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INSIDE: Stylist Roxanne Parker’s work with The Voice of Ireland means her average day is all sewn up P11

Feature: CoderDojo children compute a great way to show their skills for awards Page 15

The Rising: Guests give a stamp of approval to GPO centre Page 8

sport Athletics:

Le Galaxie drummer wins Vartry 100 mile Page 29

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April 7-13, 2016

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Buskers hit bum note with council  aisling kennedy

BUSKERS on Dublin’s city streets and Dublin City Council (DCC) are singing off different hymn sheets on the issue of sound from the entertainers’ amplifiers.

DCC has warned it will ban amplifiers following the issuing of a draft on the revision of Street Performance Bye-Laws by DCC recently.

The musicians and street entertainers say they have turned down the volume as requested – but the disharmony among the two sides continues.

The council claim that buskers “continues to cause significant daily problems and discomfort for businesses, residents and members of the public”.

DCC could ban amplifiers as annoyance grows over noise levels

Supporting DCC’s recommendation to ban the use of amplifiers by buskers, is the Temple Bar Residents’ Association. However, Fergal O’Rourke, director of the Dublin City Buskers Association, said his members “are respecting the current regulatory system as far as practical”.

Full Story on Page 6

it’s a wheely authentic look at a rising event EAMONN Walsh provided a suitably authentic look by the GPO as part of the Rising commemoration events in the city centre recently. The retro postie was dressed as a Post & Telegraphs postman during RTE’s Reflecting the Rising events on Easter Monday, with an authentic vintage postman’s bike

from the 1920s. With help from the High Nelly bike, the Tallaght man dipped into his postbag to hand deliver certificates of attendance to young children who were watching some of the events.

His contribution was echoed by many others who dressed for the time and occasion around the city centre.

2 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 7 April 2016

housing | people power as dubliners support move

800 people pledge to help create homes

FastNews

 aisling kennedy

A PLEDGE from more than 800 Dublin residents to convert empty or derelict Dublin City Council (DCC) buildings into homes for the homeless was handed in to DCC this week by campaign organisation Uplift and young homeless mother, Erica Fleming.

The pledge has 834 signatures from residents who want to offer practical services such as cleaning, tiling, painting, woodwork, electrical work and gardening work to assist DCC in bringing more houses onto the market sector.

Siobhan O’Donoghue, director of Uplift, told The Gazette: “There are a lot

Brown Thomas merges 1916 and 2016 with latest displays

Pictured at the handing in of a pledge to Dublin City Council are Cllr Daithi Doolan (SF), Lord Mayor of Dublin Criona Ni Dhalaigh (SF), and Erica Fleming. More than 800 people have pledged to help convert derelict homes.

of void and empty houses around Dublin that could, with some political pri-

oritisation, be turned into safe family homes.

“The main issue here is that social housing is not being built in the city at a pace or quantity that’s needed. We will never get out of this cycle of homelessness if there isn’t enough supply of social housing, and that has to be addressed at a council level.

“They have to commit to building publiclyowned housing in Dublin city, but there seems to be a real reluctance to do that.”

Erica Fleming (30), who featured in the RTE documentary, My Homeless Family, earlier this year when she found herself homeless with her nineyear-old daughter, handed the pledge into DCC at a council meeting this week alongside Uplift.

She said: “We only started asking for signatures for this pledge last week, so I’m absolutely thrilled with the response we got. I would personally like to thank each and every person that has signed up to the pledge. It is getting a real sense of community back.”

Fleming revealed that since she appeared on

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‘I would personally like to thank each and every person that has signed up to the pledge’

BROWN Thomas currently has a new theme in its window display on Grafton Street to mark the 1916 Easter Rising commemorations, and is set to run for a number of weeks.

The theme incorporates 1916 meets 2016, and in each window there are large-scale black and white photographs of well-known figures from the turn of the century, including James Connolly, Thomas Clarke, Maud Gonne, Sean McDermott, Padraig Pearse and Thomas McDonagh.

The windows also have visual installations that connect events of 1916 through to the present day. The design concept of the visual journey uses projection mapping techniques to merge past and present, and is the brainchild of a Dublin creative agency, Algorithm.

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Erica Fleming

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RTE, she has received numerous offers of help from carpenters, electricians, plumbers and so on if she could obtain a property to live in.

“When I contacted the council to tell them that people had contacted me directly with offers of help, I was told that for insurance and liability reasons, they couldn’t take up those offers of help.

“Surely, if over 800 people have said they’ll provide help off their own backs, then surely the council could write into a contract that there’s no liability to DCC for the work that is done?”

Cllr Daithi Doolan (SF), chair of the hous-

ing committee at DCC, who attended the council meeting this week, said that the pledge was a “very practical sign of solidarity from the good citizens of Dublin”.

He added: “I want to applaud Uplift for taking the initiative. I fully understand that there may be technical difficulties with this pledge.

“I have given a commitment to giving this my attention. I hope to turn this solidarity into action and to turn empty houses into homes.”

Dublin City Council had not responded to The Gazette by the time of going to print regarding the pledge that was handed in.

Miriam Griffin and Sharon Harris-Byrne, both members of the 1916 Sackville Street Art Project, with two of the 262 model house that commemorate the civilians killed in the Rising

Model buildings to help honour all the civilians killed in the Rising THE 1916 Sackville Art Project in Glasnevin has created an exhibition which features 262 model houses in commemoration of the 262 civilians who were killed during the 1916 Easter Rising.

The beautifully-crafted model houses are built out of materials such as ceramics, wood, fabric and stone.

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The full exhibition will run from April 8 to April 24 at the Botanic Gardens in Glasnevin and is free to attend.

An illustrated book that contains pictures of all the houses, along with details about the civilians and the artists behind the houses, is also available to buy, with all proceeds going to the Peter McVerry Trust.

7 April 2016 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 3

planning | docklands set to get €80m, 224,500sq ft office building

animals

Top deer trophy for the OPW

Approval granted for tallest building  aisling kennedy

PLANNING permission has been granted by Dublin City Council (DCC) to allow Grant Thornton Ireland to build The EXO, which will be the tallest commercial building in Dublin, over the coming months in the Docklands district.

Joint receivers Stephen Te n n a n t a n d P a u l McCann of Grant Thornton announced last week that they intend to build a 224,500sq ft office building at the Point Village in Docklands.

At 73 metres high, The EXO will become Dublin’s tallest commercial office building, and could accommodate up to 2,000 office workers.

The planning appli-

cation was funded by NAMA as part of its overall commitment to facilitate the delivery of new development within the provisions of the Dockland’s Strategic Development Zone (SDZ), as approved by DCC and An Bord Pleanala.

Speaking about t h e new commercial building, Stephen Tennant, from Grant Thornton, said: “Dublin City Council’s decision to grant planning permission for the development of The EXO is great news for the north Docklands and Dublin as a whole.

“The SDZ process introduced by DCC and An Bord Pleanala has enabled us to secure approval for The EXO in just over six months, which proves

the initiative is working.

We now look forward to bringing these plans to life and delivering a quality office scheme to meet the strong demand for office space in Dublin.”

The Point Village is one of only a handful of locations where taller buildings are permitted in Dublin.

The EXO, which is designed by Irish architectural practice Shay Cleary Architects, is in line with the design brief set out in the SDZ planning scheme and reflects the importance of this site within the wider Docklands.

Construction will take approximately 24 months, creating more than 350 jobs for the city. The overall construction cost will be in the region of €80m.

will you join a night run?

FITNESS fanatic models Jess Redden, (girlfriend of Irish rugby star Rob Kearney) and Sarah Morrissey helped announce the inaugural Virgin Media Night Run recently, set to take place in Dublin City on May 22. The pair are calling on as many people as possible to get involved in the healthy event, which will feature staff of Virgin Media taking part, and will see Virgin Media presenting €10,000 to Dublin Simon Community. Partnering with Athletics Ireland and Dublin Simon Community, Virgin Media wants thousands of runners of all ages and abilities to take part in the 10k event, setting off at 9.30pm on a route (subject to license) that will start at Custom House Quay, before taking in the IFSC, Grand Canal Dock and scenic quays locations. Picture: Fennell Photography

THE Irish Deer Society recently awarded the Office of Public Works (OPW) with the John Nicholson Perpetual Trophy in recognition of its service in the welfare, conservation, management and protection of deer in the Phoenix Park.

Margaret Gormley, chief parks superintendent with OPW, accepted the prestigious award on behalf of the deer management team in the Phoenix Park from the president of The Irish Deer Society, Liam McGarry.

The society was established in 1968 to monitor legislation and activities of organisations and agencies that may have an impact on deer, their habitat and management practices.

4 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 7 April 2016

museum | new centre includes cafe, bookshop and interpretive displays

New visitors centre at Kilmainham Gaol  aisling kennedy

President Michael D Higgins opened the new Visitor Centre at the Kilmainham Gaol Museum last week.

The new centre is located in the former Courthouse building at Kilmainham Gaol.

The building will allow the Office of Public Works (OPW), who manage the Gaol site, to offer an improved level of service to the approximately 330,000 visitors who come to the site every year.

The previous entrance to the Gaol was constricted and did

not facilitate the smooth management of visitors in large volumes according to the OPW. The newly-adapted former Courthouse building will have a range of facilities such as a cafe and bookshop and a range of Interpretative displays on the history of the Courthouse

building and the Gaol next door.

Online booking is now available and a special introductory offer is currently available to visitors who book during the months of April and May. The OPW Heritage Service are offering free admission to

the first 5,000 online booked admissions to the site, following the opening of the building to the public on March 31.

Acting Minister for State, Simon Harris, who attended the opening on the day said: “I hope visitors will enjoy what we have provided in the new

building. It is not a part of the National Monument, being outside the Gaol walls. However, it is itself a historic listed building dating from 1820 and has a long and rich history in its own right which people can appreciate in the new displays we have created for visitors.”

Leopardstown hosts ‘up close and personal racing experience’ Leopardstown Race Course will host a ‘Meet the Heroes of the Turf – Up Close and Personal Racing Experience’ this Sunday April 10.

The racing experience will take place on Ballysax Stakes Day and race goers will be guided through the race card with RTE broadcaster Robbie Irwin.

Irwin will also intermittently interview racing pundits throughout the day to give racing enthusiasts a unique insight into the lives of those working in the sport of racing.

Some of the interviewees will include Joseph O’ Brien (jockey, soon to be trainer), Johnny Murtagh (trainer,

retired multiple flat champion jockey), Jessica Harrington (trainer), and other surprise guests on the day.

Pat Keogh, CEO of Leopardstown, said: “We’re delighted to bring back ‘Meet the Heroes’ following some fantastic feedback from attendees last year.

We’re hoping that new race goers will see it as a way to learn a little about horse racing from leaders in the industry as well as a chance for seasoned horse racing fans to meet their heroes up close and personal.“ Tickets for this event are €30 and are available to buy online at Leopardstown.com

Pictured at the recent launch (l-r): Moninne Griffith - Executive Director of BeLonG To, Senator Jillian Van Turnout, Jay Pope - Member of IndividualiTy, BeLonG To’s Trans youth group, Lisa McKenny - BeLonG To Youth Worker, Gillian Brien - Project Leader for Youth Service at BeLonG To.

equality | call for more awareness

Trans Youth Forum report launched  aisling kennedy news@gazettegroup.com

The Trans Youth Forum report was launched last Thursday in the Office for the Ombudsman for Children in Dublin to mark International Transgender Day of Visibility which took place on March 31.

The report documents the findings from the first Trans Youth Forum that was held on July 15 last year and included 55 participants between the ages of 14-25 years of age.

The Forum was initiated as a Trinity College Dublin Equality Fund programme, and was a joint partnership between

Transgender Equality Network Ireland (TENI), BeLonG To Youth Services and the Irish Transgender Student Alliance (ITSA).

TENI Chief Executive, Broden Giambrone, said: “This report clearly illustrates that trans young people need explicit support and protection in all spheres of their lives. We call on the Government to act swiftly to protect the rights of these young people.”

The three organisations involved with the report said that it was crucial that the Gender Recognition Act is revised to allow those under 18 years of

age - including non-binary and intersex people - to have their gender legally recognised.

“In BeLonG To LGBT youth groups in Dublin and nationally we see first-hand the extreme isolation and vulnerability that trans young people and their families experience,” said Lisa McKenny, coordinator of IndividualiTY, BeLonG To Youth Services’ trans youth support group.

“Young people often face numerous barriers around recognition of their true gender such as use of their correct pronouns, access to appropriate bathrooms and

wearing suitable school uniforms.”

Attending the event on the day was Fintan Warfield (SF), and he told the Gazette: “In 2015, the LGBTQI+ community were promised a review of the Gender Recognition Act by 2017.

“A three year time frame ensured that many young people will leave childhood having never received recognition from the state, or self-determination. Trans young people cannot wait three years for a review of the Gender Recognition Act. Young people should be recognised legally, when they need it most.”

7 April 2016 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 5

6 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 7 April 2016

elections

Hoping to represent disabled in the Seanad  aisling kennedy

John Dolan, who is currently the chief executive of the Disability Federation of Ireland, is to run as an Independent candidate for the Seanad elections in the Dublin city region.

The Seanad elections are due to take place in the coming weeks, although no date has been set yet, and Dolan is running for a seat on the Administrative Panel. Dolan has polio and has spent his life working as part of the disability movement.

He is standing on the issue of disability inclusion, and is hoping that by putting people with disabilities at the heart of the local community, he can give them a voice nationally in the Oireachtas.

Dolan said: “Dublin city has a population of 527,612 people. According to the last census, 78,610 (15%) of these people have a disability. Disability doesn’t just affect the individual – it affects the whole family.

Issue “Some 15% of Dublin city’s population are disabled, but many more are dealing with the issue on a daily basis. Families where the head of the household is unemployed due to chronic illnesses or disability are among the poorest in the county.”

Dolan also said that only 34% of people who have a disability and are of a working age are currently at work in Dublin.

“This compares to 63% of people without a disability who were at work in the county [according to the last census].

“These are frightening statistics. We need to change them and we can change them by working together at local and community level,” said Dolan.

bye-laws | escalation in critical attitude over noise levels

Buskers’ music hits a sour note with council  aisling kennedy

THE sound of buskers playing on the city streets is hitting the wrong note with Dublin City Council (DCC).

The local authority’s threat to place a ban on buskers’ amplifiers on the streets of the capital has exploded again this week following the issuing of a draft report on the revision of Street Performance Bye-Laws

by DCC recently.

Problems According to the new draft report, dated March 14, DCC states that despite the introduction of the Dublin City Street Performers Bye-Laws on April 7, 2015, busking “continues to cause significant daily problems and discomfort for businesses, residents and members of the public”.

The council said that the core recurring issue – and the subject of the vast majority of complaints – remains the noise level generated by amplifiers and backing tracks.

In the report, DCC also suggests that amplified music creates an unfair playing pitch for performers who cannot afford high-quality equipment. It suggests that eliminating amplifiers may allow for a greater number and variety of acts to perform on the streets.

Experience T he council said: “Having reviewed the matter in the context of not just this public consultation, but our experience over the past number of years, it is now the view of man-

agement that the use of amplification and backing tracks must be banned entirely.”

Supporting the council’s recommendation to ban the use of amplifiers by buskers is the Temple Bar Residents’ Association, which recently issued a letter to all local county councillors asking them to support DCC’s draft review of the Dublin City Street Performers Bye-Laws.

I n t h e l e t t e r, t h e chair of the association, Frank McDonald, asked local councillors to support and “endorse the review of the Street Performers Bye-Laws and, in particular, call for an end to the use of amplifiers by buskers in the city”.

Frontline He said: “There are 2,200 people living in Temple Bar, and we’re at the frontline of amplified busking, notably in and around Temple Bar Square.

“This has become a major noise zone, reinforced by the use of external loudspeakers by no less than three licensed premises.

“Since the advent of this noise nuisance in recent years, Temple Bar is now attracting a rougher crowd of customers, attracted to an area that they perceive to be out of control, which it largely is.

“There are f lats in Crown Alley that are uninhabitable as a result, and others on Temple Bar Square that are hard to let.”

In response to DCC’s draft report on the revision of Street Performance Bye-Laws, however, Fergal O’Rourke,

While many buskers – such as these gentlemen – provide silent entertainment in the city’s streets, the noise generated by others, and particularly by musicians using amplifiers, is increasingly unpopular. Picture: Shane Dillon

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‘The reality is, if they are comparing Temple Bar to 20 or 30 years ago, realistically we have a lot more people, activity, noise, and technology now.’

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Fergal O’Rourke, director of the Dublin City Buskers Association

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director of the Dublin City Buskers Association (DCB), said: “DCB

members are respecting the current regulatory system as far as practi-

cal, but are subject to scapegoating for the activities of non-permitted performers and other public nuisance generally.

“If they’re s aying Temple Bar is a problem area, that’s one of many problems, and I don’t think you can put the noise squarely down to amplifiers alone.

“The reality is, if they are comparing Temple Bar to 20 or 30 years

ago, realistically we have a lot more people, activity, noise, and technology now.”

He added: “Our position remains that we cannot support the slow creep of poor legislation, eventually amounting to an outright ban on street performance – notably, the proposed amplifier ban and increases of the number of ‘prohibited zones’, including the GPO, O’Connell St.”

7 April 2016 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 7

arts | two writers shortlisted for prestigious Hennessy title

Dubliners in final for literary award  aisling kennedy

TWO writers from the Dublin city area have been shortlisted for the 45th Hennessy Literary Awards, which are due to take place on April 28 at IMMA in Dublin.

A total of 18 writers from around Ireland have been shortlisted for the upcoming literary awards across three categories – First Fiction, Emerging Fiction and Emerging Poetry.

Justin McCarthy from Sandymount is nominated in the First Fiction category for his story, Caseload, along with Tony McGuinness from Drumcondra, who is also

in the First Fiction category for his short story, The Ghent Alterpiece.

Speaking to The Gazette this week, McCarthy said: “I was delighted to be published and I was even more delighted to be shortlisted. It’s not about winning to me, though, it’s about being published and having people appreciate the work.”

McCar thy’s stor y, Caseload, centres around two brothers who work as lawyers in Paris.

He said: “They belong to an international community over there and essentially they both fall in love with the same woman – a woman called Faith. There is a twist to

the story, but you’ll have to read it to find out what happens.”

McCarthy used to be a lawyer himself and travelled a lot when he was younger, so he drew on his own former experiences for his story.

“It’s always easier to locate a story somewhere away from your own home, so I decided to locate the story in Paris.”

He said he is looking forward to the awards at the end of the month, and added: “It’s about being there for me, and meeting the other people who have also written stories.”

Tony McGuinness, who has also been short-

listed in the First Fiction category for his short story, The Ghent Alterpiece, said it was a real honour to be shortlisted for the awards.

He told The Gazette: “There has been a lot of great work this year from Irish writers. I’m really looking forward to the awards; it’s going to be a great night.”

His short story centres on a meeting between a nun and a former pupil’s son who was given up for adoption.

McGuiness said he was inspired by the movie Philomena, which was out last year.

“I went to see Interstellar in the cinema just over

IMMA will soon play host to the 45th Hennessy Literary Awards, at which Dublin city writers Justin McCarthy (top) and Anthony McGuinness have been shortlisted

a year ago. I felt a little bit queasy when I was watching it – I felt like I was on a rollercoaster, so I left that particular movie and I went to see Philomena, which is the story about

Philomena Lee. A couple of days after that, I wrote the short story.”

The 45th Hennessy Literary Awards will take place at the end of this month and a winner will

be announced in each category – First Fiction, Emerging Fiction, and Emerging Poetry – as well as the overall Hennessy New Irish Writer for 2016.

8 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 7 April 2016

Gazettegallery

| an taoiseach opens state-of-the-art facility

Megan and Laura Jones with An Taoiseach, with the trio reflecting on the symbolism of the individual rocks, representing the children killed in the Rising

A fish-eye view of the inner courtyard at the GPO, now transformed into a commemorative 1916 space. Pictures: Maxwell Photography

GPO’s visitor centre brings the Rising to life Songwriter and vocal artist Jack Lukeman, aka Jack L

A

N TAOISEACH Enda Kenny was guest of honour at the GPO in the city centre recently, where he opened the communication hub’s new Witness History visitor centre. The multimillion state-of-the-art centre commemorates the GPO’s role at the

very heart of the Rising in 1916, with its exhibits and multimedia tracing the path of revolution. The stories of the leaders of the Rising are mixed with the tales of the ordinary men, women and children who were caught up in the extraordinary events, with their

lives (and deaths) given a respectful and thorough analysis. Former Taoiseach Liam Cosgrove was also in attendence, with his father, WT Cosgrave – the first president of new Irish Free State – among those commemorated by the superb new visitor centre.

The first President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free

The hands of Jimmy Deenihan, An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny, with former Taoiseach

Minister for Diaspora Affairs,

Aidan Collins, dressed as an Irish Volunteer, and Sarah Kinlen,

State, William T Cosgrave - one of

Liam Cosgrave

holding commemorative stamps

dressed as a member of Cumann na MBan

the exhibition’s iconic figures

7 April 2016 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 9

Gazettegallery

| celebrating the musical ties between allies

Simon Taylor and His Excellence, Kevin O’Malley,

A lilting conversation with American friends

American ambassador to Ireland

I

Athena Tergis

Carmel and Michael McKeown. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

RISH-American ties were at the centre of a special musical evening at the National Concert Hall recently, drawing together a diverse range of musicians, artists and well-known faces to celebrate the long-standing links between the nations.

Paul Brady in performance

Described by many as “a musical conversation across the Atlantic”, the eclectic evening – entitled Imagining Home – was enjoyed by all, as the rich sounds of many music genres filled the air. Artists performing on the night included Rosanne Cash, Rodney Crow-

Paul Muldoon and Lisa Dwane

ell, Paul Brady, Andy Irvine, Maura O’Connell, Tim O’Brien, Mick Moloney and band, with their range greatly enjoyed by guests, which included the American ambassador, His Excellence Kevin O’Malley, and Tanaiste Joan Burton and her husband, Pat Carroll.

10 Gazette 7 April 2016

7 April 2016 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 11

asdfsdaf feature P27 P16

skills P15

dublinlife Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week



Gazette

diary P12

a day in the life: behind the scenes with the voice of ireland stylist roxanne parkeR

Kept sew busy dressing stars  emma nolan

MAKING sure some of Ireland’s best-known presenters look the part is all in a day’s work for Dublin stylist, Roxanne Parker.

With the live shows for The Voice of Ireland currently under way, a day in Roxanne’s life consists of a gruelling schedule styling the ladies of the show – judges Una Healey from The Saturdays, Rachel Stevens of S Club 7 fame, and presenter Kathryn Thomas.

She said: “With television, you have to pump up the volume and things that might look lovely in real life can get lost on camera. There are lots of parameters that I have to deal with when deciding on outfits.

“Number one, the judge’s chairs are red,

so there loads of things that will clash with that.

Number two, they have to be sitting down, so I have to be careful about hemlines, because skirts can ride up.

“Number three, a lot of prints can pixelate on screen and they can actually start ‘strobing’.

So before I even start pulling clothes, there’s loads of things I have to take into consideration,” she said.

She also has to work with the girls’ figures.

“They may be celebrities, but they’re like every other woman – they have parts of themselves that they dislike as well as the parts they like, so I have to dress around that.”

With Rachel Stevens, Roxanne says she’s a “real lady with a natural, ladylike elegance and sexi-

ness about her,” so her wardrobe is a “tightrope” balance of the two.

“She doesn’t do short dresses at all; she loves maxi skir ts, longer lengths and showing off her shoulders,” she says of Rachel, who is also really “dainty”, and dressing her involves having many garments altered so as not to overwhelm her frame.

Speaking of Una Healy, Roxanne says that “rockchick is her go-to look”.

“As she’s been embarking on a solo career, we’ve really been carving out a new look for Una, which has been really exciting.

“Una is a big fan of metallics, studs and leather, but is also very feminine. On last week’s show, she wore a dress from Alex Perry in a fresh, lime green and pale pink

– she looked like Ariel the Little Mermaid; it’s been really fun styling her.”

As for Kathryn Thomas, Roxanne said: “She is under pressure – she’s on that stage for two hours and she needs to look good from a 360degree angle.”

A day on set filming the show in The Helix involves dress rehearsals, fittings and camera tests. “The day just goes so quickly.”

Roxanne stays in the wings during the show and stays on hand to ensure there are no wardrobe malfunctions.

As for balancing her work schedule with her personal life, Roxanne says it’s “out the window” at the moment, but once filming ends things will mellow out.

Dealing with criticism

from the public in an inevitable part of being in the public eye and there was some criticism for a dress Kathryn wore on the show a few weeks ago, which Roxanne has taken it in her stride.

“People were saying that the dress was inappropriate and I’m thinking: ‘Guys, she’s not in the Dail giving a speech – she’s a TV presenter and she’s supposed to be glam and sexy’. It would be inappropriate if she showed up at church dressed like that, but she’s an entertainer on a TV show.

“Part of the celebrity is the fact that they wear clothes that are amazing and different. The criticisms didn’t bother me – if you’re getting a reaction, you’re doing something right.”

Top stylist, Roxanne Parker, pictured at the Thomas Sabo SS16 collection event

12 Gazette 7 April 2016

Gazette

dublinlife Step out with Richie to help everyone with Parkinson’s ON APRIL 10, those who live with Parkinson’s disease and their supporters will convene in Merrion Square to take part in the annual Parkinson’s Association of Ireland Unity Walk.

Starting Parkinson’s Awareness Week 2016 in style is the one and only Richie Kavanagh, who is calling on all those in Dublin who want to learn a cupla focal about how they can support those living with Parkinson’s disease to come along on the day.

Richie, who lives with Parkinson’s disease (PD), will perform his recently re-launched hit song, Aon Focal Eile, as a part of the Unity Walk celebrations.

He is encouraging all his fans, supporters and those affected by Parkinson’s disease to show their support for the Parkinson’s Association of Ireland by coming out to join in the Unity Walk to raise awareness for the disease, which affects over 12,000 people in Ireland.

For further information, see www.parkinsons.ie.

a moving film on suicide in ireland THE classic Irish short film, A Day For The Fire, on the tragic theme of suicide in modern Ireland will be screened on

RTE 2 Shortscreen, on Monday, April 4 at midnight.

Featuring riveting performances by Jonathan Ryan (Patriot Games) and Jon Kenny (D’Unbelievables), this follows international screenings at festivals such as Palm Springs, Savannah, Boston, Cork, Fastnet, and at Los Angeles for the 2013 Oscar longlist.

The film is written and directed by Maurice O’Callaghan (Broken Harvest), and has played in selected cinemas in Ireland throughout 2014 and 2015 and may also be viewed on YouTube.

testing for better sexual health GLEN, the sexual health centre, recently launched KnowNow – Ireland’s first national free rapid HIV testing programme.

The testing is community-based and will be provided by a team of community volunteers in a variety of non-clinical venues in Dublin, Cork and Limerick. In Dublin, this will include Pantibar, on Capel Street.

The latest HIV diagnosis figures show that HIV remains an issue of critical concern for gay and bisexual men.

Tiernan Brady, director of Gay HIV strategies for GLEN, said: “KnowNow,

the new rapid HIV testing pilot, is an exciting and innovative new approach to enabling more people to know their HIV status.

“If people have HIV, then the earlier they become aware of their status the better it will be for their long-term health outcomes.

“In addition, most HIV is transmitted by people who are unaware that they have HIV, so early diagnosis can further reduce onward transmission rates.”

borrow a way to save home energy HOME energy saving kits are now available in all Dublin City public libraries.

The kits contain six useful tools to help homeowners save energy and cut costs and are available to borrow, free of charge.

The kits have been developed by Dublin’s energy agency, Codema, and contain six practical tools to help people save energy at home.

They are available to borrow from 10 library branches across the city.

T he items in the toolkits address three key areas of energy use in the home – space heating, hot water and electricity consumption – and can help identify common

diary

Paula Gilmore, Parkinson’s Association of Ireland, joined the one and only Richie Kavanagh to help promote the upcoming annual Parkinson’s Association of Ireland Unity Walk at Merrion Square, on April 10

problems, such as a lack of insulation, poor ventilation and the appliances in the home that might be driving up electricity bills.

The kit is also accompanied by a step-by-step user manual and demonstration video which easily explain how to use each tool correctly, so it can appeal to homeowners with even the most basic knowledge of energy-saving.

knowledge for a men’s health issue THIS April, the Movember Foundation is encouraging guys and their partners to get to Know Thy Nuts.

The mission of Testicular Cancer Awareness Month is to educate the country about what’s

normal and most importantly, what’s not.

Though not always seen as such, testicular cancer is very much a young man’s disease and is most common in men aged 15-34.

Many men either never check their testicles, or don’t know how to perform a self-examination, making it all the more critical that awareness around the issue is improved.

The Movember Foundation has created a limited edition Know Thy Nuts soap-on-a-rope, to help spread awareness while raising vital funds for men’s health.

Neil Rooney, Movember country manager, says: “While testicular cancer is the most common cancer in young

men, it’s largely overlooked and many men simply aren’t aware of the signs they need to look out for.

“As the leading foundation for men’s health in Ireland, Movember is going all-out for Testicular Cancer Awareness Month, and asking guys and their partners to #KnowThyNuts.”

Visit Movember.com to purchase limited Testicular Cancer Awareness Month products, and to find out more information.

all aboard the ark for fun FROM June to August at Ireland’s only dedicated cultural centre for children, The Ark, in Temple Bar, young people can enjoy five-day summer

camps, one-off workshops and special events, as well as a free exhibition about the making of Cartoon Saloon’s hugely successful animation, Song of the Sea. Budding animators can gain insight and practical experience of the world of animation, try out different animation techniques, or become part of an animation film production team as they work in groups to create, storyboard and film a short animated film.

With events starting at age 2+ (the summer camps are for children aged from eight to 12), there is a chance for all the family to get involved.

Bookings can be made now. For further information, see ark.ie.

7 April 2016 Gazette 13

Gazette

14 Gazette 7 April 2016

dublinlife

FEATURE

Run, walk or trek to support MS Ireland’s work  ian begley

THREE upcoming events will give people the opportunity to get active, take a challenge and have fun helping to raise funds for people with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and their families locally.

MS Ireland, the national services, information and research organisation supporting people living with MS, is calling on people in Dublin city and county to choose an event and visit www.mssociety.ie to sign up and receive a Team MS Ireland pack.

Get active with the girls in the VHI Women’s Mini Marathon, which takes place on June 6.

The VHI Women’s MiniMarathon is now open

for sign-up.

Women are three times as likely to be diagnosed with MS as men, making this a great chance for women across the country to take part and “Get Active for MS”, showing their support.

Alternatively, why not Trek the Camino Portuguese Route for MS from September 17 – 24 as part of MS Ireland’s 27th Camino Trek?

Camino, The Portuguese Route, promises an incredible experience. This year, Camino trekkers for MS will have the chance to walk the Portuguese Route – Tui to Santiago Compostela. The fundraising target is €2,950 per person.

The last section of the

Portuguese Way starts in the border town of Tui, separated from Portugal only by the River Minho and the International Bridge.

From Tui to Santiago de Compostela, the Camino trail passes wooded areas, farmlands and hamlets, as well as historic towns and cities, including the city of Pontevedra with its classic Galician old town, superb architecture and centre.

Then, later this year, MS Ireland was delighted to be one of two official charities for the 2015 Dublin Marathon. The organisation is asking anyone signing up for the Dublin City Marathon on October 30 to consider running for people

Eileen Drumgoole and Ann Marie Shevlin add a dash of fun to last year’s VHI Women’s Mini-Marathon, with MS Ireland one of the many causes being supported by participants in the popular annual event every June

with MS and raise funds for vital services.

MS is the most common disabling neurological condition of young adults in Ireland. The

condition is usually diagnosed between the ages of 20 and 40.

Debilitating symptoms include impaired mobility, severe fatigue

and cognitive difficulties. There is currently no known cause or cure for the condition.

Funds raised by everyone taking part for people with MS will help to provide one-to-one and family support including newly diagnosed sessions, physiotherapy and symptom management programmes through ten regional offices across the country.

The funds will also help with the operation of the MS Information Line, to provide one-toone professional support to people with MS; and to continue to deliver specialised services in the MS Care Centre – Ireland’s only respite and therapy centre for people with MS.

Ava Battles, chief executive, MS Ireland said: “Getting active has great benefits for all of us. In my work I’m constantly inspired by people – people living with MS, people taking on challenges to fundraise for an important cause.

“It is always great to hear the positive feedback from those taking part in events like Women’s Mini-Marathon, Camino and Dublin City Marathon.

“It’s about the combination of a great personal experience while at the same time helping people with MS and their families.”

For further information on these, or to register, see www.ms-society. ie, or call 01 678 1600.

7 April 2016 Gazette 15

Gazette

FEATURE

Young blogger Lexi Schoene (above) and Harvey and Jasper Brezina Conniffe, with Lightron the robot – all helping to promote the fifth annual CoderDojo Coolest Projects awards. Pictures: Conor McCabe

children : popular annual coderdojo initiative

Young minds turn to coding awards  ian begley

MORE than 800 young innovators from across Ireland and Western Europe will take part in the fifth annual CoderDojo Coolest Projects awards, which look set to be the largest technology event held in the country this year, and demonstrate the popularity of coding for many young people.

This year’s awards will be held at the RDS on Saturday, June 18 and are expected to attract more than 10,000 spectators to witness demonstrations of the apps, websites, animation, games and robots among this year’s submissions.

The CoderDojo Coolest Projects awards are unique in Europe, have been embraced by the EU, and were established as a competition and exhibition to create, support and inspire a generation of

innovators, creators and entrepreneurs aged from seven to 17.

The Coolest Projects l a u n c h a t C HQ i n Dublin on March 29 was attended by some of Ireland’s brightest young innovators, who were flanked by a giant robot.

Eight-year-old blogger Lexi Schoene has entered the blog/website category at this year’s Coolest Projects awards with her site, lexililybelle.com.

Wordpress “I used the HTML and coding skills I learned at CoderDojo Dun Laoghaire to design my website using Wordpress,” said Lexi, who blogs on her life and interests across a range of platforms.

The awards create a unique platform for young people to develop a broad set of coding and digital skills by offering

them the opportunity to showcase the skills they have learned at CoderDojo and other coding clubs.

“Coolest Projects provides the bridge from learning coding skills at CoderDojos to innovating and creating future employment.

“We are the piece in the middle which makes the connection,” said Coolest Projects cofounder, Noel King.

“These digital skills are vital if Europe is to address the coding skills shortage which has led to 500,000 open job postings across the region in 2015.”

Coolest Projects has seen young people deliver projects across the latest technologies, from Cloud-based tech to virtual reality, and has the real potential to drive vital digital skills across a pan-European platform.

T here are awards

across a range of age groups in the disciplines of websites, apps, animation and games, advanced languages, enterprise and hardware.

This year also sees the addition of Launch’d, a unique one-day event aimed at supporting the next generation of technology entrepreneurs.

Start-ups Running in parallel with Coolest Projects, it will feature Ireland’s 100 top tech start-ups and a host of top international speakers, in what will be the biggest technology event held in Ireland this year.

Muirne Laffan, RTE’s chief digital officer, said: “Equipping young people in Ireland with the skills to become the digital creators of tomorrow is vitally important.”

For further information, see www.coolestprojects.org.

Gazette

16 Gazette 7 April 2016

dublinlife

FEATURE

property: spacious gallowhill homes could be a perfect escape from the city

An exclusive development awaits in Athy EXPERTS now say the residential market is stabilising with property values in the Leinster region rising by 15.8%, but with regional variations.

As new homes are in short supply in the greater Dublin area, Gallowhill New Homes offers a unique opportunity to purchase a quality family home within walking distance of Athy train station.

The small and exclusive development is conveniently located in the Kildare heritage town, just one hour from Dublin and 10km from the M9, Exit 3.

The remaining detached homes are being

launched this Sunday by joint agents, Fingleton and Co and Brophy Farrell.

Gallowhill’s spacious interiors are well suited to modern day living and offer a choice of two different house types, Type A and Type B. Both house types have four bedrooms, with the larger house having two reception rooms and two en-suites.

Type B has a very large open plan kitchen with dining area and double doors leading to the rear garden. The kitchen in the larger house, Type A, offers a totally different kitchen layout along with two sets of double doors opening from the kitchen

and dining area onto the rear garden.

This offers great possibilities for the addition of a sun room at a later stage, without having to touch the main structure of the house.

The “B” house price has remained at €220,000, and will particularly appeal to first-time buyers to qualify for the new regulations on residential mortgage lending.

This development is architect designed with maintenance-free facades, and offer generous living space with excellent standard features including a stove, extensive tiling, cream Shaker-style painted kitchens, ward-

robes in four bedrooms, and tiling to the kitchen.

Gallowhill is located in a sought after area, within walking distance of Athy train station, Athy golf club and the four-star Clanard Court Hotel.

Athy, an ancient heritage market town, is located on the River Barrow and Grand Canal, and is rich in architectural and natural heritage.

Ardscull Moate, Mullaghmast Ring Fort, Mullachcreelin Woods, Moone Abbey and High Cross are all located in the vicinity and in the best of agricultural farmlands.

The town offers a superb choice of well-es-

Gallowhill’s spacious interiors have been finished to the highest standards

tablished modern schools, excellent clubs and sports facilities and numerous festivals throughout the yearly calendar

Gallowhill estate lies between the Kildare Road and the Kilcullen road, and has been well planned with a featured

driveway into the estate.

For further info, email info@reabrophyfarrell.ie or info@fingletonandco. com.

7 April 2016 Gazette 17

gaming P22

OUT&ABOUT Never be out of the loop on what’s happening in Dublin! Let Out&About be your guide to all that is stylish, cultural and essential across the city and beyond this week

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Gazette

travel P20

city

MUSIC The Martin brothers

Cry Monster Cry to play in Temple Bar  ian begley

These colourful characters helped to give the eleventh annual International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival a picture-perfect launch recently. With a diverse range of events on this year’s programme, the festival’s reach is accessible to all, and is not just limited to LGBT people.

arts: inclusiveness at the heart of annual international event

All welcome at gay theatre fest  ian begley

THE eleventh annual International Dublin Gay Theatre Festival programme runs this year from May 5 to 17 at various locations across Dublin.

This year’s festival will also feature a record number of plays by Irish playwrights and supports the growing interest in LGBT issues and the gay community at home.

During the two weeks in May, the audience will have the opportunity to enjoy drama, comedy, music and cabaret at accessible prices, as well as a range of free events.

This annual event will also present plays from abroad, including the USA, Canada, South Africa, Israel and Australia, as well as plays from closer to

home, from Northern Ireland and Britain.

In his speech, the festival’s artistic director and chairman, Brian Merriman, highlighted the need for inclusion of all people in the festival events.

Although 50% of the festival audience is heterosexual, he pointed out that the festival is “suffering from goodwill”.

He explained: “So many people look at the event and go: ‘Well done’, and then self-exclude themselves from it because they are not LGBT, or they think they are not into theatre.

“We do not personally profit in any way from our voluntary work supporting professional artists, but I believe we all profit from this visibility, this diversity, this inclusiveness of all, regardless of their identity, in a unique artistic cel-

ebration of new voices, new work and new horizons in Dublin in May.” This year, the festival audience will have the opportunity to experience stories about family and gender, musings on love and happiness with a poignant look at gay marriage and divorce, love and loss.

There will be talks about gay rights, politics and sex in the 1980s, and a rethink of children’s tales and fairy tales.

Love will blossom in the trenches of World War 1, football pitches and Northern Ireland, and in spite of and despite religion.

There will be stories about privilege and assumed rights that go with it; of pure malice and perceived evil; of obsession and corruption of beauty.

1916’s heroes feature, as does the work of Wilde and Jean Genet and Stephen Sondheim, and even Margaret Thatcher will make an appearance on stage. However, without fail, the festival will show stories of and about that unpredictable and uncontrollable organ – the heart.

The festival was founded in 2004 to mark the 150th anniversary of the birth of Oscar Wilde, in his native city. With an emphasis on new or recent international and Irish works with a broadly gay theme or relevance, the festival has grown to become the largest event of its type in the world.

Booking is available online at www. gaytheatre.ie, or at the festival box office at The Arlington Hotel Temple Bar, Lord Edward Street, from April 28 at noon to 3pm daily.

JUST over a year since the release of their debut album in 2015, Rhythm of Dawn, brothers Jamie and Richie Martin (above) have had an incredible 12 months touring the UK and Ireland.

The record debuted at #1 in the iTunes Singer/Songwriter charts, and their latest single, Atlas, has just smashed 165,000 streams on Spotify.

Fresh from a host of successful live gigs around Ireland and the UK, the band will return to play their last Dublin headline show, before taking some time off to return to the studio to work on some new material.

Their headline show takes place on April 8 in the Button Factory, from 7.30pm. Tickets are €16.50. For further information, see www. crymonstercry.com.

18 GAZETTE 7 April 2016

MANGO reversible sequin skirt €49.95, reversible seqiun top €29.95

OUT&ABOUT

Designers reign on Fashhood portal IRELAND’S top fashion designers are showcasing their work and interacting directly with a captive audience through a new online portal – fashhood.com.

The new online platform (above) features an exclusive collection of Irish fashion, focused on the working woman.

The site aims to promote and sell the work of Irish designers to a global audience and is also an up-and-coming online community where consumers can engage with the designers, share their thoughts, influence fashion and commission bespoke pieces.

Designers featured on fashhood.com include Zoe Carol, Helen Cody, Natalie B Coleman, Shirley Copperwhite, Jill De Burca, Tina Griffin, Jen Kelly, Carol Kennelly, Elaine Madigan Cashmere, Ommactive, Rant & Rave, Emma Sheridan, Helen Steele, Niall Tyrrell, We are Islanders, and others.

Designer Elizabeth McKay said that the site affords consumers a unique opportunity to learn more about the designers and engage with them.

She said: “We’ve given women a voice and a platform where they can let designers know what they feel,

what they are looking for and what they like.

It’s also a place where pictures of desirable or aspirational items can be posted, and a place where, at the press of a button, you can ask designers if they have similar [items] in stock or can make such an item.”

Markievicz Artist Emma Sheridan, who recently designed a 1916-inspired t-shirt, said: “My drawing of Countess Markievicz [screenshot, above] is my abstract version of a sketch I found of her by John Butler Yeats, and is aimed to represent what a colourful woman she was and life she led.

“By collaborating with the other designers in Fashhood, I believe we are all putting our strengths together for the future to create a team strengthened by our own colourful histories.”

Designer Helen Steele said: “I am delighted to be chosen to be a designer with Fashhood.

It is a site for like-minded women who want to connect with and cultivate a new way to explore fashion online.

“There are a treasure trove of Irish designers at your fingertips and the fact that we get to connect with the members of Fashhood is fantastic.”

Mango Metallics sweater €25.95, skirt €45.95

MANGO sequin dress €39.95

Metallic madness MANGO pleated top €9.95

MANGO skinny gloss jeans €39.95

 EMMA NOLAN

MANGO metallic sweater €45.95

It’s time  EMMA NOLAN

Style Editor

KARLIE Kloss is the face of Mango’s New Metallics campaign, which seeks to emulate the 90s Grunge era with a space-age twist. You know it’s starting to get warm again when you see the bikini display appear!

to shine

T h e combination of denims and leathers with the abundant sequin and metallic gloss textures delivers this mix of rock ’n’ roll and disco – neither of which are dead in Mango HQ this season.

Glimmering and shining, the look Mango has achieved is set to be a hit with festival goers with its flashy and chic sen-

sibilities in equal measures. Glam and casual at the same time, the styling of leather and denim over shimmering fabrics gives the collection a hard edge that’s seamlessly softened by the metallic accents.

Favourites include the high neck pleated top for only €9.95, and the sequin dresses (€39.95) paired with the cropped fitted leather jacket (€59.95).

7 April 2016 GAZETTE 19

River Island Paisley print frilly bardot top €37 Little Woods Ireland off the shoulder beach cover

GAZETTE

STYLE

Time for Tilbury’s magic help for your weary eyes

up dress €52  EMMA NOLAN

look for.

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New Look Black Frill Bardot Neck, Long Sleeve Top €22.99

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Tilbury has managed

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the Magic Cream, Magic

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Night Rescue Cream and

charm and cult products,

the Magic Eye Rescue.

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the most notable

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New Look Orange off the shoulder dress €29.99

River Island Black daisy lace overlay bardot top €35

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HARD work and weather can take their toll

Expose those shoulders

on your hands, leaving them dry with cuts and hangnails, so a good hand cream is a worthwhile investment to prevent them from always feeling parched.

Crabtree and Evelyn’s Gardeners 60 Second Fix for Hands Kit is a simple two-step system that promises

 EMMA NOLAN

SHOULDERS are the new erogenous zone du jour with designers continuing to create bardot necklines and cold shoulder cut outs.

And what could be more subtly seductive than a glimpse of sunkissed shoulders and collar bone? More restrained than cleavage, everyone can pull of this uncomplicated trend that suits all shapes and outfits.

From oversized cold shoulder jumpers to delicate bardot bodysuits, this trend can be worn multiple ways. Pair with high waisted pants, a midi skirt or a full off the shoulder dress or jumpsuit.

All the high streets have variations and the likes of Asos and Missguided have a large number of pieces currently available.

So get the bronzer out, it’s shoulders’ time to shine.

to give visible results after a single treatment.

Step one is the Hand Recovery cream that cleanses, exfoliates and moisturises, followed by the hand therapy cream, which contains shea butter and nourishing macadamia nut oil. This cream wears like a glove to give protection from the elements.

The kit is priced at €34 and is available at Kildare Village and pharmacies nationwide.

Gazette

20 Gazette 7 April 2016

OUT&ABOUT

fast

TRAVEL NEWS

getaways: stays in moscow, or the Cote d’Azur, will delight

This week, we have several deals from travel experts offering some great Maltese holidays

Make it marvellous Malta for a great trip  ian begley

WHY not make 2016 a year to remember by visiting the Mediterranean island of Malta?

With year-round sunshine, events and activities to suit all ages, Malta is certainly an ideal location for those who want to break away from Ireland.

Only a short flight away, Malta has a variety of events this April and May that will definitely keep you entertained.

Lowcostholidays is offering seven nights, departing on April 30, at the 4-Star Hotel Paradise Bay (B&B), from €562pp.

Alternatively, you can depart on May 14 and stay at the 5-Star Excelsior Grand Hotel (B&B), from €652pp.

With Budget Travel, you can depart on April 30 and stay at the 3-Star Topaz Hotel Apt, Bugibba (room only) for €523pp.

You could alternatively depart on May 19 and stay at the 4-Star Canifor Hotel, Qawra (B&B), for €369pp.

With Concorde Travel, you can depart on May 8 and stay for seven nights

at the 3-Star Blubay Apartments, Sliema (SC, one bedroom, three sharing) for €464pp.

On May 15, Concorde is offering seven nights at the 5-Star Intercontinental Hotel, St Julians (B&B, standard room, two sharing) for €864pp.

The 15th edition of the Malta International Fireworks Festival will take place on Saturday, April 1; Saturday, April 23; and Saturday, April 30.

A number of Maltese and foreign fireworks factories will be participating in this competitive event, presenting spectacular firework displays that will be synchronised to music.

The Valletta Green Festival, which takes place from May 6 to 9, is a weekend-long event that aims to inspire people to turn urban spaces into green oases.

One of the highlights of the festival is the Infiorata, a colourful floral display composed of thousands of flowering plants placed next to each other.

For further information and details of other events that will be taking place in Malta, see www. visitmalta.com.

A nine-night trip to Russia will take in some of the country’s cultural treasures, including Red Square in Moscow, and St Basil’s Cathedral

You’ll be Russian off to see some great sights  ian begley

Travel Editor

EXPERIENCE everything that the Land of the Tsars has to offer on a nine-night, solo-friendly holiday to Russia, from €1,789pp.

With flights departing from Dublin on September 15, travel to the regions where some of the world’s most famous art, literature and history were created, from the beautiful St Petersburg to the hustle and bustle of the capital, Moscow.

During the first half of your stay, you will visit St Petersburg, which has more of a Scandinavian feel than the capital and is home to the Winter Palace – the former residence of the Russian monarchs.

St Petersburg is also

home to Catherine’s Palace, in the town of Tzarskoye, which boasts some of the most opulent architecture and interior design you are ever likely to see.

For the second half of your trip, visit Moscow and see the iconic squares and palaces that make the city so renowned.

Here, you will see Red Square, which is the enormous plaza that houses St Basil’s Cathedral, amongst others.

Other highlights are the Kremlin, which is a huge compound of government buildings containing the seat of the president, and the Kremlin Armoury, which houses some of the most valuable jewels in the world.

You will also enjoy plenty of leisure time to explore these beautiful

cities at your own pace.

Alternatively, if you fancy a break a tad closer to home, then why not try a three-night city break in Cote d’Azur, better known as the French Riviera?

Priced from €499pp with flights leaving on November 10, the French Riviera has been the playground of the rich and famous since the 19th century, and all of its allure remains.

From the opulence of Nice to the tranquillity of St Paul-de-Vence, this three-night short city break is truly special.

You will visit Antibes, a town which was founded as a 5th century Greek colony due to its naturally protected port, and has historically been an important trade centre.

Today, it is home to a

Sun worshippers need no introduction to Cote d’Azur

number of noted museums, including the Picasso Museum and the Naval Museum of Napoleon.

Then you will set off for Nice, one of the most popular cities to visit in France, which boasts lots of cultural attractions, including a colourful flower market and the Promenade des Anglais, named after the earliest English visitors to the area.

There will also be plenty of time to discover the many hidden gems in Cannes at your own pace.

Relax with a drink by the seaside or take a stroll alonges Film Festival, or enjoy an al fresco lunch in the Old Town of Cannes, overlooking the bay.

For further information about these two offers, see www.traveldepartment.ie.

7 April 2016 Gazette 21

Cruising information event is sure to make some waves  ian begley

ON SUNDAY, from noon to 5pm at the Red Cow Morans Hotel, e-Travel.ie will host an exclusive cruise information afternoon event with Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises, Silversea Cruiseline, Norweigen Cruiseline, Uniworld River Cruising and Riveria Travel.

The travel experts are offering great deals and unique show offers on the day, with free presentations from all of the cruise lines’ representatives, and Q&A sessions for all those nautical but nice cruise queries.

Discover fun-filled, action-packed holidays for the whole family on board luxury ships bursting with amenities such as rock climbing walls, ice skating rinks, onboard surf parks, Broadway entertainment, great night life, shopping and gourmet cuisine.

Imagine the spectacular glaciers and silent fjords of Alaska, paradise on the Caribbean coasts, the cultural splendour of European cities on a Mediterranean cruise, b e a u t i f u l H aw a i i a n Islands with dramatic lava flows and tropical rainforests, or broaden your horizons even further to destinations such as Dubai, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, with exiting itineraries departing from the Middle East and Far East.

Established in 1997, e-Travel is now one of Ireland’s leading inde-

pendent travel agents, specialising in cruising as well as flights, long-haul and online bookings, and are the only 100% Irishowned and managed online agency in Ireland.

They have sailed away with numerous international awards for excellence in cruising, including top honours from Celebrity Cruises and Royal Caribbean International.

The e-Travel Cruise Show is free to attend for all the family and as well as great value with special booking discounts for reservations made on the day, e-Travel’s awardwinning team will be in attendance to offer expertise and advice, as well as offering early booking discounts, on-board credit, or champagne in your cabin.

TRAVEL The Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa, Galway

The west is best for a relaxing trip  ian begley

HEAD west and discover why Lonely Planet have named Galway city as one of the “Top 21 things to do in Ireland”, with a trip to the Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa. The popular guide book was released on March 11, and announced the coveted list of things to do in Ireland.

Changing technology and ever-improving ship design has seen the rise of super liners, with all the comforts

Sales up This January was a good month for Irish travel bookings, with sales up as much as 46% for some agents, with many holidaymakers cruising the luxury end of the market.

According to e-Travel. ie, almost 58% of cruise sales are for four-star ships, and 35% for fivestar ships, but the luxury cruise liners are fast becoming the preferred option for customers.

However, as the purse strings are loosening and luxury is back on the bucket list, enduring lessons learned during the recession mean that value for money is still a priority.

The world has changed, and tastes have changed.

Modern luxury means

Gazette

TRAVEL the aquatic life: set sail for a great gathering at Red Cow Morans Hotel fast

and attractions of a small city, providing a great range of activities to keep passengers entertained

airy spaces with all the right, tasteful details; restaurants where the design is just as important as the cuisine; intuitive service with a keen eye for detail, and doing as much or as little as you choose.

Cities Cruise ships are often referred to as floating hotels, and in some cases they are more like floating cities. You can choose from massive ships – such as Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas, which can carry almost 8,000 passengers and crew – or smaller, intimate river cruises, which carry less than 100 passengers.

Among the statistics that e-Travel accumulated, $26bn is the glo-

The restful open-air solarium of Navigator of the Seas

bal value of preliminary ship orders until 2022, with 35,000 passengers from Ireland expected to cruise this year.

According to e-Travel’s latest figures, 42% of Irish cruisers are now aged under 40. This represents a 20% increase since

2014, and shows the rapidly changing profile of cruise passengers from Ireland.

The average price paid in 2015 for a fly-cruise package was €1,476, versus €1,383 in 2014, and stateroom sales breakdown to approximately

65% balconies, 28% inside, and 7% ocean view.

So far in 2016, the trend seems to be upwardly mobile, to the 5- and 6-star luxury liners such as Celebrity, Silversea, Cunard and Cr ystal Cruises.

Renowned Located at Lough Atalia, just a short stroll from the heart of Galway city, Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa, Galway is the perfect base to explore what the renowned travel guide publisher describes as “Ireland’s liveliest city”.

The Galway Getaway package at the Radisson Blu is available from €175 per person sharing, and includes a two-night stay, breakfast on both mornings, and dinner on the evening of your choice in Marina’s Grill, or Raw – Sushi in the Sky restaurant (below).

For further information, see www.radissonhotelgalway.com, or call 091 538 521.

Gazette

22 Gazette 7 April 2016

OUT&ABOUT

GAMING

break: this stylish title is WEEBYTES quantum certainly unique, and fun as well

Miitomo is a first step into apps for Nintendo

Nintendo’s “Mii too” in social apps NINTENDO have been quietly making headlines with a small, but important step the release of its first app, Miitomo (IOS, Android; free, IAP; Cert 3+).

Gamers have been clamouring for Nintendo to dip its toes in the app market for a long time now, as despite being a gaming giant, its hardware and software have all but disappeared from shops (here, at least).

However Mitttomo marks Nintendo’s take on a social network, which sees uses create their own Nintendostyled avatar (a Mii), and then let them loose to engage with other users (which I’ll dub Yee).

While the are a number of slight mini games, Miitomo users are most likely to see their bobble-headed characters while chatting with each other, or dressing them up in outfits for photo poses, and other silly, but fun, ways of creating character ownership, and socially interacting.

At the time of writing, with less than a week out of the gate Miitomo has already been grabbed by more than three million people worldwide, which suggests Nintendo still know exactly how to create fun and friendly content.

Just in time to help XBox One fight its corner

EVER since their respective releases, the PlayStation 4 (PS4) and XBone One (XBO) have been locked in battle, circling each other in the ring in a tireless right to be the top dog in the gaming arena.

So far, the PS4 has been nigh-on unstoppable, beating the XBO back towards a corner with one heavy blow after another, from its global sales tally to some of the platformexclusive titles set for the console. At times, the fight hasn’t been pretty ...

However, the XBO has no intention of throwing in the towel – and nor should it, as it’s an equally impressive platform that has, perhaps, been a little slow to warm up and fight back, but 2016 looks likely to be the round that puts it back on a confident, equal footing in the middle of the ring as the coaches (Sony and Microsoft) yell encouragement.

Indeed, the XBO has just landed an impres-

 shane dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com

sive, powerful blow with its platform-exclusive title (albeit shared with the PC), Quantum Break (Cert 16).

Long in development, Quantum has been a title that aroused plenty of interest along the way to release, but the finished title has perhaps surpassed expectations, and has delivered a title that is not only a great showcase for the XBO, but also stands out as a top title for 2016.

It even makes a positive impression thanks to its mixed-media stylings – see boxout below – and, if nothing else, provides a much-needed dose of creative quirkiness to the XBO’s line-up.

As the title might sug-

gest, Quantum Break follows a familiar sci-fi trope: temporal anomalies, or hijinks messing about with time’s properties, following an experiment going awry at a lab.

Ah, scientists – will they never learn to leave quantum physics alone?

The game’s protagonist – whose brother was behind the unfortunate experiment – is caught up in the unfolding catastrophe, and becomes endowed with several impressive time-related powers, all of which become invaluable once the main plot kicks in, and the shadowy corporation at the heart of the tale starts trying to clean up the mess (largely by eliminating everyone involved).

The games’s dense plot is something of a McGuffin, however, as Quantum Break can largely be summed up as being a traditional third-person shooter (where you run and gun about various

With a hero able to manipulate time (above) or even wander through spectacular setpieces where time has frozen (below), Quantum Break is a pretty unique title

levels), with some cool time-related superpowers (such as freezing enemies in place in a time bubble, or effectively teleporting across areas), and interspersed with some very, very pretty and spectacular set pieces built around the notion of fractured, damaged time.

While we’ve seen timerelated powers before in a number of games – typically, involving slomo shootouts, or used to direct story-changing gameplay – there’s never been a title quite like Quantum Break.

On the one hand, it’s an accomplished shooter that hits all the right marks for the genre; on the other, the time-relat-

ed powers and abilities create something that’s a little more open-ended, with emergent gameplay that’s as messy, or fun, as the player wants it to be.

Add in the striking setpieces, and the slick plot interruptions detailed below, and Quantum Break manages the paradox of delivering something that will feel quite familiar to seasoned gamers, while frequently being

fresh and unique, with very strong art direction and production values.

Ultimately, this great, impressive title is just the kind of thing the XBO needs to land some impressive blows against the PS4, and reminds game and industry watchers that while Microsoft hasn’t fought like a champion in the ring, there’s still plenty of fight left, and everything to play for.

Some familiar faces add some thespian cred to QUANTUM break’s plot ONE of the things that makes Quantum Break so memorable, and unique, are how it delivers its plot – while there are all the usual in-game cinematics, it also features some glossy live action footage to help advance the plot.

Quantum Break’s high-quality footage not only looks the part, with great production values that make it feel like a cross between 24, and Spooks, but also has some great actors.

Sprinkled with a number of familiar

Whassisname faces, the most wellknown and recognisable actors include Aiden Gillen, Lance Reddick (both inset) and Dominic Monaghan, adding more than a dash of credibility to the well-shot scenes.

While gaming is littered with excrutiatingly poor acting, that’s not the case here, as these live action segments have been expertly created, making it feel like a mini-series or box set that you’re just catching up with now.

Indeed, those familiar with Quantum Break’s developer, Helsinki-based Remedy Entertainment, won’t be surprised at the vision and direction on display here.

Its precious titles have also had a singular impact, with its best-known title, Alan Wake, weighed down by a dour, dense narrative with cinematic overtones – yet sprinkled with moments of levity and silliness, too.

While Quantum Break could have

been a curate’s egg, the live-action segments complete the package, making it a great game that XBO owners should definitely find the time for.

7 April 2016 Gazette 23

midnight special: this attractive film evokes a welcome familiarity

ReelReviews

A road movie that harkens back to some sci-fi classics there is a cer tain strain of sci-fi films that took over cinema screens in the late 70s and early 80s – films such as Stephen Spielberg’s ET, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, or John Carpenter’s Starman – that tend to be emblazoned into the minds of the generation that was growing up at the time They are a far cry from the kind of grim and doom-laden sci-fi films that became popular in later decades; instead, these earlier films offered grand adventure entwined with a narrative of hope of redemption – a strange mix of what is most otherworldly, and what is most human.

It is in this same vein that Jeff Nichols’ Midnight Special must be watched.

Brooding and mysterious, Midnight Special is a film that likes to keep its audience ensconced snugly in the dark.

Roy (Michael Shannon) is the concerned father who goes on the run with his supernaturally gifted son, Alton (Jaeden Lieberher).

Alton’s got a myriad of inexplicable powers – but it’s his ability to tune

 Dave phillips

into messages being relayed by satellites that has him in trouble.

Murky government agencies want to run tests and find out exactly how Alton is accessing their information, while the remote evangelical community that claim Alton as a prophetic figurehead want to utilise him for their own devices.

Midnight Special plays out as a kind of peculiar road trip, as it falls on Roy and an old friend, Lucas (Joel Edgerton), to get the boy across the country to safety before the government or the church find them.

Things get more complex when Alton’s hypersensitivity to daylight comes into play – forcing him to spend much of the trip decked out in swimming goggles, and reading comics by torchlight in blackedout rooms.

Much of the action is driven (quite literally, as

we travel across several states) by Edgerton and Shannon.

Nichols keeps the screenplay fairly spartan, so much of the relationship between the two men is played out through their silences – and their performances are all the better for it, with Shannon exuding a kind of desperate determinism, while Edgerton continues on the trip with a kind of weary loyalty.

Kirsten Dunst comes on board in the second half as Alton’s mother, as does Girls’ Adam Driver, who plays the government researcher that develops a special connection to Alton.

There is an undeniable yearning to evoke a sense of nostalgia throughout Midnight Special. Despite being set in the present day, the clothing, the sets, and the shots all feel from the heyday of feelgood sci-fi.

Adam Stone, who worked as cinematographer on Nichols’ previous features (Mud, and Take Shelter) captures and evokes that “ET feeling” in scenes set in windswept cornfields and lush forests.

Gazette

CINEMA

dawn of justice A batty but okay tale

TO USE its full title, Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (Cert 12A, 151 mins) has been roundly slated by critics and fanboys, but has been a financial hit at least, with impressive box office sales around the world. Ben Affleck and Henry Cavill give decent turns as Batman and Superman respectively, but Jesse Eisenberg’s woeful miscasting as Lex Luthor almost derails the film.

CloverfielD lane

Monstrously entertaining

Although set in modern times, there’s an almost timeless feeling to Midnight Special, which takes a familiar tale (people on the run) but creates something fresh

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

‘There is an undeniable yearning to evoke a sense of nostalgia throughout Midnight Special.

Despite being set in the present day, the clothing, the sets, and the shots all feel from the heyday of feel-good sci-fi’

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

However, the film remains concerned with light and dark, and Midnight Special introduces a darkness, both literal and figurative, that was not present in the earlier films that it aspires to emulate.

Alongside the light of

hope and human connection lies a darker strand of religious fervour, desperation, and violence.

Midnight Special keeps its cards close to its chest, teasing the audience along in the dark but never quite

enlightening them. As a result, it will be accused of having more style than substance, and it is hard to argue against that.

It is a simple story that is told well, but there is something more going on. We enjoy some films because they make us feel clever, others because they make us feel tension, but Midnight Special succeeds in trying to evoke those sci-fi films of the 80s, because watching it feels wholesome.

This is good, clean, cinematic fare for a new generation.

Verdict: 7/10

AT TIMES avuncular, at times intimidating, John Goodman is in great form in 10 Cloverfield Lane (Cert 15A, 103 mins), the surprise out-of-nowhere sequel of sorts to the cult 2008 film, Cloverfield. A young woman wakes up in a bunker after a car crash, where her captor/ protector is determined not to let her leave – but what’s happening outside? It’s a taut, generally great film.

greek wedding 2 An unappetising sequel

LAST and definitely least, My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (Cert 12A, 94 mins) has been met with a Greek chorus of universal derision since its recent release.

While the original was a stereotypical but fun and breezy film, this 14-yearslate film serves up a very stale sequel that reheats key parts of the original.

Veering between charmless and predictable, Greek Wedding 2 is one to avoid.

24 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 7 April 2016

census 2016 Sunday, April 24 is the day to fill out your form

It’s time to count everyone in the country – and you, too ON SUNDAY, April 24, every person in Dublin will make their mark by completing or being included on a census form.

By participating in the census, we are helping to shape our understanding about life in Ireland in 2016, and show how Ireland has changed since the last census was taken in 2011.

The census is a fundamental part of our national heritage and collective knowledge. The 2016 census will take place exactly 100 years to the day since the Easter Rising began, and the results will be of great interest to the historians of the future as they look back and reflect on life in Ireland in 2016.

Between now and April 24, census enumerators will hand-deliver census forms to every dwelling in Dublin.

Each household will be asked to fill out their census form on Sunday, April 24. This is known as census night, and everyone who is in Ireland on that night must be included on a census form.

Between April 25 and May 20, your enumerator will call back to collect your forms. The forms are then sent to the Central Statistics Office (CSO) warehouse, where the information on them is captured and analysed.

The census provides vital information on a wide range of topics and issues and is used by every government department and local authority in the country, along with a wide range of both public and private service providers.

Census data feeds into the planning stages of most aspects of Irish life

– for example, new primary schools or nursing homes, trains and tram lines, childcare facilities or shopping centres.

The greatest strength of the census is the provision of detailed population figures at a local level, and for minority groups.

This data is used to identify, for example, the most appropriate locations for new local roads and bus routes, new primary schools and hospitals, areas of relatively high unemployment and the best locations for new factories.

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

‘Each household will be asked to fill out their census form on Sunday, April 24. This is known as census night, and everyone who is in Ireland on that night must be included on a census form.’

North, south, east or west – no matter where you are in Dublin or across the country on Sunday, April 24, you must be included in the latest

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

national census. The information gleaned from Census 2016 will help to shape Dublin, and the country, for years to come. Picture: Shane Dillon

The census is also the only means of accurately measuring the exact extent of migration. By comparing the results of successive censuses, and taking account of the number of births and deaths that have occurred over the same period, we can get an accurate measure of net migration (the difference between inward and outward migration).

The last census was taken five years ago, in

2011. It showed that the population of Dublin was 1,273,069 people (619,902 males and 653,167 females) – an increase of 7.2% over the 2006 population.

Swords had the highest density population within Dublin, with 36,924 people living in the town.

The fastest growing town at the time was Saggart, which experienced 147% population growth between 2006 and 2011, making it the

fastest growing town in the country.

There were 42,854 more females than males in the state in April, 2011, resulting in an overall sex ratio of 98.1 males for every 100 females.

This trend is very evident in Dublin, where there were 94.9 males per 100 females.

Some 22.8% of the private dwellings in Dublin comprised apartments or flats, compared with the State figure of 10.7%. In

addition, 8.3% of dwellings were vacant in Dublin, compared with an average of 14.5% across the country.

That 2006 census also revealed that 74.8% of private households had a broadband connection in 2006. The number of persons whose religion was recorded as Catholic increased by 1.7% between 2006 and 2011, compared to 4.95% nationally.

Finally, 17.2% of com-

muters travelled to work in 15 minutes or less, compared to the national figure of 27.2%.

This level of information is very important in helping service providers to plan appropriately to meet the needs of the people of Dublin, and it shows why it matters that everyone completes their census form.

The first results from Census 2016 will be published this July. It will take a further nine months to

scan and capture the full set of data off the two million census forms.

The detailed results will be published in March, 2017.

Further information about Census 2016 can be found at www.census.ie.

Your census enumerator can also answer any questions you may have.  Deirdre Cullen

Senior statistician, Central Statistics Office

7 April 2016 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 25

motoring An enjoyable ride whether on or off the beaten path mokka: an impressive crossover from opel

A spacious-feeling and powerful vehicle  dave phillips

THE past five years have seen a surge in the sales of crossovers – an influx of more affordable, and more emission-friendly cars across the board has meant that many people – particularly young families – are being attracted by the extra space and versatility that these vehicles can offer.

Opel’s Mokka may be one of the award-winning brand’s lesser spotted models, but on paper it seems to have plenty of

potential, so we took it on a test drive.

Sitting up on 18” alloys, the Mokka looks like the pumped-up older brother of Opel’s more popular Corsa. Designed more for practicality than style, the Mokka’s broad frame serves to bolster a sense of security and sturdiness.

Large bi-xenon headlights set off a chirpy front grille at the front, and while the more chunky looking rear may be simple on the outside, it hides one of the Mokka’s better features.

Up to 1,372 litres of boot space (that’s including dropping the rear seats) means that the Mokka offers plenty of room for a compact crossover.

Roominess is something that this model does well, with a decent amount of head and leg space in the back row.

The dash will feel familiar to anyone who has driven Opel’s Astra. The Intellilink entertainment system that is standard in many of Opel’s range was fitted in the model we took out.

While it’s perfectly functional, its plethora of buttons looks a little complex next to the newer and cleaner touchscreen systems that Opel has introduced in its latest range, but expect that to be overhauled in the next generation of Mokka.

With the current generation, there is the choice of 1.4- or 1.6-litre diesel engines, and four different trims starting from €20,995 for the most basic.

The SE model we took out was fitted with the 1.6-

Storage is one of the better features of Opel’s solid-looking Mokka, with its boot space – up to 1.372 litres – adding to its general feeling of spaciousness

litre engine and proved to be plenty of power for getting around town.

While the Mokka has 4-wheel drive options, realistically, this is not the kind of car that is going to go off-road.

The current generation of Mokka utilises Opel’s “whisper diesel” engine that significantly reduces the amount of in-cabin

engine noise.

Emission-friendly, it also drops the Mokka into the much more attractive A4 tax band, which works out at €200 per year.

With the potential of plenty of driver luxuries, including a descent control system (if you do decide to venture off the beaten path), hill start assist, and adaptive light-

ing, the Mokka turns out to be a pretty enjoyable ride.

For those seeking the more diminutive crossovers, the market may ultimately turn into a niche one – with the Mokka poised to be a big fish in a small pond.

(Base model from €20,995; test model, €30,561.)

26 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 7 April 2016

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28 dublin city gazette 7 April 2016

SPORT Arthur’s aim to be king of Rio

FastSport

pentathlon: donnybrook man’s multi-faceted approach to Olympics

creagh says shels will bounce back:

REBECCA Creagh believes Shelbourne Ladies can pick themselves up from the Continental Tyres Women’s National League Shield final defeat last week and land trophies.

“I don’t feel great to be honest,” admitted Creagh having seen her side lose out to Wexford Youths AFC

by Edel Kennedy’s solitary goal. “It’s unfortunate and you never like to lose, but we’ll suck it up and we’ll go for the big one [the League].”

Shels lie in fourth place in the Continental Tyres Women’s National League table five points behind UCD Waves, though they have a game in hand. They also have a WNL Cup semi-final to look forward to on April 27.

“We know we’re still in with a shot,” explained Creagh.

“Galway were on top of the League two weeks ago and look at what happened. The League is wide open and I know for sure we’ll bounce back.”

 james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com

ARTHUR Lanigan O’Keeffe is the reigning European champion at the five-sport event of pentathlon and the 24-year-old Dub has every intention of grabbing Olympic glory this summer, too.

His training schedule currently hits six training sessions a day, five and a half days a week, and involves spending half of every day inside a purpose-built altitude simulation tent set at 2,150 metres, in order to turbo-charge his level of red blood cells. Lanigan O’Keeffe, who is prepping for his second Olympics, is leaving no stone unturned.

His recent trip to Rio for a rare competition has all been factored into preparation, with the former UCD student examining every aspect of the city’s facilities.

“I’ve already adapted my training,” he told GazetteSport. “I’m taking into account the light conditions at the shooting range, the height of the starting blocks at the swimming pool and the type of horses we’ll have access to.”

Of the five sports – running, swimming, shooting, show jumping and fencing – the Donnybrook man is particularly focused on the fencing, preparation which is a fine art.

“It’s the one area where you can directly take points off your

opponents,” he explains.

“Every area is important, but if you can do well in the fencing, you’re going to be up there.

“I’m being very careful where I fight, because ahead of the Olympics people are getting very clever with preparation.

“Coaches are filming each other fighting and taking it back so their athletes can go home and learn how to fight you,” he explains. “I won’t be fighting much in public ahead of the Olympics. I think it’ll help me if people don’t know what I’m doing.”

Inevitably, Lanigan O’Keeffe is an impressive all-around athlete. He was part of a Munster rugby development squad and, earlier, a national swim-

Irish pentathlete Arthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe

ming development squad before he relocated to the UK and focus on modern pentathlon during his late teenage years.

He describes his current condition as “doing everything I can to peak in a few months time”.

“I think gold is more than realistic,” he said.

“Everyone’s at a high standard, but the Olympics is something different.

“It’s important I had the experience in 2012 [when Lanigan O’Keeffe was

drafted in at late notice for London, after a Polish athlete received a drug ban]. The Olympics is different; there are cameras all over your face. There’s spectators times 10, more rules, more pressure.”

Lanigan O’Keeffe’s support comes in part from Nissan, who have included him in their Next Generation program as an ambassador.

In exchange, O’Keeffe drives a new Qashqai and joined a prestigious team of young people Lanigan

O’Keeffe says has helped with his belief. The program is now open for new applicants, both athletes and other young high achievers, until May 10 at www.nissangenerationnext.ie.

Lanigan O’Keeffe, meanwhile, has been on the podium at every major event over the last couple of years, and seems to be flying under the radar as a potentially huge Irish gold in Rio. What’s beyond doubt is that he’s got an eye on every fraction.

Rock keep alive survival hopes with Shannon victory  sport@dublingazette.com

Blackrock College ensured that their battle to avoid relegation will go down to the wire

BLACKROCK College consigned Shannon to their fifth defeat in a row in the Ulster Bank league Division 1B as the hosts triumphed 21-19 in another match that went right down to the wire.

Both of these sides are yet to confirm their place in Division 1B for next season, so it was no surprise that the first half was a tight and edgy affair.

Rock led 9-8 at half-time thanks to three penalties from goal-kicking scrum half Jack

O’Carroll, who struck the ball really well in the heavy conditions.

Shannon’s left winger Greg O’Shea tore clear to score an excellent individual try, and he completed his brace out wide early in the second half.

However, despite a combination nine-point tally from penalties converted by Ronan McKenna and replacement Tadhg Bennett (2), missed kicks came back to haunt Shannon in the end.

M c K e n n a a n d o u t- h a l f Shane Airey both misfired on

a couple of occasions and that allowed Blackrock to build pressure once again. Their well-organised maul forced a penalty try which was converted for 16-13.

Bennett squared things up for Marcus Horan’s men and added another penalty in the closing stages but, in between, Blackrock flanker Sam Cooke burst free on the left wing to run in the game’s decisive try.

Just two points in arrears, Shannon missed another shot at the posts in the dying minutes and Rock held on for a

gritty victory. A similar result will be needed away to Dublin University on April 16, as Emmet Farrell’s charges actually slipped to ninth place following UL Bohs’ bonus point success against Belfast Harlequins.

It makes for a thrilling final round of fixtures with four clubs covered by just two points between sixth place and ninth.

Dolphin and Shannon both sit on 34 points with UL Bohs and Blackrock looking to overhaul them, two points worse off on 32 points.

7 April 2016 dublin city gazette 29

Gazette

Higgins races into whole new Galaxie Famous drummer claims laurels at the recent Vartry 100 mile event as the ultra-marathon bug bites hard. He tells GAZETTESPORT about the origins of his gruelling pastime  james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com

ALASTAIR Higgins is well known around Dublin as the drummer in boisterous dance-club band Le Galaxie.

As his day job, the longtime Dublin resident tours clubs and adds beats to festival stages in Ireland and abroad, with his band’s second album Le Club peaking at number eight in the Irish album charts.

Beside his musical ambitions, though, Higgins has been crafting notable ability as a distance runner, culminating in winning the Varty 100 mile (161km) race in Roundwood, County Wicklow in late March.

He finished the looped course in a time of 17

hours and 17 minutes.

It’s been a long journey, but Higgins start wasn’t quite so ambitious. “I fell off my bike, and I was having a little trouble with my knee.

“After a year, it still wasn’t right, and I went to a physio who pointed out that I was doing a lot of exercise, but not really putting any weight on the knee. He suggested running,” he tells GazetteSport.

From his first 5km race in 2011, Higgins progressed to marathons in 2012 and ultra-marathons a year later. The 100 miles in Wicklow was his longest race to date, one that he felt he’d prepared for “to a certain extent” through a series of 50 mile races.

“I knew to expect

despair and about when to expect it,” he explained.

“It came at about half way which, fortunately, was also when I found out I was leading, which offset that a bit.

“I had thought I was in second or third but, over this kind of distance, people drop out. Keith White, who is the Irish 100 mile world record holder, had had to drop out injured.

“I hadn’t really been thinking about winning,” he admits. “I was just concentrating on finishing in a good time. You get through the night with coffee and energy drinks.

In some races like this, you would stop for a half hour nap but only if you have to.”

In term of training, Higgins typically covers around 100 miles a week

Alastair Higgins with his winners trophy at the Vartry Lakes 100 miles race.

ahead of races like this before tapering his training in preparation for the race. The tapering process starting three to four weeks before a race. He describes 90 kilometres as a “light week”, and says he’s always the first up, even on tour, to fit in a

While many races call themselves the “world’s toughest”, Badwater is difficult to the point of dangerous, and has a genuine claim.

Less than 10 people have ever finished in under 24 hours, and by far the majority of starters don’t

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

‘You get through the night with coffee and energy drinks. You only stop for a nap if you have to’ - Alastair Higgins

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

couple of hours training.

“It means a lot of early mornings,” he says.

“I remember being mid-song during a Whelan’s residency – where it’s a real sweatbox – and my heart just racing,” Higgins says, thinking back to his pre-running days. His fitness ambitions are astonishingly lofty now, though, with famed ultra-distance race Badwater on the agenda.

“That’s long term,” Higgins admits, eyeing more ‘modest’ (eye-wateringly difficult) challenges in the meantime.

Badwater, Death Valley’s killer event, is notorious in ultra-marathon circles: 135 miles, 45 degree plus heat in the limited shade and thousands of feet of elevation gain, all starting at below sea level and finishing atop a peak.

finish at all. Targets, then, are extreme: there’s also the 100 mile world championship - taking place in Ireland in 2017 - to look forward to.

As Higgins polished off his win in Wicklow, his MP3 player spun towards the end of a 10-hour playlist he’d put together for the event. Having spent the early parts of the race chatting to other runners, he couldn’t have planned the track that would accompany his final strides: the only one he’d included from his own band.

Four days after his win, Higgins says he can “feel it. You always think you’re going to go home and have a burger and a beer. I think I had a bit of hypothermia, though, and I didn’t even want to eat properly until the next day.” Naturally, he’s already back running.

FastSport

UCD close in on sailing’s clean sweep over Trinity UCD Sailing Team won the 2016 Colours Sailing Championships in Dun Laoghaire, seeing off Trinity College last Saturday in a close-run contest.

The Belfield outfit also won the ladies competition, the alumni competition and the Gold Fleet. Indeed, UCD have won every national university sailing event so far this year Robbie Hynes, from UCD Sailing Club, said his club are looking to complete the clean sweep in the coming days: “UCD have won every national university sailing event so far this year, with the final event – the Student Yachting Nationals – this coming Friday so here’s hoping.”

Elsewhere, Howth Yacht Club hosted the ISA Youth Pathway National Championship and Optimist Trials over the four days in varied conditions, attracting 192 entries across five classes.

When Thursday’s racing got going after a wind delay, in the 420 class, local favourites Elmes/O’Sullivan had it their own way with two bullets, setting up their victory.

The laser radial top spot was shared by O’Beirne (Royal St George YC), Durcan and Nicole Hemeryck (National YC). Over on the topper course, the RStGYC was again dominating, with Jack Fahy burning up the course.

Day two fell victim to the elements with strong and increasing winds keeping the fleet ashore.

With a window of opportunity in the weather, the fleets headed afloat on Saturday, hoping to catch up on the schedule with a few additional races. On the 420/Laser Radial course, four races were crammed in, suiting Malahide 420 duo Gemma and Cara McDowell.

The sisters closed the gap to the leaders and ended the day only a point adrift of Elmes/ O’Sullivan and went on to claim the girls title.

Radial and 4.7 gurus O’Beirne and Higgins never fell outside the top three for the day and won their respective crowns.

On the topper course, Carroll was fighting off a strong challenge from another Hemeryck, this time Ella who was only a couple of points behind in the final reckoning on Sunday.

Gazette

30 dublin city gazette 7 April 2016

SPORT

FastSport

australian rules: south dublin outfit take on champions league

Firhouse Clover LSL title bid suffers big setback FIRHOUSE Clover’s poor run of form continued as the title-challengers were swatted aside by strugglers Home Farm at IT Tallaght.

The visitors – second bottom of the LSL Sunday Senior at kick off – had only beaten one side outside of the division’s bottom three all season in mid-table Drumcondra before arriving in Tallaght but stubborn defence and clinical finishing saw them run out 3-0 winners.

The game got off to a scrappy start in soggy conditions, with Clover grabbing much of the early possession but showing little cutting edge in a scrappy midfield battle.

Clover – who still sit within touching distance of the top of the LSL Sunday Senior division – have now taken a single point from three games since the March break, with this latest defeat the most damning.

Gerry Bambrick – a key figure up front throughout – put Home Farm ahead in a gritty first half, slotting past Paddy Reilly in the Clover goal with a neat low finish from the north side club’s first attack of note.

Clover’s early positivity, if anything, was proving their downfall.

Playing an open game which centred around their bright wingers, the home side committed players forward but couldn’t find a way past the visitor’s packed defence. In contrast, Home Farm used their limited possession to huge effect.

Mark Behan added a second just before half time, his finish crossing the line ahead of two lunging Clover defenders after it trickled past Reilly during a break somewhat typical of the game.

Eamon Moynihan’s third for Home Farm also came against the run of play as Clover started the second half with a series of corners. It was the pick of the bunch.

With the ball falling to the midfield man 25 yard from goal, he swung his boot at a dropping ball and slammed a dipping volley past Reilly in the Clover goal whose touch on the ball wasn’t enough to keep it out of the top corner.

Long periods of Clover dominance offered little result as the game petered out to a comfortable Home Farm win.

The South Dublin Swans in Amsterdam last week

Swans reach Euro semis sport@dublingazette.com

THE SOUTH Dublin Swans reached the semifinal of the Australian Rules European Champions League last week following a fine group stage performance in Amsterdam The Irish champions were representing the Australian Rules Football League of Ireland in the second edition of the continental competition.

The tournament was played at the impressive Dutch national rugby centre in suburban Amsterdam. It has grown significantly since the inaugural event with 13 men’s teams

and five women’s teams participating. The calibre of the competition was high with each team being their domestic league champion.

The Swans had the earliest start of the day at 10am in their four team group.

First up was the Russian representatives, the Koalas. This was a good opener for the Swans to find their rhythm and they won comfortably by a margin of 62-7 in the 24-minute game. The next tie was more difficult against the Zagreb Dockers who featured one of the strongest players playing in Europe, Tomislav

glory days Dublin’s All-Stars win Strathclyde Masters the third Strathclyde Basketball Masters international tournament, held in Paisley, Scotland, ended in an all-Dublin derby with the All-Stars ladies team winning the Over45s section ahead of arch rivals Glasnevin.

It was the first time a ladies section was included in the competition while hosts Strathclyde won both the men’s Over-50s and 60s. The next basketball masters tournament will be the fourth Dublin Masters International Basketball Tournament on May 6-8 at four venues in Dublin.

Cvetko. Although Cvertko did some damage, the Swans won again 24-14.

The final group game turned into the pool decider for a place in the competition semi-finals.

This was against the dominant team in Sweden, Sodermalm. This was a very close encounter with nothing between the teams and goals being traded back and forward.

The Swans showed great determination to win this one by the slim margin of 28-26.

Having topped the group, the Swans had the difficult task to playing reigning Champions League holders, the West

London Wildcats in the semi-final.

At this stage, they had lost full back Peter Ross to injury and others were licking their wounds.

Although the Swans opened well, scoring the first goal they could not match the impressive Wildcats who soon took control on the scoreboard and ran out comfortable winners 76-6.

The Swans didn’t have long to think about that disappointing result as they then played the other beaten semi-finalists, the Hamburg Dockers in the third place playoff. This was a better performance from a tiring Swans team,

but they just fell short of another win going down 38-23.

The impressive Wildcats won the tournament for the second year in a row, beating the Manchester Mosquitoes in the Grand Final 43-13.

In the women’s tournament, the GB Swans won the Grand Final, beating the Swedish Ravens.

It was a great experience for the Swans to see the calibre of club teams from all over Europe.

Swans small forward Kevin Brennan was the Swans best and fairest over the competition and got onto the team of the tournament.

7 April 2016 DUBLIN CITY gazette 31

Gazette

afl division one

FeileRound-up

Vincent’s continue 100% record in the league st vincent’s continued their strong start

to the AFL1 campaign with a third successive win, getting the better of Ballyboden St Enda’s 3-16 to 2-14 in Pairc ui Murchu.

They are joined in top spot by Kilmacud Crokes who had a low-scoring win over St Jude’s while newcomers Castleknock are one point off the pace on five points after two wins and a draw after a 0-6 each draw with St Sylvester’s.

ladies football: ringsend side prevail in div 4

Glasnevin club denied

by Lucan in Div 1 final

Naomh Olaf’s Alannah Cullen moves to block Clanna Gael Fontenoy’s Zara Lynch. Picture: Peter Hickey/GAAPics.com

Clanna Gael delight as Feile fever takes hold

feile division 4 final Clanna Gael Fontenoy 1-3 Naomh Olaf 1-0  stephen findlater sport@dublingazette.com

CLANNA Gael Fontenoy produced a superb final performance, using their pace and ingenuity to undo Naomh Olaf at Russell Park last Sunday and claim the Division 4 Feile title.

The quick feet of the diminutive Lauren and Ella Darcy – daughters of Dublin selector Declan – proved tricky to handle and their combination played a huge part in their success.

For Olaf’s, captain Molly Daly, Lucy Byrne and Louise Bennett battled hard but they could not find a regular path through the Ringsend side’s defences.

Julie Grimes, for the Sandyford side, struck the post in the third minute as they pushed on in the early phases. At the far end, Grace Shanahan made a great stop from a low-slung shot as the play went from end to end.

Clanna Gael took the lead in the eighth minute with Lauren Darcy’s searing pace creating the inroads before she worked the ball to Aoi-

bhe Walsh who cleared the bar.

Ella Darcy, Holly Lewis and Megan Dunne combined with another lovely interchange but, once again, Shanahan kept Clanna Gael at bay.

But she could not stop Ella Darcy from finishing off the game’s first goal in the 14th minute from the penalty line.

Ali Griffin’s interception created it, nicking in ahead of her marker before getting the ball in to Ella Bruton whose shot was foiled illegally.

It allowed Darcy to step up and record a 1-1 to no score half-time

lead.

Lauren Darcy handpassed over the bar to extend the lead before Olaf’s launched a comeback.

Laoise O’Shea made two huge blocks but, from the third barrage of attacks, a penalty was awarded for a foot-block and Bennett picked out the bottom corner.

It put the tie right back in the mix with chances at either end but Megan Dunne eventually got that extra bit of insurance when she pointed following Ella Darcy’s assist in the 26th minute and they held on from there on in.

NA FIANNA were undone in the final of the Dublin Division1 Feile title, undone 2-4 to 0-4 on Sunday by Lucan Sarsfields in a tie hastily relocated to Russell Park from Blakestown due to heavy rain on Saturday evening.

Surging runs from Roisin Egan and strong play from Abby Shiels saw Lucan go in up 2-2 to 0-1 up at half-time with the latter scoring both of the goals. Egan and Karla Conway had exchanged an early pair of points.

Na Fianna rallied in the second half with a trio of points and the majority of the possession. Conway added another couple to her tally while Fiona Isdell was on the mark.

But they never got in range as points from Alannah Cassells, Egan and Shiels kept the 12th Lock club in the ascendancy.

It capped a fine weekend’s play with the exceptional standard a real credit to Lucan’s mentors, JJ Hegarty, Billy Egan, Glen Maguire, and Aidan Coffey, over-turning a group stage defeat to the same opponents.

Earlier in the day, Ava Egan’s surging runs and unerring accuracy, combined with Ciara McGoldrick’s devastating second half goal, powered Foxrock Cabinteely to victory in Division 2 against St Oliver Plunkett’s/ ER, 1-5 to 1-3.

The south Dublin side trailed 1-3 to 0-3 at the break but they put together a superb second half performance to hold Plunkett’s scoreless, crucially shutting down two last ditch, close range frees that could have snatched a victory.

The Ashtown club had made much of the early running with Aine Donlon’s free getting the scoreboard rolling. Her point was augmented by Eimear Murphy with a fine score.

Aoife Walsh hammered to the net from close range, reacting quickest after Murphy’s initial shot was blocked to give the Navan Road outfit a strong lead at the break. But Egan landed a series of points before McGoldrick’s goal swung the game in Foxrock’s way.

In Division 3, Garristown proved too strong for Trinity Gaels in a superb back and forth contest with the Fingal side winning out 4-6 to 2-3.

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GazetteSPORT all of your dublin city sports coverage from page 28-31

feile fever: Over 1,000 girls enjoy eight divisions of football as annual Under-14 festival takes place P31

april 7-13, 2016

arthur to be king of rio: Pentathlete aiming to make big impact at Olympics P28

Clontarf’s Andrew Foley got his hands on the Leinster Under-21 football trophy for real last weekend

Dubs’ U-21 historic win Cillian O’Shea’s extra time goal completes stunning comeback for Dessie Farrell’s charges as they overhaul Kildare’s early advantage

 sport@dublingazette.com

DUBLIN created history in Pairc Tailteann in Navan on Saturday when they recovered from a poor start, seven points in arrears in the first half, to capture the EirGrid Leinster Under-21 football championship for the third year in-a-row, winning 2-14 to 0-17.

It was the very first time they have achieved the feat of claiming the title on as many successive occasions.

Entering the closing stages of the first half, Dessie Farrell’s men trailed 0-9 to 0-2 but refused to buckle and a Con O’Callaghan goal in the 27th minute saw the Dubs close

the gap to just two points, 0-10 to 1-5, by the half-time interval in normal time.

Cuala man Con O’Callaghan was the scorer-in-chief for the Dubs with 1-7 (0-5f) as they came back from the dead to secure an extra-time victory and set up an All-Ireland Under-21 semi-final against Mayo on Saturday, April 16.

Cillian O’Shea’s goal in the extra period was vital too as Dublin, beaten by Kildare three years ago in the minor championship, secured a famous win and a last-four berth.

The much fancied Lilywhites were much the better side in the opening half and quickly opened up a three-point lead. Neil Flynn

kicked their opener from a free before two from Ben McCormack, one off either foot.

McCormack added a third before midfielder Paschal Connell sent over from long rant to open up a 0-5 to 0-1 advantage.

Colm Basquel and O’Callaghan kicked Dublin’s only two scores in the first 27 minutes as Kildare stormed into a 0-9 to 0-2 lead.

Then came O’Callaghan’s goal and points from O’Callaghan, Chris Sallier and Glenn O’Reilly significantly before the break.

Kildare’s lead was entirely wiped out early in the second-half when O’Callaghan took his tally to 1-3 for the afternoon with a 32nd

minute point.

Dublin took the lead for the first time in the 49th minute through O’Reilly but a tense and exciting contest was unsurprisingly level again after 54 minutes when Flynn converted a Kildare ‘45’, 1-11 to 0-14.

Both sides had opportunities to win it in the dying stages with Lorcan Molloy and Paddy Small going close for Dublin while sub Mark Sherry sliced a late goal chance just wide for Kildare.

The sides were level again early in extratime but Cillian O’Shea’s 69th minute goal, after good work by O’Callaghan in the buildup, sealed the deal for the Dubs.