Clondalkin

Gazette CLONDALKIN

INSIDE: Ireland and Ulster winger Tommy Bowe is on

the ball with thoughts on rugby and marriage Page 15

Opinion: Sr Stan launches an appeal for Focus Ireland as housing crisis worsens Page 12

Gallery: Revised heritage book marks the legacy of our period buildings Page 14

sport Boxing:

Ormond ready for potential big 2016 Page 32

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

December 3-9, 2015

Find us on

The best things in life are FREE!

Historical threads link past to present day

pictured at the ‘historical threads’ event, which celebrated and shared local heritage, are the Mayor of South Dublin County, Sarah Holland, and her daughter Gracie, Norah Flynn and Carmel Lyons at the Clondalkin council offices. The history and heritage day saw the announcement of plans for the Round Tower Visitor Centre. Mayor Holland said the centre was “truly an exciting opportunity for Clondalkin and our county, and is a project offering benefits to both locals and potential future tourists alike. It will open up the village and the Round Tower to those interested in our city’s history and heritage, in the case of the Round Tower, a history stretching back over 1,000 years.” Picture: Cathy Weatherston

Charity crew cycle helps sick children in hospital Operation Rudolf will see the Charity Crew back on their bikes for another fundraiser

 ian begley

THE Laurels Charity Crew have presented a cheque of €118,000 to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin.

The crew raised the money for taking part in the

Galway to Dublin Charity cycle in April, and are now gearing up for a Christmasthemed charity cycle.

About 300 cyclists took part in the charity’s annual cycle in a collective effort to raise money for Ireland’s first EOS Scanner in Crum-

lin’s Children’s Hospital as part of the Straight Ahead project.

Speaking to the Gazette, Damien Long, one of the founding members of the charity, said the fundraiser was a massive success, adding that altogether the

charity group had raised nearly €700,000 for the hospital.

The Operation Rudolf cycle will start on December 6 in the Phoenix Park and finish at the Laurels pub.

Full Story on Page 2

2 CLONDALKIN Gazette 3 December 2015

promoting equality

Balloons mark awareness of violence against women  ian begley South County Mayor Sarah Holland (SF) , elected members of South Dublin County C ounci l and rep resentatives from Saoirse Women’s Refuge Tallaght released a large number of orange balloons recently to mark International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The orange balloons, released on November 25, were designated by the United Nations UNiTE campaign to symbolise a brighter future without violence against women.

M a r k i n g t h e d ay, Mayor Holland said: “In my role as Mayor I stated that I wanted to use my time in office to promote equality, inclusion and unity. I further pledged to raise

awareness of this issue and to make sure that those on our front lines are capable of offering advice, support and a safe place to stay for the women that come to us in need.

“A s p a r t o f t h e Annual Budget 2016, the elected members have also agreed to set aside funds as a capital provision towards the provision of a women’s refuge.”

Campaign

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gend e r- B a s e d V i o l e n c e Campaign running from today until December 10, Human Rights Day. For further information visit the Say No Unite Facebook and Twitter pages.

Members of The Laurels Charity Crew launched “Operation Rudolph Charity Cycle” in aid of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin.

Picture: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

laurels | gearing up for Christmas charity cycle

Charity Crew presents €118,000 to hospital  Ian Begley

The Laurels Charity Crew have presented a cheque of €118,000 to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital in Crumlin from the money they raised at the Galway to Dublin Charity cycle in April, and are now gearing up for a Christmas-themed charity cycle this Sunday.

Approximately 300 cyclists took part in the charity’s annual cycle in a collective effort to raise money for Ireland’s first EOS Scanner in Crumlin’s Children’s Hospital as part of a project called “Straight Ahead”.

T his machine significantly reduces the amount of radiation patients get during X-rays.

The cheque was presented to the hospital on November 27 at the Laurels Pub amidst a large crowd of charity participants, hospital staff and members of the community.

Speaking to The

Gazette, Damien Long said the fundraiser was a massive success, adding that altogether the charity group have raised nearly €700,000 for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital.

“We’ve worked with the hospital for the past number of years and its staff really do fantastic work and make a huge difference to children in need.

“We also get fantastic support every year from Clondalkin Motorcycling Club and Clondalkin Cycling club, along with many other individuals and the local groups.”

Meanwhile, the charity crew’s “Operation Rudolf” cycle will be held on Sunday, December 6, with all money raised going towards Our Lady’s Hospital.

Starting at 4.30pm in the Phoenix Park, the cycle will continue down the Quays over O’Connell Street Bridge and on to Our Lady’s Hosptial in Crumlin.

It will then progress

into Clondalkin and onto a party in The Laurels bar.

Participants will also be required to wear Santa suits and lights for their bikes, which they can collect in the Laurels Bar or in the phoenix Park between 2 to 4pm at the Papal Cross on the day of

the cycle.

Long added: “The cycle taking place on Sunday is sure to be a massive hit and will probably go viral with all of the Santa’s cycling through town with lights on their bikes.

“We want to be the first pub in the world to raise €1 million for charity and

expect to do so on our tenth anniversary three years from now. After we hold this event we’re confident that we’ll do it and we have three years to do it.”

For more information on this charity cycle visit the Laurels Charity Crew Facebook page.

3 December 2015 CLONDALKIN Gazette 3

motion | funds will help disabled housing adaptation waiting list

gardai

Shotgun found in Luas worker’s locker

Councillors to give half of travel pay for grant  ian begley

ibegley@dublingazette.com

Councillors from Dublin Mid-West have agreed to abandon half their annual travel budget of €44,000 and put it towards the Disabled Person’s Grant in next year’s council’s budget.

This will see the grant increase to more than €300,000 in 2016 and will help fund housing adaptations for disabled individuals from across the county.

South County Mayor Sarah Holland (SF) who tabled the motion requested that half of the funds for councillors travelling to conferences abroad should be re-allocated to the Disabled Person’s Grant.

Speaking to the Gazette, she said: “Travelling abroad has limited benefit for the county unless a councillor goes somewhere to specifically seek new investment or maybe gain a new client for one of the council’s business parks.

“The travel expense is something we would use if we had a specific project outlined and if the money isn’t used it just sits there, unused.

“I believe that the money will be put to much better use as part of the Disabled Person’s Grant and the housing adaptation.

“In the grand scheme of things, it isn’t really a huge amount of money, but it will mean that a lot more disabled people

will be able to have their homes adapted now.

“Physically, there’s a huge waiting list and the money re-allocated to this grant scheme will help the council get through the list a bit quicker. It’s only a little thing, but it makes a big difference to people’s lives.”

Earlier this year SDCC announced it is in line to receive €4.4m to improve housing for the elderly and disabled people in the locality.

The €4,383,88 grant will allow extensions to be built for people with a disability, and also housing adaptations to improve mobility, by funding items such as stair lifts and access ramps.

fashion fest for zaki

A fabulous fashion show was held at the Red Cow recently in aid of an eight-year-old boy from Clondalkin who needs to travel to the USA for major surgery. The show, in aid of the Let’s Do It For Zaki campaign, was supplied with dresses from Siopa Lara in Bawnogue. Carmel Tuite is trying to raise the money for her son Zaki who has been accepted for surgery at The Children’s Hospital in Missouri. Without this surgery Zaki will lose mobility and will become wheelchair dependent for the rest of his life. Pictured are Colette Tuite, Minister Frances Fitzgerald, Carmel Tuite Djellabi (Zaki’s mum), and Adam Djellabi. Picture: Jolanta Rossiter

Clondalkin Gardai are investigating the discovery of a loaded shotgun found inside a Luas worker’s locker.

Gardai confirmed that the firearm was discovered on Saturday, November 21 at approximately 3.30pm at the company’s depot at the Red Cow Roundabout.

It has been reported that the shotgun’s discovery was made during a maintenance inspection at the facility where the Luas workers are based. It has also been said that the locker in which the gun was found was unnamed and had not been used for some time.

A spokesperson for the Luas said they will not be commenting on the incident.

4 CLONDALKIN Gazette 3 December 2015

messages of hope

Remembering those who have died by suicide  ian begley A night of remembrance for those who have died by suicide and for those living with mental health issues will be held outside the Clondalkin Civic office on Monday, December 21 at 8pm.

On the night, each guest will have the opportunity to release a balloon in remembrance of those gone too soon and in celebration of life.

Local residents Carol C osgrove and Jo hn Quinn will also talk about their own loss, along with music by Russell Lawlor.

Clondalkin Cllr Francis Timmons (Ind), who is hosting the event, said:

“It’s a chance for the community to come out and speak about mental health and spread a message of hope.

“We need to keep conversations going and watch out for each other over the festive period.

Don’t be afraid to talk.

Remember its ok not to be ok.

Hope

“The message needs to get out there to talk when you need to. Mental health is as important as any other part of our health. One in four live with mental health issues and one in nine need medical help with mental health issues – you are not alone and there is hope.”

Cllr Eoin O Broin (SF) : “It is time for the council to step in and take the estate and graveyard into public ownership to ensure that they are properly maintained into the future”

Monastery Heath | ‘number of problems’

Call for council to step in at estate

 ian begley

ibegkey@dublingazette.com

Calls have been made for the council to take public ownership of Monastery Heath after 20 years in existence and also the historic graveyard at Mount St Joseph off the Monastery Road.

The site, which is currently owned by the developer who built Monastery Heath, has never been taken in charge by South Dublin County Council, despite the housing estate being over 20 years old.

Clondalkin Cllr Eoin O Broin (SF) told The Gazette that the delay in the council taking control of the estate and graveyard has created a number of problems.

He said: “Trees in

Monastery Heath have become overgrown and are causing nuisance to residents. More urgently the graveyard at Mount St Joseph has been neglected. Thankfully Clondalkin Tidy Towns have done great work in maintaining the graveyard.

“However, it is time for the council to step in and take the estate and graveyard into public ownership to ensure that they are properly maintained into the future.

“There is also a need for the graveyard to be included in Schedule 2 Record of Protected Structures in the SDCC Development Plan 20162022 in order to ensure that it received the level of protection it deserves.

“Clondalkin is rich

with local history and the council must do everything in its power to preserve and promote this history,” he said.

A t t h e N ove m b e r Clondalkin Area Committee meeting, the matter was raised by Cllr Breeda Bonner (Lab) who asked the chief executive for the graveyard at Mount Saint Joseph be taken into public ownership so that it can be “afforded the care and protection that it deserves”.

She also praised the work of council crews who assisted Tidy Towns volunteers to clear a large stockpile of wood and other material which was clearly intended as bonfire material at the historic site.

Responding to these

calls, a spokesperson from SDCC said that there are ongoing discussions with the developer of Monastery Heath in relation to the old graveyard of Mount Saint Joseph Monastery.

“The council is seeking to conclude this matter at the earliest opportunity and a meeting has been arranged with the developer to progress the outstanding issues.

“It should be noted that the ongoing maintenance of the graveyard will rest with the management company and as per the planning permission for the adjacent Monastery Heath housing estate. The elected members will be updated on progress,” said the spokesperson.

3 December 2015 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5

6 CLONDALKIN Gazette 3 December 2015

3 December 2015 CLONDALKIN Gazette 7

courts | family allege series of failures in care and treatment

Family settle case for €400k A family who sued over the death of a woman at Tallaght Hospital after being diagnosed with a serious flesh-eating bacterial infection following a bowel procedure, have settled their action for some €400,000.

The settlement was made at the High Court without admission of liability.

Shirley Ann Plunkett (42) was diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis, a rare bacterial skin infection, the day before she died at the hospital on March 10, 2011.

She left behind a son, Conor, then aged nine, who has since been cared for by her parents, Philip

and Teresa. Conor will get the vast bulk of the settlement.

Seeking approval for the settlement, Michael Howard SC, instructed

by Elizabeth Howard of Howard Synnott solicitors for the family, said the case arose from “a series of unfortunate events” outlined in documents to the court.

His side were confident they would have won the case had it gone to hearing, but there was a concern as necrotising fasciitis is a known complication of perforation of the small bowel, counsel said.

Mr Justice Richard Humphreys agreed to

approve the settlement.

Philip Plunkett, Castleview, Clondalkin, Dublin, on behalf of his grandson Conor and the family, had sued the hospital and HSE arising from the death of his daughter.

The defendants denied the claims, including one of negligence.

It was alleged Ms Plunkett was referred in July 2010 to Tallaght Hospital for further assessment and/or services arising from a laparotomy procedure for recurrent small bowel obstruction which she underwent at the hospital in 2009. Her recovery was complicated with small bowel dif-

ficulties, it was claimed.

It was alleged a diagn o s t i c l a p a r o s c o py was advised in January 2011 and Ms Plunkett later underwent that on March 9, 2011, as a day procedure.

It was alleged, given her prior history, she should not have been admitted as a day case. It was alleged multiple adhesions were found during a four-hour operation with five laparoscopic ports inserted to facilitate the section.

Ms Plunkett was then admitted as an in-patient and detained overnight. It was alleged her condition deteriorated on March 9 and she was admitted to

The settlement was made at the High Court without admission of liability

ICU. Later that day, an urgent CT scan was carried out; she was diagnosed with necrotising fasciitis and brought to theatre where a laparotomy was performed.

Intra-abdominal sepsis due to small bowel perforation was found, together with dense adhe-

sions, it was claimed. Ms Plunkett’s condition continued to deteriorate on March 10, 2011 and she went into cardiac arrest just after 2.30pm and died.

The family alleged a series of failures in the care and treatment of Ms Plunkett, including in relation to the procedure

carried out on March 8, 2011 and post-operatively.

The defendants, it was further alleged, failed to give Ms Plunkett a chance of a timely diagnosis where a perforation of the small bowel was not identified when, it was alleged, it should have been.

8 CLONDALKIN Gazette 3 December 2015

shop local | The Gazette focuses on Clondalkin

Supporting our  ian begley

D

es pit e t he economic downturn hitting many local companies over the past number of years, there are still many family run businesses in Clondalkin that have survived and are starting to feel a recovery taking place.

Broe Auctioneers, a family-run business based in the heart of Clondalkin

Got a story?

Call our news team on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 2 email news@dublingazette.com



Village, has been running for 40 years.

Founded in 1975, they are a long established professional auctioneering company and pride themselves on experience, professionalism, work commitment and an excellent local knowledge of the property market.

Speaking to The Gazette, manager Craig Leap said that they are very committed to their local clients and the people they work with on a

daily basis.

“Clondalkin is a great place to do business as we are right in the middle of it all. Even though we felt the negative effects of the recession we can certainly see things pick up in recent times.”

L y n d a K e n n e d y, manager of Carpetland, Tower Road said that for over 35 years they have been serving local families and businesses and believes that developing

a trust within the community is key to sustaining any business.

“Clondalkin has always been a great place to do business and we feel that we have built up a massive relationship and loyalty within our community over the past 35 years.

Another local business that has survived the testament of time is Beck Tansey & Co Solicitors, which has been

providing legal services in Clondalkin for over 30 years. Established in 1981, their dedicated support team have said that their aim is to provide a service of the highest quality in a prompt, personal and proactive manner.

Some of the newer businesses sprouting up in Clondalkin over the past few years have also been making a big impression on the community.

Donegans Sea Food shop in Clondalkin village is a family run business that has been in Clondalkin for the past five years and despite starting out in the peak of recession, the business still manages to be a catch with local residents.

Loza Wool, based in Clondalkin village, is a unique shop that specialises in yarn and haberdashery.

First opening their doors in 2010 and having moved to bigger premises in 2012, they continue to provide a wide range of yarns and craft supplies to their customers.

Loza Wool is owned by Maureen Christopher and her mother, Vaun. Maureen was taught to knit by Vaun at the age of seven and hasn’t stopped since.

At the same time she was taught crochet by Kitty Lyons of Clondalkin, a lady well known for the beautiful masterpieces she created. Nowadays she designs her own knit-

3 December 2015 CLONDALKIN Gazette 9

Village and calls on the community to ensure the area thrives

local businesses wear, making stylish, up to the minute garments for friends and family.

“We run a variety of classes in knitting, crochet and other crafts. Further details are available on our Classes page. If there are any other topics you are interested in that are not currently on our list, just let us know and we will do our best to arrange a class to suit you. We also provide one-to-one classes in knitting and crochet,” said Maureen.

Ken O’Donnell of Studio 49, a tattoo parlour based on Tower Road, said that sustaining his business throughout the recession was always going to be a struggle, but said: “Being loyal to our customers and providing them with high-quality service is what keeps us here today.”

10 CLONDALKIN Gazette 3 December 2015

cityGazettegallery | history and heritage top the agenda in

Bernard Curley who used to be in the army when he was young

Cllr Kenneth Egan (FG)

Ishan and Eamon Ramalingam. Pictures: Cathy Weatherston

Sharing a love of local history S

outh Dublin County Council hosted a history and heritage day in Clondalkin Village recently.

The event offered a number of historical walks through the village, a series of talks, including one from Turtle Bunbury, author

Brendan and Angela Healey

and co-presenter of RTE’s Genealogy Roadshow.

The event also included an information session informing the public of the plans and progress of the Round Tower Visitor Centre.

3 December 2015 CLONDALKIN Gazette 11

Clondalkin Village as council hosts a special historical event

Carmel Lyons

Lord Mayor Sarah Holland (SF)

Sophie and Tove Turner

Tommy Keogh from the Round Tower Heritage

Tidy Towns Ronan Connolly, and Ben and Turtle Bunbury who is an award-winning travel

Group giving a talk

writer historian and author

12 clondalkin gazette 3 December 2015

opinion | ‘The human stories tell us not enough is being done’

It’s the children who suffer most from homelessness

Sr Stan makes an urgent Christmas appeal to help support the unprecedented numbers of people who are losing their homes WE ALL think about our home at Christmas.

How will we celebrate this special time of year with our family and friends?

It’s the one time of year that people living away always make that special journey home to spend with their loved ones.

It’s hard to imagine as you read this that there are many parents actually dreading Christmas like a nightmare, as they are homeless Sadly, this is true for more than 800 families and 1,500 children who do not have a place to call home as they are homeless.

One mother told me how she can’t wait for the festive period to be over. She said: “I hate having to spend another day seeing my two young children homeless, stuck living in one little hotel room for the past eight months. It breaks my heart.”

The harsh reality is that, as you read this, at least two families lost their home today. More single people will also become homeless.

I have never seen it so bad. These families live under terrible stress, and it’s the children who suffer the most.

I wrote a piece for The Gazette this time last year, when I thought things were as bad as they would ever get.

Sadly, since then – despite all the good work being done by many – the homeless crisis has deepened to an emergency

situation as the number of children and families homeless in Dublin has doubled in a year.

The major change in recent years has been the fact that many families and individuals are now losing their homes and becoming homeless purely for economic reasons.

At least two families lose their homes every day in Dublin alone, and the key reason is that they can’t afford their rent increases. The Government has taken some actions that have helped to prevent some families becoming homeless, and this is positive news.

Increasing figures However, the constant rise in the number of people losing their homes every month, and the human stories behind these increasing figures tell us that not enough is being done.

Rents have shot up by between 30 to 40% across Dublin over the past three years. Many people can’t manage, as rent supplement is too low. They end up getting in to debt and losing their homes.

Let us be clear on this: the Government has the power to prevent more children and people becoming homeless.

They must raise the rent supplement to match market rents. The Government has taken some actions that have helped to prevent some families becoming homeless, and this is positive news.

Focus Ireland’s fam-

Focus Ireland (FI) founder Sr Stan with FI family team manager Roisin McDonnell and her daughter, Feile, launching the charity’s Christmas Appeal outside Government buildings. Picture: Robbie Reynolds

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

‘With 70 to 80 families becoming homeless every month, the need for our services has never been greater’ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

ily team supports families and children who are homeless and works to help them secure a home.

Our team helps 15 to 20 families to secure a home each month (often in co-operation with local authorities and other NGOs), but with 70

to 80 families becoming homeless every month, the need for our services has never been greater.

There are also many people struggling to pay their mortgages, and the Government must take a firm hand with the banks and financial institutions to ensure we do not see

the avalanche of repossessions of family homes that many have warned about.

Focus Ireland is working hard to help these people who are at risk of homelessness, and we depend on the generous support of the public and businesses to help keep our lifeline support and prevention services there for people when they need support.

I am asking people to please give what they can afford to support

our urgent Christmas appeal.

People can donate at www.focusireland.ie, or call 1850 204 205. We need your support more than ever, as we have seen a 44% increase in the numbers seeking our help, from 8,000 to 11,500 people last year.

This year is Focus Ireland’s 30th anniversary.

Our work has touched many thousands of lives since 1985, and continues to do so today.

You can help to play

a part in helping more people to make the journey home by supporting our work.

Sr Stanislaus Kennedy Life president and founder, Focus Ireland

Editor’s Note: If you are worried about your housing situation or becoming homeless, contact Focus Ireland at www.focusireland. ie, or telephone 01 671 2555.

3 December 2015 clondalkin gazette 13

pets | Animal charity stresses importance of proper care

A puppy is a lifetime commitment for you  ian begley THE DSPCA are encouraging people interested in bringing a puppy into their home for Christmas to adopt them from a shelter as opposed to buying them from private breeders.

The DSPCA provides care and shelter to thousands of animals that have been the victims of illness, injury, cruelty or are simply unwanted.

The animal charity have outlined several tips and words of advice for those interesting in making the long-term commitment.

A spokesperson said: “When adopting, you are making a commitment to

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

‘At the DSPCA, each potential new owner is interviewed and a home check is carried before an adoption is approved’

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

Brian Gillen, chief executive, DSPCA

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

care for an animal for the rest of his life—that could mean 10 to 15 years for dogs, and up to 20 years for cats.

“Dogs thrive on several hours of exercise and companionship every day, and pooches who are constantly left alone can develop behavioural problems.

“If your work demands that you travel often, or if you’re out of the house

most days and evenings, this may not be the right time to adopt.

“Be sure to choose an animal who will thrive in your home. If you’re attracted to energetic, large-breed dogs, but live in a small apartment, will your pooch have enough room?

“If your kids are still toddlers, you might consider waiting a few years before adopting, as pet

ownership ideally is a team effort. Children who are mature enough can happily share petcare duties.”

The DSPCA currently have 60 puppies looking for new homes over the next couple of weeks from its centre in Rathfarnham. There are a wide selection of puppy types, including lurchers, golden and black Labrador-type pups, Jack Russel-types and springers.

Brian Gillen, the DSPCA’s chief executive, said that the animal charity would like to remind people that under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, all pups born in Ireland from this September 1 are legally

Matilda presents the same needs that any

puppy wants from her new home:

caring people to give her all the space, training and love she needs

required to be microchipped and registered on an approved database.

He said: “We keep an eye on websites that advertise animals for sale, such as DoneDeal, Adverts.ie, Gumtree and Dogs.ie, and we notice many dogs [are being] advertised for sale or ‘free to good homes’ without

mention of microchips.

“At the DSPCA, each potential new owner is interviewed and a home check is carried before an adoption is approved.

Each puppy is microchipped, vaccinated, wormed, de-flead and post-adoption neutering by our vets is included. Our adoption fee is

€150. “ E a c h p up py ha s been well socialised in the home of one of our dedicated foster families before returning to the shelter for adoption, and there is post-homing support from our dog training team, our dog boarding facility and our veterinary team.”

14 Gazette 3 December 2015

Gazettegallery

Gkjhdgkfhgdskjfgdskjfgdsjkhgfjkdshgfdsf

| heritage book launched at dublin castle

Joyce MacHale with Lee and Noreen Motherway

A new chapter in our period houses’ lives

Author Frank Keohane with Dublin Civic Trust chief executive Geraldine Walsh and Senator David Norris. Pictures: Rose Comiskey

S

ENATOR David Norris was a fine choice to launch Dublin Civic Trust’s flagship publication, Irish Period Houses – A Conservation Guidance Manual at Dublin Castle recently.

With his passion for architecture and the city’s rich heritage, Senator

Norris highly praised the book, which is a complete revision of the previous edition of the book, Period Houses, printed in 2001.

The new edition, undertaken by the same author – conservation surveyor Frank Keohane – greatly widens the scope of the manual, with a com-

prehensive array of new topics now covering all of Ireland, with Ireland’s distinctive period houses given great attention. Irish Period Houses is available to buy directly from Dublin Civic Trust at www.dublincivictrust.ie, priced €45 (€54 with P&P), and many good bookshops nationwide.

Kevin Baird and Dr

Aisling Dunne and Livia Hurley

Liam Boylan and Katrina Bouchier

Adam Browne, Stephan Farrell and Graham Hickey

Danielle O’Donovan

Gazette

3 December 2015 Gazette 15

dublinlife

the big interview

tommy bowe: Ireland and Ulster rugby winger

On the ball with some thoughts of playing for Ireland and his life beyond sport  emma nolan

AFTER sustaining a serious knee injury in one of the Irish rugby team’s most important games, to date, at the recent Rugby World Cup, Ireland and Ulster winger Tommy Bowe is making a swift recovery and is hopeful he will be better in time to play at the Six Nations early next year.

In a match that saw the team’s World Cup run come to an end, Bowe tore a ligament in his knee, requiring surgery.

He says: “I’m four weeks after having surgery on my knee and so far the recovery is going very well, although it’s kind of a slow process.

“The first couple of months is about just letting it heal, so I can’t really do a whole pile at the minute.”

Though he’s currently on crutches, he’s still training every day: “The first two weeks after the operation I was at home, bored out of my mind, so it’s nice to be back doing a bit of physio and weights to keep active.”

With a few of his teammates injured for the Argentina match, he admits it was tough going into the game without them.

“We put in so much hard work and effort to get ourselves to the World Cup, so to pick up an

injury then was very difficult.”

Bowe is hopeful he’ll be recovered in time for the Six Nations next year, but he is being realistic: “To be honest with you, I’d be doing very well to be back in time, but who knows?”

Getting back into the game without captain Paul O’Connell will “take some getting used to,” he tells The Gazette.

He compares his departure to when former captain Brian O’Driscoll finished up: “It’s always going to be difficult to have such an influential person that’s been in the squad for over 10 years leave, but that’s the nature of sport – people move on pretty quickly.

Opportunity “But we were able to move on from Brian and I’m sure with Paulie gone, it will give an opportunity for new guys to come in and fill that hole.”

T he recent terror attacks in Paris, some of which occurred at the Stade de France during a match, shocked Bowe, particularly as a fellow sportsman.

“With everything that was going on in Paris, I know there were quite a few rugby teams over there at the time – it was scary, it was unthinkable.

“You don’t expect that sort of thing to happen; the response from fellow

teams was incredible and a huge sign of solidarity.”

Speaking on life as a newlywed, Bowe says it’s been great: “The first couple of months were pretty crazy, but it’s so nice to be back home and back to normality, and to have a new wife!”

Post-grad diplomas Bowe tells The Gazette how he and fellow Ulster player, Andrew Trimble, recently got their postgrad diplomas in business management from the Hibernia College at the University of London.

“It took us three years to finish it – I thought it was never going to happen, but I was delighted to go and get my certificate.”

Although he reckons that’s the end of his studying days, he says that it’s nice to achieve something he can focus on when he finishes his rugby career.

His other ventures – XV Kings Clothing, and Lloyd and Pryce Shoes – have been growing steadily since they started in 2013.

“The feedback has been brilliant; even to hear that the rugby lads are going out and buying it for themselves and for Christmas presents is a huge compliment.

“It’s nice to have something outside of rugby, learning about selling and designing. It’s off the wall, compared to all the rugby

stuff I do every day.”

At the moment, he’s taking on a Subway campaign and visiting school sports teams for a Train with Tommy day, where he trains and gives talks to the teams on nutrition, sports and staying active.

“I’m delighted to get to meet these young players and answer any questions they have,” he says.

Tommy Bowe and SUBWAY franchisee Mark Ryan at St Mac Dara’s Community College, Templeogue – the Leinster winner of the SUBWAY chain’s #TrainwithTommy competition, which offered the chance to win a training session with Bowe, €1,000-worth of rugby gear for the school, lunch courtesy of their local SUBWAY in Applegreen, Knocklyon Road and a team picture with Bowe. Picture: David Maher/Sportsfile

Gazette

16 Gazette 3 December 2015

dublinlife

diary

Budding bakers needed to bake in aid of charity The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) recently launched its Christmas Holly Appeal and are calling on budding bakers to host a bake sale in aid of the charity.

Holly Carpenter, who launched the campaign, is calling on the nation

to join her in supporting their Christmas Fundraising appeal #NoSilentNight.

The campaign aims to run these fundraising initiatives to raise much-needed funds and to highlight the difficulties many children face at Christmas time.

In addition, ISPCC will be selling their annual Holly Badges throughout the country for €2 in early December and are looking for people to buy the badge and wear it with pride to show their support for every child in Ireland.

For more information

on how you can help and on all the fundraising activities running throughout the festive season, visit www.ispcc. ie.

top culinary student chefs The search is on to find Ireland’s top culinary student chefs. The KNORR Student Chef of the Year, now its 19th year, is open to the very best student chefs from culinary colleges across the island of Ireland.

KNORR Student Chef of the Year is the biggest competition of its kind in Ireland and allows up-and-coming student chefs to showcase their talent, love of food, creativity and innovation in front of some of Ireland’s leading food professionals.

This year students are being challenged to create a starter using sustainable Irish seafood and a main course celebrating Irish venison.

Students must demonstrate an understanding of the challenges of culinary sustainability, incorporating food waste management and allergen awareness.

T he 2016 KNORR Student Chef of the Year competition is open to second year students from participating catering colleges, training centres and Institutes of Technology.

Deadline for entries is Friday, January 22.

Holly Carpenter is calling on the nation to join her for ISPCC’s Christmas Holly Appeal and help to ensure that there is #NoSilentNight in Childline. Picture: Robbie Reynolds

For more information, see www.unileverfoodsolutions.ie/knorrstudentchef.

retained a dancefloor space that will hopefully continue to book great music acts.

across the country are offering free soft drinks for the designated drivers on nights out

Wigwam Bar open for business

promoting safe driving practices

biggest Christmas market yet

One of the latest additions to Dublin’s nightlife scene is Bodytonic’s Wigwam Bar. Located at the old Twisted Pepper premises, the new venue offers a slightly more mature night out than its predecessor, boasting an extensive range of the best beers, spirits, wines and coffee from around the world.

The interior has been extended to facilitate a table service restaurant with a menu from Chef Pedro that is inspired by his Brazillian roots, Italian training and Irish home.

Ser ving breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, Dublin’s newest hotspot also houses the popular Vice Coffee and Boxcutter Barbershop.

Not straying too far from its roots however, the famed basement, though much less grimy than it used to be, has

Minister for Transport Tourism and Sport Paschal Donohoe, has officially launched CocaCola’s Christmas Jumper Car campaign which promotes responsible and safe driving practices using designated drivers during the party season.

Ambassadors Vogue Williams and Northern Ireland comedian Shane Todd are celebrating the designated drivers across the county who stick to water or soft drinks on nights out to ensure their friends and family get home safely.

Nominations from families, friends and bar staff are accepted via www.DesignatedDriver. ie and a winning driver from each province will get a surprise visit from the Christmas Jumper Car with a boot jam-packed full of prizes.

To further promote road safety, participating pubs and restaurants

The Dublin Christmas Cracker Flea Market at Newmarket Co-op has become a tradition for many Dubliner’s at this time of year for both shoppers and traders, and is the place to go for all unique stocking filler needs.

This year the Flea is moving to the disused Old John Player Wills Factory on South Circular road to facilitate its biggest market yet – with over 100 market traders, food stalls and music all housed under the one roof.

Organisers have always deemed the event, which is taking place the weekend of December 11 to 13, as “more than just a market” but a gathering of like-minded people, friends and bargain hunters with the best selection of design, craft, vintage, second hand, upcycled, downcycled, and handmade gifts for Christmas.

3 December 2015 Gazette 17

asdfsdaf P27 cinema P25

food 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



Gazette

travel P20

theatre: musical interpretation at the project arts centre adapts joyce’s classic

Bringing The Dead to operatic life  Keith Bellew

AN OPERATIC interpretation of James Joyce’s The Dead is set for its world premiere at the Project Arts Centre, with six performances from December 9 to 12.

For those who are not familiar with the story, it is centred around a married couple, Gretta and Gabriel, who go to a Christmas party at the house of the husband’s elderly aunts, Julia and Kate.

The tale, which was hailed by TS Eliot as “one of greatest short stories ever written”, and “just about the finest short story

in the English language” by the New York Times, explores the themes of life, love and death.

This new version was adapted by acclaimed Irish composer Ellen Cranitch and awardwinning playwright Tom Swift, and taps into the deep vein of musical references running through the original story.

Speaking to The Gazette, director Jo Mangan said that the show is not overly complex, but is very accessible and enjoyable. She described it as operatic in “a beautiful, almost Sunday afternoonkind of way”.

While the story itself is quite melancholic, it has many humorous moments, and Mangan says that the cast make full use of these to provide some comic relief.

“Julia and Kate’s characters are great fun, so Ruth McGill and Clare Barrett are playing them and they’re great comic actresses. They’re milking every bit of comedy out of it.

“It’s great comedy written by Joyce, and then adapted by Tom Swift, and then by adding in a couple of fantastic actors it really kind of pulls [all the comedy] out.

“I would say Kate and Julia are our main comic relief, but then there’s also a great character – Millie, the maid,” she said.

She said that all of the comedic goings on are leading up to the moment at the end of the night when Gabriel’s wife, Gretta, tells him that she had loved another man before him who died, and infers that she loved that man more than she could ever love him.

“That, for me, is the high point of the whole piece; everything else is sort of working towards that moment. It allows you to look at those two charac-

ters from the beginning.

“Gretta is quite separate from a lot of the action, but [in this adaption] she is doing a bit of narrating herself, and we have framed it so it is kind of Gretta’s story all the way through,” said Mangan.

She said this gives their piece a different thrust to other adaptations, and it allows Gretta to step in and out of the action from time to time, which is useful as the cast comprises just four actors.

Tickets are on sale now from the Project Arts Centre Box Office, and online at http://projectartscentre.ie/event/dead-2/.

Actress Ruth McGill – one of the reduced but highly talented cast members starring in the production

OUT&ABOUT

STYLE Milan LS short dress €69.95

Festive bird jumper €67.95

Gladstone croc pouch €79.95

Ele n

Scarf €39.95

Jacket €239.95

av elv et bo ot €

13

9.9

5

My Perfect SS Tee €19.95

Sonia ring EX €16.95

Two new stores opened recently. Joules, the much loved clothing and lifestyle store on Wicklow St and Selected Femme in Dundrum Town Centre.

Selected Femme has a concession in BT2 but this is the first stand along store in Ireland.

The brand is a fashion-forward and contemporary unisex brand. Part of the Bestseller family, its

fast affordable fashion for women, men, teenagers, and children. Their products are available online, in branded chain stores, in multi-brand, and department stores.

Joules, who are renowned for things such as their tweed jackets, wellington boots and Breton tops opened their first full Republic of Ireland store and also their landmark 100th store.

Here are a selection of the best of both.

5

 mimi murray

€19.9

.95

Welcome Joules and Selected Femme arring s

€12

angle e

ks

Sonia d

Soc

per €87 .95

Chelsea boots €174.95

Pink jum

Gazette

18 Gazette 3 December 2015

Danjas Ls Leather Blazer €139.95 Festive jumper €67.95

Hevia Top €69.95

3 December 2015 Gazette 19

20 Gazette 3 December 2015

Gazette

TRAVEL OUT&ABOUT fast TRAVEL NEWS Seize the day and enjoy the City of Lights visiting paris: standing in solidarity with Parisians

 Yvette Dolan-Collins

Journalist living in Paris

Alongside fantastic natural beauty, Malta is home to a fascinating blend of cultures and rich heritage

Make Malta your place for a winter getaway Escape the cold, grey skies of Ireland this January by jetting away to sunny Malta for the perfect winter getaway. There is no better place to recover from the hectic Christmas period and to escape the January blues as this magical paradise has everything holidaymakers could possibly want.

It’s not too late to plan your trip and there are some fantastic deals on offer at this time of year.

With Budget Travel, you can depart on January 3 and stay at the 3-Star San Pawl Hotel, St Paul’s Bay for €289 per person. Alternatively, you can depart on January 5 and stay at the 4-Star Park Hotel, Sliema (B&B) for €249 per person.

With Mercury Direct you can stay seven nights at the 3-Star Panorama Hotel, Mellieha, departing on the January 5 for €358pp. Alternatively, you can jet off on January 26 and stay seven nights at the 3-Star Porto Azzurro, Xemxija Bay for €333pp.

Concorde is offering seven nights at the 3-Star St Georges Park and La Vallette Apartments, St Julians, departing January 16 for €255pp. Otherwise you can depart on the January 21 and stay at the 4-Star Golden Tulip Hotel, Sliema for €339pp.

There are some fantastic things to do and see in Malta in early 2016. The Valletta International Baroque Festival will take place from January 16 to 30. The festival has been created as a celebration of the baroque identity of Valletta which will resound with music from the period when it was built.

This January is also the perfect time to experience some of Malta’s rich heritage such as the megalithic temples. Art lovers will want to visit the National Museum of Fine Arts which exhibits some magnificent art, ranging from the early Renaissance to modern times.

The Maltese Islands are also an ideal destination for those wishing to get fit after the overindulgence of the Christmas period. Malta has approximately 40 health and spa outlets that focus on your overall wellbeing.

Visit www.visitmalta.com for further information on Malta.

Hemingway’s memoir of Paris in the 1920s, A Moveable Feast, is in French so aptly entitled Paris est une Fete (Paris is a Party). The party is far from over, but for a time on the weekend following the recent barbaric terrorist attacks, the City of Lights was plunged into darkness.

The most often quoted line from Hemingway’s book is “If you are lucky enough to have lived in Paris as a young man, then wherever you go for the rest of your life it stays with you, for Paris is a moveable feast”.

Having just moved to the countryside of southern France after seven abundant years living in the the French capital, I know that these words still hold true today.

Although happy as a clam in my new sylvan setting, I will always have an itch to go back.

A proviso of my departure from my urban perch was that the new ‘chez nous’ would have to be within a short distance of the dedicated train station for the high-speed train, Le TGV. I know that a regular fix of Paris is vital to me and my vital organs.

As I sit in my kitchen and think about the city that usually spakles, I ponder on whether it has lost its glow. Yesterday my friend Emmanuelle, 40, who works in the music industry, emailed me with news of her weekend, the second since the heinous terrorist attacks

were carried out on Paris.

Although grief is still very raw and palpable, she said, ‘Parisians are making it a ‘point d’honneur’ (a point of honour) to go out, to fill cafes and restaurants. It’s as though, by this refusal to accept the terror, La Resistance Française has been reincarnated.

In the same spirit, last week an ensemble of high profile personalities from the French cultural scene coined the rousing slogan ‘Paris, France, Le Monde, Debout!’ (Paris, France, The World, Stand Up!).

This ‘élan patriotique’, or recent resurgence in patriotism is essential in order to ‘keep calm and carry on’ in the face of the uncertainty left in the wake of the terrorist attacks.

Despite the serious infraction inflicted on French Homeland Security, the French, and Parisians in particular, will not allow their ‘art de vivre’, or lifestyle, be compromised. Nor should you compromise your plans to visit Paris.

L a s t we e ke n d I received an email from a discount travel website offering luxury city breaks in Paris, discounted 70%. An indication no doubt of the fall-off in sales, combined, no doubt, with cancellations, owing to fear following the terrorist attacks. An opportunist might say it’s the ideal time to travel to Paris, stay in an top hotel and dine at a Michelin Star restaurant, all at a fraction of the usual going rate.

If only one could grasp

Yvette Dolan-Collins grew up in Dublin but spent the last seven years living in Paris, in the 11th arrondissement, just metres from the recent atrocities and the January attack on Charlie Hebdo magazine occurred

a crystal ball and gaze deep into it, one could plan life in such a way as to avoid all mishap, misfortune and sadness.

Alas that’s not possible.

Instead we can visit Paris, with Versailles Palace and its ever luminous crystalcut mirrors. A myriad of other marvels also cry out for attention in the French capital.

Something as simple as a ride on a local bus is a visual feast. Traversing the city from the bobo 11th Arrondissement to the chic quarter of St Germain fills me to the brim with Paris and its beauty.

The No 96 is my favourite route.

Le Champs Elysees is all-a-sparkle in the run up

to the festive season. Its Christmas market chalets sell all kinds of gourmet goodies which make perfect presents and stocking fillers.

A visit to the Pantheon, sitting as it does like a sumptuous religieuse pastry upon a hill in the 5th Arrondissement overlooking all of Paris, is a preferable alternative to the overcrowded basilica of Sacre Coeur, and so awe-inspiring for all the history it exudes.

A wintry walk through crunchy fallen leaves in the Jardins de Luxembourg, followed by a meltin-your-mouth macaron from nearby Pierre Herme (beats any competitor, hands-down), is a

priceless experience.

A stroll from Place de la Bastille with its genie atop the column, along Boulevard Beaumarchais as far as Place de la Republique, is retail therapy not to be beaten.

The answer to the question of whether the City of Lights has lost its glow lies with you and me.

What the terrorists want is to divide and conquer, to cause chaos, to plant fear and loathing in the western world.

Whether to visit or not, is an agonising quandry.

My firm answer is carpe diem. All our cards lie in the hand of destiny. So go, visit Paris, and stand in solidarity with the Parisians.

3 December 2015 Gazette 21

Gazette

22 Gazette 3 December 2015

OUT&ABOUT

M&S Pembrokeshire bronze turkey; weights – 2.6-9kg

M&S Festive glazed Oakham turkey breast €48

M&S Musical Shortbread tree tin €14.99; Santa tin €17.99 Lidl Lobster

€6.99

Tesco Finest Six-month mature Christmas pudding 908g €10.50

Aldi Crispy Thai Prawn Baskets €2.99

Iceland Oyster Rockefella €13

3 December 2015 Gazette 23

Gazette

FOOD GUIDE M&S Chocolate Yule Log Cream 70cl €16.49

Tesco Finest Sloe gin €22

Lildl Stilton cheese €4.99

Celtic Cask Do Dheag 12 €135 (Celtic Whiskey shop)

James Whelan Ham €45 (Approx weight 5-6.5kg)

WHETHER celebrating faith, family or friendship this Christmas, there’s one thing that we can all rely on – an avalanche of delicious food from all the main retailers! Once again, timeless Christmas dinner staples will grace the nation’s tables, while quirky and fun nibbles will add the icing on the cake. So, whether you’re considering where to get the family ham and turkey, on a mission to get a tasty treat for your co-workers, or looking for the right drink to toast Aunty Mary when she pops around on St Stephen’s Day, here’s our round-up of some of the most delicious fare this year ...

co €15

Iceland Croque Em Bouche Christmas Master €12

colates Butlers Cho ent tin €15 rtm Christmas asso

Dingle Original gin box €37rrp

M&S C Whip 1 hristmas 50g € 5.99

Butlers Chocolates Christmas centrepiece €20

T e s c o F in est Bisol Prosec

By Dickens, it’s delicious

Gazette

24 Gazette 3 December 2015

OUT&ABOUT

HEALTH

nutrition: humble fare can have great power

Make your own soup for a real winter boost

 yvonne sheehy

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

BA (hons) Culinary Arts

‘I don’t tend to use stock cubes.If you layer your soup with herbs and spices, it will have its own flavour.’

WINTER is here and it’s time to nourish the body and strengthen our immune system. There’s no better ways than super-soups; warming, nourishing and satisfying.

The best thing about soups is that there are no correct quantities – it’s all right to put your own touch and taste to the pot!

The more you make soup and play around with the process, such as the ingredients-to-liquid ratio, the better you will master the consistency and depth of flavour.

Soup is an easily digestible meal which can provide a bowl jam-packed with valuable vitamins and minerals to help strengthen the immune system, and protect ourselves from winter colds and flu, and – although we may not escape them completely – the help from soups to have a strong and functioning immune system will help to alleviate their symptoms and minimise their duration.

Garlic, fennel, onions, leeks and celery provide us with prebiotic goodness. Prebiotics feed probiotics through their fibre and natural sugars.

Probiotics (found in sauerkraut, sourdough

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

bread, miso, yoghurt, kefir or through a supplement) improve our gut function. This process helps to strengthen our microbiome, which is our defence system against toxins and viruses.

The following tips are a few basic rules I follow when making soups ...

1. Soup base: this can be a combination of onions, leeks, garlic, carrots, fennel and celery. Chop finely and saute over a low heat with some sea salt and crushed black pepper to bring out the sweetness of the vegetables.

I use coconut oil to saute the base in all my soups as it is a good oil to saute with, and I find it adds a nice flavour.

I try to incorporate leeks, carrots and celery as a base to all my soups, and more often than not add all above ingredients to pack in as much variety and nutritional value

as possible.

To this base, you can begin to build on the flavours and ingredients to your soup.

2. If a soup is to be pureed I like to keep the same colours in the pot so as not to end up with an off-coloured soup; for example, if I am making a tomato soup, I stick to red onions, carrots and red/orange ingredients, or if the soup is to be a green soup, I stick to asparagus, courgettes and peas, and add vibrant green leaves towards the end of cooking to keep the bright-green colour.

3. Once the main ingredients have been added, then add your liquid of choice to completely cover them, so as to easily stir the soup while it simmers.

It is worth making your own stock as it takes the nourishment to another level. If you cook a chicken once a week, just keep the carcass and make a stock.

I don’t tend to use stock cubes as they mostly contain salt and flavour enhancers. If you layer your soup with herbs and spices, it will have its own flavour.

I keep fresh rosemary, thyme and bay leaves on hand to add to most soups as they simmer and, depending on the soup, fresh ginger, cin-

namon, paprika and turmeric are great to add flavour naturally.

4. Taking your soup to another level can make it a meal. By adding lentils, pasta or beans and keeping it chunky, you can serve your soup as a light and comforting winter’s evening meal.

When serving a chunky soup, it helps the consistency to give it a small blend with a stick blender so as to blend it a small bit – but to keep it chunky, just blend for a few seconds.

5. Finishing your soup’s presentation can enhance the flavour and make it visually appealing.

Serve in nice soup bowls with a drizzle of olive oil, some grated parmesan, home-made sourdough croutons, basil oil, balsamic vinegar, shredded seaweed or fresh herbs, depending on the soup.

The three most popular soup recipes rotating through my kitchen at the moment are puy lentil soup topped with roasted cherry tomatoes and crumbled Clonakilty pudding; carrot and red lentil soup with garlic sauteed Swiss chard, and “Green goddess” (see recipe, right).

So, pack a punch for your winter wellness with any of these three soups.

Make your own soup with carefully-chosen fresh ingredients, and you’ll be giving your immune system a great boost for the winter months

GREEN GODDESS SOUP

This is a thick and creamy soup. The amount of liquidto veg-ratio can vary according to your ingredients, but cover the veg with stock/ liquid.

The greens will cook down a lot at the end of cooking; be sure not to cook for too long or put on a lid on after adding the final greens, in order to maintain that vibrant green colour.

This may look like a lot of vegetables in the pot at first, but this soup is to pack a punch of green goodness.

Ingredients – 2 leeks (finely chopped) – 2 sticks celery (finely chopped) – 1 fennel (remove tough stalks and core and finely chop) – 1 tablespoon coconut oil – 1 clove garlic, crushed or finely chopped – 2 bay leaves – 2 sprigs thyme – Quarter teaspoon cinnamon – 1 courgette, chopped – 1 small bunch asparagus (if in season – if not, replace with one cup of frozen peas), chopped – 200g bag of spinach, or half head of Swiss chard or kale (about 4-5 leaves)

To Serve – Extra virgin olive oil, red chilli seeds – Sourdough bread Preparation – Saute celery, leeks, fennel, salt, pepper on a low heat in coconut oil for 10-15 minutes until reduced in size and soft.

– Add garlic to the pot and continue to saute for a further 5 mins.

– Add thyme picked form sprigs and bayleaves and cinnamon.

– Add courgette and peas/ asparagus and continue to saute for 5 mins.

– Cover with stock/water and add more liquid, if required,

to cover ingredients.

– Bring to boil then lower to a simmer for 30 mins until vegetables have softened.

– Meanwhile, wash spinach and drain or wash and destalk chard or kale. Chop and add to the pot. Just as the greens have wilted (about 5 mins), turn of the heat and stir for a minute.

– With a handheld or jug blender, blend the soup together. Season to taste.

– Ladle into bowls and top with a tiny sprinkle of red chilli seeds (or cayenne powder), drizzle with olive oil, and serve with sourdough bread.

– Serve, and enjoy!

3 December 2015 Gazette 25

Gazette

CINEMA

ReelReviews

PAN

Generally charmless PAN (Cert PG, 111 mins) by name, and panned by nature – by critics around the world, at least, who sharpened their knives to make this “origins” story of Peter Pan one of the worst-scored films of 2015.

Telling of how Peter Pan became the boy who never grew up, and how he made an enemy of Captain Hook, it’s a mish-mash of jumbled ideas and poor editing, making it one to fly past.

There is, perhaps, an unintended resonance to Bridge of Spies thanks to current European events and increasing tensions and divisions. Such themes echo through this Soviet era-set tale of Cold War spying and frosty international relations, with Tom Hanks (above) adding some everyman warmth and integrity to Spielberg’s film.

bridge of spies: spielberg’s political thriller sees hanks on fine form

Feeling the Cold War’s heat PATRIOTISM lies at the heart of Bridge of Spies (Cert 12A, 141 mins), Spielberg’s fourth collaboration with Tom Hanks, though there is none of the brash flag-waving you might expect.

The “inspired by true events” story sees Hanks take the lead role as James B Donovan – an IrishAmerican lawyer whose legal stringency sees him unexpectedly dropped into the mire of Cold War politics, where he must question what it means to be an American.

In 1957, as tensions between the United States and Russia ramped up, Rudolf Abel (Mark Rylance) is arrested in New York City and accused of being a Soviet spy.

At the request of the US government, Donovan agrees to provide

 Dave phillips

legal defence for Abel, but quickly realises that all the US are looking for is the pretence of a defence – this is a situation, he is told unequivocally, in which there is no rulebook.

The trial of Abel sets the scene for a much longer story of hostage negotiation that plays out in the film’s latter half when the action moves from New York to Berlin.

And, while the streets may be meaner in the newly divided city, we do not see an awful lot of them – following on from its courtroom drama beginnings, Bridge

of Spies is the kind of film that takes place in large armchairs, in vast drawing rooms, and under gargantuan portraits.

With visually lavish sets, Spielberg masterfully and immediately sets the tone for this Cold War showdown. It is a time of terseness and temerity, where orders are given and never questioned, and conversations ended by the cold clack of Bakelite phones being shoved back onto receivers.

It is up to Hanks, who invokes that impossibleto-dislike quintessential everyman quality, to bring some warmth to this frigid environment.

However, there is plenty to help him along, complementing Spielberg’s fine attention to detail is some serious on-screen talent – Mark Rylance, who with clipped utter-

ances and boundless intensity, steals the show time and again as the quietly enigmatic Abel.

A Cohen Brothers screenplay brings a welcome sense of humour and philosophical whimsy that at several points saves scenes from falling into that staid, grey grimness we associate with Cold War-era movies.

Bridge of Spies is a timely film, as through this mostly true story Spielberg not only brings an interesting period of history to life – he also brings into question what it is to be an American.

The character of Donovan provides that answer loud and clear: The American Constitution.The Constitution is a rulebook, and if you stop playing by that set of rules, then you have ceased to be an American, and have

become something else.

The patriotism expounded in Bridge of Spies is not of the overt variety, like, say, in Clint Eastwood’s shockingly galling American Sniper – rather, it is concerned with interior ideals.

To be a real American, Spielberg seems to suggest, is to be virtuous, honest, and to honour the spirit of the law above the letter of the law.

It is fitting that this exaltation of interior values plays out mostly indoors, unfolding through conversations and negotiations.

Indeed, the one or two scenes with more typical action rankle, and seem

out of place. The distinct lack of loud and frantic action may be off-putting for some cinemagoers, but it shouldn’t be.

Bridge of Spies is a solid film, with more than enough given by Hanks and Ryland to carry it through its 141-minute running time.

Spielberg may apply a liberal dose of schmaltz to the affair, but there is no denying he knows how to tell a great story.

Verdict: 8/10

black mass

Lives up to the hype AS REAL-life Irish-American mobster James ‘Whitey’ Bolger, Johnny Depp’s prosthetic makeup is a little distracting – however, it’s one of the few unwelcome distractions about Black Mass (Cert 15A, 123 mins).

Although broadly familiar content, it’s a skillfully told tale of the criminal underworld’s clash with law and order, with ’70s South Boston providing the backdrop to a great tale.

spectre

Bond’s latest romp DANIEL Craig takes another shot at playing Bond in Spectre (Cert 12A, 148 mins), with his latest outing smashing its way through the cinema charts, despite more than a few shortcomings. An overly convoluted attempt at creating a larger overall story from Bond’s recent films and adventures, Spectre ticks all the right 007 boxes, but misfires a little along the way.

26 clondalkin gazette 3 December 2015

clondalkinCLASSIFIEDS Phone: Edward on 01 6230308 OR 087 2659931 www.concreteandpaving.com

● Paving ● Imprint Concrete ● Indian Sandstone ● Granite ● Gravel ● Cleaning & Sealing ● Walls & Features ● Patios & Driveways ● Natural Stone Slabs ● Free Estimates DRIVEWAYS FROM €800 WE are fully insured and registered with over 20 years’ experience. All work is guaranteed.

No payment required until work is completed

LEGAL & PLANNING APPLICATION

ANNOUNCEMENT

We can now officially accept planning & legal notices from all four County Councils in greater Dublin region

keep it green

recycle responsibly

· Standard rate from €75 + VAT · Payment in advance

Ph.01 601 0255

N?P 8;M<IK@J< N@K? K?< >8Q<KK<6 C\k fli X[m\ik`j\ij k\cc pfl n_p ssified the cla cess. in g in u rtis ts c t adve be a grea r & the a h t d n pe to ve fou zette the pa d lots of We ha of the Ga ulation of te lso, enera n irc sectio the wide c s, it has g t areas. A d r n e o e rea Due t reas it cov any differ up to cal it a k m ic y p e lo man s for us in people oking at th s o s e in e s e bu e lo ! is fr erefor for us aper the p cal news th ally works e lo hich r their ing w is t r e v ad ins e Coll Lorrain or Direct

:Xcc lj efn fe '( -' (' )-( kf Y\Zfd\ Xefk_\i fe\ f] fli dXep _Xggp X[m\ik`j\ij n n n% ^ X q \ k k\ ^ i f l g % Z f d

Serving 7 thriving communities of suburban Dublin. For up to date news follow us on Twitter @DublinGazette

3 December 2015 clondalkin gazette 27

clondalkinCLASSIFIEDS XJOUFS

4"-&

GET UP TO

dL `jd djG& z `L 6RL&d y9j z GG ÷ jj9 9MdnG j9RM `&#n & Rn` 6& j9M1 Rdjd ƢƢü

Ƽƾ Ƅ ƍ 1Ə ƍ ƎƄƄ GG Ƒ ƍƈ  ^ƈƅƊ Ɛ Ɔ ƍƏ ƇƆ ƈ Ƌ Ɨ ƒƆ Ɔ ƆƏ ƕ ÷ ƌ Ɔƕ

0`&& _nRj j9RMd

 ƋƋ Ɠ ƏƊ ƅ ƏƏƈƆƗ ƑƐ Ɛ Ɛ Ɔ ƈ Ɔ Ɛ Ɛ Ɨ ƏƗ L ƂƆƉƄë ƞƢơ ơƟƽ ƼƼƾƠ ƞƾƟ ÕƽƾƟơÕ ƑƑƑê Ɗ ƍƎ ƃ ƎƉƄƑ ƍƊ ƊƄ êƆƄ Ɔ ƅ Ɗ ƍƎ ƃ ƎƉƄƑ ƍƊ ƊƄ êƆƄ

SKILLS DESIRED •Literacy – Fluent English & written English •Numeracy •Computer Literate – MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint etc) DESIRABLE ATTRIBUTES • Golf knowledge – Pleasant – Communicative – Flexible - Adaptable Should your CV match the criteria listed, we could be interested in taking your application further.

Please email your current CV to manager@lucangolf.ie to arrive no later than Friday 18th December 2015 at 2pm.

€45

Our fascias and cladding are available in a wide range of colours and styles to match your property. You can choose from decorative Ogee guttering and fascias or a plain style, we can supply all.

Our roofline components protect your home from the elements, our high quality range will restore your home to its former glory while preventing further damage due ingress of water, bird nesting or rotten wood.

New roofs, Flat roofs, Roof repairs, Chimneys rebuilt or repointed, UPVC fascias and soffits, Guttering and downpipes - Cladding.

Southside / Northside:

01-5138922 – 085 713 0028 Dublin & Surrounding areas covered.



Got a story?

Serving 7 thriving communities of suburban Dublin.

For up to date news like us on facebook

we want to know!

V i s i t: www . f a c eb o o k . c o m / D u b l i n G a z etteNewsp a pers

ABC CERTIFIED 51,340 COPIES EACH WEEK

ƓƈƐ Ɛ ƈ ƗƒƆƏƐ

Gutters cleaned & sealed from

GENERAL ADMINISTRATOR Lucan Golf Club is seeking to appoint a General Administrator on an initial Temporary Contract (6 months) basis but may become permanent. The person will have experience in some or all of the requirements listed below and also be familiar with working in a busy office which is in daily contact with familiar and new faces. Customer facing experience and attitude is a key component in the selection process.

The day to day activities of the General Administrator will include (but not limited to); ADMINISRTATION, RECEPTION & GENERAL ENQUIRIES MEETINGS PREPARATION CASH HANDLING & RECONCILIATION COMMUNICATION

ơƠü #9d RnMj

(ABC: Group MFD, July–Dec 2014)

advertise your business to our readers - call 60 10 240

Call our news team on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 2

or email news@dublingazette.com

planning Notice South Dublin COUNTY COUNCIL

Abdul Mannan is applying for Planning Permission for retention of change of use, from Light Industrial to Assembly, and continuance of use of part of Unit 3, as Muslim Prayer Centre, at 15, Naas Road, Clondalkin, Dublin 22. This application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of South Dublin County Council during its public opening hours of 9am – 4pm, Mon – Fri, and a submission or observation may be made to South Dublin County Council in writing, and on payment of the prescribed fee (€20), within the period of 5 weeks, beginning on the date of receipt by South Dublin County Council of the application.



35% OFF

UPVC ENERGY ‘A-RATED’ WINDOWS AND DOORS VISIT OUR SHOWROOMS IN LUCAN VILLAGE



(O PPOSITE U LSTER B ANK



ON THE BRIDGE )

W EIR R ETAIL C ENTRE , 40 H ILLS M ILL I NDUSTRIAL E STATE , L UCAN V ILLAGE , C O . D UBLIN .

T EL : 6217639

25600

Local

Matters S u pp o rt local b u s i n ess

DVD TRANSFERS Advertise with the Gazette call 60 10 240

Photos & Slides converted to DVD CineFilms Video & Camera Tapes Music & Titles added

Gazette

28 gazette 3 December 2015

SPORT

FastSport Frustration as rain wipes out dublin games: THE Continental Women’s Nathonal League Dublin derby between Peamount United and Shelbourne Ladies and the UCD Waves against Galway WFC game were both postponed due to unplayable pitches over the weekend.

For Shelbourne and UCD, it was the second time their fixtures have been called off in the league already, meaning they will have a busy second half of the campaign. The pair are due to play again next weekend on Saturday at 7pm.

Both have won their two games in the competition thus far in impressive style to share second place at this early stage of the campaign.

Elsewhere, Castlebar Celtic collected their first victory of the season with an impressive 3-0 home win against Kilkenny United WFC on Saturday evening .

Reigning champions Wexford beat Cork 3-0.

athletics: blanchardstown distance runner back in top form

Olympics on Flynn’s agenda  james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com

COOLMINE athlete David Flynn has targeted a place at the Rio De Janeiro Olympics in 2016, after a successful end to the 2015 that has

seen him move right the way back into the frame for qualification.

Flynn hopes to compete in the 3,000m steeplechase at the Olympics, and is also targeting the world half-marathon championships, with

Flynn in action during his time in Arkansas

a qualification run in Houston, Texas on January 17.

“I expect the strength [of my recent runs] to carry over into qualifying for the Olympics in the 3,000m steeplechase. The A standard is 8.28 and B standard 8.34; they are extremely hard to achieve as it’s very hard to find a world class steeplechase field without pacemakers but I’m very optimistic with my latest performances, new coach and training environment,” he said.

Flynn has had a tough couple of years, and his seventh overall at the national cross country championships – ahead of Olympic qualified athletes and European finalists – shows the strength

David Flynn in training in California earlier this year

of his ambitions.

He puts the performance down to three months at altitude in California as the key to Flynn’s ambitious return.

“I went to University of Arkansas on an athletic scholarship,” he explains.

“I had a very successful few years, including a national championship in 2013 where they flew us to the White House to meet president Obama.

“After my eligibility was up and I graduated, I was about to join a professional group in Austin, Texas but I got diagnosed with mono [glandular fever] and wasn’t able to train for 11 months.

“Instead, I became a coach at Arkansas during that time which I learnt a

lot. I then returned home to Ireland which I found very hard to settle back into living full-time.”

Since then, he has been given the okay to train on a more frequent basis and admits that he initially found it “extremely hard to get back into shape” prior to his return to the US. “Moving up to the mountains in California was the best choice I have ever made in my life,” he adds.

“I had been there for a few weeks in 2013 but the group had changed a lot over that time. It is at 8,000ft altitude every day I run with some of the best athletes in the world.

“My coach Andrew Kastors’ wife Deena was

third at the Olympics in Athens and recently broke the masters world record in the Chicago marathon.

“Having people like her around everyday is great.”

And Flynn is now keen to get his local community behind him, speaking of the importance of support, and would be keen to hear from local businesses who might be able to help him attain his Olympic dream.

“Support and sponsorship is extremely important for all athletes targeting the Olympics as the training and recovery involved is a full time job in itself. Some sponsorship from local businesses could really help me chase this dream.”

Loreto knock out second national league side in ISC  sport@dublingazette.com

Loreto’s Sarah Evans gives chase to a ball in her side’s 3-0 win over UCC. Picture: Adrian Boehm

LORETO knocked out higher ranked opposition for the second round of the women’s Irish Senior Cup quarter-final draw after they disposed of UCC on Saturday to be the one of just two provincial league sides still standing in the competition.

The Leinster league outfit progressed as they beat the Cork side 3-0 with a superb second half showing.

Hannah Matthews made it 1-0 before efforts from Sarah Evans and Niamh Small from

a corner move extended the lead out, adding UCC to Pembroke in their list of victims in this year’s competition.

Donnybrook side Muckross, however, were unable to join them as Ballymoney eventually prevailed on penalty strokes in Donnybrook against Muckross after normal time had finished 2-2.

Jane Gilsenan had give Muckross the early lead from a corner before Money swapped the lead by the 52nd minute.

A minute later, Sarah Green equalised from another set

piece, setting up a lively closing quarter in which Nicci Daly saw one effort saved on the line and another hit the post with three minutes to go.

It sent the tie straight to penalty strokes in which Ballymoney netted each of their first three while Muckross missed twice to set up the victory.

Other wise, all the main players advanced to the quarter-finals of the competition with six EYHL sides making it through.

For the second week running, Cork Harlequins put it up

to Booterstown’s Hermes but could not quite get the reward their performance deserved as they eventually succumbed 2-1 at St Andrew’s.

Like a week ago, the first half ended scoreless. Nikki Evans broke the deadlock ten minutes into the second period with a classy reverse-stick finish.

Quins fought back with Miriam Crowley equalising but the Hermes’ reply was instant with Chloe Watkins restoring the home side’s lead, one which they held to the end.

3 December 2015 gazette 29

Gazette

Pendred steps out of the MMA Octagon Dubliner ends his competitive career in the cage but says his love for mixed martial arts is not likely to be dimmed  james hendicott

sport@dublingazette.com

CATHAL PENDRED - a high-profile UFC fighter based at Conor McGregor’s Straight Blast Gym in central Dublin - has retired from the sport, citing a loss of passion.

T h e we l t e r we i g h t fighter represented Ire-

Cathal Pendred

land and is a former Cage Warriors champion, and also reached a semi-final in American UFC-based reality TV show ‘The Ultimate Fighter’. He was born in Boston to Irish parents, and relocated to Dublin as a toddler, where he played in a Leinster Schools senior cup winning Belvedere

College side alongside Cian Healy before getting involved in mixed martial arts.

Announcing the retirement, Pendred said: “I am a passionate person and I always give 100% to what I do.

I have been passionate about MMA for a long time and my focus on the sport has been my

driving force for the last 9 years.

“I now find that my passion is no longer what it was and I feel that it is time for me to move on.

“I have other interests that I want to pursue. The time is right to close one door and open another.

“My love of MMA remains with me. I intend to maintain my involvement with the sport, but I no longer wish to compete.”

He continues: “I have developed as a person because of mixed martial Arts, as I learned to cope with the discipline and demands of the sport. MMA has made me a stronger person.

This strength will carry through into other areas of my life, as I move on to pursue new goals.

“I would like to thank all my coaches and teammates for their friendship and support.

Thank you to ever yone who has followed

and supported me on this journey. Indeed, thanks to everyone that I met through MMA from star t to finish.

This chapter of my life wouldn’t have been the same without you.

“My participation in competing in MMA has come to an end, but my love for the sport has not.

“I will maintain my interest in the sport and continue to support my team mates as they follow their dreams.”

Pendred has recently opened a salad bar in Dublin called Chopped and he has also become involved in domestic v i o l e n c e aw a r e n e s s campaigns.

He also found viral fame last year when he was pictured returning a stranded dolphin to the water on a beach on Doonbeg, County Clare.

Pendred retires with a professional record of 17 wins and four losses, with one draw. He lost his final two fights.

FastSport Road races play big role in city’s Resolution Day DUBLIN’s New Year Festival has been named Resolution Day, a January 1 event intended to kick start those with New Year’s ambitions.

The first of January event will incorporate the Lord Mayor’s Five Alive challenge at Liffey Valley Athletics Club (already fully booked for race one) through the Tom Brennan 5km road race in Phoenix Park, as well as TED Talk style motivations speeches. The Lord Mayor’s challenge continues into April, with five events in total.

Alongside the sporting events, there will be a candlelit Procession of Light (December 31, St Stephen’s Green), a St Stephen’s Green Street Festival and the lighting up of buildings in an event called Luminosity.

The festival will also attempt to beat world records for the largest Bodhran Session, with in excess of 980 people expected, as well as taxi drivers sharing their stories in talks called ‘On the Move, City Wide’. A music trail and arts workshops are also expected.

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Leo Varadkar said of the event: “We have had an exceptional year in terms of tourism and we intend to end the year with style.

Failte Ireland and Dublin City Council have developed this Festival together to grow Dublin’s reputation as a destination for New Year celebrations.”

“The range of entertainment and events on offer during NYF will entertain visitors and Dubliners alike. I am confident that everyone who takes part in the New Year celebrations will have a great time and be impressed by the manner in which Dublin marks the year’s end.”

He continues: “A young festival by any standard, the NYF is quickly becoming the jewel in Dublin’s winter crown, and proving to be a great draw for international visitors, with last year’s event attracting thousands of visitors from both home and abroad. The St Stephen’s Green Street Fest is a great new addition to the Festival and will provide festival-goers with more options to ring in 2016.”

Gazette

30 clondalkin gazette 3 December 2015

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: leinster champions march on to last 16 of Inter cup

Taylor claims Irish title in the ring for first time KATIE TAYLOR claimed an Irish title for the first time, but the Olympic champion was in fine form at the National Stadium in Dublin 8, overcoming Tipperary’s Shauna O’Keefe to win the vacant Irish Lightweight Belt.

The Peamount United club woman took the title for the fifth time, but having had no opponent signed up to face her the first four times, this victory is the first time Taylor has actually had to contest the title.

O’Keefe, the current Irish intermediate champion, was in a confident mood going into the fight, telling local media that she fancied her chances, but women’s boxings figurehead was not to be upset, winning an unanimous decision 40-34, 40-36, 40-36. Taylor was joined by brother Lee, who took the place of her father Peter in the Taylor corner for the first time.

Unsurprisingly, a brave and competitive O’Keefe was overmatched throughout the contest, with Taylor comfortably outmaneuvering her opponent, and also looking the stronger fighter.

Taylor said of her opponent after the fight: “She fought well. It was a very good work out for me and fair play to her she showed ambition out there tonight.”

Taylor didn’t compete at the Irish nationals last year due to injury, leaving the belt vacant as a result, so technically this latest title isn’t a defence, though Taylor has consistently held the belt in recent years. It remains hard to imagine the Bray native will face a serious challenger for the Irish title before she chooses to step away from the sport. She’ll now move on to prepare for the World Championships in May - she’ll be bidding for a sixth title - and the Rio Olympics for her gold medal defence in August.

Peamount fall to Pegasus in Senior 1A PEAMOUNT United fell 2-0 to Pegasus/ St James’s Gate in the LSL Sunday Senior 1A to put a dent in

their title hopes.

In one of the few LSL matches to be played over the weekend, the Peas loss sees them stay in fourth place in division after 12 rounds of matches, missing out on the chance to move into the top three.

UCC in action against Bluebell United last weekend.

Griffith inspires the Bell

fai inter cup

Bluebell United UCC  sport@dublingazette.com

3 0

BLUEBELLUnited marched into the last 16 of this season’s FAI Intermediate Cup with a 3-0 win over UCC at the Red Cow on Sunday afternoon.

This was a clash of the 2013/14 Munster Senior League champions versus the 2014/15 Leinster Senior League champions and it was the Dublin club who raced in front.

Just 30 seconds in, Andy McNulty drove

a long ball downfield that was boosted by the wind. The Cork defence let the ball bounce then failed to clear it a second time and Shane Stritch stretched his legs and fired the ball past Patrick Cronin and into the back of the net.

The early goal naturally settled the home side and they looked to be on top in almost every department throughout the first half. They bossed the game physically, allowing UCC to have a lot of possession but in harmless areas such as the halfway line.

The closest the Univer-

held at bay Gorey see off Clon in physical league battle clondalkin were undone 21-14 by Gorey

last weekend at Gordon Park in Leinster League Division 1A to see them sit in seventh place in the table after seven rounds of matches.

It was their fifth defeat of the campaign and they will hope to bounce back quickly when they take on third place De La Salle Palmerston on Saturday at the same venue.

Picture: Sharon Flanagan.

sity side came to scoring was through Cian Murphy via a cross-comeshot.

On 34 minutes Andy Noonan’s side doubled their lead through Tony Griffith. Irish amateur international Aji Sule broke away down the right, muscling his way through a couple of challenges before pulling the ball back for Sean Byrne.

His shot was blocked but fell to Griffith who scored with a bit of help from the post.

UCC started the second half well, with Evan Brown beginning to cause more problems

but the Bluebell centreback pairing of Sherlock and Laurence were in no mood to concede.

Sule sealed the result just after the hour mark when Griffith, this time playing provider rolled in the Regions Cup winner and he calmly slotted past Cronin for the Bell’s third.

College’s hopes of getting back into the tie were washed away on the hour mark as Irish international and Regions Cup winner Aji Sule hit the third and final goal.

So Noonan’s side go into the last 16 with

dreams of winning a first intermediate crown since 2000 still very much alive for the Naas Road club. Since that success on the turn of the millennium against St Mary’s, Bluebell have lost three finals in 15 years.

With the LSL Senior Sunday title sitting warmly in their cabinet and with plenty of hope and chance that it could stay there at the end of the season, how Noonan and his players would relish placing the national crown alongside it in the clubhouse bar.

3 December 2015 CLONDALKIN gazette 31

Gazette

Minor star

Davis’s Carey receives player of year award

Club Noticeboard Round tower, clondalkin

thomas Davis’s star defender Olwen

Carey was among the players honoured at the Dublin Ladies Gaelic Football Association annual awards and gala evening last weekend in Croke Park .

She was named Under-21 player of the year for her perormances this year at the event which celebrates the very best in the county.

Picture: GAAPics.com

football: Lucan return to afl division one

THANKS to all who attended Round

less this coming Saturday, December 5

Tower AGM last Saturday. Incoming

in the Mill Shopping Centre. Members

executive: president – Tommy Keogh;

and supporters asked to pop along

vice presidents – Frank Cosgrove,

and support.

Paddy Delaney, John O’Malley Snr;

That evening there will be a juvenile

chairman – Niall Connaughton; vice

fundraiser in the club with music from

chairman – Ed O’Malley; honorary

Colm Gavin. This will be a great night’s

secretary – Michael McGlynn; hon-

entertainment and all support is wel-

orary treasurer – Andrew Cronin;

come.

assistant secretary – Martin Ryan;

Well done to the Ciaran Carr Foun-

assistant treasurer – John Ryan;

dation for hosting excellent fundraiser

Members – Tony Delaney, Alan Milton,

last Saturday night.

Billy O’Connor. Thanks to outgoing

The Round Tower lotto (November

executive member Matthew McCor-

23) jackpot of €10,000 was not won.

mack for his service.

Numbers drawn were 11, 13, 18 and

The Round Tower Christmas draw

23, the bonus ball was 1. There was no

2015 is underway. Tickets will be dis-

overall winner and no bonus ball win-

tributed to club members and we ask

ner. Three €100 winners were Jennifer

all to support this vital fundraiser. You

Doyle, PJ Tyndall; Den and Len. Thank

can also pick up tickets from the club.

you to all who supported. Play lotto

The Round Tower juvenile section

online from just €2 per week and sup-

are hosting carol singing for the home-

port this vital fundraiser.

ST pat’s palmerstown THE lotto numbers for this week were 7,10, 22 and 28, there was no winner so next week’s jackpot will be €6,600.

The draw takes place in the Palm-

parents from a great win away in Kilbride GAA. The guys were wet but

10pm and tickets cost €2.

brave with some stylish moves and

Casey’s defensive stint seals Sars’ win

that support our lotto every week.

afl div 2 playoff Lucan Sarsfields Skerries Harps  sport@dublingazette.com

1-9 1-5

AFTER 24 months of hard work both on and off the field, Lucan Sarsfields are heading back to AFL1 after the club’s senior footballers defeated Skerries Harps 1-9 to 1-5 in the AFL2 promotional play-off final Sunday.

The match was played on an extremely breezy morning at the 12th Lock, a wind so strong that it dictated play and it was the home side who used it better.

Lucan got off to a great start, going two points up after two minutes. It

wasn’t until the half hour mark that Skerries got on the scoreboard and by that time, Sean McCaffrey’s side had settled nicely into the tie. Sars added their third score after 12 minutes and immediately followed it up with another.

The breeze was blowing across the pitch rather than in one direction but when it did get behind them, it drove Lucan forward and they went 0-5 to no score on 29 minutes.

Skerries were back in the contest when, following some sloppy Sarsfields defending, former Dublin All-Ireland winning captain Bryan Cullen popped up with a

goal.

Two minutes into the second half, Skerries got their first point of the game through the impressive Colin Daly.

There was a 10-minute spell where neither side registered on the scoreboard but it was Lucan who got the next point to go 0-6 to 1-1 in front.

Cullen and Rory Newsholme then hit back to pull the game level for Skerries on 46 minutes.

With 10 minutes to go however, Lucan went back in front but probably more importantly at this stage, had pulled Paul Casey back to man-mark the troublesome Daly and it nullified much of

Skerries’ threat going forward.

The Lucan backs in general were excellent throughout here once again, just as they had been in last week’s playoff semi-final.

O we n E n n i s a n d Ciaran McHugh were unflappable at wing-back while Dan Gallagher led like a lion at centre-back.

Substitutes were key for Lucan too with Rory Kelly coming on to bag 1-2 points late on while Johnny McCormack got Lucan’s crucial score which put them four ahead with a massive point towards the end which sealed the result and a return to AFL1.

Rain, wind and even some sleet couldn’t stop the U-8s and their brave

erstown House every Sunday night at Thank you to all our sellers and to all The Lucan Sarsfields senior football team

dublin@gaa.ie stating date of birth.

Our senior hurling/camogie ses-

a special mention for Ciaran Whelan O’Farrell who put away every chance that came his way. Well done all.

sions will continue in Glenaulin on

The U-7s football team battled

Fridays from 7 to 8pm, weather per-

strong winds and rain to win out

mitting, it’s open to U-14 up to minors

against Kilbride GFC, Meath, on Sat-

to improve their hurling/camogie

urday.

skills with senior hurlers taking the

The team worked hard throughout

sessions. The juvenile camogie/hurl-

the game and won personal battles at

ing skills sessions will also continue

every position. Notable performanc-

in Glenaulin on Friday from 6-7pm,

es were produced by Sadhbh, Evan,

weather permitting; open to play-

Eamonn, Lara, Myles, Jack, Rory,

ers up to U-12; it’s a great chance to

Morgan, Caoimhe and Tadgh. The

improve their hurling/camogie skills

great Meath-Dublin rivalry continues,

and all are welcome.

but for now, the Dubs are on top. The

U-9 camogie and girls’ football

parents played their part, supporting

training is on every Saturday morning

from the sideline, their commitment

at 10am; all welcome who are born in

is very much appreciated and nec-

2007 and 2008, just drop down and ask

essary. Thank you to Kilbride for the

for Conor or Emer.

match and for the tea and sandwiches.

Any girls or ladies out there interested in playing girls/ladies football, please contact the secretary by email: secretary.stpatrickspalmerstown.

Thank you also to Kieran McWeeney (St Pats) for arranging the match.

Congrats to our junior footballers



who secured promotion.

Got a story? we want to know!

Call our sport team on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 3

or email sport@dublingazette.com

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

a footballing lesson: Bluebell teach UCC a few things to record a fine win in the FAI inter cup P31

December 3-9, 2015

leaving the octagon: Cathal Pendred ends his competitive career P29

Ormond’s world in motion Stephen Ormond, right, is zoning in on a world title fight. Picture: Sharon Flanagan

Clondalkin boxer back on Dublin soil after successful stint in the US puts him back in the frame for a possible title bout early in 2016

 sport@dublingazette.com

BACK home after two wins in America in recent weeks, Stephen “The Rock” Ormond is back in the Celtic Warrior Gym and targeting a World Title in 2016.

The 32 year-old Clondalkin boxer was stateside fighting on shows put on by his promoter Murphy’s Boxing and earned high praise from the boxing community in Boston.

Having left Frank Warren’s stable for Murphy’s, Ormond hasn’t hid his ambition to be a world champion but spoke more openly than ever this week.

“I’m just ticking over right at the moment,

learning things. Learning things until the New Year, I want to be fighting for the World Title after that, I’m pissed off now at this stage,” he told the Irish-Boxing.com website this week.

The lightweight fighter will keep a close eye on Terry Flanagan v Derry Matthews world title fight on February 13, with Flanagan putting his WBO belt on the line. Ormond defeated Matthews in December 2013 before being disqualified against Flanagan in February this year, in their world title eliminator, for head-butting.

He isn’t confident of getting a rematch from the winner of that fight, nor is he of getting a shot against new WBA champion

Anthony Crolla, who he says his team tried to get a fight against but have failed in every avenue so far.

“I’m going to be fighting in February. I don’t know where yet; it might be here,” he said nonetheless. “And then I’m hoping for a world title shot on Paddy’s Day, or at least a title eliminator. We’re in talks now, it’s in the works; they [Murphy’s Boxing] are working on it over in America at the moment, so I should know soon.”

Having faced both men, The Rock gave his verdict on who he thinks will come out on top in the Flanagan v Matthews bout. “I think Flanagan will beat Matthews; obviously Flanagan because he beat me,” he laughed. “He

got Fighter of the Year too so well done to him on that and I expect him to beat Derry.”

He also spoke about that fight against Flanagan back in February and admitted he still gets annoyed about his disqualification for head-butting. “It was just one of those where everything didn’t go in my favour. I don’t want to make excuses and I’m not trying to, but it wasn’t me that night.

“I’d been 10 or 11 months out of the ring before that fight and then plus what happened to my grandmother [who passed away the day of the fight]. But it makes me more hungry and that’s why I’m here now and more determined to win a world title,” concluded Ormond.