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January nua y 26, 2012

INSIDE: Minister Frances Fitzgerald writes about COMPASS: Your unmissable 8-page adoption updates P10 guide to travel in 2012 See pages 17-24

Ciaran Carr: Round Towers mourn loss of team-mate Page 32

Soccer: St Kevin’s claim an emphatic Murphy Cup title Page 30

ALSOINSIDE: MOTORS ........................14 BUSINESS .................... 16 TRAVEL..........................17 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 25 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26 SPORT ...........................27

Tributes paid to young football player Q PAUL HOSFORD

TRIBUTES have been paid to talented footballer Ciaran Carr, the Clondalkin Round Towers’ player who was laid to rest this week.

There was standing room only in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Clondalkin village on Wednesday, as hundreds of mourners turned out to pay their last respects to the player, whose club described as having made

an “outstanding contribution” to Round Towers during his time there.

Ciaran (20), had been a member of the club for 16 years, and was taking part in an indoor training session in Moyle Park College when he collapsed.

Team-mates, along with specialist paramedics, fought to revive him, but were unsuccessful.

Full story on Page 3

Brian’s royal welcome: Local’s job near Buckingham Palace SHOULD Queen Elizabeth decide to

call into “the royals’ hotel” – betterknown as The Goring Hotel, close to Buckingham Palace – she can count on being treated like a queen indeed

by Clondalkin native, Brian Kinsella,

bar manager at the historic London establishment. This week, Brian talks to The Gazette about swapping life in Clondalkin for London’s SW1 district, and the busy, prestigious hotel.

Full Story on Page 8

2 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 26 January 2012

COUNCIL

FLOODING: ASSESSING THE RISKS TO EASTERN REGION, AND GREATER DUBLIN

Housing figures detailed THERE were 21 applications for ApplicantSourced Housing (ASH) in Clondalkin in 2011.

The figures, released at the Clondalkin Area Committee meeting last week, show that lease arrangements had been made with nine families, with leases ranging from four to ten years.

Sinn Fein councillor Matthew McDonagh asked the manager a range of ASH-specific questions, including “to detailing the number of tenancies commenced”.

In response, South Dublin County Council said that: “To date, the council has received 21 applications under the ASH scheme, in respect of properties within the Clondalkin Electoral Area.” The council outlined the lease agreements with families, including the cost, saying that further roll-outs of the scheme would be made.

Public meeting on flood study Q DAWN LOVE news@gazettegroup.com

The Boy from Belsen: Concentration camp survivor gives talk to students LUCAN Community College Fifth Year students Niall Walsh and

Ben Moore joined their peers in welcoming Tomi Reichental to the school recently, where Mr Reichental gave a frank and insightful presentation to the Transition Year, Fifth Year and Leaving Cert students about his life in a German concentration camp.

Mr Reichental was sent by the Nazis to Bergen-Belsen concentration camp in 1944, when he was nine years old. Although he survived, along with his mother, brother, aunt and cousin, 35 members of his family perished. Living in Ireland since 1959, Mr Reichental wrote a book about his experiences, entitled, I Was A Boy in Belsen.

Although it was a difficult tale to take in, the students listened carefully to Mr Reichental’s first-hand insight into his life at the notorious camp, and life in Germany at the time, as well as asking many questions about his ordeal, and his subsequent life in Ireland.

A MAJOR public meeting aimed at highlighting a new study that deals with the assessment and sustainable management of flood risks to the Eastern Region, which includes the Greater Dublin Area, will take place this week.

The Eastern Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Study, was commissioned in June 2011, and deals with the assessment and sustainable management of flood risk in the Eastern district. The study is part of a CFRAM programme being undertaken by the OPW in line with current national flood policy and the EU Directive on the Assessment and Management of Flood Risk.

With a land area of

approximately 6,300 km2, the Eastern district accounts for one tenth of the land area of Ireland.

It is home to rich agricultural land, extensive coastline, the city of Dublin and the towns which form the Greater Dublin Area and commuter belt.

Around 1.6 million people, 40% of Ireland’s population, live in the Eastern district with the majority living in the Greater Dublin Area. The district incorporates all or part of 12 local authority areas, including Dun LaoghaireRathdown, Fingal, and South Dublin. The Eastern CFRAM Study will examine all options to reduce flood risk.

There will be full consultation with individuals and organisations with an interest in flooding and related issues. Pending the completion of the

study, the OPW said it will continue to work with the local authorities to identify and implement interim small-scale flood mitigation works in areas at risk from flooding.

The public open evening is open to anybody who would like to learn more, or share their views and experiences, in relation to flooding, flood risk and environmental considerations.

Members of the Eastern CFRAM study team will be available to answer questions at the meeting, which takes place on Thursday, January 26 at 7pm in the Red Cow Moran Hotel on the Naas Road. For further information, contact Katie Murphy, Eastern CFRAM Study Communications Coordinator; 01 4882940; info@eastcframstudy.ie; www.eastcframstudy.ie

26 January 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 3

SPORT Shock at sudden loss of talented footballer

Community in mourning over Ciaran Carr’s death Q PAUL HOSFORD

clondalkin@gazettegroup.com

TRIBUTES have been paid to talented footballer, Ciaran Carr, the Clondalkin Round Towers player who tragically died last week.

Ciaran (20), a member of the club for 16 years, was taking part in an indoor training session in Moyle Park College when he collapsed.

Team-mates, along with specialist paramedics, fought to revive him, but were unsuccessful.

The talented young man turned out for the club in both hurling and football, and was studying sports management at Inchicore College. His father, Philip, is a wellknown GAA referee.

Local Labour TD, Robert Dowds, said that the community had felt a deep loss.

“Obviously, the whole community is devastated. Our hearts go out to his parents, Gemma and Philip, and we can only hope that their deep involvement with the Round Towers’ GAA club can sustain them a small bit.”

A club statement paid tribute to the player, saying he had made an “outstanding contribution” to Round Towers in his time.

“Ciaran made an outstanding contribution to Round Tower GAA Club

during his life, and gave great commitment as a footballer and hurler.

“Above all, Ciaran was our friend, and his untimely passing has brought great sorrow and grief amongst the Round Tower GAA Club community, and the wider Clondalkin community.

“Ciaran represented Dublin footballers from Under-12 level, and played with the county through the ranks, and was part of the Under-21 training panel last year.

“To his parents, Philip and Gemma, club supporters and friends, and his extended family and many friends, we extend our deepest sympathy and condolences.

“As a mark of respect for Ciaran, all club activities are postponed until further notice. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.”

Condolences On the Round Towers’ website, a section for condolences has attracted condolences from friends, family and clubs across the country, with GAA president Christy Cooney leading the messages.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Carr family and the Round Tower GAA club at this unimaginably difficult time,” said Cooney.

“Ciaran achieved a lot in his short life, and cherished his involvement with the GAA through his

Tributes were paid to the late Round Towers player, Ciaran Carr (centre), who collapsed at an indoor training session at Moyle Park College. Ciaran’s skill and contribution drew tributes from across the country.

local club and, of course, his county. He represented his family and his club with distinction.

“I extend my sympathies and those of the association to Ciaran’s parents,” said An Uachtarain CLG. Speaking to Gazette Sport, team-mate Alan Milton said that the club had lost a prominent member.

“Not only was Ciaran

a talented footballer and hurler and a player that we had very high hopes for, he was an esteemed member of the club. He was Round Towers to the core.

“He was immersed in the activities of the club, and he was a part of the success across the club, committed to all levels, and he was a part of everything that Round Towers did,” said Milton.

Griffeen Valley Park up for award Q PAUL HOSFORD

GRIFFEEN Valley Park is amongst a number of local facilities to be nominated for this year’s Local Area Managers Association Awards (LAMA).

First held in 2006, the LAMA Awards were created to recognise local projects of excellence in the areas of infrastructure, community development, recreation and national impact initiatives.

The process commences with nominations being made by city and county councillors across

the country followed by a formal detailed applications process and then a process of short-listing projects. The Awards have seen over 20% more entries for 2012 and certain categories proving extremely popular, in particular tourism, with almost 30 entries and community development with approximately 20 entries.

The 2012 LAMA Awards have expanded to include six new categories, which acknowledge the role that business, communications and tourism play on both a local and national level.

In South Dublin, the Camac Valley camp site and Corkagh Park have been nominated for Best Tourist Attraction, while the new Grand Canal Bridge was nominated for Best Civil Engineering Project and Griffeen Valley Park has been nominated for Best Public Park.

South Dublin County Council itself is nominated for three awards, coming in the Best Green Authority, Most Innovative Authority and Best Public Campaign by a Government Body categories.

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COUNCIL

Works to proceed as normal NEW street cleaning services in South Dublin won’t affect scheduled cleanups or gully clearance, the council has said.

Responding to a question by Independent councillor Guss O’Connell, the local authority said that the service that is currently being tendered will be a complimentary service.

“It is the council’s intention to schedule the works programme for the operations and cleansing units in accordance with the regular road-sweeping schedule, as well as tying in with the Parks Section’s grass-cutting schedules.

“Currently, housing estates are swept four times a year, and gullies are cleaned once a year on a scheduled basis.

“T his works’ pro gramme will ensure that areas can be cleaned in the interim periods between scheduled sweeps and indicators developed to enable an ongoing review of the level of resources and nature of the operations required,” said the council.

4 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 26 January 2012

BOOST

Allocation of funding for new service

Much-needed minibus gets the go-ahead

Making waves: Clooney descends on our cinemas

W

Q PAUL HOSFORD

CINEMA PAGE 25

Local TD and Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald

A LOCAL community-based project got a major boost last week when local TD and Minister for Children Frances Fitzgerald, announced the allocation of funding for a much-needed minibus.

Clondalkin-based project, Cumas, aims to reduce the risks of drug misuse in young people throughout the area and will now use the minibus to facilitate children and families who wish to access their service.

Speaking to the Gazette, the Minister praised the local service saying: “I have always been supportive of local projects in our area and am delighted to allocate funding to help families throughout Clondalkin access the fantastic services provided by Cumas.

“I am very familiar with the work carried out by Cumas, who I know provide invaluable support to many families in our local area.

“In the past I have worked closely with grandparents from this group who are full-time care givers to their children and have met several of the young people who benefit from the

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‘I am pleased that now Cumas will be able to provide a dedicated transport system for their clients, and that resources, which had been taken up by bringing children and families to and from the centre, can be re-directed into the service’ --------------------------------------------------------

programmes they run,” she said.

“One of the main problems CUMAS faces is being able to reach out to those who need their service the most.

Quite often this means providing transport to and from the centre to facilitate accessibility to their programmes.

“Meeting this need has meant the allocation of the projects resources to transportation. I am pleased that now Cumas will be able to provide a dedicated transport system for their clients, and that resources, which had been taken up by bringing children and families to and from the centre, can be re-directed into the service,” she said.

Meanwhile, the Cumas’ Project Co-ordinator, Margaret Dalton, said the organisation had

been delighted that the Minister had sanctioned funding towards the cost of a minibus for the project saying: “It will be a real benefit to the families we work with.

“It will be invaluable to us, both financially and time-wise, and will allow us to collect children from both north and south-west Clondalkin to come to their individual and group work.

“It will also be used by parents, grandparents and other groups in the local area to maximise its use.

“Up until now, Cumas has had to dedicate an enormous amount of time and money to transpor ting people so they can access our service; this bus will be of huge benefit both to the project and to the families it will facilitate,” she said.

Raise your eyebrows for Cancer Society...

THE BODY Shop outlets all over the county will hold a Threading Day on Tuesday, January 31, in aid of the Irish Cancer Society.

The shops, including the unit in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre, will be doing their bit to raise funds for the vital work ICS does.

So you can get your eyebrows perfected and feel good at the same time by making a donation in store.

Eyebrow threading is using a thin, twisted cotton thread rolled over brows, plucking the hair at the follicle level.

Unlike tweezing, where single hairs are pulled out one at a time, threading can remove an entire row of hair, resulting in a straighter line.

No booking is necessary and contributions are made at customer’s discretion.

26 January 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 5

6 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 26 January 2012

COURTS Grabbed keys, drove away, then crashed taxi after leaving a party

Three years for man’s ‘cowardly’ taxi hijacking A 20-year-old man, who hijacked a taxi and crashed it near his home, has been sentenced to three years at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Dean Clarke (20) , of Lealand Drive, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to seizing a vehicle by force or threat on Janu-

ary 13, 2010 at Leyland, Clondalkin.

Garda Stephen Monaghan told prosecuting counsel, Mr Kerida Naidoo BL, Clarke and another man were at Hush nightclub in Dublin, and at around 3.30am they flagged down a taxi.

They asked the taxi

driver to take them to Leyland Drive and, as they travelled down the Fonthill Road, Clarke and the second passenger began to shout at a garda car which drove past them.

Clarke, who was a back seat passenger, began to hit the taxi driver on

his head with a bottle.

When they arrived at Leyland Drive, the taxi driver stopped the car and Clarke continued to hit him with the bottle.

The driver managed to grab the bottle from Clarke, while the front seat passenger dragged the driver out of the car.

The taxi driver held on to the keys, but the front seat passenger grabbed them and handed them to Clarke.

Clarke drove off and crashed the car at a green area in Leyland estate. He was arrested a short time later.

Mr Pieter Le Vert BL,

defending, said Clarke was attending a Christmas party, where he drank a considerable amount of alcohol.

“He lost his job a year prior to the incident, and began to drink and take drugs, but he has put that behaviour behind him.

It was completely out of

character,” said Mr Le Vert.

Judge Martin Nolan gave credit to Clarke for immediately admitting his part in the incident, and acknowledged that he has “good prospects for the future”, but said it was a “cowardly and frightening act”.

Tried to smuggle drugs into prison A WOMAN, who tried to smuggle over €800-worth of heroin into Mountjoy Prison to give to a former boyfriend, has been sentenced to one year at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Nicola Devine (28), of Harelawn Avenue, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to conveying a controlled drug into Mountjoy Prison on July 13, 2009.

A prison sniffer dog alerted staff to Devine as she entered the visitors’ room.

She initially denied she had drugs, but then handed over 4.415 grams of heroin, valued at €820, which was in her purse, to prison officers.

Garda Keith Fox told prosecuting counsel, Ms Gerardine Small BL, that Devine told gardai she thought it was heroin she was bringing into the prison, but did not know the name of the person who gave it to her.

Devine, who has 20 previous convic-

tions, told gardai the heroin was for a former boyfriend who was in prison, and immediately apologised for what she did.

Gda Fox agreed with Mr Pieter Le Vert BL, defending, that Devine was cooperative and made full admissions to the prison officer and gardai.

Gda Fox agreed with Mr Le Vert that Devine is a vulnerable person, and was put under pressure.

“There was pressure put on her to bring the drugs into prison for her former boyfriend,” said Mr Le Vert.

He said Devine began to dabble in drugs at the age of 17, but is now on a methadone programme.

Judge Martin Nolan noted the serious nature of the offence, but accepted Devine had been put under pressure.

He also acknowledged that she is vulnerable, and sentenced her to one year in prison.

Members of South Dublin County Council are pictured at last year’s 2011 LAMA awards ceremony

COMMUNITY: PRESTIGIOUS NOD FOR PROJECTS

Facilities nominated for top area awards Q PAUL HOSFORD

clondalkin@gazettegroup.com

CORKAGH Park and the Camac Valley Camp site are just two local facilities that have been nominated for this year’s Local Area Managers Association (LAMA) awards.

First held in 2006, the LAMA awards were created to recognise local projects of excellence in the areas of infrastructure, community development, recreation and national impact initiatives.

The process commenc-

es with nominations being made by city and county councillors across the country, followed by a formal, detailed applications process, and then a process of short-listing worthy projects.

The awards are growing in popularity, with more than 20% more entries for 2012 and certain categories proving extremely popular, in particular, tourism, with almost 30 entries, and community development, with approximately 20 entries.

T h e 2 01 2 L A M A awards has expanded to

include six new categories, which acknowledge the important role that business, communications and tourism play at both a local and national level.

These new categories build on the LAMA awards’ goal to acknowledge outstanding projects across Ireland.

The 2012 categories include, national projects and community projects, including categories from Best Tourist Attraction and the National Impact Award.

In South Dublin, the Camac Valley camp site,

and Corkagh Park, have been nominated for Best Tourist Attraction, while the new Grand Canal Bridge was nominated for Best Civil Engineering Project, and Neilstown Boxing Club has been nominated for Best Recreational Facility.

South Dublin County Council itself is nominated for three awards, coming in the Best Green Authority, Most Innovative Authority and Best Public Campaign by a Government Body categories, the latter being for the hugely successful Fix Your Street campaign.

26 January 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 7

8 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 26 January 2012

PEOPLE Clondalkin man on his busy role at ‘the royals’ hotel’

Never boring at The Goring for Kinsella Q PAUL HOSFORD

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clondalkin@gazettegroup.com

‘I’ve been here 17 years, and I have a very good team around me.

‘We get a lot of famous people coming in, a lot of them because of the royal wedding.

‘We have a massive amount of regulars, with the Irish Embassy around the corner as well.’

IT’S a long way from Clondalkin to one of the world’s most famous and prestigious hotels but, for Brian Kinsella, a native of Clondalkin, it is a path that has seen him rub shoulders with royals, sports stars and celebrities.

As bar manager in the five-star Goring Hotel, aka the hotel where the Duchess of Cambridge spent the night before her wedding to Prince William, Kinsella is used to mixing with the great and the good.

But how did the road from Clondalkin lead to London’s SW1 district?

Talking to The Gazette

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Brian Kinsella, bar manager, The Goring Hotel

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from London, Kinsella says: “I moved to London in 1988, and I started working in the hotel industry here.

“I worked in T he Dorchester and The Kings Court Hotel, before joining the Goring family 17 years ago.

“It’s a fourth-generation of the family that are running the hotel, which is nice,” he says.

Because of the nature of the job, Kinsella is obviously unable to divulge any details of the stay of the Middleton family, but the connection with

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the royal family does not end there for the Goring Hotel.

Opened in 1910, the hotel is just around the corner from Buckingham Palace, and the term “palatial” doesn’t do the early days of the hotel justice.

It was the first hotel in the world with en-suite bathrooms and central heating in every room.

“In fact,” says Kinsella, “many guests at Queen Elizabeth’s coronation chose to stay in the Goring Hotel, as there was a bathroom in every room, whereas in Buckingham Palace, they would have to share bathrooms.

“The affiliation [between the hotel and the royal family] started around that period and, since then, the royal family have frequented the hotel, and then you know what happened in May.”

Experience While not being able to talk specifics about the royal wedding, the Clondalkin native says that even being around the event was an experience not to be forgotten.

“It was a wonderful occasion for all involved.

The whole thing created such a buzz around London, especially because of where we are. It was a great mood around, it was a great thing to be involved in.

“It was probably the best three working days I’ve ever done,” says Kinsella.

In 2010, the hotel won the Cathey Award for Best Independent Hotel, and was named Virtuoso Travel Group’s Hotel of the Year.

Awards such as these

Clondalkin native, Brian Kinsella, talks to The Gazette about his bar manager at the prestigious Goring Hotel, close to Buckingham Palace, and where the Duchess of Cambridge spent the night before her wedding to Prince William

are felt at ground level, with Kinsella saying that being involved in the evolution of the company makes it feel more special.

“I’ve been here 17 years; my assistant managers have been here seven and six years, and I have a very good team around me.

“The hotel was a fourstar when I got here, and is a five-star hotel, now,” he says.

“We get a lot of famous people coming in, a lot of them because of the royal

wedding.

“We have a massive amount of regulars, with the Irish Embassy around the corner as well.”

As an Irishman living in the shadow of Buckingham Palace, seeing the Queen in his backyard, Kinsella says that the visit only improved his already excellent relationship with England. “[Queen Elizabeth’s visit to Ireland] should have been done years ago. On a personal basis, I think the relationship

[between Ireland and Britain] is pretty strong.

“There is a mutual respect between the countries, and there’s very few negatives I hear from British people about Ireland.

“We get a huge amount of Irish coming to this hotel and I was surprised by the interest [at home] in the royal wedding.

“But, when they find out that the bar manager is from Clondalkin, they’re a bit surprised!” says Kinsella.

26 January 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 9

10 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 26 January 2012

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OPINION Danger in not using proper channels

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Minister Fitzgerald with Geoffrey Shannon and Mr Ha Hung Cuong, Minister for Justice, Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Bringing clarity on adoptions MINISTER FRANCES FITZGERALD on the best course for couples to take AS Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, I am charged with working with the Adoption Authority of Ireland to develop inter-country adoptions. I have been working very hard on this priority in an effort to bring clarity for those wishing to adopt.

Seven hundred Vietnamese children have been adopted into Irish homes, but, in 2009 relationships between Ireland and Vietnam broke down.

Two hundred Irish applications were being processed when adoptions were suspended and 19 couples, who were about to complete the adoption process, were directly caught up in the suspension and have been left in limbo.

When I became Minister, I decided that I wanted to stop this drift and I have been working very hard to create political and diplomatic links between Vietnam and Ireland. My efforts culminated in an official visit

this month to Vietnam to progress inter-country adoption relationships between our two countries.

The Hague Convention will come into force in Vietnam on February 1 – this is very significant for us. The Convention sets standards, in terms of adoption, and it is vital that we are satisfied that any adoptions into Ireland comply with these standards and with our own Adoption Act. Between now and February 1, the Adoption Authority of Ireland will complete accreditation of one or more adoption agencies to work on the ground in Vietnam to assist couples during the adoption process.

There are 88 million people in Vietnam and 200,000 children are reliant on the Vietnamese State for care. While I was there, I visited an orphanage in Hanoi and among the children I met was a four-week old baby girl who has been abandoned. I would hope that

the progress Vietnam is making in terms of ratifying Hague, means that there will be fewer and fewer delays in placing children like her with loving families.

Of course, Vietnam isn’t the only country that we are forging links with. The State of Florida, Ethiopia, Mexico and Russia are all looking for families to adopt children. Some issues have arisen with adoptions from Florida and, at my request, the chairman of the Adoption Authority travelled to Washington in November to progress adoptions between Ireland and Florida.

Just before Christmas I gave approval to begin examining the feasibility of a bilateral agreement with Ethiopia and I look forward to being able to progress this. The Adoption Authority of Ireland travelled to Russia in December to discuss the potential for creating legal agreements to adopt from Russia.

The most important

piece of advice I would give any couple wishing to adopt is that the best safeguard is to go through the Adoption Authority of Ireland and always follow their advice.

Mexico hit the headlines recently for all the wrong reasons and it goes to show the dangers of not using the proper channels to adopt. You must always follow the advice of our Adoption Authority and send your adoption pack to the central authority in your country of preference.

I know a lot of Irish adoptees are anxiously awaiting news on tracing rights. My Department is currently drafting a new bill on this and I am in ongoing discussions with the Adoption Rights Alliance in relation to this.

I look forward to progressing legislation on tracing rights and to continuing to further inter country relationships in order to provide Irish homes to children who need them.

26 January 2012 GAZETTE 11

SOCIETY Annual contest calls for entrants

In search of leading social entrepreneurs Q LAURA WEBB news@gazettegroup.com

DUBLIN-based social entrepreneurs are being urged to apply for a 2012 awards programme that will see three such entrepreneurs get support funding, amounting to €600,000.

Social Entrepreneurs Ireland launched the 2012 awards programme this week, and is calling for applications from individuals in Dublin developing new, big ideas that will address the social and environmental challenges facing Ireland.

A total of €600,000 in funding and support will be presented to three award winners at the awards in October. On top of this, the awards will also support a further five individuals with €35,000, under the Social Entre-

James Whelton, from CoderDojo, was helped by Ben Mac Ionmhain and Laurita Maher Bordalo to launch the Social Entrepreneurs Ireland 2012 Awards Programme

preneurs Ireland Elevator Programme.

The call for applications is the start of an extensive eight-month consultation and engagement process that will lead to the award winners being announced in autumn.

Social entrepreneurs have until Thursday, February 16 to submit their application.

The selection process includes a “boot camp” in

March, where shortlisted candidates will be invited to pitch their projects, leading to interviews from which eight finalists will be chosen.

The finalists will then take part in a three-month finalists’ programme, where they will receive some funding and support, prior to final selection of the 2012 award winners in October.

Since 2005, Social

Entrepreneurs Ireland has helped support 150 social entrepreneurs, directly investing more than €4 million to individuals.

These, in turn, have directly impacted more than 170,000 people, and created more than 800 employment opportunities.

Sean Coughlan, Social Entrepreneurs Ireland chief executive, said: “The main criteria is a passion for making a difference, thinking big and using business skills for social change.

“We believe that, together, we can change Ireland, and the impact of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland over the past seven years has proved that.”

For further details on the programme, or to apply, see: www.socialentrepreneurs.ie.

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14 GAZETTE 26 January 2012

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs

On the run with Continental CONTINENTAL Tyres, the European market leader in the car tyre segment, has used its tyre manufacturing expertise to help global running leaders, adidas, develop a new model of running shoes.

The manufacturer was approached by the leading sports brand’s innovation team to apply their resources and expertise to develop an outsole with a strong grip ideal for trail and outdoor sports shoes.

The trail shoes, called adidas Supernova Riot 3, feature Continental’s TM Traction Compound Technology – which allows sure grip on all surfaces and conditions. The latest running shoe model that is now available in both men and women’s styles, is the brand new adiSTAR Ride 3, the perfect trainer for urban environment. Further products - for outdoor and street running are in development.

The Supernova Riot and the adiSTAR Ride 3 are now available from the online adidas shop at www.adidas. ie.

Badged as an Acura in the US, Honda’s new NSX uses lightweight materials and a mid-mounted V-6 engine

Honda’s New NSX Concept is unveiled AMERICAN Honda has unveiled the new NSX Concept, highlighting the design and technology direction for the nextgeneration supercar.

Badged as an Acura in the US, the new NSX, which is expected to go on sale in the next three years, will be developed

by Honda R&D Americas and manufactured in Ohio, but is developed for true sports driving enthusiasts throughout the world.

The dynamicallystyled NSX Concept gives an indication of the next great performance vehicle from Honda. Making use of lightweight materials and a mid-mounted V-6 engine, the NSX

Concept employs several new technologies, including an innovative new Sport Hybrid SHAWD (Super Handling All Wheel Drive) hybrid system.

Values

Speaking at the Detroit Motor Show, Takanobu Ito, President and CEO of Honda Motor Co, Ltd, who led the development of Honda’s first NSX supercar, explained the values of the new NSX. “Like the first NSX, we will again express highperformance through engineering efficiency.

In this new era, even as we focus on the fun to drive spirit of the NSX,

I think a supercar must respond positively to environmental responsibilities.”

While most supercars opt for brute force delivered from a large engine, the NSX Concept champions the true racing philosophy of an extremely favourable power-to-weight ratio.

Utilising a unique 2 Electric Motor Drive Unit with a bilateral torque adjustable control system, the new hybrid allwheel-drive system can instantly generate negative or positive torque to the front wheels during cornering, which Honda anticipates will deliver handling performance unmatched by previous

AWD systems.

In addition to the handling benefits of the Sport Hybrid SHAWD system, a powerful next-generation VTEC V-6 engine with directinjection, works in concert with a dual-clutch transmission with builtin electric motor, to create supercar acceleration while offering outstanding efficiency.

This Sport Hybrid SH-AWD system will make the NSX the ultimate expression of “the synergy between man and machine,” added Ito. “The NSX will make the driver one with the car to enhance dynamic driving abilities without getting in the way.”

Designing vehicles for visually impaired FORD is using Cambridge University’s Vision and Hearing Impairment Simulator to help design its vehicles to meet the needs of people with age-related vision problems Ford has joined forces with Cambridge University to gain a better understanding of visual impairment issues that come with an aging society and to use digital tools to better design vehicles for those with vision problems

With age, the ability to see fine details deteriorates, as does the ability to see in the dark. This means many drivers can struggle to read the instrument cluster while driving, unless they have bifocal or varifocal glasses.

To respond to this growing problem, Ford has joined forces with a team of experts from the University of Cambridge’s Engineering Design Centre. The team has developed a Vision Impairment

Simulator to enable designers and engineers to gain a better understanding of the effects of a wide variety of visual impairments.

“It allows you to simulate visual impairments on any image. You load in an image, select a visual impairment and it lets you see the image as someone with that impairment would see it,” said Sam Waller, an inclusive design research associate at Cambridge, who developed the software.

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GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS Graduates complete basic IT skills course MINISTER Pat Rabbitte, Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, awarded certificates to the first group of successful BenefIT candidates last Friday, January 20.

The candidates had completed ICS Skills’ Get Ireland Online programme, under the BenefIT 3 scheme, which is grant-aided by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources.

As part of this, ICS Skills will ensure almost 5,000 people are provided with basic IT skills in 38 locations around Ireland.

Minister Rabbitte said:

Supported by AIB

Ger’s golden giveaway: A lucky winner

“I want to ensure that no one is left behind – that every citizen has the opportunity to embrace our increasingly digital world.”

Participants on the Get Ireland Online course are taught how to make use of the web, send email, use internet telephone services such as Skype, and do shopping and banking online during three twohour classes.

The training is especially suitable for senior citizens, unemployed people, disadvantaged groups and anyone lacking in basic ICT skills.

For further information on the programme, see www.getirelandonline.ie.

IT DIDN’T take Bulmers’ Doing Our Bit winner Ger Norris long to de-cider who to give away his winnings to, when he won €2,500 for a charity of his choice in Bulmers’ promotional campaign.

Ger nominated the St Vincent de Paul Society to be awarded €2,500, in addition to winning €2,500 for himself, after he found a “golden apple” in a promotional pack of Bulmers’ cans and longnecks.

As a total of 17 apple varieties go into making Bulmers’ Origincal Cider, the company has hidden 17 golden apples in these packs, with individuals, and community projects of their choice, set to benefit from the sweet initiative.

BANKING: ANNUAL AIB CONTEST

Picking photo award winner will be a snap JUDGING of the 2012 AIB Photojournalism Awards is under way, with almost 2,000 images submitted from 120 photographers from right around Ireland.

This is AIB’s tenth year sponsoring the competition, which recognises excellence in the field of photojournalism, and is open to all members of the Press Photographers’ Association of Ireland (PPAI).

This year’s expert panel of judges is chaired by former picture editor, Dermot O’Shea, and includes two multi-award winning photographers – Peter MacDiarmid, senior news photographer, Getty Images, and Eddie Mulholland, photographer, The Telegraph Group.

The nine award categories have been refreshed and, this year, prizes will be awarded in news, daily

life and people, sports action, sports non-action, portrait, nature and the environment, politics, arts and entertainment and reportage, as well as the overall title of 2012 AIB Photojournalist of the Year Award.

Brenda Moriarty, head of brand and corporate marketing, AIB, said: “AIB is delighted to sponsor the AIB Photojournalism Awards, and accompanying exhibition, for the tenth year.

“The competition creates a tremendous platform for the work of the PPAI to be seen by communities right around Ireland.

“We look forward to the exhibition of winning and highly-commended images, which will go on tour following the awards, visiting our branches and other selected venues.

“I would like to wish all

PPAI members the very best of luck in this year’s competition,” she said.

Michael Chester, president, PPAI, said: “The AIB Photojournalism Awards recognises excellence in our field, and showcases the work of Irish photojournalists.

“The PPAI is delighted to be in partnership with AIB, as its branch network allows the work of our members to be seen by wide-ranging communities in Ireland,” he said.

The winners of the 2012 AIB Photojournalism Awards will be announced at a ceremony in The Burlington Hotel on Friday, February 17.

The winning images will form the 2012 AIB Photojournalism Exhibition, which will tour selected AIB branches and other venues around the country throughout the year.

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FAMILY FUN IN THE SUN P18

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VALENTINE’S BREAKS P24

WHERE in the WORLD THE WRITE GUIDE TO STOCKHOLM: THE Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is currently making a huge impact on movie fans all over the world and, now, it is making an even bigger impact in Stockholm.

The movie, based on the trilogy of books by Stieg Larsson, was shot in Stockholm, and many fans have started visiting the city to walk in the footsteps of the characters.

If you wish to explore the story settings on your own, and not by guided tour, pick up a Millenium Map at the City Museum, which lists all relevant addresses.

Stockholm City Museum’s popular and award-winning Stieg Larsson Millennium Tour has proved very popular with fans. The walking tour is full of factual information and intriguing stories that tie the real Stockholm with its fictional counterpart.

If you are an avid fan of the thriller series, then you may also like to take a private tour, which can be booked by emailing: bokning. stadsmuseum@stockholm.se.

SAS flies direct from Dublin to Stockholm, four times a week, from €85 one-way, including all taxes and charges.

Toronto has vibrant indigenous music scene, beautiful scenery, world-class museums, restaurants and architecture and a lot of sports

LONGITUDE 79° 24’ W | LATITUDE 43° 40’ N

Anything and everything you could want in Toronto Q PAUL HOSFORD

LOVE Toronto. It’s not a catchy phrase on (many) t-shirts, but it’s true. I have experienced a lot in my several visits – music festivals, scary amounts of snow, late-night, on-street discussions on the causes of homelessness with a Hasidic Jew in full Shabbath attire, and even being challenged to a fight by a lady drug-dealer (not me, technically, but a friend.)

With the full disclosure out of the

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way, you might ask what is the reason for this love?

There is everything that anyone could want in a major city – several music festivals all year round as well as a vibrant, indigenous music scene, beautiful scenery, an international film festival for star-spotters, world-class museums, restaurants and architecture, a well-laid out, easily walk able city with good public transport and a lot of sports.

To each of those ends, Toronto suits

me down to the ground.

In a hockey-mad town, in a hockeyobsessed country, Maple Leafs tickets are the Golden Fleece. Every one of their 41 home games sells out the 19,000-plus seats available and tickets are generally only available from scalpers who man the sidewalks outside Union Station, the central transport hub, which is cleverly located almost on top of the team’s Air Canada Centre.

Away from toothless men hitting

each other, the music and arts scene in Toronto is as vibrant as ever. The stunning Roy Thomson Hall is as good a venue for concerts and operas as there is, while the more contemporary venues, like El Mocambo, Lee’s Palace, The Opera House and the world-famous Horseshoe Tavern (which was the first stop on the Rolling Stones’ 1997 world tour) are alive nightly with the sounds of local and international music.

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LONGITUDE 37° 51’ N | LATITUDE 27° 15’ E

Kusadasi bound LAURA WEBB

MAKING my way to the airport on a rainy, dreary Sunday evening in Dublin, made the thoughts of staying in a sunny country for a week even more exciting.

The chartered Sky Airlines plane wasn’t as spacious as I had hoped, but the friendly staff and the free use of a pillow and blanket made the late night flight that little bit easier to handle.

Arriving in Bodrum Airport in Turkey in the middle of the night and having to get a two-hour bus journey to the resort didn’t go down well with my five-year-old son, but, thankfully, the handy portable DVD player was on hand with Toy Story 3 to keep him occupied, and I would suggest something like this in order to keep little ones occupied.

We stayed at the threestar Melissa Apartments, and, after a well-deserved nap, we were greeted by the Wings Abroad holiday rep, Sharon Byrne, who was a bundle of knowledge – telling us all we needed to know about our stay in Kusadasi.

Visitors to Kusadasi will have no excuse for just lounging around the pool, because there

is something different to do every day, from boat trips across the Aedeon Ocean, Turkish Baths, seeing one of the Seven Wonders of the World, or just enjoying the coastal view at the seafront.

My son, Dylan, and I treated ourselves to a trip to a Dolphin Show at Adaland Park, one of two water parks in Kusadasi.

Another day we went to Aquafantasy, which was recommended by Sharon for being the best for young kids. She wasn’t wrong. This water park had so many different activities for kids – if they aren’t big enough for the slides, they still had lots of pools and smaller slides to enjoy.

We walked around the town a lot and used the local bus service, which runs every five minutes, and runs on an honesty policy. You don’t have to pay straight away, and if you have an infant sitting on your lap, they usually go free.

The Melissa Apartment has everything you need for a sun holiday.

Entertainment is provided every night, and at the kiddie discos the younger ones are really taken care of. The room is basic and the complex is small, but the staff make everyone

Having some fun in the pool at Aquafantasy water park

feel welcome.

There are a few hidden costs that I was unaware of. When arriving at Bodrum airport you must pay €15 per person for a visa

The rooms at the Melissa Aparments in Kusadasi are small, but the facilities and friendly staff more than make up for it

to enter the country.

Another strange hidden cost was when we arrived at the Dolphin Show at Adaland Park, I was told that if I wanted to use my own camera to take pictures, I had to pay a further 10 Turkish Lira, crazy when you consider you will be the one paying for the print-outs.

As for the Airport’s crazy food prices – when we were waiting for our plane to Dublin at Bodrum, my thirsty five-yearold asked for a drink. Two cans of sprite cost me 23 Turkish Lira – the equivalent of €10; needless to say I made sure we drank every last drop.

Other than those couple of surprises, Kusadasi is quite cheap and a shop-

per’s dream for all those ‘genuine fake’ clothes, bags, shoes etc.

For a gateway in the Sun, Kusadasi ticks nearly every box.

The 3-star Melissa Apartments, on a selfcatering basis, costs from €369. This family-run complex, with its daytime activities and an Irish Style Pub, is suitable for both families and couples. Its central location and easy access to Ladies Beach, makes it an ideal base for those who want to be within walking distance of all of the amenities that Kusadasi has to offer.

Price includes seven nights accommodation, return flights and transfers.

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for family fun...

Fun at Aquafantasy, left, and, above, the three-star Melissa appartments

Sunset Beach Club – ideal for sun breaks THE Irish-owned Sunset Beach Club is located on the seafront of Benalmadena Costa on the Costa del Sol, and is easily accessible, being only 20 minutes from Malaga airport.

Ideal for a sunshine break, their one-bedroom apartments are perfect for couples or families of up to four, and offer the best of both worlds, combining apartmentstyle rooms with fourstar hotel services and facilities.

March, April and May are great months to enjoy the sunshine without the burn, and all the pleasures of the Costa del Sol and surrounding areas, without the crowds.

The on-site Golf and

Leisure Desk is also there to help you get the most out of your stay.

So, whether you are looking for somewhere to spend a few days lazing by the pool with a good book, play golf, or relax with family and friends, or perhaps an extended visit to explore the amazing sights of Andalucia, Sunset Beach Club provides the perfect base for your holiday.

During the Easter school holidays, separate activities are organised every day for five to 12-year-olds, teenagers and adults, making sure the whole family is entertained.

For more information, visit www.sunsetbeachclub.com.

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Exotic honeymoon options LAURA WEBB

AS EACH new generation ties the knot and enters the honeymoon market, they bring their own tastes and desires to travel.

Destinations, resorts, and activities that thrilled previous newly-wed couples may now be less appealing, or not as attainable due to political and economic reasons.

New trends and exotic destinations always emerge, offering Irish couples fresh opportunities

for fun and relaxation.

Honey mooning in European Union countries means shorter flight times, old world cultures, the euro and romantic cities such as Paris, Barcelona, Rome, Prague, Istanbul or Copenhagen, to name but a few.

Sunny Mediterranean beaches, great food and wine and an endless choice of hotels will suit any budget.

For many couples, Africa represents a dream honeymoon and a rea-

sonable exchange rate has made many previously expensive destinations, such as Kenya, Tanzania and Botswana, much more accessible.

Other hot destinations include Sri Lanka, India, Madagascar, Ethiopia, Borneo, Brazil and Jordan. All offer unique and unforgettable honeymoons, and have never been more inspiring. So, before planning a honeymoon, talk to GoHop.ie and check out the latest ways to celebrate one.

More deals from GoHop …

Also in relation to Toronto and Malta, here are some special offers: CANADA: In every Canadian city, visitors are only steps from good food, great views, and a breath of nature’s fresh air. GoHop.ie are offering holidays to Toronto, flights and five nights, three-star hotel from €519.

For more North American offers, visit http://ibe.gohop.ie/offer/group-24 MALTA: Few European countries have such concentrated history, architecture and, yes, beaches in so tiny an area. GoHop.ie are offering holidays to Malta, flights and seven nights three-star hotels from €159.

For more Malta offers : http://ibe.gohop.ie/offer/group-9

The CN Tower (left) and Casa Loma, Canada’s famous castle, is complete with 98 rooms, secret passages, stately towers and estate gardens . It was the former estate of Sir Henry Pellatt, a prominent Toronto financier.

LONGITUDE 79° 24’ W | LATITUDE 43° 40’ N

Anything and everything you could want in Toronto Continued from Page 17

For those looking to shop, the Eaton Centre marks the city’s centre point and comprises 330 stores, 160,000 square metres, two food courts and five floors. The centre is currently undergoing a $120 million revitalisation project that will see it upgraded and expanded by the end of 2012.

It contains the world’s largest Sears store, which is a haven for downtown shoppers, as well as the Canadian flagship store of H&M. To put in perspective the sheer size of the centre, each of its northernmost and southernmost points has a different subway station serving it (Dundas and Queen, respectively).

For those looking to hit the tourist trail, the CN Tower, once the largest

free-standing structure in the world, is worth every cent of the $30 admission, though, for the best value, I would highly recommend the CityPass ($66 available online at www. citypass.com or from any of the attractions).

The Pass will give you access to the CN Tower, the massive, impressive and, quite frankly excellent, Toronto Zoo, the Ontario Science Centre with it’s interactive learning exhibits, Casa Loma and the Royal Ontario Museum.

The final two are simply unmissable. Casa Loma is a 1911“medieval” castle built on a hill above Toronto’s northside, in an area now known as The Annex.

Up to $3.5million was spent from 1911-14 in turning the site into a home fit for a king and queen, but it soon fell into

disrepair and was seized by the City of Toronto in 1937.

Its magnificence, its opulence and its sheer scale are breathtaking and, if you get a sunny day, the setting is spectacular, with gardens and views aplenty.

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) is a world-class museum with over six million items ranging from dinosaur fossils, mummies, world art and Canadian history in 40 galleries inside its

striking, but controversial, crystal entrance.

The redesigned entrance is a jarring addition to the Toronto skyline and is still much-talked about, even four years after the Daniel Libeskind design first opened.

All in all, the city is a diverse, thriving metropolis, with enough quiet spots, like the Toronto Islands, Trinity Bellwoods Park, High Park and nearby attractions, like Niagara Falls, to make it the complete city holiday.

There is definitely something for everyone in the city limits of Toronto

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Great deals at Holiday World Show LONGITUDE 51° 30’ N | LATITUDE 0° 10’ W WHETHER your dream holiday is the delights of Turkey, an African safari, the excitement of South America, the luxury of Dubai, the fun of the Mediterranean or the warm welcome of a home holiday, The Holiday World Show Dublin 2012 at the RDS Simmonscourt from Friday, January 27 to Sunday,

January 29 is the place to be.

The Holiday World Show will provide expert advice to those seeking a well-earned escape from reality, with “affordability” being the key word, and many great offers are available to purchase on the spot.

New this year is the Over-55s Holiday Show,

joining The Holiday World Show and The Caravan and Motorhome Show, offering three shows in one.

The format of the show gives visitors the opportunity to explore the globe under one roof – Africa and the Middle East, Asia and the Pacific, the Caribbean, Europe and the Mediterranean, The

Americas, Home Holidays, Cruise Lines and Ferries, alongside Adventure Travel.

Visitors will have the opportunity to talk faceto-face with many leading travel organisations, and can take advantage of some exclusive “showonly” offers. For further information, see www. holidayworldshow.com.

A luvverly excursion to London Q SHANE DILLON

LONDON retains a charm and character that make it a delightful destination for all visitors, allyear-round.

Joining some colleagues, I recently set off for a couple of days there, keen to see some new sights in a city that I know very well.

Taking my seat for a British Midland International (BMI) flight to Heathrow, there followed the smoothest flight of my life – honest – as well as the softest landing, and all on my very first BMI flight, marking a great, relaxed start to my trip.

BMI fly from Dublin to London Heathrow oneway, including all taxes and charges, from €28, which also includes a 20kg baggage allowance.

For further information, see www.flybmi.com.

Upon arrival, my colleagues and I were soon whisked away into the centre of London, courtesy of the swift Heathrow Express (Heathrow to Paddington in 15 minutes;

prices from £18, one-way; www.heathrowexpress. com), leaving us close to our luxurious hotel, The Cavendish London (81, Jermyn Street, St James’s, London SW1Y 6JF; www. thecavendishlondon. com; telephone 0044 20 7930 2111).

The Cavendish London’s superb location (just the shortest of hops from busy Piccadilly Circus) proved an excellent location to explore the city centre on foot, and it was great to be surrounded by historic Jermyn Street’s charming shopping arcades.

After checking in and unpacking in our welcoming executive rooms, my companions and I set off for Madame Tussauds (Marylebone Road, London NW1 5LR; prices from £15; www.madametussauds.com).

You’ll forgive me for waxing lyrical, but the hit tourist attraction left us delighted, fascinated, amused and entertained.

Later that evening, we made our way to The Riding House Cafe (43 – 51

Great Titchfield Street, London W1W 7PQ; www.ridinghouse.co.uk) for a light evening meal – my generous portion of crumbling fish proved a great choice for my authentic fish and chips experience in London.

The night’s musical, Rock of Ages (Shaftesbury Theatre, 210 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8DP; prices from £20; see www.rockofagesmusical. co.uk) left a self-avowed musical-hating colleague singing a different tune the next morning, saying that Rock of Ages was “bloody brilliant” . Quite!

Finally, it was time to finish the day with cocktails, courtesy of the famous Mahiki Bar (1, Dover Street, Mayfair, London W1S 4LD; www.mahiki.com).

Next morning, we strolled to nearby cheesemongers, Paxton and Whitfield (93, Jermyn Street, London SW1Y 6JE; www.paxtonandwhitfield.co.uk), originally established in 1742.

The store serves everyone, from Japanese

Helen Mirren was happy to see Shane at Madame Tussauds, left; Irish cheeses are also on sale at historic Paxton and Whitfield cheesemongers

26 January 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 23

A view of one of the luxuriously-appointed executive rooms at The Cavendish London

The Cavendish London is located Even January’s gloomy weather couldn’t dampen the stunning views

conveniently close to Jermyn Street’s

of London and her landmarks from the EDF Energy London Eye

neatly-presented arcades

tourists to celebrities (or celebri-cheese?), as well as many leading London hotels, exporting to clients and, of course, serving Buckingham Palace.

Next up, the Thames RIB Experience made quite a splash (Embank-

ment Pier, Victoria Embankment, Greater London, WC2N 6NU; prices from £32; www. thamesribexperience. com), where a brightyellow, inflatable speedboat boat soon took us on an exhilarating, white-

knuckle dash downstream.

Ditching our sea legs, we rejoined the landlubbers at Knightsbridge, joining diners at Harvey Nichols’ Fifth Floor Cafe (109 – 125 Knightsbridge; London SW1X 7RJ;

w w w.har vey nichols. com/fifth-floor-london), where afternoon tea awaited in the form of Picnic Chic tea and sandwiches (£18 per person).

Later that evening, we set off to Vinopolis (1, Bank End, London SE1

9BU; www.vinopolis. co.uk), a complex of venues dedicated to alcohol.

There, Brew Wharf (Brew Wharf Yard, Stoney Street, London SE1 9AD; www.brewwharf. com), our chosen restaurant, served up a delicious evening meal, leaving us ready for the “afters” – a beginner’s introduction to whiskey, courtesy of Tom Forrest, wine and spirit education manager.

Tom’s detailed whiskey-

tasting (www.vinopolis. co.uk/monthlyevents/ whisky_masterclass.php) presentation left us feeling like experts in The Whisky Exchange next door, where a vast selection of whiskies awaited.

Next morning, we walked over to the EDF Energy London Eye (County Hall, London SE1 7PB; prices from £17.01; www.londoneye. com), where the city, and her landmarks, were a

fine sight to behold, even on a January morning.

All that was left was a return to Heathrow, another painless BMI self-check-in, and a short while later, we were once again on board a surprisingly smooth flight, which concluded in Dublin with another soft landing.

Londoners may be annoyed with my mangled accent, but all in all, it turned out to be a luvverly trip to London ...

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Family fun with American Holidays THINKING of Florida for your family holiday this year? American Holidays has the best offers whether this is your first time to experience Orlando or you are a repeat guest. With the best hotels, resorts and apartments on offer, great holiday prices, and a huge number of attractions to choose from, Florida is a must for families, so be sure to check out the new Florida brochure or view online This year, Orlando is all about value and American Holidays have some of the best prices going.

Offers start from €595pp for 14 nights, three-star accommodation and flights ex Dublin, for family of four sharing. And when you book by January 31, you can book your Florida holiday for as little as €100pp deposit.

However, Florida is not all about family holidays – there are superb beach destinations such as Naples, St Pete’s / Clearwater and more.

There are two new Fly drives for those who are looking to hit the open road and experience what the USA has to offer such as: New England Explorer – starting and ending in Boston taking in the MidCoast of Maine, White and Green Mountains, as well as Connecticut River Valley, from €509pp (flights extra). Or maybe the Golden California Self-drive, beginning in San Francisco and taking in the famous landmarks of Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Malibu, Los Angeles and Las Vegas from €599pp (flights extra).

To look at any of the new 2012 brochures, drop into your local travel agent for your copy, or request directly with American Holidays on 01 6733875.

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LONGITUDE 53° 00’ N | LATITUDE 80° 00’ W

Make this Valentine’s day a little bit special IT’S just around the corner, and it’s the best excuse of the year to get away for a special weekend... it’s Valentine’s Day! So, we have chosen some of the most unique and beautiful locations around the country, all of which are offering something a little different to steal away with your other half for a romantic weekend.

PICK N’ MIX AT THE THE 5-STAR G HOTEL

OVERLOOKING Lough Atalia on Galway Bay, a city break at the five-star g Hotel is the ideal getaway for Valentine’s weekend surrounded by absolute opulence and comfort.

Spend two nights with full Irish breakfast each morning, savour a special five-course Valentine’sthemed meal served in the intimate setting of Matz at the g restaurant, and all

from €245pps.

The g even has a pink room - one of the hotel’s signature lounges which is perfect to relax and enjoy one of the hotel’s special love potions cocktails.

To ensure your weekend of love is a bespoke occasion, pick and mix from a selection of treats to create that loving feeling, including ESPA bath oil selection €12; Strawberries dipped in chocolate, €16; Handmade chocolates: €16.00; Rose petal turndown with tea lights,€25; Buck’s Fizz cocktail breakfast, €28; Champagne, from €80 per bottle For further details visit www.theghotel.ie or call (091) 865200.

SPEND VALENTINES WITH ‘THE ONE’ AT NO. 1 PERY SQUARE, HOTEL AND SPA LIMERICK

CHECK into your opulent guest room where a bottle

of pink bubbly and homemade chocolates awaits you and your loved one on arrival.

Indulge in a sumptuous dinner on one night in the intimate surroundings of Brasserie One, overlooking the streetscapes of the Georgian Quarter of the city.

Cherish pure relaxation in the thermal suite followed by a taster treatment in The Spa @ No.1– Ireland’s largest organic urban retreat nestled underneath the .boutique hotel.

There is even a Private Spa Suite designed with total privacy and wellness for couples to enjoy together. As a special Valentine’s treat, couples can enjoy late check-out until 2pm, with the package priced from €169pps.

For further details visit www.oneperysquare.com or call (061) 402 402.

OUTDOOR FUN AND FINE CUISINE AT ASHFORD CASTLE

The comfortable and and friendly surroundings of Ballymaloe House

ENJOY a luxurious Valentine’s weekend in Ashford Castle Hotel where an array of outdoor activities can be enjoyed, and delicious cuisine prepared by award-winning chef, Stefan Matz, is on the menu.

One- and two-night packages are available.

For €247.50 per person,

Ashford Castle, top, Castle Leslie, above, and No 1 Pery Square, right right, are just ery Square three of the special places to spend Valentines

you can enjoy one night’s accommodation, full Irish breakfast, dinner in the renowned Geoorge V dining room, a dozen red roses and a bottle of chilled Gremillet Canteneur Champagne.

This is valid on February 14, 15 and 16.

Two nights’ package costs €395 per person, including all the extra treats and dinner on one night.

For more details call 094 954 6003 or go to www.ashford.ie.

A SPECIAL GETAWAY AT THE MAGICAL CASTLE LESLIE

ENJOY two nights accommodation in the stunning Castle Leslie estate with a romantic candlelit Valentine’s dinner on one evening of your choice in Snaffles restaurant along with a glass of bubbly.

Chocolates and a single red rose will await you in your bedroom and a delicious full Irish breakfast is served each morning.

Located in the castle, their heritage bedrooms

are steeped in history and are full of character and each boudoir has been restored with relaxation and privacy in mind.

Uniquely decorated and retaining their original features, the bedrooms and bathrooms are scattered with antiques, heirlooms and curios that have been lovingly collected throughout the centuries.

From €270 per person sharing, contact Castle Leslie on 047 88100.

SAY ‘I DO’ TO VALENTINE’S WEEKEND IN WESTPORT

BOASTING luxurious guestrooms with kingsize beds and jacuzzi bath as standard, intimate dining options in Restaurant Merlot and a range of glorious treatments in Spa Sula, the Westport Plaza, Co. Mayo, it’s the perfect retreat for couples.

Especially for Valentines weekend, the 4-Star Resort is offering a twonight break with breakfast each morning and an

evening meal on a night of your choice all from €149pps.

For further information, or bookings visit www. westportplazahotel.ie / +353 (0)98 51166.

BALLYMALOE HOUSE – THE PERFECT GETAWAY FOR VALENTINE’S

YOU can enjoy the comfortable and friendly surroundings of Ballymaloe House, take a stroll on the grounds, wander along their walking paths, passing the spring flowers in the woods or relax by an open fire.

The rate includes two nights’ bed and breakfast with a special dinner on Valentine’s night.

Included is a complimentary bottle of rose on arrival in your room and dinner is followed by music in the drawing room with Rory Allen and Friends.

From €230 per adult per for two nights includes bed and breakfast and two evening meals.

For more information call 021 4652531.

26 January 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 25

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT 1GoingOUT PAVILION 01 231 2929

Goldilocks and the Three Bears CONTINUING its commitment to a wide range of communityand family-friendly entertainment, the Pavilion presents a delightful presentation of the classic children’s tale, Goldilocks and the Three Bears. However, this tale is told from the bears’ point of view, as they try to deal with teenage tearaway, Goldilocks, and the worsening honey shortage ... Running from Thursday, January 26 to Saturday, January 28, at 7.30pm, with tickets priced €16/€12.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 Ger Carey Live THE Mill Theatre is continuing its diverse range of shows, with the upcoming return of Ger Carey Live one to look out for. Ger’s show for teenagers, Stand-Up For Teenagers, is set to deliver a fascinating – and hilarious – insight into the difficulties and delights of being a teenager in Ireland today.

Although some years past his own teenage years, Ger’s shows promise to be hilariously insightful. Look out for his show on February 8, with tickets priced €10/€7.50.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 The Three Tenors

Matt King (George Clooney) has, in many ways, a dream life in Hawaii. However, with the pressures of looking after an important land deal for his extended family, and looking after his two children while his wife is in hospital, waves of problems begin to crash in around him ...

Should make waves This Hawaiian-set tale sees plenty of twists and turns as a family man faces all sorts of unwelcome pressures ...

Q KATE CROWLEY

PERHAPS Ye Olde Mayan that I wrote about a few weeks ago was right, given the claims that 2012 would mark the end of the world.

After all, it’s with more than a faint shudder that I note Clive Owen is back on our screens, followed closely by Nicolas Cage on the distant horizon.

Alas! Alarum! Seeing one of these guys charging into view is enough to spook even a stunning film reviewer such as, ahem, you know who, but two? It’s an omen!

Time to start building an emergency shelter out of discarded DVD cases, I think! That, or ignore the grim reality of a world that keeps giving Messrs Owen and Cage films to star in, and turn instead to a kind of paradise on Earth – Hawaii.

I’m probably now getting drowned out by enthusiastic cries of “The

FILM OF THE WEEK: The Descendants ++++ (15A) 111 mins Director: Alexander Payne Starring: George Clooney, Matthew Lillard, Patricia Hastie, Beau Bridges, Nick Krause, nobody nicknamed “Dog”

OUR VERDICT: A LIGHT-hearted film with moments of darkness, The Descendants is a reliable Clooney vehicle, seeing him deliver the complexities of character that he’s capable of away from his usual crowd pleasers.

Part drama, part shootin’-the-breeze fluffiness, there’s enough change in tone and direction to appeal to most audiences, and add a breezy start to the year’s films.

Bounty Hunnnnterrrr” by enthusiastic followers of certain aspects of modern Hawaiian (pop) culture, but, dear readers, this week I’d like to take you both to Hawaii with me to share a little of Gorgeous George Clooney’s life.

Or, rather, to call in on the life of Matt King (Clooney); a middle-aged Hawaiian running one of those megabucks set-ups that lots of people are relying on, thanks to his family’s wealth and landowning good fortune.

All Matt has to do is sign over the land he’s ultimately responsible for (as

one of The Descendants of the original landowners – geddit?), and lots of people will be rrrrrrich.

Of course, this doesn’t sound like that involving a plot ... so, moving things right along, his wife (Hastie) has one of those A Terrible Accident plotdevices that tend to crop up in films like this, leaving Matt in charge of their daughters while she’s in a coma ...

Under pressure to close the land deal, and dealing with a teenager daughter and her younger sister, Matt’s in a muddle in the middle of all this pressure,

with his cousin (Bridges) piling on ever more demands to sign ...

Sheesh. This sounds like a perfect time for Matt to discover – SpoilerAlert!

– that his wife was also having an affair, which, perhaps, he’d not exactly prevented, thanks to his detached ways.

Okay, you can all start reading again. (Yes, the both of yus.)

Matt’s life is a mess, with what seems in many ways to be an idyllic setting only serving to shine the Hawaiian sun on the problems he faces.

His family and legal pressures and duties are all indirectly linked to the state of his marriage, creating a clumsy relationship with his daughters, and meaning that this particular descendant is simply King of a whole lot of pressures. (Geddit? See what I did there?)

There must be some way that everything is connected, that Matt can

turn everything around to reach the happy Hawaii ending that everyone’s looking for. But what ...?

Hmmm ... it’s an interesting film, if not quite truly great, but then, just as it’s pretty difficult to find O**n and C**e starring in great films, it’s hard to find Clooney starring in a terrible one, and The Descendants is a bright enough way to get 2012 going.

It’s mostly interesting for the shades of grey in the characters – or, at least, as much grey as the Hawaiian sun permits – as we see nice people doing questionable things, and others who’re halfway jerks also being nice enough, instead of the usual clear heroes/villains that most films have.

And now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a bunker to build from DVD cases, hopefully before O**n and C**e clip-clop into view with their latest offerings. Adieu ...

MUSIC fans will love The Three Tenors’ body of work when they take to the stage at Draiocht, ready to delight with a wide-ranging selection of songs. The trio – Declan Kelly, David Martin and Morgan Crowley – will cover everything from classic singers such as Sinatra and Elvis through to Simon and Garfunkel, Leonard Cohen and Joseph Locke.

Catch The Three Tenors on Friday, January 27 at 8pm, with tickets priced €27.50/€25 conc.

GAZETTE

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26 January 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 27

GazetteSPORT

HIGH STANDARD:

London beckons for Ava Hutchinson after epic Houston run Page 28

SOCCER: FAI LAUNCH ALL-IRELAND PRIMARY SCHOOLS’ COMPETITION FOR 2012

Five-a-side cup set to bring schools together sport@gazettegroup.com

ASPIRING Dublin schools’ soccer teams are being invited to take part in this year’s FAI Schools’ five-a-side competition.

FA I S c h o o l s a r e expecting over 15,400 children from ever y county in Ireland to compete in the event of 2012.

The games kick off in March and April, with Provincial Finals in May

and the National Finals concluding on June 7.

The winners from each county will go forward to their Provincial Finals and they then will battle it out at the National Finals.

The competition has been running since the mid 1990’s, the event is more popular than ever with nearly 1,000 schools currently involved.

There are five divisions to suit all school sizes, and a number of

teams can represent one school depending on the size of their student body.

While FAI Schools encourage boys and girls to play on the same team, there is also a separate competition for girls’ schools. Last year, St Oliver Plunkett NS, Malahide, won the B Girls’ Schools category.

S e a n C a r r, FA I Schools chairman said: “The competition is growing at an incredible

The FAI Five-A-Side competition will see some 15,400 children across the country taking part

rate with the standard of football improving each year. We must pay tribute to the local teachers and competition organisers in ensuring the success of the competition each year.”

The growth of football across the country can be attributed to the FAI’s Regional Development Officers, who have been vital in increasing the number of schools playing the sport, and to

the dedication of local organisers who volunteer to run competitions.

To enter your school in the competition, contact the competition organiser in your locality. Details of the coun-

ty and regional finals currently taking place around the country can be viewed by clicking on www.faischools.ie or www.faischoolsdublin. com for further information.

28 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 26 January 2012

in association with

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

Joy on the road as Ava makes grade After disappointment in Dublin, Dundrum athlete AVA HUTCHINSON is revelling in the glow of qualification for the London Olympics 2012

Clondalkin gymnasts take silver at Nationals THE WINTER Championships ATT National gymnastics finals were held in Carlow recently, and Clondalkin Gymnastics Clubfielded a team of 16 gymnasts at the prestigious All-Ireland event.

These same gymnasts had, a month earlier, competed in the South Dublin regional competition in order to qualify for National Finals.

There were 160 competitors from all over Ireland, who had each had to qualify through their own regions, gathered in Carlow for an intense day of competition.

The standard at all levels of the competition was very high throughout the day and the results at the top were all very close, with only a fraction of a point separating the medal winners.

With Clondalkin’s head coach, Emer Kavanagh, giving last-minute instructions during the warm-ups, the teams were eager to get onto the competition floor.

First up for Clondalkin, and proving to be the most successful team for the club on the day was the Grade 2 Team consisting of Sophie Toomey, Fiona Tapley and Zoe Taylor, who were performing in a women’s trio, followed by Toomey and Taylor taking to the floor again to perform as a women’s pair.

The combined scores of these two routines earned them the silver medal.

Next up was the Grade 3 team of mixed pair, Barry Gouldsbury and Beatrice Fagan, and women’s pair, Yvonne Kavanagh and Emma O’Brien. Both pairs produced clean routines and were unlucky not to bring home a medal, ending up in fourth place in their division.

The Grade 1 team of women’s pair, Aine Sheehan and Katie White, with women’s trio comprising Grace Carey, Grace Kavanagh and Brianna Sheehan, along with the Prep B team of men’s pair, Sasha Jackson and Jason Doyle, and women’s pair, Vicky Gallagher and Laura Brophy, all placed fifth in their respective groups on what was a very successful day all round for the club.

MARATHON runners rarely describe what they do as fun. Tales abound of hitting the wall and hours toiled overcoming inner demons on the road.

Ava Hutchinson, though, cannot think of anything more enjoyable.

Her first effort at the distance ended in disappointment in Dublin last October. Running well on course for an Olympic qualifying time, cramps set in after eight miles, and became severe enough by the half-way point to leave her stretching against road-side kerbs.

The DSDAC runner ended five minutes outside the Olympic A standard. The result proved to spur her on and, last week, she made the qualifying time in Houston in brilliant fashion.

“I finished Dublin in two minds – I was devastated with the result but I did think about having

broken 2:42 with all those problems. I’m was adamant that if I could keep the body in control, then I could qualify,” she told GazetteSport.

Bouncing back, she approached last week’s Houston marathon with the same plan formulated by legendary coach, Ray

going to do it, you have to embrace being tired, the long miles, the bad weather.

“If you go into it with that attitude, you do get a lot of enjoyment out of it. It is hard, there’s no doubt. The training can be tedious with the repetition but there’s so much

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

‘The rewards of running a marathon are even better than on the track. It’s a different feeling to anything I’ve done before’

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

Treacy, her mentor and the head coach at Providence College in the US. He was the man to impress on Hutchinson the value of fun to cope with the most rigorous physical challenge in athletics during her formative training sessions.

“That was the first thing Ray said to me. If you’re

Ava Hutchinson in action for DSDAC

enjoyment to be had.

“I’ve always wanted to go up to marathon level, but didn’t know when the right time was. Obviously, this season is a great opportunity.

“The rewards are even better than on the track, and the feeling I had after the weekend was just so good. It’s a huge sense of achievement for anyone to finish a marathon. It’s a different feeling to anything I’ve experienced before.”

The 28-year-old’s step up to the iconic distance was always in her longterm plans, but was accelerated by Marathon Mission’s support. The Mission was formed in 2009 to raise Ireland’s performance in the 26-mile event and has since provided Hutchinson with the funding to travel to Providence for five weeks away from her Loughborough base in England.

Similarly, nutritionists, blood-testers and other

supports offered her the chance to commit quickly to the new regime, and it has borne instant fruit.

Learning the ropes came naturally after an international background in middle-distance and cross-country running.

Ava won her first halfmarathon in Waterford last September.

Dublin followed a month later, a painful experience that provided the vital lessons for her stunning fourth-place finish in Houston, running 2.35.33 in a remarkably consistent performance, passing halfway just past the one hour and 17 minute mark.

“I really enjoyed it. The actual atmosphere was absolutely brilliant. It was so much, the crowds were huge – I’d suggest if anyone was doing an American marathon, it is the one to do!

“We had a strict plan.

The first couple of miles were quite slow as I hadn’t much time to warm up.

“But then I got into a really nice rhythm, got a really good group of about six. For about 18 miles, I felt really good and thought, I shouldn’t have a problem here.

“From 20 on, I had a few issues with cramps in my calves but pretty much felt good the whole way.

It was a big relief coming down the home straight when I saw the clock.”

The success of Marathon Mission, however, means that while Hutchinson has gone well under the Olympic standard,

there is a possibility she could miss out on the Games.

Indeed, it may even be a full set of clubmates could steal her dream. Fellow DSDAC runner Linda Byrne won the national title in Dublin – albeit a minute slower – which could place her higher in the pecking order.

Gladys Ganiel finished eighth in Houston but intends another qualifying run in Rotterdam, while the experienced Maria McCambridge will have a go in Seville. It is a far cry from 2008 when just one B standard runner ran in Beijing.

It is a remarkable turnaround but one which lost out in the publicity stakes as Martin Fagan’s admission of taking EPO took the athletics limelight.

Hutchinson says it does not unduly affect her glee at running inside the qualification time, but hopes it will not cast a black cloud overwhat has been serious success for the women’s long-distance runners.

“There are so many aspects of it that are so sad. It’s sad for Irish athletics and sad for the athletic world as a whole.

There are two sides to it. It’s great that the drug testers are doing the job and the sport has been kept clean.

“I’ve met Martin but I wouldn’t know him well so I don’t know about his personal situation but you have to take each individual case as it is and it’s nothing else to do with any other Irish athlete.”

26 January 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 29

30 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 26 January 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

SOCCER: LOCAL SCHOOL COMPLETE LEINSTER CHALLENGE

Kevin’s claim Murphy Cup FAI JOHN MURPHY CUP St Kevin’s CC St Kilian’s DSD

5 0

Q sport@gazettegroup.com

Egan reaches elite semifinal for 12th time at NBA KENNETH Egan progressed to his 12th successive elite championships semi-final when he produced a third-round stoppage of fellow Dubliner Michael Frayne at the National Stadium last weekend.

The Neilstown BC southpaw was 24-9 up when Frayne, who took two counts in the first, took a third standing count 12 seconds from the final bell, and the 81kg bout was stopped.

Ten-time Elite champion Egan will now meet Eamon Walsh in the last-four next weekend, while Davey Joe Joyce will face European and current Elite champion Joe Ward in the corresponding light-heavyweight semi-final.

ST KEVIN’S Community College were crowned the kings of Leinster schools’ soccer after an emphatic 5-0 victory over Clonskeagh’s St Kilian’s Deutsche Schule Dublin at Leixlip Amenities Centre last week.

The Clondalkin school are traditionally one of the heavyweights at senior level, having secured double victories last year, winning the U-19 Division 3 and U-16 Division 3 Metropolitan League titles in fine style.

Kevin’s did not underestimate the ability of their opponents, and the game was scoreless for

the opening 27 minutes, during which time St Kilian’s enjoyed the majority of possession.

During this purple patch, the Clonskeagh students should have scored when one of their players was put through on goal only for Kevin’s keeper, Stephen Kavanagh, to clear to safety.

Kevin’s captain, Dan Matthews, grabbed the first goal of the game.

It came from a corner on the right and, after a bit of pinball in the box, Matthews was on hand to score.

In the 55th minute, a long kick-out from Kavanagh was headed on from midfield into the path of Marco Chindea, who out-muscled the Kilian’s defender and slotted

St Kevin’s emphatically defeated St Kilian’s DSD at Leixlip

the ball into the bottom left-hand corner.

From the restart, the Clondalkin side won the ball back and Dylan McKeever took a shot from outside the box which the keeper did well to save, but the ball broke

into the path of John Harcourt who made no mistake.

Shortly after they had the ball in the net again, when McKeever beat the offside trap, and latched on to a through ball from right winger Chindea.

McKeever tucked his shot away, in off the right post.

It was McKeever who finished off the scoring when he got his second of the game, and St Kevin’s fifth, with a welltaken goal.

26 January 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 31

in association with

CAMOGIE: COLLEGE GIRLS TAKE DUBLIN TITLE

CLUB NOTICEBOARD LUCAN SARSFIELDS MEMBERSHIP is now due and can be

every Saturday at 1.30pm on our

paid online at www.lucansarsfields.

all-weather pitch at the 12th Lock.

ie, or by submitting the form to your mentor or the clubhouse bar.

Congratulations to Kate Whyte on

Gaelic4Mothers and Others train-

ogie Goalkeeper of the Year award

ing is on the all-weather pitch at

at our presentation night last Fri-

8.30pm on Wednesday nights.

This award is kindly sponsored by ilivephotos.

Opening times for our club shop are Tuesday and Thursday from

table quiz at 8.30pm, with the ques-

7.30 to 8.30pm and on Saturdays

tions coming from Dara Keher and

from 10.30 to 11.30am.

Casserly, grandson of Tom who runs our club shop on Friday, February 3 in the clubhouse.

Visit www.forjames.com for more information.

Our nurseries for boys and girls born in 2005, 2006 and 2007 are

St Joseph’s College Maryfield

2-11 1-6

Q sport@gazettegroup.com

ST JOSEPH’S College broke new ground this week when they claimed their first Dublin senior camogie title with an impressive victory over established force, Maryfield, on Tuesday afternoon.

In doing so, the school continued their remarkable progression through the ranks of county camogie, having previously claimed Senior B and the Senior A shield in the past three years.

But this was the prestige title, and brings with it a first-ever shot at All-Ireland glor y, as they will now have a quarter-final date to contend in the coming weeks.

Ali Twomey – a Dubs’ Star in the last month for her performances in the club championships

in 2011 – and Ciara Sheehy powered the side into an early lead, and they never looked back.

Twomey ran up a personal tally of 1-7, while Laura Morrissey’s goal proved a clincher of sorts when her major quelled any thoughts of a Maryfield fight back coming close to knocking Joseph’s off the path to the trophy.

Speaking about the success, the school’s David Kirwan said it was a continuation of the coaching work done in the school and with the local clubs, with the majority of the panel coming from Lucan Sarsfields, while a couple play their camogie with St Pat’s, Palmerstown.

“It was a great performance; we took the lead early and held it for the rest of the game,” Kirwan told GazetteSport.

“They’ve been pro-

gressing every year. It’s huge because we’d never been this successful. We won the Senior A shield last year and then the Senior B championship three years ago.

“So, they’ve been moving up the ranks.

We won all of our group games and were top of the championship to qualify for our first county, Senior A final. “ We ’ v e q u a l i f i e d for the All-Ireland quarter-final as well, which we’ve never done before. “ T h e p l ay e r s a r e t r a i n i n g aw ay w i t h their clubs and Lucan are very strong at the moment, winning all the championships from U-13 to U-18 in the year just gone.

“The growth of camogie in the school is parallel to that of the club; huge progress over the last four years or so, coinciding with the couple of All-Irelands the U-14s won.”

Twomey and Sheehy combined for their side’s first six points of the game before superb defending kept the side very much on top.

It gave the Maryfield forwards no space at all while some brilliant catches and clearances from the likes Rachel Kenny, Ailise Dowling and Orla Moloney kept the game moving forward.

In midfield, Ellen Downes and Eimear Mo l o n e y we r e o u tstanding all game to power the side to glory against a seriously fancied Maryfield, as Kirwan explained.

“They won the last two years in Dublin and won the All-Ireland C championship so they’re very strong.

“They beat us handy enough last year, so it was great to come back and get one over on them. Today, it was very convincing how we did it.”

087 218 6502.

incharge of this Wednesday night’s

There will be a quiz in aid of James

DUBLIN SENIOR SCHOOLS

If you are interested in taking part, contact Aisling Maloney on

Our boys football section will be

Greg O’Neill.

Local heroines made as Joseph’s triumph

captain, Johnny McCaffrey.

winning the Lucan Sarsfields’ cam-

day.

St Joseph’s senior camogie team deservedly claimed the senior schools title against Maryfield last week

This is your child’s chance to be coached by Dublin senior hurling

This week’s Lotto numbers drawn were 8, 10, 19 and 27.

There was no winner of the jackpot.

Next week’s jackpot will be €11,500, and Seamus Clandillon’s team will be in charge next Sunday when our sponsor will be Lucan Village Pharmacy.

ST PAT’S, PALMERSTOWN OUR sincere thanks to our adult

cost €30 for adults for stand and hill,

sponsor the Fitzgerald Group and

and €10 forfor juveniles stand only,

Palmerstown House manager Dam-

text your order to 086 725 5586.

ien Kelly for the excellent apprecia-

Members please note, the AGM

tion night for our club volunteers on

takes place on Wednesday, Febru-

Friday night last.

ary 29 in the clubhouse at 8pm.

Congratulations to our senior camogie player, Niamh Farren, and

To view our website, simply log on to www.stpatricksgaa.ie

her husband, Noel, on thebirth of

Lotto: Numbers drawn were 3, 17,

their first child, a girl, to be called

25 and 30. There was no winner of

Robyn.

the €7,600 jackpot.

Members: Don’t forget to order

Match any three numbers winners

your tickets for the Dubs’ football-

were Padraigh O’Brien and Miss

ers and hurlersSpring Series which

Stynes, and each receive €100.

will take place on February 4, March 11 and 24 in Croke Park.

To secure your tickets, which will

Next week’s jackpot will be €7,800.

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

GARDA/WESTMANSTOWN TRAINING continues for Interme-

Westmanstown Gaels are pleased

diate and Junior mens teams at

to announce the appointment of

7:30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays

Declan Jennings as the new club

at Westmanstown.

GPO. “Declan eat s , sleeps and

First pre-season game for Inter-

drinks GAA and we are really excit-

mediates is next Sunday morning,

ed about his involvement with the

January 29, at 11am when we wel-

club,” sa ys PRO Stephen Byrne.

come St Finians to Westmanstown.

“The club is growing rapidly and

The ladies pre-season training

Declan’s appointment is hugely

continues on Mondays at Parkwest

important in establishing the Gaels

and Wednesdays at Hills Industrial

as a significant GAA force in West

Estate in Lucan, both sessions at

Dublin.”

8pm, and in Westmanstown on Saturday morning at 9am.

He pla yed senior football for Breaffy GAA in Co Mayo and repre-

Annual club membership for all

sented his County at all levels on a

members is now due and should be

number of occasions. He finished

paid forthwith to club treasurer

the 2011 season with another sen-

Alan Lynch.

ior football medal in his pocket. It

New players both Garda and non-

is clear that he will be missed down

Garda are welcome to join all men’s

in Mayo but their loss is definitely

and ladies teams.

Westmanstown Gaels gain.

ALL OF YOUR CLONDALKIN SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

KEVIN’S CROWNED: College claim the FAI Schools’ John Murphy Cup title P30

JANUARY 26, 2012

BREAKTHROUGH Hutchinson rejoices in Olympic standard P28

GazetteSPORT

Ciaran Carr, pictured here in action for Round Towers as an Under-15 representative, was involved and respected at all levels of the club

Tragic Ciaran was ‘Towers to the core’ Shock and sadness floods community after death of clubman and talented Under-21 footballer last week clondalkinsport@gazettegroup.com

ROUND Towers GAA club were in mourning this week after the tragic death of Under-21 star and club man, Ciaran Carr.

The young player was taking part in an indoor training session last week when he collapsed.

In spite of the best efforts of his teammates and medical staff, they were unable to revive him.

The shock and sadness that has overtaken the whole club in recent days was summed up by club mentor and teammate of Ciaran, Alan Milton, who spoke to GazetteSport last week.

“It has been a tough couple of days. The reaction at the club at all levels, old and young, is one of extreme shock, sadness and disappointment.

“Not only was Ciaran a talented footballer and hurler, and a player that we had very high hopes for, he was an esteemed member of the club.

“He was Round Towers to the core.

“He was immersed in the activities of the club.

He was a part of the success across the club, committed to all levels, and he was a part of everything that Round Towers did,” said Milton.

Ciaran, a sports management student at Inchicore College, was a promising player who honed his skills from a very early age with the help of his father, Philip, a well-known GAA referee.

“His mother recounts a story that he arrived over to the Community Centre pitches swinging a hurley at four years of age, and he never stopped thereafter,” said Milton.

“He followed his father’s footsteps in getting involved in refereeing, so there was not an aspect of the club that he didn’t reach into. He would have socialised with all of his best friends at the club. He was a busy young man who had a lot of interests, and he was a prominent member of the club.”

Ciaran was part of the Dublin development panel from the age of 13, and was on the Dub-

lin preliminary panel for Under-21 football last year. He played both senior and Under-21 football for Round Towers for the last three seasons, something that marked him out, according to Alan.

“Ciaran was one of the standout players who was ready to play at that level from a young age, long before his time.

“He had a keen eye for goal and he scored some great goals last season. It showed what he was capable of. He was fit and quick, and had all the attributes you would look for in a topclass footballer or hurler.

“Ciaran’s parents have complemented his teammates who were fantastic on the night he died and have been fantastic ever since. Everyone is grieving, but the club has pulled together, and it is at times like this, in adversity, that you see the strengths of a club.

“We are just trying to cope with it the best we can, but our pain is nothing compared to the pain his parents are feeling.”