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Council denies damp in Tor an Ri ian begley
SOUTH Dublin County Council has denied that houses in Tor an Ri, Balgaddy are damp or pose health risks. Balgaddy Working Together Group compiled a list of 39 social houses in the estate that it believes have serious problems with mould and dampness. Lorraine Hennessey of the group told The Gazette: “The mould and
dampness are recurring all the time in these homes so we highlighted this issue to local representatives, but we’re still trying to get the council to admit that there’s a real problem.” A spokesperson from the council said: “All reported defects in the housing units in Tor an Ri have been examined thoroughly and any defects found have been remedied.” Full Story on Page 4
School blues: Pupils get full marks for cancer campaign MOYle Park College pupils were
joined by Cllr Kenneth Egan (FG) and Fiona Quigley on their Blue Day to highlight the issue of testicular cancer. Blue was the colour of choice on the day designated to bring attention to this men’s can-
cer. Dublin Senior Football manager Jim Gavin also turned up on the day, when pupils donned blue curly wigs, onesies, face masks and funky hats. Students sold wristbands and T-shirts to raise €1,552 in funds. Pictures: Cathy Weatherston
2 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5 March 2015
Services Unemployed people will get ‘fantastic service’
Clondalkin to have new Intreo office Ian Begley news@gazettegroup.com
T H E L u c a n -A d a m stown and Clondalkin areas have been designated by the Department of Social Protection for the provision of Intreo services in Dublin midwest. Intreo is a new service from the Department, which aims to act as a single point of contact for all employment and
income supports. The scheme is designed to provide a more streamlined approach, which offers practical, tailored employment services and supports for jobseekers and employers. Work is ongoing in Clondalkin where Intreo services will be provided from the existing local Social Protection office and the former Motor Tax Office. These works are expect-
Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Top Floor, Clarendon House, 39 Clarendon Street, Dublin 2 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers
ed to be completed by the end of March or early April 2015. The specific timeframe and location for the provision of Intreo services for Lucan-Adamstown have yet to be announced. Responding to a question posed to the Department by local TD Joanna Tuffy (Lab), Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton said: “The Office of Public Works has been exploring options in both Lucan and Adamstown for an Intreo centre, but given the limited choice of suitably sized and located offices, complex property and development issues, and third-
party interests, this process is taking longer than expected. “The Department is anxious to see the Intreo service delivered in the area within a reasonable timeframe.” Speaking to The Gazette, Deputy Tuffy said: “It’s disappointing that there isn’t a site available yet for Lucan but at the same time it’s very welcome that the Clondalkin office is being made and that works are under way. “I have heard about the Intreo office in Ballyfermot and there’s been great feedback from it. “The Intreo offices are like vamped-up social
New office will offer services to unemployed people in the area
welfare offices and will help people access training, education or employment schemes or actual jobs. “I think that this is a
very welcome and positive development. “An Intreo service will serve everyone in the community and the sooner it’s open to the public
the better. I really think this will benefit local people who are unemployed and that they will get a fantastic service from this scheme.”
5 March 2015 CLONDALKIN Gazette 3
amenity
Plan is part of a larger redevelopment of Bush Resource Centre
Plea not to turn community garden into car park ian begley
CONTROVERSY has erupted over plans to turn the Balgaddy Community Garden into a car park as part of an extension to the Bush Resource Centre. The South Parish Pasto-
ral Council, which owns the Bush Resource Centre, has recently announced its intention to redevelop the centre and adjoining lands in Balgaddy. This proposal involves the replacement of the existing centre with a new purpose built facility.
The proposal also involves the removal of the existing community garden, which has been built up over a number of years through voluntary work by local residents. According to a source who works in the centre, the garden will close from April 30 and
will hold building machinery while the new centre is being built, followed by the development of a car park. T he source told T he Gazette: “I think it’s absolutely disgraceful that the garden is going. I always said it was a great place for the people
of the community to come together and meet up. “The garden is so important for social and mental health reasons. People there plant all sorts of fruit, vegetables and flowers and are all really friendly and easy-going. “I was stunned when I
found out at such short notice and was left completely in the dark.” Local Cllr Eoin O Broin (SF) called on the pastoral council to withdraw its proposal to close the garden, saying the proposal was “disappointing”.
equality: Project aims to empower members
Women’s group future secure under new deal THE future of Ronanstown Women’s Community Development Project has been assured for another year following the announcement that it will receive about €88,200 to promote greater inclusion of women in their communities. Minister Frances Fitzgerald announced the continuation of the €1.5m scheme for 17 projects nationwide, which will now operate under the aegis of the Department of Justice and Equality instead of the Department of the Environment, as it had done formerly. Minister Fitzgerald said the scheme was the only existing national programme targeting women: “In my area, Ronanstown Women’s CDP, Rowlagh Women’s Group, and the Clondalkin Women’s Network play a vital role in empowering women, giving them the confidence, the training and the forum to become more active participants in their local community and society as a whole. “As recently as last October, I was proud to join Ronanstown Wo m e n ’ s C D P f o r their 30th anniversary
Bairbre Ni Bhraonain bnibhraonain@dublingazette.com
event in Aras Chronain, Clondalkin. This was a great testament to the longevity and continuing relevance and importance of these groups and the work they do.” Ronanstown CDP is a social inclusion and equality group funded by the National Collective of Community-Based Women’s Networks. V i v i e n n e G l a nv i l l e , project coordinator, told The Gazette: “We’re one of the 17 projects in the national collective. My project here is 30 years going...but we joined the national collective in 2009. Back then we got local government funding. In the last two years there was a change in structure and our project didn’t fit under the new scheme because our target group was women. “So, we lobbied really hard and fast for the last year, and I’m delighted to say that Minister [for
Environment] Alan Kelly and Frances Fitzgerald got together and came up with a solution and now, funding-wise, we’re being moved into the Department of Justice and Equality and our work fits very well under this. “We provide community education, gender equality programmes, suppor ts for women including childcare; we run programmes of inclusion and diversity and community education programme. We have 175 people coming through the door on a weekly basis. They range from in their 20s up their 70s … Our aim is inclusion first and foremost… we might have some social outings and an international women’s day event and invite everybody to these larger events also. “Everything is for women’s empowerment and leadership. That can be done through either creativity classes or our education programmes; it can even be done through a computer class. It’s about embracing that we’re all working together and that brings out people talking about what’s going on in their communities and
if we’re feeling a sense of belonging or need to change anything in our community to make it better for us and our children. The very positive thing about our project is it makes women activists in their community so [when] they’re seen on the school board, for example, it has a knock-on effect.”
Minister Frances Fitzgerald now has responsibility for the centre’s funding
4 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5 March 2015
health risk ‘The smell of the dampness is disgraceful’
Council denies mould in Tor an Ri houses Ian Begley news@gazettegroup.com
SOUTH Dublin County Council has denied that houses in Tor an Ri, Lucan are damp or pose health risks. Balgaddy Working Together Group compiled a list of 39 social houses in the estate that they feel have serious problems with mould and dampness. The Lucan-based group compiled a report of the
four social housing developments in the area and report finding 39 of the units with defects. Lorraine Hennessey from the Working Together group told The Gazette: “Since we became aware that this problem wasn’t with just one or two homes in the area we made a report, which proves that this issue is affecting people in the four different developments here. “The mould and damp-
ness are recurring all the time in these homes so we highlighted this issue to local representatives, but we’re still trying to get the council to admit that there’s a real problem.” Michelle Morrissey, who lives in a duplex in Tor an Ri, told The Gazette that her family’s home is unfit to live in. She said: “The whole house is damp all over, and my son’s room is an absolute disgrace and his mattress has turned
almost green. “I keep my windows open all the time, but I’m being told that this problem is down to condensation. “I’ve been in touch with a lot of local councillors and they came around to have a look at my home and were disgusted. “The smell of the dampness is disgraceful and I really look after my house so there’s no reason why this should be happening.”
This picture shows discolouration on the side of a mattress, which a Tor an Ri resident says was caused by dampness in her home
Fumi Olatunji, who also lives in a duplex in Tor an Ri, said that the mould and dampness in her home make her fear for her children’s health. “Everything here is just cold and damp. “A few months ago my bed collapsed because water had gotten into the wood. “My bathroom is not even fit for a dog and my living room is also a disgrace with the dampness.
Special Women’s Day event FOR International Women’s Day 2015, the Bawnogue Women’s Development Group will hold a special event to celebrate its participants’ achievements. The group, based in the Bawnogue Youth and Community Centre, is committed to assisting local women overcome barriers through community education, lobbying and representation. Past participants will receive FETAC certificates and guest speakers will elaborate on the importance of women’s community education, at the ceremony in the community centre at 10am on March 5. See the Bawnogue Women’s Development Group’s Facebook page.
“You can’t even bring a guest into this house no matter how much you try and clean it. “I’m very concerned about my children’s health. I don’t want them to contract bronchitis or some other type of breathing problem. “People have come here on countless occasions to try and fix the problem, but I know this can’t be solved.” A spokesperson from the council said: “All
reported defects in the housing units in Tor an Ri have been examined thoroughly and any defects found have been remedied. “They are not damp or a fire hazard nor do they pose a health and safety risk. “If the tenants involved contact our maintenance section we will arrange an inspection to examine any problem reported and remedy any defects found.”
5 March 2015 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5
health €4.5m saved ‘could be used to stop hospital trolley waits’
Council votes to ban fluoride ian begley news@gazettegroup.com
SOUTH Dublin County Council has recently voted to remove fluoride from the public water supply. At the February council meeting, local Cllr Danny O’Brien (SF) tabled a motion calling for the Government to remove fluoride from Irish water, arguing that the €4.5m a year it costs to add, could be put to better use. The motion was passed by the majority of councillors and its terms will be forwarded to the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, and to Irish Water. A similar motion by Lucan Cllr Paul Gogarty (Ind) that called for a referendum on the
issue was defeated. Cllr O’Brien said: “The Government needs to listen to the councils and the Minister for Health should act by passing a Bill to stop adding unnecessar y chemicals to the public water supply. “In 1964, after the 19 6 0 Wa t e r S u p p l y Act, fluoride was put into the public water supply to reduce tooth decay rates. However, today people are getting enough fluoride in their toothpaste. Some countries, such as Germany, did practise fluoridation. However, this practice stopped after German reunification. Nowadays the majority of countries in Europe don’t add fluoride to their water and their tooth decay
rates are still falling or remaining the same. “T he HSE spends over €4.5m to add fluoride to the water supply. This money could be put to better use by reducing the number of people on trolley beds around the country.” Cllr Gogarty told The Gazette: “A referendum would educate the public thoroughly on both sides of the debate and allow their voice to be heard on this important public health issue.” Responding to the passed motion, chief executive Danny McLoughlin said: “The mandator y f luoridation of Irish drinking water supplies is governed by the Health Act (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) 1960 and the Fluoridation of
Councillors passed a motion by Cllr Danny O’Brien to remove fluoride from water
Water Supplies Regulations 2007. Therefore, the fluoridation of water supplies is ultimately a matter for the Minister for Health. “Water fluoridation is the controlled addition
of fluoride to a public water supply to reduce tooth decay. “Currently, there is an independent body reviewing the fluoridation of Irish drinking water supplies on a con-
tinuous basis, known as T he Irish Exper t Body on Fluorides and Health. “Irish Water now has sole responsibility for the delivery of water services.”
Liffey Opinions sought on flood maps For those who fear a risk of flooding, engineering consultant group RPS is displaying draft flood maps that show the extent of flooding in your area. From March 5, RPS is publishing draft flood maps for the River Liffey from Lucan to Chapelizod and the lower reaches of the River Griffeen. South Dublin County Council, along with the engineering consultant group, are welcoming comments on these draft maps, along with your experiences of flooding in your area. The draft maps are accessible through the project website, www. eastcframstudy.ie. For more information email info@eastcframstudy.ie
6 CLONDALKIN GAZETTE 5 March 2015
CLINICAL Volunteer therapist sought THE Beacon of Light, Clondalkin is looking for volunteers to help run its counselling centre. This one-year fixed placement contract for a therapist will be offered to qualified councillors, psychotherapists or counselling psychologists. This is also an opportunity for interns to work up their hours towards accreditation. The ideal candidates must be open to working with children and adolescent clients, have excellent listening and communication skills, demonstrate great warmth and the ability to empathise and work as part of the clinical team. For further information or to submit a curriculum vitae, email ray@beaconoflight.ie or see www. beaconoflight.ie
COURTS Ex heroin addict in ‘savage’ pub attack
Three years for biting chunk of stranger’s ear A DUBLIN man has been jailed for three years for biting off a piece of a stranger’s ear in an unprovoked pub attack two years ago. Lawyers for Darren Byrne (34) said he had been on heavy medication and believed six men were attacking him when he bit a chunk off Niall Kearns’s ear. The victim later told gardai he recalled Byrne “growling” in his ear but didn’t realise a piece was missing until his friends alerted him and found it.
Byrne, of Harelawn Avenue, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to assaulting Mr Kearns causing him harm at The Village Inn, Clondalkin, on June 23, 2012. He has 15 previous convictions for minor matters. Judge Martin Nolan said the assault was “a savage attack” and that Byrne had “behaved in a deplorable fashion for whatever reason”. He accepted that the victim had “no part to play” in the attack and added
Byrne “must pay a heavy price for what he did”. Judge Nolan said the assault was at “the highest level of this offence” and that Byrne succeeded in biting a large part of the victim’s ear off. Garda Warren Farrell said that surgeons tried, unsuccessfully, to reattach Mr Kearns’s ear and he turned down reconstructive options because he felt it would look too fake. Gda Farrell told Fiona McGowan BL, prosecuting, that Mr Kearns
Court told Darren Byrne was on heavy medication at time. Pictures: Photocall Ireland
recalled speaking to Byrne in the pub after he had seen his attacker talking to his brother. Mr Kearns told gardai he and Byrne punched each other after the brief conversation. The victim remembered thinking the altercation was over when Byrne
grabbed him and began “growling” into his right ear. Byrne was pulled off Mr Kearns by bouncers and it took seven gardai to arrest him when they arrived on the scene. Gda Farrell agreed with Garnet Orange SC, defending, that his client had suffered from mouth
cancer twice and had been on medication for depression on the night of the attack. Mr Orange said his client was a former heroin addict with serious health issues. He had no previous convictions for violence and asked for a non-custodial sentence.
DON’SDUBLIN
The Foxrock writer who left us waiting for Godot FOR someone born on Friday 13 – especially as it was also Good Friday (in 1906) – something special could be expected. So it’s no surprise that Samuel Beckett, who was born in Foxrock, Co Dublin, went on to become one of the most important writers of the 20th Century and an inspiration to dramatists such as Vaclav Havel, Tom Stoppard and Harold Pinter. His influence on the Beat Generation and their “experimental writing” was vital for Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac and many others. Beckett was educated originally in Dublin before attending Portora Royal School in Enniskillen (where Oscar Wilde had once been a pupil), and then entering Dublin University (Trinity College). He was bright as a student, and an excellent athlete, excelling at cricket. He played two first-class matches against Northamptonshire and, as such,
has the unique distinction of being the only Nobel Laureate (1969) to be mentioned in Wisden Cricketers’ Almanac – cricket’s “bible”. He went to Paris in 1927 to teach English and was soon introduced to James Joyce. Over the next two years, and with Joyce’s failing eyesight, he did much research on what would become Joyce’s last work, Finnegans Wake. He was greatly impressed with the older man, and his first published work was a critical essay in support of Joyce. After a return to Dublin he went back to Paris when World War 2 began. He helped the French Resistance and in 1942 was lucky to escape capture by the Gestapo. His commitment was recognised after the war, when he was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French government (above, you can see Beckett in one of his best-known photos, sitting at a
DON’S DUB
Parisian cafe). This was Beckett’s most productive period, highlighted by the completion in January, 1949, of his play, Waiting for Godot. This play is considered by many as one of the greatest works of the century and, like all masterpieces, has any number of interpretations. The critic Vivian Mercier commented that “Beckett has achieved a theoretical impossibility – a play in which nothing happens, that yet keeps audiences glued to their seats. “What’s more, since the second act is a subtly different reprise of the first, he has written a play in which nothing happens, twice.” Or, more succinctly: less is less!
Don Cameron www.donsdublin.wordpress.com
5 March 2015 CLONDALKIN Gazette 7
8 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5 March 2015
ask the politician A weekly Q&A with local representatives looks A Youth Council of Ireland survey recently found that 44% of 18- to 24-year-old JobBridge interns believe employers are using the scheme as a source of free labour. The Gazette asks politicians from the four Dublin local authority areas if they think the JobBridge scheme is exploitative and whether there is an alternative to replace it.
dun laoghaire-rathdown county council: Cllr Karl Gill (PBP)
Tanaiste, joan burton
This is a con job designed to assist the wealthiest people in our society
Over 97% of all internships monitored were complying with scheme’s criteria
JobBridge, as one of many of the social welfare based internship schemes, has faced much criticism from all angles since its establishment. Participants on the scheme have commented on how they have been forced into it by way of threat of their
payments being cut. I myself was told by a social welfare manager that if I failed to be elected I would be made take up a JobBridge internship or face having my payment slashed. People of all ages are being bullied into these schemes. For participants on
these schemes there are no provisions for travel expenses, lunch payments or childcare while they work for free, often for private companies. People with masters degrees and even Phds have found themselves with no choice but to take up these schemes.
Some young people don’t have a problem with this because they might have parents who can fully support them while they are on the scheme. However this is not a position most people are in. Most of the internship placements are not offering paid positions for when people complete them and most companies effectively have a revolving door policy of free labour interns. A report done for the Department of Social Protection, called the Indecon report, shows 29% of employers using JobBridge admitted they would have offered full time paid employment in the scheme’s absence but since the scheme is in place they are availing of free labour. Also just 19.5% of interns actually got a job with the company at the end. We need a real public works scheme in place to get people back to work in the areas that they trained in. The Labour Party seem to expect people who have studied for four years in a third/ fourth level degree course and paid over €12,000 in fees to work for free stacking shelves in Tescos. This is not a back-to-work scheme.
The purpose of the JobBridge scheme is to provide opportunities for all jobseekers to gain critical experience in the workplace, particularly in their chosen field. Independent studies speak to the very real success of the scheme – three in five participants in JobBridge secured employment following their internship. The really positive thing about the JobBridge scheme is that so many people want to be involved. I welcome the NYCI’s
report on JobBridge and intend to carefully consider the findings and conclusions. On balance the report has some very positive things to say about the JobBridge scheme. For instance, over two-thirds of people who participated said JobBridge gave them
valuable work experience, and two-thirds of interns report having moved out of unemployment on finishing their internship. It’s important to state that the scheme is voluntary; there is no compulsion on jobseekers to take part. My Department has carried out more than 9,000 monitoring visits, and over 97% of all internships monitored were found to be complying with the criteria laid down under the scheme.
5 March 2015 CLONDALKIN Gazette 9
at that are concentrating minds across the city and county Duntopics Laoghaire-Rathdown County: Cllr Neale Richmond (FG) Mayor of South Dublin County Council: Fintan Warfield (SF)
Dublin City Council: Cllr Andrew Montague (Lab)
JobBridge should be replaced
The results have been very positive
As a young political representative, I mix with countless people who are currently serving internships on the JobBridge scheme. Many have had a positive experience but many more believe that JobBridge displaces paid work, depresses wages and facilitates abuse by some employers. This must not be allowed to continue. The JobBridge scheme should be closed and replaced with a new model. Since June 2011, JobBridge has become the central plank of the Government’s jobs strategy. Although some individuals may have had a positive experience, it is a scheme which leaves thousands of jobseekers vulnerable to exploitation. It is a scheme that has already reduced the number of job opportunities available and if not closed now, thousands of future positions will emerge as unpaid internships instead. Sinn Fein propose to replace the one-sizefits-all JobBridge scheme with a new participant centred model for internships, compiled with the support of key stakeholders including major unions, the National Youth Council of Ireland, INOU and We’re Not Leaving, along
I met a young woman recently who left school early and remained unemployed for several years. She was losing hope of ever having a decent future for herself. So when she was offered a JobBridge post in the local SuperValu she grabbed the chance. On her first day in work, the SuperValu mystery shopper came into the store in order to give feedback to the manager. The mystery shopper went to the counter that the JobBridge intern was on and asked her for help. The mystery shopper didn’t know that this young woman was on JobBridge and our intern didn’t know she was dealing with a mystery shopper. The mystery shopper was so impressed with the service that she received that she reported to the manager that the young woman was one of the best shop assistants that she ever came across. The young intern finished her JobBridge term and with a new sense of confidence decided to go back to college. JobBridge had given her the start that she needed to build a brighter future and to give her a real sense of confidence in herself. Like many other people who are unemployed, she found it difficult to get a
with many individual JobBridge participants. Ta i l o r e d internships would be developed sector by sector, in full cooperation with trade unions and Education and Training Boards. Employers would be supported to be the best mentors that they can be. Internships under the scheme would be short and agreed on a sector-by-sector basis. Importantly, companies which have been found in breach of employment law in the previous two years would not be allowed to take on an intern. The names of all employers participating in the scheme would be open to the public, acting as an additional incentive to ensure the proper use of the scheme.
start because she lacked experience. JobBridge gave her the chance to get that experience. It’s a scheme for people who want to take opportunities that come up. It’s not compulsory. It’s only for those that want to give it a go. So there is no question of exploitation. But for many of those that do take it up, like this young woman, the results have been very positive. Nearly two out of every three people that go on JobBridge end up in a job within six months. That’s a much higher success rate than most other schemes. Many schemes and programmes over the years have been tried to get long-term unemployed people back to work but most have had very poor results. Here’s a scheme that actually works. Let’s not abandon JobBridge. Let’s not abandon our long-term unemployed.
10 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5 March 2014
gazetteGALLERIES
Carmel and Mick Daly
Frances Cousins, Barbara O’Flaherty, Margaret Wignall and Clare Morgan. Pictures: Cathy Weatherston
Ruth Dawson, Eileen Carey, Anne McCarthy O’Neill, Mary Mulkearn and Margaret Wignal
Kathleen Dillon, Ann Moloney, Maura Walker and Rita Plummer
Kathleen Byrne and Tony Quinn
5 March 2014 CLONDALKIN Gazette 11
Nina Kavanagh, Gretta O’Brien, Mary Murray and Marie Walker
Niall Connaughton, Tower’s chairman with GAA president Aogan O’Fearghail), Suzanne Murray and Dublin Football manager Jim Gavin at Round Tower’s recent annual dinner dance at the Red Cow Moran Hotel. Guests enjoyed a sit-down dinner before several members received awards.
tower of fun: gaa club gets down to some serious partying
Jamie Cuddihy and Donna McNulty Entertainer Finbar Coady
laurels pub: community supports fire victim
Frank Cosgrove, Kathleen Cosgrove and Tom Moran
A
Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Mick McGlynn
Rallying around in troubled times special fundraising night was held at the Laurels Pub for Margaret Wignall who is part of Clondalkin Active Retirement. Margaret’s house went on fire recently and the Clondalkin community organised this special
event which included a dinner, music and dancing as well as a raffle with over 50 prizes which were donated by shops in the community and Mill Centre. Organisers said the event was a brilliant night with €1,000 raised.
Phil O’Connor and Elain Gavigan
Yvonne Doyle, Suzanne Murray, Val Kennedy and Jessica O’Malley. Pictures: Jolanta Rossiter Willy Crosbie and Pamela Williams
Brendan Clarke, Teresa Gilligan and Maureen Keogh
12 gazette 5 March 2015
gazetteGALLERY
Orla Morrison Toolen and Carol Morris
Actors David Rawle (Martin Moone), Deirdre O’Kane (Debra Moone) and Peter McDonald (Liam Moone) at the world premiere of Moone Boy series 3 at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin recently. The new series of Chris O’Dowd’s international Emmy-winning comedy begins on Sky 1 on Monday, March 2. Pictures: Brian McEvoy
World Premiere: season 3 brings the stars to kilmainham
Moone Boy set to give us a laugh a third time Sophie McNally and Laura Booth
Maria Hennessy and Maria Connor
Barbara and Brian Kearns
Olive Kelly, Sarah Jennings and Michelle Davis
Aine Killilea and Ollie Canning
5 March 2015 Gazette 13
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dublinlife Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week
a day in the life: we catch up with funnyman pj gallagher
what’son
His perfect timing is key to a full day Bairbre Ni Bhraonain
EVER-popular comedian PJ Gallagher took The Gazette on a trip through an average day in his life ahead of his upcoming tour date in Vicar Street this April. Waking up at 5am before heading into studio to broadcast his breakfast show on Classic Hits FM, Gallagher makes sure to get a good aul brekkie to set him up for the day. “The first thing I’ll do is have three Weetabix with skimmed milk, stuck into a bowl and a Berocca energy boost to make sure that I have a bit of energy inside me. Then I jump into the shower – I have my little routine timed perfectly. “I stick on some Euronews and see what way the world is going, then let the dog out to the toilet if she wants to go but normally she just tries to jump into the bed when I get up. “She loves the warm bit, and though she shouldn’t be in there I haven’t the heart to take her out because it’s so cold in the house when I get up. “Then I look at the bicycle and try and talk myself into cycling – and every single morning I just jump on
be drawn to an anime and manga festival ANIME Dublin is back once again for 2015 with a unique, one-day anime event packed with special events, exclusive screenings, gaming, and late night activities. Now in its fourth year, the animation convention takes place at O’Callaghan Alexander Hotel on Fenian Street on April 11. Doors will open at 10am, and events will run right through until 10pm. There will be a pub quiz and general pub shenanigans from 8pm until 11.30pm in the hotel pub for over18s.
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‘I look at the bicycle and try and talk myself into cycling to work – and every single morning I just jump on the motorbike and head off’
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the motorbike [a Triumph 800] and head off,” he says. Once in the studio, he checks the papers to see if there’s anything worth talking about on the show. “The show runs from 6am to 10am with Damien [Farrelly]. The whole idea of the show is basically to convince people that it’s okay to get up out of bed and go into the world. “We play 70s and 80s music, so a lot of dancing goes on.” Then it’s home to take out his two dogs, Wendy and Lilo. When it comes to dinner, it seems this comedian is more used to the phone dial than the cooker’s dial. “If I don’t have a gig I’ll have dinner at 6.30pm. I’m a terrible cook! “I don’t cook anything and the
Gazette
diary P14
Comedian PJ Gallagher, who will be playing at Vicar Street this April
days I don’t have a chopped salad, I get a Chinese [takeaway]. I’m either extremely healthy or extremely unhealthy. “I always call up to my mother in the evening to say hello; she only lives up the road in Clontarf, and I’m in Marino. “I spend an hour there and ramble home and either get stuck into Netflix or try and write some jokes for stand-
up. “I go to bed at 9pm on the button every night. As soon as the news starts I run up to bed and hang all my clothes inside the bathroom so they’re all ready to jump into as soon as I get out of the shower in the morning.” Tickets for PJ Gallagher’s show, Concussion, on April 17 at Vicar Street are available from www.ticketmaster.ie, priced €25.
Prizes The convention will feature a games room with plenty of consoles, tournaments, card games, role-playing games and lots of prizes. A purpose-designed allseated room will host exclusive screenings, panels, workshops and more. Pre-registration has just opened and is advised as places are limited to 300 people. For further information see www. facebook.com/AnimeDublin, or email: animedublin@gmail. com.
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14 GAZETTE 5 March 2015
DUBLINLIFE
DIARY
Enda and Joan busting a move ing with footage of Enda Kenny and Joan Burton recently shown on RTE’s Operation Transformation. While out and about on a walk in his home town of Castlebar, Enda performed a Thrilleresque shoulder shuffle that undoubtedly made
Michael Jackson spin in his grave. This isn’t the first time Enda busted an embarrassing move in public, who can forget his dancing to Happy by Pharrell Williams at last year’s Bloom Festival? In the midst of a group of teenagers, Enda looked like the clueless father
embarrassing his children at their birthday party. Meanwhile, Joanie performed what the girl beside her would probably call an “epic fail” as she tried to copy her dance steps but was always about three moves behind.
CIRQUE DU DAIL TAKES OFF AFTER TEDIOUS TANGENT 2015 may prove to be an entertaining year in the Dail if the first two months of the year are anything to go by. The latest Cirque du Dail saw a number of amusing outbursts particularly from Fianna Fail deputies during an exchange between Gerry Adams and Enda Kenny over Bus Eireann’s plans to axe around 100 of its rural routes. After a tedious tangent of details about the various routes in question, Kenny said he would be introducing a €4bn ruralaid package which would include transport. Fianna Fail Deputy Barry Cowen, (brother of the illustrious Brian) said: “The only thing you brought to rural Ireland was the Fine Gael ardfheis.” This was followed by a roar from Michael Healy-Rae that the current Government was “the most anti-rural Government ever”. The Ceann Comhairle told him to be quiet as it was not his turn to speak: “You’re not Deputy Adams,” he said. “No, I’m not” he replied, “I shave.”
D’NORTHSIDE LIGHTS UP WITH FIVE LAMPS FEST THE Five Lamps Festival
From classic DJ posing to a dash of body popping with his shoulders, the Taoiseach threw down some moves in Operation Transformation. The Tanaiste, however, stuck to more traditional country-wedding-style steps in her segment. Pictures: YouTube
got off to a flying start this week with an elaborate opening night ceremony of music and entertainment launched by Love/ Hate actor John Connors at the Custom House. The festival goes on for the next couple of weeks ending on March 14, with a host of entertaining things to do, see and hear. Some highlights of this year’s festival include holistic events, children’s events such as a marionette show and a circus, dance events, plenty of live music and literary readings, drama and visual arts exhibitions. One of the more unusual events is the Bus Eireann Tour of d’Northside on March 7. For two hours, you can take a tour of the north Inner City area where Roddy Doyle’s Barrytown Trilogy was set. An actor will read excerpts from the books and Pia Dunne will sing soul songs
from The Commitments. This is part of the One City One Book week.
For a full list of Five Lamps Festival, go to www.fivelamp sarts.ie.
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Trabolgan Holiday Village, Cork have used the Dublin Gazette Newspapers for the last few years to advertise various aspects of our holiday village including special offers. We have always had an excellent reader response from the advertisements run and have found the area’s covered by all 8 papers of great value to Trabolgan. The help and guidance we have received from the staff has made it easier for us to communicate our message efficiently and cost effectively ensuring we get the maximum from our budget. We would have no hesitation in recommending the Gazette to any business.
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REMEMBER that moment in 1985 when Mick Jagger and David Bowie covered the great Motown hit Dancing in the Street? With the most cringeworthy dancing ever seen up to that point? Well they can now move over and stop blush-
B E C A U S E L O C A L M AT T E R S
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dublinlife
Q&A liam farrell, founder, parkme.ie
Driving a market gap into a great business model THE founder and managing director of Parkme.ie, Liam Farrell, spotted a gap in the market while home for Christmas in 2011. His firm has over 800 spaces around Dublin registered on its website and offers additional income to people who have an unused parking space. He has extensive experience in
business How long have you been in business?
We have been in business for almost two years now.
What makes your business successful?
Our business is successful because it benefits all of our users. Members are either making or saving money where they did not before. Space owners are creating income from their parking space or driveway and drivers are saving money on their parking costs.
What do you offer your clients that differs from your competitors?
teaching, having among other accomplishments set up an English teaching institute in Argentina in 2010 With an educational background in economics, and having obtained his Masters in Boston University in 2005, Farrell is now also the managing director of his firm, and plans to continue expanding Parkme.ie.
Our main competitors are advertising sites like Gumtree. However, these sites can be used to advertise a wide range of products and services. There is no competitor in Ireland whose sole focus is advertising and renting parking spaces. We do not just advertise the space; drivers can book the space online with a debit or credit card. This removes the possibility of numerous phone calls from interested parties or showing the space over and over again. They can just put the space up
Increase in credit union’s car loans STILLORGAN Credit Union has seen a sizeable uplift in car loan applications in 2015. Unlike garage or bank car finance packages, with a credit union loan the borrower owns the car from the outset. There are no administration charges or hidden fees and, with a credit union loan, you can pay off your car loan early without penalty. Jennifer Finegan, marketing and business development officer with Stillorgan Credit Union, said: “We always advise our members to shop around and check out other lenders rates, but to be careful not to be influenced by repayments that sound too good to be true. “Our advice is to look at the total offer or hire purchase price as this is what you must pay before you actually own the car.”
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‘We aim to become a booking platform not just for individual home owners, but also for larger commercial car parks’
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and wait for bookings to come in and then get paid straight into their bank account. How has the recession affected your business?
While we did not exist before the recession, it certainly had both positive and negative effects for this kind of service. Homeowners are now looking for innovative ways to earn money so the recession helped our business model in that sense. On the other hand, drivers would now have less disposable income. This works both ways for us in that drivers want to use our service to get cheaper parking but some drivers can no longer
afford to pay for parking at all. What law or regulation would you change overnight to help your business?
Some of our users are concerned about the income tax payable on money earned on Parkme.ie. We suggest that they consult their financial adviser on this. We would like to see the rent-a-room scheme expanded to include driveways or parking spaces. Homeowners may earn up to €10,000 tax free by renting out their bedrooms to others. We see no reason why this should not include your parking space.
What is your ambition for the business?
I am very happy with how the business is progressing at this stage. We have new companies contacting us every week in need of extra parking spaces for their new offices. We are currently making improvements to the site and we are in the process of adding some multi-storey car parks to the system. We aim to become a booking platform not just for individual home owners, but also for larger commercial car parks. We are also planning on increasing the number of spaces in other cities in Ireland and the UK.
05 March 2015 Gazette 17
arts P23
asdfsdaf P27 health P24
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 P19
Pets who is super bright and snuggly? Bella!
Offset is a three-day creative conference held annually in Dublin’s Bord Gais Energy Theatre which attracts visitors from around the world
Three-day festival: illustrator Tomi Ungerer expected to wow audience
Offset ready to impress Ian Begley
Preparations are in full swing for this year’s highly-anticipated festival, Offset, which brings together in one place the most creative design talent in the world. Offset is a three-day conference held annually in Dublin’s Bord Gais Energy Theatre over March 6-8. Every year, the festival attracts visitors from around the world to come and hear speakers from different creative industries and to take part in panel discussions and interviews. They outline their work, ideas and inspirations and give insights into their practices and personal perspectives. Independently founded and run, Offset has grown from 450 to 3,000 delegates.
Bren Byrne, a festival director, is confident this year’s Offset will be a big success. Speaking to The Gazette, he said: “We have a small team of about 200 people who help run the whole operation. The main stage will hold presentations by some of the world’s best creative professionals from graphic design, advertising, art, film, fashion and animation. “We also have a second room which is a more intimate setting and holds about 300 people, where we do interviews, panel discussions and Q&As. “Here, people will gain insights into the creative process and different professional approaches on how to make it in the creative industry. “We’ll have about 3,000 people there each day with about 60% of our audi-
ence working in the creative industry and the rest made up of students and creative enthusiasts.” Asked what attendees will learn from this three-day festival, Byrne said: “People will get hands-on tips on how to improve their own creative work practices along with some inspiration from our speakers. People are going to get insights into how things are made and how to deal with clients in a very informal way.” There is no VIP area and no green room at Offset. The space facilitates speakers and attendees, allowing both to mingle freely and settle in for three days of inspiration. The intimate surroundings of the second room of the Bord Gais Energy
Theatre allows delegates to get a little closer to some of the legendary speakers, who will give interviews, contribute to debates and take part in group discussions on topics that are at the heart of the creative agenda. One highly anticipated speaker who will be attending this year’s Offset is illustrator and graphic designer Tomi Ungerer, who now lives in West Cork. At 84-year’s old, Ungerer will talk about his youth in Nazi occupied France, along with his life in New York working as an illustrator and graphic designer, before moving to Ireland in the 1970s. Tickets for Offset are €50 to €70 and are on sale now. For further information and to see the list of speakers taking part, visit www.iloveoffset.com.
the Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Our Dog of the Week this week is is Bella, a fouryear-old female husky. This is one super bright, super snuggly husky! She arrived into Dogs Trust pregnant and went on to have a beautiful litter of babies. They have all since been rehomed and now it’s Bella’s turn. Bella has already lived in a home and thoroughly enjoys her creature comforts. This active lady is looking for an equally active home with adults or bigger kids who will commit to her for the rest of her life. For more information on gorgeous Bella and her Dogs Trust pals, please call Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000 or pop into the centre. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.
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OUT&ABOUT
FOOD&DRINK
BITESIZEDNEWS
Tuck into delicious Boutique Bake lemon meringues
A Mother’s Day treat with lemon meringues THIS week, Boutique Bake has a delicious lemon meringue cupcake recipe using its very own lemon drizzle cake mix. You can use either one to two lemon mixes, depending on how many cupcakes you would like to make. Here, Boutique Bake used one lemon mix, which makes about 12 cupcakes. Boutique Bake is available nationwide in selected Tesco stores, SuperValu, Dunnes, Avoca, Morton’s and many other grocery stores. For further information, see www.boutiquebake.ie.
Ingredients 1 Boutique Bake Lemon Drizzle Cake Mix 150g butter 3 eggs 1 lemon A few spoonfuls of lemon curd for the cupcakes For the meringue topping: 100g caster sugar 2 egg white Star-shaped nozzle (optional) to make a nice shape with the meringues with an icing bag
Preparation • Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4 and line a 12-hole muffin tin with cases. In a large mixing bowl, beat The Zingy One with the butter and eggs. • Divide the mixture between cases and bake for approx 18 minutes until a skewer poked in the cupcakes comes out clean. • When you remove them from the oven, combine the drizzle mix provided in the Boutique Bake mix with the juice of one lemon. Prick your warm cupcakes all over and pour your drizzle over them. Allow them to cool before placing lemon curd on top. • Once cupcakes have cooled, spread about a dessert spoon of lemon curd on top of each cupcake. • Meanwhile, place the egg whites into a clean bowl, whisk until stiff peaks form, then whisk in your sugar, a tablespoon at a time. Keep whisking until the mixture looks glossy and has thickened a little, like shaving foam. Spoon the mixture into an icing bag with a star-shaped nozzle, or freezer bag (snip off the end to pipe). • Pipe meringue on top of each cupcake. Use a blow torch to lightly brown and toast the meringue, or place under grill for a few minutes to lightly brown.
James Whelan Butchers in Avoca: “Irish bacon is fantastic and a great number of people consider bacon and cabbage a culinary triumph”
Butcher celebrates an Irish staple – bacon and cabbage James Whelan Butchers in Avoca is once again leading the trend when it comes to innovative and new cuts of meat for the dinner table. There’s no doubt we Irish love our bacon and cabbage. In fact, 64% of people consider bacon and cabbage as the meal most associated with Ireland, so it’s fair to say, it’s an Irish staple. Whelan’s new rack of bacon is set
to elevate bacon to a new level and is perfect for a dinner party or Sunday lunch and with locations in Avoca Food in Monkstown, Rathcoole and Kilmacanogue, it’s easily accessible. Pat Whelan of James Whelan Butchers said, “Irish bacon is fantastic and a great number of people consider bacon and cabbage a culinary triumph. The aroma of
bacon cooking instantly brings me back to my childhood, conjuring up great memories. It is such an intrinsically Irish dish and there are so many accompaniments that it can be enjoyed many different ways.” Leaving bacon on the bone instantly enhances the taste, as the closer to the bone, the sweeter the meat, as well as creating a visual feast.
It has taken Pat Whelan months to perfect the JWB Rack of Bacon, but every second has been worth it. “Leaving meat cook on the bone adds a whole layer of flavour that’s hard to explain on paper. I can’t wait for my customers to taste it,” said Pat. Meat that has been cooked on the bone will naturally have a richer flavour and this is one of the
main features of the JWB Rack of Bacon. It has been dry cured using an artisan traditional method and the resulting flavour that has been achieved is mouth-watering. James Whelan Butchers are at Avoca Food Market Monkstown, Rathcoole and Kilmacanogue, or check out www. Jameswhelanbutchers. com and order online 24/7.
Let Secret Chef help you shine ALDI’S new range of dishes, aptly named The Secret Chef, are now in store and mean that you can do none of the work but take all of the credit. Now available in all 113 stores nationwide, The Secret Chef range currently consists of 28 dishes based around beef, lamb, chicken, turkey, bacon and pork and will be updated regularly throughout the year to suit the seasons. The full range currently offers a wide choice to suit all tastes, and is priced from just €2.99 to €9.99. Dishes include Irish lamb as a mini joint served plain or infused with garlic butter and parsley (€7.99), or as a shoulder rack with either a bell pepper or mint
herb crust (€6.99). Irish beef is served up as burgers with a choice of melted toppings (€2.99), a stirfry with vegetables and sauce (€4.99), a stroganoff (€4.99), or a striploin steak with either a pepper sauce or a pepper coating (€7.49). Chicken breasts are served up with imagination – from Cajun chicken with a smashed bean salsa, garlic chicken with a creamy lemon sauce, and lime and chilli chicken with a sweet chilli sauce (all €3.69). The Secret Chef range is available in store now and the current Aldi leaflet carries wine recommendations to accompany a selection of the dishes.
Aldi’s chicken with pesto style marinade and cherry tomatoes and a mozzarella crust
5 March 2015 Gazette 19
Paddy’s day deals ian begley
If YOU’RE tempted by a last minute St Patrick’s weekend getaway, there is a host of luxury seasonal hotels and country houses to choose from. From March 12 to 20, you can spend two nights at the Cashel House Hotel, Galway from €179pp. On your arrival, enjoy this year’s St Patrick’s Day in a classic country house retreat set in the heart of Connemara. You can also sow some potatoes in the garden, hunt for hidden shamrocks or join in a singsong in the local pub in nearby Roundstone. From €179, you can
stay at Rathsallagh House, Wicklow with a one-night escape from March 17 to18. Experience the simple country life pleasures of country walks on the scenic estate. At the Carrig Country House in Kerry, those eager for a Paddy’s weekend getaway can spend three nights there for €234 per person. During your stay, you can choose from a round of golf or a one-hour body massage. A three-day stay here will give you plenty of time to explore the Ring of Kerry, Dingle Peninsula and Killarney National Park. This offer, which is valid from March 14
to17, also includes a fourcourse dinner on two evenings in the Lakeside Restaurant. Make your friends green with env y by spending a one-night stay at Mount Juliet Country estate, Kilkenny from €140pp. The package, which includes breakfast and dinner in the Lady Helen Restaurant, is valid for one night only on March 16. For €245pp, spend St Patrick’s weekend at Dunbrody House, Wexford. Valid from March 13 to 18, enjoy two nights’ accommodation with dinner on one evening and on St Patrick’s Day the house will have a com-
plimentary shamrock for each of their guests. There will also be live music and plenty of activities for all ages in the 16th century Duncannon Fort, and Ireland’s only beach parade in Duncannon village to enjoy. With hiddenireland.ie, slow down with nature this St Patrick’s Day at Ashley Park House in Nenagh, Tipperary for €135pp. Set in 76 acres of beech woodland and formal gardens, this historic 18th century country house welcomes guests to embrace life at a slower pace in the comfortable and beautifully decorated home, providing tranquillity and peace for those
Gazette
TRAVEL
Cashel House Hotel offers guests a luxurious welcome in delightful Connemara
hoping to escape the hustle and bustle of modern day living. Take advantage of an early check-in as part of your one-night March 16-17 special retreat, which includes breakfast in bed the following morning, a four-course evening meal and a late
check-out. Start your St Patrick’s Day early and in style at The Twelve Hotel in Galway for €140pp. Upstairs, its West restaurant is familiar to food lovers as a chic and clubby nighttime space. Make a night of it with its “#lazysundayafter-
noons wes tpackage”, which includes an early check in on Sunday, a late check out on Monday, €40 food credit for West, overnight accommodation and breakfast the following morning. You can also add a second night on March 16 from €99 per room.
OUT&ABOUT ndant €98 d rose gold locket pe
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20 Gazette 5 March 2015
laura webb
WHERE would we be without our Mammy or that special lady who has helped mould us into who we are today? This Mother’s Day, show her how much you care with a gift you know she will love, or a quirky present you know you can both have a laugh about when you’re chatting with her over with a cuppa and a nice piece of cake.
Kilkenny Store Calvin Klein
Jade clutch €100
Gifts can be as expensive or as budget-friendly as you like, seeing that most mammies just think: “Isn’t it the thought that counts?” To help you get thinking this Mother’s Day, here are a few ideas from Gazette Style and Beauty ...
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Free Butlers Chocolates when you spend €75
Kilkenny Store has an extra treat for customers doing their Mother’s Day shopping – from now until March 15, you can get a free box of luxury Butlers Chocolates (below, right) when you spend more than €75.
5 March 2015 Gazette 21
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STYLE
Carraig Donn Stripey cardigan €49.95
€72
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H&M Midi skirt €39.99
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FOR many mammies this Mother’s Day, a day out is likely to be on the cards, which could include a nice dinner or lunch somewhere with their adorable kids. However, the day is also just a darn good excuse to get dressed up, and feel like a yummy mummy who’s Fab dressed to impress. uc ci This week, Gazette Nud Co e le as Style brings you t2 ath er xD some ideas for what pee ol is pt ear oe to wear for your day ring sho s€ this March 15. eb 19 yM Whether you are a aria n€ mother of one or seven, 135 or a mum-to-be, you are bound to stand out from the crowd with these Mother’s Day outf its and accessories
22 Gazette 5 March 2015
5 March 2015 GAZETTE 23
ARTS
GAZETTE
OUT&ABOUT
Solo show Sea Wall won a bravura turn from Andrew Scott. Picture: Kevin Cummins
Detecting a true talent BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN
Mixing fact and fiction, the actors at Collins Barracks restore the legacy of lost lives to heartbreaking reality for audiences in this remarkable production
PALS – THE IRISH AT GALLIPOLI: VIVIDLY RECALLING THE SACRIFICE OF IRISH SOLDIERS
Marrying art and history BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN
COLLINS Barracks is trying something new for the next few months by marrying art and history to tell the story of Irish men’s participation in the First World War. Pals – The Irish at Gallipoli, is the result of a collaboration between Anu Productions, the National Museum of Ireland and the National Archives of Ireland. It is a site-specific piece of moving and often interactive theatre set in Collins Barracks, where the original pals from the 7th Battalion did most of their training before
going to war. In an empty Clarke Square in Collins Barracks, the swelling sound of It’s A Long Way to Tipperary blared out from megaphones. The effect was eerie, as it rendered a ghostly glimpse into what it was like to be a part of the Irish contingent in the war effort and how their breasts must have swelled with jingoistic pride when the anthem was played to send them off to war. A crowd of people collected in the square as the show was to begin. A tour guide told us that Collins Barracks – then called the Royal Bar-
racks – was the first purpose-built barracks in the world, and that 733 soldiers would parade in Clarke Square on a regular basis. Included among these was the 7th Battalion and, as she spoke, a woman in old-fashioned turn of the century dress approached us, appealing to know where the office was so she could have her separation allowance renewed. The show had begun now in earnest. Across the square, a soldier in a British Army uniform was being reprimanded by a superior officer. From the high window,
another soldier shouted down, teasing the other. The spirit of camaraderie and high-jinks was palpable among the soldiers. “I only joined for the boots,” said one. The whole audience then followed the soldiers who were in the square, up three flights of stone stairs in the barracks to their dorm. It was here that we experienced something truly exceptional. The audience sat on the beds or on lockers as the soldiers of the 7th Battalion moved around us, telling tales of war to each other and re-enacting battle scenes.
Real letters written by the soldiers themselves were read out at times. ANU is an extraordinary theatre company who summoned up the spirit of the past so effectively it was impossible not to be moved by it. It is game-changing theatre, which reaches far beyond the ken of previous drama. I found myself getting very upset at times as the real experience of what those young Irish men suffered was brought to such vivid and appalling life. One of the most touching scenes revealed with simple efficacy the com-
Book delves into a killer Dublin plot BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN
DON Cameron’s debut novel Marked Off won the RTE Today Show/New Island Get Your Book Published Competition 2014. Cameron has been doing the rounds on radio and in print giving interviews about his winning book, which is a crime
novel about a serial killer on the loose in the Booterstown area. Marked Off is a good read for anyone who loves a fastpaced whodunnit and, for the first half, I found myself really enjoying the story as told by a fully-committed Cameron. The author displays a certain aptitude for crime drama and
has a modern style of writing which is very much in keeping with other successful authors writing in the same vein today. There is never a moment of boredom and the characters interact very well with each other. In the main, the dialogue is snappy and sometimes quite insightful. As a first novel, Marked Off
shows a good deal of real promise for Cameron as a crime writer and it keeps the reader engaged until the end. As a barometer of what is to come from Cameron, it augurs well for the future of modern Irish crime fiction. The book in on sale now at all good bookstores, priced €13.99.
plicated historical tension of double allegiance to Ireland and T he Crown. One of the officers, as he was dying, looked up at his pal and asked: “Is Ireland proud of us?” Pals – The Irish at Gallipoli is an experience not to be missed by any Irish person or anyone who is interested in Irish history. The performance runs at Collins Barracks daily from Wednesday to Saturday, with shows at 11am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm, and at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm on Sunday until April 30, with tickets priced €5.
A PR ODUC T IO N of Simon Stephens’s Sea Wall brought the incomparable Andrew Scott to Dublin recently, courtesy of the Dublin Theatre Festival. A Dundrum native, Scott – who is a BAFTA winner, and an Olivier Award winner – is best known in his home country as Sherlock Holmes’s evil arch nemesis Moriarty, and is also due to appear in the next Bond movie Spectre. Scott appeared in front of the audience of the Project Arts Centre, pacing back and forth as he waited for the audience to settle.
Transformed Once the crowd fell silent, Scott began to talk and soon transformed the space with his simple heartfelt story of love and tragic loss. His acting is quite simply masterful, born of ice and fire and forged in his own experience. Not just that, but his is the kind of performance that is not artifice, it is real emotion unfolding before us in real time. At the end, Scott received a standing ovation, which was the least any audience could do to show their gratitude for such a rare talent.
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24 Gazette 5 March 2015
OUT&ABOUT
HEALTH
HEALTHSHORTS Viviscal hair supplement could give you luscious locks right from the root to the tip DAILY activities can lead to dull, damaged hair. You may have a little bit of hair envy with your friends. Good hair makes you feel better about the way you look; in particular, if there’s an occasion coming up and you want to look your best. Hair growth begins beneath the scalp, where the hair follicle is formed, and in this stage of growth, the nutrients received by the hair follicle play a vital role in its health and appearance. Supported by nine clinical studies, Viviscal Maximum Strength Supplements are scientifically formulated for women to promote healthy hair growth from within, to give your hair the boost it needs to look its very
best. Viviscal Maximum Strength Supplements is a twice-daily food supplement that contains ingredients of natural origins, providing nutrition and boosting vitality to weak hair right from the root to the tip. The supplement is available from Boots, leading pharmacies nationwide and health stores, and online at www.viviscal.ie.
Turn to Milltown Dental Clinic for expert oral treatments WHILE there is plenty of dental competition from abroad, you do have to take into consideration travel expenses and currency. When it comes to post-operative care and patient support, it is paramount you choose a dental clinic near you. Milltow n Dental Clinic is based in Dublin, and provides dental implants and final implant restorations. They have an excellent reputation in treating nervous patients, and providing advanced cosmetic dentistry at an affordable cost. Milltow n Dental Clinic uses the highest quality of materials and laboratories,
and use Nobel Biocare and Straumann dental implants. They also offer “click tight” palate-free dentures supported by implants, which are ideal if you have loose, uncomfortable dentures. For a free consultation, call 0146 23963 or 01260 3741, or the emergency number 086 801 2940.
Running footwear is very important to your exercise, so don’t be afraid to take the time and effort to find the pair that’s right for you
exercise: follow our tips to find the right footwear
Step by step advice to get running shoes suzanne sheehy
ARE you a little overwhelmed at the thought of purchasing a pair of running shoes? With the vast range of runners available, it is becoming more complicated. With so many brands, price tags and sports shops – as well as specialist shops – it’s difficult to know who to turn to for the right advice. If you are a beginner, your mileage may not be as high; however, you may have “bi-mechanical” problems so purchasing shoes specific to your needs is of high importance. Specialist shops are not just for the athlete who consistently runs more than 70 miles per week, they can give you the best advice on which shoes
work best with your feet. This will help reduce any risk of injury, such as painful shins and joints, which can commonly occur if you’re wearing the wrong running shoes. Gazette Health went along to The Run Hub, a technical running specialist store in Ashtown, and spoke to Kevin English for a guide to buying new runners. He discussed how important it is to understand the runner’s profile, saying: “Questions we would ask are: ‘Are you new to running?’, ‘What distance do you plan on running?’, ‘What surface will you run on?’, ‘Are you training for a specific event?’ and ‘Have you had any running-related injuries?’ “ Also, knowing the footwear you currently
wear is important, and looking at the wear patterns gives us plenty of information. “Body type is important, as the larger runner might need a wider-fitting shoe and a good specialist store will offer widths in the shoes. Getting your feet measured later in the day is always a good tip, as your feet will be expanded a little more, due to blood flow.” In a good running shop, the specialist will analyse your running gait by videoing your run. On this process, English said: “This is done in the bare feet and on a hardback track where we video the runner and slow down the motion to talk them through their gait cycle. “The gait is broken up into three cycles, where we look at the contact
phase and see if they are a heel striker or mid-foot striker. “The next phase is the mid stance, when the foot is in full contact with the ground – our body loads four times our weight at this point. The final phase is the propulsion phase as the foot leaves the ground and the toe-off position is taken.” Specialist shops will use all the information taken from a gait analysis and form an understanding of the runner’s profile, so that they will be able to choose the right shoe that offers their feet the unique support and fit they need. You can try out up to four models, but remember: don’t shop by price or by fashion. And what about barefoot running, also known
as minimalism? On this, English said: “Scientific research has yet to reach a clear consensus on the benefits of barefoot running. It remains a controversial topic and many might argue it is not suitable for all runners. “Over the past six months, brands have come full circle and shoes have become more cushioned and some very minimal shoes have been discontinued.” Gazette Health has now covered the main things you need to know when buying your first pair of running shoes. Here comes the fun part – choosing a pair to suit you, and start clocking up those miles. Always remember: “Whether it’s a 14-minute mile or a seven- minute mile, it’s still a mile.”
5 March 2015 gazette 25
Ginger Brown Woollen hand-embroidered chair €510
Ginger Brown Bone Inlay Jewellery Boxes (grey and white €120, blue and white €180, pink and white €225)
think PINK! CHECK out The Gazette’s new Interiors page and, this week, our theme is all things hearts and flowers, in honour of our mammies. We didn’t have to look too far for all things pink, as it seems to be a recurring theme in lots of the spring/summer offerings from many of the big homeware
departments. For example, look no further than the fabulous pink flamingo from Matthew Wiliamson’s collection for Debenhams. Uplifting! So, for some inspiration on what to buy your mum, or just some tips for doing up your home, check out these items ...
Marks&Spencer Floral cushion €27
Kilkenny Store Max Benjamin Persian Rose diffuser €26.95
Debenhams Laura Oakes lamp €75 Debenhams Matthew Williamson flamingo €18.50
Kilkenny Store Shannonbridge sugar bowl €10.95
Marks&Spencer Large floral print jug €13
Gazette
INTERIORS
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28 Gazette 5 March 2015
SPORT Confident toddlers kicking on
FastSport
soccer: little kickers giving kids a healthy start through sport
DCU secure semi-final date with Brunell:
DCU Mercy have been drawn against Singleton SuperValu Brunell in basketball’s women’s Premier League playoff semi-finals. The Dublin side beat Courtyard Liffey Celtics 74-46 on the last day of the regular season to secure second place and home advantage in the second leg. Liffey Celtics are also through to the post-season but they will have to play table toppers Team Montenotte Hotel Glanmire. In the men’s Premier League, Conor Meany scored 40 points as UCD Marian reeled in Travelodge Swords Thunder and kept alive their hopes of a place in the end of season Champions Trophy. It’s the highest score by an Irish player in the National League this season. “I’m delighted that we were able to come back after a poor first-half” said the captain.
stephen findlater sport@dublingazette.com
BASED on a “fun-first” principle, Little Kickers’ Joe Sullivan believes the initiative can play a strong
developmental role for young kids and potentially help them on the way to a healthier lifestyle The programme is currently enjoyed by around a 1,000 children around
Training balance for toddlers
the city from month to month. Open to children aged 18-months up to five years, Little Kickers combine football skills with important pre-school learning concepts such as colour and number recognition, sharing, following instructions and using imagination. Speaking about the idea, Sullivan says it gives toddlers a great experience not just try out football but to help develop vital skills for all parts of their lives at an early age, “It’s an early learning school for boys and girls,” he said. “It is not just football but is based around football. The focus is on learning and helping kids develop. “It is a unique thing, coming to us at 18 months
All Little Kickers sessions are run by qualified coaches
and staying with us until they are three or four years old. It has to have a lot of variety and is very well run. Parents are not stupid and they want the best.” Sullivan previously played League of Ireland football with Shelbourne and Longford Town before going into management at local level, most recently with Phoenix on the Navan Road. But his passion for promoting Little Kickers has seen him pour his efforts into the initiative to the point where he oversees groups all across the city including Castleknock, Ongar, Lucan, Portmarnock, Kinsealy, Swords, Sallynoggin and Foxrock among others. Groups of up to 16 kids
at the different age groups take part in the different games under the guidance of two Garda-vetted and FAI qualified coaches in an indoor environment . “There is a structure to it; each week it stays on the same format but with different games. “We’re going about seven years, and parents love it as much as the kids because there is a great structure to it. “It’s all about building confidence with the kids. It builds a bit of everything; listening and learning skills. “I have a great passion for it and love to see the kids come on from the first day they come in, holding on to mammy or daddy’s leg, until they finish.
“We’re not saying the kids are going to go on and be footballers; it’s just about having confidence and bringing them on, developing them through sport.” And Sullivan believes that Little Kickers can give youngsters a great start in life on the road to a healthier lifestyle. “It’s all about developing kids and there is not enough of that out there. Too many kids don’t do enough exercise; I hear this all the time from such an early age. “Even at two-yearsold, you see some kids are overweight, stuck in front of their iPad or the television. We are not the answer but we do help them [on the way to a healthy lifestyle].”
Terenure back on track with strong win at Cork Con sport@dublingazette.com
Terenure are second in the UBL Division 1A
TERENURE recaptured some of their best form with a 20-point first half display at Temple Hill, as James O’Donoghue, Robert Duke and Harry Moore all ran in tries to see off Cork Con 20-8 in the Ulster Bank League Division 1A last Saturday. The result saw James Blaney’s men tighten their grip on second spot. They now hold a sevenpoint lead over third-placed Clontarf with just three rounds remaining. Terenure made full use of
their early wind advantage on Leeside, with out-half Thornton landing a second minute penalty. Then a quick tap set up right winger O’Donoghue for a try in the corner. Impressive f lanker Duke scored for the second week running, charging through from halfway to touch down to the right of the posts, and freescoring winger Moore grabbed his ninth try of the campaign to make it 20-0. An unconverted effort from Munster Academy member Darren Sweetnam reduced the
arrears for Cork Constitution to 15 points, but the visitors always looked in control despite Tomas Quinlan tagging on a 55th minute penalty. Clontarf, themselves, slumped to a disappointing 21-17 defeat to St Mary’s at Templeville Road on Friday night. Seventh-placed Mary’s may still be battling relegation but with the table particularly tight, they are only four points adrift of the fourth playoff position. Peter Smyth’s charges were hammered 44-15 by Clontarf in early January, but they turned
the tables on the title holders. With a big wind behind them, Mary’s burst into a 21-3 interval lead thanks to 11 points from Ray Crotty’s boot and tries from Brian McGovern and Ryan O’Loughlin, who finished off an excellent team score. Clontarf capitalised on Mary’s indiscipline to run in tries through Rob Keogh and Ireland club international captain Matt D’Arcy. However, despite being down to 13 men, the home side hung on to win by a four-point margin.
5 March 2015 Gazette 29
Gazette
Settled St Pat’s eye huge Rovers battle The League of Ireland fixture list has thrown up a massive Dublin derby to start the 2015 season with St Pat’s Liam Buckley and Ger O’Brien hotly anticipating a lively fixture THIS Friday night, Tallaght stadium will host a Dublin Derby between Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic in what is the standout curtainraiser in the season’s SSE Airtricity League. Keith Fahey’s much discussed switch to the Hoops from Richmond Park, as well as Ciaran Kilduff, Jason McGuinness and Conor O’Malley heading in the other direction from Tallaght to Inchicore will fuel the fire even more in what is always a key fixture in the League of Ireland. Speaking to GazetteSport at the launch of the league at the Aviva Stadium last Friday, Pat’s manager Liam Buckley previewed the feisty opening day fixture. “It’ll be a big test,” he said. “I think it’s a great opener for the league and we’ll be looking to do as well as we can.”
nathan kelly sport@dublingazette.com
After a cup winning season and third place finish last time round, the Super Saints enjoyed a perfect pre-season in terms of results up until the defeat to Dundalk in the President’s Cup last Saturday. Buckley and his backroom staff have been shrewd in their transfer activity in preparation for the 2015 season, signing just four players in the form of ex-Rovers trio Kilduff, O’Malley, and McGuinness along with Lee Desmond from Shelbourne. Does this represent an emphasis on quality rather than quantity for
the squad? “I just didn’t think we needed to bring in too many,” said Buckley. “The bulk of my squad won the league two years ago, finished third the previous season and third last season too. “We’ve been very competitive over the past few years. We’ve been in two cup finals in three years and won it last season. I think who we have brought in will make an impact in the group.” A f ter such a dramatic end to the league last year, with Dundalk snatching the title from Cork City on the final day, the Inchicore boss was asked who he felt could challenge for the title in 2015. “Dundalk are going to be ver y competitive, Stephen [Kenny] has lost only one player [Pat Hoban]. Cork have brought in, Rovers have brought in, and Sligo
Ger O’Brien, St Patrick’s Athletic, and Conor Kenna, Shamrock Rovers, will meet on the opening day of the 2015 SSE Airtricity league season. Picture: David Maher / SPORTSFILE
have brought in so we’ll wait and see how the season goes. I think those four and ourselves all have a serious chance.” The Saints skipper Ger O’Brien was also at the launch and like his manager, spoke with excitement about the return of the league. “I can’t wait,”
the season but don’t get me wrong; we don’t want to lose to Rovers, we want to win it. “It’s important we prepare properly and go up to Tallaght and give a good account of ourselves.” Providing his opinion on the squad for the new
--------------------------------------------------------
It’s Pat’s vs Rovers; if you win, there’s the local bragging rights. Lose and you are on the end of that - Ger O’Brien --------------------------------------------------------
he said. “The off-season is very long. It’s probably too long to be honest so when you get yourself into this situation where there’s just a few days to go the excitement starts to build. The fact that we’ve got a wonderful first couple of fixtures makes it even more special. It’s a very tough start for us but that’s what you want.” On that opening fixture against Rovers, where O’Brien spent three years as a player, the right-back knows how much it means for the Inchicore faithful. “Listen, it’s Rovers vs Pat’s. If you win there’s bragging rights for the fans, if you lose you’re going to be on the end of those bragging rights. It’s obviously not make or break at this stage of
season, the club captain seemed content with the recruitment work done over the winter as well as offering his views on the transfer activity of the entire league. He said: “Yeah I’m happy. I think most teams are a lot more settled this year. There haven’t been that many players floating on the market which I think is a good thing. “You can’t have a 10 or 12 player turnaround in each team every year it just doesn’t bring any consistency. “Having a settled squad allows fans to get to know players and it ensures players have an affiliation with the club which I think is very important.” Pat’s visit to Rovers kicks off at 7.45pm in Tallaght Stadium this Friday, March 6.
ken’sDiary
Double session pushes Egan to limit of pain barrier Olympic silver medallist Ken Egan is to take part in this year’s Laurels Charity Crew Cycle from Galway to Dublin on April 19. In the run-up, Egan has partnered with Gazette Sport to document his training; here is his latest report from the road. I DECIDED to head out early on Saturday morning with a group of six to tackle some hills for extra training before I joined up with the big gang at 10am. I must admit from my time on the bike thus far, I have only really stayed on the flats but to tackle some steep bends, I really appreciate what any serious cyclist takes on. Because I hadn’t a clue how far or how high I was climbing, I just got in to my own head and took one revolution at a time. I really enjoyed my first experience of the hills and felt like the Italian Marco Pantani, one of the best climbers cycling has ever witnessed. We descended back towards the Laurels Pub for about 9.45am ready for phase two. I admit I had thoughts in my head of calling it a day. Word on the street was we had a rough ride ahead! But I battled my demons and put them to the back of my mind and off we took at 10am with my personal target to break the 100km mark by the end of the cycle. Our destination was Sallins and onto Naas and back up through Blessingtion; I was on the bike two hours and 30 minutes and on the verge of getting off and giving up. I just had nothing left to give and my body was running on empty. But I heard we were stopping in Blessington and I saw a sign indicating just 9km so I soldiered on; five minutes later and another sign said 7km. My head was in a bad place but I got through it and made it to our only pit stop. I got some coffee and refilled my water bottle and got sugar into my body and was ready for the home run., We cycled right through Blessington and down towards Saggart, onto Clondalkin. This was by far the toughest and the 8am start didn’t help, but it’s in the bank and I will benefit from it. Total distance of 106km done so for that I am a happy man.
Gazette
30 CLONDALKIN gazette 5 March 2015
SPORT
FastSport
soccer: clon club come from goal down to advance
Clondalkin enjoy four big wins from four CLONDALKIN rugby club’s first team guaranteed their Leinster Division 1A status for next season after a hard fought 26-13 win against Cill Dara at home last Saturday. The crucial win sees Clon stay out of range of the bottom two in the division, Coolmine and Cill Dara, with one round of matches to go while a final day victory over the former could see Clondalkin move into the top half of the table. Indeed, it was the first weekend of the season where all four senior men’s teams recorded victories; the seconds beat Cill Dara, too, 30-16 while the thirds recorded a valuable 26-12 win over Seapoint. The fourths ensured home advantage in the Division 11 Metro League final with a comfortable win against Stillorgan, running out comprehensive 32-5 winners in Corkagh Park. They set the tone from the start with Tom Duffy and Kevin Dunphy punching holes in the Stillorgan defence before David Shirley quickly fired the ball wide to John Mooney for the opening try. Alan Hickey added the extras for a 7-0 lead. Ronan Cooper was held up soon after while a Chris Murray tackle forced Stillorgan over their own line to win a 5m scrum – an uncontested one – which was worked to Shirley through Gareth Steed, letting Mooney cross for his second try of the day. Kevin Dunphy got the third try for 17-0 from good quality line-out ball and there was a fourth try before half-time with Derek Noonan and Paul Gifford doing the heavy lifting for Dunphy to be carried over for yet another try. Stillorgan managed to get a bit of luck half way through the second half, breaking a tackle to run through from halfway for their sole points, 22-5. But normal service resumed when Eamonn Stapleton and Brendan Ward laid on for Stephen Kenny to touch down. And the scoring was finalised when man of the match Mick Heaney slid over for a sixth try of the match. Clondalkin will find out whether they play either DLSP or the Normans in the league final.
Collinstown are continuing their fine run in cup competitions with the Senior Saturday side reaching a final
Collinstown on Cole Cup run paddy cole cup Balscadden FC Collinstown sport@dublingazette.com
1 2
C OL L I N S T OW N ’ S Senior Saturday footballers booked their ticket to the final of the Paddy Cole Cup last weekend with a 2-1 win over Balscadden FC in the AUL Complex. In what was a typical tight and nervy cup semi-final, Collinstown fell behind midway through the first half when a high ball was never really dealt with and it allowed Pietro Vettraino to swoop in
and head it past Ross Costigan. Going 1-0 behind seemed to be a blessing in disguise for the Town as their performance picked up almost immediately and drew level before long thanks to Aaron Burdis. The sides went in level at the break and it was a level playing field in the second half as both had their chances but two heroes at opposing ends were key for the Clondalkin outfit as Shane Murphy scored the winner while Ross Costigan pulled of some goalkeeping heroics to
hole in one Lucan GC member wins big at Golfsure draw eamon Hudson, second from left, from Lucan Golf Club accepts a cheque for a holiday to the value of €5,000 as second prize in the Golfsure Hole-In-One draw 2015. He is pictured with John Williams, left, of Keegan and Meredith Insurance Ireland, Declan O’Rourke, general manager at AIG Ireland, and Mark Weldrick, right, Broker Development Executive, Willis Risk Services (Ireland) Limited.
keep Balscadden at bay. Speaking to GazetteSport after the game, Collinstown manager Stuart Goodall was evidently proud of his side. “We’re delighted to be in the final of the Paddy Cole Cup. The work-rate and heart the lads showed after going behind was reminiscent of how they’ve been all season for me. “This is a cup that we’ve never won as a club, one of the few AUL cups actually, and we are going all out to win it.” Collinstown’s route to the final has been a challenging one, playing and
beating St Paul’s, Kilbarrack and Buttercrust United along the way before meeting Balscadden in the semi-final. Ironically enough, it was Balscadden who knocked Town out in the first round of the competition last season. Their opposition in the final comes in the form of league leaders Sheriff YC. Goodall’s side won the Senior Saturday Division last season, finishing two points ahead of Sheriff but have not really been able to replicate that league form this season, which he discussed.
“I think the league at this stage is Sheriff’s to lose when you look at the games in hand they have and stuff. “We’ve won the division three out of the past four years and I just think this year we focused a lot of energy in winning the Paddy Cole Cup because, as I mentioned, we never have, and we’re well on course to change that. “That said, that doesn’t mean I think we took our eyes off the ball in terms of the league, it just has not happened for us in enough games over the course of this current season.”
5 March 2015 CLONDALKIN gazette 31
Gazette
cross border ties
Tower’s Under-14 hurlers win Wicklow competition
round tower clondalkin
round Tower’s Under-14 hurlers took
the honours in the Wicklow GAA sponsored, cross border hurling league when they beat St Kevin’s in a pulsating final played in Clondalkin last week. Wicklow PRO, and former Round Tower’s player, David Murray, right, was on hand to present the trophy at their Monastary Road home to the victorious team.
ROUND Tower’s intermediate hurlers continued their preparations for life back in AHL Division Three with an impressive victory over Naomh Olaf in the Corn Ceitin Cup last Saturday night. Emmet Carroll’s side went in at half-time leading 1-6 to 0-3 on a miserable night in Clondalkin in the replay af ter the sides had drawn two weeks earlier in Pairc Ui Bhriain.
training when the opportunity arises.
Saturday evening and it was followed
It is limited to eight persons but fur-
by a very successful quiz night and
ther courses will follow.
thanks to Dave and crew for support.
good. We’re still missing one or two guys but that’s the nature of the beast in these hurling matches. “Our first league game is on March 15 at home against Thomas Davis. We’ve 11 league matches and they’re all important, they’re all difficult but we want to win them all. “Two years ago our aim was to get into a play-off for this league and we ended up getting relegated. “Thankfully we bounced back straight aw ay a n d wo n o u r league last year. But it
means we’ll be opting for a different approach this time round and start better than we did.” Following their yoyoing between Division 3 and 4, Hoolan was asked will it be a case of taking it one game at a time this time around rather than setting long term ambitions? “ O h a b s o l u t e l y, ” replied Hoolan. “It’s a difficult league the Intermediate Division Three. “There are some very strong teams in the division this year and we’ll have to play well to do well.”
The training is being provided free of charge. To book your place, please contact Ed O’Malley at 087 8073391.
The senior footballers suffered a cup
Play the Round Tower Sports Master
loss against St Anne’s on Friday night.
prediction game 2015 online or by pur-
Membership is now due for renewal
Tower’s looking to consolidate in AHL3 The Dublin 22 side produced a strong second half performance despite playing into the breeze to run out 2-12 to 0-7 winners and booked their place in the cup semi-final in which they will face Na Fianna later in the season. Speaking to GazetteSport after the game, Tower’s selector John Hoolan was asked on his opinion on how they are shaping up less than 10 days before the league begins. “Not too bad at all”, he said. “I think our per formance on the weekend was really
tors and players to undertake this
against Naomh Olaf in cup action last
Thanks to all who took part and
The Round Tower’s intermediate hurling side that earned promotion last year
Round Tower 2-12 Naomh Olaf 0-7 sport@dublingazette.com
THE senior hurlers enjoyed a good win
medal presentation.
football: clondalkin club ready for new term
corn ceitin
Club Noticeboard
chasing a ticket from the club.
and new members are welcome. It’s
Round Tower is delighted to offer
easy to register online and takes just
excellent party packages for celebra-
a few moments - visit www.round-
tory functions. Packages include cake,
tower.ie. Alternatively you can pay in
decorations and can include DJ and
the club.
hot food. Enquiries to Jimmy at 087
Defibrilator training to take place
7453478. We ask Members to advise
in club on Saturday, March 7 from
anyone considering a function to alert
9.30am–3.30pm. We again urge men-
them to club as an excellent venue.
GazetteSPORT all of your clondalkin sports coverage from page 27-31
march 5 -11, 2015
positive start: Round Tower’s inter hurlers hoping to consolidate place in AFL3 following promotion P31
The big kick off: Pat’s and Rovers raise curtain on new season P29
Clondalkin basketballer Sarah Byrne says her call up to the Irish Special Olympics team is “a dream come true”
Byrne and Jones’s Irish call
Clondalkin duo bound for Los Angeles for the Special Olympics World Games following selection as part of an 88-strong Team Ireland in July
sport@dublingazette.com
CLONDALKIN basketballer Sarah Byrne and footballer Stephen Joyce have both been named in the Special Olympics World Summer Games 2015 following their inclusion in the Irish squad for the event that takes place in Los Angeles. They are among 32 Dubliners in the 88 strong Team Ireland athletes for the event that runs from July 25 to August 2. Byrne, 17, is no stranger to the World Games having won a silver medal in Athens back in 2011. She considers this victory to be the highlight of her time with Special Olympics thus far, describing her overall experience as “a dream
come true”. In preparation for the upcoming Los Angeles world games this summer, Byrne is currently training three times a week with her Special Olympics club the Palmerstown Wildcats. Having played basketball for seven years, now she knows the level of dedication it requires. In addition she also does football, athletics and floorball in school. Joyce, 22, meanwhile said of his selection: “I felt great and excited”. In fact out of all the memorable experiences he has had, Stephen considers this moment as his favourite to date saying he loved: “Getting picked for Special Olympics to represent Ireland”. He has played his football with Ronanstown
FC for the past four years and is looking forward to the global event. With just six months until the World Games kick off, Team Ireland is busy preparing and training for the games with the athletes supported by a 40-strong management and coaching staff. This summer, the iconic city of Los Angeles will welcome 7,000 athletes from 177 countries to the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games. Supported by over 30,000 volunteers - including 200 from across the island of Ireland - the games will be the largest sports and humanitarian event anywhere in the world in 2015, and the single biggest event in Los Angeles since the 1984 Olympic Games.
Matt English, chief executive of Special Olympics Ireland, said: “2015 is shaping up to be a huge year for our athletes. It’s a tremendous achievement to be selected to represent Team Ireland at LA 2015. “Over the coming months we will be working hard to generate the necessary funds to send Team Ireland athletes to the World Games and I am confident that the business world will answer our call for support as they have done so many times in the past. “Special Olympics Ireland is calling on businesses across the country to be generous in their support of our local athletes as they prepare for this important milestone in their Special Olympics journey.”