Clondalkin

Gazette CLONDALKIN

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Oh Christmas tree, Oh Christmas tree How evergreen the branches were at the annual Christmas tree lighting ceremony that took place at the Shelbourne Hotel recently, as the tree was lit up by special guest Pat Kenny. Every year the hotel asks a special guest to do the honours and kick off their festive season. Emma Gallagher was on hand to help deck the halls and place the baubles on the tree. The 10-year-old with her golden locks was a great little helper, making sure the decorations on the tree were not too bright, not too sparse, but just right.

Picture: Marc O’Sullivan

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Ballyowen horse facility under starter’s orders

State-of-the-art equestrian centre set to consist of stalls, exercise paddock and car park

 Ian Begley

The council has granted planning permission for a new state-of-the-art equestrian facility to be built in Ballyowen Park off the Fonthill Road.

This new development

comes as welcome news to the Clondalkin Equine Club and local horse owners who have no suitable land to look after their horses.

The 1.32 hectares, currently under the ownership of the council, will consist

of 20 equine stalls, ancillary facilities, an exercise paddock and a car park.

Cllr Gino Kenny (PBP), who has worked closely with the equine club over the past three years, said: “There has always been a long tradition of horse

ownership in Clondalkin particularly in North and South West Clondalkin.

This facility will give young and old a place that’s affordable and accessible in the locality.”

Full Story on Page 2

2 CLONDALKIN Gazette 27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016

Ballyowen Park | Clondalkin Equine Club

Equestrian facility gets the green light the council has granted planning permission for a new state-of-the-art equestrian facility to be built in Ballyowen Park off the Fonthill Road.

This new development comes as welcome news to the Clondalkin Equine Club and local horse owners who have no suitable land to look after their horses.

The 1.32 hectares, currently under the ownership of the council, will consist of 20 equine stalls, ancillary facilities, an exercise paddock and a car park.

The planned building will be one storey with rendered masonry walls, modelled on an American barn type equine development, which is intended to minimise impact on the area. The site will not be overlooked by existing homes nor will it be accessed through an existing residential estate.

The project will be funded by the council and the Department of Agriculture and expected to be developed in sum-

don’s dublin Watercolourist Turner lights up January at the National Gallery January is often viewed as a comedown after the excitement of Christmas has finally died away, but not for those who are fans of the watercolours of JMW Turner. The annual display of his work lasts for the month of January, and it is one

 ian begley ibegley@dublingazette.com

of the National Gallery of Ireland’s (NGI) most popular attractions.

In 1900, the National Gallery was bequeathed 31

mer 2016.

Cllr Gino Kenny (PBP), who has worked closely with the equine club over the past three years, said: “This is a momentous day for the Clondalkin Equine Club and the wider community.

“The passing of the Part 8 now gives the local authority permission to build a state-of-the-art equine facility at the location.

“There has always been a long tradition of horse ownership in Clondalkin particularity in North and South West Clondalkin. This facility will give young and old a place that’s affordable and accessible in the locality.

“It will also promote good animal welfare practice and equine education. Hopefully this

watercolours by Henry Vaughan, with a stipulation that they should only be displayed in January when the light was weak. This was to protect the delicate drawings, and although modern measures can adequately do the job the National Gallery adheres to Vaughan’s request. This adds to the display and allows the viewer to see Turner’s magical work as Vaughan or the artist would have enjoyed them.

Henry Vaughan was born in Southwark, south London, in April 1809 and his father, George, owned a very successful hat-making business.

In 1829 when his father died, Henry inherited the business and was an extremely wealthy young man. He had been privately educated and his wealth allowed him to travel widely in Europe and begin his collection. This included many works and sketches by Michelangelo and Rembrandt and paintings by Reynolds, Flaxman and Constable. In fact, he presented Constable’s famous work the Hay Wain to the National Gallery (London) in 1886.

Planning permission for a new state-of-the-art equestrian facility to be built in

By then he had become a friend of Turner’s and bought a considerable number of his works that

Ballyowen Park has been granted

would constitute a large part of the Vaughan

project will be a blueprint for other social projects around the country to replicate. After a massive amount of work done by

the Clondalkin Equine Club, Clondalkin will finally have an equine facility to be very proud of.”

The facility is expected to significantly reduce the number of horses euthanised each year in Dublin Mid-West. In 2014, the council revealed that out of the 469 horses seized in 2014, 422 were put down. Of the 47 horses saved, 22 were reclaimed and 12 animals were rehomed.

Cllr Eoin O Broin (SF) has also welcomed this recent development.

He said: “I warmly welcome the decision of the council to pass the planning permission for the 20-stall Clondalkin equine club in Ballyowen Park. This facility will be a huge resource to the horse owning community in Clondalkin and

indeed the community as a whole.

“I want to pay tribute to the members of the Clondalkin Equine Club who have spent several years lobbying councillors and officials in the council and Department of Agriculture on this project. Their hard work and determination have been rewarded this week.

“I also want to pay tribute to Cllr Gino Kenny who has championed this project and who built a strong cross party support base for the project.

“There is a proud tradition of horse ownership in Clondalkin with the vast majority of owners properly maintaining their animals.

“However there have also been too many unfortunate incidents of maltreatment of horses.”

Bequest. The works that the NGI acquired have since been added to and now there are 36 watercolours to enjoy. They show Turner’s mastery of light, and his skill in catching the fleeting moment that so impressed generations of aspiring artists. Two hundred years later they still have the power to move the viewer. It will be a great way to start the new year - check it out.

Don Cameron

www.donsdublin.wordpress.com

JMW Turner (self portrait) whose mastery of light can still move viewers 200 years later

27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016 CLONDALKIN Gazette 3

Foras na Gaeilge | promotion of the Irish language

official sites

Recycle your tree

Clondalkin could be an urban Gaeltacht  Ian Begley

C lo n da l k i n h a s been selected to be a Lionra or an Irish language network by Foras na Gaeilge, the public body responsible for the promotion of the Irish language.

Under the Gaeltacht Act 2012, the Government announced its intention to develop the Irish language in communities outside of the core Gaeltacht areas.

These areas would be called Irish language networks or Lionra G a e i l g e a n d wo u l d in effect create urban Gaeltachts.

Only five communities in Ireland have been selected, three in the Republic and two in

Northern Ireland.

The application process comes in four stages and Clondalkin is now at stage three where it has have to formulate a language plan.

Welcoming the decision of the board, chief executive of Foras na Gaeilge Ferdie Mac an Fhailigh said: “This is a great step towards creating the networks mentioned in the Gaeltacht Act 2012.

“The chosen groups will now have a year to compile a language plan for their own area. This timescale is challenging but we are hopeful that the groups in these areas will be able to prepare the plan in this period.

I congratulate the chosen areas and we look

forward to supporting them with their plans.”

Also welcoming the announcement, Minister Frances Fitzgerald said: “Over the years Muintir Chronain (Irish Cultural Centre, Clondalkin) has been developing the Irish language and culture in Clondalkin; either through all the adults who have taken part in Irish language and music classes in the Aras or chosen to send their children to our three Gaeilscoileanna.

“The founding motto of Muintir Chronain, ‘Gaeilge Lenar Linn’ (Irish in Our Time), has been brought a step closer today and I look forward to a bright future for the language in Clondalkin,” she said.

a good account of himself

Certified Public Accountants Ireland awarded Clondalkin man Dean Alford a CPA Ireland Award for his academic achievements. Brian Purcell, president CPA Ireland, and Ann Donegan from Griffith College Dublin made the presentation recently. Dean was the overall prizewinner in the Strategic Performance Management category which was sponsored

by Purcell McQuillan Tax Consultants. Congratulations are due to Dean for his dedication to his studies and we wish him all the best in his promising career.

Picture: Iain White/Fennell Photography

Residents of South County Dublin can bring their Christmas tree to a number of designated sites to be recycled from January 6 to February 15.

One tree will be accepted per household/per vehicle and signage will be placed at the various locations indicating that it is an official recycling point.

In Clondalkin, the Christmas tree recycling locations are: Corkagh Park (St John’s Road car park), Corkagh Park (Green Isle car park at Caravan Park entrance), Collinstown Park, Quarryvale Park, Foxdene open space, and Grand Canal open space.

Residents from Old Bawn can also recycle their tree at Old Bawn church car park and at the Parks Depot on the Mill Lane, Saggart.

4 CLONDALKIN Gazette 27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016

update | cash for cars

Illegal signage stymies council  Ian Begley

South Dublin County Council has revealed that it has not issued any fines or prosecuted anyone for illegally placing Cash for Cars signage “despite exploring every avenue available”.

In a question to the chief executive at the December county council meeting, Cllr Paul Gogarty (Ind) asked for an update on the council’s actions to tackle Cash for Cars signage.

He also asked if the council ever phoned the mobile number provided on these signs with a view to fining the culprits.

In his response, chief executive Daniel McLoughlin said: “Cash for Cars signage has blighted the greater Dublin area over the

last number of years.

“These signs which are in sticker and corrugated board format are removed when located.

“Regrettably as yet, despite exploring every avenue available, including contacting phone numbers where available, the council has not been in a position to issue fines or initiate prosecutions because of the difficulty in tracking down those responsible for erecting the illegal signage.

“The council has been working and will continue to work with An Garda Siochana in attempting to identify those involved in this illegal activity, and on the possibility of disconnecting the phone numbers identified in notices illegally erected.”

Labour councillor Mick Duff (right) criticised Sinn Fein’s new housing policy which Cllr Eoin O Broin (SF) unveiled

homelessness | ‘crisis has never been worse’

Sinn Fein vows to build 10,000 homes  Ian Begley

Sinn Fein has committed to building 10,000 social and affordable houses for south County Dublin over the next 15 years if elected to government.

The party’s new housing policy document, Better 4 Houses, states that among the social houses built in the area, 3,000 of these will be delivered within the first six years.

Speaking about the strategy, Clondalkin’s Cllr Eoin O Broin (SF) said: “There are almost 9,000 families on the council housing waiting list.

“There are 248 families living in emergency accommodation and a further 43 on a wait-

ing list for emergency accommodation.

“T he housing and homeless crisis in the county has never been worse.

“The only solution to this crisis is to provide people with homes.

“This means that central government must star t funding largescale social and affordable housing provided by local authorities and housing associations.”

Cllr O Broin added that the funding for t h e s e h o m e s wo u l d come directly from the Exchequer.

“Sinn Fein in government would initially fund a programme of 3,000 social and affordable houses in the county, to be delivered by the council at

an approximate cost of €525m. Fine Gael and Labour want to fritter this money away in tax cuts for the wealthy,” he said.

Policy Criticising Sinn Fein’s new housing policy and promises for south County Dublin, Cllr Mick Duff (Lab) said the party could not possibly deliver 10,000 houses without directly increasing taxation.

He said: “It would be fascinating to see where they would find the land to build these social homes in the first place.

“There’s no doubt that we need 10,000 houses because we have 10,000 people on the waiting list, but they don’t all

have to be newly built.

“We’ll certainly be discussing the possibility of the first major build in the county in January, but that will only be in the order of around 300 houses. “ I t ’s c e r t a i n l y a n ambitious plan and I would like to see how they would go about funding these homes.

“The funding from the Exchequer comes through taxation and they are now telling us that they’re going to get rid of the property and water charges if elected.

“There is only one other way to get money into the Exchequer and that’s through direct taxation, so in other words they’re going to hit every one in the pockets,” he said.

27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5

6 CLONDALKIN Gazette 27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016

Community Endeavour Awards | tributes to workers and volunteers

Recognising and honouring effort  Ian Begley

A wide range of community workers and volunteers from Dublin Mid-West were honoured at the recent Community Endeavour Awards 2015.

This year’s awards, held in the Red Cow Moran Hotel, attracted an attendance of over 350 guests, and was presented

by South County Mayor Sarah Holland (SF).

The Community Endeavour Awards aim to acknowledge, promote and recognise the work of community and voluntary organisations within the administrative area of South Dublin County Council.

One hundred and forty entries were received from a wide variety of groups operating in South Dublin County with 14 groups awarded under a range of categories.

Some of the local community groups that won awards include Rathcoole Community Centre (Multi-Purpose Community Facility of the Year), the Newcastle Retired Active Men’s (Active Age Award), Chloe Callaghan (Young Achiever), Christy McDonnell (Lifetime Achievement), and Dominic’s Community Centre in Tallaght which won the overall Community Endeavour Award.

Speaking about their

accomplishment, Trisha O’Halloran, manager of Rathcoole Community Centre, said: “It felt really great to receive the award and I have to thank the staff here who have helped the centre grow throughout the years.

Without their commitment and hard work we wouldn’t have the many facilities that we offer.

“We cater for everyone in the village and surrounding areas and have so many different activity groups based here, such as dancing classes, a men’s shed, a mother’s and toddlers group, martial arts classes and lots more,” said O’Halloran.

Chloe Callaghan, a

Leaving Cert student from Balgaddy, won the Young Achiever award for her involvement in various activities around her area.

Natalie McDonnell, from the Balgaddy Community Garden Group, sang Callaghan’s praises to the Gazette, saying that she was “one in a million”.

“I’m so happy that she won an award because she’s a lovely girl and very proactive in her own community. She does dancing in the community centre and also sat on the ISPCC Children’s Committee.

“She’s very creative and did a lot of art work

Chloe Callaghan being presented with the Young Acheiver award by Mayor Sarah Holland and Paul McAlerney, South Dublin County Council

in our old community garden and gets involved in all sorts of projects and activities in the area.

On a personal note, I’ve never met such a nice girl as Chloe. She’s very respectful and mannerly and is definitely one in a million,” she said.

Also talking about

the awards, Mayor Holland said: “There is an immense richness and variety of voluntar y organisations working in south Dublin and this initiative in some small way tries to recognise the efforts of those who carry out this valuable work.

“All community organ-

isations whose activities have made a difference in their community and have had a beneficial effect on the residents were eligible to enter.”

To see the full list of community groups who won Community Endeavour awards, visit www.sdcc.ie.

27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016 CLONDALKIN Gazette 7

achievements | Freedom of South County Dublin for manager deer park Arrest follows a standoff

Jim Gavin to get highest civic honour  Ian Begley

Clondalkin native and Dublin senior football manager Jim Gavin will be given the Freedom of South County Dublin for his achievements in sports in Dublin throughout the years.

The idea was first proposed by South County Mayor Sarah Holland (SF) at the November council meeting and seconded by Cllr Francis Timmons (Ind).

The Honorary Freedom of South Dublin County is the highest

civic honour that the council can award an individual.

Cllr Holland said the honour should be extended to the county manager “for all he has done to promote the GAA over the years to the young people of this county, and for bringing the Sam Maguire back to Dublin in 2015”.

It was confirmed at the December council meeting that Gavin had accepted the civic honour, with Cllr Charlie O’Connor (FF) calling for it to be conferred in a

ceremonial event before the General Election.

Gavin was born into a strong GAA family in the Clonburris area of Clondalkin. His performances for Round Tower GAA caught the eye of the Dublin selectors, making his senior debut in 1993.

With Dublin, Gavin won the 1995 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship and in 2009, he coached Dublin to a Leinster Under-21 Football Championship and progressed to the All-Ireland final and repeated

Dublin manager Jim Gavin with Br Kevin Crowley, as they help pack Christmas parcels for the homeless at the Capuchin Day Centre. Picture: Ray McManus/SPORTSFILE

the Leinster victory in 2010.

Gavin was ratified as senior football manager in 2012, replacing Pat Gilroy and signing a three-year contract (2013 to 2015). He led Dublin to the 2013 All-Ireland senior football championship final by beating Kerry in the semi-final.

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In December 2013, Gavin was named the 2013 Philips Sports Manager of the Year and in September of this year, Dublin again beat Kerry to win their second All-Ireland title in three years.

During the December council meeting, Cllr Cathal King (SF) also called for the council to

congratulate Lucan resident and UFC Featherweight Champion Conor McGregor.

Cllr King described the mixed martial arts fighter’s 13-second knockout victory over Jose Aldo as a “huge achievement”, which was unanimously agreed by his fellow councillors at the meeting.

A man has been arrested following a 12- hour armed standoff with gardai in Tallaght on December 20.

The standoff, which ended peacefully with no injuries reported, involved the arrest of a male in his 40s and the recovery of a firearm at approximately 4.15pm.

The lone man was barricaded in the premises at Deerpark Manor and it has been reported that 20 to 30 shots were fired from around 2.30am into the afternoon.

Residents within the estate were evacuated and a number of cordons were put in place, as special negotiators were called in to deal with the incident.

The man has since been taken to Tallaght Garda Station.

8 CLONDALKIN Gazette 27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN, 2016

courts

Sentence adjourned for phone call pest A 57-year-old Dublin woman who made nuisance phone calls to the Department of Finance has had her sentence adjourned for this and other matters to allow for a psychological report.

Anne Fennell, of Monastery Gate Green, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in November at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to making persistent phone calls specificially to cause annoyance or anxiety to the Department of Finance on February 2, 2014.

On Monday, December 14, lawyers for Fennell asked Judge Martin Nolan to adjourn the sentence hearing as a report would not be ready until next month.

K e v i n W h i t e BL , defending, submitted that his client had been engaging with a psychologist and would “benefit” from a report before the court.

Elva Duffy BL, prosecuting, told the judge the director of public prosecutions accepted Fennell had “significant issues” and was agreeable to an adjournment.

Ms Duffy told Judge Nolan that guilty pleas to further charges will be required at the sentence hearing, which will take about 45 minutes.

E a r l i e r t h i s y e a r, Dublin District Court heard that Fennell faced charges of making grossly offensive phone calls or sending persistent telephone messages that were false and to cause annoyance to the Department of Finance and Aras an Uachtarain.

Judge Nolan set the date for hearing to January 15 next but warned counsel that there would be no further adjournments.

He remanded Fennell on continuing bail to that date.

Joseph French of Neilstown Park, Clondalkin, hid his face when the garda officers approached the car to speak to him

courts | defendant had no driving licence or insurance

Disqualified driver put garda’s life at risk A d i s q ua l i f i e d driver who put a garda’s life at risk by reversing his car towards her at speed has been sentenced to seven and a half years for this and a spate of robberies and attempted raids.

Joseph French (24), o f N e i l s t ow n P a r k , Clondalkin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Cour t to endangerment on the Ninth Lock Road, Clondalkin, and dangerous driving on Cherr y Orchard Avenue, Ballyfermot, on April 30, 2015.

He also pleaded guilty to driving a car without insurance on the same

date.

French further pleaded guilty to two robberies and an attempted robber y on dates between July 30, 2014 and August 9, 2014 at Centra, La Touche Road, Bluebell, Centra in Foxborough in Lucan and Mace on Manor Road, Palmerstown.

His previous convictions include robbery, a t t e m p t e d r o b b e r y, theft, burglary, having no insurance, possession of articles, dangerous driving, possession of knives, escape from lawful custody and drug offences.

Judge Martin Nolan sentenced French to

consecutive terms of seven and a half years before he suspended the final two years on strict conditions.

He said the robberies were violent and committed to feed a drug habit.

He added that Garda Fiona Ruddy may have been seriously injured when French drove at her. He disqualified him from driving for five years.

French was on bail for two robberies and an attempted robbery when Garda Ciaran O’Neill and Garda Ruddy spotted him driving his Volkswagen Passat in Ballyfermot.

He hid his face when the officers approached the car to speak to him.

French took off at speed and refused to stop when the gardai, who chased in their patrol car, directed him. It was rush-hour evening traffic and as French got up to 80 kph in a 50 kph zone, Garda O’Neill said he felt it was unsafe to continue the chase.

He told Eilis Brennan BL, prosecuting that he saw French overtake cars and two horses and traps in “extremely dangerous” manoeuvres, narrowly avoiding head-on collisions.

Garda O’Neill said

French continued to drive at 100 kph in a 50 kph zone onto the Ninth Lock Road.

H e d r ove o n t h e wrong side of the road around narrow bends, until he was eventually hemmed in by traffic.

It was at this point that both gardai got out of the patrol car to approach French and he reversed at speed in the direction of Garda Ruddy.

Garda O’Neill said he had spotted the Passat’s reverse lights come on but his colleague had not.

He shouted at her to get back into the patrol car because he said he

was worried she would be knocked over.

He told Ms Brennan that French was driving at such speed that if Garda Ruddy had not managed to get into the patrol car when she did, she would have been seriously injured or killed.

She just managed to close the door of the car when the Passat drove past.

French got stuck behind a Dublin bus and other traffic a short time later and gardai managed to move in and arrest him.

He had no driving licence and was not insured.

27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN, 2016 CLONDALKIN Gazette 9

council | commercial development fees are slashed in nine villages

Business happy with 50% levy cut  Ian Begley South Dublin County Council has agreed to slash commercial development levies in nine villages by 50%.

At the December council meeting, councillors unanimously agreed to adopt a new development contribution scheme for the period 2016 to 2020.

The agreed amendment was proposed by Cllr William Lavelle and Cllr Colm Brophy, both Fine Gael.

Included in the cut are Lucan, Palmerstown, Clondalkin, Rathcoole, Newcastle, Saggart, Tallaght, Templeogue and Rathfarnham.

The newly-adopted scheme reduces the rate of development levies for commercial development from €78 per sq m to €75 per sq m. However, in the nine villages outlined the development levies will be reduced to €37.50 per sq m – a 50% reduction.

T he proposal was made by the two councillors during the public consultation on the draft new scheme and was subsequently endorsed on November 26 by the council’s planning strategic policy committee.

The scheme will take effect from January 1.

Commenting on the council’s decision, Cllr Lavelle said: “I warmly

welcome the council’s approval for the proposal from Cllr Brophy and me to reduce commercial development levies in our villages.

“This reduction will promote and incentivise commercial development, in particular in the retail and hospitality sectors, in our traditional villages.

Urban centres such as Lucan village which continue to face significant challenges in terms of competition from nearby out-of-centre shopping centres.

“This move is not to discourage development at out-of-centre shopping centres which continue to be important drivers of

local economy and major hubs for local employment.

“Instead, it is clear that our traditional urban centres can sustainably co-exist alongside out-ofcentre shopping centres, as both settings can contain a very different ‘retail offer’.

“Whereas shopping centres are more likely to contain units linked to commercial chains, traditional urban centres can thrive by providing a very different offer built on local scale and niche retailing, fresh food, crafts, small offices and services, boutique coffee shops and restaurants etc,” he said.

This is a significant

Clondalkin is among nine villages which will get a cut in commercial development levies

increase from when the council voted to reduce development levies in 2013 by 26%.

The scheme agreed a levy on non-residential development of €81.65 per sq m, reduced from the previous rate of €111, representing the reversal of a

previous 2009 increase in the levy.

Earlier this year, the Gazette revealed the council was owed almost €22m in outstanding development levies up to 2014.

At end 2012, the local authority was owed €28.8m; in 2010 the sum

was €37m. The lowest amount in recent years was €20.4m in 2013.

The decrease in money owed is due to levies being collected and not written off, according to the council. €21.8m is the cumulative amount it is now owed.

10 CLONDALKIN Gazette 27 Dec 2015 - 6 Jan 2016

CLONDALKINGazettegallery | Clondalkin’s Freyne’s Pharmacy

Lucille and Olivia Lebioda

Vivienne Smith, Claire Kenny, Mary Duggan, John, Garrett, Jeannie and Sally Ann Freyne and Emma Black. Pictures: Cathy Weatherston

Cllr Kenneth Egan (FG)

Ann Cullen and Angela Fitzgerald

Francis and Elizabeth Maguire won first prize worth €2,500. Also pictured are Minister Frances Fitzgerald and Garrett Freyne

27 Dec 2015 - 6 Jan 2016 CLONDALKIN Gazette 11

holds monster draw for customers

Jimmy Duggan and Arthur Gunning

Izzy and Gael Holland, Gracie Quilty and Mayor Sarah Holland (SF)

terrifying tales of writing wizardry and artistry

C

ounty Dublin Mayor Sarah Holland (SF) was on hand recently to officiate at the prize-giving ceremony for colouring and writing competitions run by South Dublin Libraries during Children’s Book Festival, which took place at the county library in Tallaght. The colouring competition was for the under sixes, while the writing competition, Terrifying Tales, had entry categories up to age 15. The council thanked Leisureplex for providing wonderful prizes for the winners. The outdoor Unwrapped arts festival, which usually follows the children’s book festival, had to be cancelled because of bad weather.

Margaret Cullen and Katie and Elizabeth Harling

Monstrous fun at a birthday bash F

reyne’s Pharmacy in Clondalkin held its monster draw recently as part of its monthly raffle in celebration of the pharmacy’s 80th anniversary. There were plenty of great prizes up for grabs including a €2,500 travel voucher, an iPhone 5 and many others. To mark the celebration, Dublin Senior Football manager Jim Gavin was there along with Olympic silver medallist Kenneth Egan and Tommy Keogh, president of Round Tower GAA. Freyne’s was first established in 1935 by Mayo’s own John Freyne, along with his wife Margaret when Clondalkin was just a mere hamlet with a population of about 250 residents. Garrett Freyne took over the reins of the chemist when his father died in 1979.

President of Round Tower GAA Tommy Keogh, president of Mary and Vincent O’Brien

Chamber of Commerce Joe Mannion and Mario Aprile

Roisin Jolley

Ryan Dempsey

Eabha Ryan

Winner Ailish Ni Bheirgin with the mayor. Pictures: Cathy Weatherston

12 Gazette 27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016

city Gazettegallery | a splash of colour across the capital

Olwyn and Sarah McIntyre

Jill Mayberry and Kiri Fisher

Celebrate the season in style

Sarah Drew and Grace Larkin. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

A

Hannah Popham and Lisa McLoughlin

Natalie O’Brien and Claire Moore

Melissa Dooley

ustralian wine Yellow Tail teamed up with the nail experts at Tropical Popical to unleash a splash of colour across the capital recently. Kicking off the Christmas season in style, guests enjoyed an evening of pampering, received a complimentary funky manicure, delicious canapes and a selection of Yellow Tail wines.

Hannah Popham and Jess Worsdale

Sandra and Linda Newman

27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016 Gazette 13

14 Gazette 27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016

the big interview P20

asdfsdaf P27 cinema P23

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Gazette

style P18

Pets beautiful belle needs a new home

Eoghan McDermott, Aine Stapleton, Chris Donoghue and Camille Ross will be well known faces at the First Fortnight festival. Picture: Conor McCabe

festival: banish the blues with first fortnight’s range of activities

Raise your new year spirit FIRST Fortnight – a festival aimed at promoting positive mental health in that gloomy, post-Christmas season when people are most susceptible to mental health difficulties – takes place in Dublin during the first two weeks of January.

Now in its seventh year, First Fortnight 2016 involves live music, film, theatre, discussion and arts events staged to create open discussion and understanding of mental health problems, and challenge prejudice and discrimination.

The events taking place across Dublin and selected venues nationwide include Proclamation – a unique evening of talk and music on New Year’s Day at Christ Church Cathedral, in partnership with Mental Health Ireland.

The evening will feature a number

of well-known Irish faces, including Diarmuid Gavin, Mary McEvoy, Chris Donoghue and Eoghan McDermott. It is being staged in association with New Year’s Festival Dublin.

If Elected – a discussion on what the political parties will do for mental health in this coming election year – will take place in Dublin on January 13, in partnership with Mental Health Reform.

The debate will involve representatives from all the major political parties going head-to-head in a public debate chaired by RTE broadcaster John Bowman.

Love and Mercy – the acclaimed biopic of Beach Boys leader Brian Wilson – will be screened in the Pavilion theatre, Dun Laoghaire and UCD Student Cinema on January 11, in asso-

ciation with See Change, the National Mental Health Stigma Reduction Partnership.

This year, First Fortnight will once again return to St Patrick’s Hospital for a series of unique events, in association with St Patrick’s Mental Health Services. This will include It Made You – a live performance featuring songwriters of the St Pat’s services and Sean Miller, Gavin Glass, and Kevin Nolan on Saturday, January 9.

Other musicians who will feature throughout the festival include Jennifer Evans, We Cut Corners, Saint Sister, State Lights, and the Focus Ireland High Hopes Choir.

First Fortnight co-founder and project manager JP Swaine said the festival had become synonymous with fresh, creative and innovative ways to

spark the national conversation on mental health.

He said: “Each festival that passes seems to encourage a new crop of artists to work creatively in response to mental health as an issue in Irish society, and it has been hugely encouraging to meet artists who have been developing their work with the express purpose of contributing to First Fortnight.”

He said changing attitudes to mental health in Ireland had grown into a movement.

“First Fortnight and its mental health partners proclaim that considerable work remains to be done to make Ireland a more tolerant, compassionate and empathic place for those living with the experience of mental ill health.”

For further information, see www. firstfortnight.ie.

Dublin Gazette Newspapers has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for lost and abandoned dogs. Belle is a five-year old female pit-bull cross who arrived to Dogs Trust heavily pregnant.

She was a fantastic mum to her seven puppies who have all been adopted and now it is Belle’s turn. She is a very friendly girl who adores attention, gives buckets of affection and is a firm favourite among all of the staff. She will make a very lucky adopter a really amazing addition to their home.

If you think you can offer Belle a loving home, please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www. dogstrust.ie. You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE. Dogs Trust are asking members of the public to visit www.puppypromise. com and make the puppy promise.

Gazette

OUT&ABOUT

It’s true – we’re the givers who keep on giving EBay Ireland has released the findings of a global survey showing that Irish people are the most generous gift givers in Europe at Christmas time.

T he average Irish person will buy 14 gifts this Christmas with the European average at just 11.

Meanwhile, the British will spend on average €289 this year coming in at a close second to Irish shoppers who will spend an average of €296 for Christmas 2015.

According to 73% of Irish people, passing off an unwanted gift to someone else is a complete no-no; however, women are more likely to cheekily do this.

Irish people have r e n ow n e d m a n n e r s meaning that 83% of those of us who receive an unwanted gift will grin and bear it, so as not to hurt the feelings of the gift giver.

look out for each other in new year, says pieta house Suicide and self-harm charity Pieta House is calling on people to look out for each other after Christmas as we make the sometimes difficult transition from Christmas into January and the New Year.

This comes as the charity reports a massive increase in calls for its services in January every year.

“Christmas is a very happy time for most when friends and fami-

lies get together and people are in good form,” said Cindy O’Connor, chief clinical officer of Pieta House.

“At this time of year people make that extra effort to be kinder to each other and we receive fewer calls for our services during this period.

“However, once January arrives and Christmas is over we see a dramatic increase in calls and people looking for support.

“This year, we’re asking people to continue to be mindful of one another and to reach out to those who may be struggling.”

Pieta House has helped over 5,000 people this year in its nine locations across Ireland and close to 18,000 people since it first opened its doors in 2006.

ISPCC keeps eye on 1,500 children without homes The ISPCC has launched a new Childline service to provide emotional support to more than 1,500 homeless children in Ireland who are worried that Santa won’t be able to find them this Christmas.

The text support service, in association with Focus Ireland, and DePaul, is also for children who are worried about homelessness and aims to alleviate some of the stress and anxiety that homelessness can cause for children.

The free of charge service which was launched

by Lord Mayor Criona Ni Dhalaigh (SF), will provide non-directive listening to complement child and family support services provided by other agencies and is not an alternative to one-toone support, which will remain a key requirement for families living in temporary accommodation.

Text Home to 50101 from 10am to 4am.

get with the programme and recycle batteries WEEE Ireland are asking people to be mindful of their waste batteries during the festive season.

New figures released

by WEEE Ireland have revealed that over 20 million waste AA batteries are expected to be found lying around Irish homes on Christmas Day. Members of the public will now be able to obtain their own My Battery Box from their local Aldi store in a bid to make battery recycling more achievable.

Each battery collected will go towards a monetary donation to LauraLynn Children’s Hospice.

Special ambassador Bosco said: “I am delighted to leave my box once again this Christmas to get on the road to spread the importance of recycling batteries, not just for our environment but for the children in LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice.

“All the children there are my friends and I really hope Ireland can pull together over Christmas

and collect waste batteries in the new blue battery boxes.”

To find out more, visit www.weeeireland.ie

27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016 Gazette 15

DIARY feature

Elsa Uibh Eachach is pictured with Bosco at Aldi in Terenue for the launch of WEEE Ireland’s My Battery Box campaign. Picture: Shane O’Neill Photography

16 Gazette 27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN, 2016

27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN, 2016 Gazette 17

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STYLE

River Island Bandeau prom dress €87

OUT&ABOUT

skirt M&S Limited edition

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Look from River Is

A sparkling New Year  mimi murray

The biggest party night of the year is almost upon us and what better time to glitz it up, sartorial wise, than New Year’s Eve. Sparkles, crystals and sequins are the order of the day and here at Gazette Style we are big fans of a bit of shimmer and shine, for the party season anyway.

Here we have picked some winning looks that won’t break the bank and some colours that you really won’t get away with at any other time of the year.

So pop on those diamante earrings, a glimmering heel and a sparkly frock, and get ready for the ball to drop!

River Is bodyco land open b n €55 ack

Gazette

18 Gazette 27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016

Penn eys b roca clutch de €19

ion collect M&S ce €40 neckla

Ca litt rvela lew a oo vail ds ab ire le lan fro d.c m om €9 2

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Gazette

20 Gazette 27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016

OUT&ABOUT

the big interview

Peter andre: strictly insightful insights

Taking all the right steps for a great family Christmas  emma nolan

FOLLOWING a successful stint on Strictly Come Dancing, singer and reality star Peter Andre talked to The Gazette about dancing, Daniel O’Donnell, his upcoming tour and spending Christmas with

his family.

The father of three has had a whirlwind of a year following his wedding to Emily MacDonagh in July and, with the birth of his daughter, Amelia, in January 2014, and a new TV show in the works, it’s all go for the Mysterious Girl singer.

“I’m doing so much at the moment – TV, endorsements – and I’ve got the tour next year.”

His Come Swing With Me tour starts at the end of February next year, and he is currently acting as promotional ambassador for food retailer Iceland.

As for including an Irish date in the tour, he said: “You never know – me and Daniel [O’Donnell] might be doing something together!” He joked about Irish country singer and fellow Strictly Come Dancing contestant, O’Donnell, who he became great friends with after appearing on the show together.

“I love Daniel – he’s a gent and a kind man. I noticed a big gap in the show when he left.”

Nerves Speaking of his experience on the show, Andre said he was very happy to have been a part of it, despite his nerves: “The nerves killed me on that show.”

Andre and O’Donnell helped each other with the pressure. “He said something to me that really resonated with me – he said in all the years he’s been performing, he never felt as nervous as he did on the show, and I understand – I was the same.”

After making it through 10 weeks on the show, he said that he felt “absolutely no shame” when he was eventually eliminated and was delighted to reach a few milestones, including getting to Blackpool which was “just incredible”, he said.

“I had the first 10 [score] of the series, the first 10 from [head judge]

Peter Andre speaks warmly of time spent with Donegal crooner Daniel O’Donnell on Strictly Come Dancing, saying: “I noticed a big gap in the show when he left.”

Len Goodman and he gave me a standing ovation – they’re moments I will always remember.”

Andre said the dancing skills he learned on the show with dance partner Janette Manrara were invaluable for his tour.

Tradition As for Christmas, he’s spending it in the West Country with Emily’s family, which has been their tradition for the past few years.

“Her mum is an incredible cook,” he said, “We end up being like a scene out of Home Alone – it’s just madness! I’m going to have the kids with me;

it’s going to be wonderful.”

As it’s his youngest daughter, Amelia’s, second Christmas, he said she’s getting excited by all the lights but doesn’t know what’s going on just yet, but his older children, Junior (10), and Princess (8), are very excited, and looking forward to it “big time”.

Andre told The Gazette that he and Emily are excited to have more children in the future. He joked: “Every time I ask her, she nods her head in agreement.”

He added: “I’m from a big family. There are six of us; my dad was one of

12; we’re both from big families and I like big families – we live for our kids.”

This Christmas, Andre is determined that he and the family will put down their phones while enjoying their quality time together. As food retailer Iceland ambassador, he is in full agreement of its campaign urging people to put the phones down this Christmas to maximise family time.

He said: “I know that’s a hard thing for us to do, but with everyone’s head stuck in their phones, it would be really nice this Christmas for us to just put them away.”

27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016 Gazette 21

Gazette

22 Gazette 27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016

OUT&ABOUT

fast

TRAVEL NEWS

Lake Como is famous for its wonderful gardens and dramatic scenery

A wealth of magical gardens to enjoy If you’re already dreaming of sunshine and gardens in full bloom, then Travel Department’s range of overseas garden tours are a great antidote to the winter blues.

These garden tours takes in visits to some of the most well-known and iconic gardens in the world, as well as private gardens that can often be inaccessible when travelling independently.

For five nights you can visit the gardens of Lake Como in Milan at the four-star Grand Hotel Cadenabbia with flights departing on May 11 for €979pp.

Lake Como is famous for its wonderful gardens and dramatic scenery with the lake as the beautiful focal point.

From your relaxing lakeside base, you will explore the lake’s enchanting gardens and picturesque villages.

Bask in the beauty of Villa Balbianello and Villa Carlotta, where the gardens attached to both of these magnificent villas date back to the 16th century, showcasing geometrical sche-

ma, stairs and terraces, statues and fountains.

If you want a garden holiday that will surely surpass all of your expectations then why not take a journey to Japan and explore its magnificent and tranquil nature sights.

Departing in November 2016, Frances MacDonald, a qualified and experienced gardener and guide, will escort you from the ancient city of Kyoto with its superb gardens and temples, then on the renewed city of Hiroshima with its iconic reminder of the atomic bomb now surrounded by a beautiful peace park for a total of 13 nights.

You will then journey though wonderful mountain scenery for an overnight stay near Mount Fuji, before moving on to the seaside town of Kamakura to view gardens and the Great Buddha before visiting the bustling high rise metropolis of Tokyo with its secret gardens, parks and temples.

To see a full list of garden holiday on offer, visit www.traveldepartment.ie

TRAVEL

america: New York is a perfect sequel to a stay in las vegas

Celebrate the New Year in cities that never sleep

 Ian Begley

ers.

If you fancy rolling into the New Year with style, then Las Vegas is the city for you.

Famous around the globe for its world-class entertainment and casinos, there’s a lot more to this vibrant city than meets the eye.

American Holidays has compiled a list of the most exciting activities and excursions to ensure you have an amazing trip.

The Mob Museum Find out all there is to know about America’s most famous criminals, such as Al Capone, and learn about the origins of the FBI at the interactive Mob Museum.

The museum provides a world-class, interactive journey through true stories. From the birth of the mob, to today’s headlines.

Whether you like it or not, this is American history.

Bellagio Fountains Water shoots 460ft into the air, perfectly choreographed to the tunes of Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly.

The fountains are destined to romance your senses. Take in a complimentary Las Vegas show of water, music and light thoughtfully interwoven to mesmerise its admir-

The Grand Canyon Be wowed by the breathtaking canyon which stretches as far as the eye can see.

Enjoy the scenery of all the rims of the canyon where you can see the Colorado river, lush forests of the Grand Canyon National Park, as well as the high deserts of the West Rim.

The Hoover Dam This tour offers a unique way to see, learn and appreciate what Hoover Dam is all about. Built in 1931, the excursion offers guided exploration into lesser known parts of the dam.

Cirque du Soleil Former Olympic gymnasts throw themselves around the stage purely for your entertainment.

Cirque du Soleil is a Quebec-based company recognised all over the world for high-quality, artistic entertainment.

Since its dawn in 1984, it has constantly sought to evoke the imagination, invoke the senses and provoke the emotions of people around the world.

Adventuredome A m e r i c a ’s l a r g e s t indoor theme park. You’ll be left gasping for breath

after the thrilling Canyon Blaster and El Loco rides.

The colossal carnival-like atmosphere is more than five acres of thrills, chills and a crazy amount of fun for everyone.

Stratosphere Tower Enjoy panoramic views of the Las Vegas valley from the Stratosphere Tower which stands at 1,149ft and is the tallest freestanding observation tower in the United States.

A unique fixture in the Vegas skyline, the tower is one of the most exciting attractions among Las Vegas resorts. With the vast quantity of things to do in Las Vegas, you can spend five nights in the Excalibur Hotel and Casino from €769pp in February.

For those who want two holidays in one, what about spending your four

nights in the Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas and another three nights in the Hotel Edison in New York this January/February from €835pp?

New York is a place that can be something different to every individual visitor.

If culture and art are your thing then the Museum of Natural History, the Met and the Guggemheim are just three museums in a city stuffed with them. If entertainment is more your bag then take a trip down Broadway or visit Times Square.

There is also the architecture, parks, music and people, the nightlife and daytime hustle and bustle, the subway and a yellow cab ride through skyscraper-created canyons.

For more information on these deals, visit www. americanholidays.com.

Experience the iconic vistas of the Grand Canyon and explore the Hoover Dam before letting the Statue of Liberty welcome you to a city like no other, New York

27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016 Gazette 23

Gazette

CINEMA ReelReviews

Man versus enraged super beast ... Ship: 0, Whale: 1, in this latest retelling of the Moby Dick tale

in the heart of the sea: maritime disaster

Barely keeps its head above the water  Dave phillips

After the underwhelming prequels from some years ago, disgruntled Star Wars fans had been waiting – and waiting, and waiting – for films worthy of the excitement, spirit and energy of the original trilogy. Thankfully, The Force Awakens delivers a terrific, invigorating sequel.

star wars: the force is very strong in this one

The next generation  Shannon Maile

So unless you’ve removed yourself to a remote island off the coast of Finland you’ll know that the world is currently undergoing a severe bout of Star Wars hysteria.

It’s taken the human population by force (ha, get it?), and whether you’re a die-hard fan or completely oblivious to any of the previous Star Wars franchise, nobody can escape from it simply because it’s all over your Facebook feed.

So why the big fuss?

It’s been 10 years since the last instalment of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith so it was no doubt that we were all somewhat excited to have a new addition to the collection, but the question on our lips is, was it worth the wait?

This time around we

have a brand new director by the name of JJ Abrams who expertly takes the reins from George Lucas and a shiny new set of characters for us to explore which gives the film a bit of a boost and a softer approach for new coming fans.

The “good guys” are none other than Rey, our heroine of the film but previously a female scavenger living on a dismal desert planet, Fin, who was a Stormtrooper for the vicious First Order but now wants an escape from his past, and of course a brand new droid called BB-8 for us to go “aww” at.

Oh but that’s not all, BB-8, like all sneaky droids, has crucial information on the whereabouts of Luke Skywalker for the Resistance, which leads our heroes into a spot of bother with the new and improved Sith

order which is controlled by a villainous blackmasked fiend, does that ring a bell for anyone?

Without giving too much of the plot away, the film itself wonderfully caters for all ages and interests.

F o r those

who live on the nostalgic side of life, we have the rebirth of some of our most beloved and notorious characters such as Han Solo and Chewbacca (who are still, unsurprisingly, up to no good) and

Princess Leia.

Without completely copying the plot for A New Hope, we do have a similar structure in place, Step 1: Kill Sith lord of your choice; Step 2: Blow up the new Death Star.

It also wouldn’t be complete without some father-son issues in homage to Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker and of course for the more sof t-hear ted viewers out there we have a bit of romance to spice things up every now and again but we also have enough action and spaceship chases and/or fights to entertain the most manliest of men who dare not stray from their action-loving ways.

This film could have easily died a painfully embarrassing death if left in the wrong hands but luckily it has outdone itself and will live another

day.

With the prospect of more Star Wars films in the pipeline it’s safe to say that the excitement will never cease but it may not reach the same heights as this production.

If I had to pinpoint any disappointing aspects of the film, it would be the slight lack of originality with the plot but nevertheless it’s still a gem.

Prepare yourselves for a lot of shocks, a few laughs, and if you’re anything like my mother who still lives in her 1970s childhood nostalgia, there will be a lot of tear-jerking moments also.

All in all it’s a brilliant piece of film history which is already being proved by its success in the box office and a mustsee for everyone regardless of whether you’re a sci-fi diehard or not.

Verdict: 9/10

A staple in the literary canon, Herman Melville’s 1851 novel Moby-Dick tells the story of Captain Ahab’s fatally obsessive crusade to hunt the titular white whale.

Subsequent decades have seen Melville’s tale of power, revenge, and glory rise to become the preeminent representation of the American ideal.

In The Heart of the Sea sees veteran director Ron Howard (A Beautiful Mind, Frost/Nixon) trace these core themes to the gruesome incident that inspired Melville – the sinking of the Essex, a Nantucket whaling ship that was wrecked by its quarry in the South Pacific in 1820.

It’s a story within a story, as a young Melville (Ben Whishaw) implores one of the sole survivors of the wreck, Tom Nickerson (Brendan Gleeson) to drunkenly recount the disaster some decades later.

Bearing the bulk of the narrative, Nickerson’s account revolves around two men – the officious

and green around the gills Captain Pollard (Benjamin Walker) and the sea-savvy superhero Owen Chase (Chris Hemsworth).

Cue the inevitable mano-el-mano posturing as we sink into that age-old dynamic of rank versus experience.

Despite a rollicking trailer, In The Heart of The Sea plays out slowly, with a handful of big action sequences keeping things afloat.

The level of talent is saturating – Cillian Murphy also appears alongside Tom Holland and Michelle Fairly – and one wonders whether Howard had the space in two hours to contain the enormity of the tale he tries so earnestly to tell.

There are solid performances, some beautiful shots and CG work and equally well-constructed and tangible sets that all cry out for recognition.

But the story sacrifices character development in pursuit of a heavy-handed attempt to make its themes relevant (ah, they did it all for oil!). We never get to the heart of the sea, we only skim the surface.

Chris Hemsworth as sea-savvy Owen Chase

Gazette

24 Gazette 27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016

OUT&ABOUT

GAMING

WEEBYTES 5 The late Satoru Iwata,

1

Nintendo chief executive

Some of the gaming lows from 2015 DESPITE the release of many great games and cool tech developments, 2015 also saw more than its fair share of bad news, too.

As the lowest point of the year, gamers and the industry alike were shocked in July when Nintendo’s chief executive, 55-year-old Satoru Iwata, suddenly passed away.

As a key driver of Nintendo’s successes, and as a widely respected and liked figure in the business, Iwata’s unexpected death marked the lowest point in a year that also saw a lot of job losses, studio closures, and troubled titles getting canned.

There was no shortage of business fallings out and controversies, this year, with the international gaming media – and, increasingly, the mainstream business press – seemingly unable to turn around without bumping into another gaming-related argument, spat or bad-news story from one month to the next.

However, looking ahead to 2016, we can still expect the sector to log some record financial figures, the delivery of a number of long-awaited flagship titles, and the continuing growth, diversity and maturity of the industry as a whole.

3 6

2

4

7

Many of this year’s best games delivered particularly creative, beautiful or complex settings. Flowing from the top left, and in no particular order: 1) Her Story, 2) The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, 3) Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture, 4) Batman: Arkham Knight, 5) Xenoblade Chronicles X, 6) Splatoon, 7) Bloodborne, 8) Metal Gear Solid V (inset below).

best of 2015: A round-up of several of the year’s greatest games

Some beauties to behold

A NERVOUS young woman walks into a police station to report her husband missing. So began one of the best games of the year – a title that’s as good as any to start this best-of-2015 list.

Starting off – and in no particular order – and critics loved the narrative-driven Her Story (1, IOS; for mature gamers).

Presented as hopelessly mixed-up video snippets of a few police interviews recorded and then jumbled up in the mid 1990s, players used a police computer to review up to five snippets of clips at a time, based on any common keyword they entered.

After that, it was up to them to work out what part of the story to unlock next, based on their keywords, with the missing person report soon turning into a complex tale.

 shane dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com

Moving on, and The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt (2, PC, PS4, XBO; Cert 18) was undoubtedly the game of the year for many critics and gamers alike.

Set in a truly vast open world dotted with villages, towns, ruins and a seemingly endless amount of quests – not to mention a lot of Northern Irishvoiced characters – its chief protagonist could explore a massive game world that was rich with detail and very, very pretty vistas – as well as occasional lashings of uber-violence and ear-blistering profanities across its darkly beautiful world.

Indeed, with the newer,

powerful consoles hitting their stride, many of 2015’s game worlds were particularly wondrous to behold, as developers began to get to grips with their power.

Whether exploring a quintessentially English village immediately after the apocalypse has wiped away everybody, everywhere in Everybody’s

Gone to The Rapture ( 3 , PS4; Cert 16), or

swooping through the definitive version of a rain-and neon-soaked Gotham city in Batman: Arhkam Knight (4, PC, PS4, XBO; Cert

18), 2015’s game worlds enticed, entertained and unnerved players with particular skill.

Indeed, several of these best-of titles had mature themes running throughout, and often subtly so – themes of love, loss and philosophical points about the meaning of self

and identity lay as rich seams beneath the pretty surface in a number of these engaging titles.

However, older consoles still had the power to surprise in 2015, with the aging Wii U packing quite a punch with Xenoblade Chronicles X (5, Cert 12) – as vast, engaging and beautiful a world as anything the newer consoles could muster.

In common with other large open worlds to explore, Chronicles featured a complex story laden with a huge amount of side quests and diversions – but not so with another critically-lauded Wii U title, Splatoon (6, Cert 7+) – a fun and fastpaced shooter game that charmed many.

Its bright and simple graphics masked a fastmoving title that was fun to play, but had much more depth than its cheerful graphics sug-

gested, proving yet again that Nintendo’s consoles often have the most directly fun games.

Critics also lauded c r e e py B l o o d b o r n e (7, PS4; Cert 18); a toughas-nails action game soaked in Gothic, Lovecraftian imagery and lore, and bristling with just-one-more-go appeal for those who like a challenge (to put it mildly).

8

And, lastly – and almost certainly very finally – the long-awaited Metal Gear Solid V (8, PS3, PS4, XB360, XBO, PC; Cert 18) made quite an impact with its open world setting, dense plot, and a seemingly final adventure for an iconic games character (see inset), with everything from child soldiers in Africa to psychic pyromaniacs to contend with, all in the name of an antiwar message.

Ultimately, 2015 delivered more of the same, with few truly new experiences or genres making their impact felt.

However, there were subtle iterations to established genres, and despite the usual raft of studio closures and industrywide issues, 2015 saw several outstanding games live up to their promise.

2016 has quite a challenge to live up to ...

27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016 Gazette 25

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Gazette

HEALTH advice: get focused and put seasonal excesses behind you

Five steps to beat ‘Christmas bloat’ Christmas has come and gone, and you’re left to deal with the aftermath of all that less-thanhealthy eating.

Your body is puffy and bloated. Your joints are achy. Your clothes feel tight. Maybe you are feeling this way right now?

Below are the five steps you’ll need to quickly and seamlessly get back on the fitness fast track ...

Step one: Get focused.

The holidays happened.

You ate things from your “never eat these” list; you drank more than you should have – but now it’s over. Draw a line in the sand.

The bad eating stops here. Don’t beat yourself up for falling off the fitness

wagon this time; simply get back up, dust yourself off and get re-focused.

Leave the past – and your slip-ups – in the past.

Step Two: Get hydrated. While bad eating can take on many forms, the end result is most often dehydration and water retention. The only way to restore balance is to get hydrated.

Your first priority in getting back on track is to drink plenty of water throughout your day.

Start with a tall glass of water in the morning, and carry a water bottle with you. Don’t add artificial sweeteners or any cordial to your water – these will work against your hydration efforts.

Stay focused throughout Christmas and you will be ready for the New Year

To add flavour, slice fresh fruit such as lime or lemon, herbs like mint, or vegetables such as cucumber to place in your water, just like at the spa.

Step three: Get picky.

For the next few days you

need to be extra picky about what you eat. Stick with only whole, real foods like fruits, vegetables and some lean meat.

Whole, real foods will quickly help to restore balance. Don’t eat pack-

aged foods for the next few days – this means saying no to snack foods, processed meat slices, dairy, baked goods and alcohol.

Step four: Get juicing.

Making your own juice

can be beneficial when recovering from a weekend of bad eating.

The key is to use ingredients that will hydrate and nourish your body, and to avoid ingredients that are high in sugar.

These ingredients create a fantastic recovery juice: fresh ginger, spinach, cucumber, kale, green apple, lemon and celery.

The following ingredients should be used sparingly, due to high sugar content: carrots, oranges, red apples, melons or pineapple.

Step five: Get moving. So you’ve put an end to the eating madness, you’ve hydrated, you’ve eaten only whole foods and you’ve enjoyed a

recovery juice – now it’s time to sweat it out.

Lace up your runners and put on your favourite gym clothes. When you start your workout, ease in slowly. Take the time to warm up and stretch your muscles before powering up to a solid 30-minute exercise routine.

Start with a fast-paced walk each morning before your breakfast and do this every day for seven days.

You’ll feel amazing and you’ll get control back over your body.  Greg Marsh Fat loss expert, personal trainer and owner of Synergise Personal Training in Stepaside.

For further information, see www.synergise.ie.

26 clondalkin gazette 27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016

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Gazette

28 Gazette 27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016

SPORT2015

review of the year

looking back: january to june

Dublin toast New Year with a host of epic wins

January

“SURE, what better way to start a New Year than a game of hurling?”

Ger Cunningham enjoyed his first taste of life as the new Dublin senior hurling boss at the annual Dubs Stars on New Year’s Day. He was one of a series of people making their first tentative steps into the new season in new roles.

Castleknock appointed Antoin O’Cleirigh to take over the reins as the club’s hurling manager to take on AHL Division 2 for the very first time.

Skerries Harps Lyndsey Davey was announced as the captain of the Dublin senior football team, instantly saying the focus for 2015 was very clearly on making amends for last year’s All-Ireland championship final defeat to Cork.

Clondalkin rugby’s second team made up for the cancellation of their firsts’ Hosie Cup final, with a convincing defeat of the Athy outfit in the Lalor Cup final on home soil over the winter break.

February SHANE

Jennings

announced he would call time on a glittering career with Leinster and professional rugby at the end of the 2014-15 season, one that saw him land three Heineken Cups, three Celtic Leagues and an Amlin Cup. In the wake of the announcement, he duly went on to captain Leinster on the occasion of his 204th Leinster cap to a bonus point win over Zebre in front of his home crowd at the RDS. Arcane/Adamstown Cycling Team’s Darragh Zaidan began his year in style with two major achievements, landing an impressive solo win at the Trader’s Cup in Dundalk a week before riding in his first professional road race in Morocco.

After three years of frustration, sports clubs and schools in the Donabate– Portrane area were given a huge boost with the news that the Donabate all-weather pitch is due to reopen in just three weeks’ time.

The facility, which was closed before a ball was kicked or struck in late November 2011 due to flooding, forced local sports clubs to travel across Dublin to hold

training sessions and host matches.

Lucan United added another marquee name to their LSL Sunday Senior 1B panel with the signing of former Republic of Ireland international Mark Kinsella.

Manager John Doyle says he “twisted his arm”to line out in their 6-0 win over Rathcoole Boys, a result which lifted them to the top of their division.

Clonliffe Harriers’ Brian Gregan and Declan Murray produced superb runs as part of Ireland’s distance medley relay at the Armory Invitational meet as the team went under world record time.

They were denied the overall title by a dominant USA team who ran a superb 9.19.93 with Ireland finishing in 9.25.37, what now stands as the second best time ever, The relay sees teams of four compete over mixed distances over 1,200m, 400m, 800m and 1,500m.

March THERE was a wealth of local winners at the annual FAI awards event.

Swords’ Jamie Finn took home the Under-16 Wom-

Dublin footballer Rory O’Carroll with Scoil Aine’s Ellie McGrath, Roisin Mythen and Lucy Harrington. Picture: Ramsey Cardy

Clondalkin claimed the Lalor Cup in a succesful start to their 2015. Picture:

Feile gold for Plunkett’s. Picture: Peter Hockey/

Sharon Flanagan

GAAPics.com

The DDSL celebrate

Robbie Keane brought his LA Galaxy team to Gannon Park for a training session with

Tough going at the

the Irish Special Olympics side. Picture: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

ships in Swords last

en’s International Player of the Year prize.

Former Lakelands schoolboy Danny Kane was named FAI Under17 International Player of the Year while Liverpool hot prospect and former Lucan United star Conor Masterson picked up the FAI Under-16 International Player of the Year award last weekend.

On the hockey front, Aisling Naughton’s thirdminute goal saw Hermes claim the second leg of a potential quadruple as they won their ninth Jacqui Potter Leinster Senior Cup hockey title at Grange Road on St

Patrick’s Day. She got on the end of Sarah Patton’s superb run and cross to snatch her 23rd goal of the season, helping the Booterstown club add this title to the Leinster league they won a fortnight earlier.

Castleknock GA A took another big step forward with club members approving plans to start work on a new clubhouse during the summer.

Old Wesley RFC, meanwhile, achieved promotion despite losing their perfect record in the league against Naas at Forenaught. The losing bonus point proved

enough to assure them a move up to Division 1B.

April THIS month marked 25 years of Esker Celtic providing football in Hermitage Park. The club celebrated the milestone with a massive gala event in the Clarion Hotel, Liffey Valley with FAI chief executive John Delaney in attendance.

A penalty corner brace from Richard Sykes saw Monkstown win their third successive Irish Hockey League title, inflicting Banbridge’s first defeat in all competitions

over the season at Grange Road.

Having had one hand on the AUL Sunday Senior Division title for almost the entire season, Rivervalley Rangers senior footballers finally got two hands on it in April in Ridgewood Park.

The league was captured in fine style too, with an 8-0 win over the helpless McKelvey Celtic leaving the Valley on 42 points, with 14 wins from 14 games.

Dublin retained the EirGrid Leinster Under-21 Leinster Football Championship at Pairc Tailteann in sterling fashion.

27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016 Gazette 29

Gazette

‘‘

QUOTABLE

QUOTES

“My Mam still worries about me. I have to remind her: ‘I have just run around the world’ ”

Castleknock freestyle kayaker Tom Dunphy creating

“It takes getting used to. You have to learn to relish the contact and learn to love it to be successful.”

with the FAI Umbro Youth Inter League Cup after a final win over the NDSL. Picture: Pat Murphy/Sportsfile

Eye for the camera: Clontarf in action in the UBL Division 1A against Terenure. Picture: Deryck Vincent

Irish National Cyclocross champion-

High School ecstatic after their first Leinster hockey Senior Premier

January. Picture: Sean Rowe

League success. Picture: Adrian Boehm

All-Ireland winning goalkeeper Cliodhna O’Connor announced her retirement from club and inter-county football last week after a hugely successful playing career.

Indeed, the Naomh Mearnog woman featured for the Dubs in five finals, eventually winning one at the fourth attempt.

May TROPHIES abounded on the soccer front with Lucan United adding the Gilligan Cup to promotion to the LSL Senior 1A Division.

What looked a certain-

ty for so long became reality for St Mochta’s who beat local rivals Verona 5-2 midweek to build an unassailable lead at the top of the LSL Sunday Senior 1.

It ensures their entry top tier football in the LSL for the very first time as comprehensive league champions, getting over the line with four games remaining and the minimum of fuss.

On one epic weekend, St Joseph’s Boys won a stunning four trophies.

Those included a rare double All-Ireland, with the wins coming at Under15 and Under-13 level.

Twenty-year-old Gavin Moynihan led through all but one round of the 2015 Irish Amateur Golf Championship, to take his second title in comprehensive fashion.

The Island GC man’s stunning third round 65 proved the difference, meaning 2012’s unlikely winner went into the final round level with young club mate Kevin LeBlanc before emerging with the title.

Salmon Leap canoe club’s Jenny Egan became the first Irish athlete to win a Senior European Sprint Championship canoe medal last weekend

- Ultra-runner Tony Mangan in the wake of his epic 55,000km run over four years

a splash in Canada

in Racice, Czech Republic. Egan’s bronze medal came in the Senior Women’s K1 5,000m event.

Colaiste Iosagain’s Ruth Iuallain and Kim NiFhearain

June

celebrate All-Ireland junior glory. Picture: Oliver McVeigh

CASTLEKNOCK Celtic ended its season with an impressive seven league titles with a number of runners-up positions with the DDSL Under-14 Major side making it an incredible four promotions in succession.

Bluebell United finally secured a long-awaited Leinster Senior League title, their first since 1987, having led the Sunday Senior’s top tier of Lein-

ster intermediate football almost from start to finish.

The free scoring Leinster Senior Division side hit 51 goals in 24 league games this season, and wrapped up the trophy to end their 28-year wait for this success.

Another to end a long wait was Maria McCambridge who finally broke her women’s VHI minimarathon duck as she

claimed the title in a time of 34 minutes and three seconds.

She led home a field of over 37,000 entrants for the annual event, the largest female-only event of its kind in the world.

Ireland’s first ever all artificial clay tennis club was opened last Saturday as De Vesci Lawn Tennis Club, Monkstown, unveiled their switch from hard-court to clay.

- Irish rugby star Hannah Tyrrell on her successful transition from Gaelic football

“Living in the jungle with all the monkeys in the trees; it’s only place in the world you can train without having to worry about money.”

- Castleknock man Tom Dunphy on why he moved to a camp site in the African jungle to pursue his dreams as a freestyle kayaker.

Gazette

30 Gazette 27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016

SPORT2015

review of the year

look back: july to december

Chasing the national and international sports dream July FINGALLIANS opened their long-awaited new all-weather pitch with GAA president Aogan O’Fearghail doing the honours at Lawless Park.

The pitch will go a long way to improving the facilities for the sizeable and fast-growing Swords club, which hosts a substantial 67 teams vying for time across the facilities.

Club PRO Paul Gormley said: “The new turf, with the requisite lining and new posts, will provide a superb facility for the club’s ever-growing reach while also providing a facility for the several national schools in the area.”

Hermitage GC’s Rowan Lester helped Leinster produce a phenomenal display on the final day at Rosapenna GC, Donegal, to reclaim t h e I n t e r p r ov i n c i a l Championship for the first time in seven years.

Portmarnock Swim Club member Fiona Doyle booked her ticket to the 2016 Rio Olympics, won a bronze medal, and smashed a self-held Irish record within the space of two days at the World University Games in Gwangiu, South Korea.

T h e Vo l v o D u n Laoghaire Regatta, meanwhile, produced four days of enthralling racing in Dublin Bay with over 400 boats and almost 3,000 sailors competing.

The biennial regatta was hailed an enormous success, both afloat and ashore, for a combined fleet of 415 boats, the biggest on the Irish Sea. Over 250 races on five different courses were staged in a range of light to very heavy conditions.

August FOXROCK Cabinteely hammered St Brigid’s 3-10 to 2-1 in the final in Parnell Park to claim the Dublin ladies football senior championship title.

“We’re particularly proud of how we won the game. It was probably our best performance of the year,” said manager Pat Rice.

Former Republic of Ireland international, St Patrick’s Athletic legend Keith Fahey announced his retirement from the professional game due to a long-standing knee and hip injuries.

But, while one former ROI international hung up his Rovers jersey for

good, another started a new life for the Hoops as Damien Duff made his debut for Fenlon’s side as a late substitute in their 3-0 win over Cork City in Tallaght.

The LSL Sunday Senior season got under way with newcomers Glenville and St Mochta’s winning their first ever game at this level on the first day of the season.

Salmon Leap’s Jenny Egan added to a superb year with success at the annual Liffey Descent

Conor McGregor became the UFC Leinster rugby star Kevin McLaughlin

featherweight champion in brilliant

at a summer camp; he was forced to

fashion in Las Vegas with a 13-second win

retire in September. Picture: Daire Brennan

over Jose Aldo. Picture: Ramsey Cardy

The Dublin senior football

September AFTER guiding Dublin to a third All-Ireland title in five years and his second as Dublin manager, Jim Gavin heaped praise on the structure of Gaelic Games in the capital.

The Round Tower’s man led Dublin to a 0-12 to 0-9 over reigning champions Kerry in the final and he mentioned those involved in the sport at every level the morning after the win.

“The fabric of the team is made up of all parts of the county,” Gavin said in the aftermath. “As intercounty manager, I’m just privileged to work with players who have come from great clubs.

In Dublin we have a great Cumann na mBunscol structure, we’ve a great coaching system, we’ve got some great teachers

The Irish women’s cross-country Fingallians at the Gaelic4Mothers and Others blitz with huge

team who won gold at the Europeans in

numbers participating. Picture: GAAPics.com

France.

doing some great work in the primary schools, some great coaches in the clubs.”

The Dublin ladies footballers, however, were undone in their final by a hugely impressive Cork side.

Both Fingallians and Round Tower, Lusk were contesting the junior B and A finals and both left Parnell Park with titles as Fingallians beat Bank of Ireland 2-17 to 3-8 and Round Tower ran out 4-10 to 1-12 winners against Raheny.

St Brigid’s junior hurlers savoured the sweet taste of championship glory after a pulsating junior B final against

O’Toole’s 1-13 to 0-15.

The South Dublin Swans, based in Bushy Park in Terenure, won the 2015 Australian Rules Football League of Ireland (ARFLI) Grand Final after a nail-biting final against last year’s champions, the Belfast Redbacks, in Belfast.

MU Barnhall began the Ulster Bank League Division 2B’s at Parsonstown with a number of major changes to their set-up both on the field and off it.

Maynooth University, the college which the Blue Bulls have a strategic alliance with, have rebranded from NUIM to MU which meant the

club changed along with it.

October R ATHFARNHAM WSAF’s Sean Hehir was the first Irish man home in the Dublin City Marathon, claiming the national title in 2.17.48.

Clontarf cruised into the last four of the Dublin senior football championship thanks to a convincing 0-19 to 0-7 win over St Anne’s, the first time they had reached that stage since 1991.

Handball hero Eoin Kennedy landed his fifth All-Ireland doubles title to add to his absolute mountain of medals and

titles over the years.

The St Brigid’s man paired up with Carl Browne for the first time in a doubles final and the Dublin duo beat Kilkenny duo Ciaran Neary and Michael “Ducksy” Walsh after a dramatic three games in the 60x30 softball final Abbeylara.

A 1-1 draw in Tallaght Stadium against Shamrock Rovers was enough for Dundalk FC to retain their SSE Airtricity Premier Division crown and it was no surprise that a Richie Towell goal clinched the title.

As well as Towell, the Dundalk squad was packed with players who learned their trade in west

27 DEC 2015 – 6 JAN 2016 Gazette 31

Gazette

‘‘

QUOTES OF

THE YEAR “Precision beats power and timing beats speed and that is what you saw there.”

- Mixed Martial Irish Senior women’s close cup winner Gertie McMullen (The Island) receives a kiss from husband and caddy Frazer after victory at Castletroy. Picture: Pat Cashman

Arts hero CONOR McGREGOR in the aftermath of his incredible UFC title-fight victory over Jose Aldo

“My sport is a little insane and athletes competing need to have a certain personality type.

You have to be a little bit crazy!”

side celebrate winning their third All-Ireland title in the past five years in Croke Park. Picture: Stephen McCarthy

- Skeleton Olympic

NAC’s James Scully before

Pearl Slattery leads out Shelbourne for the women’s

Phoenix Park was thronged for the national triathlon championships in August.

competing in the IPC World

FAI Senior Cup final against Wexford. They ultimately

Picture: David Maher/Sportsfile

Championships.

were denied the title on penalties. Picture: David Maher

round of action, drawing a rousing reception from the home supporters.

St Peregrine’s Under-14 camogie stars wrapped up a remarkable treble winning season by clinching their league title. A 4-9 to 1-4 win over St Pat’s meant Peregrine’s added the Division 3 title to their championship and Feile crowns from earlier this year.

K insella has been involved in the sport for 25 years, and represented Ireland at the world and European championships before moving into coaching, founding the Monkstown Boxing Club from scratch 12 year ago.

Ballyboden St Enda’s manager Andy McEntee said: “it mightn’t have been pretty” but his club was unlikely to care too much as they won their first ever Leinster title in O’Connor Park.

The Firhouse Road outfit defeated Portlaoise in a thrilling AIB Leinster SFC Club final by a single point and McEntee.

Lucan Sarsfields’ senior footballers return

Dublin.

Palmerstown local Andy Boyle grew up playing alongside Towell in a prominent Crumlin schoolboy team.

Chris Shields was on the books of Clondalkin club St Francis for a number of years while Meenan (St Joseph’s), Sean Gannon (St Kevin’s), and Kurtis Byrne (Cherry Orchard) also got a footballing education in the city, along with several other members of the Lilywhites squad.

The Irish men’s hockey team, featuring several players from Dublin clubs like Monkstown, Pembroke and Three Rock Rovers moved a step clos-

er to the Olympic dream as the national team had their place confirmed for Rio 2016.

November LINDSAY PEAT - an All-Ireland winning footballer and former cocaptain of the Irish international basketball team - added international rugby to her considerable sporting CV. Peat was called up to the Ireland Women’s squad to face England at Harlequin’s London ground, The Stoop, coming off the bench as the women played their first autumn international.

The good times kept on

rolling for Cuala’s senior hurlers as they booked their place in the Leinster SHC final, adding to the Dublin title, with superb 3-12 to 0-17 win over Clara of Kilkenny. They would eventually come a cropper to Wexford side Oulart-the-Ballagh.

NAC-based diver Oliver Dingley won his first event as an Irish competitor when beating multiple world champion Tom Daley at the Irish Open in the National Aquatic Centre in Dublin.

He won the 1m men’s final in dramatic fashion, seeing off the sport’s most famous face by 1.05 points with final forward 2½ somersaults in the last

December MONKSTOWN Boxing Club head coach Paul Kinsella was awarded the highest honour of the Irish Amateur Boxing Association: a lifetime achievement award.

to the big time of AFL1 was a feat well and truly deserved after two years of serious graft on and off the field, according to selector Ed O’Brien.

Colaiste Phadraig’s Lucan Under-16 basketball team won the school’s fourth major basketball trophy in the past three years with a 52-41 victory over Malahide CS in the Eastern League A final held in the Oblate Hall in Inchicore.

Corduff FC’s Francky Haba who was named best player on the park for the NDSL Academy Under-15s beat the Republic of Ireland Under-15s in a charity challenge game last Sunday.

hopeful BRENDAN DOYLE explains one of the components it takes to succeed in his chosen discipline

“It would be amazing to go from watching the Europa League to actually playing in it.”

- Shamrock Rovers man MARTY WATER reflects on his pair of goals against Norway’s Odds Ballklub as they moved within touching distance of the competition’s group stage.

Waters watched on in 2011 as a fan.

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

year in review: All the thrills and spills from an epic year for local sport in Dublin in 2015 P28-29

Dec 24, 2015 - jan 6, 2016

glittering reflections: National glory and world UFC title belts shine bright P30-31

Farewell to club legend Round Tower’s Paddy Delaney. Picture: Tommy Keogh

Tributes paid to Round Tower’s player, manager and staunchest supporter Paddy Delaney after life of commitment to the club

 nathan kelly

sport@dublingazette.com

ROUND Tower GAA Club has lost some iconic figures in 2015. Amongst others, John Mulholland, Aidan Dardis and most recently Paddy Delaney have all made their final trip to Monastery or Convent Road this year.

Figures like those three are the reason there is a network of support available at a club like Tower’s when such a loss occurs not only to the club, but to the community.

Delaney’s passing last Friday resulted in hundreds of tributes pouring on, whether it be true word of mouth in Clondalkin or from all over the world online.

The club’s official tribute was particularly touching as any. It read: “Paddy Delaney is synonymous with Round Tower GAA Club. When Tower’s supporters travel beyond the parish and

introduce themselves, they’re asked of Paddy Delaney. His name is associated with our proud club across the country.

“Over five decades, Paddy dedicated himself to Round Tower GAA Club. It was a constant in his life. He was a player, a mentor, manager, served on our executive, our chairman, vicepresident.

“He marked the pitches, hung the nets, cut the grass. He was an incredible supporter of our esteemed club, both on the playing pitches and off it.

“We could wish for no better. He was our representative in Dublin GAA circles, a proud ambassador of our club and the Clondalkin community.

“We’ve lost our best supporter. He touched thousands of people. His funeral is testament to that. We reunited members of our 1965 championship final team in the club last June. Paddy

and his playing comrades shared stories. That team come together once again this week to say farewell. The 1989 championship winning Under-21 team were guided by Paddy. They are devastated by his passing.

“His influence never waned. With his great friend Bernie Cronin, he mentored our junior B footballers to an unbeaten league campaign last year.

“He spoke passionately of the team and what it was accomplishing. Paddy was a constant on the side of our playing pitches, supporting our teams home and away, offering guidance and support.

“For Paddy’s family, the hearts of Round Tower GAA Club go out to you. To his loving wife Esther, sons Tony and Pat, daughters Leona and Mairead, sisters Breda and Ann, brothers Dermot and Gay, and extended family, we extended our deepest sympathies.

“We are blessed he settled in Clondalkin and served our club. We are very proud to have called him our friend and cherished to have had him in our lives. Ar dheis De go raibh a anaim.”

Tower’s chairman Niall Connaughton penned his own words for Paddy, echoing the thoughts of the club and the wider community: “Paddy was Tower’s to the core and if you’d cut him, I’m almost sure he would have bled green and white.

His role with the club in every position imaginable spanned decades and his association with the Clondalkin area is a long one.

“Our club will not be the same in his absence but it wouldn’t be what it is today without him and people like him - a number of whom we have lost recently.

“We owe him the respect of ensuring that this huge input is remembered and revered and that it is used to inspire current and future generations to safeguard the future of the club.”