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July 28-August 17, 2016

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Dad kicks puppy to death in front of kids Severely injured dog is put down following vicious assault by owner

 SYLVIA POWNALL

The puppy sustained a fractured spine and broken ribs in the brutal attack

A DAD punched and kicked his own puppy to death in front of a group of kids in Balbriggan.

The dog, a Jack Russell cross, sustained

a fractured spine and broken ribs in the savage attack in a garden in Dun Saithne estate.

Gardai were called and a vet took the bloodied pup into care – but the stricken animal’s injuries were so severe it

had to be put down the next day.

DSPCA spokesperson Gillian Bird said: “He was conscious when we got him, but he was quite heavily sedated and on pain killers.”

Continued on Page 9

2 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 28 July - August 17 2016

DUNBRO LANE | HAZARDOUS MATERIAL DISCOVERED ON DAA LAND

FASTNews

 SYLVIA POWNALL

Metro masts must go as Ballymun residents are ‘vindicated’ by DCC call

Urgent call for safe removal of asbestos AIRPORT chiefs have described asbestos found on DAA land at St Margaret’s as “low risk” but locals are calling for its safe removal as a matter of urgency.

A contractor has been appointed to remove the hazardous material which was discovered on land at Portmellick House last month.

Residents notified DAA of the find on farm buildings at the Dunbro Lane site and expressed concerns that the potentially deadly fibres might be mobile.

Cllr Philip Lynam (SF) said: “This is a massive health and safety risk for

the residents of the area.

“St Margaret’s National School is only a few fields away as well as St Margaret’s Church both of which cater for a large number of residents. We are unsure what we are dealing with here.”

Calm fears A DAA spokesperson moved to calm fears and assured that the cement tiles containing the hazardous material did not pose an immediate threat.

He said: “We asked our safety consultants to carry out a survey of the area. They found the asbestos to present a low risk as no work activities are taking place and

there is no public access to the building.”

The spokesman said it “would not be unexpected” to find asbestos at Portmellick given its previous use as a farm, since the material was used in both domestic and industrial buildings up until 2000.

He added: “In accordance with regulations, DAA informed the HSA of its intention to remove the asbestos containing material. A contractor has been appointed and these works, which will be independently managed and monitored by our safety consultants, are expected to begin shortly.”

Meanwhile the DAA

Asbestos found is described as “low risk”

has received around 50 submissions so far on foot of a series of public information sessions ahead of the construction of a second runway.

The extended deadline

is Friday, August 5.

DAA has also agreed to facilitate a further public information session in St Margaret’s tonight (Thursday) on foot of a request from residents.

Arson attack at FlyeFit gym AN arson attack took place at the busy FlyeFit gym in Coolock this week.

Gardai are investigating the incident which saw a car driven into the doorway of the gym and set alight.

Gardai were called to the scene at Coolock Retail Park on the Malahide Road at around 2.20am. It was at this time that two men were seen running from the scene.

Three units of Dublin Fire Brigade also attended the scene and the fire was extinguished.

No one was injured but the gym has been extremely damaged. It is understood there were a small number of people in the gym at the time of the attack but the building was safely evacuated.

Garda sources told the media that one man was seen driving the car into the entrance of the gym

LOCALS have been “vindicated” as planning permission was refused for telecommunications masts on The Metro Hotel and Apartments at the Ballymun Road and Santry Avenue.

Airspeed Telecom and Host Ireland applied for permission for the retention of ballast poles carrying antenna, dishes, and all other ancillary equipment at the upper roof level of the Metro Hotel.

Local councillor Noeleen Reilly (SF) said the applicants were in breach of planning enforcement as planning permission had not been sought for the pre-existing masts.

“These masts have been on top of the hotel and apartments for years without permission and were essentially left there,” she said. “They need to be removed immediately.”

Dublin City Council (DCC) refused the planning permission due to the masts’ “highly visible” location.

The council added that the masts amounted to “visual clutter” which “seriously injures the visual amenities of the area to the detriment of the Ballymun Regeneration Project”.

DCC also said the location of the development on the top of a residential-uses building “seriously injures the residential amenities of the residents in the tower and is contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.

Cllr Reilly said that this decision is a “vindication of residents who had rightly many concerns”.

Herbert Park bags new draw... with tearooms and then a second man was seen pouring petrol over it before setting it alight.

The scene has been closed off for technical examinations.

Two heavy turnstiles at the entrance to the gym prevented the car being driven any further into the gym.

“It’s a good job those turnstiles were there, otherwise people could have been badly injured or killed,” said a witness who works locally.

The gym announced that the Coolock premises will be closed temporarily due to fire damage.

NEW tearooms have opened in Herbert Park that will be operated by popular café Lolly and Cooks.

This is the latest addition to Dublin City Council’s Parks and Landscape Services’ initiative to refurbish older buildings in parks and transform them into more useable spaces for the public.

The building in which the Tearooms are located was formerly a Pavilion in the park.

At the opening, Cllr Dermot Lacey (Lab) said: “I congratulate Dublin City Council for this initiative as the tearooms will be a very popular addition.”

The Tearooms are open from 9.30am - 9pm seven days a week.

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

28 July - August 17 2016 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 3

ENTERTAINMENT | DUBS GO MAD FOR ALL-CONQUERING POCKET MONSTERS

Take me back to  IAN BEGLEY FROM Balbriggan to Ballinteer, Dubliners are going mad for the global craze better known as Pokemon Go. Children and adults alike are falling over each other as they hunt prized pocket monsters such as Pikachus and Poliwags, their faces stuck to their smart phones.

The latest version of the old favourite Nintendo game marries the classic franchise

with augmented reality, allowing players to explore real-life places on the hunt for virtual Pokemon characters – all thanks to their smartphone screens.

Users are also prompted to join and compete in “gyms” and pick up Pokeballs and prizes from PokeStops.

The phenomenon has captivated young and old – but not everyone is impressed, as The Gazette has discovered.

For more, see Page 13

Prowling the city to catch them all  IAN BEGLEY MANY people say the positives of playing Pokemon Go greatly outweigh the negatives.

Getting fitter, making new friends and going to places you never thought of visiting are just some of the benefits of playing. Student David Brennan (22) appeared on the Humans of Ireland Facebook page recently, claiming he has lost almost a half a stone in a week playing Pokemon Go every day.

The Wicklow man said he has been travelling in to Dublin every day to play, as there is “so much more game activity here than there is at home”.

He said: “I’ve been a big fan of Pokemon for years, over the last week I’ve met so many people from all walks of life out playing Pokemon[Go]. Yesterday I met a Trinity College professor out playing it, and we hung out for a couple of hours walking around, playing it.”

4 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 28 July 2016

GazetteGALLERY | BRIDAL BY NIKKI KAVANAGH LAUNCHED

Ita Murray and Nikki Kavanagh

Michelle Field and Sonia Micallet

COURTS | ASSAULT CAUSING HARM

Man slashed face of ex’s brother with a knife A MAN who slashed the face of his ex-girlfriend’s brother and left him lying in a pool of blood has been sentenced to two years imprisonment with the final year suspended.

Christopher Byrne (29) of Edenmore Ave, Coolock, was acting under a “cloud of anger” due to the breakdown of his relationship with his girlfriend – the mother of his child – when he grabbed a knife and slashed her 17-year-old brother’s face in February last year, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Byrne pleaded guilty to assault causing harm to the boy at an apartment in Santry on February 8, 2015. He also pleaded guilty to possessing a stun gun without a certificate at his home on February 25, 2015.

Detective Garda John

Griffin told Karl Finnegan BL, prosecuting, that Byrne went to his ex-girlfriend’s apartment to pick up his clothes following the breakdown of their relationship. Once there, he started acting aggressively towards her and her brother, who was also in the apartment at the time.

He threw both of their mobile phones at them, smashing one off the wall.

When his ex-girlfriend grabbed her four-year-old child and fled, Byrne then grabbed a knife from the kitchen sink and said: “You don’t think I’ll do anything, do you?” “(The boy) saw Byrne running at him. He saw he had the knife in his hand and that’s the last thing he remembered,” Mr Finnegan said.

“He woke up on the couch in a pool of blood.”

The boy didn’t know

where the blood was coming from until he went to a mirror and saw he had been slashed across the nose and cheek. He was taken to hospital where he received 16 stitches.

Gardai arrested Byrne in his home on February 25, where they discovered a stun gun disguised as a torch in his bedroom.

Byrne said he had it there for his own protection, Gda Griffin said.

The court heard Byrne has 28 previous convictions, including two for assault.

Judge John Aylmer said it was a “vicious and unprovoked assault” and an “act of rage”. He said Byrne’s victim had been left with a “disfiguring laceration”.

He handed down a two-year sentence but suspended the last 12 months.

Michelle McGrath

Rosanna Davison models a wedding dress.

Michelle Kealy and Eden Purcell

Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Celebs help launch new bridal boutique T HREE of Ireland’s most followed beauty bloggers (and models) – Suzanne Jackson, Rosanna Davison and Michele McGrath - joined forces to launch the new one-stop wedding shop Bridal by Nikki Kavanagh in Ratoath. The new store offers wedding and bridesmaid gowns from designers such as Madeline Gardener for Mori Lee, Lambert Creations and the Nicole Spose label Jolies.

Kavanagh said: “I got married myself in the last two years so having gone through all the research and preparations, I felt that there was a market for a one-stop service for all things bridal. I’m really looking forward to supporting future brides to look and feel their best on the most special day of their lives.”

EMPLOYMENT

100 new jobs to be created in accounting AROUND 100 new jobs are to be created in Ireland’s first-ever accountancy apprenticeship programme.

These jobs, and the programme itself, will be showcased at an Open Day on July 28 at Accounting Technicians Ireland’s Dublin office.

The apprenticeship, subject to approval, offers school leavers and mature students a unique opportunity to get on the path to a career in accountancy, where they will earn as they learn on a two-year contract.

They will gain valuable experience over the two years, working four days a week in the office, and attending classes one day a week.

They’ll be mentored in both the college and the workplace, as they apply the skills and knowledge they learn in class to a real work environment.

T he programme is running in five locations in Ireland, including Bray Institute of Further Education, Blackrock Further Education Institute, Cork College of Commerce, Monaghan Institute and Rathmines College.

The jobs are being offered by a range of businesses and companies.

This is a major benefit for the students, as they’ll be paid a salar y while they work towards their qualification, and gain great experience in an office environment.

The event takes place at 3pm at Accounting Technicians Ireland, 47- 49 Pearse Street, Dublin 2 – please call Aoife Kennedy at 01 649 8126 or email akennedy@accountingtechniciansireland.ie to register.

28 July - August 17 2016 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 5

6 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 28 July - August 17 2016

GazetteGALLERY | PILOTS DELIGHT AT ANNUAL BRAY AIR DISPLAY SHOW

Dubliners get a taste of the Bray Air Show courtesy of Frecce Tricolori – the famed Italian aerobatic jet team – which blazed an Irish tricolour-hued trail along the Liffey through the city centre last week.

Main pic: Dave Meehan; all others: Michael Chester

Crowds wowed by some terrific flights of fancy T

HRONGS of people made their way to Bray at the weekend for this year’s Bray Air Display, with organisers hailing it as the best yet.

Well over 100,000 people took in some spectacular sights in the heavens, with the famous Red Arrows making their debut appearance.

There was nothing plain about

the superb displays of skill and flair in the air, as the Arrows performed alongside the Breitling Wingwalkers, the Air Corps, Italy’s Frecce Tricolori and several other highlyaccomplished teams and pilots.

Applause rippled for miles below thanks to the thrilling displays from the men and women soaring past in the skies above.

28 July - August 17 2016 DUBLIN GAZETTE 7

8 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 28 July - August 17 2016

FUNDING | DOLPHIN’S BARN BOOST

Multimillion investments for inner city  EMMA NOLAN

THE Government has announced multimillion euro investments for Dublin’s inner city.

This includes a €25m regeneration of Dolphin’s Barn f lat complex and a €1.6m investment for the north inner-city.

The news comes as nearby St Teresa’s Gardens flats are being redeveloped as part of the long-term regeneration plan for the complex.

The first phase of the Dolphin’s Barn project will involve the creation of 100 social housing units and is expected to be completed within two years.

Ultimately 400 units will be built over an eight-year period.

Dolphin’s Barn residents at one stage took a case to the European Court of Human Rights over conditions in the complex, which included severe damp and sewage pollution.

Speaking at the site, Minister for Housing Simon Coveney (FG) called the project “one of the most significant social housing regeneration projects” that will be delivered under the Rebuilding Ireland, an Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness which was announced last week.

Councillor Catherine Byrne (FG) said that the plans will “enhance the living conditions in Dolphin House as well as providing much needed housing in Dublin 8”.

While Labour councillor Rebecca Moynihan agreed that the project will be “the beginning of a new phase in

the life of this strong Dublin community”.

Meanwhile, the Taoiseach announced a €1.6m investment for the north inner-city.

The funding will go towards sports facilities and projects in the area while €500,000 will go towards small scale physical investments, focused on clean-up of graffiti, derelict sites, litter and local community and youth projects.

There will also be additional funding of €100,000 for supports for drug related projects in the area.

Fitzgibbon Street Garda Station, which was closed down three years ago because the building was deemed

GazetteGALLERY | LIBERTIES FESTIVAL

uninhabitable, will be re-opened.

Locals had called for the station to be reopened, claiming they would feel safer if it was operational.

Alan and Colleen McGauley with Laure Johnston. Picture: Stepehn Fleming

Taskforce Mr Kenny said he will chair a ministerial taskforce which aims to address the challenges in the area.

Speaking at St Laurence O’Toole’s School, the Taoiseach said that the main objective of the funding is to “recommend and implement measures for the long-term economic and social regeneration of this area with a ten-year timeframe in mind”.

Thais Muniz

A stilt walkers at the event

Carlo, Matteo and Raffaella Clerice from Italy

6 DUBLIN CITY GazeTTe 12 November 2015

rehousing process | community expresses its loss

St Teresa’s cleared for its regeneration  emma NOLaN news@dublingazette.com

Original plans to refurbish St Teresa’s were scrapped after the property market collapse over five years ago. Picture: William Murphy

DUBLIN’S largest flats complex, St Teresa’s Gardens in Dolphin’s Barn, has been cleared of all residents to allow for the completion of the regeneration plans proposed over 10 years ago.

The complex, which housed 346 flats next to the Coombe Maternity Hospital, was assigned for regeneration due to its poor living conditions from damp and sewage problems that could not be resolved through maintenance. But initial plans were scrapped after the property market collapse over five years ago.

Sinn Fein’s Cllr Ray McHugh has welcomed the redevelopment and hopes “a new developed complexwill renew life and community spirit to the area,” but has expressed that there are some difficulties rehousing families with the current housing crisis. “While rehousing tenants can be difficult, the council are doing their best in the present housing emergency.”

St Teresa’s was designed in the 1930s but wasn’t constructed until the 1950s, meaning that the complex currently fails to meet building regulation standards. The consolidation and refurbishment process uses a mix of new construction and “retrofitting” of existing flats as opposed to the more straightforward demolition and rebuilding.

Dublin City Council executive manager of the housing department Tony Flynn said: “They’ve been taken back to the bare bones. We’ve cut through walls that were a foot thick. Everything was stripped out and everything is new – new

insulation, new plumbing and electrics, central heating, kitchens, bathrooms, floors, doors.”

Flynn said the new units were “much bigger” having been knocked together and reconfigured from two-bedroom flats to three-bedroom homes.

Fifty-six redeveloped flats will be completed

by Christmas at a cost of €50,000-€80,000 a unit.

Work begins on building 34 houses and 16 apartments on the site of the demolished flats in 2016. Three flat blocks --------------------------

‘[We hope to see] a whole new vibrant community developing,’

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

Tony Flynn, Dublin City Council

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

Dougal hazel Dublin firefighters to useof Fence Fit giving a lesson in the park unmanned aerial vehicles DUBLIN Fire Brigade is set to implement the use of drones by the end of the year.

The unmanned aerial vehicles will be used to safely and quickly gather information on fires and other emergencies and examine situations from a view that couldn’t be reached otherwise.

Six employees at Dublin Fire Brigade have been trained to operate the devices which will benefit the service’s emergency response.

Assistant chief fire officer Dennis Keely said: “From an operational perspective, to have the ability to step back from the situation and get a quick visual of an incident from an aerial shot can be quite advantageous.”

Objections to development plans for St Anne’s Park THE Clontarf Residents’ Association has objected to plans to develop property within the grounds of St Anne’s Park.

Some 15 acres in the centre of the park have

Hazel Mendoza and David

Jesus Garcia-Nieto and

Robinson

Patricia Garrido

been sold to a developer who is in the process of

Festival fever hits the city centre

seeking planning for 107 houses and 274 apart-

ments, with vehicular access onto Sybil Hill Road.

The site is used extensively by local sporting

Peter Moore with his grandson Sean Whelan

clubs, especially for underage training and games.

and 10 houses have been demolished, and two more blocks will be demolished before Christmas and as soon and the new houses and apartments are built the residents in the reconditioned flats will be given the option of staying or moving to the new units.

A Facebook page set up by locals, St Teresa’s Memories, has become a platform for the former residents to share memories, keep their community spirit alive and discuss current and upcoming developments on a place many families called home for decades.

Although former residents have voiced their grief over the loss of a once close-knit community, Flynn hopes to “see a whole new vibrant community developing, including the existing community.”

The regeneration plans are continued good news for locals after the redevelopment of St Teresa’s Gardens flats which we reported on back in November 2015

FastNews

Clontarf Residents’ Association is urging mem-

bers to file complaints with Dublin City Council to prevent the building from starting.

100 emergency beds for homeless ‘unlikely to close in the spring’ SOME 100 “cold weather beds” being offered to

the homeless in Dublin this month are unlikely to close in the spring

if the flow of people

being made homeless doesn’t slow down.

As part of its Cold Weather Initiative,

Dublin Region Homeless Executive will be providing 100 emergency beds for men and women in the

Digital Hub in Thomas

Part of The Digital Hub area. Picture: Failte Ireland

Street from November 24 until the end of April.

Of the 271 extra beds put in place last winter,

some 251 are still in place. Charities say that the

additional beds this season will most likely be kept

T

open also as the homeless crisis persists.

HE Liberties Festival, one of Ireland’s oldest and longest running festivals, has become a highlight of the summer in Dublin. This year proved as popoular as ever with crowds enjoying the best of theatre, spoken word, music, performance, family-friendly fun and workshops.

With 80 per cent of events free - from pop-up poetry to puppets, indie to opera, and cabaret to comedy - the festival’s exciting 46th programme acknowledged the vibrant past of the area while embracing its future. Highlights of the event included local and legendary singer, Frances Black, who performed in John’s Lane Church and the final of Miss Burlesque Ireland.

A spokesperson for the Peter McVerry Trust said: “Once beds are in the system, in current circum-

stances it will be very difficult to take them out.”

28 July - August 17 2016 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 9

EDUCATION

Principal appointed

A NEW principal has been appointed for the new Drumcondra Marino Educate Together National School which is set to welcome its first students this September.

Marcus Wynne from Galway has over 12 years’ experience as a primary school teacher in both Educate Together and Gaelscoileanna settings.

He has also worked for ten years as a teacher, vice-principal and course coordinator in Colaiste Chonnacht, an Irish-language Summer School in Spiddal, Co Galway.

Marcus says he is passionate about inspiring pupils of all abilities to maximise their potential.

Plan for demonstration against animal cruelty following puppy attack Continued from Page 1

 SYLVIA POWNALL “Such was the extent of the young dog’s awful injuries our vet team were forced to make the decision to put the poor puppy to sleep to relieve his suffering.”

A preliminary x-ray showed the male dog – less than a year old – sustained a fractured spine, fractured ribs and some paralysis to its back legs in the savage attack.

However when the full extent of his internal injuries became known it was decided to put him to sleep to end his pain.

Gillian added: “This happened in front of a group of adults and children. We are working with the gardai to get a prosecution and are appealing for witnesses to come forward.”

One shocked source in the estate told the Fingal Gazette: “He will probably say he was drunk

The dog sustained a fractured spine and fractured ribs in the savage attack

and on steroids and get away with it scot free. It’s sickening. He should be

run out of Balbriggan.”

Another said: “The kids up there are all

very upset. People are fuming over what happened. He can’t be let

away with this.”

Locals are now planning a public demonstration against animal cruelty following the attack which happened a r o u n d 10 p m l a s t Thursday.

A garda spokesman said: “We are investigating an incident in relation to the Cruelty to Animals Act.” It is understood an individual has been questioned and a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

10 GAZETTE 28 July - August 17 2016

GazetteGALLERY | THE 2016 DUBLIN HORSE SHOW AT THE RDS

Karen Greer, Jacqui Coburn, Caroline Miller and Gill McAreavey

Davin Daugherty and Yvonne Tierney

Marcus and Linda Telford with Judy and Jenni Watt. Pictures: Rose Comiskey

Cassidy and Raphael Nonescan

Sisters Jessica, Rebecca and Lauren Walsh with Ella Buckley

Horsing around

T

HOUSANDS descended on the RDS for one of the most anticipated events in the horsing social calender. The 143rd Dublin Horse Show celebrated the best

Pamela and Rachel Ferguson

Rupert and Kyle O’Connell

Zarah Naughton and Marie Fitzgerald

in show horses and the best international show jumpers. No one day was the same with something different bound to entertain everyone throughout the five-day event.

28 July - August 17 2016 GAZETTE 11

GAZETTE

12 GAZETTE 28 July - August 17 2016

DUBLINBUSINESS Niamh Collins, chief operations officer at DCU Ryan Academy, is calling on busineswomen to go forward for its prestigious Female High Fliers programme

Women ‘still less likely to get funding’ for start-ups  IAN BEGLEY

DCU Ryan Academy are looking for Ireland’s brightest and most dynamic female-led startups for their prestigious Female High Fliers programme, which starts in September at Citywest.

Supported by Enterprise Ireland, the Female High Fliers programme will equip participants with the information, guidance and tools to turn their idea into a profitable and scaleable business.

It is the first accelerator programme designed exclusively for start-ups founded and run by female entrepreneurs.

There are only 10 places available on the highly sought after programme, which has attracted hundreds of applicants since it launched in 2014.

Speaking about the programme, Niamh Collins, chief operations officer at DCU Ryan Academy, said: “The programme responds specifically to the challenges facing female-founded start-ups.

“Research has shown that while female-led start-ups excel to a far

greater level than their male counterparts, in many areas – including tech – they are still less likely to receive investment.

“Also, and perhaps most worryingly, females are more risk-averse than their male peers.

“The Female High Fliers programme will provide the mentoring, the expertise and the tools to help female-led start-ups to bring their business to the next level and find solutions to obstacles, real or self-imposed, that lie in their way,” said Collins.

Pitching All successful applicants will work with business experts at the Ryan Academy for one full day per week, for 13 weeks, which will involve pitching to mentor panels, 10 customer interviews per week, and online tutorials.

Participants will then pitch to a panel of investors at the end of the programme. The closing date for applications is August 11. To apply for the DCU Ryan Academy Female High Fliers Programme, see www.ryanacademy.ie.

28 July - August 17 2016 GAZETTE 13

ASDFSDAF P27 TRAVEL P21

FOOD P19

DUBLINLIFE Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week



GAZETTE

DIARY P14

PLEASE BREE KIND TO A QUIET, LOVELY DOG

Although a hit with gamers, many people and businesses are unimpressed by the impact of the game, with some making their discontent clear

POKEMON GO: NINTENDO’S GIANT HIT HAS PROVEN A BIG ANNOYANCE TO SOME

Not all fun and games ...  IAN BEGLEY IN THE short time that Pokemon Go has spent being king of all things pop culture, the app has created several problems that its creators probably didn’t anticipate.

Distracted gamers have been injuring themselves walking onto roads and getting robbed by people using the game to lure them into traps.

One teenager in the US was even shot dead after breaking into a home to catch a Pokemon.

Dublin mum Rachel Murphy (not her real name) told The Gazette the horror she felt when finding out that her 12-year-old son met up with a man in his 40s in a public park while play-

ing Pokemon Go. She said: “I got a phone call from my neighbour informing me that she had seen my son and his friends running down to St Enda’s Park in Rathfarnham.

“When I rang him, he told me that he was in a friend’s house, but I said I knew exactly where he was and told him to get home immediately.

“Once he came back, I asked him what he was doing in the park, especially since it was closed.

He told me he was chasing Pokemon, and that there was a virtual gym there [on his smartphone], which players can take over.

“When I asked him who he and his friends met up with, he told me

it was a man in his 40s.

“Even though the man only had conversations about Pokemon with him, I still thought it was really inappropriate for him to be talking to a 12-year-old child.

Perverts “The thing that scares me is that you don’t know who you’re meeting until you get there in person, and I believe the game could lead to real dangers for perverts who want to take advantage of children who use it.”

Apart from such concerns, other people just don’t like Pokemon Go because of how people play it.

The Broadway Cafe and Gift Shop in Meath is one such establishment that has become

a hot-spot for Pokemon since the app first launched.

There are so many Pokemon Go players in the area that owner Monica Hannigan had enough and decided to put up a sign to clearly indicate that they are no longer welcome to come inside, chasing Pokemon.

One man who definitely wasn’t a fan of the game put up a sign in his garden stating: “This whole Pokemon hunt is by far the stupidest thing I have ever seen”.

He then advised players to go to a bar up the street, have a beer and “seriously think about your life choices”.

Irish comedian Joe Heenan saw the sign,

and decided to put up his own, more upbeat version, in his garden.

His reads: “This is a private garden, but if you see a Pokemon in here, come and get it. Enjoy life. This whole Pokemon hunt is by far one of the best things I have ever seen. Don’t let: bit-

ter killjoys, people with no imagination, folk that hate fun, members of the Conservative Party, angr y dads, Donald Trump tell you otherwise.

“This is awesome!

Now go and catch as many f**king Pokemon as you can.”

Reasons to be Appy

POKEMON GO hunters from Ireland can now download a new app that lets them know exactly where they can find various Pokemon within specific areas around the country.

The app, created by Irish start-up Mawla, has developed a series of maps that show users what Pokemon are within particular areas in Ireland.

One map focuses on Dublin city centre, while others target areas such as Swords, Malahide, Portmarnock and Drogehda.

The maps are updated every five seconds with real server data – not user-gathered data – to keep it accurate.

OUR Dog of the Week looking for her #SpecialSomeone* is happy Bree, a nine-yearold female Collie cross.

She is a darling dog who is looking for a nice quiet home. Bree can be nervous of new people on her walks, so she would love to walk in a peaceful place, free from hustle and bustle.

She would best be suited to quieter, older teenagers or an adultonly home who will understand that she will find lots of noise and busyness overwhelming.

If you can be Bree’s #SpecialSomeone*, then 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, at www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline, or on Twitter @ DogsTrust_IE. *Dogs Trust has launched their new TV ad; the #SpecialSomeone campaign aims to bring to life just how important a new owner is to the dogs they rehome.

14 GAZETTE 28 July - August 17 2016

GAZETTE

DUBLINLIFE DIARY Brush up on artists’ projects FOUR Dublin artists have been selected for the first year of the Hennessy Art Fund for IMMA Collection – an initiative that has enabled IMMA (the Irish Museum of Modern Art) to purchase multiple new works for its collection for the first time since 2011.

The artists are David Beattie, Rhona Byrne and Dennis McNulty – all of whom live and work in Dublin – and Kevin Atherton, a former educator at the National College of Art and Design, Thomas Street.

Their work is now being exhibited at IMMA, Royal Hospital Kilmainham as part of IMMA Collection: A Decade.

All of the works are installations that variously engage film, performance, new media, sound, found objects, everyday materials and audience participation.

The Hennessy Art Fund for IMMA Collection will see artists based in Ireland and Irish artists living abroad eligible for selection each year.

Works will be sought that show excellence and innovation within contemporary art developments and represent a signal moment of achievement within the artist’s practice.

Work must have been made within the previous five years. For further information, see imma.ie.

PENCIL IN TIME FOR A TOP ANIME EVENT IRELAND’S largest Anime event is back for 2016, and is set to draw in plenty of animation fans from across the city and country.

Eirtakon takes place in the Croke Park Convention Centre from November 4 to 6, where a variety of events have been arranged, including panels, talks and signings with Luci Christian and John Swasey as the guests of honour for this year.

Luci is a professional actor internationally known for her Anime voice work, although her career also spans stage, television, radio and other sectors.

John has voiced hundreds of shows and characters with studios such as Funimation, ADV Films, Switchblade Films, Sentai Films, Okratron 5000, Gearbox, Seraphim Digital and Illumitoons, to name but a few. For further information and tickets, see eirtakon.com.

WATER SPECTACLE TO SEE IN THE CITY ON AUGUST 26, the 96th annual Dublin City Liffey Swim will come back with a splash as hundreds of swimmers take part in one of the most famous open air swimming races in the world The first race took place in 1920 when a Dublin Corporation engi-

Artist Rhona Byrne with her piece, Bolthole, 2012. She is one of four artists chosen for the first year of the Hennessy Art Fund for IMMA Collection. Picture: Andres Poveda

neer wanted to show off how good the quality of the water was.

Since then, the event has gone from strength to strength. Many traditions run alongside the race, including Dublin’s Lord Mayor, starting the race each year, as well as the

inclusion of Dublin’s Fire Brigade.

While members of the brigade compete in the race, the organisation also provides the Liffey showers at the end of the race.

With hundreds of men and women competing in this unique event, the city

will be awash with spectators hoping to catch a glimpse of the race from the quays, boardwalks and over-arching bridges.

Adults can take part for €35, and children from €20. For further information, see www.leinsteropensea.ie/.

28 July - August 17 2016 GAZETTE 15

CAPITAL GAMES 16 GAZETTE 28 July - August 17 2016

28 July - August 17 2016 GAZETTE 17

SPORT HEROES TAKING IRISH HOPES TO RIO

Nicholas Roche Cycling

for his third Olympic challenge

Rio Carnival to create new Irish heroes

Padraig Harrington Golf

Fiona Doyle Swiming

 STEPHEN FINDLATER

SUNDAY, AUGUST 7 17:00 Swimming: 100m Breaststroke heats which will include Fiona Doyle 22:00 Hockey: Netherlands v Ireland 02:00 Women’s 100m Breaststroke semis: could include Fiona Doyle MONDAY, AUGUST 8 17:00 Sailing: Annalise Murphy (Laser Radial) and Finn Lynch (Laser) start campaigns TUESDAY, AUGUST 9 14:00 Equestrian team eventing final: could feature Ireland 16:00 Hockey: Germany v Ireland THURSDAY, AUGUST 11 11:30 Golf, men’s first round: Padraig Harrington 15:00 Hockey: Ireland v Canada

Sports Editor

IT’S Carnival time! Four years of blood, sweat and controversy and Ireland’s finest are ready to grace the world stage in Rio de Janeiro for the greatest show on earth.

Irish eyes will be turned on to new sports like never before and experts will abound in our new favourite pastimes of pentathlon, diving and hockey while the boxers almost certainly carry the strongest medal hopes.

With that in mind, here are the Dublin sport stars we think could emerge from the shadows to become household names in the next three weeks.

Arthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe is a serious medal contender in the modern pentathlon, especially following a year hiding away with the intention of disguising the essential fencing element of his game from his medal rivals, as well as sleeping in an altitude tent.

He recently told GazetteSport he is “in the form of his life”.

Rathfarnham’s Annalise Murphy came agonisingly close to a medal in 2012 in Weymouth at the London Games when an audacious final race, gold-orbust move went awry and is keen to make amends in Brazil.

NAC swim club’s Oliver Dingley will become Ireland’s first Olympic diver in 60 years, while the men’s hockey team return to the pinnacle of their sport after an incredible 108 years since silver in London in 1908.

Golf is back on the agenda, too, and Stackstown’s Padraig Harrington told The Gazette recently that he wasn’t expecting to go the Olympics due to recent form.

Drop outs have seen him top of the queue and Harrington won’t care one jot about the comments of those who’ve chosen not to travel, should he come out on top and become one of the stars in bright green.

WHAT’S ON AND WHEN SATURDAY, AUGUST 6 13:30 Men’s cycling road race: Nicholas Roche among the Irish riders 15:00 Hockey: India v Ireland

Pic tur e: G etty Ima ges

Dundrum’s Scott Evans is pumped up

RIO 2016

FRIDAY, AUGUST 12 11:30 Golf, men’s second round: Padraig Harrington 15:00 Boxing 60kg women’s preliminaries: Katie Taylor 17:00 Sailing Andrea Brewster/ Saskia Tidey (49er FX) start campaigns 23:00 Hockey: Ireland v Argentina

Natalya Coyle Modern Pentathlon

Mick Clohisey Athletics

SATURDAY, AUGUST 13 11:30 Golf, men’s third round: Padraig Harrington 14:00 Athletics: 3,000m steeplechase heats: Sara Treacy SUNDAY, AUGUST 14 11:00 Golf, men’s final round: Padraig Harrington 12:00 Badminton: Scott Evans starts his campaign MONDAY, AUGUST 15 15:15 Athletics, 3,000m steeplechase final: could include Sara Treacy 17:00 Sailing: Annalise Murphy (Laser Radial) and Finn Lynch (Laser) finish campaigns 19:15 Diving: Men’s 3m springboard preliminary round: Oliver Dingley THURSDAY, AUGUST 18 14:00 Women’s modern pentathlon: Natalya Coyle starts campaign 17:00 Sailing: Andrea Brewster/Saskia Tidey (49er FX) finish campaigns 18:30 Men’s modern pentathlon: Arthur Lannigan-O’Keeffe starts campaign FRIDAY, AUGUST 19 16:00 Women’s modern pentathlon: Natalya Coyle finishes campaign 18:00 Boxing 60kg women’s final: could include Katie Taylor SATURDAY, AUGUST 20 16:00 Men’s modern pentathlon: Arthur Lannigan-O’Keeffe finishes campaign SUNDAY, AUGUST 21 13:30 Athletics: Men’s marathon: Mick Clohissey

The Dubs aiming to bring back medals

ATHLETICS Mick Clohisey – men’s marathon – Raheny Shamrocks Mark English – men’s 800m – UCD Ciara Everard – women’s 800m – UCD Ciara Mageean – women’s 1,500m – UCD Sara Treacy – women’s 3,000m steeplechase – former King’s Hospital student

Katie Taylor Boxing

CYCLING Nicholas Roche – men’s road race – Dundrum

EQUESTRIAN EVENTING Mark Kyle with Jemilla – former St Andrew’s College, Booterstown student

BADMINTON Scott Evans – men’s singles – Dundrum

GOLF Padraig Harrington – men’s golf – Stackstown GC

BOXING Katie Taylor – women’s 60Kg – Peamount FC club member

HOCKEY Peter Caruth – Monkstown HC Mitch Darling – Sandyford

Kyle Good – Monkstown HC Ronan Gormley – Clonskeagh Shane O’Donoghue – Templeogue Alan Sothern – Pembroke HC Kirk Shimmins – Pembroke HC

RESERVES David Fitzgerald – Monkstown HC MODERN PENTATHLON Arthur Lanigan-O’Keeffe – Donnybrook Natalya Coyle – former King’s Hospital student

ROWING Sinead Lynch – women’s lightweight double sculls Claire Lambe – women’s lightweight double sculls Paul O’Donovan – men’s lightweight double sculls Gary O’Donovan – men’s lightweight double sculls Sanita Puspure – women’s single sculls

Finn Lynch – Laser – National Yacht Club Andrea Brewster – 49erFX Saskia Tidey – 49erFX – Glenageary

SAILING Annalise Murphy – Laser Radial – Rathfarnham

TRIATHLON Aileen Reid – women’s triathlon Bryan Keane – men’s triathlon

SWIMMING AND DIVING Fiona Doyle – women’s 100m and 200m breaststroke – former Portmarnock SC Oliver Dingley – men’s 3m springboard diving – NAC Swim Club

OLYMPIC FACT

Arthur Lanigan O’Keeffe Pentathlon

The men’s hockey side will be the first Irish representative in a team sport since 1948.

The last time Ireland played hockey at the Games was all the way back in 1908.

GAZETTE

18 GAZETTE 28 July - August 17 2016

DUBLINLIFE WITH warm nights and evenings lingering, what could be better than a refreshing cocktail to sip with good company?

This easy to make Thin Martini is sure to go down a treat.

Ingredients l 150ml of Thin Gin l 20ml dry vermouth l 1 green olive

Lobster festival serves cracking good dishes î Ž AISLING KENNEDY

SUESEY Street at Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2 is currently running a lobster festival which will finish up on Saturday, July 30.

Head chef Graeme Dodrill has added four lobster-inspired dishes

to the menus for the next week and a half.

The dishes include a lobster burger with fresh basil mayonnaise and truffle parmesan fries; a lobster thermidor with cream, dijon mustard and gruyere; a lobster cocktail with Marie Rose sauce, and a hand-cut

lobster tagliatelle with truffle cream and truffle shavings.

Suesey Street has also introduced a Lobster Bloody Mary to their cocktail menu for the festival. To book a table at the restaurant, call 01 669 4600, or see www. sueseystreet.ie.

Preparation l In a mixing glass with five to six ice cubes, pour in the vermouth and gin. l Stir (do not shake) vigorously and evenly without splashing. l Strain into a chilled Martini glass and serve with a green olive.

Recipe courtesy of Thin Gin, which is stocked in retailers nationwide, most notably The Celtic Shop, Dawson Street and Supervalu, priced â‚Ź35.

28 July - August 17 2016 GAZETTE 19

GAZETTE

FOOD&DRINK

Have a say on nutrition rule î Ž AISLING KENNEDY

THE Food Safety of Ireland is holding a national consultation to seek views and opinions on EU regulations that allow for some pre-packed food products to be exempt from dis-

PE I C E R PICK Slow roast pulled lamb shoulder with Simple Salsa Verde

A roast lamb dish to savour

î Ž AISLING KENNEDY Food editor

MEAT lovers know that a good lamb dish is a dining delight. Our friends at The Sussex restaurant (Upper Leeson Street, Dublin 4) have served up a delicious recipe for Slow roast pulled lamb shoulder with Simple Salsa Verde, to serve 4-6 people. This is a highly recommended dish from The Sussex chefs.

Ingredients l 1 lamb shoulder (on the bone) l 2 sprigs of rosemary l 2 sprigs of thyme l 4 cloves of garlic l Zest 1 lemon l 100ml extra virgin olive oil l Maldon sea salt and fresh black pepper l 750 ml chicken stock Marinade l Add the olive oil to a small bowl, then pick the

herbs, roughly chop and add. l Crush the garlic and add. l Finely zest the lemon and add. l Score the lamb with a sharp knife. l Cover completely with the marinade. l Refrigerate for 24 hours.

Preparation l Preheat your oven to 150C. l Season the lamb with sea salt and pepper. l Place in a roasting tin with 500ml chicken stock at the base. l Cover tightly with parchment and foil. l Slow roast for three hours (check after two hours and add remainder of stock if needed). l Take the parchment and foil off. l Turn oven to 160C and roast for a further 30 mins. l The meat will be crispy and falling away from

the bone.

Serve the meat on a large board. l

Simple Salsa Verde Ingredients l 1 small handful capers l 1 clove of garlic l 2 large handfuls flat-leaf parsley, leaves picked l 1 bunch fresh basil, leaves picked l 1 handful fresh mint, leaves picked l 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard l Juice of half lemon l 8 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil l Maldon sea salt l Freshly ground black pepper Preparation l Roughly chop herbs, capers and garlic. l In a small bowl mix chopped herb mix with the oil, mustard and lemon juice. l Season with salt and pepper.

playing nutrition information.

The consultation is in conjunction with the Department of Health and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

From December 16, EU

regulations will require that most pre-packed food products provide mandatory nutritional information to enable consumers to make more informed choices when purchasing food.

However, the regula-

tion provides a number of exceptions.

All interested parties are invited to express their views via an online questionnaire at https://www. fsai.ie/consultations/.

The consultation will close on August 22.

GAZETTE

20 GAZETTE 28 July - August 17 2016

DUBLINLIFE

A hidden gem that has  IAN BEGLEY

MONAGHAN is one of those places in Ireland that I’ve only ever been to upon passing while travelling to the North.

My knowledge of the county was fairly limited, but when the prospect of spending a weekend there came up, I was all too eager to pack my bags and leave the big smoke.

I was surprised that the journey from Dublin to

Carrickmacross only took an hour (thank you M1) and even more surprised that the forecast for the weekend promised to be 20+ degrees throughout.

Once my guest and I arrived, we checked our bags in at The Shirley Arms, a hotel bang in the middle of the town.

Our room was pretty standard as far as four star hotels go with no frills to brag about, but it did the job in terms of cleanliness

and comfort.

Eager to do some exploring in the summer sun, we invited ourselves to join the Carrickmacross heritage walking tour – a 1.5 hour walk around the town to see its many interesting sights and landmarks.

The highlight of the tour for me was visiting the old workhouse, a building that once housed the desperately poor during the famine

and beyond.

The top floor where the children slept was particularly eerie because from the windows you could see several white crosses in a nearby field, which was the site of frequent mass burials.

Next on the itinerary was a trip to the Patrick Kavanagh visitor centre in Inniskeen.

The visitor centre is set in an old church in the centre of the village, which is also the location of Kavanagh’s grave.

Our well-informed tour guides Rosaleen Kearney and Art Agnew talked very passionately about Kavanagh’s life and brought us to his old home, his school and several other spots which inspired his poetry.

Learning all about Patrick Kavanagh certainly gave us a tremendous thirst so afterwards we headed straight to a nearby brewery to learn all about – and to sample – the local brew from Brehon Brewhouse.

The small brewery is housed on Seamus McMahon’s dairy farm, which he set up in 2014.

The finished product of their ingenious endeavour includes some wonderfully crafted beers, such as: Brehon Blonde, Ulster Black (my favourite), Stoney Grey IPA, Killanny Red, Summer Ale and Shanco Dubh Porter.

I was a lot more interested in this tour than I previously imagined I’d be and would definitely recommend it to any craft beer enthusiasts who find themselves in Monaghan.

We then headed off to the Nuremore Hotel & Country Golf Club to have a well-earned relaxing dinner.

To start I had the duck confit croquette, alongside a ginger bread puree,

Riding on quad bikes was a thrill

carrot and quail egg.

I have to stop myself from salivating on my keyboard thinking of how delicious this course was, which I would definitely

rank a full ten out of ten.

For my main, I had a very tender cut of pork (assiette of ardee pig, celeriac, baby turnips and pork roasting juices),

which I thought went extremely well with a glass of Merlot.

The restaurant’s chef very kindly prepared a beautifully cooked

28 July - August 17 2016 GAZETTE 21

plenty to see and do

mackerel for us, which was caught locally and delicately garnered with caviar.

The fish melted the moment it hit my pallet and after convincing myself that I could not eat another bite the dessert menu was landed in front of me.

I ordered the chocolate and raspberry puree and raspberry sorbet and inhaled it before the waiter returned with coffee.

As the clock struck ten we headed to the hotel’s Ivy Bar to have a few sensible drinks and to bring the day to a close. Tourists and locals came to the bar in their droves to enjoy the live music and make

the most of their Saturday night.

Getting up the following morning wasn’t difficult at all as I was very excited to get on with the final activity in my itinerary and to dust away the cobwebs at Irish Country Quads, situated in Carrickakelly.

Before pushing the allterrain vehicles to their absolute limits, my guest and I were given a crash course in how to ride them, along with all the safety requirements we needed to know.

The moment I put my quad into motion I knew immediately that this was the highlight of my Monaghan excursion. We rode

our bikes through some highly skilled, purpose built obstacle courses, which included an underground tunnel, overhead bridges, a river, muddy ditches and a large competitive speed course where you are left to your ATV. Shooting Afterwards we tried our luck at the clay pigeon shooting range.

Next up was the indoor air rifle shooting challenge which was a great chance for me to redeem my honour. The range involves a target shoot, clay shoot and a bell shooting challenge.

For the purpose of this review I will say that I

hit more targets than my guest, but please don’t make any enquiries.

Overall, I had a very nice weekend in Monaghan.

The county is a hidden gem that always has a lot going on and is a perfect place to escape for anyone celebrating a birthday, stag or hen party, or just in need for a relaxing weekend break away.

Weekend rates for a double room at the Shirley Arms Hotel (shirleyarmshotel.ie) start from €130 per night.

The Restaurant at the Nuremore Hotel (nuremore.com) is open to non-residents, 6.30-

9.30pm Mon-Sat and 6.30-8.45pm Sun (6.309.30pm bank holiday Sundays).

The Patrick Kavanagh

Centre in Inniskeen is open 11am- 4.30pm, Tuesday to Friday and additionally 3-5.30pm on Sundays, June-September.

GAZETTE

TRAVEL

There’s a self-guided tour (maps available) or you can just call prior to arrange a local guide on 042 937 8560.

Ian Begley (centre) with Jordon Donnelly and Seamus McMahon at Brehon Brewhouse

GAZETTE

22 GAZETTE 28 July - August 17 2016

DUBLINLIFE Print Longline Shirt €109 Black Legging €22 Black Hope Cross Strap Sandal €179

Ombre Batwing Knit €95 Phoenix Black Biker Jean €95

Ombre Batwing Knit €95, Phoenix Black Biker Jean €95

Mint Asymmetric Split Knit €85, Tahoe Dark Grey Side Zip Jean €95

Minty fresh

MINT Velvet have just released a new selection of beautiful key summer pieces.

The overriding trend is in a new femininity of soft chalky whites and neutrals, cosmetic hues and romantic florals, with a touch of lingerie lace fabrics and trims, and pretty flowing ruffled layers.

These new signature items are now available both online and in store from Mint Velvet.

Smoke Wrap Back Trench €229, Textured Black Ankle Strap Pump €125 Seattle Graphite Skinny Jean €95 Noella Print Zip Front Trapeze €149 Grey Violet Tassel Ankle Boot €199

28 July - August 17 2016 GAZETTE 23

Yellow Gold Engraved Love Coin €49

Burgundy coat, Pinko. €475 Floral top, €99 Floral trousers, €199 both Ganni Faux fur bag, €470 All Saints Shoes by Miss KG €90

Love Band, Silver €69

Yellow Gold Double Triangle Ring€169

Check out the trends

Gold Heart Love Coin €49

Yellow Gold, Triangle Diamond Bracelet €279

Love Band Silver €69 Yellow Gold Hinged Hoops €239

New Season THOMAS Sabo have revealed their autumn/ winter 2016 jewellery line.

The line is inspired by the idea of “togetherness” and represents this through a collection of dazzling precision, touching moments and symbols of eternal love.

The key pieces this season are the new Triangle Diamonds range

that ‘unite urban coolness with individual charisma’ and the Love Bridge line of pendants that can be personally engraved.

Speaking on the inspiration behind the collection, creative director Susanne Kolbli said: “Jewellery represents the most intimate, human feelings: it is love, personal happi-

ness and those special moments in life that we find reflected in an item of jewellery, wishing to wear them very close to us.”

Thomas Sabo is available from House of Fraser Dundrum, Brown Thomas Cork, Arnotts, BT2 Blanchardstown, independent jewellers and online at www.thomasabo.com.

Arnotts Autumn Winter 2016 Womenswear Collections Photo Kieran Harnett

GAZETTE

STYLE

GAZETTE

24 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 28 July - August 17 2016

DUBLINLIFE

CINEMA

STAR TREK BEYOND: A FINE FRANCHISE ADDITION

New adventure may leave you beaming  MARTIN MACNAMARA

THE newest instalment in the retooled Star Trek series is a very different sort of adventure to its predecessor.

JJ Abrams’s Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) was voted worst Star Trek movie by its zealous fan base for straying too far from the soul of the series.

Star Trek Beyond attempts to set the Enterprise back on course with a streamlined, traditional space opera plot.

The crew of the USS Enterprise, led by Captain James T Kirk (Chris Pine), are three years into a five-year mission and growing weary of the “episodic” nature of their adventures.

Stopping for some much-needed shore leave at Starbase Yorktown, the crew is soon sent on a rescue mission in an uncharted nebula, which turns out to be a trap.

After being attacked by a swarm-like fleet of ships and boarded by villain

Krall (a prosthetics-heavy Idris Elba), the Enterprise crashes on a nearby planet. Separated from one another, the crew must reunite and confront the alien commander intent on the destruction of Yorktown ...

Star Trek Beyond is a self-aware space adventure that is heavy with comedy, compensating for the often-sombre tone and off-canon mood of Into Darkness.

Indeed, with a script

by Simon Pegg (this

iteration’s Scotty) that is overloaded with winks and nods to the series’ past, Star Trek Beyond acknowledges its fan base more so than either of Abrams’ instalments.

It rarely veers off course, and is fresh and exciting throughout.

Having injected an action-packed absurdity into the Fast And Furious franchise, director Justin Lin has been brought in to perform a similar operation on Star Trek Beyond.

It just wouldn’t be Star Trek without an enigmatic alien ready to help the crew

The action here is overthe-top and typical Lin (a preposterous motor-cycle chase stands out) – rarely over the course of its twohour run time does anyone stop for a breather.

Unfortunately, this is where Beyond misses the mark. Throughout the saga’s 50-year life, Star Trek has always been con-

cerned with morality and human nature.

While there are embryonic attempts to probe both new and longestablished relationships, Beyond is very much a team-adventure, and the series’ leads aren’t given much space to grow.

On the bright side, the team-focused plot

allows some of the previously sidelined heroes to get some much needed screen time.

Despite some missteps in character development, Star Trek Beyond is a solid, consistently entertaining crowd-pleaser of an entry in the beloved series.

Verdict: 7/10

28 July - August 17 2016 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

TECH

WEEBYTES

A brilliant new app for photos  SHANE DILLON

Tech Editor

WHILE the world and his dog have been going absolutely crazy about Pokemon Go (see panel, right) around the world in the past few weeks, some tech trickery has had lots of people glued to their iPhones.

No, they haven’t been chasing down elusive Pokemon in nearby car parks – they’ve been completely focused on Prisma (available free for IOS, Android platforms) – a Russian-developed, red-hot photo-editing app.

The app has set the internet on fire after exploding into public awareness just a couple of weeks ago.

Prisma could be the best photo-editing app you’ve never heard of –

although that “newness” seems less and less likely by the day, if you or anyone you know ever takes or shares selfies, or otherwise posts photos to social media.

What makes Prisma different from a million and one other image editing apps, and why has it conquered the hearts of any number of tech, business, photography, social media and design watchers and innovators?

Quite simply, Prisma’s effects are the best I’ve ever seen, despite my several years of using lots of image editing and creative art apps.

Its various limitations – the need for an online connection, restrictions in image shape and size, the 3 to 10-second wait per application of a filter, occasional outages due to user overload – just

can’t detract from the terrific end results, which really feel new.

So what’s next for Prisma, and its developers?

Tech, industry and business watchers are speculating that it will probably be acquired by Facebook, Twitter or another major tech player, ready to create further content to data mine and monetise.

This makes sense – that something with such a social buzz is acquired by a much bigger player with deep pockets, who then can bring more resources to develop it further, with revenue streams also possible through charges for new filters, external printing partnerships, and so on.

No matter how you look at it, Prisma’s future and rise to commonplace usage alongside Instagram seems secure ...

Pokemon Go adds billions to Nintendo This selection of images shows some of Prisma’s diverse effects, with striking artistic images now within easy reach of any of the app’s users. Images: Shane Dillon

HOW PRISMA’S SUPERB IMAGES ARE CREATED ON YOUR IPHONE OR IPAD WHILE there are more imageediting and effects-laden apps available to download than you can shake a stick at, very few of them have anything revolutionary or unique going on under the hood.

Enter Prisma. Its co-founder

and chief executive, Alexey Moiseenkov, has taken a new approach to editing images.

Unlike most image editing or artistic apps, which usually just overlay an effect on the image, Prisma uploads your shot onto servers. (As such, it requires a

The original photo before

Applying a filter takes a few

Hey presto: a striking new

applying a Prisma effect ...

seconds to process ...

image to save and share!

Wifi signal; the app does not work offline.)

Then, special algorithms apply a variety of art styles to it – and, crucially, they actually

recreate the shot from scratch using the selected art style – before it reappears on your phone or tablet, ready to save, upload, or move on to another

image editing app.

The spectacular results speak for themselves, and have driven its wildfire success and uptake in just a few short weeks.

NO MATTER where you looked in the media over the past couple of weeks, one word has stood out: Pokemon. Pokemon.

Pokemon ...

Nintendo’s evergreen staple has smashed back into public awareness at a global level, thanks to the latest iteration of the series, Pokemon Go. Updated for modern tech and social media trends, the game/ app has sent people scrambling around in the hunt for those lovable/pesky Pokemon, now made visible (and ‘catchable’) thanks to augmented reality and GPS coordinates.

All of this has sparked similar near hysteria over Nintendo’s fortunes, with its shares value rocketing up and crashing down like a yo-yo over the past couple of weeks.

However, market and tech watchers have noted the overall monster success that Nintendo’s first foray into the mobile gaming market has been, easily adding billions in one fell swoop to the company’s worth.

The virtual Pokemon have certainly been a very real success for the much-loved company ...

26 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 28 July - August 17 2016

DUBLIN CITYCLASSIFIEDS

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GOT A STORY? Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240

28 July - August 17 2016 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 27

DUBLIN CITYCLASSIFIEDS

RECRUITMENT Are you looking for a career change?

Dublin Gazette Newspapers are looking for bright enthusiastic people to work on our Dublin Gazette.

We offer full training.

Relaxed working environment.

Hours 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday.

Competitive salary.

Excellent commissions based on achievable targets.

Also if you are currently working in a sales environment and would like to break into the newspaper industry we would like to hear from you.

COULD To apply: sendBE CV in first instance to:

HERE

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GAZETTE

28 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 28 July - 17 August 2016

SPORT

FASTGAA

Assured Foxrock set up Brigid’s rematch AFTER a high octane July, the stage is set for the biggest games in the New Ireland Assurance Dublin championships with last week’s semi-finals producing a seris of brilliant matches.

At senior level, St Brigid’s twice nicked late scores to deny Ballyboden St Enda’s in the most dramatic of fashion. First, they forced extra-time with an equalising point with the very last play of normal time before a last ditch Leah Mullins’ goal saw them nab the win.

Foxrock proved too strong for Kilmacud Crokes to keep alive their title retention bid in a repeat of the 2015 senior decider.

At inter level, Clanna Gael Fontenoy blew Skerries Harps away with a massive 5-12 to their name against the Fingal side’s 2-10 to secure their passage into the final. The Ringsend side face a Clontarf side from just across the mouth of the Liffey as they kept Clann Mhuire at bay 2-11 to 0-13.

In Junior A, St Maur’s became the first side to reach the final when they got the best of the returning Round Tower, Clondalkin. Tower’s were playing in the competition for the first time after a couple of years absence but they could not carry their group form into the knock-out stages, falling 1-17 to 3-6.

Maur’s will meet either Castleknock or Man O War once their semi-final fixture is played.

Proud sponsors of the DLGFA adult championships

LADIES FOOTBALL: NEW IRELAND ASSURANCE PLAYER OF THE MONTH

Magical McGinley is August’s star turn  STEPHEN FINDLATER sport@dublingazette.com

N AO M H B a r r o g ’s Laura McGinley saw off stiff competition from St Brigid’s Ciara Trant to be awarded the New Ireland Assurance Player of the Month award for July following a series of inspirational performances for her club.

She has been a pivotal part in the Dublin minors march towards the All-Ireland Final at centre half-back and has also been hugely influential in getting the Barrog team to their first adult championship final in 20 years.

They got their campaign up and running with a perfect four from four wins in their group stage, topping the table before following up with last week’s impressive 3-9 to 2-5 victory.

They now face a re-

match of their group game against a strong Templeogue Synge Street in the final, bidding to repeat the narrow 0-15 to 1-11 win from the group stages.

And Naomh Barrog’s Gerry O’Driscoll said that McGinley has been a leading light for the side on numerous occasions during the campaign.

“Ever y match that Laura plays in, she gives 100% and no more so than for the ladies team in Barrog. Every player would use Laura as inspiration on how you should approach and play the game.”

The side play in Division 5 of the league but in July alone, McGinley helped them beat Division 3 opposition in the form of Templeogue in the group stages before seeing off another higher division side in Ballyboden to reach the

Naomh Barrog’s Laura McGinley

championship final.

In that tie, McGinley went above and beyond to fight for her club’s success.

Gerry added: “Laura played the second half of the match with a back injury and had to take pain killers at half time to continue which shows how dedicated to the club she is.

“To play in the All-Ireland minor final, Laura sacrificed her sixth year holiday and to win this match would be a dream come true for her and for all the hard work she has put in over the last four years at county level. She

has played with Dublin since Under-14 but would never miss a club match.”

Her nomination saw off a number of close rivals for the award following a series of superb performances as the New Ireland Assurance championships reach the business end.

Ciara Trant was the key players for St Brigid’s as she combined a brilliant performance in goal in their semi-final win over Ballyboden St Enda’s along with a goal from a penalty and a number of points from placed balls.

Simmone Reilly, from

Boden, meanwhile, was hailed by her club for driving their push for the championship final, top scoring in their run to the semis despite her tender years.

But it was McGinley who took the July title for her peerless displays as Barrog hope to record a piece of club history when their final date comes around. ** To nominate someone deserving of the August Player of the Month award, contact us at sport@dublingazette.com with their name, club and a couple of lines about why you feel they should be up for the honour!

28 July - 17 August 2016 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 29

GAZETTE

Schmidt influence key for new Blue Henshaw

FASTSport

Leinster’s marquee signing says Irish rugby’s near future is in a good place despite fears over coach’s departure; he speaks to Karl Graham about the move to Dublin and his injuries NEW Leinster centre Robbie Henshaw says the future is bright for Irish r ugby despite uncer tainty hanging over the future of coach Joe Schmidt.

Henshaw may have made his last appearance for Schmidt in a green jersey after picking up a serious knee injur y against South Africa in Cape Town last month but he is in no doubt over what the Kiwi has done for his career thus far.

“He opened my eyes to that next level, the international level, and the level of detail that is needed to succeed,” he said.

“It’s tough, but it’s completely understandable. Joe is in a very difficult situation with what he’s going to do, with a few personal reasons with his family as well.

“It’s his decision completely and as a team, we’ll back whatever he chooses to do, but I suppose to lose him will be bad for us,” said Henshaw.

Ireland beat South Africa in the first of the three tests to set them up for an historic tour but they fell just short over the second and third tests to lose 2-1 overall.

“It was definitely a positive tour. To get the first win in Cape Town was unbelievable and to do it with 13 or 14 men was unreal. I think looking at the last game it was just one that slipped through our fingers and the boys showed unbelievable character.

“The future, I think, is bright for Irish rugby,” Henshaw said.

Henshaw made the move east after helping Connacht to Pro 12 vic-

tory over his new team and is looking forward to life at his new province despite the injury ruling him out of the start of the season.

He suffered a lateral tear to his meniscus in the second test for Ireland and spoke about knowing he had done some serious damage straight away.

“I knew straight away there was something w rong. I felt something go and I couldn’t straighten it.

“I tried to get up and walk it off but it wasn’t allowing me to. I have a check-up next week with the surgeon so I’ll know more then.

“I’ve just been told to completely switch off, keep it in the brace and let it mend.”

“It’s my first big lower limb injury. It’s not ideal, starting with a new club

you want to make a massive impact from the get go so it’s not a good start for me. The only thing I can do is do the best I can to recover and get back.”

Henshaw’s move to Leinster was met with furore from many who saw it as favouritism by the IRFU towards the more glamorous side but

said.

“Even just for me, the change needed to come. I’ve been there a long time. I needed the change for myself as well and to go and get experience off guys who have got to that next level, for example Jonny Sexton, Jamie Heaslip, guys who have played in the Lions team.

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‘Leaving [Connacht] by beating Leinster, the team I was going to, was kind of a funny feeling’ - Robbie Henshaw

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the Athlone man is adamant he made the decision to move himself.

“It was just a decision for me, you know. I’ve left the place on a really high note, on a bang,” he

Canterbury ambassador Robbie Henshaw pictured launching the new Ireland rugby jersey. Picture: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

“Obviously leaving by winning and beating Leinster, the team I was going to, it was kind of a funny feeling.

“But it was just incredible for Connacht because they hadn’t won silverware ever, so to do that while I’ve been with them is definitely memorable - it was the perfect way to leave,” Henshaw continued.

The 23-year-old has not put a time on his return just yet but is optimistic he can be back in green by the time Ireland line out against the All-Blacks in Chicago on November 5.

“To be optimistic, I’d be aiming for before that, maybe for the European games in the Champions Cup. But to be honest I can’t say,” Henshaw said.

Pembroke and North County record rare tie A RARE tie could end up having a large bearing on the outcome of cricket’s Leinster Division 1 as Pembroke and North County played out a thriller last weekend in round nine of the competition.

The Leinster website suggests the last one came in 1984 in Division 1 between Merrion and The Hills among others occurring in the lower divisions.

Pembroke batted first and were in control throughout their innings. Theo Lawson and Daniel Solway put on 158 for the first wicket before Lawson was run out on 73. Solway made 93, pushing his aggregate for the season to over 800 runs.

Lorcan Tucker, with 43, and Danny Hogan’s 57 also came to the party, each scoring at better than a run a ball to launch them to an imposing 287 for three from their 50 overs.

The North County innings did not start well with Jamie Grassi out without scoring. A 69-run partnership between Andrew Sheridan and James Willoughby steadied the ship but when both were out in the 70s having got off to decent starts, North County were in some trouble.

Not for the first time, Eddie Richardson provided the decisive knock with 107. He produced his second century in the league and batted through to the last over, ably supported

by Adam Coughlan, who scored 35, and Terry Richardson who clipped 39 not out.

There were 10 runs required in the last over bowled by Josh Little (pictured) – which given that the two Richardson brothers had just put on 68 in 8.3 overs was definitely on.

In the end, Eddie Richardson was out caught by JJ Garth and nine runs scored to tie the match. It meant the sides shared 12.5 points each.

The result means Pembroke sit in second place behind Clontarf by 9.5 points with The Hills in third and North County in fourth.

Tarf, though, did not take full advantage of the tie as they fell to YMCA for the second time in three weeks, overhauling Clontarf’s 259 total with six balls to spare.

GAZETTE

30 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 28 July - August 17 2016

SPORT

FASTSport

ATHLETICS: OVER 4,000 TAKE PART IN MASSIVE IRISH 10KM RACE

Pat’s European adventure ended by Dinamo solo goal ST PATRICK’S Athletic’s Europa League adventure came to an end at the hands of Dinamo Minsk as a well contrived and executed first-half strike from Gleb Rassadkin proved crucial at Richmond Park.

On a frustrating night for the Inchicore club at Richmond Park, Liam Buckley’s side never lacked for endeavour against Belorussian opponents who, while cynical at times, nonetheless had the edge on technical ability to see themselves into a third-round meeting with Serbian side Vojvodina.

Buckley went with the same starting 11 that earned St Pat’s a creditable 1-1 draw in the first leg at the Traktor Stadium in Minsk a week earlier.

The crucial moment came in the 18th minute when Yuri Astraukh’s assured left foot whipped the ball over, Vladimir Korytko flicked in on with the finish neatly applied off the instep of striker Rassadkin.

The Belarussian side kept that single goal lead through to the finish for a 2-1 aggregate win.

Women’s new league set to get underway ESKER Celtic football trials are being held throughout the month of July with each trial taking place in Hermitage Park and open to any player, offering an opportunity for a young player to showcase their talent for coaches in one of the biggest soccer clubs in Lucan.

The trials begin on July 2 with the club’s DDSL U-13 major Saturday side on at 11am and again at 6.30pm on July 5.

The U-13 Sunday 2 side is on July 3 at 12 noon.

The DDSL U-12A and U-10A teams both have their trials on July 2 at 11am On July 6 at 6pm and July 10 at 10.30am, it is the turn of the U-11 MGL Sunday side along with the U-10 blue team.

The U-15 team trials are on July 4 at 6.30pm; the U-14 Sunday team are on July 18 at 7pm with the U-11A team on July 14 at 6.30pm.

The U-15D1 SDFL team are on July 5 at 7pm with the U-13 Major 1 on July 28 at 6.30pm.

Raheny Shamrock’s Mark Clohisey celebrates his Fingal 10k victory. Picture: David Maher/Sportsfile

Clohisey rips up Fingal field sport@dublingazette.com

RAHENY’S Mick Clohisey successfully defended his title as he claimed victory in the SSE Airtricity Fingal 10k in a time of 30.24 last Sunday on the streets of Swords.

He was 40 seconds behind the course record he set in the event last year but still a clear 21 seconds ahead of GloHealth national senior champion Brandon Hargreaves in second.

Clohisey, who will be on the plane to Rio to

represent Ireland in the marathon, looked comfortable as he bids to leave his mark on next month’s the Olympic Games.

“It’s a good challenging race and the 10K is very different to the marathon – it’s much more intense, but it keeps me sharp. I wanted to get a good solid run today and it was great to get the win.

“It’s a big confidence booster and it’s nice to go into the final phase with a win, so really looking forward to seeing what I can do in

REBELS’ FINAL YELL Shamrock Bowl ready to roll for Tallaght show DUBLIN Rebels will face defending champions, the Belfast Trojans, in the Shamrock Bowl final on Sunday, August 7 at Tallaght Stadium with the high point in the Irish American Football season kicking off at 3pm.

The Rebels reached the Shamrock Bowl by defeating University of Limerick Vikings 20-12 in a close semi-final game. Belfast Trojans return to the Shamrock Bowl final for the fifth consecutive year with a narrow 10-7 victory over a much improved UCD team.

Rio,” Clohisey said after his win.

Clohisey’s teammate at Raheny Shamrock Mark Kirwan finished fifth in a time of 31.58.

Winner of the women’s race was Mourne Runners athlete Laura Graham after she crossed the line in a personal best time of 35.26.

Speaking after the race, Co Down woman Graham spoke about how delighted she was with her win.

“I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t expect to do that today. I’m starting to feel the buzz back in my

running and today the crowds were brilliant to help me keep pushing and hold off the competition,” said Graham.

Former European Cross Countr y gold medallist and winner of the London marathon Catherina McKiernan continued to roll back the years to clinch her second SSE Airtricity silver medal with a time of 35.31.

Ciara Hickey from Brothers Pearse AC finished third in a time of 35.52.

Nearly 4,000 runners, joggers, and walkers

took part in the second race of the 2016 SSE Airtricity Race Series, with the Swords event the only one that is staged outside of the Phoenix Park.

The race is a precursor for the Dublin marathon and is designed to cater for participants of all abilities – from beginners to seasoned athletes. Next on the race series agenda is the Frank Duffy 10-mile which takes place in the Phoenix Park on August 20 before moving onto the half marathon on September 24.

28 July - August 17 2016 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 31

GAZETTE

LADIES FOOTBALL: SYL’S STAR GUNNING FOR GLORY

FASTGAA

Dublin’s Under-16s All about All-Ireland in Gerry Reilly final

Nicole Owens at Life Style Sports launch as Dublin GAA’s official retail partner. Picture: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

for Owens in full flow  JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com

DUBLIN forward Nicole Owens admitted that Leinster has become “a chance to play around and set ourselves,” after the Dublin Ladies football team marched to a fifth successive provincial title, clocking up a belting 4-21 to 0-7 win over Westmeath in the final in which Owens herself notched six points..

Dublin now go on to face the winner of Galway and Donegal and while Galway, in particular, have caused the girls in blue trouble in the past, Owens is confident that the side are coming together in the best possible way this season.

“I think there’s a better flow between attack and defence,” Owens told GazetteSport as she looked ahead to the sharp end of the season.

“I’ve personally been tracking back a lot more this year. We’re very quick and f luid transitioning between attack and defence, while I think we looked at them more as

different things in previous years. We’ve gelled as a cohesive unit; there’s been a huge emphasis on playing as a group.”

While reluctant to look ahead to a possible tie with dominant force Cork – who have taken nine of the last ten AllIreland titles, Dublin won the other – Owens does confess that “after winning Leinster, which is always the first aim, it really is all about the All Ireland”.

There’s also been more buzz around the sport, with Lidl’s vocal new sponsorship deal in particular raising awareness.

“I’ve noticed a few more people at matches,” Owens says. “In terms of coverage, it’s definitely better.

“There’s more awareness of even things like the games actually taking place.

“And more respect. I think people are starting to realise that the sacrifices are as significant as the men’s game. Women’s football is definitely more highly regarded.”

Owens also touched

on her role at club side St Sylvester’s, who made the step up to senior championship level in Dublin this year, where they won one and lost two, with none of their games particularly close.

“It’s hard to compete with the likes of Foxrock Cabinteely who are full of county stars and have a recruitment drive going on through Peter Clarke at UCD, but it’s important to represent ourselves as a club.

“We don’t have their strength in depth,” she explained, “so when we lose a player or two, like we did when Niamh McEvoy was out against Brigid’s, for example, that has a huge effect. Overall we feel we did well.”

While her club side are, relatively speaking, a small fish in a big pond, however, there’s a sense around the county team that substantial momentum is building. Could this be the year?

DUBLIN’S Under-16 footballers will face Cavan next Sunday in the Gerry Reilly football tournament final after drawing with Monaghan, 2-12 to 1-15, in their concluding round-robin game last Sunday night in Oldcastle, Meath.

The Dubs had their placed booked in the decider prior to throw-in, barring a very heavy defeat, following victories over Westmeath and Longford.

Monaghan’s star player Tiernan Duffy opened the scoring with two early points before Andrew McCaul went on a terrific run and finishing to the Monaghan net to give Dublin the lead.

A Sean Treanor point in the 12th minute had the sides level followed up by a Tiernan Duffy point to regain the lead for Monaghan before Eanna McCarney pointed to level the sides again.

A terrific Monaghan move saw Tadgh Kirk O’Callaghan finish to the Dublin net before three points on the bounce for the Dubs brought equality again.

Monaghan points from Pauric O’Brien, Tadgh Kirk O’Callaghan and Tiernan Duffy had them two ahead with the interval approaching before Stephen Braiden O’Byrne left Dublin trailing by the minimum at half-time, 1-7 to 1-6.

On the resumption Monaghan stretched their lead with three unanswered points by Tiernan Duffy.

Sub Aidan Kearney made an early impact when pointing for Dublin and shortly after Lennon Bracken converted a 45.

Then Monghan took over and moved five points clear but a Conor Kinsella goal ignited the Dubs for a strong finish.

Dublin hit four points in-a-row but Monaghan battled back to earn a share of the spoils.

Sunday’s decider will be the third summer in succession that Cavan and Dublin have met in the final with the Breffni Blue winning in both 2014 and 2015. Dublin’s last success came in 2013.



GOT A STORY? WE WANT TO KNOW!

Call our SPORT TEAM on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 3 Owens scored six points against Westmeath in the Leinster SFC final. Picture: Peter Hickey/GAAPics.com

or email sport@dublingazette.com

GAZETTESPORT ALL OF YOUR DUBLIN CITY SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 28-31

JULY 28 - AUG 17, 2016

RIO READY: Raheny’s Clohisey warms up for Olympic HENSHAW’S BLUE STEEL: New Leinster signing targets marathon with sweeping success at Fingal 10k P30 November comeback P29

Paddy Andrews at the launch of Life Style Sports as retail partners to Dublin GAA. Picture: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

Andrews fighting fit St Brigid’s man adds another attacking outlet to Dublin line-up as he returns from injury at just the right time for All-Ireland retention push  KARL GRAHAM

sport@dublingazette.com

ST BRIGID’S man Paddy Andrews has declared himself fit and raring to go, providing a further boost to Dublin’s All-Ireland campaign as the national phase of the competition comes into view.

Andrews has only managed an hour of football in the Dubs’ last two games after sustaining a back injury in the national league semi-final win over Donegal, and admits it was a tough one to get over.

“It was just a little niggle that carried on for a few extra weeks but I worked with the physios and, thank God, I’m fine now,” he said at

the Life Style Sports launch as Dublin GAA’s retailer of chouce.

“If you can’t really play to your optimum, you are not really available for selection. But the last four weeks have been really good. I have a good bit of training under the belt, so it is full steam ahead for the next challenge,” said Andrews.

Andrews’ comments come on the back of Jim Gavin confirming star defender James McCarthy would be available for the All-Ireland quarter-final on August 6.

Gavin allayed fears that McCarthy had damaged knee ligaments against Westmeath in the Leinster final by stating the Ballymun Kickhams player had simply suffered a contact

injury to his quad, and his teammate praised his importance to the side.

“James is a real quality player - the form he has been in throughout this season especially, and even last season. He is a real leader and is a key player for us. It’s great that his injury is only a bit of a bang and hopefully he will be back to full fitness in a couple of weeks.

“It wasn’t as bad as was initially feared, which was great because, having lost Jack [McCaffrey] and Rory [O’Carroll] you don’t want to lose anybody else,” said Andrews.

While acknowledging the immense talent of McCarthy, Andrews was also quick to stress how important it is for the Dublin team to have strength in depth if they are going to retain the

Sam Maguire for the first time since 1977.

“It’s no secret over the last number of years that our squad has been really central to our success. I just don’t think you can have success with 15 players with the way the modern game is played, especially if you are looking to win national leagues and Leinster and All-Ireland championships,” said Andrews.

“It’s a nine or a 10-month season so it’s inevitable guys are going to get injured. Guys will lose form, pick up knocks, and things like that.

“James picks up a knock last week and Eric Lowndes stepped in. That’s the challenge for the guys that are there, we just need to just keep pushing each other on,” continued Andrews.