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INSIDE: Hopes for a Christmas Number One with Derek P3
Soccer: Whelan key part of Euro 2012 campaign Page 32
Sam on tour: All-Ireland trophy comes to Round Towers Page 28
ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ......................8 MOTORS ........................18 BUSINESS .................... 21 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26
November 17, 2011
NURSING A WIN: Glory for a local
Home with Innovation Award Page 6
€1.8m flood works bill for Council Q PAUL HOSFORD
SOUTH Dublin County Council (SDCC) is to spend almost €2 million dealing with the aftermath of the severe flooding that engulfed the county last month, The Gazette can reveal. At a council meeting this week, SDCC said the cost of works relating to flood damage would amount to €1.8 million, and are to be recouped
through insurance and OPW grant funding. The figure was revealed as the council was roundly commended for its handling of the crisis. On Monday, October 24, 88.8mm of rain fell, causing flooding in estates and chaos on the roads. Over a 48-hour period of flooding, SDCC received 6,692 phone calls, 432 web queries and 45,000 web page views.
Loving learning: Graduate’s delight at award ceremony THERE were lots of great smiles at Collinstown Park Community College at its award ceremony for adult students, where The Gazette met Caroline and Jack Sheridan, with Nichola Flanagan. Nichola showed her FETAC-
approved certificate, which she, and more than 200 other students, achieved through their hard work on a number of full- and part-time adult education courses. Full Gallery on Pages 8-9
2 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 17 November 2011
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CONTEST Woman one of 10 Dubliners shortlisted for cookery award
Clondalkin resident in top food final
Q DAWN LOVE
clondalkin@gazettegroup.com
A CLONDALKIN resident has been shortlisted for the Home Cook Hero Awards. Eibhlinn Thornton is one of 10 people from Dublin to have been shortlisted in this year’s prestigious competition. Easy Food said they had received an “astounding response to its call for entries” to
their Home Cook Hero Awards this week, as they announced the shortlist who will have to cook their recipies for a tough judging panel. Open to all ages, Easy Food were looking for supermoms or dads, supergrans or granddads, superkids – or someone that is just plain super in the kitchen. More than 1,000 triedand-tested recipes were entered into the compe-
tition, with some pretty mouth-watering recipes to tantalise all taste buds. Finalists have now been invited to cook their recipe for the judges on Friday, November 18, at the state-of-the-art kitchens in Cooks’ Academy, and the winning recipes will be announced at a black-tie gala dinner, hosted by Marty Whelan, at the Shelbourne Hotel that evening.
Gina Miltiadou, co-founder of Zahra Publishing, said of the entries: “We are delighted and amazed with the overwhelming response we got to the Easy Food Home Cook Heroes competition.
Tasty treats “We received entries of tasty treats from every corner of Ireland, and from tiny chefs, aged six-years-old, right up
to more seasoned home cooks, who preferred not to mention their age. “Myself and the other judges have a hard task ahead of us to pick individual winners out of each of the 11 categories on November 18.” The 11 winners will each win €1,500-worth of goodies, plus the opportunity to be showcased in The Easy Food Home Cook Hero Cookbook. A high calibre of judg-
es have come on-board for the Home Cook Hero awards, including TV chefs Catherine Fulvio, Catherine Leyden and Andrew Rudd, as well as Vanessa Greenwood, of Cooks’ Academy, and Gina Miltiadou, publisher of Easy Food Magazine and co-founder of Zahra Publishing. The judges will be looking for tasty food that is quick and easy to make.
COURTS: JAILED FOR ROLE IN RACIST ASSAULT ON STUDENT
Left man disfigured in attack A FATHER has been jailed for his role in a vicious, racist assault on an African PhD student, which left him permanently disfigured and blind in one eye. Luke Casey (25), of Greenfor t Gardens, Clondalkin, beat Mr Mapfumo Cuidzambwa (30) with a hurley about his body, while his co-accused, Stephen Mooney (24) of Greenfort Lawns, Clondalkin, struck his head a number of times with a golf club, breaking the unarmed victim’s facial bones and sinking his right eye into its socket. Witnesses to the assault later told gardai that Mooney could be heard shouting: “Do you want to see me crack a nigger’s skull?” Mooney was jailed for four years last July. Casey was jailed for three years and nine
months by Judge Patricia Ryan, after she twice emphasised that the maximum penalty available to the court was five years. She said she had to reduce this sentence on the basis of Casey’s guilty plea, and also took into account the State’s evidence that it was Mooney who had inflicted the serious injuries, and who had instigated the attack. Both men pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Mr Cuidzambwa, causing him harm, and criminal damage of two cars at Greenfort Lawns in the early hours of October 1, 2006. Detective Garda Paul Kelly told MrTony McGillicuddy BL, prosecuting, that Mooney and Casey had been at the same house party as Mr Cuidzambwa in Clondalkin. Mooney was asked
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
to leave after he made unwelcome advances to a number of the women at the gathering. Both he and Casey damaged a number of vehicles that were parked outside the house. The partygoers went out to investigate, but Mr Cuidzambwa was heading for home with his uncle when he was set upon. Mr Cuidzambwa had moved to Ireland from Zimbabwe in 2001 to study electronic engineering in UCD. He was studying for a PhD in wireless communication when he was attacked. His victim impact
report stated that he had to live with the horror of the assault on a daily basis, and is reminded of it each time he sees his scars whenever he passes a reflective surface. Mr Cuidzambwa described the attack as happening in “a raciallycharged environment”. He had to take a year out from his doctorate studies and, when he returned, there was no longer funding available, and he was forced to scale down to a Masters Degree. He said he has since had to “scavenge” for jobs that are meant for people with disabilities, and he feels intimidated seek-
ing jobs, such as cleaning and waiting tables, to help his finances, because he believes employers may be prejudiced. “All the dreams I had have vanished, and all the aspirations I had were snatched away by a golf club,” said Mr Cuidzambwa. Det Gda Kelly said Casey has one previous conviction for a road traffic offence. He agreed with Mr McGillicuddy that it was the State’s case that Mooney inflicted the major injuries and instigated the assault, but Casey had participated in the assault.
17 November 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 3
CHARITY Song to raise vital funds for Pieta House
Keating looks to hit the top of the charts Q PAUL HOSFORD
LOCAL Fine Gael TD Derek Keating is looking to make it to the top of the Christmas charts – and its all for a good cause. Keating is the executive director of a group of cross-party TDs and Senators who have come together to record a song for this year’s Christmas charts. Its hoped the single, a cover of Simon and Garfunkle’s, Bridge Over Troubled Water, will raise vitally needed funds for Pieta House, the suicide awareness charity of which Keating is a director.
Keating has raised the issue a number of times in recent years and is looking to use the platform of the Dail to put the issue firmly on the national agenda. “From back when I was a councillor, right until I was elected as a TD, I had one mission and that was to bring about awareness of suicide. “To that end, I set about bringing together a group of members of the Oireachtas with the aim of making a CD to bring about awareness of the issue.” With that in mind, Keating recruited a stellar cast, with Jim Sheridan, musical director of The
Late, Late Show coming aboard as musical director, and Dave Kearney joining as producer. The group have also enlisted the talents of Lucan Gospel Singers and the Dublin Gospel Choir, with Keating joined by a number of members of the Oireachtas. Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton, Minister of State for European Affairs, Lucinda Creighton, Minister of State for Sport, Michael Ring and Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney have all got on board the project. Also getting involved are Independent TDs
Cllr Derek Keating and recruits rehearsing the song
Stephen Donnelly, Finian McGrath and Mick Wallace. Other TDs that have got involved include Fine Gael deputies Regina Doherty, Frank Feighan, Tony McLaughlin, Terence Flanagan and Peter Mathews. Sinn Fein’s Padraig Mac Lochlainn is also weighing in behind the
initiative, while Fianna Fail deputy Robert Troy is being joined by his Seanad colleague, Averil Power and Labour Senator Lorraine Higgins is also on board, along with Independent Senator Eamonn Coghlan. The group have been engaged in rehearsals for the last week and hope to have the record-
done soon. iing d The project is being supported by Noel Recruitment, to ensure that all money will go to Pieta House. “We have one goal; to send the message that there is help out there. We want to give people the message that Pieta House is there to help,” said Deputy Keating.
COUNCIL
Digital Hub is on agenda SOUTH Dublin County Council has said that a proposed Digital Hub in Palmerstown has not gone off the agenda. Responding to a question from independent councillor Guss O’Connell, which asked for “an update on the County Library Development Programme and to m iindicate the progress that iis being made to realise tthe objective of a Digital Hub for Palmerston?” H ccouncil management, ssaid that they would conttinue working towards tthe objective. “The provision of a library/digital hub in the Palmerston area is an objective of the council as outlined in the Library Development Plan 20072011. “The Library Service is always open to seizing opportunities that might arise for the improvement of library infrastructure,” said the council response.
4 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 17 November 2011
WASTE: PUBLIC CALL
BUSINESS Minister’s encouragement for Chamber
Metals for Scrap Saturday
‘Ireland still has so much to offer’ THE annual Clondalkin Chamber of Commerce Luncheon was held last week, attracting more than 100 local business people to the Louis Fitzgerald Hotel. Local Fine Gael politician, and Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald, was on hand to thank the local business community for the role they play in the economy. She went on to detail the recent successes of South Dublin County Council on the jobs and investment front, and the
measures the Government is introducing to support businesses and help get the economy back on track. She said: “IDA Ireland and South Dublin County Council have been successful in attracting new investment to Ireland, and here to Clondalkin. “In recent weeks, we have had major announcements from both Pfizer and Google. “Pfizer is to invest €145 million at its Grange Castle site in Clondalkin, with up to 400 construction jobs to be created during the peak construction period. “Google will open a new data centre in Grange Castle, which
Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald and Breda Delaney, Clondalkin Chamber of Commerce
will permanently employ 30 technical staff, while the construction phase will provide around 200 jobs. “That’s a cumulative €220 million investment for Clondalkin, creating jobs, employing many local workers, and pumping money in to the local economy,” said Minister
Fitzgerald during her address to the Chamber. She went on to commend local councillors who, last month, voted to suspend development levies for Metro West. “These levies represented an unfair burden on many local businesses, who wished to expand their operations
and premises. “The issue of levies and rates, I know, is a contentious one. For far too long, businesses have had to carry the burden for local authority financing. “But I would hope that one result of the Government decision to introduce an annual household charge will be to allow local authorities more flexibility in budgetary planning, and then share the load when it comes to funding local services,” said Minister Fitzgerald. She finished by outlining some of the strengths that Ireland has, saying
that the exports from areas such as Dublin Mid-West would play a huge role in the country’s recovery. “Ireland is the world leader of pharmaceutical exports; the second-largest exporter of IT services in the world; the fifthlargest exporter of beef in the world, and 50% of the world’s leading financial services companies are based here – and all this is in spite of the current recession. “We must not forget that we are already doing so much, but we must also continue to do more,” said Minister Fitzgerald.
Gazette HAS A
ROUND Towers’ GAA Club is calling on the people of Clondalkin to get all their unwanted scrap metal together. Saturday, November 19 will be Scrap Saturday – a day on which the club will be accepting, and collecting, scrap metal from 10am to 4pm. People interested in disposing of unwanted metal goods can dispose of them at the club’s playing grounds at Monastery Road. People can arrange to have large items collected by contacting any of the Scrap Saturday team. The club can accept a large array of items for recycling, but there are exceptions. You can contact the following for collection information: Niall Connaughton, on 087 629 0870; Ed O’Malley, on 087 807 3391; Richie Harney, on 087 745 9373, or Rory Dunne, on 087 770 4297.
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17 November 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 5
PLANNING Delaney ‘baffled’ at approval for scheme
We will fight five-storey centre – Cllr
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County Council at the end of May, seeks the “demolition of all existing buildings on site, and construction of an integrated healthcare facility, with vehicular access from Boot Road/Convent Road, to include a three-five-storey primary care centre building, with incorporated pharmacare centre, cafe, HSE administration, medical treatment rooms, ancillary service areas and staff facilities; a one-three-storey nursing home building, to accommodate 80 bedrooms, ancillary amenity and service areas and staff facilities; surface and basement-level car parking.” Cllr Delaney said: “This development is far too high for a residential
area, with buildings ranging from 10 metres to 18.2 metres at its highest point. It also encroaches considerably out onto the road at the corner of St John’s and Convent Roads, which will create a more difficult junction to exit,” he said. “Either a primar y care centre or a nursing home on the site could be accommodated, but putting both in is too dense, and will exacerbate the parking and traffic problems already in Clondalkin village. “It is totally out of character with the surrounding area, and will have a hugely negative impact on the approach to the village. “This decision must, and will, be fought all the way,” said Cllr Delaney.
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FINE Gael councillor Tony Delaney has expressed his disappointment at last week’s decision by South Dublin County Council to grant permission to the O’Byrne Partnership for the development of a five-storey primary care centre, and a privatelyrun nursing home, to be located at Boot Road, Clondalkin. Cllr Delaney said that it was particularly baffling how the planners could give their approval, considering there were in excess of 100 appeals from local residents’ associations, private individuals, the business community, both local TDs, and all local councillors. The application, made to South Dublin
It’s all about Belfast: For history buffs and all music lovers
Fine Gael councillor Tony Delaney
SEE TRAVEL PAGES 22-23
6 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 17 November 2011
COUNCIL: COMMUNITY
HEALTH Nursing Home Innovation Award winner
Number of walks planned
Imelda Burke, of TLC CityWest, is presented with the Nursing Home Innovation Award by Dr Sarah McKeon of the IRDC and the night’s MC, Marty Whelan
CityWest nursing home takes a prestigious win TLC CityWest had reason to celebrate this week when Imelda Burke took home the Nursing Home Innovation Award at the Nursing Homes Ireland (NHI) Care Awards 2011. The winners were honoured at a prestigious ceremony, attended by more than 500 people from the sector and beyond in the Citywest Hotel. The achievements of Imelda are exceptional, given that the awards were open to those working and living within the 330-plus registered nursing homes across the country that are members of Nursing Homes Ireland. In excess of 200 nominations were received for the Nursing Home Ireland Care Awards 2011, in nine award categories, with 27 finalists sent for-
ward to the final. Professor Brendan McCormack, chair of the awards judging panel, and Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO, presented the awards, and RTE presenter Marty Whelan was MC for the event. The Nursing Home Innovation Award, sponsored by Horwath Bastow Charleton, was new to the awards for 2011, and was won by Imelda. The award was established to celebrate innovative developments in nursing homes, and to recognise the role that nursing homes play in creating new cultures of residential care. TLC Citywest took home the innovation award, in recognition of a dental programme it has implemented with Irish Residential Dental
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‘In excess of 200 nominations were received for the Nursing Home Ireland Care Awards 2011, in nine award categories’ --------------------------
Care (IRDC) for its 139 residents. Every resident is provided with a specific dental programme that meets their needs. Speaking after the event, Imelda said: “I’m absolutely elated and delighted to have received the award for this fantastic initiative. “It’s brilliant to have it recognised and the tem-
plate is there for other nursing homes to follow. It caters for the residents’ oral health, and their holistic care,” she said. Tadhg Daly, NHI CEO, extended his congratulations to Imelda. He said: “Congratulations to Imelda for winning this prestigious honour. Nursing homes around the country are leading the way in developing new models of practice and eroding the typical stereotypes of nursing homes, and to win this award is a fantastic achievement for Imelda and TLC CityWest.” The Care Awards finalists and nominees from across the country were nominated in recognition of the outstanding contributions they have made towards their homes and the care of our elderly.
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SOUTH Dublin County Council is proposing a number of walking and cycling routes to serve local communities throughout the county. These will create more sustainable local neighbourhoods, with direct pedestrian and cycle links to local destinations. In many cases, the links are based on existing shortcuts or footpaths; enabling cyclists and pedestrians, including those with decreased mobility, to access safe, hard-surfaced and direct routes to the local shops, schools, community centres, and on to bus, rail or Luas stops, cycle routes or to the park or playground. For maps, descriptions of each project, and a feedback form on each route, the council is asking people to visit www. sdcc.ie.
17 November 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 7
SCHOOLS Students prepare for annual RDS event
Public funds in General Election
Students get ready to show their big ideas Q LAURA WEBB clondalkin@gazettegroup.com
YOUNG scientists have enter in record numbers for the 2012 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition, with 1,743 ideas entered and 130 projects from Dublin schools having qualified for the RDS exhibition. It’s the highlight of the school year for many young secondary students and this year’s entrants show that the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition hasn’t lost its spark among budding scientists. This year 1,743 ideas were entered by 3,842 students from across the
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32 counties. Of those entered, 130 projects from 55 schools in Dublin have qualified for this year’s exhibition in the RDS. Exhibit
In Clondalkin, a number of different schools will exhibit their projects during the January show including Colaiste Chilliain and The King’s Hospital. Interest in the competition has increased over the years and already judges have remarked on the impressive nature of entries this year, based on preliminary reviews. Each year, more and more students are enter-
ing the competition and are battling it out for a place in the RDS exhibition. To allow for more students to take part, BT has extended the space at the exhibition making 550 places available, an increase of 30 on last year, allowing up to 90 additional students take part in January. Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn TD, said: “In its 48th year, it is great to see the BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition continue to break new records for both the number of projects entered and schools competing. It is hugely uplifting to see 1,743
ARTICLE: CLARIFIED
Several Clondalkin schools will also compete in the upcoming Young Scientist contest
ideas generated in classrooms across Ireland, thought up by curious young minds who are eager to positively impact the world around them. Research and innovation are critically important to our economy, and I commend everyone
involved in the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition for providing a platform to stimulate and showcase Ireland’s talent both nationally and internationally.” The 2012 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition takes place in
the RDS, Dublin from January 11 – 14. For more information, log onto www.btyoungscientist.com, check out http://www.facebook. com/BTYSTE, follow on twitter at http://twitter. com/btyste or call 1800 924 362.
A PIECE on candidates’ expenditure in this year’s General Election, published in the November 10 edition, stated that some candidates received money from public funds. This sentence should have read, “originally met from public funds”, as all candidates are required to repay this money to the exchequer. The Standards in Public Office are satisfied that all moneys were repaid by all candidates this year. We apologise for the confusion and are happy to clarify this.
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8 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 17 November 2011
EVENT
Collinstown Park Community College holds their
Therese Friston with Enda Kenny ( CoOrdinator)
Noleen Dunne with Enda Kenny
Caroline and Jack Sheridan with Nicola Flanagan. Pictures: Paddy Barrett
Celebrating a milestone
Amanda Loftus and Linda Kelly ( Hair and Beauty teacher )
OLLINSTOWN Park Community College held their award ceremony for adult students last week. The college runs an extensive programme in daytime adult education, providing courses on a full-time and a part-time basis leading to certification on a number of levels.
This year over 200 students will be gaining certificates to mark their achievements over the past year. To cater for people in the new communities, they offer courses in English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL). Fifteen students have achieved a FETAC award in ESOL and also received their certificates.
Eileen Brown Phoenix and Marian Byrne
Adeaye Samson Tinuby, Oluranti Idist Tinuby, Salvino Tablante and Christy Anonuevo
C
Robert Doherty, Irene Fahy, Eithne Hogan ( tutor ), Paul Delaney and Emma Donoghue
Robyn Connolly and Linda Kelly
17 November 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 9
award ceremony for adult students to mark achievements
Lauren Breen and Linda Kelly
Lesley Ann Dowling, Kandy Harmon, Sharon Handlan and Marian Dowling
Lisa Mackey and Linda Kelly
Mayla Mohammed and Enda Kenny
10 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 17 November 2011
COURTS: ‘INEXPLICABLE MADNESS’ BLAMED FOR SETTING FIRE TO HOUSE
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OPINION Deputy Derek Keating on tackling obesity levels
‘We need a new recipe for healthy lifestyles’ Q DEREK KEATING Local Fine Gael Deputy
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Youth is sentenced for blaze A DRUNKEN youth, who set fire to a house in a moment of “inexplicable madness”, causing €200,000 worth of damage, has been given a suspended sentence and community service. Augustine Raftery (22), of Wheatfield Grove, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to arson at the same address in the early hours of October 12, 2008. He could offer no reason as to why he started the fire. The court had previously heard the blaze spread to the neighbouring house, where a couple and their five-year-old child were sleeping. Garda Colin Sullivan told prosecuting counsel, Ms Fiona Murphy BL, that a fire had been started the day before, causing some damage. Nobody has been charged with setting the first fire. The house had been unoccupied for several weeks at the time, and was not insured. At around 5.30am, Raftery broke the kitchen window of the house and went into the living room, where he used a lighter to set the curtains ablaze. The fire spread to the room and the bedroom above it, causing the floor to collapse. The next door neighbour was awoken and became worried the fire would spread to his house. He tried to douse the flames with a garden hose. Raftery was spotted by
gardai walking quickly away from the house. Gardai caught him after a chase and he was arrested. He was very drunk, and gardai allowed him to sober up before interviewing him. He told gardai he didn’t know why he set the fire and that he had no reason to burn the house down. He admitted he knew there had been a fire there the previous day. The owner estimated the damage would cost €200,000 to repair. The neighbouring house suffered €20,000 damage. Gda Sullivan said Raftery was a “decent young man” who felt guilty and stupid when he sobered up. He added he had never been in trouble with gardai before.
Out of character Defence counsel, Mr Philipp Rahn BL, said the incident was out of character and a moment of “inexplicable madness”. He handed in a character reference from one of Raftery’s former teachers, who called him quiet, well-behaved and responsible. Judge Desmond Hogan, said he would take into account Raftery’s young age, and the fact he was deemed at low risk of reoffending by the Probation Service. He sentenced Raftery to three years, suspended in full for three years, and ordered him to carry out 240 hours community service.
AS A former fitness instructor, with a specialised qualification in fitness instruction for children and teenagers, as well as being a keen sportsman, I know only too well the difficulties of trying to control body mass and body weight. Obesity is the medical term used to describe the state of being overweight to the point where it is harmful to your health. It may be hard to believe, but many Irish are so overweight they cannot be admitted to a hospital bed as it will not sustain their weight. If this sounds extreme, just observe all around you the next time you’re in a public place. I have struggled myself with the “out of routine eating”, because of lifestyle bad management. It is shocking to realise that an obese adult is three times more likely to develop diabetes, compared to a person who remains within a healthy weight range. The news is even worse for children and adolescents. The calorie intake of Irish people today is broadly the same as 20 years ago, but activity levels have dropped off. I raised this in Dail Eireann recently with the Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly. Because of technology, society has changed and this means that everything is now done for us. We don’t even have to roll down our car windows any more – we simply press a button. When we enter a build-
ing, we rarely have to use stairs, because of lifts. These very small changes in activity have led to this. The wide and constant availability of foods, many of which are high in salt sugar and fat, is also a major contributor. Even more shocking is the fact that, between 1990 and 2000, the number of obese people aged 16 to 24 has more than tripled, rising from 3% to 10%, the experts tell us. According to Dr O’Shea, a consultant endocrinologist at St Columcille’s Hospital in Loughlinstown in South Dublin, and St Vincent’s University Hospital, there is much concern over the number of overweight and obese young patients attending not only diabetes clinics, but general medical clinics too.
Obesity study A recent study in Britain found that children as young as three were presenting with obesity. The strain that this puts on the pancreas... it simply would not be able to cope. This is a completely new phenomenon, which has only been seen in the last 10 to 15 years. In dealing with this issue, balance is the key. We need a balanced diet, but the messages we receive about food also need to be balanced. This is why we support a ban on celebrities endorsing foods. I would like to see them endorsing healthier foods, to make healthier foods attractive to young people. When it comes to the
Deputy Derek Keating
issue of obesity and children, ultimately, responsibility lies at home. As I know, many teachers, schools and so on are making the effort [to eat healthily and exercise more]. However, the message needs to be delivered at home. So, this is why [there must be] a national campaign to ensure more parents are aware of the consequences of obesity. Research shows
that obese children are more likely to become obese adults. The message needs to come through school, but it must be delivered at home. There needs to be a campaign for parents to make them aware of this issue. The Minister for Health has indicated that a priority should be given to calories being posted on menus, nutritional labelling, and a
tax on sugar-sweetened drinks. Keating’s answer? “It’s all about attitude”, and we, as parents, community leaders, teachers and concerned citizens, need to reverse the onset of obesity in how we lead our lives. My recipe is: “More physical activities, less snacks, more nourishing wholesome food and less convenience foods (take aways)”.
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17 November 2011 GAZETTE 11
AWARDS Accepting their Oscar Wilde Gold Medals
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It’s all about Belfast: For history buffs and all music lovers
Dublin students Roslyn Steer, Katie Hill, Laura Sinnott, Deasun O’Riain and Joan Redmond display their Oscar Wilde Gold Medals
Five Dubliners top the class Q STAFF REPORTER
FIVE Dublin students have each been named among the 23 winners of the Undergraduate Awards, an awards programme open to undergraduate students on the island of Ireland and, recently, the USA. They were each awarded the Oscar Wilde Gold Medal for academic excellence by the President of Ireland, Mary McAleese, at the Undergraduate Awards Ceremony held at Dublin Castle on Friday, October 28. Trinity College Dublin graduate, Joan Redmond of Castleknock, Co Dublin, won the Historical Studies category for her essay, Religious Violence and the 1641 Rebellion:
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They were each awarded the Oscar Wilde Gold Medal for Academic Excellence --------------------------
Divided Communities in Seventeenth-Century Cavan. Originally from Killiney Co. Dublin, University College Cork graduate, Roslyn Steer, won the Modern Cultural Studies category for her essay, The Influence of Music on Modernist Literature. University College Dublin graduate, Deasun O Riain, was the winner of the Celtic Studies &
Irish category for his essay, “An Dirbheathaisneis sa Ghaeilge: Mo Bhealach Fein. Laura Sinnott, from Swords, Co Dublin, also a Trinity College Dublin graduate, won the Languages & Linguistics category for her essay, The audio-visual juxtaposition of Günter Grass’ Die Blechtrommel. Katie Hill, from Monkstown, Dublin, won the Nursing & Midwifery category for her essay, Paediatric Palliative Care in Ireland. Katie is currently in her final year at Trinity College Dublin. There were 2,381 submissions to the 2011 Undergraduate Awards programme of which 23 winners were selected.
SEE TRAVEL PAGES 22-23
12 GAZETTE 17 November 2011
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DIARY
Stories from around the capital
Take care of your mind FORMER Dublin captain Paul Griffin will be at the Hilton Dublin Airport, Northern Cross, on November 22 and the Radisson Blue St Helen’s in Stillorgan on Wednesday, November 23, to promote positive mental health. He will be discussing the role that mind management can have in enhancing performance and overcoming adversity. Paul will speak about the important role positive thinking played as he suffered setbacks in his playing career with serious injuries over the past two seasons. With an estimated 400,000 people in Ireland experiencing depression at any one time, the Lean on Me campaign, supported by Lundbeck Ireland and Aware, was developed to encourage better understanding of the condition, encourage friends and family to provide support to those affected, and encourage them to seek treatment if necessary. Paul will be joined by Caroline Currid, a performance coach and sports psychologist. She
Rugby star Alan Quinlan and sports psychologist Caroline Currid launch the Lean on Me campaign
will discuss some practical tools and techniques for managing a healthy mind, many of which are regularly used by professional sports people on and off the pitch. “There are simple techniques that sports stars use which can be adopted by men and women of all ages to help them manage their thoughts and maintain a healthy, positive mind. Alan Quinlan might look big and tough, but he has to work just as hard as everyone else to maintain a positive outlook,” she
said. The events are free of charge but pre-registration is required. Log on to www.leanonme.net for more information.
Beer matching at Siam Thai SIAM Thai, in Dundrum Town Centre, was the setting for an exciting evening of food, laughter and beers. Heineken Ireland is bringing beer and food together in some
top restaurants in Dublin this November in an effort to show people the wonderful marriage that these two make. With the global trend of beer and food matching arriving in restaurants across Ireland, beer is fast becoming a drink of choice when it comes to eating out. Beer, with its natural ingredients of hops, barley and water is the perfect accompaniment to food, both savoury and sweet. From banoffee pie with Paulaner to Thai Pork Curry with Birra Moretti and Affligem with crème brulee, beer and food really complement each other. We sampled massaman curry with Sol and Sweet and Sour chicken with Zywiec. The event was hosted by a lovely lady who knew lots in the way of beer and food matching and taught all guests how to sample beer, much in the same way as wine. Log on to thisisbeer.ie for beer and food matching opportunities at home and for details of the next beer and food matching event.
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WE HAVE 146,000* READERS EACH WEEK *based on standard industry measurements
GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY
Taking good care of your CALL 60 10 240
and won’t harm or damage even the most irritable skin. Olive oil is rich in vitamin E, which nourishes and softens the skin and stimulates skin microcirculation. Olive oil also promotes the elimination of toxins and protects the skin against free radicals. Ziaja’s natural formulas have been designed to be slowly absorbed into the skin, offering long-lasting moisturising action, and can be used by the whole family and by infants from the first month onwards. Why not try Ziaja’s Natural Olive Cream Light €5.99, an antioxidant-rich, light-weight formula combining natural olive oil and shea butter extract (a natural UV blocker) that leaves dry, tired skin feeling smooth,
Ziaja’s natural olive formulations soften and hydrate dehydrated skin
radiant and conditioned all day long. It’s beneficial for all skin types and can be used as a make-up base. For the ultimate body moisturiser, check out
Ziaja’s Natural Olive body Butter, €7.99, which is an ultra-nourishing body butter that specifically fits the bill for treating dry winter skin. It can be used as a
daily care product, and when it is applied generously, it will leave the skin soft, supple and delicately scented. True moisturising alchemy, it slows down skin aging
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IT’S pretty much inconceivable to cook without olive oil in today’s world and, for thousands of years, olives have been used in skin care because of their incredible ability to increase moisture levels and improve skin elasticity. Just as our Mediterranean counter par ts have used olives in their cooking for centuries, so too have they in their skincare, using this luscious oil to form the basis of many of their hair and skincare beauty rituals. Ziaja’s natural olive formulations are a gentle and effective way to soften and hydrate dehydrated skin, even in the delicate eye and lip areas. This natural-based face and body range is suitable for all skin types,
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17 November 2011 GAZETTE 15
Edited by Dawn Love
skin … even when shaving due to its high vitamin E content and antioxidant action. Use on the whole body, including elbows, knees and other areas that require intensive regeneration. The total shave
Everyone loves stocking fillers, particularly thoughtful, useful pressies. So, if you are on the look-out for something different to finish off dad’s, or your other half’s stocking, then check out Total Shaving Solution. This cult shaving oil is Irish and 100% natural, and will radically enhance his daily shaving experience. With Total Shaving Solution, he can say goodbye to painful nicks, cuts, razor rash and even in-grown hairs. This one-
step shaving oil preps skin before shaving and also provides a highly protective and lubricating barrier during shaving, enabling the closest shave possible without cutting the skin, leaving skin supple, moisturised and soothed. Total Shaving Solution combines a careful blend of natural essential oils chosen for their therapeutic and antiinflammatory properties, including sesame seed, soya bean, grape seed, clove bud, lavender and menthol. Founded by Tom Murphy in 1994 after he was made redundant, the County Mayo native, who enjoyed a successful 20-year career in the pharmaceutical industry, decided to take the plunge and set up a new
business. Like millions of men, Tom loathed shaving and the inevitable daily nicks, cuts and razor rashes. He wanted to create a breakthrough shaving solution that put an end to the chores and sores of having to shave each day. The result was Total Shaving Solution – a 100% natural and breakthrough shaving oil, which dramatically prevents dry skin, rashes, nicks, cuts and ingrown hairs. Total Shaving Solution is priced €5.39 for 10ml and 10.99 for €25 ml and is available from pharmacies and groceries nationwide and is also available to purchase online too. Visit www. totalshave.com
Cowshed’s new ranges for mother and baby COWSHED’S Udderly Gorgeous Maternity range and Baby Cow Organics range are now available on the Irish market. Since its launch in 1998, Cowshed’s philosophy has been to create a complete range of honest, natural and therapeutic products, using the best organic and wild crafted plants. The Udderly Gorgeous range is 100% natural and made from wild-crafted Sea Buckthorn Oil and rich in vitamins, carotenes, minerals and fatty acids, to provide your skin with all the nourishment it needs. The Baby Cow Organics range is made from Meadowfoam Oil and is specially formulated to pamper, protect and soothe baby’s delicate skin. The Udderly Gorgeous Maternity Range includes products such as Udderly Gorgeous Stretch-mark Oil €19.95 (a must for any mumto-be), Udderly Gorgeous Bath and Shower Gel €15.95, Udderly Gorgeous Stretch-mark Balm €23.95 and Udderly Gorgeous Cooling Leg and Foot Treatment €17.95 (this is simply great for any fluid retention you might develop during
Total Shaving Solution shaving oil is 100% natural and preps skin before shaving
pregnancy).
16 GAZETTE 17 November 2011
GazetteMUSIC MUSIC Competition: U2 can win Achtung Baby special edition ANOTHER 20-year anniversary comes this month with the celebration of U2’s reinvention and opening of the second age of their career with the release in 1991 of Achtung Baby, and we have five copies to give away. Simply answer the following question: What was the name of the studio in Berlin where the album was recorded? Send your answer to competition@ gazettegroup.com, with the subject line “Achtung”, before Friday, November 25, or log on to our Facebook page at www. facebook.com/gazettenews, and like and share the U2 post on your wall.
REVIEW: FIRST WHOLE-CAREER COMPILATION FOR REM
End of the world arrives
Q ROB HEIGH
THERE comes a moment in every band’s career when it is right to let go of the reins and call time on what has been a good run. REM announced last month that the time has come to close the book on what has been an epic, three-decade career. Having been there for a good part of that journey, listening to the full-stop that is Part Lies, Part Heart, Part Truth, Part Garbage, a 40-track compilation of the band’s greatest hits from their 15 studio albums, is a rollercoaster ride of memories of the good times, and the less-good times, spent with a band who redefined American indie
music, inspired a whole generation, and deservedly sold millions of records around the world. The two-disc set is a fascinating ride down memory lane, as well as an insight into REM’s progression as a band. From the Byrds-ian, Glen Campbell-esque opening run of Gardening At Night to Life And How To Live It, to the point where they hit their stride in the feedback-driven intro to Begin The Begin, through the bubblegum pop of Shiny Happy People and Man On The Moon, the record chimes and chimes again what a great band REM were in their prime. Aguably, they were never the same after the departure of founder member, Bill Berry, in
1997, but among what were sometimes patchy, sometimes inspired, albums that came after their best, New Adventures In Hi-Fi, are some pretty incredible songs. Their decision to quit is undeniably sad, but this collection shows their ability to turn their hands to a variety of styles, and one of the joys is reading the liner notes, as each band member recalls the times, circumstances and inspirations that led to such an impressive oevre. Their ability to merge the influences of their Southern youth with the inflections of the great guitar bands of the late Sixties and early Seventies, and their understanding of what makes a timeless pop song will be their
REM call time on 31 years with compilation album
legacy, something other acts should aspire to. A 40-track run through of 15 albums will inevitably miss some of their finest moments, so I heartily recommend catching up with the extended edi-
tions of the IRS releases, Out Of Time, the aforementioned Adventures, and their swansong, Collapse Into Now, which meant that REM will exit the stage on a deserved high.
17 November 2011 GAZETTE 17
GazettePETS PETS
Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA
THE FACTS: IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP OUR FOUR-LEGGED FRIENDS PROTECTED
Keeping pets safe during extreme cold IT’S winter time folks, oh yes, the frigid air is barreling towards us and we’re busily raiding the garden sheds for shovels and salt in preparation for winter; so, in the spirit of Jack Frost, let me ask you a few questions. Do you don your winter woollies, break out the old Ugg boots and add a trendy scarf to your daily wardrobe? Yes! Ooh, then you’re probably like me and love the unique seasonal quality that comes with the fact you can layer up and no longer feel the need to wax your legs. Bliss. However, let’s hope you also paws, (sorry) to take precautions when it comes to your pet’s seasonal requirements because it’s important
to keep our four-legged friends warm and protected during the cold snap. Below are some of my top tips. Read them, you never know, they may come in handy.
Dog and cats • Make sure your pet has access to fresh drinking water and food. • If walking your dog, wear warm, reflective clothing and get Fido a reflective collar and lead also. • Watch for dogs’ and cats’ paws becoming impacted with snow – this can cause discomfort. • Make sure your cat wears a reflective, safety collar. • Make sure your pet sleeps indoors, especially during extreme tempera-
• Keep a close eye on pets sleeping by the fire; they could burn if they get too close.
Pet birds • Birds should be placed in a draught-free spot and well away from a heater. • Make sure your bird has access to fresh drinking water. Make sure your dogs paws don’t become impacted with snow
tures and raise their bedding off the ground so they don’t catch a chill from the cold, damp floor. • Cats prefer to be snuggled up indoors and a comfortable chair or basket can make the perfect bed for your feline friend. • Watch out for hypothermia or a body temperature that falls below nor-
mal for your pet. Cats in particular are at risk here, especially if they already suffer with poor circulation or are exposed to cold conditions. If Kitty shows signs of depression, weakness, lethargy, begins to shiver and stops responding to you, wrap her up, keep her warm and ring your vet immediately.
Outdoor pets If you have a rabbit or guinea pig it’s important you move the hutch to a sheltered area like a shed or garage. Better still, move to a downstairs loo or cloak room. • Make sure they have plenty of warm, fresh bedding to snuggle down in and change it regularly. Do not, under any circumstances, use cut
grass as a form of bedding as moulds and fungi can build up and create a toxic atmosphere that can prove fatal for your pet. • Rabbits and guinea pigs will naturally eat more in the winter so they have extra fat to help them stay warm; make sure you give them plenty of food, fresh vegetables and fresh water. Make sure the water doesn’t freeze in the water bottle.
Feeding birds In sub-zero temperatures, wild birds have difficulty finding food. An extra bit of care from you will see them through the winter. Wild bird seed, peanuts and suet slabs are widely available in shops and garden centres.
Frozen Ponds If you have a pond in your garden, check it each day for ice. Toxic gases can build up in the water when it’s frozen. This may kill fish or frogs hibernating at the bottom of it. • Dog owners must keep pets well away from ponds and lakes that have frozen over. Thin ice may break under your dog’s weight. If you must allow your dog near open water, then stay with him at all times. For more information, check out www.dspca.ie or email me at miriam. kerins@dspca.ie For more information, log onto www.dspca.ie or email miriam.kerins@ dspca.ie
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GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs INTEREST-FREE OPTION ON OPEL PASSENGER CARS OPEL Ireland has announced a very attractive finance offer for all new Opel passenger cars. Financed through Credit Opel and underwritten by permanent tsb Finance Ltd., Opel’s 0% Flexible Finance offer gives customers the chance to buy a car without paying one cent of interest. Customers choose the Opel car they want, and then select their deposit range from between 30 – 50%, with the term ranging from 12–48 months. New Opel customers will also reap the benefits of Opel’s new four-year/100,000km Full Warranty plan. Customers can choose their new Opel Astra, Corsa, Insignia or Meriva in tax band A (in diesel and/or petrol models); with annual road tax of just €104.
The best Skoda Yeti? The practical, yet charming, Skoda Yeti brought out the inner boy racer in CORMAC CURTIS, who got more drive than he was expecting HEN it comes to cars that are designed to carry a combination of people, luggage, cargo and/or recreational equipment – it rarely transpires that the result is something that is a heap of fun to drive and has a boot-load of character in the looks department! But, I must admit, the latest 4x4 incarnation of the Skoda Yeti comes dangerously close to achieving both. I recently had a long weekend to put the Yeti 4x4 Ambition through its paces in the not-too-extreme environment of Dublin City. But, let’s face it, most people who buy any kind of SUV will only need to test its off-road mettle when they get dangerously lost at the Ploughing Championships, or spend too long at the beach to find the tide getting perilously close
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SPECS: SKODA YETI 4X4 AMBITION, 2.0 TDI Top speed: 201km/hr 0 – 100km/hr: 8.4 secs Economy: 5.9l/100km CO2 emissions: 155g/km Annual Road Tax: €302 Price: €29,545
where they parked. Any way, let’s talk first impressions. The Yeti is a really attractive, but not a stunning-looking car. In the same way the Suzuki Swift stole envious glances from MINI owners when it first hit the streets, the Yeti has its own charm. So much so, in fact, that my six-year old asked me: “Is he a happy car? ‘Cos I think he’s smiling!”
You can’t really argue with that kind of affection, can you? The model I tested was the 2.0TDI 170bhp six-speed manual version – I can’t tell you if the car was happy or not, but I certainly was. This car has a throaty exhaust note that just begs your inner boy racer to come out for a joyride. Some clever guy in some secret research laboratory somewhere in car-making land has clearly figured out a way to make modern diesel engines sound like a cross between a Porsche and a Harley-Davidson. That, coupled with the fact that the engine produces 170bhp, means you get a level of fun behind the wheel that you just don’t expect from an SUV such as this. Moving on to more practical
matters – after all, this car has an awful lot to offer in practical terms – the cabin is a very comfortable affair indeed. The front passengers enjoy plenty of room, with seats that are incredibly supportive, without being completely rigid. There was enough space in the back for my two kids in their child seats, but I wouldn’t be too keen on a long journey back there myself. Having said that, the three rear seats, using Skoda’s VARIOFlex Seating Solution, can be rearranged in an almost endless set of configurations to allow for any combination of passengers and luggage – they can even be removed completely. Returning to the front, some might consider the dashboard in the Yeti bland, but I found it simple, uncluttered and I liked
the matt finish and brushed aluminium-style accents. The console boasts an impressive touch-screen interface that controls everything from the Bluetooth connectivity of your mobile phone, to the impressive Columbus satellite navigation that is fitted as standard on all Yeti 4x4 vehicles from 2012. There are some little letdowns in the Yeti. Anyone shorter than about 5’ 10” will find the visors completely useless when the sun is low in the sky - as my wife was at pains to point out. And, if I was to really start splitting hairs, I would ask why the ‘ticking’ sound of the indicator is so quiet! In short, this is a great car from a company that is making huge strides in build-quality, design and value. The model I drove costs €29,545.
New dealer in Dublin for Suzuki SUZUKI Ireland has announced the appointment of Paschal Kennedy Motors Ltd in Dun Laoghaire as a new Suzuki dealership. The appointment increases the number of Suzuki dealerships in Ireland to 19. Commenting on the appointment, Wayne Doolan, general manager of Suzuki Ireland said: “We are very happy to be associated with Paschal Kennedy Motors. They have been successfully serving customers in the Dun Laoghaire area
since 1969 and have gone from strength to strength.” Dealer Principal, David Kennedy, is pleased about this latest development within his business. “This third-generation family business was originally established in the 1920s by my grandfather. Due to fuel shortages, the business was sold during WWII, and was bought back again in 1969. At that time, we concentrated on service and repairs before moving into the sales area,” he said.
“Business grew beyond our expectations, leading to expansion in 1995 in both our site size along with our sales and after-sales facility.” Paschal will be stocking the complete range of Suzuki vehicles, which includes the Alto, the Splash, the Swift, the SX4 Crossover Range and the Grand Vitara. Paschal Kennedy Motors is situated on Library Road in Dun Laoghaire – see www.kennedymotors.ie for more details.
David Kennedy and Paschal Kennedy, of Paschal Kennedy Motors, with Michael McBarron (standing) and Wayne Doolan of Suzuki Ireland
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GazettePROPERTY PROPERTY DUBLIN 15: RECENTLY UPGRADED PROPERTY FOR €290,000
Four-bedroom peace in the Glade
A mix of classic and contemporary decorations
INTERIORS: CHRISTMAS TIME IS A-COMING
Delectable decorations BELLEEK Living have designed an exclusive Christmas Collection, full of unique gift ideas. Whether it is surprising that special someone or adding a contemporary touch to your home, the Christmas Collection holds the perfect solution. Among their special range of decorations, they have a variety of styles, both contemporary and classic, including a Contemporary Nativity Set for €45, a Classic Three Kings Set for €45, and a selection of snowman and snowflake ornaments. For more information, see www.belleek.ie
SHERRY Fitzgerald, Castleknock, are bringing No. 14, Castleknock G l a d e , a f o u r- b e d semi-detached home that benefits from an upgraded kitchen, bathroom and double glazed windows, to the market for the asking price of €290,000. T he proper ty also features a 88f t-long rear garden that offers wonderful potential to extend. The accommodation comprises entrance hall with glazed ceramic floor tiles, a guest WC comprising WHB and WC with a ceramic, tiled floor. The living room benefits from excellent proportions and a tiled fireplace with a back boiler, and it leads into the dining room, an open plan space with the living room, with access to
the kitchen, with views from a picture window overlooking the long rear garden. The kitchen features an upgraded solid wood-fitted Shakerstyle kitchen, which is plumbed for a washing machine. The ceramic floor tiling has a feature centre piece, and there is a door to the rear garden. The master bedroom is a double room to the front of the house and has built-in wardrobes and dressing table, which, along with the other three bedrooms, is well-sized and features built-in wardrobes. The main bathroom was recently reappointed to comprise a wc, a bath with a shower screen and an electric shower. A wash-hand basin sits above a contemporary style storage
Number 14, Castleknock Glade, is on the market for €290,000
unit. To t h e f r o n t , t h e driveway is bordered to one side by a neat lawn and it is fully walled. Side access leads to the phenomenal 88-ft long rear garden laid in lawn. This garden affords obvious potential to extend subject to
planning permission. The property is located within a five-minute walk of Castleknock Train Station. Castleknock Glade is just a short stroll from Scoil Thomas Primary School and a good selection of local shops. Castleknock Com-
munity College, Mount Sackville girls’ school and Castleknock College boys’ school are all within close proximity of the property. To arrange a viewing, contact Michelle Currana at Sherry FitzGerald, Ashleigh Retail Centre on 01 820 1800.
CASTLEKNOCK: FOUR-BEDROOM SEMI-DETACHED FOR €375,000
Secluded living at Brompton Lawn SHERRY FitzGerald, Castleknock, are also bringing No. 23, Brompton Lawn, Castleknock, Dublin 15, a four-bedroom semi detatched property, to the market, with an asking price of €375,000. This family home in exceptional condition, having clearly been well maintained by its owners. Situated at the end of a cul-de-sac, this immaculately presented home benefits from a large back garden and ample off-street parking to the front. The property benefits from well-proportioned accommodation which is designed with comfortable living in mind.
Number 23, Brompton Lawn, Castleknock, is on the market for €375,000
It comprises a large welcoming entrance hallway, an open-plan living/dining room, study, a bright modern open plan kitchen/breakfast room, which features Italian black granite floor tiles. The kitchen is fitted
with an excellent range of white high-gloss units, integrated oven, hob, hob, dishwasher and washing machine. Double doors from the breakfast area lead to the garden and a guest WC. Upstairs, there are four
bedrooms and a family bathroom. The back garden measures 65ft (approx), it offers a high degree of privacy and is filled with an array of trees, bushes and flowers. There is also a large brick shed. The front
driveway provides excellent off-street parking. Local facilities are in abundance and include a variety of shops, restaurants, pubs, schools and leisure amenities. It is ideally located within minute’s walk of Roselawn Shopping Centre, Coolmine Train Station and numerous bus routes. Castleknock, Blanchardstown Village and Town Centre, the Phoenix Park, various golf courses and, most importantly, the M3 and M50 are all in close proximity. There is also an good choice of national and secondary schools locally. For information, contact Carol Anne Galvin on 01 8201800.
17 November 2011 GAZETTE 21
GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS
Supported by AIB
Interview: Susan O’Dwyer – Chief executive, Make-A-Wish Ireland
Making a difference is dream job for Susan
THE BEST BANK TO HAVE A CURRENT ACCOUNT Q – I have just opened a Bank of Ireland current account and received a 24-page booklet on fees and charges. You would nearly need a degree in Banking to understand all the terms and conditions plus, of course, time. Where is the best bank to have a current
SUSAN joined Make-A-Wish in October 2006 as development and fundraising manager, and was appointed chief executive in 2009. Since then, she has worked tirelessly with the Foundation in Ireland, helping grant wishes to children across the country. Make-A-Wish Ireland grants wishes to children between the ages of three and 18 years living with life-threatening medical conditions. Make-AWish receives no Government funding, so totally relies on the generosity of the general public, corporates, groups and associations. Every wish granted is unique and extremely special to the family involved, allowing them to forget hospitals, treatments, injections and even the illness itself, ensuring that the family creates fantastic memories that will last a lifetime. Wishes fall into four categories: I wish to have, I wish to go, I wish to meet and I wish to be, with wishes only being limited by the child’s imagination. A wish brings a smile to a child’s face and gives them something to look forward to. Look out for all of their great Christmas gift ideas this year, which will all be helping to raise money for Make-A-Wish Ireland, from limited edition scarves at Pamela Scott and Candles from the Disney store to music downloads from some of our Celebrity Ambassadors and great MakeA-Wish Merchandise... there is something for everyone.
account and how do you minimise the exorbitant costs ? Alan - Milltown A - Welcome to the real world! Current accounts are really loss leaders to the banks that operate them but it is a way of reeling you in so that other more profitable products and services can be offered to you. Even though it is a loss leader, the charges can still be costly – 28c for every transaction or € 11.40 per quarter up to 90 transactions thereafter 28c per transaction. These costs are outside other charges once overdrafts (€ 25 application fee ), referral fees (€4.44 per day) or unpaids (€ 12.70 for each item sent back) come into the reckoning. Avoid overdrafts at all costs – they are just not worth it. As regards free banking though, Bank of Ireland DOES offer free banking if - You lodge over € 3,000 per quarter over that three-month period - You MUST make 9 debit payments from the account using Banking 365 and/or go online OR - Maintain € 3,000 in the current account at all times during the quarter AIB Bank at €4.50 per quarter, plus 20c for most other transactions bar cheque and branch transSusan O’Dwyer
actions (which cost 30c each – they would prefer you using their online facilities) while Permanent
Q&A Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be? A: Believe it or not, I wanted to be a Montessori teacher, and now I am the chief executive of a children’s charity
TSB require lodgements of € 3,000 plus 18 card purchases and 1 online transaction to qualify for
When you receive a letter from a wish parent expressing their thanks, you cannot help but be passionate for what we do and want to do more
Q: What was your first job? A: My very first job was a hol-
Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’? A: I am lucky to work with a
iday job working behind the counter in the local delicatessen. My first full-time job was working as a secretary for a small firm of accountants
great team at Make-A-Wish and we all work together very closely on a day-to-day basis to ensure we grant as many wishes as possible
Q: And your first pay cheque? A: Too long ago to remember
Q: What sport can you play? A: I love playing tennis, for
Q: When did you start your present job? A: I have been working with
me it’s a complete switch-off and a fabulous way to reduce stress. Pilates is my new focus and I try not to miss a class, I also enjoy walking with family, friends and my dogs
Make-A-Wish Ireland since 2006 where I started as fundraising manager and in 2009 I was appointed chief executive
Q: What is the best thing about your job? A: Knowing that we are making a difference to very special sick children nationwide is what keeps us motivated.
Q: What is your guilty music/ TV or movie pleasure? A: I have a few guilty pleasures: (1) curling up on the couch with a mug of tea, bar of chocolate and an oldfashioned movie such as an
Audrey Hepburn film and (2) at Christmas time sitting down for hours at a time doing a Wasjig jigsaw
Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook? A: I am an avid follower of @ MakeAWish_ie and Make A Wish Ireland on facebook; I also follow numerous other Irish charities and all of our Make-A-Wish Ambassadors to follow what they are up to
Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously? A: I am a cautious spender,
where would be good
Q: What would be your dream job? A: I am lucky to be working in my dream job. Making a difference in the lives of sick children and their families makes my work so rewarding and is a huge motivator, especially as I am a mother myself. If I had to choose something else as a dream job, maybe to own my own greeting card shop or run my own Montessori School
but when I shop some of my favourite haunts are Ashanti Gold in Greystones, Peter O’Brien’s collections in Arnotts, Carl Scarpa, Cinders and Dundrum Shopping Centre
Q: Any advice for budding business women out there? A: Ensure that you have a
Q: Describe your dream holiday? A: As long as there is sun-
Staying close to family and friends is imperative as you need time out to keep your focus. Keep positive, and learn to juggle.
shine and I am relaxing with my family and friends, any-
balanced lifestyle, a good support system and, where possible, someone that you can trust as a mentor.
the free banking. Ulster Bank probably have the best deal currently and you can check for comparisons through the Financial Regulator’s web site - http://www. itsyourmoney.ie/costcomparisons/cs_tab_personal_current_account.htm Don’t forget if you have an aversion to current accounts, you can always pay your bills for free through An Post’s BillPay service – 120 different bills and payable on the drip if necessary in any of the 1,250 post offices ( e.g. pay your € 200 two-monthly ESB bill over 8 weeks at € 25 per week ) Finally, surplus funds should not be left in a current account – the interest rate is 0% ! Better in your pocket. Contact John with your money questions at jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor
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TO ADVERTISE CALL 60 10 240
22 GAZETTE 17 November 2011
GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel Belfast bliss for history buffs and all music lovers Leave the winter woes at home with a great Algarve holiday, with a range of options to choose from
A FAVOURITE spot for Irish people, the Algarve is the ideal year-round sun destination. Concorde Travel feature packages to the idyllic resorts of Albufeira, Alvor, Carvoeiro, Lagos, Portimao/Praia da Rocha, Vale do Lobo/Quinta do Lago and Vilamoura. Whatever your budget, Concorde Travel has a range of two-star to five-star hotel and apartment options to suit you. With flexible departure dates and holiday durations, as well as departures from Dublin, Cork and Knock to Faro, Concorde Travel now make it even easier to travel to this beautiful holiday hotspot. The three-star Hotel Praia Sol (Vilamoura), on a bed and breakfast basis, costs from €299, whilst the four-star Vila Gale Ampalius (Vilamoura) costs from €419. The five-star Hilton Vilamoura, As Cascatas Golf Resort and Spa (Vilamoura) on a bed and breakfast basis, costs from €519. Prices are per person, based on two sharing, and include flights from Dublin, transfers, sevennight’s accommodation, airport tax and baggage. Visit www.concordetravel.ie, or telephone 01 775 9300 to find out more.
Norway’s the way to go and see what’s described as the greatest Northern Lights show in 50 years PREPARE for the most spectacular show on earth this winter with a trip to Norway to see the Northern Lights. With NASA predicting the brightest and most active Northern Lights display for 50 years, now is the time to book this once-in-a-lifetime trip. Four nights in a three-star hotel costs €689, or €759 for four-star accommodation. The package includes return flights from Dublin to Tromso via Oslo, four nights’ accommodation in a three- or four-star hotel on a bed and breakfast basis, and airline taxes. Travel between Thursday, December 1 and Thursday, February 28, using the reference: H014-3396. For further information, or to book this trip, see www.gohop.ie/3396/Cheap-Holidays/NorwayNorthern-Lights-/holiday.html.
MICHAEL HANNAN
AS A regular visitor to Belfast, I thought I had seen much of what the city had to offer, but a stay there during its Music Week, with the MTV Awards in town, gave me a completely new perspective. After checking in at the luxurious Europa Hotel, and lunch at the nearby Made in Belfast restaurant, our group gathered at the famous Ulster Hall in Bedford Street to begin the Oh Yeah music tour. The tour is run by the Oh Yeah Music Centre, which was set up in 2005 to help promote talented musicians and rock bands from Northern Ireland. The Ulster Hall is where, in 1971, Led Zeppelin gave Stairway to Heaven its world premiere. Our tour took us past the street where Ruby Murray lived. While most people, sadly, only think of her name as the cockney rhyming slang for curry, the 1950s’ singer was the only entertainer to have five singles in British Top20 charts simultaneously. We went past the Maritime Hotel where, in 1964, a 19-year-old Van Morrison and his band, Them, brought the house down with their classic, Gloria. We saw his humble origins as we drove past 125 Hynford Street, where he grew up.
A trip past the famous Limelight Bar was next, where, in 1994, Oasis played a gig and, when told their Definitely Maybe album had reached No 1, famously threw off their guitars and, in the guide’s words, “got a wee bit drunk”. After a visit to the Oh Yeah Music Centre itself, we quenched our thirst at the elegant Duke of York pub, where Gerry Adams previously worked as a
perfection. Back at the Ulster Hall later that evening for the Benefit Gig for the Alzheimer’s Society, we were treated to more than three hours of timeless punk and rock classics by Divine Comedy, Ash and The Undertones. Two highlights were the double rendition of The Undertones’ classic, Teenage Kicks, which the late DJ, John Peel, famously played twice in succes-
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The Titanic Walking Tour guide was witty, engaging and full of ‘useless’ information [about the ship and its building] that a history anorak like myself thrives on --------------------------------------------------------
barman, and stopped to admire the mural in an alleyway across the road depicting many famous Northern Irish personalities. T he mural was a cross-community effort, between Danny Devenny, an ex- member of the IRA and Maze prisoner, and Mark Ervine, son of the late Progressive Unionist Party leader, David Ervine. Dinner at The Bar and Grill at James Street South proved to be a great choice, with both the seafood and steaks ordered by our group cooked to
sion on BBC Radio 1. As if to mirror this, at the end of the concert, all three bands came onstage again to perform the song together. The sight of men in their 50s pogoing wildly to this punk anthem was as memorable as it was humorous. No trip to Belfast can be complete without taking part in the Titanic Walking Tour. This takes in the famous Thompson dry-dock and pump house, as well as the berth where the ship had its final fit-out before being launched. The tour guide was witty,
engaging and full of “useless” information that a history anorak like myself thrives on. For example, the docking berth where the ship would be brought in for repairs would have contained 21 million gallons of water (85 million litres). This took about 100 minutes to pump out, or the equivalent of two Olympic-sized swimming pools every 60 seconds. Not bad, for 1912! After a browse around the St George’s Markets, lunch in the Galley at Belfast Barge was excellent, with my companions’ risotto earning particular plaudits. A hugely entertaining alternative walking tour of the city, by Terri Hooley, the godfather of the Belfast punk scene, rounded off my trip. Hooley is a peace campaigner, band promoter and opened the Good Vibrations record shop in 1978, launching such bands as The Undertones, Rudi, and The Outcasts. He recounted the famous story of when The Clash came to Belfast to perform a gig at the Ulster Hall, only to be told at the last hour that it couldn’t go ahead due to concerns over the insurance costs. The cancellation sparked a riot by punks of mixed religion waiting outside, who, disgruntled
With so much to enjoy on in Belfast recently, where
at the eleventh-hour cancellation, attempted to rip off the doors to get inside. As Hooley puts it: “It didn’t matter if you were Protestant or Catholic, as long as you were a punk. It was a strangely unifying experience.” Speaking of experiences, there are plenty of great ones to be had in the Northern capital, ranging from culinary, musical, cultural and historical, and if it all seems like too much effort, there are no shortage of cosy pubs to rest awhile. To find out more information on Northern Ireland’s tours and events, or for further information on places to stay, and things to see and do in Northern Ireland, callsave 1850 230 230; visit the Northern Ireland Tourist Board’s tourist information centre in Suffolk Street, Dublin 2, or see www.discovernorthernireland.com.
17 November 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 23
Edited by Mimi Murray
TravelBriefs
Enjoy shopping and pampering in Carlow at a comfortable price CARLOW has never been more affordable for a pre-Christmas shopping break and, with the fourstar Talbot Hotel located just a short stroll from all the attractive shopping areas, it is convenient, too. The Talbot Value Shopping Package includes attractive discounts for the best boutiques in Carlow, which includes an exclusive guide to the best shops in Carlow town. After the day’s shopping, attentive staff will bring your shopping bags to your room, while you relax and enjoy a sumptuous meal in the cosy fourthfloor Liberty Tree restaurant. Pampering is also important, and the hotel is offering 50% off a facial or massage in its Pure Beauty spa. Stay at the hotel mid-week for €149 for two nights’ bed and full Irish breakfast, and a fourcourse meal each evening. Winter weekend packages are available from €99 PPS. For further information, see www.talbotcarlow. ie, or telephone 059 915 3000.
any trip to Belfast, hundreds of media staff from all around the world were delighted to attend a day of music- and culture-driven events the fine setting of the Titanic Drawing Offices helped to engage the Belfast guests with local craic agus ceol
The iconic Titanic Signature Building’s exterior is another sign of the modern face of Belfast’s contemporary cityscape
24 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 17 November 2011
GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT 1GoingOUT PAVILION 01 231 2929 Same Old Moon DALKEY-based St Patrick’s Dramatic Society are staging their latest memorable production, following the fortunes and family life of Brenda Barnes. Brenda’s life is anything but straightforward, as we see on her funny and sometimes dramatic journey from childhood to her 40s, thanks to her eccentric and sometimes fiery family. See the society’s production nightly at 8pm until Saturday, November 19, with admission costing €18/€15.
MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 A Skull in Connemara THE Mill presents the second play in the Leenane trilogy, by playwright Martin McDonagh. In a rural Connemara town, a gravedigger prepares for his annual autumnal task of disinterring old, forgotten bones in the graveyard to make room for new arrivals. However, with his late wife’s remains due to be moved, rumours about her sudden death begin to surface ... This play runs nightly at 8pm until Saturday, November 19, with admission costing €10.
DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Sweet Charity READY for another hit show from Coolmine Musical Society? Then come along to Draiocht, where the highlyskilled players are marking their 30th year in show-stopping style, thanks to their production of Sweet Charity. New York in the 1960s will blaze into life on stage, with such memorable songs as Hey Big Spender, If My Friends Could See Me Now, and Rhythm of Life to enjoy, all in the name of following the ups and downs of lovelorn dancehall hostess, Charity Hope Valentine. Coolmine MS’s production runs nightly at 8pm until Saturday, November 19, with admission costing €20/€17.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it think that Cinema really needs this version of the timeless, and seemingly endlesslyreheated and reserved, tale, with this latest reimagining being a little too bodacious rather than gracious with the source material...
The Mess-keteers
It’s one for all, and all for one – edging towards the exit, that is, with an uninspired rehash of a timeless tale ... Q KATE CROWLEY
EVEN unf lappable, battle-hardened cinema reviewers could be forgiven for shrieking and eeking when faced with the sight of not one, not three, but two Nicolas Cage films opening at the same time. Two! Why, the very thought of cuddling up with Nic for his latest offerings, Trespass, and Justice, is almost – almost – enough to send yours truly barrelling through the doors to see the latest Twilight film (as Twilight The Saga: Breaking Dawn, Part 1 opens this week). I say “almost”, as even my darling, Emo-friendly daughter, Crowleyetta, knows that there’s only one way I’ll go to see, and review, another Twilight film – at gunpoint. And so, shrieking and eeking away from angstdriven vampires (oooh, the angst, the angst!), and eeking equally loudly
FILM OF THE WEEK: The Three Musketeers ++ (12A) 110 mins Director: Paul S Anderson Starring: Logan Lerman, Matthew MacFayden, Ray Stevenson, Orlando Bloom, Milla Jovovich, unlikely shenanigans
OUR VERDICT: MANY cinemagoers will have had more Three Musketeer films that they’ve had hot dinners, with it being a timeless – but, perhaps, a little over-familiar – tale that needs something special, or different, to really stand out. Although the director, and cast, gamely have a go at modernising some aspects of Dumas’ tale, their efforts simply sit uncomfortably with the source material ...
away from Mr Cage, my dainty feet take me (and thee) directly to ... Actually, I’m just popping on my time travel beret, and stepping back in time to the period commonly known as Approximately Three Weeks Ago, and the release of a film which I didn’t review at the time, but will do just fine, today. After all, I can’t stand angst-driven vampires and werewolves, but I don’t mind a shaggy tale of musketeers, and one of cinema’s most revisited inspirations has been, errr, revisited, in this lat-
est version of Dumas’ The Three Musketeers. Actually, there’s not much more that I need to say to explain the film, folks, as I doubt very much that very many of you aren’t fully aware of the timeless tale of derring-do and French heroics, with this version pretty much following the standard template, on which, more anon. For now, it’s a “Non!” to following Dumas’ tale too closely from the very start, as director, Anderson, introduces the musketeers undergoing a heist, of sorts, before the ever-
treacherous Milady de Winter (Jovovich) does a runner with the goods. Okay... so, they’re the three musketeers of the title – so, where’s the fourth guy, who everyone expects? Enter surferdude-esque D’Artagnan (Lerman), who soon annoys, impresses and joins the Three (Macfayden, Stevenson and Evans), just in time to be caught up in a plot by Cardinal Richelieu (Waltz). The holy man has a wholly cunning plan to control Le King (Fox), with a nice little war with England being his grand plot, just grand, merci. With Richelieu and Winter playing an icily cold game of politics, and wishing to rule the regal roost behind the scenes, The Thre- sorry, Fousorry, The Guys must thwart their cunning plans, and prevent war with England. For zee King! For zee honour of France! For zee
probable sequel! However, mein Gott! The Three Musketeers veers wildly into French farce throughout, but never in the best way. The characters are too ... modern; a tricky thing to pull off, and, frankly, Anderson fails. I can’t quite knock the director with that tooeasy gibe of his being “best known as a videogame film maker”, as not every film made about a computer game is always awful. (I quite enjoyed the somewhat incoherent Silent Hill film-of-thesame-game, for example.) Still, Anderson, probably best-known for his interminably awful Resident Evil films (also starring his wife, Jovovich, in equally interminably awful roles), has done it again – using his reverse Midas touch (the Sadim?), he’s turned literary gold into cinematic straw. More musketeers? Zut alors, non!
17 November 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 25
GazetteGAMING GAMING Games giant has to fight its corner SHANE DILLON
THESE are dark days for Nintendo. Once an unassailable giant in gaming, the company recently posted its first publiclyreported loss in decades. Actually, although it reported a huge loss – almost mirroring the healthy profit it posted in the previous year – some industry analysts were expecting an even larger loss, with wild talk of 100-billion yen on the cards, for a while. What on earth has taken Nintendo to this sorry state of affairs? Well, the reasons have been many, and complex, all combining to hack away at the company’s economic fortunes. For starters, an obvious problem has been its 3DS console, which has bled away profits on hardware and software losses. Despite being a technological marvel – with nothing comparable to it on the market, or on the way – and despite impressing most, but not all, of those who’ve used it, sales have been much slower than expected. This doesn’t come as a total surprise – Hollywood has noticed that 3D films at cinemas have significantly plateaued, while 3D-enabled televisions are virtually glued to the shelves, stubbornly
refusing to sell. The “obvious next step forward in visual entertainment” seems to have been embraced instead as “an interesting, but passing fad” by consumers, as well as gamers. In the face of it, despite the impressive hardware, but battling consumer interest, perhaps that’s why the 3DS hasn’t caught on, impacting on Nintendo’s fortunes with the losses that it incurs on hardware sales. Despite being able to magic up such innovative tech and hardware, Nintendo’s also facing a perception that its hardware platforms are approaching the end of their life cycle, with the end of the Wii in sight, while its successor is in development. This further weakens titles available for it, creating a dragging anchor effect on companies willing to develop for it. This isn’t an entirely fair summary, as there’s still plenty of life in the “aging” console, but, with much of the world’s media focused on the cool new kid in class – Apple’s various IOS-driven gadgets – while the other gaming heavyweights – Sony and Microsoft – are much more publicly slugging it out between them on the main street, Nintendo’s been left to sink into the background.
Bytesandpieces Have a yen for original gameplay? JAPANESE developer, Kairosoft, have enjoyed enormous success with their resolutely oldschool, pixel-led titles, with each of their “simple” games consuming days of gamers’ lives. That sounds extreme, but, after all, behind the cutesy graphics in their games (whether running your own high school or managing a Formula One team) lies very compulsive gameplay, as the intricacies of managing financial systems, organising and planning layouts and so on make the time fly by – as I’ve found, by missing bus stops while engrossed d in i perfecting my shopping centre’s layout. Oops. As such, for something a little different, why not consider Oh! Edo Towns for your IOS-driven gadget? Available for €2.99 on iTunes, this is the chance to design and maximise your very own Feudal Japan town. That probably sounds about as enticing as an omnibus edition of Eastenders on TV, but this very Eastern title, complete with addictive, good-humoured pick-up-and-play fun, is another absolute gem from Kairosoft.
The forthcoming Nintendo Wii title, Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, can be expected to generate healthy revenues for the company, as the games company faces into an unwelcome battle to reverse the shift in its fortunes
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‘Currency issues have also proven to be major thorns in the company’s side, with the dollarto-yen rates across the past year having a particularly painful effect on Nintendo’s finances’ --------------------------------------------------------
As if these weren’t difficult enough problems, currency issues have also proven to be major thorns in the company’s side, with the dollar-toyen rates across the past year, having a particularly painful effect on Nintendo’s finances. With such negative external factors for any company to deal with, it’s no wonder that the Kyoto-based company has revealed just how much its sales, and profits, have plunged. It’s quite a turnaround from the previous fiscal year for Nintendo, when it posted its usual healthy profits, despite the challenges facing gaming’s
drift at physical makets at present. After all, for every Gears of War 3 (XBox 360), Uncharted 3 (PlayStation 3) or, even, Angry Birds (iPhone) success story, a hundred other titles on all platforms sink without trace. That’s the bad news. But, of course, Nintendo’s far from finished, just yet. True, the 3DS has not taken off as expected, but the regular DS handheld is still doing okay, and, if sales of the Wii have also significiantly slowed down – with the negative impact of not having the same software range and products as its rivals – Nintendo still has key gaming aces up
its sleeve. One of these is the forthcoming next installment in the long-running Zelda series, Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword; a title that’s a cornerstone product for Nintendo to remind rivals, and gamers, that it still has some outstanding cards in its hand. Now 25-years-old, the Zelda series has a longevity, and pedigree, that few games can lay claim to, with the Wii Motion Plus proving an entirely natural fit for the protaganist, Link, and his adventures. With this forthcoming title (and the help of a certain super plumber’s new release), Nintendo can remind gamers, and the wider industry, that it can deliver the goods when it needs to. And Nintendo needs to. Now, more than ever, the gaming giant needs to start landing some wellaimed blows on its rivals, before it goes down for the count ...
GAZETTE
26 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 17 November 2011
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GazetteSPORT
NO BOUNDARIES: Claire Shillington on her Ireland cricket journey so far Page 29
MOTOR RACING: FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TO RACE ON SPECIALLY-CREATED TRACK
Button presses Dublin into F1 action in summer sport@gazettegroup.com
FOR the first time, one of the leading F1 teams in the world will take to the streets of Dublin next year when Jensen Button will bring his Vodafone McLaren-Mercedes F1 car to the Bavaria City Racing Dublin event on June 3, 2012. Former World Champion Button will treat race spectators to a Formula 1 masterclass on a specially designed track that starts
at the Convention Centre, continues along Custom House Quay before crossing Butt Bridge, chicanes at D’Olier Street, zips past College Green and the Central Bank on Dame Street before reaching the chequered flag on O’Connell Bridge. Bavaria City Racing’s Dublin ambassador, Eddie Jordan, said: “I’m hugely excited about Bavaria City Racing Dublin; this is something spectacular, something
you’ve never witnessed before and I, for one, can’t wait.” The City Racing extravaganza is a free public event, and over 150,000 people are expected to line the streets of the capital to enjoy the best the world of motor sport has to offer. Gavin Collins, of Bavaria City Racing, said: “We are delighted that the Vodafone-McLaren F1 team is coming to Dublin. They are a premier F1
Keith O’Haire, from Gleeson, and Robert Hyland, of Vodafone Ireland, at the launch of this unique F1 event
team and Jenson is one of the leading drivers in world motorsport.” Robert Hyland, Sponsorship Manager at Vodafone Ireland, said: “We are truly excited at the prospect of bringing the
Formula 1 experience to Dublin. Jenson is one of the sport’s great ambassadors, and we are delighted to be able to help showcase what he and the cars can do. “It will be a massive
event for the city that will be remembered for years to come.” For those who want to get closer to the action, there are three ticketed premium performance zones on the track at
Customs House Quay, O’Connell Bridge and at the Main F1 Paddock on North Wall Quay. Tickets for these areas are priced from €75.90 and are available from Ticketmaster.
28 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 17 November 2011
GazetteSport Sport
Margaret and Suzanne Murray, Amanda Cassidy, Baby Ronan and Another excited fan is first to the cup...
Club PRO Niall Connaughton and Dublin’s Barry Cahill
Derek Murray
Sam on tour ’11
Towers welcome Mr Maguire HE Sam Maguire trophy and Dublin All-Ireland winner, Barry Cahill, were the guests of honour in Round Towers GAA Club last Saturday. Barry took time out of his hectic schedule preparing for a Leinster championship match with St Brigid’s to bring Sam along for a day aimed at the Round Towers’ juvenile section. While the rest of Barry’s All-Ireland winning teammates were visiting GAA clubs in New York and Boston last week, Barry stayed behind to visit Towers and prepare for the game against Summerhill. Hundreds of children and their parents queued up to have their photo taken along with Barry and Sam Maguire and Barry kindly signed photos, jerseys, balls and more. Round Towers would like to thank Barry Cahill for obliging them with the visit and also to the volunteers in Round Towers who assisted on the day, especially Noel Kelly, Catherine Moran, Betty Ward, Jessica O’Malley, Sally Gilligan and Niall Connaughton.
T
The Lyons family with Barry and Sam. PIctures: Fergus McNally
Senan, Micheal, Michelle, Roisin and Baby Tadhg Walsh
All part of the Round Towers and Sam family
17 November 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 29
in association with
No boundaries for Shillington Malahide’s Clare Shillington has travelled to Bangladesh to try to help Ireland’s women cricketers to a World Cup in India next year THE influx of youth is such that Clare Shillington made her international cricket debut the same year one of her team-mates was born. Far from veteran status, it is more a statement on the prodigious talent that Ireland has to pick from, as the country’s women aim to make similar waves to those stirred up by the Irish men in the past four years. They are bidding to qualify for the World Cup this week in Bangladesh, needing to upset the world rankings and win against Pakistan or West Indies – as well as the hosts and Japan – in the
initial group phase to take a direct route to the finals in India. Finish lower than the top two, and they go into the murky waters of a repechage round. Taking on the chal-
turns 14 during the tournament. Tice became the second youngest women’s international earlier this year and has since taken eight wickets in just four
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‘It is a huge commitment, but I wouldn’t still be playing if I didn’t love it and think we have a realistic chance of qualifying for the World Cup’ --------------------------------------------------------
lenge, Irish cricket sought a special dispensation to allow two of their number to make the trip, 15-yearold Kim Garth and, most notably, Elena Tice, who
Clare Shillington in Ireland action
international games, catapulting her into the team. She was born in 1997, the year Malahide cricket club member Shillington made her Irish debut. She was a precocious teenage batting talent at the time but told the Gazette just prior to flying out to the competition that selection runs along Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenet that if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. Asked how she feels about possibly having made her debut before Tice was born, Shillington laughs. “We haven’t talked about it but that is an interesting one! That makes me feel very old. Just hearing their date of births... It’s fantastic that Elena is able to do it physically at that age; her and Kim Garth. “As a dynamic in the team, it’s incredible. I’m a good bit older but we do come together and age doesn’t really mat-
ter when you’re playing cricket. “Everyone does look out for each other but I hope I can pass on some of the experience that I have built up over 14 years as a cricketer and the standards you should have. I’m highly competitive so I do my best to pass that on to anyone coming onto the squad.” From a preparation perspective, the side has travelled in confident mood, with both Shillington and captain Isobel Joyce – sister of Irish men’s star Ed – labelling the group the best prepared side ever put together. The squad signed up to a mantra of “unpaid professionalism”, replicating full-time training around their working or student lives with regular 6.30am fitness calls, similar to those employed by Dublin’s senior footballers last January prior to their AllIreland victory. It is a necessary effort to be competitive against countries that have gone the full-time route in recent years. Shillington played against a touring Pakistan side in the early part of this decade, a side that were comfortably beaten by Ireland in what was their first season of the professional era. Since then, they have risen to a place above Ireland in the rankings and won a Champion’s Challenge tie last summer in South Africa with plenty
to spare. Speaking about playing full-time athletes, Shillington takes a pragmatic approach: “It’s a killer, but you have to play with what you’ve got. We all understand that money makes the world go round; cricket in Pakistan is part of their culture and everyday life, while it’s down the pecking order in Ireland. “If we were professionals and it was our job, I’ve no doubt we’d pass the likes of Pakistan, the West Indies and higher because there is the talent there. “Sometimes it is souldestroying to see how quickly a team like that can jump up, but we deal with what we can and made a commitment to be unpaid professionals. “It is a huge commitment but I wouldn’t still be doing it if I didn’t love it and think we have a realistic chance of winning. At this stage, I definitely think we can qualify. I started my international career in India and would like to finish it there in a World Cup. “It’s been quite a long preparation. I’ve been involved in quite a lot of these trips and it’s definitely the most prepared we’ve been from the amount of work, time and effort we have put in. I’m glad to be getting out of an indoor training hall and getting on a cricket pitch.”
FastSport
World and Olympic champ helps Gymnastics launch THE national governing body for Gymnastics in Ireland re-launched their brand last week with the help of Olympic and World medallist gymnast, Louis Smith, last week. Gymnastics Ireland’s brand transformation includes the launch of a new website (www. gymnasticsireland.com), Facebook Page (Gymnastics Ireland) and Twitter account (@Gymnasticsire). Smith was joined by leading female gymnast, Emma Lunn and Irish Rhythmic athlete, Aisling McGovern, both from Maynooth. The 2008 Beijing Olympic Bronze medallist also coached a group of young Irish 2016 Olympic hopefuls on the morning of the launch. Ciaran Gallagher, Gymnastics Ireland chief executive officer, said: “We are delighted that Louis could be here to help us launch the new Gymnastics Ireland brand. He is not only one of the best gymnasts in the world, but he is also a great personality and really conveys what Gymnastics Ireland is now all about.”
Ireland trio make the team of World Cup ’11 LEINSTER ‘S Brian O’Driscoll, Ronan O’Gara and Paul O’Connell were the Ireland players who made the official Rugby World Cup dream team, voted for by international fans of the New Zealand celebration of the sport’s Facebook page. Ireland captain O’Driscoll took nearly 50% of the votes to make the Dream Team. A
consistent performer for Ireland, O’Driscoll added to his impressive tally of international tries with a well-taken try in the pool match against Italy. Based on suggestions from the online community, a shortlist of names per position was created each day and put to the vote, with over 160,000 votes being cast along the way. The other players in the XV were made up of players from the semi-finalists, Wales, New Zealand and France.
30 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 17 November 2011
GazetteSport Sport FastSport
BOXING: NEILSTOWN MAN’S LIFE STORY IN PRINT AT LAST
Kenneth Egan launched his autobiography last week that details his Olympic success, the fame and the pitfalls that he has negotiated
Peamount sign Gorman for league campaign
Gloves off in Egan bio sport@gazettegroup.com
PEAMOUNT United stole a massive march on their rivals ahead of last weekend’s Bus Eireann Women’s National League kick-off by signing Ireland international, Dora Gorman. The Barna native, who famously captained Ireland’s Under-17 girls to a European Championship final and World Cup quarterfinal in 2010 is one of the most promising young players in the country. Coming through the ranks with Salthill Devon, Gorman is now a senior international following her debut in last month’s win over Israel and the fact that her local side are not taking part in the new national league is Peamount’s gain. Manager Eileen Gleeson acted quickest to recruit the midfielder, who studies medicine in UCD, ahead of this Sunday’s opening game at the Cork Women’s Football League. Peamount begin their campaign coming off their recent historic UEFA Women’s Champions League double header with Paris Saint-Germain. Gorman joins up with an incredible six senior international colleagues at Peamount and admits the prospect of success at the highest level attracted her to Greenougue. “Obviously you want to play at the highest level you can and I wanted to play in the new National League so Peamount were the team I wanted to play with,” said Gorman. “I play with a lot of the girls at international level, so I know about the quality in the squad and I am really looking forward to starting the league season now. “I have had a couple of training sessions with the girls already, and everybody at the club has been great. “The club are coming into the league after the Champions League games, so they are ambitious and want to do well in this new league and that is what I want too.”
OLYMPIC hero Kenneth Egan released his r e ve a l i n g a u t o b i o g raphy, My Story, last Monday, in which he documents the lows and highs of his career inside and outside of the ring. The Neilstown man was responsible for one of the most incredible runs of national amateur titles in the last decade and more, taking ten successive national golds before his unbeaten record came to an end in February at the hands of developing young prospect, Joe
Ward. But it was for his Olympic exploits that Egan rose to the public consciousness, when he reached the final of the light-heavyweight division in Beijing at the 2009 Olympic Games, only denied gold by hometow n favourite Xiaoping Zhang, in a controversial decision. Thrust into the public arena after years of grinding away on the world and European circuit, but out of the limelight, Egan’s autobiography details his struggles with his increased level of fame outside the boxing world.
Clon caught: Rugby team let lead slip at close of match CLONDALKIN RFC’s first team were
denied victory in the cruellest manner when they lost by a last-minute drop goal against Wicklow last week, with a final score of 23-21. Clondalkin will be disaapointed as they were 10 points clear with ten minutes left, but allowed their opponents back into the match in the closing moments. Pictured is Brian Doyle. Picture: Sharon Flanagan
Indeed, talking about the book this week, he said that the partying and drinking, which came with living the high life, almost brought him to his knees.
Life-changing He has become teetotal since August, 2010, following a sobering day with his mother, Maura, who brought him to the graves of his two brothers who both passed away during their childhood. “My mother told me that if I kept drinking the way I was drinking, I was going to end up in the ground with them.
She begged me to stop. I did, and I became a different person,” he said. “I gave my mother the book to read for the first time last week, and though she was shocked by some of it, she was happy with it. She said: ‘That was your life, but now that life is over and out of the way’.” He is now focused on getting back to the Olympic stage with the national senior championships on the horizon early in 2012 as the next step on the road. The 29-year-old had stepped up to heavyweight in recent times
but will be looking to annex an 11th national title at light-heavy for the championships. Egan moved up to heavyweight this year after he was beaten by Ward, his first defeat at that level for a decade. His travails at the higher weight, though, saw him make the decision to battle for a place in the division in which he has made his name. Kenny Egan’s autobiography, Kenny Egan – My Story, will be available from bookshops nationwide priced €12.99 and online from www.paperweightpublications.ie.
17 November 2011 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 31
in association with
HURLING: ST ENDA’S NOW SET TO MEET CROKES
CLUB NOTICEBOARD ROUND TOWERS THE AGM of Round Towers’ GAA Club
on Saturday for the Juvenile sec-
will take place in the clubrooms on
tion day. Thanks also to Noel Kelly,
the evening of Wednesday, Novem-
Catherine Moran, Betty Ward, Jes-
ber 30 at 8pm. Only paid-up mem-
sica O’Malley and Sally Gilligan, and
bers are entitled to attend this
all who assisted on the day.
meeting and only A members are
The album of photos taken on the
eligible to vote. Any membership
day are on the club website. The
status-related queries should be
photographer will be in the club on
directed to the secretary at the
Thursday night at 9pm should any-
earliest opportunity. Nominations
one wish to purchase any of the pic-
for executive positions, or motions
tures.
for discussion on the evening ,
Christmas Party Night at Round
should be with the Secretary, Niall
Towers’ GAA Club on Saturda y,
Connaughton, seven days before
December 10. Limited to 120 tickets,
the meeting. They can also be left at
four-course sit-down meal, €20pp.
the box provided at the club bar.
Also, The Trilog y Band play New
There will be a scrap metal collec-
Year’s Eve, tickets €10. Recession-
tion on Monastery Road on Satur-
buster offer - buy tickets for both
day next, November 19, from 10am
nights for only €25 per person.
to 4pm, please check the website
Lotto: Numbers drawn were 6, 16,
for more details or contact Niall
23 and 28; Bonus Ball 15. There was
Connaughton on 087 629 0870 or Ed
no winner of this week’s jackpot of
O’Malley on 087 807 3391.
€4,800. Congratulations to Danny
Huge thanks to Barry Cahill who brought Sam Maguire to the club
Gallagher, Kevin Roche and PJ Tyndall, the three €100 winners.
Lucan Sarsfields’ minor hurlers came close to victory against a strong Ballyboden St Enda’s at O’Toole Park
Lucan lose out in their chase for final MINOR A HURLING S/F Ballyboden St Enda’s 2-12 Lucan Sarsfields 1-11 STEPHEN FINDLATER sport@gazettegroup.com
GOALS at key times saw Ballyboden St Enda’s make it into a third final at minor championship level as the hurlers followed their boys and girls’ footballers into a decider. They held their nerve to take this tie from a cracker at O’Toole Park on Sunday morning when James Roche latched onto Alan Flood’s high ball, gambling behind the last man, to finish with admirable calmness and securing the result with the last puck of the game. Lucan, propelled forward by Chris Crummy, threatened a late comeback, but Roche’s lastditch goal put paid to such dreams and saw Boden home. Conditions were mild,
though a strong cross wind and the seasonal heavy sod underfoot did not militate against fast and furious hurling. Tit-for-tat in the early phases, the sides shared four points in the opening quarter before Lucan nudged a couple in front. But, just as they were looking like pulling clear, Boden produced an important spell to wrest back the initiative, Paul Doherty finishing off a good run with a slick clearance. Gavin Corrigan then got the only goal of the first half with a slick piece of ball juggling, taking in a super long pass with the hurley to beat the last man and net. With Ben McEntee clearing the bar from long range and two more points from Corrigan – Crummy responding with a trio of points – it left Boden 1-6 to 0-6 up at half-time, a
significant edge given the tight nature of the midfield battle. The second half ebbed and f lowed as Crummy began the half with yet another pair of scores to reduce the gap to the minimum before Jamie Desmond and Conor Robinson shut down the scoring path. Tireless work by Eoin O’Neill and the introduction of substitutions ensured Boden kept their noses in front, reestablishing their threepoint lead. But Lucan were not done yet and, while they might have turned
to the goal option too early, spurning some chances to point with five minutes still left on the clock, they got their reward when a closerange free was saved into the path of Crummy, who booted home the rebound first time. That made it 1-12 to 1-11 in Boden’s favour with a couple of minutes of injury time still to play, and Lucan were in the ascendancy. But a long clearance made it all the way over the shor t-numbered defence and Roche cracked home the killer blow.
LUCAN SARSFIELDS WELL done to the U-13 and U-14 cam-
Card Drive is every Friday in the
ogie teams, who wrapped up league
clubhouse bar at 9pm.
titles at weekend. Congratulations also to boys’ football U-14s who also won league and are now promoted to Division 1.
Set dancing from 8.30 to 10pm every Wednesday night. Thanks to Esther Keenan, who has loaded the photos from the suc-
Tickets have now been issued to
cessful Gala Ball last weekend to
mentors for the Lucan Sarsfields
the gallery on the website, under
“Spor ts’ Persons Dream” Draw,
Events.
which is an alternative to the traditional Christmas Draw. All members are asked to suppor t this important fundraiser. This year’s AGM is on Thursday, November 17. Enter tainment in 12th Lock on November 19 is Comhaltas monthly session. The Lucan Sarsfields’ GAA Club 25
Lotto: Numbers drawn were 1, 2, 3 and 19. There was no winner. Next week’s jackpot will be €6,500. Gerry McAndrew’s team will be in charge next weekend. Thanks to John Ryan, Accountant, who is this week’s sponsor. Do not forget you can alwa ys enter our Lotto online by clicking on www.lucansarsfields.ie.
ST PAT’S, PALMERSTOWN COMMISERATIONS to our Under-16
trip to the Red Cow Morans Hotel.
footballers following their league
Bus leaves Supervalu car park
final defeat to Kilmacud Crokes on
Palmerstown at 6.45pm and will
Saturday last.
return there after the ball is over.
Good luck to two of our talented
To secure a seat please book same
senior hurlers Shane Stapleton and
with the person you purchased
Aidan Glennon who were nominated
your ticket.
for a place on the Blue Stars team. Juvenile Scór Na nÓg takes place
To view our website simply logon to www.stpatricksgaa.ie
this Tuesday 15th at 7.30pm in Lucan
Lotto: NUmbers drawn were 5, 7,
Sarsfield G.A.A. club house. If avail-
22 and 24. There was no winner of
able come along and support our
the €5,600 jackpot. Match any three
talented boys and girls.
number winners were Niall McDon-
There are only a few tickets avail-
agh and Simon Faughnan, and each
able for our jubilee gala ball this
receive €100. Next week’s jackpot is
Saturday and you can book same
€5,800.
by calling or texting 086 7255 586. You can also avail of a free bus
Draw held each Sunday night at 10pm in the Palmerstown House.
ALL OF YOUR CLONDALKIN CASTLEKNOCK SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31 SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31
NEW GANG GLOVES OFF: INNeilstown’s ’TOWN: Westmanstown hero Kenneth host EganLeinster launchesschools’ his autobiography rugby blitzP30 P28
MAY 26,17, 2011 NOVEMBER 2011
NO BOUNDARIES SUPER STARS: May awardon Shillington nominees World revealed Cup strikeinside P29 P29
Q clondalkinsport@gazettegroup.com
IT WAS fitting that Glenn Whelan ended the Republic of Ireland’s Euro 2012 qualifying campaign as the only player to appear in every match after he lined out last Tuesday night at the coronation in the Aviva Stadium. A symbol of Giovanni Trappatoni’s pragmatism, the Clondalkin man made his 12th appearance of the campaign in which he has adapted himself to play a holding midfield role the manager so craves. Tuesday’s 1-1 draw with Estonia was played out in front of a jubilant and good-humoured crowd of over 51,000, all there to salute the heroes of the previous Friday night’s victory that made Tuesday’s encounter something of a sideshow. That feeling was magnified when Stephen Ward netted in the first half and, while the former Soviet republic did bounce back to grab a draw, few will give too much mind to the way Ireland became somewhat way-laid. It was an understandable situation
given the circumstances, with the team just playing out the time in a respectful manner before the celebrations began in earnest. The fans enjoyed the moment and the achievement – a first qualification for the Euro finals since 1988 and only the second in history. They paid their respects in typically musical fashion and any disappointment they might have felt that Ireland had failed to record a win was swept away on a tide of celebration. For Whelan, it could prove the start of a memorable time in his life as his performances for the country have no doubt helped the 27-year-old in his contract negotiations with Stoke as he looks set to put pen to paper on a new four-year deal with the Potters. Indeed, club manager Tony Pulis sang his praises earlier this week when talking about the possibility: “We always look after the players who have done well for us and we want to keep Glenn here for a long time. “Glenn has been very successful over the last 18 months and never gives any-
Glenn Whelan celebrates at the end of Ireland’s Euro campaign. Picture: Fergus McNally
thing less than 100pc.” Barring injury, he looks set to be one of the first names on Trappatoni’s squad list for next summer’s jaunt to Ukraine and Poland, while former Bluebell man Keith Fahey will hope to join him having made eight appearances in the campaign – seven from the bench – with the
all-important winning goal in Armenia proving vital to the campaign. Meanwhile, former St Francis man, Ian McLoughlin, kept a clean sheet on Monday night for the Republic of Ireland U-21s as he lined out in goal in the 2-0 victory over Liechtenstein, a second successive win in the campaign.
GazetteSPORT
Whelan constant in Ireland win