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Mar 30 - Apr 5, 2017

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Mags’ desperate bid to cure ‘time bomb’ stroke threat  EMMA NOLAN

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

CHRONIC pain, a dama g e d n e r vo u s s y s t e m and spinal cord and the constant fear of having a stroke – that’s the daily reality for a young Dublin woman, Mags Forkan, who

suffers from a rare disease – Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) – which affects the body’s collagen, and a number of other related conditions.

The 32-year-old newlywed is in chronic pain and says she feels like a “tick-

ing time bomb” due to the severity of her illness.

She says: “Because my neck is so unstable, if I turn my head left or right I could have a stroke and cause permanent spinal cord damage.”

Mags is headed to the

US for specialist surgery to try to get her life back, but she needs in excess of €100,000 to cover the surgery costs.

“I just want to get my life back and this is my best chance.”

Full Story on Page 4

A life of constant pain ... EDS sufferer Mags Forkan needs to raise more than €100k for surgery costs in the US

2 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 30 March 2017

PROPERTY | LATEST FIGURES OUT AS HOMELESS FAMILIES ALSO RISE

Average Dublin home price now tops €404k  EMMA NOLAN THE cost of an average three-bed semi in Dublin city has risen to €404,167 – as 62 Dublin families became homeless in the capital in February.

This 3.6% rise equates to a €15,000 increase for the average three-bedroom house, according to a national survey carried out by Real Estate Alliance (REA).

T h e R E A Ave r a g e House Price Survey concentrates on the actual sale price of Ireland’s typical stock home – the three-bed semi – giving an up-to-date picture of the national property market for the first three

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‘Overall, the average house price across the country has risen by 10.9% over the past 12 months ’

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months of the year.

Paul Grimes, from REA Grimes on Pembroke Street, said: “It is quite clear that there is heightened demand for the starter home in central Dublin.

“A p a r t m e n t s a n d houses remain in huge demand, with demand outstripping supply, which has shortened the time a property is on the market.”

REA spokesperson Healy Hynes said that

agents report that the market is incredibly active, with limited supply putting immense upward pressure on prices.

“In Clonskeagh, the average three-bed semi has gone from €445,000 last March to €535,000 this year – a rise of 20.2% in a year, and 7% in the quarter,” he said.

“In Balbriggan, our agents have seen a rise of 9.1% in the first quarter, with three-beds rising

by €20,000 to €240,000 – and bigger demand to come with many firsttime buyers still holding out for new building schemes due to the Help To Buy Scheme.”

O ve r a l l , t h e ave rage house price across the country has risen by 10.9% over the past 12 months – a marked increase on the 7.7% rise registered to the end of last December.

The biggest percentage increases over the past year came in the country’s smaller rural towns situated outside of Dublin, the commuter belt and the major cities.

Meanwhile, new figures from Focus Ireland

show that a record total of 1,055 families are currently homeless in Dublin – up by 48 from 1,007 in January.

Some 62 Dublin families became homeless in February – including a staggering 105 children.

Mike Allen, director of advocacy at Focus Ireland, said: “Our new monthly figures show at least two families became newly homeless in Dublin every day during February.”

A spokesperson from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive confirmed to The Gazette that 1,055 families are currently homeless in Dublin.

FASTNews

The Dublin pub has always been about community

Publicans join forces with ALONE to tackle isolation among elderly DUBLIN publicans have partnered with ALONE to raise money for the charity’s Befriending Service.

ALONE is the charity that supports older people living alone by providing community engagement programmes and other services to address social isolation among the elderly.

To support the initiative, Guinness has brewed a limited edition beer, ‘Dublin Amber Pale Ale’.

A joint donation of fifty cent for each pint of ‘Dublin Amber’ sold in participating pubs will be made to ALONE by Guinness and the publican to support the expansion of its ‘Befriending Services’.

The aim of the service is to enhance the lives of older people by introducing them to volunteer ‘Befrienders’ who will provide them with much needed companionship.

CEO of the Licensed Vintners Association (LVA), Donall O’Keeffe said the members wanted to give something back to the city.

He said: “Community has always been at the heart of the Dublin pub, and we are delighted that we are able to support the important work ALONE does in helping older people to stay in their homes and remain active in the local community.”

Students show strong entrepreneurial streak

Hello, petal! Help at hand for gardeners

BLAIR Doyle was happy to help TV’s Anna Daly launch GroMor 2017 – a nationwide campaign in association with Bord Bia to give clear and useful advice on how to best grow plants, herbs, flowers, fruits and vegetables.

A series of 50 free gardening demonstrations take place across the nation at GroMor garden centres from April to September. For further information, see www.gromor.ie. Picture: Robbie Reynolds Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Second Floor, Heritage House, Dundrum Office Park, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers

ONE in ten Irish students are in the process of setting up their own company, according to DCU researchers who analysed the entrepreneurial intentions and activities of third-level students in Ireland.

Results show that immediately upon post-graduation, the majority (44%) of students in Ireland would like to begin their career with a medium- to large-sized business. When asked where they saw themselves five years after graduating, the highest ranked career path is as an entrepreneur/founder, with 27% indicating their intention of working in their own business then.

One in ten respondents (11%) are currently trying to set up their own company while one in seven (15%) are determined to choose this path in the future. The responses of more than 800 students across a number of third-level institutions in Ireland were analysed for the report, with most (72%) aged 18 – 23.

FREE NCH concert tickets

ATTENTION music lovers – if you want to see the Arrowhead Band USA and Dublin Concert Band play the National Concert Hall on April 10, we have 50 FREE tickets to give away to the event. Just email your name and the number of tickets you want to concert@wenstravel.com – but hurry, because when they’re gone, they’re gone. If you miss out on our reader offer and wish to buy tickets, visit www.nch.ie

30 March 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 3

DUBLIN LIFE | DOCTORS IN THE HOUSE PUT DUBLIN PAIR ON THE RIGHT ROAD TO HEALTHY LIVING

Meet the mum and daughter TV3 docs labelled ‘Ireland’s sickest family’

MEET the mother and daughter who say airing their bad habits on TV3’s Doctor in the House has given them a new lease of life.

Geraldine Haskin, 54, and her daughter Amanda, 31, who live in Clondalkin, were labelled “one of the sickest” families the medics had ever met on last night’s show.

 SYLVIA POWNALL Before signing up charity shop worker Amanda tipped the scales at 24st, consumed up to 7,000 calories a day and smoked up to 30 cigarettes daily.

Mum Geraldine is also obese and has high blood pressure along with a family

history of heart and stroke problems. Amanda admitted to binge eating and had struggled with depression.

She sought help from Pieta House after social media bullying left her feeling suicidal.

She told The Gazette: “My mother decided to sign us both up. At first I was

scared but then I said yeah because I felt it might help me out. I’m nervous about how the public will react because some people are not very understanding about obesity. But I’m not nervous about the way it was shown. I wanted it to be wartsand-all, to be real and show my struggle.”

The pair got their first visit from the doctors in November and after a medical got started on an eight-week programme prescribed by the experts.

Both were found to have fatty livers and Amanda was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

Amanda said: “I used to hide my feelings and binge on food but now I’m talking to a therapist.

“I’m going to exercise classes, I’ve joined Slimming World and I’ve picked a date to give up smoking for good.

“Mam’s lost a lot of weight and goes walking with the dogs. It’s been tough and we have good and bad days, but the change wouldn’t have happened without Doctor in the House.”

4 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 30 March 2017

PEOPLE | FUNDRAISER FOR WOMAN WITH RANGE OF VERY SEVERE ILLNESSES

‘I’m a ticking time-bomb; I can’t even turn my head’  EMMA NOLAN IMAGINE not being able to turn your head left or right for fear of having a stroke. This, among other severe health problems, is part of daily life for Stillorgan woman Mags Forkan.

Mags, who just recently got married to her husband, Jimmy, has multiple health conditions that have drastically affected her quality of life over the past few years.

The 32-year-old suffers from a rare genetic connective tissue disease called Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS). This results in faulty collagen throughout her bod,y making it a multi-systemic condition.

Collagen is essentially the glue that holds the body together. This means the symptoms of EDS can be very far reaching, affecting most parts of the body.

Mags’ joints have deteriorated throughout her body and her muscle tone has declined, causing severe pain.

“Our first year of marriage has been the marriage from hell. It’s not like most people’s experience of marriage, when you’re supposed to be starting your life together, but we’ve had to fight to get me the treatment that’s needed to stop me from deteriorating any further.”

Mags also has a lot of serious life-altering conditions attached to her EDS

diagnosis. These are Dysautonomia and Postural Orthasthatic Tachycardia, which affects her autonomic nervous system.

Her weight has declined over the past few years, as she suffers from gastrointestinal issues related to her EDS. This means she suffers from constant nausea, gets sick daily, suffers bowel obstructions and finds it very hard to eat.

She also suffers from Mast Cell Activation Disorder due to her EDS. However, the most serious diagnosis to date came last year, when Mags had an MRI of her neck and brain.

She received the devastating news that she had Chiari Malformation (CM), Alanto Axial Instability (AAI) and Cranial Cervical Instability (CCI).

Chiari Malformation means that the lower parts of her brain have been pushed downwards towards her spinal canal by 8mm. This can be a very serious and, on occasion, life-threatening condition.

These serious conditions have resulted in huge deteriorating neurological symptoms, which are massively affecting her day-today life and have dramatically increased her head and neck pain.

Unfortunately, due to instability in her neck and back, Mags is severely compressing her spinal cord and brain stem,

which is extremely dangerous, and she requires two, maybe even three lifesaving surgeries in the US. She told The Gazette: “I require at least two neuro surgeries, possibly a third, while over in the States.

There are no EDS specialists in Ireland who are able to operate on me.

“Because my neck is so unstable, if I turn my head left or right I could have a stroke and cause permanent spinal cord damage.

“I’m a ticking timebomb; I can’t even turn my head.”

If the surgeries are a success, Mags has a 95% chance of getting back to normal. Up until a few years ago, I was healthy, I was active, but my life is very much in limbo at the moment. I just want to start my life again and be carefree again.”

The first surgery is scheduled for April 18 and a GoFundMe page (Mags EDS Surgery Fund) has been set up to help her pay for the surgeries, travel and living costs.

A goal of €80,000 is set, and almost €66,000 has been donated so far, but Mags says that even this won’t be enough to cover her costs.

“We set that goal not knowing the full extent of what we were facing into, and now we know that the costs will exceed that hugely. Each hospital admission for the surgeries

Like any new bride, Mags Forkan just wants to settle into married life – however, she’s battling a wide range of severe illnesses, with a neck brace one of the visible signs of the major difficulties that she is living with

requires a €40,000 deposit up front.

“We have been overwhelmed by the generosity of everyone who has helped us so far.”

The operations will leave Mags unable to travel in between, so they are

also hoping to raise funds to cover her and her family’s living costs while in the US. “I just want to get my life back and this is my best chance.”

A fundraising event is taking place in Awsome

Walls in Finglas on April 9, where Mags’ friends and family will climb the height of Mount Everest in a day to raise awareness and funds.

Visit gofundme.com/ magsedssurgeryfund to support Mags.

Man tried to sell stolen car on Done Deal A MAN caught by “good oldfashioned police work” selling a stolen car on the Done Deal website has been given a suspended sentence.

Lawyers for Robert O’Neill (26), of Thorndale Avenue, Artane, said he was a “gilly” on the “lowest rung of the ladder” in this type of crime.

O’Neill pleaded guilty at

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling stolen property at Littlepace Park, Clonee, Dublin 15 on February 24, 2016. He also pleaded guilty to having no insurance on the same occasion.

Detective Garda Mark O’Regan told the court that in the majority of these cases, “the brains behind the operation doesn’t present the car for sale”.

Det Gda O’Regan, from the Garda Stolen Motor Vehicles Investigation Unit, told the court that he was browsing the website for suspicious car ads.

He found a VW Passat with a guide price of €6,450, which in his view was below the market value. He said he contacted the registered owner, who was living in Co Clare, and this man said

his car was not for sale and was parked outside his home.

Dt Gda O’Regan said that the registration of this car had been cloned and associated with a car stolen during a burglary earlier that month. He said he arranged to meet the seller from the ad, then met O’Neill and arrested him, with the stolen car then returned to the owner.

O’Neill’s 25 previous convictions include one for assault but are mainly for road traffic offences.

Judge Gerard Griffin commended Det Gda O’Regan for his “good old-fashioned police work”. He imposed a two-year suspended sentence and disqualified O’Neill from driving for seven years.

FASTNews

Sinn Fein slam RTE as details of €75m sale of lands emerge RTE has officially put 8.64 acres of land at its Montrose headquarters up for sale for €75 million in a move that has seen much criticism.

The state broadcaster has defended its move to sell what it described as “under-utilised” land in a bid to balance its declining finances.

It is thought that the land will be sold to a developer to build housing units and apartments.

Savills, the selling agent, said the land “provides an incoming purchaser with the opportunity to develop a mid to high-end housing scheme of up to 500 units comprising a mix of apartments and houses”.

‘Ideal oppoprtunity’ Deputy Eoin O’Broin (SF) spoke out following the announcement of the sale of land in Dublin 4 and said that the “campus is an ideal opportunity to increase the level of social and affordable housing in Dublin”.

He added that he believed that the current provision of 10% social housing is not enough and called on the Government to provide additional social housing units in the area.

“I believe that, given the lack of affordable housing in Dublin city and the length of the social housing waiting lists, that there is a better way to use this State land.

“By legislating to ensure that a minimum of 150 of the proposed 500 units, rather than 50, are used for social housing, [this] would be an ideal way to demonstrate the Government’s commitment to this policy.”

The Gazette contacted Minister Coveney but had not received a response by the time of going to print.

30 March 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 5

6 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 30 March 2017

Out and About

Caoimhe Roche, from Waterford and Claire Deverell, from Dublin

Brian O’Callaghan, from Knockainey, Co Limerick pictured with his seven-year-old

Broadcaster Matt Cooper pictured with his 10-year-old son Harry

Purple power to the people son, Padraig O’Callaghan

T

HE Phoenix Park was transformed into a sea of colour as crowds of people took part in Down Syndrome Ireland’s Purple Run. Families, friends and supporters of people with Down Syndrome ran, walked and even pushed buggies or took faithful pets along across the 1km and 5km courses in support of World Down Syndrome Day, and for all those with Down Syndrome in Ireland.

Eimear Ni Chonaill, age 2 from Clare Galway, Co Galway pictured with her mother Grainne Ni Chonaill and

Brothers in Arms: Oisin Brett, age 10 from Portrane, Co Dublin (left) pictured with his two

grandmother, Gabrielle Ni Chonaill

brothers Cillian, age 8 and Darragh, age 12 (right) enjoying the fun in the Phoenix Park

30 March 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 7

PHOTO: PAUL O’ROURKE PHOTO: JOHN RAPPLE

PHOTO: BARBARA HACKETTS

WILD! T

Naas Photography Group at Phoenix Park

HE Big Smoke attracted plenty of members of Naas Photography Group to the city recently, with everyone happy to go ape for a visit to Dublin Zoo, and the Phoenix Park. The members captured some great shots of some simian friends and the other wildlife lounging around at the zoo, before making some trunk calls to friends about the majestic elephants they had seen.

Best of Friends: Freya Prendergast, age 6 from Bray, Co Wicklow and Rebecca Buckley, from Newbridge Co Kildare, pictured at the start of the Purple Run. Pictures Robbie Reynolds

PHOTO: KAREN WADE

8 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 30 March 2017

Treemondous effort as Mount Temple pupils show their class

THE pupils and staff of Mount Temple School leant a helping hand and dug deep to plant a sapling Crab Apple Tree at Applegreen, Clontarf. The tree-planting ceremony was one of many to take place in Dublin as part of National Tree Week 2017.

The week-long series of events were sponsored for the first time by Applegreen, with support from Coillte and the National Tree Council. Crab apple trees are a truly native species found in old woodlands and hedgerows throughout Ireland.

Good news for Finglas

No 40 bus route gets extended

THE NUMBER 40 bus route has been extended out as far as Charlestown Shopping Centre so as to “improve links to local amenities for Finglas customers”, Dublin Bus says.

The No 40 will now start and end its route at the shopping centre and continue to serve all major stops into the city centre and onwards to Liffey Valley Shopping Centre.

There will be two additional stops near Charlestown Shopping Centre – number 7132 on Charlestown Road and number 1558 on St Margaret’s Road.

COURTS | FINGLAS FATHER WEEPS AS HIS SON AVOIDS JAIL TERM

Lad forced to deliver €120k of pot to pay brother’s drug debt A FINGLAS man pressured into delivering over €120,000 of cannabis to pay off his younger brother’s drug debt has avoided jail.

Brian O’Grady’s father broke down in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court when Judge Martin Nolan said he would take the “unusual step” of departing from the mandatory minimum 10-year jail term and instead handed down a suspended five-year sentence.

Judge Nolan accepted O’Grady had made a “huge error of judgment” when he agreed to deliver 20kg of cannabis resin in order to help pay off his younger stepbrother’s €2,000 drug debt.

“He involved himself in a serious crime but I would estimate his moral culpability was quite low,”

Judge Nolan said. “He wanted to help his step-brother. That was misguided.”

O’Grady (31) of Liam Mellows Road, Finglas, Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cannabis resin for sale or supply at Aldi car park in Finglas on February 12 last year. The drugs had a street value of €122,000.

The court heard O’Grady was abandoned by his mother on the steps of Dublin Corporation when he was a baby and was only reunited with his father and step-siblings after some time in foster care.

His father and the step-brother he committed the crime for were in court for the sentence.

Defence counsel Michael Bowman SC said O’Grady’s early expe-

rience of loss may have caused him to “foolishly take on the role of father figure” when his little brother came to him for help.

Detective Garda Sean Smith told Noel Devitt BL, prosecuting, that on the day in question, gardaí carried out an extensive surveillance operation on two men travelling from Cork to Dublin.

Drugs O’Grady met the men in the Aldi car park in Finglas and placed two bags containing the drugs in one of their cars. The men were arrested on their way back to Cork. O’Grady was arrested shortly afterwards.

He made “immediate admissions” to gardaí that he’d agreed to deliver the drugs to the men. He

said he was too afraid to name the people he’d collected the drugs from, saying only that they were “scumbags” to whom his stepbrother was indebted.

O’Grady has six previous convictions, including road traffic offences. He is a qualified electronic technician with an excellent work history, the court heard.

The other two men received sentences of seven years and two years respectively.

Handing down a suspended sentence, Judge Nolan said: “It’s an unusual step and I’m unlikely to repeat it in the future”.

As his father cried, O’Grady thanked the judge before he and his family members all shook Det Gda Smith’s hand.

FASTNews

Man Utd is Dublin’s most popular EPL football club, Facebook research shows MANCHESTER United is the best supported English football club in the capital, well, amongst its Facebook users at least, a new survey suggests.

There are around 85,000 Red Devils fans in Dublin, followed closely by the other Reds from northern England, their best pals Liverpool.

Gambling giant Unibet used data from Facebook’s audience insights for the study, which looked at shares, likes, follows and comments of official football club pages on the social media platform.

In third place are Chelsea on 55,000, well ahead of Arsenal (42,500), a team with far stronger links to Ireland – and Dublin in particular – traditionally.

Facebook users, who quite possibly prefer League of Ireland clubs, have cited Chelsea’s rise had some as evidence that Irish fans of English football teams are “as fair-weather as they come”.

Man arrested after Luas emergency break pulled A MAN was arrested last week after the emergency break was pulled on the Luas last Thursday, causing long delays on the Red line.

Gardai confirmed that a man was arrested in relation to a public order offence near the Goldenbridge Luas stop in Dublin 8. The incident led to long delays both for traffic on the nearby Devitt Road, and also on the Luas red line.

30 March 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 9

Run to change lives  AISLING KENNEDY

WOMEN | VOLUNTEERS SOUGHT FOR SPINAL INJURIES TEAM IN MARATHON

A WO M A N w h o s e brother sustained a catastrophic spinal cord injury 10 years ago is appealing for women around Dublin to take part in the Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon this year in aid of Spinal Injuries Ireland (SII).

Orla Watters, from Irishtown, took part in the mini marathon in both 2006 and 2016 and raised a combined total of €5,947 in aid of SII to mark her brother Niall’s 10-year battle with a spinal cord injury.

Niall was deemed a quadriplegic following an accident that saw him paralysed from the neck down in 2006, but he has since made an unexpected and miraculous recovery.

Orla is speaking out in support of people living with disabilities after she witnessed first-hand the

devastating impact a spinal cord injury can have on not only the person it happens to but also on the family around them.

She said: “Niall, who was 19 at the time, sustained his injury on February 28, 2006 when he went to Galway Rag Week with his friends.

“He was a student in DIT studying Architectural Technology but he just went to Galway with his friends for a few days.

“While he was there, he dived off a jetty into the river Corrib at Corrib village. Everyone else jumped in feet first but Niall dived in head first and hit his head off a rock which was submerged in the water.

“This resulted in a compression fracture on his spine, leaving him an incomplete quadriplegic.”

Catherine Noone

Cancer statistics spark calls for publication of national strategy STATISTICS showing that men from areas with poorer education levels are 32% more likely to get lung cancer have sparked calls for the renewal of the National Cancer Strategy.

Fine Gael Dublin Senator Catherine Noone said: “We must continue to provide education and awareness about cancer and its causes and continue working towards implementing a new National Cancer Strategy.

“Measures such as these could have a significant effect on the outcomes for all socio-economic groups.

Risk “Fifty years ago, just three in ten cancer patients survived their diagnosis. Now, six in ten will live for five years or more after being told that they have cancer.

“I was disturbed to see men in areas with the poorest education levels have a 32 % greater risk of lung cancer than men living in areas with the highest education level.”

Senator Noone added: “I am calling on Minister Harris to renew the National Cancer Strategy as soon as possible in order to close the socioeconomic gap and tackle cancer as best we can.”

€658m spent on revamp scheme DUBLIN homeowners have spent a total of €658 million through the Home Renovation Incentive since its launch in 2013.

The tax-back-revamp scheme, which has been extended till the end of 2018, has seen 35,448 home improvement projects in Dublin since 2013, with an average spend of €18,562 each.

More power to this Cherry Orchard trio

THE Traynor family from Cherry Orchard, Dublin 10 are one of three Irish families competing in a competition run by Pinergy to highlight how much electricity we waste in our home every day, with the winners to get free power for one year.

Ray and Ciara Traynor and their son, Alex (8) will take on two other families from Meath and Kildare during the same 24-hour period. Each family will have their electricity usage monitored by Pinergy to show how much energy is being used in real time. To follow the competition, which will run until tomorrow, Friday, March 31, see www.facebook.com/PinergyIRL/

Niall spent six months at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire to work on regaining his movement, and during that time Orla deferred her second year college exams in UCD until August so that she could visit her brother every day.

“The initial prognosis was that Niall would be paralysed from the neck down but then when he was in hospital he began to move as far as his elbow, so we realised he was getting some movement back.

“Now he’s walking with the aid of a splint on his leg and has completed his degree in Architectural Technology.

“He is living in London for the past three years and working for an architectural firm over there.”

Orla explained that SII

were pivotal in helping Niall achieve certain milestones in his life by allowing him to access different services that the charity provided.

“Niall learned how to drive an automatic car through SII and when we realised Niall was getting better movement, we would always check in with SII to see what other services he could access.”

A decade after Niall sustained his spinal cord injury, he has transformed his life and is enjoying his career and lifestyle in London. “He now has the freedom that anyone else would have to live their life the way he wants and I’m very proud of him.”

To sign up to the SII Vhi Women’s Mini Marathon team, call 01 2355 317 or email emma@spinalinjuries.ie.

Niall Watters’ story is an inspiration to all

Man jailed for nine months for stealing €6,000 from a friend

A MAN who stole €6,000 in cash from a friend who let him stay in her home has been jailed for nine months for the “underhand” crime.

Judge Martin Nolan said Ionel Saisuc, with an address in Bolton St, abused the generous nature of Georgina Valcu when he stole the money from her home on October 12, 2015.

Ms Valcu had let Saisuc stay in her home when his girlfriend kicked him out, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Judge Nolan said: “It’s a particularly underhand crime, to abuse the generosity of a friend in this way.”

He handed down a two-year sentence but suspended the final 15 months on a number of conditions, including that Saisuc pay the money back.

Defence counsel requested

that the sentence be adjourned to allow Saisuc more time to work and raise the money owed. He had €400 with him in court to give to Ms Valcu.

Judge Nolan refused to adjourn the sentencing, saying: “I think he behaved disgracefully.”

Saisuc (37) pleaded guilty to stealing €6,000 from Ms Valcu’s home in Buckingham Village, Dublin 1.

Garda Michael Guihen told Grainne O’Neill BL, prosecuting, that Ms Valcu allowed Saisuc, a work colleague, to stay in her house with her son after he had some relationship difficulties.

While Saisuc was staying with her, Ms Valcu withdrew the money from her account because she was opening a new bank account.

When Saisuc did not turn up to work one day, Ms Valcu rang her son who told her he had cleared

out with all his clothes. When Ms Valcu got home, she discovered the €6,000 was missing.

Saisuc later got in touch with Ms Valcu and apologised for taking the money. He promised to repay the funds, but never did.

He has nine previous convictions, including for theft and aggravated theft.

Defence barrister Keith Spencer BL said Saisuc was originally from Romania, but had been living in Ireland for three years. He was a mechanic and handyman who came to Ireland to work so he could send money home to his son.

Mr Spencer said Saisuc was having “problems with a casino” around the time of the offence and was extremely remorseful.

“He is eager to make full restitution to Ms Valcu,” Mr Spencer said.

10 GAZETTE 30 March 2017

Gazette babies are the cutest...

Matilda Nisbet is enjoying relaxing near her toys

More steak for Alexandra, please!

Christopher Arthurs loves cars

WIN!WIN!WIN!

Caroline B Valentim shares how great Alicia and Chloe looked for a certain day ...

Send in your baby photographs and...

W

Leppin’ leprechauns! Parker Daly certainly looks the part

E’RE entering the final week of The Gazette’s Bonnie Baby competition so this is your last chance to send in those cute pix of your little prides and joys.

We’ve had a wonderful response from mums, dads, proud grandparents and family friends, who’ve shared some of the cutest photos we’ve ever seen.

Keep sending in those wonderful snaps of your little ones – next Thursday’s paper will be the last week for new entries, after which we’ll chose our lucky finalists, who’ll appear in the paper on Thursday, April 13th.

We have some great prizes to give away – including two hampers worth €90 each from our friends at NUK Ireland – and one lucky winner will win a free family or newborn photoshoot worth €180 from Gazette photojournalist and expert baby photographer Ali, of Alison O’Hanlon Photography.

So keep sending in those snaps to competitions@dublingazette.com or via our Facebook page – and don’t forget to include your details and your baby/toddler’s name and age!

30 March 2017 GAZETTE 11

Gazette competition

Ella McCullage plays peekaboo

Zack Hennessy composes his next masterpiece

Liam Kavanagh is dressed to impress

Nice to meet Louise O’Carrroll

Aneta Patriak shared this thoughtful shot of Maia Kurkowska

GAZETTE

12 GAZETTE 30 March 2017

DUBLINBUSINESS FUNDING: DUBLIN GROUPS TO GAIN FROM TECH FIRM’S DONATIONS

Brexit stage left: New research points to Dublin as preferred relocation option for London’s city bankers LONDON’S bankers should relocate to Dublin post-Brexit, according to a new study.

Research by Movinga reveals that Dublin is the most favourable city for bankers, based on the average high-end rent prices, language spoken, cuisine, luxury stores and bars, pushing the cities of Frankfurt and Paris unexpectedly far down the list.

According to the study, Dublin ranks first and is followed by Amsterdam in second and Valletta in third, while Frankfurt trails far behind in sixth place and Paris in ninth.

The results reveal that Dublin is the most desirable city for London bankers to relocate to, scoring high for proximity (70-minute flight), English language comprehension (100%), and affordable high-end rent prices (€1,975.67).

Tax Dublin also has the highest maximum income tax rate at 52%, along with Amsterdam.

“Everyone talks about Paris and Frankfurt as the new financial centres of Europe after Brexit,” said Finn Hansel, managing director at Movina.

“But other cities like Dublin, Valletta, Luxembourg and Amsterdam may actually be better equipped to make these workers feel happy and at home.

“Individuals and businesses alike should consider the unique factors important to their relocation before planning their move.”

Laura Morgan Walsh, Director of EMEA Risk and Financial Services Operations, PayPal (centre in white top and red skirt) together with PayPal teammates presents a cheque for €9,300 to Junior Achievement Ireland. Picture: Patrick Browne

PayPal presents €55k to a range of charities  EMMA NOLAN

PAYPAL has donated more than €55,000 to seven Irish charities.

The five charities that received funding through PayPal Gives are ARC Cancer Support, homeless charity Depaul, children’s hospice LauraLynn, Dundalk Dog Rescue and children’s

charity Temple Street Foundation.

The organisations were nominated by PayPal employees at the Blanchardstown and Dundalk offices, and received a donation of €8,400 each.

ARC Cancer Support will use its donation to continue its work in supporting children and adults affected by cancer

and those caring for them.

Depaul will fund a programme that supports homeless women leaving prison; helping them to integrate successfully back into their local communities.

Hospice donation LauraLynn’s donation will help fund its popular annual Light Up event,

when the charity turns on its Christmas tree lights.

The contribution to Temple Street Foundation will support a new play facility for children in the hospital, while Dundalk Dog Rescue’s funding will enable it to continue to give unwanted dogs a second chance.

Junior Achievement Ireland and Outreach

Moldova received €9,300 and €4,600 respectively through PayPal’s Financial Inclusion Charity Grant Programme.

Maeve Dorman, PayPal’s head of Global Operations, Europe, Middle East and Africa said: “We are delighted to support these seven charities and recognise the invaluable work each of them does.”

New express Dublin-Belfast coach links cities in just 2 hours A NEW express transport link has just started between the hearts of Dublin and Belfast, with 16 daily services in each direction on offer.

With March marking Dublin Coach’s tenth anniversary, the transport firm has rolled out a direct twohour service, with no stops, departing from Custom

House Quay and whisking passengers directly to Glengall St in Belfast in less than two hours.

Aoife Dunphy, marketing manager for the Dublin Coach Group, said: “Dublin Coach are delighted to provide a direct service with no stops for our new M1 express service, as we received much

needed feedback from our loyal customer following. We are really excited to add Belfast to our ever-expanding nationwide network.”

Fares for the Dublin Coach M1 express service will be €10 or £8 one way, with both currencies accepted at each of the stops; two children u-12 travel free with

every paying adult.

Dublin Coach can be easily recognised by its distinctive green livery, with new Mercedes coaches operating the route with increased leg room, reclining leather seats, free wi-fi and a toilet on board.

See www.dublincoach.ie or call 01 465 9972.

30 March 2017 GAZETTE 13

MOTORING: MICHAEL MORONEY ON WHY IT’S A GREAT TIME TO BE A VAN DRIVER P20

TRAVEL: WHY ROMANIA IS A PHOTOGRAPHER’S DREAM DESTINATION P23

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

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GAZETTE

MUSIC: JAMES HENDICOTT EXPLORES THE RISE OF IRISH HIP-HOP P16-17

MUSIC: THE EAGERLY AWAITED NEW ALBUM FROM DUBLIN’S FINEST IS ALMOST HERE LISTENING to Imelda May’s new album, it’s clear that one of Ireland’s biggest exports has found a new groove, here presenting the most personal and intimately autobiographical album she has ever written.

Featuring the powerful single ing musicians including the core trio Should’ve Been You, the heartof guitarist Marc Ribot (Tom Waits, wrenching blues ballad ‘BlackTears’ Elvis Costello), drummer Jay Bellerose with guitar legend Jeff Beck, and the (Robert Plant and Alison Krauss) and stunning first single ‘Call Me’, May has bassist Zach Dawes (The Last Shadow poured her soul into Life. Love. Flesh.

Puppets, Mini Mansions).

Blood, her fifth studio album.

May’s new sound sits firmly outside With just a over a week before its of any sharply defined genre box, release, Imelda says: “I wrote Black widely spanning blues, rock, soul, gosTears with Angelo Petraglia after a pel and jazz. ‘Life, Love, Flesh, Blood’ heart wrenchingly difficult goodbye. I breathes new life into a classic sound, closed my door and caught a glimpse with Imelda’s powerhouse vocal as of myself in the mirror with black tears distinctive as ever, cementing her posirolling down my face. tion as one of the strongest vocalists of “It’s a sight and situation most her generation. women have unfortunately seen ourThe singer herself describes the selves in at some point in life. Angelo record as her most “honest” yet. had a beautiful guitar piece that fit the Imelda’s life changed considerably mood perfectly.” in the run up to recording, and this is Recorded over seven days in Los documented in the only way she knew Angeles, the album features contribuhow, saying: “It’s therapy, like keeping tions from guitar hero Beck, piano lega diary that a lot of people read.” end Holland (on ‘When It’s My Time’) With just over a week to go, we can’t and an accomplished group of backwait to listen to that diary!

THIS HUSKY LADY, COCO, IS A SWEET, CLEVER PET OUR Dog of the Week looking for their #SpecialSomeone* is Coco, a stunning threeyear-old Husky.

Suitable for an adultonly home, Coco is a little aloof but she more than makes up for this with brains galore and a super, fun personality.

Coco is an active dog and would make a great running partner for a sporty owner. She gets on well with other dogs, but being independent, it’s not essential that she is rehomed with another dog.

If you are looking for an active running or hiking buddy that would happily curl up by your feet rather than on your lap, then Coco could be perfect for you.

If you can be Coco’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.

WIN The new album, which will be released by Decca on April 7

A SIGNED COPY OF LIFE. LOVE. FLESH. BLOOD AND TICKETS TO SEE IMELDA MAY PLAY LIVE

WE’RE offering one lucky Gazette reader the chance to win a SIGNED copy of Life. Love. Flesh. Blood.

But that’s not all, you can also take a pal to see Imelda and her band play live at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre at the end of May. All you have to do is Like and Share the Imelda May post on our Facebook page – and if you haven’t already, be sure to Like the Dublin Gazette Facebook page itself!

Four lucky runners up will also receive a signed copy of Life. Love. Flesh. Blood. The competition is open until the April 7 – the day the new album is released – so get on down to the Dublin Gazette Facebook page and start liking and sharing!

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14 GAZETTE 30 March 2017

DUBLINLIFE

DIARY

SCHOOLS: OLD TECH TO HELP CONTACT HIGH-TECH ORBITAL STATION

What haven’t the Irish done for the rest of the world?

HERITAGE: AN AMUSING LOOK AT OUR INFLUENCE

 EMMA NOLAN

Students and teachers from Tallaght Community School pictured preparing to contact the International Space Station by direct radio, with the ISS soon to be in place 400km directly above the school. Picture: Colin O’Riordain

Students get ready for a far-out experience STUDENTS at Tallaght Community School, along with two schools from Cork, will make history this year as they have been announced as the first Irish schools who will make direct radio contact with the orbiting International Space Station (ISS).

For a brief timeframe during Expedition 52 and 53, the crew on the ISS will be traveling at 27,600 km/h – and for 6 to 12 minutes it will be passing directly over Tallaght Community School.

The closer the space station flies to the school, the stronger and clearer the audio feed will get.

At one point during this fantastic feat of broadcast engineering, the ISS will be 400km in the sky directly above the school.

Daniel Cussen, radio technical co-ordinator will be there hand to ensure their temporary mission control radio station is up and functioning.

He said: “I have worked with

many schools in Europe to facilitate contact with the ISS, but as an Irishman I am delighted to be working with Irish students as they leave their mark in history.”

However, due to the uncertain nature of life in outer space, an exact date for the event can not be given yet, but to stay updated on the students’ journey follow them on Facebook/TallaghtCommunity-School, or Twitter @ TCSTallaght.

BRAVE SOULS SOUGHT TO ABSEIL OFF CROKER EVER felt like abseiling from the top of Croke Park? Well, here’s your chance to do so – and to help out a a good cause as you go.

Jigsaw, Ireland’s National Centre for Youth Mental Health, are seeking 60 brave individuals to join them in an abseil fundraising challenge from the top of the famous Hogan Stand at Croke Park.

The challenge aims to raise more than €30,000 to support

Jigsaw’s work delivering a range of services improving the lives of young people experiencing mental health difficulties.

Dubliner Caoimhe O’Callaghan, who braved the abseil last year, said: “I absolutely loved the Jigsaw Croke Park Abseil. I was terrified at the top, but once I had my feet firmly on the pitch I wanted to do it all over again!”

Potential daredevils can register their interest online atjigsaw. ie/abseil, or calling the fundraising team at 01 472 7010. There is a €50 registration fee, and participants are asked to raise a minimum of €300.

DIARMUID’S GARDEN TO GO TO DUNDRUM DUNDRUM is set to get a visit from celebrity gardener Diarmuid Gavin this summer when he brings his critically-acclaimed Chelsea Flower Show Garden to Dundrum Town Centre.

The spectacular garden, which was one of the highlights of the 2016 Chelsea Flower Show, emulates pure childhood fantasy and will be on display in Dundrum Town Centre’s Pembroke Square from May. The traditional garden features beautifully preened conical trees and topiary balls, colourful planting and an elegant brick folly which takes pride in front of a sunken rectangular pond.

Every 15 minutes, the tranquil garden is transformed into a whirlwind of mechanical imagination, with flowerbeds rising from the ground, twirling trees and a wooden shed that comes to life full of cogs and gardening gadgets.

The garden, which will take three weeks to install, has seven moving parts and each theatrical show lasts a minute and a half.

Dundrum Town Centre’s Garden of Pure Imagination launches on May 20, and will be free of charge to visitors and suitable for all ages.

“WHAT have the Irish ever done for us?” some have asked. Well, a new book aims to explore just that!

Celebrating Irish achievements, W hat Have The Irish Ever Done For Us? by author and journalist David Forsythe tells how Irish people and the Irish Diaspora have made a positive contribution to the wider world.

Did you know that a Dubliner is regarded as the father of conservatism, that a Dublin soccer player helped to save FC Barcelona from extinction, or that a Dublin doctor invented the hypodermic syringe?

Did you also know that the Irish invented cheese and onion crisps, the submarine and chocolate milk? That without the efforts of an Irish engineer, the city of Los Angeles would not exist, or that a Kerryman is credited as the father of modern economics?

These and many other surprising stories are covered in the book, which launched on St Patrick’s Day. David said: “The idea for the book came about during The Gathering in 2013.

“I was covering a lot of the events associated with

the Diaspora and it struck me that virtually every village, town and townland in Ireland has some kind of intriguing story about one of their own who has done something amazing, or at least impressive!

“So I decided to put some of these stories together in a book.

“There are lots of ‘heavy’ books on Irish history or in-depth biographies, but I wanted to do something that was light and easy to read and hopefully interesting and entertaining.”

The book is arranged into 51 short chapters and covers a wide range of topics, including how the Irish built New York, why a Cork woman was awarded Israel’s highest honour, and how the Irish helped create the modern-day horror boom.

What have the Irish ever done for us? is available to order from Amazon in paperback and e-book.

30 March 2017 GAZETTE 15

Hope springs eternal over at Fingal’s only microbrewery  EMMA NOLAN THERE’S only one brewery in the whole of Fingal, and that’s Hope Beer.

The state-of-the-art craft beer microbrewery is based on the Kilbarrack Road just behind Howth Junction Dart Station.

Set up in late 2015 by old pals with a passion for beer – Wim de Jongh, Jeanne Mahony and Des McSwiggan – Hope now has five full-time employees and is firmly on a path to further growth.

Wim said: “I always loved special beers.” Having grown up in Holland surrounded by a booming beer industry, Wim, who lives in Sutton, set up Hope after a long corporate career where he travelled abroad almost every week.

He joked: “It’s great now being able to cycle to work! It was important to set up close to home.”

With the Irish craft beer revolution taking place mainly outside Dublin, Hope Beer is the only brewery in the Fingal region and one of only a handful in the Dublin area.

Wim added: “It’s fantastic to be a part of this industry and it’s something that will continue to grow

so it’s more of an evolution that a revolution.

They have also been awarded the Fingal Enterprise Award 2017, and their beers have won a number of beer competition awards.

“We were helped by Fingal County Council getting our business going and we did some course and applied for a number of courses. Then we were invited to enter the awards which we were delighted to do.”

Wim said he wasn’t expecting to win because of how young the company is.

“The judges were very impressed with what we’ve done so far and we’ve a very well invested facility. We really bought state-of-the-art, environmentally-friendly brewing equipment and it was all funded from our own resources.

“We’re all aged 50-plus too, so we’re known as ‘a silver start-up’.”

When Hope won the award, the chief executive of Fingal, Paul Reid, praised the entrepreneurs for their “drive and determination”.

He said: “Hope Beer is a very worthy winner of this major enterprise award, in recognition of what they have achieved here in Fingal in such a short space of time.”

Hope’s three core beers are Handsome Jack (a fruity IPA), Grunt (a crisp, dry Saison) and Passifyoucan (a malty Blonde).

Wim added that food pairings are a major part of the appeal of the beers.

“Grunt goes perfectly with seafood; Passifyoucan is great with anything spicy, and Handsome Jack is great to have with burgers or a barbeque.”

Hope also has a number of limited edition beers; they brew everything from stouts and lagers to red and brown ales.

The entire Hope range is bottled and kegged at the Howth Junction brewer y, and is available in off-licences, bars, restaurants and also in some supermarkets nationwide.

A fine haul of three Silver medals at Alltech Craft Brews and Food Fair; inset: part of the brewery

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30 March 2017 GAZETTE 17

DUBLINLIFE

“POWER, BELONGING AND THE NEED TO BE HEARD:” N O I T C U D O R T N I AN P O H P I H H S I R I O T JAMES HENDICOTT

TEMPER-MENTAL MISSELAYNEOUS

FROM creeping into the mainstream through the likes of Rubberbandits, Super Extra Bonus Party and featuring in Love/ Hate, to the Rusangano Family’s debut album taking home the Choice Music Prize earlier this month: the rise of Irish hip-hop has been as dramatic as it has been unlikely.

It helped, of course, that the scene’s quick progression fell alongside a massive recession instigated in part through regulatory failure, repressively rising urban rents and mass social protests. Angry, pointed voices sat naturally with their new audience.

As Dublin-based hip-hop star TemperMental MissElayneous tells it: “It’s hunger that’s causing hip-hop’s boom. It’s also identification with the social dynamics of the birthplace and creators of hip-hop, and a willingness to learn and lead. But we value cultural identity and the lyrical Irish roots: saints and scholars. Poverty, loss and grievance.”

While on the poppier end of the spectrum, Temper-Mental embodies much of what’s strong about the budding Irish scene: a distinctly locally-accented sound, quick wit, cultural references and original beats. In ‘Create the Pain to Alleviate It’, she shows her depth, with the imagery of rotting apple cores set against a world of social and gender politics: “questioning, self loathing, dissatisfaction, doubt... We refuse to believe we’re animals yet... Poets once honoured are now in McDonalds, a dozen a dime.”

Temper-Mental identifies many of the topics of Irish political discourse as her themes, singling out misogyny, heterosexism, God, transformation and pain as her core elements.

“It’s a cultural revolutionary movement,” she explains. “It’s on the concrete, on the corner, it’s in classrooms, yards, youth clubs, community art centres, it’s in prison, in the bedroom studio, on the stairwell, down the lane and held privately in a heart’s rhythm waiting to be translated to words.”

A distinctly accented, smart-quipping artist who rose alongside Temper-Mental MissElayneous at the height of the recession in 2011/2012, Lethal Dialect has a harsher dynamic to his sound and also cites local cultural figures as key influences in his lyrics, nodding in particular Irish folk star Damien Dempsey.

Despite being three albums into his career, the rapper admits “I’m only really finding my own sound now. There’s some old stuff where you could nearly tell what I was listening to at the time.” His north Dublin lilt and conceptual approach to albums, however, have often stood out.

As a lyricist, he’s distinctly observational, picking out local characters mid flow, like in ‘New Dublin Saunter’: “I can’t fathom why your own people hate to hear their own accents, they call by different names, inferiority complex, malignant shame... A problem child Oscar Wilde... Watch what this generation does, and remember I said that...”

For him, despite the growth of live shows recently, the scene lives mainly online, a more boisterous and magnified version of the bedroom recordings he started out with. “There’s a good online following that can be converted into a real world following with more gigs,” he explains. “There are class acts putting out quality releases constantly.”

INTELLECTUAL HIP-HOP...

There’s a recurring theme in Irish releases, and while the accents can be wonderfully distinct, it runs deeper. It’s more in the intellectual angles; the artistic references, the experiential depth of the carefully shaped words. Bling it’s not; it relates more to the urban jungles of Dublin and Limerick, the poverty trap, the crumbling corners tourists never see.

one of Ireland’s growing number of African immigrants.

“This is where history finds us: no black, no dogs, no Irish” they quip in hit single ‘Heathrow,’, a stunningly moving and emotional diatribe on race politics that brilliantly documents the senses and everyday dimensions of an immigrant’s journey. It roles off in abrasive first person, opening with “I don’t care where you come from,

RUSANGANO FAMILY Perhaps the most successful act of 2016 gathered, slowly, a wider following before exploding on the release of their album ‘Let The Dead Bury The Dead’. Rusangano Family are a band built - unusually for the scene - on an intensely vibrant live show, also chucking in those unique personal perspectives. Regardless, they agree with Lethal Dialect’s labeling of hip-hop’s Irish heartland: “The easier answer would be Irish hip-hop lives on the internet,” they explain. “But it’s more multifaceted and more mature than ever.”

Based in Limerick the trio trace their roots to Togo, Zimbabwe and down the road in rural County Clare. Lyrically, they vigorously cut to the heart of what it is to be

I don’t want any of your kind around here anymore.”

“I think people are more adventurous musically, and realise they need a plan of action, better tracks, sharper production, tighter stage shows,” they argue. “These things take time to mature, but it feels like it’s going in a really creative direction.

More power to us, it’s really inspiring.”

Another act pouring his heart into his music is Emzee A, though he prefers to turn his observations inwards. The Dublin-based up-and-comer simply defines his music as “a combination of what I’ve been through, and what I’m going through, all the relationships in my life.”

His slightly foggy style of beats layer with

FEATURES

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16 GAZETTE 30 March 2017

EMZEE A

deeply personal moments, like in Sober Thoughts, in which he spits “my life is going nowhere, I’m lost, I don’t need your love.”

“It’s about the people in my life and how I have either helped them or disappointed them, or the books I’m reading at the moment, that’s where the messages come,” he tells us. “Stuff like lucid dreaming, sleep paralysis, insomnia, love, my flaws and how I’m willing to become a better person everyday.” He’s another voice emerging into what was once all but a void.

BUILDING ON A BUDDING A SCENE An organisation operating right at the very roots of Irish hip-hop, putting on backroom shows and promoting burgeoning artists, is fast-growing Dublin promoters Word Up Collective.

“The vibrancy and the energy of those involved really attracted us,” Word Up cofounder Phil Udell explains, “as well as the supportive nature of those involved.”

“It just feels like there’s something really important happening. Everywhere you look there’s some incredible music being made. Since we started in April, we’ve had a huge number of artists get in touch. Our monthly live gigs in Dublin have expanded to feature acts who aren’t directly part of the collective, we’ve had a good few make their live debut with us.”

“It’s very varied as well, even in Word Up we have R&B, pop, alternative rap and spoken word. I hope that it’ll develop it’s own identity, just like the grime scene in the UK has done. Rusangano Family and others are pushing their own unique sound. It can only get bigger” What Irish hip-hop lacks is a physical heartland. In the greatest of Irish traditions, as well as typical music venues,

events take place in pub back rooms and are only slowly emerging into the more established venues, yet festival slots and support roles alongside touring artists like Kendrick Lamar and Death Grips are quickly expanding audiences. Rusangano Family’s album launch show - a boisterous, sold-out triumph - took place in Dublin’s Sugar Club, a sloping, seated venue given a theatrical feel by its velvet and tables. It’s better suited to its regular burlesque nights, but the trio triumphantly made it work.

Yet the signs of mainstream acceptance of the scene are coming thick and fast.

Rusangano Family’s debut was recognised as Ireland’s best of 2016. TemperMental MissElayneous’ unusual career highlight came through substantial cultural recognition: having her work formally preserved in the James Joyce library at University College Dublin. Their intent? “That generations to come will see my work as part of urban contemporary poetry, music and art in Ireland.”

What’s reassuring is the scene’s collective ambition: despite their successes, almost every artist speaks about improving. They talk about their progress, but also about how far there is to travel. Hip-hop as a local musical force still feels like a baby in Ireland, but it’s lent credibility by history: Irish storytelling traditions adapt nicely to urban poetry. But the scene is new to substantial acclaim, new to having a following, and new to the shining spotlight of any notable media attention.

“Confidence and cowardice has caused this hip-hop boom in equal measure,” Temper-Mental concludes. Both when it’s confident and when it’s not, Irish hip-hop lives today in a way it never has before.

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FEATURE

INSIGHT: TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT THE WORK OF THE ORBIS FLYING EYE HOSPITAL

A plane amazing charity Are ye right there, Teds? Visitors have a perfectly bearable wait aboard the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital, which gave Dublin visitors a great look around its specially adapted medial interior recently.

EARLIER this month the Cllr Donnelly was suffer from preventable Orbis Flying Eye Hospi- wowed by the suite of conditions. Some 90% tal – the world’s only air- medical facilities on of those affected live in borne ophthalmic train- board, and praised the developing countries ing facility – winged it to charity’s work. She said: where they cannot access Ireland for the first time in “In late 2013 I visited the type of sight-saving ten years, giving visitors a Ethiopia to make a radio treatments that many othfirst-hand look at its sight- documentary on disability ers take for granted. saving, life-changing work in the developing world. I For more than 30 years, around the world. was really impressed with Orbis has helped counOne of the visitors to the incredible work Orbis tries build the skills and the aircraft during its brief do in that part of the resources they need to stayover at Dublin Airport world.” address the problem. was former radio producMore than 285 million The charity now has a er Cllr Deirdre Donnelly people around the world team of more than 400 (Ind) from Stillorgan, who are blind, and 4 out of 5 expert medical volunteers, has personally witnessed the work carried out by Orbis overseas.

The international charity fights blindness around the globe, with its Flying Eye Hospital – a specially designed and converted MD-10 aircraft – combining the latest in avionics, hospital engineering, technology and clinical expertise, making it possible to bring ophthalmic training to communities Cllr Deirdre Donnelly (Ind) taking a close look around in developing countries. the Orbis plane and its impressive medical facilities

from 30 countries, training local medical teams both in their own hospitals and on the Flying Eye Hospital, with a focus on quality and safety standards for patient care.

Over the past 10 years, irish people have invested €4.33 million in providing eye care services across the southern regions of Ethiopia – an area with a population of 2.2 million people.

By 2019, Orbis Ireland’s aim is to conduct 17,000 eye surgeries, provide more than 4,000 training sessions for eye care teams and health workers, and prescribe more than 6,000 pairs of glasses.

Orbis Ireland is based in the Sandyford Business District and each year paediatric ophthalmologist, Donal Bresnihan and optometrist, Tony McAleer of the Eye and Ear Hospital in Dublin, travel with Orbis to Ethiopia to train

medical teams in treatment and prevention.

Cllr Donnelly said: “When I was making the programme I visited some of the woredas, or small villages, with no electricity, toilets or running water.

“It is really sad to witness first-hand how blindness or any other kind of disability affects not just the person who has the condition, but so many others around them.

“It automatically means a reduced income and quite often the children – usually the girls – can’t go to school or partake in other activities because they have to become the carer. Restoring one blind person’s sight will have a positive effect on the lives of so many around them.

“I saw first-hand how an operation to restore sight is carried out, and I was there when the antibiotic that prevents Trachoma was being distributed.

“I learnt on my visit that a large percentage of the population live in remote rural communities. This poses problems for distribution and treatment, so that is why outreach facilities and mobile clinics are so important,” she said.

Maurice Cox, chairman of Orbis Ireland, said: “Over the past ten years, Orbis Ireland’s mission has been to eliminate a painful blinding eye disease – Trachoma – from the poorest regions of southern Ethiopia.

“Together, the unwavering commitment and partnership from the Irish people has allowed us to accomplish so much to provide basic eye care for those most in need.”

For every €1 raised by Orbis Ireland, 81 cent goes directly towards saving sight. The remaining 19 cent is invested in raising more funds and administration – for each €1 spent, Orbis Ireland raises €5.31.

For further information, see http://irl.orbis.org/

Diane Wetherup and Dr Maurice Cox, both of Orbis Ireland with Donal Bresnihan, consultant paediatric opthalmologist at the Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin

M50MOTORING

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GAZETTE

30 March 2017 GAZETTE 19

in association with

The Dublin Gazette drives you through the motoring world on a tour of the latest models, technology & industry news

VOLKSWAGEN TO BUILD SEAT’S NEW MIDSIZE SUV THE Seat car group which is part of Volkswagen Group will add a new midsize SUV to it range over the coming year and that car will be built in Volkswagen’s factory in Wolfsburg, Germany, Seat CEO Luca de Meo has said.

The new unnamed Seat SUV will be launched in 2018 and will be the Spanish brand’s third entry in the growing SUV/crossover segment after the Ateca compact and about to be launched Arona subcompact SUV, the Seat CEO said.

“The Ateca will have a big brother, a five- and sevenseat SUV that VW will build for us in Wolfsburg,” de Meo said.

The Seat head said that the new mid-size SUV will share its underpinnings with the Volkswagen Tiguan, which is built in Wolfsburg, Germany. This will be the Seat model to be built at a Volkswagen Group plant instead of the Spanish brand’s home factory in Martorell, Spain. The recently introduced Seat Ateca is built by Skoda in the Czech Republic. Seat is expanding into the segment to help it become sustainably profitable after years of losses. SUV sales last year grew to cover one every four sales in Europe. Seat claims that the new SUV will be Seat’s flagship and hopes that it will have a positive effect on the company’s challenged profit margins. Seat achieved its best financial results in its history in 2016.

The company made progress towards sustainable profitability with the company closing the year in the black for the first time since 2007, achieving as well the high-

Seat will be adding a new

est operating profit

bigger SUV to the recently

in its history.

introduced Ateca model

Opel OnStar users to get further services

Get a look at the new Giulia

ALFA Romeo in Ireland is poised for a significant return to the market with the arrival of the new Alfa Romeo Giulia. These impressively stylish and stand-out cars are powered by a new range of all-aluminium engines that provides fresh competition in the market for the likes of the Audi A4 and BMW 3 Series.

Entry prices start at €40,395 for the 2.0 litre turbo-petrol model.

The new Alfa Romeo Giulia embodies the core elements that have made Alfa Romeo one of the world’s best-loved automotive brands. It comes with distinctive Italian design, new engines and transmissions, unique technical solutions and the best weight-to-power ratio. The Giulia comes with a new rear-wheel drive system with short overhangs, a long bonnet,

OPEL cars with OnStar on board have been on the roads for about 18 months now. Currently, every second new Opel in Europe is equipped with the information system. The personal connectivity and service assistant offer includes automatic crash response, vehicle diagnostics, stolen vehicle assistance and a Wi-Fi hotspot for outstanding connectivity.

In the last 18 months, Opel OnStar has already registered more than nine million interactions, around half of those via smartphones and the myOpel app.

muscular haunches and claims of the longest wheelbase in its segment.

The Giulia claims to benefit from the careful management of weights and materials to obtain 50:50 weight distribution across its axles. Alfa Romeo says the new four-arm AlfaTM Link rear suspension and new double-wishbone front set up have been specifically tuned to maximise its dynamic abilities and enhance driving comfort. Also new on the Giulia is a new semi-virtual steering axis which claims to optimise the filtering effect and guarantees rapid, accurate steering by keeping a constant caster trail in corners.

New eight-speed automatic transmission will be standard on all Irish models.

Now Opel OnStar subscribers can look forward to further services such as hotel room booking or parking spot search via an OnStar advisor. By the end of the year, Opel plans to offer OnStar in 33 countries across Europe and in 23 languages.

Since the summer of 2015, the Opel OnStar Service Center has received over 21,000 emergency calls. Responding to emergencies is only one of the many functions that make driving safer and more comfortable.

Now OnStar advisors can also help find and

book a hotel room or locate the best spot to park the car. Both services launched with the new Opel Insignia will be available for all models ranging from the Adam to the Zafira.

The new Opel Insignia

GAZETTE

20 GAZETTE 30 March 2017

M50MOTORING

It’s a great time to buy if a van is your only man Commercial drivers have never had so many choices when it comes to making their selection of a mid-range panel van.

There has been a plethora of new vans joining the market in 2017, so Dublin van drivers have choices like never before – as Michael Moroney discovered when he compared Nissan’s new NV300 with Toyota’s new Proace.

came with a twin turbo system to give marginally more power at 120bhp.

That was reflected in better road performance as the NV300 could achieve the motorway speed of 120km/hr with a reasonable load at 2000rpm on the engine.

For the lower power Toyota Proace there was a need for a heavier pedal SPECIFICATIONS Nissan Toyota and that too was reflectEngine 1.6 litre 1.6 litre ed in slightly poorer fuel Engine power 125hp 95hp economy over the entire 0 – 100km/hr 10.2 seconds 15.5 seconds length of the test drive Economy 17m/litre (5.9l/100km 18m/litre (5.5/100km period.

Both vans are well

or 48mpg) or 51mpg) rated in terms of econoFuel Tank Capacity 80 litres 80 litres my and would put some CO2 emissions 139g/km 139g/km cars to shame. On paper Road Tax Band Commercial €333 Commercial €333 the lower power Proace is Load Volume (m3) 5.2 5.3 the more economical, but in reality I found that the Payload (kg) 1243 1360 extra power in the NV300 Entry Price €22,995 €22,790 meant that over the period of a slightly longer test IT’S a van driver’s world that also encompass the and the cubic capac- drive it gave a marginin 2017 as a wide selection Renault Trafic, Fiat Talen- ity was tested in terms of ally better fuel economy of new vans has appeared to and Opel Vivara on the load space with each of return.

The use of Nissan’s on the Irish market giving Nissan NV300 side, and them across a range of Eco button to give lower more choice than ever. All the Citroen Dispatch and road conditions.

As an overall com- power and better econoof the popular mid-range Peugeot Expert on the van suppliers have intro- Toyota Proace side. So in ment it’s fair to say that my on longer drives and duced new models and essence we are compar- van drivers are getting I could see the different delve a little deeper and ing seven vans that have a better deal than ever when put to the test. This you’ll find some interest- broad similarities across from both ranges in terms is a useful feature that will ing similarities. two design families. That of comfort and perfor- save fuel on longer runs, This week I’m com- makes it a true van driv- mance. Economy levels while it was difficult to be paring two popular mid- er’s world in terms of 2017 have improved and I was exact on the level of fuel range vans, the Nissan van choices. impressed with the range saving.

NV300, which replaces I’ve driven the Nissan achieved with a full dieFor van drivers the the Primastar and the NV300 and the Toyota sel tank capacity, which load capacity is the other Toyota Proace, both new Proace in recent weeks, interestingly was 80 litre important consideration. vans for 2017. each time clocking up in both cases.

Whether you are a carBoth vans are powered penter, butcher or builder, T h e c o m p a r i s o n close to 1,000km over a by 1.6 litre turbo-diesel the key is how much you doesn’t stop there as these number of days. vans are each part of a Each van was tested engines, while the test fit securely into the back separate family of vans with and without its load, version Nissan NV300 of the van and how acces-

in association with

The new Nissan NV300 has a new more modern van layout with impressive specification options to give good load carrying capacity coupled with driver comfort

Nissan NV300 v Toyota Proace

Toyota’s new Proace has similar styling to the Citroën Dispatch and Peugeot Expert and comes with a range of options and three vehicle lengths

sible that load is.

It was interesting that both vans were almost identical in terms of load volumes to make that choice even more difficult.

The NV300 had one side opening door while the Proace came with two. This is a specification detail and most vans can be specified with a range of door options to suit the users need.

The twin door feature on the Proace made loading that much easier, but then it is another door to keep secure if you have valuable tools as part of your load.

Both vans come with smart storage options that allow a small hatch to be opened under the passenger seat to carry

longer timber or pipe loads. The Nissan comes with the longer length capacity and is rated to carry three euro pallets or 2.5m sheets of plasterboard on the flat.

I liked the LED lighting in the Nissan NV300; it was bright and made night loading so much easier. The bulkhead behind the driver was solid, while that on the Toyota Proace came with a strengthened window, also a useful feature.

An important part of van ownership is the cost to your business. That is a combination of service intervals, depreciation and the warranty deal.

Nissan tops Toyota when it comes to the warranty deal with a 5 year offer versus Toyota’s

3 year deal.

The final decision will not be about price either, as these vans come with very similar entry prices, €22,995 for the Nissan and €22,790 for the Toyota.

The final costs will be determined by the choice of specification options and there are plenty of choices in either van.

What will dictate the deal is the overall value and that includes deal access, because van owners cannot tolerate downtime.

Making van choices has never meant so much about options, so that’s why comparing like with like in the van market can take some time; on the basic performance features the Nissan NV300 left me impressed.

30 March 2017 GAZETTE 21

in association with

Microsoft licenses connected car patents to Toyota MICROSOFT said it will license many of its connected vehicle patents to Toyota Motor in its most wide-ranging intellectual property agreement with a car company. The agreement gives Toyota broad access to all of its connected car patents. These include an operating system, voice recognition, gesture control, artificial intelligence and cyber security tools. Microsoft said it is looking to partner with additional car companies along similar lines.

The E-Class Coupe is here

THE STYLISH new Mercedes-Benz E-Class Coupe has arrived in Ireland and is already causing quite a stir amongst motoring buffs in dealer showrooms around the capital.

This follows the line of its predecessors, exuding that timeless combination of beauty, elegance and performance within an overall modern design.

This new Coupe joins the E-Class line-up alongside the saloon and estate versions and ahead of the soon-to-belaunched cabriolet.

Mercedes-Benz claims that it combines the virtues of a grand tourer with the latest developments in the fields of passenger safety, comfort and performance.

Outside, this coupe is larger than its predecessor in terms of overall length, width and height.

Passengers enjoy an extra sense of spaciousness and comfort, especially in terms of rear legroom, front and rear shoulder room and rear headroom.

Two wide doors give easy access to the front and rear of the car while its

frameless side windows and the absence of a B-pillar give it an added air of luxury and style.

From the front, its sporty styling can be seen in its long bonnet with discreet power domes, low set diamond patterned grille with centrally-mounted star and broad air intake vents.

This sporty note is carried through to the interior where contemporary colour schemes combine to give an added measure of sophistication.

Two light wood trim packages in openpore and high-gloss finishes are exclusive to the Coupe. Interior lighting makes use of LED technology.

Emissions Initially, the car will be available with one diesel and three petrol engines all of which come with start/stop function and are Euro 6 emissions compliant.

Other engines will follow. Models likely to attract most attention here will be the

E200 petrol and E220d diesel versions.

Powered by a 1991cc, 4-cylinder, 184bhp engine, the E200 comes on the market at â‚Ź52,310.

The E220d, powered by a newly developed, 1950cc, 194bhp, 4-cylinder diesel engine, launches at â‚Ź52,995.

Equipped with items first introduced in the E-Class saloon, this latest version makes greater use of technology than the model it replaces.

Features carried forward include a remote parking pilot system that allows the vehicle to be moved into and out of garages and parking spaces remotely.

Full smart phone integration, active brake assist and other driver assistance systems, latest developments in driver infotainment and the option of partially automated driving are amongst it many features.

A new LED tail light arrangement employs innovative crystal optics to give off a brilliant appearance that MercedesBenz says is reminiscent of a jet engine glow.

GAZETTE

22 GAZETTE 30 March 2017

M50MOTORING

FASTNews

Fiat Chrysler under emission cheating investigation in France

FIAT Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) is being investigated in France over allegations that the Italian based carmaker cheated in diesel-emission tests. This came after the French finance ministry’s DGCCRF consumer affairs and anti-fraud body had referred the case to the courts.

The FCA Groups claims that its diesel vehicles fully comply with emission regulations, as confirmed by the Italian Transport Ministry.

The spokesman said the company would continue to collaborate with the authorities on all investigations and was confident the matter would be fully resolved.

Following Volkswagen’s admission in 2015 of cheat-

ing on U.S. diesel-emission tests, some European countries launched tests on vehicle emissions. The European tests found on-road nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions more than 10 times above regulatory limits, for some Opel, Renault and FCA models and widespread use of devices that reduce exhaust treatment in some conditions.

The French test program has so far led to four car companies Volkswagen, Renault, FCA and PSA Group, being referred for possible prosecution by the consumer fraud agency. In recent weeks, the Opel brand was cleared of any emissions wrongdoing by the French authorities.

New branch manager at Renault Belgard Kevin Troy has been

Renault Ireland, where

appointed Branch

he spent over a decade

Director for Renault

as Sales & Network

Retail Group at

Business Manager.

Renault’s Belgard deal-

Prior to this, Kevin was

ership in Tallaght. No

Key Accounts Manager

stranger to the motor

at Transport Compo-

industry, Kevin joins

nents on Dublin’s Long

the dealership from

Mile Road for 10 years.

in association with

Renault revs up their support for Pieta House R E N AU LT I r e l a n d recently handed over the key card to a brandnew 171 Renault Megane Grand Coupe to Pieta House.

One person who will happily make use of the Coupe is Pieta House CEO Brian Higgins, who regularly travels all over Ireland to visit the Pieta House centres, the latest of which is to open in Letterkenny, Co Donegal, by mid-May. The car is branded with the charity’s logo, and it will act as a ‘vehicle’ to raise awareness of Pieta House.

Brian Higgins, Pieta House CEO said: “I am delighted that Renault has lent us their valuable support. I spend a lot of my time on the road visiting our centres and aside from its safety and comfort, Renault’s

Brian Higgins Pieta House CEO, Kevin Troy Branch Director Renault Retail Group, Liz O’Gorman Marketing Manager Renault Ireland

Pieta House branded car is a moving advertisement for our services as I travel the length and breadth of Ireland in the Renault Megane

Grand Coupe. One of our key messages is that we all need to tackle the stigma that leads people to the doors of Pieta House, so the further

I travel to spread that message and the more people I get to see and speak to, the better.”

Patrick Magee, countr y operations man-

ager, Renault Ireland said: “Renault Ireland is delighted to be in a position to lend its support to such a worthy charity as Pieta House. Its staff work tirelessly every day to help some of the most vulnerable people in our society and we hope that this All-New Renault Mégane Grand Coupé will benefit the amazing work that they do.”

Pieta House has helped more than 28,000 people since its doors first opened 11 years ago. Since last year, Pieta House has also been providing counselling, therapy and support to individuals, couples, families and children who have been bereaved by suicide.

Pieta House also operates the free 24-hour suicide helpline 1800 247 247.

Texaco invitation to take ‘Road to Adventure’ TEXACO is inviting motorists to take a ‘road to adventure’ in a new forecourt promotion now running at participating service stations across the country.

Said to provide proof that the forecourt sector is as active as ever in its drive to win new customers and retain the loyalty of others, motorists purchasing fuel valued €30 or more are being offered the opportunity to win one of eight week-long holidays to Italy’s Amalfi Coast, each one valued at €3,000, with no limit on the number of entries any one motorist can make.

Using latest smart phone technology, those purchasing the qualifying amount of fuel are asked to upload a picture of their receipt to a dedicated website together with name and contact details thereby eliminating the need for form filling or mailing.

Running until early-May, winners can decide the dates and details of their holiday which must be booked before the end of August and taken before the end of August next year.

Atlas Autoservice has been servicing cars for 43 years and has 10 locations

30 March 2017 GAZETTE 23

GAZETTE

DUBLINLIFE fast TRAVEL NEWS

TRAVEL

ROMANIA: SINK YOUR TEETH INTO A TRANSYLVANIA PHOTOGRAPHY TRIP

Perfect packages for an great break away TAKE advantage of the great deals on offer right now and book yourself a city break in Rome or a slice of summer sun in Spain or Portugal.

Clickandgo.com has great deals starting from just €289 for a four-star stay in the Italian capital. Here are three of our fave deals.

4-star Rome city break from €289pp in May From €289pp for the 4-star Relais Patrizi Hotel.

Price is per person based on two adults sharing for travel in May 2017. Price includes:• Three nights in the 4-star Relais Patrizi Hotel, Rome, Italy. • Double standard on a bed and breakfast basis. • Return Aer Lingus flights from Dublin to Rome. • Airport taxes & charges

Brasov is resplendent with gothic, baroque and renaissance architecture. Inset: Bran Castle is a hilltop fortress with ties to Dracula

Visit the Eternal City for just €289pp this May

3-star Salou in May from €759 per family From €759 per family for the 3-star CYE Holiday Centre Aparthotel. Price is per person based on two adults + 1 child sharing for travel in May 2017.

Price includes: • Seven nights in the 3-star CYE Holiday Centre Aparthotel, Salou Town, Salou, Spain • Staff pick. • One bedroom apartment on a self catering basis. • Return Aer Lingus flights from Dublin to Barcelona. • Airport Transfers, Taxes & Charges Over 50’s April special to the Algarve from €399pp.

From €399pp for the 4-star Belver Hotel Boavista.

Price is per person based on two sharing in April 2017.

Price includes: • 7 nights in the 4-star Belver Hotel Boavista, Albufeira, The Algarve, Portugal • Double City View on a half-board basis • Return Aer Lingus flights from Dublin to Faro • Airport Transfers, Taxes and Charges • Free wine and water with evening meal Visit www.clickandgo.com or call (01) 539 7777. * Prices are ‘from’ prices, based on select departure dates from Dublin based on two adults sharing. Price includes return flights, specified accommodation and airport taxes and charges where stated. Prices exclude check-in luggage unless

stated.

A picture perfect trip  SYLVIA POWNALL

MENTION Transylvania and most people conjure up an image of Dracula – or a far less sinister Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Picture Show - but this magical corner of Romania has lots to offer.

The Travel Department has just added a Transylvania Photography Holiday to its active tours list – perfect for those looking to develop their skills as a snapper under the guidance of an expert tutor.

The largest of the Balkan nations, Romania is a land of stunning mountain scenery, unspoiled countryside

and historic towns, making it a fantastic destination for anyone looking to develop their street, landscape and documentary photography skills.

The group will be based in the charming old town of Brasov for four nights, with the opportunity to photograph the remarkable landscapes of the Transylvania region as you travel high into the Carpathian Mountains.

You’ll also visit the picturesque medieval town of Viscri, famous for its traditional houses and Saxon fortified church, and Sighisoara, with its impeccably preserved hilltop citadel.

THE UBER-romantic Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa, Limerick, is inviting brides and grooms-to-be to come and discover how the hotel can

Of course, no stay in Transylvania would be complete without a visit to the imposing fortress of Dracula’s Castle.

This tour is provided in association with Dublin Photography School and is suitable for anyone seeking to develop their digital photography skills, from beginners to advanced.

Stewart Kenny, an awardwinning fine-art landscape photographer plus an additional tutor from the school will accompany the group, offering tutorials, demonstrations and photography tips, as well as spectacular photographic opportunities. Camera buffs will love

this picture postcard tour of a region steeped in history – and not a vampire in sight!

Alternatively, if photography is not your thing but you’re still looking for something a bit different then TD’s three-night city break to Bucharest could be the answer.

From its 17th and 18th century Orthodox churches to its art nouveaux villas, neoclassical palaces and imposing communist-era buildings, the remnants of Bucharest’s fascinating history are everywhere.

The historic Centru Vechi or Old Town has evolved into a lively entertainment district, full of bars, pubs

and restaurants while the city also boasts an abundance of parks, gardens and museums.

Prices for the Bucharest city break start at €359 per person with departure dates in April, June and October.

Transylvania Photography tour prices start from €699pp for four nights including return flights from Dublin, B&B hotel accommodation, transfers, excursions, taxes & charges, expert local guides and tutors from Dublin Photography School, with flight departing 13 September 2017.

See www.traveldepartment.ie for more details.

The essential checklist to getting hitched: Something old, something new, something borrowed – & one thing Blu

make their dream day a reality.

A red carpet and cocktail reception awaits

extensive 20 acre parkland with its manicured

couples as they walk through the spacious,

lawns, cherry blossom trees, garden benches

evening of inspiration and guidance this Sunday

stylishly designed reception area where wed-

and dedicated wedding garden is ideal for

(April 2) from 4 – 7pm for a wonderful wedding

ding day drinks receptions are held and enjoy

intimate wedding photographs.

showcase with a difference.

the music of resident pianist Louis. Guests will

Join the dedicated wedding team for an

The dedicated wedding team will be on hand to

be able to view the elegant Ryan Suite before

talk through the different options and pack-

of Limerick Award for ‘Most Stylish Wedding

enjoying a sit-down 5 course taster menu.

ages available at Radisson Blu, Limerick, no

Venue of the Year’ and the launch of the new

The spacious yet intimate Ryan Suite is a

Join he team as they celebrate their Brides

question is too big or small!

Winter Weddings Package, featuring winter-

newlyweds dream, overlooking the landscaped

Places are limited and by invitation only, so

Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Limerick was recently

themed arrival, additional extras and a special

gardens and terrace which provide the perfect

register your interest via email to weddings.

crowned ‘Most Stylish Wedding Venue of the Year’

gift to you for just €50per person.

setting for an afternoon drinks reception. The

limerick@radissonblu.com or call 061 456 200.

GAZETTE

24 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 30 March 2017

DUBLINLIFE ReelReviews

LIFE

Death snacks in space OH, THOSE scientists, will they never learn?

In Life (Cert 15A, 104 mins), astronauts on the orbiting ISS recover a martian microbe, which grows ever bigger and bigger until it develops a taste for crunchy, juicy, delicious astronauts ...

Life repackages plenty of familiar tropes and classic films, but the end result is an engaging, tautly-told tale of terror above the Earth.

BEAUTY & THE BEAST Watson at the cinema Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) find something rotten in suburbia when he takes a trip upstate with his girlfriend to meet her parents for the first time – but weirdness ensues ...

GET OUT: A MEMORABLE MIX OF HORROR, SOCIAL COMMENTARY AND COMEDY

A darkly original satire DIRECTOR Jordan Peele’s first foray into feature filmmaking is a horror movie with purpose; one that wears its genre-movie influences on its sleeve for all to see, but inflects everything with biting social and political commentary.

Get Out’s (Cert 15A, 103 mins) subtext is anything but submerged, and is far more disturbing than any of the horror archetypes that Peele adapts.

The opening few minutes of Get Out immediately conjure up memories of John Carpenter’s Halloween and decades worth of its imitators.

A black man wanders through an affluent sub-

 MARTIN MACNAMARA

urban neighbourhood in the middle of the night, before being knocked out and thrown in the boot of a car.

The tone is off-kilter, run through with humour, but the realworld connotation is deeply disturbing.

Months later, Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) prepares for a weekend trip to his girlfriend’s family home, where he will meet her wealthy parents

for the first time.

Rose (Allison Williams) insists that her parents (Bradley Whitford and Catherine Keener) will have no problem with Chris’s race; that her father, Dean “would have voted for Obama a third time if he could”.

Despite pleasant first impressions, Chris’s concerns prove to carry a little weight. As the weekend progresses, things get a very specific kind of weird – Rose’s family and their affluent friends exhibit a particularly strange, deviant fascination with her boyfriend’s ethnicity.

Get Out is satire first and horror second. The

message is clear from the beginning: this is a scathing meditation on liberal racism in contemporary America and it is very, very funny – peppered with the offbeat humour of its director’s successful sketch show, Key and Peele.

Indeed, horror is really just the vehicle for Peele’s political message; a cinematic language in which the director is particularly well versed.

Despite the occasional jump scare, spot of gore or bone-chilling musical cue, Get Out is scariest when it reminds us of the real world outside the cinema doors.

Kaluuya does an admirable job as the sym-

pathetic protagonist – although it takes perhaps a little too long for Chris to react to the very weird goings-on.

Caleb Landry Jones is great as his best friend – our only link to the outside world, and something to grasp onto when the film takes a surprisingly Hitchockian turn later on.

Bradley Whitford is brilliantly funny as the family’s oddball patriarch; a father eager to wear his cultural appropriation on his sleeve.

Peele has turned in an impressive, thought-provoking and wildly original debut. Get Out exists to incite open dialogue as much as to inspire

laughter or screams.

Horror fans will delight in the abundant winks at genre favourites – there’s plenty of Cronenberg and Carpenter nods on show for the discerning viewer.

At the same time, however, Get Out is unlike anything that’s come before it – a genre pastiche that transcends such a meagre description in both form and content, melding both together for a tr uly unique, wickedly entertaining cinematic experience.

Get Out should leave a well-deserved legacy as a contemporary horror classic.

Verdict: 9/10

HERE’S the first of the Mouse House’s unexpected live-action remakes of classic films, with Mulan also on the horizon. Everybody fondly remembers the classic animation, but Emma Watson acquits herself well in this Beauty & The Beast (Cert PG, 129 mins). Still, although it’s handsomely made, and frequently lavish to look at, it’s inferior in some ways to the original.

CHIPS

Not an arresting film THOSE of you with fond memories of the cheesy but classic TV show, look away now, as CHiPS: Law and Disorder (Cert 15A, 101 mins) is about as welcome as a big speeding fine. Bringing together a mismatched pair of California highway patrol cops, the film soon settles into dull, and occasionally mildly offensive bromance territory that manages to be inferior to the TV show.

30 March 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

TECH EXHIBITION: CATCHING UP WITH SOME OF THE LATEST PHOTOGRAPHY DEVELOPMENTS

Shoot for success  KARL JENNINGS

I SKIPPED across the Irish Sea recently to the Photography Show in Birmingham NEC Halls, where the the latest-andgreatest gear was on show not just from the likes of Nikon and Canon, but a plethora of other consumer-camera brands too.

There were approximately 235 exhibitors at the show, and right from the off, the aisles were very busy each day.

There was so much to do and see at the show that your correspondent can only imagine the frustration of the single-day attendee, trying to get around to all the stands and talks.

Raw, Lightroom and Instagram were the three biggest buzzwords of the show during my three days there exploring the latest tech and trends.

The first term, Raw, refers to a visual digital file type, which offers a photographer much more editing control than Jpeg format. If your camera offers Raw mode – use it.

Next, and to Lightroom, a piece of Adobe software. That firm had its own enclosed theatre, and most seminars within were a hot ticket.

Adobe’s PhotoShop has long been the standard image editing software for amateurs and professionals alike, but Lightroom’s new upgrades offer keen photographers ever more options for managing their galleries and libraries of images.

This is important from an intellectual property point of view – and for making cash from your photos, if that’s what you wish.

Finally, to Instagram. Ah, Instagram! One would think that this social media platform is the preserve of 18-year-olds, sending photos of their latest hairstyles out into the ether for their 100,000 global followers.

However, the show’s workshop talks convinced many middle-aged people that they, too, can become an influencer with their photos – and monetise their hobby, to boot.

In addition to photography, those interested in videography were well catered for.

As an example of the type of stalls and developments at the show, a small UK start-up company, Loki (lokicameragear. com), showcased its excellent modular rig for DSLR consumer cameras, many of which

today can film in 4K ultra hidefinition video.

This rig can be shouldermounted one minute, a protective jib-housing the next, and even has its own wheels to facilitate pan or tracking video shots, as shown below.

Moving on, and one of the most popular areas was the Drone Zone, where parents and kids alike marvelled at the latest and greatest in airborne camera technology.

Needless to say, the bigger the drone d i a m e t e r, t h e greater the expense; most such aerial kit was aimed at industrial buyers such as coastal engineers, television producers and police forces.

Thin rope mesh cages prevented the airborne contraptions from “going rogue” and taking someone’s eye out – as a photographer, it’s always best to keep both of those healthy! (Though star Scottish photographer Albert Wat-

son, 74, a speaker at the show, isn’t impaired by sight issues, despite being born blind in one eye.

Sony is stealing a march from even big traditional stalwarts such as Canon and Nikon because of the quality of the lenses it’s been able to buyin, and because of the ultrahigh spec of its sensor.

Drones and aerial photography were popular exhibits

A digital camera is only as good as the size and performance of this crucial piece of internal tech: the sensor, and Sony and Nikon’s stands were extremely busy, at all times.

Conscious of the tech in

cameras, and how that can affect prices, once I got back to Ireland I sounded-out a local professional – Rafal Kostrzewa – who is quite the snapperabout-town.

Poland-born Rafal (photocatchthemoment.com) is making a name in fashion, portraiture, and food/restaurant photography. He was keen to allay my confusion about the best camera to buy, saying: “Buy what you can afford.”

My puzzled look inspired him to explainfur ther: “I use a Canon 6D, because it takes very good stills, and is also high-quality enough for my corporate video work.

“My Canon is a DSLR, and its memory-card capacity is good for the shoot-heavy work that I do.”

I asked: “But Rafal, what if someone’s only got, say, €140 to invest in a decent-ish camera?” He responded: “Then I can recommend, say, a secondhand DSLR by Olympus, or even Panasonic. The image

quality is very acceptable in cameras of those brands, which may be as old as 2012 or even 2011, the year of manufacture.

“My Canon has changeable lenses, so there is a bit of babysitting involved to avoid getting the sensor dusty – the bane of a professional photographer!

“So, if you get a second-hand DSLR, keep the sensor clean, and shoot in Raw mode.”

Next I asked: “If I do get a DSLR, what lenses do I need?”

He advised: “Generally, you need just two lenses to start with; the 14-24mm range, and the general 24-70mm range, but they’re expensive, admittedly.

“That’s all a serious amateur needs to cover most wide-angle, and mid-range situations.

When your budget permits, add a third lens to that pair – the 70-200mm range lens.

“Then that’s it – you’re complete, pretty much for life!”

So, why not give your interest in photography another shot?

There’s never been a better time to try to develop your ‘eye’, your skills and your passion – just Google “photography courses” and “camera clubs”, and best of luck!

The very well attended event was a great opportunity to get some firsthand insights into the latest photography, videography and drone tech and developments. Photos: Karl Jennings

26 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 30 March 2017

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SPORT

FastSport TERENURE SHARE KEY UBL DRAW WITH UCD: RELEGATIONthreatened Terenure College climbed out of the bottom two of the Ulster Bank League Division 1A with a hard-earned 3-3 draw with UCD at the Belfield Bowl.

Terenure have edged ahead of Garryowen in the battle of the basement sides, but they almost pipped the mid-table students in the final seconds with fullback Jake Swaine narrowly missing a difficult penalty from out on the right wing.

Both sides showed plenty of attacking endeavour early on but a fast-paced first half ended scoreless, with UCD full-back Billy Dardis and Terenure winger Sam Coghlan Murray both looking dangerous.

Swaine finally grabbed the opening score in the closing quarter of the tie for a 3-0 lead but UCD got back on terms when blindside Robert Duke was sinbinned and Matthew Gilsenan mopped up with the levelling three points.

RUGBY: DONNYBROOK SIDE PLAY OUT SEVEN-TRY THRILLER WITH UL BOHEMIANS

Wesley go within touching distance of playoff places

UBL DIVISION 1B

Old Wesley UL Bohemians  sport@dublingazette.com

points”. Bohemians slotted two penalty kicks from James Lennon to take a six point lead and looked to be gaining the upper hand.

Their swift back line was running the ball wide starting to find the odd crack in the Wesley defence. An Old Wesley line out taken against the head had the Wesley spectators groaning but, moments later, they were cheering as prolific try scorer David Poff intercepted a midfield pass to sprint in 40 metres to score under the posts.

31 27

OLD WESLEY moved within a whisker of a confirmed playoff place in the Ulster Bank League Division 1B following a cracking victory over second placed UL Bohemians in Donnybrook last Saturday.

The result moves them level with Bohs on 47 points and two points from their remaining two games – including a date with bottom side Dolphin – would copper-fasten their place in the mix for promotion to the top tier.

Played in perfect conditions, Wesley had a dream start when Tim Clifford broke through a couple of tackles to score a try under the posts with just two minutes gone. He converted himself for 7-0.

T he visitors responded quickly levelled quickly with a converted Harry Fleming try, setting the tone for a free-flowing battle. Indeed, the Dublin side required a big turnover from Kenny Knaggs to deny another try soon after.

On 24 minutes, a promising

Old Wesley on the charge against UL Bohemians last Saturday. Picture: Deryck Vincent

attack by Wesley once again had the opposition pinned in their 22. Then, a perfectly targeted pass by Josh Hinde hit Rory Stynes who pinned back the ears to cross for try number two, 14-7.

But, in an exhausting spell for players and fans alike, Wesley looked to be on their way to try number three only for the visitors turned over possession

and Robbie Bourke broke away resulting in a try for them. The conversion again evened things up.

UL were now getting into their stride and scored another converted try, this one from Noel Kinnane shortly after and, for the first time, the Limerick men were ahead.

Just as half time approached, Old Wesley had a scrum 15

metres out from the opposition line. A break from the back of the scrum resulted in a pass to Michael Dunleavy who knew only one way to the line as he bulldozed over for a try. Again, Clifford converted to make it honours even, 21 all at the break.

The second half started in a steadier fashion with both teams looking to “take their

OLD WESLEY: Rory Stynes; Brendan Monahan, David Poff, Ger Finucane, Paul Harte; Tim Clifford, Adam Griggs; Ken Knaggs, Conor Maguire, James Burton, Michael Dunleavy, Iain McGann (capt), Josh Hinde, Stephen Boyle, Mark Rowley.

Replacements: David Rowley, David Henshaw, Darren Horan, Isaac Leota, Alan Large.

UL BOHEMIANS: Joe Murray; Colin Ryan, Finbar Aherne, Harry Fleming, Jamie McNamara; Robbie Bourke, James Lennon; Padraig Nesbitt, Joe Bennett, Mike Lynch, Ed Kelly, Daragh Frawley, Noel Kinnane, Ian Condell (capt), Brian Walsh.

Replacements: Peter King, James Ryan, Craig Trimble, Cian Aherne, Robert Hennessy

Railway and Belvedere reach All-Ireland semi-final  sport@dublingazette.com

Railway Union are semi-final bound. Picture: Inpho

RAILWAY Union will face Old Belvedere on Sunday in the women’s rugby All-Ireland league semi-final at Willow Lodge at 1pm as they finished second and third, respectively, in the regular season.

Railway claimed a bonus point win on the last day of the season to finish second, winning 46-20 at home to seventh-placed Cooke.

Tries from Claire Ryan, Juliet Short, Lucy O’Sullivan and Katie Heffernan ensured that bonus point was secured by half-time

and Ryan went on to score two more tries as part of a fantastic overall display by the Railway Union full-back. A second try from Heffernan and a penalty try gave Railway a convincing success.

The game was notable for Ireland Under-18 Sevens international Megan O’Brien’s first start at this level. She was the 46th different player to take to the pitch for Railway during the league campaign.

“It is a phenomenal amount of players to use and it is a testament to our squad who have got

us to the league semi-final and the cup semi-final too,” said John Cronin, Railway Union’s director of rugby.

“We have four big weekends of rugby ahead of us hopefully with the seconds also getting to a cup semi-final so we will need all of those 46 players.

“It was another good performance today and, yet again, Claire Ryan was outstanding. She has been our standout player this season and is a leader and huge influence on the team.

“Not only has she been fantastic in attack but rock solid

in defence and in a number of games her do-or-die tackles have saved us at the end.”

Belvo, meanwhile, secured their place in the final four with a 29-5 win over fierce rivals Blackrock College.

A fast, attacking start allowed them to leave a telling blow as Jackie Shiels claimed the first of her three tries after an intense period of possession.

Her second try helped make it 15-0 before the break. Milli Croman extended the margin before a late exchange of tries saw Shiels complete her hat trick.

30 March 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

FASTSport

LION HEART Leinster mascot’s special moment with Blues’ Leo LEO the Lion shares a high five with Leinster matchday mascot Emily McCabe ahead of the Guinness PRO12 Round 18 game between Leinster and Cardiff Blues at RDS Arena in Ballsbridge.

Leinster won the tie 22-21 with tries from Dan Leavy, Luke McGrath and Ross Molony grabbing the points from a game in which they trailed going into the final quarter.

They stay top of the table and are assured of a PRO12 playoff place as a result.

Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

VOLLEYBALL: DUBLIN STARS TRAVEL TO BELFAST FOR TOP NOTCH BATTLE

Ireland’s All-Stars in Belfast last week

Ireland’s Northern lights sport@dublingazette.com

VO L L E Y B A L L I r e land’s All-Star men’s and women’s teams were in action last weekend in Belfast, against the Scottish and Northern Irish national squads, providing a high level of competition against an NI side preparing for the second round of the European Championships.

The ladies team which includes several of the young premier stars like Natialia Ditrich and Wiktoria Wnek, got off to a great start, through

consistent setting from Regina O’Halpin, and beat Northern Ireland 3-0.

Indeed, the majority of the side hail from Dublin clubs with the Tallaght’s Garda team, Ballymun Patriots, UCD and Clondalkin’s Dublin Volleyball Club all represented.

The second game against Scotland, although playing superbly as a team, with great offensive play from repeat All-Star winners Indre Simkute and Edyta McMullan Ireland lost 3-0.

However, with just two points separating the teams in set 1 and 2, there was very little between the teams.

The men’s team showcased some of the best volleyball skills of the Patriots conquering premier league team.

Miguel Magno was controlling the game as setter and had many huge hitters to choose from including Osama Edghim, Ayslan Ferreira and Bartosz Bielecki.

I n I r e l a n d ’s g a m e against Northern Ireland, which they lost 3-2, blocking on both

sides was immense, as was both teams defence, producing a great spectacle of testosterone filled long rallies.

The blocking of the Scottish team had a lesser effect, allowing the Irish hitters to put on quite a show, but the tiredness of playing a second game in the day began to show, with Ireland losing the game 3-1.

In 2018, Volleyball Ireland will celebrate 50 years as the governing body for volleyball in Ireland and will be running many events as part

of this celebration.

One will be the St Patrick’s weekend volleyball international tournament, which they share with Nor thern Ireland every second year.

Vo l l e y b a l l I r e l a n d will shortly be advertising for the head coach positions for both their national squad teams, and hope that next year they will have senior teams strong enough to compete in this tournament, alongside the All-Star teams, and continue to make the event bigger and better.

Borland’s Clontarf beat Corinthian in crucial tie CLONTARF completed the Leinster sides to contest the EY Hockey League promotion playoffs, breaking into the top three on the last day of the season for a second successive season as they bid to break into the national stage.

Indeed, their 3-1 win over provincial champions Corinthian was a small landmark as the Bulls beat their first side – other than a student side – that formed part of the old Leinster Division One before the national league came in.

They went 1-0 down after eight minutes from a turnover from an attacking free on Corinthian’s 23 metre line. The reds broke out and fed Dan Treacy and while he was marshalled wide by defenders and goalkeeper David Lawless, he finished well on his open side from a tight angle against his former club.

John Mullins levelled the game from Tarf’s first corner with a drag-flick and they took the lead from another set piece, player-coach Gareth Borland this time dragging home.

The second half saw few chances from play while both sides had corners. From one, a Corinthian body stopped the ball on the line and Borland stepped up to convert the stroke with 12 minutes to go.

The result meant they jumped back ahead of Trinity who had moved into the top three four days earlier with a 7-0 win over Fingal.

YMCA are the other side going forward from Dublin for the playoffs. They closed out their formal preparations for the playoffs with goals from Grant Glutz, Colin Jackson and Jamie Tobin against Weston.

YM and Clontarf go into the playoffs that get under way on the weekend of April 8 and 9 with Corinthian skipping ahead to the next phase of the playoffs. From Ulster, Annadale and Kilkeel are in the playoff places while Cork Harlequins are the second best of the first teams in Munster.

There remains a question mark whether Kilkeel will take part as their club constitution does not currently allow them to play on Sundays. If they withdraw, Belfast Harlequins are the side in position to take their place.

GAZETTE

30 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 30 March 2017

SPORT

FASTSport

BASKETBALL: NORTH DUBLIN CLUBS PLAYOFF HOPES COME TO AN END

Kilmore’s Charlie Murray in action against Saoirse Healy of Cregmore Claregalway. Picture: Sportsfile

Kilmore’s valiant fight falls just shy of Galway KILMORE Celtic fought valiantly but had given themselves too much to do in a 3-2 defeat to CregmoreGalway FC in the All-Ireland women’s Under-14 final at Eamon Deacy Park in Galway last Sunday.

Kilmore fell behind after just two minutes and looked in trouble when they went 2-0 down with 29 minutes on the clock. Cregmore took that two goal advantage into the half-time break but Kilmore could take heart from the fact they were 2-0 down to Cashel Town in the semi-finals before coming back to win 3-2 in extra-time.

A repeat of that feat looked unlikely, however, when Cregmore scored again in the second half to take a 3-0 lead. Kaela Hutton put the ball in the back of the net to give Kilmore hope, before Rugile Auskalnyte scored to set up a tense end to the game. The referee gave Kilmore hope when five minutes added time was announced, but the task of coming back from 3-0 down proved just too much for the Artane side.

Barcelona to return for St Kevin’s Cup REIGNING champions F C Barcelona will return to defend their title at the St Kevin’s Boys Club Academy Cup Tournament over the Easter weekend, April 14 to 18, at their ground at Shanowen Road in Santry.

Fellow Spanish club and 2015 Academy Cup champions Deportivo La Coruna

also return.

They will be joined

by Belgian Club KRC Genk who, along with French visitors Olympique Marseilles, are making their first appearance in the competition, twice runners-up West Bromwich Albion and the host club for a top quality, six-team Under-13 tournament.

Admission to the tournament is €5 per session of two for adults and €2 per visit for children for each session.

Courtyard Liffey Celtics’ Jamzen Boone lines up a basket against DCU Mercy last weekend

Killester and DCU fall short SUPER LEAGUE SEMIS  sport@dublingazette.com

AMBASSADOR UCC GLANMIRE are on their way to defending their women’s Super League playoff title next weekend after overcoming Pyrobel Killester in the semi-final this afternoon in Waterford 72-58.

Both sides dished up a nail-biting thriller with just one point separating the teams at half time. It was 28-27 in favour of Glanmire with superb scoring from Mimi Clarke and Rebecca Nagle of Killester keeping the Dubliners neck-and-neck with the

regular season and Cup champions.

Indeed, strong defence from the Dublin side kept the Glanmire attack at bay for the opening two quarters and it was the third quarter before Glanmire upped the ante.

Claire Rockall proved to be crucial for them at both ends of the court to open up a 54 to 47 lead going into the last.

It was still anyone’s game though in the fourth, with Killester again proving that hard work on defence can really pay off, and Clarke was on superb threepoint form to keep things

STAR SUPPORTER O’Neill on hand to launch Ballymun United barbecue REPUBLIC of Ireland boss Martin O’ Neill was on hand to help launch the Ballymun United FC BBQ event which will be held in the Ballymun United complex, St Margaret’s Road on Sunday, June 25 from 12 to 6pm.

O’Neill is pictured with Ballymun NDSL A division players Alex Kelly, Brandon Brannock, Robert Carroll and Ciaran Hayes. Tickets are €50 for a family (two adults and two kids Under-16) or €20 for a single ticket. Available from Nans SuperValu, Main Street Ballymun or online at www.ballymununitedfc.com.

tight early on.

Experience began to show though for Glanmire though, and they kept cool heads with Rockall, Casey Grace and Chantell Alford all chipping in for important scores to run out 72-58 point winners in the end.

Courtyard Liffey Celtics, meanwhile, set up a repeat of this year’s Hula Hoops National Cup final as they beat DCU Mercy 62-55 in their semi-final to ensure a playoff final against Ambassador UCC Glanmire.

It is a win that comes with some worr y for M a r k By r n e ’s s i d e

though as Emma O’Connor was carried off the court with a leg injury that may see her miss out on next week’s clash with Glanmire.

O’Connor was the star of the show of Liffey Celtics this evening, driving the Kildare side forward from the off and proving instrumental both on offense and defense before she suffered a late injury.

It is hoped she makes a speedy recovery.

The winning of this game for Liffey Celtics came in the third quarter though as, after holding the lead at the end of both the first (21-14)

and the second (35-24) quarters, they managed to keep DCU to just two points in the third quarter, while stretching their lead considerably to go into the last 51-26 to the good.

DCU Mercy came back strong in the last quarter though, with Aoife McDermott, Ashley Perez and Aoife Maguire all proving to be instrumental for them, but the damage had already been done and it will be Liffey Celtics who face Glanmire in the Women’s Super League play-off final next Saturday evening in Letterkenny.

30 March 2017 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 31

GAZETTE

FEILE FEVER Dublin all set for annual Under-14 football festival

NATIONALLeague

CLANNA Gael Fontenoy’s Ella Darcy and Clontarf’s Ciara O’Connor were on hand to launch the 2017 Dublin Ladies Gaelic Football Feile competition this week.

The competition will be sponsored by AIG for the third year in a row with 66 teams competing across nine divisions with around 1,500 girls Under-14 taking part. It runs on Saturday and Sunday with winners going on to the national Feile from June 23 to 25.

LADIES FOOTBALL: CLONTARF SCHOOL DENIED BY THURLES Mayo’s Cora Staunton and Dublin’s Kate McKenna. Picture: Brendan Maher/Sportsfile

Staunton stuns Dublin on return to Croke Park

Holy Faith, Clontarf’s Sinead Quigley takes on Thurles’ Aoife Maher. Picture: Seb Daly/Sportsfile

Leap of Faith to first All-Ireland falls short PPS SENIOR C FINAL Presentation Thurles Holy Faith, Clontarf  sport@dublingazette.com

4-11 2-10

HOLY Faith Clontarf put in a courageous display but fell just short in their first ladies Gaelic football final as they lost 4-11 to 2-10 to Presentation Thurles in the LIDL PPS senior C championship at O’Moore Park last Sunday.

The opening period was a frantic one as both teams were reduced to 14 after just two minutes.

Clontarf captain Ann Shannon was the first to be introduced to the

sin-bin after conceding a penalty in the first minute. Somehow, Clontarf escaped the situation without conceding after their goalkeeper pushed the strike onto the crossbar before watching on as the same player smashed the rebound off the same piece of woodwork.

An eventful opening minute was then followed by an equally interesting second one that saw a Thurles player join Shannon in the sin-bin to watch Clontarf score the first score of the game through the resultant free.

Thurles got their first score after seven minutes

but, unlike the Clontarf one, it was three points instead of the one.

Clontarf hit back with two kicks to draw level but the ball was in the back of their net once again after 17 minutes. They responded with a goal of their own from Aoibhe Bell two minutes later.

Thurles reeled off three more points and another goal to leave them ahead 3-4 to 1-4 going into the break.

Clontarf started the second half well and were rewarded with two early scores. A Thurles point then followed before another for the Dubliners.

T he two teams exchanged a flurry of points but Thurles dealt a big blow with another goal that stretched their lead to eight points. Clontarf probably knew it wasn’t their day shortly after when a 45 from Thurles fell into the back of their net.

Despite the deficit, Clontarf never gave up and where rewarded for their effort with a Hannah McLaughlin goal as the game entered the final two minutes. They had another goal opportunity in injury time but it wasn’t to be and the final whistle was blown soon after.

CORA Staunton was the match-winner on her first appearance at Croke Park since 2008 as Mayo saw off Dublin 1-11 to 1-10 to pick up their second win of the Lidl Ladies National Football League Division 1 campaign.

Staunton posted 1-6 in a fine display and her injury-time winning score was a thing of a beauty – a free from 45m curled over from the outside of her right boot.

It was Dublin’s first contest at the venue since their heart-breaking All-Ireland final defeat to Cork last September, but they fell to a third loss of the campaign despite an impressive tally of 1-7 from Sinead Aherne.

In what was the first ever Ladies National Football League match at headquarters, Mayo trailed by two at half-time but posted 1-4 during a devastating ten-minute spell midway through the second-half.

A spirited fightback by the home side was spearheaded by Aherne, but it wasn’t quite enough to earn a share of the spoils. In a low-scoring first-half, both sides relied heavily on the free-taking exploits of Staunton and Aherne.

Dublin led by 0-5 to 0-3 at the interval, with just three scores arriving from open play in a defensive opening period.

The game opened up after the restart and a score each from Sarah Rowe, Grace Kelly and Staunton sent Mayo into the lead for the first time since the third minute. Dublin responded with points from Lyndsey Davey and Aherne to retake the lead, 0-7 to 0-6, in the 38th minute.

Moments later, Staunton struck for the game’s crucial score. Her goal bound effort from a free was stopped, but the Carnacon star smashed in the rebound.

Mayo reeled off four points on the bounce to lead by 1-10 to 0-7 after 52 minutes, and it appeared Dublin’s race was run. But the home side rallied down the stretch and Aherne’s goal on 57 minutes gave Mick Bohan’s team life.

Hannah O’Neill fired over from close-range to bring the Dubs level, before Mayo lost Fiona Doherty to a red card for an elbow.

With the game looking destined to finish in a draw, there was just about enough time for Staunton to land the free to secure all three points.

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GAZETTESPORT

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

LEAP OF FAITH: Clontarf school bid for a first AllIreland schools title against Presentation Thurles P31

MAR 30 - APR 5, 2017

PLAYOFF SEASON BECKONS: Dublin clubs make their push to extend their campaigns P28

Dan Leavy, takes on Scarlets’ Hadleigh Parkes in the Guinness PRO12 match between Leinster and Scarlets earlier this month. Picture: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

Leavy stakes his claim St Michael’s old boy and UCD rising star pushes his case for long-term inclusion in the Leinster back-row with performances in green and blue

 KARL GRAHAM

sport@dublingazette.com

RUNNING onto the Aviva pitch as Ireland held a narrow advantage over old foes England during their attempt to deny them a Six Nations grand slam and new world record, was probably something Dan Leavy was not expecting during the build-up to last week.

However, when Jamie Heaslip picked up a knock during the warm-up and Leavy was suddenly sprung from 24th man wilderness and onto the bench - that is exactly what happened.

The 22-year-old Dubliner entered the fray to replace Sean O’Brien in the back row and

help his team to a four point lead over a shellshocked England side.

Despite being a late addition even for the bench, Leavy performed admirably in a high pressure situation in just his second cap, and his head coach at Leinster, Leo Cullen, is keen to see more of the same for the province when Wasps come calling this weekend “It was a great experience for him to come in and make his Six Nations debut,” Cullen told GazetteSport.

“Dan came in very late in the day but he has worked really hard during this block and he put in a big performance in our last game so it was good to see him get rewarded.

“Unfortunately, it was Jamie who missed out

on the day but it was good for Dan to get a taste of what it is like to play at the Aviva in such a big game.

“Coming in during those last 15 minutes of the game when there is so much at stake will give him a lot of confidence from the experience. Those guys are working incredibly hard so they are desperate for it.”

Leavy’s attention now turns to cementing a place in a competitive Leinster squad, especially in Heaslip’s ongoing absence.

And he crossed the try-line just four minutes in against Cardiff last weekend in the Pro 12, a key score in a 22-21 victory.

However, the real prize will be earning a place in the starting 15 for the Champions

Cup quarter-final against Wasps on Saturday, and with a number of other young players also impressing alongside Leavy this season, Cullen is delighted with the squad depth he now has at his disposal.

“It is something we have worked hard on over the last couple of years.

“We missed a lot of guys from the World Cup last year so we really scouted around the clubs, and obviously looked within the academy as well.

“The amount of time we have invested in some of the young guys and trying to get the best kids into the building first and foremost, you start to see the rewards of all that work now,” said Cullen.