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December 8 - 14, 2016

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Community centre u turn hailed as victory by locals Residents reject NIMBY slur as plan to convert Liberties hall into a men-only hostel for rough sleepers is halted

 EMMA NOLAN

FLASHBACK: Our story last month

PLANS to convert the St Nicholas of Myra Community Centre into a homeless hostel have been halted – to the delight of Liberties locals.

Hailing the High Court decision to put a stay on DCC’s move to turn the centre into a 65-bed

hostel for rough-sleepers, Francis St resident Eoghan O’Riain said locals’voices had been “ignored for too long”, claiming it had always been “convenient for the authorities” to ignore them.

He added: “I’m happy people are finally being listened to.”

Full Story on Page 2

2 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 8 December 2016

Choirs of the Health Service unite to record charity Christmas single

HEALTH service choirs have united to make what’s hoped will be a smash Christmas hit single – with all proceeds from its sale going to Pieta House.

Two songs were chosen for the record – “Carol of the Bells” and “He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother”.

The festive choral charity campaign is backed by the Irish Nursing & Midwifery Organisation and has been championed by the HSE’s National HR director Rosarii Mannion, INMO National HR Director Dave Hughes, and Beaumont Hospital’s Leonie Weekes.

Rosarii said of the record, which comes this week: “Our aim was to involve as many health service employee choirs as possible and make a hit record for charity.”

Choir practices were held in October and the recording took place last month at Tallaght Hospital.

The Musical Director is Blanaid Murphy of DCU and the Palestrina Choir.

It’s hoped the record will be No1 for Christmas and health service staff are asked to download the songs from iTunes or buy a CD. All twitter updates in relation to the choir are on twitter @HSE_HR

Liberties locals’ joy as centre saved... for now IN what is being hailed as a local victory, plans to convert the St Nicholas of Myra Community Centre into a 65 bed rough sleepers hostel, have been halted.

There was uproar in the Liberties when it was announced that the centre on Carman’s Hall and Francis Street was to be changed into the hostel.

It was due to open to the 65 men only rough sleepers on December 9.

However, but this is no longer going ahead following legal action by residents.

The High Court action was brought by the Carman’s Hall Interest Group, the Michael Mallin House Residents Association and youth and community worker Elizabeth O’Connor.

While locals are now being accused of “nimby-ism” the area already has the highest concentration of homeless and drug-

treatment services in the State.

There are nearly 600 homeless, long-term supported, drug treatment beds and hotel rooms for homeless families within a mile of the Carman’s Hall centre including The Viking Hotel Lodge just across the road from the centre which already houses several homeless families.

Figures released by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) show that city centre areas have the highest number of homeless accommodation provided by them with Dublin 1 having a total of 866 people spread out the whole postcode. Dublin 8 is next on 666.

By contrast Dublin 4 has just 78 emergency places and Dublin 6W has none. The entire South County area has only 178 places.

Francis St man Eoghan O’Riain told the Gazette: “I’m happy people are finally being listened to.”

That’s right babe – we want everybody to support Crumlin

TV3 presenter and CMRF Crumlin ambassador Lucy Kennedy was delighted to help these tiny tots launch CMRF Crumlin’s Tiny Hearts Christmas appeal, to raise money for life-saving new equipment in the cardiology unit, as well as funding vital research and equipment. So have a heart, and help keep tiny hearts beating with a donation of €45, €80 or €250.

Call 1890 5075 08, or see www.cmrf.org.

The residents’ groups, represented in court by Niall Handy BL, had claimed that neither they nor their public representatives were never consulted about the proposal to use the community centre, the only one in the area, as a hostel for the homeless.

Permission to bring the challenge was granted this week on an ex-parte basis by Mr Justice Richard Humphreys, who placed a stay on the Council’s decision until the matter next returns before the court on January 17.

DCC told The Gazette they received a legal notice on December 5 confirming that the High Court had granted leave to appeal the decision to bring the building into use as emergency accommodation for homeless persons.

A spokesperson from the DRHE said: “Consequently the scheduled opening of this service for December 9th is now

suspended. The appeal hearing is scheduled for January 24th 2017 at the High Court.”

Cllr Mannix Flynn said the decision was made due to manipulation and lack of communication from DCC and the DRHE. “They cannot just simply dump all of the homeless and addiction services in one area – they wouldn’t get away with this in an affluent area,” he said.

“It’s the same old story, the less well-off socio-economic communities are exploited in the name of charity but everyone is entitled to informed consent, the main issue here is that the local residents were not informed of any of this before major decisions were signed off on.”

Cllr Flynn also said it was “outrageous” that the community would be shamed and accused of nimbyism online for standing up for their community and services.

FASTNews

Grateful donor recipients and relatives at the launch of Radio Snowflake in Beaumont Hospital

Radio Snowflake partners up with Kidney Foundation RADIO Snowflake, which airs from now until St Stephen’s Day, has chosen the Irish Kidney Association as its charity partner to help raise awareness of the plight of people with organ failure and the vital importance of organ donation.

People can listen in online live to Radio Snowflake www.radiosnowflake.com and also take it wherever they go by downloading Radio Snowflake’s free official App (search Radio Snowflake) from the Google Play Store and iTunes.

Sprinkled amongst the festive music will be testimonials from people expressing their gratitude to their organ donors at Christmas for having received the ultimate gift, the gift of life through transplantation.

Listeners will be encouraged to get the organ donor card by Freetexting the word DONOR to 50050 or downloading the Donor Ecard App on their smartphone or by ticking their wishes on their driving licence application.

Cork St murder arrest A MAN has been arrested in connection with the murder of 60-year-old disabled man Anthony Rogers last month.

A 35 year old was arrested in the East Wall area on Wednesday at approximately 7:30am in connection with the fatal stabbing, Dublin Live reports. Mr Rogers, who was wheelchair-bound, was stabbed several times at his home in Robinson’s Court off Cork Street on November 6.

The arrested man is currently being detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 as amended at Kevin Street Garda Station.

Gardai released this photo of last month’s gun haul

Kinahan cartel suspects held

THREE men are being quizzed in connection with a massive gun seizure last month that has been linked to the notorious Kinahan Cartel.

The three men are all in their 20s and from Dublin, were arrested at different locations in the city.

One of the suspects was taken from Cloverhill Prison while another is from the Avondale Flats – the same inner-city complex where feud victim Gareth Hutch was blasted to death in May. Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau officers found the guns in a vehicle in Cabra on November 5. No arrests were made at the time. The arsenal included two MP-9 machine guns, two silencers and three loaded Smith & Wesson handguns.

8 December 2016 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 3

 EMMA NOLAN THERE was shock and awe as a new view of Dublin’s iconic Poolbeg Chimneys was unveiled this week.

While we’re used to seeing the striped towers from spots all over the city, YouTube daredevil Oliver of OJ Adventures, showed us the view from the top as he scaled the 207m structures without safety equipment of any kind.

A seven minute video shows Oliver climb up the stack and stand on top, recording spectacular views of the city.

‘Adventured and casual daredevils’ Oliver and John, who have a passion for free climbing said on their YouTube channel: “I wanted to visit this amazing place and climb the famous chimneys in Dublin. I went out to the old and abandoned place one day, climbed over fences, jumped over walls and explored this awesome place.”

Not ever yone was impressed however, as the ESB, the body responsible for the chimneys described Oliver’s stunt as “sickening”. “He put himself in danger but he also could have put emergency services in danger if they had have been called out,” a spokesperson said.

Despite the dangers involved, Oliver said that the scenery was amazing and he will never forget it.

The

Big fool of Poolbeg

VIEW TO A THRILL: The daredevil known as Oliver atop one of the Pigeon Towers in Poolbeg

4 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 8 December 2016

Out and About

National Taekwondo champion Maria Rymaszewska, from Malahide, meets her idol. Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon

A knockout guest at business event T

HE one and only Katie Taylor pulled no punches in talking about her love of boxing when she took part in the Malahide Enterprise Day in the Grand Hotel. Adding to the heavyweight guest list, Mickey Harte and Eamonn Coughlan were just as popular, with the trio providing great insights into their respective passions. Members of the local business community showcased their agility in the retail ring, as they networked and investigated a range of available enterprise supports.

Charlene Fogarty and Aisling Judge

It’s a sea of festive red as all the Santas prepare to set off along the route. Pictures: Alison O’Hanlon

Cillian and Anna Whelan with Katie

There they go-ho-ho on a fundraising cycle Alan Dolan and Rudolph

T

En garde ... Musketeers Abby Fitzpatrick with Brody and Ellen Ryan

Joe Whyte and John Browne

David Murphy and Preston Murray

HERE was a humongous turn out-for this year’s Laurels Charity Crew Santa Cycle, with an awful lots of cylists dressing as Santa Claus to raise much needed funds for Crumlin Children’s hospital. To date, participants have raised more than €600,000 for CMRF by staging charity cycles from Galway to Dublin, and 10k fun runs. The second annual Santa Cycle from the Phoenix Park to Clondalkin village went through the city centre, passing by Crumlin Children’s Hospital on the way, and bringing festive cheer to everyone along the route.

8 December 2016 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 5

PEOPLE | DENTIST IS HONOURED FOR HIS EXCEPTIONAL KINDNESS

FASTNews

New kitchen served up to support Ballymun seniors

A NEW community kitchen that will serve food to senior citizens opened in Ballymun last week.

Kare Services opened the new kitchen in the Marewood Centre, Ballymun to provide a muchneeded service for senior citizens who may eat alone on a weekly basis.

Cllr Noeleen Reilly (SF) welcomed the kitchen, saying: “It’s a great way for people to enjoy a meal in the company of others who might otherwise be on their own at meal times.”

As part of the service, a three course meal costs €5 from 12.30pm to 2pm every day. Kare Services will also continue to operate Meals on Wheels out of the Marewood Centre to ensure hot meals are delivered to 350 Ballymun senior citizens every week.

Volunteers collect 36 bags of rubbish around Dublin 8

The winner of the Sensodyne Sensitive Dentist of the Year Award 2016 - Dr Danny Collins (centre), Docklands Dental, with his wife, Dr Marie O’Neill and his business partner, Dr Gregg Barry. Picture: Maxwells

An award worth smiling about!  EMMA NOLAN A DUBLIN dentist has been recognised for his kindness after he provided a patient with free dental care when his daughter was diagnosed with a terminal illness.

Dr Danny Collins from Docklands Dental Clinic at the IFSC in the city centre was named Sensodyne Sensitive Dentist of the Year 2016 at a ceremony honouring dentists’ contribution to their industry.

Dr Collins was nominated by his patient, Patrick Peppard, for his compassion in treating him for extensive dental work – free of charge –

during a very difficult time in his life when his daughter was extremely ill.

Patients can voluntarily nominate their dentist for an award if they believe they have gone above and beyond normal patient care at the awards, which were held last Saturday at the RDS. In coming to their decision, the judges acknowledged Dr Collins’ “ability to see beyond a clinical problem and to provide an act of profound kindness at a time of severe duress for a patient”.

Last year, Patrick went to Dr Collins to have a chipped tooth looked at, but it turned out

he required extensive expensive dental work including multiple fillings, crowns and some root canal work.

“Dr Collins picked up on the stress I was experiencing in my life as I was showing evidence of teeth grinding,” he said.

He then told his dentist that he and his wife had spent the previous 14 months living in Crumlin Children’s Hospital with his terminally ill daughter while also trying to juggle work and home life and look after their two young boys.

“Without me asking, Dr Collins told me that he and his business partner, Dr Gregg Barry in

the practice, would provide the treatment at no charge, given the tough year I had come through.

“I was literally moved to tears. I had wanted to show my appreciation in some way, but had no idea how to go about it. “ T h e aw a r d s g ave me the opportunity to acknowledge on some level the kindness shown to me and the amazing dental treatment I received.”

Speaking on his award, Dr Collins said: “I was happy to be in a position on this occasion to make life a little less stressful for the patient, given what he had just come through.”

SOME 36 bags of litter were collected around St James’ Walk and Fatima in Dublin 8 last week by a voluntary group in conjunction with Dublin City Council (DCC).

The Church of God group organised the cleanup from 11.30am to 3.30pm last Monday and were given equipment such as rubbish bags, pickers, gloves and rakes by DCC. Lots of litter was collected, including fizzy drinks bottles, wrappers and cigarette butts throughout the afternoon.

One of the participants, Grainne O’Reilly, said: “I am so glad to join this beautiful voluntary service to help clean our community.”

6 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 8 December 2016

Out and About

Jayne Given and Georgina Byrne

Nuala Carey and Claire Devereux

Stars come out to show their support Assets models Yomiko Chen, Asheena Naidoo and Faith Barnett. Left: Emma Smith Pictures: Brian McEvoy

I

RISH socialites were out in force to enjoy the beautiful surroundings of The Shelbourne Hotel for the annual CARI Christmas lunch raising funds for the charity. The event started with a champagne reception followed by a fashion show. Alan Hughes from TV3 was the MC for the afternoon.

Guests included broadcaster Miriam Ahern and restaurateur Terry Mc Coy, Georgina Byrne, Karl Broderick, Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh, Ciara O’Callaghan, Aisling O’Neill and Nuala Carey. CARI provides support for children who have experienced sexual abuse.

Sarah Jane Murray, Nadine Wai O’Flynn and Ceire O’Rourke

Amanda Kiernan, Emma Broder and Georgina Bynre

Blathnaid Ni Chofaigh

Alan Hughes and Karl Broderick

8 December 2016 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 7

Out and About

Shane Morgan and Marie Boyle

Claire Jamero and Pavol Ponik

Cara Doyle

A special preview reveals a Miracle C

INEMA lovers fastened their seatbelts and put up their folding trays in an upright position for a special preview screening of Sully – Miracle on the Hudson in Cineworld, Dublin at the weekend.

The new Clint Eastwood biopic stars Tom Hanks and tells the story of Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger, a US Airways pilot whose Airbus A320 struck a flock of geese shortly after taking off from La Guadia Airport in New York. The impact with the birds saw both of the jet’s engines disable immediately, but rather than listen to air traffic control – who were telling him that a safe landing at one of the nearby airports was still possible – the gutsy airman trusted his gut and landed the plane in the Hudson River, fearing a crash due to lack of altitude. The moral of the story is, he who dares, wings!

Ruth Scott and Rob

Amy Aylward and Aoife Mullen at the special preview screening of Sully-Miracle on the Hudson at Cineworld, Dublin. Picture :Brian McEvoy

Jessica and Karin Pritzel

Brian Burke and Aisling Mahon

Morgan

8 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 8 December 2016

WICKLOW WAY | NEW SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE THE PLANNING OF SURGERIES

Way to go Joe! Hike nets €800 for Cappagh  EMMA NOLAN

Joe and Eimear

A RATHGAR man spent seven days hiking the Wicklow Way to raise money for a very important cause.

Joe Lowther was determined to help raise funds for new technology at Cappagh National Orthopaedic Hospital, that will benefit patients with certain types of tumours, in appreciation of the treatment received by his girlfriend Eimear Harkin while a patient there.

Eimear had discovered a lump on her leg, which she didn’t take much notice of for a long time.

However, in 2015, after an MRI in Cappagh Hospital, Eimear was diagnosed with sarcoma – adult soft tissue cancer.

Eimear says when she was diagnosed her automatic response was positive.

“When I was diagnosed that morning and Margaret, Oncolog y Clinical Nurse Specialist told me I have cancer, it

Joe and Eimear present Margaret with the cheque for the Cappagh Hospital Foundation

wasn’t a case of ‘this is terrible news’; it was ‘you are going to get better’.

“I went home and I told people that I’m going to fight this because that’s what the staff told me.”

Eimear is now back to full health and still attends Cappagh for check-ups a few times a year.

She speaks highly of her experience: “You are

not just in and out, they take their time with you.

Whenever I ring Margaret, she knows who I am straight away.

“I’ve been very lucky with the doctors and nurses I have dealt with in all hospitals, especially Cappagh.”

Joe’s seven day walk raised €800 to fund the purchase of a laptop with the specially designed

Osirex software for use by the Bone and Soft Tissue tumour service at Cappagh.

A spokesperson for Cappagh said that having a dedicated laptop with this software will significantly improve the planning of the surgeries as all the patients’ scans will be in one system – a system that is compatible with those of other hospitals.

GazetteGALLERY | WHAT EXCITEMENT FOR ALL THE MANCHESTER UNITED FANS

Heroes appear

Manchester United stars Jesse Lingard and Phil Jones were in Dublin today to celebrate Life Style Sports’ new flagship store on Mary Street. They were greeted in store by 50 competition winners and on street by hundreds of United fans ahead of their UEFA Europa League clash against Zorya Luhansk on Thursday, December 8th. Phil Jones and Jesse Lingard are pictured with a selection of competition winners.

8 December 2016 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 9

FASTNews

Appeal halts Camden Street €4m superpub A PLANNING appeal lodged to An Bord Pleanala to prevent the construction of a new Wetherspoons superpub going ahead on Camden Street has halted building plans temporarily.

Dublin City Council had previously granted permission for the construction of the hotel and pub, but it now remains to be seen if An Bord Pleanala will stop the plans in its tracks.

Local resident Barry Chambers lodged an appeal against the €4m superpub recently, saying: “It would be an unwelcome milestone in the current trend to completely alcoholise Camden Street.”

A decision is due on the appeal next April.

Bargains at an Inchicore flea market THE third annual vintage flea market will take place in the Inchicore Works Social Club on December 17.

The annual market is organised by Argo Events and will take place in the centre of Inchicore at the Inchicore Railway Works and Estate.

The vintage flea market will see all sorts on offer including vintage and antique items, old vinyls, artisan food, and handcrafted items.

The third annual market will take place on December 17 and then will continue to take place regularly thereafter. Stalls can now be booked on the Argo Events website.

For more information check http:// argoevents.ie.

MONEY | DID LADY LUCK SMILE ON YOU AT AN AMIENS STREET PETROL STATION?

Eleven million musings about a huge Lotto win  EMMA NOLAN CHRISTMAS has come early for one lucky Lotto player who hit the jackpot after purchasing the winning ticket from a city centre petrol station on Saturday.

It was celebrations all round in the Spar store at the Top Service Station in Amiens Street where the €11.3 million Lotto jackpot was sold.

“We’re delighted – it’s great news, especially coming up to Christmas,” Craig Madden (20), assistant manager at the store told The Gazette.

“The place has been absolutely buzzing all morning.”

The €11,345,002 Lotto jackpot is the secondhighest jackpot of this year. The Quick Pick ticket was bought in the Dublin 1 store on Saturday, but staff aren’t sure which of them sold it.

The winning numbers drawn were 2, 6, 21, 23, 29 and 44, and the bonus number was 41.

As this particular Spar is part of the Top Service

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‘“We’re delighted – it’s great news, especially coming up to Christmas. The place has been absolutely buzzing all morning.’

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

Assistant manager Craig Madden

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garage, they get a lot of passing motorists, so the winner “could have been anyone,” according to Craig.

“We have a lot of local customers but with us being on the main road, we get a lot of passing trade like taxis and couriers, and customers we wouldn’t see on a daily basis, so it really could have been anyone.

“It could have been someone coming in just to buy a packet of cigarettes or something,” he added.

There was a steady stream of customers in and out of the shop all day on Sunday, with many people eager to purchase a Lotto ticket or scratchcard in the now “lucky” Spar.

Craig pointed out: “We’ve had people queuing up all morning to get

their tickets checked.”

While many motorists stop at the garage to fuel up on petrol, it looks like they’ll be making sure to play the Lotto while they’re there.

One taxi driver said he normally doesn’t buy his ticket at the shop, but he will from now on when he’s in the area.

“I can’t wait to find out who the winner is,” he said, while another customer joked: “Ah for God’s sake – I knew I should have done a Lotto here yesterday!”

One customer who stopped to buy some petrol was less enthusiastic, however, saying: “Well, I won’t be buying the Lotto here in future. What are the odds of selling a winning ticket twice?”

Still, while customer

Casey Fox and Craig Madden at the ‘lucky’ outlet (right). Pictures: Emma Nolan

reactions were positive overall, nothing could dampen the spirits of the staff who were on a high following selling the win-

ning ticket.

The hunt is now on to find the winner, who hasn’t claimed their prize just yet, but staff say they

hope they’ll get in touch when they do.

“I hope the winner has a great Christmas,” Craig added.

COURTS | WOMAN TERRIFIED BY MAN WHO CLAIMED HE WAS HIV-POSITIVE

Home intruder dragged woman down street to get money from ATM A MAN who broke into a woman’s home, threatened to kill her and dragged her down a city centre street while brandishing a metal bar has been jailed for three-and-a-half years.

Colm Donnelly (41), of no fixed abode, told Kelly Cullen he was HIV-positive before dragging her by the collar about 60 metres down a street with the aim of forcing her to take out money from an ATM, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Ms Cullen managed to escape

Donnelly’s clutches after she called for help from a man walking towards them..

Donnelly carried out a string of burglaries and attempted burglaries over a two-hour period in Dublin city centre on February 11, 2015.

He pleaded guilty to one count of aggravated burglary at The Waterside, Ringsend, Dublin 2 and to falsely imprisoning Kelly Cullen and threatening to kill her at Grants Row, Dublin 2 on February 11, 2015.

Garda Mark Bennett agreed with Elva Duffy BL, prosecuting, that Ms Cullen arrived at her home on South Leinster Street around 5.30pm on the day in question to discover Connolly in her living room.

“She shouted at him to get out of her house but he came towards her with a metal bar in his hand and threatened to kill her if she didn’t hand over some money,” Ms Duffy said.

When Ms Cullen protested that she would have to get

money out of an ATM, Connolly dragged her out of the house.

In a victim impact report handed up to court, Ms Cullen said she was afraid she was going to die during the incident and remained “terrified” in the wake of it. She feared walking down the street and was constantly looking over her shoulder.

The court heard Donnelly also broke into an apartment at The Waterside in Ringsend around 4.40pm on the same

day, threatened a man with the metal bar and robbed his mobile phone. During the course of the afternoon, he also robbed a shop and made off with €300 in cash.

Handing down sentence, Judge Pauline Codd said what happened to Ms Cullen that day was “deplorable”.

She handed down a four-year sentence but suspended the final six months on a number of conditions. She backdated it to when he first went into custody in February last year.

10 GAZETTE 8 December 2016

GazetteGALLERY

| A MOVIE FULL OF MAGIC AND INTRIGUING IMAGINATION

Brighdin Colper and Catherine Cullen

Lara McDermott

Ace magician Paul Redmond sets the night on fire. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Martha McKenham

Norah Casey

Beauties descend to find the beasts T

HERE was a fantastic atmosphere at the recent Irish premiere of Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them, which was officially unveiled at Dublin’s Savoy Theatre. A host of stars lined out for the latest (sort of) installment from the much-loved Harry Potter series, with well-known faces showing up to see it first. Even Harry Potter star Devon Murray attended the red-carpet premiere, looking dapper in a grey suit. There was a great range of different age groups present and all seemed to enjoy the movie.

Kate Hughes, Emma Gray and Lisa Corr

Triona McCarthy

Devon Murray and Jenny Moore

Alfie Mc Grehan

8 December 2016 GAZETTE 11

GAZETTE

12 GAZETTE 8 December 2016

DUBLINBUSINESS OPINION | 2017 COULD SEE INITIATIVES START TO HELP DUBLINERS

Northern Ireland’s Economy Minister Simon Hamilton with Tony McAleenan, finance firector of RMS Group Services

Boost for Dublin as Belfast cash management firm is set to deliver 20 jobs here A BELFAST firm is to create 20 jobs in Dublin.

RMS Group Services is creating 300 new jobs over the next five years – 20 of which will be based in Dublin.

RMS is one of the UK and Ireland’s largest independent providers of bespoke cash management.

Established in 2005, its services include cash and

valuables in transit, cash processing, coin and note supply, foreign exchange and ATM services.

Tony McAleenan, finance director, said: “We’ve grown the business steadily over the past 11 years, solidifying our position in Northern Ireland whilst breaking into new markets, particularly Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland.”

LASTThursday morning the Mansion House was taken over by students of UCD’s Marketing Smurfit Business School for the bi-annual UCD Business Breakfast, sponsored by Electric Ireland.

Students of the Smurfit Marketing Development Practice Masters course were joined by thought leaders in health and wellness within Irish business.

The theme of the breakfast was, T he Impact of Health and Wellness on Irish Business.

The panel consisted of Niall McGrath, cofounder of Fulfill Nutrition; Dave and Steve Fly nn, founders of Happy Pear; and Aideen

O’Colmain, Corporate Wellness Director at Fitbit.

The theme was discussed from the perspective of their own businesses while also addressing health trends surrounding local and global business in 2017.

Speaking at the event, Steve Flynn discussed the difficulties of starting a health movement and business alike: “It was difficult to start a revolution – we opened a juice bar to get young people involved, and then saw them in the chipper that night.

“It’s all about your perspective and perseverance. They say it takes 10 years to become an overnight success – for us, it took 13.”

With construction cranes popping up again all across the city, Dublin’s housing needs – and the related costs of same, whether for renters or buyers alike – dominate thoughts. Next year could see the city’s need for a more accessible market begin to be achieved, writes Michael Russell.

Taking some steps to tame Bi-annual UCD breakfast Dublin’s property market focuses on health, wellness THE old chestnut of demand exceeding supply is still the hot topic in Dublin this year as we saw activity in the housing market increase steadily.

As a result, prices have increased in the capital by over 6% while doubledigit growth was recorded in the country.

T here is hope for 2017 that initiatives will improve matters, such as: • Help to buy scheme • Central Bank’s modification on the banks’ lending rules • The Government’s Action Plan for housing and homelessness • NAMA’s phased releasing of sites to developers for construction The Help to Buy scheme

introduced - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - In Dublin, the in the recent rental budget will market has assist firstbecome a time buyers huge topic to afford for discusto buy new homes in ---------------------------------------------------------- s i o n a s rents soar Dublin, especially as up to now had also allowed individu- while landlords exit the they have had to produce als who do not (now) own market as the incentives such a large deposit for a a home – ie people who to stay continue to diminproperty in the capital (an have since sold properties ish – albeit there has been average 15% of the pur- they owned in the past – some very modest movechase price). the same terms as those ments in the recent Budget The Central Bank’s now applying to first-time (5% increase on tax-relief modification on lend- buyers. limit) which may go some ing rules for banks has T he Government’s way to retaining the curallowed first-time buyers Action Plan is an attempt rent landlord base.

The fast-tracking of to borrow 90% (based on to improve all areas in the income rules) of the pur- property sector, such as planning permission for chase price on any prop- rental, construction and large developments is one erty, removing the cap social housing. measure that should assist originally introduced in It recognises the need in helping demand catch 2015. to tackle all sectors of the up with supply in 2017, but However, we would property market to enable we have a long way to go have been considerably ongoing improvements as our population continues to increase each year. happier if the Government overall.

‘In Dublin, the rental market has become a huge topic as rents soar while landlords exit the market as the incentives to stay diminish’

All the elements for a thriving property market are in place as the economy continues to grow with high employment and consumer confidence increasing.

Hopefully, the banks who are becoming more competitive can start to lend more and help to match the needs of Dublin property buyers.

 MICHAEL RUSSELL Director, Full Circle Financial Services Limited E: Michael@fcfinancial.ie www.fcfinancial.ie

8 December 2016 GAZETTE 13

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MOTORING P20 TRAVEL P22

DUBLINLIFE

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GAZETTE

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

TRIGGER IS AIMING TO FIND HIS NEW HOME

OUR Dog of the Week looking for his #SpecialSomeone* is Trigger, a tri-pawed three-year-old male Collie cross.

He loves an active life and doesn’t let the fact he only has three legs stop him from living life to the max. Being a typical clever Collie, he always enjoys new challenges, loves the company of other dogs, and would make a great addition to a family who already have a dog.

He is a sweet and loving, active doggie seeking an active family.

Finding a wonderful new home and starting life over again is so important to Trigger, and to us.

If you can be Trigger’s #SpecialSomeone*, then please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off Exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website, www.dogstrust. ie. You can also find them on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline, or on Twitter @ DogsTrust_IE.

MUSIC: SOUL’S RISING STAR TALKS TO THE GAZETTE ABOUT NEW ALBUM NON-FICTION WIN: A signed copy of Brian Deady’s new album Non-Fiction AND a pair of tickets to see him play at the New Year’s Festival in St Stephen’s Green

Deady does it the hard way  MIRIAM DOONA

BRIAN Deady is looking to top off a fantastic year by helping Dubliners ring in the new one on December the 31st.

The up-and-coming soul man, who was recently snapped up by Decca Records, has been making the music industry sit up and take notice with the re-release of his second album, Non-Fiction, last month.

And in three weeks he’ll rub shoulders with Walking On Cars, The Blizzards and Little Hours for a massive live show from the iconic setting of St Stephen’s Green for this year’s 3Countdown Concert.

The talented song-writer took time out to describe the whirlwind last few months to The Gazette, during which he revealed the inspiration for his unique brand of R&B, one of whom is esteemed US record producer Nile Rodgers.

Rodgers, co-founder of disco legends Chic, has collaborated with everyone

from Lady GaGa, David Bowie, Madonna and Pharrell Williams, so for a lad from West Cork to work with such an influential giant of the industry was a dream.

Brian told The Gazette: “Meeting Nile Rogers was great, it was that extra push when you needed it. He is just sound, he has gone past trying to be cool... he’s genuine, he has no agenda to impress.

“The last few months have been so busy and getting caught up with so many different things and so many choices; which manager to choose, which label.

“So, I have gone through that phase and every now and again, I have to say... ‘Hang on, this is really good…enjoy this’.”

On his dream collaborations, he said: “I’ve only recently been introduced to co-writing. I’ve always wanted to work with someone like Pharrell – I think we have similar influences. It’s cool to see how other people work. I was invited to a songwriter retreat where you’re random-

ly put in a room with two or three other people with a guitar and you write a song.

“The talent there was incredible. Nik Kershaw was there, some of the lads from Deacon Blue, some of the lads from Squeeze, Dave Stewart was there too.”

Non-Fiction has been described as both soulful and substantial, but Brian summed up the album with a very different adjective – sparse.

“It is a revealing album. To get the material, I had to work through my own personal stuff and then the songs became boats, guiding me through it. So it was an interesting period but not an easy one.”

He added: “The tone, in a word, I’d say bare. I wanted it to be a lyrical album and that was the overall plan from the start, to be a lyrical album… to be sparse, without it being too sparse.”

Some words of advice for aspiring singer-songwriters?

“Just stick with it,” he says. “It’s about weathering the storms – it sounds a little cliché but sometimes you have to suffer a bit to be fuelled by that drive of wanting to do it.”

WE have a pair of TICKETS to the 3Countdown Concert at St Stephen’s Green on New Year’s Eve AND a SIGNED copy of Non-Fiction to give away to one lucky reader. See our 12 Days of Christmas competition, which s t a r t s t o d a y, to be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize.



8 December 2016 GAZETTE 15

GAZETTE

DIARY

Here come ze Germans which means FUNDERLAND is back!

Visitors to the Santa Experience will be accompanied by elves, reindeer, penguins and polar bears before enjoying an individual meeting with Santa

SANTA EXPERIENCE BACK FOR LOVELY FESTIVE EVENT THE SANTA Experience is back in Dublin and it’s a truly lovely festive family event.

Taking place in Dunnes Stores in the Ilac Centre, visitors will be accompanied by elves, reindeer, penguins and polar bears, and before enjoying an individual meeting with Santa Claus himself.

Each visit includes full engagement with Santa and his elves, as well as every child receiving a gift.

There is also a professional photographer on site to capture the magical moment with Santa for every family.

The Santa Experience supports Temple St Dublin and Mercy Street Cork children’s hospitals, who they also visit each year with Santa and his elves.

Admission is just €10 per child and €3 per adult. Book online at santaexperience.ie.

Dublin beauty Sarah Morrissey sits on the Funderland carousel, which like the Rally Ride (top right) remains a firm favourite for children of all sizes, while the Frisbee (below right) will have the bigger kids and the parents on the edge of their seats...

BEST OF IRISH CREATIVITY COMING TO THE RDS SHOWCASE, Ireland’s international creative expo will take place in the RDS in the new year, showcasing the works of 450 Irish designers to an international market of buyers.

Taking place from January 22 to 25, in the New Year, the trade fair, which was founded by the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland 41 years ago, is an international launch pad for the 450 Irish designers, manufacturers and craftspeople who unveil their new season collections across fashion, jewellery, home and giftware.

A particular emphasis is placed on new products to market, providing Irish retailers with opportunities to discover and stock up on the latest design-led products, many of which are unique to the show.

Visit showcaseireland.com for more information.

dublin

g a ze t t e

.com

Alongside the indoor and outdoor attractions at Winter Funderland, iSkate – at 600 square metres – is Ireland’s largest outdoor ice rink.

The outdoor rink, introduced in 2015 proved hugely popular and returns for this year’s event With spectacular lighting, iSkate creates a winter wonderland atmosphere outside the Simmonscourt Pavillion.

For many patrons an hour on the ice rink along with the thrills of the fairground provides a perfect family day out.

With a Pay-As-You-Go per ride option, or the choice of P.O.P. (Pay- One-Price) wristbands allowing hours of unlimited fun, including the family wristband option, Winter Funderland is a wonderful family day out this Christmas in Dublin. To be in with a chance to WIN a Family Pass to the grand opening of Winter Funderland on Thursday, December 15, see our 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS competition which kicks off today. These exclusive passes will admit 2 adults + 2 children OR 1 adult + 3 children, and all attractions and rides on the day are FREE of charge. See Page 24 for more details.

www.

DECEMBER sees the return to Winter Funderland of top thrill rides from the continent.

This year the star attraction is sure to be “Around the World,” a swing ride from Germany which at 60 metres stands almost twice the height of the traditional Funderland Ferris Wheel.

With spectacular lighting, the “Around the World” ride is sure to be a big hit at this year’s show.

The “Eclipse,” and “Discovery” are top thrill rides from the Continent, while the much loved “Power Wave” makes a welcome return visit from Holland to Dublin.

The sensational “Speed Loop” Rollercoaster, which was introduced to the RDS b a c k i n 2 014 , i s a t h r i l l seekers favourite and will be joined by the “Take Off”, “Ice Jet” and “Waltzer” to name just a few.

With lots of Kiddie Rides and family attractions where parents can accompany children, Winter Funderland will present a huge array of attractions for all ages.

For those who prefer to remain on “terra firma,” lots of games of skill and chance present the chance to win some of Winter Funderland’s famous giant teddies and soft toys.

All of your latest local news, sport, features and pictures are just a click away

16 GAZETTE 8 December 2016

8 December 2016 GAZETTE 17

Order in store or online at marksandspencer.ie Last chance to order food for New Year’s Eve 20 December.

Selected stores only. Serving suggestions shown. See online for full terms and conditions. Products and collection times are subject to availability. Orders can only be collected at participating ROI stores. Products containing alcohol can be sold to over 18s only, please drink responsibly. Visit drinkaware.ie. See in store for details. Š Marks and Spencer (IRL) Ltd.

GAZETTE

18 GAZETTE 8 December 2016

DUBLINLIFE

International Wella Platinum Colour award winner Darren Lacken and his model, Jennifer

Colourist’s top award is worth crowing about  EMMA NOLAN

A DUBLIN hairdresser has won the hugely coveted Platinum prize at Wella’s 2016 International TrendVision Award in Barcelona.

Darren Lacken, of Crow Street Collective in Temple Bar, was awarded the top prize of the night and crowned Platinum Colour Award Winner.

Darren’s look interpreted the A/W trend, Bronde Luxe, and his beautiful model, Jennifer, captivat-ed the eye of the judges.

He showcased the quality of hairdressing in Ireland to be amongst the best in the world, leading the way with exceptional colour creativity and flair.

Speaking about his win, Darren said: “It is

a huge honour for me as the Wella Professionals TrendVision Award is widely respected so I am thrilled to have won the Platinum prize.

“There was strong competition from amazing hairdressers across the world, so it’s a fantastic achievement and I’m really delighted to be part of it.”

Lead judge Josh Wood praised the Platinum winner, saying: “Every year, I’m totally amazed by the quality, but this year all these people are winners.

“Darren showcased an incredible use of the Wella colour portfolio and an understanding of strong technique. All of that technical knowledge was blended into something that I thought was really beautiful.”

Arnotts’ excitement at Charlotte Tillbury lines MAKE-UP lovers rejoice – Charlotte Tillbury has arrived at Arnotts. Known for some cult products, Charlotte is now bringing her make-up revolution to Arnotts. She said: “Dublin is a make-up mecca and the women here really understand the power of make-up, so it’s incredibly exciting for me to launch my first Arnott’s counter.”

Donald McDonald, managing director of Arnotts, said: “We are delighted to welcome Charlotte Tilbury into the beauty hall at Arnotts.

Charlotte has been at the forefront of the makeup industry for over 20 years and we are looking forward to having such an exciting brand join our beauty offer.

“Our ambition at Arnotts is to continue to deliver exceptional service and quality products, and to cre-ate new and exciting experiences for existing and new customers.”

Tabea Weyrauch and Yomiko Chen wearing looks from Irish designers, Jill De Burca, Helen Steele and Manley

SITE SET ON SHOWCASING IRISH DESIGNERS  EMMA NOLAN Style Editor

THE Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI) has launched DesignIreland.ie – a new web platform dedicated to showcasing the work of Ireland’s leading designers and craftspeople.

The site aims to provide consumers the world over with inspiration, images and stories about

talented Irish designers and their work.

Visitors can browse Irish products across three categories – Home & Gift, Fashion & Accessories and Jewellery – and then link directly to purchase from maker websites or approved stockists such as Arnotts, the Kilkenny Group, Brown Thomas, Irish Design Shop, Makers & Brothers and Stonechat, as well as interna-

tional retailers including Heal’s, The New Craftsmen and Wolf & Badger in the UK, The Citizenry in the US, and Stor in Tokyo.

Karen Hennessy, chief executive of DCCoI, said: “This new site forms part of DCCoI’s strategic goal to increase awareness of Irish design and craft at home and abroad, capitalising on the growing international reputation of the sector in recent years.

“Design Ireland has been developed as a premium brand to celebrate and champion the wonderful contemporary work being produced all over the island of Ireland.

“We hope consumers will be inspired to seek out and purchase unique Irish-designed and made work throughout the year, but particularly over the coming weeks as they shop for gifts this Christmas.”

8 December 2016 GAZETTE 19

GAZETTE

STYLE Red sequins dress with choker €89.90

Champagne sequin dress €89.90

Black & Pink Floral sequins dress €69.90

Red knee-length lace dress €59.90

Julian Boutique is a hidden treasure JULIAN BOUTIQUE, Cookstown, is a new, stylish boutique with dresses for all occasions, offering truly unexpected elegance and beauty in the midst of an industrial estate.

Since opening in May, the boutique has been fulfilling a lifelong dream for its owners, Donna Mills and Oonagh Doyle, while manager Aislin Maxwell is bringing her industry experience from working with top suppliers in London and Paris to bear on the business.

Aislin’s fashion experience applies across the board, with the boutique’s superb range covering a full range of party, debs,

bridesmaids and cocktail dresses, and catering for sizes from 6 to 26.

Julian Boutique offers a warm ambiance to all, with both the courteous staff and the boutique’s layout impressing. There’s an air of a grande ballroom about the premises, with the spacious fitting rooms offering comfort that’s just a dress away.

Located just five minutes off the M50 (Tallaght), Julian Boutique is a must-see for anyone wanting to find their perfect dress. Located at Unit A13, Second Avenue, Cookstown Industrial Estate, the boutique can be contacted at 01 451 3950.

Peach lace knee-length dress €59.90

Deep teal long dress €149.90

Rose gold and black bodysuit €44.90

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20 GAZETTE 8 December 2016

DUBLINLIFE

FASTNews

Major car companies have combined their efforts to create a more effective electric car charging network of stations across Europe for faster and more efficient charging

Electric car charging network to get a boost BMW Group, Daimler AG, Ford Motor Company and Volkswagen Group with Audi and Porsche have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to create the highest-powered electric car charging network in Europe. The car companies intend to make substantial investments to create the network, underscoring each company’s belief in the future of electric mobility.

The goal is the quick build-up of a sizable number of electric charging stations across Europe in order to enable long-range travel for battery electric vehicle drivers. Their combined belief is that this will be an important step towards facilitating massmarket electric vehicle adoption.

The projected ultra-fast high-powered charging network with power levels up to 350kW will be significantly faster than the most powerful charging system deployed today. The build-up is planned to start in 2017. An initial target of about 400 sites in Europe is planned.

By 2020 the customers should have access to thousands of high-powered charging points. The goal is to enable long-distance travel through opennetwork charging stations along highways and major thoroughfares, which has not been feasible for most electric car drivers to date. The charging

Crossing over comfortably with Peugeot’s 2008

During 2016 Peugeot started a more serious foray into the crossover market.

Here, MICHAEL MORONEY reports on his test drive of the new 2008 which has started a trend – and you can expect to see more in terms of SUV dynamics from Peugeot in 2017.

THE crossover is the new motoring term to describe a car that can be as comfortable and agile on the road as it is in moderate off-road conditions. Car companies are selling the concept as one that fits with people’s active outdoor lifestyles and isn’t being outdoor, healthy and active something that we all aspire to.

The fact that Peugeot does off-road is surprising for many car buyers and up until I took the new Peugeot 2008 it was a claim that I was also a little sceptical about.

This compact estate car is not a heavy-duty offroad vehicle although it is surprising how effec-

tive it can be in muddy North Dublin stubble fields. Peugeot has developed what is called a Grip Control system to allow their cars to have enough extra traction on the front wheels to cope with difficult driving conditions.

Take a car to the Ploughing and you will test those conditions.

North county Dublin is the home of potato growing and I took the car across some potato fields and into some greening stubbles to check its offroad credentials. I was well impressed with the small car’s ability to travel across ground, coping with ruts and soft spots

that would be suspect for a normal car.

T his small crosso ver SUV comes with unique ability to make it a worthwhile car option for those who want to explore beyond the tarmac. It’s compact and tidy on the road, gives good confidence to tackle the muddy road conditions and modest field ruts with some degree of surety.

The 2008 is one of Peugeot’s best sellers. I’ve driven both the thrifty 1.2 litre turbo-petrol version and the diesel version powered by a 1.6 litre HDi engine. Engine the performance is good across both models, with

experience is expected to evolve to be as convenient as refuelling at conventional petrol and diesel stations.

PSA has pick-up plans for 2018 IT seems that almost every car maker has plans to offer a 4x4 pick-up as the market keeps growing for these versatile vehicle, especially in developing countries. The French PSA Group with owns the Citroen and Peugeot brands has announced that it plans to start building a pick-up in mid-2018 in North Africa to meet demand in the Tunisian market. PSA said the factory will build 1,200 Peugeot branded vehicles annually.

It is believed that PSA may use the Toyota Hilux pick-up for its model in a similar way that Nissan, Renault and soon Mercedes Benz are sharing pick-up technology. Toyota and PSA already co-operate to build vans.

The new Peugeot 2008 GT is powered by an impressive 110bhp three-cylinder 1.2 litre petrol engine that’s powerful and very smooth to drive

Peugeot 2008 SUV 1.2 PureTech

SPECIFICATIONS

Engine 1.2 litre Engine power 110hp 0 – 100km/hr 10.3 seconds Economy 20.8km/litre (4.8l/100km or 59mpg) Fuel Tank Capacity 50 litres CO2 emissions 110g/km Road Tax Band C €190 Main Service 20,000km/12 months Euro NCAP Rating 5 star (2013) Warranty 5 years Entry Price €19,400

Peugeot has a new i-Cockpit dash design that’s both modern and function without dashboard clutter.

the diesel version being modestly more economical while the petrol powered car is lively and only modestly more expensive to run.

For me the 1.2 litre turbo-petrol version has so much to offer both in terms of keener pricing and a great driving feel.

The slightly more expensive diesel version has better torque and that can be called upon of the going gets sticky.

The top of the range diesel version is rated at 120bhp versus 110bhp for the 1.2 petrol, and it comes with significantly more torque. Despite that its towing rating is not much better. There is a significant up to 30% advantage in terms of

fuel economy when you take the diesel option. So while the petrol version that I drove is a very lively and smooth car to drive with its award-winning engine, the diesel version makes more sense in terms of running costs, even if it is priced a little higher.

Peugeot has a new GT line for the 2008, adding a higher level of style and fittings and giving the car a stronger more off-road look. The test car was fitted with a six-speed automatic gearbox that was easy to use and worked well with the Grip Control system when called into duty.

The 1.2 litre turbo-petrol version takes the form of an award winning

8 December 2016 GAZETTE 21

GAZETTE

MOTORING

Audi A5 and Q2 receive Euro NCAP five star safety awards

The upgraded Peugeot 2008 with GT styling has impressive off-road ability using the Peugeot Grip Control system. The entry price for the 2008 is €19,400 and if you want the GT pack you need to go to €24,800.

THE new Audi A5 and Q2 have each been awarded top grades in the Euro NCAP (New Car Assessment Program) test. The cars scored highly in the both the adult and child safety ratings, as well as for pedestrian protection and other safety systems.

Emergency braking systems were introduced to the evaluation procedure in 2016. As standard, the Audi Q2 is equipped with an emergency braking assistant as part of Audi pre sense front. The system looks out for other vehicles or pedestrians in the path of the vehicle and if a collision is eminent, it warns the driver and if necessary initiates automatic emergency braking.

The new Audi A5 Coupé and A5 Sportback models were also awarded the top grade of five stars. Both models offer high levels of safety for adults and children, as well as good pedestrian protection.

The standard Audi pre-sense city helps the A5 Coupé and A5 Sportback to avoid accidents. At

three-cylinder engine.

These engines are rarely as smooth in terms of acceleration as this Peugeot engine is and the three-cylinder feel is normally very noticeable from behind the wheel.

This is the best three-cylinder petrol engine that I have driven and it adds to the driving enjoyment of the car when it’s matched with the automatic gearbox.

Petrol running costs can be more significant than diesel ones, especially for the higher use driver. The GT version test car that I drove delivered an impressive fuel economy rating of 20.8km/litre (4.8l/100km or 59mpg) over a 1,100km lengthy driving experi-

ence. The CO2 emission level is low at 110g/km (road tax €190) for the automatic petrol version, just €10/year more expensive than the diesel model.

The use of the Grip Control system in the fields probably added to my fuel usage. The system is controlled by a dial located on the centre console. It allows you to choose from five driving modes. These are standard ESP, Snow Mode, Mud Mode, Sand Mode and ESP off mode.

Most of my driving was in standard mode and I switched on the move to Mud Mode once I crossed into field conditions. There was no clunk of a gear, just a new image

on the dash to tell me that I was in Mud Mode and confidence to tackle the soft field conditions.

The system doesn’t add to the car’s towing ability, it is designed more to boost traction in poor ground conditions. Peugeot claims that it uses electronic components rather than mechanical systems that are already installed in the car. The Goodyear 205/50R17 Vector 4Seasons tyres added no extra weight so there is no excessive fuel consumption, unlike a traditional 4x4’s.

The GT version of the 2008 is also more attractive to look at but more expensive to buy than the base model. The addi-

tional GT features make it look more like an SUV taking away any notion of a softer car look.

The dash design is new with Peugeot’s i-Cockpit design and that included sat-nav on the test car. There is the option to plug in your phone and run Google Maps through the system that operates by touch control and very easy to get a handle on.

The steering wheel is small and sporty in design, with a good level of control. There is good seat and wheel adjustment but you need to get it right in order to see all of the dials clearly.

This crossover is considered compact so don’t expect a big car feel to the

2008 even its ambitious in its off-road ability. The front driver space is good while the seat base may be a bit on the short side for larger adults.

Seat adjustment is good and the rear seats fold easily to give more load space. The boot opens high for clearance and there’s a proper space wheel included.

The entry price for the face-lifted Peugeot 2008 is €19,400 for the base 1.2 litre petrol engine model, while the test car with its GT badging and automatic gearbox pushed that price to €24,835.

The diesel GT version, while not available with the automatic gearbox is marginally more expensive.

speeds of up to 85 km/h, the system scans the road for other vehicles and pedestrians using a windshield-mounted front camera with a range of over 100 metres. If it detects an impending collision, the driver receives a series of warnings, and if necessary the car initiates maximum braking. At speeds up to 40 km/h, Audi claims that accidents can be avoided completely within the system limits. At higher speeds (up to 85 km/h); warnings and brake intervention reduce the impact velocity.

The Audi A5 also features an extensive range of other assistance systems, like collision avoidance assist or turn assist. While collision avoidance assist helps the driver to drive around an obstacle, turn assist monitors oncoming traffic when turning across the flow of traffic at low speed. In a dangerous situation, it brakes the vehicle to a complete stop, if necessary, to prevent a turn when there is oncoming traffic.

The Euro NCAP has been investigating the crash performance of new car models since it was established in 1997. In order to simulate real-life accident conditions better, the consortium continually tightens crash safety requirements.

Welcome for insurance report reform THERE has been welcome in some quarter for the publication of the report on the rising cost of motor insurance by the Joint Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure and Reform.

Car hire firm Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ireland has said that it fully support the Committee’s call for more transparency in the insurance sector. George O’Connor, MD of Enterprise Rent-A-Car Ireland said that they also broadly support the many individual recommendations put forward as a means of reforming the

motor insurance sector. He believes that the rising cost of insurance is already beginning to impact on Ireland’s tourist sector, of which car rental is an integral element.

“We particularly support recommendation 32, says George and he quotes, “The Committee recommends that personal injury awards be benchmarked internationally and indexed against EU average awards. Such a process would require the cost of healthcare and other Irish specific factors to be taken

into account.”

He believes that this measure, if implemented in tandem with other recommendations, would address the fundamental problems in the claims/awards system: - Too much money in the insurance claims system - Insufficient scrutiny of claims - A claims process that is too expensive and lacking certainty

The new Audi A5 and Q2 have each come out with a top crash safety rating in the recent Euro NCAP crash testing programme.

22 GAZETTE 8 December 2016

GAZETTE

DUBLINLIFE fast

TRAVEL

TRAVEL Discover Donegal too!

Donegal now cooler than Peru – fact!  SHANE DILLON

LOOKS like my home county will soon be famous for other things than Wee Daniel, truly terrible WiFi and ‘Fundoran’ – National Geographic Traveller (UK) has just picked Donegal as number-one on The Cool List: 17 For 2017.

Described by the magazine as “off-radar and hard to access”, the county nevertheless scooped top place on the annual list thanks in part to its “world-class wilderness”, pushing it – and Ireland – ahead of must-see places such as Peru, Greenland and South Africa.

With a growing international awareness of superb Wild Atlantic Way spots along Donegal’s coast, and tourism numbers rising there, it’s another welcome accolade for the ruggedly beautiful county.

Low-cost US flights are go THE dream of low-cost flights to America taxied a little closer a few days ago with the granting of a US-Ireland licence to Norwegian Air International. The low-cost airline can now offer Cork-Boston flights a few times each week from next Summer, with hopes that it will eventually expand its service to include flights to New York.

Offering frequent and first-time London visitors something a little different, Christmas markets and lights present a seasonal twist on familiar sights. Pictures: Shane Dillon

BRITAIN: BUSTLING CITY HAS PLENTY OF CHRISTMAS FARE TO BUY AND BROWSE

Yule find plenty of treats when shopping in London

 SHANE DILLON

IT’S not too late to get your Christmas shopping in, and to browse some special seasonal markets – I don’t mean here, but in London!

Britain’s Brexit worries haven’t quite brought about the favourable currency rates many shoppers and tourists have been hoping for, but it’s still pretty possible to get the Christmas parity going with Sterling, as there are definitely bargains to bag ‘next door’ for any shoppers visiting the bustling city.

Just as here in Dublin, London retailers are welcoming throngs of shoppers through the doors at present, with upmarket shopping hub Regent

Street proving as crowded as Grafton Street on any Christmas Eve during my recent visit there.

From the iconic street to all of London’s main shopping areas, retailers have definitely pulled out all the stops to entice people through the doors this December, with many of the biggest High Street retailers who’ve been spooked by Brexit uncertainties doing their best to try and compensate with a bumper Christmas.

However, for those looking to take a lighter approach to shopping, while still staying in the festive spirit, there are lots of Christmas markets to be explored, too – markets which are easier on the pocket, but none the poorer for it.

Two of the most popular Christmas markets are also among the easiest to reach, with the park at bustling Leicester Square transformed into a winter wonderland, while a much larger market can be found along Embankment, with rows of chalet-style wooden huts presenting presents for all tastes and budgets, and set within easy reach of the London Eye. Such markets offer more than enough Christmas-themed gifts – as well as global cuisines and seasonal food – to sate any appetite, providing a more budget-friendly way to pick up a cute, cool or quirky Christmas gift to remember your London visit.

All that shopping and

Explore new art at Tate Modern’s impressive extension

browsing can prove tiring work, so why not give those aching feet a rest with a visit to The Savoy hotel, a stroll away from Trafalgar Square? Swap the mulled wine for an actual wine, tea or other refreshment in a landmark setting.

Unlike similar ‘six-star’ hotels and watering holes, The Savoy is perfectly accommodating to ‘walk-

ins’, and while drinks at its American Bar are pricey (your wine will set you back at least about £10 or £12, for example), you’ll be made to feel just as welcome as any of the hotel’s well-heeled guests.

If you’ve had a busy time taking in the Christmas shopping, or meandering the markets, there should be enough time to take in the sights. Culture

vultures should wing it to Tate modern, and its massive Switch House extension that finally opened a few months ago.

The imposing structure will give you a great way to have a break and brush up on modern art developments, while less highbrow ‘attractions’ at the gallery include peering into the luxury apartment buildings alongside, and the goldfish therein.

Ultimately, whether looking to visit England’s bustling capital as a simple weekend getaway or a pre-Christmas shopping treat, you’ll find plenty to keep you going, whether that’s from shop to shop or attraction to attraction.

Either way, season’s greetings, and happy shopping!

8 December 2016 GAZETTE 23

GAZETTE

FOOD&DRINK BITESIZEDNEWS Grilled Halloumi burger with sweet chilli ketchup and tahini mayonnaise The World of the Happy Pear by Stephen and David Flynn recently won the Avonmore Cookbook of the Year at this year’s Bord Gais Energy Irish Book Awards. Here’s a delicious recipe for a fantastic burger.

INGREDIENTS: SERVES 2 to 4 1 courgette 1 aubergine 1 red pepper 5 tablespoons olive oil 1 teaspoon salt 1 x 200g pack of halloumi cheese 4 burger buns or wholemeal pittas homemade ketchup homemade Happy Pear mayo 50g rocket or similar greens

METHOD: Start by preparing your veg. Cut the courgette in half and then into thin strips lengthwise.

Slice the aubergines lengthwise into thin strips.

Chop the pepper vertically into four large sections, discarding the core with the seeds.

Chop the halloumi into four thin rectangular slices.

Put the cut veg into a large bowl with 4 tablespoons of the oil and the salt.

Mix until they all have a nice even coating.

Start to grill the prepared veg on a hot barbecue, turning regularly – you want them nicely charred but also soft and tender.

Remove your cooked veg from the grill and

set aside while you cook the halloumi – it will cook very quickly!

Put it on the barbie until it has nice grill marks on each side, about five minutes.

Toast the buns on the barbecue, then layer them up with some homemade ketchup on the bottom bun, Happy Pear mayo on the top bun, grilled courgettes, aubergine, halloumi, roasted peppers and some rocket in between.

A l t e r n a t i ve l y y o u can spread the inside of your toasted pitta pocket with ketchup and mayo on either side and fill with your h a l l o u m i , ve g a n d greens.

Take the first bite . . . epic, and oh so tasty!

DUBLIN’S first ever BYOC (Bring your own cocktail) bar is up and running on Francis Street.

Drop Dead Twice allows customers to bring a shoulder of their favourite spirit, and one of the award-winning Drop Dead mixologists will match it with some homemade mixers of their own.

Located upstairs in the Tivoli Backstage, the Drop Dead Twice bartenders use quality ingredients, from fresh herbs to homemade mixers and real fruit purees, to create bespoke cocktails, which complement each guest’s taste preference.

To book their two-hour slot, guests reserve a table online, pay a small entry fee of €20 on arrival, and then put their wallet away. It won’t be needed for the rest of the night!

Inspired by the BYOC model in London and New York, four friends combined to bring this original concept to Dublin. Together they have a shared vision of encouraging Irish cocktail lovers to step out of their comfort zone and get experimental with new flavours and concoctions.

Situated in the heart of Dublin, ‘Upstairs’ @ The Tivoli Backstage, Dublin 8, Drop Dead Twice is open every week from Thursday to Saturdays from 5pm and on Sunday’s for Afternoon Tea. Visit dropdeadtwice.com to book.

24 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 8 December 2016

GAZETTE

CINEMA DUBLINLIFE Disney heroine to make waves

EVER since 2010’s Tangled, the creative minds at Walt Disney Animation Studios have surfed a wave of charming nostalgia and knowing nods to the past – a strategy that’s worked extremely well for them and elevated some of the studio’s subsequent efforts even above the recent output of the mighty Pixar.

While Monoa (Cert PG, 113 mins) carefully follows the familiar Disney beats, it does so with a wonderfully original visual aesthetic and a selfreferential script that frequently winks and nods to seasoned Disney fans, without alienating younger spectators.

Consequently, Moana builds on a tradition established by Disney decades

 MARTIN MACNAMARA

ago, but – more so than Frozen, and Tangled – pushes that tradition forward with a thoroughly modern, empowering storyline.

Newcomer Auli’I Cravalho plays the latest Disney princess; the daughter of the chief of a Polynesian tribe who, like many of her House-of-Mouse predecessors, dreams of nothing but escaping her home life and proving herself in the world.

Chosen by the ocean

itself to deliver a mystical stone to its owner, the goddess Te Fiti, Moana defies her father and sets out on the open sea, with the help of the once-powerful demi-god Maui (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson).

The mythical background that Moana’s adventure is built on is occasionally convoluted and, without a real significant villain, the overall narrative threat is perhaps a little vague.

Regardless, Moana isn’t really about that threat. Its central themes – destiny, choice and tradition – are familiar Disney subjects, but in Moana’s Polynesian context, the results are more progressive and empowering than anything Disney has done before.

Disney’s Moana presents a very likeable lead, with its courageous character Moana

However, it is not just the cultural context that gives Moana its strength.

Moana is the hero here, not the damsel – and especially not “the princess”.

Many modern Disney movies have pushed things forward with strong female leads; Moana is the first to rigidly comment on it, with tongue firmly in cheek.

Dismissing her ability to

carry out the quest, Maui mocks Moana: “If you wear a dress and have an animal sidekick, you are a princess.” With little nods like this, Moana constantly pokes fun at a legacy of Disney heroines that operate as little more than damsels in distress.

Moana is quick to prove Maui wrong at every turn, and only steps aside to let

him to some butt-kicking when she herself has successfully given him the strength to do so.

Of course, any Disney classic can only be a good as its songs, and Moana succeeds in that area more so than any Disney movie since the early 90s – the music here, from Hamilton songwriter LinManuel Miranda, is rife

with rampant nostalgia, running the gamut from catchy to impassioned and back again.

Visually, Moana is unlike anything Disney had done before, maintaining a vibrant, expressive colour-palette packed with natural neon pinks, greens and blues – every frame is bursting with life.

One dynamic sequence in a realm beneath the ocean has Disney’s creature workshop on creative overload; another big chase scene takes visual notes from Mad Max: Fury Road. Despite a tendency to crawl along, Moana is a compelling, progressive, original and often-hilarious movie that will hopefully establish a legacy to rival Frozen.

Verdict: 8/10

8 December 2016 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 25

From docks stinking of fish under the midday sun to dark alleys strung with washing lines of drying clothes, Dishonored 2’s downbeat cities provide great levels to explore. Screengrabs: Shane Dillon

DISHONORED 2: EXCELLENT SEQUEL OFFERS A COMPELLING WORLD

Streets ahead of its stealth game rivals WHAT if a young Queen Victoria had to flee a violent coup, hiding out in Rhodesia whilst attempting to retake the throne by eliminating her enemies from the shadows using stealth, planning and guile, or by charging about as a sword-swinging, bomb-chucking queen?

That’s not quite the plot of Dishonored 2 (Cert 18, c. €60, PC/PS4/XBO), but it’s a pretty damn close parallel to this sequel to one of 2012’s best games, which has proven to be a late gaming highlight of the year.

 SHANE DILLON sdillon@dublingazette.com

Largely set in a decrepit southern sun-kissed city, the game tasks you with taking charge of young empress, Emily – or as her father-protector, Corvo, the protagonist of the first game – and then working to reclaim the throne from an usurping aunt.

Ireland isn’t exactly overflowing with Royalists, but it’s hard not to root for this vengeful Victorian (a disclaimer: the developers, Arkane Studios, studied the world of 1851 for much of the game’s lush looks and linguistic lore, so that’s Victorian enough for me).

Both potential protagonists have wildly different powers and abilities to draw upon, giving the option to play through the densely detailed levels how you want to.

You’re free to skulk through the shadows and

dart over the rooftops, or pursue open assault against the goons, lopping off limbs like a maniac monarch – either way, the choice is yours.

Your play style subtly alters the game, as well as the ending, giving you an incentive to replay and take a different style – perhaps less of the Rambo Royal next time, to be more of a mysterious monarch ghosting past the harried henchmen sweating in the sunny streets below.

And what henchmen (see panel below), and

what streets!

The developers have followed an ‘ugly-beautiful’ aesthetic, with the impressive game engine creating a singularly striking world, one that’s full of detail and rich in atmosphere.

Coming out so late in the day, and with the lastminute pre-Christmas big releases, there’s a danger that Dishonored 2 will be overlooked at retail.

However, while there’s a ‘u’ missing in the title, you shouldn’t miss this title if you enjoy challenging, richly realised worlds to explore.

Quirky design fleshes out the world A SPECIAL mention must go to Dishonored 2’s superb art style, which apart from creating intricately designed levels has created very interesting characters.

From wrinkled aristocrats to mumbling ginsoaks to dashing young blades, the spud-nosed, blotchy-skinned, jug-eared and hopelessly lined characters found

throughout tend to be individually odd looking, but collectively they create an interesting cast of characters.

Indeed, there’s something a little charming about them – even though many of them are charmless goons – as they fit right in to their dilapidated cities, further grounding the look and tone of the game.

Aesthetically, they go against

the general grain of trying to create hyper-realistic characters, with their caricatures and lopsided looks having, perhaps, faint echoes of the work of artists such as Francis Bacon and similar unconventional portraitists.

At least you could never accuse Dishonored’s diverse characters of being blandly beautiful or following cookie-cutter designs ...

The game has many secrets to find hidden around its sprawling levels

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26 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 8 December 2016

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28 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 8 December 2016

SPORT

FastSport BAREFOOT RUNNING UNDER SDSP SPOTLIGHT: SOUTH Dublin Sports Partnership and IT Tallaght’s next sports science seminar will take place on Monday, December 12 on the topic of Barefoot Running (training footwear and avoiding injury).

The presenter is Joe Warne, Lecturer in the Sports Science course in IT Tallaght.

The seminar will look at the footwear debate and ask can minimalist shoes really improve performance?

Registration will begin at 6.30pm with the seminar due to start at 7pm in lecture hall 001. There will be a Q&A session at the end. Those wishing to register are asked to send their name, organisation, position and mobile number to info@sdcsp.ie.

A recent interest in barefoot running has resulted in the development of a new footwear type, principally running shoes and football boots, which incorporates minimal cushioning and structural properties, in contrast with conventional running shoes/ football boots.

RUGBY: CASTLE AVENUE SIDE RUN UP BONUS POINT WIN IN UBL DIVISION 1A

Tarf teach Students a big lesson

UBL DIVISION 1A Clontarf 33 Dublin University 0  sport@dublingazette.com

CLONTARF put together their most complete performance of the season so far to record a comprehensive 33-0 win over a below-par Dublin University at Castle Avenue.

Very little went right for Trinity on the day as defending champions Tarf made it two victories on the bounce, climbing back into the top half of the table ahead of the Christmas break.

Hooker Bryan Byrne has not played for Leinster since September and he will hope his provin-

cial coaches take note of his performance here.

He had two excellent first half breaks, the second of which led to a 25th minute try for centre Matt D’Arcy which broke the deadlock.

Byrne was also a big part of Tarf’s dominant scrum but they were unable to press that advan-

Clontarf winger Rob Keogh on the attack. Picture: Deryck Vincent

tage home as the first half ended 7-0 in their favour.

Trinity had a missed penalty attempt by out-half James Fennelly and a yellow card for winger Bryan Mollen.

Resolute defending from the students kept them very much in contention, a brilliant move involving D’Arcy and Mick McGrath almost seeing Tarf score on the stroke of half-time before the students covered the danger.

However, the visitors blundered when knocking on straight from the restart and the hosts quickly broke through, feeding winger Rob Keogh for a well-finished five-

pointer wide on the right.

Trinity’s resistance lessened after Michael Brown joined his centre partner D’Arcy on the scoresheet, giving the north Dubliners a 19-point buffer in damp and muddy conditions.

The bonus point try followed when scrum half Peter du Toit outfoxed the cover at a close-in ruck, sniping through in impressive fashion with the students down to 14 men.

The Tarf pack’s scrummaging power earned them a penalty try with Keogh adding his fourth successful conversion, and Brown went close to scoring his second of the

day late on.

This chastening defeat – their third in four games – will linger for Trinity before they get a chance to gain revenge on Andy Wood’s men in the January 28 rematch.

Elsewhere, winger David Brandon helped himself to two tries as Old Belvedere ended a threematch losing streak with a 15-0 home win over St. Mary’s College on Saturday afternoon.

Recent Munster recruit Steve Crosbie kicked the other five points as ‘Belvo moved six points clear of second-from-bottom St Mary’s, ahead of a long winter break in Division 1A action.

Corinthian leave Glenanne seeing red in Senior Cup  sport@dublingazette.com

Corinthian’s Jonny Bruton and Glenanne’s Shane O’Donoghue. Picture: Adrian Boehm

WHITECHURCH club Corinthian produced one of the performances of the second round of the men’s Irish Senior Cup as the Leinster league side eliminated national league team Glenanne last Saturday.

The reds have been flying high in the Leinster league side with six wins from six and they produced a memorable success to go with their run of results.

Jonny Bruton and David Howard had combined for 28 goals already this term and they were

both on the mark to make it 2-0 early in the second half. Bruton netted from a turnover before Howard nailed a drag-flick.

Stu Ronan pulled one back before Stephen Reid put the reds 3-1 up. Two set piece goals from Shane O’Donoghue offered the Glens the reprieve of a penalty shoot-out with a stroke and a corner goal but Corinthian held their nerve to win 4-2 on strokes.

They are one of three regional sides still involved in the competition along with Mossley who eliminated Sandymount’s Railway Union and Cookstown who

knocked out Dublin University.

Of the big guns, Monkstown and Banbridge produced the marquee results. Town scored twice in the first three minutes against Lisnagarvey en route to a 3-2 win in a repeat of last year’s final.

Gareth Watkins and Sam Hyland got Town off to a brilliant start before Garvey fought back via strikes from Neal Glassey and Ryan Getty. But a penalty stroke just before the break proved the defining moment, Stephen Cole converting for a half-time lead and some fine goalkeeping from

Max Maguire meant it stayed that way to the final whistle.

At Havelock Park, Banbridge proved too strong for Three Rock Rovers, eventually breaking down the Dublin side’s dogged defence with goals from Dane Ward, Matthew Bell and Hugh McShane in a 3-1 success.

Harry Morris put Rovers 1-0 up in the 20th minute, turning away from his reverse to score on his open side. Ward equalised by the break for 1-1 with a cool finish from mid-circle after an even opening period and they struck twice in the second half.

8 December 2016 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

Con and Cuala crackle in brilliant Leinster win LEINSTER SHC FINAL Cuala 3-19 O’Loughlin’s Gaels 1-16  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

CON O’Callaghan starred as Cuala won their first ever Leinster title, beating favourites O’Loughlin Gaels, from Kilkenny, in O’Moore Park on Sunday to end a 37-year drought for Dublin clubs in Leinster.

David Treacy was his usual reliable self from the frees – he scored 0-11, with 0-10 from placed balls – but it was O’Callaghan’s stint up front that stood out, as the dual-code man’s interplay with Colm Cronin proved O’Loughlin’s undoing.

Cuala, though, sparkled throughout.

Much of the damage was done early on. The O’Callaghan-Cronin axis brought about the first goal with the latter finishing a fine O’Callaghan run to establish a lead that was

never to tumble.

Mark Schutte played a key role as Cuala found the net for the second time after 22 minutes with O’Callaghan providing the final touch.

While O’Loughlin’s hung on within reach through a series of frees, Cuala looked by far the more threatening, going in at the break with a 2-8 to 0-9 lead that perhaps should have been more.

Treacy’s frees kept Cuala in charge as the Kilkenny champions enjoyed their best period after the break. They narrowed the gap several times as they found their range, though never came within a score, as they consistently found the Dalkey club able to reestablish a margin, with Treacy showing lethal accuracy from distance.

Indeed, it was Cuala who had the major sights on goal, seeing a couple of dramatic spells of pinball in front of the Gaels’ goal go unconverted.

Danny Loughnane briefly worried Cuala as he struck a goal in the final few minutes, with O’Loughlin’s left with little choice but to go all out and try and drag themselves back into the contest. As Cuala absorbed the late pressure, though, they never looked like slacking, and Mark Schutte’s goal in injury time finally put the tie conclusively to bed.

The 3-19 to 1-16 scoreline didn’t particularly flatter Cuala, who looked as sharp as they have all year and gloried in securing a title they missed out on a defeat to Wexford side Oulart-the-Ballagh this time last year.

There have been no less than 16 Kilkenny club hurling victories in Leinster since Crumlin last brought the title back to Dublin before Christmas in 1979. Dublin sides – including Cuala, twice – had lost seven finals in the same period, four of them to Kilkenny clubs.

Cuala captain Oisin Gough, left, celebrates with David Treacy, centre, and Paul Schutte

Next on the agenda is a February 4 date with Derry’s Slaughtneil in their All-Ireland club semi-final.

And Cuala manager Mattie Kenny said it has been a superb show from the club to bounce back from Leinster final devastation to win the provincial crown.

“Last year was a great journey until the Leinster final,” he said after the final. “We came back this time with the aim of winning the Dublin championship and then to have another crack at Leinster.

Leinster championship.”

David Treacy, meanwhile, hailed the goals that kept Cuala out of range.

“The goals gave us a buffer and we managed to see it out towards the end,” he said.

“We had a five-point lead at the break and then at times had to sit deep to see it out. We knew O’Loughlin’s, like any other Kilkenny team, were going to come at us.

“They did, but we were able to keep tapping over the points. We weren’t forcing goals like we did

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

‘The novelty of getting to the final in 2015 was no longer a novelty. Every game had to be won.’ - Mattie Kenny

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

The novelty of getting to the final in 2015 was no longer a novelty. Every game had to be won and that brought its own pressure.

“To win it was a great relief and a great honour.

It’s a privilege to be with these guys and win the

David Treacy lands a free

in last year’s final against Oulart.”

Looking at the New Year, Cuala will hope they can get O’Callaghan available from the Dublin footballers for their All-Ireland push but, for now, they can revel in this huge achievement for the club.

FASTSport

Oliver and Ellen the Swim Ireland stars of 2016 NAC diver Oliver Dingley and swimmer Ellen Keane have been announced as the Swim Ireland Performance Athletes of the Year following their outstanding achievements at the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Dingley became Ireland’s first diver in 68 years to qualify for an Olympic Games last February.

At the Games, the 23-year-old cruised through the preliminary round of the 3M springboard to advance to the semi-final in 13th place.

He produced another exceptional performance in the semi-final where he finished ninth, to qualify as Ireland’s first ever diving finalist at an Olympic Games.

A lifetime best score in the final then secured him an eighth place finish overall and a spot in the 2017 World Diving Series.

Clontarf’s Keane, competing at her third Paralympic Games, deservedly collects the female Performance Athlete of the Year award following her bronze medal win at the Games. Already a world medallist, Keane collected SB8 100m breaststroke bronze in September, her first Paralympic medal.

Keane was also a finalist in the 100m Backstroke and 100m Butterfly at the Games.

16-year-old Mona McSharry was named junior Performance Athlete of the Year following her performances at the European Junior Swimming Championships in Hungary in July. The Marlins SC swimmer collected silver in the 100m and bronze in the 50m breaststroke at the championships as well as finishing sixth in the final of the 200m event. McSharry had also set Irish junior records in the 100m and 200m breaststroke earlier in the year, collected five titles at the national championships in April and qualified for and competed at the European Senior Championships in May. Dingley’s coach Damian Ball collected the 2016 honour of Performance Coach of the Year.

Ball was instrumental in leading Dingley’s rise through the international ranks this year and is intrinsic in the building and developing of the up and coming divers at the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin 15.

The awards were announced at this weekend’s Irish Open Short Course Championships taking place in Lisburn.

GAZETTE

30 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 8 December 2016

SPORT

FASTSport

Doda reclaims Under-21 snooker championship EMIRJETA Doda has regained her Under21 RILSA national snooker title after beating schoolmate Caitlin Tucker 2-0 at Joey’s Snooker Club in Dublin.

The CBS Westland Row student has now contested the final three years in a row after winning the inaugural event in 2014 but lost out last year.

Emirjeta moved to Dublin from Serbia as an asylum seeker when she was four-yearsold, making the 3,000km journey with her parents and siblings. Her family are originally from Albania but left after ethnic victimisation in a war-torn country.

They were initially in direct provision in Dundalk but were moved around several times, making it hard for Emirjeta to make friends in Ireland.

However, after moving to Dublin City Centre she has been able to become more settled and now has hopes of attending college when she finishes school.

The soccer lover is very active in the community and after turning her attentions to snooker, she rose quickly through the rankings to become the junior number one. She looks likely to remain in that position for a long time after establishing a huge point lead over her competitors.

Her closest competitor in the rankings is actually her younger sister Englentina who reached the semi-finals of the tournament and was only one match away from participating in a Doda family final.

Emirjeta is now likely to turn her focus towards the senior rankings where she currently sits in fifth position after her latest win and will hope to remain in the top 10 come the end of the year.

Her opponent, Tucker, can take heart from her performance in the tournament and will no doubt form a long rivalry with the Doda sisters and the other beaten semi-finalist Faye Jameson, who is also a schoolmate of Emirjeta and now in third position of the junior rankings.

SOCCER: DUBLINERS SEND WAVES CRASHING TO MOVE OUT OF RANGE

Shelbourne ladies claimed the women’s national league for the first time. Picture: Shelbourne LFC

Super Shels secure title sport@dublingazette.com

SHELBOURNE Ladies claimed the Continental Tyres Women’s National League with victory over UCD Waves in Morton Stadium last week Goals from Siobhan Killeen, Alex Kavanagh a n d N o e l l e Mu r r ay secured victory over Dublin rivals UCD Waves and the club’s first title, seeing the side move to 29 points with just one game remaining, eight clear of UCD Waves and six ahead of second-placed Peamount United.

Waves striker Eleanor Ryan struck the cross-bar after just 10 minutes in a game that UCD Waves

had to win to stand any chance of winning the WNL title.

UCD keeper Erica Turner very nearly gifted the hosts the lead two minutes before half time as she spilled Siobhan Killeen’s cross, gathering it on the line before Killeen opened the scoring just before the break. It was a fantastic moment for the Radiographer who found space on the edge of the area to curl an effort over the keeper to score her fifth goal of the season.

Leanne Kiernan nearly doubled the Shels advantage nine minutes into the second half when her strike hit the bottom of the post and spun wide.

OUTSTANDING JOE Conway honoured for his Paralympic impact DR JOES Conway, from Booterstown, accepts the prize for Outstanding Team Member (Non Athlete), from Irish Paralympic Performance Director Dave Malone, left, at the OCS Irish Paralympic Awards at the Ballsbridge Hotel. Conway was the team’s chief medical officer at the 2016 Rio Paralympic Games.

The night celebrated Ireland’s many successes at the Games where the numerous Paralympic success stories were celebrated.

Picture: Cody Glenn/Sportsfile

Waves pressed for an equaliser throughout the second-half and Orlagh Nolan had a goal-bound effort blocked by Niamh Walsh which should have levelled the tie. However it was to be Shels’ night as Republic of Ireland international Alex Kavanagh was able to control Gloria Douglas’ cross, turn, flick up and rifle home into the top corner 11 minutes from time.

UCD Waves pulled one back in the final minute of normal time as second half substitute Naima Chemaou fired home through Amanda McQuillan’s near-post to set up a tense finale.

However, in added time,

Shels wrapped up the title and in some style as well.

Republic of Ireland international Noelle Murray took advantage of a misplaced pass to flick up and fire home with an incredible chip from just inside the UCD half.

“It’s very satisfying to have won the league title” explained manager Mark Leavy after seeing three excellent strikes secure Shels the league title against UCD Waves.

“It was nice to land the title with the goals we, when you have players the quality of Siobhan Killeen, Noelle Murray and Alex Kavanagh, goals like that are always likely.

“A lot of this is down to

the lads, Shaun, Gordon and Paul the three coaches, they put this together.

I’m in the background and engineer things.”

“We’ll just keep going,” explained Leavy who becomes the fifth manager to lift the WNL title in what was his first full season in charge.

“We’re going to just keeping bringing players through. We have a brilliant youth system here and there is a lot more to come.”

A few days later, Gloria Douglas and Alex Kavanagh helped Shelbourne finish the season unbeaten.They struck either side of half time in a 2-1 win over Peamount.

8 December 2016 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 31

GAZETTE

THE MAIN EVENT

FASTGAA

Sportsfile’s spectacular Season of Sundays PHOTOGRAPHER Ramsey Cardy captured

all the colour as the GAA celebrated the Centenary of the 1916 Rising with its Laochra Show following the Division One and Two finals in front of a full house in Croke Park in April.

It is one of the beautiful pictures that feature in the 2016 A Season of Sundays pictorial book produced by Sportsfile that looks back on the GAA year gone by.

CAMOGIE: BODEN GOALS CRITICAL IN MINOR FINAL

Bohan back with Dublin ladies for second spell

Ballyboden St Enda’s, left, celebrate their success; Niamh Hetherton, right, was named player of the match

Hetherton’s heroics not enough for Vin’s MINOR A FINAL Ballyboden St Enda’s Naomh Uinsionn  sport@dublingazette.com

2-6 0-8

BALLYBODEN St Enda’s claimed the laurels ahead of Naomh Uinsionn from a cracking minor A camogie championship final, winning out 2-6 to 0-8 at Abbotstown.

A first half goal from Jodie White put Boden in the box seat and Laura Nagle’s major two minutes from the end saw them over the line to claim the Orla Quill Cup. While the goals were vital, if there was a turning point in the game, it

had to be in the 46th minute when Vincent’s full forward Nadine Murphy lifted and struck about 15 metres from the Boden goal.

It was speeding its way to the top corner of the net when Ali Ramsden shifted to her left and made a brilliant save. While the excellent Niamh Hetherton nailed the resultant 45, a goal at that stage would have put the Northsiders in front and in a strong position to strike for home.

Naomh Uinsionn throughout the match looked marginally the better team with Nadine Murphy, Ellen McGovern

and Niamh Hetherton all scoring from play.

But once the Firhouse Road crew got their noses in front they fought feverishly to deny Vincent’s.

Throughout the second half Hannah Hyland was very sound at number six while to her right Hannah Leddy give an exhibition of half-back play.

The strength and athleticism, not to mention the quality of her camogie, marks Niamh Hetherton out as a player for the future.

She scored from play and frees but, luckily from a Ballyboden point of view, she largely featured

around the middle of the field. Had she been closer to goal, she would have presented an even greater threat as her final effort which just skimmed the bar demonstrated.

Nicole Barnett could not be faulted in the Vincent’s goal and like their opponents, the quality of the hooking and blocking meant that clear cut chances were at the minimum.

Boden’s lived off scraps and the free-taking of Jodie White and the industry of the likes of Claire Kirwan and Eimear O’Leary kept them on the front foot in a thrilling game.

MICK Bohan has been unveiled as Greg McGonigle’s replacement as Dublin ladies’ football manager, in what will be his second spell in the role.

Bohan was previously in charge when Dublin progressed to the 2003 All Ireland final against Mayo, and has also had spells coaching at men’s under-21 and senior levels alongside current boss Jim Gavin.

The former Lucan Sarsfields’ senior men’s manager spent 2016 coaching the Clare men’s panel that won the national football league third division and had a rare successful run in the championship, losing to Kerry at the quarter final stage.

Bohan’s role, announced on Monday, will be in an interim capacity initially, as it is subject to ratification at the next county committee meeting.

The Dublin ladies get underway early in the New Year with their Dubstars event at UCD, and will be looking to make 2017 the year they finally break longtime Cork dominance of the All-Ireland, having served up the only break in Cork’s 11 recent wins when they took their only All Ireland title back in 2010.

McGonigle’s reign was largely a successful one but he stepped down after this year’s All-Ireland final, Dublin’s third consecutive one following final defeats in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

Bohan will have plenty to pick from, with Foxrock Cabinteely, Ballyboden St Enda’s and St Brigid’s all operating at an extremely high standard in a Dublin club competition that’s widely seen as being as competitive as it’s ever been.

While Foxrock Cabinteely fell short in their first All-Ireland senior final last weekend, Rush club St Maur’s – featuring Dublin star Olivia Leonard – dominated their All Ireland junior final, with the county’s strength in depth becoming all the more apparent.

It remains to be seen how much of the 2016 Dublin panel will still be available for the coming year, with McGonigle suggesting after September’s final that he didn’t expect a few of that team to still be around.

The new boss will be joined by Ken Robinson, the current DCU Sports CEO who has previously worked with the 2013 men’s All-Ireland finalists Ballymum Kickhams and, more recently, with the Dublin senior hurlers.

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GAZETTESPORT

ALL OF YOUR DUBLIN CITY SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31

SUPER SHELS: Northside club claim national title for the first time as they wash over Waves and Peas P30

DECEMBER 8-14, 2016

BRILLIANT BULLS ON PARADE: Clontarf batter past challenge of Trinity in Division 1A P28

St Vincent’s captain Diarmuid Connolly ahead of the AIB GAA Leinster senior football club championship final. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Connolly’s Rhode trip Star forward Diarumuid is anticipating a huge battle from Offaly champs as St Vincent’s look to win the Leinster senior football title for seventh time  STEPHEN FINDLATER

sport@dublingazette.com

ST VINCENT’S Diarmuid Connolly says that while winter conditions can prove something of a leveller, the Marino men are bubbling nicely ahead of the Leinster senior football championship final on Sunday at 2pm in O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.

Speaking ahead of the final, the star forward says that while the soggy December conditions can slow up Vincent’s expansive style, they still are in strong form.

“I said after the last game that if we played that game on a harder pitch we win by a little bit more,” he said. “The pitch levels the playing field at this time of the year.

“But I think we’re in a good place. We’ve a very mature team at the moment. We’ve obviously got some good young guys coming in but most of the guys have been around for the last five or six years and have played in this competition and won Dublin championships and won big games for Vincent’s and for Dublin so I think we’re in a good place.”

Vincent’s face a Rhode side who are contesting their fifth Leinster final in the last decade but have lost each time in the decider. The Offaly side will be gunning for Vincent’s, too, following their 1-13 to 0-6 final loss to the Dubliners in 2014.

For Connolly, it means he is wary of the challenge posed: “I know they’ve won county titles probably more easily than we have in the last

couple of years and they’re obviously stalwarts of the Leinster campaign and it’ll be a big challenge for us.

“We got an early goal and they struggled, they were kicking balls in and we were cutting them out. We played a sweeper system which we’re not doing now.

“We got a bit of a lead early and it might have looked comfortable from the stand but it wasn’t really, I think it was a tough game of football.”

Vincent’s have changed a couple of things in the last 12 months to bounce back after they relinquished their Dublin crown in 2015 to Ballyboden St Enda’s.

And it has put them back in position to potentially win a seventh provincial crown, something that would make them the joint-most successful

club in the competition’s history.

“It’s never easy to refocus after last year’s county final defeat. The Dublin championship has been really, really competitive the last few years, so hard to win.

“Any team could win it and anyone that’s come out of Dublin and represented Dublin at Leinster or even at All-Ireland standard they’ve been right up there so... last year we were massively disappointed but Ballyboden were a complete unknown, no one gave them a snowball’s in the final but they beat us on merit.

“I said it before the county final that it was a hard thing to take, we were obviously going for three-in-a-row and a bit of history. Yeah, just getting back down to work and focusing for the 2016 campaign and it’s work out well so far.”