Clondalkin GAZET TE FREE
JUNE 14, 2012
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INSIDE: Greening away at Aras Chronain to cheer on Ireland Pages 8-9
CHILDCARE: Local creches set to gain from €100,000 fund See Page 3
Happy to help: Local girl meets Minister Reilly Boxing: Taylor wants world’s finest to be in London Page 32
Soccer: Quarryvale reflect on their 2011-12 season Page 30
ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ......................8 BUSINESS .................... 19 MOTORS ........................21 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ........ 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26
THE Minister for Health, Dr James Reilly, met Clondalkin girl Lauren Shaw, and Margaret Whealan, at a Department of Health Consultation Day on a National Rare Disease Plan for Ireland in Farmleigh House, recently. The local eight-year-old, who has Friedreich’s Ataxia disease, was one of a number of citizens engaging with Dr Reilly at Farmleigh, with the Government continuing to focus on a National Rare Diseases Steering Group, tasked with developing a national plan for rare diseases.
‘Proud’ Clondalkin is a very fine place High hopes as town makes it to top 25 in contest
I PAUL HOSFORD
CLONDALKIN has made the long list of 25 places in a Best Place to Live Competition. The judges of the competition have released an initial list of 25 places which are in the running for the overall
award. Local Fianna Fail councillor Trevor Gilligan, who wrote in The Gazette about why Clondalkin should win, said that he was delighted with the news, and hoped the judges would put Clondalkin on the shortlist next week. He said: “As soon as I saw
the competition I just knew I had to enter my home town, Clondalkin. “I would also like to thank the many people who made a submission. I believe every submission helped. Us Clondalkinites have reason to be proud,” said Cllr Gilligan. Full Story on Page 4
2 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 14 June 2012
PARKING: MOVE TO BRING EURO 2012 Hotel offers chance to meet football heroes REVIEW FORWARD
Bye-law study ‘needed earlier’ SOUTH Dublin County Council management has said that it is possible to begin a review of the county’s parking byelaws in 2012 if this move is given the seal of approval by all councillors. The confirmation came in response to a question by Cllr Emer Higgins (FG) at last month’s Transport Special Policy Committee meeting. The parking bye-laws are up for review next year, but Cllr Higgins asked that the process begin earlier than this in order to facilitate residents and businesses that are unhappy with current arrangements. She said: “Businesses and residents in, for example, Palmerstown, Lucan and Rathcoole, have particular issues with the parking bye-laws and, unfortunately, these issues cannot be addressed by amending the bye-laws. “The only way to bring
about changes to support local businesses in these areas is to change the byelaws as part of an overall review. “This review is scheduled to begin in 2013, but I have asked that we bring the process forward in order to progress this issue,” said Cllr Higgins, who was hopeful the issue could be resolved soon.
Seeking approval “I was delighted that the manager confirmed at our Transport Committee [meeting] that this would be possible, and I will be seeking approval from the council to begin this process ahead of schedule. “As changing bye-laws is quite complex, I think we should begin the process as soon as possible to expedite the matter. “It would be a positive and progressive move to start this process ahead of schedule,” said Cllr Higgins.
Football legend, and Euro 2012 commentator, John Aldridge, with young Ireland supporters Scott Bellew and Luke O’Dwyer
Aldridge was on the ball HE RED Cow Moran Hotel are sporting some special football pundits for the Euro 2012 Ireland matches, with Irish football heroes, Paul McGrath, John Aldridge and Alan McLoughlin, on hand at the Red Cow Moran Hotel’s pavilion to commentate on Ireland’s first three Euro matches, and to help entertain guests as they watch Ireland’s new football heroes in action. First up, on June 10, John Aldridge was the special guest at the hotel as he, and guests, gave Ireland their full attention and best support for the match against Ireland. The football legend had a great time meeting locals and football lovers, and proved to absolutely be on the ball with his commentary, too, setting a high mark of quality for McGrath and McLoughlin to match when they turn out as commentators in Ireland’s subsequent Euro matches. Next up, Alan McLoughlin features as the special guest for Ireland versus Italy on June 14, while Paul McGrath will do the honours on June 18 when Ireland face Spain. There was plenty of other fun and games on the evening, including a barbecue, a penalty shoot-out for some great prizes, and a live DJ after the match. Tickets to these Euro 2012 evenings at the Pavilion in the Red Cow Moran Hotel cost €5.
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Football fans were delighted at the chance to meet one of their heroes
The boys in green ... Aldridge with Ray Blackburn and Dylan McDonagh
14 June 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 3
CHILDCARE Boost for local services is welcomed
Local creches to benefit from €100,000 fund I PAUL HOSFORD phosford@gazettegroup.com
LOCAL creches will receive a combined €100,000, under a new funding scheme. The funding was announced as part of €6 million in capital grants allocated to 290 childcare settings throughout Ireland. Local Fine Gael TD, and Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald said she was delighted with the award. “These funds are part of the €6 million I secured in childcare capital funding under Budget 2012. “The Oval Creche in Palmerstown; Cocoon and the Bush Centre
in Lucan, and Naionra Chronain in Clondalkin will, between them, receive just over €100,000 of this funding. “This capital programme represents my commitment, and that of the Government, to the ongoing development of the childcare sector, and I know the money received by local childcare providers will be of huge benefit to the families who use these creches. “It’s great to see local creches benefiting from this grant system,” said Minister Fitzgerald. The Oval Creche and Montessori School in Palmerstown has been awarded €43,300 to upgrade its facilities in
Palmerstown Avenue. Tanya Ward, manager, said: “We are delighted to receive this funding, and we are looking forward to improving the quality of our facility. “I’d like to thank Minister Fitzgerald for her support, and Pobal for approving this funding.” The Bush Community Playground in Balgaddy was awarded €24,893, while Cocoon in Lucan is set to receive €24,740. Naionra Chronain, in Clondalkin village, has been approved for €8,684. Minister Fitzgerald said: “It’s not possible to approve all applications, but I am satisfied that the creches which have been
The Minister for Children, Frances Fitzgerald (second-right) is pictured with her Fine Gael party colleague, Councillor Emer Higgins (right) and staff of the Oval Creche, Palmerstown, which has been awarded €43,300 to upgrade its facilities
approved for grants are deserving of them. “It’s great that so many creches in our area will benefit from this funding, which I fought very hard to secure in Budget 2012. “I’d like to thank all of those who took the time and effort to apply for funding under this programme, and to compliment them for their commitment to improving the
quality of the early years and childcare sector. “I would also like to pay tribute to the work of Pobal in managing the significant volume of applications in a very professional, timely and efficient manner,” said Minister Fitzgerald. The aim of the fund is to provide support to childcare settings to address remedial/maintenance/
renovation work and/ or equipment for early education and childcare services. The Department said the programme was oversubscribed, and extremely competitive and applications that were successful were those that represented the most complete, coherent, precise and compelling cases for funding.
FUNDING
‘Green’ projects notified THE council is accepting applications for the funding of projects that focus on environmental awareness. The funding will be made available under the Local Agenda 21 Partnership Fund 2012, which promotes sustainable development by assisting small-scale, non-profit environmental projects at local level. Projects should focus on environmental awareness and actions that complement national environmental policies, such as those on waste, biodiversity, water conservation and climate change. A wide variety of projects and schemes has been supported under the fund in previous years, including community gardens and allotments, compost schemes, rainwater harvesting and biodiversity projects. For further information, see www.sdcc.ie.
4 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 14 June 2012
COMMUNITY I believe every submission helped – Gilligan, FF Clondalkin through to final 25 in Best Place to Live competition CLONDALKIN has made the long list of 25 places in a Best Place to Live competition. The judges of the competition have released an initial list of 25 places which are in the running for the overall award. Five Dublin suburbs are included: Rathmines, the Glenbeigh Road area in Cabra, Clondalkin, Sandymount and Ranelagh. Local Fianna Fail councillor Trevor Gilligan, who wrote in The Gazette about why Clondalkin should win, said that he was delight-
ed with the news and hoped the judges would put Clondalkin on the shortlist, next week. He said: “As soon as I saw the competition, I just knew I had to enter my home town, Clondalkin. “I would also like to thank many people who also made a submission. I believe every submission helped. “The shortlist will be ready on Monday, June 18, with the winner to be announced on Monday, June 25. “Well done to everyone who made a submission. Us Clondalkinites have reason to be proud! We
have done all we can. Now it’s up to a panel of judges to decide. May the best place – Clondalkin – win!” said Cllr Gilligan. The judges of the competition, which is being run by The Irish Times, singled out an entry from M Dunne, on why Clondalkin should win. “A village is what you make it to be. Our village is the heart of Clondalkin, and the streets are its veins. “Our buildings are the bone structure; some old and cracked, but have
been taken care of, some replaced with new. “We have a beautiful park which represents the lungs; a special place where we can breathe freely, exercise and enjoy life with our children.” Frank McDonald, environment editor of The Irish Times, said that making the decision is not easy. “The 563 entries had already been whittled down to 50, based on the quality of the ‘pitches’ made for each place by those who submitted them. “We had to weigh whether having
a spectacular scenic location, or a village prettified with window boxes and hanging baskets, was enough to make the cut – it wasn’t. “There had to be more [to weigh up] – a sense of community, as well as a sense of place. “In general, members of the jury felt that there should be a broad range of places chosen for the 25-strong longlist; not just geographically, but also in terms of category – cities and towns, as well as suburbs or urban villages, and rural areas,” said McDonald.
Gardai’s attack appeal
SCHOOLS: ENGINEERING
Talbot SNS shortlisted for contest
ENGINEERS Ireland’s STEPS programme this week announced that Talbot Senior National School, Bawnogue, has been shortlisted for their project entry, Connecting with Computers, in a competition. Last December, all registered primary schools were sent a pack from Engineers Ireland highlighting the theme for the competition, Technology for Life. Over a four-month period, participants worked on their projects, which reflected engineering in their local community. Recurring themes included health-focused projects and wind energy. John Power, director general of Engineers Ireland, said: “It’s great to have some fantastic projects in the final, and we’re looking forward to finding out who the winner will be. “Hundreds of pupils entered this year’s com-
petition, and to make it to the final is a fantastic achievement.” The competition is divided into two categories – the first targeting third and fourth class pupils, and the second focusing on fifth and sixth class pupils. The top 15 projects from each category have been chosen to represent their school at the Xperience Engineering National Final. The winners of the Junior and Senior Categories each receive a trophy and a laptop for their school and a cheque for educational equipment, while highly-commended entries in both categories will receive laptops for their school. For information on STEPS, Engineers Ireland’s programme, and the Xperience Engineering project, call a member of the STEPS team at 01 665 1340, email: info@steps. ie, or see www.steps.
GARDAI in Ronanstown are appealing for information on an assault that left a 25-year old man with severe head injuries. The attack took place in the early hours of Monday morning on Wheatfield Avenue, and has left the victim fighting for his life. He was taken by ambulance to Tallaght Hospital, and later transferred to Beaumont Hospital, where he remains in intensive care.
Congratulating Ciara: Dublin hurler’s words of encouragement for an up-and-coming player CIARA Ni Chleirigh was delighted to meet
Dublin hurler, Liam Rushe, when he presented her with a hurling medal at Gael Scoil Chluain Dolcain, this week. The hurler presented Ciara with her medal, as well as congratulating her on being selected for the
Junior Bunscoil Dublin team, as well as congratulating all of the talented hurlers at the gaelscoil that he presented coveted junior bunscoil hurling medals to. See Full Gallery next week
Investigating Investigating gardai are appealing for witnesses and, in particular, anybody in the vicinity of Wheatfield Avenue between 12.45am and 1.15am on Monday, June 11, to contact them. Anyone with information is asked to contact Ronanstown Garda Station at 01 666 7700, or the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111. Local Labour TD Robert Dowds said that residents were “deeply upset”, and urged anyone with information to come forward.
14 June 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 5
SHOP LOCAL The many benefits of spending locally
Supporting our local business HE Gazette is determined to m a ke p e o p l e aware of just how important it is to support our local businesses. We have never been backward about coming forward when it comes to our supporting the local community – but it is just as important, now more than ever, that we suppor t our local economy too. Support is the key to a thriving local community, and every member of the public can contribute to this support. Simply put, shopping locally benefits the local area. By shopping locally, without any of the expedition involved in travelling across the city, we can support local business, enterprise and industry, all of which play a far greater role in our quality of life than one might imagine. On a very basic level, the commercial rates that even the smallest of such local businesses pay, goes directly to our local council. Without these rates, the quality of public amenities, from parks nesses for residents to get behind. For 2012, the Gazette is continuing our support of local businesses, and will continue to work closely with the Clondalkin Chamber of Commerce to promote the local economy. T h y e s K av a n a g h , a local businessman, says that he hopes that jobs can be preserved and business can grow if people can be convinced to Shop Local. “In these difficult times, Clondalkin Chamber of Commerce is calling on people to Shop Local. “Please support local business, not only do they offer great value for money but also a personal
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service. These businesses employ a large number of local people, both full and part-time, and need your support.
“Clondalkin Chamber of Commerce is at present working on their own campaign to promote local business and
are also updating their website. “We would like to thank the Gazette for their Shop Local feature
and hope that shoppers will support the advertisers within the supplement,” Mr Kavanagh said.
6 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 14 June 2012
POLITICS Eoin O’Broin on his passion for his party
‘People judge you on what you do’ I PAUL HOSFORD phosford@gazettegroup.com
SUPPORT CLONDALKIN BUSINESS
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EOIN O’Broin should be more tired – the Dublin Mid-West Sinn Fein representative has just finished a stint as the campaign director for the No side in the Fiscal Compact Treaty, a position that saw him take to the roads, trying to convince the electorate of the merits of a No vote. When that campaign proved unsuccessful, O’Broin could have been forgiven for taking a long break, far away from Irish politics. But, as we meet on a grey Friday in O’Broin’s office in the Dail, he is upbeat and eager to get back into his constituency work. The Dun Laoghaireborn O’Broin spent time in London before returning to Ireland and decamping to Belfast in 1995, where he would become a Belfast City councillor for four years – a period that saw him on the frontline of the Holy
Cross dispute. After returning to Dublin, O’Broin was seen as one of the leading lights of the “new” Sinn Fein, and took more than 5,000 first preferences in the 2011 General Election in Dublin Mid-West. However, the sight of a Blackrock College-educated, middle-class man arguing the “Shinner” cause made some internet wags uneasy. He said: “When I joined Sinn Fein in 1995, there wouldn’t have been many South County Dublin, Blackrock College-educated, university graduates joining the party. But, now, as the party has grown, it has changed. “What I found, both inside the party and out, is that people judge you on what you do. “Nobody cares where you went to school, if you have a degree or not – people want to know what work you do, what you say, if you’re honest. “[These people] want to attack Sinn Fein
Eoin O’Broin, Dublin Mid-West Sinn Fein representative
because they’re not ‘left wing’ enough, or attack policies, but they know that they can’t do that, so they attack Mary Lou [McDonald] because of her sun tan, or they attack me because I went to school. “That’s fine, I’m not worried about people in internet chatrooms,” said O’Broin. O’Broin is a combatively intelligent thinker, who sees a need for a “new Republic”. He said: “If you look at the people advocating a republic in the early days, they were part of a small movement. “People began to sup-
port the idea when they realised that their social and economic well-being was inextricably linked with a new political and constitutional dispensation, and that’s part of what Sinn Fein is doing now,” said O’Broin. “The type of society we live in is framed by the constitutional and institutional framework. Our task in Sinn Fein is to convince people of that. “I want to live in a new Republic. I want to live in an Ireland where the diversity of the island is reflected in our political system. “One of the great tragedies of Partition is that
it denied Ireland the chance, from the beginning, of being much more diverse, much more plural, and much more multi-cultural. “I think there is a real value in that diversity,” said O’Broin. Away from politics, O’Broin says that he is a cinephile who “cooks a lot”, but that “this [politics] is what I like to do”. “I remember walking out of the only Leaving Cert exam that I sat, and the school principal accosting me! “But I always had this idea to find something you love doing, and do it well,” said O’Broin.
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Two plead ‘not guilty’ to robbery CALL THE GAZETTE ON
60 10 240
TWO men are on trial for the attempted robbery of a cash van, during which their alleged accomplice was killed and shot. Darren Keane (25), of Foxdene Avenue, Clondalkin, and John Boylan (25), of Gandon Court, Lucan, pleaded not guilty to attempted robbery and possession
of a sawn-off shot gun at Foxborough Road, Lucan on May 15, 2009. Alexander Owens SC, prosecuting, told the jury it would hear evidence that two men were “tucked around the corner in a Ford Mondeo” at the Centra supermarket on Foxborough Road, when a cash van pulled up to refill an ATM.
Counsel said the armed men, Garrett Molloy and Keith Murtagh got out of the car and approached cash van worker, Tim McDonald and demanded money.
Colleagues Colleagues in the back of the cash van threw a cash box out. Mr Owens told the
jury it was the State’s case that Mr Molloy then “discharged a shot into the air and gardai intervened”. He said the men were told to drop the gun but they refused and shots were fired, wounding both Mr Murtagh and Mr Molloy, who later died. Counsel told the jury
that the attempted robbery was “a joint enterprise” involving Mr Molloy, Mr Murtagh, brothers Derek and Gareth Hutch, Mr Keane and Mr Boylan. The trial, which is expected to last three weeks, continues before Judge Mary Ellen Ring in the Circuit Criminal Court.
14 June 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 7
RETAIL Loss-making outlet considered for closure
Fears for up to 30 Atlantic Homecare jobs I PAUL HOSFORD
phosford@gazettegroup.com
FEARS have grown for up to 30 jobs at the Atlantic Homecare store in Liffey Valley Shopping Centre. Parent company Grafton placed its 13-store chain in examinership last week. Grafton said in a statement that the chain had had five years of steadily increasing losses caused by what the company claims is “falling consumer demand and excessively high retail rent levels”. An independent accountant’s report prepared for the High Court by KPMG concluded that there is a good prospect
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of Atlantic becoming a sustainable business if an extensive restructuring programme can be implemented. The report identifies five stores that are significant loss makers, and that may be considered for closure, and which are forecast to make combined losses of more than €3 million this year. The five stores are located at Liffey Valley, Pouladuff in Cork, Newbridge in Kildare, Childers Road in Limerick and Wellpark in Galway. The company says that decisions on their future are a matter for the examiner. The closures would result in the loss of 38
full-time and 76 part-time jobs. Under examinership, the report envisages saving the jobs of 234 of the 348 staff employed by Atlantic, the possible closure of five DIY stores, while cooperation would be sought from landlords to reduce high “upwardonly” rents to open market levels. Atlantic has been lossmaking since 2007, and its accumulated losses over five years exceed €21 million. The company said that, as a retailer with exposure to the construction sector, they have been hurt by the 95% fall in housing completions since 2007.
The Atlantic Homecare outlet located at Liffey Valley Shopping Centre is one of five that have been identified within the chain as “significant loss makers”
T h e a c c o u n t a n t ’s report states that a smaller, sustainable business can emerge from the examinership, subject to agreements being reached with landlords on adjusting rents to open market levels. Atlantic’s losses have been supported by Woodie’s DIY Ltd for several years. Woodie’s DIY Ltd has indicated that it is prepared to con-
tinue supporting Atlantic during the examinership, and that it would also be prepared to invest in the company in the future to facilitate a scheme of arrangement recommended by the examiner. Local Sinn Fein representative Eoin O’Broin said that the move was, sadly, unsurprising. “The move comes as no surprise. The domestic economy is still mas-
sively in recession. Retail sales are in decline, and that is simply because the Government continues to takes money from low- and middle-income workers. “T he Government needs to reverse the mistaken tax policies of the last budget; namely, the Universal Social Charge and VAT increase, which are damaging consumer demand,” he said.
RECYCLING
Dispose of waste, batteries WEEE Ireland, the Irish compliance scheme for electrical and battery recycling, is holding a free recycling event at the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre this weekend, in association with South Dublin County Council. The collection event will take place this Saturday, June 16, from 10am until 4pm in the Green Overflow car park. This free event allows people to get rid of any household electrical equipment and batteries in a safe and environmentally-friendly manner. As a consumer of electrical items, you are entitled to bring your waste electrical equipment to your electrical retailer when purchasing an item of similar type. All WEEE and waste batteries can also be brought to your local civic amenity site, free of charge. For further information see www.recyclefree.ie.
8 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 14 June 2012
EURO 2012 A crushing defeat for the football team but
The crowd celebrating after the Irish goal Pictures: Ian Fleming
Peter Kavanagh, Austin Lysaght, Gavin Houle and Séan Doherty ready to step in if the Irish defence falters
Spirits were high in the bar despite the
Irish manager Giovanni Trapattoni shares his thoughts with
defeat
two interested on-lookers
You’ll never beat the Irish spirit UNDAY June 10 saw Ireland’s UEFA Euro 2012 campaign get under way. The first hurdle came in the form of a Croatian side who had a strong qualifying run which continued as they got off to a great start beating Ireland 3 goals to 1. Nearly the entire nation watched the match and the Aras Chronain, situated in the old Clondalkin village, showed the match to all willing to speak a cupla focail. Even though
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the crowd went home disappointed, they all enjoyed themselves and the unique surroundings. Aras Chronain will be showing the remaining two matches (and hopefully more) as well, so if you want to watch and try your hand at speaking as Gaeilge then head down. Aras Chronain is a haven for all things pertaining to Irish language, music, song, dance and culture. For more information visit www.araschronain.ie.
14 June 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 9
an astounding victory for Irish culture and language
Rachel Lawlor, Fionnuala Donegan, Roisin Smyth and Kirsty Gogan
Austin Lysaght, Chris O’Sullivan and Matthew Lysaght
Callum, Zoey, Gavin and Kelley Houle
Singing along with the national anthem
10 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 14 June 2012
R1
OLYMPICS Dublin gets its eager hands on the Olympic torch
Kenny Egan with the torch and his cheerleaders
Paul McGrath holds up traffic and the torch
Niamh Reid Burke with her parents and brother
We didn’t start the fire. Niamh Reid Burke with Alva Nolan Pictures: Fergus McNally and Andreas Poveda
Carrying the flame LYMPIC fever gripped Ireland (and in particular, Dublin) as the official torch relay took place on June 6. Dublin boxer Michael Carruth received the torch from fellow boxer, Olympian and medal winner, Wayne McCullough at the border between Ireland and Northern Ireland. From there it travelled by bus to the
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capital where it was formally received by the President, Michael D Higgins. From here the relay really took off. Carried by the likes of Paul McGrath, Kenny Egan, Jedward, Sonia O’Sullivan, Niamh Reid Burke and many more, it truly was a memorable occasion that culminated in a celebration event in St Stephen’s Green.
Niamh Reid Burke and Kenny Egan
Michael Carruth
14 June 2012 GAZETTE 11
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TV and radio personality, Hector O hEochagain (left) and legendary GAA and sports broadcaster Micheal O Muircheartaigh launch the Calor Community Champion 2012
Searching for heroes THE search is now on to find local champions across Dublin who work tirelessly each and every day to improve the lives of the people around them. Calor, Ireland’s leading supplier of rural energy solutions, has launched their inaugural Calor Community Champion 2012. Calor believe it is time that these people were recognised and celebrated, and have set aside a prize fund of €10,000 to do this. The search for local unsung heroes will be led by TV and radio personality, Hector O hEochagain. This summer, Hector and the team at Calor are looking for your help to choose the Calor Community Champion 2012. To enter and nominate your local Dublin hero, all you need to do is “like” the Calor Facebook page, once you become a “fan” you can enter the Community Champion app. Then, just provide the name of your nominee, contact details and in 250 words why you think they deserve to win.
Dublin SPCA special information day THE Dublin SPCA is encouraging all animal lovers to go along to a special information day of all things pet-like on Saturday, June 16. The fabulous Miss June Rodgers (panto star) is making a special guest appearance on the day. She is hoping to help raise the charity’s profile and promote awareness of animal welfare and owner responsibility. Families will be spoiled for choice of entertainment on the day with a diverse variety of enjoyable activities, demonstrations, food stalls, face painting, body art and bouncy castles.
DIARY There will be doggy style fashion, artwork, pet photography and grooming products for the fussiest pooch and owner. If you’re interested in going along to the event, then head down to the SPCA Animal Welfare Charity, Mount Venus Road Campus, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 on Saturday June 16, between 12pm and 4pm Contact Miriam Kerins, PR, Dublin SPCA for more information on 01-4994710 or 0867900894. .
A cornucopia of Irish food on the way TASTE of Dublin 2012 is on from June 14 to17 in Iveagh Gardens in Dublin and it promises to offer a cornucopia of Irish food from some of the bestknown chefs from Ireland and abroad. Launching the festival this year will be Jamie Oliver who is due to open a restaurant in Dundrum this year. He 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” Electrolux Ireland is sponsoring Taste of Ireland and visitors will be spoilt for choice with wine tastings and food samplings and workshops galore from over 100 industry experts. Irish talent includes Rachel Allen, Clodagh McKenna and Neven Maguire. Tickets are on sale now at www.tasteofdublin.ie or you can call 0818 30 00 30. Prices range from €20 (plus booking fee).
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SAILING A host of nautical activities to enjoy
Get on the water for the weekend SAIL Spree, which takes place on June 23 and 24, was officially launched last week by the Irish Sailing Association (ISA) and TV presenter, Kathryn Thomas in Dun Laoghaire harbour. It is a new, weekendlong initiative, designed to get people out on the water to enjoy water sports of all kinds. At the launch, she enjoyed a small boat trip with three young sailors from the Irish National Sailing School. The weekend’s activities take in all areas around the Dublin coast, from Sutton to Dun Laoghaire, so there is bound to be something nautical happening near you. It kicks off on Saturday, June 23, at the Sutton Dinghy Club which will run a sponsored sail down Sutton Creek and back to their club headquarters. A barbecue will also be available to the participants following the event as well as music and prizes. The Sutton Dinghy club will also run an Access Sailing evening on Tuesday June 26 to follow on from the weekend.
This event is focused on those with disabilities and is intended to open them up to how accessible water sport fun can be for them. Rush Sailing Club will get involved on Saturday 23 also as it is running On the Water which are taster sessions for the novice in a choice of yachts, dinghies and power boats. More taster sessions are organised for Malahide Yacht Club which will run a two-day event during the spree weekend and will lay on entertainment in the form of music and games for all. Malahide Yacht Club’s junior sailing section is very strong and the club also boasts two sailors, David Burrows and Scott Flanigan, who are bound for the London Olympics next month. On the southside of Dublin, Dun Laoghaire Harbour will be running spree events such as taster sessions with the Irish National Sailing School on Saturday, June 23. Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club is running a two-day event for the weekend and will open at 11am and close at 8pm to allow people to relax in the bar and take part in their games and activities or trips in a motor boat
Kathryn Thomas fights to keep her balance
which will be free. The Royal St George Yacht Club will also be providing, “On the Water” taster sessions on both Saturday and Sunday. The club regularly holds national and international competitions such as Four Star Pizza ISAF Youth World Championships this July. For Sail Spree they will offer sailing and power boating taster sessions as well as providing onshore activities, food, drink, music and entertainment from their clubhouse overlooking the marina. Dun Laoghaire Powerboat School will give you the chance to try the excitement of power boating in the safe, calm waters of the harbour on Sunday, June 24. The National Yacht Club’s Sail Spree event will happen a bit later on the evening of Wednesday, June 27. Sailing taster sessions will be offered from their clubhouse at Dun Laoghaire harbour and food and drink dispensed later. To book your place or find out more about Sail Spree events in your area you can check it out online at www.sailspree.ie.
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I BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN
Turning heads: Citroen hit it out of the park with the DS5 TV presenter Kathryn Thomas in Dun Laoghaire harbour
MOTORING PAGE 21
14 GAZETTE 14 June 2012
BUSINESS: ENTERPRISE BOARD’S TOP TIPS WHEN MEETING NEW CONTACTS
Networking can pay off
SOME top tips for networking were issued by the Fingal County Enterprise Board (CEB) to more than 100 business owners and managers gathered at the Kettles Country House Hotel in Swords last week. The board focused on using networking skills to increase and build company sales. With opportunities for networking today more than ever before, the Fingal CEB is encouraging all small businesses to seek more opportunities for their businesses, and have issued advice for entrepreneurs on the Golden Rules of Effective Networking. The board suggests small companies move networking to the top of their list of priorities, and to take time to attend the many events held across the country on a regular basis. While they are often geared specifically at new start-ups and the small-business owner,
they can provide a great introduction to help new and fledgling businesses to hone their networking skills. Before attending a business evening, the board recommends researching the people who will be attending – in particular, competitors, customers and suppliers. --------------------------
‘Ask the right questions and focus on the right people’ --------------------------
Attendees should prioritise the people that they want to meet, and find the moment to introduce themselves, as well as making sure they can easily communicate what they do, and their key selling points enthusiastically. While there are certain considerations to take into account when attending a networking event, there are common
mistakes the board recommends attendees to do their best to avoid. Building a personal relationship is extremely important, and it’s easy to miss opportunities by chatting about social topics. Remember to ask the right questions and to be prepared to focus on the right people. If someone is clearly wasting time, find an excuse and politely move on. Effective networking is not about ensuring attendees give equal time to everyone at a business function – it is far more effective to focus on those they feel will be a useful contact, or who will help the attendee or their business. Following a networking event, always follow-up the valuable contacts that are made, and as quickly as possible after an event. Send an email or make a call to such new contacts within a couple of days, to keep both businesses on the radar.
PRODUCE You’re growing to love
Highly praise
MICHAEL KELLY has some seasonal advice to get the best of summer growing THERE are some vegetables that you grow yourself and you really wonder whether it’s worth the hassle, particularly if there are good commercial alternatives available. However, given the fact that most of the tomatoes in our supermarkets are the super-bland, all-yearround Dutch variety, and taste of – well, nothing at all – having a good crop of your own tomatoes is really one of the most rewarding things you can do. Tomatoes that you grow yourself taste a million times nicer than anything you will buy in the supermarket – period. This is because the overwhelming majority of commercial tomatoes are grown for superficial uniformity and shelf-life, rather than flavour. You are more likely to eat your own tomatoes, as you would an apple, rather than slice ’em up and put them in a sandwich. They are a sweet, sumptuous treat, best eaten warm and freshly picked. I like being in touch with the seasonality of tomatoes, though it is a bitter-sweet affair given how short the season is –
tomatoes are basically in season for just a quarter of the year, or four short months. Ours are starting to ripen, now, and they will go on producing hopefully into late October, and then they will be no more, and we will shed a tear. We try to extend their season a little by getting the first seeds going on a warming mat in early spring at one end, and by preserving the produce at the other end (by storing, bottling, freezing etc). If you want to really embrace seasonal food consumption, you could do worse than starting with the tomato. Grow as many plants as your space will allow – nurture them, harvest, eat and store. Enjoy them fresh, from July until October, and then in the winter enjoy your own “processed” tomatoes too, in whatever form you have converted them in to – then give yourself a break from them. They are not in season, so don’t be tempted to buy them. When you have sampled the delectable taste of your own tomatoes, I promise you that you won’t find this hard.
Speaking of tomatoes, here’s a real date for the diary. On Sunday, September 2, Fingal Gardener’s Group and GIY Naul are holding an event – Totally Terrific Tomatoes – celebrating all things tomato. It takes place at Seamus Ennis Centre, Naul, Co Dublin from 12 noon until 5pm. For further information, see www.nickykylegardening.com.
Things to do this month To do: Any ground that has finished cropping must be quickly cleared away to take more vegetables. Use your produce – eat it, freeze it, process it, exchange it, give it away. Continue to water and feed plants, and practise good weed control. Earth up brassicas such as Brussels sprouts – these plants will grow tall and require a good deal of support. Net plants to keep butterflies and the cabbage moth away. Cut dow n legume plants that have finished cropping – leave the roots in the soil, as they fix nitrogen in the soil. Give pumpkins plenty of water and apply a high-potash liquid feed. Sow: Continue successional sowings and use quick maturing varieties for autumn use – Swiss chard, lettuce, rocket, salad onions, radish, turnips, peas, French Beans (dwarf), carrots. Sow for winter use – spring cabbage, Hungry Gap kale, parsley, perpetual spinach, chicory and coriander. Plant strawberries now for a good crop next June. Propagate rosemary, sage and mint from cuttings now. Har vest: July and August are peak months for produce – enjoy it!
When there are hundreds when you could so easily
First crops of French and runner beans, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, courgette and aubergine, marrows, beetroot, globe artichokes. Continue to harvest new potatoes, calabrese, cauliflower, cabbage, spinach, carrots, turnips, shallots, garlic, radish, spring onions, salad crops, strawberries, raspberries, tayberries, currents (black, red and white), gooseberries, loganberries, peas, broad beans. Ask yourself – do you really need to go to the supermarket?!
Tip of the month Make use of your grass cuttings. Here’s how to make great compost, using two great wastecreators in the home and garden – newspapers and grass cuttings. Build an open heap of alternating 10-inch layers of crumpled newspaper and grass cuttings. Allow to get quite tall – four to fix feet – and then leave to rot down for a year. Michael Kelly is a freelance
journalist, author and founder of GIY Ireland
14 June 2012 GAZETTE 15
these top tips for getting some gardening glory
the humble tomato Recipe of the Month: Green Tomato Chutney FAR from being a waste, the tomatoes that don’t ripen can be one of the most important assets you will get from your veg patch this year. The beauty of this recipe is its exclusivity – because you can’t buy the primary ingredient (green tomatoes) in the shops, it can really only be made by a GIYer.
of varieties of tomatoes, why settle for the bland, uniform variety in supermarkets grow your own delicious tomatoes, full of flavour?
Ingredients: • 3kg green tomatoes • Six large onions (about 1kg) • Three or four large green peppers • 700g brown sugar • 1.2 litres of vinegar • Spices: Three tbs mustard seed; one tbs coriander seed; one-half teaspoon celery seed; one teaspoon turmeric
Instructions Chop the onions and slice the tomatoes finely. Layer them in a very large bowl – ie, start with onions, then tomatoes, then onions etc, seasoning each layer with plenty of salt and a little pepper as you go. Leave it to stand for a day or so, then drain off the liquid and transfer the veg to a large stock pot. Add the rest of the ingredients (sugar, vinegar, spices), bring the whole thing to a boil, and let it simmer on a low heat for two or three hours. Put it back in to the bowl and let it sit for another day. Put it back in the stock pot and cook it for another half hour so that
the liquid reduces down further – you want just enough liquid to cover the vegetables when they are transferred in to pots. Sterilise some jam jars and ladle the chutney in to them. Don’t be tempted to eat any for about a month – it’s like a fine wine, and will get better with age.
FESTIVAL
A day for Brazilian culture WITH an estimated 30,000 Brazilians in Ireland, and more coming, now is a fitting time to welcome Dublin’s first Brazil Day. The first official Brazil Day Dublin will take place on Sunday, June 17 in Dtwo Bar, garden and club on Harcourt Street, beginning at 3pm, and running til late. It is a celebration of all things Brazilian, starting with a performance from a traditional capoeira group, followed up by a Brazilian band, Pagode Fora De Casa. There will also be traditional Samba Brazilian dancers, DJs, and traditional Brazilian BBQ and food, all adding to the authenticity of the day. T he night will be capped off by the famous Carlao and Fabiano Sertaneja band, which will just be returning from Paris after supporting Michel Telo.
16 GAZETTE 14 June 2012
GazetteSTYLE STYLE Great gifts for your dad Edited by Laura Webb
CHECK ON YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE BLOOD pressure is essential for us all to survive – without it, our blood vessels would collapse. Hypertension, on the other hand, refers to blood pressure above a defined safe limit. This condition forces the heart to work harder, and it is the single most important risk factor for coronary heart disease and stroke. Because hypertension generally has no symptoms, it is essential that you attend your doctor or local pharmacy to get your blood pressure checked regularly. With thanks to the staff at Lucan Village Pharmacy
AVE the date, ever yone – it’s Father’s Day this Sunday, June 17, and Gazette Style is making sure dads across Dublin get the gifts they have longed for. From simple gifts to unique one-offs, this year is going to be a cracker for giving. We all know that mothers love, love, love to get pampered, but who says fathers don’t want that, too? Dunboyne Castle Hotel has answered fathers’ calls, and are offering a Pamper Papa treat from their spa, Seoid. More and more men are looking for good skincare and want to look after themselves. The Seoid spa has two great offers available for
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the week of Father’s Day. Dad’s Treat includes a 45-minute Voya Facial to detoxify the skin and brighten a dull, lifeless complexion; a 15-minute head and shoulder massage to relieve any tension in the neck and shoulders, and a 20-minute Dry Floatation (which is the equivalent of three hour’s sleep), all for €75. The second special for Father’s Day – Father’s Me Time – includes a back, neck and shoulder massage, and a 20-minute Dry Floatation, for only €45. For further details on these offers, see www. dunboynecastlehotel. com. Get dad started on a great skin care routine, and a good place to start is with Vichy’s Homme
Hydra Mag C+ (50ml for €18.50), which is a two-in-one hydrating care product that fights the signs of fatigue and reduces under-eye bags and dark circles. This is also complemented with Vichy Homme Soap-Free Shaving Foam, which has a neutral PH, and glycerine for hydration. It is formulated to protect from tightness, dryness and irritations, and is suitable for sensitive skin. Meanwhile, we also all know how men are tuning into their fashion senses more than ever before, and are paying more attention to how they look. We had a quick look at Marks and Spen-
cer’s (M&S) to see what clothes would go down a treat this Father’s Day. See our selection of M&S images to get some inspiration for Father’s Day looks, this year. Why not go even bigger than usual this year and get dad a membership for their favourite football, GAA or rugby team? That way you know they will have a great season, no matter the score! Another great gift for rocking dads – or just to help them relive their youth – is by getting them a ticket to a festival. Electric Picnic is definitely one for all ages, and is a great family affair. Whatever you decide to get, make sure you pamper your dad, because they’re worth it, too.
Marks and Spencer have plenty of clothes to get dad looking dapper, such as a Blue Harbour polo shirt (€27), a smart leather belt (€35), four-pack of Collezione socks (€16)
14 June 2012 GAZETTE 17
GazettePETS PETS
Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA
THE FACTS: FAMILIES MAY NOT ALWAYS CHOOSE THE BEST ANIMAL FOR THEIR NEEDS
Your pet deserves to have the right owner to love it OST parents at some stage during their child’s early years will be asked the question: “Mum (or dad), can I please have a dog? I promise I’ll look after him, walk him, feed him and clean up his poo.” Yeah, right – hands up how many of us have fallen for that one? I have! Our eldest dog, Sophie, was adopted from a shelter when she was six weeks old.We got her for our youngest child, who was then two. Sophie is now going on 18 and the child, now an adult, has shown lots of interest over the years by loving, cuddling, nurturing and socialising with the animal, but has she ever once walked her (err,no), fed her ( again, no), and has the thought of picking up a piece of dog poo ever seared my child’s brain stem? Again, no, never! If you get a pet for your child, it’s very likely that you – the mum – will end up being the primary carer and, when your child heads off to travel the world with his/her mates, chances are you’ll be left with the dog. That’s life. However, I still believe kids and pets go hand in hand together, especially kids and dogs. I think most of you reading this will agree that kids who have pets make for better, more humane adults. Having a pet teaches the child to have responsibility for another living creature, and creates a bond between them and the animal. In addition, a pet will also create empathy and raise the child’s self-es-
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teem. Why? This is because a pet gives unconditional love to a child; a pet will stabilise an unstable world for a child, because no matter what else is going on, a dog still needs walking, feeding and grooming – it’s part of its day-to-day routine. Routine is important to a child; it makes them feel safe, and pets force us to maintain a routine, helping the entire family structure to be more balanced. It doesn’t have to be a dog – a goldfish swimming around in a tank can teach children the responsibility of feeding, cleaning and caring. However, the key to enjoying the most satisfying relationship with your pet is choosing one that suits your lifestyle. It’s very easy for your child to fall in love with a cutie-pie puppy or a fluffy kitten, but the realities are that different sets of responsibilities fall with different types of pets. In order to help you make the right choice of pet for your family, I’ve set out a few points for you to consider. • Families with small children or an elderly relative living with them should consider the size and energy levels of the pet. If it’s a puppy or a kitten, it will be very active – however, it will also be delicate, and needs to be handled with extreme care. On the other hand, a large and energetic dog can accidentally harm a small child or an adult who is unsteady on their feet by knocking them over.
• If the home environment is one of total neatness; then you need to expect muddy footprints as well as accidents and hairs from a free-roaming animal. Therefore, a longhaired dog may not be your best choice. Maybe your best bet is a pet which is confined to quarters, such as fish, birds, or a turtle. • With certain pets, your garden will suffer. Dogs will dig holes, urinate and poo. • If you’re a bit of a home bird, and spend most of your time at home, consider a pet that is happy with such an environment. What about a cat, a rabbit or a bird? • However, if you’re
an active type of family who enjoys daily walks or loves to jog, then a dog could be your best friend. Also, there is a social element to dog-walking. It encourages interaction with others. • You need to decide just how much time you have to give to a pet. Keep in mind you are making a commitment that will last for approximately 12 to as much as 20 years if you get a cat or a dog. My eldest dog is 18. If you get something like a parrot – well, they live up to 70 years, sometimes 80! Here are some examples of different types of dogs, and how they could suit you and your
As adorable as Rover is, your even more adorable child(ren) may not be the best at tending to his needs, so you should think long and hard about the best kind of pet to suit your family’s life and habits
family. • A sporty dog: Retriever, Labrador, Spaniel. Very active, alert, like to be around people, so they’re social animals. • Terriers: Jack Russell, Wheaton, Fox. Tenacious and brave little guys, and very determined. My “ladies” love to dig, dig and dig again. They are quite determined and feisty, and this makes them a challenge to train. However, they’re extremely loyal, but can be a bit intoler-
ant of boisterous children. • Wo r k i n g d o g s : Doberman, Newfoundland, Boxer. Strongwilled, independent, may be physically overpowering; small children and the elderly should be aware of this exuberance. • Toy dogs: Chihuahua, Yorkie. Companion lapdogs, but still need exercise. They’re fragile and can easily get crushed under people’s feet; so take
care when having them around a toddler. They’re loyal and intelligent, and love learning tricks. All dog breeds must be kept under effective control and exercised regularly. For further information, contact your vet or professional dog trainer. For more information, log onto www.dspca. ie or contact your vet or email me at miriam.kerins@dspca.ie
18 GAZETTE 14 June 2012
GazetteMUSIC MUSIC FastTunes with Radio Nova’s Dee Woods
REVIEW: ROWLAND’S WANDERERS BRIDGE 27-YEAR GAP
The burning never ends for Dexys’ soul brothers I ROB HEIGH
FORGET the diamond jubilee, diamond geezer Paul McCartney turns 70 on Monday, June 18, and to say that the former Beatle is still going strong is a bit of an understatement. Fresh from closing the show at the queen’s diamond jubilee concert in London recently, Macca is gearing up to rock the English capital once again: this time at the opening ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games. However not everyone thinks he can do no wrong. McCartney came under fire for his vocal performance at the queen’s bash, while others gave him stick for not playing Hey Jude. Macca’s hit back by saying he’s saving the Beatles’ anthem for the Olympics’ concert and didn’t want to play the same tune to the masses in the same city at gigs that are just weeks apart. Fair enough, there ARE enough Beatles’ songs to go round, people! Maybe if Elizabeth was called Judy things’d be different but hey, (ob-la-di, ob-la-da), life goes on. If you do watch McCartney at the opening ceremony on July 27 (he’ll be closing the show once again) then you’ll be in good company: four billion people are expected to tune in and they’ll see him perform Hey Jude and another song which hasn’t been named as yet. Carry That Weight for the torchbearers maybe? Or Day Tripper for the rubbish athletes? Even with his vocals getting a bashing, there’s no denying the fact that he’s a living legend with five decades of musical genius behind him who still packs more punch than many of today’s newer artists. Which is why I was surprised to hear The Beatles’ museum in Hamburg is closing down. The reason? Lack of interest! George Harrison once said All Things Must Pass. It’s a sad day when that includes Beatlemania.
ANYONE with any interest in soul music would be able to pick out at will the finest moments from the genre with ease. Otis Redding, Al Green, Geno Washington... all legends, all immortal. But in the realm of soul from these isles, there would appear to be a very short roll of classic names that spring to mind. Taking the influences of his youth — his Irish roots, his love of soul and northern soul and a burning passion to express himself musically — Kevin Rowland helped to create one of the most recognisable and influential bands of the eighties, Dexy’s Midnight Runners. The Irish connection has always been present in Dexy’s music, and Rowland’s search for national identity — Dance Stance’s rebellious stomp, on almost all of Too-RyeAy, and most obviously on Knowledge of Beauty from Don’t Stand... — should put Dexys on a considerable pedestal in Ireland, an expression of exiled Irishness to rank alongside The Pogues as one of the finest products of the British diaspora.
The Dexys line-up includes original members Jimmy Paterson, Kevin Rowland, Pete Williams and Mick Talbot, and viola player Lucy Morgan, proving that 27 years between releases need not diminish their genius
But the misapprehension of their Celtic soul brothers-look, the caricature that the immense success of Come On Eileen created, and the criminal undermining of their 1985 release, Don’t Stand Me Down, led to Dexy’s falling off the cultural radar, and their potential was eroded, leading to the break-up of the band and a number of lost years for Rowland. The band were reinvigorated by their 2003 tour – an unforgettable night at Vicar Street included
You can call me Paul: Graceland reissued ahead of Dublin date THE legendary Paul Simon and his equally
legendary Graceland album are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the record’s release this month in 1986. To salute the groundbreaking album, Simon returns to Dublin for two nights at the O2 arena on July 12 and 13, with some of the original African musicians set to join him on stage. In addition, the album is getting a deluxe re-release, with the CD accompanied by a DVD of Under African Skies, a feature length film which chronicles the creation and lasting influence of Simon’s iconic record.
— but it has taken until now for Rowland to reunite integral members from throughout the band’s classic line-ups — Big Jimmy Paterson on trombone, Mick Talbot on keys, Pete Williams on joint vocal duties — as well as a roll call of other fine musicians to record One Day I’m Going To Soar. Rowland has seldom been in better voice, effortlessly adding his unique croon to the silky layered and smooth instrumental backing that accompanies each
track. The musical motifs and progressions that appear on opening track, Now, reappear elsewhere throughout the record. Which, combined with the lyric book for the record — the life and love of Mr Rowland — make this as close to a concept album as Dexys have ever come. As ever, there is a sense of the confessional and a rare streak of humour and theatricality that many people utterly missed about their past incarnations.
The romanticism and dynamism that the backing — from cafe jazz to Celtic soul — provides Rowland’s lyrics and singing with a perfect underpinning for what is aimed for in this endeavour, and make One Day I’m Going To Soar as good as anything the Midnight Runners ever committed to record. It doesn’t surpass Don’t Stand Me Down — nothing ever could — but it comes close to its spirit, and is a very much more than welcome return.
14 June 2012 GAZETTE 19
GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS
Supported by AIB
Interview: Graham McNevin, Project Architects
Clearing up some misconceptions
Graham McNevin and Ross Quinn
GRAHAM McNevin and Ross Quinn are associates with Project Architects and have worked in their Dublin office for over 10 years. Project Architects is an award-winning design focused architects’ practice formed in 1996 to build upon the expertise and experience of the former group established in 1976. The practice, which employs a core of approximately 15 professional, technical and
support staff from its two offices in Dublin and Cork, has a diverse range of experience in all aspects of architecture, design, planning and infrastructural development. Talking about the public’s view of architects, Graham says: “The biggest misconception out there is that an architect costs you money. The actual reality is that involving a registered architect at an early stage will save you time and money
and maximise your projects potential. “I feel that most people don’t fully understand an architect’s role and therefore don’t realise what we can do for you. We have helped people receive finance from banks, funding from investors and grants from the various bodies. Residential, retail and sports clubs have all availed of our service.” “We are trained professional designers who will lead you expertly
through the planning and building control process, ensuring that the requirements of the local authority are satisfied. We can oversee the construction of your project to better ensure completion on time, on budget and in compliance with legislation. And finally we can certify that your new home or extension is in compliance with Planning Permission and Building Regulations.” Project Architects
will tailor their service to your financial requirements. Contact them for advice on your new project, large or small on 01-6796466. Due to the high demand Project Architects are extending their free consultation to anyone who contacts them before August 31, 2012. Project Architects have just launched their brand new website: www.projectarchitects.ie
Quinnsworth television advertisement.
Q: And your first pay cheque? A: A crisp £20 note Q: When did you start your present job? A: 15 years ago Q: What is the best thing about your job? A: Seeing a vision become a reality for a client
Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’? A: None I am very hands on Q: What sport do you follow?
Q – What’s the latest on getting access to money in pensions ? I have a private pension with a sizeable amount of money that I could now well use. Is there any hope of extrapolating these funds ? Barry – Cork Street A – Mary Mitchell-O’Connor, the Fine Gael TD, recently proposed a question in the Dail to give access to those with Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) before retirement. Currently if you have an occupational AVC, you can only access it at retirement age (minimum age 60) which could be some time away for those in their youth. Implementation of same to access these funds could be some time away while access to the full pension before retirement has not even been mooted. Clearly we are on a pension time bomb. Currently, there are 420,000 Irish nationals over the age of 65 – 767,000 by 2026 and a whopping 1.8m by 2051 – so there will be greater pressure on the workforce at the time to support the elderly. In 2010 for every person who retired there were six workers. By 2051, there will be two workers. The state pension is currently € 230.30 per week and for over half the working population, this is the only money they will have when they retire. But it still also makes sense to invest in a pension, even on 20% tax rate, for every € 100 invested, the fund would have to drop by 20% in the year before you actually lose on the investment. On retirement, you can commute up to 25% of the fund (or € 200,000 whichever is the greater) as a tax free lump sum with a number of choices and options for investment of the balance. Email me for a free article originally published in the Sunday Business Post entitled The Pension End Game. Therefore, Barry, I would hold off on cashing your pension and consider increasing your contributions to it instead. 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
Q&A Q: What was your first job? A: I was an extra in a
PENSION ACCESS
A: All, especially football
much to say lately though)
Q: What sport can you play? A: Football and golf badly
Q: What was your last Tweet/status update? A: Facebook status about a
Q: What is your guilty music/TV or movie pleasure? A: Movies! Love anything with a twist!
Q: Who best represents modern Ireland – David Norris or Jedward? A: Combine the three Jednorward!! Scary thought
sports pavilion we have just completed in University of Limerick
Q: Describe your dream meal? A: Anything Thai Q: Who would you rather have dinner with – Enda Kenny or Dame Edna? A: Again both would be an
Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own? A: Over 10 Q: What was your worst holiday experience? A: When my flight had to turn back to Australia six hours after we had left
Q: Describe your dream holiday? A: My honeymoon in Australia and Thailand
Q: What would be your dream job? A: Irish football team man-
Q: What music/pictures/ movies do you have on your iPod/iPad? A: Kings of Leon, The Eagles
interesting episode of Come Dine With Me.
ager
Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook? A: Rio Ferdinand (hasn’t
Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously? A: Any gadget shop
Q: What do you plan to do when you retire? A: See the world
GOT A STORY? TELL US ABOUT YOUR LOCAL EVENT, CELEBRATION OR FUNCTION Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email news@gazettegroup.com
20 GAZETTE 14 June 2012
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RENOVATIONS: KEEPING UP WITH THE COSTS IS KEY TO PLANNING RENOVAT
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Tender is the right group way to plan a build All of your latest local news, sport, features and pictures are now just a click away
IF YOU are planning a new build or a renovation, you need to get to grips with the ins and outs of the tendering process if you want to make sure you are on top of your costings. The tendering process or a Request for Tender (RFT) is a structured invitation where you, the home owner, invite building companies to give you a detailed quotation or cost estimate for a building job based on your plans and requirements which you have previously drawn up. It is imperative that before you enter into the RFT process that you are decided and happy with your plans as all costings will be based on your plans and design requirements. The plan is the crucial part and it is vitally important that your budget is defined
up front and that you match your design to your budget. Bearing this in mind, there are three key steps to a successful plan. 1. Assess and design the area – know your access points, be aware of where you may need to relocate ser vices and plumbing as that will have an impact on cost. 2. Get plan drawn up by a professional. This should be well drafted, legible and logical. Realistic in its design and matching your budget. 3. Your plan needs to be specified; the required materials from glazing, to kitchen cabinets, to light switches and sockets need to be defined up front and in detail. Once your specifications are complete, you will send them out to the builders you have
selected, who will then price as per your specifications. You will be getting quotations from several sources so it’s important that all involved have the same information. Quality specification is crucial if you want an accurate tender. Make sure you are 100% satisfied that what you need is on the costings the builders bring you back and that it matches your specifications. If the documentation doesn’t match, you may find yourself in a situation where an element of the build may be removed from the project (as it wasn’t on the list the builder brought back) or, it could be added in later at an extra cost. Once prices come in, you must then meet your builder. You could be entering into a three
of four month project and the building team will be onsite daily. You must be able to communicate with them. Once you are close to making a decision, you need to go and look at prior work and talk to old customers. But don’t let positive feedback sway you into making a decision, the quality of previous work will hopefully speak for itself.
When you come to the contracts stage ( d o n ’t a t t e m p t a ny work without contracts) ensure the fees for the Certificate of Compliance is included as part of the costings, as you will need this to sign off the completed build. To get in touch with HSLC, find them online at www.hslc.ie or call Gerhard on 087 774 9470 or info@hslc.ie
14 June 2012 GAZETTE 21
GazetteMOTORS MOTORS
Edited by Cormac Curtis
RoadSigns Road Signs
SIGNIFICANT GROWTH FOR JAGUAR SALES
Citroen’s designers have gone to town on the DS5, crafting a car with more attention to detail and luxurious touches than you’d expect – but expect to be delighted
A head-turning motor CORMAC CURTIS
IT IS a rare and wonderful occasion when you get a taste of being a kid again – and a week spent with the new Citroen DS5 gave me just that sensation. At first glance, I was captured by an elegance of design that is mixed with a downright brutishly low-slung stance that, coupled with the almost over-sized alloy wheels, reminded me of some kind of military vehicle. Citroen have hit it clear out of the park with the DS5 – it has a staggering ability to turn heads. From every angle, the exterior of this car is a design classic. But, more importantly, the interior has all the looks of a jet fighter’s cockpit, yet at the same time offers all the luxury that you could ever desire. A beautiful blend of black and maroon leather adorned the seats and trim – the most attractive colour scheme of any car I have driven in recent years. Every point of contact made me grin with satisfaction – just imagine a youngster on Jim’ll Fix It getting to live out a boyhood dream and you will get the idea! The driver’s seat just
SPECS: CITROEN DS5 HDi 160bhp 6-speed manual 5-door Saloon Top speed: 215km/h 0 – 100km/hr: 8.5 sec CO2 emissions: 133gm/ km Tax Band: B – €225 Model driven priced from €36,400
seemed to wrap itself around me, preparing me for the joy of driving a very special motor. The chunky steering wheel is wrapped in leather, boasts a flat bottom, brushed steel accents, and very useful controls for telephone, radio and cruise control. The edges of the wheel offer attractive contrast stitching – a theme that continues throughout the car. Under the driver’s left forearm, the “I drive”style system control for the sat nav and radio sits ahead of the brushed steel window control buttons. Ahead of the gear shift, the centre console contains an array of chunky buttons and dials for climate control air con, heated seats etc. All of these controls have a solid, almost retro feel. The video display for the on-board sat nav is
The Citroen DS5 interior: “The most attractive colour scheme of any car I have driven in recent years”
bright, easy to read and very accurate. The navigation system includes live traffic information and European maps. Another feature of the video display is a reversing camera, which I found myself getting very attached to – especially as I manoeuvred this very substantial vehicle during the morning school run. A lovely touch on the console is a beautifully designed analogue clock – something you don’t see too often in cars any more. It may not be all that necessary, but like so many features of this car, it adds to the feeling that you are driving something just that little bit special.
Overhead is divided into three separate sunroof sections, or, as Citroen call them, “light wells”. Each of these light wells is controlled individually by buttons in the roof console. Also in this console are two drop-down containers for sunglasses, as well as a Citroen emergency call button – an impressive system that can alert emergency services, when activated. It’s never certain how well the interior of a car will age, and the level of brushed steel and metallic accents here will require a little more attention than most to keep looking as elegant as they did leaving the showroom.
However, the build quality certainly felt very solid and very well put together. When I managed to drag my gaze away from the interior, I finally got driving. The driver’s outlook reminded me of that of a car far sportier and stealthier – the outside road appears in a kind of panoramic mode, thanks to the wide, shallow windows that wrap around the cabin. Sometimes, the view is a little compromised, but I found myself getting used to the unusual pillar positions very quickly – a small price to pay for the elegant design that is on display here. In terms of perform-
ance, there was nothing to disappoint me here, either. The model I was driving came with a 160bhp Hdi engine, coupled to a six-speed manual gearbox, and it had all the performance I needed. At this level, it won’t break any speed records, but it was by no means underpowered – all in all, the power-to-weight ratio was bang on the money. This kind of car doesn’t come around too often – and, with prices starting at around €32,500, it is not completely beyond the budget of someone looking for a car that will not only turn heads, but put a smile on your face every time you get in.
JAGUAR Land Rover Ireland has achieved significant growth in 2012, with combined sales of more than 800 vehicles up to the end of May – an increase of 39.7% versus the same period last year – encouraging growth, given that new car sales for the industry as a whole are down by 8.7%. The sales increase is mainly owed to the response to the two award-winning models on offer from each brand – the Jaguar XF 2.2 Diesel and the all-new Range Rover Evoque. Gerard O’Farrell, managing director of Jaguar Land Rover Ireland, said: “The increased demand for both Jaguar and Land Rover demonstrates the unique desirability and strength of our products. “With pricing starting from €39,000 for the Range Rover Evoque, and €44,820 for the Jaguar XF, there has never been a better time to consider Jaguar and Land Rover.”
RENAULT’S JUNE SCRAPPAGE DEAL ALMOST a year after the Government scrapped scrappage, Renault has brought back a scrappage deal for June, where customers who buy a new Renault car and trade in their eight years or older vehicle will get an extra €1,500 on top of the current offer, and a five years’ unlimited mileage warranty. Also for June, customers can avail of 0% APR finance offers from Renault Finance. Renault Ireland pioneered scrappage. ie in late 2009 and saw their sales increase as a result of theirs, and the Government’s, scrappage scheme.
22 GAZETTE 14 June 2012
GazetteTTRAVEL FastTravel Get some guaranteed sunshine with Wingsabroad Turkish holiday specials WINGSABROAD, the Turkish holiday specialist is offering some great deals this summer if you want guaranteed sunshine. A stay at the three-star Melissa Apartments costs €359pps (self-catering and two sharing). This includes return flights, seven nights’ accommodation. You will travel from Dublin or Cork on June 24 or June 25, from Shannon. The next offer is a stay at another three-star resort, Sami Beach Hotel, (B and B basis). Prices start at €399pps and include return flights and seven nights’ accommodation. Travel on June 24 from Dublin or on June 25 from Shannon. Another offer is the four-star Golden Day Wings (B and B basis) from €439pps (two sharing). This includes return flights, seven nights’ accommodation. Leave on either June 24 from Dublin or Cork or on June 25 from Shannon. You can stay at the four-star Coastlight Hotel on a B and B basis from €449pps (two sharing). The price includes return flights, seven nights’ accommodation. Leave from Dublin or Cork on June 24 or from Shannon on June 25. To stay at the three-star Summer Gardens on a self-catering basis will cost €419pps (two sharing), including return flights, seven nights’ accommodation as stated. Start out from Dublin on June 24 or from Shannon on June 25. The final offer is to stay at the three-star Marbel Hotel (all-inclusive) from €559pps (two sharing) including return flights, seven nights’ accommodation. Travel on June 24 from Dublin or Cork or else June 25 from Shannon. For more information or to book please visit www.wingsabroad.ie or call 01 8719444 or contact your local travel agent.
Edited by Mimi Murray
INDIA AND NEPAL: LAUNCH OF ESCORTED TOURS FOR BOTH COUNTRIES
Explore a little Eastern mystery I BAIRBRE NI
BHRAONAIN
F you’ve ever thought about making that daunting trek to Nepal or India but didn’t know where to start, here’s your chance to explore these two countries of Eastern mystery with an escort to lead the way for you. Gohop.ie have just introduced an escorted tour of both countries which takes in all of their most important historical and religious sites. Exotic stops on the tour begin with the Indian capital, New Delhi then on to Jaipur and Agra (home of the Taj Mahal). From here you will go onto Jhansi and the medieval riverside town of Orchha which is filled with shrines and temples. Next the tour heads to the UNESCO heritage site of Khajuraho where the temples are of the erotic kind and finally it reaches the spiritual heart of India as you fly to Varanasi. The first stop of the tour is in Old Delhi. You will visit Jama Majid which is the largest mosque in India, take a rickshaw ride in Chandni Chowk and visit Red Fort and Faj Ghat where the shrine
I
Bangla Sahib is the most prominent Sikh house of worship in New Delhi
and cremation site of Mahatma Gandhi. Next to New Delhi which is a modern, vibrant city with fine examples of Indo-Islamic architecture and the world’s tallest minaret at Qutab Minar. It also has the India Gate; a war memorial arch and is the residence of India’s president and parliament. The tour will next take you on to Jaipur where you will visit the magnificent Amber Fort. Rajput is famous as a complex of palaces and pavilions, gardens and
You will enjoy a sunset visit to the spectacular Taj Mahal
temples. You will truly feel like a prince or princess of the old Raj as you ascend a hilltop on a decorated elephant. You will then have the option of seeing Jaipur from the sky in an early morning hot air balloon flight over the pink city. Agra is famous for its marble and also for its intricate leather work. You will enjoy a sunset visit to the spectacular Taj Mahal. This white marble shrine to love was built over a period of 22 years
by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan for his Queen Mumtaz Mahal to house her mortal remains. Orchha, or “hidden place” has ruins of the tiered Jahangir Mahal, a fine example of medieval Indo Islamic architecture decorated with paintings and frescoes done in the 17th century. The Taj Mahal features more murals and frescoes depicting the life of Lord Rama and Krishna and incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Kathmandu is next on the tour where you will enjoy an early morning boat cruise on the Holy River Ganges. On the Ganges you will see the “bathing ghats” where thousands of pilgrims pay homage to the Sun God by immersing themselves in the river. Sarnath is the following place and it’s where Lord Buddha gave his first sermon. You will then visit the 2500-year-old Swayambhunath Stupa. This is one of the holiest and oldest Buddhist
chaityas in Nepal. The tour will then head to Kathmandu’s Durbar Square, the historic seat of Nepalese royalty. The Gohop escorted tours to India and Nepal run from June 1, 2012 until April 15, 2013. You can book your tour of 11 nights by contacting www.gohop.ie and prices include 11 nights’ accommodation with half board, English speaking guides, entrance fees to sights, elephant ride, a boat ride in Varanasi and transportation via car. Prices are €1,590per person sharing (pps) until September 30 2012 (ground only); €1,890pps until April 15, 2013 (ground only); €2,490pps until September 30 2012 (including flights) and €2,790pps until April 15, 2013 (including flights). The return flights to Delhi, which will be priced on enquiry to ensure the best fares, and visas for India and Nepal are not included in the price.
14 June 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 23
24 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 14 June 2012
GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT
GoingOUT THE PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929 Travesties
FOLLOWING the hugely successful and popular Plaza Suite, Rough Magic are back at the Pavilion Theatre with the delicious comedy Travesties by Tom Stoppard. Best-known as the author of the Oscar-winning film Shakespeare in Love and the plays Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead and Arcadia, Stoppard is at his best in this absurdly funny masterpiece featuring James Joyce, Vladimir Lenin and Dadaist Tristan Tzara. Running until June 23, tickets are priced from €18 to €25.
MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 Bloomsday Celebration THE Mill Theatre and Roly Saul’s presents a special Bloomsday Celebration Brunch to mark the 90th anniversary of the publication of Ulysses. Join them in Roly Saul’s restaurant for a buffet brunch with fare inspired by Leopold Bloom’s breakfast, including a glass of burgundy. Brunch will be accompanied by theatrical readings from Ulysses read by actor Declan Brennan. Sandra Oman (soprano) will perform Joycean songs including the famous, I Dreamt I Dwelt in Marble Halls, Bahnhofstrasse and She Weeps Over Rahoon (two poems written by Joyce). This event takes place on June 16 at 11.30am. Admission: €15
CIVIC THEATRE 01 462 7477
Anna (Felicity Jones) and Jacob (Anton Yelchin) share a tender moment under the covers
Monteverdi’s Orfeo OPERA Theatre Company, Ireland’s National Touring Opera Company continues its 26th year of touring opera with this memorable and compelling work. OTC is delighted to welcome back founding member Ben Barnes, who directed the company’s first opera in 1986 and now returns to direct Orfeo. This event takes place on June 19 at 8pm. Admission: €28 & €25 concession
DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 John Colleary and Patrick McDonnell THIS is a unique opportunity to see two of Irelands finest stand up’s performing live together in one explosive show. As well as starring in the The Savage Eye, John Colleary is a writer and performer of Today FM comedy slot, Last Orders. As well as The Savage Eye, Patrick has created memorable characters in Naked Camera and of course Father Ted. This show takes place on June 15 at 8.15pm. Admission €16.
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A Crazy little thing A Sundance favourite, Like Crazy never made it to Irish cinemas. Be thankful for the second chance the DVD gives. I PAUL HOSFORD
SUNDANCE, the indie film festival, has a chequered hit ratio in recent years. For every Precious in recent times, there has been a Hamlet 2, which sold for $10 million dollars and made less than half that at the US box office. With that in mind, the viewing public has become somewhat weary of the Sundance seal of approval, even given 2010’s spectacular performance, when Academy Awards rained down on Sundance picks. One film that came out of the 2011 festival highly tipped was Like Crazy, but this intimate depiction of a long-distance relationship never found a home in Irish cinemas, due mainly to a complete lack of buzz on this side of the pond. It can be hard to sell to most audiences a trip to a
FILM OF THE WEEK: Like Crazy #### (15) 90 mins Director: Drake Doremus Starring: Anton Yelchin, Felicity Jones, Jennifer Lawrence, Alex Kingston, Charlie Bewley
OUR VERDICT: INSPIRED by director Doremus’ legal battles to get his ex-wife an American work visa, Like Crazy is an immediate, raw and close to the bone examination of relationships and distance, both physical and emotional. Occassionaly beautiful and always assured, it is a film that will stay with you beyond its 90 minutes.
film that cost less than a two-bedroom apartment in Monasterevin. Well, pre-crash anyway. Shot on a handheld Canon EOS 7D for less than $250,000, Like Crazy tells the story of two LA college students, British rose Anna and California furniture designer Jacob. Refreshingly, there is no meet-cute. Nothing contrived happens to bring them together. There is merely a note on a windshield and a tentative phonecall. From there, the two fall madly in love and, with the school year due to end, Anna makes the
fateful decision to stay for the summer, in direct contravention of her student visa. Flying home for a wedding, she is forced to spend a few months in Blighty away from her love in LA. Upon trying to re-enter the States, however, she falls foul of immigration. That leaves the couple with no choice but to split. Their lives are too disparate, too separate to overcome the time and space differences. What follows is a fouryear journey through getting back together, visits to London, new partners,
engagements and constant legal battles. This not an heroic, triumph over-the-odds story, however. This a cutting insight into two desperately flawed characters that, at times, you just want to shake. This is, for this reviewer, the film’s biggest single achievement. The idea that you have to fully like characters has always stuck in my craw, not that I know what a craw is. For me, the premise is flawed. Unlikable characters, akin to unlikable people, are often fascinating. The idea that otherwise good people would make bad choices through stubbornness, poor communication or insecurity is not bad storytelling, it is a fact of life. W hen Anna reads Jacob’s text messages and sees communications with an ex, some will see a completely unlikeable
character, borne of black and white. But, what Doremus has actually done is create a character of greys. Someone driven to distraction by the thought that their partner has a life 5,500 miles away that she may never know. Devoting all of your screen time to two characters, either together or separately takes immense faith. Giving them flaws so obvious and exposed, is fearless. The film is weighted brilliantly on the shoulders of Felicity Jones, as Anna and Anton Yelchin, as Jacob. Newcomer Jones is the standout, however. She shows a deftness and subtlety that many actresses her age lack and it is no wonder she bagged the Sundance award for breakthrough performance, showing that not all Sundance recommendations are bad.
14 June 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 25
GazetteGAMING GAMING Bytesandpieces Camera is sure to be snapped up
Using television’s Game of Thrones as an example of providing supplementary info over your smartphone for your favourite TV shows, Marc Whitten, head of Microsoft’s XBox Live division, demonstrated how its SmartGlass service aims to underline the company’s drive to master the home entertainment hub
Weee love E3’s show I SHANE DILLON
THE greatest show in town, the annual E3 sees games developers, publishers, marketeers, icons, gurus, journalists, fans and many more gather in Los Angeles for a look at what to expect in the gaming (and tech) world over the next 12 months. It’s the biggest international such event for anyone and everyone, and, while there can be dull E3s just as easily as exceptional ones, they’re always worth paying attention to. As always, it’s the games and players that don’t attend E3 that set
tongues a-wagging, and this year was no different. For example, while nobody was remotely surprised that there wasn’t so much as a whisker of Grand Theft Auto V on show – frankly, GTA developer Rockstar are too big to stoop to the biggest games show in the world, and never show their wares – it was the non-showing of other notable titles that raised eyebrows. Sony’s long-delayed The Last Guardian, for instance, once again failed to make a showing for the PlayStation 3. On the other hand,
Sony wowed crowds with stunning gameplay from a number of PS3 titles, with The Last Of Us setting an apparent benchmark in mature gaming and graphics – just one of a number of heavy-hitting PS3-exclusive titles on show. Nintendo, too, impressed, as people finally got to see what its upcoming console – the Wii U – is capable of. Given the breathtaking fiscal losses posted by Nintendo in the past year, the Wii U really had to impress, and especially when considering its somewhat head-scratching concept of a giant
controller that’s also kind of a tablet display screen and, errr, um ... However, its capabilities became much clearer for those that picked it up and tried it out, clearly making the Wii U one to watch when the innovative console releases. Of course, Microsoft wasn’t going to let its rivals steal the show, and, in addition to a number of hefty gaming announcements, its main one concerned “SmartGlass”. This, it seems, fits the company’s goal of unifying home entertainment in a one-stop-shop, such that, for example, your standard smartphone/
tablet could have innovative uses to tie in to a number of home entertainment hubs. In this way, your phone/tablet could, say, provide extra uses for your games, or control your TV, or provide supplementary information about your favourite show, and so on. All this, and much, much more was on show at E3. Despite the difficult economic times we’re all facing - as well as gamers around the world - E3 showed that, as always, the gaming and tech worlds have an awful lot to look forward to in the coming 12 months.
Anotherweebyte... Techies won’t be impressed – but many readers will buy this back-to-basics phone FOR all of their ever-increasing power, there’s just one thing about mobile phones that companies rarely, if ever, want to talk about – the fact that an awful lot of phone users have absolutely no interest in almost all of what their phones can do. One such group are older citizens. Personal experience, and anecdoctal evidence, suggests that many older people couldn’t care less about apps, Wifi functionality, and so on – they simply want to be able to make and receive calls, send occasional texts, perhaps use picture messaging, – but
that’s about all. Step forward Vodafone, and its exclusively available emporia CLICK – a stripped-back flipscreen mobile phone with few “unecessary” bells and whistles, yet with a number of interesting, and useful functions. It’s a streamlined, somewhat basic phone – however, these are also its strengths, as its chunky and tactile buttons, scalable screen font sizes, emergency access to key numbers, and other such functions go against the grain of what the average mobile phone does – and makes the emporia
CLICK all the better for it. I can see how it will appeal to many phone owners looking for a phone that’s, well, just a phone, rather than an all-singing, toocomplicated “all-in-one entertainment system”. Certainly, I have older relatives who’re looking for exactly this kind of just-a-phone phone. The emporia CLICK is available at Vodafone stores, priced from €79.99, though special offers (eg number switching) may apply.
AS I’M looking at some of the latest tech this week, whether in gaming terms or hardware, it’s a good time to point out that Sony are rolling out another top-notch camera soon (July), ready to continue blurring the lines between “amateur” and “professional” camera models. Space prevents me from going into all the details of the highly-impressive new Cyber-shot RX100 (right), but the basics are anything but basic, and will greatly impress any other photographers out there. For instance, with an effective sensor resolution of 20.2 megapixels, courtesy of its special Exmor CMOS sensor; 3.6x optical zoom with its F1.8 Carl Zeiss Vario-Sonnar lens; a maximum ISO of 25600; 1,229k dot resolution for its 7.5cm Xtra Fine LCD screen; new WhiteMagic technology that uses white pixels in addition to RGB – well, there’s a long, long list of features that will be complete gibberish to non-enthusiasts, but make the Cyber-shot RX100 very impressive indeed. It’s a great addition to Sony’s already top-notch Cyber-shot line, and is sure to be snapped up once it hits the shops.
GAZETTE
26 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 14 June 2012
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GazetteSPORT
AMERICAN DREAM: College matches set to light up Parnell and Donnybrook: Page 29
SOCCER: FAI SUMMER SCHOOLS SET TO KEEP THE EURO 2012 BUZZ ALIVE AT CAMPS
Super summer soccer schools set to sizzle sport@gazettegroup.com
WITH only days left to avail of the early booking discount for Dublin players, the FAI are urging future Irish internationals to follow up their interest in the Euros with the eFlow FAI Summer Schools this summer. An estimated 4,000 budding soccer stars are due to sign up to one of the 55 designated schools which will commence on July 1.
The FAI’s discount offer will come to a close on June 15, so children from the age of six to teenagers of up to 14-years-old need to register as soon as they can to keep the Euro 2012 buzz going throughout the summer. These week-long soccer schools are open to boys and girls of all abilities and, with three different camps on offer, including girls-only and goalkeeper camps, there is plenty of choice for all levels of abil-
ity and experience. All of the camps will be overseen by FAI-accredited coaches who can provide an opportunity for children to learn new skills, develop existing skills, have fun and benefit from the guidance of some of Ireland’s best soccer coaches. On the first day of camp, each participant will receive a full kit, a football and a backpack. Encouraging local Dublin soccer players to sign-
Local soccer star Stephen Ward and friend promote the eFlow FAI Summer Schools at the Aviva Stadium
up, Portmarnock native and Irish international player, Stephen Ward, who himself participated in the soccer schools as a young player, said: “I participated in the camps when I was a kid and not only did it help
me to improve as a player, it was also great fun during the summer holidays. “With 55 Dublin clubs hosting camps, the fully qualified coaches will help young talent to develop and improve their soccer
skills in a fun and interesting way. As an additional bonus and to mark the beginning of the 2012 eFlow FAI Summer Soccer Schools, eFlow is offering free jersey personalisation to the
first 200 eFlow customers who book their place at any of the camps around the country. For further information on the camps and to book a place, visit www.summersoccerschools.ie or
28 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 14 June 2012
GazetteSport Sport
Aisling O’Kelly, Evelyn Sweeney, and Anna McGrea
Olivia O’Toole and Niamh Reid Burke
Olympics The Olympic flame burns on in Dublin ISTORY was made as Dublin partook in the Olympic torch relay. Handed to Michael Carruth by Wayne McCullough at the border of Ireland and Northern Ireland. It made its way down to Dublin where it was formally received by president Michael D Higgins. The torch then went on its trip around the city carried by many notable Irish athletes and celebrities making its way to the city centre. When it arrived at its final destination at St Stephen’s Green, it was welcomed by a huge crowd and a joyous celebration ceremony.
Paul McGrath
Niamh Reid Burke from ITB
Kenneth Egan
H
Kenneth Egan, Sonia O’Sullivan and Mayor of Fingal, Gerry Maguire
Harry Ryan, left, Tess Jennings, and Jordan O’Connor
14 June 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 29
Friday night lights coming to Dublin
FastSport
American football is coming to the city in force this summer, and Notre Dame v Navy is not Bike week events set the only attraction on offer, writes ROB HEIGH to re-cycle family fun IT’S no understatement to say that there is nothing like an American Football match to illustrate all the passion, the glamour and the commitment to sporting endeavour in one single event. From the pitch to the rafters, there is a unique buzz that cannot be found in any other sport in the world. For a seemingly privileged few who get pitchside at the NFL matches we see on TV, they experience one of the most exciting, involving and intense sports played just within their reach. But, in a few short weeks, the thrill of American Football is coming to local pitches in Dublin. On the weekend of August 31, there will be a celebration of the sport in Parnell Park and Donnybrook Stadium, with 12 top-class US high school and NCA A Division
III college teams taking part in a Friday Night Lights event never before attempted in the city, ahead of the main event of the weekend, the regular season game between Notre Dame and Navy at the Aviva Stadium. The double-headers
on hand to find out more about the tournament. “I’ve brought Division 3 college sides over to Ireland to play one-off matches before, but when I saw the date of the Notre Dame v Navy game, a light went off in my head,” said Steenberge, an enthusias-
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‘We wanted to make the event as accessible as possible. Anyone who loves sport can come with their whole family.’ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
here in Dublin, and in Pairc Tailteann in Navan, are the culmination of a plan set in motion by Notre Dame football legend, Patrick Steenberge. Steenberge and his partners in setting up the Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) American football event were in Dublin last week, and GazetteSport was
tic icon of the athletic programme at Notre Dame and founder of Global Football, who have been taking American Football out to the wider world for many years now. “The Notre Dame and Navy game is happening right at the start of our football season. I started calling some people, and there was a great interest
in getting this tournament organised. “I thought I would have four college teams travelling, which would have been fine, but more and more wanted to come, which means we can have these three-double headers in three great venues.” Steenberge was clear about what impact he hopes bringing the games to local venues will have. “Putting the sport on people’s doorsteps was very important to us. Playing in Navan, at Donnybrook and in Parnell Park is critical to that. If we had stuck to our original plan, we would have been playing at RDS, UCD and Donnybrook. But we realised that was only one neighbourhood we would be reaching. “So, by playing at these venues and making the prices affordable for people was a key to making this event accessible and
Irish American Football Association Chairman Greg Loughran (centre left) presents Patrick Steenberge with an Ireland shirt, flanked by Brian Mullins of UCD (left) and Regis Scafe, head coach of John Carroll University (right)
as inclusive as possible. “There is six hours of entertainment on offer, and the people who come along will get to understand that there is more to American Football than the top-level NFLtype matches. In the US, American Football is accessible to all people in local communities, and we wanted to do that here as well. “Anyone who loves sport can come out with their whole families, and see home high-level competition. It’s not NFL or Division 1 college football, but it is very competitive and a lot of fun.” Speaking at the event, the Irish American Football Association president, Greg Loughran, said: “We are hoping that there will be a lot of buzz about the matches taking place later this summer, from the Notre Dame and Navy game all the way through to these college matches. “We hope that the event will mean that there will be a lot more people getting interested in American Football, which we hope to pick up on, and let people see what we are doing about bringing people into playing the game in Ireland. “We have an U-13 and U-15 travelling to Holland for the European championships this year, which is a huge step for American Football in Ireland.” For more information, see www.americanfootball.ie and www.gift2012. com
IRELAND’S annual Bike Week is taking place from June 16 to 24. A variety of cycling and awareness-raising events are being organised including a fun family 6km cycle from Marlay Park on June 23 at 3pm. This free event is organised by Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown Sports Partnership and Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for families and any age or fitness level. All are welcome and encouraged to attend, but places are limited, so pre-registration is essential. There will also be a goodie bag, highviz vest and refreshments at the finish line for all who take part. The route starts at Marlay Park, down to Grange Road and along a new urban cycle route towards Dundrum Shopping Centre and back for refreshments and goodies. According to Shane McArdle, coordinator of DLRSP: “This event will be a great way for families to get out cycling during Bike Week along a safe route that avoids traffic.” To register your interest for this event and get a full list of the activities taking place in the County during Bike Week, contact DLRCC at 01-2047026 or fgill@dlrcoco.ie. DLRSP are keen to promote cycling as a cheap, reliable, fast mode of transport which they say: “Keeps you feeling fit and healthy, and has huge environmental benefits. So, dust down your bike and beat the traffic for Bike Week 2012”.
Artists sought for Horse Show contest THE Dublin Horse Show is offering one lucky primary school student the chance to win a family season pass to the show if they can create a poster for the renowned equestrian event. 19 runners-up will receive a one-
day family pass for Saturday, August 18, and the winning artworks will be featured on the official Dublin Horse Show website. 2012 will be the 139th running of the show, which takes place from August 15 to 19. For more information on the Dublin Horse Show and the competition, see www.dublinhorseshow.com
30 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 14 June 2012
GazetteSport Sport FastSport
SOCCER: LOCAL CLUB SHOW POTENTIAL WITH LEAGUE WINS
Peamount ladies set for Ireland Euro ties PEAMOUNT United’s Louise Quinn and Stephanie Roche (above) have been named in Sue Ronan’s squad to play in two vital UEFA Women’s Euro 2013 qualifiers against Wales on June 16 (5pm) and Scotland on June 21 (7.30pm). Both matches will be played at Turner’s Cross in Cork. Captain, Ciara Grant, will pick up her 102nd cap and Leixlip woman Emma Byrne makes her return to the squad after missing the recent friendly with Switzerland due to injury. Roche comes into the panel having been the Bus Eireann Women’s National League top scorer and is also included along with Cherelle Khassal who impressed on her debut appearance in Switzerland. Sue Ronan said of her selection: “The squad is improving all the time, and we now have a great mix of youth and experience. “We had a good run out against Switzerland last month and that will stand to us for these matches. We know what we need to do after losing in Edinburgh but we have real quality in this side and the girls are full of belief. “If we get a large, vocal home crowd then there is no reason why we can’t get the points that we need from these matches.”
Fair Play Cup the 1 Thing for this weekend THIS weekend sees the third annual SARI/UNHCR World Refugee Day Fair Play Cup being contested on Sunday, June 17 at the Law Society, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7 from 10.30am till 3pm. The Fair Play Football Cup will feature refugee teams from Somalia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, SARI’s own team of young players, media teams
from Hotpress and other teams including NGO workers and government officials. The event also kicks off the Do 1 Thing campaign. The campaign asks people in Ireland to take one simple action to show support for refugees and asylum seekers in Ireland and internationally who have fled their homes in the hope of finding safety in another country. For more information about the Do 1 Thing campaign, log on to www.unhcr.ie/ do1thing.
Quarryvale FC’s teams from across the age ranges celebrated a series of successes in their various leagues and cup competitions
Quarryvale’s super season sport@gazettegroup.com
QUARRYVALE Football Club enjoyed a season of great success in 2011/12, with their younger teams getting a feel for football while taking some silverware home along the way — the U-17s enjoying league glory and their senior sides finishing in very solid positions in their campaigns. The U-8s enjoyed a great learning experience in their non-competitive league, enjoying some great results while also learning the basics of the game. John Friar will be back with
the budding superstars to have a run at the U-9 platform in September. Ben Kearney’s U-9s grasped the league title in their first year together proving to be a very able unit that will be sure to have a crack at the U-10 prize next year. The U-17 panel won their league at a canter, being presented with the trophy for the Major 4 Sunday division with three games left on the fixture calendar. Gareth and Anita Ennis proved to be a fantastic combination sharing managerial duties, taking some big results over a season
of dominance. T he Saturday and Sunday Senior sides, both under the guidance of Anthony McSweeney, proved that they were capable of grabbing league titles next year with the two Quarryvale sides, finishing fourth in their respective leagues. Secretary of Quarryvale Football Club’s schoolboy section, Martin McDermott, caught up with GazetteSport to share his thoughts on a successful year for the Clondalkin outfit. “Our three schoolboy sides gave great accounts of themselves
this year, the U-8 squad showed great enthusiasm for the game and the U-9s did fantastically well to win their league. “Gareth and Anita did an amazing job with the U-17s. They’re a really great side and we expect more great things from them in the future. “There are a lot less people playing for our club these days, and we’d love to see more children from the community getting involved and even some adults digging in and giving us a hand. “A t t h e m o m e n t ,
our senior players are doing the majority of our coaching, and they deserve a lot of praise and respect. They had brilliant performances this year, and the two sides finishing in fourth place proves there is a lot of quality amongst them,” said McDermott. The Clondalkin side will be adding an U-15 panel and a senior ladies team to their ranks next year, and would ask anyone in the area interested in taking part to get in contact with Quarryvale Community and Leisure Centre on 01 623 3417.
Robbie of the Rovers’ testimonial sport@gazettegroup.com
ROBBIE Horgan’s testimonial game will see Drogheda United and Shamrock Rovers’ old boys join forces to pay tribute to a legend of league football this Saturday. The former Clonsilla resident, part of the Shamrock Rovers four-in-a-row winning side (1983-1987), faces off against Drogheda United’s 1988-1992 team in Hunky Dory’s Park, Drogheda at 6.30pm on June 16. The designated charity is the
Irish Wheelchair Association, whose activities are also featured in a promotional video put together by Paul Holland charting Robbie Horgan’s amazing 25 years as a player in the League. The video is introduced by RTE’s Con Murphy and the legendary Johnny Giles. The documentary includes rare footage from Robbie’s 11 years with Shamrock Rovers (including the Rovers four-in-a-row 1983-1987) and four years with Drogheda United, including a 2-0 home win over Derry in 1990 which features many of Robbie’s out-
standing saves. Many of Ireland’s best-known football personalities pay tribute to the only player to have played in both Milltown and Tallaght. They also reminisce about the famous Hoops team and the Drogheda team that won two First Division titles — John Giles, Pat Byrne, Mick Neville, Mick Byrne, Mick Cooke, Paul Osam, Paul Whelan, Dusty Flanagan, Damien Richardson, Ray Treacy, Tom Mohan, Danny O’Connor and even Michel Soldado, the ex-Spanish International joins in on congratulating Robbie on
his 25 years. Banter with current Drogheda players Alan McNally, Gabriel Sava, Brian Gannon, Derek Prendergast, Paul Crowley, Gavin Brennan, Drogs fans, groundsman Matt Kavanagh and chairman Jim Agnew is also included. The extended version of the DVD will be shown at the gala dinner after the testimonial on June 16 at the Boyne Valley Hotel. Tickets for the match itself are €10 for adults and are €5 for children.
14 June 2012 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 31
FOOTBALL: DADS SHOW THE WAY AS SENIORS LOSE
CLUB NOTICEBOARD ROUND TOWERS COMMISERATIONS to the senior footballers who were defeated by St Mary’s in the championship. The Junior A footballers beat St Anne’s in the cup, and the Junior B footballers beat St Sylvester’s respectively.
Towers struggle to contain St Mary’s St Mary’s, Saggart Round Towers
0-16 1-10
I sport@gazettegroup.com
ROUND Towers are facing into the Senior Football Championship relegation tussle after St Mary’s scored seven points in the final quarter in Newcastle to edge out the Clondalkin side. Blaine Kelly was in sparkling form as Mary’s finished with a flurry of scores to extend their Dublin SFC dream with his second round victory in Newcastle. Towers led for much of the game and enjoyed a 1-6 to 0-7 advantage at the break thanks to Liam Connolly’s 12th-minute goal and Ian Ward’s impressive presence, while Conor L’Estrange weighed in with 0-3. They were still in front entering the final quarter before Kelly and former Dublin minor Shay Walsh drove the Saggart men to victory.
Behan. Kicking points up front and causing problems for the visiting defence was Gavin Lawler and John O’Malley. Starting into the fourth quarter another Damien Brennan goal gave Towers some breathing space but Lucan, in only their second match, kept coming back. Gaelic4Fathers, started in May 2011, is a Gaelic Football outlet for those who want to play purely on a social and fun basis. The Round Towers team has over 30 players registered. At the moment the panel comprises a mixture of ex-players, parents, mentors and indeed any-
bers will be held on Wednesday, July 4 at 8pm in the clubrooms. All are welcome and invited to attend.
Congratulations to Niall Con-
The ladies footballers are holding a raffle/music quiz night on Thurs-
Uachtaran CLG Liam O’Neill to the
day, June 28. Tickets are €5. Please
Central Council National Youth
contact the ladies’ chairperson for
Committee.
more information.
Lotto: Numbers drawn were 7, 21,
Annual golf classic on Friday, July
25 and 27; Bonus Ball 24. There was
13 at Castlewarden Golf Club. Enter
no winner of the jackpot of €7,500.
a team for the Three-Ball Scramble
Congratulations to Paul Tansey,
for €210. Entry fee includes three-
Mick Stapleton and Vincent Byron,
course meal plus burger and drink
who were the three €100 winners.
on the 10th hole. Sponsor a tee-box or green for
The clubrooms are available for
€20. For further information, con-
rental for parties, anniversaries,
tact Ed O’Malley on 087 807 3391, or
etc. Contact Jimmy behind the bar
Bren Cronin on 087 908 3980.
ST PAT’S PALMERSTOWN
Round Towers now face a relegation battle after their defeat last week. Picture: Ted Keane
Elsewhere, the club won out 4-16 to 4-12 against Lucan Sarsfields in the Gaelic4Fathers challenge. On a wet, windy and cold night on the new all-weather surface in Monastery Road, the two clubs served up some freeflowing and entertaining football. Played to almost full rules and over four quarters, Towers started well with goals from Mick Broderick and Paul Swayne, but were pegged back in the second quarter by some very slick Lucan passing movements. Towers stretched their advantage again in the third quarter with a Damien Brennan goal, but Lucan kept coming back and coming into the last quarter there were only six points in it. For the home side, their defence was well marshalled by Barry Gavin, who was ably assisted by players around him such as James Cullen and Gary
Round Tower GA A Club’s 3 4th annual Mass for deceased mem-
naughton on being appointed by
Next week’s jackpot is €7,600.
DUBLIN SFC ROUND 2
or on 01 459 2960.
body who wants to have a game. The team train twice a week, on a Tuesday night at 9pm and on a Saturday at 5pm on the new all-weather surface in Monastery Road. To date, the Towers team has also played matches against Sarsfields of Newbridge, St Jude’s, Binn Eadair and Fingallians and there are plans for more matches in the near future. If there are any other clubs in the Dublin or surrounding areas who have a similar setup and would like to play Towers in a challenge match, you can e-mail info@roundtower. ie.
CONGRATULATIONS to both junior
ior hurlers and footballers on the
and senior footballers on their vic-
championship win this weekend.
tories during the week.
thanks to Liam Rush and Shane Sta-
unlucky against Ballymun Kickhams,
pleton for their performances dur-
some fine goals were scored.
ing the game.
The U-11s had a great game against Na Fianna. There was an excellent display by the U-12 hurlers, beating O’Dwyer’s by 13 points.
A great day is anticipated for Monday’s fun day in Glenaulin Park. Lotto numbers and results: First draw - numbers drawn were 16, 21, 24 and 9. There was no winner.
Thanks to all who came to the night
The second draw - numbers drawn
at the dogs and the county colours
were 11, 20, 24 and 6. There was no
night. It was a great night again this
winner. Any three numbers win-
year.
ners were Phyl Butler and Sandra
Congratulations to the Dublin sen-
Gilbert.
LUCAN SARSFIELDS THERE was a fabulous atmosphere in
ers in championship and the junior
our clubhouse last Sunday night for
B footballers in cup matches at the
the European championships. Hope-
weekend.
fully, we can recreate the same for Ireland’s next two matches. Our Under-13 girls’ footballers defeated St Jude’s in their final league game to ensure they finished joint top of the league for 2012. This is a fantastic achievement by the girls who have shown great improvement throughout the year.
A list to book tickets for Dublin v Kilkenny’s Leinster semi-final will be on the noticeboard in the clubhouse until 10pm on Sunday, June 17. You can now register for our summer camps on our website, www. lucansarsfields.ie. The cost this year is €55. Last week’s lotto numbers drawn
It is unclear at the moment if a play-
were 3, 4, 13 and 23. There was no
off will be scheduled to determine the
winner. Next week’s jackpot willl be
outright league winners but, regard-
€8000.
less, the girls can be hugely proud of their achievements. Great wins for our junior A hurl-
Round Towers’ Gaelic4Fathers team
Special congratulations and
The U-14 footballers were very
Josephine Donohue’s team will be in charge next Sunday night, when our sponsor will be Matt Reilly Auto Parts.
Follow GazetteSport on Facebook and Twitter and online at www.gazettegroup.com
ALL OF YOUR CLONDALKIN SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31
FATHER’S DAY: Towers’ Gaelic 4 Dads side get the better of Lucan P31
JUNE 14, 2012
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS: Top American college football coming to town P29
GazetteSPORT
Katie Taylor’s camp are hopeful that she will face all the best opposition in the world when she starts her Olympic campaign on August 6
Taylor slams ‘mad’ Olympic qualifiers Peter Taylor wants all top stars to be present in London when daughter Katie fights for Olympic gold clondalkinsport@gazettegroup.com
THE VAGARIES of the IABA entry stipulations for the women’s Olympic boxing competition could leave Katie Taylor with a slightly more comfortable route to golden glory in early August. As a seeded entrant in the 60kg category, she has received a bye through to the quarter-finals of the competition, entering the competition on August 6. Should the Peamount woman make it through that first fight, she will progress to the semi-final and a guaranteed medal, with August 8 the date for a semi-final and a third bout in four days in the final on August 9, making for a rapid running off of her pursuit of an Olympic gong. Tunisia’s Rim Jouini, whom Taylor beat in the first round of the Olympic qualifiers in China, has been afforded an entry to the Games, but highlyrated Russian Sofya Ochigava, world number two Gulsum Tatar and two-time world championship finalist Dong Cheng have not been afforded a place in London.
It stems from the continental quota system which has been imposed by the IABA. There are four qualification slots, again distributed on a continental basis, still available to complete the 12 Olympic places, but the breakdown of those places could well leave one of the fancied medal hopefuls outside the Games. Taylor’s father and trainer, Peter, believes it could diminish the credibility of the competition, saying this week: “It’s mad. The Tunisian girl Katie beat got in. The girl Katie beat from Tajikistan, she qualified. It’s mad. It should be the best girls [fighting] in the Olympics. “In our opinion, the World Championships are harder to win than the Olympics. At the worlds, you have quite literally all the best boxers from all over the world, but that isn’t the case at the Olympics. “I think they need the big names in London. Let’s go and showcase women’s boxing. Okay, you are inviting trouble but I think Katie is taking responsibility for making sure female boxing carries on in the Olympics. Everyone will be watching.
“If she wins an easy medal in the Olympics, people will devalue all the other medals she’s won, the World Championships, the European championships. All people do is read about Katie winning thinking she must be beating everybody easily.” Taylor will now go into training at her base in Bray which has recently undergone an upgrade from its modest setting in the seaside town’s harbour. A subsequent week-long training camp in Italy will set the base level before the Games start a fortnight later with a tapering phase. With the quick-fire nature of the competition, Taylor will adopt a much different schedule compared to her male counterparts. “Katie starts [in the Olympics] a week after the lads,” Peter Taylor added. “They start on July 28 and we start on August 6. We’re a little bit behind them. They will be tapering that week in Italy while we will be heavily sparring.” Taylor will find out the final standard of the competition in the coming days when the IABA confirm the wildcard entrants.