Dublin Gazette: City Edition

DublinGazette JANUARY 23-29, 2020

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THE LATEST NEWS & SPORT FROM THE DUBLIN CITY COUNCIL AREA

‘I fear more people will die on the street’ RACHEL D’ARCY

GAELIC GAME:

Dublin men and women all set for leagues. SEE P30&31

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A VOLUNTEER who works with homeless families in Dublin says he fears that more people will die on the city’s streets in the coming years if the homelessness crisis is not correctly addressed.

This comes as three major incidents involving the city’s homeless citizens came to the fore last week.

A man was left with life-changing injuries

when his tent was removed by industrial equipment on the Grand Canal last week, whilst another woman was found dead in a city centre hostel.

An elderly woman living with dementia was also brought to hospital after being found wandering the streets, soaked to the skin last week.

Activist Patrick Nelis says he has never seen the situation as bad as it is at present in Dublin.

He fears things will get worse for those on the streets, with homelessness seemingly becomes normalised, with few solutions to the crisis being provided.

He said: “Seeing [homeless] people in their 60s and 70s is a new low; nobody that age should be walking the streets, neither should families or young people – there needs to be more solutions introduced, as I genuinely fear for the next year or two.”

SEE FULL STORY ON PAGE 4

Another twist for markets

THE long-running saga of the stalled Iveagh Markets development has taken yet another twist.

An application lodged just before Christmas by hotelier Martin Keane to renovate the site has been declared ‘invalid’ by Dublin City Council.

The local authority’s rejection of the latest plan sees the fight for the future of the derelict landmark site take a new turn, with its future still an uncertain one.

SEE PAGE 2

2 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 23 January 2020

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HOTELIER’S APPLICATION DEEMED ‘INVALID’

Iveagh Markets plan is rejected by council

Fuel prices driven up by political matters

 RACHEL D’ARCY

rdarcy@dublingazette.com

AN APPLICATION lodged with Dublin City Council (DCC) to renovate the long-empty Iveagh Markets has been thrown out, with the application declared invalid last week.

The application was lodged by hotelier Martin Keane just before Christmas, with the proposals including a new food hall, distillery, restaurants and a brewery.

However, DCC have declared the application invalid, with DCC’s

FASTNews

The site of the derelict Iveagh Markets. Picture: Google Maps

head of planning saying he wasn’t satisfied that Keane had secured the necessary funding to carry out the project.

The application was also lodged without the council’s consent, as landowner of the building.

This echoes the points made in a report by DCC

assistant chief executive Richard Shakespeare earlier this month.

The developer was first given a lease in 1997 to develop the markets, with this renewed in 2004 with the promise that development would begin within 36 months of this lease being agreed upon.

It was announced ear-

lier this month that the council are planning to take back control of the Iveagh Markets, which have been left idle for more than 20 years.

In the letter to councillors, Shakespeare said that Keane advised the council on several occasions that he would lodge a planning application for the future of the markets “by the Autumn”.

Submission However, a submission was not made by Keane until December 23, with Shakespeare saying: “the application was lodged without the council’s consent as landowner”.

Shakespeare said that Keane was requested to provide evidence that he had sufficient funds for the project, but that the documents provided, to date, do not “satisfy the council” that funding has been secured.

The council has now broken off negotiations with Keane on the future of the building and are understood to have said they are willing to defend the repossession in court.

Last year, a councilcommissioned report said the markets were in an “advanced state of dereliction”, with repairs to halt any further dereliction on the Edwardian building expected to cost upwards of €13 million, before any redevelopment could begin on the Francis Street building.

The total project is estimated to cost €30 million.

AVERAGE fuel prices in Ireland have increased significantly over the past month, it has been revealed.

The AA’s latest fuel price index found that a litre of petrol now costs 144.5c on average – an increase of just under 3c on last month’s average price of 141.7c.

Meanwhile, diesel drivers have faced an even bigger hit, as prices increased by 4.5c per litre over the past month, currently sitting at 135.9c per litre.

A period of volatility in crude oil prices has contributed to the increase in pump prices, with AA director of consumer affairs Conor Faughnan saying that the situation remains “very volatile” as prices may increase again depending on political matters in the Middle East.

Faughnan said: “Even if crude oil prices remain at a lower level, it could still take a few weeks for motorists to see that reflected in pump prices, depending on when the garage they visit purchased their most recent stock.

“They may have to charge more for fuel and diesel until their next order, so as to cover their costs.”

HSE warns Celebrating as mumps Hugh Lane’s cases soar art legacy THE HSE have urged anyone aged between 11 and 30 years of age who have not had two doses of the MMR vaccine, or are unsure of their vaccine status, to avail of a free dose of the MMR vaccine.

This is due to a significant rise in cases of mumps. Children aged 11-18, and adults aged up to 30, have been particularly affected by the mumps outbreak.

Dr Suzanne Cotter, a public health specialist at the HSE Health Protection Surveillance Centre, said: “Vaccination with the MMR vaccine is the only way to protect against mumps. The vaccine also protects against measles and rubella.

“Mumps is a highly infectious and dangerous illness.

It can be a serious illness, and can have life-changing repercussions in some instances.

“Parents and young adults should speak with their GP or student health service and get the vaccine free of charge for their child or themselves.”

PRESIDENT Michael D Higgins and the Lord Mayor of Dublin, Paul Mc Auliffe, have launched a new exhibition at the Hugh Lane Gallery, entitled The Lane Legacy.

The exhibition celebrates the gallery’s founder, the philanthropist Sir Hugh Lane, as well as the gallery’s 112th anniversary which, when established in 1908, was welcomed with great excitement across Europe.

The Lane Legacy looks back on an era of cultural innovation in Irish art, championed by Sir Lane.

All works in the exhibition were donated by Sir Lane or his supporters, including the general public, artists and collectors.

Included are paintings from the Sir Hugh Lane Bequest 1917, a group of 39 paintings which the Hugh Lane Gallery shares with the National Gallery, London.

For further information on the exhibition and the gallery, see hughlane.ie.

23 January 2020 CITY  DUBLIN GAZETTE 3

‘MATTIE HAD TIME FOR ANYONE THAT STOPPED BY’

FASTNews

Merrion Strand swimming Step up to a could soon be prohibited fundraiser for autism SWIMMING may be banned at Merrion Strand, according to Dublin City Council.

The South Dublin beach has suffered ongoing poor water quality results, meaning it did not meet the minimum bathing water standards set by the EU for four years in a row, up to 2018.

If the popular beach doesn’t meet the standards again in 2019, for the fifth year in a row, it will be served with a “permanent bathing prohibition”.

Merrion Strand will then be the first Irish beach ever to be issued with this prohibition.

The results of the 2019 bathing water quality tests will be released by the Environmental Protection Agency in April or May.

TUI warn of strike action by teachers on February 4 THERE will be strike action taken by members of the Teachers’ Union of Ireland on February 4 over “pay discrimination”.

In a statement, TUI president Seamus Lahart said: “We have exhausted every avenue open to us to bring this matter to resolution and have been left with no choice but to take strike action over the ongoing

Husbands Michael O’Sullivan and his best friend, the late Mattie Murphy (85, also right). The pair of best friends made headlines in 2017 for marrying each other as a means to avoid inheritance tax, but locals in Stoneybatter knew Mr Murphy best as a dapper and friendly gentleman.

Stoneybatter pays sad tributes to dapper local, the late Mattie Murphy RACHEL D’ARCY

STONEYBATTER residents have mourned the loss of a man who made headlines in 2017 after marrying his best friend as a means to avoid inheritance tax.

Mattie Murphy (85) passed away in his Dublin home on January 14, with best friend Michael O’Sullivan by his side.

Mattie was originally from Tipperary, but lived in a house in Stoneybatter alongside Michael for a number of years, which Mattie will now inherit.

Local Facebook page Pride of Place Stoneybatter posted a heartfelt tribute to Mattie, who was known for his dapper appearance and delightful presence around the

village.

A post read: “As news t r i c k l e d a c ro s s t h e streets of Stoneybatter and beyond, everyone is remembering Mattie, his beautiful smile, kind soul, his infectious laugh and his great impeccable style.

“Chats were always welcomed at Lilliput Stores, with Mattie having a cuppa and a cig outside, and hearty laughs were guaranteed with the storytelling and sharing of anecdotes.

“Likewise in other local places too that he frequented, and all [were] delighted that he was visiting.

“Mattie had time for anyone that stopped by and along his walks a c ro s s S to n ey b a t te r

including many a furry friend, as he loved dogs.”

Mattie was a known supporter of community events in Stoneybatter, including the annual Stoneybatter festival.

He married his best f r i e n d o f 3 0 ye a rs, Michael, in 2017 as a way to avoid inheritance tax when he passed away.

Michael was also Mattie’s carer for a number of years.

Speaking to Joe Duffy’s Liveline at the time, Mattie said: “I am marrying [Michael] because he will be part of my life when I die, and whatever I have, there will be no problems, he can have it.

“It’s a way to avoid tax, if he is to pay to look after me in my old age.

“I thought it was a very

good thing that came into my head to say, nowadays, this is official.”

Pay i n g t r i b u te to his husband following his passing, Michael appeared on Liveline again last week, saying that Mattie was an “absolutely wonderful person”.

Michael said: “He was a wonderful person. An absolutely wonderful person. He loved people.

“He called himself a humanist and even when he was ill in the house here, I’d always try and get him out of the house.

“You would not know he was sick. Once you got him sitting down with someone to talk to, you would not know he was ill.”

Mattie was laid to rest in Tipperary last Friday.

scandal of pay discrimination.”

The union has 19,000 members across second level schools, colleges of further education and Institutes of Technology/Technological universities.

Last October, members voted by a margin of 92% to 8% to engage in a campaign of industrial action, up to and including strike action.

THE Autism Initiatives Group is welcoming registrations for the third annual Walk For Autism campaign.

The fundraising challenge aims to bring people together to raise awareness and secure vital funds.

The charity is encouraging members of the public to walk the walk and not just talk the talk by taking 10,000 steps each day for eight days, finishing on World Autism Awareness Day on April 2.

Participants can walk solo, with a group of friends, family or colleagues or with other Walk For Autism supporters.

Sign-up is currently available until midday on March 21, with those stepping up to the challenge walking from March 26 up until World Autism Awareness Day on April 2.

To find out more about Walk For Autism, or to sign up, see www.walkforautism. co.uk.

4 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 23 January 2020

HOMELESSNESS: TRAGIC INCIDENTS KEEP SPOTLIGHT ON WORSENING CRISIS

I do fear there’re going to be more deaths on Dublin streets – advocate RACHEL D’ARCY

DUBLIN has been rocked by a series of tragic incidents involving the capital’s homeless population.

A man was been left with life-changing injuries when his tent was forcibly removed by industrial equipment utilised by Dublin City Council and Waterways Ireland at Wilton Terrace last week.

The incident made headlines globally, with Newsweek and CNN covering the story, as well as causing outrage on social media amongst Dubliners and the wider populace

ahead of the upcoming general election.

A young woman also died in a city centre hostel last Wednesday, while an elderly woman with dementia was brought to the Mater Hospital by Inner City Helping Homeless after being found sleeping rough through heavy rain last Thursday.

Homelessness in Ireland has increased by more than 300% since November, 2014, with the latest figures showing that there are more than 10,400 homeless people, at present – including 3,752 children.

According to Focus Ire-

land, this number does not include ‘hidden homelessness’, which incorporates people who are living in squats or ‘sofa surfing’ with friends.

Speaking to Dublin Gazette, housing activist Patrick Nelis said that he fears homelessness is becoming normalised in Ireland, and that he’s never seen the situation as bad as it is at present.

He said: “I fear things are getting to the point where the Government has almost normalised homelessness.

“I’ve never seen things as bad, and I really do fear

FASTNews Duck! That’s a very fast bird, now in Dublin

The homeless people increasingly part of Dublin’s street scene are just part of the national emergency that has plunhed thousands into an endless living nightmare

there’re going to be more deaths on the streets.

“There are issues and there are solutions, mainly building social and affordable housing, but also the policing of hostels.

“I’ve met people on the ground who don’t drink,

smoke or do drugs, and say that hostels are too unsafe for them.

“There’s no policing of the hostels, and there needs to be solutions introduced.

“Seeing [homeless] people in their 60s and 70s

is a new low; nobody that age should be walking the streets, neither should families or young people – there needs to be more solutions introduced, as I do genuinely fear for the next year or two,” said Nelis.

Postmasters warn of potential mass closures looming RACHEL D’ARCY

POSTMASTERS have warned that hundreds of post offices in villages, towns and cities could close over the next two years if urgent action is not taken by the next government.

The Irish Postmasters’ Union (IPU) called for all parties and candidates to commit to a Public Service Obligation (PSO) being introduced for post offices, and for more government services to be provided through post offices.

IPU Dublin spokesperson Tony Wall said: “A pillar the 2018 Post Office Network Renewal Plan has not been delivered on by this government.

“This was a commitment to delivering many new government services via the post office.

“This has not happened, to date, and that needs to change with the next government.

“While new services will help to maximise the [post office] network’s offering, it will not be enough.

“It will not just be rural [post] offices

that are at risk, but also a large number of urban offices who carry out a majority of network transactions.

“If they were to close, it would have drastic consequences for the current post office business model.

“The post office network needs to be an election issue, with commitments given and inclusion of a PSO, and roll-out of new services, in the next Programme for Government,” he said.

THE fastest duck in the world is currently wintering at Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

The Red Breasted Merganser usually breeds in large lakes in the west and north-west of the country, but Eamonn Sweeney, of Swench.net, says these birds are “likely to have flown all the way from the Subarctic to winter in our warmer Irish waters” A Merganser was once clocked at hitting flying speeds of 160kmph – by far the fastest speed for a duck in the world.

Despite all other duck species being vegetarian, the Red Breasted Merganser eat fish and can be regularly seen diving for their meal near the West Pier in Dun Laoghaire.

All welcome to learn about The Camino THE Camino Society will hold an information day at St James Church, James St, Dublin 8 on February 15 from noon to 2pm for people who may be thinking of walking The Camino.

The society is a voluntary organisation, founded in 1992 by returned pilgrims to ‘give something back’ to the Camino and to future pilgrims.

It issues the Pilgrim Passport and offers an opportunity to all those interested in The Camino to meet and share practical information and experiences, especially with those intending to travel by foot or by bicycle.

In addition to this, the group organise the annual St James’s day Mass, and an annual lecture on The Camino, an e-zine newsletter, an annual dinner and The Book of Pilgrims to Santiago.

The Society is nonpolitical, non-sectarian and non-denominational, encompassing all of Ireland and is open to all. For further information, see caminosociety.com.

23 January 2020 CITY  DUBLIN GAZETTE 5

6 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 23 January 2020

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

On-air talents assemble for their group shot, showcasing the diverse range of talents and stars on offer fronting the channel’s main programmes this year. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

What’s ahead for Virgin Media TV’s Spring hits S

OME of the country’s top TV talents gathered at the Westin Hotel in the city centre for the launch of Virgin Media Television’s Spring launch recently.

Many of the station’s well-known faces were only too happy to help promote the season ahead, with programming for Spring, and beyond, very much to the fore on the day.

Matt Cooper and Ivan Yates

In addition to the return of some familiar shows – such as a new Winter edition of Love Island – the busy operations of An Garda Siochana will be revealed in new documentary series, The Guards: Inside the K. The Guinness Six Nations will be just one of the channel’s sporting highlights ahead, with the Heineken Champions Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa

League, as well as the Cheltenham and Aintree Racing Festivals on the way.

Maura Higgins will be popping up in Dancing on Ice, a second series of critically acclaimed Irish series Blood will air, and the channel will be even further upping its live Irish studio content, with extensive coverage of General Election 2020 also on the way.

Elaine Crowley

Colette Fitzpatrick

Dylan Bradshaw and his wife, Charlotte

Gardai at the launch – The Guards: Inside the K is one of the channel’s new documentary series on the way for 2020

23 January 2020 CITY  DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

FAI: THE YEAR THE WHOLE ROTTEN HOUSE OF CARDS CAME TUMBLING DOWN

Minister for sport Shane Ross sees a positive future for the FAI SHANE ROSS MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT, TOURISM AND SPORT

IT was the year the whole rotten house of cards came tumbling down.

2019 proved to be an annus horribilis for the FAI and rightly so. Starting with news about a mysterious loan given by ex CEO John Delaney to the association, the information which has come to light in recent months about the antics of those at the top table of the FAI has been nothing short of shocking.

Initially I asked for explanations. Transparency was badly needed.

Last May the head honchos were invited into Leinster House and tell us what exactly they thought they were doing with public money.

They treated the elected politicians of this country – and consequently the public who voted them in – to a high handed display of arrogance and disdain.

The FAI elite, many who had held powerful positions in the organisation since God was a child, believed themselves too important to answer questions from mere politicians or the public we represent.

This was beyond a disgrace.

It was obvious that the FAI were not complying with certain funding conditions and we had

no choice but to withhold their funding.

The clamour for change came from the length and breadth of this footballing nation.

The dam of pseudo deference to the old guard had been breached and suddenly everyone had an FAI tale of terror to tell.

From the grassroots to the League of Ireland, football lovers began to share their stories of dissatisfaction with the way the FAI had handled affairs in recent decades. Not just years. Tens of years. And still the main men refused to budge. Refused to realise that the game was up and needed to go and close the door behind them.

A supposed caretaker board thought they could look after their own interests by appointing FAI diehard fan Noel Mooney as interim general manager.

Report But then the KOSI report outlined problems serious enough that it was turned over to the gardai.

Then it was revealed that the FAI had debts of over €60 million - at the same time as a furious public heard that former CEO John Delaney had received a €462,000 settlement from that beleaguered organisation.

It was obvious that the FAI were not to be trusted with public money until

serious changes were made.

Minister Brendan Griffin and I sat down with them in December 2019 and they asked us for €18 million to tide them over. We said no.

We declined to see good public money being put into an organisation which had yet to sufficiently reform itself.

The board needed to be completely refreshed. The old guard needed to be totally excised.

Beginnings Early January saw the beginnings of a future.

Independent Chairman Roy Barrett and independent directors Catherine Guy and Liz Joyce were appointed and a 4th independent director will follow later this month.

I met them in my office in the Department of Sport and congratulated them on their bravery and their commitment to returning Irish football to the grassroots who love it.

Last week I met with members of UEFA in Leinster House. It was the day the Dail was dissolved but the work of reforming the FAI will continue.

We discussed UEFA’s capacity and willingness to participate in a support package. It was a good, frank, constructive discussion.

A meeting with the Bank of Ireland followed.

Minister for Sport, Shane Ross writing exclusively for Dublin Gazette on the FAI says: “We had no choice but to withhold their funding”

Next I was happy to be able to have a positive discussion with the trades union Siptu.

This meeting was important as I could reassure them, and therefore

their members, that all the stakeholders – banks, UEFA and the Government – are absolutely committed to protecting football and those who work for it.

Time is of the essence.

There are dedicated, hardworking FAI employees who need to know that their future is secure.

And there are football players, supporters and volunteers up and down

the land who deserve a football association that is fit for purpose.

There are still plenty of reforms needed, but the future is starting to look brighter for Irish football.

8 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 23 January 2020

GALLERIES OF THE WEEK

Charlene Flanagan and Gemma Leigh

Celine Kelly and Emma Grimes

Celine McGillycuddy and Aisling Keenan

Gemma Burke and Nicole De Vere

Roxanne Parker and Christine Lucignano.

Pictures: Brian McEvoy Sarah Hanrahan

Fashionistas gather to try out a new cleanser G LAMOUR and glitz were very much the order of the day at Amuse in Dawson Street recently, where Confidence In A Cleanser – a new hydrating cleansing serum, was

Louise McSharry

being launched.

A specially created lunch menu by chef Conor Dempsey was also part of the event, while a number of prominent beauty buffs were also in attendance, all keen to

get a preview of the product’s properties and feel ahead of its launch. Confidence In A Cleanser will soon be available from Arnotts Beauty Hall, and online from arnotts.ie and brownthomas.com.

23 January 2020 CITY  DUBLIN GAZETTE 9

R1

FASTNews

Taxi drivers protest at FreeNow offices DOZENS of taxi drivers took part in an unofficial protest outside the offices of taxi app FreeNow on Monday, protesting against an increase in commission.

It was recently announced by FreeNow that they would be increasing their commission from 12% to 15%, taking a bigger cut of taxi driver fares hailed through the app.

Commission is money taken from drivers that use the app.

The decision prompted drivers to protest against the increase, parking their taxis outside the offices on Mount Street. Gardai said the protest was shortlived, and did not cause any major traffic delays.

In a letter of protest on the Dublin Taxi Drivers Facebook page, the increase in commission has left some drivers concerned with whether using the app will remain viable for them financially.

The letter read: “We are seriously concerned that we all can’t afford to pay [FreeNow] 12%–15% commission on each ride, plus on top of that we are paying Income tax at the end of year.”

Panto cast €918k set for gives €12k Dalymount to sick kids Park fund THE cast of The Helix Panto presented a cheque for €12,000 to Barretstown Children’s Charity earlier this week, raised as the cast’s designated charity show.

This season, The Helix Panto staged a special performance of The Three Musketeers, where all proceeds raised on the night went directly to Barretstown Children’s Charity.

The funds raised will help towards continuing the services and support at Barretstown, which offers free, specially designed camps and programmes for children and their families who are living with a serious illness.

Michael Brady, general manager of The Helix, , said: “We are thrilled to be donating a remarkable €12,000 to Barretstown.

“Knowing how much the funds raised will help the charity has given all of us a great sense of fulfilment and pride.”

THE Department for Sport has allocated €918,750 to the redevelopment of Dalymount Park, under the Large Scale Infrastructure Fund.

The announcement was made last week. Bohemians FC say that the allocation of the funding will allow the project to move into its second phase, and to allow the club to begin appointing architects, engineers and a design team.

Plans for the revamped Dalymount include a 6,000seat stadium, which will be home to both Bohemians and Shelbourne FC, as well as including a community space, meeting rooms and a library.

It is also anticipated that there will be a space at ground level that can be used for community activities and events.

The total cost of the project is estimated at €34.3 million, with the aim of the project reaching completion by 2023.

Trad-da! Temple Bar home to a great festival PEOPLE passing through the Merchant’s Arch at Temple Bar were given a nice surprise as a brief celebration of all things Trad-related took place. Irish dancer Jean Kennedy showed off some impressive steps and skills, accompanied

by artists from Tradfest, with their impromptu session highlighting the jam-packed TradFest in Temple Bar. Now running until January 26, the fun festival includes a host of family-friendly music concerts, craft workshops, street perfor-

mances and much more for music lovers of all ages, while artists including The Fureys, Paddy Casey, The Kilkennys, The Young Folk and more will be performing. For further information, see tradfest.ie. Picture: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Suspended sentence for man found with child porn A 66-YEAR-OLD man who was caught with child sex abuse images more than 10 years ago after he brought his laptop to work to be repaired has been given a suspended sentence.

There was a “very substantial delay” in the investigation into the child abuse material found in 2009 on the laptop belonging to Alan Clarke, of Leinster Road, Rathmines, Judge Melanie Greally told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

“A significant mitigating factor is the fact this was offending which was committed over 10 years ago,” the judge said, adding there was a “significant lapse in time” before the case came to court.

She handed down an 18-month sentence and

“

IT staff working to repair the laptop contacted gardai after discovering 41 videos and 28 images of child pornography suspended it on a number of conditions, including that Clarke continue attending therapy as directed by the Probation Service.

Clarke (66) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of child pornography at FAS Training Centre, Loughlinstown Drive, Co Dublin, on June 2, 2009.

Detective Garda Bernard Dunne previously told Garrett McCormack BL, prosecuting, that on the day in question, Clarke brought his laptop

to be repaired at the centre, where he was working as a security guard.

Det Gda Dunne said IT staff working to repair the laptop contacted gardai after discovering 41 videos and 28 images of child pornography.

These depicted boys and girls aged between five and 15 years’ old engaged in sexual activity or in sexually exposed poses.

When interviewed, Clarke told gardai that he had a “curiosity” regarding child pornography

and said he lost interest the previous month.

Analysis of the laptop determined that all of the material had been downloaded between March and May of 2009.

The court heard that the laptop was not analysed until 2015 due to a lack of garda resources.

Det Gda Dunne accepted the submission of Jane Murphy BL, defending, that the teacher at the centre who handed Clarke back his laptop told him the materials had been discovered and advised him to destroy the hard drive, which Clarke made no attempt to do.

Ms Murphy said her client had co-operated with gardai and made admissions at the scene.

She said that Clarke

denied paying for the material and there was no evidence he shared the pornography or profited from it.

Clarke has one previous conviction, for assault, dating back to 1987.

He is retired, is living in sheltered accommodation and has not come to the attention of gardai since the incident.

Judge Greally said the offences were “inherently serious” and she noted a probation report cited Clarke as being at medium risk of re-offending.

She noted Clarke had suffered ill-health in the intervening years since his arrest, and suffers from a number of psychological and emotional difficulties, for which he is undergoing therapy.

10 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 23 January 2020

GENERAL ELECTION 2020

CANDIDATES ADDRESS SOME OF

Before you cast your vote, consider where the candidates stand DUBLIN GAZETTE reached out to the confirmed candidates who will be campaigning in General Election 2020.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TARA DEACY, SOCIAL DEMOCRATS, PIC A

Q1 THE Slaintecare plan will make GP visits and hospital care free for all, reduce waiting lists in hospitals, move diagnostics like X-rays and MRIs into primary care centres, and set up community care teams for older people and mental health issues.

Q2 The Social Democrats would use public lands to deliver social and affordable housing through the Land Development Agency.

We would introduce an immediate freeze on rents for the next two years.

B

C

D

D

E

F

G

H

I

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

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

DUBLIN SOUTH CENTRAL

A

Strengthen tenants’ rights. Improve funding for local authorities and approved housing bodies.

Introduce a land hoarding tax and end overcharging by banks on mortgage interest payments.

Q3 We want to eliminate hidden fees in both primary and post primary by funding books, transport, and classroom resources – free education should mean free education.

Public resources should be targeted to the greatest need – that means funnelling more resources into DEIS schools and the needs of disadvantaged students outside these areas.

Q4 The current home insulation grant requires people to have significant

upfront funding, which means people on lower to middle incomes either pay a large amount upfront, or pay higher bills in the long term.

There should be a ‘pay as you save’ scheme which will let people pay for their home insulation over a longer period of time.

Q5 We have to reconfigure the National Development Plan so that more is spent on Public Transport than on roads.

The Social Democrats support and will act upon the commitments given in the Climate Action Plan and the National Development Plan in relation to Greening public transport.

Q6 I want to help create an Ireland where our kids/ work life balance is bet-

ter, where our mental and physical health is prioritised and where we all do better, together.

ALAN KERRIGAN, INDEPENDENT, PIC B

Q1 WE NEED to establish an emergency panel made up of professionals from Germany, Hong Kong, The Netherlands and Switzerland.

Countries that have overcome the problems we face today.

We are not reinventing the wheel here, but the longer we sit on our hands, the more lives will be lost.

Q2 The scale and complexity of Ireland’s housing crisis might suggest a social challenge of insurmountable proportions.

Ireland is only at about 60% urbanisation, com-

pared with a likely typical average of 80% elsewhere.

Delays in getting more homes to market should be bridged via modular housing, where the units are built in a factory and transported to the site.

This would also bridge the current skills gap.

Q3 Education reform doesn’t need to wait for another five years and a dozen reports.

We have enough material to go on besides concrete examples of what works abroad.

We could move tomorrow to bring costs in line and thus reduce class sizes.

We can begin immediately to bring in a firm system of teacher assessment, and weed out the minority of weak links

who ruin our children’s chances of earning themselves a better future.

Q4 I will be driving for concrete recommendations in the report of the Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action.

As of today, my campaign has not used any form of printed paper.

Q5 A dream scenario would be that we have done proper research into how people use the city.

Q6 I will put an end to the corruption in Dail Eireann.

DUBLIN CENTRAL

SARAH LOUISE MULLIGAN, INDEPENDENT, PIC C

Q1 I WOULD call for the

immediate resignation of [Minister] Simon Harris, as I believe he is a disgrace to the Irish nation and has done nothing to improve the Irish Health system.

I believe the HSE is dysfunctional and our Irish educated doctors and nurses are going abroad for better pay, as they’re not respected here in Ireland, and this needs to stop now.

Q2 The Irish would be served first and foremost, and I would also call for the resignation of [Minister] Eoghan Murphy, as the homelessness issue is out of control – no Irish person should have to die on our Irish streets.

Q3 I would make sure the degenerate Sex Education Bill is not passed.

Teaching pornography and promoting young people to

23 January 2020 CITY  DUBLIN GAZETTE 11

THE COUNTRY’S MAIN TALKING POINTS touch themselves is perverted and sickening.

Free speech is a cornerstone of our democracy, and I would make sure this is being protected in schools and universities.

Q4 My campaign is very Green and accessible. I’m not putting up posters, as I refuse to have trees cut down to have my face plastered around Dublin.

For the record, I’m not a fan of ‘the climate change hoax’ and Greta Thunberg is not my God. Personally, I think climate change is a scare tactic to keep the population controlled and nervous.

Q5 I refuse to see trees being cut down for public transport. I will be chaining myself to them if [the authorities] try and push this.

Q6 I want to be the voice for the unborn and the old because, at this moment in time, we have a government which is too busy lining its own greedy pockets, and they don’t care about humanity.

DUBLIN SOUTH CENTRAL AND DUBLIN NORTH WEST SELINA IRVINE (DSC) AND STEPHEN REDMOND (DNW), NATIONAL PARTY, BOTH PIC D

Q1 OUR view is that the best ideas for reform of the public health care system will come from health care professionals who are working on the front line.

We believe that new technologies employed wisely on a broad front in the healthcare system could promote greater efficiency.

Q2 We believe that the real scale of the problem is underestimated by policy makers.

The fundamental solution is for Ireland to follow the successful models found in such countries as Austria and Denmark.

In these countries, social housing is provided

for people who individually have a broad range of incomes.

Q3 We firmly believe that it is best that every young person should have access to the maximum amount of education and training suitable to their given talents and circumstances.

We do accept that some questions related to education are not easily resolved.

Q4 Employing technologies which are sustainable is perfectly reasonable to us.

We follow developments at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Ireland with interest and take note of reports on environmentally benign technologies coming from the EPI. Q5 We believe that Ireland needs a world-class transport system with efficient links between buses, trains, cycle lanes and tram lanes.

It is evident that, at least in some occasions, the state needs to step in and provide public transport, such as rail links, to areas where the present settlement patterns do not make it economically feasible at this time.

Q6 We in the National Party have both the motivation and the ability to make substantive change for the better to happen.

We care about Irish people and that is not all that common in political life in Ireland today.

DUBLIN NORTH WEST

IAN CROFT, INDEPENDENT, PIC E

Q1 I FULLY support Slaintecare. I will continue to work with people in the community to ascertain their needs in order to provide better primary healthcare..

Fianna Fail, in government, without consultants and more nurses.

Q2 There has been huge success overseas in addressing housing problems which could be duplicated in Ireland to help us deal with our own housing crisis.

Our current system has failed. More affordable alternatives need to be provided as options for both social housing and the rental sector.

Q3 Free education and better supports for those wishing to return to education.

New modern A-rated school buildings needed.

Decrease the student/ teacher ratio.

Q4 I believe we can do a lot more over the next five years make our city ecofriendlier.

We can drastically reduce or emissions and carbon footprint if people embrace carpooling which should be rewarded with tax credits for contributing towards sustainability.

In support of a cleaner environment, I am not using election posters.

Q5 Bus service is inadequate at peak times and congestion into the city centre is unbearable.

I will be advocating the introduction of a four-day working week and flexible working times where possible with a view to alleviating peak time traffic, and improve work/life balance.

Q6 A vote for Ian Croft is a vote for a fresh approach, more solutions and less problems.

DUBLIN BAY NORTH

TOMMY BROUGHAN, INDEPENDENT, PIC F

Q1 THE health sector is underfunded by at least €1 billion, which is why supplementary estimates are needed each year.

Proper funding is needed, as is supporting our hard-working, frontline staff.

GENERAL ELECTION 2020

I am in full support of the Slaintecare plan, and would like to see it progressed more quickly.

Q2 We need a constitutional right to housing and a rent freeze.

We need an urgent large-scale public and affordable housing programme, an end to family hubs and improved homeless services.

Q3 Improve the pupilteacher ratio in schools, free school meals programme, increase the number of primary school places, and provide more ASD places in secondary schools.

I support INTO’s calls for improved support for principals and teachers also.

Q4 I intend to use very few, if any, posters in this election.

Q5 No, public transport around the country is not sufficient.

In Dublin Bay North, we need increased DART carriages at rush-hour, accessible stations and stops, and improved cycleways with separation barriers to ensure improved safety for cyclists.

Q6 I have been a public representative for more than 30 years now, and have successfully represented many thousands of constituents on personal, local and national issues.

I have been on their side, always and I would continue to represent them to the best of my ability in the 33rd Dail if I was honoured with reelection.

DENISE MITCHELL, SINN FEIN, PIC G

Q1 SINN Fein would lift the Government’s recruitment freeze and hire more nurses and doctors, open more hospital beds, and increase funding for the home-help scheme to deliver for all older people.

Q2 In government, Sinn Fein would commence a decade-long councilled house building programme to meet social and affordable needs.

We would build 20,000 homes a year, and relieve the pressure on the housing and rental market.

Q3 Free education is a myth in Ireland today.

Sinn Fein would provide free school books to all children, end schools’ reliance on voluntary contributions by increasing core funding to schools, and abolish third level student fees.

Q4 Sinn Fein would stop all future exploration for fossil fuels and invest in renewables.

There would be no carbon tax increases in the absence of viable alternatives, and we would develop renewable energy in conjunction with local communities and semistate companies.

Q5 Sinn Fein would introduce free fares for the under-18s on public transport, and expand the rail and bus network; more buses, more carriages.

Q6 I have a track record of delivering for my constituents, and pride myself on being a hardworking TD that represents the working class voice of the constituency.

DUBLIN BAY SOUTH

SARAH DURCAN, SOCIAL DEMOCRATS, PIC H

Q1 FUNDING and implementing Slaintecare is essential, including moving to primary and community care so acute hospital beds aren’t being used for care that can be provided closer to home.

Also dealing with the waste and inefficiency in the system.

Q2 Some of our key fixes include a rent freeze across the country; ensuring new developments have 20% affordable housing on top of 10% social; preventing land hoarding, and building public housing on public land.

Q3 We need more

SEE MORE CANDIDATES’ ANSWERS NEXT WEEK...

schools, and more choice of schools in Dublin Bay South.

We also need more investment in third level education, and making it more affordable and accessible, so our young people are equipped with the skills they need.

Q4 As someone who works in art and science and empowering young people to tackle our great challenges, I strongly believe we must take urgent climate action, without putting an undue burden on lower income households.

SocDems would prioritise more high-capacity and frequent public transport and cycling, more urban biodiversity; retrofitting to insulate homes and workplaces, and innovating to have increased renewable energy from wind, wave and solar.

Q5 More public transport, and active transport options are required right across Dublin Bay South.

This city is too carreliant, and people are spending hundreds of wasted hours a year stuck in traffic that is contributing to bad air quality and affecting our health and our quality of life.

Q6 I’ve always been committed to making our community a better place for all, through my work in arts and culture, my activism with #WakingTheFeminists, and through my day-job in building a global science gallery network dedicated to inspiring millions of young minds.

JIM O’CALLAGHAN, FIANNA FAIL, PIC I

Q1 WE MUST increase recruitment of both consultants and of nursing staff, and increase bed capacity.

Fianna Fail is committed to hiring 800 hospital

consultants and 4,000 nursing staff.

Q2 I want to help people out of the rip-off rental market, get councils back building homes, and address the homelessness crisis.

I am committed to ensuring the commitment given to the people of Ringsend and Irishtown that 900 affordable houses would be constructed on the Irish Glass Bottle site.

Q3 I will ensure that the teacher/pupil ration is reduced to 20:1 at primary level and that capitation levels are boosted.

There is also a chronic shortage of ASD Units available and measures need to be put in place to ensure that there are additional ASD Units made available, where possible.

Q4 It is clear that Ireland won’t meet its EU 2020 carbon reduction target, and is likely to fall far short of the 2030 target too.

There is a pressing need to readdress our transport choices. I am a keen cyclist and am keenly aware of the need to invest in our cycling infrastructure.

Q5 Public transport provision is totally insufficient, and we need to ramp up investment across bus and rail to reduce congestion and journey times.

I would like to drastically increase investment in cycling infrastructure, in particular, to make cycling safer and more attractive.

Q6 I care passionately about this area and the people that live here. I was honoured to be elected to represent the people of Dublin Bay South in 2016.

If I am given their vote again, I will continue to give everything I can to do this to the best of my ability.

WHAT are your thoughts on General Election 2020?

What are the most important topics for you? What would you like the next government and Taoiseach to focus on? We’d love to know!

Email news@dublingazette.com with your views (using the subject line ‘General Election 2020 thoughts’), and we’ll reprint the best of our reader responses before the election itself.

12 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23 January 2020

STYLE P14

DUBLIN

COSY ON UP TO OUR LOOK INSIDE AT SOME OF THE COMFIEST SLEEPWEAR OUT THERE

MUSIC: SINGER JOHN CRAIGIE BRINGS A DASH OF HUMOUR TO HIS WORK: P20

MOTORING: FORD MONDEO HYBRID P19

MAGAZINE

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

CELEBRATION TIME | CHINESE NEW YEAR

Plenty of Highlights as Chinese New Year 2020 celebrations commence PADRAIG CONLON

DUBLIN CHINESE New Year Festival returns this week welcoming the Year of the Rat. The very popular annual Festival in the city marks the lunar new year with an exciting two-week programme of events set to run until February 10th.

Established in 2008, the Dublin Chinese New Year Festival celebrates, promotes and deepens the understanding of the Sino/Irish relationship.

With Chinese New Year’s Day falling on Saturday (25th) the festival plans to deliver a high profile cultural and celebratory programme to mark this significant date in the Chinese Calendar.

Here is a selection of some of the great events coming up this week: SPRING FESTIVAL FAIR - Saturday Dublin’s historic Fruit and Vegetable Market will reopen for two days on Sat 25 and Sun 26 to host the flagship event of the 2020 Dublin Chinese New Year Festival – the Spring Festival Fair.

EPIC THE IRISH EMIGRATION MUSEUM TOURS - Saturday Discover stories of the pioneering Irish emigrants who have shaped the world with this specially curated Chinese New Year tour of EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum.

DUMPLINGS: WRAPPING UP A LONG HISTORY - Saturday Find out all about Chinese dumplings, the different types, what they symbolise, where they

originated from and how they are made. If you love dumplings, you wont want to miss this!

HILL STREET FAMILY RESOURCE CENTRE CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION -Saturday Hill Street will transform into a Chinese Wonderland, hosting a wide range of entertainment, as well as traditional Chinese workshops and performances. This action-packed celebration will feature live music, dance, drama, tai chi, origami, and shadow puppetry workshops.

ASIA MARKET FOOD TOURS - Sunday Enjoy an exclusive tour of Dublin’s destination for Asian food and ingredients, Asia Market at the heart of the city’s creative quarter on Drury Street.

TRADITIONAL CHINESE DRESS BANQUET Tuesday A unique experience to attend a traditional Chinese banquet inspired by the Song Dynasty, part of China’s golden age. At the banquet, you’re invited to savour dishes from this expansive era, with a contemporary twist.

XĪNNIÁN CHINESE COCKTAIL MASTERCLASSWednesday Opium will be hosting a cocktail masterclass designed to bring blessings and good fortune…in cocktail form!

This special masterclass will focus on the creation of a selection of cocktails based on Chinese ingredients, culture and mythology.

To find out more on all events and to purchase tickets: www.dublinchinesenewyear.com

Local Chinese children Dora Liu and Amia Zheng pictured at the launch of the Chinese New Year Community Celebrations, hosted by Hill Street Family Resource Centre in partnership with North East Inner City initiative taking place on Saturday 23rd January on Hill Street, Dublin 1

23 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 13

QUIRKY MATTERS

DUBLIN BITS & BOBS

DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS I N F O R M AT I O N Heritage House, Dundrum, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publishes four weekly quality free titles, covering the latest news, sport, entertainment and lifestyle from the four local authority areas of Dublin

STAFF and management at Centra in Blackrock cheered as a cork was popped to celebrate the store having sold the winning ticket for the recent EuroMillions Ireland Only Raffle top prize of €1 million. Lydene Kavanagh, Jim O’Connor (sales manager, National Lottery), Des Kenny, Joanne McKeever, Jim Kenny (owner, Centra store), Blaise Kenny (manager), Jenny Jones and Michael Molloy (National Lottery) cheered as champers

DIY bomb trip ends in arrest

A FLORIDA woman was arrested earlier this month after a Walmart security guard noticed she was constructing a bomb inside the Tampa store.

The security guard spotted a woman and child walking around the shop suspiciously for an hour, opening unpaid items that included denatured alcohol, nails, and a mason jar.

When the security guard approached the woman, he realised she was attempting to light a wick to her DIY bomb.

Emily Stallard (37), was

apprehended by security personnel before she detonated the device, with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office notified.

Stallard was charged with firebombing, attempted arson of a structure, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, child abuse, and battery on a law enforcement officer, with the child taken into protective custody.

Regime punishes loyal mum

A MOTHER in North Korea is under investigation for saving her two children

from their burning home instead of portraits of former leader Kim Jong IL and his late father, Kim IL Sung.

According to Latin Times, the Ministry of State Security has begun an investigation into the incident, that occurred in the Onsong County of the secluded state on December 30.

North Korean law dictates that all citizens display portraits of the two deceased rulers of the country in their homes.

Because of the investigation, it is understood that the mother is unable to properly care for her injured children, who suffered burns from the fire.

According to People

magazine, the mother has been pleading with neighbours for money so she can buy the necessary antibiotics to treat her children.

However, she has been refused, with locals fearing being charged with a political crime if they oblige.

Man calls for a duel with his ex

A KANSAS man has asked a judge to let him engage in a samurai sword duel with his ex-wife and her attorney.

David Ostrom (40), of Paola, Kansas, and his former wife, Bridgette Ostrom

(38), of Harlan, Iowa, have been locked in a bitter dispute over parental custody, visitation rights and property tax payments during their divorce settlement.

According to David Ostrom, their judge has the power to let the sides “resolve our disputes on the field of battle, legally”.

He added that trial by combat “has never been explicitly banned or restricted as a right in these United States”, and asked the judge to schedule the duel for 12 weeks’ time, so he could locate Japanese samurai swords.

The judge is understood to be deliberating the case at the time of going to print.

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

This week’s dog of the week is Chisum, a sweet ten-year-old German Shepherd that is looking for homecomforts, a nice garden and access to good walks. He is shy to start with, but once he knows you, he literally showers you with love!

Chisum enjoys playing with his toys.

He is looking for a home where he will be the only pet as he can be worried around other dogs.

He could live with children of 16 years or over, as long as they give him

space when he needs it.

Chisum will need a home with his own secure garden where he can relax and potter, just like a dog of his vintage likes to do.

If you have room in your heart and home for Chisum then please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www.dogstrust.ie.

You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE. (Remember: Always have your dog on a lead when in public.)

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

01 - 6010240 sales@dublingazette.com

FIND US ON

www.dublingazette.com Dublin Gazette Newspapers Ltd. Terms and Conditions for acceptance of advertisements

chisum

Reserve the right to omit or suspend or alter any advertisement(s) in any of its publications. We also decline any responsibility in the event of one or more of a series of advertisements being omitted for any reason whatever, nor do we accept liability for any loss or damage caused by an error or inaccuracy in the printing of any advertisement. If your advertisement appears incorrectly, contact the Advertising Department immediately, as responsibility cannot be accepted for more than one week’s incorrect insertion. Responsibility cannot be accepted if the complaint is made more than two weeks after insertion. If one places an advertisement for more than one week and then cancels it after the first week, no refund or credit will be given for weeks cancelled. The advertiser undertakes to indemnify the Proprietors against any liability for any civil action arising out of the publication of the advertisement or any other matter printed or published in the City Gazette, Fingal Gazette, South Gazette and West Gazette. The placing of an order or contract will be deemed an acceptance of these conditions.

14 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23 January 2020

HOME & STYLE

FRESH IDEAS FOR YOUR HOME AND WARDROBE

BeautyBITS

Doutzen announced as new face of ONLY ONLY have announced Dutch supermodel Doutzen Kroes as the new face of their new SS20 Campaign.

ONLY is celebrating 25 years in fashion and is kicking the year off with a very special campaign, with Kroes following in the footsteps of models such as Helena Christensen and Naomi Campbell.

Finn Poulsen, Director of ONLY, said: “Doutzen Kroes is a super strong character, a true It girl and we are very proud to have landed such a top profile as our new campaign model.”

Marc Jacobs launch special spring scents MARC JACOBS will be releasing limited editions of their iconic Daisy fragrances for the Spring season, called Daisy Daze.

The limited edition fragrances are a ‘fresh and fruity’ twist on the classics.The beloved caps - covered in plastic daisy shapes - will be adorned with golden accents as well as opaque and translucent pearls.

Daisy by Marc Jacobs gets spiced up with inviting bursts of mandarin with a sweet mirabelle sparkle, giving a crisp scent.

The Daisy Eau So Fresh fragrance will be injected with luscious white peach and orchard blossoms for a sense of comforting freshness, while Daisy Dream will be infused with a delicate and warm finish courtesy of silky wisteria and juicy loganberries.

Daisy Love will be elevated with bright osmanthus wrapped in the softness of amber.

The Daisy Daze collection will be priced from €71 to €81, and will be available in Arnotts, Brown Thomas and selected pharmacies from January 29.

CALM & COSY

Penneys ‘Calm’ collection of soft, soothing sleepware is comfy, and stylish while also conscious, as it uses sustainable fabrics.

THERE IS never a wrong time for curling up in a fresh new pair of pyjamas, with Penneys the go-to for all our soft, soothing sleepware needs.

Now, the major pyjama player introduce their ‘Calm’ collection, a range of neutral coloured, deliciously soft pyjamas designed to suit everyone while keeping things comfy.

The range includes longsleeved thermal style tops, sweatshirt style hoodies, tank tops, pyjamas and more in stone, grey and cream neutral tones. Best of all, the collection is made from sustainable fabrics, meaning you can be comfy, chic and conscious. The collection is available in all Penneys stores now.

Out with the old, in with the new – interior trends for 2020 Now that 2020 is well underway, and your new year’s resolutions are slowly coming to a close, it’s time to start thinking about what’s really important – your interior!

Some of 2019’s biggest interior trends included velvet, geometric patterns, minimalism, and pastel colour blocks. But you know what they say, out with the old, in with the new! Here are EZ Living Furniture’s 2020 interior trend predictions.

1. Mixed Metals!

By the end of 2019 brass and copper became very popular. People started introducing subtle metallic features in the form of taps, shelf mirrors, and legs of tables. But now that it’s 2020, the metal trend has really started to take off.

2. More is More!

Although 2019 was all about minimalism, 2020 has already proven to want more for its occupants. Maximalism is already taking off this January with people investing in bolds, bright colours, and abstract prints.

3. Black is Back!

Black is back. Whites and woods may have been 2019 focused but now that it’s 2020, black is back and it’s not going anywhere anytime soon. Matte blacks will create a chic and sophisticated look to your interior this year.

4. FLOWER POWER! Block wallpaper was trending in 2019 but now that it’s 2020, it’s all about floral wallpaper adding a bit of punch. Shades of greens, botanical designs, and even geometric patterns are all in. What’s becoming

even more on trend is the placement of your wallpaper with wallpaper added to the bathroom, and ceiling becoming more popular than ever before.

5. 50 SHADES OF PINK! 2019 featured lots of greys, blues and yellows but from what we can see already, pink is giving us a wink. Subtle pink shades such a pastel pink, blush pink, and baby pink are sure to create calming moods in your homes this year!

Here’s to a new decade of interior design.

What are you predicting?

23 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 15

GAZETTE

LOVE MARRIAGE

INSIDE… Make your wedding extra special P17

Tips for the Best Man P18

Before you turn over…

WHETHER it’s your own wedding or civil ceremony, or if you’re a mum or dad or other part of the wedding party, there’s a lot to think about, plan and organise to help ensure that you – or they – will have a moment to treasure.

Thankfully, we have put together a

Bridal party P18

little bit of information that, we hope, will help to make the big day a little easier to arrange.

From ideas to make your wedding extra special to some of the very best wedding venues across Dublin or down the country, you’ll find it here.

Take the time to browse what we’ve put together, and you’re bound to see something, someone or somewhere in here to help make your big day perfect.

So relax, read, and above all, all the best for your (or their) big day!

See inside

GAZETTE

16 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23 January 2020

LOVE MARRIAGE

Annebrook enchants with ease on the day

Annebrook House Hotel effortlessly marries a historic setting with the latest in modern styling

SITUATED in the heart of Mullingar, the award-winning 4-star Annebrook House Hotel presents wedding couples with a spectacular fusion of 17th Century heritage and the ultimate in modern styling.

This makes Annebrook House Hotel perfect for being both “something old, something new” for happy couples looking for the perfect wedding venue.

Whether it’s to be a grand affair or an intimate reception, the style of couple’s wedding is entirely up to them, with the hotel catering for 30-280 guests.

As a family-owned hotel, Annebrook House Hotel prides itself in offering a very personalised service, from the initial booking stage all the way through to the dream day.

Sumptuous food, combined with topclass service, are the main ingredients of any good wedding and Annebrook House Hotel delivers both these elements seamlessly.

Its friendly and approachable service will ensure any wedding day is everything a couple could want it to be and more.

The wedding team at Annebrook House Hotel constantly strives to keep up to date with current trends to ensure every couple’s day is as memorable and as individual as they are.

For further information, see www. annebrook.ie, or email the dedicated weddings manager at events@annebrook.ie.

Feel your best on you’re wedding day

A NEW clinic dedicated to pampering the skin has launched in Dublin 2 perfect for a treat ahead of your big day!

Akrona Aesthetics, located at 18B-19B Fitzwilliam Street Upper, has a host of non-invasive treatments that fuse Irish skincare with Korean technology.

As well as skincare, the clinic also offers massages and body scrubs for an all over treatment as you get ready for your wedding day.

Treatments on offer at the new salon include mesotherapy with LED light, heated lava stone massage, Ayurvedic herbal body scrub with Marma Therapy and Megawhite Teeth Whitening. The treatments are non-invasive, but the methods on offer are cutting edge for combating wrinkles, acne and many other facial aesthetic treatments all underneath the banner of holistic remedies.

Akrona aims to provide a natural alternative to the likes of botox and fillers, to help produce a more vibrant, youthful appearance. The masterminds behind the salon have 25 years of experience in health and beauty.

Opening hours are Monday to Friday from 10am to 7pm. For information on Akrona Aesthetics, visit Akrona.ie.

23 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 17

GAZETTE

10 Ideas to make your wedding extra special 1. SEATING During the ceremony, why not change the seating style and have the chairs set in a circular pattern around you, it can not only make you more visible to all the guests but make everyone feel more included.

2. INVITATIONS Invites don’t have to be formal or fancy, show your personality by making them funny or relatable to your guests.

3 . BOUQUET Attaching something to your flowers as you walk down the aisle can be a lovely way to keep something close that holds sentimental value – such as a picture or piece of jewellery.

4. ANNIVERSARY On the day, get your guests to write you a note for your first anniversary and pop them into a pinata. One year later, it’ll be waiting for you to burst open and reminisce.

5. TABLES Give each table a song name or lyric and when that song plays everyone at that table has to get up and dance.

6. COASTERS Practical bespoke printed coasters are a fun way of making sure drinks are not cleared from the tables while your guests are enjoying themselves on the dance floor – they can also take them home as gifts.

7. PHOTOS As it gets dark, give your guests sparklers and go outside to create a wonderful photo opportunity.

8. CRECHE If there are many young children coming to the wedding, why not hire a babysitter to keep them entertained and relaxed in an assigned room with games, blankets and pillows.

9. BOUNCY CASTLES – Bouncy castles are not just for kids. If you have the space, rent a castle – guests will love a bounce during the day and will also create a great photo opportunity.

10. TAKEAWAY If you’re guests are too full for cake or dessert, give them a slice or two to take home with them in a Styrofoam box or doggy-bag.

Perfect for the day of your dreams THE 4-star Westgrove Hotel in the picturesque village of Clane is one of Kildare’s premier wedding venues.

The Westgrove Hotel has two main wedding suites; both of which have a private bar, dance floor and are adorned with natural day light.

In addition to the suite for the main celebration, there are also many other areas in the hotel which form an integral part of the day such as the grand staircase which proves popular for photographs.

On arrival, guests enjoy exclusive use of the Roof Terrace Bar which links to the Wedding Garden while enjoying the sounds of the resident pianist as your sip champagne and mingle with family and friends.

The Wedding Garden is the perfect backdrop for photographs, outdoor ceremonies and next day BBQ’s.

They offer two fantastic wedding packages, priced at 10k or 12k respectively or they can offer a bespoke package depending on your needs. Why not visit the Wedding Fair on Sunday February 2 from 2-5pm, register your interest by emailing bmurray@westgrovehotel.com

GAZETTE

18 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23 January 2020

LOVE MARRIAGE

Top tips for the Best Man on the big day IF you’ve gotten the call to do the honours as Best Man your biggest duty on the day is to deliver a speech.

This can be both a terrifying and exciting experience, depending on how you prepare. Here we have the top tips to ensure your speech is memorable for all the right reasons!

Prepare: Don’t stand up and try and wing it. A bit of preparation goes a long way.

Speech goals: You want your speech is to celebrate the couple and make them look good.

Stay sober: Nobody wants to listen to a drunk falling around talking gibberish. Give the drink a rest until after your speech.

Say thanks: Thank everyone who made the day possible.

Tell an interesting story: You don’t need to deliver the Gettysberg address, just make sure everyone will not be bored to death!

Avoid controversial topics: Now isn’t the time to share your belief in the flat

earth theory and 9/11 conspiracies.

Keep it short: Yes, please, please, please don’t break this rule!

Don’t forget the toasts: The bride, the groom, her parents, his parents, bridesmaids, you know the drill!

Just be yourself: Use your natural voice and just let it flow!

Here comes the bridal party!

THE bride is obviously the most important lady on the day - her dress has to be perfect, as well as her accessories, hair... everything, really!

However, her bridal party is just as important. Monsoon have just released an affordable, stylish new line of flower girl dresses, page boy suits, bridesmaids dress-

es and the all important wedding dress too. The theme of the collection is modern romance, with wedding jumpsuits, flattering cuts and luxe fabrics all part of the mix.

For more information and to see more of the pieces on offer, as well as pricing for the new collection, please visit Monsoon.co.uk.

23 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 19

WHAT’S NEW IN THE WORLD OF TRANSPORT

DUBLIN MOTORS

New Ford Mondeo Hybrid: The image of refinement

DECLAN GLYNN

AS BEFITS a car that pioneers technology, the new Ford Mondeo is available as a Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV).

By combining the benefits of both electric and petrol power, the Mondeo Hybrid provides outstanding efficiency and refinement, along with rewarding performance and driving range.

The revisions to the Mondeo include a new front bumper, a different grille for each trim level, and a metallic strip through the car’s revised tail-lights.

The new Ford Mondeo HEV is available in either 4-door Saloon, or 5-door Wagon (estate) bodystyles, with petrol power provided by a 2.0-litre engine, which is linked to an electronically-con-

trolled Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

Wi t h a c o m b i n e d power output of 187bhp, and 173Nm of torque, the Mondeo Hybrid is capable of sprinting from 0-100kmph in 9.2 seconds.

There are three trim levels in the Mondeo Hybrid – Titanium, ST-Line, and range-topping Vignale, while the Mondeo diesel is also available in entrylevel Zetec specification.

My review car was a Mondeo Titanium Estate Hybrid, which was finished in ever-popular Moondust Silver metallic paintwork.

Standard Titanium features include 16” alloy wheels, power-folding door mirrors, SYNC 3 with an 8” touchscreen, parking sensors front & rear, keyless entry, cruise control with speed limiting device, traffic sign recog-

nition, and lane keeping aid, along with many more comfort, convenience and safety features.

Once on the move, the Mondeo Hybrid swaps between the electric motors and petrol engine seemlessly, while the CVT (automatic) transmission is well matched to the powertrain.

When in Hybrid mode, the Mondeo is very quiet inside, proving that the

Mondeo’s engineering progress is driven by hybrid technology.

The Mondeo Hybrid is a very capable car to drive through bends, as it possesses great dynamic ability – something Ford cars have been renowned for over the past two decades now.

With the rear seat backs in place, the conventional Mondeo Estate has a 525litre boot, but the electric

technology in the Mondeo Hybrid cuts this figure to 403 litres – which is still an acceptable load area for this type of car.

However, this figure can be dramatically increased by folding the rear seats flat when the need arises.

The new Ford Mondeo Hybrid range is priced from €34,830 for the 4-door ‘saloon’, while the 5-door ‘wagon’ is priced from €35,997.

Brussels helps showcase the cars of the future DECLAN GLYNN

THE Brussels Motor Show 2020 has just come to an end, and what a terrific show it was.

The 98th edition of the Brussels Motor Show was bigger and better than ever before, with a huge display of cars, motorcycles and new mobility options on show.

Unlike other international car shows, every car make on the European market was represented at the show, which attracted more than 560,000 visitors last year.

This year, visitors were treated to a long list of new car debuts, with the show having been officially opened by Her Royal Highness Princess Astrid of Belgium on January 9.

Cars that made their world debut at the show included the Audi A5 Sportback g-tron, Nissan Juke, Mercedes-

New Nissan Juke

Benz GLA, Mercedes-Benz GLA AMG, Opel Insignia, Renault Captur E-tech, Renault Clio E-tech, and the Renault Espace.

European debuts included the Audi e-tron Sportback, BMW 2-Series Gran Coupe, BMW M2 CS, BMW M8 Gran Coupe, Mazda 2, Mazda MX-30, Mini John Cooper Works GP, and the Mitsubishi Space Star.

Car manufacturers love to show off their concept and prototype cars to the huge crowds that motor shows traditionally attract, and the Brussels Motor Show certainly had its fair share of cars of the future on display.

Citroen took the opportunity to showcase their Ami One Concept, and the C5 Aircross PHEV, while other cars included the Cupra Tavascan, DS

Mazda MX-30

Automobiles Formula e, Opel Corsa E-Rally, Opel Elektro GT, Peugeot 508 Peugeot Sport Engineered, Renault Clio HEV – E TECH, SEAT EL-Born, Volkswagen ID Buggy, and the Volkswagen ID Buzz.

With Brussels just a relatively short distance from Dublin (approximately a 90-minute flight time), and attrac-

VW ID Buggy

tive accommodation prices to be had, the Brussels Motor Show is a mustvisit event for motoring enthusiasts.

I am looking forward to the 2021 show already!

20 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23 January 2020

GOINGOUTOUT

JANUARY 23 (THURSDAY)

Tommy Emmanuel @ Vicar Street, SOLD OUT The Felice Brothers @ Whelan’s, €23 Seth Lakeman @ The Button Factory, €25 Costello + Lethal Dialect @ The Workman’s Club, €11

JANUARY 24 (FRIDAY)

Schoolboy Q @ The Olympia Theatre, sold out Big Sleep @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €12 Waterparks @ The Academy, €25 Boxing Banjo @ The Button Factory, €20

JANUARY 25 (SATURDAY)

Xylouris White @ Whelan’s, €18 The Young Uns @ The Button Factory, €20 The Teskey Brothers @ The Academy, €18 Deno @ The Academy 2, SOLD OUT Cult Called Man @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €10+

JANUARY 26 (SUNDAY)

Afro Celt Sound @ The Olympia Theatre, €32 The High Kings @ Vicar Street, €34 Tim Baker @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €5

JANUARY 27 (MONDAY)

James Yorkston @ The Workman’s Club, €18

JANUARY 28 (TUESDAY)

Mabel @ The Olympia Theatre, SOLD OUT Robyn Hitchcock @ Whelan’s, €15 Young MA @ The Academy, €20

JANUARY 29 (WEDNESDAY)

Sam Lewis @ Whelan’s (Upstairs), €13 KSI @ The Academy Green Room, SOLD OUT

“

I love listening to old vinyl and I feel like my recording approaches are similar to the styles of the days when analog was the standard

John Craigie: Storytelling through songs and tales with a pinch of quick wit JOHN Craigie’s road to the world of Folk-style, quirky solo guitarist has been an unusual one.

Starting out as more of a spoken word artist, the LA-born, Portland-based troubadour releases conventional albums, but has made his live show into a kind of blend of winding tales and audience interaction blurred with Bluegrass-style, mellow guitar pop.

His offbeat side really comes out in those winding spoken fusions, with tracks aimed at particular audience members such as, Let’s Talk This Over When We’re Sober, for the couples, or jokey spoken-word release, Pants In England, about struggling with language differences in Europe, and then finding England no easier.

On the live record, Opening For Steinbeck, Carigie jokes that his ideal audience is a room full of people who’ve just been dumped.

He says: “I was actually a storyteller before I was a songwriter. As I began performing, it did take a little bit of time to figure out how to blend the two together.

“But it was a natural path of discovery and I am still learning and enjoying it today. I’m still figuring out the answer to the touring stuff.

“I find that senses of humour are slightly different. Some of my banter makes sense to the audience, and some doesn’t.

“Other than that, it hasn’t been that different. I need to check my American accent sometimes and, if the audience doesn’t speak English,

 JAMES HENDICOTT

then I have to shift my set up a bit as well.”

Latest album, Scarecrow, is – much like Craigie live – a collection of oddities blended from his back catalogue. There’s no particular theme; more a collection of scraps left from previous records.

“It is comprised of songs that didn’t make it onto my album, No Rain, No Rose, and songs that didn’t fit the vibe of my upcoming album.

“So I guess if there is a theme, it’s sort of that [those songs] are all a bit homeless. Alone, like a scarecrow out in the field.

“I decided I wanted to record something that was all analog, using tape machines, and then cutting it straight to vinyl.

“Luckily, I live in Portland, which is full of audiophiles, and had some studios that had all the vintage gear I needed for the project.

“I love listening to old vinyl and I feel like my recording approaches are similar to the styles of the days when analog was the standard.

“At heart, I would say I am an analog-type person, but it can be very expensive and complex.”

Of Portland, he says: “It’s a great community here.

Very collaborative and inclusive.

“There’s so much talent and everyone seems very excited to share and work together. I never feel like I can’t find a good musician when I need one.”

Picture: Bradley Cox

As for the tours, it’s very much about making that local connection, and finding out what makes sense in the context of different audiences.

“My show is a mix between storytelling and songs,” Craigie explains.

“I love to connect with

the audience, and always play to the room. I’m looking forward to figuring out the stories and songs that they connect with best.

“Touring is a huge part of my life and it’s important for me to be extra conscious during that time.

“I’m trying to limit my

waste and the plastic I use, and trying to educate my audience on such things as well.”

What’s certain is that Craigie will talk as much as he’ll sing, and his humour will shine.

It’s a Folk vibe, but heavy on the comedy asides.

23 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 21

BIG HONOUR FOR FORMER DUBLIN MANAGER

DUBLIN FREEDOM

FREEDOM OF THE CITY | 500 GATHER AT MANSION HOUSE

Top City honour for modest Jim Gavin CÓILÍN DUFFY GROUP EDITOR

Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe; Jim Gavin and his wife Jenifer and their children, Jude (11) and Yasmin (13)

Life of politics not for Freeman Jim CÓILÍN DUFFY

JIM GAVIN says he doesn’t envisage a career in politics – for now at least!

The newly crowned Freeman of Dublin was speaking to Dublin Gazette at the Mansion House – the venue where almost 101 years to the day the first Dáil sat in 1919.

“I don’t see that (I would be interested in a career in politics) at the moment,” Gavin told Dublin Gazette Group Editor Cóilín Duffy.

“I’ve pure admiration for politicians - in football you are busy with it, but for political people there’s more responsibility. I was manager of a football team, whereas they are managing people’s lives and I just have pure admiration for the commitment that politicians give.

Putting their hand up to represent their communities is a big commitment, and ye I’m happy back managing the Under 12’s!”

Gavin was honoured with the prestigious accolade at an event attend by Dublin Senior Football team members that included Brian Fenton, Ciaran Kilkenny and Paddy Andrews; and other luminaries from across the sporting world including former Irish Rugby team Head Coach Joe Schmidt, and ex Irish Underage soccer boss Brian Kerr.

As always Jim was keen to deflect the plaudits away from himself, again singling out the Dublin players involved in what subsequently placed them as the most successful mens Gaelic Football team ever, winning five-All-Ireland titles in-a-row, for special mention.

“It’s just a super honour to get it, and to be nominated first and foremost by the Lord Mayor, and then for it to be endorsed by Dublin City Council. As a Dub, and a proud Dub I’m just so humbled. When you look at the list of names that have gone before me, one can’t see themselves in that league. The way I see it, I am here to represent the team that I had the good fortune to manage, and the great players that played for Dublin during my tenure and that’s why I’m here. It’s not because of what I have done, but because of what they have done on the field of play. To represent them tonight, and indeed to represent Óglaigh na hÉireann that I served with for 20 years, and the Aviation Authority that I am heavily involved in, it’s just a proud moment for myself, for Dublin GAA, and for my family.

JIM GAVIN became the first receipient of the Freedom of the City of Dublin in four years, as many of his family, friends, GAA and work colleagues, and key figures from across the sporting spectrum were among the 500 gathered in the Mansion House on Saturday night .

The Clondalkin native followed a long line of luminarees to become the latest Freeman or Freewoman of the City including Isaac Butt, Bill Clinton, Mother Teresa, John F Kennedy, A. Chester Beatty, U2, Gay Byrne, Kevin Heffernan, Fr. Peter McVerry and Brian O’Driscoll.

Gavin became the first recipient of the honour since the February 28 2014, when John Giles and Brother Kevin Crowley were feted.

Lord Mayor of Dublin Paul McAuliffe presented the award to Jim, as the Council bestowed the honour on him for his contribution to public life and

(Main) Master Bowyer Jack Pinson with Dublin Lord Mayor Paul McAuliffe and former Dublin SF Manager Jim Gavin. (Inset) Dublin Gazette Group Editor Cóilín Duffy interviews Jim.

service to his county and country both on and off the field.

Gavin is best known as the outgoing Dublin Senior Football Manager, bringing a historic never before achieved ‘five-in-a-row’ of All-Ireland Senior Mens

Football titles, culminating in last September’s AllIreland Final replay win over Kerry.

However, he has also served his country for over 20 years as a military pilot for Óglaigh na hÉireann, holding the Senior rank of

Commandant.

He was also a former Chief Flying Instructor, a Captain and chief pilot in the Ministerial Air Transport Squadron and served as Chief of Military Aviation with the United Nations in the Central Afri-

can Republic and Chad.

Among the privileges/ duties of a Freeman/ woman is the right to pasture sheep on common ground within the city boundaries, which U2 exercised in 2000 on St. Stephen’s Green.

WHAT THEY SAID ABOUT JIM

Jim Gavin poses for a photo with his Dad Jim Snr.

He’s often not given enough credit for how good a footballer he was. By his size he couldn’t contest a high ball out the field, but he was so strong on the ground; he had great fitness, and he used it in a way that worked.

Charlie Redmond (Ex Dublin Footballer)

Much of the skills that we see of Jim on a daily basis - his fondness of analysis; his commitment to continuous improvement and continuous learning; are skills that Jim has translated successfully onto the football pitch.

There’s not many people who can translate that managerial and skill into the sports arena.

Peter Kearney C.E.O. Irish Aviation Authority Jim always had the knack of knowing when to put the arm around you and

when to give you the little kick and try and spur you on. It’s a credit to him that he was able to manage the group, and manage all the personalities. He was always calm, controlled, factual, objective, but off the pitch also Jim is such a lovely man.

Brian Fenton (Dublin Footballer) I first met Jim at the Ryder Cup with his Dad. I could see he was doing a really good job, and I wanted to know a couple of secrets!

Joe Schmidt (Ex Irish Rugby Coach)

22 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23 January 2020

DUBLIN BUSINESS WOMEN Our new, monthly insight into Dublin’s most successful women

DBW DUBLIN BUSINESS

WOMEN

No ‘stunt’ just a well executed piece of technology Creating digital infrastructures for towns and cities around Ireland WENDY STUNT is hyper about technology, and with justification, as the Director of Booniverse - a company which is creating digital infrastructures for towns and cities around Ireland in the form of apps, including one for our beloved capital city, the “Dublin App”, which was just launched in November.

The App is far from a ‘stunt’ but rather a well executed piece of technology by the Dublin Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, that allows effectively for locals and tourists alike to discover what is happening in Dublin.

Local attractions, great spots to eat and stay and a log of events and activities; are just some of the areas covered by the free to download app, which is available for both Android and Apple phones.

This App is described as a hyper-local app - one allowing people to ‘plugin’ to all that is happening in the city. Interactive mapping is a key feature of the app, as well as useful information and

a onetouch system to contact every business on the app.

Stunt, who won the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ at the Irish Women’s Awards last year; is mindful of all that our island has to offer in terms of outdoor activities, and with 26% of all visitors to

DBW DUBLIN BUSINESS

WOMEN

our green shores coming to walk and hike, a key component of the app is the numerous interactive hikes and trails, and selfguided tours, which are available alongside business listings.

The App is also a transactional platform, where businesses can sell tickets, promote special offers and sell their goods and services.

The App is also av a i l a b l e fo r other towns and cities, including Galway, Cork, Tralee, Killarney, Midleton, Youghal, Cobh, Fermoy and Carrigaline.

2020 looks set to be an exciting one ahead for Stunt and Booniverse, with a number of other Irish towns and cities; along with some in the UK and Spain set to come on board.

Go DigiCard Managing Director and Dublin App creator Wendy Stunt

The App is also a transactional platform, where businesses can sell tickets, promote special offers and sell their goods and services.

ARE YOU A SUCCESSFUL DUBLIN BUSINESS WOMAN? EACH month, DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS are focusing on the promotion of Dublin Business Women.

We will be highlighting the vast talent that is Dublin Business Women. We will be talking to YOU about YOUR journey, where you are

in your business and about your plans. We’ll focus on what have been your obstacles, how you overcame them, and why you went into business and where you see yourself going.

Employees who are working for companies will also be promoted.

We want to hear YOUR story.

If you or any advertiser would like to be involved with this new DBW concept, and to be part of a sponsorship option, please contact Liz Ferris at her email below.

Commercial Director: Liz Ferris • lferris@dublingazette.com • 01 601 0240

23 January 2020 DUBLIN GAZETTE 23

CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN...JUST FOR FUN!

CODEWORDS

You could advertise here

DUBLIN PUZZLES SUDOKU EASY

MODERATE

SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTIONS

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

WORD SEARCH

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

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

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

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

Cross off the letters in the A to Z list.

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

LAST WEEK’S SOLUTION

FIND THE HIDDEN WORDS AEROPLANES AMBLE AUNTY BOLD DERELICT FORGOT HERB HOBO HOLLOW IDEAS INCIDENTAL INCITE JUDGING

KURT LECTURED MUMP NOBEL PILL ROTE SICILY SNELL SOLICITOR UNANSWERED VENTURA WEAKLY

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

24 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 23 January 2020

DUBLINGAZETTECLASSIFIEDS  CITY GARDENING

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CITY  DUBLINGAZETTECLASSIFIEDS ROOFING

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26 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 23 January 2020

DUBLINGAZETTECLASSIFIEDS  CITY

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23 January 2020 CITY  DUBLIN GAZETTE 27

KARATE P28

THE BEST IN DUBLIN

SPORT

SEASONS GREETINGS: GAELIC GAMES: THE new league sea-

son gets under way this weekend for the Dublin men’s and women’s footballers.

Paul Mannion looks forward to Saturday night’s opening night at Croke Park against Kerry and Dessie Farrell’s first league game in charge. Mick Bohan, meanwhile, has made a string of changes to his squad for the spring campaign ahead.



GAZETTE

HOCKEY P29

PAGE 30-31

LET DUBLIN GAZETTE NEWSPAPERS INFORM YOU OF THE HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORES OF YOUR FAVOURITE TEAMS CRICKET | MORE STILL TO COME FROM SANDYMOUNT VETERAN

O’Brien tops the order in West Indies  sport@dublingazette.com

SANDYMOUNT’S Kevin O’Brien relished his role at the top of the order as he helped Ireland take down T20 world champions the West Indies in Basseterre in the first meeting of the series this week.

O’Brien was elevated to open the innings with Paul Stirling in T20s last year and the partnership seemed to click immediately.

Their partnership yielded a record 93 runs in the first six overs, a record high team score during the first powerplay in T20I cricket.

They went on to strike a 154-run partnership in 12.3 overs. This was a record T20I partnership for Ireland for any wicket, and put the visitors in a commanding position, eventually winning by four runs.

Reflecting on the partnership, O’Brien said: “We are both aggressive batsmen, so it comes quite naturally to us to play that way.

“I think when you play the best in the world, our approach is that you won’t beat them if you don’t stand face-to-face with them and throw some punches.

“So, the best way for us to beat teams is to play that way and take the game to the opposition.”

“It also helps to get you up for the challenge when there is such a passionate crowd, like in the Caribbean.

“The atmosphere the local fans create – they have a love of cricket and they like to watch cricket played the right way!

“They want to see players entertain them on the field, they want fours, sixes, wickets, catches. The party atmosphere in the stadiums is something that is not experienced anywhere else in the world.”

O’Brien’s score of 48 from 32 balls was his highest score on tour and he duly added a quickfire 36 off 18 balls in game three which ended in a loss and, ultimately, a shared series.

Railway Union’s Kevin O’Brien was in free-scoring form for Ireland in the T20 series in the West Indies. Picture: Oliver McVeigh

The most-capped Irish cricketer in history, with over 370 appearances for the national side, said it was another nice moment in a marquee career but he still has plans for more.

“I still enjoy my cricket and have ambitions for myself and for the team.

It’s a big year for us with the T20 World Cup in Australia being a big carrot to

work towards. “ I know I need to continue to improve my cricket and consistently put in match-winning contributions with the bat. While cricket is my job, I know it won’t last forever, so I want to continue to play as long as I’m fit, and as long as I’m adding to the national side.”

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

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

28 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 23 January 2020

CLUB NOTES

ROUND

2 1

LUCAN SARSFIELDS BALLYMUN KICKHAMS OUR nurseries WELL done to the returned Junioron A la Saturday at both venues at the usual times. There was also a very special guest in attendance at both venues, Mr Sam Maguire. There were lots of photos and smiles. Well done again to all the nursery crews for their fabulous work every Saturday, but especially last weekend!

Our teams are all well and truly back in training and playing challenge games at all levels, male and female, adult and juvenile. We want to wish all our managers, coaches, mentors and teams of players, the absolute very best of luck for the upcoming season.

Your annual membership is now due. Please see Linda or a member of your management team asap.

Adult players/full membership is €100 and €50 for the unwaged. Social membership is €40 per annum.

Remember, this entitles you to apply for entry into our (what seems to be now annual) ticket draw for all Ireland football final tickets! We encourage all people involved in the club, be it supporter, parent or just a well wisher, to join the club and become a member of our burgeoning family. All new comers welcome. Linda is most welcoming! You can contact her by using these: lindaparnell@yahoo. ie or 0872733022 or go to our website for more information.

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

We ask all juvenile teams to please comply with this rule. It’s envisaged that the pitch will be completed by the middle of February (weather permitting). We also advise that our grass pitch is currently closed until further notice, will reopen soon, weather permitting.

Congratulations to Corofin GAA club and Ballyhale Shamrocks on their superb victories in the All Ireland club finals today. We aspire to your level of greatness and congratulate you both on your continued success. Commiserations to the vanquished teams, a disappointing day but 2 great seasons to be also admired. Well done all concerned.

O’TOOLE’S IT’S ALL go in O’Toole’s from this week with lots of smiley faces back to training and that’s only the mentors. Our U12 boys training every Monday& Wednesday 7 to 8pm. Our U14 & U16 girls train on Tuesday and Thursday evenings 6 to 7pm & 7 to 8pm respectively. While our younger girls’ group 10/11/12’s train on our all-weather from 7 to 8pm Tuesday also. Our juvenile pitch is now open for training.

If you would like your child to learn the finer moves of our national sports by fully trained mentors, bring them along or phone David Needham on 086 3101034 for times and evenings. New players

are always most welcome in O’Toole’s.

We have a pre-season mentors meeting organised for next Monday 27th at 7:30pm. It is very important that all mentors (i.e. lead or second mentors) attend to meet with the Management committee and get a chance to ask questions or air your views.

Entertainment in our lounge this weekend. Saturday night it’s the brilliant ‘MICAH’ and Sunday with ‘Ross I.C.’ ‘Find the Joker’ jackpot is €170 this Sunday There was no winner of our Thursday night ‘Live’ Club Lotto. The numbers drawn were 9, 12, 19, 21.

This week the jackpot is €3,800.

KARATE: TERENURE-BASED STAR HOPING FOR OLYMPIC SPOT

Caradh facing last chance at place at Tokyo

OLYMPIC QUALIFIERS  DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

T E R E N U R E K A R ATE champion Caradh O ’ D o n ov a n h a s h e r sights set on a Tokyo Olympic berth after recovering from a nasty injury that threatened to end her career.

She has just returned from France, where she took part in a four-day training camp ahead of May’s last-chance qualifying.

35-year-old O’Donovan needs to finish in the top three at the event in Paris in order to make the finals, having missed out most of the ranking events due to her injury.

“I’m going to go for it.

It’s a very long shot now,” O’Donovan tells Dublin Gazette.

“We have two different ways to qualify. One was through your world ranking, and that opportunity is completely gone, which would have been the easiest way to qualify.

“In my weight category, you have to be top four in the world. But because I missed out on all the events in the Olympic ranking window, that’s not going to happen. “ T h e re ’s o n e l a s t chance and that’s the world qualification event in May, which gives me another four months to prepare.

“But I’m relying on things to go perfectly – I

have to get top three in that event to qualify. But I’m going to give it my best shot.

“I know enough to know it’s a long shot but I’m prepared to give it my best.”

Laid low by injury, O’Donovan hasn’t been

prepared to keep her head down, however, and she’s been a vocal activist in support of athlete welfare.

The political struggle in Irish karate, which has seen the governance of the sport split into two organisations, with the recognised Karate Ireland ONAKAI in opposition to the new ONAKAI. O’Donovan has stayed allied with the former and has been subject to sustained abuse from certain quarters, including match officials, as a result of her decision to stick with the organisation.

“I got involved in a group called Global Athlete – they’re relatively new but when all this kicked off in Irish Karate they helped us out.

“That has given me more of an interest in speaking out about athlete welfare. There are a lot of issues we don’t

hear more about because in my experience when you speak up, you get punished. “ T h e m e d i a d o so much to highlight issues in sport, but athletes are starting to do their own bit and speak up more.

“It’s almost contagious, when you see people speaking up you feel like you can do it too.

Maybe I’m naïve to think that will happen.

“From what I’ve seen over the last year, there are more athletes willing to stick their neck out and say things that won’t be popular.

“You won’t get a pat on the back – I still get told all the time ‘don’t say that, don’t put that out, it’s bad optics.’ But I don’t care.

“Whether it’s racism or anti-doping issues or athlete welfare, the more we speak about anything, it’s the only way it’s going to change.”

23 January 2020 CITY  DUBLIN GAZETTE 29

INDOOR HOCKEY: FOX RELISHING HUGE MONTH AHEAD

Caradh O’Donovan, inset and second from left in main picture, during a recent training camp

Lloyd has Railway on track to Leinster title WOMEN’S INDOOR HOCKEY FINAL  STEPHEN FINDLATER

sport@dublingazette.com

TOP 100 COURSE Royal Dublin named on world class shortlist ROYAL Dublin Golf Club was named at number 74 in the world’s top 100 golf courses by golfscape this week.

In the shortlist, the links course, nestled in Bull Island, was hailed as being “widely accepted as one of the greatest links courses worldwide.

Designed by Harry Colt, the traditional layout is one of the biggest golf clubs in the country, offering a challenging yet rewarding experience for today’s golfer”.

LILY Lloyd’s perfectly placed double saw Railway Union retain the Leinster women’s indoor league as they withstood Muckross’s late rush in the final at St Columba’s last Sunday She opened the scoring when Orla Fox picked her out on the edge of the circle, spun and shot early. The two players were involved in the next goal, too, with Lloyd finding the overlapping Fox on the right boards. Her shot was saved high but dropped perfectly to Lloyd who – while the Muckross defence delayed – breached a tackle and got off an early push that made it into the bottom corner.

Trailing 2-0 at half-time, Muckross had the upper hand after half-time but Sophie Barnwell saw her penalty stroke effort saved

by Carolyn Crampton.

Railway skipper Holly Jenkinson had earlier saved off the line while Lloyd was denied a hat trick by the width of a post, leaving the tie in the balance.

Charlie Flavin did get them on the scoreboard when she picked up Sarah McAuley’s poke through, flicking beyond Crampton, but they could not find a further threat and Railway prevailed once more.

“Delighted to retain the Leinster cup,” Fox said following the victory. “It was very tight and Muckross are a very structured team because they are coached by Rob Abbott. He has been doing a lot of work with them and they really progressed as the tournament went on. It got very close at 2-1.”

The club are now looking forward to playing in the National Indoor Trophy in a fortnight’s time at the Kingfisher Hall in Galway.

After that, they will go on to play in Europe – as 2019 national champs – in Portugal in the EuroHockey Indoor Club Challenge.

Railway Union’s indoor league winning side last Sunday.

For Fox, though, her first port of call will be to captain the Irish women’s team at the EuroHockey Indoor Championship III in Bratislava in what will be the country’s first indoor Euros since 1990.

“It’s fantastic to have indoor reintroduced at international level,” she told Dublin Gazette.

“We started trials all the way back in October. We had about 30 or 40 athletes who were interested in representing their country which is fantastic to see. From that, selections were made and a good bit of training over Christmas and January.

“I jumped at the chance. Why wouldn’t I

want to experience it at another level and experience what it is like internationally?

It is predominantly well known in Eastern Europe and so you get a chance to see something very different. It can also only add to your [outdoor] game.”

Ireland will play hosts Portugal on Friday morning at 10am in the first of six games.

They will also play Spain, Finland, Denmark, Slovakia and Slovenia with the top two from the group earning promotion.

She is joined in the side by fellow Dubliners Sarah and Orla Patton (both UCD), Ali Meeke (Loreto) and Sophie Barnwell (Muckross).

Horses for Courses’ spring offering HORSERACING

 sport@dublingazette.com

HORSES for Courses, the successful and popular evening course on horseracing, returns for Spring 2020 from Monday, February 10 to Monday, March 16.

The course covers breeders, trainers, owners, jockeys, racegoers, betting, racecourse management, the role of Horse Racing Ireland, role of the Irish horseracing regulatory board, racing media, sponsorship, racing fashion and more.

Among the contributors offer- tips for Cheltenham 2020.

General admission to the ing the course are the likes of national hunt trainer Henry de course is €185. To book a place Bromhead, The Curragh manager Pat Keogh, racing journalist Donn McClean and The Irish Field editor Leo Powell among others.

The course runs for six weeks on Monday evenings from 7.309.30pm at the Talbot Hotel, Stillorgan.

It also includes a trip to the world renowned Irish National Stud, Horse Museum and Gardens, a free day at the races and

on this course, go to www. eventbrite.ie, search “Horses for Courses”.

30 DUBLIN GAZETTE  CITY 23 January 2020

LADIES FOOTBALL: BIG NAMES SET FOR DUBLIN RETURN

SOCCER

Caffrey and McCaffrey back in blue for 2020  CÓILÍN DUFFY

Home Farm’s U-12 girls played in the curtain raiser to the men’s FAI Intrer Cup tie

cduffy@dublingazette.com

Farm’s Hand takes positives from exit FAI INTERMEDIATE CUP Home Farm Malahide United  DAVE DONNELLY sport@dublingazette.com

0 1

A SECOND-HALF strike from Darren Craven saw Home Farm bow out of the FAI Intermediate Cup but manager John Hand was full of praise for his side’s performance.

The game swung on a frantic 30-second period on the hour mark as midfielder Eoin Murray missed a penalty before the Malahide captain stroked the ball home on the break.

The midfielder got on the end of a move involving substitutes Jordi Ebanda and Rob Duggan, who had only been on the field a matter of seconds, to seal a 1-0 win.

Malahide manager Ger Coughlan took the gamble of introducing Ebanda, Duggan and Gareth Craven before the penalty was taken and his decision paid off immediately.

After McNulty had palmed away Murray’s spotkick, Malahide broke immediately up the other end through the former Dundalk striker Ebanda.

He picked out Murray in the centre, and he teed up his captain for a well-taken side-footed finish into the net, which proved to be the only goal. Home Farm piled on the pressure in the final moments but couldn’t find the breakthrough as Malahide held out for a spot in the last eight.

Hand took the positives from a solid display against a club flying at the top of LSL Sunday Senior, however, with his own side’s promotion hopes the main focus.

“You can take the disappointment out of the game and look at the plusses, because we’re a young side,” Home Farm boss John Hand told Dublin Gazette.

“We were up against a good side there tonight, a really well-drilled side. Their substitutions were key and we were just getting a foothold in the game – we’d have deserved a 1-0 at that stage.

“They were very strong and we knew they were dangerous, but I’m very proud of our players and how they performed.

“I don’t usually watch penalties but frustration afterwards. He’s our penalty-taker and usually he’s bulletproof.

“The heads are down but that is one of the best games I’ve seen us being involved in all year.

There are no two ways about it and we’re over the moon about the direction we’re going in. We’re going into next week against Crumlin United joint-second in the table.

“This is not too far off the same squad that nearly went out of this league two seasons ago.”

CITY quartet Leah Caffrey, Sarah McCaffrey, Laura McGinley and Rebecca McDonnell are among five players back in the Dublin squad, ahead of their Lidl Ladies Football League Division 1 opener against All-Ireland Intermediate champions Tipperary in Ballyboden St Enda’s this Sunday at 2pm.

They are joined by St Brigid’s player Dee Murphy, as part of a dozen changes to the squad from the one which retained the All-Ireland Senior Championship last September.

Clontarf’s Siobhan Killeen and Nicole Owens of St Sylvester’s continue to be ruled out through injury, with Niamh McEvoy and Sinead Goldrick absent due to AFL commitments.

Thomas Davis’ Olwen Carey is also unavailable for the league due to study commitments.

On the flip side, meanwhile, are Ballinteer St John’s Niamh Sweeney and Shauna McGuinness of St Maur’s are b o t h g ive n ca l l - u p’s after impressing in club action.

Leah Caffrey - right, pictured with Katie Murray and her neice Evie Evans - is back in blue. Picture: Brendan Moran/ Sportsfile

Both are getting a taste of inter-county life for the very first time, having not been i nvo l ve d i n D u b l i n squads at any level in the past. “ T h e y h av e b e e n pointed out to us, and they are in with us at the moment and they have been doing very well,”

COMBINED EVENTS Olusa the senior men’s national title in Athlone ROLUS Olusa (Clonliffe Harriers) continued his good form this indoor season to win the senior men’s Irish Life Health National Combined Events title in Athlone IT. Olusa, pictured, turned over Shane Aston (Trim) to win the men’s crown with 3,584 points and stop the Meath man’s streak of national multi-events titles.

The Clonliffe Harrier started well to edge the 60m hurdles in 8.41 seconds and won the high jump (1.93m), shot put (11.29m), and long jump 6.69m. He only just conceded in the 1,000m in second in 3:00.50 to Aston’s 2:59.00.

Picture: Sam Barnes / SPORTSFILE

manager Mick Bohan told Dublin Gazette at the launch of the competition at Lidl Ireland’s H Q i n Ta l l a g h t t h i s week.

“That’s obviously a really healthy situation - that even the message to a 24 or 25-year-old is that you don’t have to have come through

the system. That if you perform for the club an opportunity awaits.

“We are hugely appreciative of the work the clubs do, because without them we wouldn’t have the numbers of players available to us, and while the development squads do a really decent job - at the end

of the day clubs are the bedrock of this whole thing, and that will never change.”

Looking ahead to Sunday, Bohan says Dublin aren’t taking Tipperary for granted.

“Not at all. They will be gunning for it. I’m sure their legs are ready to go.”

23 January 2020 CITY  DUBLIN GAZETTE 31

FOOTBALL: KILMACUD MAN WAS ALWAYS SURE CLUXTON WOULD CONTINUE

CAMOGIE

Vincent’s face biggest game for 21 years

Paul Mannion at the launch of EirSport’s coverage of the 2020 Allianz Leagues. Picture: Brendan Moran

Mannion excited by Dessie era ALLIANZ FOOTBALL LEAGUE  sport@dublingazette.com

PAUL Mannion is confident Dessie Farrell will make a significant impact coaching an accomplished collection of Dublin footballers.

The group returned to training in earnest last week and while the Kilmacud Crokes man has only had a few direct sessions with the new Dublin manager, he has been impressed by the early phases.

“We met him before heading off on holiday to set goals for the year and expectations - what he expected from us and what we can expect from them,” Mannion said at the launch of Eir Sports Allianz Leagues coverage.

“It was a little introduction to his management philosophy and so forth.

It wasn’t new to all of us given the amount of players that have worked with him before.

“I think he is quite similar to Jim [Gavin] in many ways, he is not coming in to try to tear up the playbook or anything like that.

“He has no notions about himself, he is looking forward to working with us, observing how things have been done, and from there to add things to improve us.

“Every manager is different.I think Dessie even managing from his days with the GPA he is very focused on ensuring that players as people are very well rounded and settled in their lives and happy in their lives outside of the thing.

“I think that has always been important to every team I’ve played on, but

Dessie is particularly passionate about that.

The Dubs get going on Saturday evening at 7.15pm in Croke Park before travelling to Mayo a week later for game two.

And Mannion is raring to go and see how things will work out after five barnstorming years of All-Ireland success.

“It will be new in ways, but, as I said, he knows so many players, he was a brilliant player himself, he has had success and knows what it takes to win an All-Ireland as a player and a manager and I’m sure he’ll learn a lot as the year goes on.

“We’re going to be completely open with him about how we’ve done things, welcome him into the environment and culture and all the things we’ve devel-

oped. I’m looking forward to seeing what he adds of his own. It’s going to be an interesting year.”

Stephen Cluxton will miss most of the league but will return when back from injury and Mannion says that while the goalkeeper’s potential retirement was discussed in the media, he always felt the Parnell’s man would continue on.

“He never said he wasn’t so I just assumed that he was,” Mannion laughs.

“There were no signs that he was ever going to drop off.

“As a man, he is completely driven, hungry for winning more and above all people he cared the least about this five craic.”

“He just wants to go on to play as long as he can and be with us for as long as he can.”

ONE GOOD CLUB: Rowe an ambassador

DUBLIN football star Carla Rowe was on hand to launch Lidl Ireland’s One Good Club initiative, a five-step youth mental health awareness programme for local clubs, developed in partnership with the Ladies Gaelic Football Association (LGFA) and Jigsaw – the National Centre for Youth Mental Health.

Each step provides participating clubs with a suite of suggested activities, simple enough to complete without a significant time or resource commitment. Activities include connecting with the community by hosting a coffee morning, organising fun ‘get active’ sessions aimed at younger members of the community not involved in sport or introducing meditation and mindfulness as part of the ‘cool down’ after training.

Rowe (pictured, centre, with young fans), a three-time All-Ireland winner, is one of four One Good Club ambassadors along with Galway’s Nicola Ward, Waterford’s Caoimhe McGrath and Donegal’s Emer Gallagher. The programme forms part of Lidl’s €2.1 million investment in the fifth year of partnership with the LGFA. Picture: james crombie/inpho

ST VINCENT’S are bound for McDonagh Park in Nenagh for their All-Ireland senior club championship semi-final where they will come up against Galway’s Sarsfields.

They travel hoping to reach their second final of the competition having reached the decider back in 1998, falling to Limerick’s GranaghBallingarry.

The Marino club took home the Leinster title in November with a provincial final win over Wexford’s St Martin’s in a replay.

Ali Maguire was in sublime form from placed balls and she will need to find that same rhythm to keep the Vincent’s tally ticking over while Aisling Maher will be another go-to figure for this tough battle.

Sarsfields will be powered by a strong panel with star county players Sarah Spellman, Tara Kenny and Maria Cooney among the ones to watch.

Elsewhere, the club’s junior hurlers were denied in the Junior B Leinster hurling final in Kileedy by Loughrea.

Vincent’s found themselves nine points down at halftime to be in a difficult position but produced a remarkable second half comeback with the wind.

With 16 minutes to go, they were back within two points and daring to dream and Loughrea subsequently had a man sent off.

But they summoned a big late burst of energy to eke out a 1-14 to 0-15 success in the final reckoning.

GazetteSPORT JANUARY 23-29, 2020

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

JIM’S FREEDOM OF THE CITY FOOTBALL:

Former Dublin boss gets the city’s top honour for his incredible services to the county with five titles in a row SEE P21

RAILWAY ON TRACK HOCKEY:

Railway Union in flying form with Leinster title paving the way for European campaign. SEE p29

KEVIN TOPS THE ORDER CRICKET:

Sandymount’s Kevin O’Brien plays his part in record-breaking performance for Ireland against the West Indies.

SEE P27

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Killester’s fire lit by chastening UCC loss  DAVE DONNELLY

sport@dublingazette.com

A CHASTENING 20-point defeat to UCC Glanmire proved the turning point in the season for Pyrobel Killester, who face Brunell of Cork in this weekend’s Paudie O’Connor Cup final (Sunday, 5.30pm, National Basketball Arena).

A tight 82-79 win over the same opposition in the semi-finals, having trailed 44-38 at the break, saw Karl Kilbride’s side into the final.

American duo Christa Reed and Adella Randle El led the scoring for Killester with 23 and 21 respectively and will be key to their chances of success in Tallaght this weekend.

The pair have been key to the side’s turnaround in form, and the north innercity side are unbeaten in two months since their wake-up call.

“We scored 17 points in the first half and 58 in the second, so it was like two different games,” Kilbride told Dublin Gazette.

“We were disappointed with our execution. In our video sessions, we watch everything back and in 24 occasions they scored, 17 were our fault.

“We were able to say this is all stuff we can literally turn around tomorrow. If you do that right in the next time, those 17 are taken off the board.

“It’s one thing to be able to say that. But it’s another thing to go out and do it. The girls have been brilliant all year.”

While they sit just three points off second

Pyrobel Killester’s senior side in a huddle during their cup semi-final. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

“We tweaked a couple of things, really changed

mentally, and we’re playing with an awful lot more freedom“ place and are primed to reach the league playoffs, Kilbride says the cup is the ultimate prize for his side.

“In Irish basketball, the cup is the one that everybody really wants to win.

For a lot of people, the cup would be the real glory one everyone wants to go for.

“We’re delighted to be back in the final. We were there five years ago and, at the time, we were young and gave a great

account of ourselves.

“We’re looking forward to a big game.

We’ve played two really close games with Brunell already this year. It should be good.

“We weren’t great at the start of the year but we made a couple of big changes, tweaked a couple of things and really changed mentally, and we’re playing with an awful lot more freedom.

“We lost to UCC by 20-odd and it was a real

wake-up call.

“It was a week before the cup quarter-final, and we haven’t lost a game since.”

Brunell sit secondfrom-bottom in the table with just two wins from 12 games, but Kilbride is adamant that their league position doesn’t tell close to the full story.

The Cork side beat l e a g u e l e a d e rs D C U Mercy in the semi-finals so cannot be underestimated in spite of their

lowly league position.

“Their league form doesn’t, in any way, represent the talent they have.

We played them in the game before Christmas and we only beat them in overtime.

“We were three down in overtime but we had a shot on the buzzer to win the game. It was really close.

“It was put to me that we’re favourites for the final, but for the quarterfinal we weren’t favour-

ites and for the semi-final we weren’t favourites. So being favourites doesn’t mean a lot. “ T h ey ’ve l o s t te n games in the league but they’ve won enough games to reach the cup final, as we saw in their semi-final against DCU.” The club will be going for a double with their wheelchair side playing Rebel Wheelers in their final on Friday night at 6.30pm in the weekend’s curtain-raiser.