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YOUR COMMUNITY • YOUR PAPER

INSIDE: New ballet school has opened in Clondalkin P3

Boxing: Olympic hero hails Egan’s selection Page 32

Sport Awards: August’s stars of the month nominees inside Page 29

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ......................8 MOTORS ........................18 BUSINESS .................... 21 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

September 1, 2011

A PRECIOUS RESOURCE: We must not fail our children, says Minister P2

Local parents facing ‘a colossal burden’ Q PAUL HOSFORD

THE delay in payments of the Back to School allowance has caused “devastation” for Clondalkin families, Sinn Fein councillor Matthew McDonagh said, this week.

“This is inflicting severe hardship on families across the area. Many families simply cannot carry the colossal burden that is sending a child to school,” he said.

Cllr McDonagh said the

delay was unacceptable, and needed to be dealt with immediately.

“Many people across the constituency of Dublin MidWest are unemployed, due to no fault of their own, and they need this matter resolved,” he said.

A spokesperson for The Department of Social Protection said staff were “working to clear the claims as quickly as possible”.

Full Story on Page 6

DocMorris delight: Happy at the opening of a new pharmacy LYNNE Doyle and An Cathaoirleach of South Dublin County Council, Councillor Catriona Jones, were obviously enjoying the official opening of DocMorris at The Mill shopping centre.

The official opening was part of the

pharmacy chain’s nationwide drive to open new outlets, and relaunch rebranded stores, with a number of high-profile guests joining staff and locals for a fun day at the new outlet.

See Gallery on Pages 8-9

2 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 1 September 2011

OPINION The Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, TD

Precious childhood is defined by trust CHILDREN come into the world as a bundle of trust. Trust and love are their only currency – the only things they can offer – and the trust is absolute.

They cannot pass on a confidence and wait to see if it is protected before

sharing another. They cannot put a tiny part of their life in the hands of another to check if it is cherished before committing more.

Trust is an easy thing for adults to talk about, because we have choices.

We can decide who to

trust, and who to fear.

We can pay trust out like rope, only giving out more when we are sure it’s the right decision.

We can barter trust; demanding security in exchange. And, when we want to, we can lock our trust away, and survive on an island of our own making.

That’s easy for adults – it’s impossible for children. Their trust is absolute, unquestioning and

Local Fine Gael TD, as well as Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, says we must not fail our younger citizen’s trusts and needs for the future

complete.

And that’s why it is so devastating when it turns out to be misplaced.

Barely weeks after it came into existence, my new Department published the Cloyne

Report.

It revealed major systemic failures in how the Church dealt with child protection, and in how the State allowed such failures to occur.

The aspect of the report that I believe may be the most important is also the most likely to be overlooked; Chapter 27, where the victims of the abuse tell their stories.

They outline the effect on them – as children and, now, as adults – of being harmed by those who they trusted to protect them.

We have a lot of work to do to make sure such a breach of trust can never occur again.

Neglect That, of course, means addressing the child protection issues we have inherited, but it also means making sure that neglect, whether through will or ignorance, is addressed.

We must also make sure that the system can respond to the needs those social workers will uncover.

Having worked in the area, I know there is nothing more frustrating for a social worker than to call upon the system to help

a child or a family, only to discover the system is incapable, or unwilling, to answer the call.

We will not immediately deliver that. The deficit we have inherited is too great to instantly repair – but we will deliver.

We have a responsibility to ensure that growing up in Ireland means that you have the best start in life available anywhere in the world.

Our future lies in our younger citizens; those who will inherit this Republic; the leaders and workforce of tomorrow. We will reap what they sow.

Fundamentally, when you strip away everything and ask how have we, as a society, failed our children up to now, the answer is pretty simple: they trusted us to listen to them. We didn’t.

So, in striving for the best outcomes for Irish childhood, we must be willing and more open to engage with children, embracing their rights to speak and to be heard – not as a nuisance, nor as inferiors, but, rather, as fellow citizens, and as the decision-makers of tomorrow.

Maybe in recent years we should have listened

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‘We have a responsibility to ensure that growing up in Ireland means that you have the best start in life available anywhere in the world. Our future lies in our younger citizens; those who will inherit this Republic.’

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Minister Fitzgerald

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more to our future generations. We should not readily expect to be thanked for the legacy our generation will leave for the next.

If the excesses of the Celtic Tiger era, and its subsequent collapse, taught us anything, it is that we should never lose sight of what matters.

Our legacy will not be what we leave behind; it will be who we leave behind.

1 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 3

ACTIVITY New dance school opens in Clondalkin

POLICING: SHOOTING

Court adjourns inquest THE inquest into the death of a Lucan man living in Clondalkin has been adjourned, due to ongoing inquiries.

Robert O’Hanlon was 25 when he was shot as he walked off a football pitch in Clondalkin on March 15, 2007.

He died of gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

Tanya, founder of the new Tanya Michelle Dance School in Clondalkin, with some pupils

Little ballerinas, big fun Q PAUL HOSFORD clondalkin@gazettegroup.com

OVER 300,000 youngsters are now overweight or obese in Ireland, and health experts are calling upon parents to ensure that their children get active.

Part of the answer to tackling obesity can be found in an activity which dates back to the 15th century, according to Tanya Farrell – the much-loved and graceful dance form that is ballet.

Tanya, founder of the new Tanya Michelle Dance School in Clondalkin, says that her classes are a fun way for young children to tone up their muscles.

Not only do the movements taught in ballet class tone and firm muscles without developing bulk, but the dance form has a number of other well-recorded benefits.

Ballet exercises require the use of good posture and alignment, the dance develops poise and body awareness.

“I don’t know any little girl who doesn’t get a thrill when they are dressed up as a little ballerina and learning to dance,” says

Tanya. “It can be so hard to drag children away from the TV set or the video games, but once a child falls in love with ballet, they have a health routine which can serve them throughout their life.”

Tanya, whose school started last year in the Scouts Hall on Watery Lane, knows what she’s talking about.

She has has been a ballerina since the tender age of four. She studied both in the UK and Ireland, qualifying as a teacher from the Royal Academy of Dance in London.

She worked for a time in the USA before returning to Clondalkin to establish her school.

“People thought I was crazy starting a new business at the height of the recession, but I was quietly confident,” she explains.

“Loving parents will always do what’s best for their children, and ballet gives so much to a child on so many levels. Of course, I made sure that the pricing was affordable and I put in a lot of legwork letting people know that I was starting up.”

The legwork has paid

off. Tanya’s first term saw 30 children enroll and this looks likely to expand this year.

“I think one of the attractions for parents is that we’re registered with the both the Royal Academy and the Imperial Society of Dancing Teachers of Modern Theatre Dance, so there’s a high standard guaranteed,” said Tanya.

“It also means that, while it is fun for the children, they also have a structured curriculum with exams, so parents can see them formally progress through their grades.”

With the success of the ballet classes, Tanya has expanded to include jazz – or modern theatre dance as it’s formally known – this term.

“There’s more freedom in jazz,” explained Tanya, “and it’s often performed to more modern music.

When it is learned sideby-side with ballet you get a truly all-round dancer.”

Tanya Michelle School of Dance classes take place every Saturday.

Details are available on the school’s website at www.tanyamichelledance.com

Inquest Last week, Detective Inspector Richard McDonnell, of Lucan Garda Station, applied for an adjournment of the inquest at Dublin County Coroner’s Court under Section 25.1 of the Coroner’s Act, 1962, which coroner Dr Kieran Geraghty granted.

He adjourned the inquest to a date in November, when it will be mentioned at the Dublin City Coroner’s Court.

4 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 1 September 2011

COUNCIL Sinn Fein councillor welcomes announcement of property initiative

SDCC introduce fixed-term purchase scheme SINN Fein councillor Matthew McDonagh has welcomed the introduction of the 2011 Fixed Term Tenant Purchase Scheme.

It allows council tenants to purchase their

own homes, offering a maximum discount of 45% off the market value of the property.

It works out at a 3% deduction for every year of tenancy, up to 15 years.

Those wishing to avail

of the scheme must fit the criteria and apply to South Dublin County Council by the end of December.

The scheme applies to residents who have been council tenants for a peri-

od of ten years or longer.

There are no restrictions in the scheme to the current property they are residing in, once they have been a council tenant in any property for the accumulated time period.

In certain circumstances, where one has succeeded the previous tenant and became the official tenant, they must have been on the rent book for a period of one year in order to avail of

the scheme.

Cllr McDonnagh said that the scheme would be a reward for people in Clondalkin who had put considerable investment and effort into their homes.

“I welcome the announcement of the scheme. It gives council tenants an opportunity to purchase their family homes who, previously, may have been unable to do so,” he said.

JOBS: VIRTUAL OFFICE FUNDRAISER: 2011 TOMAS MULLILGAN CYCLE A GREAT SUCCESS BUSINESS MAY CREATE 20 LOCAL POSITIONS

Potential boost for Rathcoole LOCAL entrepreneur Donal Daly has signed a lucrative franchise deal with Kendlebell Ireland to create an outsourcing and virtual office business solution in Rathcoole, Co Dublin.

Kendlebell, now operating from Unit 6, Greenogue Business Plaza in Rathcoole, plans to provide employment for up to 20 people, and a professional service to hundreds of businesses around Ireland.

Kendlebell offers a range of personalised “virtual office” services for small businesses.

Clients simply divert their telephone lines, whether landline or mobile, to their own exclusive Kendlebell number, and a team of professionals represent them as if they were sitting in their own office.

Some use the service in advance of expansion plans, and some simply want a low-cost all-Ireland solution.

The Co Dublin office will concentrate on serving businesses all over Ireland that are looking for a central base.

With a specialist local management team in place, Daly has ambitious plans for the future, saying: “We believe that Kendlebell is an ideal technology-driven operation to help small businesses create the right impression.

“We believe that this operation will become a

role model for sustainable, high-quality employment and economic growth throughout Ireland.”

Depending on requirements, clients can choose between five packages, ranging from €50 per month to €400 per month.

Daly says: “We get to know our clients, so that we can represent them fully.

“We can manage diaries, take orders, update systems, receive deliveries, screen prospects and do pretty much anything that in-house staff would do on a daily basis, but at a fraction of the cost.

Services Some of the other services on offer include the provision of non-geographic phone numbers, a prestigious office address, secretarial services and boardroom rental, and a full range of personalised in-bound and out-bound services.

Potential clients include solicitors, professional photographers, property consultants, driving schools, office supplies companies, entrepreneurs, training companies and electricians, amongst many others.

Using their range of non-geographic numbers, Kendlebell can also provide RSVP and registration services for some larger organisations, such as banks and employer organisations. For further details, see www.kbcd.ie.

Cycle raises €40,000 to support Pieta House THE 2011 Tomas Mulligan Cycle that took place on Saturday, August 13 and Sunday, August 14 was the most successful so far.

A record 85 cyclists took part, and raised in excess of €40,000 for Pieta House, the suicide crisis centre.

The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Andrew Montague, lent his support by joining the cycle on Saturday, cycling from Good Council, GA A Club in Drimnagh to Cherry Orchard.

T homas Mulligan, Tomas Mulligan’s father, said: “We’re delighted at the turn-out this year, and I’d like to thank everyone who took part, from our organisation committee to the cyclists, the support teams, those who sponsored cyclists or those who donated en route.

“This year is the fourth and most successful year of the cycle; each year the number of participants grows.

“The solidarity shown

by Tomas’s friends and football colleagues every year reminds us that sui-

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‘The solidarity shown by Tomas’s friends and football colleagues reminds us that suicide is something that affects every town and village in Ireland’ Lord Mayor of Dublin, Andrew Montague, lent his support to the start of the 275km

who took part and supported the Tomas Mulligan Cycle this year.

“T he suppor t was phenomenal, and is a tremendous tribute to all who took part.

Acknowledge “We’d especially like to acknowledge the support of RTE sports broadcaster, Jacqui Hurley, and Dublin footballers, Eamon Fennell and Eoghan O’Gara, who launched the cycle,” she said.

Pieta House, the sui-

Thomas Mulligan

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fundraising cycle, which passed through several counties

cide is something that affects every town and village in Ireland,” he said.

T he 275km route started at Tomas’s local football club, the Good Counsel GAA club, in Drimnagh, and made its way towards Athlone, visiting GAA clubs in counties Kildare, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Meath, before returning to Dublin.

Joan Freeman, CEO, Pieta House, said: “We’re very grateful to the Mulligan family, and all those

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cide and self-harm crisis centre, officially opened its doors in Lucan in January, 2006.

Since then, the organisation has opened other centres – the main centre in Lucan, two outreach centres in Finglas and Tallaght, another dedicated centre in Ballyfermot, and a second national centre in Limerick.

In its five years of existence, Pieta House has grown to employ almost 40 therapists and admin staff, and the demand

for Pieta House services continues to grow.

This service is provided free of charge. To date, more than 4,000 people have been seen and helped by Pieta House.

Pieta House says that 95% of its income comes from fundraising events, and so the organisation relies heavily upon the support and encouragement of its volunteers, and friends of Pieta.

For further information on Pieta House, see www.pieta.ie.

Eircom boost for local broadband speed Q PAUL HOSFORD clondalkin@gazettegroup.com

THERE was good news this week for residents of Palmerstown, as Eircom announced that the town would be part of Phase One of their fibre broadband roll-out plan.

The announcement follows last month’s commitment by

Eircom to spend €100 million on Phase 1 of a plan that aims to reach one million premises over the next four years.

Once Phase 1 is completed, fibre broadband will reach more than 100,000 homes and businesses, providing speeds of 40 Mbps and beyond.

Paul Donovan, CEO, Eircom Group, said: “This is the next

step in the roll-out of high-speed broadband services.

“We have selected locations which have a geographical reach beyond Dublin and across the country. We believe there is a strong appetite for new fibrebased products and services that will be competitively priced.

“Work will commence later this year, and we hope to have

the network upgrade completed by the end of summer, 2012.”

Local Fine Gael TD Derek Keating welcomed the announcement, saying that the announcement will help homes and businesses in the area.

“This new investment should help consolidate levels of employment and enhance the possibility of creating new jobs.”

1 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 5

INFO LEAKS Meeting with hospital CEO fails to allay concerns

Dowds to raise issue over patient data Q PAUL HOSFORD

clondalkin@gazettegroup.com

L A B OU R T D R o b ert Dowds has said he plans to raise the issue of patient data at the Oireachtas Health Committee after a meeting with the CEO of Tallaght Hospital failed to allay his concerns.

Dowds met with the CEO recently to express his concerns about the safety of patient information.

Deputy Dowds said he was extremely concerned that patient data had been sent to the Philippines to be transcribed.

“Following on from my meeting, I will be raising this matter at the Oireachtas Health Committee, of which I am a member. Questions still need to be answered about how appropriate it is for sensitive patient informa-

tion to be transcribed in the Philippines, or any other place where the writ of the Data Protection Act does not run.

“While the CEO assured me that the hospital and the Filipino authorities are treating the matter with the utmost seriousness, the fact remains that this information was leaked and that there is a risk that it will happen again.

The CEO also informed me that anyone affected by this will be contacted by the hospital to explain the situation.

“T he CEO agreed with me that it would be preferable if the letters were typed in house rather than being sent to the Philippines where our data protection legislation is obviously not effective. I will be calling on the HSE to issue a directive to hospitals to

deal with all medical correspondence in-house so that we can be sure that patients’ data is being protected.”

Dowds said that the hospital admitted the risks would be lowered, were the documents processed in Ireland.

“We cannot have hospitals taking these risks with patient information, and I was glad that the CEO admitted that having Irish typists writing these letters would reduce the risk of data being leaked.

“The Health Committee must look at this matter and ensure that Irish hospitals are taking their data protection obligations seriously. Hospitals cannot be taking risks like this and I will be calling on all hospitals to end the practice of outsourcing of secretarial tasks.

“Lastly, the issue of

Dowds met with the CEO of Tallaght Hospital to express his concerns about the safety of patient information

Tallaght Hospital’s enormous catchment area coupled with low consultant numbers must be looked at, as this seems to be the root of many of the problems at the hospital. I wish to express my appreciation of the vital work that the hospital does in our area.” said Deputy Dowds.

When contacted by the Gazette a spokesperson for the hospital said: “As soon as it became evident that some patient information had got into inappropriate hands, the hospital worked with authorities in Ireland and the Philippines to determine the extent of the

Two SDCC projects get boost from Arts Council

Q PAUL HOSFORD

TWO innovative projects led by South Dublin County Council have got a much-needed boost following the announcement that they are to receive funding from the Arts Council under the Local Partnership Scheme.

The Scheme is designed to encourage and support partnerships and new collaborations between local authorities, arts organisations and other relevant groups.

The scheme has a cultural diversity strand, which aims to promote the development of intercultural capacity in the arts across local authorities.

The first of the projects

to receive funding is a research project that will involve an audit of immigrant and culturally diverse professional artists and cultural practitioners living in Dublin City and South Dublin County.

It will aim to assess the needs, barriers and challenges faced in building artistic careers in Ireland.

The project partners include the two local authorities, Tallaght Community Arts and the citybased New Communities Partnership.

We l c o m i n g t h e research project, Arts Council chairman, Pat Moylan said: “The Arts Council launched its new policy and strategy on Cultural Diversity and

the Arts last year and we are delighted to see the early fruits of that initiative with the undertaking of this important piece of research.

“We are particularly pleased to see the involvement of the Social Inclusion Units of both local authorities in this initiative.”

Meanwhile, South Dublin County Council’s County Manager, Joe Horan said: “Art knows no boundaries and this research project is aimed at identifying and realising the potential of artists regardless of nationality, race or background, as it links two major local authorities with community-based organisations.

“This approach will

accelerate the integration process as well as expanding the range and number of artists and enriching the culture of the community as a whole. This initiative will further underpin the work of South Dublin County Council’s Social Inclusion Unit and Arts Office.”

The second project to receive Arts Council funding involves the development of an interactive arts events listings and map website for young audiences and creators.

This promotional project is informed by research with 13to 25-year-olds, who expressed the need for new ways of learning about arts opportunities, including training and other resources.

information breach and to ensure that this could not re-occur.

“The IT director of the hospital travelled to the Philippines and secured a court order empowering the Philippines authorities to search the premises of the transcription service and to seize all electronic equipment and data. Following a police raid on these offices on August 4 this data is now being examined by

the Philippines authorities who will report to their courts before 7 September.

“This investigation will show the extent of data which remains on the transcription system in the Philippines. At the end of this process, such data will be deleted irretrievably as all this is already held by Tallaght Hospital.”

“An offence has been committed. Tallaght

Hospital is determined that those responsible be pursued in all appropriate jurisdictions.

“T he hospital has worked very closely with Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner throughout this investigation.

“A s t h e h o s p i t a l stopped using this service in May, it now has stateof-the-art and robust procedures with a new service provider,” the spokesperson continued.

6 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 1 September 2011

COUNCIL: INITIATIVE TO SPACE Submissions for spaces at The Creative Village GET RID OF ELECTRICAL GOODS BEFORE BONFIRES

A waste disposal facility for free SOUTH Dublin County Council (SDCC) is preparing for Halloween early this year with free WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) collection days.

These are part of the council’s strategy to encourage communities to dispose of electric and electronic appliances in a responsible manner, and to direct waste material away from bonfires.

The days will be carried out for SDCC by Clondalkin Community Recycling Initiative (CCRI), a local community recycling enterprise.

Anything with a plug or a battery will be collected, and an area receiving a free WEEE collection will be leafleted two or three days prior to collections.

A ny o n e r e q u i r i n g assistance with heavy or awkward appliances should contact CCRI directly at 01 457 8321.

Assistance will be provided free of charge, and CCRI is a legally-permitted collector of WEEE. It is important to note that only a company with the correct permits be allowed to take away your waste electronic and electrical equipment.

This is described as a perfect opportunity for householders to clear out the house of any unwant-

ed electrical or electronic items, and to help support a local community business at the same time.

Following its success last year, the “Bulbs, Not Bonfires” initiative will be implemented again this year. This initiative encourages communities who have successfully managed to prevent a bonfire where there was one last year to apply to SDCC for bulbs to plant in their open spaces.

The new Fixyourstreet initiative will also enable residents to identify where stockpiles of materials have been stored, and to help the council remove these items in advance.

With limited resources, the council asks residents once again to take in bonfire material to help reduce damage to the county.

Last year, with residents’ help, the number of bonfires were reduced by 180 – that’s a total reduction of 26% in just one year.

The council will also provide a free access day to the civic amenity, Ballymount for residents of SDCC, details of which will be released closer to the day.

The council says that they will also be continuing to enforce anti-litter and dumping legislation.

LOCALMATTERS SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

ADVERTISE WITH THE GAZETTE CALL 60 10 240

Council is looking for exhibitors

SOUTH Dublin County Council is looking for submissions for spaces at The Creative Village.

The Creative Village is South Dublin County Council’s Pop-Up Shop Project, which makes use of empty commercial property in Tallaght Town Centre.

The Council wishes to reinvigorate and animate the area adjacent to the Luas Line at the entrance

of the Town Centre.

They are now looking for individual or collective craftworkers, artists, designers and other creative’s who want to exhibit, sell or showcase their creations.

South Dublin County Council are offering free spaces for periods of four months with a possible extra two months.

Projects should showcase people making and

presenting original and creative things.

Tenants should demonstrate in their application how they encourage local buy in to the project.

Promote

This project is part of South Dublin County Council’s Creative Enterprise Strategy. It will provide an opportunity to create, exhibit, promote and sell servic-

es and, as a result, aims to; increase footfall in the area, create a sense of vibrancy and excitement in the town centre, increase support for creative industries operating in South Dublin, and offer spaces for local creative business entrepreneurs to try out new ideas and attract new audiences The Council are now accepting applications

forms, which are available on the South Dublin County Council website, www.sdcc.ie, and hope to have the first tenants by the beginning of October.

For further information, visit the council website www.sdcc.ie or email Grace Mc Loughlin, Arts Office, South Dublin County Council on gmcloughlin@sdublincoco.ie

SCHOOL: CLLR CALLS FOR ACTION

Allowance delay ‘devastating’ Q PAUL HOSFORD

clondalkin@gazettegroup.com

THE delay in payments of the Back to School allowance is causing “devastation” to Clondalkin families.

That’s according to Sinn Fein Councillor, Matthew McDonagh, who said that the delay in payments from the Department of Social Protection was causing massive difficulties for the families in the area.

“T his is inf licting severe hardship on families across the area. Many families simply cannot carry the colossal burden that is sending a child to school.

“This delay is unacceptable and needs to be dealt with immediately.

I have been inundated with calls from concerned parents who are worried sick. This grant is of vital importance to

many families in meeting the necessary demands of clothing and equipment that is required at the start of the school year.

“Many people across the constituency of Dublin Mid-West are unemployed due to no fault of their own, and they need this matter resolved.” said Cllr McDonagh.

McDonagh went on to call on the local TD’s, all of whom are in coalition parties, to make sure that the issue is resolved soon.

“I am calling on the four Government TD’s in Dublin Mid-West to pressure their colleague the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, and her department to take the necessary action to bring about a swift resolution of this crisis and to contact those who have not been in receipt of the allowance thus far and

assure them that the payment will be received.

“I am fully aware of the burden that faces most families around this time of the year, as I am a father of three children, two of whom are of school-going age,” said Cllr McDonagh When contacted by the Gazette, a spokesperson for The Department of Social Protection said that they were working hard to clear the backlog.

“The timescale for determining applications for Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance claims is dependent on a number of factors, including the number of applications received, when the application is lodged, the availability of the required information such as details of the applicant’s income, bank statements, etc.

“The Department

Sinn Fein Councillor Matthew McDonagh

would like to assure everyone that staff are working to clear the claims as quickly as possible, 38 staff were originally provided to process these claims, however, an additional 14 staff have now been assigned, bringing the total staff comple-

ment to 52, overtime is also being worked. The Department expects to have the majority of cases processed in advance of the new school year.

However, for some families, regrettably, this will not be possible,” the spokesperson continued.

Academy to host information session Q PAUL HOSFORD

THE DCU Ryan Academy for Entrepreneurship will host two free information sessions for unemployed professionals.

The sessions will take place on Monday, September 5, and Tuesday, September 13, from 10am to 12pm, in the DCU Ryan Academy, 3013 Lake Drive, Citywest Business Park.

The programme is funded under the HEA Springboard Initiative, which is the national

education response to up-skilling experienced professionals to meet the current and future skills needs for the Irish economy.

The Business Innovation Programme is a uniquely designed programme which is currently recruiting 120+ participants for its second year.

The first year of the programme was extremely successful with 122 participants from professions as diverse as solicitors, accountants, engineers, quantity surveyors, marketing

professionals, teachers, IT professionals. There were 1,681 man years of experience in the lecture theatre; three PhDs, 32 Masters, , 50 graduates and 32 highly experienced non-graduates. To date, 54 have secured employment, and many more are embarking on their own business ventures for the first time.

The unique design of the programme means that, along with a recognised DCU level 8 qualification, participants will get the opportunity to work with senior

management in one of 40 host companies to put their new skills into practice. Every business and organisation is innovative by the very fact they continue, and innovation is the key factor to success in the new business environment. The graduates, using their existing skills and experience enhance the innovative capacity of the host company and also gain a competitive advantage over other job-seekers and they bring added value to any future employer.

1 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 7

RETAIL Milestones reached by neighbouring shops

Are you listed to vote?

Celebrations at a number of local stores Q PAUL HOSFORD

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clondalkin@gazettegroup.com

‘I encourage people to shop local, think local and support our local enterprises’

THERE was a triple celebration in Palmerstown last Friday when three neighbouring stores celebrated separate milestones..

An old-fashioned street party atmosphere took over the shopping centre in Woodfarm as Palmerstown Hardware celebrated its grand opening, while Palmerstown Meats marked its first anniversary, and Reynolds Pharmacy celebrated a decade in business.

The Mayor of South Dublin County Council, Labour councillor Catriona Jones, was on hand

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Mayor Catriona Jones --------------------------

to cut the ribbon on the front of Palmerstown Hardware while her colleague, Cllr Eamon Tuffy, looked on.

On cutting the ribbon, the Mayor paid tribute to the entrepreneurial spirit of Shane and Damian Leahy, the brothers who own the shop, and other

local businesses for their “hard” and “valuable” work.

“The businesses in South Dublin fund the work we do in the council. The rates we collect from businesses mean that the grass gets cut, the roads get fixed and the council staff have their jobs.

“The business owners in South Dublin work hard and provide a very valuable outlet for local people.

“For those reasons, I encourage people to shop local, think local and continue to support our local enterprises,” said Mayor Jones.

For local brothers

POLITICS: REMINDER

Staff of Palmerstown Hardware were joined by Mayor Jones, Father Tommy and Councillor Eamon Tuffy to help mark their store’s milestone event

Shane and Damian Leahy, the decision to open the store made sense, given the space available.

“We have a property management company and a plastering company so, when we got the premises, we thought: ‘We have a bit of a shop front here’, so we decided to open the shop,” Shane told The Gazette.

N e x t d o o r, C o l m Massey was celebrating Palmerstown Meats one-

year anniversary, and said that, while starting a business in the current economic climate wasn’t easy, he had experienced “great support” from the local area.

He has already returned that support, sponsoring Mick Lester’s Palmerstown United U-11 team.

The quality of the shops’ goods was in clear evidence on the day as locals lined the path to get at the barbecue grill,

where chicken and burgers were laid on.

Meanwhile, Justin Looby in Reynolds Pharmacy was celebrating 10 years in the store, with the help of clowns and face painting.

Being part of the community for so long has seen the chemist become well-known locally.

“It’s a great community to be part of. People are very friendly, and everyone looks out for each other,” said Justin.

LOCALS are being urged to get on the Register of Voters before the October 3 deadline.

With a Presidential Election, and with three referenda to be decided on Thursday, October 27, being registered entitles people to vote in all four.

Local Fine Gael TD Derek Keating asked locals to ensure they are on the Register of Voters.

“Applications for inclusion on the supplementary register must be received

by Monday, October 3.

“Forms to be added to the Register can be downloaded from www.checktheregister.ie, or obtained from any city and county council.

“If you are 18-years-old, an Irish citizen, and residing in the State, please ensure you are registered to vote for the coming Presidential Election on Thursday, October 27,” said Deputy Keating.

8 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 1 September 2011

RETAIL Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Calum Best’s new

The store’s opening is a snip for Minister Frances Fitzgerald, watched by An Cathaoirleach of SDCC, Catriona Jones and DocMorris’ John Quinn and Cormac Tobin, managing director

Healthy addition to local business

ONTINUING its national campaign of new store openings, and rebranding of existing stores, DocMorris recently officially opened its new pharmacy at The Mill shopping centre.

A number of dignitaries were in attendance, with local Fine Gael TD, and Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, on hand to cut the ribbon and declare the store outlet. While

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Rebecca Kiely and Calum Best

the task was a snip for the busy local politician, another special guest on the day, Calum Best, had a busier time of it, as he met lots of fans for the local launch of his personal fragrance.

While Calum and Minister Fitzgerald greeted and talked with locals, DocMorris presented funds to local charity, Pieta House, and a facepainter added to the fun feeling outside the busy new pharmacy outlet.

Sinory and Wendy Abdullahi

Amy Cahill and Kay Drumm

Lynne Doyle and mayor of

Gerry Mulcahy and Paul O’Connell

Pictured making a presentation of €1,000 to Pieta House are Kim Darcy, Amy Cahill, Marie Peelo and John Quinn (Pieta House), Minister Fitzgerald, Mayor Jones and Gerry Mulcahy

Minister Fitzgerald with Aisling O’Reilly and Philip Harrison

1 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 9

fragrance lure shoppers to DocMorris opening at The Mill

Calum Best with Tori, Kayla, Lauren and Taylor Berney

Minister Fitzgerald and Maureen McNulty

Calum Best, Victoria Shorten and Cormac Tobin

South Dublin County Council, An Cathaoirleach, Catriona Jones. Pictures: Paddy Barrett

Minister Fitzgerald with Victoria Shorten and Karmen and Tristian Ichim

Charlie the Clown (and face-painter) and Claire McEvoy

Sinead and Leslie Addu outside the new outlet

10 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 1 September 2011

TAKE TWO Another look at Colaiste Bride’s Glee performance

Colaiste Bride’s Glee members pose with their productions crew and teachers. Pictures: Paddy Barrett

Students have gotta sing, gotta dance ...

ITH local schools ready to return with a new batch of students, The Gazette is happy to return to a particularly memorable event at Colaiste Bride, last year, which will be something for this year’s students to aim at bettering – if possible – in the coming year.

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The performing arts skills of the students were put to the test with a memorable performance of the school’s Glee club. A showcase performance at the end of the school year wowed the audience, as the Glee club’s members, as well as the production’s crew, showed that they could

give plenty of lessons on how to stage a great show.

The singing and dancing pupils passed the demands of the show with flying colours, showing, as always, that Colaiste Bride’s students excel with their personal skills just as much as with their academic achievements.

Kayleigh Byrne Nugent

Emma Keogh

Dancers go through another memorable routine

Aoife, Agnes, Clara, Glomanne, Lara, Heather and Sarah

Lorna MCGeever

Laura Murphy and Sun Qin Fei

1 September 2011 GAZETTE 11

12 GAZETTE 1 September 2011

GazetteFITNESS FITNESS

Brought to you by Derry Temple personal trainer and pilates instructor

MOTIVATION: GET PROPER INSTRUCTIONS, BETTER RESULTS AND SUPPORT WITH GET

Getting in shape and into Group Exercise Training F you have decided to get serious about becoming fit and are about to embark on a fitness programme, then you probably plan on joining a gym.

Unfortunately, all too often, people sign up to their local gym with the best of intentions, only to quit training a short while later. The main reason for such an early resignation is often due to a lack of direction and support when training on their own.

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Going solo without the support of friends and the close guidance of a fitness professional can be daunting.

You may wonder what exercises to perform and find it difficult to gauge the appropriate training intensity. Not having any help often leads to boredom, frustration and a lack of results. This is followed by a loss of motivation and the consequential resignation of “I quit!”

You don’t need to be

lonesome or bored on your gym visits because you can easily find companionship and leadership in Group Exercise Training (GET). The most popular form of GET that has seen a recent surge in popularity is Bootcamp.

For those who choose not to go to the gym, it offers more variety then any other training available; the result is that it is tougher for your body to adapt to and so you can expect to see better

You don’t need to be lonesome or bored on your gym visits because you can easily find companionship and leadership in Group Exercise Training

results for longer. A good Bootcamp class will involve both interval and circuit training resulting in all the health benefits associated with exercise along with fat loss and muscle toning. Training as part of a group is also a great way to meet people who share the same goals and get the support that you need to succeed.

Your Bootcamp trainer will provide you with guidance and motivation, as well as feedback on your technique.

If you don’t want to train as part of a large group, you can always invest in a trainer along with friends to get a reduced cost and have the personal guidance of a professional. If your

friends are not interested and you still think this would be your favoured option, then contact your gym. They should be able to pair you with someone or may already have a small group of trainees

the progress being made by others in your group.

You also find yourself in friendly competition realising that, if they can do it, you can, too. In this environment it is easier to push and motivate

world agree that GET is one of the fastest ways to get your body in great shape.

DTFitness is a health and fitness business that specialises in helping people lose weight

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‘Training as part of a group is also a great way to meet people who share the same goals and get the support that you need to succeed’

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that you can join.

Training with others is like having a built-in support system that bestows you with a wealth of encouragement and motivation. It allows you to measure your development against

yourself to work harder than you would on your own.

Research has shown that group support plays a huge part in helping people achieve their fitness goals and fitness experts around the

and getting the body they want. As a Gazette reader you will receive €10 off their upcoming Bootcamp, Personal or Group training by simply mentioning this article.

For further details log onto www.dtfitness.ie

www.gazette group.com All of your latest local news, sport, features and pictures are now just a click away

1 September 2011 GAZETTE 13

On track: Woodie’s and awards AT THE Woodie’s DIY Senior

A FUN RUN: MAKE-A-WISH-FOUNDATION IRELAND

Marathon to make a wish come true Q STAFF REPORTER

THE Make-A-WishFoundation Ireland is currently looking for participants in this year’s Dublin City Marathon to run on behalf of the foundation.

Make-A-Wish grants wishes to children aged three to 18, who live with life-threatening medical conditions. This wish can create a memory for both the child and their family.

It’s an opportunity for them to forget about hospitals, injections, treatment and even sickness, if only for a while.

When you have a sick child and you live in Kerry, for example, your child’s treatment takes place in Dublin.

Can you imagine the stress on parents and siblings with regards to school runs, lunches, homework and even play time, when your priority and thoughts are always

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‘There are over 220 children waiting on a wish to be granted and with a new child added to the list everyday they really need support as they get no government funding at all and totally rely on fundraising’

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with your sick child and his or her next three-day treatment in Dublin?

All too often, the siblings resent the sick child for monopolising their parents. Make-A-Wish allows the sick child to become the hero and to put the smile back on everyone’s faces.

The concept of MakeA-Wish began in America back in 1980, when Chris, a seven-year-old boy with leukaemia, told his mum he wished he could be a policeman for a day.

She decided to do her utmost to make his wish come true and with the help of the local police

force – the first wish of the Make-A-Wish movement was granted. Since 1980, Make-A-Wish is now in every state in America and in 37countries worldwide, with Make-A-Wish opening in Ireland in 1992.

The foundation have granted all sort of wishes, visits to football grounds such as Old Trafford and Stamford Bridge where the children have met the players and managers, trips to Disneyworld to meet their favourite characters or, for girls, simply having a bedroom turned into a pink Barbie room.

There are many wonderful stories of how

wishes have added joy to a child’s day and given the family something to smile about, if only for a short time.

Currently, there are over 220 children waiting on a wish to be granted and, with a new child added to the list every day, they really need support as they get no government funding at all and totally rely on fundraising.

Awareness They are looking for people to run on behalf of the foundation to help raise not only funds, but awareness of the charity too, and whether you raise €10 or €1,000, it all really helps. They will be there on the day to assist you in any way possible and they are always at the end of the phone should you have any queries.

For further information, call Make-A-Wish Foundation Ireland on 01-205 2012 or visit www.makeawish.ie

Gaming: Meet Super Mario’s dad and legendary Nintendo figure

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Track and Field Championships, Paul Hession (Athenry AC) produced the performance of the championships in the 200m winning in 20.51, achieving the A qualification standard for both the World Championships and the London Olympic Games. After what he described as a ‘frustrating’ season, the Galway man was delighted to have finally run the time, particularly in Dublin.

He was pushed all the way

by U23 European finalist, Steven Colvert (Crusaders AC), who was second in 20.84, while European U23 400m silver medallist, Brian Gregan, was third in 21.09 in a personal best. Paul was awarded the cheque of €500 for the Woodie’s DIY performance of the meet.

Pictured are Ray Colman, Chief Executive of Woodie’s DIY and Garden Centres presenting a €500 cheque to Irish Record Holder, Paul Hession.

SEE GAMING PAGE 25

14 GAZETTE 1 September 2011

GazetteMUSIC MUSIC RADIO: A FRESH OUTLOOK FOR O’CALLAGHAN AND 4FM

Afternoon delight for Gareth’s radio relaunch Q ROB HEIGH

Imelda May

COMPETITION: Win special Imelda album FOLLOWING her recent appearances on Conan O’Brien’s late night talk show on American television, as well as the stage of Grant Park in Chicago at the Lollapalooza music festival, Imelda May is releasing a new version of her hit album, Mayhem, next month, and Gazette Music have five copies to give away in our exclusive competition.

More Mayhem features the full original album, as well as new tracks Gypsy, Blues A Calling and upcoming single, Roadrunner, as well as a cover of Patsy Cline’s Walking After Midnight, and remixes of Inside Out and Proud And Humble.

Imelda’s stint stateside has seen her hailed in all quarters, and the impression she has made has propelled Mayhem to number one on the Billboard New Artist chart.

To win a copy of More Mayhem, simply answer the following question: Where in Dublin is Imelda May from?

Send your answer to competition@gazettegroup.com, with the subject line “Imelda Mayhem”, before Friday, September 9.

DU BL I N h a s b e e n blessed in recent years with the appearance of several new stations catering to more niche audiences that fall outwith the traditional demographic lines that programmers identify when planning their content.

Radio Nova and P h a n t o m F M h ave blazed a trail for rock and indie, and now, Classic Hits 4FM are aiming to do the same thing for, of course, lovers of classic hits.

The multi-city broadcaster is gearing up for a huge publicity campaign to draw what it sees as a prime market to the station as they fill their airtime with the kind of songs that are instantly recognisable and loved across a wide section of the population.

Speaking to Gazette Mu s i c l a s t we e k , a very familiar voice of Irish radio, Gareth O’Callaghan, was clear about the place that 4FM will take in people’s hearts with their new approach.

“We are targeting a broad audience as well, basically, people who love good music from any era. What we are offering is something people are going to say, “Yes, this is for me”.

“We have a broad remit as to the kind of music we can play, from the ’60s and the late ’70s and ’80s, all the way through to the best tracks of the last five years – good, classic music, from all genres.”

O’Callaghan is a well known voice on Irish radio, his 2FM show in the afternoon being a stalwart of the airwaves

Gareth O’Callaghan in the offices of 4FM: “People need to listen, because they will like it.”

for many years, and he has returned to that slot on 4FM as part of the relaunch, after a period hosting their flagship breakfast show, and he is thrilled with the response of the increas-

worked fantastically well. “ I t ’s r e f l e c t e d o n the messages we get in to the studio – I’ve never seen such a busy text screen, and we’re swamped by the many

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‘We’ve got rid of all the things that people had thrown at them and was told was good radio in the last 10 years, and stripped it back to what works - a friendly voice and great music’ --------------------------------------------------------

ing number of listeners who are tuning in and getting in touch with the show.

“We’re relaunching the station with a new schedule and new presenters. Myself, I am back on the afternoon show after having hosted the breakfast show on 4FM, and that has

ways that people can get in touch with us – on Facebook, on Twitter and email and text as well.

The feeling I’m getting is that people are really responding well to what we’re doing, and we want more people to get involved and listening.”

With a potential reach of 2.7 million people across the areas that 4FM broadcasts in, there is every chance of it breaking the traditional habits of radio fans.

“The ratings are climbing at a phenomenal rate, and we want to build on that with our new approach,” said O’Callaghan.

“There has been such a huge change in the station, we know w h e r e we ’r e g o i n g .

In six months’ time, I believe we’ll have a firm foothold all round the country.

“The next six months will be a challenge, but we believe we are going to be very successful. I believe, in 18 months, we are going to be one of the biggest radio stations in the country.”

O’Callaghan is convinced that the formula will work because, he firmly believes, that

4FM is hitting the right note at the right time.

What we’re doing at Classic Hits 4FM now is re-establishing what radio is all about – entertainment.

“We’ve got rid of all the things that people had thrown at them and was told was good radio in the last 10 years, and stripped it back to what works - a friendly voice and great music.

“With the current doom and gloom, we’re helping to remind people of when things were better, when they were more involved in the music, and we’re trying to recreate that.

“We simply play the music that people love, what you listen to when you want to feel good.

The music speaks for itself.

“We need to convince people that they need to listen, because they will like it,” said O’Callaghan.

1 September 2011 GAZETTE 15

GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY

Edited by Dawn Love

Armani launches first regenerative skincare range “THERE is skin. And then there is Armani skin – a skin that you want to touch, a skin that you won’t forget, a skin that appears luminous, youthful, desirable,” says world-famous designer Giorgio Armani,whose luxury skincare brand has just launched its first advanced regenerative skincare range.

To create the first Advanced Regenerative Skincare, Giorgio Armani Laboratories say they were inspired by the research work of Professor Peter Lorenz, Plastic Surgery, Head of

the Scarless Skin Repair Laboratory at the Stanford School of Medicine.

During his general surgery research training at UCSF, Professor Lorenz was part of a team that made a major discovery. The foetuses that bore impor tant surgery in utero, did not show any scar when born. They regenerated perfectly.

“Ideally, we want tissues to heal with a perfect replacement tissue.

This is what we mean by tissue regeneration.

For skin, regenerative healing would result in

new skin. The appearance of the regenerated skin would be just like the surrounding normal skin – a perfect match of colour, texture, and feel to normal skin,” says Lorenz.

The range includes Multi-Corrective Rejuvenating Cream €85,Youth Regenerator Serum €95, Eye Rejuvenatin Serum €60 and Cosmetic Water €40.

Giorgio Armani Regenessence is available exclusively at Brown Thomas Dublin and Brown Thomas Cork from September 2011.

A delicious new multipurpose oil

Giorgio Armani’s advanced regenerative skincare range includes the Youth Regenerator Serum (top right) and the Multi-Corrective Rejuvenating Cream (above)

Wedding fair

Newly crowned Miss Ireland, Holly Carpenter, will be amongst those attending this year’s Radisson Blu St Helen’s Wedding Fair Sunday, September 25, from 2pm – 6pm.

The annual event is a must for brides-to-be with a huge range of

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suppliers taking part with all the latest fashions for your big day, tasty food ideas, Cathy O’Connor, TV3’s celeb stylist and the chance to enter a competition to win a two-night stay at the stylish Missoni Hotel in Edinburgh for two people.

And if you book your

wedding at the Radisson Blu, St Helen’s on September 25, you will receive a 20% discount off your wedding menu price and complimentary sparkling wine reception for your guests.

For information, contact Radisson Blu St Helen’s Hotel Stillorgan on 01 218 6000.

IRISH company, Tan Organic, has just launched a new multipurpose product, Oil Arganic, that can be used for dry, cracked skin, hair, nails, stretch marks and scars.

The delicious new oil is formulated with ingredients such as argan oil, rosehip oil, macadamia oil, sweet almond oil and avocado oil. Tan Organic says it’s also perfect for use during tanning to prolong tan and ensure tan wears off evenly.

It is soon to be available nationwide at €24.99, and you can order online through www.skinlogic.com

16 GAZETTE 1 September 2011

SNAPSHOT The stories of the day from around the capital

A host of well-known faces from sport, politics, entertainment and business got together to launch this year’s Blue September Ireland initiative this week

Gazette Contacts Block 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan Tel: 01 6010240 Fax: 01 6010251

Managing Director: Liam Holland email: lholland@gazettegroup.com General Manager: Michael McGovern email: mmcgovern@gazettegroup.com Editor: Cormac Curtis email: ccurtis@gazettegroup.com News Editor: Dawn Love email: dlove@gazettegroup.com Production Editor: Jessica Maile email: jmaile@gazettegroup.com Sports Editor: Rob Heigh email: sport@gazettegroup.com Financial Controller: Carly Lynch email: clynch@gazettegroup.com Advertising Production: Anita Ward email: ads@gazettegroup.com Advertising Sales: 01 6010240 email: sales@gazettegroup.com

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

Blue in the face? It’s on trend this month!

THE inaugural Blue September Ireland campaign launched this week with the aim of challenging Irish men to face up to cancer.

Blue September Ireland will raise awareness of bowel, lung, prostate and testicular cancer, while fundraising for the following Irish charities: Cancer Care West, The Marie Keating Foundation, The Mater Foundation and The Mercy Hospital Foundation.

Key supporters of this year’s campaign include An Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Bernard Jackman, Trent Johnson, Karl Henry, Gerry McEntee – Consultant Surgeon at the Mater Hospital, and the Leinster, Munster and Connacht Rugby teams.

Blue September Ireland is encouraging people to host a Blue event, by either painting their faces blue one day in September, hosting a Blue themed day in work or to create a completely new Blue idea to raise vital funds.

Unislim have designed a healthy eating plan – Food Max For Men – written for men. This plan will not only help men to lose weight, it will boost their health and increase their energy levels. The plans are available to purchase online at www.unislim.com or at any Unislim class nationwide.

All proceeds will go directly to Blue September.

DIARY Calling carnivores!

A LITTLE beyond the pale for the Diary this week, but we received a most intriguing email from the southeast! It reads: “My dad (O’Flynn’s Wholesale Victuallers) is a quality butcher in Waterford and one of the oldest family butchers in Ireland (oldest record I can find is 1846). With over 165 years in the business comes lots of ‘meat’ know how!

“We want to start a campaign to get the Irish people’s favourite recipes into one collection. To do this, we need lots of recipes and we would love some help in rallying the community!

“The Butcher and Us want to bring a community cook book, filled with recipes and tips that focus on meat as the main ingredient of each dish, from traditional ‘comfortstyle meals’ to tapas and other interesting ways of cooking meat.

“We want to collect the community’s favourite meat recipes from breakfast specials, to dinner favourites to BBQ secrets.

We are going to collect them all into a very special cookbook.

“We need people to email thebutcherandus@gmail.com with their meat recipes along with their name, where they are from, email address and phone number so we can get in touch before the book is published.”

So, any passionate Dublin carnivores out there who would like their meaty recipes included in this gastronomic tome should get in touch – just don’t forget to send the Diary a sample of your finest dish.

Laugh for Peamount THE Friends of Peamount Hospital will kick off their year-long fundraising drive this month with a special event at Dublin’s Laughter Lounge on Eden Quay.

The society is aiming to raise money to replace older buildings at the hospital, as they get set to celebrate their centenary next year. The event will kickstart a fundraising drive that will end with next year’s centenary celebrations, sure to be a highlight for many in the area.

The event takes place on Wednesday, September 28, and will see The Panel regular Jarlath Regan MC for a night of comedy.

Tickets, priced at €25 each can be purchased from Fran Brennan at 01 6010300 ext 292 or email fbrennan@peamount.ie

1 September 2011 GAZETTE 17

GazettePETS PETS

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: KEEPING CANINE FLEAS AT BAY IS ESSENTIAL FOR A DOG’S GOOD HEALTH

Keeping your pet from those pesky parasites HE phone’s been ringing with requests for education workshops – hailing the start of the new school year.

One of the most popular requests has been from mums’ groups looking for my Pesky Parasites workshops, dealing with canine fleas. And, while these pests are more likely to cause problems during warm weather, I tell callers they’re also known to hang around during the cool season due to their abilities to continue their life cycle indoors.

Ah, those dreaded fleas.

We can never, ever underestimate the determined little freeloaders.

Ok, they can be neutralised, however, they’re very resilient and have a four-stage cycle making it difficult to get rid of them.

For example, did you know a flea can live in our environment for over a year without feeding and is protected by their impenetrable shell? It’s at this stage they survive most treatments and return to breed and repopulate year after year – sort of like a series of bad horror movie sequels.

Remember Friday the 13th?

So, be warned, one hatched cocoon can produce over a trillion offspring in her nine-month life-span. This army can continue to fight time and again, causing a serious health risk to your pet (in extreme circumstances, anemia). So you see, treating your pet is essential for their good

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health and in order to kill any errant fleas entering from other quarters.

Remember, fleas can jump over six feet and will get into your home via pets and humans. If you’ve white clothing, like runners, sports socks, t-shirts – they love it.

They’ll get into the sitting room and live there unnoticed and will happily reproduce without you ever knowing… well, not until the problem is at

worms to your dog.

So, how do I check for fleas?

• Check your dog’s coat for flea dirt (feces) • Comb your dog’s coat while he’s lying on a white sheet of paper – black flecks that resemble dirt will fall onto the paper.

Transfer them to a damp piece of paper and, if they turn reddish brown, then it usually means fleas have sucked blood from

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‘A flea can live in our environment for over a year without feeding and is protected by their impenetrable shell. It’s at this stage they survive most treatments and return to breed and re-populate year after year – sort of like a series of bad horror movie sequels ’ -------------------------------------------------------

an advanced stage. So, it’s best to treat everywhere; indoors, outbuildings like garages, sheds, dog kennels, etc.

Here’s a checklist:

your pet and have passed into the flea’s waste matter. If they remain black, the flecks are possibly just regular dirt on your dog.

Whew!

How will fleas affect my dog?

Preventing fleas?

• Dog will incessantly chew and scratch at himself, often until the area becomes hairless, raw and weeping. This can cause scaling and a bacterial infection.

• Display visible patches of hair loss due to scratching.

• Possible skin allergies.

• Fleas may transmit other parasites like tape-

• In the house: Regularly hoover carpets, bedding, and furniture and anywhere else your dog spends time. Remember to immediately dispose of your hoover bag, otherwise it will act as an incubator for un-hatched fleas. Regular washing of your dog’s bedding will help.

• In the garden: Fleas thrive in shady, protected areas where your dog

loves to rest. Keep an eye on these areas and use an insecticide (usually sprayed through a garden hose). Always read the label, use extreme caution, consult your vet and keep your dog away from this area until it is safe to allow him return. Alternatively, use a natural flea repellant like cedar chips along the fence line or in dark areas.

• Keep your grass short and get rid of any dark, moist heaps like leaves or rubbish.

• Your pet’s diet: Fleas l ove m a l n o u r i s h e d animals because their immune systems are weak. Make sure your pet has a balanced diet. Consult your vet for advice on proper feeding.

Treatment:

• Flea shampoo • Regular grooming • On-pet spray • Monthly spot applications • Treat all dogs in the household So readers, if you want your pet to live free of disease, irritation, allergies and infestation, do not allow this remorseless enemy to survive in his environment.

Always check with your vet, but I believe prevention is better than cure and personally use a systemic monthly flea product, which dramatically reduces the flea burden in mine and my dog’s environment.

For more info log onto www.dspca.ie, check with your vet or email me at miriam.kerins@dspca. ie

Fleas can jump over six feet and can get into your home via pets and humans

WE HAVE 146,000* READERS EACH WEEK *based on standard industry measurements

ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS TO OUR READERS CALL 60 10 240

18 GAZETTE 1 September 2011

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS Lexus unveils its new safer GS 350 LEXUS has unveiled the new GS model in the US and the news is that the car will reach the Irish market in 2012. Lexus claims that the new GS is more spacious and has a bolder design than in the past.

The car has a redesigned chassis with a

wide, strong stance that delivers a new level of crisp and precise handling.

The track, wider by 40mm at the front and 50mm at the rear, works in combination with a revised suspension design to what Lexus claims is a more assured stance and

superior cornering performance.

The car features a new suspension system. In the front, aluminium upper and lower control arms employ larger bushings.

The rear sub frame has been completely redesigned to accommodate a new multi-link

rear suspension, to give better rear-end control.

With the stiffer platform and lighter components, the shock absorbers can use lighter-viscosity oil, responding faster to small inputs.

The increased use of aluminium reduces weight and results in sig-

nificantly improved agility, ride comfort, body control and steering precision.

The new Lexus GS will include hybrid and F-Sport versions. For the Irish market there will be the GS 450h full hybrid and GS 250 petrol engine derivatives.

The new Lexus GS 350

Chevrolet showcase new Malibu CHEVROLET will be showcasing the new Malibu model at the upcoming Frankfur t Motor Show. The car was not previously available in Europe. It will go on sale next year and be the brand’s new flagship model.

With a wheelbase of 2,737mm and a track width of 1,577mm, the new Malibu has an athletic posture. Its grounded stance and an integrated spoiler combine to give the car an assertive look.

Thanks to a drag coefficient close to the Volt’s 0.28, Chevrolet claims that the Malibu will be one of the most aerodynamically efficient cars in Chevrolet’s passenger vehicle line-up. The drag coefficient close to the General Motors Volt at 0.28, helping to keep fuel consumption levels low.

The Malibu will have the option of a 164bhp 2.0-litre diesel or 169bhp 2.4-litre petrol engine – expect that diesel power will dominate in Ireland and the rest of Europe.

There will be the option

Chevrolet’s new Malibu

of both manual and automatic transmission.

The car will be fitted with chassis control technologies including fourchannel anti-lock brakes (ABS), full-function traction control, four-corner electronic stability control (ESC), electronic brake force distribution (EBD), brake assist system (BA), corner brake control, hydraulic brake fade assist and drag torque control.

When it comes to safety features, the new Malibu will be one of the best-equipped vehicles in the segment. It will be pedestrian-protectioncompliant in all markets where it is sold.

A total of eight airbags, dual-stage driver and front passenger airbags, driver and frontpassenger pelvic/thorax side-impact airbags as well as roof rail-airbags with rollover protection, are standard safety features for all global markets. Rear park assist and a rearview camera are available with mid- and up-level offerings.

The new Volkswagen Jetta received a five-star rating in the most recent Euro NCAP crash test survey

More five stars at Euro NCAP tests but it’s getting tougher THE latest set of Euro NCAP crash test results brings an additional reward and more fivestars, but not everyone is ready for tougher requirements in 2012.

This month’s top scorers with five-star results are the Audi A6, the BMW X3, the Chevrolet Aveo and Chevrolet Orlando, the Citroën DS5, the Hyundai i40, the Opel Ampera, the VW Golf Cabriolet and Jetta.

Only the Kia Picanto receives an overall rating of four stars, a result poorer than many of its city-car competitors.

The new Picanto is fitted with Electronic Stability Control as standard in Ireland, but not in

every European market, so hence the lower fourstar rating as the lowest model specification is selected for the test.

The new Opel Ampera electric car achieved an overall rating of five stars.

The new range-extending EV reached the maximum points in the side pole test as a result of a well optimized balance of structure, interior and restraint system.

Also released this month are the Chevrolet Aveo and Chevrolet Orlando, which showed good whiplash and adult occupant protection scores. This compares with the previous Aveo which made headlines due a poor struck-

through two-star adult occupant result.

Some of the tested vehicles have obtained high scores for child occupant protection.

The Hyundai i40 and both VW Jetta and Golf Cabriolet scored 86%.

Michiel van Ratingen Euro NCAP secretary general said: “Euro NCAP evaluates child safety for each model tested and encourages car manufacturers to provide equally good protection for adults and children. We consider child protection as a very important part of the overall star rating and have plans to step up our requirements even more in the coming years.”

W h i l e m a ny c a r s

released continue to impress in the areas of adult and child occupant protection, pedestrian protection scores are generally still lagging behind.

The Opel Ampera,Audi A6 and Citroen DS5 only just meet Euro NCAP’s 2011 pedestrian requirements for a five-star rating. None of the cars in this current batch would meet the more stringent five-star requirement of 60% coming into effect in 2012.

A few car makers have already stepped up, showing much higher pedestrian scores such as the recently tested Ford Focus. Euro NCAP hopes that others will follow suit

soon.

Euro NCAP is encouraged to see important advanced safety systems being offered to consumers on more and more models. The largest model yet for Citroen’s premium sub-brand, the Citroen DS5, also achieved five stars. The car is fitted with the Citroen Localized Emergency Call, a PSA Peugeot-Citroen technology recognised in 2010 under Euro NCAP Advanced.

The new BMW X3 comes with Advanced eCall. This is a system that is able to automatically notify emergency services providing critical details of the crash event.

1 September 2011 GAZETTE 19

RoadSigns Road Signs THE IRISH MX5 OWNERS CLUB TO HOLD THEIR FIRST EVENT: THE

Skoda now offers more 4x4 versions than any other car company and the Yeti 4x4 with its smooth DSG gearbox (above, right) gives an easy to drive option when road conditions get wet and icy. The entry price for a 4x4 Yeti is €29,545 before delivery charges with the DSG option adding an extra €2,000 to the price.

Skoda Yeti can tough it MICHAEL MORONEY put the 4x4 performance of the Yeti SUV to the test in the difficult off-road conditions of Southern Russia KODA needed to take us to new limits to prove a point – that the Skoda Yeti can tough it out when it comes to off-road driving. The hills of Wicklow, Kerry or Connemara were not enough of a challenge, so we crossed Europe to the edge of Russia’s Black Sea and the city of Sochi from where we began a two-day Yeti journey into the Caucuses Mountains.

The holiday resort city of Sochi will be the base site for the 2014 Winter Olympics. It sits against the backdrop of the high Caucuses Mountains.

The area is mountainous with interesting off-road sections, while the winding roads are busy with construction machines, as Sochi re-creates itself to be a modern centre for the Winter Olympics. The road conditions through the mountain regions varied between poor and

S

SPECS: SKODA YETI 2.0 TDI 4X4 DSG Top speed: 177 km/hr 0 – 100km/hr: 11.6 sec Economy: 18.8 km/litre (5.3 l/100km or 53mpg) CO2 emissions: 155 g/ km Road Tax Band: C (€302) Euro NCAP Rating: 5 Star 2009 Warranty: 2 years Entry Price: €30,000+

miserable.

Truck traffic dominated as the construction work is at full pace. Machines and trucks worked night and day to complete the huge transformation of sleepy villages into a world class winter sports and skiing centre.

The off-road areas were rough and hard on the cars, with steep declines of large rubble- type rocks and occasional river crossings – not the type of conditions that I expected to see the Yeti being comfortable in.

We took the Skoda Yeti

into the hills near Sochi.

This Yeti was powered by a 1.8-litre TSI petrol engine and fitted with the smooth DSG automatic gearbox. I believe that a similar and more costeffective Yeti with the same gearbox system and powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-diesel engine will achieve similar performance in Irish conditions.

We travelled across some rough off-road conditions, with deep ruts and rubble trackways where the Yeti coped well.

The Yeti’s off-road ability is provided by a rearwheel-drive gearbox that delivers drive to the rear axle when conditions get difficult. The system uses what’s called a Haldex gearbox. It sends drive to the rear wheels once the front ones come under pressure.

The Yeti has a dashmounted button that engages the drive when you face off-road challenges. The system works

like the hill descent system that other 4x4’s offer.

When driving down steep hills the system automatically holds the Yeti with an ABS braking type of engagement. You simply take your foot off the brake pedal and let the system control your descent. Very soon you develop confidence in the Yeti’s off-road ability.

Popular

The 1.8-litre TSI petrol engine that powered our Russian Yetis is not popular on the Irish market where fuel prices are higher than in Russia.

In its favour this engine is very smooth and as powerful as the 2.0-litre turbo-diesel version more common here, even it if has lower torque figures.

For our conditions, the diesel power with its lower CO2 rating of 169g/km and a price tag of €33,395 would achieve similar offroad performance.

Torque was not an issue on the cars tested – they fared well in all road conditions and compensated for a lower torque with a smooth and lively onroad performance. The diesel powered versions have nearly double that level of torque and that’s why you get a higher trailer pulling capacity.

They also have lower CO2 ratings, down a band from the petrol powered models, giving a saving of almost €200 in annual road tax. They are also significantly more fuel efficient by at least one-third.

After two days of on and off road driving, the Yeti proved its off-road ability convincingly. I no longer need to be convinced about its offroad ability. It was just a long way to go to prove a point.

When we descended the rugged off-road test routes on the hills the cars took to the roads

without a rattle. That’s just what you expect and no less – that’s the standard set by established 4x4s on the market. Skoda’s Yeti has to meet that standard and it does. For everyday driving, you can expect the Yeti to be as smooth as any other car on the road.

Most people don’t think of the Skoda Yeti in the tough stakes – now I no longer need to be convinced. The Yeti with its off-road features can cope with the rough and the smooth that’s expected from modern 4x4s.

For Irish conditions, with diesel power, it’s at the affordable end of the market with 4x4 starting prices from €29,545, before delivery charges.

The smooth driving DSG gearbox adds about €2,000 more to the price and pushes the car into a higher Band C tax category. If you can afford to live with this, it’s so much worth it!

Irish MX5 Owners Club will hold their first event on Sunday September 25. It will be a Club Run for any MX5 / Eunos Roadster Mk 1 Mk 2 or Mk 3 Owners.

The run will start and finish in Leinster and will take in some of the most interesting roads and beautiful scenery in the area.

Final details will be announced for owners to make their own arrangements to join us.

The club is looking forward to good weather for their first event and meeting with many new members. For more information, contact David Sykes, of The Irish MX5 Owners CLUB on 0863359590 or email: theirishmx5 ownersclub@gmail. com

20 GAZETTE 1 September 2011

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS VW dealers’ €99 service offer VOLKSWAGEN dealers are offering a new service offer for all Volkswagen models, registered since 2007.

For just €99, a registered Volkswagen dealership will ensure your vehicle receive a service programme for €99 that includes, oil filter and change, free wash and vacuum, 34-point health check, upgrades check and a Volkswagen service stamp, which is only available from a registered

Volkswagen dealer.

All services carried out at a Volkswagen dealer include the Volkswagen 10-point Service Promise, exclusive to the Volkswagen Dealers Network. Among the items of the Service Promise, Volkswagen dealers will promise to match any like-for-like written quote, using Volkswagen Genuine Parts, within a 10km radius of any Volkswagen Service Centre. They will promise to fit wiper blades

and exterior bulbs bought from them free-of-charge.

They will also replace all exterior bulbs, including sidelights, headlights, brakelights, foglights and reverse and indicator bulbs. If you need interior, Xenon or LED lights replacing, they will provide a competitive quote for fitting those too.

They also promise to give your car a 34 point visual inspection through our Service Clinic absolutely free with no obliga-

tion. They will also check for any warrantable product enhancements recommended by Volkswagen and perform these freeof-charge.

The promise includes that every time you come for any job that takes over an hour in their workshops, they will wash and vacuum your car for free.

If the work takes less than an hour, but you’d still like it cleaned, just let them know and they will do that for free too.

The new Audi A8 hybrid combines a four-cylinder petrol engine with an electric motor

Audi given green light to build the hybrid A8 AUDI has given the green light for the production of the A8 hybrid. The car is expected to be available on the Irish market in 2012.

The Audi A8 hybrid will combine 2.0-litre four-cylinder TFSI petrol engine with electric motor for zero emissions driving and in excess of 15.6km/ litre (44mpg). The new A8 hybrid will offer performance befitting its 245bhp and 480Nm outputs, despite delivering more sub-148g/km CO2 output and all-electric, emissions-free running at speeds of up to 100km.

The 2.0-litre TFSI engine, which has been modified in some areas,

generates an output of 211bhp and makes a 350 Nm torque peak available between 1,500 and 4,200 rpm. The combustion engine works together with a disc-shaped electric motor which generates 40 kW (54bhp) and 210 Nm. The permanent magnet electric motor is mounted in the space usually occupied by the torque converter in front of the modified eight-speed tiptronic transmission.

A multi-plate clutch that operates in an oil bath connects or disconnects the electric motor and the TFSI engine. The smooth and fast-shifting hybrid transmission guides

the torque to the front wheels. Audi claims that its wide gear spread contributes to the efficiency of the Audi A8 hybrid.

The Audi A8 hybrid will be capable of reaching 100km from rest in 7.7 seconds. The car will be able to drive at up to 100km/hr purely on electric power and has a range of up to 300km at a constant 60km/hr.

The car will have a choice of three modes.

The ‘EV’ setting gives priority to the electric drive, while the ‘D’ option efficiently controls both the engine and the electric motor. The ‘S’ mode and the tiptronic gate place the emphasis on optimal

acceleration.

The hybrid saloon has five operating states, with the TFSI engine alone, with electric drive only or in hybrid mode; recuperation and boosting are also possible. Two displays show the driver all operating modes in detail.

Audi claims that the Audi A8 hybrid will be one of the lightest cars in its category. Its ASF (Audi Space Frame) body is made almost entirely of aluminium, with ultrahigh-strength steel used only for the B-pillars to optimise rigidity. It is roughly 40% lighter than a comparable steel construction.

1 September 2011 GAZETTE 21

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS REPORT: WORLDWIDE FIGURES ANSWERS TO YOUR PERSONAL FINANCE QUESTIONS

Sales have stabilised at Harvey Norman HARVEY Norman has announced its worldwide sales from their Australian, New Zealand, Slovenia, Ireland and Northern Ireland business totalled €4.45b ($6.18b AUD) for the 12 months ended 30 June 2011. When compared to sales for the same period in 2009, this was an increase of 1.7%.

The Republic of Ireland operation managed to stabilise sales with only a slight decrease of 0.2% for the same period, while sales in Northern Ireland increased by 3.2%. Both Irish divisions grew sales for the second half (Jan – Jun) against last year, with the Republic of Ireland operation growing sales in Q3 by 1.9% and Q4 by 4.6%.

Encouraging

“It was really a year of two halves for us, with sales flat before Christmas, and then some encouraging growth in the six months to June,” said Blaine Callard, chief executive of the Irish Operation.

“Consumer sentiment continues to be very weak, and shows no signs of recovering soon.

Big ticket retail sales in furniture and electronics have been hit the hardest, so it’s about getting a bigger slice of a smaller pie.

Strategy

“We will continue to improve our operation, investing in our people, our service and our stores. The strategy for us is to focus on growing marketshare. Revenue growth in the second half is very positive for us against such a difficult economic backdrop.”

INTEREST RATE WORRIES Q – The ECB rate is forecast to go up c. 0.75% over the next nine months. My current margin is 1.1% which will mean the total rate in nine months’ time will be 3.1%. I am currently paying interest only and my 25-year €235,000 mortgage reverts to a capital and interest repayment schedule in nine months’ time also.

Twenty years will still remain on the term at that point. I don’t think I can afford the new repayment. Should I ask for an extension on Award-winning architect, energy specialist and TV personality Duncan Stewart and B&Q Ireland’s, Luke Dolan

the interest-only term ? Jack - Churchtown

RETAIL: B&Q AND STEWART ANNOUNCE PARTNERSHIP

A – By asking to extend your interest only pay-

Helping you save energy and money B&Q Ireland has announced a partnership with award-winning architect, energy specialist and TV personality, Duncan Stewart.

The partnership will see Duncan making it easier for people to improve their home’s energy efficiency, save money on their energy bills and make homes more comfortable.

Duncan Stewart will work with B&Q Ireland to offer his expert advice and experience and will provide regular tips and advice through in-store communication and online at www.ener gysaverscheme.ie

The partnership marks the launch of B&Q Ireland’s campaign to help householders start saving energy and money. It will also include the official launch of the Energy Saver Centre at Liffey Valley on September 7.

This will be a one-stop energy shop, offering expert advice, a free home energy audit, DIY energy saving products and fully guaranteed installations of energy measures such as internal / external insulation, boiler upgrades and solar panels Energy specialist, Duncan Stewart said: “I am passionate about helping people recognise that

there is a lot that we can do to make our homes warmer and more energy efficient.

“With energy bills continuing to rise and our homes becoming harder to heat in winter, there are simple measures that we can all take to help save energy and save costs. Most energy upgrades pay themselves back overtime, increase long-term comfort and increase the value of our homes.

“I am delighted to be working with B&Q to offer advice and expertise on this area and hope that it gives people the confidence to consider

making their homes more energy efficient.”

Luke Dolan, B&Q Ireland, added: “In September, we will officially open our Energy Saver Centre in Liffey Valley where customers can come and speak to our energy expert and our team of fully trained energy advisors, who will offer them real advice and guidance on how to make their homes more energy efficient, comfortable and ultimately save them money ” Duncan Stewart will be at B&Q Liffey Valley on September 7 to talk to customers and provide advice.

Counting the cost of college WHETHER you are a first time student, or returning after the summer break, your finances may not be top of your to-do list. College is expensive, whether you’re living at home or renting, you’ll find your money disappearing quickly when you’re on a tight budget. The National Consumer Agency’s (NCA) have five steps on www.itsyourmoney. ie to help you manage your money and make sure you have enough to last the academic year.

The steps cover everything from

finding accommodation to dayto-day expenses, such as food and travel tickets.

Our budgeting tips will help you make sure you balance the books all the way to the end of the college year. We also have some top money saving tips to get the most from your bank balance and with everything from second hand shopping to discount sites, it’s definitely worth a look. Try out the Economiser (www.economiser.ie) the NCA’s online tool to help you

minimise household bills.

Opening a student bank account may not be the most exciting prospect, but making sure you choose the right account for you is important. Our student cost comparisons on www.itsyourmoney.ie will help you to compare student current accounts, credit cards and loans across the market.

Our money management steps are here to help you make the most of your college experience without stressing about your cash!

ments and withhold the capital element, you are only kicking the can down the road. Say you were given a three year interest-only extension, it means that your capital repayments when you do resume in three years’ time will have to pay ALL that capital over a shorter period – 17 years.

Currently, you are paying € 460.21 each month and in nine months’ time, if the interest rates rise by 0.75%, this payment will be € 607.08 – an increase of € 146.87 per month. If you pay back the capital also, this payment will go to € 1,325.77 per month.

If you assume you will be given a moratorium on the capital for three years paying that € 607.08 per month, you will then be required to repay your € 235,000 over 17 years costing you € 1,493.90 per month – over € 1,000 per month increase on your current interest-only payment.

What you need to do is budget – work out exactly what your income and your expenditure are.

Property prices are not going up any time soon and you need to work out a plan that is effectively going to repay your mortgage and allow you a certain dignity of lifestyle. You could negotiate extending the term but you may lose your tracker rate by doing so – this should be your last resort and you should try to maintain that tracker at all costs.

In the meantime, cut your own costs if you can or earn more and query all expenses. Best of luck.

Contact John with your money questions at jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor

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22 GAZETTE 1 September 2011

GazetteTTRAVEL GazetteFestival A top-notch weekend getaway in County Mayo

Dunderry House

The Spirit of Folk Festival to take over the lush Meath countryside with music and other family events WITH boutique festivals popping up all over the place, the Spirit of Folk Festival, being held in the lush County Meath countryside from September 23 to 25, looks set to stand apart from all others, with a plethora of exciting events to keep all the family happy.

With an emphasis on community-based activities, as well as a stellar musical line up of folk legends, this boutique festival is gearing up to be a treat for all the senses and promises to be a soothing way to end the festival season.

Seventies folk heroes, Dr Strangely Strange, who have just been added to the line up, will take to the special Magnakata stage along with Gay Woods of Steeleye Span, Fiach, Lisa O’Neill, Rob Cunningham, The Young Folk, Owensie, Hot Sprockets and St John the Gambler.

The weekend will kick off with a lively Ceili Mor on Friday and guests are encouraged to bring their own musical instruments and join in the fun.

Event organisers have promised a weekend to rival Bilbo Baggins’ birthday bash with an endless list of unconventional activities including archery, ancient astronomy, falconry, battle re-enactments, storytelling in a candle lit cairn, burning effigies, medieval games, fireworks, community games, shamanism as well as a Mind, Body and Soul area.

Revellers can indulge themselves in the many holistic treatments that will be on offer including Indian Head Massage, Reiki, Acupuncture as well as a spot of either Kundalini or Laughing Yoga for those who want a meaningful festival awakening.

Campers will not have far to walk to the main festival area and those counting the pennies will be thrilled to know they can bring along their own tipple. However, lots of delicious food will be available on site.

Ticket Details - €95 for weekend camping pass, €59 for Saturday Only. Kids under 12 go free.

Tickets are available online from tickets.ie or directly from Dunderry Park by calling 046 90 74455.

JESSICA MAILE

AS you drive west across the country, the flat scenery of the midlands gives way to the dramatic hills and mountains of Mayo and it’s then you know you’re in for a great weekend.

Arriving in Westport, you can not help but be delighted by the colourful pubs, varied shops and many restaurants in this lovely town. Shops like Foxford Woollen Mills and Carraig Dunne have some of the best of Irish goods on offer and there are restaurants from Chinese to Indian and traditional pub food to Italian Standing in prime location is the Castlecourt Hotel, which is an excellent location to spend all of your time or to use as a base to visit the delights that Connaught has to offer, including Croagh Patrick, if you feel daring.

I have read many a

review about this hotel and I was not disappointed. The friendliness of all the staff is definitely what makes this hotel such a success.

The most amazing thing about staying there was the fact that you were not yet another figure on a corporate hotel chain’s balance book. This is a large, family-run hotel,

and spacious and the fourposter bed was a unique sleeping experience.

The hotel bar was a pleasant way to end an evening, either outside in the cosy armchairs or inside at Petie Joe’s Bar, as locals and guests mingled as the live music played away and conversation filled the air.

This hotel also offers

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‘The Castlecourt Hotel is well worth the trip across the country to experience the delights of the West of Ireland. Enjoy the beautiful scenery that you forget is within easy driving distance.’

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and that is a unique thing in itself. You can feel the warmth and attention to detail that you would expect from a small hotel or B&B. The bedroom was grand

a great choice for eating with the informal dining at the Courtyard Bistro and the elegant Orchard restaurant. The food was of top quality and the staff always ready to help

The hotel is in a prime location within the town of Westport

make your dining experience one to remember.

The Castlecourt Hotel also has an excellent leisure centre, the C Club, which includes a 20-metre pool and kiddies’ splash pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, a fully-equipped gymnasium and even a hair salon.

But the real secret of a stay at the Castlecourt Hotel is the spa. If you still have that tension from work or you ache from a days’ adventure exploring the Mayo countryside, then spending time at Spa Sula is the best way to let all that stress and tiredness just melt away.

The choice of steam room or sauna allows you to sweat away all of your troubles and pains only to bring you back to life with the amazing choice of hot and cold showers.

The Caribbean rain shower cooled the heat of the sauna, making me ready to explore the salt room.

After all of the indoor treatments, it was a refreshing and unique treat to sit in the outside jacuzzi, which is in its own private grotto. The warmth of those bubbles were soothing as I filled my lungs with that pure cool country air.

I treated myself to the Sundari Abhyanga Massage, which is a full-body, oil massage that deeply relaxed my tired muscles but also rejuvenated me

The Castlecourt Hotel, in

at the same time.

After my massage, I lingered in the soft music and ambient light of the relaxation suite, which allowed me to drift away from reality and made me wonder if it was safe to drive or operate machinery after my time in Spa Sula.

So, all in all, the Castlecourt Hotel is well worth the trip across the country to experience the delights of the West of Ireland. Enjoy the beautiful scenery that you forget is within easy driving distance.

The staff and facilities of this Wesport hotel will leave your mind full of happy memories and have you planning your return trip as soon as you get home.

For more information on the Castlecourt Hotel for a Mayo getaway, go to www.castlecourthotel.ie

1 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 23

Edited by Mimi Murray

TravelBriefs Joe Walsh Tours to operate private charter flights to Leinster rugby games for 2012 season JOE Walsh Tours is the official tour operator for Leinster Rugby and will be operating private charter flights with Cityjet to all away games in both the Heineken Cup and RaboDirect PRO12 competitions of the season 2011/2012.

The tour operator offers both flight only and full package options, which include hotel accommodation and coach transfers to and from your hotel and the grounds.

Fans can follow the RaboDirect PRO12 new season matches on the official Leinster Rugby Team charter from as little as €129 inclusive, which includes return flight, checked in luggage and all taxes – free match ticket for all RaboDirect games is also included in the price.

Book early to secure a seat on the official Leinster Rugby team flight and share the thrill and excitement with the Boys in Blue. Fixtures are Ospreys v Leinster - September 1; Scarlets v Leinster - September 23; Edinburgh v Leinster October 27; Cardiff Blues v Leinster – January 6; Glasgow Warriors v Leinster – February 24 and Newport Gwent Dragons v Leinster - May 4.

Heineken Cup staying in a three-star hotel for the Montpellier Hérault v Leinster Rugby for one night costs from €444 per person on November 12, 2011, or four-star from €474 per person.

For bookings and further information, call Gill on 01 2410888 or email gill.osullivan@ joewalshtours.ie, or visit www.joewalshtours. ie/leinster Westport, Co Mayo, is a large, family-run hotel with an attention to detail that you would expect from a small hotel or B&B

It’s a berry good month for a Shelbourne Hotel extravaganza THE Shelbourne Hotel is berry-focused this August, with a delicious range of berrythemed cocktails and a Very Berry Afternoon Tea. The special afternoon tea will include delicacies such as mixed berry macaroons, blackberry financier, strawberry tart, blueberry muffin and raspberry chocolate moelleux.

The Very Berry extravaganza continues in the hotel’s Number 27 Bar, with a selection of delectable cocktails, each showcasing a particular berry. From blackberry fruitini to raspberry mochatini to vodka bramble, there’s a wide selection of berry-based potions available.

Throw in an overnight stay with full Irish breakfast in the morning and a champagne afternoon tea for two in the Lord Mayor’s Lounge, from €232 per room. Book online at www.TheShelbourne.ie.

The Orchard restaurant

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Petie Joe’s Bar

The welcoming lobby

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24 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 1 September 2011

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT 1

GoingOUT GoingOUT MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 Bastien and Bastienne

MOZART takes centre-stage at The Mill Theatre, Dundrum, with this production of his one-act comedy, written when the musical maestro was just 12-years-old, in 1768. His dramatic love story shows that the path of true love never runs smoothly, and certainly not for Bastien and Bastienne ... Presented by Opera Theatre Company, this production is sung in English, with music direction and piano accompaniment by Andrew Synott. Soprano, Nicola Mulligan, and tenor, Dean Power, take the title roles in this 45-minute show. The production runs on Sunday, September 4, with admission at €18/€15.

Mountains to Sea DLR Book Festival BUILDING on the massive success of the festival with book and arts lovers, the Mountains to Sea DLR Book Festival returns to The Mill Theatre to delight once again. Running at The Mill for two nights as part of the overall festival, the theatre will play host to two playwrights.

On Wednesday, September 7, from 10.30am to 12.30pm, Patrick Ness and Meg Rosoff will be in conversation with Dr Padraic Whyte. For ages 13+, and priced at €3 admission, Patrick and Meg are two of the most critically-acclaimed and popular authors writing for teenagers today.

Then, on Thursday, September 8, Roddy Doyle will guest at the Festival, from 10.30am to 12.30pm. Suitable for ages 9+, and priced at €3, Roddy’s talk will see him discuss his new children’s book, Greyhound of a Girl.

For further details, see http://www.mountainstosea.ie, and http://www.milltheatre.ie/.

PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929 Mountains to Sea DLR Book Festival

CONTINUING the city-wide love of books and the arts, the Mountains to Sea DLR Festival has a wide range of events taking place at its Dun Laoghaire base and surrounds, including the following events – and many more ...

The DLR Literary Tour, on Sunday, September 4, will take in some of the literary sights and points of interest in the DLR region, home to a surprising number of Ireland’s literary greats. Assembling at Blackrock Dart Station at 10.45am, some familiar faces (and voices) will guide walkers around the area.

Also on Sunday, September 4, younger readers will warm to the blood-chilling tales in An Audience With Darren Shan. The horribly talented writer is the world’s most popular horror writer for children, and will enthrall with his insightful talk at 3pm.

On Wednesday, September 7, The Pavilion will welcome acclaimed US novelist Robert Coover to deliver the annual Beckett Address. A master of writing, which he also teaches, Coover credits Beckett with the revelation that it was no longer possible to “go back and write another 19th century novel”, and his address promises to be a must-see – or must-hear – for Beckett fans. The Beckett Address will be delivered at 8pm.

For further details, see www.paviliontheatre.ie/.

CIVIC THEATRE 01 4627477 Noah & The Tower Flower

BALLYMUN is the setting for a comic production on its only Irish dates before transferring to a New York run. Noah and Natalie begin to fall in love – but can they leave their pasts behind, and look to the future, together?

Highly-praised by critics, and winner of a number of awards, Noah & The Tower Flower plays nightly at 8pm on Friday, September 2 and Saturday. September 3, with admission priced at €12.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 My Way

LAST this week, but definitely not least, My Way, by Garvan Gallagher, is running at Draiocht until November, and is a superb collection of thoughtful studies concerning fashion, aging and self image. The memorable range of photographs and video pieces can be seen on the ground floor gallery.

For further details, see www.draiocht.ie/.

Sally (Emma Roberts) and George (Freddie Highmore) have to learn how to navigate the complexities of high school life as they grow older

Gets by, well enough Kate thinks that there are certainly worse films about teens out there, finding The Art of Getting By to be fairly diverting Q KATE CROWLEY

WHAAAAAT? A critic, criticised? I feel no less astonished than the portly workhouse foreman in Oliver Twist, facing an upstart in an unexpectedly gruelling situation.

However, criticised I was, for my review of the latest Spy Kids, last week.

(No complaints thus far over One Day, which leads me to conclude everyone else finds it as equally insipid as I.) Last week, I gave Spy Kids a One Star rating, yet have since been told, in no uncertain terms, that it was “brilliant”, and must thus amend my score to a Five Star grade, instead.

After all, much like portly workhouse foremen, film reviewers are both mystified by, and intimidated by, knee-high whippersnappers, especially those who discover you don’t like the same films that they do.

FILM OF THE WEEK: The Art of Getting By +++ (12A) 83 mins Director: Gavin Wiesen Starring: Freddie Highmore, Emma Roberts, Sasha Speilberg, Sam Robards, Youth Ishoos ...

OUR VERDICT: CERTAINLY not wishing to patronise any younger readers, Kate nevertheless suggests that this could appeal particularly to “tweens”, thanks to covering the complexities of life on the edge of adulthood, and how boys and girl friends may have to face the awkwardness of trying to be boyfriends and girlfriends instead. It’s a nice turn from Freddie Highmore.

So, Spy Kids, I salute you, as you are indeed brilliant (and not at all the awful mess I hinted at, last week).

Small children thus appeased, I turn my attention next to older children – these “tweens” I keep hearing about – who are likely to like The Art of Getting By. Freddie Highmore stars as George, something of an unfocused high school slacker with a talent for art – although he never finished his work.

Enter Sally (Emma Roberts), another high school kid following her

own mind, and, even though she seems to be quite different to George – having some rich friends, for starters – they get along okay.

George and Sally start hanging out more and more, despite the distractions of different friends and interests, but, as George falls further behing in his schoolwork, Sally’s interests are piqued in an artist.

Not quite purely platonic friends, George’s life seems to get more and more confused, as his mother and stepfather are clearly having

problems at home, which doesn’t sit too well on our fatalistic, lovelorn antihero.

Troubled home, failing at school, mixed-up feelings, a girl friend who isn’t a girlfriend ... Boy oh boy, George is having it tough.

Inevitably, the friends can’t carry on as things are, and, with Sally seemingly lost to another, and realising that he needs to focus on getting on with his life – not least to help support his mother – George has to face up to just catching up with school work, in preparation for whatever’s next.

The only thing he hasn’t really prepared for is what Sally really means to him – and what he may really mean to her ...

Boy meets girl. Boy loses girl. Boy ... well, I don’t think I’d shock many readers with how this film turns out. Casbalanca, it ain’t – but what it does, it does well enough,

I guess, and seems to be at least slightly anchored in faintly believable late teenage life.

Slightly unner ved by my knee-high score accuser, I’ve perhaps been less demanding than usual with this film, which isn’t the worst tween film I’ve ever seen.

It’ll certainly get you by on a lazy afternoon or evening at the cinema.

And now for something completely different. If anyone has a large trail of breadcrumbs available, I’d like to use them to try and drag The Tempest into sight, as it continues its lonely lurching somewhere out on the cold, windswept plains of Unreleased Land, despite being finished eons ago.

After all, who wouldn’t like to see Helen Mirren, Russell Brand and Alfred Molina romping around in a Luvvied-up film of Shakespeare’s tale?

On second thoughts, perhaps not ...

1 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING GAMING Meet Super Mario’s dad SHANE DILLON

PREVIOUSLY, I briefly touched on creativity found in gaming – and there are few things that sum up “creativity” in gaming than the legendary games designer, Shigeru Miyamoto.

“Who?”, many, if not most Gazette readers may ask, as the beaming gentleman to the right could easily walk down O’Connell Street without a flicker of recognition.

And yet, for decades, hundreds of millions of children – and a similar number of adults – around the world have grown up with his most famous creation – Super Mario.

Indeed, Mario is just one of a number of iconic gaming characters, and moments, that Miyamoto has been directly respon-

Another weebyte A Jobs that’s now going ...

WITH apologies to those who may well think that I’m in thrall to Apple this week, it’s hard not to comment on Steve Jobs’ stepping down as CEO of Apple, late last week.

Few would have thought a mere decade or so ago that Apple – then very much an also-ran company, languishing far behind PCs in uptake and interest – would have stormed into the public eye as they have, let alone predicted its near-vertical rise in value and fortune.

As such, Jobs’ vision, drive and determination has done much to push gaming to the fore on smartphones, and in the public eye.

Despite his departure, it’s likely that Apple will continue as a major force in driving mobile gaming.

sible for throughout his career, to date.

To many, the 59-yearold is Nintendo; with the global company’s fortunes, future and fun directly tied to the charismatic designer.

Born in a quiet corner of Japan, Miyamoto spent his childhood living in what sounds like a fairly idyllic way – wandering through forests and exploring caves, his curiosity and spirit of adventure leading him to soak up the world around him, wondering what could lie ahead over the next hill or around the next corner.

These are traits that gamers will instantly recognise in his greatest works – those games in the Mario or equally long-running Zelda titles – where exploration, fun, creative thinking and

positive reinforcement are their own rewards, cementing Nintendo’s reputation as gaming’s most family-friendly and focused company.

Miyamoto’s role as Nintendo’s “secret weapon” long since diversified from designing games into being involved with the company’s new platforms and consoles.

From the Wii to the recently-launched 3DS, Miyamoto has been both the public face of the company’s changing fortunes and directions, as well as a solid figurehead for the business world to get behind.

After all, if there’s one thing that Miyamoto seems to understand more than anyone else on the planet, it’s what makes a game work, and be fun – making him the

Bytesandpieces Apple’s plan to keep growing NOW firmly established as a key player in the gaming sector, Apple’s IOS tank looks set to roll even deeper into the global gaming landscape.

It’s all thanks to the flurry of media speculation since late last week, with the announcement by “key insider figures” that Apple is planning to release a “cheap” iPhone, much the way as it did with the iPod Nano.

What sounds obstensibly like a bid to produce a more affordable iPhone to target lucrative markets in China, and other mass-market economies, would also have a very direct impact on mobile gaming penetration. Watch this space – the iFun is going to get a lot more interesting ...

A patently interesting court case Legendary Nintendo figure, Shigeru Miyamoto

Willy Wonka of gaming.

Today, with Apple making vast inroads into gaming as a publisher, there’s a lot of talk of Nintendo being under pressure to crack the portable gam-

ing smartphone market, by developing a similar distribution model.

One thing’s for sure – having Super Mario’s dad on your side couldn’t hurt any company ...

PEELING off yet another Apple story this week, many gamers, tech wizards and lawyers alike are following the company’s dealings with Lodsys, a Texas-based company that recently launched a lawsuit claiming that Apple, and many other big companies, violate a number of its patents.

Nothing has yet gone to court, but the issue of technology patents remains an interesting potential thorn for a wide range of games developers and publishers to keep an eye out for ...

GAZETTE

26 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 1 September 2011

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1 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 27

GazetteSPORT

SUMMER HEROES: August’s nominees for Dublin Sports Awards are announced: Page 29

RETRO RUNNING: BLACKROCK NATIVE SET TO TURN ATHLETICS AROUND IN PARK

Doherty taking a backward step to go forth sport@gazettegroup.com

If you find yourself in Fitzherbert Park and you think things are running in reverse, you might find that you are exactly right.

Blackrock resident, Garret Doherty, is an exponent and champion of retro running, the skill of actually running backward. With practice, you can become quite fast, and Garret has medals from the World Retro Championships to prove it.

Gazette Sport asked Doherty why retro running was so popular.

“Retro running is the most beneficial exercise in the world. If you go forward all the time, you’re using all the same muscles all the time. Hence half runners are injured at some time in their careers.

“If you go backward, it’s lower impact, because you’re landing on your toes and it’s like dancing, that’s why it’s so much

fun. It burns 30% more calories, as you’re using a different set of muscles, it improves your balance, coordination and peripheral vision.

The association with the reverse athletic event stems from a childhood training exercise.

“My father was an underage soccer coach, and he had me and my brothers running backward on the beach at Five Fingers Strand, near Mallon Head, when we were

Donegal man Garret Doherty is leading a revolution in running and training

younger. Years later, that came back to me in the park in Fairview, I started running backward, and people were really intrigued by it.”

There is an international aspect to retro running, and Doherty took part in the world championships which took place last year in Austria, its sixth year.

“I won a gold and two silver medals at the championships, and I took part in the 3k and 10k races in the same day. There are all the same track distances as you’d find in any other international track events.”

Doherty has also raced closer to home, and has a goal this month in the

Dublin half-marathon.

“I ran the Dublin Marathon backward in 2009, and last year I did it halfbackward, half-forwards.

Now I’m planning on running to break the backward half-marathon record in Phoenix Park on September 17. The record is 1 hour 35 minutes, and I think I have a chance.

“I run a class once a week in Fitzherbert Park, if people are interested.

It’s really fun, it’s a proper workout, and your back and hamstrings get a break from the pounding they get when you run normally.”

For more information, log on to runnerretro. com.

28 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 1 September 2011

GazetteSport Sport

Keeping an eye on the opposition

Comortas ’11

Club chairman, Seán O’Conghaile, presents a trophy to captain, Johnny McCaffrey

Lucan Sarsfields’ camogie stars were in action

All the Sarsfields together HE 12th Lock in Lucan hosted an historic gathering of Sarsfields clubs last weekend at the Comortas na Sairsealaigh event organised by Lucan Sarsfields as part of their 125th anniversary celebrations this year.

The intention of the event was to recognise the shared heritage of all the GAA clubs that share the Sarsfields name, and Sarsfields GAA Club from Newbridge, Thurles Sarsfields of Tipperary and Sarsfields from Galway.

A day of football, hurling, camogie and ladies’ football was held and was hailed a great success by all who played and supported the teams.

T

Keeping clear of Sarsfields Newbridge

The Lucan Sarsfields hurling team at 12th Lock last weekend. Pictures: Geraldine Woods

Action from the match between Lucan and Galway Sarsfields

Eyes on the prize at 12th Lock

1 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 29

in association with

2011 DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS - AUGUST NOMINEES

FastSport

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

+ STARof the

Pender named top coach at Homeless World Cup

MONTH

HANNAH TYRRELL

GARY THOMPSON

STEPHEN MCNALLY

ROUND Towers’ football star Tyrrell has been instrumental in the successes of both her club side’s intermediate ladies cup victory and in the successes of the Dublin ladies team in the Aisling McGing competition this term.

SWORDS must seem a million miles away but Thompson is far from homesick as he takes on the tracks of Japan in the Formula 3 competition, taking the podium recently to become the first Irishman to win a race on the Asian circuit.

THE Dunboyne based Orwell Wheelers rider struck gold in Italy when he came first in the European Masters’ Track Championships, his first international competition and his first-ever competition on an indoor track.

LUCAN CYCLING CLUB

CASTLEKNOCK GAA

DSDAC LADIES

THE road and track race club found a medal streak when they produced a string of outstanding performances to claim gold medals at both the elite and youth track team national championships last month.

THE dual codes at the Somerton club converged in success recently, with the senior sides in football and hurling achieving or closing in on promotion to the intermediate divisions of the Dublin leagues.

THE southside athletic club’s ladies team claimed a famous victory in Tullamore last month when they claimed the Premier Women’s divisional title at the Woodies’ DIY National Finals.

+ TEAMof the MONTH

WELCOME to the 2011 Dublin Sports Awards, as we mark our local sportsmen and women’s August sporting achievements across the capital and, indeed, across the nation.

We’re delighted to once again be able to celebrate the finest achievements in Dub-

lin sport, with some huge efforts at local levels coming to our attention in a variety of well-known, and some, less prominent, sports.

Ever y form of sporting achievement, at any level and in any sport, is valuable and gives an indication of the diversity of sporting commit-

ment there is around our fair city at all times of the year.

Let us know!

Let us know about your achievements in sport, so that the Gazette can tell the rest of Dublin — and give you, or your team, a chance of being one of our monthly stars.

Contact us on 01 601 0240 or sport@gazettegroup.com to tell us all about your successes, and follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/ gazettesport.

You can also check out the latest stories from GazetteSport at our new website, www.gazettegroup.com

IRELAND’S Homeless World Cup soccer coach, Mick Pender, was named as Fair Play coach of the tournament after the tournament, held in Paris, came to an end last week.

Ireland finished eleventh out of the 48 teams involved, ending their run with an impressive 10-4 victory against England. The Irish quickly found their feet and stormed into a two-goal lead, before they were pegged back to 4-3 at the break.

The second half saw Ireland turn on the style, scoring some excellent goals and in the end they ran out easy winners.

“It’s been a long and tiring ten days but the memories of the performances and the friends made will linger long in the players’ minds long after this tournament is over,” said Sean Kavanagh of Team Ireland.

30 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 1 September 2011

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

RUGBY: HOSIE CUP DEFEAT SHOWS PROMISE IN ENTIRE PACK

Bates beats Bune in an Australian bout CLONDALKIN boxer, Tony Bates, registered a third round knock-out victory over debutant Matt Bune in Hurstville, Australia last week as he continued to make a name for himself Down Under.

The former St Matthew’s amateur, who now fights out of the Body Punch Gym in Sydney, signalled his intent from early on with some heavy handed shots.

His aggressive approach eventually paid dividends come round three as the 23-year-old forced referee intervention.

Bates will be looking to make it three from three when he returns to the ring at Orion Function Centre, Campsie, New South Wales in October.

Round Towers Fahey falls seek collection foul of injury in volunteers lead up to ties ROUND Towers GAA Club are holding their annual collection/flag weekend this weekend, September 2 to 4, and are looking for volunteers to assist with the effort.

Club representatives will be collecting outside of all Masses, collecting at the Luas, Newlands Cross, Mill Centre and all local pubs and hotels.

If you have an hour or two to spare, contact any of the following to offer your assistance: Niall Connaughton on 087 629 0870, Damien Murray on 086 884 5676, Ed O’Malley on 087 807 3391 or Tony Delaney on 086 604 0613.

FORMER Bluebell United player, Keith Fahey, has been forced to pull out of the Republic of Ireland squad to face Slovakia and Russia due to a groin injury.

The Birmingham City FC player, who was on the bench for the Blues last weekend when they took on Watford in their 2-2 championship draw, was removed from the panel by his side in order to address his injury.

The side who will face the eastern bloc duo this weekend will however include Shay Given, who has been in fine form since his move to Aston Villa from Eastlands.

Clondalkin once again showed that they have strength in depth as they lose out to Cill Dara at the Curragh last week. PIcture: Sharon Flanagan

Clon take heart from loss HOSIE CUP Cill Dara Clondalkin

29 15

sport@gazettegroup.com

CLONDALKIN passed the Division 1B litmus test despite failing to register Hoise Cup victory over Cill Dara last Sunday.

The Gordon Park side may not have finished first in the Curragh, but showed enough form against long-term Division 1 residents to assure coach Paul Haycock they belong just two divisions shy of the AIL. Come full time, the travelling faithful were hailing the strength and depth of the first and second team panels.

A back row of Neil Finley, John Walshe and under-age graduate, Stephen McKenna, boasted zero first team caps between them prior to kick-off, but the trio’s performance suggests they could share 50 premier starts between them come the season’s end.

Young Ben Foran showed that out-half is another position Clondalkin have depth in, whilst Colm Tighe proved there is always space in the pack for him.

Clondalkin started on top, and should have taken an early lead, but continued to struggle with composure come

The Peas in green: United’s ladies take place in Ireland team PEAMOUNT United’s unrivalled success of late was evident again last week when no less than six of the club’s Champions League heroes were involved in the Irish senior women’s side’s friendly with Switzerland at Richmond Park.

Club captain Louise Quinn, full-back Grace Murray, winger Stephanie Roche and former Pea Aine O’Gorman all started for the national side.

Despite a promising display, Ireland were unfortunate to lose 1-0 on the night.

try-time, and ultimately went 3-0 behind.

The visitors eventually crossed the whitewash and did so via their most under-utilised player.

Winger Gary Donnelly took advantage of a fine pass from Chris Jebb, who at full back is central to attacking operations, to put the finishing touches on an impressive move.

The hosts used the wind and their strong backrow to pin Clondalkin in their own 22 for the remainder of the half and, despite good cover tackles from Dixon and both John and Niall Nolan, Cill Dara went in17-5 ahead at the break.

Despite the deficit, Clon were confident they could come back, and excellent work at the breakdown by former Barnhall AIL player John Walshe saw Cill Dara concede a string of penalties which Jebb punished, not only by kicking for field position but also by reducing the arrears by three points.

The hosts were eventually punished for the their persistence and were reduced to 14 men. With a numerical advantage the recently promoted Clondalkin set about reducing the arrears on the score board.

Brian Doyle eventually touched down from close

range after great patience was shown by scrumhalf, Mark Molloy, and impressive carries from the whole pack.

The conversion left the score at 17-15 with just a quarter of the game to be played.

However, Cill Dara upped the tempo once the game got tight.

This eased the tension a bit with a score out wide, before Clon wasted a chance to narrow the gap for a third time.

A s l o p py l i n e o u t allowed Cill Dara to put an undeserved gloss on the scoreboard with the very last play, and left the final tallies 29-15.

1 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 31

in association with

ALL-IRELAND: LOCALS PLAY PART IN FINE EFFORT

CLUB NOTICEBOARD ROUND TOWERS THE senior footballers face St Anne’s

by an evening of trad and modern

next Saturday evening in the league

music, and spot prizes. The night

up in Boharnabreena - all support

starts at 8.30pm and admission is

welcome.

€10. Tickets available from the club

There will be a community-wide flag

or social committee.

weekend on the weekend of Septem-

The deadline for entries for Tow-

ber 2 to 4. There will be collections in

ers’ Got Talent has been extended

place all over the Clondalkin area so

until the end of August. Gaelic 4

if you have an hour or two to spare,

Fathers light training session con-

please contact Niall Connaughton on

tinues on Wednesdays at 7.15pm in

087 629 0870.

Colaiste Bride. Spread the word, all

Round Towers GAA Club are enter-

welcome.

ing a number of boat teams into the

This week’s lotto numbers were 7,

2011 Dublin Dragonboat Regatta, tak-

9, 15 and 24. Bonus ball 27. There was

ing place on September 10. There will

no winner of this week’s jackpot of

be light refreshments and a barbe-

€3,700.

cue on in the clubrooms that evening

Congratulations to Niamh Keane,

for all. Should anyone be interested

John and Dee and Thomas O’Flaherty,

in taking part, please contact Dami-

who were the three €100 winners.

en Murray or Niall Connaughton.

Next week’s jackpot is €3,800.

Round Towers GAA Club presents

The annual Tommy Curran memo-

Up for the Match on Saturday, Sep-

rial tournament will be played this

tember 4.

Saturday, September 3 in the Com-

Start your evening off with a barbecue and glass of wine, followed

munity Centre. For more information, contact Pat Lawless.

Dublin Under-16s local representatives put on a strong showing in the second half. Picture: GAApics.com

Young Jackies denied All-Ireland by Kerry LADIES U-16 C’SHIP Kerry Dublin

4-10 2-13

sport@gazettegroup.com

CASTLEKNOCK’S Leah Mullins and Sinead Comer ford were both part of the Dublin U-16 ladies footballers who pushed Kerry all the way in their bid to claim back-to-back All-Ireland titles at this level.

With a quarter of the match to go, her side had produced a remarkable comeback to level their game with Kerry and leave the tie in the balance.

But the Kingdom finished the stronger of the sides to end the junior Jackies’ dreams of taking the title back to the capital once again.

Kerr y had opened proceedings in style, putting a goal and two points on the board before the girls in blue registered their first score, a point from a

free in the 9th minute from McGrath.

Almost immediately, McGrath repeated the feat within the minute with her second converted free.

Immediately from the kick out, Dublin were back on top of the Kerry defence, and there were no fewer than three shots on target, which bounced off a series of Kerry players and the woodwork to deny the Dubs a first goal.

Niamh Rickard did get on the end of a Kerry clearance, and salvaged a point out of the melee.

From the next passage of play, a free to Kerry was taken and converted by Leanne Mangan to leave just the goal in it, and the Kingdomettes stepped up the pace.

The Dubln backs held firm, however, and no score was registered on either side for some seven minutes,

but Kerry did put a few attempts wide, until they sent in a rocket of a shot which keeper Emily Rheinish deflected over the bar.

Undeterred, Kerr y tried again and Nicole O’Connor got the credit for a goal that just rolled over the line.

Points from McGrath and Eabha Rutledge did briefly reduce the margin, but Kerry were not finished, and added another goal before the interval for a 3-7 to 0-5 lead.

The wide margin proved a prelude to a sublime Dublin spell early in the second half as McGrath led the charge back into the tie.

She pointed from a free just 30 seconds into the half, before getting on the end of the ensuing kick-out and pointed another from play soon after.

Her speculative effort then dropped under the

crossbar while another score and one from Stephanie Adams continued the ascendancy.

Captain Carla Rowe came bursting from the half back line and in a series of quick passes found herself with a clear shot which flew the green f lag once again.

The Dubs were on a roll. Two more points in the space of a minute, both from Rickard levelled the score with 14 minutes left on the clock.

The Kingdom girls had made their first point of the half just before the Dublin goal and got another from a free and went one up.

But, unfortunately, Dublin’s inspiration dried up, and nothing more came the Blues w ay u n t i l t h e 2 3 r d minute, when they registered two more points from Mullins and Kilm a c u d m i d f i e l d e r, Molly Lamb.

ST PATRICK’S, PALMERSTOWN OUR jubilee golf classic, which takes place on Friday, September 9, in Lucan GC has only four spaces left on the timesheet.

To book a slot, call Pat on 087 2383 294, Jimmy on 087 7791 352 or Paddy on 087 6171 435.

Congratulations to both the Dublin minor and senior footballers on their semi-final victories over Galway and Donegal.

To view our website, simply log on to www.stpatricksgaa.ie Lotto: Numbers drawn were 5, 13, 20 and 27. There was no winner of the €3,400 jackpot.

Match any three numbers winner was Bernie Maher, who receives € 2 0 0 . N e x t w e e k ’s j a c k p o t i s €3,600.

Draw held each Sunday night at 10pm in the Palmerstown House.

LUCAN SARSFIELDS GREAT celebrations as Lucan Sars-

tember 3, Eve of All-Ireland session

fields completed Senior B double by

in the clubhouse with Peter Man-

winning championship at weekend.

gan.

Well done to the famous five and all

Fun day for all the family in 12th

the girls. Congratulations to Laura

Lock is on Saturday, September 25.

Murtagh who picked up player of the match.

Gala Ball is Saturday, November 12. Deposits being taken at the bar.

The list for draw for hurling final

Congratulations to both Dublin

tickets is now on the noticeboard in

minor and senior team on reaching

the club. The draw will take place on

the All-Ireland finals.

Thursday, September 1, in the bar.

Don’t forget Premium Ticket Draw,

Well done to all who organised

which is attractive way of being in

and took part in Comortas Na Sair-

with chance to see all finals. Entries

sealagh. Winners on the day were

available from Paul McGann, the

Thurles Sarsfields (hurling), Sars-

bar or any mentor. Draws are hap-

fields Galway (camogie) and Sars-

pening most Thursday nights.

fields Newbridge (football).

Lotto: Numbers drawn were 1,

Good one-point win for inter foot-

7, 9 and 12. There was one winner,

ballers last weekend over Naomh

Eddie Waters. Next week’s jackpot

Olaf.

is €1,000. Gerry Andrew’s team will

Dates for diary: Saturday, Sep-

be in charge next weekend.

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Michael Carruth, pictured centre, with Bernard Dunne and Ronnie Delaney at the Austin Carruth Memorial Pitch and Putt event in the Spawell

Carruth hails Egan and his Olympic bid Barcelona champ dismisses in-fighting and says depth in Irish boxing is the envy of all sports in the country clondalkinsport@gazettegroup.com

MICHAEL Carruth has admitted his delight that Neilstown boxer Kenny Egan has been selected in the Irish squad for the AIBA World Championships which get underway in Azerbaijan later this month.

A series of in-house squabbles and the much debated ‘box-offs’ had seen the make-up of the panel a hot topic but, having switched to heavyweight, Egan has found a route to the championships which doubles as an Olympic qualifier.

And Carruth told GazetteSport that Egan is a deserving qualifier after his service to the sport in the country.

“He’s been one of our greatest, ten times national senior champion, twice European bronze medallist, an Olympic silver medallist,” he said.

“He’s had a few blips in his career, so what? I’m not delighted he won the heavyweight because one of my Drimnagh lads was in it but if anyone else was to win it, it would be Kenny. Hopefully, he’ll get to London. He wants to go one better,

hopefully he can.”

Carruth was speaking at a fundraiser in the Spawell leisure centre which he and his siblings were running in honour of their father, Austin.

He passed away in February after a 12-year battle with Parkinsons – he eventually succumbed to cancer – and all funds raised from a superbly attended pitch and putt event and gala event in the evening went to the Parkinsons Association of Ireland.

Egan was due to be on Carruth’s team but a training camp put paid to that but Olympic hero Ronnie Delaney, former world boxing champion Bernard Dunne and Republic of Ireland football manager Brian Kerr were all in attendance on the day.

While the selection process for these championships has come into criticism, Carruth – Ireland’s only boxing gold medallist – says the sport will likely make the headlines in London 2012.

“We’re the greatest sport in Irish Olympic history. This might be a time for other sports to give out about the boxing and blah, blah, blah

but come 2012, they’ll be looking at the boxers’ winning medals and, trust me, we will be winning again.

“It might be a sore point at the moment but that’s part and parcel. That went on 20, 50, 70 years ago.

“It’s the Holy Grail. Years ago, people would have been happy to get an Irish fighter. If you drew a Cuban in your world championships, you said ‘ah, damn’.

“Now it’s a fact people are looking at Irish boxers and saying ‘I don’t want one of them’ because they know they’ll be in a fight.

“That’s one of the attributes to what the IABA and the High Performance Unit have done. And also the clubs; that’s where all the boxers have come from. They produce the jewels and the high performance polishes them.

“When you look at the in-house fighting, isn’t it great when you see the level of competition and who wants to go to the Olympic Games? They know what the fruits of their labour are, how hard it is.”