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February 14, 2013 Find us on

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February 14, 2013 Find us on

C l o n da l k i n • R ow l ag h • B aw n o g u e • N e i l stow n • D e a n s r at h • K i n g swo o dMonth • Ta lXX, l ag2012 ht

INSIDE: Tallafornia star Kelly Donegan helps celebrate the launch of a new college newspaper, The Bulletin P6

charges protest: Five are arrested as protesters occupy council chamber P7

Wheely good luck: Local man wins a new Fiat 500 Football:

Round Tower well set for new AFL2 campaign Page 30

Cycling:

Caroline Ryan named in world track team Page 28

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES.......................6 DUBLIN LIFE....................11 OUT&ABOUT...................17 CLASSIFIEDS.................26 SPORT............................27

CLONDALKIN man Kevin McDonagh

(second-right) and his fiancee, Ciara Byrne, were delighted to pick up the keys to a brand-new Fiat 500 recently, which they won courtesy of a 98FM competition. The 98FM crew were happy to congratulate the couple on their lucky win, as they drove off with first prize in the radio station’s Star Car giveaway on the Dermot and Dave show, held in association with Tractamotors Blanchardstown.

SDCC to make €1.75m from Microsoft deal 400 construction jobs could result from Grange Castle data centre plans

 paul hosford

SOUTH Dublin County Council this week officially disposed of a parcel of land at Grange Castle, which will become the home of a major

new development by US software giant, Microsoft.

At this week’s council meeting, the council took steps to dispose of the first seven of the 19 acres it plans to sell to Microsoft. The mul-

tinational will begin developing a new data centre at the site. It is hoped that the expansion will create some 400 construction jobs.

The council is set to take in €1.75 million in respect of

the sale of the seven acres, or €250,000 per acre.

Councillor Trevor Gilligan (FF) called on the council to use the money for local initiatives.

Full Story on Page 4

4 CLONDALKIN Gazette 14 February 2013

dublin GAZETTe newspapers i n f o r m at i o n

business 19 acres set for data centre

Block 3A, Mill Bank Business Park, Lucan Tel: 01 - 6010240 Dublin Gazette Newspapers publish eight weekly quality free titles, covering the greater Dublin area from Swords to Dun Laoghaire

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Subject to full planning permission being applied for by April 30 and approved, Microsoft is set to develop a data centre on lands adjoining their existing facility at Grange Castle, in a move that would net South Dublin County Council €1.75 million for the sale of the land

€97m Microsoft facility for Grange Castle site SOUTH Dublin County Council this week officially disposed of a parcel of land at Grange Castle, which will become the home of a major new development by US software giant Microsoft.

At a recent meeting, the council took the first steps to dispose of nearly 19 acres to Microsoft, which will begin developing a new data centre at the site.

At a meeting held in July 2007, the council first noted the disposal of 18.9 acres at Grange Castle Business Park to Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited, subject to certain terms and conditions.

 paul hosford

phosford@gazettegroup.com

Last year, the company announced it would invest $130 million (€97 million) in the expansion of its data centre at the location.

That investment builds on the $500 million (€375 million) investment Microsoft had already made in the Dublin data centre, which has been operational since July 2009.

It is hoped that the expansion will create some 400 construction jobs. In total, the council is set to take in €1.75 million in respect of the sale of the land, or €250,000 per acre.

Local Fianna Fail councillor Trevor Gilligan called on the council to use the money for local initiatives.

He said: “I fully support this new proposal, and call on the council to allocate a portion of the monies towards local community groups.

“The new site is immediately adjoining their existing facility, in order to cater for a further expan-

sion. It is my hope that this expansion will create more jobs, to be kept in the area locally.

“Dublin Mid-West has an unlimited amount of talented IT professionals seeking work. I would ask Microsoft to make sure as much employment is taken from local talent in the area as is possible,” said Cllr Gilligan.

As part of the disposal, Microsoft must apply for full planning permission for the entire development on the site not later than April 30 this year.

Operating in Ireland since 1985, Microsoft employs 1,100 people in its EMEA operations

centre, the European Development Centre, Dublin Data Centre and the company’s sales and marketing group for Ireland.

The Grange Castle centre will have a strong focus on sustainability, Microsoft said, adding that one factor of its design is an extensive use of outside air to cool the facility all year round.

Microsoft is not the only technology giant to have a data premises in Grange Castle – in 2011, Google announced it would create 200 construction jobs, and 30 full-time positions, in a new data centre in the business park.

Information night for summer group projects SOUTH Dublin County Council (SDCC) will hold an information night to assist community groups with their preparation for their 2013 summer projects.

The meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 10 at 6.30pm in County Hall, Tallaght. Places

at the meeting are limited, and must be applied for in advance.

The closing date for receipt of applications for a place at the meeting is 4.30pm on Friday, March 22.

For information regarding how to apply for a place, contact

SDCC community development officer Sharon Tobin at 01 414 9270 or 086 781 6706, or email comdevof@sdublincoco.ie.

A maximum of two persons per project are allowed to attend the information night, with each project required to be repre-

sented by at least one person who is directly involved in the project, and who will remain as co-ordinator throughout the project.

Attendance at the information night is essential in order to guarantee booking of activities.

14 February 2013 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5

theatre

animals: cllr gino kenny (pbP) seeks council breakdown of figures

Call for members

Disposal of horses ‘a vicious circle’  paul hosford

phosford@gazettegroup.com

DISPOSING of horses is “just a vicious circle”, a local councillor has said.

People Before Profit’s Cllr Gino Kenny was responding to an answer to a question he put to this week’s South Dublin County Council meeting.

Cllr Kenny had asked for “a breakdown of the number of horses that were disposed of in the county in 2012 under the control of horses bye laws”, with a focus on what had happened to the animal after disposal.

In response, the council said that 380 horses

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

‘The council spent €45,000 on impounding horses in Adamstown’

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

Cllr Gino Kenny, PBP

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

were seized last year, with 64 returned to owners and 316 disposed of.

In its answer, the council defines disposal as “to sell or to give away or have destroyed”, and did not give a breakdown of what had happened to the horses other than to say that appropriate guidelines had been followed.

Cllr Kenny said that he would be seeking clarifi-

cation on just what had happened to the 316 disposed-of horses, but that the figures reinforced his belief that a space needed to be made available for horses in the county.

He said: “I didn’t really get the answer that I was looking for, so I will be going back to the council for clarification on what happens with the horses after disposal.

“It’s a lot of horses, and a lot of money to be spending. We have to go some way to solving the problem.

“The council spent €45,000 on impounding horses in Adamstown, and there are horses up there again.

“It’s just a vicious circle,” said Cllr Kenny.

Marking a milestone: Birthday cake at the launch of a new campaign JOE Mooney, chief executive, Muscular Dystrophy Ireland (MDI)

was joined by presenter and model Pamela Flood for the launch of the organisation’s Have A Heart national awareness day, tucking into some delicious cake to also mark 40 years of MDI. The campaign asks shoppers to pop into Debenhams to buy a box of two delicious heart-shaped Lily O’Brien’s chocolates for €2, or a scented candle for €3, with funds raised to be used to fund respite support services and medical research. Donations can also be made directly at www.mdi.ie.

With a 32% increase in people registering with MDI’s support network over the past five years, and State funding for MDI having been cut by 15%, such fundraising is needed even more than ever.

CLONDALKIN Youth Theatre (CYT) is calling on young people aged between 13 and 23 to join their group.

The CYT meet weekly in Aras Chronain for drama workshops, fun and games. Workshops cover basic drama skills, improvisation, movement, voice and script work.

For further information, email clondalkinyouththeatre@gmail.com.

6 CLONDALKIN Gazette 14 February 2013

gazetteGALLERY

Have you seen yourself in the Gazette? Buy photos online from only €6.99 at www.gazettephotos.com

The Bulletin’s assistant editor Lisa Haskins

Mickey Joe Harte performed at the launch

The editorial team of BCFE’s The Bulletin newspaper with guests at the launch. Pictures: Cathy Weatherson

It’s in print T

HE 2013 student newspaper of Ballyfermot College of Further Education (BCFE), The Bulletin, was recently launched at the college’s Anna Brett Hall. The newspaper team, under editor simon Walsh and assistant editor Lisa Haskins, were delighted to celebrate the launch of the student newspaper, which contains a wide range of content sourced by the students.

TV3’s Tallafornia star Kelly Donegan, and singer Micky Joe Harte, who are former BCFE students, were guests at the launch, and former editor of the Irish Sun Michael McNiffe was the main guest speaker at the event.

TV3’s Tallafornia star Kelly Donegan

The Bulletin editor Simon Walsh

14 February 2013 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 7

PROTEST Anti-austerity campaigners ‘intimidating’

Five arrested as protesters enter council  PAUL HOSFORD

THE monthly meeting of South Dublin County Council (SDCC) was forced to a temporary halt this week after protesters occupied the council chamber.

Paul Murphy, Socialist Party MEP for Dublin, was one of five people arrested at the protest, after campaigners against household and water charges entered the meeting on Monday.

The council was in the midst of debating a

motion against the property tax when protesters entered.

Gardai were called shortly afterwards, with accusations of violence coming from both sides, as both council staff and protesters were injured.

A 19-year-old protester, Aaron Nolan, was treated in hospital after the protest.

He claimed: “A stocky man who I thought was one of the protesters, grabbed me and pushed me against the wall.

“He then grabbed my

head with his hands and smashed my head against the wall.

“I fell on the ground and when I was on the ground, he choked me with his hands. I was dazed and unable to stand as he handcuffed me.”

Protesters were invited to join the public gallery

by Mayor Cathal King (SF), but they insisted that they would “allow no work to be done”.

Gardai arrested five people, who were held in Tallaght Garda Station

MEP for Dublin, was one of five people arrested at the protest at South Dublin County Council’s offices

motion that carried a lot of sentiment against the property tax. But the people who were protesting had no interest in democratic debate – they were only interested in obstructing democracy.”

Cllr Jones continued that she supported and encouraged protest, but not in the manner exhibited last week.

Engineer prospects CLONDALKIN Library will hold two events during Engineers Week, which runs from February 25 to March 3.

On Monday, February 25 at 10.30am, there will be a talk on Engineering at Third Level and Career Prospects, while on Thursday, February 28 at 10.30am, there will be a presentation by Pfizer chemical engineer Tom Scanlon.

Paul Murphy (inset, on the ground), Socialist Party

before being released without charge on Monday evening.

Councillor Caitriona Jones (Lab) said that the protest was “intimidating”, and added: “It was intimidating, particularly the way they entered the chamber, which was quite aggressive.

“The irony is that we were just debating a

TALKS

She said: “That kind of thuggish behaviour really puts people off protesting. There is nothing like people-power, but mindless thuggery gets people nowhere.”

The meeting was recommenced shortly after gardai had cleared the chamber, but did not conclude all of its business.

8 CLONDALKIN Gazette 14 February 2013

safety Range of road, pedestrian improvements may now proceed

€600k approved for local works

 paul hosford

MORE than €600,000 will be made available to local transport projects under new funding allocations to be distributed throughout the course of 2013, the National Transport Authority (NTA) announced last week.

Under the new funding, two sections of the Nangor Road will be improved, with the Grange Castle section set to receive €175,000 for its design, while the Old Nangor Road will be granted €125,000 to

upgrade a pedestrian link between the schools in the area.

Labour TD Robert Dowds welcomed the NTA funding, saying that the entirety of south Dublin had received a boost from the funding.

“The entire county has done well from this funding, but I’m delighted that Clondalkin has done particularly well, and that important projects in our community will get the go-ahead. “€100,000 for an improved walking route from the village to the

Luas is very welcome, as is the €20,000 for a zebra crossing at Collinstown Park Community School, the €30,000 for improving the crossing at St Kevin’s school, and the hundreds of thousands for improving cycling routes all across Clondalkin.”

Deputy Derek Keating (FG) echoed Deputy Dowds, saying he was delighted.

“I am delighted that the money has been awarded to South Dublin County Council to focus on these necessary renovations, constructions and devel-

FastNews ‘Unromantic Clondalkin’

Deputy Robert Dowds (Lab) was one local politician who welcomed the news

opments.”

Dowds’ Labour colleague, Cllr Breeda Bonner, who had raised the issue of safety at the Old Nangor Road, was particularly pleased to see that issue addressed.

She said: “There are

hundreds of children and parents walking up a narrow road every day with cars flying past, and it is only the grace of God that somebody hasn’t been killed.

“I put a motion to the council, which was passed,

and I’m delighted that the hard work has paid off now with €125,000 for widening the road.

“Hopefully, it will make the road safer for all the children and parents who use the road on the way to school,” she said.

jobs: work placement scheme expanded

1,000 places added to Tus A NEW government initiative will help local jobseekers, it has been claimed.

Last week marked the announcement of details of the first tranche of an additional 1,100 places on Tus, a community-based work placement initiative.

The additional places will bring the total number of Tus placements to 6,000, and will form part of the roll-out of 2,500 new placements announced as part of Budget 2013 measures to support those who are long-term unemployed.

Local Fine Gael Minister Frances Fitzgerald said that involvement in Tus would ensure job-readiness for participants.

“This latest allocation for Tus places forms part of the Government’s ongoing efforts to help jobseekers to become jobready and to find employment, training or an educational opportunity.

“T hese additional places on the Tus scheme

will target those who have been on the Live Register for more than 12 months, and are in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment from the Department of Social Protection.

“The remaining places announced in the budget will be rolled out on a phased basis during 2013,” said Minister Fitzgerald.

This latest announcement comes as part of the roll-out of an additional 10,000 work placements under a number of programmes and initiatives funded by the Department of Social Protection.

Last month, the Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, announced an additional 2,500 places for the Community Employment programme, bringing the total places available on that programme to 25,300, and confirmed that €1 billion is to be invested this year on retraining and up-skilling programmes aimed at getting people back to work.

CLONDALKIN has been named in Tesco’s list of the most unromantic places in Ireland.

The retailer based the results on sales of chocolates and gifts in their stores and sees Clondalkin joining Jervis St, Bloomfields, Stillorgan and Tallaght on the list of the least amorous locations in the country.

Tesco said that more than one-third of all customers in the store pick up a Valentine’s Day treat for their other half in the week leading up to Valentine’ Days.

Volunteer to assist studies THE Psychology Department in NUI Maynooth is currently researching memory and walking gait/fallrisk across people’s lifespan, and are looking for people to help them with the study.

This researchers are seeking adults aged 55 and above to volunteer to take part.

To participate in either of these areas, contact Noeleen Brady at 086 352 2517, or email noeleen.brady@nuim.ie; or contact Elizabeth Walshe at 085 713 6153, or email elizabeth.walshe.2009@ nuim.ie.

Ideas to bring books to life BALGADDY Child and Family Centre, on Meile An Ri Road, is running a free Story Sacks course.

The course will run every Thursday from 9.30am to 11.30am and aims to bring children’s favourite books to life.

For further information, contact Lorraine at 086 023 1340.

14 February 2013 CLONDALKIN Gazette 9

the gathering Strong emphasis on sports

youths Vacancy at project

County gets set to attract 30,000 additional visitors SOUTH Dublin County will host an additional 30,000 visitors to the county during a range of sporting events held under the banner of The Gathering this year, the council has announced.

South Dublin County Tourism (SDCT) , in partnership with South Dublin County Council (SDCC), Fingal Leader Partnership and The Gathering Ireland, will host international events and tournaments in 2013 through sport and culture as part of the biggest tourism initiative to ever take place in Ireland.

With South Dublin County recognised as a leading sports and events destination in Ireland, boasting the Tallaght Stadium, the National

Minister for Sport, Leo Varadkar, helping to launch Gathering events

Basketball Arena, the National Baseball Facility, Peamount United Football Grounds and City west Hotel and Convention Centre, a number of events are being planned for the year ahead.

A council statement said: “All venues and

sports partners have a strong and established reputation in hosting international teams and are looking forward to welcoming teams to the county.

“A p p r o x i m a t e l y 30,000 additional visitors will visit the county in 2013, and the series of tournaments will attract in excess of €50 million into the local economy.”

The initiative’s lead agency, SDCT, said they were delighted with the support from local agencies and sports bodies.

Sarah Brooks, tourism executive at SDCT, said: “Having held in excess of 100 community-based meetings, the positivity from local community groups, businesses and SDCT members has been

fantastic.”

The Gathering Dublin 2013 is targeting visitors originating from the strong international markets and is being viewed as an opportunity to showcase the local area, with a strong emphasis on sports.

The Mayor of South Dublin, Councillor Cathal King (SF), said that the county’s involvement with sport was “unique”, and he hoped that the year would be a success.

“South Dublin County is very proud of the unique association we have here with sport”.

For further information, see www.thegatheringdublin.com, or email info@thegatheringdublin.com.

THE Tower Project (North Clondalkin Probation Project) is seeking applications for a full-time receptionist.

The project helps youths in north Clondalkin who have come into contact with the law.

Applicants should send their CV to Cusack House, St Mark’s Lane, Neilstown Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, or email rachel@towerprogramme.ie.

And Y not? Women called upon to join in initiative SAIBH McCaffrey, Aoife Campbell and Jessica Hutchinson were happy to help launch The Y Factor at City Wall Space, Wood Quay. An initiative of the National Woman’s Council of Ireland, The Y Factor aims to empower and support young people to become leaders for women’s equality, with a number of platforms to help achieve this aim. For further information on the initiative, see www.yfactor.ie.

10 CLONDALKIN Gazette 14 February 2013

education Open day at school AN OPEN Day will be held in Collinstown Park Community College on Thursday, March 7, from 9.30am to 1.30pm, and from 7pm to 8.30pm for locals interested in attending full- or parttime adult/further education or post-Leaving Certificate courses.

Courses are available in early childhood care and education, computers and business studies, payroll and bookkeeping, PC maintenance, network technologies, hairdressing and beauty, youth work, health care support, prenursing studies and many more.

Many of the part-time courses are particularly suitable for early school leavers.

For further information, see www.collinstownpark.ie, or contact the school at 01 457 2300.

politics FG deputy defends information on leaflet

Keating ‘did not mislead constituents’

 paul hosford

A L O CA L T D h a s defended himself from accusations that he misled a constituent.

After last December’s Budget, leaflets were distributed by many TDs across the country, outlining entitlements, such as social welfare.

The leaflets contained details of a €110 community welfare grant payment that people on social welfare were entitled to – a payment that has since been abol-

ished.

Deputy Derek Keating’s (FG) leaflet was seen and acted upon by a local mother to assist with the costs of her child’s First Holy Communion.

She was refused the payment, and is upset that Deputy Keating’s leaflet contained what she believes was incorrect information.

She said: “I told Deputy Keating that the information on his leaflet was incorrect, but he maintained that it was correct, even after I had

been refused by the community support officer.”

Howe ve r, D e p u t y Keating maintains that when the document was printed in December, the information was true.

Post-Budget changes in the payment removed any mention of a religious ceremony from the payment, replacing it with an exceptional needs payment (ENP), which the department says will help “meet essential, once-off, exceptional and unforeseen expenditure”.

The constituent was

Deputy Derek Keating (FG): Payment info on leaflet was correct at time of printing

advised by Deputy Keating’s office to appeal the decision, an appeal which was then denied.

She said: “I was told that the Communion wasn’t an exceptional circumstance, so it was refused.

“It’s bad enough that it happened once, but I was extremely embarrassed

the second time.

“I had no idea that the payment existed until I’d seen the leaflet, and wouldn’t have applied otherwise.”

A spokesman for Deputy Keating said that the leaflets were delivered in the weeks after the Budget, right up until the first week in January.

“When the change was made in January, the information became out of date, and [Deputy Keating] tabled a Parliamentary Question on the matter.

“The leaflets were distributed by all TDs in Dublin, and the information was correct when they went out.”

14 February 2013 Gazette 11

feature P13

dublinlife

Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week, as well as the latest from our schools

asdfsdaf schoolsP27 P14

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Gazette

diary P12

non-profit: Ulster Bank Community Impact Fund

New €75k grant now open to voluntary organisations A new €175,000 grant fund is now open for application by all voluntary and community organisations in Ireland.

The Ulster Bank Community Impact Fund was announced last week and has been developed through a partnership between Ulster Bank, The Community Foundation for Ireland and The Community Foundation for Northern Ireland.

The Ulster Bank Com-

munity Impact Fund is open to all non-profit, voluntary and community based organisations to support the development of local enterprise activity, financial education and financial inclusion initiatives.

Successful applicants will be awarded individual grants ranging between €1,000 to €40,000.

Applications to the fund will be shortlisted by The Community Foun-

dation for Ireland and assessed by the Community Impact Fund judging panel.

Speaking at the launch, David Thomas, managing director of Ulster Bank’s corporate banking division, said: “This is another step in our long-standing relationship with The Community Foundation for Ireland in our support of communities and individuals across the country.

Specifically the fund will

enable voluntary organisations enhance financial education programmes and foster enterprise in turn creating a more vibrant and progressive economy.”

The application process is open until March 8 and successful organisations will be informed in April.

For information log on to www.communityfoundation.ie/our-grants/applyfor-ulster-bank-community-impact-grants.

The €175,000 Ulster Bank Community Impact Fund has been announced by David Thomas, managing director of Ulster Bank’s Corporate Banking Division, and Jackie Harrison, fund development associate at The Community Foundation for Ireland

Gazette

12 Gazette 14 February 2013

dublinlife

diary

Bid to revolutionise student cooking Late-night kebabs and microwaveable meals are just a few of the staples which feature heavily in the average Irish student’s diet, but these culinary crimes have inspired one food company to attempt to revolutionise student cooking this spring.

Italian food brand Sacla are on the hunt for a special Dublin resident – an Italian mother – to help educate students and prepare them for life away from Piera Campanelle Ercole who founded the Italian home.

Any Italian mothers food brand Sacla She must have pasinterested in applying, sion and a flair for cooking, in order to who will receive a fee for their time, be able teach the city’s students about should send a photo, a picture of their the joys and benefit of creating deli- kitchen and the reasons they would cious dishes. like to take part, to samantha.craw-

ford@taylorherring.com.

a look at the lives of healers on Rte A faith healing documentary set to air on RTE in April is currently

looking for contributions from the people of Dublin.

In the forthcoming programme, the Maccana Teoranta production company will be exploring the many aspects to the tradition of faith healing and will look at the lives of healers, the healed, as well as exploring the understandings of what it is.

Ireland has witnessed a huge change in the traditional following of both the Catholic and Protestant faiths, but one element of spirituality and faith remains strong and that is healing.

The documentary is looking for information from people who have had an encounter with a healer, those who heal or those who have a story to share.

Contact ShaunaMacanna@ gmail.com.

jobs expo makes a return to dublin The Jobs Expo is returning to Dublin this weekend following its huge success in recent years.

This year, organisers are promising an even bigger array of jobs for future employees, as companies from Ireland and abroad compete over the weekend for the cream of Irish jobseekers.

Among the employers lined up are Sky Ireland, who are looking to fill 600 positions, the Department of Health Western Australia, which will be recruiting doctors, nurses and health professionals, and Hourglass Education Recruitment for primary and secondary school teachers.

The exhibition features Irish and international job opportunities, free career clinics and topical seminars.

It runs on February 16 and 17 from 11am until 5pm in The Hogan Suite in Croke Park.

14 February 2013 Gazette 13

FEATURE Eurovision acts are announced

DONATION: PARKING FEE FIRM BACKS CHARITY

Easytrip to raise funds for Irish Guide Dogs Easytrip has announced a charity campaign to raise muchneeded funds for the Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind (IGDB).

The electronic toll and parking payment service provider will donate €5 to IGDB for every new Easytrip account opened between now and March 31.

The campaign kicked off at the East Link and Dublin Port Tunnel toll plazas on February 4.

Motorists can pick up a leaflet when passing through these plazas and sign up at www.easytrip.

ie or lo call 1890 67 67 68 until March 31.

Speaking at the launch of the initiative, Dermot MacEvilly, chief executive officer of Easytrip Services Ireland, said: “Easytrip is committed to supporting the friends and families of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind.

“These dedicated caregivers commit themselves to helping people who are blind and vision impaired, and also families of children with autism, to achieve improved mobility and independence.

“We are proud to be announcing this fund-

raising campaign and hope it can contribute to the continued success of the charity. This is only the beginning of what we hope will become a flourishing partnership with Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind into the future,” said MacEvilly.

Also commenting on the campaign, Padraig Mallon, chief executive of Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind, said: “We are delighted that Easytrip have chosen us for this promotion. Our staff uses the tags as they travel the country to support our clients and volunteers.

“We know how convenient and cost effective the Easytrip facility is and would recommend that all motorists who use tolled roads should open an account. When you do, you will be helping us to train and support people who are vision impaired and families of children with autism, everyone wins, now that’s a good deal,” Mallon added.

To find out more on this fundraising initiative check out www.easytrip. ie or for more details about Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind log on to www.guidedogs.ie

Jim Geraghty, Eastlink operations manager, with Dermot MacEvilly, chief executive officer, Easytrip Services Ireland, guide dog Kirby and Sinead O’Keeffe, commercial manager, Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind

RTE have confirmed the five acts bidding for a place to represent the nation in the 2013 Eurovision Song Contest.

The five Irish acts are Zoe Alexis Bohorquez, Ryan Dolan, Aimee Fitzpatrick, Inchequin and Kasey.

The public got a chance to hear each of the five songs for the first time on Mooney on RTE Radio 1 last Thursday.

Last November, RTE nominated five mentors who each worked with an act and a song which they believe could be a Eurovision winner.

The winning act will be selected on Eurosong 2013 on The Late Late Show on February 22.

Gazette

14 Gazette 14 February 2013

dublinlife

schoolLife

Get involved with our new Gazette schools pages As part of the relaunch of the Dublin Gazette Newspapers, we are reaching out to all the schools in our catchment areas to become a closer part of our community than ever before.

Schools are the beating hearts of communities, one of the last places around which a community can gather.

We are calling on budding writers and photographers from all of our schools to help fill the pages and, in order to encourage the next generation of journalists and snappers to get involved, we are partnering with Harvey Norman to present the Dublin Gazette Newspapers’ Cub Reporter and Cub Photographer of the Year awards.

For more details, contact rheigh@gazettegroup. com, or on 01 601 0240.

schools

st finian’s: students visit port authority offices

Getting all-access to Dublin Port  Samantha Jakstonyte, Nicole Hanratty and Jennifer Evbakhavbokun St Finian’s Community College

On February 4, 2013, the fifth year Leaving Cert Vocational Programme (LCVP) students from St Finian’s Community College went on a guided tour of Dublin Port, organised by Michael Mooney, the LCVP coordinator, organised the visit with head of human resources Pat Ward. The Port Authority were very generous with their time on the day, the students accessed all areas and were treated like VIPs. They first visited Dublin Port Authority head

office and were shown a video of the history and importance of the port in Ireland – its past, present and future.

Charlie Murphy, community liaison and media officer at Dublin Port, spoke to the students.

He has worked at the port his whole life and is passionate about the port and the local community. He has a wealth of knowledge and stayed with the students all day to answer questions.

The students were then brought to the Customs Office within the port to see how they operate. They were shown another short film about all aspects

St Finian’s fifth year students taking a tour of Dublin Port. Picture: Clara Kinsella

of customs control in Ireland – from sea, air and land. For the students, the most exciting part was seeing the portable X-ray machine which can x-ray a truck or container without opening it. The students

then met Molly the sniffer dog who demonstrated her expertise by detecting planted counterfeit money carried by an employee mingling amongst the students.

Finally, the students were driven around the

vast port before touring the Harbour Masters Control Centre. This is where all the ships are monitored and controlled in and out of the port.

The students had very positive feedback. Sami Bouakkaz commented: “Customs was fascinating, I never thought about how difficult it is to monitor illegal goods and substances coming into an island. The Customs Office do an amazing job considering the challenges they face” This was another excellent opportunity for LCVP students to see the world at work and make contacts with business.

14 February 2013 Gazette 15

FEATURE Donate unwanted goods

aontas: promoting adult learning

Festival sets out to prove you're never too old to learn  bairbre ni Bhraonain

bnibhraonain@gazettegroup.com

AONTAS (National Education Through Voluntary Unification) Adult Learners Festival 2013 starts on February 25 and ends on March 2 and adult education groups throughout the country are being encouraged to get involved by setting up an event based around a theme.

During the festival, trainees from the FAS local training initiative in

culture and heritage studies at the national print museum will lead special interactive tours of the museum’s permanent print collection.

The tour will give the trainees the chance to work directly with the public for the first time and show off their new training as they become fully f ledged tour guides.

This is the seventh nationwide Adult Learners’ Festival which has become a focus over the

years for adult education in Ireland. The festival hosts events around the country offering information, lectures and workshops for those interested in pursuing an adult learning course.

Any adult learning organisation or group can take part in the festival by holding an event or getting involved in the festival in some other way.

There is a different theme for each day of the festival.

On Monday, February

The free interactive tour of the print museum has been set up as part of the learning for work theme in the festival

25, the theme is to celebrate learning, Tuesday.

February 26 will be given over to green learning, learning communities will feature on Wednesday, February 27, February 28 will be learning for work while lobby for learning day is Friday, March 1 and the festival ends with family and intergenerational learning day on March 2.

According to organisers, the week-long festival aims to promote the work of and the adult education sector and ensure that adult education is placed firmly on the political agenda by showcasing all the work done by adult learners throughout the year.

The free interactive tour of the print museum has been set up as part of the

learning for work theme in the festival and will take place on Thursday, February 28 from 11.30 am to 1pm.

If you are part of an adult education organisation and would like to involve yourself in the adult learners’ week, you can get more information by going online to www.adultlearnersfestival.com

Age Action is urging the public to undertake a spring clean this week, and donate their unwanted goods to charity.

The national charity for older people currently has three charity shops taking donations of furniture, clothes, books, shoes, bric-a-brac, rags and many other items.

“If you’d like to make a donation of stock you can either drop it off at your nearest shop, or alternatively take advantage of our collection service which operates within the M50 in Dublin,” shop manager Edwina Brady said.

To arrange a collection, contact 01 475 6989 or email info@ageaction.ie.

Gazette

16 Gazette 14 February 2013

dublinlife

business commuting

advice: LOOK AT Retirement, insurance

Stay focused on finances for life  john lowe The Money Doctor

THIS week, I conclude my examination of financial planning for each stage of your life, with retirement, and start examining insurance.

Retirement With luck and/or judgement, your debts should

all be paid. You should have a range of assets, not least your own home and a pension fund.

You should have spare cash to indulge your chosen leisure activities.

If this is the case, your priorities are likely to include any or all of the following: Creating an emergency fund; funding any benefits

lost following retirement, such as health insurance or a company car; planning for long-term care; tax planning; investing for income or finding other ways to boost income.

If you aren’t as well-off as you would like, then, naturally, your priority will be making the most of what you have available and trying to improve

Leap into a way to save on transport Car insurance is one obvious expenditure we all attend to. However, there are many other vital outlays in life that we should also plan and account for.

your situation as much as possible.

This concludes my analysis of the main life stages of financial planning. Next ...

Insurance made simple Life is a dangerous business – and so, insurance was born. Every day, all

around us, terrible things are happening.

Some of these terrible things happen to possessions (for instance, houses burn down, cars crash, roofs are blown off, holidays are cancelled because of strikes and bicycles are stolen).

Some terrible things happen to people (for

instance, people fall ill, get hurt in accidents, and die). More in the February 28 edition.  Contact John with your money questions at jlowe@ moneydoctor.ie or visit www. moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor

WE ARE all looking for ways to save a few euro these days, and especially when it comes to travel.

To this end, the Leap card has been introduced – a reusable plastic smart card that can be used instead of paper tickets to pay-as-you-go on public transport in Dublin.

A spokesperson for Leap said: “Using the Leap card can save you money. It is up to 15% cheaper than Dublin Bus single tickets paid with cash; up to 17% cheaper than Luas singles, and up to 18% cheaper than DART and commuter rail singles.

“It also works out cheaper than return tickets on Luas, DART and commuter rail services.”

Cost-capping A recent innovation for travellers in suburban Dublin is the costcapping option for Luas users. If you make lots of Luas trips with your Leap Card in one day or during a week, the Leap system will automatically cap the price so you don’t spend any more than you need to.

Similar functionality is being developed for Dublin Bus, DART and Commuter Rail services and will be enabled shortly.

Other operators, such as Bus Eireann, and private bus services are being approached to join the scheme.

A wide range of ticket options, such as annual and monthly tickets, will also be made available on Leap cards later this year.

The Leap card is available at more than 400 shops in Dublin, or online at www.leapcard.ie.

14 February 2013 GAZETTE 17

ASDFSDAF P27 TRAVEL P24

MOTORS P23

OUT&ABOUT Never be out of the loop on what’s happening in Dublin! Let Out&About be your guide to all that is stylish, cultural and essential across the city and beyond this week



GAZETTE

MUSIC P22

Pets

HELP BELLA FIND A LOVELY NEW HOME

In talking with The Gazette’s Laura Webb on the Lucan set of his new film, Gold, James Nesbitt praised the production’s location – if not quite the bitter weather. Then it was back to work (right) as he, and co-star, David Wilmot, prepared to splash in the freezing Liffey ...

CINEMA: THE GAZETTE TALKS WITH ACTORS JAMES NESBITT AND DAVID WILMOT

Happy to be cold for Gold  LAURA WEBB

WAKING up on a cold Tuesday morning in February to shoot a scene that sees one man get thrown into the icy waters of the River Liffey hardly sounds appealing, but it’s all in a day’s work for actors James Nesbitt and David Wilmot.

Well, kind of ... the stunt man does most of the work, but Hobbit star Nesbitt was also planning on making a splash on set by getting pushed into the chilly February waters during a scene being shot in St Catherine’s Park in Lucan last week.

Nesbitt, and Shadow Dancer actor Wilmot, lead an all-star cast for Irish feature film, Gold, which is currently in production.

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

‘It is a beautiful location here at St Catherine’s Park; I really can’t wait [for this shoot].’

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

James Nesbitt, actor

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

The comedy/drama, developed by Dublin-based production company Subotica, is about the life of wandering loner Ray, played by Wilmot, who desperately tries to track down his estranged ex-wife so his dying father can see his teenage granddaughter one last time.

However, Ray soon discovers his ex has built a new life with his former PE

teacher, played by Nesbitt.

Last week, The Gazette went down to the popular Dublin West Park to get a glimpse behind the scenes and have a chat with some of the cast members.

The scene being filmed at the park involved a stunt man falling into the river and being washed down through the rapids.

Setting the scene, one of the onset production team members, Anne, explained what was about to happen.

“The two leading actors, Frank (Nesbitt) and Ray (Wilmot) go for a walk down the river, a little argument happens and one of them falls into the river.

“We have our stunt team ready, water safety [crew] and the ambulance [crew] ready for the scene. Donal, our stunt-

man, is doubling [as] James Nesbitt. He is going in the water, and he will shoot all the way across the river.”

During their rehearsal time, Nesbitt and Wilmot took a moment out to talk to The Gazette about their latest film project.

Nesbitt said he was loving filming the movie, and was geared up and ready for his day ahead.

“It is a beautiful location here [at St Catherine’s Park]; I really can’t wait [for this shoot]. We have been filming for about a week now, and I think it is going to take about five weeks to complete.”

Nesbitt was enthusiastic about the project, saying that the script is “fabulous”, and praised his fellow actors and crew.

Continued Overleaf

DUBLIN Gazette Newspapers has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs.

Love is in the air, and our Dog of the Week, Bella, is a two-year-old pointer crossbreed. A real beauty – both inside and out – this lady is a clever girl who even knows how to open gates!

Bella’s ideal match would live in an active home with plenty of space for her to be able to run off-lead and stretch her paws. Her pawfect owner would be able to spend time helping her with her socialisation skills and basic training, as she adores learning new things.

As a playful pup, she would cherish a canine companion to keep her company and goof around with, and would be happy to share her new home with big kids, aged 10+.

Please contact Dogs Trust at 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off Exit 5 on the M50. A map and directions can be found at www.dogstrust. ie, and you can also find them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ dogstrustireland), or on Twitter (@DogsTrust_IE).

GAZETTE

18 GAZETTE 14 February 2013

OUT&ABOUT

Ready to make a splash with roles the way in,” he said, shuddering at the thought.

Working together for the first time, Wilmot said working alongside Nesbitt has been “great”, as has working with Condon and young Game of

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

‘Working in film, you would work longer hours. Films are like marathons, so it’s sort of an endurance test’

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

David Wilmot, actor

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

his hair to keep it from sweeping in his face.

Asked how he was, he bounced about, saying “very cold”.

For him, filming is going well. “It’s hard to tell, but people seem happy. Today is the first bit of snow we have had, and we have to climb into the river.

“I have to wade in a little, but Jimmy has to go all

Thrones actress Maisie Williams, who plays his daughter.

Their day at St Catherine’s Park was set to end at 4.30pm when daylight turned to night, which is a short day for movie makers.

“Working in film, you would work longer hours.

Films are like marathons, so it’s sort of an endur-

ance test,” said Wilmot.

It seems the test is not just for working long hours, but also enduring sub-zero temperatures.

“I was thinking about that the other day. I am kind of cold – a lot. I can’t remember the last hot day I worked in. I should sort that out,” joked Wilmot.

Other supporting actors in the production include Eileen Walsh from Pure Mule and Steven Mackintosh from Small Engine Repair. Gold was written by and is being directed

by IFTA winner Niall Heery.

Filming is ongoing in various locations around Dublin since it commenced on January 30, and principal photography is scheduled to wrap on March 5.

Gold is hoped to be completed in September, and goes on general release in 2014.

Perfectly understandably, David Wilmot was relieved that his character only had to wade into the freezing Liffey a little bit – unlike his co-star, James Nesbitt

gazette

group

.com

“I am working with some brilliant people, including David Wilmot and Kerr y Condon [actress from This Must Be The Place, the Sean Penn film that was partially filmed at the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre], so I am very thrilled to be here. It is lovely.”

Asked if he had filmed in the park before, the Ballymena-born actor said it was his first time there.

“I filmed a lot [in the Republic] years and years ago – it is a beautiful place, but never here. It is cold but very exciting – it’s great to be a part of it.”

Remaining tight-lipped about the film’s storyline, he said all he could tell us was that it’s a “comedy about a family”.

“I don’t think I can say any more ... But today,

we know two people are walking along, and I am getting in the water later, so it’s gonna be a cold day,” he laughed.

A chilly David Wilmot was wrapped up in a duffel jacket and hair clip in

www.

Continued from Page 17

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

14 February 2013 Gazette 19

Gazette

STYLE health: kbm dental service

Awear €50

Look after one of your most valuable assets – your teeth

Miss Selfridge TBA

Awear €55

Marks and Spencer €40

MONO CHROME Celebrities like Beautiful Creatures star Emmy Rossum, Homeland’s Clare Danes and reality superstar Kim Kardashian, to name just a few, are all rocking out the monochrome look that is about to take over our wardrobes (again!) So this week, Gazette Style has found some great looks to show our readers just how good you can look in black and white, without any worries of looking like that 1980s character from Beetlejuice or that zebra out of Madagascar!

Heatons €20

Penneys €20

“Your health is your wealth” is a very wise old saying, but one of the results of Ireland’s economic woes has been that many people cannot afford to look after their most valuable asset – their health.

Most people don’t realise that there is a proven link between a person’s dental health and their general health. Problems with your teeth or gums can cause serious auto-immunisation diseases of the joints, kidney and heart. Statistics reveal up to half of the children in Ireland have tooth decay by the age of five, but public dental screening service does not start until a child is at least seven.

Baby teeth play an impor-

tant role in helping adult jaws and teeth develop into the right position. If lost early, it can create problems in how the adult teeth align.

KBM Dental is helping to drive down dental costs for Irish people. KBM Dental can offer your child a dental check up for €25 (if you mention this article) which includes a gentle exam of the child’s teeth, oral tissues, and jaws.

The centre also offers root canal treatments and tooth whitening. For more info email kbmdental.grange@ gmail.com or call the clinic at Grange Road Retail park, Rathfarnham on 4957 844.

Centres also located at Tallaght and Skerries.

Gazette

20 gazette 14 February 2013

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

review: Jessica chastain single-handedly brings down osama bin laden

Zero to complain about I AM not a man who believes that films, or any entertainment media, need to be scrutinised for political stance, gender representations or any other societal concerns.

Yes, there are some artists who like to pepper their work with their beliefs and opinions, but more often than not, they recognise that their first priority is to entertain.

W hich is why I believe that Girls is just a very funny sit-com and not a building block of

 Paul Hosford phosford@gazettegroup.com

modern feminism and that maybe it’s okay to enjoy The Impossible without worrying about the colour of the leading family.

Which brings us to Zero Dark Thirty, another film which has become more than a film.

It has become a debat-

ing point in a US presidential election, a source of investigation by both the CIA and Department of Homeland Security (who both found that the film makers had not been given access to classified information) and the basis of an argument over the use of torture in war.

Personally, I don’t really care about any of that.

Yes, I believe that torture is abhorrent and the US needs to look at its own rules of engagement, but was I thinking about that during the muchdiscussed scenes in Zero Dark Thirty? Honestly, no.

Maybe I am missing the point and the film is designed to make you discuss and debate these things, but personally I watch feature films to be entertained, to be told a story.

I believe that documentaries do a better job of raising big issues and that researching a topic is much more valuable than basing an ideological position on what Kathryn Bigelow portrays on film.

The fact that it has been buried under all that argument has detracted from the fact that what we do have here is a very, very good film.

Based loosely on the story of the USA’s attempts to hunt down Osama Bin Laden, Zero Dark Thirty is Bigelow’s follow up to her Oscarwinning war film, The Hurt Locker.

Where that film looked at modern warfare and modern warriors, Zero Dark looks at what it took to get the information on where Bin Laden was hiding acted upon.

Reteaming with Hurt Locker writer Mark Boal, Bigelow is in control from the off here, keeping a short leash on the audience, all false trails and slow sequences.

While the film is the subject of much debate about its politics, it actually doesn’t have any.

No political discussion is given to what to do with the intel at the spooks hands, merely that they must act on it.

Whereas most films about spying show the

Jessica Chastain: saving the world while being fabulous

Film of the Week: Zero Dark Thirty h h h h h (15) 157 mins Director: Kathryn Bigelow Starring: Jessica Chastain, Kyle Chandler, Jason Clarke, Chris Pratt, James Gandolfini

OUR VERDICT: DON’T take it as gospel, don’t get bogged down in its political stances and don’t pay attention to accuracy. Do those three things and you will find an excellent film, a tense thriller and some breathtaking performances. Chastain should find herself an Oscar winner later this month, as her Maya fights to make herself equal in a man’s world. Which is odd because, on current form, she has no equal as an actress.

rock star elements of the job, Zero Dark Thirty shows the grinding boredom and repetition that is involved in gathering

intel.

Not to say that the film is harmed for it by any stretch.

The whole thing is tied

together so tightly that it is strengthened by the slower moments.

But, really, this is Jessica Chastain’s show and she revels in it.

Given the most freedom of her career by a director who clearly trusts her implicitly, she moves the story on with a frenzied energy and an immediacy that is perfectly measured.

After announcing her arrival over the last three years, this marks her as a true Hollywood star.

14 February 2013 GAZETTE 21

GAZETTE

GAMING DEAD SPACE 3: A HORRIBLY ENTERTAINING ADDITION

BYTES&PIECES BYTES

Sequel is quite a blast SOMEONE once wrote that the problem with horror is that if you write about, say, someone opening a door and finding a nine-foot-tall bug outside, the reader thinks: “Ah, how horrible!”

However, at the same time, they’re also thinking: “Well, at least it wasn’t a 10-foot-tall bug.”

The point is that no matter what you create and deliver, there’s always a law of diminishing returns to overcome when factoring in reader familiarity and expectation with horror, and horror tropes.

This has been the problem with the horribly good (and definitely adult-rated) Dead Space franchise, in that each episode, to date, has been a smash hit in blending psychological horror with action in a sci-fi setting, yet, in doing so, has been reinforcing gamers’ expectations with what to expect in each game.

For “newbies” to the series, and as a quick recap, following his (mis)

EVEN MORE SKYLANDERS

 SHANE DILLON sdillon@gazettegroup.com

adventures in Dead Space aboard the Ishimura, a giant mining spaceship, unlucky engineer Isaac Clarke found himself hot on the heels of the ship’s Unitologist members – a single-minded cult who, having dug up an alien Marker on another world, led to the deaths of everyone on the Ishimura, including his girlfriend.

Later, Dead Space 2 saw Clarke escaping the Unitologists’ clutches aboard The Sprawl – a vast city complex in space also brought to ruin by the cult, and by the Marker’s strange powers – namely, not just to make most people hallucinate and eventually go crazy, but also to pretty effectively mutate and zombify them in pretty dangerous and grotesque ways.

LAND YOURSELF IN A DREAMY SETTING Proteus is a fine example of a “wander-em-up”

The galaxy’s unluckiest engineer, Isaac Clarke (inset, above), finds himself jetting into another awful – in the best sense – adventure in Dead Space 3

Now, Dead Space 3 (DS3) sees Clarke return, determined to put an end to the Marker, and Unitology, once and for all, using his engineer skills (as in the prequels) to turn whatever he finds on his journey to deadly use, whether that’s machinery or, more often, upgrading mining equipment, raw materials and gear into deadly weapons.

He’ll need them, too, as Clarke faces an awful lot of determined human Unitologists, hideously mutated Necromorphs (um, space zombies), and more, not to mention the natural dangers of a number of fantastical and otherworldly settings, all the while as he deals with other characters and their motivations, some helpful but others not ...

PARENTS everywhere will join my nephews in rejoicing with the news that the next Skylanders game has just been announced, and is due out some time this year.

Skylanders Swap Force will bring oodles of new characters to the hit series, with interchangeable top and bottom halves to create even more

While purists may disagree with DS3’s increased emphasis on action – not to mention the dreaded words, “computer-controlled partner” for some sections, which carries all sorts of negative connotations for many gamers – it’s a fair enough development for the popular franchise.

There’s still an awful lot of interesting gameplay, great locales, creative setpieces (has anyone tired of Zero-G sequences yet?) and engaging aspects to make DS3 a blast upon its recent multiplatform release (where, as always, prices vary in shops).

All in all, despite being a step away from the more rarified horror of its prequels, DS3 is a gaming highlight for 2013.

gaming fun.

A new Swap Force peripheral will also be released, to facilitate the new characters, while existing characters can also join in with the next game.

Parents (and hard-pressed uncles) can look forward to tiny pleas of “I just want one more Skylanders, just one!” some time in 2013 ...

I MEANT to get around to this PC title sooner – oh well, better late than never, right? Regular readers may note that I’m rather fond of open world “sandbox” games, and Proteus is a creative addition to this niche genre.

Available for €8.99 through Steam, the digital distribution channel, Proteus is an interesting wander-em-up, more experience than game, which sees the player wander through a randomly created island, yet one which, upon each iteration, hosts a number of common features.

By wandering around, different audio soundscapes are triggered, depending on the location and surroundings, and even by the seasons, as it’s possible – and part of Proteus’ charm – to cycle the island through a year.

There’s no goal, no missions, no side quests – just you, the land, odd creatures and sights – but that’s all. Steering away from the “Videogames as art” argument, it’s also worth noting that Proteus’ visually simplistic, yet creatively striking graphics are also memorable, helping to generate an aimless landscape that yet rewards repeat visits.

Gazette

22 Gazette 14 February 2013

OUT&ABOUT

MUSIC

Little Green Cars are in the frame for much success this year

Cars geared for 2013 IT’s easy to fall in love with you.

So goes the refrain from The John Wayne, the lead single from Little Green Cars Nell Harper EP. The lifting melodies and insanely catchy chorus have made the song a constant feature on Irish radio in recent months, but the sentiment can be as easily applied to the young band, who hail from across Dublin’s southside.

A five-piece whose combined age barely makes a century, Little Green Cars are the most hyped band in Ireland at the moment and, unlike many recent most hyped bands, Little Green Cars are

 Paul Hosford phosford@gazettegroup.com

totally worth every last superlative.

The Harper Lee EP brims with a confidence and assuredness that isn’t evident in most bands with twice the experience.

T he five-par t harmonies are mostly anchored around leads from Stevie Appleby and Faye O’Rourke and Faye says that the band’s current success can be a bit odd at times.

“It has been surreal at times. But I’ve never

been the kind of person who has thought too much about the future.

“I’m doing music now, going to keep doing it til I’m not.”

Typical of the Irish music scene, there have been detractors wishing to take shots at the band, with much of the criticism aimed at their collective youth, but getting to their current status, signed to Island Records in the UK and Glassnote, home of Mumford and Sons, in the US, has taken some doing.

“It’s been an arduous process to get where we are. We had a lot of labels coming over to watch us before we were signed.

“We wanted to make

music as freely available as possible.

“We are really lucky, lots of labels weren’t the right fit, but now we have a phenomenal team of people around us.

“It’s not about hype or quick releases, it’s about making sustainable careers.”

While Faye recognises that occassionally their age is mentioned, once you get down to brass tacks, all that matters is the music.

“You want people to take you seriously and get past our ages.

“But we’re making mature music at a young age, or so I’m told!

“It can be a bit strange because when you’re working at your own

pace for so long you then have to get used to --------------------------

‘It’s not about hype or quick releases, it’s about making sustainable careers’

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

hitting deadlines.”

The band are due to follow up The Harper Lee EP with the release of their debut album Absolute Zero in April.

Produced by Markus Dravs (Mumford and Sons’ Sigh No More and Babel, Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible and T he Suburbs, Coldplay’s Mylo Xyloto), the

album is as anticipated as any other this year, with Faye saying that working with Dravs was a dream.

“When we were asked who we’d like to work with on the album, Markus was a dream producer, the Maccabees Wall of Arms is one of my favourite albums, so when he showed interest, that was really surreal.

“It was great because he wanted to capture what we’d done, not change it too much.

“So we worked with him for four months straight in an isolated farmhouse in the English countryside.

“The album might make people turn their heads.

“I think people will be

intrigued.”

With a slot on US mega-festival Coachella to come in April, a soldout gig in Dublin’s Button Factory on the slate and a place on the BBC’s sound of 2013 list, the next 12 months are set to belong to Little Green Cars, not that Faye is making any plans.

“I’ve never been someone who plans that far ahead.

“We’re really happy with what we’ve done.

Wherever that takes us, it takes us.

“Whether what we’ve recorded connects with three, 10, 50 or 100 people or more, then that’s great.”

Something tells me it will be a lot more than that.

14 February 2013 CLONDALKIN gazette 23

kia: a more engaging driving experience than its predecessor

Sportswagon brings style and sophistication n Cormac Curtis

OK, so I’m about to turn 40 – that does not mean I’m getting old, practical, settled or boring, but I do have a lot more time for estate cars than I used to.

But there is no reason to dismiss these motors in the way we traditionally have done.

Take for instance the Kia cee’d sportswagon.

It went on sale in Ireland last October, and I for one started to notice it straight away.

Naturally, it has been put together with all of Kia’s current design queues in mind – the distinctive front grille, the upswept headlight clusters and body contours all combining to give the car real modern appeal.

The Sportswagon is the latest addition to the cee’d range – following the introduction of the five-door that was

launched in May. This is a more sophisticated, more efficient, and more refined car and it delivers a more engaging driving experience than its predecessor There are no surprises with the interior – quality materials, top-notch build quality, clean lines and very comfortable seats.

While offering the same range of engines, transmissions and running gear as the cee’d five-door hatchback, the cee’d Sportswagon offers increased passenger and cargo space, with enhanced practicality.

With a new roof, side panels, rear doors and tailgate, the Sportswagon is 195mm longer (4,505 mm) and 15mm taller (1,485mm), while the 2,650mm wheelbase, one of the longest in the C-segment, is common to all cee’d variants. When open, the new tailgate

The Sportswagon is the latest addition to the cee’d range

rises to 1,888mm to allow easy, unimpeded access to the cargo bay.

And while all the extra bits and pieces sound impressive and look the part – I must admit that rear visibility was just that little bit too obscured for my liking. You can certainly get used to it, but given the terrific view looking forward, it was just a pity they couldn’t have squeezed a few more inches of glass in the aft section.

In terms of cargo, the capacity is 39% greater than the cee’d fivedoor hatchback (528 litres compared to 380 litres) with the rear seats upright and 25% greater with the rear seats folded and the cargo bay loaded to the roof (1,642 litres compared to 1,318 litres). The higher roofline ensures that headroom is increased, by 21mm (front) and by 2mm (rear).

The model line for new

cee’d in Ireland will comprise two trim and engine choices. Trim levels comprise entry level TX and EX - both will be available in 1.4 and 1.6 diesel.

Standard on all models are ESP (electronic stability program), ABS (antilock braking system), BAS (emergency brake assist system), HAC (hill assist control) to prevent roll-back, VSM (vehicle stability management) and ESS (emergency stop signal).

Gazette

MOTORS

road

NOISE

Volkswagen claims number 1 spot for January

Volkswagen Ireland were the topselling passenger car brand in Ireland in January according to figures from the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), claiming the No 1 position with 2,137 registrations, a market share of 12.37%.

Commenting, Paul Burke, operations director for Volkswagen Ireland said: “We are delighted with the strong start to 2013, which continues the momentum from

last year. The level of interest in all our model range plus our 3 Offer is very strong.

In addition, the new Golf has been in huge demand since launch and we expect sales to increase further as supply improves. At the moment we are selling every car we can get our hands on.”

Volkswagen Ireland’s strong performance is against the backdrop of an overall motoring industry that year to date is 18.54% down on 2012.

The new Golf has been in huge demand

Gazette

24 CLONDALKIN gazette 14 February 2013

OUT&ABOUT

fast

TRAVEL Take a trip of a lifetime to Beijing and Shanghai If this is your year to treat yourself to the trip of a lifetime, Travel Department could have the perfect escape with a trip to Beijing, Xi’an and Shanghai.

Depart April 5 from Dublin to Beijing and return from Shanghai to Dublin with British Airways (via London Heathrow).

Spend five nights at the five-star Legendale Hotel in Beijing on a B&B basis and during your stay, enjoy excursions to The Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall of China and Beijing Zoo, among other places.

You will spend three nights at the five-star Howard Johnson Ginwa Plaza Hotel at Xi’an before spending two nights at the five-star Radisson Pudong Century Park Hotel in Shanghai.

Excursions in both Xi’an and Shangai are also included.

Evening meals are included every night in each city.

Alternative dates are available including April 18, 23 and May 2 (prices may vary). Priced from €2,099. Visit www. traveldepartment.ie or call 01 6371600.

TRAVEL

northern ireland: derry~londonderry celebrates its 2013 city of culture win

Walk through history along the walls of ancient Derry  Dave Phillips

You can’t mention the winner of the 2013 City of Culture award without being made aware of its complex history of divide.

Popularly and historically Derry, but since 1613 officially Londonderry, the name undoubtedly induced palpitations in the City of Culture marketing team, who settled on a tilde between the contentious titles to make Derry~Londonderry the focus of this inaugural year.

A year long series of events began in January with the Sons and Daughters Concert which brought home an eclectic collection of performers including Snow Patrol, Phil Coulter and The Undertones. In the coming months, the city

will host the world GAA congress, an Irish language festival, the Fleadh Ceoil, and the Turner Prize alongside many smaller festivals and events, giving Dubliners ample opportunities to make the three-hour trip north for an overnight or weekend stay.

One of the first things you should do is take a walking tour of Derry’s walls, which have enveloped the city centre for 400 years. Martin McCrossan, a local man who first started up the tours over two decades ago, provides an excellent commentary on the city through the ages.

An hour walking the walls will take you from the establishment of the 6th century monastery of Colmcille, through the Siege of Derry and the

formation of the Apprentice Boys, to Bloody Sunday and the peace and reconciliation work that eventually followed for the community.

From the vantage point of the walls, you can look out over the collection of murals that have become well-known symbols of sectarianism. Some of the murals have changed over time to reflect the change from violence to peace.

The turbulent history of Derry is one that nobody is afraid to shy away from, let alone attempt to forget. The great split in this community and its subsequent repair is part and parcel of a unique cultural identity; and the walking tours and museums dedicated to what has become known as The Troubles have become some of the most popular attractions for visitors.

Staying at a hotel within the walls of the

The Foyle, traditionally a natural border between the Catholic and Protestant communities, can now be crossed via the recently erected Peace Bridge

A walking tour of Derry’s walls, which have enveloped the city centre for 400 years, comes highly recommended. Pictures: Gavan Donnelly

city is recommended, as so much is accessible on foot. The Tower Hotel is a great central spot as you’ll have everything just a short stroll away.

Derry is full of little streets, arches and alleyways, so there are a lot of nooks and crannies to explore – one of the highlights is the Craft Village, a quiet collection of shops and cafes where you can pick up some unique jewellery or gifts. There’s also a great live music

scene in the evenings, with lots of pubs hosting bands. Aside from the Fleadh Ceoil, which is set to make its first border crossing and draw up to 300,000 people to the city in August, there’s also a Hidden Voices festival, and BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend festival on the cards for 2013.

Many of the 2013 City of Culture events are taking place in The Venue, a temporary arena located at Ebrington Square on

What to do and Where to stay  A full list of events taking place

 Rooms are available at the Tower

in Derry~Londonderry during 2013

Hotel, Derry, from £59 at www.

is available at www.cityofculture2013.com.

Derry~Londonderry is a 2013 City of Culture

towerhotelderry.com  Tours cost £4 from

www.derrycitytours.com

the banks of the river Foyle, in what was once a British Army base. The symbolic relevance of this is not coincidental.

The Foyle, traditionally a natural border between the Catholic and Protestant communities, can now be crossed on the recently erected Peace Bridge, a massive monument to progress that gently twists and turns across the river.

It’s only when walking on this new ground that the rationale of bridging the name Derr y~Londonderr y with a tilde becomes obvious. There’s a palpable sense of pride in the city and a whole list of reasons to visit.

14 February 2013 CLONDALKIN gazette 25

No 4 Oak Glen Park, Southern Cross Road, in Bray is a four-bedroom house on the market for €420,000

Home with unique style and warmth

Sherry Fitzgerald in Bray are bringing No 4 Oak Glen Park, Southern Cross Road, in the town to the market for the price of €420,000.

This four-bedroom home has been well maintained and extended and upgraded over the years, meaning that the house has a unique warmth and style.

On entering, the hallway is indicative of the pristine accommodation to follow. The heart of this home is the open plan kitchen/family/dining room, which has been extended in recent years.

Flooded with natural light from the various Velux windows in the high vaulted ceiling, it is the perfect area for relaxing and dining. Double doors bring you through to a study or playroom

which in turn brings you through to the living room at the front which has a lovely box bay window.

A separate utility located off the hallway is ideal for hiding all evidence of mundane household chores!

A guest wc completes the downstairs accommodation.

Upstairs there are four bedrooms: two singles and two doubles. Three of the bedrooms have fitted wardrobes and the fourth bedroom has fitted shelving and storage.

Master bedroom

The master bedroom is en suite. A hotpress and family bathroom complete the accommodation on this level. A further stairs will bring you up to the converted attic. This

space has been cleverly converted to provide a very bright and spacious room.

The property has a cobblelock drive to the front of the house which provides off-street parking. It has a wooden gate to the side, giving access to the rear garden, which is laid out with Indian sandstone paving and is the perfect haven for al fresco dining in summer months. The rear garden is bordered with plants and shrubs, and a Barna shed provides outside storage.

Oak Glen Park is only moments from the N11/ M50, providing quick and easy access to both the city centre and the sunny south east. A bus at the end of the road will bring you to the Luas or the DART. Bray

town itself has a charming beach and seafront promenade that appeals all year round. An excellent choice of pubs, restaurants and coffee shops are along the main street and seafront. There is an excellent choice of both primary and secondary schools close by.

Oak Glen Park is a very popular development on the Southern Cross Road and has always proved popular with both young and old alike, and this is a home of the highest standard providing spacious living accommodation ideal for a growing family.

For more information and to arrange an appointment to view, contact Joan O’Hanlon at Sherry Fitzgferald, Bray on 01 286 6630, or email bray@sherryfitz.ie

The cleverly converted attic space

The open plan kitchen/family/dining room is flooded with natural light

Gazette

HOMES

26 clondalkin gazette 14 February 2013

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14 February 2013 CLONDALKIN Gazette 27

cycling P28

asdfsdaf P27 gaelic games P29

dublinsport Let the Gazette keep you up to date with all the best local sporting action from around the city as we cover all the stories that matter to you and your community



Gazette

sailing P28

FastSport iosagain star wins Leinster title: COLAISTE

James McGee and Sam Barry celebrate their doubles victory over Marek Marksoo and Vladimir Ivanov in the Davis Cup

tennis: castleknock man aces estonia test in riverview showdown last week

McGee power play critical as Ireland win dramatic Cup tie CASTLEKNOCK man James McGee cut a dramatic figure last week in Riverview following his and Sam Barry’s epic doubles victory over Estonia’s Marek Marksoo and Vladimir Ivanov in the third leg of their Davis Cup tie.

It ultimately proved the vital match as the two countries shared the four singles rubbers on the Friday and Sunday. Sandwiched in between, the doubles was the epitome of the competition’s attraction, running the gamut of emotions in front of an enlivened capacity crowd at the Clonskea venue.

Initially, it looked plain sailing as Barry played a blinder in the first set while McGee’s two bludgeoned returns forced the key break in the final game, making it 6-4.

The second set followed, 6-3, but the pendulum swung against them as they were unable to break again for another 25 games. Marksoo, without a world ranking but a current University of Sacramento tennis scholar, looked all at sea in the opening sets but suddenly found a lightness of foot and deftness of touch around the net to become the key player,

pulling off a string of sharp volleys.

Indeed, Estonia were claiming the big points and raced to the next two sets, both 6-3, to send the rubber to a deciding fifth. Again, Estonia looked to be cruising after an early break of the McGee serve and they extended the lead out to 5-2.

McGee did hold to keep the tie alive before, on Ivanov’s serve, Estonia earned two match points, one of which Barry produced a stunning forehand winner down the line to survive once more.

Those saves got the crowd going and their chants of “break, break, break” grew

louder when Marksoo overhit a volley, bringing Ireland back to 5-4. Barry held and parity remained up to 7-7.

When the crucial break came, McGee let out a primal roar, leaving him with the chance to serve out the match.

Two heavy second serves got him to match point and he saw it home with an emphatic ace.

A day later Barry, completed the job with a singles success, 3-2 overall and earning Ireland a date with Finland in round two of the Euro Africa section of the draw.

Iosagain’s Siofra Cleirigh Buttner continued her winning streak as she claimed the Aviva Leinster Schools’ Cross Country Championships in Santry Demesne last week.

Cleirigh Buttner won the senior girls race, detaching herself and Linda Conroy from the field by the final lap as both athletes entered the finishing straight. Buttner made the decisive break to win the title.

Mount Anville’s Ella Fennelly showed a clean pair of heels to the rest of the intermediate girls field as she strode to an impressive victory. Isabelle Odlum (Rathdown School) and Isabel Carron (Skerries CC) finished second and third respectively.

c o n ta c t s Acting Sports Editor: Stephen Findlater sfindlater@gazettegroup.com

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@gazettegroup.com Phone: 01 651 6205

Gazette

28 CLONDALKIN Gazette 14 February 2013

SPORT

FastSport leinster call for trio from adamstown: ADAMSTOWN trio Hammas Habi, Hannan Mann and Ali Elahi have all been included in the South Leinster training squad for winter cricket coaching sessions currently being held at North County Cricket Club.

Six sessions between now and Easter will give the players an opportunity to further their skills and gain selection onto this summer’s Leinster U-17 squad.

As well as playing in this year’s interprovincial series, games have also been arranged against Australian schools – St Patrick’s, Sydney and St Peter’s College, Adelaide.

Added to the programme this year will be two South Leinster versus North Leinster fixtures due to take place on July 24 and 26 at Kilgobbet Park in Cabinteely.

Phoenix’s Thomas Anders, Eoin Cleere and Adam Chester have been named in the North Leinster selection.

sailing: strong local contingent up for annual national awards

Murphy heads ISA nominees  sport@gazettegroup.com

LOCAL sailors abounded among the 25 nominees in contention for the Irish Sailing Association’s six prestigious annual awards including the premier accolade of the Irish sailing community; the ISA Sailing Achievement of the Year award.

The awards will be presented at the ISA seventh annual awards ball in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire on March 2 as hundreds of members and supporters of the Irish sailing community come together.

2012 was an incredibly successful year for Irish sailing as 11 sailors competed at the London Olympic and Paralym-

pic Games and dozens of medals were claimed at events around the world. This has been represented in the calibre of nominees.

The female star of Irish sailing, Rathfarnham’s Annalise Murphy, will go head-to-head against two other outstanding nominees for Sailing Achievement of the Year, kindly supported by BHP Insurance.

Fellow Oly mpians Peter O’Leary and Malahide’s David Burrows earned their nod when they won gold at the preOlympic Sail for Gold regatta which took place less than two months before the Games at the Olympic venue in Weymouth.

But both contenders

will face stiff competition from the third nominee; offshore sailor Damian Foxall who was Watch Captain on Groupama, winner of the 2011-2012 Volvo Ocean Yacht Race.

New to this year’s awards is the collaboration between the ISA and Mitsubishi Motors for the ISA Mitsubishi Motors Club of the Year Award. This award will be presented to the club that has significantly developed in raising the profile of the sport, improved safety standards and developed initiatives to grow membership and community inclusion.

Amongst the nominees is the Royal St George Yacht Club which wel-

Annalise Murphy is among the nominees for Irish Sailing Achievement of the Year

comed 350 youth sailors from 63 nations to Dun Laoghaire last July as they hosted the Youth World Sailing Championships along with three other Dun Laoghaire clubs. They are up against UC D S a i l i n g C l u b who won the student yachting world cup last November and Wicklow Sailing Club who hosted the 17th Round Ireland Yacht Race during the summer.

Paving the way for future Olympic successes are the incredibly talented youth sailors who are rising through the ranks of the ISA Olympic Pathway Programme.

Among them is Laser Radial sailor Finn Lynch, from the National Yacht Club, who claimed silver at the Youth World Sailing Championships last summer giving Ireland its best ever result at the championship.

0He has been nominated in the category of Youth Sailor of the Year, supported by Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, along with Sarah Eames from Co Down, Dougie Power from Co Waterford and Harry Whitaker from Co Cork. Other awards on the night include Volunteer of the Year, Instructor of the Year and Training Centre of the Year.

Ryan hoping to add to world championships medal haul  sport@gazettegroup.com

Garda cycling club’s Caroline Ryan

GARDA cycling club’s Caroline Ryan has been named in Cycling Ireland’s world championship team as the country has qualified for a record six events.

She has been named in the three-person selection for the event which takes place in Minsk from February 20-24.

She is joined in the side by Skerries-based Martyn Irvine and Eoin Mullen as they finalise their preparation for the World Championships having qualified through the World Cup series.

Olympian Irvine will race the individual pursuit and the scratch race, events in which he took a silver medal at the World Cup in Glasgow last December.

In the colours of his new team, United Healthcare, Irvine is completing his preparation racing in France, before joining the rest of the team two weeks before the competition begins.

Ryan, who is the reigning bronze medallist in the points race, will be racing in the individual pursuit, the points race, and in the scratch race.

That was Ireland’s first medal

at a senior track cycling world championship since Harry Reynolds took gold in 1896 and bronze in 1897, a feat made even more incredible by the fact that cycling is the second sport at which she has competed internationally having previously rowed for the country.

Both Irvine and Ryan are aiming to place in the top five in the world in their events, which given recent results, is a realistic goal.

Mullen will be racing in his first senior world championship, and is competing in the sprint event.

“Mullen has been based in the

world training centre in Aigle for the past year, and his performances have been consistently improving.

Coach Brian Nugent said: “Eoin has created history by becoming the first sprint rider to qualify for the world championships. This in itself is a fantastic achievement, and it is great to see the new generation of cyclists coming through.

“With Ireland lining up in six events, this is the largest representation that we have had, and we will be on the hunt for another world medal.”

14 February 2013 CLONDALKIN gazette 29

Gazette

Clondalkin dominant Dublin draughts  sport@gazettegroup.com

It was an action packed weekend for Dublin Community Games as more finals filled the calendar with draughts and indoor soccer finals taking place.

The Boys U-13 Indoor Soccer was held on Sunday in Palmerstown with teams from Whitefriar

Street, Knocklyon and Lucan battling it out, and family and friends offering their support to their budding athletes.

It was the Lucan B side that emerged victorious ahead of Knocklyon who took home silver, Lucan A took bronze and Whitefriar Street took fourth place medals from their first competition of

the year.

The draughts finals were held on Friday, and the U-10 competition was a nail-biting affair with Tyrellstown putting in a great performance, but they were unable to defeat a strong Clondalkin side that seemed determined to get the job done on the day.

While Tyrellstown took

the silver, Clondalkin progress to the Leinster finals in the U-10, U-12 and U-14 age groups, in a great showing of dominance.

Rugby and tag rugby are next on the Community Games agenda and the events are set to take place on Friday, while the badminton finals take place on Sunday.

football: tyrell steps in for all-star kelly

Club Noticeboard ROUND TOWER MEMBERSHIP is now overdue. Renewal

them become the top Friday night

forms available on the club website or

seller.

in reception in the clubrooms.

One hour once every seven weeks is

The closing date for receipt of

all it takes. If you are able to help please

entries for Sports Predictor 2013 is

contact Matt McCormack on 087 683

fast approaching. All completed forms

6737 or email info@roundtower.ie.

(and entrance fees) to be received by February 28.

The lotto numbers were 6, 13, 20 and 22; the bonus ball was 28. There was no

The clubrooms are available for rental for parties, anniversaries, etc.

Please contact Jimmy behind the bar or on (01) 459 2960.

winner of the jackpot of €10,000. Con-

The club shop is open in the club

gratulations to Sammy McDonnell,

every Monday night from 7.30-8.30pm.

Martha McCabe and John Cleere who

Please call Betty Ward or Catherine

were the three €100 winners; match

Moran if you have any enquiries on 087

three and the bonus ball: Helen Power.

675 2238 or 086 830 3207 respectively.

This week’s jackpot is €10,000.

Pick your lotto team leader and help

Bingo is on every Tuesday night, first call at 8.30pm.

st pat’s, palmerstown THANKS to all who attended a great night at the dinner dance in the Louis Fitzgerald hotel on Friday night.

Thanks to Louis Fitzgerald Luke

draw numbers were 11, 13, 22 and 29, there was no winner Any 3 numbers:

ing trophies and to Smiley for hosting

Cathal Burns, Graham Kelly.

award winners for their efforts and

Injury-hit Jackies fall to Donegal loss nfl division one Dublin 2-7 Donegal 3-10  sport@gazettegroup.com

DESPITE not coming away with a win against Donegal at the weekend, Dublin ladies manager Paul Gilheaney will take some positives from the performances of Sinead Goldrick, Sinead Finnegan, Noelle Healy and Round Towers’ Hannah Tyrell who battled hard for the Sky Blues throughout the 60 minutes in Chanel College.

Tyrell’s entry to the game was some what shadowed by yet anoth-

er Dublin loss as 2011 All Star Elaine Kelly was forced from the field after sustaining an injury in the warm up, but the young Tower’s talent will be happy that she was first player that came to mind as replacement for the Dubs boss.

Kelly’s name only adds to the list of Dublin injuries coming off their opening league encounter with Meath the week before where the side lost the services of rising stars Orlagh Egan and Niamh McEvoy.

The fluidity in the side’s movement and distribution that was wit-

nessed in their opening league clash with Meath was absent on Parnell’s turf, as the lack of training and match fitness seemed to rear its head in the Dublin side who may still be having some growing pains with some fresh faces now added to the squad.

Donegal’s star forward Geraldine McLaughlin caused the majority of the trouble for the Dublin defence and she bagged 3-5 of the Donegal tally of 3-10 with 3-3 of the scores coming from play.

Dublin could only muster 2-07 for them-

selves on the day falling to a six point deficit from their northern opposition. Siobhan Woods led the scoring for the Jackies with 1-1, Sinead Aherne took 0-4 with 0-2 from frees, Denise McKenna grabbed the sides only goal and Lyndsay Davies and Amy Guinness took a point each.

Gilheaney’s side travel to Leinster rivals Laois next week where they will no doubt face a tough ask as the O’Moore County have already taken two wins in their opening two encounters in the league, seeing off Donegal and Tyrone.

Lotto: first draw numbers were 12, 13, 17 and 18; there was no winner. Second

Moriarty and Andy Slater for presentthe event. Congratulations to all the

Denise McKenna scored Dublin’s first goal against Donegal last weekend Picture: Peter Hickey/GAAPics.com

best of look to all in the coming year.

The next draw is on Sunday, February 17.

GazetteSPORT all of your clondalkin sports coverage from page 27-29

world ambition: Garda cyclist Caroline Ryan named in Irish panel for track championships P28

February 14, 2013

davis cup doubles heroes: Ireland celebrate stunning win over Estonia visitors P27

Round Tower’s senior footballers are well set for the new season following an innovative approach to their preparations

Tower’s revenge mission Caimin Keane is hoping his club can get off to a flyer in AFL2 against the side that ended last season’s bid for promotion back to the top league  peter carroll

sport@gazettegroup.com

ROUND Tower are gearing up for another big season in the AFL2 and after heartache in the playoff final last year manager Caimin Keane wants the side to go all the way this year and graduate to the AFL1.

First on the agenda are Ballinteer St John’s in the AIB Cup and although Keane doesn’t take any competition lightly, he sees the clash as more of a warm up game for their first league clash the following week with last year’s playoff semi-final opposition, Skerries Harps.

“A lot of our challenge matches in the build up to the league have been called off due to

the bad weather, so the AIB Cup will be more of a warm up for Skerries the following week,” said Keane.

“We have a bit of history with Skerries after last year and I know that them lads haven’t forgotten about the semi-final. They’re going to go out and try to prove a point and it’s our job to stop them, because I’m sure we’ll both be pushing for promotion at the end of the year.”

Some alterations have been made by Keane in the pre-season with a new sports science expert and a physio coming into the fold to help with injury management, putting players that suffered last season on a “prehab” course that the team are already felling the positives of.

“It’s been a very intensive pre-season for the lads and they’ve done a lot of gym work. I really believe the fact that we didn’t gain promotion has helped the lads focus on the upcoming season and attendance has been 100% at the sessions.

“We have a sports scientist and a physio on board with players that suffered with injury last season and they had particular players on programs away from the gym while the others were doing strength and conditioning work.

“They’ve developed the notion of ‘prehab’ at the club which is something that we’ve been hearing a lot about and the lads have really enjoyed it so far.

“This time last year we had seven players

out at this stage and now we only have one, I think the numbers speak for themselves in that regard,” said the young manager.

As far as 2013 is concerned, Towers seem to be hell bent on winning themselves amongst the top flight in the county leagues. However, Keane admitted that the team have some reparations to make as far as the championship is concerned.

“After last year the whole team are determined to win promotion, but the fact that we didn’t win a single championship game has stuck with us too. We have a nice window to win some championship games and if we get a bit of momentum behind us we would certainly try our very best to do well,” he added.