Gazette
No fear factor for Bluebell as they target another big cup success
CLONDALKIN
INSIDE: Jack and Jill Foundation’s founder on why he
Opinion: Deputy Clare Daly lambasts Ireland’s response to the EU refugee emergency Page 10
Tweetwise: Some ill-advised public messages that should never have flown away Page 3
fashion Make some waves with River Island’s summer styles Pages 18-19
Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you
see page 32
Find us on
The future is local - the future is free
SIGNED NATHAN CARTER ALBUMS TO GIVE AWAY It’s your last chance to WIN a signed album from Irish country music phenomenon Nathan Carter, courtesy of The Gazette. The music sensation’s new album builds on his soaring success to date, adding to the string of number-ones he’s already bagged. From albums to DVDs, his trademark modern country sound has delighted music fans – and now YOU can win a signed copy of Nathan’s terrific new album! To be in with a chance of winning, see our competition on Page 10.
New Closing Date: Friday the 13th. Lucky for some!
N I W
opposes the new National Children’s Hospital site P24
May 5-11, 2016
‘Don’t isolate Clondalkin over spate of shootings’
Local reps say latest gun crimes are shocking but not surprising
Ian Begley
Local officials have defended Clondalkin in light of the latest gun attack to plague the town over the past couple of weeks. This week’s shooting
of local man Keith Willis, who was blasted in the leg and arm but survived the violent attack at Shancastle Drive on Monday, May 2, is being described as “shocking but not surprising”. The attack occurred just
one week after the fatal shooting of a man in his 30s in the Kilcronan area of Clondalkin. Local TD John Curran (FF) said: “These murders are shocking but unfortunately they are not surprising.”
Cllr Jonathan Graham (SD), who lives in Neilstow n, added that he believes it’s important not to isolate Clondalkin when gangland related activity is “rampant right across the city”. Full Story on Page 2
2 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5 May 2016
crime | Attack not linked to Hutch/Kinahan feud
Man hurt in ‘shocking’ shooting in Clondalkin Ian Begley ibegley@dublingazette.com
The latest shooting in Clondalkin at Shancastle Drive, sparked claims not to isolate the area when gangland-related activity is “rampant right across the city”, according to Cllr Jonathan Graham (SF). Picture: Google Maps
This week’s shooting of a Clondalkin man is the second violent gun attack that plagued the area within the space of seven days and is being described as “shocking but not surprising”. The man, who is in his 20s, was shot in the leg and the arm during a violent attack at Shancastle Drive just before 9pm on Monday, May 2. He was taken to Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown with his injuries understood to be non life-threatening. Gardai say that two men were spotted leaving the scene in a car shortly after the shooting and are asking anyone with information to contact them at Ronanstown Garda Station. At this stage of the investigation, the shooting is not believed to be linked to the ongoing Hutch/Kinahan feud. This recent gun attack occurred just one week after the fatal shooting of a man in his 30s in the Kilcronan area of Clondalkin. The victim was shot four times in the hallway of his home and was pronounced dead at the scene. The culprits then fled on foot and are currently at large. Clondalkin TD John Curran (FF) has condemned the latest gangland killings in Dublin, saying: “These murders are shocking but unfortunately they are not surprising.
“It is not acceptable that this brutality is taking place on the streets of our capital. In February we saw this latest spate of gangland killings dominate the media with the callous shooting in the Regency Hotel in Whitehall. “In February the Minister of Justice announced €5m for a task force to tackle organised crime. Despite this, the feuding between these criminals has continued. I therefore call on Francis Fitzgerald to explain where the resources she promised have been spent. “The residents of Dublin need to see the battle against these criminal gangs intensified, to prevent further attacks like the ones we saw last night,” said Deputy Curran. Cllr Jonathan Graham (SF), who lives in the Neilstown area of Clondalkin, said he believes it’s important not to isolate Clondalkin when gangland related activity is “rampant right across the city”. He said: “Obviously, when someone is shot on your doorstep there is going to be a palpable sense of fear among people who are still worried and concerned that there might be further repercussions. “I think everyone just wants it to stop, it has no place in the area at all. The guards are doing the best they can on a small budget, but I believe a lot more needs to be done,” he said.
Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Second Floor, Heritage House, Dundrum Office Park, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers
FastNews
Bealtaine Festival packed full of event for the elderly The upcoming South Dublin County Council’s Bealtaine Festival features a wide line-up of events for elderly people throughout the month of May. The Bealtaine Festival gives everyone the opportunity to discover a new talent or find a new way to use an old skill. It is an opening to make new friends and connect with your community. The council has organised a number of events during the month to celebrate this festival and has produced a programme to advertise the wide variety of events and activities that are planned for the festival. Some of the activities include crafts, computer classes, horticultural workshops, walking, tea dance, ballroom dancing etc. Lucan Library are hosting a range of IT courses throughout the month of May where participants will be taught how to use email, job search, online banking, shopping etc. These classes will take place on May 10 and May 17 from 9.45 to 11.15am or 11.15am to 12.45noon or 12.45 to 2.15pm. On Wednesday, May 11 at 10.30am, discover how the Iris of your eye can reveal insights into your health status and constitution tendencies in Lucan Library. On Friday, May 13 at 11am a laughter with yoga session will take place and on Monday, May 16 from 7 to 8pm a show with live music and dramatic readings will occur in the library too. A programme of events for the month can be downloaded from www.sdcc.ie.
5 May 2016 CLONDALKIN Gazette 3
Druids Glen golf classic to help sick children
THE magnificent Druids Glen Hotel and Golf Resort is hosting the Jack & Jill annual golf classic on Friday week, May 13. This year’s format will once again be a “shot gun” format, starting at 2pm. Druids Glen is planning to line-out their star ambassadors – Rob and Dave Kearney, Fergus McFadden and Ian Madigan – to help make the day extra special. The team fee of €1,024 covers the golf, a light lunch on arrival, and tickets to dinner for eight including wine. For full information, or to book a team, contact 045 894 538.
See Feature on P24
people | we look back at some unfortunate public messages
Bird-brained Tweets ahead MICK WALLACE So terrible for the victims, but when is France going to stop its role in the militarisation of the planet?
Deputy Mick Wallace (Ind) sparked outrage late last year after making a controversial Tweet on November’s terrorist attack in Paris. The deputy defended his words, and described the activities of Isis as “horrific”. Picture: Sinnfeinireland, Flickr
FastNews
GERRY ADAMS Watching Djanjo Unchained - A Ballymurphy Nigger!
The Sinn Fein party leader’s (left) Tweet last weekend made headlines around the world. Saying the use of a racist term had been “inappropriate”, Deputy Adams denied being racist, and said he had been comparing the plight of Irish Nationalists to the struggle against slavery in America. Fidelma Healy Eames Happy Mothers’ day all! Hope we can continue to celebrate it after #SSM passed. In some US states Mothers & Father’s Day banned #pcgonemad
Senator Fidelma Healy Eames (Ind) received a lot of backlash last year for this Tweet, which seemed to suggest that Mother’s Day, and the celebration of the occasion, could come under threat if Ireland voted Yes in the then upcoming same-sex marriage referendum.
Justine Sacco Going to Africa. Hope I don’t get AIDS. Just kidding. I’m white!
A PR consultant from New York sent a Tweet in 2013 to amuse her 170 followers, but ended up making herself a global hate figure and losing her job. She later admitted the offensive Tweet had ruined her life. THE GOD SLOT, RTE Can gays be cured of being gay? Try the God Slot Fri.17/01.
Our national broadcaster suffered from a Twitter mishap when RTE’s Radio One Show, The God Slot, Tweeted this question in January, 2014. The tweet was met with a torrent of outrage. Eamon O Cuiv Twitter.com
The longstanding Fianna Fail figure was either making an enigmatic statement, or mistaking the Twitter text box for Google’s search bar. The error was made funnier by his subsequent Tweet, which read: “Twitter.com/login”. The Galway politician has since avoided making any similar mistakes.
4 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5 May 2016
Bereavement charity launches resource packs ian begley
A new initiative has been launched that aims to support newly bereaved parents. Anam Cara, the Tallaghtbased bereavement charity, launched a resource pack written by bereaved parents, which contains specific infor-
mation on what helped them to get through the first weeks and months of losing a child. They are urging all frontline professionals who come in to contact with newly bereaved parents to get in touch with them to request a delivery of free resource packs, so they will always have the informa-
tion on hand to give to newly bereaved parents when they need it most. There are seven booklets in the resource pack – A Dad’s Grief, A Mum’s Grief, Adult Siblings, Coping with the Sudden Death of My Child, Milestones and Challenges, Self-Care and Supporting My
Family. Sharon Vard, CEO, Anam Cara, said: “Our packs are a powerful resource for any family experiencing the death of a child, irrespective of whether the child was a baby or a grown adult. Newly bereaved parents need others to put this information in to their hands at the
earliest stage of their bereavement journey. “They are very fragile in the first few months and may not have the energy to pick up the phone or actively look for help. Newly bereaved parents and families need the support of those who have suffered a similar experience and learned to
cope again, they need reassurance that there is light at the end of the tunnel, that they too will be able to emerge from the depths of despair and start living and enjoying life again.” Packs can be requested by emailing info@anamcara.ie or calling Anam Cara at 01 404 5378.
Baby Maria Corkagh Park | family fun event in support of organ donation celebrates first birthday
Hopes running high for charity’s fundraiser Ian Begley ibegley@dublingazette.com
A baby girl abandoned on the side of the road in Rathcoole last year will celebrate her first birthday this week as gardai issue a fresh appeal to find her biological mother. Baby Maria was discovered just one day old with her umbilical cord still attached on the side of Steelstown Lane in a plastic bag on May 8 last year. She had been fed and nourished, but was suffering from hypothermia after being abandoned in heavy rainfall for up to 36 hours. She weighed just 6lbs and her umbilical cord was ineptly cut, which indicated that she was not likely born in a hospital. While she is now in the safe care of her foster family, gardai say there are no leads in tracing the identity of the woman. Anyone with information about baby Maria’s biological mother is urged to contact gardai at Clondalkin on 01 6667600, or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.
hundreds of people are expected to turn out for the Irish Kidney Association’s annual “Run for a Life” family fun run at Corkagh Park in Clondalkin, on Saturday, May 28 in support of organ donation and to raise funds for the Irish K idney Association. Among them will be ambassador for Organ Donor Awareness 2016, RTE’s Vivienne Traynor, a living kidney donor, including her relative Michaela Delany, aged 16, from Clondalkin, who is waiting for a second kidney transplant, having undergone her first when she was just two years old. The event, sponsored
event, Vivienne said: “I’ve been a long-time supporter of the Run for a Life event as part of the Irish Kidney Association’s efforts to raise awareness of the need for organ donation. “However, this year’s event is even more significant as it emerges that another family member now needs a vital, life changing kidney transplant. “With love and supp o r t f r o m h e r p a rents and wider family, Michaela has always lived life to the full after receiving a kidney transplant at a very young age. Now she needs another transplant to help her continue to be the bright, bubbly teenager that she is. “Also keen to support the event is my nephew
-------------------------------------------------------
‘Our only child Michaela was born with kidney disease and is living proof that organ donation is so important’
--------------------------------------------------------
by Astellas Pharma Co Ltd, is open to the members of the public of all ages who have the option of walking, jogging or running competitively in either a chip timed 2.5km, 5km or 10km distance. Speaking about the
Mar tin Traynor who I donated a kidney to prior to him undergoing another transplant a few years later from a deceased donor.” Michaela’s mother Liz Delany explained: “Our only child Michaela was born with kidney dis-
Ambassador for Organ Donor Awareness 2016 Vivienne Traynor with her nephew Martin Traynor. Picture: Conor McCabe Photography
ease and is living proof that organ donation is so important. Her first transplant, which she received when she was two years old, gave her a chance to enjoy a normal childhood away from dialysis treatment and we are very grateful to her donor’s family who gave her this precious opportunity. “Unfortunately, her kidney function has b e e n d e cl i n i n g f o r the past year and this month she will commence haemodialysis treatment at Temple Street Hospital just before her Junior Certificate exams. “She is now on the kidney transplant wait-
ing list and we hope her wait won’t be long. Other members of my family are willing to donate a kidney but are not blood group c o m p a t i b l e . I h ave commenced the living donor screening process in the hope that I can donate one of my kidneys to her and we try to remain positive that once all the rigorous tests are carried out that the transplant will proceed.” Entry fee to this event is €20 adult, €10 child and €45 for a family of two adults and four children. For more information on the event visit website www.runforalife.ie
Got a picture? share it with us! A picture tells a story Got a great picture, email it to us! email your photo to picturedesk@dublingazette.com Or call our news team on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 2
5 May 2016 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5
6 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5 May 2016
crime | woman, aged 53, has claimed that she was repeatedly abused
Elderly mum to be quizzed on bodies Ian Begley
A n e xc av a t i o n h a s begun in the garden of a house in Walkinstown following claims that two new-born babies were killed and buried there. A woman, aged 53, reported that she was raped by her father and a number of other men at her South Dublin home, when she was a youth in the late 60s and 70s. She claimed that she gave birth to two babies when she was 12 and 14, who were then killed by her mother and buried in the garden. The woman has said
that the infants were both suffocated when they were just a few days old, adding that she saw one being buried in the garden. She also said a number of personal items were buried with the babies’ bodies. As seen this week by The Gazette, digging has begun at the site with a skip in the driveway filled with excavated earth. It is reported that the occupants of the house have been moved to a different location while the searches are being carried out. Speaking to The Gazette, a spokesperson from the Garda Press
Office said: “Gardai at Crumlin Garda Station are investigating an allegation regarding the death of a new-born infant that occurred in the 1970s. “As part of that investigation, a search warrant was executed at an address in south Dublin this evening. “ Up d a t e s w i l l b e provided when this search has concluded. It is anticipated that the search will last two to three weeks. T he result of this search will determine the future direction of the investigation.” Gardai also intend to speak to the woman’s
elderly mother as part of their investigations. Her father, who she accused of raping her, has since died. To n i M a g u i r e , a n archaeologist and anthropologist who is assisting gardai in their search, said on RTE Radio One’s Morning Ireland that the remains won’t be difficult to locate due to the small size of the garden. “It actually shouldn’t be that difficult at all. If we’ve got a small area then there should be some evidence to whereabouts the babies would be buried for a start,” she said. “It’s not as if you’re
The house in Walkinstown where gardai are investigating a woman’s claims that two newborn babies were killed and buried in the late 1960s and 1970s
coming into a scenario where you’ve got quite a big area and you don’t know where to start looking. “The remains should be there and easy enough to pick up. If
they don’t know an exact location to search, they may per form a geophysical survey of the area. “The geophys is like a radar that will go down through the ground
and let us know where we’ve got areas of disturbed ground or burials underneath. “Before you start to excavate a large area, it focuses you in a particular area.”
5 May 2016 CLONDALKIN Gazette 7
8 CLONDALKIN Gazette 5 May 2016
Gazettegallery
| the Bord Gais Energy Theatre reveal the details
Michael Rose, producer of Big The Musical and Stephen Faloon, general manager of Bord Gais Energy Theatre A trampoline artist entertains the crowds. Picture: Patrick O’Leary
A big treat for the Big kid in all of us B
Karl Broderick and Alan Hughes
Maria Walsh
Lisa McLoughlin
ord Gais Energy Theatre hosted a very special top secret launch event to exclusively reveal the details of their Christmas Show for 2016. This December, Bord Gais Energy Theatre will host the European premiere of Big The Musical. The show will open on December 7 and will have a strictly limited season ending January 7, 2017. Irish audiences will be the first to have the opportunity to witness this spectacular musical before it opens in London’s West End next year. The Theatre was transformed into a variety of magical scenes from the upcoming Show. On arrival guests were asked to leave their inhibitions at the door and step into an exciting world of fun and frolics and experience the theatre as they have never witnessed it before. The entrance was transformed into the iconic FAO Schwarz facade, complete with giant toy soldiers. A custom giant piano was installed for guests to try their hand (or feet!) at ‘Chopsticks’, while trampoline artists entertained the crowds.
Orla Walsh and Maggs Jacob
January Russell
5 May 2016 CLONDALKIN Gazette 9
of their Christmas Show for 2016, a spectacular musical
Sorcha Sheehan and Tanya Sean Munsanje
Vanessa Butler and James Butler
Ruth Noble and LJ Hyland
Kate Kelly and Maureen Kelly
Suzanne Barron and Ger Barron
Carol Gunner and Rebecca Brady
Townsend
Avila Lipsett
10 Gazette 5 May 2016
opinion | deputy clare daly on the squalid camps at calais, dunkirk
‘Our response to the refugee crisis is scandalous’ They do so in the knowledge that many of their peers have died and been horrifically maimed by this action. The camps are predominately made up of young men and boys, husbands testing the route in the hope of bringing the women and children later, boys often sent alone by parents who sold everything to get their sons away from the Taliban or ISIS. Many were at pains to stress that they never
wanted to come to Europe, that before the war in Syria, they had everything they ever wanted. We met computer technicians, telecommunications experts, doctors, teachers and accountants. We met people like a 15-year-old Afghan boy whose whole family had been killed in Iran, or a 26-year-old whose father had been killed by the Taliban, and his body dumped outside their house.
He fled with threats on his life, and had spent eight months in Calais with no way of knowing whether his brothers, sisters and mother were alive. We met boys who couldn’t tell their stories because it would make them too sad; they hadn’t even told each other. They had been ripped off during every part of their journey to end up in a mud-soaked tent in Calais, many for months. Six weeks ago, the French government bulldozed half the camp; tear gas and brutality are not uncommon. Massive security is visible everywhere. The scale of the human tragedy is enormous, and the response of the Irish Government and the EU is scandalous. Despite pledging to take in 4,000 people, Ireland has actually taken 10. The EU/Turkey deal and border controls – apart from flying in the face of international human rights and asylum laws – do not stop refugees. They only mean that thousands more will die in the Mediterranean [Sea] and that the smugglers will thrive. £20,000 is the going price for a family to make the shout journey from Dunkirk to England in the back of a truck. The only way to stop refugees is to stop interfering in their countries, and to facilitate a peace process. We in Ireland could start by ceasing to allow the US military using Shannon on their way to the Middle East.
On the refugee camps in Calais (above) and Dunkirk, Deputy Clare Daly (inset) said: “The response of the Irish Government ... is scandalous. Despite pledging to take in 4,000 people, Ireland has actually taken 10.”
I am utterly ashamed of how little we have done, and the pretence that we put up about this. We talk about how we mistreated children in this State in the past, and we did do that. Now, we have a chance to do something for children. There are hundreds of unaccompanied children in Calais and Dunkirk – why would the Irish Government not go out to the camps and initiate a process to allow them come here? Thousands of Irish families pledged beds when the refugees began to arrive in Europe last year; many people would be happy to take in the young people, at no cost to the State. We met wonderful Irish people who have given up their jobs, or who regularly visit to assist people in the camps, while the [Irish] Government stands idly by. They say refugees do not want to come to Ireland. That is not true – some do, and more would be happy to do so if they were aware of the country. We should be facilitating, inside the EU, a process where people can apply for asylum in any country they choose from
Calais and Dunkirk, so that they do not have to risk their lives every night trying to jump onto a truck, and maybe get their heads mashed by an axle. Given that Irish people are settled in every part of the globe, having left home in search of a better life, surely we can do more for those who left in the hope of just surviving? Pretending this is not happening, and that we don’t have a role to play is not a solution. You can always do something, so let’s start a real conversation about real men,
women, and children, like us, whom war has caused to lose everything – wars facilitated by the EU. People who’ve made it halfway round the world, and who are stuck in these camps. A group of Kurdish people sent us a message when we returned: “Please don’t forget us, we are the ones who could not pay any more smugglers. We are stuck, we are waiting ... Still waiting ...” deputy clare daly Independent Socialist
Screengrab: RTE
I VISITED the refugee camps in Calais and Dunkirk along with Deputy Mick Wallace to see at first-hand the consequences of Western interference in the Middle East. More than 6,000 refugees, predominantly Afghans, Iraqis, Syrians and Kurds, reside in desperate conditions. Nightly, many risk their lives trying to jump on trucks to make the journey across to England.
INDEPENDENT TD Mick Wallace, who visited the refugee camps with Deputy Daly, broke down delivering a speech in the Dail last Thursday (above) on the same topic. Deputy Wallace became emotional when recalling his meeting with the 15-year-old who lost his family on the Iran-Afghan border that Deputy Daly also spoke about in her piece for The Gazette. He said there are many Irish families willing to take in refugees and that he would be willing to accommodate one himself.
Gazette
dublinlife
5 May 2016 Gazette 11
science: young students impress
A force to be reckoned with ian begley
MORE than 1,000 students from around Ireland gathered at the Tech Week Showcase in the RDS last week, where R2D2, of Star Wars fame, was on hand to examine some of the diverse projects. The showcase featured several events, included the finals of the F1 in Schools Technolog y
Challenge, where pupils used computer-aided design (CAD) to create and then race model F1 cars. Also on show were the BizFactor entrepreneurial finals for primary schools, as well as the Scratch Coding final. Organised by the Irish Computer Society, and part-funded by Science Foundation Ireland, the week saw more than
100,000 primary and post-primary pupils all over Ireland taking part in a range of fun activities, including the finals of tech competitions that have been running throughout the past year. Activity packs were also sent out to all schools nationwide to ensure as many young people as possible had the opportunity to enjoy Tech Week 2016.
Steady, steady ... Teacher Scott Nowell and student Masaki Watanabe finish a model F1 car
It’s selfie time for R2D2 and John McGivney, Liam Gallagher, Frank Sharkey, Sean Doherty and Sean McGinley
Victor Hoagan Pool, Sadbh O’Riordan and Thomas Kerrigan were starry-eyed when they met R2D2 wandering around at the RDS as part of Tech Week. Picture: Conor McCabe Photography
12 Gazette 5 May 2016
Gazette
dublinlife Challenge to capture the life and soul of Ireland The tenth annual Top Oil Amateur Photographer competition is calling for Dublin entries to showcase this year’s theme ‘Ireland Alive’. The aim is for photographers to capture what they believe represents the life and soul of Ireland. In last year’s competition, three Dublin photographers were announced as winners and each of them features in the 2016 Top Oil calendar. Last year, almost 10,000 entries were received from photographers across the country and Top Oil is hopeful
that this year will gain even more interest. The final 12 winning photos will be included in the 2017 Top Oil Calendar, distributed for free through Top Oil’s network of depots and service stations across the country. The overall winner will feature on the coveted calendar cover as well as winning a €1,000 voucher. The 11 runners up winners will each receive a €200 voucher. Enter at topphotocompettion.ie.
run, walk and talk for life Dublin women are
being asked to run, walk and talk for life in the Women’s Mini Marathon and help Console in the fight against suicide. The national suicide prevention charity is seeking volunteers to sign up for the MiniMarathon on bank holiday Monday on June 6. Founder and CEO of Console, Paul Kelly said: “Too many people’s lives have been touched by suicide which is why we at Console are dedicated to reaching out and providing hope and help for those who need it.” Anyone who would like to become a Con-
diary
Weatherman and photography fan Martin King, joined by Ross Skelton and and Brooke Briscoe help launch this year’s Top Oil Amateur Photo Competition. Picture: Marc O’Sullivan
sole mini-marathon volunteer is asked to contact 01 6102638,or email info@console.ie, for their fundraising pack including a sponsorship card and a Console tee shirt.
forbidden fruit is the sweetest F or bidde n F r u i t Music Festival is back at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham for the June Bank Holiday weekend. Headliners this year include Dizzee Rascal, Tame Impala and festival staples Underworld. Weekend tickets cost €59.50 with three-day weekend tickets priced at €119. There are also a whole host of Forbidden Fruit artists that will be taking the party to some new and unique venues around the city centre when the festival ends each night. Running until 3am, some of Dublin’s best collectives will be joined by international guests from the festival line up. Tickets are available from Ticketmaster.
changing the face of modern circus Internationally award-winning, homegrown circus company Tumble Circus continues its nationwide tour
of the highly-anticipated, one-man comedy show Star Man at the Project Ar ts Centre Dublin for three nights from June 2 to 4. Winners of the Best Circus Show at the Adelaide Fringe Festival 2012, Tumble Circus are changing the face of contemporary circus with their funny, flexible and refreshingly honest exploration of the realities of making it big in the circus. Starman in turn, takes these elements to bring about an exciting mix of comedy, acrobatics, cardboard and with plenty of sequins. A heavenly mix of circus comedy and cardboard, Starman follows the journey of one man and his life as a circus artist, a dad and a clown searching for the answers to life’s big questions. Tickets are priced at €16 to €18 and can be booked at w w w.projectartscentre.ie/event/ starman.
acting and broadcasting, including: RTE veteran Miriam O’Callaghan, f a s h i o n p owe r d u o Brendan Courtney and Sonya Lennon, Leinster rugby star Jack McGrath and Fair City actress Rachel Pilkington. The video urges the Irish public to get involved with this year’s Darkness Into Light event next Saturday at 4.15am by registering online at darknessintolight.ie. Darkness into Light is Pieta House’s annual
awareness and fundraising event and is the most vital component of the charity’s fundraising calendar. The first Darkness Into Light event was held in the Phoenix Park, Dublin in 2009 with just over 400 participants. This year’s event is set to be the biggest yet with an estimated 120,000 participants, in almost 120 locations around the globe, preparing for the 5km walk on May 7.
big names out in support of cause Electric Ireland has launched an empowering video to raise awareness of Pieta House’s annual Darkness Into Light event featuring a range of Ireland’s biggest names in sports,
Contemporary Irish circus performers Ken Fanning and Tina Segner of Tumble Circus
5 May 2016 Gazette 13
LET’S CREATE MORE FOR LESS
€
47.98
25
€
Dulux standard coloured emulsion, 5L 5L†. 5L† €5 per litre
23.36
€
Dolce walnut effect laminate flooring
16
€
1.19 sq.m coverage €27.80 €19.04 per pack
per sq.m
Imperiali porcelain floor tile 600 x 600mm. Available in beige and anthracite. 1.08 sq.m coverage €25.92 €19.44 per pack
24
18
€
per sq.m
17 €15
€
€
13
Ronseal One Coat fence life, 12L
€
€1.08 per litre 12L for the price of 9L
Mountfield self propelled SP454 petrol lawnmower
74
245
€
60
€ Batam picnic bench
€
Ultar 4 burner gas barbecue* Cooks for up to 16 people
197
€
LET’S CREATE MORE FOR LESS LIFFEY VALLEY | SWORDS | TALLAGHT | NAAS | GALWAY | LIMERICK | CORK | ATHLONE Freephone 1800 818 950 or visit diy.com/diy/ireland for your nearest store. Liffey Valley opening hours Mon-Fri 7am-9pm, Sat 7am-8pm, Sun 10am7pm. Swords Mon-Tues 8am-8pm Wed-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 10am-7pm. Tallaght Monday to Friday 8am-9pm, Saturday 8am-7pm, Sunday 10am-7pm. All other stores Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 10am-7pm. Excluded from any other promotion or discount card. See in store for individual pricing. *Gas not included. †Does not include pure brilliant white.
444 €329
€
289
€
Gazette
14 Gazette 5 May 2016
dublinlife
business
media: appointments at the gazette
Newspaper group changes AS PART of its continuing growth, Dublin Gazette Newspapers have appointed a new Group Editor, and Deputy Group Editor, who will continue to drive development in Dublin’s best free newspaper group.
Group Editor Aengus O’Hanlon has joined the Gazette as group editor. With almost 20 years’ experience in the media, Aengus has worked for national newspapers on both sides of the globe, having served as night
Aengus O’Hanlon
Shane Dillon
editor of the West Australian newspaper and more recently, as assistant editor of The Irish Sun. He said: “I’m delighted to be joining The Gazette and look forward to helping grow our fantastic brand across multiple platforms.”
Deputy Group Editor Shane Dillon has played a key role in The Gazette in recent years, providing extensive production, subbing, writing and design skills. As a skilled journalist with a strong news sense, he will keep helping The Gazette to develop.
€230m capital development plan for DCU DUBLIN City University (DCU) has announced an ambitious €230m capital development plan which will physically transform the multicampus university and provide a platform to realise its ambitions in research, teaching and learning, student experience and enterprise engagement. Eugene O’Callaghan, director, Ireland Strategic Investment Fund; Professor Brian MacCraith, president, DCU and Jonathan
Taylor, vice president, European Investment Bank are pictured studying one aspect of the plan. Long-term loan and bridging finance will drive a programme of infrastructural improvements over the next five years, which will include the construction of a new student centre, provision of new sports facilities, additional on-campus accommodation and 21st century digital teaching spaces.
awards: citywest staff celebrate third place
Company win goes down well with pharma firm
CITYWEST-based biopharmaceutical company AbbVie has been listed among the top 20 best large workplaces in Ireland for the third successive year. The prestigious accolade was presented at the recent Great Place to Work Awards in Dublin. The research-based biopharmaceutical company’s performance has improved by nine places over the previous 12 months, leading AbbVie to scoop its third place win. AbbVie was also singled out by the Great Place to Work Institute for its efforts to promote employee development. Great Place to Work adjudicators praised the creation of innovative programmes that enable employees to take ownership of their career, their development and
Citywest-based AbbVie employees celebrate coming third in the annual Great Place to Work Awards. Picture: Joe Keogh
“personal brand”. Policies and practices in place in organisations were considered under nine key areas, with AbbVie scoring exceptionally highly across all areas at its sites in Dublin, Cork and Sligo. On the company’s ranking and its development award, Caroline McClafferty, HHR director, AbbVie said: “It is a fantastic achievement
to be ranked third in our third year of entry, and to receive a special recognition award for employee development. “This award has externally validated AbbVie’s focus on employee development with the introduction of our unique company talent philosophy.” AbbVie employs more than 500 people at five manufacturing and commercial sites across Ire-
land. Colleagues located at the company’s commercial office in Citywest entered the competition in a combined entry with AbbVie’s Cork and Sligo employees. In all, just over 65 Irish workplaces were recognised at the annual Great Place to Work Awards event, split into small workplace, medium workplace and large workplace categories.
5 May 2016 Gazette 15
travel P20
asdfsdaf cinema P27 P21
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
style P18
Pets sweet amber will surely capture her owner’s heart
Actor-musicians will play 30 instruments during Once, which tells the life-changing love story of two musicians who meet by chance on a Dublin street
theatre: popular musical set to return to the olympia
A second time to see Once Emma Nolan
Much-loved Dublin musical Once is returning to the Olympia Theatre this summer. After selling out The Olympia last year with more than 50,000 people turning out to see the show, the love story based on the movie of the same name is coming back to where it all began. The show tells the life-changing love story of Guy and Girl, two musicians – he’s Irish, she’s Czech – who meet by
chance on a Dublin street. Featuring music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova and a Tony Award-winning book by Enda Walsh, the show has all the songs from the film, including the Oscar-winning Falling Slowly. Described as a “love-song to Dublin”, the music is performed by a cast of actor-musicians who “sing, dance and play their hearts out live on stage”. Between them, the 12 actors play 30 instruments during each performance, making Once a unique show that has
the feel of a play and a music gig combined. Once was originally produced on Broadway by Barbara Broccoli, John N Hart Jr, Patrick Milling Smith, Frederick Zollo, Brian Carmody, Michael G Wilson, Orin Wolf, The Shubert Organization and executive producer Robert Cole, in association with New York Theatre Workshop. Adapted for the stage by playwright Enda Walsh, whose work has been translated into more than 20 languages and has been performed internation-
ally since 1998, his recent plays include Lazarus at New York Theatre Workshop and The Walworth Farce, which played Ireland, Edinburgh, London and New York. Walsh won a Tony Award for writing the book for the musical Once in 2012, which played for three years on Broadway, two years in the West End and is now touring worldwide. The show is running at the Olympia Theatre from July 2 to August 27. Tickets are priced €29.50 and are available at Ticketmaster.
The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Dog of the Week is Amber – a cheeky, foodloving six-year-old female pitbull cross who was returned after five years due to a change in her family’s circumstances. She is a really sweet, people-focused dog who would be suited to a home with slightly older children where she will have company. Amber is adored by her canine carers and our volunteers alike, and as much as they will miss her, they can’t wait for her to find the loving home she so deserves! If you think you could offer Amber 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.
16 Gazette 5 May 2016
5 May 2016 Gazette 17
Gazette
18 Gazette 5 May 2016
OUT&ABOUT Design by Aideen Gaynor
NCAD graduates set to showcase their designs emma nolan
THE annual NCAD fashion show, which showcases the work of the rising stars in Irish design, is taking place on Tuesday, May 10 in the unusual surrounds of the underground car park of The Westbury Hotel. The event will take the form of a catwalk show and will feature the work of 32 graduating students, showcasing three to six looks each. For the first time, this year’s fashion show will showcase the work of two graduating years – graduates of three- and four-year degrees. For the second year running, the event is supported by Brown Thomas, offering a bursary and mentorship to one student, chosen by Brown Thomas fashion director Shelly Corkery as the Designer to Watch. The annual show presents an opportunity for graduating students to showcase their creative identities and their work processes as they begin their professional careers. The show will feature a range of collections, from highly conceptual garments to ready-to-wear, high street designs. Highlights of this
year’s show include the work of Aideen Gaynor, Grainne Walley and Conaill O’Dwyer. Gaynor has previously completed internships with John Rocha and Simone Rocha, and her work is influenced by the novel, HardBoiled Wonderland and the End of the World, by Haruki Murakami. Walley’s collection is inspired by a childhood visit to Clare Island. The idea behind this collection is to channel forgotten characters of Irish heritage. O ’ D w y e r ’s wo r k examines ideas of manhood, using the suit as a symbol, and is inspired by his own coming-ofage story.
Calendar Speaking ahead of the show, Angela O’Kelly, head of design for body and environment at NCAD, said: “NCAD’s annual fashion show has become a staple of Ireland’s design calendar and continues to be a leading fashion event. “This year, holding our catwalk fashion show in the urban surroundings of The Westbury’s underground ca rpark further cements the positioning of NCAD as Ireland’s number-one producer of cutting-edge fashion designers.”
Camila sunglasses €25 Isabel earrings €17 Sofia dress €87 Valeria heels €75
Alexia denim shirt dress €50 Florrie nude wrap heels €87 Denim shirt €38
make some waves with river island
emma nolan
Style Editor
Luna kimono €65 Alma slip dress €29 Rio wedges €65
RIVER Island’s summer collection has encapsulated a number of elements to contribute to the ideal summer wardrobe. From warm weather holiday bits to Irish summer essentials for the climatically challenged days ahead this season, the capsule elements of the collection allow for versatility – there are beach-worthy pieces alongside the odd pencil skirt and light jacket that wouldn’t be out of place in the office. Overall, the collection is seemingly random and mismatched but, individually, there are items to suit all tastes, a handy stop for introducing seasonal changes to your wardrobe at relatively affordable prices.
5 May 2016 Gazette 19
Gazette
STYLE Olive sunglasses €25 Alida swimsuit €45 Agata bag €65 Ali black heels €65 Studded fringed sleeveless waistcoat €75
Magee opens its flagship centre store emma nolan
TO CELEBRATE their 150th year, Irish brand Magee have opened a new flagship store on South Anne Street. Established in 1866, originally as a small drapers shop in Donegal buying and selling hand-woven tweed, the Magee of today is a fourth-generation, family-run business. The South Anne Street premise, which is just off Grafton Street, will replace the Wicklow Street shop, from which they had traded since 2003.
Some of the items in the There’s Life in it Yet exhibition, on show at Kildare Village
exhibition: observe a new life for old items
See secret longings
Una sunglasses €20 Embroidered denim jacket €75 Embroidered denim skirt €65 Fringed ankle boots €60
emma nolan
A DUBLIN photographer and stylist have joined forces and created an exhibition entitled, There’s Life in it Yet, for So Collective at Kildare Village. So Collective at Kildare Village is a new home exclusively for Irish fashion, design, craft and culture. The new initiative is designed to nurture and support Irish creative talent. Photographer Andrew Nuding and stylist Kieran Kilgallon have created the exhibition of new photographic, video and sculp-
tural work that “centres both on the lives of those separate from society and the psychological phenomenon of ‘hoarding’.” The exhibit, which is running from May 6 to July 6, aims to call the viewers’ attention to the “intimate inner workings and secret longings associated with an individuals’ collected belongings and unrevealed dreams”. So Collective supports a changing programme of in-store exhibitions and installations, encouraging a wider discourse on Irish design in all its forms. Photographer Nuding (23), from Ballinteer,
spoke to The Gazette about the exhibition, which was inspired by “by reclusive people who create their own reality”. The recent NCAD graduate said “people who keep scrapbooks of things they plan to do but never do them – such as flower arranging, fishing, getting married – someone stuck living in the past,” are the muses of the project. “They’re in a memory and can’t let go of it, and their possessions relating to that memory become like a shrine to it,” he said. “There’s also a kind of ignorant joy to them. Clothes are worn back-
wards, inside out, or just tied on. Pieces and objects are created from rubbish and scraps; shoes made from old socks and tape.” There’s Life in it yet succeeds in capturing something recognisable in society but ultimately unfamiliar, mysterious and intriguing. Nuding said: “We’re making still life and using objects that are readily available. The idea for the project was kind of inspired by being resourceful and using things that are readily available and that thread pushed the idea into this.”
Blends The ground floor will carry classic menswear, featuring silk, wool, linen and cashmere blends in herringbone, hounds tooth, Donegal and Glen check weaves, played out in deep cobalt navy, along with suiting for business and occasion wear, including the Essentials suit collection and the Heritage suit collection. The first floor will feature womenswear which will carry coats, blazers, waistcoats and shirts in sorbet shades such as fresh mint in silks, linens and cashmere wools for spring/summer 2016, complemented by soft wools and Donegal tweeds in blue, grey and lavender. This floor will also carry the Magee Accessory collection.
20 Gazette 5 May 2016
Exciting career opportunities with
dublinGAZETTENEWSPAPERS
Dublin Gazette Newspapers (DGN) is the fastest growing regional newspaper group in Dublin. DGN is the ONLY Audit Bureau of Circulation (ABC) audited free newspaper group in Dublin, displaying year-on-year circulation growth for five consecutive years. DGN publishes seven quality FREE weekly titles across the greater Dublin area, bringing relevant, high quality News and Sports coverage to communities in Dublin. DGN has a current ABC of 52,958 (Group MFD, Jan- Dec 15) copies distributed each week across its seven titles in Dublin, rivalling the circulation of most national newspaper titles. We currently have a number of exciting career opportunities for the right candidates Journalist job spec:
Advertising job spec:
Have you got a nose for news? Are you an ambitious and enthusiastic young person who would thrive if given the chance to sniff out the news stories that make a difference?
We are currently recruiting senior/ junior account managers to join our sales team. Candidates will be expected to: · Generate revenues and achieve sales targets. · Manage and update CRM system. · Generate new business, while also liaising with existing clients. · Send out proposals and information requests to customers. · Work closely with clients to develop advertising strategies and campaigns tailored to suit their business and develop strong working relationships with repeat customers to encourage their continued business. · Planning and managing pipelines, while reporting progress to the Commercial Director.
DGN is looking for such a reporter to work across its seven titles in the Dublin area, with particular emphasis on the Swords and Blanchardstown editions. · You must be someone who wants to get to the core of local issues · Be able to communicate your information in a clear writing style. · Social media skills and a good manner in dealing with people will be a major advantage in selecting the successful candidate.
If you meet these requirements and would like to be considered for one of these exciting positions, please send your cv along with a cover letter to Michael McGovern - mmcgovern@dublingazette.com. Please ensure that you clearly identify in the subject line of the email which position you are applying for.
5 May 2016 Gazette 21
I Saw The Light: country music star gets a slightly dim treatment
ReelReviews
Will leave you hankering for a biopic with a bit more bite there is something undeniably captivating in the story and music of Alabama legend Hank Williams, country music’s first bona-fide superstar. Embodying the kind of fast-paced and highly creative lifestyle decades before it would become a staple in music, Hank had a brief but incredibly prolific career. He died on New Year’s Day 1953, in the back seat of his baby-blue Cadillac, aged just 29. It is not just the early death of Hank Williams that makes his story poignant – his musical career, which lasted just five years (during which he made more than 200 recordings), influenced the entire genre of country music. Throughout his life he struggled with interpersonal relationships, alcoholism, and drug addictions. Inevitably, there is a good story in there – one that writer and director Marc Abraham tries to draw out in this biopic, I Saw The Light. Focusing on the years a f t e r H a n k ’s m u s i c career begins to take off, this is a film that stays true to facts, but seems
Dave phillips
content to skim the surface level of the story. Thor’s Tom Hiddleston takes on the lead role, and the Hank we meet is mild-mannered and eager to please. He finds himself caught between the contending wills of his Audrey, his wife (Elizabeth Olsen) and his mother. T he power play between Hank’s mother – who wants to retain some parental control over her son by acting as his manager – and his wife, who also has vested interests in promoting her own burgeoning musical career, has plenty of potential, and the first act plays out well. Hank is stuck in the middle of a dynamic that looks set to keep on ratcheting up the pressure. Audrey may be ambitious, but she has no real musical talent – an unfortunate reality that Hank tries his best to overlook, causing further tension and
drama with his record company and band. But, suddenly, that storyline fizzles into non-existence. With little left to drive the plot, I Saw The Light feels less of a cinematic venture, and more of a VH1 biography. Childbirth, divorce, sell-out concerts, and struggles with addiction play out superficially, with so little sense of genuine connection. It is not for want of trying that I Saw The Light falls so flat; here, a lot of effort is put into getting things right. Hank’s Grand Ole Opry spots draw well on his actual performances, getting the sets and costumes on point, but never quite managing the capture the essence of the person or the musician. H i d d l e s t o n p l ay s Hank as a kind of poor man’s Don Draper, full of swagger and liquor but devoid of any mystique – he may get a little frustrated and surly once in a while, but its only because his plans to please y’all have been hampered. The musical performances scattered throughout the film do little to
Gazette
CINEMA
the jungle book More than bearable
DISNEY’S update of the animated classic sees The Jungle Book (Cert PG, 106 mins) return in triumphant form. This fairly faithful reboot will feel familiar to those who’ve seen the original film, and its big name voice artists cast – including the likes of Bill Murray, Idris Elba, Scarlett Johansson and Christopher Walken) – almost steal the limelight from the CG animals and jungle.
zootropolis Goes swingingly
Leads Tom Hiddleston and Elizabeth Olsen do what they can, but a lack of chemistry, and a story without much bite, add up to an underwhelming biopic
-------------------------------------------------------
‘While neither actor can be criticised too strongly, the fact that there is no on on-screen chemistry between the two is just another dud note for this doomed film (particularly when viewers think back to the chemistry and performances in the Johnny Cash biopic, Walk the Line)’
--------------------------------------------------------
add some much needed depth. Olsen arguably has the much more interesting part, motivated by her own dreams for success while living in the
shadow of her superstar husband, with all the conflicting desires that that entails. And while neither actor can be criticised too strongly for their per-
formances, the fact that there is no on on-screen chemistry between the two is just another dud note for this doomed film (particularly when viewers will inevitably think back to the chemistry and performances in the Johnny Cash biopic, Walk the Line). In the end, we have a valiant attempt, but it is an unfortunate failure to express something meaningful – full of glossy detail, I Saw The Light tells a story of love, music, and untimely death with all the heart and soul of a Wikipedia entry. Verdict: `5/10
STAYING with ‘the mouse house’, and Disney’s Zootropolis (Cert PG, 108 mins) is another delight. This colourful family animation follows a standard fish-out-of-water plot, except in this case it’s about a rookie rabbit cop trying to make her mark in the big city. Teaming up with a wily fox, the unlikely duo dig up an engaging buddy film, while the animation, and gags, hit the mark.
winter’s war A flakey prequel
STILL last and least, The Huntsman: Winter’s War (Cert 12A, 117 mins) has been leaving audiences cold. Chris Hemsworth, Emily Blunt and Charlize Theron do their best, but this prequel to the deathly dull Snow White and the Huntsman is just more of the same. It looks terrific, with some excellent design and effects – but the lifeless and dull plot make it one to avoid.
Gazette
22 Gazette 5 May 2016
OUT&ABOUT
GAMING
WEEBYTES industry: NO FAIRYTALE ENDING FOR FABLE DEVELOPER, LIONHEAD STUDIOS
3D printing tech races into a game Shane dillon
IN RECENT years, 3D printing has become increasingly popular and commonplace, as the innovative tech has become both affordable and more precise. The ability to create virtually anything by painstakingly creating its individual parts, layer by layer, has some obvious attractions for gamers – after all, who wouldn’t like a physcial model of their favourite character, or other games-related item?
Irish studio G21 studio, an Irish husband and wife independent games studio, based in Dublin, have taken this idea in an interesting new direction. Module, the carracing game they’re working on, and seeking Kickstarter crowdfunding support with, looks to offer gamers a model of their unique, customised car, created by 3D printers. For those without 3D printing tech at home – and frankly, that’s most of us – G21 have a partnership with a 3D printing service to help create gamers’ cars. It’s an interesting idea, and any small Irish indie games developer can always do with a little more support. You can find more information about the game on Facebook or Twitter, or at www. g21studio.com.
Famed British studio goes out with a whimper, not a roar ... WHILE game studios come and go, sometimes the end of one is particularly noteworthy, as is the case with Lionhead Studios (1996-2016), which closed for good last week. Mourned by many across the international games industry, Lionhead was one of the leading lights of the British games industry, responsible for a number of definitive titles in a number of genres. More than that, it was a particularly English studio, producing games that were full of distinctive rural accents and rustic themes, creating and capturing a highly individual flavour of humour, sly wit and striking art direction. While lauded as a British gaming success, and as a terrific example of British creativity at its finest, there was no mistaking how much of its unique charm, style and vision was transplanted straight from the sights
shane dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com
and sounds of ‘rural’ places such as Shropshire, Devon or Cumbria. Founded in 1996, Lionhead established a name for crafting quirky titles that quickly found a target audience, with its first game – Black And White (2001) – firmly putting it on the map. While strategy and godly games had certainly previously existed, Lionhead’s work created a singular title that is still peerless. Under the direction of legendary games developer Peter Molyneux, Lionhead’s work with AI (artificial intelligence) piqued the interest of many non gamers, with all kinds of programmers and scientists taking an
interest in its work in this unique game. Black And White’s AI learned from the player’s behaviour, with the player’s growing creature at the heart of the game going on to be good, or bad, based on how it observed your play style. To this day, this adaptive, learning AI has not been matched in gaming, let alone surpassed. However, in recent years, Lionhead was best known for its Fable games – games which took standard gaming tropes and yet created something engaging, charming and distinctly English in flavour. The universal story of a simple farm boy (or girl) rising to rule a kingdom is as old as time, but gamers were charmed by Fable’s version of this central conceit, with its initial sequels also performing well, providing further feathers in Lionhead’s cap as a leading developer. And yet, despite the
initial success of the franchise, the sun was slowly setting on Lionhead’s salad days, as the studio’s sustained focus on the series saw it take some stumbles. A number of underperforming titles left the company vulnerable to a takeover, with Microsoft acquiring Lionhead in 2006. Flash forward to 2012, and an ill-fated Fable tie-in with Microsoft’s underwhelming Kinect motion-sensor technology. The same year saw yet another Fable-themed game, this time with a party/group play twist, as was all the rage for a while in some games a few years ago. This, too, also failed to impress gamers and critics, who bemoaned the derivative gameplay. From being a leader of creativity, Lionhead now seemed to be a follower, losing its distinctive voice in the process. Finally, at the time of
its closure, Lionhead had been working extensively on a major new online multiplayer game, Fable Legends, set within the Fable universe, and featuring much of the same g a m e p l ay e l e m e n t s , humour and art style that has been so successful in the past. However, it was too little, too late – in March, Microsoft announced that it was cancelling the game, and was in talks
about closing the studio. On April 29, the sun set for the final time on Albion, the land at the heart of the Fable games, as the testers’ servers were shut down, and Fable came to an end, with a thousand heroes and unfinished quests abruptly stopped in their tracks, permanently. Lionhead – one of the most unique voices in game development – was no more ...
If for nothing else, Lionhead secured its place in gaming history due to the remarkable AI in Black And White (above), which still impresses today
Other Lionhead games, such as The Movies, also had a Lionhead is best known for its Fable series (above), which saw consequences for the player’s choices
dash of the studio’s quirky humour
Gazette
24 clondalkin gazette 5 May 2016
OUT&ABOUT
The Gazette is delighted to support Jack And Jill Michael mcgovern
Managing director, Dublin Gazette Newspapers
IT IS with great delight that Dublin Gazette Newspapers announce their association with The Jack And Jill Foundation. The charity – founded by a wonderfully dedicated man, Jonathan Irwin, almost 20 years ago – is close to my own and my family’s heart. I know it also is an admired organisation by many readers across our seven Gazette titles. The profile of our readership largely comprises young housewives with children who are well aware of the great work that is carried out by Jack And Jill 365 days a year. The Dublin Gazette Newspapers are part of the community in each of seven areas we circulate in across the greater Dublin region. Our papers do not champion major national issues, but do work closely with all local communities in Dublin, as well as with sporting organisations, schools and colleges. We fully intend to work closely with Jonathan, and his team, to highlight the excellent work carried out and the magnificent link they have with many families through Dublin and rest of Ireland.
A computer generated image of the controversial new National Children’s Hospital at the site of St James’s
opinion: jack and jill foundation’s founder on why he opposes building the new national children’s facility at the site of st james’s
Hospital plan ‘a sick joke’ THE decision to grant permission for the new National Children’s Hospital at the site of St James’s Hospital has been strongly criticised by many families and campaign groups who believe it should be built at Connolly Hospital in Blanchardstown instead. The news comes at the end of a year-long dispute over where the hospital should be built. Opposition groups believe there were many advantages of developing the children’s hospital in Blanchardstown, such as the 145-acre site, easier access to those outside Dublin, extensive parking possibilities, and co-location with Connolly Adult Hospital and the new Rotunda Maternity Hospital. They also believed the hospital would be cheaper and faster to build at Connolly. The founder of the Jack And Jill Children’s Foundation, Jonathan Irwin, described An Bord Pleanala’s recent decision as “extremely disappointing”. Irwin, who set up the charity with his wife following the tragic deaths of their son, Jack, and later another son, has been a long-outspoken critic of the State’s lack of support for such families. He has led the campaign against relocating the new National Children’s Hospital at St James’ Hospital, preferring the James Connolly Hospital option. Here, he writes for The Gazette about the recent decision.
TO ME, it’s a very sick joke. I ’ ve wo r ke d with children for 20 years and think I reflect how many families feel across Ireland at the moment. We’ve got to accept the decision, but I just don’t understand why An Bord Pleanala delayed it for four months after the oral hearing if they didn’t accept that there were serious problems with constructing the children’s hospital at St James’s. We can go to judicial review and find out exactly how the decision came about, but that would cost a quarter of million euro. There is such anger around Ireland at the moment, and it is a real slap in the face for those
living in rural Ireland. Since setting up Jack And Jill, I have worked with more than 2,000 families in our 19 years of existence and, quite frankly, I’ve never heard one person come out in favour of locating the National Children’s Hospital in the St James’s Hospital campus. That is why I was delighted when our board gave me the backing to bring together a professional team to make sure our side was heard at the oral hearing. We were the David facing Goliath – with the taxpayers funding the latter – but I am happy that we had made a compelling case. We firmly believed that the wrong site had been chosen and we could not let the
--------------------------
‘[The decision] is a real slap in the face for those living in rural Ireland’
--------------------------
development happen. Just think about what the authorities wanted. They want to foist a new children’s hospital on the country in a seriously restricted site. There is poor access; it is located in a highly-congested area of the city, and parking is totally inadequate. Add to that problems with taxis and you have a recipe for disaster. The proponents for James’s say there is very good public transport to the area but, tell me – when do parents ever
take a child in need of urgent medical care to a hospital by public transport? I know it is often the case with seriously sick children that families would need to bring more than 20 pieces of equipment or medicines with them, so I don’t think people talking about public transport are living in the real world. The whole debacle with the Mater and, subsequently, with St James’s is quite frankly off the wall. Putting an adult hospital with a paediatric hospital is lunacy – imagine having 8,000 staff trying to get in and out of this traffic-challenged area. And that’s before a patient arrives there! Then there’s the pollu-
5 May 2016 clondalkin gazette 25
Gazette
OPINION
‘Satisfying’ says one TD, ‘Daft’ the other – two very different political reactions
Jack And Jill Foundation founder Jonathan Irwin and Dublin Gazette Newspapers managing director MIchael McGovern
tion. I can assure you I would not take an asthmatic child there. I wonder when Dr James Reilly presented his findings to the Cabinet a few years ago, did any one member of the Government ever walk the James’s site? I seriously doubt it. James Connolly Hospital site, on the other hand, is on the M50 and that opens it up so much better not only to people around Dublin, but to those travelling up from the country as well. Three–quarters of our children [that Jack And Jill have helped] have been located outside the M50, so it stands to
reason to listen to what we’re saying. Yet not once was even one family of those 2,000 children interviewed to get a personal understanding of what parents have to go through in such situations. There is unlimited parking and plenty of room at Connolly for expansion. It’s also on a 140-acre site, and we should not disregard the holistic benefits of being able to look out and see green fields and trees. It’s certainly more conductive to feeling healthier and a lot better than being ensconced in the
-------------------------------------------------------
‘The proponents for James’s say there is very good public transport to the area but, tell me – when do parents ever take a child in need of urgent medical care to a hospital by public transport?’ --------------------------------------------------------
seventh-most congested city in Europe. If you even consider any type of for ward planning, how can St James’s be considered in terms of [what may be needed] 10 years ahead, never mind 100 years? You need to have a maternity hospital
beside a children’s hospital. This is the National Children’s Hospital we are talking about, and Tallaght, Temple St and Crumlin [children’s facilities] will all be in there.The satellite hospitals will close and there will be only one – which makes it imperative that
it has all the facilities needed for access and parking. The more I think of it, the more I think that there is no reason for it to be there at all. The building itself is very good, but the location is a disaster, and far too costly. The original budget for it was €485 million and it’s now at €750 million – and that’s without the hospital being fitted out. Initially, we had to fight to get our voices heard. I wasn’t invited to Farmleigh for the first parents’ forum. In fact, many people were turned away that
TD FOR Dublin South Central, Catherine Byrne (FG, above), welcomed the site’s approval by An Bord Pleanala. She said: “I hope to work closely with St James’s throughout the project to ensure that the National Children’s Hospital is delivered as soon as possible. “The hospital will provide a high-tech, state-of-the-art facility. It will be a worldclass hospital which will fit into the surrounding community extremely well. “We have been talking about the new hospital for so long now, it is extremely satisfying to see that planning permission has finally been permitted and that the real work of building the hospital can now begin.” day, but we managed to get in and make our presence felt after that. I am delighted that such people as New Children’s Hospital Alliance spokesman Finn Breathnach said there was no evidence co-locating a children’s hospital with an adult hospital resulted in better clinical outcomes for children. Support has grown with political motions and signatures collected, and it will be a great day if the oral hearing agrees with the logic of what we have put forward. Acting Minister for Health Leo Varadkar
DEPUTY Mattie McGrath (Ind, below), who campaigned against the St James’s site, criticised the decision. He said: “I really do believe that this is a daft decision, and just wrong. Traffic in this area is grid-locked at the best of times and will add up to an hour to the journey of sick children travelling from outside of Dublin. “We need a new National Children’s Hospital, and we need it without delay, but this will be the most important piece of health infrastructure for children for generations – are we sure we are making the right decision? Many parents of sick children, consultants and sick children’s organisations don’t believe we are; nor do I.”
meanwhile described the announcement as “a great day for all the children of Ireland”. Lorcan Birthistle, the chief executive of St James’s Hospital Lorcan Birthistle said: “We are excited at the opportunity this decision presents to further develop worldclass services on our campus and we look forward to the development of The Coombe Hospital maternity and women’s health services on campus in the future.” Jonathan Irwin
Founder, The Jack And Jill Foundation
26 Clondalkin Gazette 5 May 2016
clondalkinCLASSIFIEDS dvds
windows
DVD TRANSFERS ďƒźVideo & Camera Tapes ďƒźCineFilms ďƒźPhotos & Slides converted to DVD ďƒźMusic & Titles added
FOLLOW US TODAY ON OUR SOCIAL NETWORK
landscaping
Green Team
TREES & GARDEN SERVICES
FOR ALL YOUR GARDEN NEEDS
9Over Grown Garden 9NRE Shed Supplied & Erect 9Tress Felled and Pruned 9Hedges Trimmed
9Specialty Brickwork 9Gutters Cleaned & Sealed 9Old Sheds Removed 9Block Paving 9LmjĂšf_
9Driveways & Walls Painting 9Garage & House Clearance
15 YEARS EXPERIENCE/30% DISCOUNT For a free no obligation quote call:
T: 01-8678791 M: 085 1474725 W: www.greeteamtrees.com
paving
BOSS PAVING & LANDSCAPING
• DRIVEWAYS • PATIOS • FENCING • ASPHALT • DECORATIVE WALLING • IMPRINT • GRAVEL Quality Paving at affordable prices, just a phone call away. Highly recommended by Clients. Testimonials available. Contact: John Maloney 087 3591000 / 01 6972087 Email: bosshomeimprovements@gmail.com Web: www.bosspaving.ie Dundrum Bus Park: Ph. 01 6971896 Pearse St, D2
recruitment
roofing
Local
Matters Support local b u s i n ess roofing
Unit E2 Nutgrove Office Park
0''*$&
Boombridge Business Park Dublin 7
TELL US YOUR STORY WE’RE ON
Visit: Facebook: www.facebook.com/DublinGazetteNewspapers Twitter: @DublinGazette
Call our news team on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 2 or email news@gazettegroup.com
Advertise with the Gazette call 60 10 240
We would love HAS IT to hear it!
WHAT HAVE YOU CHANGED
WHO DISCOVERED? DID YOU FIND?
YOUR LIFE?
WHAT INSPIRED YOU?
5 May 2016 clondalkin Gazette 27
clondalkinCLASSIFIEDS
Gazette
28 clondalkin gazette 5 May 2016
SPORT
FastSport siofra stuns the field at penn relays: DUNDRUM South Dublin AC’s Siofra Cleirigh Buttner anchored Villanova University to four by 1,500m relay glory with an excellent last leg last Friday as part of the annual Penn Relays in Philadelphia. Cleirigh Buttner got the baton trailing Georgetown by 6.2 seconds, Oregon by 4.3 and Indiana by 3.1 seconds and then blitzed a 4.21 last leg to give Villanova the win in 17.44.29. This continues good Irish performances in the United States recently. Last week, Cleirigh Buttner impressed over 800m at the Larry Ellis Invitational finishing second in 2.03.52. At the London Marathon last week Sean Hehir (Rathfarnham) was the leading Irish performer with a personal best of 2.17.20 and was the first non-elite runner home in the marquee event.
sailing: sutton man the sole irish athlete on the world circuit
Diviney’s extreme ambition james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com
DUBLIN sailor Shane Diviney is very much out on his own in the Irish sailing fraternity, travelling the world as part of the city-leaning Extreme Sailing Series.
The Sutton man has just completed the series’ second round in China, competing for a team in which he was selected for his expertise in the series’ new boats. The hydrofoil-based GC32s – a high speed catamaran that “flies”
Sutton man Shane Diviney
above the water once operating in wind speeds of greater than 8 knots – has been brought in for this year’s competition, along with the Dubliner. Diviney is an expert in the craft and has joined team One, a Chinesesponsored group that proved popular with crowds during the most recent races in Qingdao, in part to help the other team members learn the new vessel. With the eight-race, three-continent series currently two event in, team One have finished sixth and seventh of eight boats, but Diviney focuses on the learning curve and is expecting more in later events. “We took five days
Shane Diviney, right, during the Oman leg of the extreme sailing series
putting the boat together before the first race in Oman,” he explains. “It had never been set up before, so it was a lot like building Ikea furniture, with a lot of modifying, a lot of systems to sort. The whole thing is a steep learning curve.” The series has got off to a strange start, in fact, with both the two venues so far – and the opener in Oman in particular – struggling to get sufficient wind for the boats to operate at full capacity. With the hydrofoils – which Diviney describes as “a third element: you have wind, water and flight” – all but out of action, the races haven’t been quite as intended. “We have a world class
team including numerous world champions, so we’ll be pretty good when we get going,” Diviney explained. “But it’s a steep learning curve, you can’t just turn up and end up at the top. Myself and my team mate Chris Steele are very familiar with this kind of sailing, and the other sailors are great, so we have the makings of a successful team.” Diviney has also been racing a similar, parallel series also on foils, so hops between the Extreme Sailing races and his other competitive role as a member of Kiwi team 36 Below Racing, where he also works alongside Steele. There will be a single
clash between the two series later in the year, which will force Diviney to pick a championship for at least one weekend. For the remaining dates, the only Irish competitor and his team will be dropping in on Cardiff, Hamburg, St Petersburg, Istanbul, Lisbon and a to-be-confirmed Australian venue before the year’s end. Diviney returns to Europe following his exploits in Qingdao, which were so busy he says he saw “the boat and the hotel room” during his stay. The next stop, on June 23 is Cardiff, where what he hopes for above all is decent wind for another set of 18 races.
Crumlin to make long journey to Donegal in FAI Cup aaron gallagher sport@dublingazette.com
Crumlin United’s FAI cup fate sees them pitted against Finn Harps in second round
THE SECOND round of the 2016 FAI Cup took place this week with one all-Premier Division clash and two all juniorleague side fixtures catching the eye of those players and managers in attendance at the Aviva Stadium. Bohemians welcome the highflying Galway United to Dalymount Park having excited the competition at the hands of Bray Wanderers last year, while the Seagulls themselves make the
trip to Belfield to play UCD. Crumlin United exited the competition at this stage last season with a 2-0 defeat to Sligo Rovers having knocked out College Corinthians in the opening round; this time they were drawn out of the pot away to Finn Harps. Their manager Martin Loughran said his side would have preferred a Dublin-based fixture but a meeting with a Premier Division outfit would be another great experience despite the long distance trip to Ballybofey. “We would rather a trip some-
where closer like Tallaght Stadium but we have a habit of getting tough away ties. This is our third time going down to Finn Harps, last year we went away to Sligo so we’ll go down and give it our best shot”, he said. “The FAI Cup is a great competition to be in and we love being in it. I think we have been in it every season over the last 10 years except for one. I know Ollie Horgan from the Ulster Senior League so we’ll give it a go. “It’s a long trip and a Friday night game means lads have to get off work. It’s in the middle of
the business end of the season for us so it’s probably a game we could do without but you never know on the night.” Two all junior-league pairings mean that at least two nonleague sides will progress to the third round of the competition. Janesboro welcome last year’s beaten quarter-finalists Sheriff YC while Ringmahon Rangers will host Glebe North. Elsewhere from Dublin, FAI Cup supremoes Shamrock Rovers will be hoping to end a 29 years baren spell in the cup. They play east Cork side Midleton.
5 May 2016 clondalkin gazette 29
Gazette
The different strokes that now power Ellen
FastSport
Paralympic swimmer speaks about the More than Sport campaign as she reflects on overcoming her insecurities with being ‘different’ and embracing what sport has given to her james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com
ELLEN Keane – Ireland’s Paralympic swimming star – is all set for her third Games in Rio this summer, but life – and the journey that’s bought her to the top of her sport – hasn’t always been easy. The 21-year-old is the latest athlete to speak up for the More Than Sport campaign, an awareness and fundraising campaign for the Irish Paralympic squad ahead of the Olympics, and has been speaking about both her sport and her life’s journey ahead of both the World Championships and the Olympics this summer. “Growing up, my teenage years were hard,” she explains. “It’s not fun being ‘different’. You get inside your own head
and all you want to do is be the same as everyone else. I was always so insecure about being the girl with one arm. I used to hide my arm in sleeves to make it seem like I had two arms,” Keane recalls. “But in the pool, there’s nowhere to hide. All you have is your swimsuit, your hat and goggles. This put me in a situation where I had to overcome my insecurities. Now, I love being ‘different’, and I embrace my arm whenever I can.” The Dubliner, a triple world bronze medallist, came through DIT’s sports programme, but has been taking swimming seriously since the age of 12, and has found the sport a life-affirming experience. “Sport has been such an important part of my life since those begin-
nings,” Keane says. “It has given me the confidence to overcome the insecurities I once had about my arm and I hope to be able to be that inspiration to other young people who may be feeling the way I once did. “Looking back, I wouldn’t change anything. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in the past but, without those mistakes, I wouldn’t be the athlete I am today. Success isn’t half as sweet if you’ve never experienced failure.” Naturally, Keane’s focus is very much turning towards the Olympics, with the swimmer having recently overcome challenges relating to the sport’s complicated classification system that briefly forced her into a more difficult level of competition.
Ellen Keane during the IPC Swimming World Championship in Glasgow last year. Picture: Ian McNichol/Sportsfile
“I’m hoping now to compete at my third Paralympic Games this year,” she says. “It’s a bit surreal to be honest. I just hope that if it works out, I can be a help to all those on their first journey and apply all I have learned from my past experiences.
me,” she explains. “Sport Ireland’s funding means I can focus on my training and dedicate my time to living the athlete lifestyle. Without their support, I certainly wouldn’t be where I am today. I get to do what I love for a living and get to see the world doing it.”
--------------------------------------------------------
‘In the pool, there is nowhere to hide. All you have is your swimsuit, hat and goggles’ Ellen Keane --------------------------------------------------------
“Ever since I first started competing, winning medals for my country was always the goal. Without dreaming it, it would never have become a reality. “My first World Championship medal was a bizarre feeling. It was so strange seeing ‘3’ after my name. I had to double check the board a number of times before I allowed myself to celebrate and, to quote my father: ‘It only took her 18 years!’” Talking of the opportunities offered by the More Than Sport programme, Keane concludes that it’s allowed her to take the sport to the highest possible level; to compete without restriction. “I am so fortunate to have such a brilliant support structure around
“My coach and former teammate, Dave Malone, is definitely who I would list as my inspiration. He has done it all and lived the dream and I’m so fortunate for him to coach me every day. It’s great having someone who knows exactly what you’re going through and he’s great at giving advice.” The Rio Paralympics will take place after the main event, running in early September. Keane will be hoping to add an Olympics medal to her three podiums at world level. You can support the More Than Sport campaign and the Irish paralympic squad in Rio by texting PARA to 50300. Each text costs €4, with at least €3.25 going to the campaign.
Ras ends in Skerries for tenth successive year SKERRIES will once again play host to the An Post Ras finale on Sunday, May 29 for a record tenth year. To celebrate the anniversary, Skerries’ Ras stage-end committee plan to celebrate this significant achievement with a day of festivities for the riders, cycling enthusiasts and visitors to enjoy. Local Alma Grimes, pictured above, has been nominated as An Post Ras ‘Miss Ras’ and she said of the situation: “I am looking forward to welcoming the competing cyclists to Skerries for the final stage of the Ras and hope they enjoy the welcome and festival we will host in celebration. “The enthusiastic support Skerries has for the cyclists and the Ras itself, encourages people to take up cycling and maybe we will have a local winner of the An Post Ras in the future.” Skerries has a reputation amongst the cycling fraternity as an enjoyable route for a challenging cycle and welcomes groups of cyclists to the town at weekends who can be seen taking the coastal and country roads in the area. This year, the Ras will see a strong team of riders on the Sean Kelly Irish team competing against experienced cyclists from Austria, Australian, France, Netherlands, Germany, the USA and the UK, with several more foreign teams expected to be confirmed prior to the event. The Ras will total a gruelling 1,233 kilometres and will include 25 categorised climbs. As well as competing daily for individual stage wins, the riders will also compete for the three main jerseys – the mountain jersey, the sprinter’s jersey and the coveted yellow jersey for the overall winner for the rider who completes the race in the shortest time. The world-ranked event gets underway on Sunday, May 22 from Dublin Castle, will conclude in Skerries on May 29.
Gazette
30 clondalkin gazette 5 May 2016
SPORT
FastSport
Soccer: Collinstown line up next league of ireland scalp
Ruddy and McEntee get Ireland Under-16 call PEAMOUNT United’s Tiegan Ruddy, right, and Keelin McEntee have both been named in Sharon Boyle’s Ireland squad for the forthcoming UEFA Women’s Under-16 development tournament in Hungary. The Irish will face Slovakia, Bosnia & Herzegovina and the hosts in the four-team tournament in Buk. Ireland are preparing for the UEFA Under17 championships qualifying round which will take place in October when we will host a group including Iceland, Belarus and Faroe Islands. Boyle’s side beat Wales 2-0 and 4-0 in two friendly internationals in Newport earlier this month so will travel to Hungary in good form. “The expectations would be to try and win all the games if we can and hopefully that the girls will develop and progress to Dave Bell’s U17s next season,” said Boyle. “Some of them have already been up there – Tiegan Ruddy, Heather Payne and Sadhbh Doyle – and it’s great to have the three of them back to lead the other girls. They can show what the standard is like at Under-17 level. “I wouldn’t underestimate the sides we’re playing against. They’re all developing well and you can see countries like Azerbaijan reaching UEFA WU19 Finals that teams across Europe are making progress. “All around the park we’ve a strong group of players to work with. We have players who can play in different positions, which is something we’ve been working on over the past year. “We showed with our clean sheets in Wales last month that we’re strong defensively and we’ve worked on shape and not conceding goals but we are also focused on the attacking side of the game. “We’ll train in the FAI National Training Centre on Thursday then fly out to Hungary on Friday. It should be an excellent experience for the squad.”
Collinstown captain Dean Carpenter
Carroll confident not cocky
leinster senior cup sport@dublingazette.com
COLLINSTOWN FC is a club that is on the cusp of a wave at the moment. On March 22, they shocked many with a two goal victory over Ireland’s most successful club, Shamrock Rovers in the Leinster Senior Cup in Tallaght. The venue that night was the site of the young club’s greatest previous triumph last summer, when they became junior champions of Leinster by beating hot favourites Sheriff YC. After victory over the
mighty Rovers there were many who called it a fluke, but Collinstown proved last week that far from being lucky against League of Ireland opposition, they were more than a match for them as they deservedly ousted Premier Division outfit Bray Wanderers in the quarter finals with goals from Dylan McKeever and Ian McNeill in a 2-1 win. That victory has made many sit up and take notice and, after drawing Airtricity Premier Division strugglers Wexford in the semi-finals,
All-ireland blitz King’s Hos play inaugural GX7s competition in Aviva the King’s Hospital, pictured in action against Enniskillen Collegiate, took part in the first ever All-Ireland GX7s tournament in Aviva Stadium this week as one of the 16 schools to play their part in the competition. The competition was run at provincial level during March and April with all four provinces running blitzes ahead of the final which were attended by internationals Lucy Mulhall and Niamh Briggs, Sophie Spence, Audrey O’Flynn and Louise Galvin. Picture: Gary Carr/Inpho
there are some predicting that they will be the first amateur club since Wayside Celtic back in 1999 to go on and win the competition. First team manager Kevin Carroll is not one to get carried away, but believes that his side deserve to be respected and should not be underestimated, something he feels may have happened against Shamrock Rovers and Bray Wanderers. “Most League of Ireland sides always underestimate junior opposition and play some of their fringe players but
that’s the chance they take. “It is not a fluke that we have now beaten two of them. We relish playing against better sides on better pitches and it gives our players a chance to express themselves.” Carroll does not believe that Wexford will fall into the same trap as the previous two Airtricity Premier Division sides they have slayed. “I think they will put out their best side against us but again, we will relish that. Let’s be honest, it’s their best
chance of silverware this year so they will want to be in the final. We will be going out there to beat them though and we will be confident, but not cocky. “We have shown that the lads know how to step it up against good opposition and we will fancy ourselves. This trophy is all we have left to play for now all our focus will be on this.” A date has yet to be set by the LFA for the semi-final although it is expected that it should happen sometime in May in Ferrycarrig Park in Wexford.
5 May 2016 CLONDALKIN gazette 31
Gazette
ladies football: clondalkin club on the rise
Club Noticeboard lucan sarsfields THE font size on this year role of honour will have to be reduced. Dublin Feile Champions. This time,
Bingo will now run every Wednes-
ered on the double with both the As
day in the club bar. Set Dancing is on
and Bs winning Division 2 and 7 respec-
Wednesday at 8.30pm in the Function
tively. Eight teams entered the Feile, all
Room.
eight got to the semi-finals, six went
Tickets are still available for our
on to win titles, three of those being
premium draw and with two big
division one.
upcoming concerts now included The Cupla Focal club has concluded
while, in the division 7 final, it finished
for the summer. This has been hugely
Lucan Sarsfields 5-9 Trinity Gaels 1-1.
successful and our thanks to Sean and
championship against Round Tower,
division 3
sport@dublingazette.com
ROUND Tower’s senior ladies footballers have returned to playing in action in some style, winning two of two ties following a year away from competitive action. Playing in Division 3, Tower’s have registered the perfect start to their campaign and sit top of the league table. Their return was emphatic. Before a large crowd at Monastery Road in mid-April, they defeated neighbors Lucan Sarsfields 6-11 to 4-3. Dublin senior footballer Amy Conroy struck a hat-trick and fellow county player Sarah Jane Hecker struck two, with Jennifer Cleary Burns nabbed the other goal in the resounding win. “We were determined to hit the ground running so the comprehensive display against Lucan was the very start we were wishing for,” team Mentor Caitriona McGrath said. “We had prepared very well and were determined our return would set a
benchmark for the season ahead. We’d already played together for many years so this was very beneficial in enabling us to gel very quickly.” The ladies are under the guidance of former Tower’s senior footballer Ciaran Corrigan. And he takes on a side that previously enjoyed great success, winning the intermediate football Championship in 2011. The opening league win was followed up by a 3-10 to 1-13 victory over Blessington. Trailing 0-8 to 0-2, the ladies mounted a spirited comeback. They struck the post four times before Conroy netted. Roisin Keating, in goal, pulled off a great save in the final play to allow the Tower’s ladies enjoy a three point victory. “We’re determined to build upon our early season success and push for promotion,” McGrath said of the result. “We have an excellent blend of more experienced performers that is coupled with the excellent young ladies football talent that is coming up from the
ranks. We feel we have a balance there and are all determined to achieve a promotional goal.” The bond amongst the ladies was evident last weekend when they hiked up the Sugarloaf Mountain in Co Wicklow, before enjoying a team breakfast at Round Tower sponsors the Maldron Hotel, Newlands Cross. “I’d encourage Tower’s supporters to get out and get behind the ladies,” McGrath added. “This
bunch are determined to push for promotion and are working hard to try ensure they are in the shake-up at the end of the season. “It is fantastic to have the ladies back representing the club at senior level and we are determined to keep pushing for wins on the playing pitches.” Any players interested in togging out for the ladies are welcome to contact Caitriona at 087 9619466.
interest is good.
Sarsfields 1-12 to St Sylvester’s 1-5
The senior footballers started their
Conroy underpins Tower’s comeback
semi-finals of the Leinster league.
it’s the turn of Footballers who deliv-
The Division 2 final finished Lucan
Amy Conroy has been on a goal rush in Round Tower’s opening two games
The senior camogie side had a 5-8 to 2-5 win over Clara of Kilkenny in the
Clondalkin last Thursday, winning out
Micheal. 25-card drive is on Friday night next 9pm for anyone interested.
2-9 to 1-7. The next Dublin league out-
Lotto is €1,000 and the draw will take
ing is at home to Kilmacud Crokes on
place on Monday night given the bank
May 11.
holiday.
ST pat’s palmerstown THE lotto numbers for this week were
all the lads and a big well done to all
4, 13, 16 and 28 for the first draw and 8,
involved.
11, 13 and 23 for the second draw. Neither draw was won so next week there will be two draws with jackpots of €10,000 and €1,600. The draw takes place in the Palmerstown House every Sunday night at 10pm and cost €2. Thank you to all our sellers and to all that support our lotto every week.
Our U-16 camogie team had a wonderful win versus Round Tower in Clondalkin with a tally of 12-4 to 3-4. Very impressive and well done girls. Our senior camogie ladies had a great win over Whitehall Colmcille’s with a score of 1-8 to 1-5.
Tickets available from all the usual
The U-9 boys had a home football
sellers including Supervalu, Palmers-
match with really strong perform-
town House, Manor Hair Studios.
ances from Josh Nolan, Ciaran Deegan
Our Friday hurling/camogie skills
and especially Ryan Griffin.
continues on Friday and will be on from
Many thanks to our visitors West-
6-7pm next week. Everyone welcome.
manstown Gaels and their mentors.
It’s a great chance for the kids to learn
Look forward to playing them again.
from experienced coaches. Memberships are overdue so anyone that hasn’t paid can you please do so urgently.
Well done to all of the U-10 boys who had a great result at the weekend. Well done to Chris Mooney who refereed the Division 1 Feile final in Parnell
Massive well done to our U-14 Feile
Park along with his team of helpers
boys who made it to the semi-finals,
Ciaran Cullen, Mark O Leary, Matthew
great spirit and determination from
Murphy and Brian Mooney.
garda/westmanstown DISAPPOINTMENT for our intermedi-
The ladies winning run came to an
down to Kilmacud Crokes by 2-11 to
end on Wednesday losing away to
1-10 in the championship in Glencullen
Templeogue Synge St in the league by
on Saturday evening.
3-14 to 1-10.
Best of luck to Kilmacud in the
Our second ladies team lost at home
next round. The next fixture is a
to Ballyboughal in league at Westman-
home league tie against St Brigid’s
stown on Wednesday; no fixture this
on Wednesday, May 25 with a 7.30pm
week.
start.
Round Tower’s ladies footballers on the Sugarloaf.
Emmett’s throw-in at 7.30pm.
ate footballers at the weekend, going
Another busy week for our juveniles
The juniors championship game
with pride of place going to our U-14
with Wild Geese was postponed and
footballers who put on a tremendous
has been refixed for Tuesday, May
performance, winning their way to the
10 in Westmanstown with a 7.15pm
final of their Feile group but unfortu-
throw-in. The next league fixture is
nately coming up short against Tho-
on Tuesday, May 25 at home to Robert
mas Davis in the final on Sunday.
GazetteSPORT all of your clondalkin sports coverage from page 28-31
may 5 - 11, 2016
tower’s comeback: Clondalkin club return to ladies ellen’s Different strokes: Keane on the More than Sport football gets off to stunning start with pair of wins P31 and her Paralympic hopes P29
Bluebell are hoping to cause yet another cup upset against Limerick following thei match-up with Limerick in the FAI Senior Cup
Bell aim to strike again Red Cow club looking to continue their record of pushing League of Ireland sides to the limit when they face Limerick in the FAI Senior Cup derek mckenna
sport@dublingazette.com
FACING high flying Airtricity First Division side Limerick FC in the FAI Senior Cup would normally strike fear into any amateur side but for LSL Senior Sunday champions Bluebell United, it’s just another game in what has been a long season. This season, Andy Noonan’s side have built up somewhat of a reputation as giant killers having scalped the likes of Cabinteely in the LFA Senior Cup and Drogheda United in the EA Sports Cup. They exited both competitions but it took both UCD and Bray Wanderers extra time to
overcome the intermediate side. After going 28 years without claiming the top title in the LSL, the main focus for the Red Cow based side has been title retention this season and with a stacked up fixture calendar, it’s understandable that some cup games could become a hindrance. Bluebell secured their spot in round two of the FAI’s flagship competition with a five goal thumping away to Cork side Carrigaline United and after drawing League of Ireland First Division leaders Limerick, manager Noonan sees the game as an unwelcome distraction to the hopes of retaining the LSL title. “We have beaten League of Ireland oppo-
sition twice this season and we have been unlucky in the two competitions we exited in extra time. “A combination of fatigue, inexperience, bad luck and strange refereeing decisions cost us but sometimes you need a rub of the green” said the young manager. With the LSL title race at the forefront of his mind, Noonan was hoping to play the FAI game at a later date but it seems that the game will now be played on May 22, right in the middle of a busy fixture period for Bell. “This game will be a distraction as the league is the most important thing for us. In saying that, we will enjoy it. “The players all enjoy playing in these
games and I really enjoyed testing myself against my former managers Pete Mahon and David Gill in the Drogheda match. These types of games are always a test. “We will be looking to avoid injuries in the game and my team selection will be heavily influenced by our league fixtures.” After more than matching four ‘higher level’ sides already this season, Noonan feels his side won’t have any fear going into the tie with Limerick. “They are a Premier Division standard playing in the First Division. They have a good manager and good players but we won’t have any fear that we will give them a game.”