Clondalkin 25 2 16 by Dublin Gazette

Gazette CLONDALKIN

INSIDE: As election day nears, we take a last look

at the candidates hoping to claim your vote Pages 6-9

Feb 25-Mar 02, 2016

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raising awareness of demand Still Dublin’s number-one for organs free paper!  mimi murray Group Editor

AFTER what was another difficult year for media outlets, including local newspapers, The Dublin Gazette is thrilled to have this week gained a fantastic Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) figure of 52,958* copies distributed per week in the Greater Dublin Area. The Dublin Gazette team and I are delighted with this result as it is a clear indication of how well received our papers are in the local communities that they serve. We are a free, self-select only local paper – meaning our readers have to actively make the decision to pick us up. We don’t push our papers into people’s hands, or push copies through the letter box; we leave it up to the reader to decide. Our readers have made the decision to pick up more and more of our newspapers, week on week. For this, we would like to say: Thank You! With a 3.1% year on year distribution increase, we look forward to serving the communities of Dublin for a very long time to come. *Group MFD, Jan-Dec 2015

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

Living Kidney donor, and RTE broadcaster, Vivienne Traynor has taken up the voluntary role of ambassador for Organ Donor Awareness Week 2016 which is organised by the Irish Kidney Association. The announcement of Vivienne’s ambassadorship was made recently when she made a presentation to members from the 25 countrywide branches of the Irish Kidney Association at its headquarters at Donor House, Park West, Dublin 12. Pictured are Regina Reynolds from Organ Donation and Transplantation Ireland, Vivienne Traynor and members of Dublin south IKA branch Owen Kelleher of Lucan and Peter Pardoe of Clondalkin. Picture: Conor McCabe Photography

Jobs boost as new data centre is announced

Approximately 100 jobs will be created during construction phase

 Ian Begley

Approximately €28m will be invested into a new data centre located in Grange Castle Business Park. Interxion Holding, a leading European provider of carrier and cloud-neutral

co-location data centre services, said that the development is in response to continued customer demand and also confirmed that approximately 100 jobs will be created during its construction phase. Meanwhile, a two-storey

healthcare unit with accommodation for 100 people has been proposed by Peamount Healthcare at its site located on the Peamount Road, Newcastle. The application, includes ancillary healthcare services, catering, pharmacy and staff facilities, an access

road and landscaping on the site. It will also include the development of an internal link to the existing rehabilitation unit, the demolition of a disused building and the redistribution of the existing car-park spaces. Full Story on Page 2

2 CLONDALKIN Gazette 25 February 2016

investment | €28m to construct the first two phases of facility

New data centre at Grange Castle  Ian Begley

A p p r o x i m a t e ly €28m will be invested into a new data centre located in Grange Castle Business Park. Interxion Holding, a leading European provider of carrier and cloud-neutral co-location data centre services, has announced an initial investment of approximately €28m to construct the first two phases of its third data centre in Dublin. The company said that the development is in response to continued customer demand and also confirmed that approximately 100 jobs

will be created during its construction phase. When fully constructed, the data centre will provide a total of 2,300 sq m of equipped space in four phases and total customer-available power of approximately 5mw. Speaking about the expansion, Karl Mulhall, managing director of Interxion Ireland, said: “I am delighted to announce Interxion’s third data centre in Ireland. As Europe’s fastest growing economy, we have seen a significant increase in demand for our services in recent years in Ireland. “We are experiencing growth from new clients as well as current clients

as more and more look to support their traditional hosting services with cloud services. “These companies are looking for connectivity and security from their providers and our reputation and expertise in this area provides us with a unique opportunity for growth. “This announcement demonstrates our continued investment in the Irish market.” Meanwhile, a new twostorey healthcare unit with accommodation for 100 people has been proposed by Peamount Healthcare at its site located on the Peamount Road, Newcastle.

The application submitted for the proposed development, included ancillary healthcare services, catering, pharmacy and staff facilities, an access road and landscaping on the site. It will also include the development of an internal link to the existing rehabilitation unit, the demolition of a disused building and the redistribution of the existing carpark spaces. In the application, Peamount Healthcare said: “The site location allows construction with minimal demolition/enabling works. “It is located in an area of lower landscape sen-

Seachtain na Gaeilge festival the council and South Dublin Library Services in partnership with Aras Chronain are hosting this year’s Seachtain na Gaeilge. This is a unique festival which highlights and celebrates our culture through music, dance, arts and the Irish language. The programme will run from March 1 to 17, and will see a wide range of events, including a special concert by Kila in honour of our centenary year, classes for all levels, workshops, traditional music sessions, and many other entertaining events. South County Mayor Sarah Holland said: “I would encourage all our citizens to attend some of the many excellent events on offer and above all to use your cupla focail during Seachtain na Gaeilge.” For further information visit www.sdcc.ie or www. athcliaththeas.ie.

Grange Castle Business Park

sitivity, adjacent to the existing rehabilitation services building. “It is proposed to have car-parking located a short distance away in ‘The Orchard’ area behind St Mary’s Ward. “It should be noted

that this area is historically referred to as The Orchard, however, it is no longer such and its current use is as an animal paddock. “The configuration of the building allows views from all the bedrooms

across landscape towards the Dublin Mountains, with the exception of a small number of bedrooms arranged around the courtyards.” A decision on its application will be made by March 24.

25 February 2016 CLONDALKIN Gazette 3

Bawnogue | water retention a persistent problem for centre

crime

Gardai in large drug seizure

Calls for overdue works at complex Calls are being made for the council to carry out overdue works at Neilstown Shopping Centre with separate plans underway to enhance and modernise the shopping complex in Bawnogue. A persistent problem for Neilstown centre is the large volume of surface water retention that accumulates in the carpark during heavy rainfall, which the council say they are now investigating. Clondalkin Cllr Jonathan Graham (SF) said this issue is “causing a major nuisance for retailers and locals alike with regular flooding of the area when we had heavy rain”. “I submitted a motion instructing the relevant

department to carry out the essential remedial work. It is important that this work is to take place.” Speaking to The Gazette, a council spokesperson said: “The road maintenance section resurfaced the Neilstown Shopping Centre carpark in April 2013. “In 2014, a new building was built (boxing club). Paving around the area was altered by this project and ponding resulted. Road maintenance corrected this problem by the construction of a drainage gully in 2014. “On foot of more recent queries regarding the build-up of surface water on the car park, the council will carry out an investigation to ascertain the cause of the problem,”

said the spokesperson. Meanwhile, the council will soon make a decision on an application to enhance and modernise the More 4 Less convenience store at Bawnogue Shopping Centre Owner Mark Burns, plans to amalgamate three of the retail units into one to provide a small supermarket, with the current post office located within the store instead of in a separate retail unit. It will also see the resurfacing and re-lining of the existing car park, new signage for the front facade of the shop and the demolition and reerection of a store to the rear of the supermarket. A decision on the application is due from the council by March 14.

on the right side of the law Joshua Cullen from Moyle Park College, Clondalkin, was one of 100 students from around Ireland who took part The Bar of Ireland’s Transition Year Programme recently. Joshua is pictured receiving his ‘certificate of participation’ from the chief justice, Justice Susan Denham. The TY Programme, which included shadowing a barrister, mock trials, court visits, talks from court gardai and journalists, is designed to encourage students from all backgrounds to consider a career at The Bar. Picture: Conor McCabe Photography.

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Gardai from Ronanstown Drugs Unit have seized large quantities of heroin and cocaine during an operation targeting drug trafficking involving west Dublin based organised criminal groups. The drugs, which have an estimated value of €500k, were recovered when gardai, supported by the drugs and organised crime bureau, carried out a search at a house in Clondalkin on the evening on February 16. During the search gardai discovered three kilos of heroin and one kilo of cocaine. Other material seized included what is believed to be mixing agent. A 24-year-old male was arrested at the scene and is currently detained at Ronanstown Garda Station. The investigation is ongoing.

4 CLONDALKIN Gazette 25 February 2016

Kilcronan Avenue | ‘no evidence has been found during searches’

Illegal dumping issues at houses  Ian Begley

Two abandoned prope r t i e s i n K i l c ro na n Avenue, Clondalkin, have caused significant problems for residents over the past two years regarding illegal dumping with the council carrying out 72 clean-ups on the site to date. The two properties in Kilcronan Avenue were first investigated by the council in early 2014, on foot of fire damage to the properties. At the time, the properties had been abandoned and the council secured the houses to prevent access and to remove any danger to

the public. Since then, persistent dumping has plagued these sites with numerous investigations carried out by the litter warden service. However, no enforcement action has been issued to the offenders due to lack of evidence. Cllr Eoin O Broin (SF) tabled a motion at the February Clondalkin area committee, asking the chief executive to present a report detailing all actions taken in the last two years by the council to address the illegal dumping issues on these sites. In response, the chief executive stated: “In the

intervening period, the sites have been investigated by the environmental health office in relation to an accumulation of waste. “The environmental health office subsequently served the statutory notice by hand at the registered address of the owner but noted that this property appeared unoccupied. “The notice was not complied with and no response was received.” The chief executive outlined that these sites have also been the subject of several inspections under the Derelict Sites Act 1990. Regarding the per-

sistent dumping at the properties, he added that no enforcement action had been taken following the numerous investigations carried out by the litter warden service over the last two years “as no evidence has been found during any of the searches of the dumped material and no witness has come forward to identify those engaged in illegal dumping”. “The council’s public realm section has carried out 72 clean-ups in the Kilcronan area over the past two years with five of those carried out in Kilcronan Avenue, including the removal of an

Tourism diaspora project People from Dublin Mid-West organising an event in 2016 will be able to apply for the council’s community tourism Diaspora project with up to €3,000 available for individual events. The project’s aims are to provide support in the form of small-scale funding incentives for community-based tourism events that have the capacity to carry through the legacy of The Gathering in 2013 and beyond. It also aims to create a national network of local events with the capacity to deepen Diaspora linkages and networks that have been developed or re-activated during The Gathering year and to foster the growth of strong county Diaspora networks on the basis that Diaspora relationships are rooted in ‘people and place’. Visit www.sdcc.ie to download an application. Closing date March 11.

The council has carried out 72 clean-ups at two abandoned properties in Kilcronan Avenue

accumulation of dumped material from the gardens of two properties in Kilcronan Avenue. “Extensive effor ts have been made by the council in the past two

years to establish the whereabouts of all owners of the said properties, but correspondence is routinely returned as undelivered. The council will con-

tinue to monitor the sites in accordance with the Derelict Sites Act 1990 and the Litter Pollution Act 1997, as amended.

25 February 2016 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5

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election 2016 | how some of the candidates are faring on the hustings

A disgruntled electorate now looks to the Left  eoin o broin

Councillor, Sinn Fein

CLONDALKIN Sinn Fein councillor and General Election candidate Eoin O Broin is out daily with his canvassing team, knocking on doors and engaging with local residents with the hope of persuading them to give him their numberone vote. The Gazette followed Cllr O Broin and his campaign team around

the Palmers estate recently. With extensive knowledge of both local and national issues, he certainly had a lot to say and could effortlessly tackle any questions put to him, even if he seemed to rush a little through certain topics. Cllr O Broin said to one resident who opened their door: “The real big issue that we’re concerned about is the lack of investment in job

creation and public services, whether it’s health, education, housing or childcare. “ We ’r e a l s o ve r y focused on job creation, particularly in the small business and selfemployed sector. If we were in government, this is what we would be investing in over the next five years.” An example of when Cllr O Broin exhibited his knowledge of current events was when a

local resident criticised the taxi company, Uber, saying it is causing a big problem for him. “We’re completely against it [Uber],” said Cllr O Broin. “It’s crazy because the company is completely unregulated. Uber operates in a number of European cities and the fares that they charge are phenomenally low, which is very bad for regular, licenced taxi drivers, and even for the drivers for Uber themselves because they’re being exploited by low wages.” Cllr O Broin also made a good attempt at trying to convince a committed Independent voter to give him her number-two vote by saying that Sinn Fein is under the Right to Change banner, which is against the water charges, property tax and other Government-implemented measures the party deems unfair.

Cllr Eoin O Broin (SF) used his knowledge of local, national and even international matters to engage with those he met on the doorsteps

Cllr Gino Kenny (PBP) made certain to remind those he canvassed of the anti-water  gino kenny

meter/charges demonstration happening that weekend in the city centre

Councillor, PBP

IT’S all go for first-time General Election candidate Cllr Gino Kenny (PBP), who is endeavouring to get as many Dublin Mid-West residents as possible on his side in the hopes of winning a seat within Dail Eireann. The Gazette followed Cllr Kenny and his support team around Bawnogue recently. Being a People Before Profit candidate and local councillor seemed to bode well for him in this working class area, as many people were happy to hear what he

had to say. “You won’t get a better man than Gino,” said one woman. “He knows what it’s like to live the way we live. We’re all struggling and he fights to try and help us, unlike the people in the Government.” “I’ll give you that 50 euro later on,” joked Cllr Kenny. One resident complained about the dampness coming into her house from her garden porch and asked if Cllr Kenny could do anything about it. He told her: “I’ll cer-

tainly take your details and I’ll ring them on your behalf.” Along with outlining what he stood for, Cllr Kenny also made sure to remind people at the doors of the anti-water meter/charges demonstration happening that weekend in the city centre. Another concern that one resident had was regarding horses that regularly roam unsupervised around the area’s green spaces. C l l r K e n ny, w h o is a member of the Clondalkin Equine Club,

told him: “We’ve been fighting to provide a suitable site for these horses for years and finally the council have recently agreed to provide us with three acres of land in Ballyowen and are building 20 stables, which will be run by horse owners for horse owners.” Although the PBP councillor seems like a popular vote in Clondalkin, he still has a challenging campaign ahead of him in order to convince people in the town’s surrounding areas, such as Lucan, to get behind him.

25 February 2016 clondalkin Gazette 7

8 clondalkin Gazette 25 February 2016

election 2016 | a slightly irreverent look at some of the candidates

City voters are spoilt With literally dozens of hopefuls fighting for seats, there have been some lighter moments for politics followers to enjoy ...

 aisling kennedy

THERE is an air of anticipation in Dail Eireann in the run up to

the General Election, with politicians eagerly knocking on doors nationwide armed with many an election prom-

ise. Political parties are only too happy to take swipes at and shout down members of rival

parties for their shortcomings while each of us sit back and try to comprehend which politician to vote for.

A prime example of this type of political subterfuge is the recent Leader ’s Debate on TV3, where we were all witness to an intensive masterclass on how to shout down your opponent. He who makes the most noise wins. (Or she, in Joan Burton’s case.) Indeed, each of the four leaders – Enda Kenny (FG), Joan Burton (Lab) , Michael Martin (FF) and Gerry Adams (SF) – took turns to act vehemently outraged and disgusted at opposing party politics when called on for an opinion. Meanwhile, as we drive around the city, we see political canvassers ply pillar after pillar with A2 posters of these very candidates, in the hope that we are subliminally taking it all in and it will lead to an extra vote. When trying to decide who to vote for while looking at no less than 74 election candidates posters throughout the five constituencies in Dublin city, it can seem not only daunting but, quite frankly, a little impossible. In an attempt to aid your decision and to provide a little light relief in all the election mayhem, here are some lesser-known stories of various politicians’ recent campaign trails that may interest you, or may give you have a little chuckle as we prepare for the imminent General Election ... Sinn Fein’s deputy leader, Mar y Lou McDonald, is a popular candidate with her con-

As the race for a Dail seat heats up, the city’s election others serious, yet all adding up to make Election 2016

stituents, and is midway through a full-scale attack on the FG-Lab coalition of “broken promises”. Calling MEP Brian Hayes (FG) a “gurrier” recently in the wake of his repeated questions to her about Republican Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy on Newstalk, she is not a woman to sit back and mince her words.

first”. The leaflet then went on to quote one “Booby Sands”, as opposed to the infamous Bobby Sands. A slight blip, but one that made us all chuckle over our morning coffees. Another election candidate who is hoping to retain his seat is the imitable Richard Bruton (FG), Minister for Jobs,

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‘When trying to decide who to vote for while looking at no less than 74 election candidates posters throughout the five constituencies in Dublin city, it can seem not only daunting but, quite frankly, a little impossible’ --------------------------------------------------------

S h e l ove s t o g e t behind a good protest, and can often be found rallying support for the Save Moore Street campaign, and the Right2Water protests. The only blip on her otherwise seamless campaign trail was an unfortunate incident involving leaflets that urged voters to move away from Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, and join “a new Rising, one that puts the citizens

Enterprise, and Innovation. It was a kind of poetic justice that the man responsible for allegedly boosting employment levels in Ireland could not convince his own party to keep him in his role after it emerged that he failed to get selected at his party’s selection convention in north Dublin last April. All was not lost, however, as the party’s executive council stepped in

25 February 2016 clondalkin Gazette 9

and their mishaps, surpRises and disagreements out on the hustings

for choice at the polls

candidates are finding all kinds of obstacles to overcome – some of them amusing, one to watch

at the last minute and added him to the ticket. Proper order. Things take on a more

serious note now, with two strong female candidates who are currently battling it out for a seat

in the Dublin Bay South constituency, each with a very different point of view on repealing the

eighth amendment. Outgoing Renua TD Lucinda Creighton famously resigned as European Affairs Minister in 2013 after voting against the Government on an amendment to the abortion bill. She also lost the party whip, and faced an uncertain future – until she formed the new political party, Renua Ireland; a party that hopes to “engage the nation in a new conversation”. Opposing her beliefs is Cllr Kate O’Connell (FG), a businesswoman and pharmacist, who gave an impassioned speech at the Dail last year on a woman’s right to choose. She gave this

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‘In the Dublin Central constituency, this election will be the battle of the Independents, with no less than six such candidates hoping to take a seat in the three-seat constituency’ --------------------------------------------------------

speech while she was heavily pregnant with her third child. To say there is quite a large difference of opinion between these two ladies may be the understatement of the year. However, only one opinion will win out in the end, and it’s anyone’s guess as to who that will be. Lastly, in the Dublin Central constituency, it

will be the battle of the Independents, with no less than six Independents hoping to take a seat in the three-seat constituency. Of the six, four are serious contenders, with outgoing Independent TD Maureen O’Sullivan hoping to retain her seat, yet Christy Burke, Cieran Perry and Eilis Ryan will all be racing her to the finish line.

Smart money would bet on either ex-Sinn Feiner Christy Burke – a popular and well-known face around Dublin’s inner city areas – or Cieran Perry, who likes to fight for the working class and even managed to get himself arrested during the Greyhound lock-out last year. E i t h e r w ay, t h e Independents are fast becoming a force to be reckoned with in the Dublin Central constituency. They may not yet be reaching the dizzying heights of an alliance, but it’s probably best to leave that to Deputy Shane Ross (Ind) and his followers in the more affluent suburbs of Dublin’s fair city.

10 CLONDALKIN Gazette 25 February 2016

clondalkinGazettegallery | Older Voices For Change host

Election candidate Clare Leonard (Ind)

John Keating, Niamh Coady, Ciara Ni Dhalaigh, Paul Flemming , Teresa Canning and Larry Carroll. Pictures: Cathy Weatherston

Election candidate Christopher Healy, Direct Democracy Ireland

Could it be time for a change?

Suzanne Hegarty, Bridget Mehan and Valerie Mullen

lder Voices For Change, an advocacy group set up to promote older people’s issues, hosted a “Meet the Politicians” meeting recently at Balgaddy Family and Child Centre to express older peoples views, to the local candidates in the forthcoming election. Many issues including health, housing, transport, charges and policing were all raised and robust discussion occurred. The group is based in the Dublin Mid West constituency and represents people in Lucan , Palmerstown and Clondalkin areas.

Lorraine Hennessy, election candidate for the David Lynch

Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Joanna Tuffy

Workers Party

25 February 2016 CLONDALKIN Gazette 11

a “Meet the Politicians” meeting at Balgaddy Family and Child Centre

Bibiana Savin and Tom Sheils, Palmerstown Active Retirement Clare Leonard IND, who is a

Tom Sheils from Palmerstown Active

candidate for the General Election

retirement

Catherine Murphy, general election candidate for the Social Democrats, with Michael Caul and

John O’Halloran from Liscarne Day Centre, Kathleen McGrath and Delores

Stephen McNally

O’Brien

12 CLondalkin Gazette 25 February 2015

Gazettegallery

| A number of famous faces attend the opening

Blaithnaid Ni Chofaigh and her mother, Nan Ni Chofaigh

Rachel Lee and Ruth Lee

Janet McCarthy, Antoinette Bookey and Audrey Greene

Ger Maher and Ruth Scott

Dearbhla Whelan, Dermot Whelan and Eithne Whelan. Picture: Brian McEvoy

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25 February 2016 clondalkin Gazette 13

Night of The Perfect Murder at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre

Amelia Clarke Stewart

Jennifer Halton and Rita Halton

Josh Andrews and Kate O’Leary

Rebecca Lee

Horror, intrigue, mystery and plenty of comedy

Sue Dixon and Jeremy Dixon

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14 Gazette 25 February 2016

dublinLIFE

a day in the life: Louise Ni Fhiannachta on her diverse role with a tg4 series

Happy to direct an Eipic Irish show  ian begley

AS T H E h i gh l y - acclaimed TV show Eipic currently airs its six-part series on TG4, director Louise Ni Fhiannachta said that the production was “an incredible experience” to be a part of. T he anarchic new show, penned by Mike O’Leary, is an off-beat, low-fi comedy drama that follows the fortunes of five rural teenagers who take over their local abandoned post office in 2016 to start a musical revolution. T his week, T he Gazette spoke to Ni Fhiannactha, who described what a day in her life was

like while directing this unique production. She said: “As a freelance director there is no such thing as a typical day in the life for me. Every day is different, which is a creative blessing I suppose, but it all depends whether I’m doing prep, production or post-production. “My usual approach would be to liaise with the writers as much as I can and to forensically go through each scene from a character, narrative and tonal perspective. “Prep work for a shoot is a bag of all-sorts, really. Long before the prep dates, I would have

to make sure that the project is fully cast. I would also need to be fully confident that we have the right people. “I’d also draw up director notes with visual references and help the other departments out a lot, too.

Locations “When you’re in prep, you have to talk to the editor about visual style and discuss various locations to shoot. You also become aware of what you want to achieve while you’re shooting it,” she said. “The five teenagers who were cast were just incredible. We spent

three months travelling around the country looking for new talent, and we needed fresh faces with a tremendous acting ability, musical talent and who could also speak Irish. “They are all unbelievably talented actors who I firmly believe have a fantastic future ahead of them. “We spent two months shooting in a place called Woodford in east Galway, and the entire cast and everyone else involved created such a positive amount of energy that was just sacred,” said Ni Fhiannactha. “We chose to film in Woodford because it

Eipic director Louise Ni Fhiannachta (left) with actors Fionnuala Gygax, Fionn Foley, Daire O’Muiri and Cian O’Baoill

had the perfect characteristics that we needed for Eipic. “Altogether, there were nine music videos to shoot in total. The band did popular cover songs

and made them their own, entirely in the Irish language.” Asked if she did anything to do to unwind while filming, Ni Fhiannachta said: “We always

had great craic while shooting, and had a big party before we finished the show.” Eipic broadcasts on TG4 at 10pm each Thursday night.

Gazette

25 February 2016 Gazette 15

dublinlife

diary

Are you ‘man enough’ to be an Escort?

Last year’s Rose of Tralee Elysha Brennan has challenged young Irish men to see if they have what it takes to become an escort for the international festival. A Rose escort’s job is to look after his Rose and ensure her time at the festival is memorable, how hard can it be? Elysha is calling on men between the ages of 21 and 30 to apply before the March 31 deadline. Chosen candidates will take part in a teambuilding boot camp in June, participate in Festival events in August including the Gala Rose Ball and be in with the chance to win Rose Escort of the Year. Each candidate will be subject to an application fee and if chosen will be obliged to raise a sponsorship of €1,500. Any lads who feel they are “man enough” to be a Rose Escort should apply to www. roseoftralee.ie.

Dublin South Central remembers 1916

Dublin South Central Community launched their extensive pro gramme of events to commemorate The 1916 Easter Rising recently. The event will take place at 7pm in St Catherine’s Church, Thomas Street. Speaking about the programme, The Lord Mayor said: “The organised events recognise the importance of placing communities at the heart of the commemorations and I hope people will engage with the programme and through it reflect on the events that changed the course of our history.” The programme includes 50 diverse projects which are funded by Dublin City Council and organised by local volunteer groups in Kilmainham, Ballyfermot, Inchicore, Bluebell, Drimnagh, Crumlin, Kimmage, Islandbridge, the Liberties, Rialto and the

Coombe. The programme intends to help people in different communities engage with commemorations while informing them about the different events and people in the Rising. Copies of the programme will be available at the event and through local council offices.

saying thank you to the hidden heroes Keith Duff y, along with Dublin City Council, have just announced The Good Citizen Awards. T h e a i m o f t h es e awards is to say thank you to the hidden heroes in our communities. Citizens are asked to nominate ordinary people who by their actions and contributions to their communities make this city an extraordinary place to live. Nominations can be made at www.dublincity.ie/goodcitizen

Keith Duffy wants to know have you nominated your local Hidden Hero yet

Last year’s Rose of Tralee Elysha Brennan

where “The assessment panel will be looking for examples of good citizenship that really stand out and can serve as great examples of how the efforts of ordinary good citizens can really make a difference to our communities”. Nominations open on February 15 and will close on March 18. There are nine different categories for nomination and winners will be selected by an independent adjudication panel with awards presented at a ceremony in the Mansion House in May 2016. Is there a wor thy nominee in your community?

16 Gazette 25 February 2016

Gazette

dublinlife Some top tips to help you plan your holiday abroad

Whether you are booking a package holiday this year or you have decided to arrange it yourself online, the competition and consumer protection commission’s website, www.consumerhelp.ie, has some tips for you to keep in mind about your holiday.

Booking a package holiday W hen you book a package holiday, you enter into a contract with the tour operator or travel agent. They are responsible for ensuring that your holiday arrangements run to plan. They should provide

you with a written copy of the contract before you travel. This should contain key information such as the cost, destination, duration of the holiday, itineraries of any excursions, and details of the complaints procedure in case anything goes wrong.

You should also be told of any other relevant information, such as vaccinations you might need to get and any passport/visa requirements. Remember, if you book a package holiday, you have specific protections as a consumer that you don’t have if you book each part of your trip separately.

Doing it yourself Sometimes it can work out cheaper and more flexible to book each stage of your holiday yourself. However, it’s important to know that you won’t have the same protections as you would if you had booked a package holiday. You do still have some protections if your holiday involves taking a ferry or flight and there is a delay. Check out www.consumerhelp.ie to find out more about your rights. Spot the scammers When you are researching your accommodation, watch out for potential rental accommodation scams. This is where scammers go online to a genuine holiday website offering places for rent; copy the photos, addresses and other information from various listings and then use this to put up a fake listing of their own. This is a scam to get

FEATURE

Some policies won’t cover you if you need to claim as a result of any adventure activities

you to pay the full rental price or a security deposit up front. Always make sure a listing is genuine before you make a booking. You can do this by taking the time to do some research on the person/company offering the rental property. If there is an estate agent in the area they may be able to verify if the property is a genuine rental one. Check if the property exists by looking it up on online maps. Never transfer money unless you are absolutely sure that the listing or website is genuine, and always use a secure method of pay ment, such as a credit card or Paypal.

Hiring a car If you choose to hire a car in a different country make sure to check the car rental firm’s website for the company’s terms and condition. It is impor tant to research the company before booking, ensure you have contact details and enough insurance to meet their requirements. Also, at the time of

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If you book a package holiday, you have specific protections as a consumer that you don’t have if you book each part of your trip separately

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booking you may find that not all charges are included – some may be payable when you collect the car, such as costs for child seats, additional drivers, extra insurance etc. Find out what the fuel policy is before you rent and make sure it is explained to you clearly before you confirm the booking.

Travel insurance If you book a package holiday, travel agents and tour operators may sell travel insurance as part of the package but you do not have to take their insurance. You may get better value by buying your travel insurance separately from another provider, particularly if you travel frequently. If you’re planning on taking part in any adventure activities while you are away, make sure you spec-

ify this when you are choosing your policy. Some policies won’t cover you if you need to claim as a result of these activities. If you have private health insurance check to see what that covers you for before you buy travel insurance. Your private health insurance normally cover illness and injury while you are abroad, however, you will need to get additional cover for such things as a flight being cancelled or a delay which causes you to miss a connecting flight. You can ask your private health insurer to see if they offer discounted travel insurance that covers you for such non-medical loses. At w w w.consumerhelp.ie you will find more top tips when p l a n n i n g a h o l i d ay abroad.

25 February 2016 Gazette 17

cinema P22

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

health P24

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travel P20

Pets have we got the perfect buddy waiting to meet you!

Parade characters Piya Champhat and Rachel Lally announcing the launch of this year’s St Patrick’s Festival. Picture: Robbie Reynolds

st patrick’s day: A world class line-up of events and street theatre

Festival looks to the future  jodi waters

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe recently announced the 2016 St Patrick’s Festival, which will take place in Dublin from March 17 to 20. This year’s theme is Imagine if ... This year, the four-day festival will celebrate its 21st birthday since it was established. Commenting on the launch of the festival, Minister Donohoe said: “The St Patrick’s Festival has developed into a major attraction, which provides us with the chance to showcase our own culture and talents and promote all that is great about Ireland on an international stage.”

As part of the I Love My City programme, this year the festival presents a jam-packed events schedule. Catch The Moth StorySLAM in Teelings Distiller y, New Market Square on March 17. The open-mic storytelling competition was founded in New York and is a monthly occurrence in Dublin. Tickets are priced €8. Look-see RUN tours take place on March 18 and 19, meeting at Hugh Lane Gallery at 6:30pm. This is a walking performance created by young people; it’s a performance that is also a walk, sometimes a talk, and possibly a run! Tickets are priced €5. Pop down to The Children’s Soapbox at The Ark Children’s Cultural

Centre on March 18 for a special event that will launch The Ark’s new Children’s Council, which gives a voice to Dublin children and a platform to express their views and wishes for the future of Ireland. With soap box-style performances using spoken word, stories and poetry 18, this free event is a must. Take a seat in the National History Museum on March 18 and listen to the lofty, surround-sound choral performance of Rarity, by Tonnta Music. This unique and cultural experience combines live singers and an electronic vocal sound, and takes place at 6:30pm and 7:30pm. Admission is free. Rounds, by BoNs Synth Ensem-

ble, takes place on March 19 in St Patrick’s Cathedral at 8pm. BoNs is the musical and song-writing catalyst for Dublin-based multi-instrumentalist, producer and synthesist, Glenn P. Tickets are priced €8. Catch Ultimate Sunday at Belvedere House on March 20. Described as a full schedule of cultured chats, sounds, and interactive fun, this really is the ultimate weekender. Join journalist Julien Clancy and Monaghan fashionista Helen Steele. Tickets are priced €10. Family fun-filled events are also taking place over the festival period. Look out for treasure hunts and the festival’s Big Day Out, taking place over the weekend.

The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Our Dog of the Week this week is Buddy, a sixyear-old Staffordshire bull terrier cross. Buddy has been at Dogs Trust for quite some time now. He is looking for an adults-only home and adopters who can commit to making multiple trips to the centre to slowly build up a relationship at his pace. It will take quite a few meets to get to know Buddy, but we promise you, it will be worth your time to earn the love of this eagerfaced angel!. If you think you could offer Buddy a loving home please contact Dogs Trust on 01-879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www. dogstrust.ie. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.

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18 Gazette 25 February 2016

OUT&ABOUT 3 dress €14 lace shirt Biba black

Old Willow & Clo favourites – including the popular

Label Lab black suede lace-up jacket €249

SoundWave collection (above) – are also available at the brand’s new flagship city centre store

Willow & Clo’s latest range available at new flagship store with the collections firsthand, piece by piece, story by story, moment by moment.” Old favourites can be found in the store, such as the ever popular Sound Wave collections, which symbolise the creative process of music. Pieces in the collection have been inscribed with secret messages and meaningful words that only the wearer can see. ------------------------

TO IMPRESS

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€90

black rie ma

brode 9

2 ss €1 xi dre

Since Willow& Clo’s establishment, it has enjoyed success alongside well-known jewellery designers such as Alexis Bittar and Shaun Lane. Further information can be found on Willow & Clo website at www. willowandclo.ie, while the flagship store at the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre is open six days a week (closed Sunday).

BLACK is back – not that it ever goes away – with a vengeance, as the eternal shade has popped up in style over at House of Fraser, ready to smarten up spring wardrobes with a clean range of shades. Whether sporting a clerical black, channelling your inner Morticia Addams, boosting your Goth girl cred, or just seeking stylish cuts in this most classic of colours, House of Fraser have just the range for you, with a selection of items to complete or perfect any wardrobe. For those looking to soften the shade, several of our selections this week make great use of subtle colouring, with gentle bronze proving particularly good at adding just the right dash of colour. So, step out in style and confidence in any of these crisp items ...

Biba monochrome Aztec tassel clutch bag

‘The Willow & Clo spring/ summer collection has different features, such as unique aqua chalcedony and green chrysoprase pieces’

BLACK Linea

A NEW Irish jewellery brand has been creatively designed by Chloe Townsend, a founder and designer of Willow & Clo, and winner of 2014 Designer of the Year in Kerry for Fashion Week in 2014. Townsend’s Willow & Clo flagship store is now at the Powerscourt Townhouse Centre in the city centre. For Townsend’s new brand, it is an exciting new start for the Howth native, and with the launch of the new collection from Willow & Clo, there are a total of 11 collections so far. Townsend’s creative imagination has been inspired by nature and every piece of jewellery has a different story. Each piece is handcrafted into 22kt plating gold, sterling silver and gemstones, which are semi-cut. As this is her 11th jewellery range, the Willow & Clo spring/summer collection has different features, such as unique aqua chalcedony and green chrysoprase pieces. Since Townsend’s travels to Jaipur in India, she has been keen to gain more knowledge about different gemstones. She says: “My dream for the store was to create a tangible experience for our customer, where they can interact

Linea weekend black drawstring skirt €168

25 February 2016 Gazette 19

ssel k suede ta Biba blac €176 g bucket ba

3 g €3 er ba

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Biba print embellished waistcoat €159

black

osse emb logo 29 black g €1 Biba body ba s cros

Linea

Edit your spring style with help from Dunnes  megan holmes

Linea black tailored waistcoat €77

Gazette

STYLE

TULLAMORE-based designer Carolyn Donnelly has released her latest spring collection – The Edit – available at Dunnes Stores now. The Edit consists of layers for practical yearround dressing in typical Donnelly hews of black, white, ecru, grey and navy, with the addition of blush pink, tomato red and sky blue. Easy throw-on unstr uctured coats are given an update in vibrant sky blue or rich navy. A cosy boiled wool throw-on coat-style in oatmeal or navy is ideal for pairing with work clothes, or worn with jeans and a sweater. Standout pieces of the collection include a statement coat in a textured bubble cloth, and a new reversible lightweight coat in memory nylon that switches from silver grey to navy and light camel to black. There are lots of wool knits in lighter weights in soft blues, navy, oatmeal and navy and cotton-mix

Aran stitch polos in blue and navy. Colour punches of tomato red in super t-shaped tops and a zipfronted a-line skirt work in an ultra-modern way, teamed with the soft blush pink or sky blue. New looks include a red poppy print in a dress and top and a long silk scarf and a striking black and white marble print in easy to wear top and dress jersey separates. Trousers for the early part of the season are smart, simple tailored styles in black or light grey, but the collection also includes some more relaxed washed cotton weekend styles in navy and grey, and in combat and chino styles for later in the season. There are lots of wellpriced tops and t-shirts in Donnelly’s favourite neutral tones. One of the standout new pieces has a silk stretch front and jersey back and sleeves. Shoes for early spring are on trend off-white leather lace-up trainers, which also come in metallic silver.

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20 Gazette 25 February 2016

OUT&ABOUT

fast

TRAVEL NEWS

TRAVEL

us and canada: stunning landscapes and spectacular cities

The Mimozas Resort is the picture-perfect base to explore this region without breaking the bank

The historic city of Quebec is one of the oldest European settlements in North America

Celebrate Easter in style in Cannes

An array of options for the trip of a lifetime

The Mimozas Resort in Cannes is looking like the place to be this Easter. With the world’s biggest celebrities awaiting to descend on the city in May for the annual film festival, why not beat them to it and enjoy a superstar holiday for less? The recently refurbished Mimozas Resort in Cannes-Mandelieu is the picture-perfect base to explore this region without breaking the bank. With 15% off holidays of five nights or more and prices from €778.40 based on two adults in a luxury room self-catering apartment for seven nights, how can you go wrong? What has Cannes got to offer? D r i ve a l o n g t h e Grande Corniche and enjoy stunning views of the French Rivera, why not hire a classic car and enjoy the cliff side from Nice to Monaco in style? For the history lover, a visit to Sainte

Marguerite by ferr y is essential. Here you can see the famous fort used for prisoners in the 20th century. A 15-minute ferry ride for €14 return will make for a great day out. If you’re looking for a more relaxed day – head to Saint Tropez. Saint Tropez beach is one for your best bikini and plenty of sun cream. Dine like a diva at Hostellerie Jerome restaurant in the medieval village of La Turbie. With set dinner menus from €78 and an extravagant tasting menu for €138, you’re sure to be in for a treat. If you’re looking to have some Vegasesque fun, head down to Casino de Monte Carlo where entry for table games and slots is only €10. You must be over eighteen. With flights starting from €89.98 return in March, why wouldn’t you celebrate this Easter in the stunning Mimozas self-catering apartments?

Travel Department have some great holiday offers to Canada and the US starting from €1,729pp. Take the trip of a lifetime with a 10-night guided holiday through the Great White North of Canada. With a package from € 2 ,19 9 p p i n cl u d i n g flights, transfers, accommodation and national park entrance fees, with the flight departing September 28, 2016. Witness the snowcovered highlands and remarkable alpine scenery when you visit glaciers, rushing rivers and crystalline lakes. With a stop in Vancouver, you can take some time to browse in trendy shops and see the city’s landmarks. You will meander along the Icefield Parkway, stay overnight in the picturesque mountain village of Whistler home

to the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Travelling by coach will allow for plenty of photostops along the way. Follow Canada’s Maple Leaf Trail over nine nights, experiencing the bright lights, quiet countryside and spectacular scenery. Begin your journey in Toronto, gateway to Niagara-Falls. Tr ave l a l o n g t h e north-shore of Lake Ontario, enjoying a fullday guided tour of Montreal which will take in the Summer Olympics complex of 1976, Mount Royal, McGill University and Old Montreal. Drive past French-Canadian villages taking in the historic city of Quebec with a full-day tour. With three free days during your trip, you will have plenty of time to explore Toronto at your leisure. Cost from €1,729pp

including flights, transfers, accommodation and excursions. Due to popular demand extra dates have been added, with flights now departing May to October 2016. Experience all that California and The Golden West has to offer on a 12-night rail trip. Embark on a guided city tour of San Francisco, taking in The Golden Gate Bridge, Nob Hill and Lombard Street.

Enjoy a day of leisure in Las Vegas where you can take a stroll on the dazzling strip or take your chances in one of the many casinos. Make your way around LA, with some shopping and a tour of the Hollywood Hills. Take a journey through California’s Central Valley with spectacular views before indulging in the beautiful Yosemite National Park. A drive down one of

Take in the beautiful Yosemite National Park

the most famous roads in the world, route 66 and witness the unique scenery of the Mojave Desert. Not to forget the spectacular views of the Grand Canyon Railway View towards the Grand Canyon. Cost from €3,399 including flights, transfers, B&B accommodation, rail tickets and excursions. Flight departing September 1, 2016.

25 February 2016 Gazette 21

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22 Gazette 25 February 2016

OUT&ABOUT

ReelReviews

sinking feeling An impossible heist

(Cert 12A, 120 mins) This docudrama depicts the incredible true story of a daring Coast Guard rescue operation off of Cape Cod during a ferocious storm in the winter of 1952. When an oil tanker splits in half, trapping its crew aboard the sinking vessel, four brave Guardsmen set out to save them.

GOOSEBUMPS Fun horror romp

(Cert PG, 103 mins) A teenager teams up with the daughter of young adult horror author R L Stine after the writer’s imaginary demons are set free on the town of Madison, Delaware. Goosebumps boasts more than enough of its spooky source material’s kid-friendly charm to make up for some slightly scattershot humor and a hurried pace.

CINEMA

Triple 9: corrupt cops use their special skills for their own good

A relentless thrill ride of corruption and dread If there is one common thread that ties together much of Australian director John Hillcoat’s work, it is a sense of brooding intensity. So it seems natural that Hillcoat’s creative path has repeatedly crossed with fellow countryman and friend Nick Cave. The pair have partnered up for all of Hillcoat’s previous releases – with Cave providing music, screenplays, acting, and combinations thereof - but Triple 9 – a guns blazing cop thriller - marks something of a change of direction for Hillcoat. There is a noticeable change of setting too, Hillcoat’s previ-

 Dave phillips

ous films took place in near-mythic settings like the menacing and chaotic prison system in Ghosts… of the Civil Dead, or the desolate post-apocalyptic wasteland of The Road, or the strange blend of Aussie Western that was The Proposition – these were canvases upon which anything could happen. By contrast, Triple 9 feels firmly rooted in the here and now – and

DEADPOOL

Unconventional anti-hero (Cert R, 108mins) Deadpool is a 2016 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. A former special forces operative turned mercenary is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopting the alter ego, Deadpool. Starring Ryan Reynolds. The high-wattage cast includes Casey Affleck

this is definitely not a bad thing. A criminal squad of crooked cops and exmilitary carry out bankheists at the behest of the Russian bosses who seem to have everybody in their pockets. When the Russians demand the return of files from a heavily guarded homeland security safe-house, the only option available for the squad is to orchestrate a Triple 9 – the radio code to denote an officer down – to create the necessary window of opportunity. Loaded with blaring sirens, blazing guns, American flags, Mexican drug dealers, and Russian mobsters, Triple

A criminal squad of crooked cops and ex-military carry out bank-heists at the behest Russian bosses

9 is two hours of unrelenting, story heaped on story action. Writer Matt Cook has provided a screen play that feels cold-blooded in its content, and serpentine in its form – it is something that stands out in contrast to Hillcoat’s prior films. And to fill the tanged tale, there is an impressive cast of suitably twisted characters. Chris (Casey Affleck) t a ke s m u c h o f t h e focus - a greenhorn cop whose dedication to his job causes him to unwittingly become the officer marked to perish in the titular ‘999’. H i s u n cl e J e f f r e y (Woody Harrelson) is on board as the detective investigating the heists, who in between consuming the haul of his drugs busts, keeps an eye out for Chris. Norman Reedus (The

Walking Dead) and Aaron Paul (Breaking Bad) play the troubled Welch brothers who make up one part of the heist squad, alongside a trio of corrupt cops, Belmont (Chiwetel Ejiofor), Rodriguez (Clifton Collins Jr), and Atwood (Anthony Mackie). Kate Winslet stars as the sinister Russian boss that pulls the strings. And that is just the lay of the land at the outset. Given that there is arguably no main protagonist, but rather a collection of equally weighted storylines, you can get a sense of some of the scope of Triple 9. For the most part, Hillcoat uses the array of talent at his disposal expertly. Though in contrast to his last film, Lawless, which was notable for its developed female characters, Triple 9

seems lacking. Winslet’s character – an sociopathic, glamourous Russian mobster – is fun to watch but paper thin (and likewise Teresa Palmer, who appears as Chris’ wife). Break the film down into constituent parts and there is an undeniable finesse in its tense atmosphere, incredible set pieces, and colourful characters. It is a tremendous amount to fit into two hours, but the relentless attempt to cram as much information as possible can be overwhelming, and towards the end, exhausting. Triple 9 is a film that hits the ground running and doesn’t stop for br e a t h – whic h turns out to be both its greatest strength and its greatest weakness.

Verdict: 7/10

25 February 2016 Gazette 23

Monaghan serves up some fine Spanish fare THIS week The Picky Eater took a trip out of Dublin to sample a restaurant on the border. Tapas de Noche in Monaghan tow n (located at No 1, Russell Court, Broad Road; 047 72654) is relatively newly opened and the town was in dire need of somewhere that little bit different to eat out in. If you were not after standard hotel fare, or an Indian or Chinese speciality, then you were unlucky to be in Monaghan ... However, this place is offering rustic Spanish cooking with a little bit of Italian thrown in for good measure. We visited on a Saturday, so the small restaurant was hopping, with the lovely Spanish guitar music playing in the background adding to the distinctly Mediterranean feel. The service was prompt and friendly. Our party of three ordered several small dishes from the menu, which isn’t huge. We also went for a couple of specials from a blackboard; one of these being Moules Mariniere, a favourite of Picky’s. We a l s o o r d e r e d melanzane parmigiana, prawns pil pil, potatoes of the day, and a couple of small pasta dishes, a spaghetti with prosciutto e piselli and al olio with prawns. The melanzane was flavoursome and moreish and is definitely Picky’s favourite way to

cook and eat aubergines. There were plenty of juices left over to mop up with some crusty breads. The moules were delicate and succulent and, again, the creamy sauce offered plenty of soakage for the bread. The pasta special, or prosciutto and peas, was delicious and full of flavour; however, the prawn pasta could have used a little more seasoning and garlic. Prawns pil pil had a huge amount of kick – just how Picky likes them – and the prawns were huge and delicious. Potatoes of the day were layered in cream with leeks and bacon and certainly hit the spot.

Desserts There are a handful of desserts on the menu, and we went for a tiramisu, which was the right amount of cream and coffee. A fudge cream is a lovely light dessert made from natural yoghurt, cream and liquer, topped off with hazelnuts and brown sugar. Yum. We ordered a bottle of the house white wine, a Baron Del Rey rioja, which is a really easy drink and went well with the Spanish and Italian flavours. With wine and coffee, the bill came to €81 for three of us. If your are on your way to the North, or are staying in Monaghan for any occasion, this little gem of a restaurant is well worth the visit.

Gazette

FOOD&DRINK

Tapas de Noche’s interior offers soothing, neutral tones – a comfortable, distraction-free setting in which to enjoy its delicious dishes

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24 Gazette 25 February 2016

OUT&ABOUT

HEALTH

The Great Food Fight: ‘we have to learn again to trust our own bodies’

Foods that will make you feel good physically and mentally  shane rigney Food Vlogger

Some people have a fear of walking down the aisle, thoughts of standing on an altar all eyes on them as they sign up for a lifelong commitment leaves them shaking with anxiety like a lamb to slaughter. Fair enough I suppose, but I’m not the marrying kind so I can’t quite empathise. There’s one aisle however that strikes fear in me like no other, actually there’s rows and rows of them and they’re lurking on every corner…in the supermarket! What can be so spooky as to induce panic in the chest of a grown man in the vast and abundant aisles of our local food emporiums’ I hear you gasp? Well I’ll tell you! Shelf af ter shelf of guilt and mind boggling confusion that’s what. Millions and millions of packets and tins and jars of nutritional information and calorie counting, dirty

foods, clean foods and 50 shades of grey foods, cool foods and dude foods and rainbow coloured whole foods. It’s a mine field and what used to be a pleasurable experience - for me as a chef anyway has turned into a dash through a snake infested fire pit where I’m lucky to get out with anything that may not give me a heart attack, brain tumour, cancer or at best a leaky gut. It’s fair to say that the slew of scientific information that has come about in the past 20 years is of benefit to how we eat. We now know conclusively about the effects of sugar and fats on our bodies and are not relying on certain studies backed by huge food manufacturers which discredit one food group over another. But how on ear th does the average person that is concerned about their weight and overall health - which is most people nowadays - wade through all the

conflictory guidelines and make an informed decision when it comes to their diet? What does one do when the clock hits 1pm and they leave the desk to get lunch and find themselves staring aimlessly at the array of choices on the deli menu? “I’ll have chicken, cheese and lettuce with mayonnaise on white bread” Actually white bread is absorbed really fast, brown bread is better, fuller longer and all that. “ I ’ l l h ave b r ow n bread.” Actually brown bread has the same calories as white bread. “I’ll have a salad, chicken with lettuce and cheese and tomato with that three-bean salad thing,” Actually beans are bad now because they’re not paleo and contain phytic acid and cause malabsorption of key nutrients. “I’ll have chicken salad with tomato and

Eating a diet rich in fibrous, whole healthy carbs with plenty of animal proteins and tonnes of veggies will give you the best chance at a healthy, happy life

Modern healthy eating can be a mine field of confusion

cheese and potato salad.” Actually potatoes are high in carbs and that will cause my blood sugars to rise and then my insulin to rise and then I’ll have a dip and then I’ll want chocolate. “I’ll have chicken with salad and tomato and cheese and egg salad too, yeah loads of protein and protein’s really good.” Actually that’s too much saturated fat so that’s bad for my heart and has no fibre so my gut health won’t be good. “I’ll have chicken and cheese with tomato and some of that kale salad, yeah like kale’s a superfood because it contains loads of minerals so that’s definitely good.” Actually kale has phy tic acid like the beans so that means I won’t absorb the nutrients in my food and I’ll get a leaky gut and the

paleo heads say that’s because cavemen didn’t eat chickpeas or lentils and definitely not kale and even though we have 50,000 years of evolution on them that must be right, ok no kale. “I’ll have chicken and lettuce with cucumber and tomato and a tiny bit of cheese and a tiny bit of egg because I forgot saturated fat is fine now, it’s only trans-fat that’s bad and a tiny bit of sweet potato.” “Oh and no dressing and a diet coke, thanks.” D o e s a ny o f t h i s sound normal or sane or rational? Bet it sounds familiar though right? And don’t even get me started on gluten! I can’t pretend I ’m a n e x p e r t t h a t has studied nutrition, although I have spent probably as many hours studying the biological impact of foods on the

body, and as a chef, I go to lengths to be aware of these impacts in the food I cook. But here’s what I know. We as a modern, busy society and community can’t keep living like this, driving ourselves round the twist about our food choices. We have to learn again to trust our own bodies and eat the foods that make us feel good physically and mentally. We have to enjoy eating real, whole, nutritiously rich foods that nourish our bodies and minds and that give us pleasure in the way any primal need for something is supposed to. We must learn how to recognise the triggers that make us eat the wrong foods perhaps in abundance and to correct these and then get back to a balanced diet that consists of certain foods in abundance and

certain foods as treats. No super food will make you skinny, no chia seed will make you smart and no piece of bread will make you fat. Eating a diet rich in fibrous, whole healthy carbs -including breadwith plenty of animal proteins and tonnes of veggies, most of the time, will give you the best chance at a healthy, happy life on the inside and out. It’s that simple. If you prefer rice to quinoa then by all means stick to that staple, if not mix it up a little and try some sweet potato oven chips for a change. Put down the magazines, stop wrecking your head online and ignore the white noise. Oh and make sure to include the fruit, just one piece mind, there’s sugar lurking in there and for the love of god, don’t juice it!

25 February 2016 Gazette 25

opinion: domestic violence remains a worrying problem – women’s aid

Protecting women is still a big issue for all WOMEN’S Aid, the national agency supporting women and children affected by domestic violence, have begun a final push to put domestic violence on the political agenda during the General Election campaign. We are urging the next government to fully protect young women from dating abuse by amending the Domestic Violence Act, and are also calling for a new law to protect women from digital abuse and stalking. Over the next few weeks, we will raise the issue of funding cuts to domestic violence services. We at Women’s Aid, despite a cut in our core funding of 31% during the recession, have recently made our National Freephone Helpline a 24-hours a day, seven days a week service. The demand for our out of hours service has surpassed expectations, by 283% in the first month. Demand is increasing while our funding is being cut. Listening, believing and supporting women affected by domestic violence must be a priority. We must be fully resourced to meet the demand we know is there. This February, we highlighted the issue of dating abuse against young women with the 2in2u national public aware-

ness Valentine’s Day campaign. The reaction has been phenomenal, with the issue of digital abuse and “revenge porn” coming to the fore in recent weeks. It is very timely that we explore the issue of dating and digital abuse during the General Election campaign. A key area of concern is the lack of legal protection for young women who have never lived with their boyfriends. Women in dating relationships are left unprotected under current legislation. Abuse can feature within all intimate relationships, and 16% of women accessing our oneto-one services in 2014 had never cohabitated with their abuser, nor had a child in common. They cannot access legal protection under the Domestic Violence Act, and there is no indication that this will change any time soon. This is unacceptable. We are also calling on whoever forms the next government to enact new, all-encompassing legislation to better protect women from digital abuse and stalking, and for a better understanding of the harmful and insidious nature of digital abuse. Women’s Aid recommends that a specific stalking offence be introduced in Irish law, with a comprehensive but not exhaustive definition –

including new forms of cyber-stalking – and that stalking be recognised as grounds for a safety order. We are asking voters to email candidates in their constituencies in support of our #DomesticViolenceMatters campaign. In two weeks, voters will go to the polls. Between now and then, we are asking the public to show candidates that domestic violence matters to them. We must remind those candidates seeking election that domestic violence is a serious crime – one that can result in stress, short- and longterm trauma and physical injuries and, in extreme cases, homicide. One in five women in Ireland are affected by domestic violence, and in 2014 Women’s Aid heard more than 16,000 disclosures of abuse against women, and more than 5,700 disclosures of abuse against children. We know that since we started our records in 1996, 211 women have been murdered in Ireland; 55% of women are killed by their partners or expartners. In some homicide cases, children, parents, siblings and friends have also been attacked or killed. Domestic violence impacts on women, children and the community around them. It cannot be minimised or dismissed.

We owe it to those affected to take effective political action to protect them, provide them with the support they need and respond fully and appropriately. We must act before more lives are lost and more hurt is caused to women, children and communities. A woman in an abusive relationship needs a range of services to survive, protect herself and any children, and to support her to safety. Essential services and systems have been severely impacted by the economic recession. Since 2008, specialist domestic violence support services for women and their children have received substantial funding cuts. These cuts are having a real impact on the lives of thousands of women and children living in fear in their own homes, which is why we are also highlighting funding cuts for vital services during the #DomesticViolenceMatters campaign. 2016 needs to be a turning point for women and children affected by domestic violence. Whoever forms the next government, and members of the next Dail and Seanad, must take domestic violence against women and children seriously.  Margaret Martin Director, Women’s Aid

Margaret Martin, director, Women’s Aid – One in five women in Ireland are affected by domestic violence, and its impact on women, children and the community around them cannot be minimised or dismissed

Gazette

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Gazette

28 gazette 25 February 2016

SPORT

FastSport john giles foundation gets big boost: THE FAI has this week secured €100,000 of funding from the UEFA Foundation for Children to support health and social integration projects via the John Giles Foundation. Established in 2010, the John Giles Foundation operates an open application process for football clubs, schools and community organisations to apply for funding towards their own football project with a social inclusion remit. The latest initiative of the Foundation is to encourage grassroots clubs to embrace a national Healthy Kids’ team event. This involves three main elements: education on nutrition, a balanced diet and the importance of regular physical activity; an outlet to provide physical activity; and support to children from their team and community to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

hockey: booterstown club win inaugural national league crown

Hermes sweep to EYHL title  stephen findlater sport@dublingazette.com

HERMES claimed the first European spot on offer along with the inaugural women’s EY Hockey League regular season title as their devastating form confirmed they will top the competition. They lead the pack by 14 points having run up an incredible 13 wins and a draw to date. The win over Greenfields was comprehensive, racing into a 3-0 lead in the first quarter and a five-goal advantage at the break. It was tough throughout for the Galway side who were without a number of regulars while their superb

goalkeeper Sinead Collins was hampered by an injury, too, playing through the pain barrier. In truth, it followed the same pattern as the other ties between the sides this season, Hermes racing into a 5-0 half-time lead and they scarcely looked back. They broke the deadlock in the seventh minute after good work from Nikki Evans located Chloe Watkins who made no mistake. Evans added a second after good work from Naomi Carroll – both players returning after injury – before Caitriona McGilp got Hermes’ third from close range. In the second quarter, Sinead Loughran’s

reverse secured the four th before Ellen Curran scored from a corner. Greenfields had some fleeting attacks via Sorcha Minihan and Ellie Noone while Trish Garrett drew a fine save from Emma Gray. Hermes always had the extra gear, however, and added another three goals in the third quarter via Sarah Greene’s deflection, Chloe Watkins from an Evans’ assists, and Curran’s second of the day. Carroll completed the win with ten minutes remaining before Watkins missed a penalty stroke with two minutes left that would have brought the result to double figures. Elsewhere, Hermes

Hermes’ Nikki Evans celebrates. Picture: Adrian Boehm

benefitted from the resurgent Elks’ important 3-1 win against UCD, the one opponent that could have overhauled the Booterstown side who have also pinned down a Champions Trophy place. Megan Frazer’s early p e n a l t y s t r o ke w a s counter-acted by Elaine Carey’s 38th minute goal. But two goals in three minutes – a cracker from Dawn Axon and a close range effort from

Robyn Chambers – saw the Elks race clear. They move back into the top half of the table and back into range of the playoff places. Pegasus moved up to second place with a 3-1 win over Cork Harlequins with Vanessa Surgeoner and Alex Speers getting the key goals in the second half. The Ulster side have strengthened their position at the head of a glut of teams covered by three points from sec-

ond to fifth, all with a big interest in the playoff places. Nicola Kerr’s goal saw UCC produce a hugely important 1-0 win at Serpentine Avenue against Pembroke to raise their hopes, once again, of possibly avoiding the relegation playoff tie. They are two points off Ards whom they will play on March 6 in a potentially crucial battle to avoid that playoff place.

Dublin Castle to host historic An Post Ras departure  sport@dublingazette.com

Martyn Irvine, Bryan McCrystal and Eddie Dunbar at the launch of the An Post Ras Picture: Billy Stickland/Inpho

BEGINNING at Dublin Castle and totalling over 1,200 kilometres, the route of the 2016 An Post Ras was unveiled this week ahead of its grand departure on May 22. This year’s edition will travel anti-clockwise around Ireland with stage finishes in Multyfarnham, Charleville, Dingle, Sneem, Clonakilty, Dungarvan and Baltinglass before the customary finale in Skerries. The opening stage from Dublin Castle ensures an historic

setting for Ireland’s toughest annual sporting event. As ever, the race will see some of Ireland’s top amateur riders compete against professional riders and seasoned internationals around the world. In total, the race features 25 climbs, with the category one ascents of Conor Pass, Ballaghisheen Pass and Mount Leinster the toughest of those. However, they won’t be the only obstacle; rolling roads and strong winds will also play a part in the outcome, as will the tactics and aggression of those

fighting for the jerseys and stage honours. Former world track champion, Martyn Irvine, was on hand to launch this year’s route alongside top Irish riders Eddie Dunbar and Bryan McCrystal. Irvine, who recently announced his retirement from the sport, believes the county riders will be licking their lips when they see the route. “The Ras is unlike any other race in the world. On one side, you have the international riders coming from abroad and on the other you have amateur rid-

ers here who train on this terrain all year round chomping at the bit for a win. “We saw it with the likes of Ian Richardson and Bryan McCrystal last year; they were putting it to the best riders from around the globe on every stage and it was great to see. I’m sure this year, after seeing the route, there will be Irish guys in the mix.” After leaving Dublin Castle on Sunday, May 22, the 64th edition of the An Post Rás will officially begin with the drop of the flag in Clonee.

25 February 2016 gazette 29

Gazette

Levelling the land via the radio waves

FastSport

The Fair Game Podcast, launched this month by RTE’s Elaine Buckley and Emily Glen, is seeking to bring the conversation about female sport into greater focus  james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com

DO WOMEN get a fair deal in sport, and sports coverage? It’s not difficult to see an argument that they don’t: TV sport is dominated by the men’s game in almost every code, attendances at women’s games are often a fraction of the men’s, and where men’s games are professional, women’s often aren’t. With Fair Game Podcast, Elaine Buckley and Emily Glen are hoping to change feelings and attitudes towards women in sport in Ireland, through both talking to the women involved and going indepth on subjects they feel lack the media attention they deserve. They describe their production as an attempt to “break

the cycle”. The problem, Buckley feels, lies in three different areas. “There’s a vicious cycle of poor attendance, a lack of sponsorship and a lack of coverage that needs to be broken somewhere,” she tells GazetteSport. “Lack of coverage can be scapegoated as the root of all problems, but we have to look at tiny crowds, too. Crowds seem to appear at women’s games only after we see success, like in women’s rugby recently. “There can be a problem with information in women’s sport, too,” Buckley continues. “A couple of months before Katie Taylor won her Olympic gold, she was fighting in Dublin, at the National Boxing Arena. There was so little infor-

mation available about it that I had to drop into the venue to find out how to get tickets.” “It turns out I needn’t have bothered, as hardly anyone attended. That’s not a problem Katie would have now, but lack of information definitely doesn’t help the situation. “Sometimes finding the most basic information about GAA fixtures is difficult, too.” While Buckley comes from a media background - she works at RTE - Glen is at an NGO. Both are passionate sports women in their own right but are lending their podcast extra weight with a host of high-profile sporting guests, all of whom have an interest in women in sport. Sinead Kissane, a TV3

Serious support: Lidl’s eye-catching promotion of the ladies football leagues has made a big impact in 2016 already. Picture: Brendan Moran / SPORTSFILE

and Irish Independent sports journalist, and Kate Rowan, author of rugby book Six Nations, Two Stories, featured on a media-leaning first episode – each week will deal with a different subject matter – with rugby international Nora Stapleton and Wexford Youths soc-

“Every day I drive past a double billboard,” she says. “TV coverage has grown. When the ‘ladyball’ came along I thought it was the most offensive thing on the face of it, but the sponsorship has been huge for the game.” “We love to outrage,” goes the discussion at

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

‘We love to outrage! But what do you about it? Why not do something with it, maybe go to a game?’ - Elaine Buckley --------------------------------------------------------

cer star Ruth Fahy set to star in episode two. Both presenters are keen to highlight a broad array of forthcoming women’s sporting competitions that should be making the headlines. Glen highlights the track and field athletes at the Rio Olympics, particularly the “incredible” Fionnuala McCormack, as well as the T20 cricket world cup next month and hopes for a first European level qualification for the women’s soccer team. Buckley is a big GAA fan, and points to Lidl’s newfound sponsorship of the sport, describing the opportunity it provides as stunning, despite their controversial promotion of their involvement through the pink-branded ladyball.

one point in episode one. “We love to go mad when anybody is seen in insult women in sport. But what do you do about it? You have your outrage and you move on. Why not do something with it? Why not go to a game, maybe?” T here’s anger, but there’s also hope - hope that voices for progress and a step towards breaking the cycle of poor publicity might help push women’s sport onto a level – or at least leveller – playing field. Fair Game Podcast which will feature two guests from two different disciplines in each fortnightly episode - is available through iTunes and at castaway.media/ fairgame. It will focus on Grass Roots in episode two, due this week.

Travers, Mageean and Clohisey progress times DONORE Harriers’s John Travers finished sixth in the undercard mile at Millrose Games in a time of 3.58.10 with John Coghlan, from Metro St Brigid’s, 11th in 4.12.79 at a meeting in which Irish runners made their mark. Indeed, UCD’s Ciara Mageean was in record-breaking form, setting a new indoor mile record at the event She finished sixth in the women’s Wannamaker mile on Saturday night in 4:28.40 to erase Roisin McGettigan’s 4:30.06 set back in 2009 in Boston. “New Irish record over the mile at the Millrose Games,” said Mageean. “Still some work to do but 2016 is shaping up nicely.” This is her second indoor record in three weeks having set a new indoor 1500m record of 4:08.66 in Karlsruhe. The UCD athlete is set to compete in the GloHealth National senior indoor championships in Athlone next weekend. Meanwhile in Seville, Raheny Shamrocks’ Mick Clohisey, pictured, finished ninth to set a new marathon personal best of 2.15.11. This now moves him to number two on the Irish rankings list for Rio – three seconds faster than Sergiu Ciobanu’s 2.15.14. “There are plenty of twists in the tale to come,” said marathon legend Dick Hooper – coach of Mick Clohisey. “He slowed between the 35-40 km mark but picked it up again. It’s another good run and the standard is rising in the marathon.” Former DSDAC runner Gladys Ganiel finished 13th in the women’s race in 2.38.53 with Barbara Sanchez, from Clonliffe Harriers, one further place behind in 2.39.49. Both are Olympic qualifying times but they remain outside the top three spots to make the team. Breege Connolly currently occupies the final qualifying spot with 2.37.29 set in London last April.

Gazette

30 clondalkin gazette 25 February 2016

SPORT

FastSport

rugby: nine tries more than enough to earn quarter-final spot

Bell bow out of Metro Cup to bang on Drums LSL champions Bluebell United crashed out of the Metropolitan Cup to Sunday Senior rivals Drumcondra – a side they’d beaten in the Charlie Cahill Cup only a week earlier – last Friday evening. While Sean Byrne had notched a hat trick for the league champions Bluebell – who are having a strong league season once again – last time out, the second match between the two sides inside seven days saw a tame and tired-looking first half, one played with a sense that the two sides had tactically hemmed each other in. With chances at a premium, Drumcondra broke the deadlock just before the break with only their - and the game’s - second chance of note, Mark Kelly finishing from close range on the whistle following an aggressive chase down the left and ball in from Lennie McMillan. Bluebell, meanwhile, were struggling to string together meaningful first half possession, and spent much of the opening period simply keeping Drumcondra at arms length. Bluebell’s first notable chance of the game didn’t come until after the hour mark, with Byrne attempting to add to last week’s tally, but unable to beat Cranley in the Drumcondra goal as he fired a sharp effort on the turn. The Red Cow club were slowly gaining control of the ball, however, and while most of their possession was in less than dangerous areas, the northside club were looking progressively less in control of the tie despite their lead. McMillan was having a great day, however, and once again had a moment of class as he bustled his way through the Bluebell defence to beat the visitor’s goalkeeper Andy McNulty and put his side firmly in control at 2-0. Dylan Maloney had a chance to add to the the tally as he too found himself clear through on McNulty, only for the goalkeeper to make a great stop with his legs. For the last fifteen minutes, Bluebell tried every trick in the book, from a host of substitutions to peppering the Drumcondra goal with high balls, but couldn’t find their way past Cranley and his solid back line.

Clondalkin’s Alaric Collier struggles to get away from a tackle. Picture: Sharon Flanagan

Clon scythe down Warriors towns cup Clondalkin Midlands Warriors  sport@dublingazette.com

63 0

CLONDALKIN put their league struggles aside as they surged into the quarter finals of the Leinster Towns Cup with a 63-0 demolition of Midland Warriors last Sunday in Gordon Park. The visitors from Westmeath ply their trade in Leinster League Division 2B and faced a significant step up to mount a challenge against Clondalkin from Division 1A. The we a t h e r c o n d i t i o n s added another dimension to the match with a

strong wind, driving rain and a wet pitch to contend with - however both sides did not resort to the boot but looked to keep ball in hand. Clon had the edge in the scrum and it was from this platform that the first score arrived. A Warriors set piece was going backwards at speed and Clon spun the turnover ball wide to Barry Mulloy who touched down under the posts. Chris Jebb added the extras for a 7-0 lead after seven minutes. Ben Foran was the second try scorer for Clon after 23 minutes after his jinking run evaded

top referee Byrne honoured by camogie association round Tower’s Jenny Byrne collected her medal from Catherine Neary, President of the Camogie Association, last weekend in Croke Park for refereeing the All-Ireland intermediate championship final last September and the junior interprovincial final. Over 200 guests were in attendance at the event at which Referees, Volunteers and Media Award winners were honoured for their contributions to the Association in 2015. Picture: Cathal Noonan/Inpho

a number of attempted tackles. Jebb added the extras and was again involved just three minutes later when he broke out of defence on the right wing to put Ali Collier in the clear. The winger burst away but was hauled down just feet from the try line. Matt Stapleton was next to leave points behind when he dropped a pass with the line a begging just two yards out. T he pressure was all Clondalkin’s though, with the team from Moate never seriously threatening the home line. 14-0 at half time was small reward for their domi-

nance but Clon had the wind in their back for the second half and, immediately after the break, Darren Madden went over to extend the lead to 21 points with the conversion. Faultless throughout with the boot, Jebb played his own part in the try scoring after his brother Karl powered his way through the Warriors midfield only to stumble with the line at his mercy. Next on the score sheet was captain Brian Doyle after 23 minutes of the second half, quickly followed by Colm Quinn and on 33 minutes Matt Stapleton dotting down.

With the Warriors never giving up and continuing to run the ball, the number of dropped balls and passes presented further scoring opportunities to Clon and Colm Quinn completed a second half hat-trick with two tries on the 35th and 39th minute to close out the scoring 63 points to nil. In the next round draw, lady luck favoured Clondalkin with a home match in the quarter final - the date is Sunday, March 20 and the opponents will be Roscrea when Clon will be looking to get into the semifinals for the second year in a row.

25 February 2016 CLONDALKIN gazette 31

Gazette

Football: promotion the clear target for tower’s

Club Noticeboard Round tower, clondalkin ON THE playing pitches, the senior

Tuesday night and all are welcome to

footballers registered a win away

attend.

to Skerries Harps in the AIB Cup, the

First call is 8.30pm and this week’s

junior As beat Ballyboden in the Con-

jackpot is €1,000 for a full house if

lan Cup, the junior Cs lost to the Liffey

checked within 56 numbers. All wel-

Gaels in Duffy Cup.

come to come join in the great night

The junior B, minor and junior hurlers’ games were victims of the weather. Thank you to all who attended the

afl division 2 preview  aAron gallagher sport@dublingazette.com

ROUND Tower kick off their AFL Division 2 campaign this weekend when they face Naomh Mearnog on Sunday morning in Portmarnock as they look to finally move on up. The Clondalkin club will be vying to gain promotion to Division 1 following last season’s playoff loss to Skerries still a lingering memory. Manager Mick Hyland has said that this weekend’s game will be a tough affair and that a passage into the unknown will be on the cards against a strong Naomh Mearnog side. “We beat them last year and we beat them again fairly convincingly in the cup but you can’t really judge it on that basis because, at the moment, it’s a transitional period for a lot of teams”, he said speaking to GazetteSport. “We don’t know what to expect. We’re in a good place at the moment our-

selves; we beat Skerries away last Sunday in the cup so confidence is high for us.” He will have the vast bulk of his squad available to him come Sunday aside from Eoin Moran who is a doubt, suffering from a recent ankle injury. Hyland mentions the large volumes of training undergone by his team ahead of the start of their league season – gym sessions combined with regular training on top of weekly matches throughout the New Year. “We did a lot of training in January with five nights a week for the last three weeks of the month; spending two nights a week on the field, two in the gym and a game on Sundays. “ B u t t h e p l ay e r s enjoyed it; they’re skipping along the ground at the minute. It was very obvious that the training stood to them against Skerries because all the players looked very sharp.” He welcomes back the bulk of his squad from last

season, with two additions in the form of Donegal man Conor Rooney and Trevor Clenndenning from Longford. Division 2 will be as tough as every other year for his side but, in particular, he warns of the threat posed by Clontarf who will also be looking to gain promotion after a hugely impressive 2015. “Clontarf would be a bogey team for us – they did well in the championship last year and I would presume that they would be trying to get out of

Division 2 and into Division 1 like us. “We ourselves had a very good year last year and were just pipped at the end by Skerries. “Promotion is our n u m b e r o n e p r i o rity and anything else in the championship is a bonus. “We hope to give a good showing of ourselves in the senior championship proper this year depending on the draws and give it a good lash but our priority will be to get promotion.”

venue for all types of celebrations. The club’s function room can com-

Kube. The draw will be online in com-

fortably host large groups within an

ing days and we encourage members

intimate setting and excellent party

to support all participants and the

packages are available that can

event that will take place March 16.

include cake/cakes, decorations, DJ

Tower’s fourth adult team is putting

Hyland wary of Tarf threat in Division 2

Planning a celebration? Round Tower GAA Club can offer an excellent

launch of Round Tower presents The

Fancy playing junior football? Round Round Tower picked off a good win against Naomh Mearnog in the cup already in 2016. Pictures: Niall Connaughton

of fun.

the call out there for new players to come on board.

and hot or cold food. For enquiries, contact Jimmy Lee at 087 7453478. Members are encouraged to renew

Bernie Cronin’s junior Cs went

their membership online and only

the 2015 league campaign unbeaten

behind the bar where this is not pos-

and want to strengthen for the year

sible.

ahead. It’s a great opportunity to play

Lotto (February 15): the jackpot

competitive football. Contact Bernie

was €10,000. Numbers drawn were

if interested on 087 2256104.

4,6,15 and 19; the bonus ball was 17.

Our U-14 footballers and hurlers

There was no overall winner and

will host a bingo fundraiser in the club

no bonus ball winner. Three €100 win-

Friday, March 4. First call is at 8.30pm

ners: Graham Hall, Noel G Verso and

and admission/book is €10. All wel-

Anthony Nolan.

come. We continue to host bingo every

Play lotto online for as little as €2 per week.

ST pat’s palmerstown THE lotto numbers for this week were

remains unchanged from last year.

8, 9, 11 and 19; there was no winner so

Membership forms will be posted to

next week’s jackpot will be €8,800. The

all members in the coming weeks.

draw takes place in the Palmerstown

Membership can be paid on Tuesday

House every Sunday night at 10pm

and Thursday from 7-8pm in the club-

and tickets cost €2.

house.

Thank you to all our sellers and

Our Friday hurling and camogie

to all that support our lotto every

skills session has started up again on

week. Tickets are available from all

Friday from 6-7pm, from U-8 upwards

the usual sellers including SuperValu,

and all are welcome.

Palmerstown House, Manor Hair Studios and in the clubhouse on Tuesday and Thursday from 7-8pm. Member ship is now due and

It’s a great chance for the kids to learn from experienced coaches. Best of luck to all our teams in action this coming weekend.

lucan sarsfields POUNDS lost. That may have been

with a quick bite to eat.

the individual ambition for partici-

Senior football and hurling both

pants in Operation Transforma-

had home wins on Sunday in the

tion.

mist of what felt like an unnamed

However, the Flannery broth-

storm. The footballers were ﬁrst

ers achieved the loss of pounds in

out at 10.30am against Templeogue

a more dramatic fashion on Friday

in the St Vincent De Paul Cup; 3-11 to

night last with the beards (and

1-4 was the ﬁnal score. They start

more) disappearing and Crumlin

their Division 1 campaign away to

Hospital being the beneﬁciary.

Cuala next weekend.

Operation Transformation par-

The hurling game itself was a

ticipants brought their programme

Boland Cup game, Lucan had a one

to an end on Thursday, celebrating

point deﬁcit at half-time but turned

friendships formed, the loss of kgs,

it around to ﬁnish winners, 2-11 to

shared pain in the rain, topped off

1-10.

GazetteSPORT all of your clondalkin sports coverage from page 28-31

clon’s warriors: Gordon Park men put Midlands side to the sword with nine-try rout in Towns Cup P30

feb 25 - march 2, 2016

hermes message of intent: Dublin club win inaugural EY Hockey League victory P29

Rose-Anne Galligan is fighting back from two rough years of injury issues

Galligan’s Rio ambition Qualification for the world championships was assured this week with a super run at the AIT Grand Prix, raising hopes of an Olympic campaign

 sport@dublingazette.com

ROSE-Anne Galligan produced a hugely impressive performance at the AIT International Grand Prix in Athlone this week as she scored a place at next month’s World Indoor Championships with an impressive 4.11.07 time in the 1,500m. She finished third in the race won by Kenyan Nancy Chepkwemoi and she is keen to build on the result after two difficult years with the former Clondalkin community games representative hoping she can make a sustained but toward the Rio Olympic Games in August. It qualifies her to run at the worlds in Portland, Oregon.

“I’ve just come back from altitude training and I had a couple of races at altitude,” Galligan said in the wake of the race. “From that, my coach said I could run 4.12. I thought it was closer to 4.13 so I was pleasantly surprised it was 4.11. I’m really pleased with that.” It is all part of her comeback as she looks to build momentum in 2016. “I’ve had two horrible years. I had an injury for almost a year and then got ill last summer so, to run 4.11, it felt easy, I felt comfortable. “It’s exciting for the summer ahead. You need to come to these races where you’ve a plan and you don’t care who is in the race. I got some good scalps there.

“I’ve done every championship there is except the Olympics so, touch wood, I can stay injury free and get on the plane to Rio. “I don’t want to just go there and be happy I’m at the Olympics – I want to do something when I get there.” Tallaght AC’s Brian Gregan took second place in the 400m in 47.62 behind a blistering Czech, Pavel Maslak, who scorched home in 46.07. It was part of a high quality meeting in the midlands. Canadians Melissa Bishop and Shawn Barber were among the stars in front of a capacity crowd in Athlone. Bishop moved to the front at the start of the women’s 800m and the world silver medallist

looked effortless throughout as she pulled away from her rivals, coming home a convincing winner in a Canadian indoor record of 2:00.60. Her countryman Shawn Barber was equally impressive in the men’s pole vault, the world champion outdoors soaring over a stadium record of 5.79m to take victory ahead of close rival Sam Kendricks (USA), who was second with 5.71m. The women’s 60m hurdles produced the best contest of the night, with American Kristi Castlin edging last year’s champion Sharika Nelvis, 7.92 to 7.93. The night was rounded off with a stadium record in the men’s 60m by D’Angelo Cherry, who ran 6.58.