Clondalkin

Clondalkin GAZET TE FREE

‘It’s not a tall order to find family fun on a Cork break’ TRAVEL: P22.

RECYCLE THIS COPY. KEEP DUBLIN TIDY.

YOUR COMMUNITY • YOUR PAPER

INSIDE: St Kevin’s marks a major milestone P4

Football: Towers start their Leinster run in Longford Page 32

Soccer: Peamount ladies prepare for Paris challenge Page 30

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ......................8 MOTORS ........................18 BUSINESS ................... 20 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

September 15, 2011

THINKING BIG: €20k funding boost for youth mental health group Page 3

Waste service charge binned

by Tuffy Q PAUL HOSFORD

A NEW flat service fee introduced by Greyhound Recycling has been slammed as “rubbish” by Labour TD, Joanna Tuffy.

Deputy Tuffy said locals have been given “no notice” of the charge, which must be paid by Saturday, October 1, and that there is “an apparent change in the structure of payments”.

However, Greyhound, which took over the deliv-

ery of South Dublin County Council’s waste services earlier this year, defended the new flat service fee, saying: “Under the old system, people were paying €10.50 per collection, which, for fortnightly black bins, works out at €273 a year.

“With our new pricing structure, you pay by the kilo, as well as paying a €60 service charge.

Based on an average bin weight of 20kg, that adds up to a total of €220 a year.”

Full Story on Page 6

A true star: Joan Freeman is named RTE Person of the Year RTE star Grainne Seoige was delighted

to meet one of Irish society’s brightest stars when she presented CEO and founder of Pieta House, Joan Freeman, with the RTE Person of the Year Award at Citywest Hotel recently.

Freeman was given the prestigious award for her work with Pieta House, which provides a range of self-harm and suicide prevention services, and works with those affected by suicide.

Full Story on Pages 6-7

2 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 15 September 2011

COUNCIL: INCREASED FUNDS FOR WINTER

FUNDRAISER Intel employees raise almost €20,000

Extra €11k to maintain icy roads LOCAL Fine Gael Minister, Frances Fitzgerald, has welcomed news that the Minister for Transport, Leo Varadkar, has allocated an additional €11,061 to South Dublin County Council (SDCC) in respect of its Winter Maintenance Grant.

This additional funding means a total of €99,549 has been allocated to help keep roads clear across South County Dublin.

Minister Fitzgerald said: “I am delighted that SDCC received such a major increase in its Winter Maintenance Grant.

“The last two winters have been particularly harsh, and that has had serious consequences for road users and the roads throughout our county.

“This winter, we will h ave a n a d d i t i o n a l €99,000 to help with the cost of purchasing, storing and spreading salt during hazardous driv-

ing conditions, and to help repair roads damaged by ice and snow,” she said.

“Nationwide, local authorities will have access to 60,000 tonnes of salt, on top of the supplies purchased by the National Roads Authority.

“This winter, we will h ave a n a d d i t i o n a l €99,000 to help with the cost of purchasing, storing and spreading salt during hazardous driving conditions, should this winter bring another cold snap.

“Last year, the council’s Roads Department worked around the clock, gritting as many roads as possible within their resources.

“While we are all hoping that this year’s winter will not be as cold, we need to plan ahead to ensure we have adequate salt supplies readily available to the council’s gritting crews,” said Minister Fitzgerald.

The Intel cyclists and support crew cheer at the Hill of Tara after completing the charity cycle

Lining up to begin the cycle

The cyclists passed by a number of scenic sights and historical sites

Padraig O’Murchu waves as he sets off on his 80km cycle for CASA and LauraLynn House

Setting off on a wheely big trip NTEL employees came up with a wheely great fundraising idea when they were considering how best to support two charities as part of their annual fundraising efforts.

This year, the company chose CASA (Caring and Sharing Association) and LauraLynn House to benefit from their fundraising drive – or, rather, fundraising cycle – as the company’s employees took to two wheels on a variety of journey lengths.

I

With the option of cycling routes of 40, 80 or 160km, Intel’s staff set off from their Leixlip campus and struck off across the country, with their pedal power taking them through Kildare and Meath, and with each of the chosen routes culminating at the Hill of Tara. And, once they’d reached the iconic site, they all pedalled off on the return leg of their tiring, but worthy, trip.

Thanks to the efforts of the 115 employees – as well as the sup-

port staff of 30 volunteers – almost €20,000 was raised, a figure that’s set to rise still further with a number of other fundraising events throughout the year.

Lisa Harlow, external relations manager, said: “This was a fantastic achievement. We were delighted to have so many employees take part in the cycle and, most importantly, we are thrilled with the significant amount raised for our 2011 signature charities.”

15 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 3

FUNDING Programme helping the young Think Big

Group to benefit from €20k to promote mental health A CLONDALKIN group is benefiting from €20,000 in grant funding provided for projects being undertaken throughout the country to help change how local communities think about young people and their mental health.

Funding is going to Kelly Pierce, from Clondalkin, who has joined forces with two of her friends to create a project called Life in Our Community.

They will write and record a song which promotes mental health in their area.

The money is being made available through Think Big, a programme designed by O2 and Headstrong, the National Centre for Youth Mental Health that enables young people to do projects in their community that will make a difference to young people’s mental health. In total, four projects will receive funding of €5,000 each.

For local Dublin projects to be in with a chance to secure funding, project ideas need to be submitted via o2thinkbig. ie before September 29.

A judging panel will then select the strongest four projects, each of which will be awarded €5,000.

Over and above the additional funding of €20,000, project funding up to varying amounts is available on an ongoing basis through the Think Big programme, which is open to any young person, aged between 14 and 25 in the Republic of Ireland, with an idea for a project that will make a difference to young people’s mental health. Project ideas can be submitted at any time for assessment through the website: www.o2thinkbig.ie <http://www. o2thinkbig.ie> .

Young people can also join the Think Big Community on the website where they can discuss and share ideas about how to promote men-

tal health among young people. In addition to funding, each Think Big group gets support from O2 and Headstrong, in the form of mentoring and training, to help them to bring their proposal to life. They also receive a mobile phone (with €50 credit), and a Think Big start-up pack.

Since its launch in September 2010, Think Big has funded over 50 projects, including a number from the Dublin region.

Sinead Smith, corporate responsibility manager at O2 said: “Since it was launched a year ago, Think Big has facilitated hundreds of young people to effect change in their communities. We have been hugely impressed with the scale, scope and

Erica Canning, Ash’ O’Flaherty, Kelly Piercy and Ciara Marlow at the young people’s mental health training day

creativity of the various projects. By providing additional financial resources for four projects across the country, we hope to give young people the opportunity to make a wider impact in their com-

munities.”

Nuala Smith, youth participation officer, Headstrong, said: “Headstrong was established to change how Ireland thinks about, and responds to, the mental

health of young people.

Through our partnership with O2 and the Think Big campaign, we are encouraging young people to change how their communities think about young people and their

mental health. Together we can reduce the stigma that has existed in Ireland for years, and make it acceptable to experience emotional distress and to seek help when it is needed.”

CLUBS: INVITE

A hobby that’s a real snap PALMERSTOWN Camera Club meet for the first time, post-summer, on Wednesday, September 14.

The club has almost 80 members, all sharing the same interest to learn more about photography – as well as making new friends, too.

The club’s membership programme sees a mixture of guest speakers, workshops and monthly competitions.

T h e y m e e t e ve r y Wednesday night, September to June, in Palmerstown Parish centre, from 8pm to 10pm, as well as also going out on the third Sunday of every month on club outings.

If you are interested in joining the club, drop down any Wednesday night, or telephone Gerry at 086 245 8293, or Dee at 085 147 9802. For further details, see www.palmerstowncameraclub.ie.

4 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 15 September 2011

JOBS: CALL ON TRAINING

SCHOOLS St Kevin’s marks a significant milestone

‘Sign on for your credits’ RECENTLY unemployed workers can still qualify for the JobBridge internship scheme, local Labour TD Joanna Tuffy said, this week.

She said: “Unemployed persons who are not drawing for any welfare payment should remember that they are eligible to participate on the Government’s JobBridge internship scheme, but only if they are signing on for credits.

“There is a temptation for people who might be unemployed, but who may not qualify for any payment, not to bother signing on – but this effectively rules them out of eligibility for participation in schemes such as JobBridge.

“I would urge anybody who is unemployed to make sure that they are meeting all qualification requirements by signing on for credits,” she said.

A group of students modelling the smart, contemporary new school uniforms that are helping to mark St Kevin’s Community College 25th anniversary

All change with a new look Q PAUL HOSFORD

clondalkin@gazettegroup.com

SAINT Kevin’s Community College, on the Fonthill Road, will be marking its 25th anni-

versary with a new look, this week.

Established in 1986, second-level programmes available at junior cycle include the Junior Certificate programme, as well

as the Junior Certificate Schools programme.

At senior cycle, the programmes offered include the Leaving Certificate, the Leaving Certificate Vocational Programme, and the Leaving Certificate Applied Programme.

The Community College is also a participant in the School Completion Programme.

In addition to the second-level programme, the college offers additional courses and programmes for adults.

The school has been busy throughout 2010, celebrating the milestone, and has started the new school year with some impressive new additions to the class room.

In February, President Mary McAleese stopped by to help the school mark their silver anniversary, with the outgoing President impressed with the school’s record in serving the students of Ballyowen and north Clondalkin over the last quarter century.

To mark the achievement, the school has opted to update their look. Gone are the juniors’ green jumper and grey trousers, and the seniors’ blue jumper and grey trousers look.

In for the 2011/12 school year are a black jumper and black trousers or check skirt – a look that the school feels

While students are happy with their new-look uniforms, they also joined teachers in welcoming the arrival of whiteboard technology in the classrooms (above)

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‘St Kevin’s classrooms were all fitted with interactive whiteboards over the summer’ --------------------------

is smarter, overall.

The school moved to “up-style” the look of the uniforms, and the student body voted in agreement

with the move, putting the uniforms in place for this year.

It has been a summer of change in the classroom as well, with a massive transformation taking place over the holidays.

The classrooms were all fitted with interactive whiteboards over the summer, with dusty chalkboards now a thing of the past and, in their place, the latest in school-going technology.

The benefit of the boards is that it brings the internet right into the heart of learning, with savvy students and teachers able to access a world of technology right in the classroom.

The use of the internet is aimed at putting the fun back into school, as well as making the learning experience more rewarding.

The school is set to hold its open day on Thursday, September 29, welcoming all new faces.

15 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 5

SHOP LOCAL The Gazette examines why we should spend a little closer to home

The positive effect of supporting business HE Gazette is never backward about coming forward when it comes to our support for the local community – in fact, it is the very essence of what we do.

By bringing together news, features, pictures and reports about local politics, sport, social events and enterprise, we do what we can to support all of these areas.

Support is the key to a thriving local community, and every member of the public can contribute to this support.

Simply put, shopping locally benefits the local area.

By shopping locally, without any of the expedition involved in travelling across the city, we can support local business, enterprise and industry, all of which play a far greater role in our quality of life than one might imagine.

On a very basic level, the commercial rates that even the smallest of such local businesses pay, goes directly to our local council.

Without these rates, the quality of public amenities, from parks and playgrounds to sports facilities and community groups, would simply not be of the standard we currently enjoy.

Taking this train of thought a little further - by keeping one local business open when we shop local, we are supporting local jobs for local people.

On top of this, every local business, and their employees, will naturally tend to support their neighbouring businesses – be it by buying a sandwich, renting a DVD, getting their dry cleaning done, or filling a prescription – the hustle and bustle that goes hand in hand with local business is mutually beneficial.

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‘Local business naturally tends to support their neighbouring businesses - the hustle and bustle that goes hand in hand with local enterprise is mutually beneficial’ --------------------------------------------------------

Even at a time when money is scarce, there is a plethora of local businesses for residents to get behind.

Thyes Kavanagh, chairman of the Clondalkin Chamber of Commerce, says that the Chamber hopes that jobs can be preserved and business can grow if people can be convinced to Shop Local.

“In these difficult times, Clondalkin Chamber of Commerce is calling on people to Shop Local.

“Please support local business, not only do they offer great value for money but also a personal service. These businesses employ a large number of local people, both full and part-time, and need your support.

“Clondalkin Cham-

ber of Commerce is at present working on their own campaign to promote local business and are also updating their website.

“We would like to thank the Gazette for their Shop Local feature and hope that shoppers will support the advertisers within the supplement,” Mr Kavanagh said.

At the Gazette, we understand the importance of community.

From the micro level of a cup of sugar for a neighbour, to large-scale community projects, such as community outreach groups or volunteer organisations, the essence of a community is what makes so many Irish towns great places to live in.

6 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 15 September 2011

COUNCIL: EMERGENCY MOTION PASSED CRITICISING WASTE FIRM’S DECISION

Greyhound defends its pricing structure Q PAUL HOSFORD

GREYHOUND Recycling has defended itself against angry comments from local politicians over it’s new pricing structure.

The company, which took over the delivery of South Dublin County Council’s waste services earlier this year, sent a letter to local residents informing them that they would be required to pay a €60 flat service charge

by October 1, thereafter paying by kilo weight of the bin.

An emergency motion, signed by a number of councillors, was passed at Monday’s county council meeting, criticising the charge, but the company says that, even with the service fee, people will save money.

“Under the old system, people were paying €10.50 per collection, which, for fortnightly

black bins, works out at €273 a year.

“With our new pricing structure, you pay by the kilo as well as paying a €60 service charge. Based on an average bin weight of 20kg, that adds up to a total of €220 a year.

“That means that we have delivered 41% more value to customers,” a spokesperson for Greyhound said.

The spokesperson was also keen to stress that Greyhound has upheld the four conditions of the original sale.

“Payment methods have remained unchanged; we have not increased charges to customers, we looked to introduce 30% more value to all customers immediately; and the waiver scheme will continue for existing waiver customers for a further 12 months.”

Local TD Joanna Tuffy was one of those who

came out in opposition to the fixed charge.

“I believe the existence of a fixed charge flies in the face of the ‘polluter pays’ principle. I do not believe the new arrangements necessarily mean better value for money for customers, and fear the opposite. Residents have told me they are considering moving to a different waste collector on foot of this new charging system,” she said.

The Greyhound spokesperson said that the charge was not a new one and that it was important to the service as a whole.

“The service charge is an intrinsic part of our pricing structure and it allows us to deliver more value to our customers.

We are just asking people to pay a yearly service charge up front. But, ultimately, everyone is paying less.

HONOUR Tireless work of founder

Joan is named

Joan Freeman is pictured with presenter Grainne Seoige

15 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 7

and CEO of Pieta House is recognised at awards

the Person of the Year Q PAUL HOSFORD

clondalkin@gazettegroup.com

THE founder of the Lucan-based Pieta House charity, Joan Freeman, has been named RTE Person of the Year.

Freeman, the Founder and CEO of the organisation, was honoured for her tireless work with the suicide prevention charity.

Local TD Derek Keating said that the award was richly deserved.

“I am delighted that Joan Freeman has been honoured with the Person Of The Year Award,” said Keating.

The presentation of Awards was televised last Saturday evening on RTE TV and was sponsored by Rehab.

Deputy Keating said that a better person could not have won.

“Earlier this year I invited Deputy Dan Nev-

The finalists at this year’s Person of the Year Award

ille to support me in my nomination of Joan, the founder and CEO of Pieta House.

“I cannot think of a better person and a better week for Joan to be given this Award.

“Having nominated Joan for this Special Award of Person Of The Year, I know the whole community will join with me in wishing Joan every congratulations.

last week was Suicide Awareness week, and Saturday, September 10, was World Suicide Awareness Day, which gave the nomination perfect timing.

Deputy Keating, who is a volunteer and director at Pieta House, says that he had seen first-hand Freeman’s selfless dedication to those affected by suicide.

“I am proud to be asso-

ciated with Pieta House, the Centre for the Prevention of Self-Harm or Suicide, which officially opened its doors in January 2006.

“As a director and volunteer in Pieta House, I am continuously working in Dail Eireann to ensure our ideal is achieved – that is a service being available to every person, free of charge, who feels they need help because

of suicidal or self-harm thoughts.

“I speak on a regular basis to the Taoiseach Enda Kenny, regarding the need to support our service. I was delighted the Taoiseach included the whole issue of suicide in his inaugural speech upon taking office.

“As TD for Dublin Mid West I have hosted a number of meetings with Ministers and officials

with a view to consolidating and developing the services of Pieta House.

“I appeal to every family member, who is worried about someone who may be in need of emotional support, to contact a health professional or Pieta House even if you’re not totally sure you are correct,” said Derek Keating.

In his nomination, Keating extolled the virtues of the work of Pieta House and of Joan.

“So inspiring is Joan, that she has been referred to by our current Taoiseach in his inaugural speech to Dail Eireann upon accepting office.

“Joan is recognised, not only by the Department of Health and Children, but also by leading clinicians, as the authority in the key of intervention with those who are at risk of suicide and self-harm,” said Deputy Keating.

WATER

Results of quality testing THERE have been just three non-compliant drinking water quality tests in South Dublin this year, the council has said.

That is from a total of 1,720 tests and the council says “the few noncompliances noted are always re-sampled again after flushing the watermains and are always compliant”.

The council was responding to a question from Palmerstown councillor Gus O’Connell, who asked “for an upto-date, detailed report on the standard of the drinking water provided by this council for public consumption”.

In their response, the council said: “Samples are taken throughout the South Dublin network and analysed. A summary of the results of drinking water testing and analysis for the past 6 years is on the council’s website.”

8 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 15 September 2011

SCHOOLS: SEEKING OPINIONS

Parents urged to tell VEC of ideas THE opening of several highly-modern new Community National Schools has been proposed by County Dublin VEC, which is calling on parents to express their interest now in advance of an imminent Department of Education decision on the new schools.

Parents are invited to express interest for any enrolment years, including 2012, onwards.

County Dublin VEC needs to hear from parents by Friday, September 30.

The VEC has plans to open a new Community National School for 2012 enrolment in Citywest, to service the Citywest/ Fotunestown area.

New schools will also be planned for other enrolment years, so parents should also express their interest for any future year when they will want to enrol a child in such a school.

Announcement T h e d e ve l o p m e n t f o l l ow s t h e r e c e n t announcement by the Minister for Education, Ruairi Quinn, that 20 new primary schools will be opened in Ireland over the next six years.

Welcoming the plans for new schools, Dr Marie Griffin, chief executive of County Dublin VEC said: “We are being contacted every day by parents who are interested in a new Community National School for their area.”

Community National Schools are new, Stateoperated multi-belief primary schools, providing high-quality primary education and personal life skills development for children of all beliefs.

The schools provide the full National Primary School Curriculum, laid down by the Department of Education and Skills.

For further information, see www.mycns.ie; email cns@codubvec.ie, or telephone 01 452 9600.

Quick as a flash: Westside Stage School students help Grafton Street shoppers to think about World Suicide Awareness Day STUDENTS from WestSide Stage School struck this memorable pose following their involvement in the recent Grafton Street “flashmob” event, which saw lots of people “spontaneously” breaking into dance on September 10 – World Suicide Awareness Day. Held to highlight the suicide-prevention work and services of Pieta House, and underlining Pieta’s message that “Suicide can hap-

pen to Anyone”, the event was a great success, creating a lively and upbeat way to draw attention to the serious impact of suicide, which devastates so many Irish families, and others around the world, every year.

Gerry Ennis, WestSide Stage School, said: “We were delighted to be asked by Pieta House to be involved in the Grafton Street Flashmob, and are very proud of our stu-

dents and their friends for their enthusiasm to be involved.

“We saw it as an important way of raising awareness of suicide, and to let people know that there is somewhere to go, if they need to talk. We were amazed at the positive response of people just going about their usual business on Saturday, and we were proud to have been a part of it.”

PLANNING: AN BORD PLEANALA’S CHANGES PRAISED BY MINISTER FITZGERALD

SIAC site developers faced with significant changes Q PAUL HOSFORD

clondalkin@gazettegroup.com

AN BORD Pleanala have confirmed that SIAC now have until December 7 to submit new proposals for the development of their site at the junction of Woodford Hill and Monastery Road.

The planning authority has requested significant changes in relation to the proposed development of the SIAC site, which would dramatically alter the character of the development and reduce it substantially in size.

Minister Frances Fitzgerald, along with local party colleague, Fine Gael councillor Tony Delaney, who had both

objected to the planning application and appealed it to An Bord Pleanala, welcomed the news.

Minister Fitzgerald said: “The Bord has given a three-month extension to the developers who, I understand, are putting together new proposals for the site. “ T h e s e i n cl u d e a decrease of almost 50% in the commercial development, a reduction of three blocks in the residential units and a decrease of 50% in the underground car parking spaces.

“These changes would significantly change the scale and mass of the project, and represent a huge victory for the community,” she said.

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‘In my evidence, I pointed out that this proposed development is contrary to the council’s own plans for the development of the village’ --------------------------

Frances Fitzgerald

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“It is up to the developers now to submit new plans, in accordance with these conditions, by the new December deadline.

“Residents, led by Mairead Carey, put

for ward compelling arguments to An Bord Pleanala during the recent oral hearing.

“I want to commend them for the huge efforts they put in to this campaign, and congratulate them on what, I hope, will be huge progress,” said Minister Fitzgerald.

“During my own contributions at the oral hearing, I detailed the concerns I am hearing on the ground of the potential impact this d e ve l o p m e n t wo u l d have on residents and the village itself.

“The development, in its original form, had the potential to affect the sustainability and development of Clondalkin village.

“I also delivered a traders’ petition to An Bord Plenala, and their opposition has now been written into the record,” said Minister Fitzgerald.

“In their submission, the National Roads Authority explained that this development would have a huge impact on both national and regional roads.

“In my evidence, I also pointed out that this proposed development is contrary to the council’s own plans for the development of the village, and to the new Development Plan for the area,” she said.

Minister Fitzgerald, and other local representatives, had held a number of public meet-

ings when the proposals first came to light, and secured an oral hearing for the people of Clondalkin after South Dublin County Council granted permission for the development of the site.

The Minister facilitated a group of local residents, who came together to form a SIAC Appeal Action Group, and who have prepared detailed presentations to be given at the hearing.

Minister Fitzgerald, in conjunction with Cllr Delaney, was the only public representative to seek an oral hearing.

“I will be monitoring SIAC’s response, and will continue to liaise with residents,” said Minister Fitzgerald.

15 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 9

IT’S YOUR SHOT Water way to have craic in Palmerstown

Covered in varying amounts of mud and water, this group still delighted in their experience

Splashing out on a muddy fun course ITH these pictures showing some of the fun-filled events and feelings at the inaugural Craic Assault Course held in June at Waterstown Park, Palmerstown, organisers say they’re expecting another batch of adventurous competitors for the next fun event, on Saturday, September 24.

More than 300 people took part in the first

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event, with the wet and muddy obstacles along the way proving a hit with contestants.

The organisers are keen to say that the long 10km course, and the shorter 5.6km course, cover all levels of fitness, creating a great and memorable event to remember, with a DJ at the start/finish area adding to the fun. For full details, see www.thecraiceventsco.com.

Having fun sliding on a wet stretch

Splashing on towards the finish

This competitor didn’t mind braving the muddy parts of the course

10 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 15 September 2011

EVENT: LOCALS ARE BEING URGED TO BE ‘MENTALLY AWARE’

EVENT At the Let’s Get Leinster Selling Conference

Suicide prevention week gets underway Q PAUL HOSFORD

clondalkin@gazettegroup.com

L O CA L S a r e b e i n g urged to be “mentally aware” as National Suicide Prevention Week gets under way.

“This week is National Suicide Prevention Week and I think it is really important that the message of this week rings home for people of all ages in our community,” said local TD and Children’s Minister, Frances Fitzgerald.

As a Senator, Fitzgerald set up the first ever Cross Party Group on Mental Health and worked closely with political colleagues and organisations, such as Amnesty International, to help break dow n stigmas associated with mental health issues.

“As Minister for Children and Youth Affairs I am particularly concerned about youth mental health. During the summer I opened the Merriman Summer School which, this year, focused on changing Irish childhood.

“Youth Mental Health was a key element of the conference and is something I am committed to. Suicide Prevention Week provides us with the opportunity to talk openly about mental health issues and to urge people who are experiencing difficulties to get help,” the Minister said.

Fitzgerald said that there are a number of excellent locally-available services available for those affected by the issue “I am a strong supporter of the fantastic work being carried out

by The Beacon of Light Counselling Ser vice and Pieta House, which,

under the leadership of Joan Freeman, has changed the lives of so many people in our communities.

“At my invitation Tony Bates, of Headstrong, came out to help support the community of north Clondalkin when they were affected by suicide and this organisation are now considering Clondalkin as a location for one of their Jigsaw projects, which works in the community with young people to help combat mental health difficulties.

“Over the summer I attended a special consultation forum organised by President Mary McAleese, which asked young people for input on policy and measures to help tackle this problem. President McAleese has asked me to follow through on this initiative, Working Together for Positive Youth Mental Health, and I look forward to continuing this important work,” said Fitzgerald.

T he Minister said she was sure that the removal of the stigma surrounding mental health can help to reduce the issue, hoping that people can be open and honest about the issue without having to fear judgement.

“I really hope that people throughout our area take this week as an opportunity to be open and frank about mental health issues, to come forward and seek help if they are being affected by problems and to use this campaign to help break down social barriers to ser vices and stigmas associated with mental health,” she said.

Ann Horan, chief executive of Ryan Academy, David McWilliams and Leanne Papaioannou, Chilli Pepper Marketing

Presidential candidate Sean Gallagher

RESIDENTIAL candidate Sean Gallagher was on hand recently to open the Let’s Get Leinster Selling Conference hosted by the Entrepreneur Skillnet at DCU Ryan Academy for Entrepreneurship in Citywest. Speaking at the conference Sean said: “It’s important that the banks get back lending to businesses but our single problem is confidence – we need to restore that so people are able to spend so we can have stability and clarity and only then will people spend to allow businesses to survive and create jobs.”

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Sean Gallagher, David McWilliams and Eoghan McDermott, The Communications Clinic

Sean Gallagher, David McWilliams, Charlie Merner, CEO Ask Solutions; Ann Horan, Shane Byrne kicks off Ireland’s Rugby World Cup

chief executive Ryan Academy, Leann Papaioannou, Chilli Pepper Marketing and

chances at Let’s get Leinster Selling Conference

Eoghan McDermott

15 September 2011 GAZETTE 11

MILESTONE

MEASLES: WARNING TO HAVE YOUR CHILDREN’S VACCINES UP-TO-DATE

Ten years for Go for Life

HSE call to have kids vaccinated Q STAFF REPORTER

THE HSE is calling on parents to protect their children from measles by having them vaccinated this September.

Measles is highly infectious and is spread by coughs and sneezes.

The only way to protect against measles is to get the MMR vaccine. Children need two doses of MMR vaccine at 12 months and again at 4 to 5 years of age.

“Any child or young adult in Ireland who has not been vaccinated is at risk of measles. Since the beginning of this year there have been over 160 cases of measles and, over the summer, there has been a rapid increase.

These have occurred mainly in children less than four years of age

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‘Any child or young adult in Ireland who has not been vaccinated is at risk of measles’ --------------------------

who were never vaccinated and most of the cases were in north Dublin City,” a spokesperson for the HSE said.

“As normal routine kicks in, children are going back to creche, pre-school and primary school this week. This is a time when more children are mixing together and so the risk of spreading measles is increased.

“Make sure that your children are protected against infectious dis-

eases by ensuring they are up-to-date with their vaccines. If your child is starting school (aged 4 or 5 years) and has never had an MMR vaccine, they need to get it now. They should get it from their GP. MMR vaccine is free.

“Children who have had one dose of MMR, will get their second dose of MMR vaccine either at school or from their GP. “Any child between 6-12 years of age should already have had two doses of MMR vaccine. If they have not they need it now. Go to your GP for the vaccine. If your child has only had one dose, they should go for their second dose to the GP. MMR vaccine is free,” the spokesperson said.

For more information see www.immunisation. ie or www.hpsc.ie

Welcome home: Dubliner whiskey planning to take over the country GOLDEN Goddesses Holly Carpenter and Roz Purcell were on hand to welcome The Dubliner home as First Ireland Spirits announce that new Dubliner Irish Whiskey Liqueur, one of Ireland’s most exciting new exports, is now available in Dublin after seizing a golden opportunity in Australia and tasting success in the US. As well as Dublin Airport, Dubliner is also stocked in the Irish Celtic Whiskey shop on Dawson Street with plans to go nationwide over the next 12 months at a recommended retail price from €22 to €25. It is now sold in the US, Ireland, Britain, Germany, Holland, Ukraine, Israel and Australia.

OVER 1,000 volunteers of a national programme for sport and physical activity for older people – Go for Life – helped celebrate its 10th anniversary in The Helix in Dublin last week.

Go for Life is an Age and Opportunity initiative funded by the Irish Sports Council. The volunteers have trained as Physical Activity Leaders (PALs) and lead elderly people in their local community group in sport or physical activity.

Speaking at the event Minister of State for Tourism and Spor t, Michael Ring TD said: “Older people play such an important role in our society and in this, the European Year of Volunteering, I’m delighted to be there to support so many older volunteers who make being physically active easier for their peers all over the country.”

12 GAZETTE 15 September 2011

MEDIATE, OR NO? Exploring Alternative Dispute Resolution

Mediation – it’s the new kid on the block FOR THOSE considering going to court to solve a dispute, be it a business, family, or just the ordinary disputes that occur in day-to-day life, Alternative Dispute Resolution

(ADR) is now an alternative to court.

Until recently, people felt that their only recourse to justice, in dealing with civil/commercial or family issues was to “have their

day in court”.

This can often prove more of a hindrance than a problem solver.

Sometimes it resulted in the failure of viable companies and the destruction of good business relationships. This, in turn, caused a lot of stress resulting in marital problems, breakdown and, again, more court proceedings.

Under these circumstances, mediation is fast becoming the “light at the end of the tunnel”.

It is now mandatory in civil and commercial courts that parties considering going to court must be given the option of mediation and informed of its advantages prior to their court appearance.

The courts can take a “poor view” of parties who refuse to undertake mediation, and final decisions can be swayed by the reluctance of the parties to undertake same.

Mediation is equally as important in Family Law cases, where the cost of court may be very high,

Mediation is becoming a popular alternative to the courts when it comes to dispute resolution

both on an emotional and financial level.

Therefore the Family Law Courts are now in the process of advocating mediation as the least painful and most costeffective form of dispute resolution.

Mediation is becoming very popular in Ireland as both the judiciary and the disputing parties see the advantages of its flexibility, problem-solving and its ability in time-saving, both for the disputing parties and courts viewpoint.

Process of mediation

Mediation begins with either of the parties in dispute contacting the mediator directly or it may be a solicitor referral to mediation in order to comply with legal requirements.

Initially, a meeting is set up during which the mediator explains the process, the rules and role of the mediator. At this time the parties are informed that Mediation is voluntary,

confidential and its aim is to come up with an agreement satisfactory to all.

Clients are encouraged to have independent legal advice at all stages. However, they are obliged to refrain from litigation during the course of mediation. An agreement to mediate is signed and then the process can be continued in both joint/ single sessions. The mediator’s role is to guide the discussion and to remain impartial. Mediators do, of course, act as “devil’s advocate”, ask difficult questions and prompt replies that initiate solutions. Upon conclusion a “Memorandum of Understanding” is drawn up, signed by the parties and taken to their respective solicitors to make it legally binding. By this process the parties themselves have resolved their own issues.

Going to court to solve disputes, whether they arise in the course of someone’s business or pri-

vate lives, is an arduous, time-consuming, expensive and often traumatic process.

In court, judgments and adjournments can be time-consuming and, when a ruling is finally reached, it is often impossible to adhere to, due to the lack of input from the disputing parties.

From once you enter court there is little or no confidentiality. When your case is being heard anybody can walk into the courtroom, can hear all your business, and report on their findings.

When compared to the mediation process, it is obvious that many of the disadvantages of court are eliminated.

As a rule, mediation costs are substantially lower than those of court proceedings. Mediation can resolve complex disputes in as little as a day.

There are no waiting lists or adjournments.

The parties in the mediation control the process,

and the outcome. No agreement or solution will be imposed. This in itself helps to maintain friendships – mediation is a lot less destructive to private and commercial relationships as parties enter mediation in good faith and with the intention to settle.

Mediation items discussed, and their outcome, are completely confidential between the mediator and the parties concerned.

Another advantage is that parties come to a mutually beneficial solution that can become legally binding. This happens when parties have agreed some or, hopefully, all of the items on the agenda.

For instance, an accredited mediator has the authority to create with the parties a document called a Memorandum of Understanding. This document is then given to a solicitor who will take it to court on your behalf, to have it “rubber stamped”.

It then becomes legally binding, therefore, you personally never need to attend court.

In conclusion, it was asked at the start of the article should you “mediate or not”? It seems clear we would all agree to definitely mediate.

For further information, contact Citywide Consultants & Mediators, Rosie Gallagher FCPA, C Dip. AF, telephone: 01 219 4444, mobile: 087 666 9887, email: rosie@cwcm ie or visit www.cwcm.ie

15 September 2011 GAZETTE 13

VOLUNTEER

SUPPORT: APPEAL TO HELP PAY FOR YOUNG CANCER PATIENT’S TREATMENT

10 years on for Go for Life

Fundraiser is cabaret crazy A FANTASTIC night of vintage-inspired entertainment has been arranged for the upcoming fundraiser for the Marc Owens Medical Fund.

On September 22 at the Sugar Club, Fab Cabaret will take to the stage.

Headlining the night will be chanteuse Jeannette Byrne, with her 10-piece band performing classic French chansons a la Piaf, Aznavour and Brel.

On the bill also will be Liza Minnelli Tribute act, Sharon Sexton, and magician/comedian Jack Wise.

If you’re looking for an evening of classic romantic music, with some amazing magic tricks thrown in, then look no further.

Tickets, priced €15, are available from Shane

Lynch – 087 8317677, Paul Collins 087 2591508; or email marcowensmedicalfund@gmail.com.

At the age of just 18, Marc Owens was just about to embark on his final year in Belvedere College when he was diagnosed with a rare and very aggressive form of cancer.

There were no warning signs, just an acute stomach ache and, suddenly, this happy, sports-mad teenage was a cancer patient with very poor prospects.

His doctors sent him to the MD Anderson Cancer Care Clinic in Houston for cutting-edge, life-saving surgery last February.

After many complications, set-backs and not a little pain, Marc returned home in May and, for the moment, he is continu-

ing his treatment in the Mater Hospital.

To help fund the enormous cost of Marc’s ongoing treatment, a fund has been set up – the Marc Owens Medical Fund - to raise €1 million over the next three years.

In less than four months, €250,000 has already been raised through various fundraising activities.

Cathy Herbert, who is on the fundraising committee, said: “Marc is facing the kind of challenge that puts all other challenges into perspective. We all need to rally around him to ensure he can get the best medical care in the world.”

For more information about Marc, call Cathy Herbert, 087 2395393, or see website www.marcowensmedicalfund.com

Showdown: Turn the Aviva Blue for first RaboDirect Pro12 encounter LEINSTER RUGBY players Eoin O’Malley, left, and Dominic Ryan want to see the Blue Army descend on Landsdowne Road to support the Heineken Cup champions as they take on arch rivals, Munster, in November.

Following pre-sales, which incorporated a special Hour of Power reduced-price window last week, over 21,000 tickets for the match, dubbed Fever in Aviva 2, have been sold for the November 4 showdown.

The Leinster team are calling on all Dublin supporters to come and support the team. For more information, log on to www.leinsterrugby.ie

OVER 1,000 volunteers of a national programme for sport and physical activity for older people – Go for Life – helped celebrate its 10th anniversary in The Helix in Dublin last week.

Go for Life is an Age & Opportunity initiative funded by the Irish Sports Council. The volunteers have trained as Physical Activity Leaders (PALs) and lead elderly people in their local community group in sport or physical activity. Last year, more than 40,000 elderly people took part.

Speaking at the event, Minister of State for Tourism and Sport, Michael Ring TD said: “Older people play such an important role in our society and in this, the European Year of Volunteering, I’m delighted to be there to support so many older volunteers who make being physically active easier for their peers all over the country,” he said.

14 GAZETTE 15 September 2011

GazetteMUSIC MUSIC Jay and Silent Bob strike Vicar Street for a live show FILMMAKER, comic-book author, actor and internet pioneer Kevin Smith, together with his longtime partner-in-crime, Jason Mewes, are coming to Vicar Street next February 21 to record a special Dublin edition of their internet radio show, Jay and Silent Bob Get Old. The iconic duo’s show is part of a catalogue of programming on the SModcast internet radio network that Smith has developed in recent years, that tours the US recording in theatres, comic-book conventions and comedy clubs.

The SIR network, available through iTunes, features podcasts and shows with many faces and voices familiar to fans of the Jersey boy’s movies, including Ralph Garman, and comedian and actor Jay Mohr.

Anyone who has seen Kevin Smith’s spoken word shows will know to expect the hilarious and the irreverent in equal measure.

For more information, see thesirmon.com

REVIEW: A CELEBRATION OF SURVIVAL AND COMMITMENT

Twenty years on and Pearl Jam still endure Q ROB HEIGH

A FRIEND tells a story of when he was working in the US as a roadie and tech for a few big-name bands. There was this kid who used to hang out, and then work with the crew he was with, an unassuming, quiet and polite lad with long hair and a love of surfing.

One day, he gave my friend a tape with demos of some songs he’d written, and asked what he thought. My friend listened, liked what he heard, and said he should stick at it. The kid was pleased, and they continued working together until my friend moved back to Britain.

One night, a few years later, he recognised a song by a new band making their television debut on BBC’s Late Show. It was

Pearl Jam are celebrating their anniversary with a series of events, including the release of Pearl Jam 20

one of the songs the kid he’d worked with in the US gave him, and he was singing with the band. The kid was Eddie Vedder, and the band was Pearl Jam, playing a blistering version of Alive.

Since 1991, Pearl Jam have been a constant force of rock nature, and 20 years on from the

release of Ten, they are celebrating their anniversary with a series of major events — a mini-festival in Wisconsin last weekend that featured The Strokes, Queens of the Stone Age and Soundgarden, as well as two epic closing sets

by PJ, a double album retrospective and PJ20, a motion picture documen-

tary by filmmaker and long-term friend of the band, Cameron Crowe (who cast them in his movie, Singles, in 1992).

The movie had its premiere at the Toronto Film Festival last weekend, and I was lucky enough to catch a special screening this week.

The movie is a tribute to the enduring power of friendship, creativity and music that has seen the individuals go through some immensely tough times in their history, that shaped their work, themselves as people and as a band of brothers.

The movie goes right back through the history of Pearl Jam, to their genesis as Mookie Blaylock from the ashes of Mother Love Bone in Seattle in 1990, right through to the present day, where they are rightly regarded as one of the best live acts in the world, proven time and again through the archive and specially-filmed concert footage from the 2010 tour.

Individual interviews with the band members, both archive and recent, are interspersed with personal, TV and backstage

material, and contributions from their contemporaries, like Chis Cornell.

Cameron Crowe and his editors have made their way through an epic amount of archive footage to come up with the two hours of material that make up the movie, and if I had one quibble, it would simply by that it is not long enough. I left the cinema hoping that there will be a director’s cut.

But Cameron Crowe has told the story of Pearl Jam with sympathy and narrative flair, showing a group of very different people growing up and making the choice to stay committed to their project when most other bands would have broken up.

PJ20 shows across Dublin next week on September 20 for one day only at Vue Liffey Valley, the IFI, the Dun Laoghaire IMC and the Rathmines Omniplex.

If you are even a passing fan, or a rabid devotee, I urge you to go along. This illuminating and heartfelt salute to an enduring and important rock band is a great film in it’s own right.

15 September 2011 GAZETTE 15

GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY

Edited by Dawn Love

Winter months are coming soon and moisturising is key WITH the winter months almost upon us, it’s time to start taking extra-special care of your complexion, particularly if you are prone to dry, flaky and tight skin.

With ingredients that are almost good enough to eat, skin savvy shoppers are sure to love The Handmade Soap Co’s Body Butters. The Irish company’s highlyrestorative handmade body butters are effective on even the most dried out and parched skin. Perfect for putting on after the shower or bath, the thick, rich

butters are particularly great for elbows, knees and heels.

When the solid butters come into contact with the skin, they literally melt, providing a luxurious hydrating layer that locks in moisture. And, along with keeping your skin in tip-top shape, their delicious range of body butters are also ideal for massage.

Packed with natural goodness of whipped shea butter and cocoa butter, they get to work quickly to soften, moisturise and encourage skin restructuring and

rehydration. Meanwhile, sweet almond oil deeply moisturises, restoring elasticity to the skin, leaving it feeling fabulously silky and soft.

And, the best part for me is they are free from parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) and artificial colours or fragrances.

The Handmade Soap Company was founded by couple Donagh Quigley and Gemma McGowan in 2009 when, as a result of the recession, Donagh’s thatching business was left struggling. Looking for a new

50 years for Peter Mark

The Handmade Soap Co’s aloe vera, sweet almond and shea butter body butter

and exciting career, the couple were on holiday in the Australian rainforest when they seized upon the idea of creating a handmade soap company.

The couple set out with a passionate vision – that even seriously good skincare should be fun. And, in a short space of time, the couple’s company has an order book with

shoppers from as farflung as Japan and Brazil, that would make even a skincare giant green.

It’s no wonder then that the company is fast becoming an industry leader, winning a rake of awards for its range of skincare products and gorgeous, quirky, retropackaging.

Av a i l a b l e i n t wo yummy scents – Grape-

fruit, scented with citrus tones of grapefruit and may chang and Aloe Vera, scented with floral tones of palmorosa, ylang ylang and bergamot.

The Handmade Soap Co Body Butter range is priced at €22.95 for 200ml and is available from The Organic Supermarket in Blackrock, Skerries Mills in Fingal and The Kilkenny Shop.

IT’S 50 years now since Peter and Mark Keaveney opened their first salon on Dublin’s Grafton Street and, since then, 73 more salons have opened nationwide. To celebrate, Peter Mark has joined forces with the Make-A-Wish Foundation to ‘Support 50 Wishes’ with two weeks of activities in salons throughout the country, from September 18 to October 2.

From fancy dress days, to bargain blowdries, cross-training sessions to 80’s theme days – there’s plenty going on!

There’s also a €10 gift card for every client who avails of hairdressing services in any Peter Mark Salon during this time.

16 GAZETTE 15 September 2011

SNAPSHOT The stories of the day from around the capital

Getting interactive at Dublin Contemporary Pictured is Hugh O’Neill, age 3, enjoying artist Liam O’Callaghan’s installation, Tales from the Inside Out On Repeat, at Dublin Contemporary 2011 in Earlsfort Terrace, Dublin 2

Toast time for Arthur THE DIARY has been keeping its ear to the ground to find some good Dublin venues to enjoy this year’s Arthur’s Day celebrations, and it appears The Glenside in Churchtown is set for a rollicking good session this year.

At 17.59 on September

DIARY 22, the famous Dublin pub will be bouncing to the sounds of the Christy Moore Tribute Show as well as Dublin’s finest balladeers, The Freewheelers.

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.

The Glenside is one of south Dublin’s finest Pubs. Owned by the Mangan Brothers it has a warm and friendly atmosphere.

From the outside, the pub looks like what you would have imagined a pub in times gone by, with its authentic thatch roof. The venue hosts traditional music every Sunday and live bands on Saturdays.

Contact Glenside on 01-2985932 for further information on event options.

And time to toddle...

THE Meningitis Trust is appealing for toddlers to take part in the annual Toddle Waddle throughout next month to raise vital funds and awareness about meningitis.

The national charity is hoping to raise €60,000 this year.

The Toddle Waddle has seen up to 32,000 toddlers waddle their way around Ireland, raising more than €560,000. It is a fun, sponsored walk for young children and their carers, and the sponsorship money they raise will help to provide on-going support to individuals and families who have been affected by meningitis.

To order a free Toddle Waddle organiser’s pack, call The Meningitis Trust on 01 2764269 or visit www.meningitis-trust.ie

15 September 2011 GAZETTE 17

GazettePETS PETS

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: DOGS DON’T ‘SWEAT,’ OR PERSPIRE LIKE HUMANS DO TO KEEP COOL

Do dogs sweat, and can they become smelly?

WAS asked an interesting question by a student during the week. “Do dogs sweat, and can they become smelly?” My answer was, er, yes and no.

Dogs don’t “sweat”, or perspire the way we humans do but they can overheat and, yes, they can produce body odour.

As humans, when our body temperature builds up due to vigorous exercise, etc., we perspire and it becomes quite obvious – damp patches under the arm pits, moisture droplets on the skin and unpleasant body odour, because our sweat glands are all over our bodies.

However, a dog’s body is different. His sweat glands are located around his foot pads (merocrine glands), so, when he overheats due to hot weather or too much exercise, you will notice little wet pawshaped patches where he’s been walking.

When your pet overheats, in order to control his body temperature, he will pant quite a bit. This

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action makes the moisture on his tongue evaporate, and the heavy breathing that accompanies it allows the moist lining of his lungs to become a surface from which excess moisture can also evaporate. Hence, his body cools effectively.

A tip for those who own bulldogs and pugs.

These are breeds with a compromised respiration system, so are at a higher risk of overheating because they are unable to pant efficiently, so please keep this in mind when exercising.

However, sometimes, along with your pet’s panting, comes doggie body odour, which can be unpleasant for some pet owners.

It’s up to you to help alleviate his discomfort; this depends on the cause of his body odour and if you are unsure that it’s simply due to overheating, then it’s always best to contact your vet. In the meantime, here are a few tips to help you help him remain a cool canine.

If you believe the odour was caused by your dog being in contact with something unpleasant like fox poo, then give him a bath with a normal dog shampoo, but clean and rinse him thoroughly.

If you believe it’s his diet then alter it. Some dog food can cause a build up of oils on his skin and a lower fat diet may help with this.

Always consult your vet before you change your dog’s diet.

Make sure you feed your pet a high-quality dog food. Some low-quality foods may not contain the essential vitamins your dog requires to maintain proper health and vitality.

Read the label.

Prevent your dog from eating dog faeces. One of my Jack Russells has a fascination with other dogs’ faeces. No, she’s not strange, many dogs do this, but you must watch them carefully and prevent it happening.

Here’s another tip! If your dog eats his own poo, add a tin of pineap-

ple chunks to his food.

Once the pineapple is absorbed, the dog goes to the toilet and then decides to eat it, the taste of the added pineapple will make his poo taste bitter and your dog should eventually stop.

Sorry, I’ve no tips for preventing him eating other dogs’ poo other than to keep him away from it.

Finally, If you’re uncertain as to what is causing your dog’s body odour, (as in you know it’s not over-heating or any of the above) then please take him to the vet for a full health check because serious health conditions need to be ruled out.

Conditions, such as an infection, mange, dental problems and cancer, can all cause unpleasant doggie odours, so it’s always best to get an expert opinion, and who better to provide this than your local vet.

For more info log onto www.dspca.ie or email me at miriam.kerins@ dspca.ie

A dog’s sweat glands are located around his foot pads to keep him cool and he will also pant, which allows moisture to evaporate from his tongue and lungs

18 GAZETTE 15 September 2011

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS Warning – being towed can be scary AN AA survey of 2,500 Dublin motorists who have had their car towed on one or more occasions reveals that, while the majority of motorists had a reasonably satisfactory experience, a number reported a range of problems and bad experiences, from exorbitant onthe-spot charges by local garages, to white-knuckle fear while being towed on a rope by a friend or family member.

“Motorists stranded on the side of the road are in a highly vulnerable and dangerous situation, particularly if it’s on a motorway or at night,” said Conor Faughnan, director of policy, AA Ireland.

“While not the rule, we did hear from a regrettable number of drivers across the country who were left stranded for hours waiting for assistance to arrive. Others indicated they had difficulty getting through to their insurance provider on the phone. This is particularly worrying when it involves more vulnerable road users, such as an elderly motorist, a lone female or someone travelling with children.”

Exorbitant

While the AA reports that a driver who does not have roadside rescue cover such as AA Membership can expect to pay an average of €105 for a 50km tow (equivalent of Skerries to Rathcoole), and information which is readily available on AA Routeplanner, some motorists reported paying local garages exorbitant amounts for relatively short recoveries.

“One motorist, for example, told us that for

a miniscule two-mile tow, they were charged an astronomical €150,” said Faughnan.

“And this was far from an isolated incident, according to the feedback that we’ve received.

It seems that some local garages, are prepared to chance their arms and take advantage of the situation.”

Accepting a tow from family/friends – a cautionary message

Another concern the AA raises is well-meaning friends and family taking on a towing job without the correct equipment or knowledge.

“It’s not as intuitive as you’d imagine and we certainly wouldn’t recommend providing a tow if you’re ill-equipped and unsure of best practices. During the poll, we heard of bumpers --------------------------

‘Being towed on a rope by a friend or family member was a hair-raising and very scary experience’ --------------------------

being pulled off, a thirdparty vehicle unwittingly ploughing through an unseen towing line and motorists being towed in terror for miles as they couldn’t afford the ad hoc services of a local towing provider,” said Faughnan.

“A lot of people also said that being towed on a rope by a friend or family member was a hairraising and very scary experience.”

Mercedes Benz has a new M-Class on the way for 2012 with a smaller, more fuel-efficient engine that will deliver more pace for a lower running cost. Prices have not been confirmed but expect it to be marginally cheaper than the current edition and with lots more features.

M-Class SUV luxury MICHAEL MORONEY went to Germany and drove into Austria to test the new M-Class and give it his appraisal MERCEDES Benz considers the 4x4 market very important and aims to get a bigger share of the premium end with its upgraded new M-Class.

The new model has claims of being more fuel-efficient and better equipped. Mercedes Benz has downsized the entry engine from a 3.0- litre to 2.2-litre in its quest for better fuel economy.

We drove two versions of the car during the recent European launch, driving out of Munich.

The first one was the petrol-powered M-Class, followed by the equivalent engine in diesel power, and the far more interesting ML 250, with 2.2-litre diesel engine under the bonnet.

Called the ML 250 BlueTEC 4MATIC, this SUV delivers a combined fuel economy figure of 16.6km per litre (6l/100km or 47mpg).

That’s an impressive economy figure for a heavy 4x4 vehicle that

SPECS: MERCEDES BENZ ML 250 BLUETEC 4MATIC Top speed: 210 km/hr 0 – 100km/hr: 9.0 sec Economy: 16.6 km/litre (6.0 l/100km) CO2 emissions: 158g/km Road Tax Band: D (€447) Euro NCAP Rating: NA Warranty: 2 years Entry Price: NA

runs on a permanent four-wheel-drive arrangement.

Relative to the current model, that delivers about a 25% reduction in fuel consumption from the new model when pitched against the older, bigger engine version. There are few SUVs in this power and weight category that can come near to these new lower running-cost figures.

The M-Class with this entry-level diesel engine is also claimed to give an unmatched driving range on a full tank of diesel. The basic tank has a capacity of 70 litres giving a range of 1,170km.

You can opt for a bigger 93-litre tank and this will then give a range of 1,500km.

With low fuel usage comes lower CO2 emissions. The new entry-level M-Class delivers a figure of 158g/km provided by Mercedes Benz. This will put the new M-Class in the Band D for motor tax purposes, meaning a drop in rate to €447 from close to €2,000 for the current model. That alone is a significant saving, before you even venture near the pumps.

Mercedes Benz has opted for a smaller engine with lower levels of fuel consumption to develop similar power to the bigger engine of the past.

The new technology also ensures that the car’s torque is at its best, with a figure of 500Nm being quoted.

Taking the M-Class on the road gives a very pleasant driving experience. The car is smooth to accelerate and the controls are logical and

well-placed.

But despite its relatively high price, somewhere above the €60,000 mark, this 4x4 is not particularly big on the inside. The front seating is good with lots of adjustment, but those in the rear seem to get a slightly poorer result.

The safety package is impressive with nine airbags on board. The new M-Class uses improved Assistance Systems that are already available on the E-Class models. The standard buyer gets the drowsiness detection system, called Attention Assist, the anticipatory safety system, called PreSafe and a tyre pressure loss warning system, as well as adaptive brake lights and Brake Assist (BAS). There is also an extensive range of optional Assistance Systems.

With a high towing rating of almost 3.5 tonnes, if fitted with a factory hitch, the Mercedes Benz may be recruited for work, as

well as for pleasure. The ground clearance under the heavy-duty chassis is better than many others, at 191mm.

The M-Class will sport the Mercedes badge that always adds to the price.

But overall, it’s not a very big SUV, even if it is expensive.

For many existing M-Class drivers the change is good in terms of the running-cost value.

The comfort is enhanced and the car drives very well, even if the acceleration poke is a little slower than anticipated from the 2.2-litre engine.

The final part of the new M-Class story is that it will be reasonably competitive, not that this is a word often linked with Mercedes Benz prices.

While the final prices have not yet been agreed for the Irish market, it is expected that, with a higher specification, the new M-Class will be cheaper than the current model when it arrives in Ireland early in 2012.

15 September 2011 GAZETTE 19

Tubik is Citroen’s new comfort MPV

CITROEN will show off its new, highly innovative concept van-type vehicle at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show. Called Tubik, this is designed to be a high-tech executive shuttle based on one key idea – that travel should be fun.

The Tubik design has been inspired by Citroen’s Type H or ‘TUB’ van, but with all the styling and characteristics of modern Citroen design, Tubik is a nine-seater packed with entertaining technology.

This striking van design boasts offbeat, distinctive styling with colours and materials designed to meet the highest standards of sophistication and comfort.

To make travel enjoyable for its passengers, Tubik incorporates a lounge-style cocoon dedicated to comfort and relaxation. The modular seats are designed to be arranged in many

different ways (semireclined, face-to-face, etc.). Citroen claims that the onboard technology, which includes a giant semi-circular screen and high-definition surround sound, turns the cabin into an area that is perfect for sharing over long distances.

Nissan will be offering a new 1.6 litre turbo-diesel in the Qashqai models to improve fuel economy with a Stop/Start option due in 2012

A Pure Drive with the latest Qashqai option

Aerodynamics

This Tubik concept is powered by Citroen’s new Hybrid4 technology.

With this full-hybrid diesel drive and optimised aerodynamics, Citroen claims that the Tubik maintains CO2 emissions at a level comparable to a conventional saloon.

The full-hybrid diesel drive also offers more range than a stand-alone internal combustion engine and maximises traction in four wheeldrive mode. The front wheels are driven by the diesel engine and the rear wheels by the elec-

The new Citroen Tubik concept car shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show is designed as the ultimate in terms of people carrier design

tric motor. The 22-inch wheels feature deep, narrow, very low-rolling resistance tyres to further help optimise fuel consumption.

At 4.80m long, 2.08m wide and 2.05m tall, Tubik is big enough to carry up to nine passengers. The front end, which stands

apart from the main body, brings to mind the corrugated metal of the Type H van with its distinctive ribbing, while the windscreen pillars are reminiscent of the Type H’s two characteristic ridges.

To make the Tubik look even more protective,

Citroen’s designers have combined two contrasting colours. The metallic grey of the body shell enveloping the pearlescent white at either end marks the position of the diesel engine (at the front) and electric motor (at the rear) used by the full-hybrid diesel drive.

Peugeot teams up with IFA THE IFA Member Services and Peugeot will launch a new partnership on the occasion of the 80th National Ploughing Championships, Athy on September 20-22.

To celebrate the new venture, the IFA is launching a Peugeot 508 giveaway, to the value of €24,850, at the Ploughing Championships, details of which can be sought at both the IFA and the Peugeot stand.

T h e I FA / P e u g e o t partnership will bring to fruition many motoring benefits to IFA members, of which there are currently 87,000 in Ireland.

Effective from November 1, 2011, IFA members will enjoy excellent value service offers from Peugeot. They will be eligible to join the IFA Peugeot Service Club, offering

John Bryan, President of the Irish Farmers’ Association, Des Cannon, Peugeot Sales & Marketing Director, JJ Kavanagh, IFA National Treasurer and George Harbourne, Peugeot Managing Director.

every fourth service for free. A €250 rebate will be paid to IFA members on new Peugeot vehicle registration.

George Harbourne, Peugeot managing director said: “Peugeot has a very natural affiliation with Ireland’s farming

community and the IFA, thanks to our strong diesel heritage.

“We are very excited about this partnership and we very much look forward to working with the IFA in the coming years to make sure it is a success for Peugeot Ire-

land, The IFA and IFA members.”

John Bryan, president of the Irish Farmers’ Association said: “IFA is delighted to announce this partnership with Peugeot.

“We are committed to delivering the best range

of deals through our Member Services division, and the tie-up with Peugeot will bring added benefits to the existing package.

“I expect there will be strong interest at Ploughing, given the superb prize on offer.”

NISSAN has developed a new Pure Drive version of the top-selling Qashqai, which produces just 129g/km of CO2 with a fuel consumption of 20.km/litre (4.9l/100km).

This latest Qashqai is powered by a new 1.6litre diesel engine that claims to deliver strong fuel economy and low emissions, but which has the same levels of torque and top speed as the 2.0-litre dCi engine it replaces.

Peak power from the new engine is 130bhp, which is backed by a torque figure of 320Nm, available from as low as 1,750 rpm. And this is just the start. Early next year, a version of the model will be launched with Nissan’s Stop/Start System, which will help to reduce CO2 emissions still further to a 119 g/km and 22km/ litre (4.5l/100km) of fuel consumption.

To add to the new items of equipment including, for the first time on a C-segment car, Nissan will be offering the Around View Monitor (AVM) system. More usually found on luxury cars, AVM uses a series of small cameras located on the exterior of the vehicle to make parking and manoeuvring as safe as possible by giving the driver a real-time bird’s eye view of the environment around the car.

A new CVT gearbox

will also be available on 1.6-litre petrol models to bring further drive options to the range.

The Pure Drive designation is given to every Nissan product that emits 130g/km of CO2 or less.

On its introduction, the “cut off” point was 140g, but, as part of the Nissan Green Programme, membership of this exclusive club gets tougher all the time. The programme calls for a further drop to 120g in 2013.

20 GAZETTE 15 September 2011

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS EXHIBITION: OFFICIAL OPENING

Condren wins 2nd photo award THE AIB Photojournalism Exhibition 2011, a collection of some of the most remarkable press photographs from the past year, was officially opened in AIB Bank, Dame Street, last week,

by Jimmy Deenihan TD, Minister forArts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.

The opening was marked by a reception hosted by Padraig McGowan, branch manager, AIB Bank, Dame Street.

This year, over 2,010 images were entered by 123 photographers from around the country, across nine categories - news, daily life, sports action, sports portfolio, portrait, environment, politics, arts and entertainment and reportage.

The overall AIB Photojournalist of the Year 2011 title was awarded to Mark Condren, for the second year in a row.

Opening the Exhibition, Minister Deenihan said: “This exhibition offers us a picture diary of life during 2010 covering everything from hard news stories, sporting events, politics and everyday life. The photography on display acts as a visual snapshot of public and private life during 2010, covering all aspects of life in Ireland and abroad during this time. The Awards help portray the craft of press photography and showcase the photographer’s skills for timing and preparation. I would like to offer my congratulations to Mark Condren for winning the AIB Photojournalist of the Year Award for the second year in succession.”

The images from this year’s Exhibition can be viewed by logging on to www.ppai.ie.

The Springboard programme offers new skills to those who wish to enter the fast-growing world of international financial services

EMPLOYMENT: NEW SKILLS FOR INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL SERVICES

Get a new start with FSI CareerStart programme WHILE the shock of unemployment is hitting thousands of people who never thought it could happen to them, however, there is some good news.

Speaking at the launch of the Springboard programme, earlier this year, Education and Skills Minister Ruairi Quinn said: “The Government put together the Springboard programme as part of our overall Jobs Initiative. Springboard aims to upskill and reskill unemployed people in order to allow them to change career and give them a real chance of re-entering the workforce” The FSI CareerStart programme, one of the programmes funded under the Springboard initiative, offers participants a combination of industry relevant professional qualifications, management training and work placements or mentoring while

still retaining their social welfare benefits. Whether switching to an entirely new career path or starting out in your career, FSI CareerStart could be the key to a range of employment opportunities in the growing financial services sector in Ireland.

Programme Over the course of six to 12 months (depending on your preferred option), the programme offers new skills to those who wish to enter the fast-growing world of international financial services, and provides an in-depth knowledge of the industry, the IFSC companies and the job opportunities in the sector. The places are offered free of charge to eligible jobseekers. One of the main attractions of the financial services sector is the diversity of skill sets and backgrounds that

can be accommodated.

Whether your strength is in numeracy, languages, science, technology or creative thinking, a career in the international financial services sector may be the perfect fit for you.

The course is industryled, so the education and skills that candidates will develop during the course are those identified as desirable by IFSC employers. “Much of the challenge for employers involves finding workers with the specialised skills and backgrounds they need,” says Brendan Bruen, director of Financial Services Ireland.

“FSI CareerStart is giving a real solution to employers and employees alike – identifying what each needs from the other, and getting the balance right and there are career opportunities in this sector.”

The programme

presents participants with a choice of four options.

Option 1: Certificate Stream – International Financial Services + Certificate in Management Option 2: Certificate Stream - Investment Funds Services + Certificate in Management Option 3A: Diploma Stream – International Financial Services + Certificate in Management Option 3B: Diploma Stream – Investment Funds Services + Certificate in Management You are not restricted to choosing one option, you may apply for more than one of these courses as availability may be limited on your first choice All of the courses are Level 7 higher education awards, which are highly valued by employers and considered core qualifications for working in the sector. The courses are delivered by IBEC Man-

agement Academy and the Institute of Bankers, a recognised college of University College Dublin and the leading education provider for those working in banking and financial services.

Opportunities Throughout the programme, participants will be offered either work experience opportunities in world-class IFSC companies, or mentoring by industry professionals. The placement and mentoring opportunities offer participants a great opportunity to gain extensive knowledge on employers and their requirements, and places participants in an ideal position to demonstrate their new skills and impress a prospective employer.

This is the second year of the programme.

According to Brian

McMahon, Programme Manager for the Careerstart programme, of those who undertook the programme last year, almost two-thirds of the participants are now working, more than half of them employed by the company in which they completed their work placement. “This encouraged us to expand the 2011 programme, which offers 160 places.”

To be eligible to take up a place on the FSI Careerstart programme, applicants must meet one of the following criteria – be on the live register and claiming Jobseekers Allowance or Benefit, or signing for credits, or claiming One Parent Family Payment.

To apply for FSI CareerStart 2011, visit www.fsicareerstart.ie. For more information, contact 0818 333113or email info@fsicareerstart.ie

15 September 2011 GAZETTE 21

Supported by AIB

Interview: Rosie Gallagher (F.C.P.A. C.Dip. A.F.) Accredited Mediator

Rosie rises to the top in mediation ROSIE Gallagher is an accredited mediator with her own accountancy business, Citywide Consultants and Mediators (CWCM), which she set up in 2001.

During the last ten years, she has built up her expertise as a mediator through her involvement with conciliation between people seeking loan deals and also working as a consultant for the banking industry.

In this role she acted as a mediator/conciliator between the banks and their clients.

She also worked with the Free Legal Advice Centre and (FLAC) and Money Advice Bureau Services (MABS).

She is also a Family Law Mediator and has expanded her service to cater this area.

She has many years of experience dealing in conflict situations, varying from issues in civil and commercial matters, such as business break-up, insurance and employee issues, right through to family matters such as separation and divorce, children’s issues and solutions for looking

after the elderly.

Prior to setting up her own business, she worked in banking, both domestic (TSB, where she was assistant manager) and in corporate banking as senior lending executive with ICC Bank.

While working as a senior lending executive with ICC Bank, she was head-hunted by the IDA --------------------------

‘This training was so successful that the staff were awarded Banking Diplomas bringing them up to European standards’ --------------------------

and was selected from a large number of nations to set up the lending arm of The Development Bank of the Seychelles.

Here she trained a staff of 250 people, through lectures and on-the-job training.

This training was so successful that the staff

were awarded Banking Diplomas, bringing them up to European standards.

During this time, she developed her mediation skills, as she managed international mediation between foreign banks.

Working in the Indian Ocean region, she was on the welcoming committee for diplomats arriving in the Seychelles.

She also attended business meetings in the various Embassies where she mediated on behalf of the Development Bank of the Seychelles, with heads of state and finance ministers of visiting countries.

Her company, CWCM, provides a confidential service, using experienced staff, to help those who are in dispute or experiencing conflict.

Citywide Consultants and Mediators boasts a team of professionals that include accredited mediators, accountants, barristers and social workers.

It also offers a choice of solicitors in order to legalise the agreements reached after a successful mediation.

ANSWERS TO YOUR PERSONAL FINANCE QUESTIONS

HAVE AN ARF Q – Recently retired, I have just taken out an Approved Retirement Fund (ARF) and have been told I must take this “imputed distribution” of 5% of the fund each year. Is this true – I don’t really want to touch the fund as I am still relatively solvent and don’t want to touch this fund ? John – Gormanstown A - Unfortunately, whether you take this income or not, you will be liable for income tax, PRSI and Universal Social Charge on the 5% of the fund in the same way as if an actual ARF withdrawal or imputed distribution had been made. When you retire, depending on the scheme and the fund value, you have three choices of execution.

1. Annuity – basically a fixed deposit interest rate set at the time of retirement and that never changes. The insurance company gets to keep the fund when you pass away. So the idea is to outlive the interest e.g. € 200k fund at 5% will give a pension of € 10k. Live beyond 20 years and you have taken over €200k from the fund.

2. Approved Retirement Fund (ARF) – more choice with your investment options plus you MUST take 5% of the fund each year BUT when you die, the ARF goes into your estate for redistribution.

3. Cash – there are certain rules with this e.g. you MUST have € 120k in a Approved Minimum Retirement Fund (AMRF) until age 75 over which amount you can encash at your marginal rate of tax AFTER you have taken your 25% tax-free lump sum ( maximum now € 200k). Therefore, I would take the imputed distribution and either invest the money in a medium-term deposit account ( best rate 4.29% AER for an 18-month account ) or spend it.

CREDIT CARD MESS Q – I have three credit cards, all of them maxed out. I am still able to pay the minimum amount each month for each card but it is getting more difficult as other debts are mounting. I have tried transferring them, but no credit card company will allow the transfer. I am at my wits end – any suggestions ? Rob - Adamstowns Rosie Gallagher

A - Most of the credit card companies offering credit card balances transfers have both relatively low limits and strict credit guidelines. The Irish

Q&A Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

A: A Hairdresser Q: What was your first job?

A: Ansbacher bank Q: And your first pay cheque?

A: £30 per week Q: When did you start your present job?

A: 2000 Q: What is the best thing about your job?

A: Working with people. It is always challenging

Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’?

Credit Bureau (ICB) in Clonskeagh Dublin 14 is their

A: The long hours Q: What sport do you follow?

A: Horse racing Q: What sport can you play?

A: Cycling Q: What is your guilty music/TV or movie pleasure?

A: Quiz programmes Q: Who best represents modern Ireland – David Norris or Jedward?

A: Neither Q: What music/pictures/ movies do you have on your iPod/iPad? A: All of the above

Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?

A: Nobody, don’t believe in it

Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously?

A: Fashion, food and enter-

Q: What was your last Tweet/status update?

A: Do not know, probably

tainment

first port of call to check your credit history.

Any blemishes, a missed payment and the refusal is guaranteed. Your debts are starting to mount so now is the time to communicate and negotiate with your creditors. Speak to them individually and try and come to an agreed arrangement. You will

business promotion

Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own?

A: 30+

Q: Describe your dream meal?

A: On the French Riviera,

Q: Describe your dream holiday?

A: Travel across Australia for

all your assets, liabilities, income and whether your

lots of wine with two good friends

2-5 years

Q: Who would you rather have dinner with – Enda Kenny or Dame Edna?

A: Neither, could I swap for Bob Geldof?

Q: What would be your dream job?

A: Mediation Q: What do you plan to do when you retire?

A: Travel

need a fully detailed income and expenditure analysis plus a certified statement of affairs showing tax affairs are in order. For further information or a consultation, email me.

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

22 GAZETTE 15 September 2011

GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel Breaking up the DublinWest Cork highway!

Great deals on offer on top beach holiday destinations like the Maldives, St Lucia and Cuba

TRAILFINDERS is offering a complimentary upgrade to full-board at Olhuveli Beach and Spa Resort in the Maldives from €1,629 per person (saving over €140 per person), based on two sharing. Available for selected departures from October 4 to 24, the price includes return flights from Dublin (via London Heathrow and Doha) with Qatar Airways, seven nights’ accommodation in a deluxe room on a full-board basis, resort speedboat transfers, taxes and surcharges.

A beautiful and romantic island retreat located on the tip of South Malé Atoll, Olhuveli Beach and Spa Resort offers stunning beaches, abundant sandbanks and superb recreational activities. Facilities include a selection of restaurants and bars, two large pools and an excellent watersports centre, with kite-surfing, wake boarding, big game fishing and dolphin safaris, to name but a few. A large, shallow blue lagoon surrounds the whole island, which also makes it great for snorkelling. For more information, see www.trailfind ers.ie or phone 01 677 7888 / 021 464 8800.

Tropical Sky

Tropical Sky is offering seven nights on an allinclusive basis at the four-star Coconut Bay Resort and Spa in St Lucia from €1,169 per person (save €410 per person). Valid for selected departures in September and October, the price includes flights from Dublin (via Gatwick) with British Airways, accommodation with a complimentary room upgrade, resort transfers, taxes and surcharges. Set along the exotic Savannes Bay, facilities include an on-site water park, three pools, four floodlit tennis courts, fitness room, spa with 12 treatment rooms, steam room, sauna and a selection of fine restaurants The same tour operator is offering a 10-night city and beach getaway to Cuba from €1,199 per person (save €390 per person). Available for selected departures in September and October, the price includes flights from Dublin (via Gatwick) with Virgin Atlantic, accommodation split between three nights at Hotel Sevilla in Havana on a bed-and-breakfast basis, and seven nights at Breezes Varadero on an all-inclusive basis, resort transfers, taxes and surcharges. The Hotel Sevilla is the ideal base for those wanting to explore Havana and offers a gym, swimming pool and rooftop restaurant with stunning views of the city. Breezes Varadero is located on the worldfamous Varadero Beach and offers a selection of watersports, jacuzzis and golf course. For more information, see www.tropicalsky.ie or phone 01 8077996 / 068 56800.

CORMAC CURTIS

After years, nay, decades, of complaining about the various bottlenecks on the Dublin-Cork road – Kildare, Monastervin, Abbeyleix, Mitchelstown etc. – the long-awaited motorway between the capital and the so-called ‘real’ capital of Ireland is now very much a reality.

So, the seven-hour drive to west Cork, for instance, has now been assigned to the “tell us about driving to Baltimore in the old days, granddad” category.

This is, in itself, a huge relief, but, along with satnav and GPS, the convenience of the non-stop drive has taken a little of the mystery out of holidaymaking at home.

In an effort to break up my family’s annual pilgrimage to West Cork for two weeks in August, we decided to stop off somewhere around Cork city for a night or two before descending on my mother-in-law’s house in the country.

As family attractions go, it’s hard to look past Fota Wildlife Park when it comes to getting kids excited.

The idea of seeing exotic animals from Go Diego Go up close and personal conjured up some magical anticipation in my four and fiveyear-old daughters.

Finding somewhere to stay was pretty straightforward; Cork city is not short of quality accommodation.

Instead of staying in the city itself, we decided to try the Radisson SAS on Little Island – it’s just off the Ring Road that brings you around the city and on to West Cork and Kerry, which meant we wouldn’t have to deal with any city traffic.

As usual, a few lastminute hiccups meant I was travelling with the kids while their mother took care of some business-related issues before catching up with us – translation: daddy brings the kids to the swimming pool at the hotel for an hour or two to use up some of their pent-up energy!

As I mentioned – the road to Cork is a good one these days, so after about two-and-a-half hours we pulled up at the hotel.

The Radisson SAS in Cork cannot be accused of boasting a scenic location – but that really isn’t the point.

Its neighbours may include Harvey Norman and KFC, but the hotel itself has a modern, contemporary design and, once inside, marble, glass and dark wood finishes complement each other and suggest a far more

CHILLING OUT AS well as a very child-friendly swimming area for the kids to enjoy, the Radisson SAS Hotel in Cork also offers a variety of beauty and spa treatments.

The spa offers a secure, unique environment of warmth, comfort and peace.

It features nine treatment rooms with a range of luxurious Elemis treatments and relaxation suites.

There is also a selection of packages available at the Retreat Spa, from oneday to two-night options.

For details, visit www.radissonblu.ie/ cork luxurious setting.

The staff, in true Cork fashion, couldn’t have been more welcoming, and the check-in only took moments; a real bonus when two little girls have just escaped from a car after a long drive!

As a family, it’s always nice to be booked in to a ground-floor room in a hotel, and that’s exactly what happened here – nice touch.

We were given a tworoom family suite, giving the kids the chance to

bounce on their double bed and eat the complimentary frosted cupcakes (like they needed any more energy!) while I unpacked and looked up the swimming pool information.

Bingo! The pool was open until six(ish) for the kids so it was swimming time.

A family changing room would have been nice – but the pool area was so close to our room it was no big deal.

The kids can’t get enough of bubbles and

waterfalls, so they had a blast. It was also nice to see a lifeguard on duty.

Thankfully, it wasn’t too long before Mama arrived, so we all got ready for dinner.

A good deal of thought has gone in to the design of the dining room, even if it has begun to look a touch worn here and there – the seats had lost some of their bounce, for instance.

This is easily overlooked, as our French waiter was charm personified, and the menu

15 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 23

Edited by Mimi Murray

TravelBriefs

Becky, Sarah and dad, Cormac, go wild at Fota Wildlife Park, left, and, above, the kids tuck into cupcakes at the Radisson SAS in Little Island, Cork

GETTING BACK TO NATURE FOTA Wildlife Park is set on 70 acres on the scenic Fota Island in the heart of Cork Harbour only 15 minutes from Cork City (top 10 in the best cities to visit in the Lonely Planet guide’s ‘Best in Travel 2010’).

The park is not like an ordinary zoo; here you can come face-to-face with free-roaming animals and birds from all parts of the world. So, whether it’s a kangaroo that hops in front of you, or a ring-tailed lemur that jumps down from a tree, each visit is sure to bring its own fantastic memories.

For more, visit www.fotawildlife.ie, or call (021) 481 267

had a great selection of kids’ options – not just smaller portions of the main menu.

As for the grown-ups, starters of crispy duck leg confit with sautéed savoy cabbage, smoked bacon and a port wine reduction, along with a baked goat’s cheese salad with mixed grapes, fig and lime chutney and cherry balsamic dressing were delicious.

When it came to the main course I went for a slow braised shank of lamb with colcannon,

roast root vegetables and red wine gravy, while the other side of the table opted for roast breast of corn-fed chicken and confit leg with parsnip puree, broad beans and jus roti. To say we finished our meal completely satisfied would be a gross understatement to say the least.

The only distraction during our meal was the swing-and-slide set just outside that the kids had spotted – a very nice touch to have such a simple activity for the

little ones to burn off the ice-cream they devoured after dinner!

Parents and kids retired to our rooms, ready for a good night’s sleep.

I’m a big fan of blackout blinds and our rooms didn’t let in the slightest chink of light, so we all slept soundly and woke just in time for breakfast.

After a terrific feed, we set off to Fota Wildlife Park – and what an experience that was.

From the meerkats as you enter the park, to the cheetahs chasing their

lunch at feeding time, this was a huge success.

As I mentioned – a good grounding in Go Diego Go in recent years has made my daughters expert in everything from baby jaguars and penguins, to sloths and baboons; I was truly impressed with how much the kids recognised.

A family could spend a whole day here enjoying the wildlife, as well as the various arts and crafts that the kids can dip and out of along the way – there’s even a train if it gets a bit

much for the little ones.

After our long and busy day, including a family visit along the way, we all enjoyed another great night’s sleep, another great breakfast, and another great swim before we headed on to West Cork for the rest of the holiday.

It has to be said that, even though there were weddings on both nights at the hotel, it didn’t interrupt our visit in the slightest, and we’ll be hearing about the zoo for a long time to come!

Plan a getaway to the beautifully plush surroundings of Tankardstown House in Meath STAY in the plush surroundings of Tankardstown House in Meath any Wednesday and Thursday, and visit Newgrange followed by the battle of the Boyne site with the hotel’s compliments.

Immerse yourself in archaeology and history for the day and discuss what has been, and what might have been, over dinner in their A la Carte Restaurant that night, which is located in the Garden Village at Tankardstown. In keeping with the battlefields, sip a glass of Warres Warrior Special Reserve before a sumptuous sleep in one of their plush Main House Heritage bedrooms. Beautifully decorated and extremely spacious, they make for a relaxing night’s sleep.

It costs €180 per person sharing and this rate includes accommodation, breakfast and dinner to the value of €35 per person, followed by a nightcap before bed.

Contact Details: info@ tankardstown. ie or call 0419824621.

The Radisson BLU is turning pink for breast cancer awareness THE Radisson BLU is turning pink for breast cancer awareness month this October . The Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Dublin city centre is encouraging everyone to stop, relax and turn their lunch break into a charitable bite for Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Radisson Blu Royals are making a donation of €1 to the Irish Cancer Society for every person who orders food, tea or coffee in the hotel’s much-loved Sure Bar during Pink Month.

During last October, Sure Bar served 1,922 customers and, this year, they are hoping even more peckish people stop by to help put a stop to breast cancer.

The hotel will also be selling the famous pink ribbons at reception throughout the month and holding special staff events to give the fundraising a boost on Breast Cancer Awareness Day on October 7.

24 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 15 September 2011

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT 1

GoingOUT GoingOUT MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 Andrew Linnie and his Swing Orchestra WITH the help of his live jazz band, Andrew promises to bring the very best of Big Band, Broadway, Buble and beyond to the popular south Dublin venue, celebrating a wide range of crooner classics, Big Band standards, and much more, with music from samba to Sinatra sure to provide something for everyoone. The music starts at 8pm on Saturday, September 17, with admission costing €18.

PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929 Ger Carey Live THE workings of the teenage brain are a lost mystery ... unless you’re either A) a teenager, or B) Ger Carey, whose latest comic show is set to prove beyond a doubt that he knows what it’s like to be a teenager. Aimed at young people between the ages of 15 and 18, his one-man comic show is set to help teenagers laugh at themselves and the complexities of their lives, as well as seeing their place in the bigger picture of society. Ger also says that grown-ups are welcome. Catch Ger’s show on Monday, September 19; to make a booking, call the box office on 01 231 2929.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Stones in his Pockets THE award-winning comic tale of a quiet Irish community turned upside down by the arrival of a Hollywood movie shoot is sure to entertain, with two actors cleverly playing all 15 memorable characters in what guarantees to be a great night out. See Stones in his Pockets on Friday, September 16 and Saturday, September 17 at 8.15pm in Draiocht Studio, with admission costing €15/€13 conc.

Gary Oldman is back on top form as a cool-headed, somewhat ruthless intelligence agency figure in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy

A deadly game of I-Spy Although something of an ironically-named character, Smiler is an intelligence agency’s best hope of finding a secret Soviet spy Q KATE CROWLEY

DISH du jour, Ryan Reynolds, returns to our screens this week with a new film. Or perhaps I’m mixing him, and that term, up with Ozzy Osbourne, who also graces our cinema screens with an equally Oscar-worthy film.

Reynolds, Osbourne ... you can see how a stunning cinema reviewer might get a little confused and mix them up, with a mind that has to remember ever y thing from reminding Mr Crowley to get going on clearing away autumn leaves in the back garden, to what one was doing back in the 1970s.

Fortunately, here’s something to give me – and a number of other old codgers (or codgerettes?)

– a mental blast from the past, with the release of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (based on the 1974 novel

by John Le Carre).

While younger readers

FILM OF THE WEEK: Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy +++++ (15A) 127 mins Director: Tomas Alfredson Starring: MGary Oldman, Colin Firth, Tom Hardy, John Hurt and some of the chilling aspects of life in the 1970s

OUR VERDICT: KATE’S summary note says that this film “has a refreshing reminder that the ’70s also had a lot of menace, in addition to the memorable wallpaper styles and flares”. And who are we to argue? Top marks from The Gazette’s reviewer for what she also describes as “a surprisingly cracking tale” which she also notes treats the audience as intelligent observers, who will enjoy its complexities.

may associate the decade, and the era, with amusing hairstyles and lots and lots – and lots – of orange and brown wallpaper, older readers (and gracefully maturing cinema reviewers) will associate the era with global paranoia.

Amongst other things, it was a time of frosty international relations, and the clinical, deadly Cold War that Soviet agents seemed to be embroiled in on a number of fronts (matched by counterpart British and American agents).

It’s in this icily cold setting of global chess

against Moscow spymasters that Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy is set, as the film opens with British spy agency, Circus, in disarray, following a bloody mission in Budapest.

Its head, Control (Hurt) is forced to retire, along with Smiley (Oldman) ... except, of course, that one never retires from one’s duties, and the British government is quick to seek discreet help in uncovering a spy, with Smiley her crumpled choice of agentdetective, of sorts.

The unsmiling Smiley is set to work, one

of the few men to know that the Soviets have a deadly and highly-placed agent at work near the top of Circus, with all of the potentially disastrous and double-crossed consequences that implies.

It’s down to the slightly shabby, yet ruthless Smiley to find the mole, and eliminate him, with a small pool of suspects to monitor and investigate.

However, all the while, the Soviets and Circus continue plotting their next moves in their neverending game of chess, with deadly results for any players that cross paths ...

It’s been a long time indeed since the Cold War seemed like such a hot topic, with wisps of frosty air practically tumbling down from the screen.

Still, although mistrust in governments never quite goes out of fashion, perhaps it’s a timely release for this tale, as its group of shabby and shady pro-

tagonists somehow stepping through events with, potentially, international consequences has some resonance with current economic and political affairs.

As for the film’s 1970s setting, I remember only too well the “joys” of re-threading typewriter ribbons, whacking my fingers with metal keys, shouting into discoloured plastic phones, and creating barely-legible copies of documents using fluttering sheets of blue carbon paper – all of which is brought to life in this surprisingly cracking tale.

I also half-remember the late ’70s television version of Le Carre’s spy novel, but this reimagined version seems to be truer to the tale.

And so, although we now seem to live in a modern world of iPads and Apps, this lost world of I-Spy is certainly worth applying oneself to, given the chance ...

15 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING GAMING An interesting case to follow Another weebyte game took place in a standard (if meticulously researched and recreated late-1940s) open-world setting, the game’s main characters, played by a variety of real actors – in some cases, famous ones – were filmed with MotionScan, a proprietory system that digitally recorded and recreated every last little muscle tick, gesture and expression of the actor’s.

This created many scenes where, at last, game characters really emoted, on a par with television, theatre and cinema performances.

This enabled gamers to investigate several crimes, ranging from arson to a serial killer’s handiwork, all the while attempting to judge whether characters were being truthful, evasive or downright lying.

Zombie’s dead silly mistake

From boarding houses to shabby bars, old dears to tough gh dames (inset), the downbeat world of LA Noire was a far cry from then Hollywoodland’s heights

Released mere months ago to near universal critical acclaim, one could be forgiven for assuming the developer behind it, Team Bondi, would be riding high on the crest of glorious critical – and financial – waves. Not so.

While not dead, the company has been placed into administration after

incurring significant costs from spending several years developing the title.

However, perhaps more damaging to the company are the very vocal criticisms that have emerged, post-release, of various working practices and management styles at the studio, with significant numbers of complaints

by former staff members, and spouses, creating lots of negative stories in the specialised gaming press.

It will be ironic indeed if a company that developed a game primarily focused on complex investigations is, itself, the subject of a number of investigations, leaving this as an open case to keep an eye on ...

IN KEEPING with the open-world theme of o this week’s main artith cle, many were looking cl forward to the recent fo release of Dead Island re – a luxury hotel island turned deathtrap, filled tu with hungry zombies. w Unfortunately, many PC owners got a shock when the wrong version of the game was released online via Steam, the popular digital distribution service, complete with gamedestroying problems.

The game’s red-faced developers were quick to apologise for what, in hindsight, was a dead silly mistake to make.

gazette

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

.com

IF A week is a long time in politics, six months is, well, a long time for everybody, but can bookend a games company’s most triumphant moment, followed by its unexpectedly rapid decline.

Given the costs of games’ development, and their quarterly importance to parent companies, there is, usually, a tremendous amount of pressure behind the scenes of what may look like a solild-gold hit.

While not a brand-new release, there’s been a surge of renewed interest in the recently-released (and very high-profile) multiplatform title, LA Noire , thanks to the developer behind it entering administration, mere months after rolling out

what was a hit in most global gaming markets.

Set in a post-World War II Los Angeles, and, as the title suggests, LA Noire took part almost exclusively on the wrong side of the tracks in the starstruck city.

It tasked the player with investigating all manner of murders and crimes as a lowly cop, gradually rising through the ranks to uncover far-reaching, rotten conspiracies.

Played out as a very straight-faced title, free of the mischievous adult humour found in similar “sandbox” titles, such as the Grand Theft Auto series, LA Noire was a fascinating (if slightly dull) title, with a look at some superb new technologies that are likely to reappear in gaming.

While much of the

www.

SHANE DILLON

GAZETTE

26 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 15 September 2011

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This application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of South Dublin County Council during its public opening hours of 9am - 4pm, Mon-Fri, and a submission or observation may be made to South Dublin County Council in writing and on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt

by South Dublin County Council of the application.

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Planning permission is being sought for revisions to previous permission reg. ref; SD09A/0464, consisting of (1) revised rear extension with pitched roof, to provide 2 no. surgeries, (2) reconfiguration of the existing ground floor layout to provide waiting room, reception with private office, and new disabled wc facility, (3) widened garden entrance to provide 2 no. carparking spaces and incorporating new ramped access to the building, and (4) all associated site works at 19, Ashwood Road, Clondalkin for Dr. D. Herbert & Dr. M. Wilson.This application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of South Dublin County Council during its public opening hours of 9am - 4pm, Mon - Fri, and a submission or observation may be made to South Dublin County Council in writing and on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt

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This application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of South Dublin County Council during its public opening hours of 9am - 4pm, Mon - Fri, and a submission or observation may be made to South Dublin County Council in writing and on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt

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GazetteSPORT

ORIENT EXPRESS: Local racer blazing trail on Japanese F3 circuit Page 29

COACHING SKILLS: LEGENDARY EXPERT COMING TO PORTMARNOCK FOR CLINIC

Soccer coaching gets a Horst boost next week sport@gazettegroup.com

THE White Sands Hotel in Portmarnock will host a special soccer clinic event from Friday, September 20 to Sunday, October 2, when they host renowned soccer coach, Horst Wein, who will give his unique take on coaching and mentoring young players.

The sessions are designed to help coaches help young players to reach their full potential

and even develop some future stars, while contributing to the playing of the beautiful game.

Horst Wein’s model promotes development over winning at all costs, so that creative, intelligent players flourish and all young footballers get a fair chance to develop to their full potential. It differs from traditional coaching methods in style, substance and in the structure of the competitions that the kids

play. Many of the key elements of the model have been in place in countries like Spain and Holland for many years and more recently in England, Germany, Scotland, Denmark, much of South America and even Australia.

In 1985, when Horst was a master hockey coach, he was invited

by Carles Reixach (who went on to serve as assistant coach to Johan Cruyff) to demonstrate his

Internationally renowned coach Horst Wein will be giving a masterclass in Portmarnock

methods at FC Barcelona.

They liked them so much that they purchased his hockey books, presumably to adapt some games and exercises for football.

The club then encouraged Horst to move from hockey to football where he created the youth football development model and he has never looked

back. To this day the youth coaches at Barcelona still use Horst’s football books.

A coach from Portmarnock, who undertook the course recently, said: “Horst gave a very interesting talk that focused on learning the game well, rather than just about winning the

game. If only all six-yearolds began their career this way then maybe they would reach teenage years loving and appreciating the skills needed, rather than checking their trophy cupboard.

And the same could be said for us coaches, too, if truth be told. Horst was a breath of very fresh and

invigorating air.”

Practical outdoor coaching sessions are at Portmarnock AFC, which is close to the hotel, and full-day attendees on either Saturday or Sunday will receive a certificate.

Prices start at €30 and more information on the event can be found at www.beautifulgame.ie

28 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 15 September 2011

GazetteSport Sport

The junior and senior women’s sides played tag rugby

Aaron Gann gives a grin

Conor McKeever’s shows his spider-skills

Clon’s fun day

A great rugby day for all ages LONDALKIN Rugby Club welcomed club members, their friends and members of the public to their club open day last Sunday.

The club, in association with the IRFU, organised the open day to help promote the club and rugby in the Clondalkin area.

The day started with mini’s skills training and was followed throughout the day by entertainment for all the family, with bouncy castles, a barbecue, skills training, and exhibitions by the club’s underage, men’s and ladies’ teams.

The senior players practise their ball skills at Monastery Road. Pictures: Sharon Flanagan

C

Una O’Gorman, Kate Grogan and Dillon Freeman

Ruby Collier, Katie Byrne and Abigail Tighe

15 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 29

in association with

From Mondello to Motegi, Japan Making a huge name for himself in F3 is local motor racing star, Gary Thompson. ROB HEIGH spoke to the prodigy on a recent trip back home WE’RE getting used to our talented sportsmen and women going abroad to achieve the success they deserve on a world stage. The opportunities to make a huge mark in your sport often requires you to leave the comforts of home and the limited facilities available to those with the skills to make their mark globally.

One man who has made that jump, and at a very young age, is Malahide motor racing wunderkind, Gary Thompson. The 19-yearold has gone from watching racing at Mondello to flying around the tracks of Japan in their F3 series.

GazetteSport spoke to Gary just after he claimed his first first-place podium finish he has been chasing

since he started racing in Japanese Forumla 3, and he was delighted with the win.

“It’s been a long time coming, for sure. It feels like a long time since the

sport in 2002, when he began to show his promise in the Irish and international cadet class. Even before that, he was desined to make his mark in motor racing.

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

‘In Japan, the racing is at a high level, but it has very little exposure in Europe. You need to let everyone know how well you are doing.’

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last win, so it was great to get that. Everyone’s been working really hard for the last few years, and it’s great for it all to finally come together.”

The young driver has shown immense talent since his debut in the

“My dad used to race at Mondello Park in the Formula Opel. I remember from a young age being there, being around the cars and watching racing, sitting in the car and asking if I could drive them when I was about five.

Gary Thompson celebrates his success at the Motegi race track in Japan

Then when I was nine, one day my dad came back from a motor show in Britain, and he had been talking to someone about racing cars, and he realised that was an opening for me to start racing at that age.

“I started driving cadet carts from age 8 to 12, which were 60cc or so. I did one year in Ireland. I ended up in England for races the next year, and I was doing really well, so we decided to keep racing over there as the standard and opportunities were much higher. I raced over there for about four years, before doing two years racing in Europe before I moved to Asia.”

Connections in Asia, through his father and the motor racing fraternity, meant that Gary was able to capitalise on the promise of his form in Europe.

“I started driving in Asia in 2009. Before that, my dad was managing a driver out there. From being out there, my dad had a lot of contacts, and ended up part-owning a team out there, racing Formula BMW Pacific cars. The plan was that I was going to go out there and drive for them in 2009, but, unfortunately, the team folded before the season began. I had all of the contacts, and that seemed to be the best place to develop my career.

“The Japanese part came about after my first

car race in 2009, in a support race to the Asian Grand Prix. I qualified on pole and won the main race. After that, the owner of the KPMG team that I drive for now approached me and offered me a place with their team in Japan, and I accepted.”

Gary is very clear about his ambitions, and how he will achieve them.

“The ultimate goal is to be F1 world champion.

In an ideal world, I would graduate to Formula Nippon next year, which is a place where a lot of drivers come through - Eddie Irvine drove there before he moved on to F1. It’s one step below F1, but it is not really considered on the ladder, from a European point of view.

It’s only solely based in Japan, but GP2 is classed as the main feeder for F1.

“In Nippon, the cars are slightly quicker, the drivers are getting paid. In GP2, you need to put in about €1.5m every year.

“From Nippon, you can progress straight to F1, but there would be a lot of work involved. It is in Japan, it is a high level, but it has very little exposure in Europe. You need to let everyone know how well you are doing. It also helps that the head of the KPMG team is really enthusiastic about motor racing, and he has dreams of putting together an F1 team. So this would seem to be the best road to go down at the moment.”

FastSport

Solheim excitement rises as teams are announced WITH the recent announcements of both the European and American teams, it is now all systems go for The 2011 Solheim Cup, which will be staged for the first time in Ireland on the Jack Nicklaus Signature Course at Killeen Castle this September 23 to 25.

Up to 80,000 people are expected to attend over the six days – three practise days on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, and the three days of competition, Friday through Sunday.

Solheim Cup Director, Roddy Carr said: “The Solheim Cup is a truly great golfing spectacle and, with players like Laura Davies and Michelle Wie competing, this unique event is a must-see for sports and entertainment fans.”

A range of anyday and season tickets are available on www.solheimcup.com, www.ticketmaster.ie or by calling with 0818719309.

HQ hosting unique prefinal night bash CROKE Park is hosting a prefootball final bash, FeverPitch, this Saturday, September 17.

Headquarters is opening its doors on the eve of the final to capture the unique atmosphere and offer supporters from Dublin, Kerry and Tipperary a focal point to gather in friendly rivalry on the eve of the final with the cream of

Irish entertainment.

The line-up for the night includes live music from Ryan Sheridan, The Inishturkbeg Collective and The Cuban All Stars, ,along with Dublin bands Royseven and The Riptide Movement, as well as comedy stand-up with Neil Delamere, Fred Cooke and Colm O’Regan, and insight from sporting legends Jimmy Magee and Peter Canavan.

The show begins at 7pm and, for more information, see gaa.ie

30 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 15 September 2011

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

SOCCER: LIFFEY VALLEY ROMP TO VICTORY OVER WFTA

Jade takes to the field on All-Ireland final day SCOIL Ide sixth-class pupil, Jade Craig, has been selected to play on a GAA/INTO minisevens team in Croke Park at the All-Ireland senior football final between Dublin and Kerry on Sunday, September 18.

Craig is a member of the Scoil Ide girls’ football team which was formed last year.

The team is trained by Therese Hanly, who is a ladies’ football player herself, and Shane Campion, who plays hurling in Kilkenny.

Jade and her parents will enjoy an all-day programme in Croke Park, where they will meet with GAA President, Christy Cooney, and INTO President, Noreen Flynn, and, hopefully, see the Dubs beat Kerry and win the Sam Maguire Cup for the first time in 16 years.

Summerfest set for next weekend THE 2011 Tesco mobile SARI Summerfest, the largest intercultural soccer tournament in Ireland, is set to take part this year at the Garda and Camogie Sports Grounds, in Phoenix Park on September 10 and 11 from 11am to 5pm each day.

The Summerfest will also coinciude with the CONCERN kitefest, where kite flyers from around the world will display their kites and give kite workshops for children.

The two-day festival also includes a wide array of entertainment for all the family.

For more information, see www. facebook.com/sarireland.

Castleknock Celtic seeking ladies talent CASTLEKNOCK Celtic FC’s ladies and girls section are recruiting new talent to the cllub for the soccer season starting later this month.

If you were born in 1996 or earlier, visit the club’s website at www.castleknockceltic.com, and pass on your name and contact details in the How To Join section provided on the site.

The club are also looking to recruit girls born in 2001/2002 to play soccer in the DubliGirls Soccer League.

Liffey Valley Rangers have scored 18 goals in three games to put them at the top of the Under-16A league

Rangers on cloud nine DDSL UNDER-16A

WFTA Liffey Valley Rangers

1 9

sport@gazettegroup.com

CRAIG Fitzgerald’s hattrick powered Liffey Valley Rangers to a third emphatic win of the DDSL campaign as they continued their 100% start to the season with a thumping win overWFTA in Finglas.

It backed up a comprehensive 6-2 win over Willows FC a week earlier, and a 3-1 success over Cabinteely that has set the pace at the top.

The side made six changes between the Willows and WFTA tie,

with Sean Brophy, Andy O’Donnell and Dano Condron all unavailable for selection.

But Fitzgerald came back into the starting eleven and continued his brilliant recent scoring form by notching his first ever treble for the club, whilst Rangers’ top marksman, and Irish underage international, Dylan McKeever, grabbed a brace.

Skipper Lee Higgins scored a wonderful solo goal just before the break to see the side lead 6-0.

Five changes were made at half-time as the Valley played into the wind in the second half.

The game had lost its

edge, with Liffey Valley well in control, but they did add to the tally through Stephen Casserly who grabbed the seventh with a fantastic volley from just inside the area.

The full-back could have had a second moments later but somehow missed on the goal line.

Man-of-the-match Jack McDonnell, deservedly got his name on the score-sheet with a great diving header after being set up by Vinny Ogbe.

Ogbe rounded off the scoring with a brilliant goal. He latched onto a ball after some good work from the excellent Lee

McCarthy, held off the challenge of a defender before looping the ball over the keeper and into the net.

The Valley did concede a goal in between, caught in possession in their own half but they can be happy with their day’s work It followed an equally impressive run-out against Willows in which skipper Lee Higgins opened the scoring after 20 minutes with an early goal-of-theseason contender.

A Giordano Cinelli cross was only half cleared and Higgins caught the ball on the half-volley from 25 yards and it flew into the top corner, giving

the keeper no chance.

Fitzgerald added the second, after being introduced from the bench in place of Ian Griffith, heading in McKeever’s cross.

Cinelli, McKeever and Ogbe where all denied by the Willows’ netminder but, just before the break, Fitzgerald got his second, and the Valley’s third, again heading the ball in around the back post.

McKeever made it four just after the re-start from the penalty spot and Carl O’Meara and Ogbe completed the scoring with Willows nabbing two consolation strikes for the losing side.

Paris reconnaisance for Peamount sport@gazettegroup.com

UEFA WOMEN’S Champions League representatives, Peamount United, got a better idea of the challenge ahead of them when they went on an interesting sight-seeing trip to Paris last weekend.

The West Dublin club will become the first Irish side to take part in the knock-out stages of the competition when they take on French giants Paris Saint-Germain, in the last 32 at the end of the month.

Peamount will welcome PSG

to Tallaght Stadium on Wednesday September 28 (7.45 KO) before travelling to Paris a week later for the return leg on October 6.

Manager Eileen Gleeson and her backroom staff are leaving nothing to chance in their preparation for the historic double header and, along with head of coaching at the club, Jason Carey, the Peamount manager travelled to France to watch PSG in action on Sunday.

Flying into Paris in the morning, the Peamount crew traveled 12 miles outside the French capi-

tal to the Stade Georges Lefevre, where they joined a crowd of 200 in watching the home side record a 2-0 win over Stade Briochin.

PSG showcased three senior French internationals – who could well face the six Peamount players in Sue Ronan’s Irish squad when they take on France at Turner Cross later this month – during a comfortable victory.

“It was a very important trip for us to get a visual on them and see what kind of style they play and what their strong points were,” said Gleeson.

“We knew going over that they

would be very organised: very fit and strong but we did get to see the three French internationals they had playing on the day.

“From what we saw we feel that we certainly can create opportunities and use the pace in our squad to get at them, so it was a great trip from our perspective.

“From the small crowd I saw at their first home game of the season I certainly think that the crowd can play a big part in Tallaght. We have already appealed for as many people to come out and support us and a big crowd would be huge for our girls.”

15 September 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 31

in association with

INTER HURLING: TOWERS’ REACH THE LAST FOUR

CLUB NOTICEBOARD ROUND TOWERS THE ladies footballers beat the

will be ran as part of the night with

Longford inter championship win-

music by Farmer and Friends. Tick-

ners, Colmcille in Longford on Sun-

ets available from the Social Com-

day.

mittee.

The intermediate hurlers beat

The senior footballers are com-

Whitehall Colmcilles in the quarter-

peting in the Kilmacud Crokes Sev-

final of the championship in Clogh-

ens tournament on Saturday - they

ran.

face Nemo Rangers, Loup and An

The club will be allocated a small

Riocht. All support would be appre-

number of tickets for the All-Ireland

ciated. Full fixture details and loca-

final between Dublin and Kerry and

tions will be posted on the website

as such we are not taking orders.

when available.

Full members may apply for one

The All-Ireland minor and senior

ticket by putting their name down

football finals will be shown on the

on the list behind the bar up until

village’s biggest screen on Sunday

Tuesday night. Please note that

in the club.

demand will far outstrip supply and there will be approximately one ticket available for every five members so expectations should be adjusted accordingly.

The Social Committee are running their annual Up for the Match night on Saturday next. A barbecue

This week’s lotto numbers were 5, 14, 25 and 26; Bonus Ball was 8.

There was no winner of this week’s Jackpot of €3,900.

Congratulations to Jason Dunne, Lisa Tyrell and Aaron Bevan, who were the three €100 winners.

Next week’s jackpot is €4,000.

Round Towers’ intermediate hurlers brushed aside the challenge of Whitehall Colmcilles in the second-half

McKenna’s men strike for semi-final place

ST PATRICK’S, PALMERSTOWN IN HURLING our U-8s played in the St

Pat Dunne and his team of organis-

Anne’s blitz.

ers.

The U-9s and U-10s played Liffey

Our sincere sympathy to vice

Gaels and Dubh Gall, while the U-11s

chairperson Jimmy Gilbert and his

lost to St Monica’s, and the U-15s lost

dad Jim (snr) on the sad passing of

to St Mark’s in the championship.

both their mother and wife Frances,

The U-12s represented the club in the Camant finals in Parnell Park.

INTER HURLING C’SHIP Round Towers Whitehall Colmcilles

2-12 1-10

sport@gazettegroup.com

FACING into the remnants of hurricane Katia, Round Towers produced a superb second-half performance despite the elements at Cloghran to snag two goals and a place in the inter hurling championship semi-final.

It left AHL2 outfit Whitehall Colmcilles stunned after the sides turned around level at 0-7 to 1-4, with the northside outfit in the ascendancy.

But Brian McLaughlin and the experienced Fergal McDonagh hit a pair of fine goals to push their side over the line, aided by the sharp-shooting of Dublin minor Jack Whelan and Mark Keane’s precision.

Manager Martin McKenna was quick to praise his charges for the performance and is now looking forward to a finalfour date with Naomh

Barrog, another AHL2 side, probably within the next fortnight.

“We’re in the semis now and we have every chance,” McKenna told GazetteSport. “We have a great spirit and battle very hard with a small, but very good panel.

“Teamwork is the key and we used the nearhurricane conditions well.

It’s a great success for the limited size of the squad.”

He is referring to the pre-season travails which saw upwards of 11 players emigrate, but the side has banded together well with a couple of minor additions who challenged for the majority of the AHL3 season, before being pipped late on.

But they now stand within reach of a return to senior hurling after a gutsy display against Colmcilles last Sunday.

Whelan’s frees, and a couple of scores from Keane, helped the side move 0-7 to 0-3 clear before a 21-yard free

found its way past the otherwise immaculate Colm Hayes.

It allowed Whitehall to get level at half-time with the wind soon to be at their backs.

Towers, though, utilised the conditions to excellent effect while Shane Byrne’s man-marking skills were redeployed into the halfback line with maximum impact.

A couple of long-range Whelan frees saw the lead re-established before McLaughlin’s superb cross-shot to the top corner from nigh on 21 yards put a half dozen in the difference.

Whitehall closed the

gap but McDonagh applied a flashing groundstroke to a loose ball for the Clondalkin side’s second goal and the sixpoint margin was back in place.

Whelan added another point from play while Eric Finn added a cracking score, swivelling past his man on the 40 before arrowing his shot between the posts.

It meant a memorable win and a semi-final date with Naomh Barrog while Kilmacud Crokes and St Sylvester’s are on the other side of the draw following wins over Setanta and St Peregrine’s, respectively.

Our U-13s and U-14s footballers lost to Donabate and Na Fianna and the U-16s beat St Mark’s.

Our jubilee golf classic was a great success on Friday last at Lucan GC. Our sincere thanks to our main sponsor on the day, the Moriarty

and to the Manning family our sincere sympathy also on the passing of their mother, Vicky. May they both rest in peace.

The club has been allocated a very limited amount of tickets for next Sunday’s football final. Members will be advised if they are to receive a ticket by Friday evening.

Group (Supervalu, Palmerstown)

Hard luck to the Dublin Under-21s

and to all who sponsored a team,

hurlers, and we now wish our minor

tee-box or green.

and senior footballers the best of

Our thanks also to co-ordinator

luck next Sunday.

LUCAN SARSFIELDS THERE WAS a good win for the junior B hurlers in the championship.

ber 12. Deposits being taken at bar.

Clean-up day is this Saturday from

The list for tickets for the All-Ireland

9am in 12th Lock. The last golf outing

football final is now on the clubhouse

of 2011, our Captain’s (Dave Whittle’s)

notice board. Tickets will be allocated

Day, takes place at Castleknock on

by draw this Thursday.

Saturday, September 24. The tee-box

Don’t forget the Premium Ticket

is booked from 12.30 to 2.30pm. Visi-

Draw, which is attractive way of being

tors welcome. To book your slot, call

in with chance to see all finals. Entries

Mick on 087 242 8419 or Michael on 087

available from Paul McGann, the bar or

233 1983.

any mentor.

Fun day for all the family in 12th Lock is on Saturday, September 24.

The Gala Ball is on Saturday, Novem-

Best wishes to Emmet O’Conghaile for Dublin in All-Ireland minor football final and to Paul Casey in the senior final.

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ALL OF YOUR CLONDALKIN CASTLEKNOCK SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31 SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

MAY 26, 15, 2011 SEPTEMBER 2011

NEW GANG FINAL FOUR:INRound ’TOWN: Towers’ Westmanstown inter

NEED FOR SUPER STARS: SPEED May award Making waves nominees in revealed inside Japanese F3 P29 P29

hurlers host Leinster claimschools’ their place rugby in semi-final blitz P28 P31

GazetteSPORT

Hannah Tyrell, who was named player-of-the-match in the Leinster ladies’ football Intermediate championship. PIcture: GAApics.com

Towers’ ladies in Leinster challenge Intermediate footballers progress with victory against Longford Colmcille’s in championship clondalkinsport@gazettegroup.com

ROUND Towers’ ladies continue to march on in the Leinster intermediate football championship after starting both halves of their tie against Longford’s Colmcille’s in blistering fashion.

Hannah Tyrell once again starred as she grabbed a hat-trick of goals to push the Clondalkin side on, while Emily Hamill grabbed another major in the 4-8 to 2-6 victory in Aughnacliffe.

With Maria Kavanagh again providing in a steadying hand at centre-back and Andrea Bowe turning in a brilliant performance at wing-back, it was a fine showing in the huge winds that affected games up and down the country.

Despite facing into a gale, Towers got off to a whirlwind start when Tyrell netted twice in the opening phases.

Colmcille’s did use the conditions to edge their way back to level terms by the interval and manager Paul Burke was left fretting after goalkeeper Emma Redmond was forced off injured.

But Tyrell settled the nerves with her third goal, helping the side register 1-1 inside two minutes of the turnaround, and, from there, Burke’s charges chipped away to keep a solid wedge between the sides.

With Sinead Cairns running midfield, and Aisling Milton also the fore, it was a controlled second-half performance which Burke said that, while it was never a huge margin, he felt his side was “never in huge danger”.

It puts his side into round two where they will face the Carlow champions in the quarter-finals, pencilled in for the weekend of October 2.

Burke will endeavour to get what research he can get done in the meantime but, for now,

reflected on what has been an “exciting adventure” for the Clondalkin club.

“The players have really stepped up this year and are knitting together really well as a unit,” he told the Gazette.

Training By way of preparation, his side spent time with the army in the Curragh training camp, as well as taking in beach training sessions in Donabate.

And Burke says they will continue innovative strategies to get the best from his side “They have been going since February, so we have been trying to keep it fresh. We are back to the bread and butter of training but we have organised a couple of 7am spinning classes before work which have gone down well. It’s an exciting adventure for all of us.”