund out of hours properly so that people can see their GP when they need them.

I would reverse the defacto embargo on hiring in the HSE to properly resource mental health, disability and other teams.

Q2 I’M a qualified planner and passionate about creating great, affordable communities.

I will push for legislation that prevents developers from hoarding lands to reduce home

costs, increase supply and improve tenant’s rights.

Q3 I believe in equal access to education.

I would push for truly free primary education and for greater funding to upskill everyone, not just those looking for jobs.

Q4 We must tackle climate change but in a fair way. Insulation schemes and other environmental grants must be for everyone not just those who own their own homes or can afford a new electric car.

Q5 I have delivered real results on sustainable transport with the Dublin Bikes Scheme.

I would invest more in active and public transport including expanding the proposed metro system and continue to campaign for a great bus network.

Q6 I also believe our communities must be safe and have pioneered programs to tackle crime and anti-social behaviour at its root.

I’m asking for people’s number 1 vote for practical and realistic solutions to our problems, solutions that don’t leave any one behind not wild promises that can never be delivered.

CLLR CAROLINE CONROY, GREEN PARTY

Q1 PROBLEMS in the health system are systematic and require a complex approach, and this is reflected in the Sláintecare Report.

We favour dissolving the HSE and replacing it with Community Healthcare Organisations to reduce hospital waiting times.

We need to support carers by providing more Community Respite Centres. Disability assessments should be carried out within three months, and we want to include mental health in the Long-Term Illness Strategy.

Q2 Affordable homes should be secured by providing public housing via a cost-rental model.

Increasing housing supply should be addressed by reducing vacancy rates through levies on speculative

hoarding, replacing Local Property Tax with a Site Value Tax. We will also mandate that pension funds invest a proportion of their assets in new housing supply.

Q3 As a mother, I know that supporting parents is crucial. Introducing a childcare payment, a price ceiling for childcare services, six months of paid parental leave to follow maternity leave and unpaid parental leave up to a child’s third birthday and introducing a school meals programme are key changes I will focus on.

In addition, I believe we need to subsidise schoolbooks and eliminate other charges.

Q4 My personal priorities in the key areas are making Ireland a leader in a fair transition regarding Climate Change, reducing over-use of plastic, improving the air we breathe, and providing better incentives for insulation and green energy for our homes.

For my campaign I’m using just 200 posters, and they’re recycled! I walk, bike, use buses and drive an electric car to get around Dublin North West.

Q5 We need to create transport hubs and orbital bus routes and allocate funding for cycling infrastructure.

It is a priority for me to encourage people to cycle to school. It is critical that the Metro planned for our community is not delayed any longer. I will do my utmost to get progress on the extension of the Luas to Finglas.

Q6 Dublin North West needs a strong Green voice in the Dáil that will make sure our future is safer, healthier, cleaner and more secure, and I will dedicate myself to this.

DESSIE ELLIS, SINN FÉIN

Q1 WE will tackle the health crisis by ending

the recruitment ban, opening more beds and providing more home help hours. Sinn Féin will recruit 2,500 more nurses and midwives and 1,000 more doctors and consultants.

We will open an additional 1,500 beds and address the GP crisis.

Q2 Sinn Fé in will deliver the biggest public housing programme in our history. Sinn Fein will cut rents and freeze them and will end the scandal of homelessness.

We will introduce legislation to reduce rents

use through exchequer investment in publicly owned charging points and put in place a Home Retrofitting Fund for insulating 100,000 homes.

Q6 I have an unsurpassed track record of hard work and dedication to my constituents for the best part of 20 years dealing with both national and local issues and championing their concerns in Dail Eireann.

DUBLIN BAY NORTH

CIAN O’CALLAGHAN, SOCIAL DEMOCRATS

by up to €1,500 a year, via a refundable tax credit and freeze them for three years. Sinn Fein will build 100,000 homes over 5 years including council housing and affordable homes for renters and first-time buyers.

Q3 Education is costing parents too much.

We will lift the burden of costs associated with education.

Sinn Féin will Introduce a €140 Back to School Bonus Child Benefit Payment for every child paid at the start of July and will abolish third level student fees.

Q4&5 Sinn Féin would undertake a large-scale investment in our public transport infrastructure and make the retro fitting of homes a priority, and also ensure there is no carbon tax increase while affordable alternatives are not available.

They will also commence a public investment programme in public transport.

Sinn Féin will promote Electric Vehicles

Q1 I’M committed to ensuring the implementation of Sláintecare by investing in primary care teams and homecare supports to take pressure away from acute hospitals, providing diagnostics like X-rays in community health centres and by recruiting more doctors, nurses, speech therapists and public health nurses.

Q2 We need to tackle land hoarding, derelic-

It is not acceptable that children on the Northside of Dublin face the longest waits in the country for these vital supports at a time in their life that is key to their development.

Q4 We need to meet the challenges caused by the Climate Crisis by supporting practical measures including investing in public transport to improve capacity and frequency, and retrofitting and insulating homes through pay as you save so everyone has a helping hand to make change.

All our leaflets and newsletters are printed on FSC certified paper produced from sustainable sources.

Q5 We need more capacity and frequency in our public transport.

At peak times commuters have to try and squeeze their way onto cramped DARTs and are often left stranded at bus stops as packed buses pass them by.

Q6 I’m asking readers for their vote because I believe we need a new generation in the Dáil representing the interests of all of us and implementing practical solutions.

DUBLIN CENTRAL

DEIRDRE DUFFY, FINE GAEL

tion and speculation, which drives up the cost of housing. We must stop the favourable tax treatment which encourages international funds to buy up our housing stock.

Q3 It’s time to tackle the hidden costs of education at primary and secondary level, invest in Special Needs Assistants and ensure timely access to supports for children who need psychological assessments and speech and language therapy.

Q1 AS a mother and past campaign manager on the referendum to repeal the 8th I am aware of the need for a national women’s health strategy.

If I am elected, I will prioritise legislation for safe access zones outside maternity hospitals and GP clinics.

Primary Care Centres have a positive impact on people’s lives. We need more in Dublin Central.

Q2 Families are struggling to get affordable and secure housing. Last year we had to move because the landlord sud-

30 January 2020 CITY  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

THE COUNTRY’S MAIN TALKING POINTS

GENERAL ELECTION 2020

about the big topics the greatest challenge facing the world and our country. Priorities include investment in public transport and cycling and electric vehicle grants.

Insulating 100,000 homes each year by creating jobs, lowering emissions and reducing fuel bills.

Posters have been recycled from 2019 local elections and 2016 General Election, and I have reduced the number of leaflets produced.

Q5 Public transport and cycle lanes need radical investment. Buses are overcrowded by the time the reach Dublin Central.

The BusConnects project is needed but it is also essential to ensure that it will not destroy urban villages.

I have organised meetings for residents on BusConnects and Metrolink and have made several submissions to the NTA. Q6 I am a national politician with a local focus, always accessible to constituents, and I believe I have the policies, the experience, the commitment and the track record to address the issues that matter to Dublin Central.

Votes waiting to be counted ... There’s always a lot at stake in any general election, with 2020 being particularly important for the country’s future.

Consider the candidates carefully, and ensure that your voice is represented by your precious vote ...

denly ended our lease. I am committed to working for increased delivery of Housing-First.

We need to continue to increase the building of social and affordable houses. We must also improve our laws so that renters have security.

Q3 We need a national literacy programme. Some

children are falling behind in basic educational building blocks.

We need permanent schools and to build new schools in Cabra and Drumcondra.

Q4 Dublin Central needs clean air with efficient public transport and streets that accommodate pedestrians and cyclists.

My plan for free bicycle helmets is an achievable first step. My priorities are to advance carbonf re e a n d re n ew a b l e power sources, to produce renewable energy and sell back to the National Grid.

Q5 The delivery of Metro Dublin north is

essential. I’m advocating for free public transport and at least 10% of the transport budget spent on cycling infrastructure.

Cycling lanes need to be physically separated from traffic.

Q6 I am looking for your number 1 vote for positive social change on climate action, quality, affordable and accessible childcare, reform of education, housing and healthcare. After 15 years of social activism I have the vision, drive and experience to deliver for Dublin Central.

JOE COSTELLO, LABOUR

Q1 I would Invest in more hospital beds, stop reliance on agency staff, end the recruitment embargo and ensure greater funding for mental health services.

Q2 The private market has failed to provide affordable homes. The State needs to start building again.

My priorities include building social and affordable homes on public land.

I would cap rents until more homes are built and introduce long-term leases. I would end tax breaks for vulture funds.

Q3 Make Primary education completely free of charge with free schoolbooks and healthy school meals. Schools need to be properly funded.

I w i l l e n s u re t h e TUDublin campus at Grangegorman provides third level opportunities for school-leavers and adults returning to education.

Q4 Climate change is

DUBLIN SOUTH CENTRAL

RICHARD MURRAY, INDEPENDENT

Q1 I would support a universal healthcare system, where everyone contributes an equal amount, which would be fine-tuned to support those with long-term illnesses or disabilities.

I would also support better mental health services.

Mental health and death by suicides are major issues. Having lost a member of my immediate family, I am aware of

the long-term effects it can have.

Q2 There is a need for adequate social and affordable housing in my constituency.

There are many families with both parents working who cannot afford to buy a home. I would like to see affordable housing provided or the social housing income cap raised.

Q3 As a board of management member of several schools I am aware of a lack of ASD units.

There are vacant schools in the constituency, and I believe one could be a designated ASD school.

Classroom sizes, teacher shortages, and the costs of school materials are all issues I would address.

Q4 I believe we can do our bit to reduce climate change, by exploring an alternative energy supply. Illegal dumping is a major issue, and I have campaigned for tougher penalties on those convicted. I have recycled my posters from the local election and have not got more printed.

Q5 I do not support the BusConnect project.

I believe the cost will run in to millions paying for private land.

I would like to see better transport service into areas populated by our elderly.

Q6 I am a non-nonsense, straight to the point candidate, I care deeply about my community.

Furthermore, I believe the job of a public servant is just that, to provide a service for the public.

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 30 January 2020

OPINION: UPCOMING EVENT PROMISES TO DO A BETTER JOB AT ADDRESSING STARK REALITY

Tune in to ‘The Real Debate’ for a meaningful national debate PADRAIG CONLON

FOLLOWING the decision

by RTE to only include the leaders of two political parties on its TV Leaders Debate, an alternative debate is set to take place in Dublin.

The Real Debate – a podcast/streaming event – will be available while the proposed Leaders Debate between Leo Varadkar and Micheal Martin is being broadcast next Tuesday night, February 4, and will feature a variety of opinions and views from across the political spectrum, including from journalists and podcasters.

It’s been set up as a collaboration between several organisations, including Right2Homes, HomeOptions, with Dublin Gazette as a media partner.

The Real Debate is offering “the other 52% of voters” a debate and will create opportunities for other voices and opinions to be shared.

Moderator on the evening will be Donagh McKeown, who has many years’ experience as a radio presenter and producer with the BBC and various radio stations in Ireland, including Shannonside/Northern Sound, Downtown Radio, Mid 106, Townland Radio, and presently Belfast 89.

Talking to Dublin Gazette ahead of next week’s debate, he said: “We are keen to engage with potential participants for the podcast, so do please reach out to the Facebook page, The Real Debate, for a chance to participate.

“Follow our pre-event debate on the Facebook page, and/or develop your own local debate and feel free to share as we build our audience.”

‘Waltzing on borrowed time’ That’s the clarion call

from the founders of Homeoptions, taken from the title of a song by legendary Dublin folk singer/ songwriter Pete St John.

Homeoptions spent 5-years trying to introduce legislation into Dáil Éireann, aiming to protect families in their homes, whilst at the same time also attempting to remove Vulture Funds from the Irish economy by offering the banks ethically-funded alternatives.

These efforts were rejected out of hand by the bailed-out banks, with AIB rejecting a fully-funded €800m bid for its latest Portfolio of Distressed

“

of sitting Fianna Fail and Fine Gael TDs, with the exception of John McGuinness, Marc MacSharry, Eamon O Cuiv and Independents such as Mattie McGrath and Michael Fitzmaurice, sat on the fence while tens of thousands of families are getting thrown to the wolves.”

Reilly said the “frustrating” journey began for Right2Homes in 2013 following the government’s introduction of The Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Bill.

This legislation had been designed to help protect families caught up with distressed fam-

[The voters should] understand just how powerless most of these same TDs actually are when faced with the need to tackle housing, homelessness, wanton profiteering, vested interests and internal party politics

Family Home Loans (NPLs).

Similar bids were also dismissed by PTSB and Ulster Bank.

Speaking to Dublin Gazette ahead of The Real Debate, Homeoptions founder Brian Reilly said: “I think voters have an absolute right to know the depths of hypocrisy they are dealing with when heading to the polls on February 8. “[They should also] understand just how powerless most of these same TDs actually are when faced with the need to tackle housing, homelessness, wanton profiteering, vested interests and internal party politics.

“Most of the current crop

ily home mortgages, but quickly becoming known as the “Eviction Bill”.

Right2Homes had been established to help challenge the legitimacy of that Act, given its retrospective impact on distressed family home mortgages.

Meetings were arranged with numerous TDs from all parties, and also some Independents, resulting in the idea of a “People’s Bill” which was then drafted for Right2Homes by the Master of the High Court, Edmund Honohan.

Reilly says that after having encouraged the production of such a “People’s Bill”, the Fianna Fail parliamentary party, under the direction of

As an alternative to The Leaders Debate on RTE, The Real Debate – bringing together many disparate opinions and views – promises to offer a meaningful alternative view on the state of the nation, and our future. Housing will be an obvious area of concern – but what else will The Real Debate focus on?

Tune in and see ...

Micheal Martin and his non-elected advisers, failed miserably to support the Bill, instead leaving it up to Kilkenny TD John McGuinness to introduce the resulting Affordable Housing and Fair Mortgage Bill 2018 as a Private Members Bill, which he did in 2018 (see illustration, above right). “ T h e hy p o c r i sy involved here, especially

by Micheal Martin, can only be described as breathtaking,” said Reilly, on his first face-to-face meeting with the Fianna Fail leader.

He said: “We had already spent an enormous amount of time producing the actual Bill itself, encouraged initially

by an internal FF working group led by Darragh O’Brien, incorporating changes along the way as suggested by various groups, including Fianna Fail, the Bills Office, the Ceann Comhairle’s Office and the Department of Finance.

“Micheal Martin’s opening remarks at that first formal meeting were: ‘I won’t be bounced into supporting this Bill’ – an alarming statement, given that we were at that time almost eight years into a mounting housing and homelessness crisis.

“Nothing has changed to this day; the crisis is demonstrably worse, and the man is simply not capable of radical change

– it’s clearly not in his DNA. “A number of leading FF deputies have since confirmed to us that, should Micheal Martin and his small cohort of non-elected advisors, somehow manage to win out on February 8, nothing of any significance will have changed when we all wake up to the reality on February 9.

“The country will be left facing yet another five years of blind adherence to existing Fine Gael policies supporting banks, profiteering and vulture funds.

“The time for radical change is now, so why can’t voters insist their politicians grow up and envisage the collec-

tive possibilities for real change?” asked Reilly.

He made the point that with 45 of the 159 seats up for grabs in the capital, voters in the 11 constituencies of Dublin could possibly decide the makeup of the 33rd Dail.

Reailly said: “A Coalition of the Willing is what’s now required, with more than 77% of the electorate currently not supporting Fine Gael, according to several published polls, mostly on foot of the worsening disasters in housing, health and overspending on state projects.

“It’s definitely time for real change.”

For further information, see The Real Debate Facebook page.

30 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

STYLE: ADORABLY ACCESSIBLE

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LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF THE NEWS AND EVENTS ACROSS THE CITY AND COUNTY

EDUCATION | CELEBRATING A MUSIC COLLEGE’S LEGACY IN THE LIBERTIES

Pitching in to help support open day PADRAIG CONLON

A noteworthy group ... These talented musicians were delighted to help promote the opening day at BIMM Institute Dublin. Picture: Marc O’Sullivan

A DUBLIN college that helps musicians break into the music world held a very successful open day last weekend.

Situated in the heart of Dublin 8, BIMM Institute Dublin (British and Irish Modern Music), has earned the reputation of being Ireland’s most connected music college.

With two campuses located on Francis Street and The Coombe, BIMM opened their doors last Saturday, January 25, to showcase what students can expect when studying at the college.

Guests had the opportunity to meet graduates who are currently shaping the music industry and successfully working as producers, session players, music therapists, lecturers, events managers, agents and promoters, to name but a few career paths.

BIMM offers students a launch pad into the world of contemporary music through its undergraduate and post-graduate courses, including BA (Hons) Commercial Modern Music, and its newly launched MA in

Popular Music Practice, which will commence in September.

Students also have access to master classes with many high-profile industry guests.

Some former guests include The Edge, Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Hozier, John Grant, Danny O’Donoghue (The Script), Imelda May, Chad Smith (Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Neil Hannon.

Some of Ireland’s most successful artists have walked through BIMM’s doors since it opened more than nine years ago, including Andrew Byrne (Hozier) and Imelda May. Since 2015, more than 600 students have graduated from the BA CMM, with more than 86% currently working in the music and creative arts industries.

Re c e n t su c c e s s f u l graduates include Ciara O’Connor, who is currently touring around the US with international artist Dua Lipa as her backing vocalist and dancer, and Aimee Mallon, who is one half of Dublin-based electronic indie-house duo, Le Boom.

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 30 January 2020

DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS I N F O R M AT I O N

SOME OF THE RANDOM AND QUIRKY

Heritage House, Dundrum, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publishes four weekly quality free titles, covering the latest news, sport, entertainment and lifestyle from the four local authority areas of Dublin

Over 23,000 people apply to be Great Blasket caretakers C O N TA C T S Managing Director: Michael McGovern mmcgovern@dublingazette.com Commercial Director: Liz Ferris lferris@dublingazette.com Group Editor: Cóilín Duffy cduffy@dublingazette.com Deputy Group Editor & Travel Editor: Shane Dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile jmaile@dublingazette.com Picture Editor: Alison O’Hanlon picturedesk@dublingazette.com Online & Style Editor: Rachel D’Arcy rdarcy@dublingazette.com Advertising Sales:

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OVER 23,000 people have applied for two jobs on the uninhabited Great Blasket Island.

Although no one lives permanently on the island, the tourist season of April to October has meant two people are needed to run the three guest cottages and coffee shop on Blasket.

There is no electricity, Wi-Fi or hot water on the island but apparently that has not deterred thousands of people – some as far afield as Australia and the US – to apply for positions.

Blasket Island lies two kilometres off the Kerry coast, is only six kilometres long and was famously the home of writer

Dating disaster goes viral A DUBLIN girl went viral last week after her tweet about her weirdest date ever amassed nearly 350,000 likes.

Holly Shortall, 30, from Dublin said when she was younger, she brought her date a condolence card and present after she learnt his pet bat died.

THE reimagined and refurbished Irish Wars 1919 – 1923 opened at the National Museum of Ireland recently, as part of the Museum’s Decade of Centenaries Commemorations.

The exhibition features 50 newly displayed artefacts, including an IRA intelligence file digitised and will be accessible for the first time.

Pictured are Brenda Malone, Curator, Irish Wars 1919–1923; Gerard Fitzpatrick, Donor of the IRA intelligence file and Dr Audrey Whitty, Head of Collections and Learning, National Museum of Ireland. Pictures: JULIEN BEHAL PHOTOGRAPHY

However, communication wires must have been crossed between Holly and her date as she wrote: “When I was a wee emo this guy asked me out - I didn’t hear from him on the day till he texted me saying sorry and that his bat had died. So, I got him a condolence card and a present and took it to the date, like,” I’m so

sorry about your pet bat,” and he was like, “no I meant my phone battery”.

Holly added: “In my defence, this was when we all had Nokia 3210s and a dead battery was unheard of.”

Holly’s tweet spread all over Twitter and Reddit gaining over 30,000 retweets in the process.

DUBLIN Gazette Newspapers has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs.

Bonnie is a very sweet and friendly six-year-old Jack Russell Terrier. She is instantly friendly with everyone and just loves company. She is an active girl; loves to play with her toys; and enjoys a fun game of fetch.

Bonnie is a very sweet girl who will make an amazing addition to any family once she is given time to settle in.

As Bonnie loves company so much, she is looking for a family who will be home for most of the day, so she doesn’t get lonely.

She can live with children over the age of 12, especially if they can help with her ongoing training. Bonnie can be picky with her doggy pals, so if her future family have a dog already, they will need to do a meet at the Rehoming Centre beforehand.

If you have room in your heart and home for Bonnie 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 www.facebook.com/dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE. (Remember: Always have your dog on a lead when in public.)

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Peig Seyers. Owner of the houses, Billy O’Connor, grandson of the late Peter Callery, a Dingle solicitor whose company once owned most of the Blasket, said the level of interest has taken him by surprise.

O’Connor and his wife, Alice Hayes say they are still trawling through their email inbox and will get back to the successful candidates in due course.

“A huge, huge thank you to everyone who took time to apply and share or like the post, we can’t explain how much your interest means to us,” said Hayes.

The posting says the job is suitable for a couple or two friends who are happy to move together.

bonnie

DOG OF THE WEEK

30 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

THINGS THAT CAUGHT OUR EYE THIS WEEK...

BITS & BOBS TOP TWEETS

I saw this on my walk into college. Dublin- never change. @mary guilbeaux

bruh this pic just gave me lack toes in toddler ants

New exhibits go on show Police answer mystery Heroic farm dog Patsy saves starlings found dead THE mystery of hundreds of starlings being found dead on a road in Anglesey, Wales is understood to have been solved by the police who say they were avoiding a predator.

More than 200 starlings were spread over a road near Llyn Llyweran, in the north-west of Wales in December.

Originally thought to be a mystery, North Wales Police’s rural crime team now saw they cracked the case after the Animal and Plant Health Agency examined the birds.

The post-mortem results show the birds suffered severe internal trauma from impact.

Rob Taylor, from the force’s rural crime team, said: “Please bear in mind that the full toxicology has not been received, so a final theory cannot be confirmed, but we are quite sure of the reasons and cause of deaths to the birds.

“The trauma supports the case that the birds died from impact with the road.

“It’s highly likely the murmuration took avoiding action whilst airborne, from possibly a bird of prey, with the rear of the group not pulling up in time and striking the ground.

“We still await toxicology, but from speaking to many people, looking at the injuries and previous worldwide cases, it appears by taking avoiding flight action the murmuration has flown towards the ground and pulled up, but some have not made it.”

When My Chemical Romance announce a Dublin gig @ iresimpsonsfans

sheep from Australian bushfires THE Australian bushfires have devasted large parts of the country and killed more than one billion animals since September 2019.

Volunteers from around the coun-

try and as far away as USA and Canada have fought courageously to fight the blazes and rescue the country’s animal’s, many of which are endan-

gered.

Among these brave volunteers is Patsy – a six year-old border collie.

According to CNET, Patsy lives with her owner Stephen Hill in Corryong, Victoria and helped save Hill’s entire flock of sheep from the encroaching blaze in early January.

Patsy herded all 900 sheep to the safest paddock on the farm, as Hill fought the fires threatening his land.

“I’d have been stuffed without Patsy,” said Hill. “She’s earned front-seat privileges for the rest of her life.”

The fearless Patsy managed to save nearly every animal with only a handful of sheds and animals lost.

Tales of Patsy’s feat has g a r n e re d a d m i re r s f ro m around the world, with her new Instagram account – Patsy the Corryong Wonder Dog – attracting thousands of followers.

News just in: Ireland is 40 years old @poilination

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 30 January 2020

FOOD&DRINK

Seeds are sown for children’s initiative

Gary Ibbotson

INNOCENT and Grow It Yourself (GIY) and teamed up once again to launch this year’s ‘Big Grow’ initiative – encouraging young people to grow their own fresh fruit and vegetables.

Now in its ninth year, the campaign has been developed closely with teachers and educational specialists to give aspiring junior gardeners the information and tools to create their own little vegetable patch in their garden, classroom or even windowsill.

Michael Kelly, GIY founder, said: “Studies show that children who grow their own food are more likely to eat fruits and vegetables and show higher levels of knowledge about nutrition.

“The children not only learn the science of growing, they also experience the joy of growing and eating their own food.

“GIY calls this ‘Food Empathy’, which is a deeper connection with food, and is proven to lead to a healthier life longterm.

“We are delighted to work

with innocent on this once again and we hope these life lessons stay with our growers into adulthood,” he says.

Food writer Lilly Higgins, who has joined this year’s campaign said she “is so excited to be involved in the innocent Big Grow”.

Higgins says: “This campaign is doing something very important - building a lifelong love of healthy food with children.

“If we can instil a love of homegrown produce with kids at an early age, we are giving them a valuable skill for life.”

The Big Grow is open for primary schools across the country with 60,000 children getting the opportunity to avail of a free grow kit.

This year, for the first time, the school judged to have cultivated the most impressive grows will receive €1,000 towards their school garden adding an extra incentive for the nation’s little growers to get involved and grow crazy.

The kits include three packs of seeds and children will get the chance to grow peas, cress and baby carrots.

Jessica Chinamasa and Hannah Bryce-Smith, little growers from St Brigid’s Garden Club in Stillorgan joining the growvolution with the innocent Big Grow. Picture: Mark Stedman

Thirty-two growing cups will also be included - one for each student to sow their own little ‘crop’.

Compost disc that expands in their cup when water is

added, a teacher’s resource booklet which includes lots of fun and educational activities, a classroom wallchart so that teachers can celebrate the weekly growing highs and suc-

cesses and some Star Grower Badges, will also be in the growing kits.

To apply for a grow kit, please visit www.innocentbiggrow.com.

Sink your teeth into Rugby inspired recipes YOGHURT brand Glenisk will host an exclusive one-day pop-up restaurant in Tang on Dawson Street on Monday, February 3.

Following Ireland’s opening encounter of the 2020 Guinness Six Nations on February 1, the restaurant will be serving up a host of limitededition rugby-inspired recipes from 7:30 am.

As part of its ‘Eat Like Them’ campaign, Glenisk have developed a menu of 15 scrum-ptious (aye?) highprotein dishes.

The menu will feature both breakfast and lunch options as well as a selection of all-day protein snacks, developed by Glenisk in collaboration with the IRFU Performance Nutrition team.

Example of dishes will include Protein Pancakes, slow-cooked Marinated Irish Beef and Vegetarian Falafel.

Dishes will range in price from €2.50 up to €9, with all proceeds from the day donated to Peter McVerry Trust. There will also be chances to win great rugby prizes on the day including tickets to see Ireland v Wales on February 8.

Saba To Go Rathmines named best takeaway

SABA to Go, Rathmines was crowned Ireland’s favourite takeaway last week at the Just Eat National Takeaway Awards.

Overall, 10 establishments in Dublin walked away with awards with Camile Thai, Phibsboro winning Best Takeaway Sustainability Award, while San Sab in Drumcondra won the best Spice Bag category.

Hosted in Dublin’s Number Twenty-Two and presented by presenter and foodie Cassie Stokes, The National Takeaway Awards were developed by Just

Eat to celebrate the nation’s favourite local takeaways.

Over 17,000 people nationwide voted on 25 categories with best vegan takeaway and best sustainable takeaway new additions to the list.

Unsurprisingly, the humble spice bag was voted Ireland’s favourite dish for the second year running, beating out the burrito, chicken korma, fish and chips and pepperoni pizza.

The full list of winners:

Best takeaway Ireland Saba to Go, Rathmines Best takeaway Dublin Saba to Go, Rathmines, D6 Best takeaway Connacht Xian Street Food, Galway Best takeaway Munster Camile Thai, Limerick Ireland’s favourite dish Spice bag Best Chinese Bamboo Court, Letterkenny Best Indian Bombay Pantry, Rathfarnham, D14 Best Thai Saba to Go, Rathmines Best Mexican Boojum, Kevin Street, D2

Best Japanese Wagamama, South King Street, D2 Best Middle Eastern Zaytoon, Camden Street, D2 Best breakfast McDonald’s, Swords Best chipper Macari 101, NaasBest pizza Base Wood Fired Pizza, Terenure, Dublin 6 Best salad Chopped, Fairview, D3 Best spice bag San Sab, Drumcondra, D9 Best sustainability Camile Thai, Phibsborough, D7 Best vegan Camile Thai, Greystones, Wicklow Best vegetarian Camile Thai, Limerick

Amanda Roche-Kelly, MD Just Eat Ireland, pictured with the winners of Best Takeaway Ireland, Saba To Go; Alan Cadden and Paul Cadden, and Head Chef Noraset Pradubwate .

Picture: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

30 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

DUBLIN GAZETTE’S ELECTION FOCUS

GENERAL ELECTION 2020

THE CANDIDATES We bring you a full list of the candidates across Dublin THE CANDIDATES are confirmed - it’s all systems go on the campaign trail, and here at Dublin Gazette we continue with our comprehensive coverage of Election 2020. 151 candidates are running across 11 constituences in the capital.

Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil, The Labour Party, Sinn Féin, Green Party/Comhaontas Glas, Solidarity - People Before Profit, United People (UP), Aontú, Irish Freedom Party, Renua Ireland, The National Party, The Workers Party, Independents 4 Change, Social Democrats, Independents and Non Party candidates are all part of the mix.

THE CONSITUENCIES ARE BROKEN DOWN AS FOLLOWS: Dublin Fingal (16) Dublin West (12) Dublin North West (10) Dublin Bay North (18) Dublin Central (15) Dublin Bay South (15) Dublin South Central (13) Dublin Mid-West (12) Dublin South West (16) Dublin Rathdown (11) Dun Laoghaire (13)

ALL MAPPED OUT

COMMENT: We need a strong voter turn-out

Make sure you use your vote and have your say IT’S TEN days out from the 2020 General Election, and politicans and their campaign teams across the capital and indeed the country are ramping up their efforts to gain your all important vote.

That’s the thing your vote is IMPORTANT - not just to the politicians, but to you, and indeed the greater populace in how we can shape the future of this country.

Irish freedom was hard earned; so too was the right to allow women to vote. All of this just happened around a century ago - but since then we have shaped a strong democracy - and for all it’s faults Ireland isn’t a bad country to live in - certainly by World standards.

Granted there are plenty of things that certainly need to be tackled - the homeless and housing crisis to just single out a particular issue.

How do we address this?

We put pressure on the election candidates to do something about it - we vote for people who can make a difference. We read their manifestos and those of their parties (if they have one), and we shape our opinions and thoughts to select what we think are the right candidates.

But if you’ve listened to what the politicans

CÓILÍN DUFFY GROUP EDITOR DUBLIN GAZETTE

canvassing have to say, or read their leaflets and manifestos, but then don’t vote - what’s the point!

Only by voting can you really have a say.

You’ll say what difference does one vote make - but you’ll be surprised how it can.

While countries such as the United Kingdom also call themselves a democracy - they are to a point - but not as much as we are here in Ireland.

The UK system uses the ‘first past the post’ type of format, which means you only vote for one candidate for who you want to get into parliament.

In fact it’s only one representative in the House of Commons per consistuency too.

Here we operate the ‘proportional representation system’.

We vote for our candidates in order of preference. Even if you have 11 candidates and you mark it 1 through to 11, it could actually make a difference for No. 11! Vote wisely!!

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 30 January 2020

GENERAL ELECTION 2020

30 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

GENERAL ELECTION 2020

ALL 151 CANDIDATES IN 11 DUBLIN CONSTITUENCIES AIMING TO BE A T.D. ON FEB 8

THE CANDIDATES ALL MAPPED OUT DUBLIN FINGAL

DUBLIN BAY NORTH

DUBLIN BAY SOUTH

DUBLIN SOUTH WEST



GLENN BRADY INDEPENDENT



RICHARD BRUTON FINE GAEL



CHRIS ANDREWS SINN FÉIN



CIARÁN AHERN THE LABOUR PARTY



LORRAINE CLIFFORD-LEE FIANNA FÁIL



MICHAEL BURKE NON PARTY



NORMA BURKE NON PARTY



CARLY BAILEY SOCIAL DEMOCRATS



ALAN FARRELL FINE GAEL



CONOR CREAVEN NON PARTY



PETER DOOLEY NON PARTY



COLM BROPHY FINE GAEL



TERRY KELLEHER SOLIDARITY - PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT



BRIAN GARRIGAN NON PARTY



SARAH DURCAN SOCIAL DEMOCRATS



ANNE MARIE CONDREN RENUA IRELAND



DEAN MULLIGAN INDEPENDENTS 4 CHANGE



BEN GILROY IRISH FREEDOM PARTY



MANNIX FLYNN NON PARTY



SEÁN CROWE SINN FÉIN



PAUL MULVILLE SOCIAL DEMOCRATS



SEAN HAUGHEY FIANNA FÁIL



JACQUI GILBOURNE RENUA IRELAND



MICK DUFF NON PARTY



TONY MURPHY NON PARTY



DAVID HEALY GREEN PARTY/COMHAONTAS GLAS



KEVIN HUMPHREYS THE LABOUR PARTY



FRANCIS NOEL DUFFY GREEN PARTY/COMHAONTAS GLAS



DARRAGH O’BRIEN FIANNA FÁIL



DEIRDRE HENEY FIANNA FÁIL



JOHN DOMINIC KEIGHER NON PARTY



PHILIP DWYER THE NATIONAL PARTY - AN PÁIRTÍ NÁISIÚNTA



JOE O’BRIEN GREEN PARTY/COMHAONTAS GLAS



JOHN LYONS NON PARTY



ANNETTE MOONEY SOLIDARITY - PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT



SANDRA FAY SOLIDARITY - PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT



GEMMA O’DOHERTY NON PARTY



LINDA MCEVOY NON PARTY



EOGHAN MURPHY FINE GAEL



JOHN LAHART FIANNA FÁIL



LOUISE O’REILLY SINN FÉIN



DENISE MITCHELL SINN FÉIN



JIM O’CALLAGHAN FIANNA FÁIL



PAUL MURPHY SOLIDARITY - PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT



JAMES REILLY FINE GAEL



BERNARD MULVANY SOLIDARITY - PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT



KATE O’CONNELL FINE GAEL



CHARLIE O’CONNOR FIANNA FÁIL



ALISTAIR SMITH UNITED PEOPLE (UP)



CATHERINE NOONE FINE GAEL



SEAN O’LEARY NON PARTY



DEIRDRE O’DONOVAN FIANNA FÁIL



DUNCAN SMITH THE LABOUR PARTY



MICHAEL O’BRIEN SOLIDARITY - PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT



EAMONN RYAN GREEN PARTY/COMHAONTAS GLAS



COLM O’ KEEFFE NON PARTY



SANDRA SWEETMAN NON PARTY



CIAN O’CALLAGHAN SOCIAL DEMOCRATS



BEN SCALLAN IRISH FREEDOM PARTY



ELLEN O’MALLEY DUNLOP FINE GAEL



OGHENETANO JOHN UWHUMIAKPOR



PROINSIAS O’CONARAIN AONTÚ



KATHERINE ZAPPONE NON PARTY

SOLIDARITY - PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT



SEAN O’LEARY NON PARTY



AODHAN O’RIORDAIN THE LABOUR PARTY

DUBLIN WEST          

JOAN BURTON THE LABOUR PARTY PETER CASEY NON PARTY JACK CHAMBERS FIANNA FÁIL RUTH COPPINGER SOLIDARITY - PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT EMER CURRIE FINE GAEL PAUL DONNELLY SINN FÉIN EDWARD MacMANUS AONTÚ RODERIC O’GORMAN GREEN PARTY/COMHAONTAS GLAS SEAN O’LEARY INDEPENDENT STEPHEN O’LOUGHLIN NON PARTY

DUBLIN CENTRAL 

GILLIAN BRIEN SOLIDARITY -

PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT       

CHRISTY BURKE NON PARTY PATRICK CLOHESSY NON PARTY JOE COSTELLO THE LABOUR PARTY PASCHAL DONOHOE FINE GAEL DEIRDRE DUFFY FINE GAEL MARY FITZPATRICK FIANNA FÁIL GARY GANNON SOCIAL DEMOCRATS



AENGUS Ó MAOLÁIN SOCIAL DEMOCRATS



RITA HARROLD SOLIDARITY - PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT



LEO VARADKAR FINE GAEL



NEASA HOURIGAN GREEN PARTY/COMHAONTAS GLAS



MARY LOU MCDONALD SINN FÉIN



SARAH LOUISE MULLIGAN NON PARTY



SEAN O’LEARY NON PARTY EILIS RYAN THE WORKERS PARTY

DUBLIN NORTHWEST 

CAROLINE CONROY GREEN PARTY/COMHAONTAS GLAS





IAN CROFT NON PARTY



IAN NOEL SMYTH AONTÚ



DESSIE ELLIS SINN FÉIN



DOLORES WEBSTER NON PARTY



NIALL FITZGERALD NON PARTY



PAUL MCAULIFFE FIANNA FÁIL



ANDREW MONTAGUE THE LABOUR PARTY



CONOR REDDY SOLIDARITY - PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT



STEPHEN REDMOND THE NATIONAL PARTY



NOEL ROCK FINE GAEL



ROISIN SHORTALL SOCIAL DEMOCRATS

DUBLIN SOUTH CENTRAL CATHERINE ARDAGH FIANNA FÁIL



CATHERINE BYRNE FINE GAEL





JOAN COLLINS INDEPENDENTS 4 CHANGE





PATRICK COSTELLO GREEN PARTY/COMHAONTAS GLAS



TARA DEACY SOCIAL DEMOCRATS



ROBERT FOLEY NON PARTY



SERINA IRVINE THE NATIONAL PARTY



ALAN KERRIGAN NON PARTY



REBECCA MOYNIHAN THE LABOUR PARTY



RICHARD MURRAY NON PARTY



SEAN O’LEARY NON PARTY



AENGUS O’SNODAIGH SINN FÉIN



BRID SMITH SOLIDARITY - PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT

DUBLIN MID-WEST      

DublinGazette

NEXT WEEK: THE PARTY LEADERS GIVE US THEIR THOUGHTS

DUBLIN RATHDOWN



     

SHAY BRENNAN FIANNA FÁIL DEIRDRE CONROY FIANNA FÁIL  LIAM COUGHLAN AONTÚ  JOSEPHA MADIGAN FINE GAEL  CATHERINE MARTIN GREEN PARTY/COMHAONTAS GLAS  LETTIE MCCARTHY THE LABOUR PARTY  SORCHA NIC CORMAIC SINN FÉIN  PATRICK NOONAN NON PARTY  EOGHAN Ó CEANNABHÁIN SOLIDARITY - PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT  NEALE RICHMOND FINE GAEL  SHANE ROSS NON PARTY

DUN LAOGHAIRE 

RICHARD BOYD BARRETT SOLIDARITY - PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT

VICKI CASSERLY FINE GAEL



JENNIFER CARROLL MACNEILL FINE GAEL

JOHN CURRAN FIANNA FÁIL



CORMAC DEVLIN FIANNA FÁIL

DAVID GARDINER THE WORKERS PARTY



MARY HANAFIN FIANNA FÁIL

PAUL NICHOLAS GOGARTY INDEPENDENT



MARY MITCHELL O’CONNOR FINE GAEL

EMER HIGGINS FINE GAEL



SHANE O’BRIEN SINN FÉIN

PETER KAVANAGH GREEN PARTY/COMHAONTAS



JULIET O’CONNELL THE LABOUR PARTY

GINO KENNY SOLIDARITY - PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT



CON ÓG Ó LAOGHAIRE IRISH FREEDOM PARTY (I.F.P.)

CAITRÍONA MC CLEAN FIANNA FÁIL



DAVE QUINN SOCIAL DEMOCRATS

EOIN Ó BROIN SINN FÉIN



OSSIAN SMYTH GREEN PARTY/COMHAONTAS GLAS

FRANCIS TIMMONS INDEPENDENT



MAIRÉAD TÓIBÍN AONTÚ

JOANNA TUFFY THE LABOUR PARTY



BARRY WARD FINE GAEL

MARK WARD SINN FÉIN



JOHN WATERS NON PARTY

DUBLIN GAZETTE NO. 1 FOR ELECTIONS COVERAGE ACROSS THE CAPITAL

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 30 January 2020

GENERAL ELECTION 2020

LEADERS HAVE THEIR SAY IN GALWAY

(left to right) Fine Gael leader, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald, Solidarity People Before Profit politician Richard Boyd Barrett, Social Democrats joint leader Roisin Shortall, Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Irish Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin, during the seven way RTE leaders debate at the NUIG campus in Galway on Monday night .

Picture: Niall Carson PA Wire/PA Images

Glenageary’s BoydBarrett a big winner in RTÉ Leaders Debate CÓILÍN DUFFY GROUP EDITOR AT RTÉ LEADERS DEBATE, NUI GALWAY cduffy@dublingazette.com

SOLIDARITY - PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT’S Richard Boyd Barrett certainly came out a real winner, following the RTÉ Election 2020 Leaders Debate at NUI Galway on Monday night.

Hosted as the ‘Claire Byrne Live Leaders Debate’, the almost two-hour long debate tackled the issues of Crime, Housing and Taxation along with the areas of climate change and the Environment.

The left-leaning polititcians in the debate certainly were the big winners in particular Boyd-Barrett who got his points across strongly, in a well-delivered fashion, with the substance of his comments factually accurate, and certainly

going down well with the public.

Social media was awash with praise for Boyd-Barrett; Eamon Ryan of the Green Party, and Social Democrats leader Roisín Shortall, while there were also kudos for much of what Sinn Féin’s Mary-Lou McDonald had to say.

Indeed most of the Dublin based politicians came out of the debate strongly, and while there was much pressure on Fine Gael leader An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar - he certainly came out with the quote of the night saying ‘there’s a fair few nutters in all parties including my own!’.

There was certainly a huge challenge for debate host Claire Byrne to ‘get it right’ and allow for a flowing debate, while also ensuring all of those involved got a fair crack at the whip in order to achieve balance and fairness required

under Broadcasting and media Law. The Laois native certainly achieved

“

The left leaning politicans in the debate were certainly the big winners this with aplomb, and has to be praised for the way she handly the debate fairly, and not being afraid to challenge the leaders on certain points they had made.

It was hugely evident that she had done her homework.

While this was a debate on national issues - of course all national issues are local! However, it wasn’t surprising that on some of the topics addressed - examples specifically relating to Dublin constituencies came to the fore.

In the area of housing, Leo Varadkar made reference to allowing for more cost-rental schemes across the country, and cited the recent schemes at Enniskerry Rd. and Emmet Rd. in Dublin as a model that Fine Gael intend to roll-out across the country should they get back into power.

On the issue of crime Labour leader Brendan Howlin talked about how communities who are under siege are frightened, and reference the good work being done by Gardaí throughout the country, and in particular in North Inner City Dublin, where he said that it was found

to be the case that it wasn’t just about simply having Garda Checkpoints in order to be effective.

Sinn Féin’s Mary Lou McDonald talked how Fitzgibbon St. Garda Station is still close, while her local station in Cabra is only open part-time hours. ‘You have to ensure that the Gardaí have the basic stuff (also),” she said.

The next debate will take place on Virgin Media One at 9.30pm tonight (Thursday January 30).

Once again the seven main party leaders will come under the microscope, with VMTV’s Matt Cooper and Ivan Yates asking the questions.

There had been calls from the smaller parties including Aontú’s Peadar Tobin to include them in the RTÉ debate last Monday, but an application for a court injunction was dropped at the 11th hour.

30 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

FRESH IDEAS FOR YOUR WARDROBE

Adorably accessible

(L-R) Dunnes Stores: Easy dressing check shirt, €12 - €14 Wheelchair accessible jacket, €20-€22 Easy Dressing long sleeve top, €8-10 Easy Dressing star print top, €8 - €10 Easy Dressing button joggers, €12 - €14

 Rachel D’Arcy, Style Editor

DUNNES STORES have launched a line of new kids clothing, designed for children with additional needs.

The Additional Needs clothing range features a line of fashions and underwear designed to be more accessible for children in wheelchairs, with tubes, or with other extra needs not provided for in regular clothing.

super Sporty style  Rachel D’Arcy, Style Editor THE TOMMY SPORT collection for Spring 2020 has dropped, and it’s enough to make you want to run right to the gym!

The new collection is inspired by the pioneering spirit of modern America, celebrating the brand’s 35th anniversary by fusing classic heritage pieces with a twist.

Essentials including sports bras, leggings and T-shirts are reimagined through colour-blocking, mesh detailing and defined ergonomic cut lines.

These new details

HOME & STYLE

ensure that you’ll look fashion forward whether you’re slaying it on the treadmill or pumping iron.

Innovative elements bring a technical edge to signature styles, with the garments usingantibacterial Polygiene, HerMin Weave Tech breathable and waterrepellent organic cotton, as well as moisture wicking and cooling TH Cool miDori.

The silhouettes of each garment are designed forenhanced freedom of movement, while sports bras offer added high-support.

There’s also a great

offering for the guys in the new collection, too!

Pops of bright orange and lemonlime contrast with the brand’s iconic red, white and navy colour palette, with exciting graphics spicing things up just a little!

We’ve rounded up some of our top picks from the new collection that we can’t wait to rock as we work on our ‘new year, new me’ mantra at the gym - or while we’re lounging at home on another Netflix binge!

For more on TommySport, and to see the rest of the collection, check out

Items in the new range include leggings and joggers, jackets, shirts, tops and dresses that feature velcro or an alternative soft-close fastening and opening for PEG tubes.

The care labels in the garments are also concealed to avoid irritation, with the fabrics soft to the touch as well. The collection also features a range of undergarments, including vests and bodysuits, that are also designed to be accessible with their openings.

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 30 January 2020

Delight in digital

Get in touch with YOUR local paper on our newly improved website www.dublingazette.com, Facebook and Twitter

DublinGazette Wherever you are, we’ve got you covered

For all digital enquiries contact JPMontgomery@dublingazette.com

30 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

WHAT’S BIG IN MUSIC, CINEMA, TV AND ONLINE

ENTERTAINMENT Picture: Anthony O’Connor

GEORGE MURPHY GEORGE MURPHY found fame at an early age, and it was almost unintended. The Dubliner was more into acting at the age of 17, but he applied to RTE reality singing show ‘You’re A Star’, progressed through numerous weeks, and went on to get a number one album.

Now in his 30s, he has a far more organic approach to music.

“It always served as a platform,” he recalls of his early days in television, which helped establish his distinctive vocal and mellow, folk-tinged sound.

“I was always grateful

 JAMES HENDICOTT

for it, but reality TV is not something I’d advise musicians to get involved in.

“Like-minded people making something together in a garage or a bedroom is much better.

I know that sounds hypocritical, considering the background I come from, but honestly there’s a bit of me that wishes I’d never done it.”

In truth, music was almost thrust upon Mur-

phy, though through his own actions, with the stage his first love and very much his focus at the time. Musically, he was a vocalist, and couldn’t read music, let alone play guitar.

That came later, as did his new band, a passion project based around local pubs in north Dublin the accompanies him as The Rising Sons.

“It was great getting a number one album,” Murphy recalls. “ That said, I didn’t feel like I earned it. It was given to me on a plate. I feel what I’m doing now so much more natural and

GOINGOUTOUT

so much stronger, and I think it might surprise people who have certain expectations of me. Any success I get now, I’ll feel like I deserve it.”

That confidence and attitude is emphasised

by Murphy’s approach to shows: talking of playing to audiences with certain expectations, he sees a chance to win them over to his developing style.

“The ups and downs are really quite full on,” he says.

“It can be a funny world, music, you can be on top of the pile, and the next day you’re yesterday’s news.”

Mu r p hy re g ro u p e d post-reality TV by heading to New York, where he worked as a barman and learnt to play guitar, grifting for gigs in a city where he was a real unknown.

The experience formed him into a far more complete musician. On returning home, his work with The Rising Sons inspires him, and is centred on practicality and passion.

“We play in the evenings in pubs in Santry and Lorcan,” Murphy says of the band, who do the pub gigs for fun, but play far more substantial

JANUARY 30 (THURSDAY)

Krept x Konan @ The Academy, €29

Sturgill Simpson @ Vicar Street February 1

JANUARY 31 (FRIDAY)

SWITCHING TO HIS OWN GROOVE

shows as part of a tour between times.

“It’s a neighbourhood vibe,” he adds, clearly passionate about the shows. “I love these guys.

They all have full time jobs so I want them to be able to walk home, but I also want to be able to give this a real go with them.

“They’re a good band in their own right, and they’re getting shows without me, too, now.

Touring is a bit more difficult, and I’ve been advised several times to just get session musicians to go on tour.

“But it’s not what I

Elkae @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €13 808 State @ The Button Factory, €17+ Carvin Jones @ The Workman’s Club, €25

Jonas Brothers @ 3Arena, sold out Beth Hart @ Vicar Street, sold out Hail The Ghost @ Whelan’s, €15 Terri Hooley @ The Sugar Club, €15 Odd Morris @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), sold out

Lil Mosey @ The Olympia Theatre, €25 Kane Brown @ The Academy, €28 Milky Chance @ Vicar Street, sold out

FEBRUARY 1 (SATURDAY)

FEBRUARY 4 (TUESDAY)

Sturgill Simpson @ Vicar Street, €30

FEBRUARY 2 (SUNDAY)

The Local Honeys @ Whelan’s (Up-

want, really. It’s about more than just being technically good, it’s about community. I can play as just myself, and I don’t want to play with anyone else. This is my natural vibe.”

Finding that feel has been critical to Murphy, who finally seems like he’s found his place in the musical world, a far, far cry from where he started out. It’s been a long but vital road.

George Murphy plays Dublin Racing Festival on February 2. Other dates on his ongoing tour can be found on GeorgeMurphyMusic.com

stairs), €15 Kim Petras @ The Academy 2, €23

FEBRUARY 5 (WEDNESDAY)

Black Pumas @ The Academy, €25 The Slow Readers Club @ The Button Factory, €19 Villiers & The Villains @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €15 Sun Shakers @ Whelan’s, €10 Alina Bzhezhinska Quartet @ The Sugar Club, €10 Jamie Freed @ The Workman’s Club, €5

24 DUBLIN GAZETTE 30 January 2020

DUBLIN MOTORS

WHAT’S NEW IN THE WORLD OF TRANSPORT

Turn heads with this Mazda beauty limited edition anniversary edition mx-5 wows

With only 10 of the 30th anniversary edition MX-5 available for Ireland, you’ll need luck to spot one of these stunning cars on our roads

DECLAN GLYNN

IN ORDER to celebrate the birth of the iconic Mazda MX-5, Mazda unveiled a 30th anniversary edition MX-5 at the 2019 Chicago Motor Show, three decades after its debut at the very same motor show in 1989.

With global production limited to 3,000 models, only 10 units will be available in Ireland.

The 30th anniversary edition features the new 184PS (181bhp) version of Mazda’s acclaimed 2.0-litre Skyactiv-G petrol engine, and is available only in the roadster (convertible) body-type.

Launched as both a tribute to loyal MX-5 fans, and as a mark of the high hopes the firm has for the future of its sports car, this Mazda MX-5 is exclusively offered in the newly developed Racing Orange body paint – a strikingly vivid colour that marks out this special motor.

In addition to Racing Orange, the new MX-5 features forged aluminium Rays wheels, developed exclusively for it in co-operation with Rays

Toyota readies new RAV4 hybrid model THE new Toyota RAV4 plug-in hybrid is due to be launched in Ireland in the second half of 2020.

With the experience of developing two generations of its Prius plug-in hybrid model, Toyota is well-equipped to produce an effective new powertrain for the RAV4.

It has the potential to deliver acceleration from 0 to 100 kmph in just 6.2 seconds, outperforming any of its conventionally powered rivals.

Moreover, it is also on course to deliver bestin-class CO2 emissions

and fuel economy, with data indicating a CO2 output of less than 29g/ km – levels unmatched by any current D-segment plug-in hybrid AWD SUV. Equipment specifications reflect the RAV4 plug-in hybrid’s flagship status.

Features and options will include 19-inch alloy wheels, heated front and rear seats, a 230 V power outlet in the cabin, a bi-tone exterior paint finish, power tailgate, nine-inch display audio system and the latest Toyota multimedia package.

Some top tips to help improve efficiencies

“

This engine is one of the greatest four-cylinder motors you can buy.

Silky-smooth, it starts up with a fruity growl.

Wheel Co Ltd, and a 30th anniversary badge displaying the model’s serial number Other unique features include orange brake calipers with Nissin brakes on the rear, and Brembo brakes on the front wheels.

My review car proved itself to be a real headt u r n e r, b o t h w h e n parked-up and when on the move, while performance from the engine

was never an issue.

Producing 181bhp and 205Nm of torque, the car can go from 0-100kmph in just 6.5 seconds, and can achieve a top speed of 205kmph.

This engine is one of the greatest four-cylinder motors you can buy.

Silky-smooth, it starts up with a fruity growl, and is likeable in everyday use, but really comes alive when the accelerator pedal is pushed

towards the floor.

The engine revs all the way around the rev counter to 7,500rpm, and is responsible for making a superb car even better than ever before.

Claimed fuel consumption of 6.9l/100km on a combined driving cycle is achievable, while an annual road tax disc will cost €570.

The MX-5 is lighter than most cars on the road, and this is reflected

in the precision of the steering, the light clutch, and the enjoyable shortthrow gearbox.

While the stunning new Mazda MX-5 range is priced from €28,195 (ex-delivery), this limited edition roadster is available for €40,995 (exdelivery).

The Mazda MX-5 30th anniversary edition is the perfect way to celebrate three decades of this iconic sports car.

EVEN the most experienced driver out there can lapse into a little laziness in their driving or maintenance habits.

However, there are plenty of things that we can all do to improve our efficiencies, and take better care of our vehicles – which, ultimately, also takes better care of us on the roads.

Here are some top tips for greater efficiency for any driver to remember...

Tip 1: Driving in the wrong gear – To drive more efficiently, change up into a higher gear as soon as conditions allow, as correct use of gears can shave up to 15% off your fuel bill.

Tip 2: Don’t ignore warning lights – It is worthwhile to remember that warning lights are there to alert you that something is wrong and needs attention.

If you choose to ignore a warning light, you could have to face expensive repairs later.

Tip 3: Sudden braking – Constant sudden braking will wear out your discs and brake pads, and increase the likelihood of brake failure.

Tip 4: Skimping on car maintenance – Looking after the routine maintenance of your car is an easy way to prolong its driving life, and it will pay huge dividends in the long run.

Tip 5: Tyre pressure check – It is important to check tyre pressures regularly, as correctly inflated tyres can improve fuel consumption by up to 2%.

Tip 6: Watch your speed – This may come as a surprise, but driving just 8 kmph over the speed limit can affect fuel consumption by as much as 23%. The most fuel-efficient speed is 75-80 kmph.

30 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 25

TAKE A BREAK, AT HOME OR AWAY

It’s almost time for the ‘Firefall’ to flow in America IT’S that time of year again, for any lucky visitors heading to Yosemite National Park in America – time for ‘the Firefall’.

The annual event lasts for just two weeks in February, drawing even more visitors than usual to the stunning national park.

Already home to a dizzying range of picture-perfect sights that draw families, lovers of the great outdoors and photographers to the park in huge numbers each year, the Firefall has become an early-year attraction in its own right.

What appears to be a river of fire tumbling down a sheer cliff face is both a natural phenomenon and an optical illusion, that varies from year to year.

As the setting sun hits Horsetail Falls at just the right side angle, the colour of the fading sunlight, and the volume and speed of the tumbling waters, combine to create a unique visual spectacle – the Firefall.

With this year’s event expected to flow from February 13-29, Irish visitors to California should definitely put this on their bucket list, heading over to the state’s Sierra Nevada mountains for the stunning park, and for the Firefall itself.

With a range of direct flights from Dublin to California now possible, this is definitely something to take in.

Dublin proves a big hit with holidaymakers, list shows DUBLIN has just added another prestigious string to its bow, with the revelation that our fair city is firmly in the top ten list of European cities to travel to.

That’s according to research by Loveholidays.com, which collated thousands of awards for a wide range of cities over the past several years.

Examining awards in areas including travel, hospitality and entertainment, to name but a few, Dublin shot into the top ten list.

As you’d expect, some usual suspects – the likes of London and Paris – are ahead of Dublin in the ranking, but Dubliners can hold their head high with the knowledge that we’re a very popular travel destination.

For the full list, and information, see https://www. loveholidays.com/holidays/campaigns/mostaward-winning-travel-destinations/ award-winning-travel-destinations/.

DUBLIN TRAVEL

Bill to thwart boozy tourists welcomed THE Irish Travel Agents Association (ITAA) have released a statement regarding a recent decision by Spain’s Balearic Islands to clamp down on excessive alcohol consumption by holidaymakers in the area.

The move by local authorities seeks to curb some of the worst behaviour at San Antonio on the island of Ibiza, and El Arenal and Magaluf on Mallorca.

Welcoming the clampdown, the ITAA said: “We view the introduction of

these new laws as a positive move for the Balearic Islands.

“While everyone likes to kick back and have a good time on holiday, it is important to do so safely and responsibly to ensure that nobody gets hurt.

“It is important to sort this out now, for the improvement of these areas and the people who live there “It is good that the Balearic regional authorities and local tourist organisations are making efforts to resolve these issues, to ensure that other holidaymakers and residents of the islands can feel safe in their surroundings while still having fun.”

26 DUBLIN GAZETTE 30 January 2020

POLSKA GAZETA

the first of our new section for Polish readers CHALLENGE YOURIn BRAIN...JUST FORnew FUN! we speak to the country’s Ambassador

Anna, the new Polish Lidl special offers on Polish native heads Polish food this week our new section Ambassador, tells us all about her love of Ireland and its people FOOD

 MARTYNA MUSZCZYNSKA

news@dublingazette.com

NEW POLISH Ambassador Her Excellency Anna Sochanska describes her initial experience and thoughts of Ireland as fantastic.

According to Anna, Irish people and society are very open and approachable, which as a result makes her feel at home. Speaking to Dublin Gazette, Anna says she has big plans for her role. ’On one hand it is an easy task as 150,000 Polish people work in Ireland and are well integrated within the Irish society,’ she said. ‘However, both countries lack strong political relations.’ Therefore, the Ambassador’s aim is to establish political dialogue between Polish and Irish Ministers/PrimeMinisters/Presidents. The Polish Ambassador expresses her concern about how the full potential of

Poland and Ireland is being wasted as both countries are focused on many issues of common interest.

From Anna’s perspective, taking action towards improving relations between the two countries is her main role.

Furthermore, Anna finds her role challenging because ‘’we live in a very difficult world with so many problems. We need to deal with issues related to international and social security as well as climate change’’. The major aspect which contributes to the challenges that the Polish Ambassador has to overcome is having a massive diaspora of 150,000 Polish people in Ireland.

Her main goal is to represent Poland in proper manner. She is very active in defending the interests of Polish people.

An example of that would be the introduction of the Polish language as one of the languages in curriculum in Irish schools as a

chance for children to study Polish and to pass Leaving Certificate.

Clearly, the Ambassador shows interest in cultivating the Polish language and culture.

The publication and exhibition of Paul Strzelecki, a Polish hero who helped to save 200,000 Irish children during the Great Famine was opened by President Higgins.

With this in mind, workshops for children in Irish schools are sponsored by the Polish community.

In those schools, the information about Paul Strzelecki was demonstrated for Irish children to see how Poland and Ireland are linked through history.

Therefore, the contribution and activities made by Polish people create a significant connection between Irish and Polish people.

In general, the Polish Ambassador wants to connect people, whether it is on historical basis or otherwise.

SUPERMARKET chain LIDL has a raft of special offers this week - with a particular focus on Polish produce.

Among the items on offer are Smoked Whole Mackeral (€4.99/kg); Pickled Gherkins (€1.49); Sesame Bars (59c each or 3 for €1 Multi-buy) and Smoked Pork Sausage (€1.99 each).

The promotion begins today (Thursday, January 30).

MEET MARTYNA

DUBLIN GAZETTE welcomes on board Martyna Muszczynska, who will take charge of our new page for the Polish Community – Polska Gazeta.

Martyna was born in Poland and moved to Ireland when she was 10, living in Letterkenny for eight years before moving to Maynooth where she attended NUI Maynothand graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree after studying English and history.

Her hobbies include reading, writing short stories, swimming, listening to music.

She said: “I am really looking forward to bringing news to the 150,000-strong Polish community in Ireland through Dublin Gazette.”

Polish Ambassador Her Excellency Anna Sochanska (left) is interviewed by Dublin Gazette Polish correspondent Martyna Muszczynska. Picture: Cóilín Duffy

Irlandia to wspaniale miejsce.

Nowy Polski Ambassador

NOWA POLSKA Ambasador Anna Sochańska opisuje swoje pierwsze doświadczenia i myśli na temat Irlandii jako fantastyczne.

Według Pani Anny, Irlandczycy oraz ich społeczeństwo są bardzo otwartymi i dostępnymi ludźmi, dzięki czemu czuje się tu jak w domu. Rozmawiając z Dublin Gazette, Pani Anna opowiada o swoich wielkich planach dotyczących swojej roli. „Z jednej strony jest to łatwe zadanie, ponieważ 150, 000 Polaków pracuje w Irlandii i jest dobrze zintegrowanych ze społeczeństwem irlandzkim”, powiedziała Pani Anna. „Jednak oba kraje nie mają silnych stosunków politycznych.’’ Otóż celem Pani Ambasador jest

nawiązanie dialogu politycznego między polskim i irlandzkimi premierem oraz prezydentem. Pani Ambasador wyraża zaniepokojenie na podstawie marnowania pełnego potencjału Polski i Irlandii, ponieważ oba kraje koncentrują się na wielu kwestiach wspólnego zainteresowania.

Z punktu widzenia Pani Anny jej główną rolą i wyzwaniem jest podejmowanie działań w celu poprawy stosunków między dwoma krajami.

Ponadto, Pani Ambasador uważa swoją rolę za wymagającą, ponieważ „żyjemy w bardzo trudnym świecie z wieloma problemami związanymi z bezpieczeństwem międzynarodowym i społecznym, a także ze zmianami klimatu, z

którymi musimy sobie poradzić ”.

Głównym aspektem, który przyczynia się do sprostania wyzwaniom, przed którymi stoi polski ambasador, jest ogromna diaspora 150,000 Polaków w Irlandii.

Fundamentalnym celem pani Anny jest właściwe reprezentowanie Polski. Pani Ambasador bardzo aktywnie broni interesów Polaków. Przykładem tego jest wprowadzenie języka polskiego do szkół irlandzkich, ponieważ język polski w programie nauczania w szkołach irlandzkich jest szansą dla dzieci na naukę języka polskiego i zdaniem matury. Wyraźnie widać, iż Pani Ambasador interesuje się kształceniem języka polskiego oraz kultury polskiej.

Prezydent Higgins otworzył

publikację i wystawę Pawła Strzeleckiego, polskiego bohatera, który pomógł uratować 200, 000 irlandzkich dzieci podczas Wielkiego Głodu.

Mając to na uwadze, warsztaty dla dzieci w szkołach irlandzkich są sponsorowane przez polską społeczność. W tych szkołach informacje o Pawle Strzeleckim zostały pokazane irlandzkim dzieciom, aby zobaczyły powiązanie historyczne pomiędzy Polską i Irlandią.

W związku z tym, wkład i działania Polaków tworzą znaczący związek między Irlandczykami, jak i również Polakami.

Kolejnym celem Pani Ambasador jest łączenie ludzi na gruncie historycznym oraz kulturalnym.

30 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN...JUST FOR FUN!

CODEWORDS

You could advertise here

DUBLIN PUZZLES SUDOKU EASY

MODERATE

SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

DON’T FORGET TO CHECK BACK NEXT WEEK FOR THE SOLUTIONS TO THIS WEEK’S PUZZLES

WORD SEARCH

HOW TO SOLVE Codewords are like crossword puzzles - but have no clues! Instead, every letter of the alphabet has been replaced by a number, the same number representing the same letter throughout the puzzle.

All you have to do is decide which letter is represented by which number!

To start you off, we reveal the codes for two or three letters.

As you find letters, enter them in the key and into the grid.

Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

FIND THE HIDDEN WORDS BAKER BETROTHAL BROWNIE BUNDLED CAGE CIRCLES CLIPPING COMPREHEND DENOTES DYKES

EMACIATED EUPHRATES FORFEITED LEANED MODELLED RAKING REMITTANCE SPOTTER TACKLES TRUE ZONAL

To advertise here please contact sales@dublingazette.com or call 01 6010240

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 30 January 2020

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CAMOGIE P35

THE BEST IN DUBLIN

SPORT

MARKING KOBE: BASKETBALL: HE’S THE IRISHMAN who went toe-to-toe with Kobe Bryant before he was Kobe Bryant – or at least before Bryant became synonymous with basketball like arguably nobody will again.Emmet Donnelly was 18 and a senior at Stroudsburg High School in Pennsylvania when he was charged with the toughest gig in basketball – keeping Kobe quiet.



GAZETTE

SOCCER P32

PAGE 33

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS BOXING | BALLYFERMOT MAN ALL SET FOR HUGE MIAMI DATE

Cool hand Luke’s world title contest  sport@dublingazette.com

BALLYFERMOT’S Luke Keeler faces world champion Demetrius Andrade on Thursday (January 30) with the WBO middleweight belt on the line, capping a remarkable turnaround.

The bout takes place in Miami and will be Keeler’s biggest contest by some distance after an initially meandering career gained focus.

And last summer’s big win over highly-rated American Luis Arias in Belfast has brought him to the attention of the Sky Sports cameras.

“I suppose I’m a completely different fighter to what I was before I fully committed to the sport and joined up with my trainer Peter Taylor,” he said of the key change in his regimen.

“The Luke Keeler who struggled in an Irish title fight in June 2017 would get stopped by the Luke Keeler I am now, so that tells its own story.

“I fell back in love with the sport thanks to Pete and I owe him a lot for

this turnaround in my career.”

It was at a point when he was considering stepping away from the sport to get a construction company off the ground. He tag-teamed the two professions but felt he needed to give boxing a greater focus if he was to get anything from the sport.

“I was struggling with a shoulder injury which I needed surgery to repair, I was in the process of moving to a new house with my two young twin boys and, as a result, I was under a lot of pressure with work. I was thinking about setting up my own company in the building industry, which was booming in Dublin.

“I realised I’d have regrets if I didn’t fully focus on boxing and give it my all. The choice was to either retire from boxing and focus on working and home life or take a huge leap of faith and commit to boxing properly for the first time in my life.

“I was lucky enough to sign with MTK Global and be guaranteed regu-

Luke Keeler faces Demetrius Andrade with the WBO world title belt on the line in Miami. Picture: Laszlo Geczo

lar fights with a clear plan ahead. It would’ve been hard to give up a wellpaid job without that.”

After four strong wins between 2018 and 2019, he now has a dream shot at an even bigger prize.

“My motivation was always to win a world title. I have dreamed of that since I first started boxing at the age

of eight. Now, getting to this level of the game, becoming financially free is another motivation because using these pay-days and investing them wisely can secure my family’s future.

“I know winning this fight brings life-changing money and I look forward to being able to provide for my family and those closest to me.”

SPORT CONTACT INFO SPORTS EDITOR: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@dublingazette.com Phone: 01 601 0240

32 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 30 January 2020

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

2 1

LUCAN SARSFIELDS BALLYMUN KICKHAMS CONGRATULATIONS WELL done to the Junior to ADessie la Farrell and his team on their first game back since the historic 5 in a row and providing an entertaining game.

Congratulations to our five members on their fine performances, who all contributed to the great comeback draw! Well done lads, again making us very proud.

Our monthly draw is on this Friday, and there are still some tickets for the draw left at €5 each. Please contact Gerry Staunton or any member of the executive committee.

Thank you all who support this vital monthly fundraiser.

We will very soon be launching advertising opportunities for our new artificial pitch in the coming week or so. Please keep an eye out on our social media for these fantastic opportunities.

Your annual membership is now due. Please see Linda or a member of your management team asap. Adult players/full membership is €100 and €50 for the unwaged.

Social membership is €40 per annum.

Remember, this entitles you to apply for entry into our (what seems to be now annual) ticket draw for all Ireland football final tickets!

We encourage all people involved in the club, be it supporter, parent or just a well wisher, to join the club and become a member of our burgeoning family.

All newcomers welcome. Linda is most welcoming! You can contact her by using these: lindaparnell@yahoo.ie or 0872733022 or go to our website *HERE* for more information.

Our artificial pitch replacement is well underway, and we advise all juvenile teams that during this process, Pairc Ciceam will essentially be a building site and therefor out of bounds for safety reasons.

We ask all juvenile teams to please comply with this rule. It’s envisaged that the pitch will be completed by the middle of February (weather permitting).

We also advise that our grass pitch is currently closed until further notice, will reopen soon, weather permitting.

O’TOOLE’S THE management committee would like to wish all players and teams the very best for the upcoming season. Go out and represent yourselves and our club with pride.

All training has recommenced. Girls training Tuesday & Thursday 6 to 8pm.

Juvenile registrations are now due. You can pay through your team coordinator, online or phone Hellen on 086 3060524 to make payment arrangements.

Nobody told our U14 girls that competitive

games hadn’t begun.

They had a friendly game planned vs Sylvesters. It was our girls first time playing on the juvenile pitch and our girls revelled in it with a great win. Onwards and up girls.

Entertainment in our lounge this weekend.

Saturday it’s Mark & Aidan.

Sunday with ‘Denis Storm’. ‘*Find the Joker*’ jackpot *€220* There was no winner of our Thursday night ‘Live’ Club Lotto draw. the numbers were 1, 9, 17, 19. The jackpot is a nice €3,900* so don’t delay, play today

SOCCER: IMPRESSIVE 2019 CAMPAIGN ADDS TO EXPECTATIONS

Bohs’ Long to manage pressure of raised hopes LEAGUE OF IRELAND  DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

BOHEMIANS manager Keith Long admits there will be pressure – both from outside and within the squad – to improve on last year’s remarkable season.

The Gypsies surprised many by finishing third in the Premier Division – securing European football for the first time in seven years – and reaching a second successive FAI Cup semi-final.

Losing out to bitter rivals Shamrock Rovers, who went on to beat Dundalk in the final, still rankles with the Dalymount Park support.

They won’t have to wait long for a shot of revenge, however, as Rovers are the visitors to Phibsboro for the opening weekend’s encounter on February 15.

The same clash on the opening day ended in a 3-1 win for Bohs, thanks in part to two strikes from defender Dan Casey, who is one of seven new signings at the club in the off-

season.

With Canadian international winger Kris Twardzik arriving from Sligo Rovers, striker Glen McAuley and defender Ciaran Kelly from St Patrick’s Athletic, Long feels they have a stronger squad.

“We feel like we’ve assembled a competitive squad, and there’s depth there, but we need to be better than last year to try and improve and keep moving forward,” Long told the Dublin Gazette.

“It’s never easy, it’s never straightforward.

People will say we’ve got a stronger squad but time will tell. We’ve got seven new players to come in and strengthen us and to hopefully drive us forward.”

The club’s impressive performances over the last years have seen their players coveted by their rivals, with Ireland Under-21 left-back Darragh Leahy the latest to move to the champions Dundalk.

Captain Derek Pender announced his retirement at the end of the season to take up the role of Under-

17s manager with the club.

His absence means the responsibility to fill the leadership gap will fall more on experienced players like Dinny Corcoran and Keith Buckley but younger players will also need to step up.

To that end, they’ll need to get used to the pressure that comes not only from their previous achievements but also from a resurgent and expectant

fanbase.

“It’s hard to explain because we’ve got more quality in the squad, there’s no doubt about it.

But there’s a little more expected of us as a result.

“We’ve know we have to try and improve if we possibly can. There’s a massive difference between where we finish in the table and Dundalk.

“Second-placed Rovers, I think they finished 15 points ahead of us and

Dundalk 26. That’s a big gap to bridge.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on the players, but we are ambitious and we do want to repeat last year and get Europe again.” ** Long was speaking at the launch of Bohemians’ partnership with the National College of Ireland, which will see the parties co-fund two scholarships a year for players in the club.

Tonosa wins Raheny 5-miler

DSDAC’s Hiko Tonosa leads home the field at the Raheny 5 Mile

HIKO Tonosa won the 2020 AXA Raheny Five Mile Road Race last weekend in one of the most competitive in the race’s history.

Tonosa shook off Hugh Armstrong and Matt Bergin coming onto the home straight to land the title in 22 minutes 40 seconds just one second off the course record.

Armstrong took second place in 22:41, Bergin third 22:43 with Efrem Gidey four in 22:43 and Yared Derse fifth in 22:45.

In the most dramatic Raheny Five, the first athletes were inseparable with 400 metres remaining, a trip by Gidey added drama as

Armstrong and Tonosa made their move for home.

It was Tonosa who made his move on the back straight to power home for victory. The fastest road race in Ireland saw 15 athletes break 24 minutes.

Fionnuala McCormack won the women’s race in 25 minutes 55 seconds just five seconds clear of last years winners Ann-Marie McGlynn. Ciara Hickey of Brothers Pearse took third place in 26:50.

DSDAC won both the men and women’s team titles.

30 January 2020 CITY  DUBLIN GAZETTE 33

AT DALYMOUNT Bohs manager Keith Long, (centre) with NCI Sport Officer Stephen Cleary, (left) and NCI Head of Sport Deryck Tormey, (right) at the launch of NCI’s partnership with Bohs at Dalymount Park.

Picture: Sportsfile

BASKETBALL: GLASNEVIN’S DONNELLY ON FACING A LEGEND

Marking Kobe BASKETBALL  DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

GYMNASTICS

Olympian’s new term underway for 2020 OLYMPIAN Gymnastics are running recreational classes again this year at Alexandra College in Milltown and Wesley College, giving gymnasts a chance to progress their skills in a fun and encouraging environment.

The term is under way and runs for 15 weeks with three sessions each midweek evening from 6.15pm to 9.15pm while there are sessions on Saturday and Sunday from 9am through to 4pm in Alexandra College. Sessions take place from Tuesdays to Saturday in Wesley. To register your child, log onto www.olympiangymnastics.com.

HE’S THE IRISHMAN who went toe-to-toe with Kobe Bryant before he was Kobe Bryant – or at least before Bryant became synonymous with basketball like arguably nobody will again.

Emmet Donnelly was 18 and a senior at Stroudsburg High School in Pennsylvania when he was charged with the toughest gig in basketball – keeping Kobe quiet.

Bryant’s death, at the age of just 41, in a helicopter crash last Sunday with eight others, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, resonated around the world in a way few tragedies do.

Beyond Bryant’s own celebrity, the death of a 13-year-old, the scale of loss for mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, speaks to a primal fear embedded within humanity.

“Even though our paths crossed a long time ago, and I’d followed his career, I really can’t imagine what it’s like for the family of Kobe and the others on board,” Donnelly tells Dublin Gazette.

“Being a dad myself, it’s your worst nightmare. It’s absolutely devastating for all involved. It’s really tragic and difficult to say goodbye to so many so young.”

Bryant arrived in Donnelly’s life with a massive reputation as the star in an otherwise ordinary Lower Merion side, but it was his own tough reputation that saw him put on Merion’s best player.

The Dubliner gave up a good five inches to the 6’6 Bryant who, even then, was touted as a generational talent and soon became only the sixth player to skip college and go straight to the NBA. Bryant achieved it all in a 20-year NBA career, all spent with the Los Angeles Lakers, while Donnelly would represent Ireland and win a national league title with St Vincent’s DCU Saints.

The Glasnevin man played Division 3 basketball with King’s College in Pennsylvania and came within a game of the divisional finals before returning to Ireland to work as a soft-

Emmet Donnelly marking Kobe Bryant in 1996

ware engineer.

Donnelly largely succeeded that day in his task of keeping Bryant facing away from the basket, restricting to shots from distance, but felt the Californian always had an extra gear.

Stroudsburg had enjoyed their greatest ever season and were drawing widespread media attention, but little compared to Bryant, who was mobbed by fans before and after the Division 4A triumph.

“There was no way to predict what he would go on to achieve in the sport and beyond, but there was a lot of hype around the game at the time.

“All I knew of Kobe at the time was that he on ESPN and being talked about nationwide as this incredible talent coming out of high school and likely to go straight to the NBA. “We competed at a good level at high school,

but we wouldn’t have come close to playing against anyone like him. He was so strong.”

Donnelly gave Bryant more than a few headaches himself in the game. Buried in his attic is a photograph of the software engineer striding past the future NBA all-star.

“He was defending me for good chunks of the game. I actually had a few nice plays against him and he was quite good about them.

“I remember one play, an up-and-under, he fouled me and caught me when I was falling off-balance. He just patted me and said ‘good job’ – not in an overly condescending way, more respectful.

“We came back into a range where we might be able to get something out of the game, and he just raised his level again. You got that sense he could elevate it to another couple if he needed to.”

Harrington returns with Strandja silver BOXING

 sport@dublingazette.com

PORTLAND Row’s Kellie Harrington had to settle for silver at the Strandja multi-nations in Sofia, Bulgaria after losing on a split decision to Mira Potkonen last weekend.

The aggressive Finn won the lightweight final 3-2 to take the gold medal after three tight rounds at the Sofia Hall.

Harrington’s combinations,

particularly in the second round and at the start of the third, impressed.

Potkonen probably won the first frame and Harrington the second. The third was even but the European champion got the nod over the 2018 World titlist.

Harrington, in her first tournament back since injuring her hand at the European Games last June, won three of her four fights in Sofia this week.

All of her victories were over

Europeans in a tournament featuring America and North African nations.

She started off with a 5-0 win over Poland’s Agneta Rygieslska then saw off a Ukraine’s Hanna Okheri in the quarterfinals.

Bulgaria’s Denica Eliseeva was then defeated in the semifinal, a third successive 5-0 victory.

The Dubliner and Roscommon’s Aoife O’Rourke (bronze)

finished in podium positions for Ireland at the 71st edition of Europe’s oldest multinations.

Kellie Harrington

34 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 30 January 2020

CAMOGIE: NA FIANNA STAR SET FOR CAPTAINCY

RUGBY: AIL DIVISION 1A

Baking up a storm  CÓILÍN DUFFY

cduffy@dublingazette.com

Lansdowne edged out Terenure by a single point. Picture: Philip Duke

Sheehan’s vital late try lands Lansdowne crucial victory AIL DIVISION 1A Terenure College Lansdowne  sport@dublingazette.com

16 17

LEINSTER Academy hooker Dan Sheehan contributed another important try as Lansdowne struck late to overcome Terenure College by the minimum at Lakelands Park.

Tim Foley converted Sheehan’s injury-time score to make it five successive wins for Mark McHugh’s men, with Terenure, despite an 11-point haul from out-half James Thornton, falling to their fifth defeat in six rounds.

Eager to bounce back from a 13-6 loss at Dublin University a fortnight ago, Terenure showed plenty of early intent with Sam Coghlan Murray and Caolan Dooley both prominent in possession. Lansdowne were struggling to break out of their own half.

‘Nure flanker Niall O’Sullivan surged into the 22 in the 11th minute, helping to set up a penalty which Thornton sent over to break the deadlock. He doubled the lead with a 35-metre place-kick close to the halfhour mark.

Full-back Foley finally got Lansdowne up and running with a routine three-pointer, but he missed his second shot at the posts after Terenure hooker Robbie Smyth had been sin-binned.

Lansdowne’s numerical advantage eventually took hold when Leinstercapped lock Oisin Dowling spotted a gap and crossed on the stroke of half-time. Foley supplied the extras to give the visitors a 10-6 buffer at the break.

Terenure turned the screw on the resumption, and although a longrange penalty attempt from Thornton fell short in the 44th minute, impressive full-back Adam La Grue’s lung-busting run gave them frontfoot ball and plenty of momentum.

Sean Skehan’s charges worked the ball through the middle for a number of phases before moving it wide for replacement Paddy Thornton to dot down in clinical fashion. James Thornton followed up with a superb conversion, making it 13-10.

‘Nure controlled possession with Lansdowne guilty of a number of uncharacteristic handling errors. The hosts knocked on close to the Lansdowne line, entering the final quarter, but a subsequent scrum penalty allowed Thornton to extend the lead to six points.

Crucially, Lansdowne were able to force the issue past the 80-minute mark, camping inside the ‘Nure 22 with a series of mauls bringing them into scoring range. Terenure held out until the 21-year-old Sheehan applied the finishing touches under a slew of bodies. Foley comfortably converted to seal a late smash-and-grab victory.

NA FIANNA’S Roisin Baker does not fear the challenge posed in this Sunday’s Littlewoods Camogie League Division 1 opener, with All-Ireland champions Galway standing in their way at the TUD Blanchardstown Campus (2pm).

It’s a new era for Dublin Camogie with a new management team, including Cualaman John Treacy taking charge of the seniors for the first time in a competitive game.

Baker is excited by what’s ahead as she looks set to captain the side.

“We are playing each game one at a time, and there’s no point in looking too far ahead,” she told Dublin Gazette.

“We haven’t thought about Limerick and Tipperary yet. We are just focussing on ourselves and getting set for the Galway game.

“Somebody has to play the All-Ireland Champions first, so I suppose we hope to catch them on the hop.

“Hopefully, we have ourselves prepared and we play our game plan and it will be good enough to see us through.”

Baker says pre-season has gone well: “We have had a great start to the year; the lads have had everything really organ-

Na Fianna’s Roisin Baker is looking forward to the start of the league.

Picture: ilivephotos.com

ised and outlined what they wanted for the year.”

“We are in the gym; we have a good home base out in the Sports Campus in Abbotstown, which is really good for us to have a set location that we know our times - that’s a change from last year.

“We were mixing and matching a bit last year.

It’s good to have a good base and a good foundation laid.

“We have a great management in place. John is a man with years of experience behind him and Willie [Braine] has proven himself with the Premier Juniors.

NATIONAL FINAL Killester fall to the Rebel horde KILLESTER’S wheelchair bas-

ketball side ended runners-up in the Hula Hoops IWA National Cup final last Friday evening at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.

They were beaten 60-47 by the Rebel Wheelers. It was tight at 15-13 after the first quarter and 27-25 at half-time before the Rebels pulled clear. Killester’s Barry Cooke is pictured taking on Johnny Hayes.

Picture: brendan moran/ SPORTSFILE

“He took them to a final in his first year, and then went on to win the final the following year. He did some good work with the minors as well last year.

“They are both people that the girls can get in behind and the girls have as well so far.

“There are plenty of new girls to get to know as well this year. It’s been great. We have bonded really well as a team so far.

“We haven’t lost too many players at all - we just have new girls in. A lot of girls came up from the intermediate team, and a lot of the girls have stepped up like the

Couchs, Siofra Walsh have come up now.”

2019 was a year to write-off for Dublin, but Baker says there’s plenty to draw on in terms of positives from the past.

“We have always have good bits in games to show, and in some games then we might come out and have a bad performance,” she said.

“It’s about getting consistency and trying to get everything right and hopefully we can put out a good performance.

“We trust that if we can put out those good performances, then we will get the results.”

30 January 2020 CITY  DUBLIN GAZETTE 35

CAMOGIE: MARINO SIDE UNABLE TO CONTAIN SARSFIELDS IN SECOND HALF FOOTBALL

Bohan laments missed chances in Tipp tie LIDL LGFA DIVISION 1 Dublin 0-10 Tipperary 1-7  CÓILÍN DUFFY cduffy@dublingazette.com

St Vincents forward Aine Fanning is tackled by Laura Ward and Kate Gallagher of Sarsfields . Picture: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Vincent’s rue early semi-final chances AIB SENIOR CLUB A-I SEMI FINAL Sarsfields (Galway) St Vincent’s  SARAH O'DONOVAN sport@dublingazette.com

1-13 0-8

ST VINCENT’S will rue two missed goal chances in the opening 10 minutes when they reflect on a disappointing but entertaining hour of camogie in Tipperary.

It was a first All-Ireland club semi-final for the Marino side since 1998 despite the Leinster champions dominating the Dublin championship since 2015, winning four county titles in five years, contesting three Leinster finals.

There had been two consecutive onepoint losses to Wexford kingpins Oulart The Ballagh and Kilkenny outfit Thomastown in the 2015 and 2016 before Vincent’s went the distance in 2019.

Their opponents Sarsfields have suffered a pair of All-Ireland final defeats to Slaughtneil and from the first whistle their urgency to make amends was evident.

Full forward and player of the match Siobhan McGrath opened the Galway side’s account and had tagged on a second when a gilt-edged chance fell to St Vincent’s experienced full forward Aine Fanning in front of goal.

Sars goalkeeper Laura Glynn and full-

back Laura Ward, however, suffocated Fanning and the play moved back up the field.

A second goal chance materialised moments later for lively corner forward Claire Donnelly but Glynn was like lightning off the line to take player and ball and snuff out the chance.

Vincent’s had to settle instead for two Ali Maguire pointed frees and, as the half wore on, Sars found more and more pockets of space to exploit.

Orlaith McGrath tacked on a neat point and her sister Siobhan hit three further frees before the break to bring her personal tally to 0-5.

Niamh Hetherton and two further frees from Maguire came in reply but three wides ensured St Vincent’s went in at the break trailing 0-6 to 0-5.

Due to a colour clash, Sars opted to change to a green set of kit for the second half and they emerged the sharper outfit.

Siobhan McGrath notched her sixth point before St Vincent’s worked a neat point through Claire Donnelly.

Direct running from Eimear McCarthy engineered the levelling score for the Dublin champions but it was to be as close as St Vincent’s would come.

A three-minute spell saw Sars pillage Vincent’s for 1-1, the goal coming from Rachel Murray.

Referee Owen Elliot awarded Sars two penalties in the remaining 15 minutes as Vincent’s defence struggled to cope with the Galway side’s relentless running.

Siobhan McGrath opted to take her point on each occasion as the lead mounted.

But for a rock solid showing from goalkeeper Claire Clinton, it might have been even wores in that difficult second half; she displayed immense confidence to ensure no further goals were leaked.

There was time for one late run from Eimear McCarthy and St Vincent’s but

her goal effort was well blocked down by Glynn. Leaving eight points in the gap.

Despite the immense pressure, they must be commended for restricting Sars to just one goal.

Lora Smith was immense in blue and white again, capping an impeccable season in the trenches while Evelyn Twomey, full of running, more than justified her late inclusion. Niamh Hetherton’s performance will likely be a talking point for the senior Dublin camogie management as she showed flashes of brilliance that would be of use to Dublin in 2020.

The St. Vincents squad which lost the AIB All-Ireland Senior Camogie SemiFinal to Galway side Sarsfields in Nenagh on Sunday.

A 65TH minute equaliser by Aishling Moloney denied Dublin of a win in their opening round Lidl Ladies Football League Division 1 clash with Tipperary at Ballyboden St Enda’s last Sunday.

In truth, Dublin were lucky to get a point as Tipperary looked likely winners for large periods.

“I thought we had the winning of it,” Dublin manager Mick Bohan told Dublin Gazette.

“Obviously the first half was very disappointing from our end.

The approach, the work-rate, the stuff we’ve come accustomed to.

“They turned that around, in fairness. The second half approach was completely different from the group.

Then a little bit of composure. We had the game won and we ran into traffic twice to turn the ball over.

“We’d expect those decisions to be made better. It’s a learning curve, but it cost us the three points [for the win]. Anyway, that’s the way it is.”

The visitors led by 1-4 to 0-2 at half-time, with top-scorer Moloney (1-6) grabbing the games only goal, after latching on to the end of a long delivery.

Things improved in the second half as the strength of their bench came to the fore with Carla Rowe, Leah Caffrey, Kate Sullivan and Niamh Collins scoring to earn a lead before Moloney’s late-late score.

GazetteSPORT JAN 30-FEB 5, 2020

ALL OF YOUR DUBLIN CITY SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

COMBATTING KOBE BASKETBALL:

Glasnevin’s Emmet Donnelly recounts his time marking the legendary Kobe Bryant while the US. SEE P33

THE LONG GAME SOCCER:

Bohemians boss looking forward to the new League of Ireland campaign with higher expectations. SEE P32

COOL HAND LUKE’S SHOT BOXING:

Ballyfermot’s Luke Keeler is looking forward to the biggest night of his pro boxing career in Miami.

SEE P31

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Killester in party mode as wait for Paudie ends  STEPHEN FINDLATER

sport@dublingazette.com

“WE ARE certainly going to celebrate this one,” Rebecca Nagle proclaimed as Pyrobel Killester ended a 15-year wait for the big one, the National Cup crown at long last.

A second half storm saw them land a memorable 82-59 point victory over Singleton SuperValu Brunell at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght.

American pair Adella Randle El and Christa Reed combined for a whopping 43 points in a superb display for the north Dubliners, while co-captain Rebecca Nagle chipped in 12 points from behind the three-point line.

“We’ve waited for this for a long time,” said Nagle afterwards. “Our last appearance in a final was in 2016 and it’s been in the back of our heads ever since. We knew we could do it. Credit to Brunell, they were amazing but I’m so proud of the girls.”

Head coach Karl Kilbride added: “We said before the game that defence was going to be the difference between winning and losing. We really knuckled down in the third quarter.

“We held them to six points and when we get stops it lets us get out and run and shoot threes in transition. It’s very hard to describe how I feel at the moment.

“It’s a great occasion for the club after a 15-year drought and after, an

Pyrobel Killester celebrate their National Cup final win. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

“We are definitely going to celebrate this one“ inconsistent first half, we finally got our act together in the second and I think we were worthy champions.”

Brunell did get off to a decent start with Sinead O’Reilly having an immediate impact on the boards while Laura Morrissey lurked with intent on the perimeter.

Reed – who finished the game with 23 points and the MVP ball – was on hand to deliver early for Killester at the other

end, making her first four baskets to keep them in touch.

Nagle hit a go-ahead triple that ignited Killester’s offence though and a 10-0 run took them all the way to the end of the first quarter to lead, 24-14.

Brunell fought back, though, and were in front 38-37 at half-time courtesy of big moments from Alex Macheta and Aryn McClure.

But there was a sense that Killester had an extra

gear though and as the third quarter got underway, it certainly ramped up a notched.

They retook the lead early in the third quarter, with Aisling McCann showing superb awareness in transition while Randle El drove through and racked up nine points in the period.

Brunell missed an open three from the top of the key and the punishment was severe – Reed went down the other end for an

easy layup before Randle El forged a double-digit lead.

Ella McCloskey got busy on the offensive boards and made her free throws, w h i l e s h a r p s h o o te r Michelle Clarke made her steal count with the layup and with Brunell visibly tiring, Killester’s tough defence began to win out and they led 60-44 going into the last.

An 8-0 run got Brunell’s bodhráns beating early in the fourth quarter as

Clay opened with a layup before Morrissey and Greta Tamasanskaite knocked down threepointers.

The volume of the Cork faithful was back at its customary levels, before Nagle prompted a storm of orange with seven minutes left.

Her corner three snapped Brunell’s run and gave Killester the confidence to see out the game and they did so in style, 82-59.