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INSIDE: Preparing plans for the next Clondalkin Village festival Page 4

May 3, 2012

OPINION: We should reject the Fiscal Compact Treaty, says Sinn Fein Page 6

Having fun, on the double: At a school open day Football: Round Towers championship run delayed Page 32

TWINS James and John McGrillen showed that they could get to grips with science when they examined a Newton’s Cradle at Moyle Park College’s science lab recently, where they, and their family, joined lots of others for an imaginative and informative open day. As well as affording prospective students the chance to examine the school, scholarships were also presented on the day, along with junior Mensa memberships. Picture: Karl Burke

See Gallery on Page 2

Sports Awards: April winners are announced inside Page 29

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ..................... 2 BUSINESS .................... 19 MOTORS ....................... 20 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

Council refutes SF claim on Balgaddy Party’s ‘national I PAUL HOSFORD

disgrace’ tag is rejected by SDCC

SOUTH Dublin County Council has rejected claims that the Balgaddy area of Clondalkin is a “national disgrace”. Sinn Fein councillor Matthew McDonagh claims that the Balgaddy area is underresourced and has inadequate

community facilities, after his party carried out a local survey at the beginning of March. In response, the council said the survey ignored ongoing work at the estate. “Balgaddy is not, as is claimed, a national disgrace. Efforts by the council, in conjunction with their tenants, will

resolve construction difficulties which earlier dogged this project and disadvantaged the residents. “The positive response of the majority of tenants to the ongoing work is encouraging, and shows a worthwhile route forward,” said the council. Full Story on Page 7

2 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 3 May 2012

COMMUNITY: CREATIVE EVENTS FOR ELDERS

SCHOOLS Moyle Park College hold its Open Day

Celebrate elders with Bealtaine festival BEALTAINE Festival, the festival celebrating Creativity in Older Age, was launched by Mayor of South Dublin County Council (SDCC), Caitriona Jones, this week. Bealtaine is co-ordinated by Age and Opportunity, the national organisation working to promote greater participation by older people in society. The name “Bealtaine” comes from the ancient Celtic festival of that name, celebrating springtime, freshness and renewal. SDCC has organised a number of events during the month to celebrate the festival, and has produced a brochure to advertise events for older people during Bealtaine. Each week has a different theme, including learning, activity, arts and green fingers, presenting an opportunity for everybody to try out something new. Some of the activities include cycling, dance workshop, composting, a tour of Sean Walsh Park, computer classes, arts and crafts and lots more. Mayor Jones said that addressing the needs of the elderly was vitally important. “As a local authority, I believe we are putting in place the structures to address the changing needs of this segment of our population, and work is ongoing to make South Dublin an

age-friendly county. “Much of the work with our elderly population in the county is carried out by volunteers all over the county. SDCC has worked in partnership with many local organisations and statutory agencies to enhance the services for elderly people living in the county. “Working together, we can make South Dublin County a better place to live for people of all ages and abilities,” she said. Bealtaine is an Age and Opportunity initiative, part-funded by the Arts Council and delivered by hundreds of organisations around the country, and Dublin City Council is an investment partner.

Evaluation In 2009, Age and Opportunity published a major independent evaluation of the Bealtaine festival by the Irish Centre for Social Gerontology in the National University of Ireland, Galway, which is available on its website at www.ageandopportunity. ie. For further information, contact Sandra Hickey or Anne Byrne, Community Services Department, South Dublin County Council, at 01 414 9270, or see www.sdcc.ie. For further information on the Bealtaine Festival and what is on near to you, see www.bealtaine. com.

New Mensa members Mihai Soreanu, Patrick Clos, Ben Finnegan, Alex Conroy Egan and Toms Ludbarzs. Pictures: Karl Burke

Getting up close and personal M OYLE Park College recently held an Open Day to attract potential new students and their families. The day began with principal Aiden Clarke awarding a total of five scholarships to five new students starting in September 2012. Junior Mensa memberships were achieved by a total of five new students. One student, Ben Finnegan, received both awards. Families spent the afternoon becoming acquainted with the college and what

it offers including a wide range of sports facilities, science and computer facilities, modern languages,special needs education, career guidance and music. Incoming students had an opportunity to do some hands-on scientific experiments. They also got a chance to hear the sound of some European languages, French, Spanish or German. For the more practical minded, there were demonstrations in engineering and woodturning.

Ben Fitzsimons of Sacred Heart School Sruleen, Clondalkin, is

Entrance exam first place winner

presented with his certificate by

Kacper Kencler, with teacher Stephen

Sean Casey of St Joseph’s school is presented with

Moyle Park principal, Aiden Clarke

Doyle

his certificate

Award-winning entrant students

3 May 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 3

TRANSPORT Facility idle for two years over car park

COUNCIL: REFUSE

Get Kishogue Train Station open – Dowds

€400k spent on sale fees

I PAUL HOSFORD

clondalkin@gazettegroup.com

IARNROD Eireann has been urged to speed up the process of getting the Kishogue Railway Station in Lucan opened to the public. Labour TD Robert Dowds said that having a brand-new railway station lying idle for more than two years was “an appalling waste of taxpayers’ money”. The station is situated very close to the location of several multinational companies, including Pfizer and Microsoft and, in the near future, Google, and Deputy Dowds believes that its opening

could attract more investment. He said: “Construction of Kishogue station was completed in December, 2009, yet the station has yet to take a single passenger. Problem

“I understand that there is a problem with a plot of land that was supposed to be used for a car park and that, bizarrely, the car park must be constructed before the train station can open. “Though Iarnrod Eireann is working to resolve the issue, and will make a compulsory purchase order (CPO) within six months, if necessary, they

should have proceeded with a CPO long ago,” said Deputy Dowds. He added that, regardless of the situation, the station must be opened. “Regardless of the circumstances, it is totally unacceptable and a complete waste of taxpayers’ money to have a newlyconstructed railway station lying idle for more than two years. “I urge Iarnrod Eireann to speed up the process of sorting out the problem. With so many large multinationals in the vicinity of the station, one would think that this problem would have been solved long ago. “The sooner the station

SOUTH Dublin County Council spent more than €400,000 on legal advice during the sale of the refuse collection services in the county. At the most recent council meeting, Sinn Fein councillor Anne Marie Dermody asked the manager to “state if there were outside consultants employed in the sale/disposal of the waste collection business?”

Deputy Robert Dowds, Labour: “[Station] an appalling waste of taxpayers’ money”

can start taking passengers, the better for commuters, for Iarnrod Eireann and for the economy,” said Deputy Dowds. “As with many problems affecting the country, this one also involves a developer and the question of land ownership. “It also has all the hall-

marks of bad planning, as the station itself is not easily accessible from the main residential estates in the area. “If it had been planned properly, there would have been housing estates near to the railway line, with easy access to the city centre.

“This is yet another appalling legacy of the property-mad mentality which drove the country over a cliff. “I hope Iarnrod Eireann can do their part in picking up the pieces by getting this railway station opened as soon as possible,” he said.

Response In response, the council said it had employed Ernst and Young as advisors, at a total cost of €284,487.21, inclusive of VAT, while Arthur Cox was retained as legal representative, at a cost of €150,929.75, inclusive of VAT. The council said that the overall savings of the move would be €17.2 million.

4 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 3 May 2012

FastNews

COMMUNITY Plans afoot to build on last year’s success

Wide range of events at SDCC Eco-Week SOUTH Dublin County Council’s (SDCC) Eco– Week 2012 was launched by Labour councillor Mick Duff recently, who was deputising for Mayor Caitriona Jones (Lab). Certificates and prizes were presented to winning students of the SDCC-funded Garbo Productions’ Code Name Green Warp anti-litter drama, and recycled flag workshops. Cllr Duff said: “This year, the Eco-Week workshops and activities had a wide range, from magic recycling shows, to creative recycling, energy workshops, composting and Green business talks on increasing efficiencies and reducing costs.”

Finalists Sorcha O’Brien, environmental awareness officer, SDCC, said: “Earlier this year, more than 1,200 students from around South Dublin county took part in the Code Name Green Warp antilitter drama and recycled flag workshops, from which 13 finalists were chosen to take part in the flag parade.” Local winners included Leah Doherty and Shawna Ryan, of Scoil Ide, and Ola Aleksandra Zimny, of Adamstown Educate Together.

These children were just some of the many locals who enjoyed last year’s inaugural event

High hopes for next Clondalkin Festival SUPPORT I PAUL HOSFORD

CLONDALKIN

SHOP LOCALLY

BUSINESS

clondalkin@gazettegroup.com

A BIGGER and better village festival will take place this year in Clondalkin village on Saturday, June 30 and Sunday, July 1. To start, Clondalkin Garda Station is having an open day that Saturday, and a fun cycle will take place around the village on Saturday morning, finishing in the Mill Shopping Centre. Sunday will see events right across the village; Main Street and Tower Road will be closed to traffic from 1.45pm until 6.15pm, to facilitate street performers, and a street

performer competition will be held, with €1,000 in prizes up for grabs. A large stage and performance area will be erected in Tuthill’s car park, and there will be a second stage at the Civic Offices, opposite the garda station. It is hoped there will be entertainment in the pubs in the village to add to the festival atmosphere, as well as further attractions and a full programme of events, which is currently being compiled. As well as a fun day for all, the organisers also hope to promote local clubs and businesses. All events will be free of

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will be provided, and this is most welcome, considering the difficult times in which we find ourselves. “As I understand it, the chamber will match the council’s figures. This is a great day for Clondalkin,” said Cllr Gilligan. “I have been in constant contact with the community department, with regards to funding, and whilst I do not know yet how much the council will provide, they will provide funding, which is a great step for the festival. “I have no doubt the festival will be a success. I look forward to attending myself,” he said. The Clondalkin Festi-

val was held for the first time last June, and not even the heavy rain could deter the crowds from turning out for the fantastic event. The one-day festival was the grand finale to a week of events organised by staff of the council’s Community Services Department, with the much-valued help and assistance of the local gardai. To promote a local club, organisation or a small business, email: inclondalkin@gmail. com; see Inclondalkin on Facebook; or phone Thyes Kavanagh at 086 259 6575.

Harelawn’s community spirit praised I PAUL HOSFORD

clondalkin@gazettegroup.com

CALL THE GAZETTE ON

charge, and the cost of the festival will be met by Clondalkin Chamber of Commerce, South Dublin County Council and An Garda Siochana, Clondalkin. Cllr Trevor Gilligan (FF) welcomed the news, saying: “I have put several motions forward about a festival for Clondalkin. I would like to thank the [council’s] community department for all their hard work, and the Chamber of Commerce and An Garda Soochana, Clondalkin for their time and effort. “I have been given a commitment that monies in the region of €6,000

THE community spirit of residents in Harelawn has been commended by Labour councillor, Breeda Bonner, after they held a hugely-successful clean up recently. She said: “The residents of the Harelawn estate have a very active environmental group. The members of this group work hard to keep their estate clean and tidy, and have a good relation-

ship with council staff. “They recently organised a clean up, in conjunction with me, and more than 40 people turned up. The clean up was a huge success. The turnout was an indicator of the great community spirit that exists in Harelawn. “It was co-ordinated by Tanya Gunnery, Elizabeth Doyle and Miriam Keegan, all of whom are very active in the community,” she said. Praising the Harelawn residents, Cllr Bonner said she hoped

the group would act as an inspiration to the rest of the town. “I wish that all estates had an active environmental group such as that in Harelawn. They are proactive and positive, and get up and act instead of complaining about the state of the place. “I hope that they will enter their estate into the Tidy Towns and the Beautiful South Dublin competitions. They are a great example, and have fun while improving their area,” she said. “There was a meeting in Aras

Rualach on Monday to inform North Clondalkin residents about Tidy Towns. The Clondalkin village group is up and running, so I would hope that some of the estates in North Clondalkin will get involved, too.” Complimenting Maire Ni Dhomhnaill from South Dublin County Council, Cllr Bonner said: “Maire has done great work over the past few months in encouraging communities to get involved in the Tidy Towns project.”

3 May 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 5

CALENDAR

ECONOMY: WEST DUBLIN HAS A WEALTH OF FACILITIES, SERVICES – KEATING

Call to support local tourism HOTELS in South Dublin must be supported and tourism promoted, a local politician has warned. Speaking at a Fine Gael meeting this week, Deputy Derek Keating said that he had initiated discussions with the Minister for Tourism, Leo Varadkar, regarding the promotion of smaller regions such as Lucan and Clondalkin to promote local tourism, to ensure that local bed and breakfasts facilities, restaurants and hotels were supported in every way. He said: “We have a wonderful, wonderful facility in West Dublin, with the Liffey Valley area, fishing, walk parks, golf, shopping, restaurants, pubs and entertainment. “Our local tourism should be promoted, and my aim is to set up a number of meetings with the Department of Tour-

ism, the Tourist Board, Dublin Tourism and local interests to try and maximise supports, facilities, promotions and publicity of the excellent facilities that Dublin Mid-west has,” said Deputy Keating. “Added to this, we have excellent golf facilities, with Newlands, Beech Park, Grange Castle, Lucan and Hermitage [golf clubs], to mention but just a few, and, nearby, there are excellent restaurants, both family-orientated and at the higher end of the scale available to tourists, with excellent cuisine. “What I hope to do in the coming months is to link these attractions to a website, and to the Tourist Board, to ensure that we get a fair share of promotion for our region,” said Deputy Keating.

“Our local shopping facilities are also excellent, and provide value for money [compared] to the prices that are set out by the larger shopping facilities in the city centre. “Recently, when visiting the Mill Centre in Clondalkin, I was delighted to be part of the oneyear birthday celebrations of The Streat Cafe in the Mill Centre. “These are the sorts of facilities that need local support,” said Deputy Keating. Tourism increased in Ireland by 7% last year, with the visits by Britain’s Queen Elizabeth and US President Barack Obama largely attributed to the rise. 2012 is expected to be a mixed year for Ireland, with 2013’s initiative, The Gathering, aiming to kick-start the ailing tourism trade.

Derek’s on the ball: Shooting over for a quick word with footballer, Brogan OFTEN spotted lending his fancy footwork on the pitch to several local charity fundraisers (as well as, occasionally, spotted lining up a shot or two at the goal in the Dail), local Fine Gael Deputy Derek Keating raced over towards Dublin footballer, Alan Brogan when he spotted him out and about as he attended to some political duties recently. Derek showed he was on the ball in drumming up some extra interest in his campaign – and, possibly, swapping some football tips – as he pitched in a few words with the Dublin star.

NATIONAL Volunteering Week takes place this year from Monday, May 14 to Sunday, May 20, and South Dublin County Volunteer Centre is once again facilitating projects in the South Dublin County area. The centre is encouraging community groups and not-for-profit organisations in South Dublin County to contact them with possible projects that could involve volunteers (both employee volunteers or individuals) for a single day. Alternatively, you might decide to go ahead and organise your own celebration or event on the day. If so, you can add it to a national and local calendar of events, or you may want a team of volunteers to help your project in some way. To register an event, s e e w w w. vo l u n t e e rsouthdublin.ie before this Friday, May 4.

6 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 3 May 2012

TREATY Sinn Fein’s Paul Donnelly gives us his view

Why the Fiscal Compact is extremely dangerous PAUL DONNELLY, Sinn Fein representative, Dublin West, tells us why Ireland should not ratify the Fiscal Compact Treaty and why it will not work THE Fiscal Treaty will not work, what’s worse is that it will enshrine cutbacks and austerity policies into our constitution. This, in my opinion, is extremely dangerous for us all. Article 3 of the treaty is the most important. It states that government budgets must be balanced or in surplus. The article makes significant changes to the existing EU treaty rules on fiscal policy known as the Stability and Growth Pact.

However, by placing them in an inter-governmental treaty, they are more binding and permanent. This means that, if ratified, future governments will have to implement pro-austerity anti-stimulus budgets in perpetuity. This significantly limits the freedom of decision making of governments in the future, irrespective of the mandate they receive from the electorate. Interestingly, if the Fiscal Treaty had been in force over the past

number of years, it would not have prevented the current crises and collapse of the economy in Ireland because we had a budget surplus of billions of euro each year. The Fiscal Treaty is very clear, it will embed cutbacks and austerity into our future budgets. We will have to endure more stagnation in our economy and, despite promises at the last General Election by Labour and Fine Gael to provide a jobs stimulus package, we still have massive

unemployment that currently stands at close to 500,000 and the resultant mass exodus of our young people through emigration. There will be more cuts to public services in areas such as health. This will result in more bed closures similar to the recent closure of the Redwood ward in Connolly Hospital and the now annual closures of day surgical and outpatient services. It will mean that the current waiting list for speech and language therapeutic ser vices will either remain at 15 months or will indeed get worse. It will mean more cuts to our children’s education from primary schools to third level. Sinn Fein was at the forefront of the recent campaign against the cuts to DEIS schools; we have lost SNAs by the hundreds. Dublin West was particularly hit with the massive reduction in English support teachers. “ [ T h e Tr e a t y ] i s the worst imaginable response to the challenge of recession and stagnation. The agreement will have a far reaching effect on people’s lives by reducing pension provision, cutting public services, eroding people’s rights at work and driving down the cost of labour.” These are not my words but the words of SIPTU president Jack O’Connor. With just a year away from the 1913 Lockout anniversary, public service and private sector workers are faced with the same attacks on their rights, their terms and conditions, as recently experienced by workers

Paul Donnelly: “I am urging the people of Dublin West to come out strongly against this treaty”

in the GAME store in the Blanchardstown Centre and the workers of Vita Cortex in Cork. The Fiscal Treaty will not deal with the debt or the banking crisis. It will mean at least more than €6bn in cuts from future budgets. As we approach the centenary of the 1916 Rising, one wonders what the leaders of that rebellion and all those men and women who fought and died so that we might be free to determine our own future would make of this treaty and how it significantly undermines our sovereignty.

Solving the Eurozone Crisis We need to solve the Eurozone Crisis by investing in jobs and growth, sorting out the debt crisis by not paying the promissory notes of €31bn to Anglo and unguaranteed senior bondholders in Anglo and other banks. We need to get the exchequer deficit sorted by taxing the massive wealth still in this state and those on higher incomes, eliminating waste whilst protecting those on low and middle incomes. We need to support Ireland getting back into the bond markets,

through existing EU treaties. The European Central Bank must take action to stabilise sovereign bond interest rates and ensure market access for all members. After all, the foundation stone of the EU was to build a Europe of partners. This has been sadly lacking over the past four years. I am urging the Irish people and in particular the people of Dublin West to come out strongly against this treaty.

Paul Donnelly, Sinn Fein representative, DublinWest

3 May 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 7

HOUSING Area is not a national disgrace – Council

SDCC refutes Sinn Fein claim over Balgaddy I PAUL HOSFORD

clondalkin@gazettegroup.com

SOUTH Dublin County Council (SDCC) has rejected claims made by Sinn Fein that the Balgaddy area of Clondalkin is a “national disgrace”. Sinn Fein claims that the Balgaddy area is under-resourced and has inadequate community facilities after it carried out a survey in the area at the beginning of March. Cllr Matthew McDonagh requested a detailed statement from the council at the most recent Clondalkin Area Committee meeting. In response, the council said that, as only 26%

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of tenants responded, the survey did not represent the majority of voices in the area. The council said: “As only 26% of tenants approached actually responded, the voices of the vast majority of Balgaddy residents are not represented. “Figures quoted in the survey details section represent percentages [derived from] the 26% responding; for instance, in reality, ‘50% of all respondents’ represents only 13%. “The percentage of tenants not participating – three out of every four Balgaddy residents – is in line with positive experi-

ence on the ground of the council team dedicated to building improvements on the site over the past 12 months.” Council management said that this, allied with the time between the survey being carried out and being issued, made it an unreliable barometer of feeling in the area. “The survey was issued in February 2012, some four/five months after it was carried out, and takes no cognisance of ongoing works carried by on-site council staff in the intervening period, including the extensive window replacement programme. “The works continue

Sinn Fein councillor Matthew McDonnagh claims that the Balgaddy area is underresourced, on foot of a survey that his party carried out at the beginning of March

on site, house by house. It should be noted that a number of houses completing the survey have not reported problems identified by them to the council. “The survey raises issues of inadequate community facilities, but the immediate area includes two children’s playgrounds, and access

to a third in Rosses Court adjoining; a multi-use games area for teens; a pocket park; a primary school, church and pastoral centre [and] shopping within easy walk. “Balgaddy has a worthwhile and viable social and community revision,” said the council. The SDCC response also takes issue with the

title of the report, which calls the area “a national disgrace”. “Balgaddy is not, as is claimed, a national disgrace. Efforts by the council, in conjunction with their tenants, will resolve construction difficulties which earlier dogged this project and disadvantaged the residents,” said the council.

POLITICS

Mid-west meet at FF AGM THE Dublin MidWest Fianna Fail AGM returned the outgoing committee last week. C o u n c i l l o r Tr e vo r Gilligan paid particular tribute to the Cuman’s members in what has been a tough year for the party, following their wipeout in Dublin following last year’s elections. He said: “I would like to congratulate the FF Comhairle Dail Ceantair (CDC) Dublin MidWest and the Cumann in Clondalkin, Lucan, Palmerstown and other areas for their hard work and dedication. “As the only elected FF representative in Dublin Mid-West, I will continue to highlight issues close to people’s hearts. “I would also like to congratulate Eamon Nolan, Palmerstown, on his election as president of the Dublin Mid-West CDC.”

8 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 3 May 2012

EVENT Potential roses shine at the 2012 Dublin Gala Rose

Setting the ball rolling

HE Carlton Hotel Blanchardstown hosted the 2012 Dublin Gala Rose Ball on April 27. The event was a great occasion for potential Dublin Roses to meet and greet guests and chat to former Dublin Roses. There was plenty of excitement as the Roses themselves spoke about the forthcoming 2012 Dublin Rose of Tralee Selection which will also take place at the hotel from May 18 to May 20. Over the course of the event, all Dublin Rose contestants will enjoy a complimentary three-night stay including breakfast and dinner at the Carlton Hotel.

Eleanor Hession, Jennifer Ward, Nicola Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Donoghue and Sinead Grant

Darragh McGrath and Siobheal Nic Alan McEvoy, Ellen OBrien, Carleen Stringer and Shane Collins David Farrell and Shauna Lawes

Fionan Henry and Tara Talbot, Rose of Tralee 2011

Saoirse Bardin, Paige Bardin, Monijka Bardin, Mary Bardin and Shannon Bardin

Eochaidh, Rose of Dublin 2011

3 May 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 9

Ball in the Carlton Hotel Blanchardstown

Julie Beathie, Ciara Ross and Aoife McManus

Grace Nixon, Mark Nixon and Mel Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Conghaile

Peter Richardson, Christina Ryan, Ann Ryan and Thomas Ryan

Susan Dowdall, Sarah Fitzgerald and Mark Dowdall

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10 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 3 May 2012

SPORT: HEINEKEN CUP

CAMPAIGN Being an ambassador of Irish language

Bod is voted greatest player BRIAN O’Driscoll has been voted the greatest Heineken Cup player of all time in a study conducted by Heineken that analysed the latest opinions, habits and trends of Irish Heineken Cup fans. In the all-Ireland study, a massive 76% of fans voted Brian O’Driscoll as their favourite Heineken Cup Player, while team mate and Munster rival Ronan O’Gara pulled in 15% of the votes. Martin Johnson and Diego Dominguez each snagged 1% of the fans votes and the remaining 7% of nominations was made up of votes for Rocky Elsom, John Hayes, Peter Clohessy, Yannick Jauzion, Peter Stringer and Stephen Ferris. The study found that rugby in Ireland is very much alive and kicking, with fans considering themselves to be very passionate when it comes to their favourite sport – 39% of them rate themselves on top of the scale when asked to rate how big a rugby fan they consider themselves to be on a scale of 1 to 10. Heineken rewarded the fans’ passion last weekend when Heineken Cup Green Zones were set up in a number of participating Dublin pubs, to enhance the excitement and experience of the semi-final which was held on Saturday. W h e n a s ke d h ow important it was that their province did well in the Heineken Cup, over half of Irish rugby fans surveyed admitted it was “a matter of life and death” while only 2% claimed it wasn’t important. When asked if their own province was eliminated would they support another Irish province, a massive 66% said they would support another Irish province while a diehard group of 10% said never, choosing to stick by their province no matter what.

Bernard Dunne’s Brod Club was a huge success when it aired on RTE

Dunne delighted with the reaction to show I PAUL HOSFORD

HE is best known as a former WBA Super-bantamweight champion, but Neilstown hero Bernard Dunne has taken on a new role in recent months, as an ambassador of the Irish language. Bernard Dunne’s Brod Club was a huge success when it aired on RTE in recent months and Dunne was delighted with the reaction the show received, especially from people who had forgotten their native tongue through the years. “It’s been amazing. I’ve had people coming up to me on the street saying how they were inspired by the show to start using the Irish again. They say things like they wish

they had the Irish again or that they wish they’d never lost it and the show has given them a way to get it back. “It’s been really positive and I think that starting it at St Patrick’s week was a big thing because people are generally feeling more patriotic around then,” says Dunne, who rose to fame as a fearless and gutsy fighter, but took on a completely different challenge. The campaign is founded on the belief that there are people with a huge sense of latent pride in the Irish language, people who don’t use Irish but would like to. It is an appeal to show your pride or your “brod” in the language. However much or

however little you have, the message is to use it. Use What You Have is the motto of the show. While the series may have ended, the campaign lives on. There are still a number of events and activities that can be signed up for on the website, w w w.rte.ie/ brodclub The show reached over 1.2 million viewers in its run and Dunne is keen to highlight the importance of a national language. “I think it’s extremely important that we have our own language. It’s part of our identity, part of who we are. “I think the show approached it well in that we asked people just to use the cupla focail that they had. Just start

to throw it in to conversation and see what you can pick up yourself. It’s amazing what people remember of the language once they get going,” says

up a meaning wrong, but you soon become more and more comfortable as you realise that all those years in Irish class were not solely leading up to

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‘I think it’s extremely important that we have our own language. It’s part of our identity, part of who we are’

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Dunne. Indeed, speaking to him is enlightening as he tends to drop in and out of Irish, which is unsurprising given how he has spent the past few months. It honestly can feel somewhat intimidating at first, as you worry that you miss a word or pick

writing a letter about your summer holidays. On that point, Dunne feels that, from his experience, school children and students want to learn Irish, but as a mode of communication, rather than as a school subject. “The schools we were in, the kids would tell us that they wanted more

conversation, that they wanted to be able to speak the language, as well as write it. “We’ve talked to a lot of schools and a lot of people involved in education and we feel like it’s important that it is taught as a spoken language.” Asked whether putting Irish back in the mainstream would be as big an achievement as a world championship, Dunne looks at it another way. “It’s not about that, really. It’s about doing your own little bit. I’m speaking Irish at home with my kids and getting better at it every day. I’m not fluent yet, but I would love to be.” For more information on the Brod Club, log on to www.rte.ie/brodclub

3 May 2012 GAZETTE 11

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SNAPSHOT The local stories of the day

Jamie to open food festival TASTE of Dublin 2012 is back with a bang for its seventh consecutive year this summer with world renowned chef, Jamie Oliver, opening the festival. Taking place from Thursday, June 14 to Sunday, June 17, in the stunning Iveagh Gardens, this year the stylish and popular food spectacular is acknowledging all things Irish with a stellar line up of restaurants, suppliers, produce, food and drink. Visitors can look forward to great dining opportunities from some of Ireland’s lead-

ing eateries, enjoy high-calibre wine tastings, learn from the best home-grown and international talents, get involved at live chef demonstrations and meet with over 100 industry experts and taste exhibitors. Paying homage to Ireland’s strong reputation on the international culinary scene, Taste of Dublin 2012 will showcase the stars of the Irish food industry as well as welcoming international culinary guests, who believe in the philosophy of using only the best Irish produce on offer.

Well-known chefs, Catherine Fulvio and Clodagh McKenna, officially launch Taste of Dublin 2012

Commenting on his visit, Oliver said: “Taste of Dublin is a fabulous platform for showcasing the best in Irish produce and cuisine and I can’t wait to kick-off the summer in true Irish style at Taste of Dublin this June.” Home-grown talent including Rachel Allen, Clodagh McKenna and Neven Maguire, along with Darina Allen, Paul Flynn and Catherine Fulvio, will join forces with internationally acclaimed chefs, Jean

Christophe Novelli and Valentine Warner. Together, each will aspire, not only to entertain casual dining guests throughout the weekend, but also tantalise the taste buds of the most discerning of food lovers. Watch out as Volvo, the official car partner of the festival, whisks them across the city throughout the weekend in a fleet of stylish Volvo Ocean Race edition cars. This year’s new headline sponsor, Electrolux,

will bring the Electrolux Cookery School and Electrolux Chef’s Theatre, a must see for any food enthusiast who wants to learn from the experts. Tickets are on sale now at www.tasteofdublin.ie or call 0818 30 00 30; with all advance standard tickets only €20 discounted from the 2011 price of €25. Sign up to the Taste of Dublin Newsletter at www.tasteofdublin.ie for special ticket offers and event information.

3 May 2012 GAZETTE 13

MILESTONE A number of events planned for Dublin Fire Brigade anniversary

Celebrating 150 years of service LAURA WEBB

THE Dublin Fire Brigade is celebrating 150 years servicing the citizens of Dublin city and county, and to mark the milestone anniversary a number of events have been organised for the coming months. Serving the community since 1862, Dublin Fire Brigade is one of the few fire services in the world whose members are all trained paramedics. Each year the fire brigade receives over 133,000 fire, emergency ambulance and rescue calls. To honour the fire fighters, commemorative events have been organised, with the first kicking off on May 31 at the Mansion House. Some of the highlights include the reception with the Lord Mayor of Dublin, a Dublin Fire Brigade Colour Party and visiting pipe band

parade throughout Dublin’s city centre and an An Post official commemorative stamp. Not only are there events happening across Dublin, but there is also a TV series called Fire Fighters scheduled for autumn on RTE1. Support

The series goes behind the scenes with the men and women of the Dublin Fire Brigade as they support the community and embark on life saving missions, rescues and non-stop action responses. The series was created by the same production company, Moondance Productions, which brought the successful series The Zoo to our screens. Stephen Brady, chief fire officer, commented: “Dublin Fire Brigade has a long and proud tradition of serving the citizens of Dublin city and

county since its early beginnings in 1862. “The brigade has experienced many changes throughout its history from the early steam fire engines and h o r s e - d r aw n a m b u lances to the current modern fire, rescue and emergency ambulance service. Proud

“Our 150th anniversary gives us the opportunity to celebrate all aspects of our service both past and present and I am proud to be chief fire officer during this momentous year,” Stephen added. To find out more about the Dublin Fire Brigade 150th Anniversary Celebrations please visit http://www.dublinfirebrigade150.ie or like them on https://www. facebook.com/pages/ Dublin-Fire-Brigade150

Fire fighters Cormac Wickham, Derek Clare and Dermot Murray from Tara Street Fire Station

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GazettePETS PETS THE FACTS: DEAFNESS CAN CAUSE CONCERN, BUT

Dealing with the fact E all know that cats can be wonderful, yet stubborn creatures. I mean, all you lovely cat owners reading this will know how frustrat-

ing it is when you call Kitty and she simply ignores you, kinda like you don’t matter at all. But have you ever stopped to think that perhaps Kitty is ignoring you because she is

If your cat ignores your call – she may be deaf

unable to hear you? Perhaps Kitty may be deaf! Deafness in animals is not unusual, and sometimes at the shelter we rescue dogs, cats, horses and ferrets

that already have this condition. However, while it may cause concern initially, and bring about certain challenges, there is no reason whatsoever why both owner and pet cannot adapt and lead happy, healthy lives together; especially where a cat is concerned because felines generally deal pretty well with physical impairments. Here are some guidelines which I hope you’ll find useful.

How will I know if my cat is deaf? • She doesn’t respond when called. • She doesn’t realise you’re in the room unless you physically touch her.

3 May 2012 GAZETTE 15

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

OWNERS AND PETS CAN ADAPT AND LEAD HAPPY, HEALTHY LIVES TOGETHER

that your feline friend could be deaf • You have difficulty wakening her up from her nap. • Her walk is unbalanced. • She appears to be disoriented.

Why are some cats deaf? Ver y of ten, white cats are born deaf. It’s usually hereditary and is associated with the same gene that makes the cat’s fur white and is common among those white cats with blue eyes. It’s believed the problem happens at around three to four weeks of

life and is linked to the cochlear blood supply. However, loss of hearing can be associated with illness, old age or other health-related problems like ear mites, polyps, or even a side effect to certain medications, a visit to your vet will determine this.

Communicating with a deaf cat • Many owners parenting a deaf cat will be amazed they even have the condition. This is because Kitty’s sense of feel is amazing and highly developed and she will pick up the vibrations of

other animals as well as humans. • A deaf cat will be easily startled so make sure to pound your feet heavily on the floor. • Try wearing the same per fume or deodorant every day; after all, there’s nothing wrong with Kitty’s sense of smell and she’ll immediately recognise your approach. • All cats flick their ears when they react to noises but your deaf cat will flick and move in unison in order to communicate with you and other household pets. Watch her and study the

signs in order to understand what she wants to say to you. • Make sure you give your deaf cat the space she requires. All cats like to climb, however, a deaf cat will feel more comfortable climbing higher and sitting on a high shelf will give her security. Try building a shelf or

seating area in the hot press or suspended from your ceiling; that way she can survey her territory. • If she’ll allow you, (and make sure she is totally comfortable with this), gently place your mouth against her tummy or her head but do take care not to startle her and whisper some terms of endearment;

over emphasise certain words so that she will know you love her. Once she associates this action with love, she will purr. • Touch your cat gently every time you enter or leave the room; this will alert her to your movements. • Never allow your hearing impaired cat outside on her own.

I do hope you’ve found this article helpful; however, please bear in mind, it should be used as a guideline only and is not a substitute for professional veterinary advice. For more information, contact your local equine vet or log onto www.dspca.ie or email me at miriam.kerins@ dspca.ie

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GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY Refreshing scent of Yves Saint Laurent’s elle WE already love the signature smell of YSL’s elle, but when limited edition smells come out to play, we have to get our hands on them. The 2012 limited edition of Yves Saint Laurent’s elle frangrance will be on shelves this May 16. Always stylish in its bottling, the water colour bottle looks great, with its artistic brushstrokes of vibrant flashes of the YSL shades. The scent, according to its makers, is sensual and refreshing, with its sparkling notes of grapefruit, sambac jasmine and a spicy savour of pink pepper berries. For YSL, the woman who wears this fragrance is radiant, impulsive, who plays with light and colour. Don’t forget to try it for yourself when it hits stores this May 16. RRP for YSL elle Limited Edition is €45 for 90ml.

Showing off that beach body SHOWING off beach bodies means firming and toning hips, thighs, bums, tums and bingo wings, but that doesn’t mean wasting energy in the gym. A new range of skin products by quirky skin care range, Cowshed, has the answer for anyone a little gym-shy. The new Slender Cow Range is, according to its makers, “a functional, targeted three-step program to detoxify, firm and tone skin – the ultimate pre-bikini skincare ‘workout’, designed to tone the parts that other treatments can’t reach”. The Cowshed Slender Cow range consists of: detoxifying body scrub €39.95, body sculpting serum €44.95, extra firming body butter €34.95 According to a spokes-

person for Cowshed, this range contains: “A bespoke seaweed blend of fast-working functional ingredients; Norwegian kelp to help detoxify, pearl moss to rejuvenate and bladderwrack proven to improve skin elasticity. Slender Cow’s body sculpting serum and Slender Cow’s extra firming body butter each contain the unique super-ingredient dermochlorella – a freshwater micro algae, clinically proven to improve skin tone and firmness by up to 46% and decrease the appearance of stretch marks by up to 32% after 12 weeks continual use.” Here are Cowshed’s three key steps to getting that bikini ready body: Step 1: use detoxifying body scrub – to detoxify, tone and smooth skin,

The Cowshed Slender Cow range consists of the detoxifying body scrub, body sculpting serum and extra firming body butter

with this lu xurious Himalayan pink salt and Dead Sea salt scrub. It purifies the skin, removes toxins and prepares skin for the next sculpting step. Step 2: use body sculpting serum – to target cellulite, firm, nourish and tone. This

cellulite boosting formulation contains a trio of nourishing oils including tamanu, macadamia nut and borage seed to help strengthen skin, whilst reducing the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks. A blend of uplifting essential oils of sweet orange and petitgrain,

ylang ylang and carrot seed oil all effectively target stubborn areas, stimulating and conditioning the skin, whilst also breaking down vexing toxins. Step 3: Use Extra Firming Body Butter – to target cellulite, firm and condition.

3 May 2012 GAZETTE 17

Edited by Laura Webb

Shop until you drop with Wonderbra’s brand new website

The new Heidi Klein spring/summer swimwear collection is now available at Brown Thomas

Stylish swimwear for summer ST YLISH swimwear can be hard to come by, but when you find the perfect match it boosts confidence for holidaying in the sun, one brand bringing confidence to the beach is Heidi K lein and the new collection is now available. T h e d e s i g n s h ave been worn by celebrities all over, from Sienna Miller to Kate Moss, Kelly Brook to Gwyneth Paltrow, just some of the stylish women working the brand. Launch

To launch the fabulous spring/summer collection Heidi Gosman, co -founder of Heidi Klein brand, will visit Brown Thomas Dublin on Thursday, May 10. The visit coincides with the launch of Oh Buoy! The summer event at Brown Thomas. Heidi will be on hand to meet customers to chat about the best styles for the many different body shapes that are out there. What’s great about this design of swimwear is that her designs feature hidden suppor t functions to flatter and enhance. The look of the 1960s French Riviera is inspi-

ration for both resort and summer collections. These timeless styles h ave c o n t e m p o r a r y details that add to the elegant shapes and pieces designed for the

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‘What’s great about this design of swimwear is that her designs feature hidden support functions to flatter and enhance’

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collection. The hidden support and secret padding with under wiring ensures every fit is perfect for each unique body shape. Colours of olives, golds and elegant dark grey provide rich earthy colours, while the turquoise of the Mediterranean Sea is referenced in the best selling signature coral and snake print. Nautical navy and white are always well suited to the summer season. The new collection is available exclusively at Brown Thomas.

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SHOP til you drop online with Wonderbra, after the global brand re-launched its website for customers in Ireland and the UK. Let’s face it, if we are not shopping in the high streets, we are shopping online to find the latest in fashion, beauty, and eyeing up what is on trend. Knowing this was the best tool for its Irish customers the world’s most well known underwear brand – Wonderbra – has done tailored to our needs. www.wonderbra.eu showcases the full Wonderbra collection, replacing the previous site wonderbra.co.uk. The new site is transactional, allowing Wonderbra to effectively meet the needs of its target consumers who are heavy online users. On the site there is a store finder and it features the full range of products modelled by face of Wonderbra, Adriana Cernanova, with simple navigation for ease of shopping.

18 GAZETTE 3 May 2012

GazetteMUSIC MUSIC FastTunes with Radio Nova’s Dee Woods

HOMETOWN GIG: THREE OF BEST NEW BANDS COME TOGETHER

Dublin’s finest join up as JD supergroup I ROB HEIGH

EVER hang out with Adam Clayton in Malahide Village? Did you audition for a band at Mount Temple along with Paul Hewson and Dave Evans? Ever make music with Larry Mullen Jnr in the Artane Boys’ Band? Then congratulations: you know one of the fifth richest musicians in the world! U2 are sitting at No 5 in The Sunday Times’ Musical Rich List. Bono, Edge, Larry and Adam collectively worth a whopping €625 million. Although there is a sense of pride (excuse the pun) to see our lads so high up on a list of mostly English and American richies, I do have to wonder — in these tough times — what is the point of publishing a list that may as well be called “People That Will Always Be Richer Than You But Probably Work A Lot Less”? Yes, I know the likes of U2 and Paul McCartney are worth millions. Sure, haven’t I been giving them my cash since I was old enough to walk to the record shop on my own? But in case you don’t mind having your nose rubbed in others’ wealth: Just ahead of U2 on the list is Andrew Lloyd Webber with a wealth worth singing about at €720 million; Paul McCartney’s in at No 3 with wife, Nancy Shevall, with €810 million; the second richest musical figure is theatre producer, Cameron Mackintosh, with €885 million, and top of this very high pile is record executive Clive Calder, with €1.65 billion in his pockets. Maybe I’m being excessively sensitive to this annual printing tradition. If I’m honest, my biggest problem with this Musical Rich List is the fact that David and Victoria Beckham are on it (in at joint-tenth place with Daniel Ek with €232 million) In fairness, I’d say David’s pre-match mumbling of England’s national anthem has contributed more to the music world than Victoria ever did. I wonder does he ever serenade her at home? “God save the Lean”, maybe?

DUBLIN has been long recognised as a hotbed of talent for young bands who make the jump from the local scene to the international stratosphere, and that tradition looks set to continue with the success and buzz about upcoming new bands, including Delorentos, The Minutes and We Cut Corners. These alt-rock pioneers are set to take the stage in salute to their hometown roots as part of JD Roots, an innovative new music initiative by Jack Daniels that celebrates the unique influence of home towns on the music and character of some of the most exciting and talked about bands on the current music scene, which takes place in a unique, one-off, free live performance in The Button Factory, Dublin on Friday, May 18. In what promises to be an intriguing process, the three bands will collaborate for the first time ahead of the gig to explore artists and songs from Dublin who have inspired and influenced their musical style and direction. The bands will then play what promises to be a thrilling show in The

Delorentos, The Minutes and We Cut Corners line up ahead of their JD Roots gig

Button Factory, where they will perform a selection of songs from their own set lists as well as a selection by Dublin artists who have made the greatest impact on them and their music. This unique show - the first and possibly only time all three acts will perform on the same stage together - is sure to make its own contribution to Dublin’s rich and evolving music scene. Fresh from the critical acclaim of their third studio album, Little Sparks, released in Januar y, Delorentos are at the very top of their game.

Lauded as ones to watch in 2012 among music critics across Ireland and the UK, The Minutes have been blazing a trail on the live music scene over the past 12 months, and they were personally picked by Noel Gallagher as support for his first-ever solo live show with The High Flying Birds at The Olympia. We Cut Corners were winners of The JD Set Unsigned in 2009 and the Dublin duo have been amassing fans ever since, and received a Meteor Choice Prize nomination for their debut album,

Today I Realised I Could Go Home Backwards. Delorentos co-lead singer, Ronan Yourell, said: “We are genuinely excited about the chance to work closely with two of Dublin’s great new bands, The Minutes and We Cut Corners, on JD Roots. “Dublin as a city and a place has a magical and powerful history, something which has had a massive influence on all of us for different reasons. Through our conversations to date, we’ve all got just a little bit excited about the possibilities and the chance to pay tribute

to some of the artists, which have been shaped by Dublin was too tempting to resist for all of us. “The challenge will be to settle on a shortlist of songs and then bringing something new, fresh and personal to them. It should be a really exciting live show.” Tickets for this exclusive JD Roots performance at the Button Factory are free and are available now at www.jdroots.ie. All those who register will go into a draw for tickets. A limited number of tickets will also be available on the Jack Daniel’s Ireland Facebook page.

3 May 2012 GAZETTE 19

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS

Supported by AIB

Interview: Ronan Doyle and Tony Mallon, partners, Compositedoors.ie

Only the very best in doors and windows COMPOSITEDOORS.IE have opened a new stateof-the-art showroom, conveniently located at 3 St Gall Gardens South, Columbanus, in Dundrum, The business, owned by partners Tony Mallon and Ronan Doyle both locals to the Dundrum area, has grown so much over the past 18 months that they decided to open the showroom so that prospective clients can see the superior quality of the Palladio composite doors at first hand. The partners realised that after the severe winter conditions of 2010 – 2011, there was a market for energy-efficient products, particularly since most of the business in the construction market was now to do with refurbishment/retro fitting. Home owners have also become more knowledgeable about the need to conserve energy in their homes. They also realised that there was no website on the Irish internet which was user-friendly for home owners thinking of changing their entrance door or back door. Tony has been involved in the manufacture, supply and installation of “A” rated windows and doors to the domestic market throughout Dublin and the surrounding areas for over 15 years, and also supplies to the window and building trade. Ronan has been involved in the hardwood flooring business for 12 years and has supplied and installed plank and design floors throughout the Dublin region.

REPOSSESSION Q – The arrears on my mortgage will never be paid, let alone the normal repayments. Currently, I am on an interest only facility but this ends next month. My partner lost his job and we can just about afford to feed our two children and ourselves. If our home is repossessed, how long does the process take and can they still pursue us for any outstanding debt on the property? Theresa - Mulhuddart A - My sympathies to you on your situation. First of all, you are not alone. There are many many borrowers with similar stories. Like Robins Williams in Good Will Hunting AND Enda Kenny said “it’s not your fault” and what is really important is your family and surviving this period of time. Cash is king and income is your number one asset and you have to protect and prioritise both. Under the Central Bank guidelines, lenders are holding off repossession of homes for up to two years. What is crucial is both budgeting – put down on paper all your expenditure irrespective of income – and communication. As regards outstanding debt, your names are already on the Irish Credit Bureau for missed payments – and stay there for five years – and if you have a judgment against you, it stays there for life. But, you may never want to borrow again. If there is a deficit on the home after the lender has repossessed, sold the property and put the proceeds against your mortgage, you then have three options:

Compositedoors.ie is a new venture by Ronan Doyle and Tony Mallon, supplying doors, floors and windows

1. The outstanding balance may be written off by the lender if it is decided not to pursue a bankruptcy

Q&A

course. 2. The lender may ask you to repay an unsecured

When you were a kid, what did you want to be? Ronan: A fireman. Tony: A pilot. What was your first job? Ronan: Helping the milkman on his rounds delivering milk. Tony: Grocery shop assistant. And your first pay check? Ronan: £14. Tony: Half a crown.

Ronan: Too many. Tony: 35.

Ronan: Volkswagen Passat Estate. Tony: Lexus.

At what time does your working day begin and end? Ronan: Begins at 7am, when I get up and it doesn’t end! Tony: 8:30am to 7pm.

Would you ever bungee jump? Ronan: No. Tony: Yes.

What is the greatest thrill of your working week? Ronan: Confirmed sales. Tony: Getting great feedback from happy customers.

When did you start your present job? Ronan: After being made redundant in 2010, I started my first business Architechural Flooring, and then set up Compositedoors.ie with Tony at the beginning of 2011.

And what part of your job do you dislike the most? Ronan: I don’t dislike any of it. Becoming self-employed was the best move I ever made. Tony: Making the tea.

Tony – I have been supplying and installing windows for 15 years, but set up Compositedoors.ie with Ronan in early 2011.

Do you fly Ryanair or anybody else but Ryanair? Ronan: I’m not fussy, once I get there I don’t mind who brings me. Tony: Whoever is cheapest.

How many people do you have to talk with every day?

What car do you drive?

Do you play any sport? Ronan: Golf. Tony: Golf. What is your favourite food? Ronan: Steak and chips. Tony: Seafood. And drink? Ronan: Heineken. Tony: White wine. What is the name of your favourite shop? Ronan: Compositedoors.ie Tony: House of Fraser. How many times each week do you go the “hole in the wall”? Ronan: No idea. Tony: Twice

How many times each year do you shop for clothes? Ronan: Three. Tony: 10. Where is your favourite holiday destination? Ronan: South of France. Tony: Laguna Beach, California.

loan over an agreed period for the outstanding balance on a monthly basis. 3. You can go to court via the personal insolvency route, declare bankruptcy whereby the debt is wiped and after three years, you may start afresh. Whereas in the past, there was a stigma attached to being declared bankrupt, over the coming years it is going to be a norm. In the US, they nearly clap you on the back on bankruptcy (at least they tried) and they dust themselves down and start all over again.

How many pairs of shoes do you own? Ronan: Three. Tony: Six. What other job in the whole world would you really like to have? Ronan: Professional golfer. Tony: Taoiseach. When do you wish to retire? Ronan: Never. Tony: As soon as I can afford to. What will you do then? Tony – Play more golf!

Keep communicating with your creditors – they cannot get blood from a stone but compassion has to be the order of the day. Contact John with your money questions at

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

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20 GAZETTE 3 May 2012

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS RoadSigns Road Signs

Range Rover Evoque-s Car of the Year Award with writers THE Range Rover Evoque has been named Supreme Winner of the Women’s World Car of the Year 2012, as well as the top-ranked model in the luxury car category. This latest success sustains the exceptional acclaim with which Evoque has been greeted around the world, reflected in more than 110 separate honours. The Women’s World Car of the Year is judged by a panel of 17 women motoring writers from around the world. Each vehicle considered for an award is rated according to criteria which reflect issues that are important to women car buyers. These include practical elements, such as safety, the amount of storage space, childfriendliness, environmental performance and value for money, and also elements such as design aesthetics. Having achieved the highest marks in the luxury car section, the Range Rover Evoque went on to be named their Car of the Year. Although the results have been announced this week, official presentation of the trophy to Land Rover will take place at the Paris Motor Show in September. Responding to the news of this latest honour, John Edwards, Land Rover Global Brand director said: “The Women’s World Car of the Year title further reflects the great market reach of Evoque. “Across the world, women are a customer base in their own right, so it is vital for any manufacturer to ensure their products meet their preferences and requirements. “As a vehicle designed, engineered and built in Britain, the Range Rover Evoque continues to demonstrate its world-class appeal. “We are delighted that as well as the 111 honours it has received for its design, engineering and performance, it has proved just as successful in terms of excellent global sales.”

Mazda’s new compact SUV, the CX-5, is an exceptionally complete car

Mazda’s impressive new compact SUV I CORMAC CURTIS

INBA Ittai… don’t worry, when I first heard those words at April’s launch of Mazda’s new compact SUV, the CX-5, I hadn’t a clue what they were on about either. But, according to Mazda, Jinba Ittai is the state of “oneness between car and driver” that the company has gone to great lengths to achieve. Such a lofty and ambitious target is admirable, and, no doubt, the suits in the top-level boardroom at Mazda HQ all nodded their approval when the concept was pitched. But, as with all visionary developments in the motoring world, it was the engineers and designers who were, no doubt, left scratching their heads when this new and innovative direction was decreed. It has to be said, those same engineers and designers really did push the boat out on this one.

Working from a completely clean slate, the company’s new direction was approached with four key elements in mind: emotional and appealing design, interior functionality and craftsmanship, predictable and responsive driving dynamics, and sustainability. All of which makes for quite a mouthful. Lucky for us, all of this “blue sky” thinking has brought together each of Mazda’s Skyactiv technologies together into an all-new and very impressive compact SUV. The Gazette was lucky enough to be invited to the launch of the CX-5 in Vienna, where two variants were available for test drives. Easing into the day, my driving buddy and I opted for the less powerful option, a two-wheel drive, 150bhp 2.2-litre diesel engine with an automatic transmission. This is Mazda’s first foray into the segment, but everything about the

car suggests that they are past masters at it. Starting with the allimportant looks, we are talking about something that is unmistakably Mazda, but with an allnew excitement and edge to it. For me, the design of the CX-5 is absolutely spot-on. My first glance at the car – well, about 50 of them actually, all lined up at the launch – was a side profile of the “black mica” coloured version. Even though it’s their first SUV, you wouldn’t mistake this car for anything other than Mazda, while at the same time, it has just as much impact and presence as a BMW X5, but a whole lot more current. We’re told that the inspiration for the front end of the car is the cheetah, and, even if you never see the resemblance, the look does evoke a slight sense of menace. All-in-all, pretty much every box in the looks

department is well and truly ticked. The power comes from a choice of engines, and those available in the Irish market are set to be a 2-litre petrol with 165bhp, a 2.2-litre diesel with 150bhp and a 2.3-litre diesel with 170bhp. The days of SUV cars coming with 3-litre, gas guzzling engines would appear to be a thing of the past, and the 165bhp automatic version of the CX-5 we tested is rated to achieve a combined fuel consumption of 5.3l/100km, whereas the higher-powered 175bhp version with the manual six-speed transmission can still achieve an impressive 5.2l/100km. These figures are partly due to the 14:1 compression ratio that the engines achieve – a world-leading achievement in a massproduction vehicle. Clearly Mazda’s engineers have put some serious work in to the performance and efficiency of these new engines, but putting

all these stats and figures to one side for a moment, it’s also worth noting the features that Mazda have included elsewhere in the car. It may not be something you will need to use all that often, but the sat nav system in the car is of the TomTom variety – one of my personal favourites. The interior of the car offers some very useful cargo space, with a threeway split for the seats, all folding down with ease to cater for a variety of load options. With the seats up, the CX-5 actually offers classleading space in the boot, with space for four fullsized suitcases, beating both the VWTiguan (twothree cases) and the Ford Kuga (three cases). For those moments of musical indulgence, there is a terrific Bose sound system with nine highperformance speakers and background noise compensation technology. On the safety front,

3 May 2012 GAZETTE 21

SUPPORT

LOCAL BUSINESS

Mazda’s smart City Brake support feature is also included – offering automatic emergency braking at a 6-metre distance when travelling between

4 and 30 km/h. Other safety features are a rear vehicle monitoring system, that lights up an LED in your rearview mirror when another

vehicle is passing, as well as a lane departure warning system, where the steering wheel vibrates if you stray too far from the centre of your lane.

This is an exceptionally complete car, and with prices starting at €25,195 for the petrol version, it will appeal to an awful lot of people.

Donation: Raising funds for Guide Dogs IRISH Guide Dogs for the Blind officially

launched their annual fundraising car draw at the Cork City Ford Centre recently. The winning prize is a brand new Ford Focus valued at €20,000 donated by Ford Ireland. A number of Irish Guide Dog’s staff and their dogs took time to attend the launch. Tickets can be bought on the charity’s website at www.guidedogs.ie or from volunteers who

are selling them nationwide. Tickets are €5 each and the draw will take place on Saturday, December 1. Pictured are Eddie Murphy, chairman and managing director of Ford Ireland, and Padraig Mallon, chief executive of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, at the launch the car draw with a little help from dogs in training: Hector, Megan, Kuta and Creem.

SKODA have announced their new compact saloon will be called the Rapid. The car will make its debut in Europe before the year is out. A Chinese version of the Rapid will be built and sold in China from 2013. The close to series concept car MissionL China, which Skoda are displaying at Auto China 2012 in Beijing, provides a specific preview of the new Chinese model. “As part of its growth strategy, Skoda has initiated the largest model offensive in its corporate history and will bring a new vehicle to market every six months on average in the years ahead,” Skoda CEO, Winfried Vahland, said at the brand’s press conference in Beijing. “The Rapid is our next new model at the starting gate. It has a central importance for our growth and will provide us with a strong tailwind on international markets,” said Vahland. With the Rapid, Skoda offer an attractive and family-oriented model in a world’s growing segment between the Fabia and the Octavia. The MissionL design study provides a specific preview of the car’s design and concept. For the design of the interior Skoda did an extensive research in China and asked customers about their individual wishes to build for them a car they exactly want. MissionL China and the future compact sedan are the ideal combination of Skoda genes and Chinese demand. Skoda showed the MissionL’s European variant at IAA 2011 in Frankfurt and are displaying a version modified for Chinese market in Beijing. “MissionL China is true Skoda. It perfectly embodies the brand’s values: fresh design, functionality, roominess, ingenuity, and price to value ratio typical for our cars,” Vahland added. “This car makes a clear statement: precise and emotional. Lots of room for the driver, passengers and luggage. An ideal car for families. Simply clever.”

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GazetteTTRAVEL

Edited by Mimi Murray

Bath’s Pulteney Bridge (above) and The Old Parsonage (right) highlight the beauty and history in the town, while Bristol (top right) is a walker’s dream, with plenty to see and do. Pics: VisitBath/Dave Pratt

WEST COUNTRY: WITH COUNTRYSIDE IN TOUCHING DISTANCE, BRISTOL AND BATH HAVE IT ALL

West is best with breaks, shopping and sightseeing RAVEL to the west country couldn’t be easier these days with direct flights to Bristol, your gateway to the region. Whether it’s a short city break to Bristol or Bath you’re after or seeking out the lush quaint honey coloured countryside of the Cotswolds, the English west country offers a fascinating and diverse range of experiences for all travellers. With a plethora of things to do and see, visitors are also spoilt with excellent quality accommodation, places to eat and drink, histor y, culture, the great outdoors as well as exciting shopping outlets, sure to provide genuine retail therapy. After your short flight

to Bristol (less than an hour from Dublin) , the first port of call for any dedicated shopper is the Clifton Village area of Bristol, offering up many up-market independent shops and boutiques selling jewellery, art, gifts, furniture, fashion good food and more. For those after a genuine bargain, try one of the many outlet stores in the region, including the Mulberry Factory shop which is close-by. If your legs haven’t given in, you will be spoilt for choice with a wide range of award winning and reasonably priced restaurants and gastropubs in the area, ser ving some of the many locally brewed craft beers and ciders

from the region.

A relaxing Bath After taking in the sights and sounds of Bristol, the next port of call has got to be the jewel in the crown of the region, the Roman city of Bath. Built around the only natural hot spring in England, the entire area of the city is a UNESCO world heritage site. Take a lazy stroll around the streets of this architectural treasure and view the stunning Royal Crescent, the Circus, Pulteney Bridge amongst other gems and finish up with a trip to Thermae Bath Spa, Britain’s original and only natural thermal spa where you can enjoy the warm,

mineral-rich waters as enjoyed by the Celts and Romans over 2000 years ago, now that is real therapy! A trip to the west countr y wouldn’t do the region justice without exploring some of delights the countryside has to offer. For golfers there is some of the finest golf courses England has, offering easy great choice and beautiful scenery. With over 6,100km of dedicated walking and cycling tracks, along with 1000s of acres of national trust parkland there is plenty of ways to find the inner explorer in you. Such amenities also provide an excellent area for bird watching

and other green pursuits. The west country is also steeped in pagan, Christian and mythical history, legend and landmarks. A number of must see experiences includes Stonehenge and the village of Glastonbury whose abbey houses the first Christian sanctuary, visited by none other than our own St Patrick and where King Arthur’s final resting place lies, so the legend goes.

No cheesy pun! For the foodies amongst us, a visit to Cheddar, the home of cheese is top priority. Spawning many excellent artisan cheese makers, a visit to Cheddar

offers the opportunity to sample real cheese which is creamy and delicious with a choice of pasteurised and unpasteurised. You’ll soon forget the rubbery stuff in supermarkets! A good base for all of these places is a lovely old bed and breakfast called The Old Parsonage just outside Bath, a grade II sandstone house built in the 1680s. They provide great cooked breakfast with home made bread served on Wedgwood Devon Rose china, continental coffee, yogurt, fresh fruit and various cereals. For details log on to www.theoldparsonagebandb.co.uk.

3 May 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 23

24 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 3 May 2012

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT

GoingOUT THE PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929 Nubes (Clouds)

EVER watched a cloud turn into a sheep right before your eyes? Enter an enchanting, joyful world full of moving objects and dream-like imagery. Nubes (Clouds) takes a wildly imaginative approach to the theme of clouds, inspired by the surrealist artist Magritte. Audiences of all ages will delight in watching vibrant dances and inventive scenes involving flippers, ladders and puppets in suits. This show can be enjoyed at 2pm and 4.30pm on May 12 and 13. Tickets start at €40 for a family then range from €14 to €8.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 Opera d’Arte

EXPERIENCE all the passions of opera in one spectacular production, featuring leading voices of the Irish and International operatic stage. With piano accompaniment by musical director, DAVID WRAY (musical director: Opera in the Open, Music Theatre Ireland), Immerse yourself in a diverse programme of musical masterpieces including selections from La Traviata, Carmen, Cosi Fan Tutte, Bohème, The Magic Flute, Die Fledermaus and The Barber of Seville. May 9, 8pm, tickets priced at €26/24.

CIVIC THEATRE 01 462 7477 Fruitcake

STARRING Mary McEvoy (Biddy in Glenroe) as Della Dolan, Fruitcake starts off as a cookery demonstration but develops into an account of one woman’s life with each ingredient reminding her of past memories and decisions made which ultimately change the course of her life. For two shows at 8pm and 3pm, in the Civic Theatre’s Main Auditorium on May 8, this show is guaranteed to go down well. Tickets are priced at €15 with a €12 concession. There will be €10 special Bealtaine tickets for the matinee.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Thought Once Was

THIS double bill promises to be a visceral feast for the senses. The Space Where Thought Once Was, is an exploration into Dementia. The second work is entitled Scatenato, from the Italian musical term, meaning wild, unchained, and loose. Joining the dancers on stage will be the Contempo String Quartet, Galway’s Ensemble in Residence. There will be just one show, on May 8 at 8pm and tickets priced at €16 or €12 concession are sure to sell fast.

Many captions might ask is it a bird? Is it a plane? But this paper knows the difference between the Marvel and DC multiverses

Gods and heroes The biggest film of the year so far crashes, bangs and wallops its way to our screens. And boy, is it mighty I PAUL HOSFORD

YOU could be forgiven for thinking, with the past week’s inclement weather, that summer is an age away. Or maybe, if you’re like myself, you know that a much better bellweather of the seasons in Ireland is the arrival of certain films. Oscar-worthy contenders mean that it is one month either side of Christmas, Adam Sandler’s latest execrable offering means you are either side of the summer. And the long, hot, rainy days of summer well and truly arrive when the first blockbuster finds its way into cinemas. This year, the first one up is Avengers Assemble, the Marvel dream team movie that many thought would never see the light of day and has essentially had it’s

FILM OF THE WEEK: Avengers Assemble ##### (12A) 143 mins Director: Joss Whedon Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Mark Ruffalo, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Jeremy Renner, Tom Hiddlestone

OUR VERDICT: THIS is it. If ever there was confirmation that nerds had inherited the earth it is this. Creator of Buffy and Firefly directing? Check. A faithful comic book adaptation high on action? Check. Scarlett Johannson in leather for much of the film? Check and check. Avengers Assemble is pitch perfect action. It never stops to take a breath and will leave audiences absolutely thrilled.

story being told since the final scene of Iron Man in 2008. Since Tony Stark’s first outing, Captain America was brought to life as The First Avenger, a reboot made The Hulk Incredible again, Thor flexed his Mighty muscles and Iron Man got a second run. All of these films had neat crossovers and, if you’ve seen the lot, the early pace of Assemble won’t confuse you. I f y o u h ave n ’t , i t doesn’t matter because there are super heroes on screen. Lots of

them. Of course, the biggest reservation to be had with a project such as this is that there will be too many super-cooks to spoil the super-broth, as it were. But, with the foundations already laid, director Joss Whedon takes the ball and just runs with it. Not a ponderous run, either, this is full on, balls-to-wall sprinting for over two hours. This is as close to joy as summer cinema will ever get. Whedon’s script is peppered with

comedic gold and the actors all seem to be having a blast. Dow ney Junior as Tony Stark is a marriage made in heaven. Downey has made a superhero role his own to the extent that many associate the hero with the actor, not the other way around, a trap that Val Kilmer and Michael Keaton know all too well. His acerbic barbs, particularly to Chris Hemsworth’s Thor, are a pleasure, as is the warmth and sweetness that is inherent in Mark Ruffalo’s Bruce Banner. Ruffalo is the third actor to don the stretchy pants of the verdant monster with anger issues in only nine years. In lesser hands, the role would be a throwaway or an attempt to ape predecessors, but this is Mark Ruffalo.

The man is simply too good to let a role like this slip by. Evans’ Captain America keeps the group honourable, while Samuel L Jackson’s Nick Fury keeps them all in line, acting as the world’s largest babysitter. But, what use is a cadre of heroes if they have nobody to fight? Enter Loki, Thor’s brother and a reject of Asgard. He is thoroughly evil and Tom Hiddlestone injects him with a smirk and a swagger that genuinely make you believe he can topple the finest collection of heroes ever. Overall, this is what you want from the summer. Fun, breathless and frenetic, it has an emotional depth that few directors could have attained. Assemble some friends and go.

3 May 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING GAMING Breaking down the plays for Madden’s latest run PAUL HOSFORD

WITH the NFL draft having dominated the US media - both sports and mainstream - last weekend, fans of American Football are licking their lips in anticipation of what their new players will bring to the table. But, with free-agency, the draft and Bountygate put to bed, football fans need the next milestone to look forward to. For a fan of the gridiron who lives 3,000 miles away from the nearest professional stadium, the marker that the season is here has traditionally been the arrival of NFL Madden on whatever console I fancied it. From owning it on an oddly-shaped cartridge on the Mega Drive, through PS One and PS2 iterations, it is the one game franchise to which I am oddly loyal. Part of it is knowledge based. Before I knew the game, the easiest way of getting to know who the guys on the less glamorous squads were was to fire up the XBox and go through the rosters of teams like the Chiefs, Browns and Jaguars. But, mostly, it is blind faith. Every year, I go back to Madden hoping and praying that it will deliver the deep, enrich-

ing football experience that I, and many others, crave. Last year was not the year. Don’t get me wrong, the 2012 vintage was a perfectly serviceable game, but with no real competition anymore, Madden seems to have gotten lazy. The absence of the 2K series has allowed EA Sports more or less phone it in. Think of the renaissance of the FIFA franchise and you think of the years the EA behemoth spent in the doldrums at the expense of Seabass Takatsuka and Konami’s Pro Evolution series. With that in mind, Madden 12’s major selling point was an improved presentation system. Yes, seeing your players led onto the field by mascots and announced by position and college attended was nice the first couple of times, but was it really worth a year’s development? The commentary became repetitive to anyone who played the game regularly and a complete lack of presentation for created or modified teams meant the diamond lost its lustre fairly quickly. The game’s biggest failing, however, was the franchise mode that was as shallow as a Kardashian and about

Bytesandpieces Nintendo continues its losses DESPITE dominating the Asian marketplace with its new handheld console, Nintendo posted its first annual losses this week, but the $460 million figure wasn’t as bad as first feared. The losses, which were included in financial results up to March 31, were caused by poor hardware sales. The company’s net sales dropped 36.2pc compared to the previous year. While Nintendo said it cut the price of its Nintendo 3DS console below its cost price, sales were slower in Europe and the US during the Christmas period than previous years. It sold 13.53m Nintendo 3DS consoles and 9.84m Nintendo Wii consoles. Nintendo has said it believes it will make an operating profit of 35bn yen (US$429m) in the coming year, and that it will release games such as New Super Mario Bros. 2 and Animal Crossing to drive up Nintendo 3DS software sales. It expects to sell the 3DS above its cost price by the middle of the financial year and will also launch the Wii U at the end of 2012. Madden 13 will let you live the dream – if your dream involves being Matt Cassell

half as much fun at times. The thrill of unearthing a draft steal in the fourth round was lost because of a clumsy scouting system that requires you to whittle down all seven picks to just 75 players’ physical attributes and then five that you could get full disclosure on. As anyone who has read War Room, Michael Holley’s seminal account of the New England Patriots success in the mid 00s will know, making a team capable of collecting a championship takes a lot more than knowing that a quarterback tipped to be a highround pick has a weak arm and poor stamina. The amount of effort an NFL franchise actually puts in to drafting players coming from college is staggering and the art of guessing what each team will do is itself a multi-million dollar industry. For EA to boil it down to the bare minimum makes the franchise mode feel like a lottery. It hurts that there is no feedback on likely

weak positions in the following season, nor is there an option to see upcoming free agents like there is in the NHL series, which continues to set the bar for EA games. While the exponentially superior NCAA Football got all of these things more or less spot on, Madden trailed. But the good news is that EA appears to have listened to the fans, in an attempt to win back the fans deserting its star title for what is essentially meant to be a little brother. Changes this year include:

Dropbacks The days of all snaps being identical are gone. Quarterbacks are getting seven-step drops, five-step drops and so on, which will make the game feel more realistic on both sides of the ball. Trajectories As someone who plays the game (www. rhinos.ie since you asked) , my greatest frustration has been the inability to throw a pass in anything other than a

laser or a lob. This year, there will be 25 trajectories to get the ball to the receiver in the most appropriate way.

QB Avoidance Moves You’re going to move more slowly in the pocket this time around – at least when looking to pass – but now you have the eight directions of the right stick to move your quarterback. These little stab moves buy you time to get free and make the play. Receiver Awareness Receivers never make mistakes. I say this as a card carrying member of the club. But, this year, the icons over receivers will light up when a player is expecting a pass. This doesn’t mean he’s open. This just means the receiver is looking for the ball. Similarly, you can throw when the icon isn’t lit up, but the chances of a catch are lower. Other changes include read and react defenses and better special teams. All of which sound good, whether you know what Green Right Slot Spider 3 Y Banana is or not.

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26 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 3 May 2012

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28 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 3 May 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

RUGBY: THIRDS TAKE THEIR THIRD BACK-TO-BACK SPIERS CUP

Local winners from the Great Ireland Run 2012 DUBLIN Gazette Newspapers is once again delighted to announce the winners of this year’s local prizes for participants in the Great Ireland Run, which took place in the Phoenix Park on April 15. Here is the list of the top local male and female finishers in the race, who win a specially designed plaque as well as prizes of sports gear - we will be in touch with you shortly. Blanch Gazette Sean MacSeoin 34:39 Dervila Holmes 39:04 Castleknock Gazette Kieran Gallagher 35:19 Kate O’Neill 36:51 Clondalkin Gazette Mohammed Dahir 38:57 Deirdre Daly 46:56 Dundrum Gazette Peter Toomey 36:41 Aoife Clarke 44:57 Dun Laoghaire Gazette Flavio Rea 40:46 Lindsay McMillan 47:42 Lucan Gazette Karl Fitzgerald 37:40 Niamh Maher 41:43 Malahide Gazette Niall McArdle 35:55 Michelle Tyrrell 45:24 Swords Gazette David Gargan 37:06 Suzanne Sheehy 40:17

Man of the match, Conor McCormack, touches down for Clondalkin as they won the Spiers Cup

Clon three-in-a-row SPIERS CUP FINAL Clondalkin Cill Dara

25 6

I sport@gazettegroup.com

CLONDALKIN RFC’s thirds, under the leadership of captain Hugh Curran, retained the Spiers Cup for a third consecutive year, after an actionpacked game of rugby in Gordon Park that saw them shut out Cill Dara on a final scoreline of 25-6. Mick Heaney scored an early try for the home side to give Clon 5-0 advantage, before Cill Dara fought back with a quick penalty. Clondalkin bounced back and drove Cill Dara back to their 5-metre line where Conor McCormack showed the grit and determination of this side. Andy Tyndall, Thomas McGratton and David

McGarry were vital in crashing through Cill Dara’s pack, and their interplay led to another Clondalkin try, scored by Chris Murray and converted by Tyndall. Cill Dara desperately tried to turn the tide after an infringement gave them what would be their last points of the match, but Clondalkin’s defence stood firm to repel their advances, and a penalty kick given to Cill Dara was wasted, caught by Tyndall and kicked neatly into touch. Clondalkin cemented their advantage after Cill Dara knocked the ball forward, which allowed McGarry to set up a maul, the ball being taken by Matthew Brocklebank who sped towards Cill Dara’s line, but was pushed into touch. Clon regained control

of the ball, and a fine kick from Al Hickey put the ball between the posts, leaving the score at 15-6. The Clondalkin pack went on to secure their advantage, driving through Cill Dara’s defence and feeding the ball to Al Hickey, who popped out a pass for McCormack who went over the whitewash for the decisive try, which was skilfully converted by Tyndall. There was some scrappy play by Cill Dara, but nonetheless they managed to make ground up to Clondalkin’s 5-metre line. Clon fought back hard, leading to a swift Ross Fitzgerald pass to Andy Tyndall who kicked the ball into touch. Colin Lyons and John Mooney came on for the last few action-packed minutes of play, with both

getting their hands quickly on the ball. With Cill Dara penalised for going offside, Tyndall kicked the penalty and put the score to 25-6. Clon were still hunting in search of more points, when Ross Fitzgerald saw his chance and kicked the ball up the field for Colin Lyons to chase unopposed through Cill Dara’s half. As the ball went over the try line, Cill Dara leapt

on it and touched down. Eventually, John Mooney pushed Cill Dara into touch, allowing the referee to blow the final whistle, the final score at 25 - 6. Conor McCormack was named man-of-thematch, and a delighted Clondalkin team were presented with their wellearned medals and the Spiers Cup for the third year in succession.

3 May 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 29

CRICKET: LADIES OPEN CAMPAIGN IN ECB DIVISION

2012 DUBLIN SPORTS AWARDS APRIL WINNERS

Batting for Ireland

STARof theMONTH CAROLINE RYAN GARDA’S cycling sensation claimed Ireland’s first elite world track medal since Harry Reynolds back in 1897, winning bronze in Melbourne, as well as setting a personal best and new Irish record for the women’s individual pursuit on the final day of the 2012 world track championships in the Australian city.

TEAMof theMONTH MALAHIDE CS

AN all-ages golfing machine, Malahide calmly saw off the challenge of Kilkenny in the Irish Schools’ National Matchplay competition to add to the schools’ impressive run of sporting achievements at Naas Golf Club in a thrilling final set of games. SUMMERTIME, and the living is...soggy. In spite of the rain, the sun came out and shone on some great performances by our sports stars last month, and it’s time to honour them with the Stars they deserve. An incredible length of time had passed between successes on the track for Ireland’s cyclists, and Caroline Ryan was a deserving candidate to revise that trend, which she did in style at the world

Ireland’s ladies Elena Tice, Emma Flanagan and Isobel Joyce at the launch of the new national cricket kit

sport@gazettegroup.com

I R E L A N D wo m e n ’s cricket team will begin their competitive season with a double header in Division 3 of the ECB County Championships this Bank Holiday weekend. The side features an array of talent from Dublin, with representives from Malahide, Pembroke, Merrion, and Rush, and they play their matches in the English county structure, on the proviso that

they play all of their matches in England. First up for Isobel Joyce’s side is a clash with Leicestershire on Sunday at Bardon Hill, which has a 12pm start, followed by Huntingdon and Cambridgeshire on Monday at Sawston at 11am.

Results Following their promotion last year, the side have worked hard during the winter under the watchful eye of head coach Jeremy Bray, and

are hopeful of another successful season. Bray said: “The squad has got a great blend of youth and experience, and I’m sure will be rewarded for all their efforts during the close season. “It’s an exciting time for Irish cricket in general and you can feel there’s a real buzz about the game at the minute. I’m sure it won’t be too long before the women are emulating the men’s team in terms of results.”

Tag for greatness: Coolmine’s charity rugby event championships. Meanwhile, Malahide CS golfers claimed the national title with a consummate performance at Naas that belied their young years, and pointed to a long and successful future in the game. Let us know about your achievements in sport, so that the Gazette can tell the rest of Dublin. Contact us on 01 601 0240 or sport@gazettegroup.com to tell us all about your successes.

COOLMINE RFC in Dublin 15 recently hosted a charity tag rugby day for Mount Sackville secondary school to benefit Focus On Romania, a charitable organisation which aims to focus world attention to the inadequate care of children and young adults in state institutions in Romania. This year more than 370 boys and girls descended on the club for a day of tag rugby, and with so many teams to look after, the Irish Tag Rugby Association stepped in to help with the organisation of the day. This year’s Tag Day raised over €3,000.

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

The squad in full is: Isobel Joyce (capt) , (Merrion); Clodagh Conway (Rush); Laura Delany (Leinster); Emma Flanagan (Pembroke); Cecelia Joyce (Merrion); Shauna Kavanagh (Pembroke); Louise McCarthy (Pembroke); Rebecca Rolfe (Leinster); Melissa Scott Hayward (Merrion); Clare Shillington (Malahide); Alison S m i t h ( P e m b r o ke ) ; Elena Tice (Merrion); Mary Waldron (Malahide).

30 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 3 May 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

SOCCER: RESILIENT RANGERS BOUNCE BACK FOR THE TITLE

Peamount pair claim top league rewards LEAGUE champions Peamount United’s Sara Lawlor (above) was last week named as the Bus Eireann Women’s National League Player of the Year, having formed part of the league’s most devastating strike force contributing no fewer than 15 goals herself. The awards, which were announced at the Burlington Hotel, also saw Stephanie Roche (below) claim the Golden Boot for the most goals scored over the course of the season. Minister of State, Michael Ring and UEFA Women’s Football Co-Ordinator, Emily Shaw, presented the awards. Emma Hansberry was chosen as the Bus Éireann Women’s National League Young Player of the Year. Hansberry was a vital member of the Castlebar Celtic squad that provided some great moments in the inaugural year of the tournament. With 7 goals in her first year, Emma should be a star for years to come. The Services to Football Award went to Brother Bernard Twomey. Brother Bernard is synonymous with the famous St Catherine’s club having been a founder member of the current National Senior Cup champions 32 years ago. Brother Bernard has dedicated his life to giving children the opportunity to play football at any level and has played an important role in the development of the women’s game in this country. The season draws to a close at Tallaght stadium this weekend when Shamrock Rovers take on newly crowned league champions, Peamount Utd, in the Bus Eireann Women’s National League Cup Final with a 2pm kick off.

Liffey Valley Rangers claimed the league title after rivals Beechwood failed to take any points from their remaining games

Liffey Valley take the league sport@gazettegroup.com

LIFFEY Valley Rangers were confirmed as LSL Division Two league champions last week after main rivals Beechwood lost both of their last two games to gift-wrap the title for the local side. In the wake of Valley’s 3-3 draw with Beechwood, it left the latter needing full points from their closing games against Iveagh Celtic and Lakelands. But they were unable to garner a single point, handing the ultimate prize to David Glennon and Gareth Grainger’s men.

The last 12 months h ave s e e n R a n g e r s bouncing back in brilliant fashion having been in the relegation mix. But, with Glennon coming on board toward the end of that campaign — sometimes lining out in a playing jersey due to a lack of player numbers at the time — they have managed to stay afloat. Glennon was added to the coaching ticket in the summer, adding a wealth of experience from the club’s schoolboy section. A large influx of past players saw Stephen Courtney, Gary Carmody, Gary Cleary, Gavin McCormack, Glenn

Martin, David Carmody, Craig Lynch and Martin Maher all returned to the club to join the core group. It made for an optimistic pre-season, taking in an army-style training camp with Justin McDonald, and their hard work paid off early in the season, building a strong lead after ten rounds of fixtures. A surprise defeat to Seaford Rock ended their unbeaten run, with Beechwood closing the gap. A 1-1 draw with Cherryfield further slowed Liffey Valley’s progress but, as the weather

improved in the spring, fortunes changed as Beechwood began to wobble, too. Crucially, a 3-2 win was claimed at Iveagh Celtic before and a 1-0 victory over St Pat’s CY left the title firmly in Rangers’ hands. The bonus of a place in the Tom Cullen Cup final, by beating Lakelands in the semi final, was not able to be fully celebrated as a second showdown with Beechwood was set. The Ranelagh side looked to be the ones to prosper, running up a 3-1 lead, but two late goals earned Liffey Valley a

draw which left them in pole position. And Beechwood’s capitulation saw the west Dublin club win their first honour at senior level. Speaking about the league win, manager Glennon said: “It was a tough season last year, no doubt, but I had a good core of players around me. “I knew if we added to the squad and the management team, we would go close. It doesn’t surprise me one bit that we’re on for the double with the quality that we have in the squad and the commitment they have shown all season.”

Bluebell losing pace in league race sport@gazettegroup.com

THE LSL Sunday Senior title slipped a little further away from Bluebell United’s hands when they came unstuck against Arklow Town 2-1 at the Red Cow last Sunday. It left Crumlin – who did not play in the league last weekend – two points clear, and they now also have a game in hand as the highest tier of intermediate football in the province reaches its vital closing rounds. For the Blues, it was a third

loss in four games, losing their impetus in dramatic fashion with the threat of coming second in the league for a second successive year now looming large. Glen Madden had given the hosts a lead, but responses from Arklow’s Chris Burgess and Don O’Neill, both set up by the influential David O’Sullivan, an FAI intermediate player of the year nominee put the visitors ahead. It leaves Bluebell now hoping for favours from elsewhere after they had the winning of

the title in their own hands a matter of weeks ago. They looked to have got off to an aggressive start in the match, the ball nestling in the goal inside the opening minute, but Shane Stritch’s strike was overruled after a nudge on Mervyn Travers. Stritch was almost set free in the opening quarter, too, but Travers denied him while Trevor Molloy’s delicate chip over the goalkeeper also came up just short. Madden and Stritch pulled a few strings but Molloy

missed out on another chance before Arklow began to find their feet in the game and began to threaten as half-time approached. Andrew McKeever denied O’Sullivan with the Wicklow side’s first major chance and it began to light up the tie. Molloy’s corner fell to Madden to crack home the opening goal before O’Sullivan twice broke down the right before laying on inviting balls from which Arklow turned the tie around and took home the three points.

3 May 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 31

HURLING: VICTORY SEES CUALA IN SECOND PLACE

CLUB NOTICEBOARD ROUND TOWERS MEMBERSHIP is now overdue. Dis-

The Lotto committee are looking

count on club cards will be cut

for your assistance to sell Towers’

for those who have not renewed.

Lotto tickets on a Friday evening

Renewal forms are available on the

for one hour once a month. There

club website or in reception in the

will be four teams and each team

clubrooms.

will be rostered once a month, and

The junior footballers face Ball-

no more than one hour will be need-

inteer St John’s in the junior cham-

ed. If you are able to help, contact

pionship - all support appreciated.

Matt McCormack on 087 683 6737 or

The minor footballers beat Bal-

The club shop is open in the club

All other games fell victim to the

every Monday night from 7.30 to

weather.

8.30pm. You can call Betty Ward or

Last week’s Lotto numbers were 7, 13, 17 and 25; Bonus Ball 26. There was no winner of the jackpot of €6,900.

DUBLIN SHC GROUP C Cuala Lucan Sarsfields

1-18 1-9

I sport@gazettegroup.com

IN A group featuring sixin-a-row-chasing Ballyboden St Enda’s, and an ever-improving St Vincent’s, the Group of Death tag that hangs over Group C in this year’s senior hurling championship is well-warranted, with perennial semi-finalists Lucan Sarsfields and an emerging Cuala vying for a quarter-final berth. The pre-game odds favoured a Lucan win but, in the end, the Dalkey side, powered by David Treacy, showed a ravenous appetite for the battle against a rebuilding opponent who struggled with a cross-field breeze at Parnell Park. Cuala started brightly, with four of their forward lines — Cian Waldron, Dan Keating, Davy Cunningham and Treacy — hitting first-half points

en route to a 0-10 to 0-4 half-time lead. In response, Aidan Roche hit a superb, offbalance point off his left side to briefly level at two points each, but the frustration was building, typified by Peter Kelly’s needless yellow card. Fintan O’Brien’s monster puck-outs were a good source of field position, while Adam Hudson and Bobby Browne were winning significant ball around the middle of the park. Lucan’s radar, meanwhile, was off-course, letting seven first-half shots slip wide, and Kevin O’Reilly could not get the frees in range to impact the scoreboard. Around the square, Oisin Gough and Rob Reid cleaned up nicely on a couple of occasions for an imposing lead. And that authority continued into the second period, despite Tommy Somers’ monster

free to start the second half. Cunningham roared through for an immediate response when a long free caused hesitance in the Lucan backs, and the full-forward batted it out left and then swiped home, leaving the score at 1-10 to 0-5 with 27 minutes to go. Keating’s follow-up point took more of the sting out of the occasion, with a couple of points exchanged before sub Alan Whyte cracked home a 20-metre free at the second attempt. It gave a little bit of late

life to the game with seven minutes to go, bringing the gap back to seven, but sparkling points from Sean Moran and Treacy meant there was little late drama. With Cuala replacing Lucan in AHL1, the result matched their league fortunes, and gives them an impetus going into next week’s date with St Vincent’s, with victory offering a strong step toward progression. Lucan, though, have it all to do, starting with a date with Boden, with a loss spelling elimination.

any particular enquiries on 087 675 2238 or 086 830 3207 respectively. The club is looking for volunteers to help with the mobile club shop on

Costigan, Larry and Frank Sherwin,

Saturday mornings in Monastery

who were the three €100 winners.

Road. Anyone able to assist is asked

Match three + Bonus Ball: N/A.

to contact Carol Cryan on 086 811

€7,000.

Lucan set for the battle to progress

Catherine Moran direct if you have

Congratulations to Jacqueline

N e x t w e e k ’s j a c k p o t w i l l b e

Lucan Sarsfields struggled to compete against Cuala’s senior hurlers at Parnell Park last week

email info@roundtower.ie.

lymun Kickhams in the lea gue.

7646 or Jessica O Malley at 087 280 6273.

LUCAN SARSFIELDS IT WAS with great sadness that we heard of the passing of Sean Flynn, peacefully, last Wednesday evening. Sean was a long-standing member and supporter of Lucan Sarsfields and a proud Roscommon man. He was involved in the management of a number of teams down through the years. The funeral was one of the largest gatherings ever seen in St Patrick’s Church, with people from all parts

of the country in attendance. This is testament to Sean’s popularity with all he knew. We would like to thank everyone who came back to the clubhouse after the funeral. Sean will be sadly missed on the sidelines and in the clubhouse. Our sincerest condolences to Mar y, Noel and Marian, sis ter Kathleen and brothers Stephen and Benny. Ar dheis De go raibh a anam dilis.

ST PAT’S PALMERSTOWN THE Senior Hurling Championship

Willie Crosbie and Robbie Carson.

went ahead on a wet weekend with

Under-14 footballers are host-

Pat’s losing narrowly to Kilmacud

ing a féile group in Glenaulin Park

Crokes by a difference of three

on May 5. All offers of assistance

points.

with organising the event gratefully

The junior hurlers were beaten by Raheny.

received. Contact Erroll Dunne 087 621 9320.

The Under-16 fought a valiant

Members are advised to keep June

effort but lost in the championship

Bank Holiday free for a full sched-

quarter-final.

ule of activities for the St Pat’s club

The Under-12 had a great win against Ballinteer St John’s.

weekend. Anyone with training equipment

Lotto: Numbers drawn were 5, 22,

hurls/helmets etc, which they no

24 and 25. There was no winner. Any

longer use can drop donations to the

three numbers winners were D&K,

clubhouse at anytime.

WESTMANSTOWN GAELS MUCH of last week’s action was dis-

go ahead with both junior men’s teams

rupted by weather conditions, with

in championship action. The junior 2s

the Intermediate challenge against

are at home to St Oliver Plunkett’s in

Ballyboden and the ladies’ cup game

Westmanstown on Thursday night,

away to Naomh Mearnog both rained

with the throw in also at 7:15pm.

off. Hopefully, this week’s activities will

The ladies have training on Saturday morning at 9am.

ALL OF YOUR CLONDALKIN SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31

TRIPLE CROWN: Clondalkin claim the Spiers Cup for the third consecutive time P28

MAY 3, 2012

APRIL ACCOLADES: Winners of Dublin Sports Awards announced P29

sport@gazettegroup.com

ROUND Towers’ opening round date with St Oliver Plunkett’s/ Eoghan Ruadh in the Dublin senior football championship has been put on hold for a second time, with the tie now set to be played at the earliest between May 16 and 20. It comes as a knockon effect of the Dublin U-21 side’s run to the All-Ireland final, which has caused another postponement to the competition, leaving worries that there will be a similar backlog of fixtures as happened in 2011. The intention was to get a couple of rounds played before Dublin enter the Leinster senior championship but it now

looks as if the county board will schedule club games during the campaign to alleviate the backlog which occurred last year, affecting county champions St Brigid’s in particular. Speaking about the situation, Dublin chairman Andy Kettle – a Fingal Ravens’ club man – says a final call will be made after this weekend. “Once the result of the U-21s was known our CCC made that call. It does put us under some pressure, but our hope is clubs and players and county management will facilitate playing a couple of rounds during the course of the Leinster championship. “ N o r m a l l y, t h a t wouldn’t be the case. Historically, we would

have kept that period as free as possible. “Obviously, we’d much prefer to go the straight route through Leinster, but if we do end up in the back door route then, definitely, we’ll have to look again at the scheduling of club games, and how we’re going to fit them in.” The improved performances of Dublin’s panels has been the source of a series of backlogs in recent times, most notably last year when the county almost had to pull out of the Leinster club championship campaign. Accommodation from the Meath county board averted that issue, but if the senior panel were to go on another extended run to All-Ireland glory,

it could well arise once more. In any case, the county’s U-21 selection comes to its denouement against Roscommon next Sunday in O’Connor Park, Tullamore at 2pm. They will hope to help the Dubs to a third AllIreland win at this level, following success in 2003 and 2010. The Rossies have won the title the same amount of times but their most recent success was in 1978 and came out on the wrong side of the result when the sides last collided in the competition a year ago. Gary Sweeney started centre-forward for Dublin that day and Ciarán Reddin, both part of the current team, came on as a second half sub.

Dublin’s inter-county success once again has led to fixture delays that have affected Round Towers

GazetteSPORT

Towers SFC tie delayed again