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Tree-mendous festive fare will thrill the family this Christmas

27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017

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WISHING ALL OUR READERS A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR

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Apollo House ‘residents’ have a Christmas home  EMMA NOLAN

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

THE occupants of Apollo House will be allowed to remain there for Christmas, but have been ordered to leave on January 11 by the High Court.

Last week saw a unique display of people-power as the vacant building in

the city centre was occupied in order to shelter the homeless.

The Poolbeg Street office block has been empty for six years and is due to be demolished. The campaign group Home Sweet Home and the Irish Housing Network started a Facebook campaign in late October to occupy the

building and kit it out as a homeless shelter.

Their move has gained widespread support from around the world; however, at the time of going to press, NAMAappointed receivers for the building had sought action in the High Court against those illegally occupying the office block.

With around 35 people currently staying in the building, volunteers have donated everything from mattresses and bedding to laundry and cooking facilities.

However, Fr Peter McVerry of The Peter McVerry Trust said that occupying Apollo House was “not the solution”.

Continued on Pages 4-5

2 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017

Burglaries up in Santry and Finglas BURGLARIES in Finglas and Santry increased in the run up to the festive period, statistics detailed by An Garda Siochana at the last Dublin North West Joint Policing meeting showed.

In Finglas, burglary is up by 15% with 66 burglaries in 2015 and 76 burglaries in 2016 during the period between August 1 and November 30.

In Santry, theft from the person is up by 167% from three in 2015 to eight in 2016 during the period September 1 to December 1.

And in Cabra, assault causing harm is up by 175% with four incidents in 2015 and 16 incidents in 2016 during the period September 1 to November 30.

Cllr Noeleen Reilly (SF) said: “It is not unusual to see an increase [in burglaries] at Christmas time and that is why it is so important that residents are extra careful.

New garda unit armed and FASTNews ready to combat gang crime  IAN BEGLEY

Tanaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald at Garda HQ for the new Dublin ASU launch

JUSTICE Minister Frances Fitzgerald joined the Commissioner at Garda Headquarters this month to launch the new Garda Armed Support Unit (ASU) for the Dublin area.

The new unit was set up to combat the increase in murders related to gangland feuds and organised crime that has plagued the capital.

The deadly KinahanHutch feud has accounted for over half of all gangland shootings in Ireland in 2016.

Of the thirteen people who died in gang-related gun killings this year, seven were connected to the bloody war.

The Tanaiste paid tribute to the determined response which gardai have made to the scourge of criminal gangs. Minister Fitzgerald said: “The actions of An Garda Siochana in fearlessly opposing vicious criminal

elements is a true example of service and commitment to the communities which they serve.

“There are not many of us who would willingly confront the callous individuals who orchestrate the activities of criminal gangs, but members of An Garda Síochána do so on a daily basis, and at great personal risk.”

Plans for the ASU were announced in the wake of the vicious series of gangrelated murders.

The ononig feud between criminal gangs has led to Gardaí deploying emergency resources to help stem the violence and protect the communities most at risk.

The Tánaiste has also introduced a raft of new measures which are already in place to counter organised crime, including new laws to target the proceeds of crime, and significant extra resources for gardai.

Computer generated image of the development

Work on luxury build at old Berkeley Court site begins WORK has officially begun on the construction of luxury apartments at Lansdowne Place, formerly the Berkeley Court Hotel. A new high tower crane arrived on the site last week and it will be joined by two more cranes in the New Year as piling works come close to completion. Work has also started on pouring the basement concrete slabs in preparation for the construction of 215 apartments in the pavilion-style development.

As part of the overall Lansdowne Place development the mature boundary trees and iron railings along Lansdowne Road dating back to the mid1800s are being retained, ensuring the continuance of the sylvan setting. A selection of phased sales of the apartments will commence in spring 2017.

BORD Gais Energy is encouraging schools and students in Dublin, who have put on a play, concert or musical during the festive season to enter the Bord Gais Energy Student Theatre Awards. The awards are open to primary and secondary school students around Ireland. The deadline for entries is January 27, 2017 and the deadline for entries in the written categories is February 10, 2017.

To enter the awards, log on to bgesta.ie where you can download an entry form to go with your written or video submission. Completed entry forms should be emailed to sta@bordgais.ie or by post to Bord Gais Energy Student Theatre Awards, Real Nation, Fumbally Court, Fumbally Lane, Dublin 8.

27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 3

BREAKING MUSE | THE INSPIRATION FOR STEVE EARLE’S SMASH HIT ‘GALWAY GIRL’ IS A DUB!

Her hair was black and her county is BLUE  SYLVIA POWNALL

THE woman who inspired the song, The Galway Girl, is in fact from Howth in Co Dublin, a new book reveals.

Trad musician Joyce Redmond has been identified as the muse behind the Steve Earle song, which was covered

by Mundy.

A talented singer and bodhran player, the brunette Dubliner was a regular at folk sessions around Galway city.

She was in Quay Street when US songwriter Earle approached her and asked if she could help with a phone call he was trying to make.

A few days later, she met him again by accident on Dominick Street – and he asked if

she knew where he could find some traditional Irish music.

She took him along to a few sessions and he was impressed enough to pen his top-selling hit. The revelation is just one of many in On Raglan Road: Great Irish Love Songs and The Women Who Inspired Them, written by Galwaybased poet, Gerry Hanberry.

The comprehensive book is inspired by a biography on Leonard Cohen, where Hanberry read that Marianne and Suzanne – the women in two iconic Cohen songs – were real, as opposed to muses.

He said: “It was easy enough to research the dead writers featured in the book but the contemporary people had to be honest with me. A few

Steve Earle’s classic song, The Galway Girl, was actually inspired by a Dubliner – Joyce Redmond

were reluctant to talk about past loves and situations that inspired their songs, but most were forthcoming.”

He says that the story of The Galway Girl is one of the selling points of his book, which goes as far back as the

17th century.

Steve Earle didn’t actually meet Joyce Redmond on a stroll on the Old Long Walk in Galway as the song suggests – in fact, they met in a coffee shop nearby.

“Steve had a relation-

ship with Joyce for a few months,” says Hanberry.

“They’re in contact, and whenever he comes to Ireland to perform, her name is on the guest list.”

4 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017

FASTNews

Who spends almost €300 on presents? We Dubs do!  EMMA NOLAN

WE’RE a generous bunch, it seems as it has been revealed that we Dubliners spend almost €300 on Christmas presents every year.

According to a survey by eBay Ireland, we usually buy presents for nine people each year and while we like buying presents, we also like to re-gift them, as a third of us will give our unwanted gifts to someone else this year.

This is the digital age, and this year’s survey results show a shift towards more unconventional shopping habits, with the people of Dublin buying their festive gifts from unlikely places.

One in five people admit to making purchases on the loo, one in two while in bed, and 48% at work.

Some 42% of those that do actually go into town for their shopping don’t mind doing so in the traditional way, as long as they’re in and out.

A third of Dubliners (34%) also think the best gifts will come from their spouses this year.

Pie charts from eBay Ireland’s data would reveal a number of tasty statistical titbits, including the percentage who do their Christmas shopping in bed

Specialist room at St James’ to help kids with cleft lips  EMMA NOLAN

A SPECIALISED children’s unit in St James’ Hospital now has its own purpose-built waiting room for child patients.

The Cleft Lip and Palate Association of Ireland (CLAPI) funded the room for children and their families attending the National Maxillofacial Centre in the hospital.

Children born with a cleft lip – some 1 in 700 births in Ireland – have specialist requirements that necessitate them going to the acute adult hospital. Depending on the stage of treatment they are at, visits may be as frequent as every 6 weeks up until age 18 to 20.

The Seomra gives children and young people a place away from the rest of the hospital and allows families to interact or to quietly read, undeterred by hospital activity. It is a warm and brightly furnished room, and has age-appropriate games and books available, and also incorporates a childfriendly toilet facility. The facility can comfortably accommodate up to seven families.

TAKEOVER | ORGANISERS ‘WELL-OFF, MIDDLE-CLASS STUDENT TYPES,

Direct action at Apollo House ‘not the solution to crisis’ – critics

Continued from Page 1

The news comes as a judge ruled that the community centre on Carman’s Hall, Francis Street can be opened until the legal row over the use of the facility has been determined in late January.

T he co -founder of Home Sweet Home, Brendan Ogle, said the group had been “inundated” with offers of help from people with a specialist expertise as well as from the general public.

Spokesperson for the Irish Housing Network, Rosi Leonard, explained the motivation behind the Apollo House action.

She said: “There’s been a number of deaths on the streets over the last few years – an average of 30 deaths on Irish streets as a result of the housing crisis.”

Rosi said that since homeless man Jonathan Corry’s death outside the Dail last year, there have been at least nine more deaths on the streets.

She added: “Enough is enough – we can’t have any more deaths on the streets. This is about dignity, and this is about saving lives.

“We’re asking the Government to immediately address the problem of the fact that there are over 190,000 vacant homes in

 EMMA NOLAN enolan@dublingazette.com

this country and numerous examples of buildings like this [Apollo House] that have been lying vacant for a number of years.

“These need to be put to use to end the crisis that currently sees at least 7,000 people homeless, at least 200 people sleeping on the streets of Dublin alone every night, and a further 100,000 people who are on [housing] waiting lists. Enough is enough.”

On Tuesday, crowds gathered as Glen Hansard and Kodaline performed from the roof of Apollo House.

While the movement has gained widespread support from the public and Leftwing politicians, it has not been without criticism – most notably from Fr Peter McVerry, of The Peter McVerry Trust.

Fr McVerry said that occupying Apollo House was “not the solution”.

“I have no problem with them taking over the building. However, it’s not the solution to the homeless crisis; that’s my difficulty, and that’s why I won’t join them.

“I want to focus my energies on campaigning to get a solution.”

His views were echoed

by Cllr Mannix Flynn (Ind), who condemned the takeover of the building and accused the campaigners of “exploiting the homeless for political gain”.

Of the direct action, he said: “It’s a reckless act of manipulation – it’s going to house nobody. I will be supporting the homeless, as I always have, but I won’t be supporting Home Sweet Home.”

Cllr Flynn called the organisers of the Apollo House takeover “welloff, middle-class student types, into a bit of activism”.

The Independent councillor also raised the issue of drug addiction and said that many of the deaths

Many people and businesses have donated goods for those in Apollo House. Stills: YouTube

that happened on the streets were due to drug overdoses, not homelessness.

He also questioned why the organisers of the Apollo House takeover didn’t set up as a housing body.

“It’s simple to do – then they can do something meaningful,” said Cllr Flynn.

Cllr Michael O’Brien (PBP) presented an emergency motion to Dublin City Council on December 19 calling on the council to recognise Apollo House as a “bonafide homeless hostel, and to ensure that its residents’ time there is wholly reckonable as time served in emergency accommodation from the point of view of them progressing on the priority homeless housing list”.

In response, the council stated that they have “no oversight or operational responsibility for Apollo House”, and said they are willing to engage with homeless people occupying the building with the “aim of offering secure and safe emergency accommodation” in some of the newly commissioned hostels in the city.

The Dublin Regional Homeless Executive had refused to comment on the Apollo House situation by the time of going to print.

27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 5

INTO A BIT OF ACTIVISM’ SAYS UNIMPRESSED COUNCILLOR

A crowd gathered at Apollo House on Tuesday to hear Glen Hansard and Kodaline sing in support from a rooftop

Council now paying €1 million a week to house homeless

Latest figure does not include the amount DCC pays to individuals  EMMA NOLAN

DUBLIN City Council pays €1 million a week to shelter the homeless.

In the past year, DCC has paid hoteliers €16.6m to provide accommodation for homeless people, according to figures released by the Dublin Regional Homeless Executive (DRHE) – that’s €740,000 per week being paid to hotels.

However, the amount being paid to individuals is still not known, despite Freedom of Information requests.

The average weekly spend on emergency accommodation works out at €968,148, in what Cllr Mannix

Flynn (Ind) described as “alarming”. He also believes that the actual spend is much greater than the figures provided.

He said: “No one is building actual infrastructure – all they’re doing is throwing money at hotels and hostels.”

The spend for the first nine months of 2016 coincided with the numbers of homeless families going over the 1,000 mark for the first time in Dublin at the end of September – this included 2,065 children.

At the last count, there were 1,026 homeless families in

Dublin, including 2,110 children.

Moreover, the council paid emergency accommodation providers, including B&B and hostel owners, an additional €8.18m during the first nine months of the year.

The figures also show that, between January and September, a total of €69m was spent on a variety of homeless services by all local authorities in Dublin.

The council, which is based at Wood Quay, below, have now agreed a budget of almost €120m to be spent on homeless services in 2017.

6 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017

A night at the movies

Norman Pratt and Shane Morgan

T

William White and Triona

HE great and the good were out in force last weekend to feast their eyes on the latest films to hit our cinema screens. The premiere of Collateral Beauty, the drama starring Will Smith, went down a treat at Cineworld, while the preview screening of James Franco’s new comedy Why Him? got a lot of laughs at the Odeon. To us though, the Dubliners who went along are the real stars!

McCarthy

Nikki Dunne

At the premiere screening of Collateral Beauty at Cineworld

Anna Russell and Annette Jenny Dixon. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Lauren Malone

O’Sullivan

Preview screening of Why Him? at the Odeon Cinema Robin McGonnigle, Brian Conway and Sean Madden

Sarah Kelly and Christine Kelly

Catherine Doyle and Katie

Lara McDermott and

Shannon Crilly and Laura

Harte

Meadhbh Flynn

Grace

Romy Carroll and Maura Reidy

Clint Drieberg and Elaine Leonard

27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 7

8 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017

CRIME | COURTS HEAR A LITANY OF SHOCKING ACTS ACROSS THE CITY

Drunk man crashed stolen car into a bus stop after panicking A MAN who drunkenly drove a stolen car down the wrong side of the road through rush-hour traffic before crashing into a bus stop has been given a partly suspended sentence.

Defence counsel, Derek Cooney BL, submitted Darren Bewley (39), with an address at Gardiner Place, has tackled his heroin addiction and it was “make or break” time for him.

He said his client was not 100% in the right place in tackling his demons but was on the right road, and told the court: “Life begins at 40.”

Bewley pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to unlawful use of a car, criminal damage, dangerous driving and drunk driving in the north of the city on January 13, 2016. He has 27 previous convictions.

Judge Te r e n c e O’Sullivan said it was lucky that no one had been injured.

The court heard how a stolen Renault Captur, valued at €22,750 by the insurance company, was written off after the crash

He said he was not convinced to apply the “last chance principle” in this case and was taking a chance in suspending any part of the sentence for rehabilitation, but was going to give Bewley the benefit of the doubt.

Judge O’Sullivan imposed a two-year sentence and suspended the final nine months. He disqualified Bewley from driving for seven years.

The court heard that a Renault Captur car was

stolen from Park Gate Street after the owner lost or misplaced their keys.

Bewley said he found the car on Manor Street and drove it from there.

Garda Declan Sherlock told Fergal Foley BL, prosecuting, he was on mobile patrol when he first spotted the car being driven by Bewley at Oxmantown Road at 6pm with no rear lights on.

He signalled the car to stop to alert the driver.

Bewley turned the wrong way down a one way street and met a patrol car coming the opposite direction.

He stopped to engage with the driver of that car but “panicked” and took off at speed when Gda Sherlock’s vehicle pulled up behind him.

The court heard he drove on the incorrect side down the North Circular Road, through two sets of traffic lights, forcing pedestrians and other

road users to take evasive action.

Bewley drove for about one kilometre before mounting the pavement at St Peter’s Church, narrowly avoiding another car, and crashing into a bus stop. He was arrested by an off-duty garda.

The car, valued by the insurance company at €22,750, was written off and €800 of damage was done to the bus stop. The owner had to pay a €300 excess on their insurance policy.

Bewley, who was over the legal alcohol limit, said the keys were in the car when he had taken it.

Gda Shelock agreed with Mr Cooney that Bewley made no attempt to get away and made full and frank admissions during interview.

Bewley said he had taken prescribed medication as well as vodka. He apologised for his actions and has not come to any further garda attention.

CITY CENTRE | UNPROVOKED ATTACK AT CITY-CENTRE COCKTAIL BAR

Accountant glassed in face after pub row over space on bench A VETERINARIAN who glassed an accountant in a city centre cocktail bar, leaving him with lifelong scarring, has received a suspended prison sentence.

Stephen McGrath (25) smashed a glass into Mark Relihan’s face in a row over whether there was enough space on a bench they were both sitting on.

McGrath, of Carmarthen in Wales, but originally from Tul-

lamore, Co Offaly, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of assault causing harm on September 6, 2015 in No Name Bar at Fade Street.

McGrath confronted Mr Relihan over whether there was enough space on a bench they were both sitting on. McGrath said he would give Mr Relihan ten seconds to move, and began counting down.

Mr Relihan looked at his friends and said: “Is this guy for real?” before McGrath smashed a glass into his face. Fragments from the glass also hit another man, Shane O’Riordan, who was standing nearby. Mr Relihan was taken to hospital, where he required 17 stitches to his face. Mr O’Riordan suffered minor cuts and was treated at the scene.

Mr Relihan told the court his

life had been impacted forever by the “unprovoked, cruel, inhumane act”. He has already had some plastic surgery and said he would likely require more.

Suspending a three-year prison sentence for two years, Judge Petria McDonnell said that she accepted that McGrath’s remorse and apology to the victim were genuine. She also imposed 200 hours of community service.

Teen who attacked skateboarders for shouting at his sister avoids jail A TEENAGER has avoided a jail term for an attack on two skateboarders who had shouted at his sister over her use of a mobile phone on a bus.

Allan Scanlon (18) of Swan Grove, Ranelagh, and two accomplices attacked Robert Hunt and Keith Walsh after they got off the bus.

One of the other men had a hammer, and Mr Hunt told gardai he was hit on the head with the hammer.

Scanlon pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Robert Hunt causing him harm on May 27, 2015 at Lower Rathmines Road.

J u d g e Te r e n c e O’Sullivan suspended a six-month prison sentence on condition that Scanlon keep the peace for 12 months and attend victim awareness work with the Probation Services.

Garda Gavin Kelly told the court that Mr Hunt and Mr Walsh had been drinking before getting on a bus in Dublin city centre. They had a confrontation with a woman on the upper deck of a bus whom they felt was talking loudly on her mobile phone.

Gda Kelly said Mr Walsh, who did not wish to participate in the prosecution, admitted he was aggressive towards Scanlon’s sister on the bus and told her to “shut the f**k” up before banging the window.

The court heard the woman went downstairs.

The men alleged that when they were getting off the bus, the woman was taking photos of them with her phone and told them: “Ye are dead”.

Both men got off the bus at Lower Rathmines Road and went into a

shop to purchase more alcohol. When they came out of the shop, they were set upon by three young men who had implements in their hands, including a hammer and a sharp plastic object.

Mr Hunt told gardai that Scanlon shouted “You were nasty to my sister” at him. The other two youths took the victims’ skateboards before running off.

The skateboards were recovered by gardai at the scene and Scanlon’s blood was found on one of them. He claimed he -------------------------

‘The men alleged that when they were getting off the bus, the woman was taking photos of them with her phone and told them: “Ye are dead”.’

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

was hit with the skateboard after he accused the men of verbally abusing his sister.

Scanlon, who has no previous convictions, claimed it was a “plastic object” he used to assault Mr Hunt and not a hammer, but “can’t remember what the plastic object was”.

Judge O’Sullivan said the attack was organised and premeditated. He said the young men went looking for trouble after a “perceived insult” to Scanlon’s sister.

He accepted that Scanlon had shown genuine remorse. He also noted that he had no previous convictions and that a report from Youth Reach was very positive.

27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2016 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 9

Artane 9.30 and 11.30am St. John Vianney Parish Hall, Ardlea Road, Artane, Dublin 5 Ph: Derek 086 356 4366

Croke Park 5.30 & 7:30 pm O’ Connell School N. Richmond St, NCR Dublin 1 Ph: Ann 085-7282983

Artane 5.30 and 7.30pm St. John Vianney Parish Hall, Ardlea Road, Artane, Dublin 5 Ph: Derek 086 356 4366

Grand Canal 5:30 & 7:30pm Grand Canal hotel Dublin 2/4 Ph: Alison 087-2454369

Rathgar/Rathmines 5:30 & 7:30pm Christ Church Presbyterian, Highfield Road, Rathmines Dublin 6 Ph: Alison 087-2454369

MONDAY GROUPS New Group Opening 2nd January Sandymount 7.30pm Monkstown Rugby Club 4 Park Avenue, Dublin 4 Ph: Karen 086 222 7773 New Group Opening 2nd January IFSC 7.30pm Hilton Garden Inn, Custom House Quay, North Dock, Dublin 1 Ph: Ian 085 8351713 New Group Opening 2nd January Phibsborough 7.30pm All Saints Parish Hall, (beside Fire Station), Phibsborough Road, Dublin 7 Ph: Sarah Jane 085 773 0994

Glasnevin 5.30pm & 7.30pm Na Fianna, Mobhi Road, Dublin 9 Ph: Lorraine 087 929 1185 TUESDAY GROUPS Whitehall 5.30 & 7.30pm St. Aidans CBS, Collins Avenue, Dublin 9 Ph: Gillian 0868473513

Whitehall 9.30 am St. Aidans CBS, Collins Avenue, Dublin 9 Ph: Gillian 0868473513 Dame Street 6.00pm Erin School of English (above Spar), 19-22 Dame Street, Dublin 2 Ph: Lorna 087 126 0675 Glasnevin 9.00am Our Lady of Dolours Church Hall, Botanic Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 Ph: Ciara 086 373 7843

Holles Row 5.30 & 7.30 pm St Brigids Crosscare Centre Dublin 2 Ph:Emma 086 878 3478

Glasnevin 5.30 and 7.30pm St. Columba National School, Iona Road, Glasnevin, Dublin 9 Ph: Ciara 086 373 7843

Ballsbridge 5.30 & 7.30pm Pembroke Wanderers Hockey Club, Serpentine Avenue, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Ph: Lynne 087 953 4301

Swords 9.30am Swords Colmcilles GAA, Glen Ellen Road, Swords, Co. Dublin Ph: Derek 086 356 4366

The Coombe 5.30 & 7.30pm Donore Avenue Youth and Community Centre, Dublin 8 Ph: Lorna 087 126 0675 WEDNESDAY GROUPS Smithfield 9.30am Carmicheal House, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7 Ph: Pippa 0860495942 Smithfield 5.30 & 7.30pm Carmicheal House, North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7 Ph: Pippa 0860495942

Swords 7.00pm Swords Colmcilles GAA, Glen Ellen Road, Swords, Co. Dublin Ph: Derek 086 356 4366 THURSDAY GROUPS Irishtown/Ringsend 5.30 and 7.30pm Clanna Geal, Sean Moore Road, Dublin 4 Ph: Ciara 086 373 7843

City Centre 7.30 and 9.30 am Academy Plaza Hotel, Findlater Place, Dublin 1 Tel: Lorraine 087 929 1185 City Centre 12.45, 5.00 and 7.00pm Academy Plaza Hotel, Findlater Place, Dublin 1 Ph: Lorraine 087 929 1185 Ballymun 9.30am Axis, Main Street, Ballymn, Dublin 11 Ph: Alison 086 854 7158 Glasnevin 5.30 and 7.30pm St. Kevins College, Ballygall Road East, Glasnevin, Dublin 11 Ph: Alison 086 854 7158 FRIDAY GROUPS Glasnevin 9.30am Tolka Rovers, Frank Cooke Park, Griffith Avenue, Glasnevin, Dublin 11 Ph: Alison 086 854 7158

10 GAZETTE 27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017

27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017 GAZETTE 11

12 GAZETTE 27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017

GazetteGALLERY

| MEAGHERS PHARMACY AND TV3 STARS PARTY IN STYLE

Here come the girls ... Xpose’s Karen Koster, Glenda Melanie Morris

Gilson and Cassie Stokes

Ellen Leonard

Sharon Griffin

Oonagh O’Hagan, Debbie O’Donnell and Bairbre Power. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

An excellent Xpose bash at the Dylan

A

NUMBER of familiar glittering stars came along to the Xpose and Meaghers Pharmacy festive beauty banquet at the Dylan Hotel, where the TV3 stars were happy to bring some Xpose-sure to a number of Irish businesses and products. Fashionistas came from near and far for the event, with treats from Meaghers Pharmacy, The Intercontinental, Lily O’Briens and the Amy Huberman collection from Newbridge Silverwear adding to the festive feeling at the stylish hotel.

27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017 GAZETTE 13

DON’SDUBLIN

Trio had all the write stuff to make Dublin a literary landmark

DUBLIN is famous for many things, and over its thousand-year history its most famous contribution has been to the written word, with its three native-born Nobel Laureates for Literature giving it a unique place in history.

William Butler Yeats (1865-1939) was born in Sandymount and is considered one of the foremost writers of the 20th century.

He studied in London and spent summer holidays with his maternal grandparents in Sligo – a place that he often wrote about.

With Lady Augusta Gregory, he established the Abbey Theatre, and he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1923 that cited his “inspired poetry, which in a highly artistic form gives expression to the spirit of a whole nation”.

George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950) was born in No 33, Synge Street, and went to London where he worked as a theatre critic.

He is best known as a playwright, with Pygmalion being his most famous piece. In 1938 a film version of Pygmalion was produced in Hollywood, where it won an Oscar for Best Screenplay.

He was the first person to have won both a Nobel Prize for Literature (1925) and an Oscar.

Samuel Beckett (1913-1989) was born in Foxrock and studied in Trinity College.

A keen sportsman, he is the only Nobel Laureate to have played first class cricket, having featured in two matches against Northamptonshire.

During World War Two, he fought with the French Resistance and was awarded the Croix de Guerre and described his efforts, rather humbly, as “boy scout stuff”.

He met James Joyce in Paris in the 1930s and had begun writing before the war began.

In 1949, his bleak absurdist play, Waiting for Godot, was well-received in Paris. When the play was first performed in London in 1955, it was voted “the most significant English language play of the 20th century”.

He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1969 “for his writing, which – in new forms for the novel and drama – in the destitution of modern man acquires its elevation”.

Don Cameron

www.donsdublin.wordpress.com

William Butler Yeats, George Bernard Shaw and Samuel Beckett – Ireland’s literary giants

Your next GAZETTE

YOUR favourite local paper is taking a Christmas break – but don’t worry, we’ll be back soon! In the meantime, enjoy this special double edition, and your next great Gazette will be out on Thursday, January 5. We’ll see you then, and we wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!

GAZETTE

14 GAZETTE 27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017

DUBLINBUSINESS

Three new partners for McEvoy are announced  EMMA NOLAN

Little Learners - Best Service Business 2016

Best Wholesale Manufacturing Business 2016 Creation Station

Coaching and mentoring wins for Dublin businesses TWO Dublin business owners have won awards at the ActionCOACH Business Excellence Awards 2016 last week.

Rathcoole based Business man, Eamonn Elders of Creation Station, picked up an award for Best Wholesale/Manufacturing Business and Nessa McNamara from Little Learners Pre-School and After-School in Drumcondra Best Service Business 2016 for the 2nd year in a row.

Pictured with Eamonn and Nessa is Paul Fagan, MD ActionCOACH Business Coaching and local Business Coach Rory Smyth from ActionCOACH Business Coaching.

Both Nessa and Eamonn picked up these award in recognition of the strong performance and growth of their businesses in 2016 in each of their respective industries.

ActionCOACH Business Coaching is the largest business coaching, mentoring and training organisation in the country.

MCEVOY Partners has announced the appointment of three new partners to its corporate and property divisions.

Susan Noone and Edel Conway have been appointed to the corporate group and John Burke has been announced new partner within the property division.

T he three newly appointed partners have combined experience of over 50 years.

Susan has over 13 years’ experience as a qualified solicitor, specialising in corporate law. Susan’s focus is primarily on corporate reorganisations, mergers and acquisitions, general commercial contracts and corporate governance. She also advises in employment matters covering an extensive range of areas.

Edel has over 15 years’ experience as a qualified solicitor, specialising in corporate finance, with particular experience in public takeovers and mergers, flotations and secondary share issues, demergers and joint ventures. Edel is a graduate of Harvard Law School.

John has over 25 years’ experience as a qualified solicitor, dealing with the full range of commercial property matters, including large scale acquisitions, acting for both landlords and tenants on commercial leases, property aspects of mergers, acquisitions and business re-structuring and all types of property investment.

John has significant experience in acquiring assets from bank-appointed receivers and from vendors and landlords whose borrowings have transferred to NAMA, as well as acting for receivers in disposals of assets.

Speaking about the recent appointments, June Hynes, Partner of McEvoy Partners commented:“We are pleased to appoint Susan, Edel and John as Partners in our corporate and property groups respectively.

Each of these individuals has a wealth of experience and expertise in their areas and will bring a fresh energy as well as the highest standard of service to all clients, big and small.

We look forward to making more announcements in the near future as our firm continues to expand.”

Newly appointed partners Susan Noone, John Burke and Edel Conway and back (L-R ) founding partner Orlaith O’Brien and June Hynes

Listoke Gin set to conquer New York THE team at Listoke Distillery have spent six months developing and refining Listoke 1777 gin. It’s taste comes from a unique combination of inspiring botanicals growing in the Edwardian walled gardens at Listoke estate. They’ve settled upon a recipe that we hope both gin aficionados and newcomers to the wonderful world of gin will enjoy.

There have always been beguiling barn owls in the stable building at Listoke, which is now the distillery and it is in homage to these owls that we have wrapped one around our bottle of Listoke 1777 gin. Our recommended serve - is a glass full of ice, a fresh twist of orange, and premium tonic and a toast to life.

We have a long history of distilling and brewing within our family going back to 1777 with the Steins in Scotland when the first “white whiskey” was sent to London to make gin.

Already available in many bars and restaurants around the north East and Dublin, Listoke 1777 is destined for the shores of New York early next year.

Listoke distillery boasts the only gin school in Ireland. They have 12 “stations” each with their individual copper pot still for theirparticipants to design, develop and distil their own bottle of gin – in one afternoon ready to bring home!

Commonly-made interview mistakes and top tips to combat them INTERVIEWS are a stressful environment and can cause even the most prepared of candidates to stumble.

Whether it’s an unpredicted question popping up or suffering a mind blank, interviews can catch the best of us out!

Osborne CEO and owner, Shona McManus, explains ‘The majority of candidates find interviews very daunting and as a result I see a number of easily prevented mistakes reoccurring’.

Here’s Osborne’s five commonly made interview mistakes to avoid

1. Being unprepared!

Preparation is key. Confidently knowing the company, the role and your CV inside out is essential. The lack of preparation can plant a seed of doubt in the mind of the interviewer, as the candidate may come across as uninterested in the position.

2. Not anticipating the biggest weakness question! ‘What is your biggest weakness?’

This is a mainstay of the modern job interview. Be ready for it! When interviewees are asked about their weaknesses, they often make the mistake of focusing on the negative as

opposed to talking about something that can be turned into a positive.

The interviewee should identify one aspect of the job spec that they need to improve on and offer a solution on how this can be developed, as well as giving examples of previous similar situations and the new skills they learned as a result.

3. Not knowing the job spec.

It is vital to read the job spec in detail, specifically looking at the professional competencies. Interviewees should take time to research the interviewer and their role within

the company. This can often offer an insight into the direction the interview will take.

4. Not having examples to refer to In preparing for an interview, it is worthwhile devising suitable responses to example-led questions that might be asked to demonstrate suitability and the experience required, as outlined in the job spec. Use the STAR technique (situation, task, action and result) when answering “tell me about a time when you…”. The interviewer will be looking to gauge a number of

attributes, including communication ability, attitude and ability to build relationships.

5. Asking about salary If a candidate asks about what they will be paid at an interview, the interviewer’s thought process will be that they are only interested in money and not the job or the company. It’s a black mark straight away.

If the interviewer does bring up the subject of pay, be realistic. Interviewees should understand their worth in the market and not outprice themselves.

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MOTORING P20

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

FOOD P22



GAZETTE

GIFTS P18

AMAZING ANNIE WILL CHARM YOU

OUR Dog of the Week is Annie, a two-yearold Belgian Shepherd Malinois who has brains as well as beauty and is very clever.

Annie particularly loves clicker training and scent games. She is looking for a home with adopters who can manage her superhigh energy levels and dedicate plenty of time to keeping her busy and entertained.

She would prefer to be the only pet in an adult only-home. If you are into agility, tracking or even doggie dancing, this super smart dog could be your dream pet!

If you can be Annie’s #SpecialSomeone*, then please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off Exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website, www.dogstrust. ie. You can also find them on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline, or on Twitter @ DogsTrust_IE. Dogs Trust are asking members of the public to support their Christmas Campaign, #StopKeepingMum; for full info see www. stopkeepingmum.com.

The production has played to sold-out houses all over the world , from London to Paris and Berlin, from Sydney to Tokyo.

BORD GAIS ENERGY THEATRE: JOEY MCKNEELY’S AWARD-WINNING SHOW

American classic comes to town  IAN BEGLEY

PROVOCATIVE finger snapping of street gangs, Puerto Rican girls’ whirling skirts on New York City’s flat roofs, derelict West Side back yards – just a few notes of Leonard Bernstein’s West Side Story.

Joey McKneely’s award-winning show, comes to Bord Gais Energy Theatre from January 18 to 21 as part of a global tour.

The production has played to soldout houses all over the world, from London to Paris and Berlin, from Sydney to Tokyo. It was nominated for London’s renowned theatre prize, the Laurence Olivier Award, and awarded two Theatregoers’ Choice Awards in 2009.

With ground breaking choreography by the legendary Jerome Robbins, book

by Arthur Laurents, an unforgettable score by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics

by Stephen Sondheim, West Side Story changed the face of musical theatre for ever.

The show is packed with unforgettable songs including Maria, Tonight, Somewhere, America and I Feel Pretty, this production of West Side Story has been described as “one of the towering achievements of musical theatre of the last century”.

Now Joey McKneely’s vibrant stage production of the classic dance musical returns to Ireland after international sellout success.

The idea of creating a modernization of the tragic conflicts in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet was first conceived by the enterprising dancer, choreographer

and up-and-coming director Jerome Robbins, when he was asked by his friend the actor Montgomery Clift for help in interpreting the role of “Romeo” in a fresh way.

The concept thus engendered, in which he had transformed the original family feud into a teenage gang war in a slum district of New York, took a firm hold upon Robbins. His dream was to collaborate in a team made up of some of the greatest talents in the music and theatre world, to create a new and individual work for the stage which would be as vanguard as it was commercial.

In December, 1958, the curtain was raised on the first European premiere of West Side Story at Her Majesty’s Theatre in the West End of London. The audience raved, the critics were carried away.

The work was performed 10,39 times. In London, the masterpiece was given the tribute it deserved, and here it was immediately realized that “the musical” would never again be the same as it had been before.

In the legendary film version of West Side Story, too, Jerome Robbins found the perfect setting for his matchless choreography. Awarded ten Oscars in 1961, this movie is among those that have received the most awards in the entire history of Hollywood. Since then, this unique musical has been interpreted and staged innumerable times – and no production has ever been able to equal the original Broadway classic.

Tickets are priced from €20 - €65. For more information, visit www.bordgaisenergytheatre.ie.

27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017 GAZETTE 17

BUS Eireann has announced its timetables for Christmas and New Year, confirming enhanced services nationwide over the festive season.

Bus Eireann will operate extra Nightrider late night services from Dublin to Balbriggan, Drogheda, Ratoath, Dunshaughlin, Navan, Naas, Newbridge, Sallins and Clane over the Christmas period.

The company will also be operating a 24hr service on our Route 109A: Kells – Navan – Ratoath – Ashbourne – Dublin Airport – City Centre route.

In the Cork area, Bus Eireann will provide late night services at weekends in the run-up to Christmas from Cork city to Carrigaline, Ballincollig, Midleton and Bandon.

The services will operate from Cork city centre on Friday 16 and Saturday 17, Thursday 22 and Friday, December 23.

City services in Cork, Galway and Limerick will operate a Sunday timetable on December 26 and a limited service will operate in Waterford city.

All details can be found at www.buseireann.ie.

BORD GAIS SEEK THEATRE TALENT WITH Christmas just around the corner and school show season in full swing, Bord Gais Energy is encouraging schools and students in Dublin, who have put on a play, concert or musical during the festive season, to enter the Bord Gais Energy Student Theatre Awards.

This is the fourth year of the highly successful Awards which are open to primary and secondary school students around Ireland.

Shortlisted schools will be invited to a special awards ceremony at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre on May 17, 2017. Some schools will even get the chance to perform on Ireland’s largest theatre stage, making it a memorable experience they won’t forget. Winning schools will share a prize fund, and receive a commemorative trophy, picture and plaque for their school.

The deadline for entries in all production catego-

DIARY

GAZETTE

DUBLINLIFE Getting around for the holidays just got SO much easier ries is January 27 and the deadline for entries in the written categories is February 10. Visit bgesta.ie for more information.

GREEN UP YOUR CHRISTMASSEASON THE Eastern-Midlands Regional Waste Office has put together a handy guide to greening your Christmas to help reduce or reuse your waste at Christmas time.

Between food and wrapping paper, household waste increases by about one-third over the festive period.

“Cutting down on waste at Christmas doesn’t have to mean cutting down on enjoyment but a Greener Christmas probably will reduce your costs and possibly make for a less stressful holiday,” said Hugh Coughlan, the Regional Waste Office coordinator, “Having a Green Christmas means you can be both naughty and nice!”

Some tips include: Ensure waste is put in the correct bins – green bin for wrapping paper, paper plates etc; brown bin for any unavoidable

Robyn (2) and Jude (5) pictured with their mum, Sarah McGovern, at the launch of Bus Eireann’s Christmas and New Year timetables. Picture: MAXWELLPHOTOGRAPHY.IE

food waste (including those unwanted Brussels sprouts!)

Instead of Christmas cards, a growing trend is to send e-cards or post a festive greeting on social media then make use of the extra cash by donating to a charity of your choice For more tips on having a Green Christmas, see www.emwr.ie

WIN A PRIZE FOR POSTCARD ARTWORK THE Jack & Jill Children’s Foundation is calling for artists to participate in its 2017 arts initiative entitled Incognito.

Artists are being asked to create a postcard-sized piece of art, or two, by the February 1 deadline, to raise funds for the children’s charity.

The plan is that 1,500 postcard-sized works of art will be exhibited at the Solomon Gallery in Dublin in April 2016, for sale for €50 each (following a public viewing online).

The artists’ names, some very well-known, will remain incognito until the card is purchased and the artist’s signature is revealed on the back of the card.

It is hoped that this visual arts initiative will raise €75,000 for Jack & Jill, which will be used to fund home nursing-care for children with severe development delay as a result of brain damage, children who may never paint a picture themselves, but precious children who do better at home, where they are well cared for by

their parents with critical support from Jack & Jill nurses.

Details are available now on www.incognito. ie and www.jackandjill.ie.

REACHING OUT TO THE ELDERLY URGED ALONE, the charity that supports older people to age at home, is asking members of the public to reach out to the older members of their community this Christmas and offer support to those who may be lonely or isolated.

The charity say that there are a number of ways that the public can help an older person this Christmas. These include; calling by an older persons house to say hello, ensuring they have enough food, medi-

cation and heat, bringing them out for a drive or to a social event and giving them a hand with their shopping.

As part of this year’s Christmas Campaign, ALONE is also urging older people not to be afraid to ask for the care and support they deserve and are entitled to.

This Christmas Day, ALONE’s volunteers will bring hot Christmas dinners to over 100 older people living on their own.

For those who have concerns about their own wellbeing, or the wellbeing of an older person in their community, ALONE can be contacted on (01) 679 1032. To make a donation and help aid ALONE’s work this Christmastime visit www.alone.ie

GAZETTE

18 GAZETTE DEC 27 2016 - JAN 4 2017

ADUBLINCHRISTMAS

Giveaway winners Congratulations to the winners of our 12 Days Of Christmas giveaway. The response was amazing and don’t forgot to keep an eye out for loads more great giveaways in the New Year!

WIN

THE DUBLIN Christmas tradition that is FUNDERLAND kicked off at the RDS earlier this month and as these photos show, kids and adults alike had a blast at the Grand Opening.

If you haven’t been yet, fear not, because we have TEN pairs of FREE passes for Funderland to give away to our readers.

All you have to do is like and Share our Funderland post on our Facebook page. And hurry, folks – the competition closes on Jan 3...

from Blanchardstown.

WINNER: Jacqueline Emmett ing her prize.

Pictured is her son Sean receiv

Get to the ice rink in Dundrum

WINNER: Mary Phelan.

Pictured is her son Sean receiving her prize.

ed is WINNER: Mags O’Brien. Pictur son nd gra her daughter Leona and Paul accepting the prize.

DUNDRUM on Ice is proving a big hit with young and old and what’s not to love!

Get down to the Town Centre and with the famhave some ily, or if you’re winter fun based on the

Northside, visit Swords on Ice at the Pavilions.

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DUBLINLIFE

Who will pay for driverless car crashes?

AS we move toward the arrival of drive r l e s s c a r, i t h a s become necessar y that cars of the future will need to collect data so that insurers can determine who or what was in control of the vehicle at the time, the driver or the car, according to a new UK report from Thatchem Research, which is the UK’s only insurer funded automotive research centre.

Thatchem claims that one of the key challenges for the future of automated driving will be determining where liability rests in the event of an accident with an automated car. A crucial part of making sure claims are settled fairly will be to understand who was in control of the vehicle at the time of the accident.

British insurers are working on efforts to have a standard set of data agreed at an international level which would be easily accessible in the event of an accident involving a highly automated vehicle.

This would include an indication of whether the vehicle was operating autonomously or not, and what technology was in use.

Thatchem believes that this data would be used to establish liability for anything that had gone wrong, inform emergency ser vices’ investigations, ensure insurance claims could be processed promptly a n d h e l p ve h i cl e manufacturers improve their products.

A Korean cracker The new Kia Niro is Kia’s first hybrid car for the Irish market.

Prices start at €29,095 for the entry model on 16in alloy wheels.

Hybrid cars have been seamlessly slipping into the national car fleet with numbers almost doubling in the last year.

Enter the new Kia Niro with a smart new look and hints of a crossover coupled with a thrifty hybrid drive system.

Michael Moroney gives the low-down on the Korean brand’s first hybrid KIA’S first hybrid, the new Niro gives a hint towards a crossover design even if it’s not intended for anything other than tarmac driving.

This compact estate type car sits proud with a little more roof height than you would expect, while still meeting Kia’s target of being aerodynamic to given good fuel efficiency.

The Niro gives Kia a new model segment in terms of its size being smaller than the new Sportage while having a larger footprint than the cee’d hatchback. These features alone give it identity of its own. Then add Kia’s first hybrid drive system and the Niro becomes a little more special.

I’ve had the Niro out and about with some lengthy country driving in addition to a city commute. The feeling is one of a spacious smaller car with a good level of economy from its petrol/hybrid engine.

Kia uses its existing Kappa 1.6-litre petrol engine as the main power source for the Niro and this is a smooth performer.

This engine uses a new exhaust heat recovery system, which speeds engine warm-up by routing coolant to a heat exchanger in the exhaust system, saving fuel. The hybrid drive system then extends the range of the car without having to pull in to tank up.

When I got into the Niro the car’s range was rated for 783km and I almost achieved that.

The Kia quoted economy figure at 26km/litre (3.8l/100km or 74mpg) is impressive in itself. It’s nearly achievable, while being about 20% off target, which is a better real world economy figure than some of the competing diesel cars.

Out on the road the Niro four driving modes.

When starting out from a stop, the hybrid system is

in the launch mode and relies entirely on power from the electric motor.

This helps reduce fuel use in stop and-go traffic.

As you begin to accelerate mildly the system also uses power exclusively from the electric motor. I found that there was adequate power for the size of the car.

When you press the pedal harder, you enter acceleration mode and here the power of the petrol engine and the electric motor are combined to get you to a more stable cruising speed.

At this steady cruising speed the system goes into power-assist mode. I found that this was close to 80-km/hr and this is where the petrol engine became the main source of power.

Like all hybrid system there is a regenerative mode where power is sent from the specially designed brakes that convert this deceleration

power into electric power to store it in the battery for the starting off mode.

From the driving seat you quickly start to develop new and possibly more environmentally conscious driving habits.

That’s no bad thing and while there is no range anxiety as you would have with a full electric car, you become more aware of how you could drive more economically.

You will notice some of the mode changes as the system is not just as refined as some of the competition, while in economy terms it is very effective. You’ll also notice the power difference when you change from the power to the eco mode on the dash button.

Eco makes sense in a Niro, good sense that is.

On the inside the control are similar to other models in the Kia range with a large centre touch screen that offers a number of functions as well

Kia Niro Hybrid

SPECIFICATIONS Engine Engine power 0 – 100km/hr Economy

Fuel Tank Capacity

CO2 emissions Road Tax Band Main Service Euro NCAP Rating Warranty

as doubles as a screen for the reversing camera. The standard leather seats are firm and long enough to give good support and good adjustment meant that I was quickly comfortable. Storage spaces are a little tight and could be bigger for what is designed to be an economical family commuter car.

The boot is adequate for a car of its size and thankfully Kia are fitting a

1.6 litre 141hp 11.1 seconds 26km/litre (3.8l/100km or 74mpg)

45 litres 88g/km A2 €180 20,000km/12 months 5 star (2009) 7 years (150,000km) Entry Price €29,095

space saver spare wheel in the floor of the boot. Seat folding is easier and gives the boot significantly more load space, while rear legroom is reasonable for a car of this size.

Kia uses a foot operated parking brake in place of handbrake. I found this a little unusual because it seems retro in a car that’s packed with lots of technology. In practice it’s effective and Kia claims

27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017 GAZETTE 21

GAZETTE

MOTORING

BMW boost technology in new 5 Series

The Niro boot is reasonably spacious for a hybrid car, giving a load capacity of 425 litres that extends to 1,425 litres when the rear seats are lowered

that its design means a lighter mechanism that adds to the overall low weight of the Niro, even though its battery pack on its own weighs 33kg.

Kia has loaded on the safety features in the new Niro and they claim that using new high strength steel on 53% of the Niro’s body structure gives more security at lower weight.

Kia is using aluminium for the bonnet, boot door assembly, front bumper back beam and several chassis elements, including front knuckles, front lower arms and brake callipers, all to lower the Niro’s weight.

The Niro comes with seven airbags as it has airbags for driver and front passenger, driver knee, first row side airbags, and first and second row curtain airbags. ISOFIX child-seat points are fitted as standard to the second row of seats. Kia expects that the Niro will come through the Euro NCAP crash tests with high marks.

That’s because they are fitting the Kia Vehicle Stability Management (VSM) system as standard along with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) and electric motor-driven power steering.

Kia is offering a selec-

tion of its DRiVE WISE Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) as options for the Niro. These options include Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, Smart Cruise Control (SCC), which automatically adjusts the Niro’s speed to maintain a safe distance from vehicles in front and Lane Departure Warning System (LDWS).

Other safety options include Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) to detect the position of the car in relation to lane markings and to correct the steering line, as well as Blind Spot Detection (BSD) and Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA), which warns against other cars driving behind the Niro in car parks while reversing.

The entr y price is €29,095 rising by €700 to the higher specification ADAS model with the full safety package. This Niro is both economical and going to be competitive in terms of running costs with many equivalent diesel cars. Add the Kia 7 year warranty deal with a packed specification and all of a sudden the Niro Hybrid takes on a new perspective and one that’s worth looking at.

THE new BMW 5 Series is the seventh series of the range that has proved popular among Irish drivers. The new version claims to use the latest technology from within BMW to create a car that’s more refined than ever before, significantly lighter, safer, and more fuel efficient.

Prices start from €52,800 on the road.

Engines for the 5 Series come from a new generation of TwinPower Turbo engines and BMW claims that they provide performance gains while also showing advances in reducing fuel consumption and emissions.

BMW has shaved 100kg off the weight of the new 5 Series The cars will be available range for 2017 and boosted power while delivering a with new driver assistance further improvement in fuel economy technologies as the German brand also takes a notable step towards fully autonomous driving. of the 190hp four-cylinder diesel unit, which The new BMW 5 Series will launch with a helps the car to achieve a fuel consumption line-up of engines, from the benchmark 520d to of 72.4mpg, meaning joint best-in-class CO2 the all new flagship 540i. xDrive all-wheel drive emissions of 102g/km. will be offered for the first time on a 5 Series in A plug-in hybrid version of the BMW 5 Series the Irish market and is available from launch Saloon will also be launched in March in the on the 520d, 530d and 540i. form of the BMW 530e iPerformance model.

Shortly after the new 5 Series Saloon is The BMW eDrive system and a four-cylinder launched, BMW will add a further two engines petrol engine work in unison to achieve ultrato the line-up. Under the bonnet of the BMW low CO2 emissions of just 49g/km, while 520d SE EfficientDynamics model lies what generating overall output of 252hp. Fuel conBMW claims is the most efficient incarnation

sumption is claimed to be 2.1l/100km and the electric system on its own has a of up to 46 kilometres.

The new BMW 5 Series Saloon has a host of drier supports system including Dynamic Cruise Control (DCC) as standard and as options; Active Cruise Control (ACC), Speed Limit Info, Driving Assistant Plus safety package includes the Lane Keeping Assistant, Lane Departure Warning system, Lane Change Warning along with Driving Assist Plus (an evasion aid up to 155kph).

NISSAN has re-invented the Micra, one of Ireland’s favourite city cars. The new fifth generation Micra looks different than before and is claimed to have grown up in terms of size and specifications.

Nissan will be offering its Intelligent mobility system in the new small car and that brings with it intelligent emergency braking and lane departure prevention.

This new Micra has a very different design style as Nissan tried to get away from the predictable driver profile of the Micra. The design includes the distinctive V-motion grille, rear door handles hidden in the C-pillars and an extended roofline that incorporates a spoiler. Driver comfort gets more attention, with a lower driving position for what Nissan claims is a more secure driving feel. The seat adjustment has been improved and the new Micra will come with a fully adjustable steering wheel. The new Micra will feel bigger because it sits on a longer wheelbase and with

Nissan re-invents the Micra for 2017

extra internal space Nissan claims that the interior space will be among the best in class.

One exclusive feature of the Micra will be the new six-speaker Bose personal sound system, developed through close collaboration with Nissan. The novel sound system is optimised for the driver as some speakers are built into the driver seat headrest for a remarkably immersive listening experience.

The Micra will be available with a choice of a 0.9litre turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine or a 1.5-litre diesel, both developing 90hp.

GAZETTE

22 GAZETTE 27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017

DUBLINLIFE

RECIPETOTRY Siucra Fondant Salted Caramel Chews

M&S 3 Bird Roast Sausage Roll

Enjoy some ‘me’ time this weekend, preparing Siucra’s Fondant Salted Caramel Chews. These soft and chewy sweets are ideal as a homemade Christmas gift for your nearest and dearest, packaged in little gift boxes or simply some brown parchment tied with Christmas string. Using Siucra’s Roll Out Icing in this recipe allows you to create delicious fondant in a matter of minutes. Makes 24.

INGREDIENTS

METHOD 1. Line a large Swiss roll tin with parchment paper so that it hangs over the sides of the tin. Coat well with cooking spray.

2. Combine the Siúcra Caster Sugar, cream of tartar and water in a saucepan over a low heat. Whisk constantly for 5-8 minutes until the sugar dissolves and the mixture turns to a clear syrup. If sugar crystals appear above the surface of the syrup, wipe down the sides of the saucepan with a damp pastry brush.

3. Raise the temperature to medium-high and bring the mixture to a boil, whisking until bubbles form. As soon as bubbles appear, stop stirring and leave the mixture to cook for 10-15 minutes until it turns a deep caramel colour. Keep an eye on the mixture to make sure it doesn’t burn; if it looks darker in some spots than in others, give the pan a gentle swirl to redistribute the caramel.

4. When the mixture is a rich caramel colour and a candy thermometer reaches 175˚C, remove it immediately from the heat and carefully add the cream and butter. The mixture should foam slightly.

5. When the mixture settles, stir with a silicone spatula until smooth. Return the saucepan to the heat for one minute to soften slightly.

6. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla and salt. Pour the mixture into the prepared tin and leave to set at room temperature for at least two hours, or overnight if possible.

7. Knead the Siucra Roll Out Icing with the Siucra Icing Sugar and vanilla until soft. Roll out on a worktop dusted with icing sugar until thin.

8. Carefully lift the parchment and caramel out of the dish and place on the worktop.

9. Use a knife to trim the rollout icing so that it is the same size as the caramel slab. Lift the roll out icing and place on top of the caramels. Using the parchment paper as a guide, carefully begin rolling one side of the caramels over the icing, as with a Swiss roll.

Wrap the log in cling film and refrigerate for at least two hours.

10. Unwrap the log and slice into swirls.

TREATYOURSELF with M&S gourmet goodies

A chilled starter is easy to serve and frees up time in the kitchen.

Try these delicate new Scottish Smoked Salmon Souffles, €7.50 for two (200g), with triangles of brown toast to scoop out every bit. Make the toast special by spreading it with herby butter made in advance - beat chopped fresh dill into softened unsalted butter, roll up in greaseproof paper and chill.

Sugar and spice at Aldi

ALDI GINGERBREAD ICE CREAM €2.49

FOR THE FONDANT FILLING: • 1 x 454g pack of Siucra Roll Out Icing • 4 tbsp Siúcra Icing Sugar, plus extra for dusting • 1 tsp vanilla paste or vanilla extract

These creamy chocolate mousses with a chocolate truffle centre are dusted with edible gold lustre and shaped into wintery pine cones. Simply serve with a jug of cream for drizzling. (€19 for 6)

ALDI MINCE PIE ICE CREAM €2.49

FOR THE CARAMEL: • 400g Siucra Caster Sugar • 1/2 tsp cream of tartar • 250ml water • 80ml double cream, at room temperature • 45g unsalted butter, at room temperature • 1 tsp vanilla extract • 1 tsp flaked sea salt

ALDI 12 MONTH MATURED CHRISTMAS PUDDING €4.99

27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017 GAZETTE 23

GAZETTE

FOOD Celebrity & Friends cookbook to raise much needed funds for RESPECT CELEBRITY & FRIENDS a charity cook book in aid of RESPECT launched today, containing a superb collection of starters, main courses and desserts. From An Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s Black Pudding Salad to Neil Jordan’s Scallops, ‘Celebrity & Friends’ has a host of varied recipes to suit all taste buds.

The cookbook will raise much needed funds for RESPECT, the organisation responsible for fundraising for capital projects and ground-breaking research within The Daughters of Charity Disability Support Services. The book was edited by well-known food writer, Myles McWeeney, Food and Wine Editor for Social and Personal Magazine, designed by Aidan O’Connor and Jenni Hedderman and printed by Paul Bolger, PB Print.

Recipes are from a cross section of familiar Irish faces, from Irish TV and sports stars to personali-

ties from the silver screen and literature – including; Liam Neeson, Cathy Kelly, Kathryn Thomas and Devin Toner, to name but a few. The charity recipe book will make the perfect stocking filler this Christmas while helping raise much needed funds for the charity.

The recipe book, is available to purchase now for just €10 via RESPECT’s website, www.respect.ie or from the RESPECT Offices by calling 01 685 6502.

All funds raised from sales of the recipe book will go directly towards RESPECT’s Building Projects and Research. All the team at RESPECT work tirelessly to meet the individual needs of all their service users. The service is ultimately about helping people improve their quality of life and reach their full potential.

For more information, log onto www.respect.ie

Sr Zoe Killeen, Director of RESPECT, with Biddy McLaughlin, Writer and Chef, Joan Burton TD, Aonghus McAnally, Broadcaster and Entertainer and Naomi Gillespie, head chef at Donnybrook Fair. Picture: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

Iceland chorizo and chicken cups

Iceland Luxury Salmon and Prawn Terrines

Time for a little get-together  EMMA NOLAN Iceland Salmon and Champagne Crown

THE Irish have a bit of a siege mentality when it comes to food shopping for Christmas.

This harks back to the days when all shops would be closed for a few days over festive period. And even though some shops are open on Christmas Day for any brussel sprout related emergencies, I’m sure most of us would prefer to avoid going near any supermarkets when we want to have our feet up watching black and white movies with a box of Roses within arm’s reach.

That being said, this time of year can see a lot of impromptu gettogethers and gatherings so it’s a good idea to have some festive treats

on standby for entertaining.

That’s where Iceland comes in – their frozen party food options are perfect for popping in the oven at a moment’s notice.

Top picks include the Kanikama Luxury Sushi Platter (€12 for 800g), the Chicken Skewers with Sesame Seeds (€3.50 for 16 pack), the Mediterranean inspired Chicken and Chorizo Cups (€3.50 for €3.50) and Chinese Duck Trees (€3.50 for 12 Pack).

Sweet treats like the Twelve Mini Melt in the Middle Puddings (12 pack for €4.50) are also great and ready after a quick bing in the microwave.

So take a trip to Iceland in locations all over Dublin to have some tasty festive bits in the freezer ready to go for those unexpected guests.

GAZETTE

24 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017

DUBLINLIFE

TRAVEL

Go wild in Alaska Whales at play in Juneau, Alaska

 IAN BEGLEY

RELAX on the stunning Norwegian Sun cruise liner as you sail by the beautiful mountains and glaciers of Alaska on a 12-night holiday, including a seven-night, full-board cruise.

With a four-night stay before the cruise in Vancouver, you can explore this cosmopolitan city with a half-day guided tour and plenty of free time to spend at your leisure.

You will also take a ferry to Victoria, which is located on Vancouver Island, and enjoy an overnight stay in the city.

Here you can explore Victoria’s architecture, nature, gastronomy and heritage.

On board your cruise,

t h e N o r we g i a n S u n offers hot tubs, a pool, casino, a spa and much, much more.

Optional excursions at ports of call are also available to book in advance (for an extra charge) or on board the ship.

Sailing past waterfalls, thick forests and glacier tongues, you will experience the beauty of nature along some of the 24,000km-long Inside Passage, see the amazing wildlife of Juneau which is accessible only by water and air, and learn about the historical gold mining town of Skagway.

Wherever you stand as you cruise through G l a c i e r B ay, y o u ’r e guaranteed a front row view as bald eagles soar past, humpback whales

emerge above the water, mountain goats scale the steep slopes and brown bears go about their business on the shore.

You can also hear the sound of breaking ice before glaciers plunge thunderously into the sea.

An extra departure date has been added for this holiday due to demand.

Prices start from €2,789pp for 12 nights including return flights from Dublin to Vancouver (return via Heathrow), seven nights’ full board cruise, transfers and taxes and charges, with flights departing September 7, 2017 and September 14, 2017.

To book, visit www. traveldepartment.ie or call 01-6371600.

AUGUST 2017 marks 40 years since the death of Elvis Presley and what better way to pay tribute to the ‘King of Rock and Roll’ than visiting his iconic home in Memphis during ‘Elvis Week’, between August 11 to 19, 2017.

Since his death, Graceland has become like a place of worship for Elvis fans and the 14-acre estate will be hosting a week of events celebrating his life and legacy, including panel discussions, tribute artists, concerts and a candlelight vigil at the gates of Graceland. American Sky offer a number of holidays which feature an opportunity to visit Graceland, including the 12-night Southern Explorer trip.

This costs from €2,329 per person based on two sharing, departing on August 11 and includes return flights from Dublin, accommodation throughout on roomonly basis, transfers and the services of a tour guide.

Graceland has become like a place of worship for Elvis fans

50th anniversary of the Summer of Love

DUST-OFF your flower headbands and tie-dye t-shirts because San Francisco is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic Summer Of Love with a year of events and festivals in 2017. In 1967, nearly 100,000 free-spirited adventurers gathered in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighbourhood The Norwegian Sun offers hot tubs, a pool, casino, a spa and much, much more

Celebrating the life and legacy of The King

to join what would become one of the most significant cultural revolutions in modern history.

Throughout 2017, the city will be hosting a number of events to pay tribute to the anniversary, such as the Haight-Ashbury Street Festival, Folsom Street Fair, Tulipmania on Pier 39 and a number of crea-

tive exhibitions. American Sky can offer a three-night stay at the three star plus Triton Hotel from €819 per person, departing in 2017. This is based on two sharing on roomonly basis and includes return flights from Dublin.

For more information and to book, visit www.americansky.ie.

27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

CINEMA ReelReviews

ROGUE ONE

Stars sparkle in prequel JUST how did the Rebels get the plans to the Death Star? That’s a question that’s kept Star Wars fans wondering for decades – now, Rogue One (Cert 12A, 95 mins) reveals the daring tale. This prequel film to the classic film will be a hit with fanboys and casual fans of the franchise alike, as the interesting side mission does the series proud. A stellar cast and decent plot make it roguishly charming.

Liam Neeson provides an enigmatic figure at the heart of the film, which despite dragging a little in parts still reaffirms director Martin Scorcese’s singular talents

SILENCE: MARTIN SCORCESE’S LATEST WILL BE WHOLLY ENGAGING FOR SOME

MOANA

Surfing on great reviews DISNEY makes quite a splash with Moana (Cert PG, 113 mins), with its plucky Polynesian princess (oh, and demigod sidekick) ignoring the usual tropes for the genre. Likeable vocal work take a back seat to some stellar graphics and animation, and while Moana and friends don’t sail completely clear of some familiar themes, it’s a fresh, vibrant and welcome film for all the family.

FANTASTIC BEASTS As the title says ...

WHILE MANY are calling it ‘the new Harry Potter film’, Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them (Cert 12A, 133 mins), set earlier in the same universe as the worldconquering wizardry series, is a decent addition to the franchise. Stepping across the pond to America, its new characters and setting will reinvigorate fans, while bringing in new ones to see our ordinary world and its magical undertones.

Quietly sing its praises A PASSION project in the works for 25 years, Silence evokes much of the thematic feeling of Scorsese’s other religious epic, The Last Temptation of Christ – and not just for its ecclesiastical subject.

Silence (Cert 12A, 161 mins), based on the 1966 novel of the same name

by Shusaku Endo, is very much preoccupied with themes of conviction and temptation and clocks in at about the same run time as the director’s controversial 1988 film, at an often arduous 161 minutes.

Still, Silence is a rewarding experience – a beautifully crafted and boldly acted story that incorporates its simple title into an integrated visual and aural aesthetic.

Silence is the dominant motif here and pertains to many aspects of the film

 MARTIN MACNAMARA

– God’s silent response to the suffering of martyrs, the silent prayers of those persecuted for their faith, the silence of priests forced to denounce their beliefs. Heavy subjects indeed; Silence is not a film for everybody.

Set in 17th Century Japan, Andrew Garfield and Adam Driver play two Por tuguese Jesuit priests, Sebastiao Rodrigues and Francisco Garrpe, who have travelled to the foreign land hoping to locate their mentor, Father Ferreira (Liam Neeson).

It is rumoured that Ferreira has denounced his

faith after facing persecution and torture.

Upon arriving in Japan, the two priests discover communities of “Hidden Christians,” forced to disguise their religion to avoid severe punishment, or death.

Rodrigues and Garrpe become near-Christ like figures to the suffering Christians, but have their own piety tested in the process.

Scorsese and cinematographer Rodrigo Prieto bring an almost chiaroscuro aesthetic to Silence – the coastal environments of Japan are heavily clouded with a dense, obscuring mist that adds a distinct sense of confusion to the “high danger” of the land and gives the film a deeply sensuous and visually satisfying sensation.

Scorsese approaches the lush greens, dark

ocean blues and “black soil” of Japan with a painterly quality that evokes Akira Kurosawa.

The film is photographed with a cold, rigid symmetry and balanced, theatrical set-up; the great Japanese director’s influence is impossible to miss here.

Kim Allen Kluge’s brilliant score often gives way to enormous passages of profound silence – the sounds of insects, wind moving through grass, heavy breathing.

Accordingly, the environment commands an overwhelming, dominating presence; throughout, there is a sense of predetermined tragedy and danger.

For all of its sumptuous visuals, Silence is often punishingly slow – particularly so once Rodrigues is set on a path of trial and temptation.

However, these lengthy passages correspond brilliantly with the film’s central themes of silence and doubt and, accordingly, there is a distinct feeling of purpose throughout.

Still, Silence can occasionally be a bit of a slog.

Silence’s more grievous elements are offset with occasional moments of quiet, sombre humour – par ticularly from Yosuku Kubozuka.

Unortunately, the film’s

later acts are let down by some often-cartoonish villainy in the form of the Japanese “Inquisitor” (Issey Ogata) – a charming performance, but one that jars awkwardly at times with the film’s predominant atmosphere.

Overall, the acting here is focused and intense – although, Driver, the better performer, is regrettably underused.

Silence will not suit all audiences, it offers no simple answers to the questions it poses and requires a certain amount of discipline. Regardless, this a truly fulfilling cinematic experience – Scorsese’s best work in a decade.

Verdict: 9/10

Co-star Adam Driver adds to his quietly impressive range of work with his role here as a Jesuit priest. Driver’s natural charisma fleshes out a reticent character in a strange land.

26 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017

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GAZETTE

28 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017

SPORT

FastSport PARALYMPIC EXPO COMES TO SPORTS CAMPUS: PARALYMPICS Ireland, in partnership with Mondelez International, will host the Irish Paralympic Sport Expo on Saturday, January 14 2017 at the new National Indoor Arena on the National Sports Campus.

This free of charge day-long event will showcase a wide range of Paralympic sports in a bid to attract new people and potential talent into the sports, with the vast majority of Ireland’s 2016 Paralympic team set to be in attendance also.

2016 Paralympians cyclist Peter Ryan, and discus thrower Niamh McCarthy who won silver in Rio, were on hand at the National Indoor Arena to mark the announcement.

Both athletes attended a similar event held

by Paralympics Ireland post London 2012 and essentially their careers in their respective Para sports began from there.

Those interested in attending are encouraged to pre-register and doors will open at 10.30am with the event running until 4.30pm.

CYCLING: GARDA CLUB MEMBER WAS FIRST TO MEDAL ON WORLD STAGE IN 100 YEARS

Caroline to retire after epic career

 sport@dublingazette.com

GARDA cycling club’s Caroline Ryan has announced her retirement from the sport following a glittering career, representing Ireland on the international stage since 2008.

Among her highlights,

she became Ireland’s first cyclist to win a world track medal in over a century in 2012 in Melbourne, taking bronze in the points race.

She also came third at the track cycling World Cup in Aguascalientes, Mexico, in 2013. The multiple-national cham-

pion won a silver medal as a pilot for Catherine Walsh at the 2009 Paracycling Track World Championships, being the first bike to win a medal for Ireland at Paracycling world level.

Ref lecting on her career, the 37-year-old – who was formerly

Caroline Ryan has retired following a glittering career on the track

an international rower before switching to cycling – said it was the right time to step away from the international scene.

“Stepping back from a sport I love that has given me so much was always going to be a tough decision to make,” she said. “Cycling, and indeed rowing before it, became such a big part of my life and I consider myself lucky to have had a successful international sporting career in both.

“It will be hard to step away from competitive cycling and that buzz and adrenaline kick it gives you, and I will miss that, but I know that now is the right time and I leave with no regrets.

“I committed fully to sport and gave it everything while I was com-

peting. I am very proud of what I achieved and I feel that I was part of a great team that has helped forge a path for Irish track cyclists who are now continuing to compete and medal on the world stage.”

She moved into cycling from rowing as part of the talent transfer programme which opened up a new realm for her.

She also credited her coach Brian Nugent, Cycling Ireland, the Irish Institute of Sport and SINI to help her achieve the highest levels.

“It is not just the racing and results themselves but the people you get the opportunity to meet and work and compete alongside on the journey, which makes the experience of being an athlete so special.

“I couldn’t have achieved all that I have without their help. My Dad has always been a major inspiration and driving force behind my career as an elite athlete and I would like to say a special thanks to him for that.”

And Ryan adds that she will continue to play a role in the sport into the future.

“I feel that my involvement with the sport of cycling has not ended and that in the future I will be able to contribute to its advancement and success in some way.

“For now, I am looking forward to spending more time with my family and friends. The next chapter in my life is just beginning and I’m excited about what that has to bring.”

VHI and parkrun Ireland link up in five-year deal  sport@dublingazette.com

parkrun Ireland hosts around 5,000 runners every week

VHI and parkr un Ireland announced details of a new fiveyear partnership this week that will see former become the presenting partner for the initiative.

Parkrun Ireland supports local communities in organising free, weekly, timed 5k runs every Saturday morning at more than 55 venues all over Ireland, with around 5,000 people of every age and ability taking part each week.

The events are organised by more than 600 volunteers every weekend across the country.

Almost 80,000 registered participants have run more than 2.5 million kilometres at parkrun Ireland events since it started here in November 2012.

Originally launched in the UK in 2004, parkrun is the single biggest participation running event globally with nearly three million registered participants and an average of 165,000 weekly participants.

The agreement will see Vhi become the first presenting partner for parkrun Ireland, with the aim of enabling the communitybased running events to further

develop and grow.

The new partnership will also support the continued growth of new parkrun events around the country and the development of junior parkrun, which are 2k runs for four to 14-year-olds.

There are currently four junior parkrun events in Ireland and it is hoped that 2017 will see junior parkrun spread to every corner of Ireland to enhance family centred physical activity and encourage participation amongst young children.

Speaking at the partnership announcement, Declan Moran,

Director Marketing and Business Development, Vhi said, “Both organisations have strong similarities that will lead to an excellent working relationship.

“We are both committed to helping our members live longer, healthier, more positive lives and this partnership will enable us to do just that. There is no other movement like parkrun in Ireland and Vhi is very proud to be supporting this wonderful initiative encouraging people of all levels and abilities to take part in a free 5k run in a fun and positive environment.”

27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

Naglis powering toward Florida’s 2017 World Cup

FASTSport

Balrothery teenager is looking to play his part in memorable trip to the US with Ireland; he tells GazetteSport about how he got into Powerchair football and the fundraising required  JAMES HENDICOTT

sport@dublingazette.com

FOR Balrothery-based Naglis Montvilas, powerchair football has been life-changing. Born in Lithuania, the 15-yearold moved to Ireland as a toddler. Powerchair football came into his life six years ago and, initially, he wasn’t enthusiastic, but was quickly won around by his experiences playing the game.

At the turn of 2016 into 2017, he is looking forward to a big New Year with a World Cup on the horizon in Florida next July.

Powerchair football is a version of soccer that sees people who use motorised wheelchairs in their day-to-day life compete on an indoor pitch.

Ireland already has an eight-team league and a full-length season underway, promoted by the FAI. In a fast, actionpacked sport the national squad currently rank third in the world.

“It’s a little bit about exercise, but also about meeting people and just a way to do something,” Montvilas, who trains in Greystones, explained to GazetteSport.

“I learnt about it through Muscular Dystrophy Ireland, who organise the events including trips to football matches.

“When I first watched the sport, I didn’t really like it but when I started to play I changed my opinion; it’s exciting. That was six years ago. It’s been great for meeting people; a lot of the people who

play have the same traits and the same problems as I do, so it’s really useful to talk about that as well as just playing the sport.”

Looking at the progression of the sport, the 15-year-old has recently upgraded his wheelchair to a “strike force chair” which is lower to the ground and doesn’t easily tip over in a collision – an all-important part of the game.

“I love the new chair, it’s everything I wanted and it has really improved my play. I plan to travel in it to Florida, as it means only one chair needs to travel, which will make things easier. I’m quite comfortable in it.”

It’s hard to predict the winner of the sport’s third world cup, with Montvilas suggesting “the USA

Naglis Montvilas is looking forward to the 2017 World Cup. Picture: john Owens Photography

or Spain” might be the favourites, but seeing it as really hard to call as the teams rarely meet. “There are a lot of other sides to the tournament as well as the football, though,” he explains. “We’ll stay for a week, and meeting all the other players is a really big part of it.”

The trip to Florida represents Montvilas’ first

World Cup will feature sides from as far afield as Argentina, Japan and Denmark travelling for the 10-team tournament.

The Irish team are fundraising through PledgeSports, a company that works to help athletes get together the funds necessary to achieve a variety of sporting goals, recently including Dublin

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

‘It’s been great for meeting people who have the same traits and the same problems as I do’ - Naglis Montvilas

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

international tournament, but will mark the third Powerchair World Cup. Team USA have taken home both of the previous two titles, but Ireland are seen as serious competitors this time around.

The game is the first competitive sport ever designed specifically for sportspeople in powered wheelchairs, allowing access to sport for a lot of people who may not otherwise be able to take part.

With the big trip in the pipeline, the Irish team have begun a major fundraising campaign aimed at raising some of the money required.

With the added expenses of travel to another continent together with the equipment necessary to play the game, international fixtures are rare, and the four-a-side teams play mostly locally. The

Skeleton athlete Brendan Doyle and his campaign to make the 2018 South Korean Winter Olympics.

The Powerchair Ireland football team estimate their total necessary funds to reach the Florida contest at €50,000, which includes the costs of accommodation, transport of chairs, travel for carers and coaches as well as players, medical and insurance costs.

Their PledgeSports fundraising targets a total of €10,000, while the team would also be interested in hearing from businesses who might consider sponsorship.

The fundraising page can be found here: www. pledgesports.org/projects/powering-teamireland-to-florida, and will remain live until early January.

Learn more about the sport at www.aipf.ie.

Finn a marquee addition to new Rovers recruits SHAMROCK Rovers made a series of eyecatching signings in the run-up to Christmas with Ronan Finn following hot on the heels of the addition of a couple of goalkeepers for the 2017 season.

Finn, pictured above with the SWAI player of the month award for April, was confirmed on December 20, switching from Dundalk after a stellar spell with the club that culminated in their run to the Europa League group stages and the retention of the League of Ireland premier division crown.

The Dubliner started in 11 of their 12 games in the Champions League and Europa League this season. His campaign concluded with a man-ofthe-match display in the FAI Cup final defeat to Cork City.

Earlier in the week, Rovers announced the signing of two new goalkeepers - Tomer Chencinski and Kevin Horgan.

Chencinski was born in Israel but grew up in Canada, earning one cap for the Canadian national team in March 2013. He played in a 2-0 defeat to Belarus in a friendly game held in Qatar.

The 32-year-old goalkeeper began his senior career with MLS side Toronto FC in 2007 without making an appearance. He had spells with two American sides, Newark Ironbound and Express Harrisburg City Islanders, either side of a short stint with Moldovan outfit Nistru Otaci.

He has also played in Finland, Sweden and Israel.

Speaking about their signings, Rovers’ Head Coach Stephen Bradley said that: “We’re delighted to sign Tomer Chencinski, we’ve been working hard on this one for the past few weeks now, and he’s a player that we’ve been really keen to get.

“He has played in a lot of good leagues and he has a lot of experience which is something we’re delighted about. He’s an international goalkeeper and a very good goalkeeper all round. He’s very comfortable on the ball at his feet, which is good. He’s a really great addition and he’ll bring a calm influence to the back four.”

GAZETTE

30 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017

SPORT

FASTSport

AWARDS: HARRINGTON, MURPHY, EGAN, MCCORMACK AND DUNNE STAR IN 2016

Lindsay Peat on the attack. Picture: Martin Doherty

Railway and Belvo to for in Leinster line-up OLD Belvedere’s Maria Kenny, Jenny Murphy, Jennie Finlay, Fiona O’Brien and Marie Louise O’Reilly and Railway Union’s Niamh Byrne, Ailsa Hughes, Lindsay Peat, Susan Fogarty and Juliet Short all played their part for the Leinster women’s rugby team as they won their interprovincial championship in Donnybrook.

Three teams went into the weekend with a chance of claiming the title, so tight was the situation at the top of the table but, with a 21-12 success, the blues took down the title.

They got off to a great start when Hannah Tyrrell’s kick for the corner lead to a line-out off which Katie Fitzhenry’s mazy run made room for centre Jenny Murphy to touch down for a try.

Murphy duly converted herself.

Having been held up during an earlier attack, Murphy’s midfield partner Michelle Claffey made sure she got the ball down for Leinster’s second try in the 32nd minute, with Ailsa Hughes’ quick distribution from a scrum proving crucial. Murphy converted to leave it 14-0 at the break.

Seven minutes into second half, they were back within striking distance when strong-running centre Niamh Kavanagh broke through and linked with Edel Murphy who sent her backthree colleague Deirbhile Nic A Bhaird over for a timely try. Suddenly, the defending champions were exerting more control and Jenny Murphy’s red card for an off-the-ball incident left Leinster down to 14 players for the last 30 minutes.

However, Adam Griggs’ side really stood up to the task. Teenage winger Eimear Corri did really well on two occasions to keep out Eimear Considine and the equally dangerous Nic A Bhaird, while Ireland loosehead Lindsay Peat grew in influence with her ball-carrying.

At the end of one of Peat’s powerful surges, her international colleague and Munster replacement Zoe Grattage was sin-binned by referee Dan Carson. It was Leinster’s turn to attack and they did so in clinical fashion, speedy half-backs Hughes and Tyrrell stretching their legs to bring their province back into the Munster 22.

After a 71st minute penalty was kicked to touch, Caoimhe Molloy crashed over from the ensuing lineout maul for what turned out to be the clinching score.

Tyrrell tagged on the extras for a 21-7 advantage and while Munster got a consolation try, the blues were the ones left to lift the trophy.

Kellie Harrington, left, along with fellow award winners Annalise Murphy, centre, and Jenny Egan, right. Picture: Nick Bradshaw

Times honours local quintet sport@dublingazette.com

ANNALISE Mur phy capped off an excellent year for the sailor after she was crowned the Irish Times Sport Ireland Sportswoman of the Year at a ceremony this week.

The 26-year-old from Rathfarnham won Olympic silver in Rio in the women’s Laser Radial last August, the first sailing medals Ireland has won since Moscow in 1980.

She was on one of five Dublin women who picked up an award at the ceremony with Kellie Harrington, Jenny Egan, Fionnuala McCormack and Maria Dunne all win-

ning sportswoman of the month awards.

Boxer Harrington, from Portland Row and fights out of Glasnevin Boxing Club, won the May award after taking silver at her first World Championships in Kazakhstan and has can now turn her attentions to Tokyo 2020 after replacing Katie Taylor in the 60kg division.

Fionnuala McCormack won the December 2015 award after leading the Irish team with bronze at the European cross country championships for a second successive year.

She went on to finish 20th in the Olympic marathon in a personal best time.

THE DAILY MILE Sports Partnership’s simple health concept PRIMARY schools across Dun Laoghaire Rathdown are set to participate in a new health initiative “The Daily Mile” which will improve the physical, emotional and social health and wellbeing of all children.

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Sports Partnership, HSE Health Promotion and the Blackrock Education Centre have invited schools to participate in the simple but effective concept.

Twenty-two schools have come on board and expressions of interest can also be lodged at 01 2719502 or sportspartnership@dlrcoco.ie.

Lucan canoeist Jenny Egan was handed the July award for becoming the only Irish woman to medal at a canoeing World Cup when she won gold and silver earlier this year, and was desperately unlucky to miss out on Olympic qualification for the second games running.

Golfer Maria Dunne, from Skerries, won the June award alongside her teammates Leona Maguire and Olivia Mehaffey as the Irish members of the Curtis Cup team that reclaimed the trophy from the United States at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club last summer.

A n n a l i s e M u r p hy was clearly delighted to receive the award, saying: “It’s amazing to win today. I first won in December 2009 when I won the monthly award when I was just 19.”

“I love these awards and it is so great to be recognised, and for every other woman in here to be recognised for their wonderful achievements.”

She was devastated when she finished fourth in London four years ago but while speaking to RTE after the race she described how she used that disappointment as motivation to push on.

“It’s amazing, this time

four years ago I had just finished fourth and it was the hardest day of my life, but I said I was going to come back and try to get a medal. So to actually go and do it, it’s incredible.”

The 26-year-old is no doubt a worthy winner of both the medal and her award after listening to people tell her that, due to her height, she could only realistically do well if a strong breeze was present.

“I was told the conditions in Rio didn’t really suit me and that I shouldn’t even go. I feel like I have spent the last four years talking about Rio.”

27 DEC 2016 - 4 JAN 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 31

GAZETTE

CRACKING CROKES

FASTGAA

Kilmacud finish 2016 with Under-21 trophy KILMACUD Crokes claimed the last official

trophy of the 2016 season when they landed the Under-21 A football championship title on the Tuesday before Christmas at St Finian’s ground in Newcastle.

They beat Ballymun Kickhams 0-12 to 0-6 in the decider to make it back-to-back victories at this grade. Callum Pearson kicked five points in the well-conceived win on a wet and windy evening.

FOOTBALL: SIX SFC WINNERS IN ANNUAL DUB STARS TEAM

McEntee signs off with Division 1 league title

Following an all-conquering Dublin and Leinster campaign, St Vincent’s were duly recognised on the Dub Star team

Vincent’s dominate New Year’s honours  sport@dublingazette.com

ST VINCENT’S unsurprisingly dominated the 2016 Dubs Stars awards as six players were honoured in the annual line-up, representing the top performers in the Dublin club football championship.

In addition, the Dublin and Leinster champions also saw talisman Diarmuid Connolly win the footballer of the year gong and he will lead the side out against a Dublin senior team selection on New Year’s Day at Parnell Park with Craobh Chiarain acting as hosts.

Goalkeeper Michael

Savage, full-back Craig Wilson, midfielder Shane Carthy, and forwards Connolly and Tomas Quinn were all named in the starting line-up – as Jarlath Curley earned himself a place amongst the seven subs.

Raheny forward Brian Howard also made the first 15 alongside a large cohort from Castleknock following their superb run to a maiden Dublin final.

On the hurling side, Crumlin had two players honoured with defender Conor Murphy and forward Alex Quinn making the starting line-up.

O’Toole’s pair Brendan

McLoughlin and Ger O’Meara were rewarded with places on the bench.

Otherwise, the line-up is dominated by Cuala players with six of their Leinster championship winning side named along with a series of Kilmacud Crokes players while Lucan Sarsfields’ Chris Crummey and Kevin O’Reilly also make the cut.

Throw in for the hurling is set for 12.30pm with the football following it at 2pm with entry for the games €10.

It begins the series of Dub Star events with the camogie players beginning their season on Tuesday,

December 27 in Parnells in Coolock.

S t V i n c e n t ’s a l s o impress here by providing four players - Ciara O’Leary, Eimear McCarthy, Aine Fanning and Ellen McGovern.

The rest of the squad is Faye McCarthy, Ali Brien, Aoife Dowdall, Miriam Twomey, Eimear O’Riordan, Elaine O’Meara, Alex Griffen, Aoife Halpin, Sinead Nolan, Louise O’Hara, Emma Flanagan, Hannah Hegarty, Sarah Nagle and Aisling Carolan.

The ladies football Dub Stars takes place on January 8.

BALLYBODEN St Enda’s gave their manager Andy McEntee the perfect send-off as Boden defeated St Jude’s 2-18 to 3-14 in a full-blooded Dublin AFL 1 final after extra-time in Parnell Park.

Jude’s looked to be heading for the winner’s enclosure in normal time after putting in a great second half but late points from Aran Waters and Conal Keaney brought the sides level, 1-15 to 2-12, and forced extra-time.

Diarmuid McLaughlin, Shane Durkin, Tom Lahiff and Ronan Cleary all exchanged points in the opening half of extra-time and there was still plenty of drama to unfold in the second period of this titanic battle.

Cleary pointed on the restart to edge Boden ahead before Sam Molony’s goal effort was eventually deemed to have crossed the line after ref James King consulted with both his umpires at the scoreboard end.

There was more to come as Jude’s were awarded a penalty in injury-time which Ross O’Brien drove to the net but the full-time whistle sounded on the kick-out as Boden finished their long season off with top-flight league honours.

In normal time Boden led 1-9 to 1-5 at half-time with Keaney kicking six points, including four frees, one superb side-line and a sublime point with the outside of his left boot from the left wing.

Their goal arrived in the sixth minute when Molony found the net in emphatic fashion following an inch-perfect long delivery from Alan Flood.

Jude’s goal came eight minutes later when the influential Kevin McManamon’s attempted fist point was deflected to the net off a Boden defender.

The Tymon North men restarted with serious intent and inside the opening 90 seconds Niall Coakley had kicked a point and midfielder Seamus Ryan rifled to the net to bring the sides level.

There was nothing between the sides throughout the second half but as the half wore on sub Colm Basquel began to have more of an influence as bodies tired and those late scores from midfielder, Aran Waters, who kicked 0-3 from play and Keaney brought the game into extra-time.

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McGregor’s coronation Conor McGregor became the first MMA athlete to win the RTE Sports Person of the Year. Picture: Nathan Kelly

Crumlin man’s RTE nod a significant moment for mixed martial arts bid to break into the mainstream sporting spectrum as Conor looks to 2017

 KARL GRAHAM

sport@dublingazette.com

CONOR McGregor topped off an excellent year for the MMA star by landing the RTE Sports Person of the Year award for the first time, a significant moment for his sport in its battle for mainstream acceptance.

The Crumlin native becomes just the seventh Dubliner to win the award since its inauguration in 1985, although the decision has not come without its critics. Indeed, the eligibility of MMA to be included on such a list has been questioned, given it is not currently recognised by the Irish Sports Council.

The award is run in association with Sport Ireland and sees the public vote for the winner from

a shortlist constructed by selected RTE journalists and editorial staff.

McGregor made UFC history when he defeated Eddie Alvarez via a second round knockout last month to claim the lightweight championship, and become the organisation’s first fighter to hold titles at two different weights.

He has since, due to inactivity, been stripped of the featherweight title that he held previously.

Some quarters had criticised the decision to include McGregor ahead of sports star they perceived to be more deserving but their objection is likely to matter little to McGregor.

Speaking in Los Angeles about the award, the soon-to-be father was in buoyant mood.

“Thank you so much to the fans for voting for me for RTE’s Sports Person of the Year,” he said.

“I’m extremely grateful and extremely blessed to have the support of my home country.

“Thank you RTE as well. I’m sorry I couldn’t make the awards ceremony. You know I love to stick on a good suit and roll into these awards ceremonies and collect an award so I’m a little bit upset about that.

“Thank you to the fans, it’s been a hell of a year and I look forward to 2017.”

With recent proclamations that the Dubliner is hoping to lure Floyd Mayweather out of retirement intensifying after he was granted a boxing licence in California, McGregor also took the opportunity to once again insist that moving into the boxing ring is something that he fully intends to carry out.

“I’ve got the boxing licence. His last pay-per-

view was 350,000 buys. The fight was a flop, it was a dud. His last two fights have been duds. I certainly don’t need him.

“Of course, the Floyd fight is the fight the public want to see but we’ll see. These things take time.”

McGregor had initially announced that he would be taking a prolonged break from fighting due to his partner Dee Devlin becoming pregnant and her tendency to suffer from nerves when he fights. But he may be back in a ring of some shape sooner than expected.

“As far as the break, I don’t know,” McGregor said. “Originally I thought the baby was being born in March and then it was May so maybe I could get in another [fight]. I just don’t know. I’m weighing up my options.”