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April 10, 2014 Month XX, 2012

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INSIDE: Our Spring Getaways guide will help you find a great relaxing break for Easter P20

BIG INSIGHT: Warwick Davis talks to us ahead of his visit to Dublin P17

Treat: Hotel group bakes 200 cakes to help ill children Athletics:

FCC league final day proves a massive draw Page 32

OVER €2,000 was raised in three hours at the Mont Clare Hotel in Merrion Square, which took part in The Great Irish Bake for Temple Street Children’s University Hospital. The O’Callaghan Hotel group baked a total of 200 cakes for the fundraiser - 50 at each of the four Dublin hotels - the Mont Clare Hotel, Alexander Hotel, Davenport Hotel and Stephen’s Green Hotel. Pictured are Noel Healy, David Malanapy and Robert Clarke of The O’Callaghan Hotel group with Anne Cooney of Temple Street Children’s University Hospital.

Picture: Colm Mahady/Fennell Photography

Great Run:

Top notch performances in Phoenix Park Page 27

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ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES...................... 8 DUBLIN LIFE...................11 OUT&ABOUT ..................17 CLASSIFIEDS ................26 SPORT ...........................27

Hospice set to invest €16m in new care unit Project expected to start before the end of year and be done by mid-2016

 LAURA WEBB

GROWING demand for hospice services in Dublin has prompted a €16m investment for a new specialised palliative care unit.

Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Service lodged a planning application with Dublin City Council for the new unit, which includes 36 single en-suite rooms, providing more space for patients and

their families at the Harold’s Cross site. The new rooms will replace existing rooms, the majority of which are in shared facilities. The application is also for an expanded community palliative care

service there. If planning permission is approved, work on the €16m project is expected to start before the end of the year and be completed by mid-2016.

Full Story on Page 3

2 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 10 April 2014

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Dublin Castle, holding banners which said: “Save Your Ambulance”

Firefighters fight to ‘Save Your Ambulance’ THE timescale for completing a review of Dublin Fire Brigade’s (DFB) ambulance service has been revised as Dublin firefighters protest against proposals to remove it from the fire service.

Hundreds of men and women from the service, in full uniform, lined the street beside Dublin’s City Hall, outside the gates of Dublin Castle, holding banners which said “Save Your Ambulance”. Supporters came out in force to show their solidarity.

They were protesting against a joint review by the HSE and Dublin City Council on the fire brigade’s ambulance service.

DFB is extremely concerned by HSE proposals to take away its delivery of the capital’s ambulance service by 2015.

This review, to be

 LAURA WEBB lwebb@gazettegroup.com

complete in May, has now been extended and likely to be completed in September following results of the HSE’s National Ambulance Capacity Review which will, in turn, form the recommendations of the DFB Review.

According to the HSE, a provider with extensive international experience of modelling ambulance operations will undertake the review and analyse current vehicle numbers, call cycles and response time performances.

“Overall, the review will determine the level of resource required

across the country,” the HSE said.

DFB is the State’s only organisation providing a combined fire, rescue and emergency ambulance service.

This joint review will explore areas such as the scale of the brigade’s ambulance provision, lines of accountability, compliance with national quality standards, activity and performance and finance.

Speaking to The Gazette, firefighter and paramedic Glen Ellis said: “[This protest] is not just about the ambulance service we have, it’s about the system that we operate.

“We operate a fire based EMS [emergency medical service] system.

It is a combined service utilising both the firefighters on trucks as well as the firefighters in the ambulance.

“We all do the same job and it is getting to the emergency as quick as possible that makes the difference.

“The calls are increasing because the population is increasing and we can benefit the service by having the fire trucks and paramedics there to render first assistance, be it paramedic or advance paramedic, in the first eight minutes and we are currently at 83% of an effective rate within the city at the moment.

“We have 840 firefighters in DFB who are trained paramedics and we have a group of advance paramedics within that group and we utilise them as best we can. “ I n t e r n a t i o n a l l y, other services around the world are starting to look at our service.

“We are 100 years providing this service in the

city, so it makes no sense to take it away from us,” he said.

Paul Clifford from Swords told protesters how DFB helped his eight-month-old son Reuben who had stopped breathing when he was just four days old.

Firefighters were first on the scene and revived Reuben as they waited for an ambulance and, without their help, he said his son would not be here today.

A Dublin City Council spokesperson said: “Given that the HSE National Capacity Review is not scheduled to be completed until the end of August, it is now envisaged that the DFB Review will report by the end of September.

“This will also allow the review team to give stakeholders more time to compile their written statements.”

10 April 2014 dublin city gazette 3

council New project to include 36 en suite rooms

Hospice to invest €16m in care unit  laura webb lwebb@gazettegroup.com

A Dublin-based hospice is investing €16m in the development of a new specialised palliative care unit as demands for its service grows.

Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Service lodged a planning application with Dublin City Council this week for the new unit, as well as an expanded community palliative care service at its Harold’s Cross site.

According to a spokes-

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person for Our Lady’s hospice, the new unit will include 36 single en suite rooms, providing patients with more space for them and their families. They will replace 36 existing beds, the majority of which are in shared facilities.

The proposed development will also see significant investment to expand facilities for its day hospice and to support the provision of palliative services in the community. The project is estimated to cost in the

region of €16m, funded through existing accumulated resources and future fundraising income.

Mo Flynn, chief executive of Our Lady’s Hospice and Cares Services, said: “We are seeing a growing demand for hospice services from patients at an earlier stage in their illness, from day patients and from patients in their homes. For many patients the hospice will be their final home where they want privacy and space.

“This development will mean every patient

An artist’s impression of Our Lady’s Hospice and Care Service new specialised palliative care unit

has their own room looking out on a green space.

Our new in-patient unit will offer the best of both worlds – carefully designed rooms where people can get the best of treatment in the best of surroundings.

“In parallel, the development project will allow us afford more space and resource to support day hospice, outpatients and

our community nurse services, where we see almost a thousand new patients and carry out over 12,000 home visits every year.”

If approved, the development will proceed in two phases with the first phase being the construction of the single bedrooms. The new rooms will be built in clusters of six and will centre on a

large landscaped courtyard.

Phase two will include work on the existing building into a community palliative care service unit, including a new day hospice, therapy rooms and expanded outpatient c linic areas.

Work is expected to start before the end the year and be completed by mid-2016.

exhibit

Lego art lands ashore Impressive Lego art sculptures will finally appear in the Ambassador Theatre following delays in shipping the artwork to Dublin.

The Art of the Brick exhibition was due to open on April 5 at The Ambassador T heatre but was delayed at New York’s shipping docks because of extreme weather conditions. It will now open on April 12 for a limited time.

The world renowned exhibition sees over 70 art sculptures created from more than a million Lego bricks with works including human figures and a T-Rex skeleton.

These one-of-a-kind Lego brick sculptures are the work of US artist Nathan Sawaya.

4 dublin city gazette 10 April 2014

don’sdublin

gathering Special birthday bash at the Dublin Zoo

Over 300 years as part of Dublin’s vibrant art scene Two for one is always good value, and the recent evening that I went to the Smock Alley Theatre was certainly that. The theatre was one of three built in 1662, two years after the Restoration of King Charles II. The others, in London, no longer exist, and Smock Alley became the first Theatre Royal in Ireland.

Over the years it showcased the works of Oliver Goldsmith (She Stoops To Conquer) and Richard Brinsley Sheridan’s The Rivals and School for Scandal, plays that are still part of the contemporary programme. Also, it was here that the greatest actor of the 18th century, David Garrick, first played Hamlet.

It operated until the late 1780s when rivalry from newer theatres caused it to close down. It was used as a whiskey store for a number of years before being opened as a church in 1811. When the bell was rung it was the first Catholic bell heard in Dublin in almost 300 years.

The church closed in 2002 and a full archaeological excavation was undertaken in 2009 that revealed part of the original foundations. The newly renovated theatre opened in May 2012 and it has become a popular and busy part of the city’s cultural life.

On the night I visited, John Connolly, the international best-selling author, was launching his new book The Wolf in Winter and being interviewed about his work by Tony ClaytonLea (Irish Times). The Main Theatre was packed as he talked about his inspiration and the hard work required to “get the job done”. It was very interesting and food for thought for all the budding writers in attendance. Afterwards, we crossed the street to the Gutter Bookshop where a long queue of fans chatted as they waited to get their books signed. It was a very enjoyable evening, and although more than three centuries have passed since Smock Alley opened its doors it is still a vibrant part of Dublin’s artistic scene.

Don Cameron

www.donsdublin.wordpress.com

Dubliners Hazel Shiel and Peggy Allbutt will join over 3,000 Brownies from all over Ireland to celebrate 100 years of the group at Dublin Zoo

Ireland’s oldest Brownies help celebrate centenary  laura webb

I r e la n d ’ s o l d e s t Brownies will help to celebrate the centenary of the organisation during a special birthday bash in Dublin Zoo this weekend.

Dubliners Peggy Allbutt (95) and Hazel Shiel (93) have moved from Brownies to Guides and Rangers and then to Trefoil Guild for adult members which they are both still actively involved in.

They will join over 3,000 Brownies from all over Ireland to celebrate 100 years of the group at Dublin Zoo on April 12.

Brownies – the Irish Girl Guides (IGG) branch that caters for girls aged 6.5 to 10.5 years – started

in Newbridge, Co Kildare, in 1914 and today there are around 4,000 Brownies in Ireland.

Peggy, from Sandymount, joined Leeson Park Brownies in 1926 and two years later Hazel, from Rathmines, became a member of Zion Brownies in Rathgar. They have known each other for a number of years and recently shared memories of their time with current Brownies from the Zion Brownies in Rathgar where they discovered how the organisation has changed over the years.

“We enjoyed ourselves thoroughly at the meeting – they were a really wonderful bunch of children.

“They have a very good leader and that makes all the difference,” said Peggy.

“It was a lovely experience,” agrees Hazel.

“Everyone was very kind – the Brownies were very eager and were beautifully behaved.”

Peggy and Hazel shared their experiences of being Brownies over 80 years ago with current members. They had weekly Brownie meetings and attended rallies with other Brownies, Guides and Scouts in Lord Iveagh’s grounds (now Iveagh Gardens).

“They were terrific gatherings with a campfire, drill and everything, says Peggy. “We all marched around the sunken lawn

– it was quite an impressive sight.”

During their time with the Brownies, there was no camping or weekends away, instead it was visits to Shaw’s Woods which is now Bushy Park in Terenure.

As an adult, Peggy became captain of Leeson Park Guides as well as district commissioner and divisional commissioner.

Hazel also held a number of leadership roles, including, at different times, leader of Rathfarnham Brownies, Zion Guides and Zion Rangers. She then went on to become divisional commissioner, head of Rangers and honorary general secretary.

Not only did they enjoy the nature of Guiding at home, but they also brought their experience abroad having travelled to camps in Denmark and Sweden, as well as attending a world conference of the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in Finland in 1969.

According to both women it’s the great fellowship, the team spirit and the far-seeing aims that have kept them in Guiding all these years.

The Irish Girl Guides welcomes new members from age five to young leaders from age 15 and adult volunteers from age 18. To find out more about the Irish Girl Guides, see www.irishgirlguides.ie

Pedestrian dies after being hit by car on Jervis Street  laura webb

John Connolly launching his new book

The pedestrian who died following an incident between a Luas and a car at the junction of Jervis Street has been named as Yao Webster.

The accident occurred just days after gardai released its casualty reduction campaign

which highlighted that nearly two out of every five road fatalities in Dublin is a pedestrian.

Struck

The latest incident happened at 8.45am on Monday, April 7 involving a car and a Luas tram at the junction of Jervis Street and Abbey Street.

Ms Webster (35) from Donabate, was struck by the car. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Gardai are now appealing for witnesses to contact Store Street Garda Station on 01 666 8000.

Meanwhile, the Garda Casualty Reduction Campaign running

through the months of April and May aims to target pedestrian safety awareness.

According to recent Garda figures, pedestrians are the single biggest road user group to die on Dublin Roads with 45 out of 121 road fatalities between 2008 and 2013.

As part of the casu-

alty reduction campaign being run in Dublin, An Garda Siochana and partner stakeholders will specifically target pedestrians with a view to increasing their own road safety awareness in a bid to reduce the number and severity of pedestrians involved in road traffic collisions.

10 April 2014 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 5

FASTNews

COURTS He should have gone to Specsavers – judge

Raynaud’s and Scleroderma conference THE RAYNAUD’S and Scleroderma Ireland Annual National Conference takes place this month with presentations by guest speakers on key medical aspects of these conditions.

This year they are joining forces with Lupus Group Ireland.

The theme for the conference is empowerment with topics including: diagnosis and treatment of Raynaud’s and of lupus. This event takes place at Gibson Hotel on Saturday April 26 from 10am until 4pm.

The conference coincides with the first Raynaud’s and Scleroderma Awareness week – from April 18 to 26.

For further information see: www.irishraynauds. com

POETRY Guckian to read at Pearse St Library  LAURA WEBB

Darren White, a father-of-one from Attracta Road in Cabra, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted robbery on April 4 last year

Park and Win competition

Young attacker believed victim to be 36 not 86

OVER 6,000 entrants have been received in the first month of the Jervis Shopping Centre, Park and Win competition which offers people the chance to win a Kia Sportage. The highest number of entries in the competition are from the south Dublin suburbs at just over 50%. The competition is running up until May 18. To enter simply fill in the back of the parking ticket received when entering the Jervis Street Shopping Centre car park.

AN 86-year-old woman who refused to let a youth steal her handbag was paid a “great backhanded compliment” when her attacker said he believed she was only 36, a court heard.

“He should have gone to Specsavers,” Judge Desmond Hogan said of Darren White (19) at Dublin Circuit Criminal court.

White, a father-of-one from Attracta Road in Cabra, pleaded guilty to two counts of attempted robbery on April 4

last year.

He told garda1 he had been very drunk at the time.

Mar y Murphy had just left a local bingo hall on the night when she was confronted by White on Annaly Road in Cabra. The teenager said “Gimme the money” and dragged her to the ground as he tried to pull a handbag off her shoulder.

Maurice Coffey BL, prosecuting, said Ms Murphy “bravely withstood the efforts of the

accused” and refused to let go of her bag.

Ms Murphy started screaming and was dragged behind a parked car, but White eventually let go and ran off down Quarry Road.

The court heard that Ms Murphy’s arm was sore after the incident and she had bruises on her hip.

Judge Hogan praised Ms Murphy for putting up a stout defence, and said White had paid her a “great back-handed compliment” by mistak-

enly thinking she was 50 years younger.

The court heard that minutes earlier, White had tried unsuccessfully to rob a man on Quarry Road.

Noel Brear ty (68) told gardai he was walking along when a young man pulled out a knife and said, “Gimme the money.” Mr Brear ty turned around and told him to “F**k off”, causing White to run away.

Seamus Clarke BL, defending, said his client has not come to Garda

attention since these incidents and has developed a “great rapport” with his probation officer.

Judge Hogan agreed to adjourn the matter to assess whether White is suitable for a non-custodial sentence in the form of the restorative justice programme.

The judge refused to alter White’s bail conditions, which include him signing on daily at a Garda station and keeping a 9pm curfew. He’s due to be sentenced on May 2.

POETRY enthusiasts will be given the chance to hear a long-term Ringsend resident read poetry from her latest book during a reading at Pearse St Library.

Mary Guckian has published three books over the years with many relating to the changing environment of the area and the nature all around. She has also written poems about surrounding areas such as Sandymount, Grand Canal and Ballsbridge.

“I will be reading from my latest book, Walking on Snow, and other material that I have written over the years. My poetry is mostly about nature and places, and more so the places that I am familiar with.

“My earlier material would be mostly about Leitrim, where I am from,” Mary told The Gazette.

Mary won an award for her poem Corsets at the Ledwidge Competition last November and her poem Dublin Lights in Pearse St also won an award during the Joe Duffy Show in December 2012.

Playwright, actor and musician Victor Feldman will be joining Mary on the night by contributing with music on the clarinet during the interval.

The poetry reading will take place on April 17 at 6pm in Pearse Street Library.

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6 dublin city gazette 10 April 2014

awards Farrell, Fassbender and Gleeson home for event

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‘It’s great to come home and see friends and family, and it’s great to celebrate Irish film and television and encourage the next generation’ Michael Fassbender clutches his Best Supporting Actor IFTA award as journalists congratulate him; Brendan Gleeson (right), another IFTA

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winner (Lead Actor in a Film) was happy to praise the virtues of Sligo, where he filmed Calvary. Pictures: Photocall Ireland

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Michael Fassbender

Stars shine at IFTAs  Bairbre Ni Bhraonain

It isn’t going to go down as the best moment in television history but the Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTA) did have a lot of heavy hitters in attendance and the Gazette caught up with many of them on the red carpet.

There were a few notable surprises on the night, including a disappointing performance by popular RTE drama Love/Hate, with only one of the four stars nominated scooping an award (Peter Coonan, AKA Fran), and Dundrum’s Tom VaughanLawlor missing out.

The biggest winner on the night was John Michael McDonagh’s film

Calvary, which picked up three IFTAs. The Gazette took to the red carpet, and the atmosphere in Double Tree Hilton on Leeson Street was electric, with the likes of international stars Colin Farrell, Michael Fassbender and Jamie Dornan all in attendance.

Fassbender received an IFTA for his performance in 12 Years A Slave. He said: “It’s great to come home and see friends and family, and it’s great to celebrate Irish film and television and encourage the next generation.”

When asked to explain his chemistry with director Steve McQueen, with whom he’s made three films, Fassbender said: “I

don’t know how to explain that. I suppose we’re on the same wavelength, and he’s a very sensitive person and a genius, so I feel like I can talk to him and therefore he can direct me happily.”

He recently worked with young up and coming Irish actor Jack Reynor, of whom he said: “Jack is such a nice guy, and is also hugely talented. He has a huge opportunity right now.

“We worked together on the last film I did, and I guess I’m rooting for new talent coming through.”

Castleknock man Colin Farrell, who lost out on an IFTA this time around to Fassbender, spoke of the wealth of Irish films up for awards – in particular,

Calvary, whose writer he hailed as “one of the best writers around”.

Farrell also spoke of his current film, The Lobster, with Rachel Weisz, which he is now filming in Kerry.

“Two weeks in, and it seems to be going okay.

Nobody’s died yet, and I still have the job, so ...!”

When asked which Irish actors he would like to work with, Farrell said: “I’d love to work with Brendan [Gleeson] again; I’d love to work with Cillian [Murphy] again – I haven’t worked with Cillian since Intermission.

“There’s a bunch of lads and lassies; Eva Birthistle [who won for Amber] and Michael Fassbender.

I’m a huge fan. I know Michael a little through

the years, so it’d be great to find something with him in it.”

About coming home, Farrell said: “I’ll be home for two and a half weeks at Christmas. About once every two and half years, I get to come home and work for two months, which is nice.

“It’s not my intention [to live abroad], it’s just the way it’s happened, and I’m being looked after.”

Presented Just back from America, Dundrum girl Amy Huberman, who presented one of the biggest awards on the night to President Michael D Higgins, said: “I really like LA, and I really enjoyed it again this time.”

About her future writing projects, she said: “I have a couple of writing things that I’m sinking my teeth into.”

Malahide resident Brendan Gleeson said it was “an odd feeling” to win out against his son, Domhnall, in the same category, Lead Actor in a Film. He said: “I don’t know what to say. This is the kind of thing that divides people, but it shouldn’t and won’t. It’s nicer to win than not to win, obviously.”

Of working on Calvary, Gleeson said: “It was beautiful. We were in Sligo, which has got to be the place to be. It was very fulfilling, and very challenging.”

Foxrock man Peter

Coonan was another winner on the night. When asked if he’d miss playing Fran in Love/Hate when it all winds down, he said: “It’s a tough question. I don’t think I’m ready to answer that: we’ll have to wait and see.”

When asked if he was looking forward to playing a completely different character next, he said: “Definitely, yeah!

You always have to test yourself, and that’s what I’ve been doing in the last couple of months with theatre and film and different things.

“So, we’ll finish off the season [of Love/Hate] and see where we go after that.”

See Gallery on Page 10

10 April 2014 dublin city gazette 7

europe Mary Fitzpatrick’s focus on election

Too few people know role of MEP - candidate  laura webb lwebb@gazettegroup.com

With European elections set to take place on May 23 along with the locals, candidates are taking to the streets, pressing the flesh, hoping to gain your vote.

One candidate making the rounds in her constituency was Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick (FF) who took to the Ilac centre last week to talk to the public about her election campaign and to find out the issues many Dubliners may want to discuss.

Whilst handing out leaflets, she talked to the Dublin City Gazette about the campaign.

Asked whether many people know the role of an MEP she said “far too few people do understand”.

“I think it is important for people to step back and think about it. “[The EU Parliament] has real powers now to influence people’s lives here in Dublin. It has the powers to approve or reject laws – and 80% of our laws come out of Europe.

It has the power to approve or reject budgets, our national budgets are now approved in Europe before being approved here.

“So it is really important, I believe, that we have members and people representing us that understand the issues and challenges here in Dublin, and act as a strong voice to champion Dublin.

“I have represented

Aoibheann Mahon, Cllr Mary Fitzpatrick (FF) and Regina Rode at the Ilac centre

people of Dublin on the city council for 10 years.

I have really enjoyed the role, to be able to represent and make a contribution to my city…

“I think now, this is a real opportunity to make a real contribution for Dublin in Europe but also to get Europe working better for people in Dublin.

The last number of years have been very difficult for people in Dublin.”

Speaking to people during the canvass they told her how they

struggle to make ends meet with so many more outgoings including property tax, water charges and prescription increases, some of the many issues on people’s minds.

“If I am elected to European Parliament I will be a member of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats in Europe, it’s a central political grouping with MEP’s from parties from other countries.

“I will be a strong voice, I will not be there

just acting as an ambassador for the Government, I will be there as an ambassador for Dublin and I will be a real champion for Dublin.”

A s ke d a b o u t h ow people feel towards her party she said the party is “working very hard to rebuild” especially in Dublin.

“We have a job to do to regain our seats at a local level and at a European level, and support – we are working hard on that,” she added.

8 dublin city gazette 10 April 2014

gazetteGALLERIES Leeson Street: Bar and Beer Garden gets off to a great start

Opening offers plenty of bang for your buck

Aoife Walsh

Ellie Connolly and Alison Boyle pictured at the official opening of Buck’s Bar and Beer Garden on Leeson Street. Pictures: Patrick O’Leary

Cathal Pendred, mixed martial arts artist

Tara O’Halloran and Lauren Nevin

10 April 2014 dublin city gazette 9

Sonia Harris and Cathy Harris Emily McKeogh and Dillon St Paul

Karena Graham

Jemma Ginestra and Lola Laughton

Charlotte Doyle and Diane Henderson

Michelle McGrath

Aimee Kelly and Emily Cunnane

10 dublin city gazette 10 April 2014

gazetteGALLERY

Michael Fassbender with his Best Supporting Actor award

Love/Hate actors Tom Vaughan-Lawlor, Laurence Kinlan and Killian Scott . Pictures: Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Calvary takes the top honours at award night

T

he 11th annual Irish Film and Television Awards (IFTA 2014) took place recently at Dublin’s DoubleTree by Hilton, Burlington Road. The event was hosted by Simon Delaney and Laura Whitmore. The

annual awards are the highlight of Ireland’s entertainment and cultural calendar celebrating the very best of Irish screen talent across film and television. The biggest winners on the night were the films Calvary, Byzan-

tium and Philomena which all picked up three awards each. Calvary took the highest accolade, Best Film, along with Best Actor for Brendan Gleeson and Best Script for its writer-director John Michael McDonagh.

Actress Orla O’Rourke

Karen Koster

Operation Transformation won best Reality TV show

David Rawell from Moone Boy which won Best

Jamie Dorman won Best Actor in

Actress Kelly

Entertainment Programme

The Fall

Thornton

Actress Jane Actor Colm Meaney

McGrath

Neil Jordan with Best Director award

10 April 2014 Gazette 11

feature P15

asdfsdaf businessP27 P16

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

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diary P12

what’son Cinemagic Film and Television Festival

Brian McAleer of Sheehan’s pub on Chatham Street

a day in the life: barman Brian McAleer sheds light on life behind the bar

‘I couldn’t do a 9 to 5 job’

 Lisa Banks

It’s no secret that most Irish people enjoy a visit to the pub every now and again, but life on the other side of the bar is a different and challenging experience.

This week, the Gazette caught up with barman Brian McAleer of Sheehan’s pub to get the inside scoop on what a typical day of pulling pints and serving up hearty Irish food is like.

Brian usually starts his day with an 8.30am wake-up.

“I have a light breakfast of coffee and cereal when I have time, and come into

work for 10am.”

A barman since 1998, McAleer has worked at the iconic Sheehan’s in the city centre’s Chatham Street for 12 of his 16-year career, so he has his routine down pat.

When he arrives at work around 10am, he takes in deliveries, sets up the bar and prepares the tables for lunch service.

“Because we’re just off Grafton Street, we get quite a few tourists as well as locals and office workers from around the area for lunch,” he says while pulling a few perfect pints of Guinness. Between the rush of lunch crowds, Brian tries to find a bit of time to himself to unwind,

saying: “I take a half hour break, maybe get some lunch or do some things around town. I would just eat in house.”

His afternoon is filled with some familiar faces who sit up at the bar. “We get the afternoon crowd from 5pm onwards.

The lunch crowd dies down and you get locals in for a few drinks and to watch the racing.”

McAleer started bartending as a teenager and has since grown to love the job.

“My most memorable parts are meeting characters from around the area. I’ve enjoyed the city changing over the years, and being part of the changes in Sheehan’s. It wasn’t always what I wanted

to do for a career but I realised after a while that it’s something that suited me and I suited it. I couldn’t do a 9 to 5 job nowadays.”

As the sun starts to set, both tourists and locals alike drop in for some dinner and drinks in the cosy pub. For his own break, Brian sometimes heads down the road to other bars to get some food and chat to friends.

After he pulls his last pint of the day, he usually relaxes with a drink or two of his own before heading home, adding: “At the end of the night I might watch a bit of TV before heading to bed around 1am.”

This month and next, young, would-be actors and film buffs will get the chance to indulge their passion with a feast of masterclasses and screenings at the seventh Cinemagic Film and Television Festival for Young People.

The festival runs in venues all over Dublin this April and May and has a programme of activities specially tailored for 12 - 25-year-olds.

The Cinemagic Festival promises to be action packed this year with a host of film screenings including special premieres, international feature films, documentaries, shorts, foreign language films and education screenings.

Throughout the festival Cinemagic will also be offering young people the opportunity to take part in practical events including industry masterclasses and their extensive education programme for schools.

This year’s Talent Lab Masterclass and Q&A series for 16 25-year-olds will be hosted in Filmbase from April 14-16.

For further information see www.cinemagic.org.uk.

Gazette

12 Gazette 10 April 2014

dublinlife

Lindt bunnies hop to Temple Street for a sweet Easter PATIENTS at Temple Street Children’s Hospital were treated to hundreds of Lindt Gold Bunny soft toys to celebrate the seventh annual Lindt Make Easter Sweet for Temple Street campaign.

Doing the bunny run was radio presenter and former Westlife singer Nicky Byrne with his copresenter Jenny Greene

from the Nicky Byrne Show. They carried hundreds of bunnies through the wards to make sure each patient received a gift from their Easter baskets.

T h e L i n d t M a ke Easter Sweet for Temple Street campaign sees Gold Bunny Roadshows arrive in shopping centres across Ireland raising much-needed funds

for Temple Street Hospital.

To date, the campaign has raised over €380k for the hospital which has enabled the fundraising team to purchase vital pieces of life saving equipment for the young patients at the hospital.

This year’s campaign hopes to raise enough money for the hospital to buy a specialised ear,

nose and throat (ENT) microscope for their ENT Theatre.

new puppy wing for dogs trust A DUBLIN-based rehoming centre for our canine friends will save 500 more puppies each year with a brand new dedicated puppy wing to open this summer.

The Dogs Trust re-

Presenters of 2FM’s THe Nicky Byrne Show Jenny Greene and Nicky Byrne deliver a toy to Mary Jane Cremin from Wexford during their bunny run at Temple Street Hospital. Picture: Leon Farrell /Photocall Ireland

homing centre in Finglas is expanding its successful centre with a new puppy wing, which

is being developed in response to surging levels of puppies being abandoned in Ireland.

The new puppy wing will be a home to six mothers, their puppies and up to an additional

FOR UP TO DAT E NEWs fo l l ow us:

10 April 2014 Gazette 13

encounter; in the past the statue has been dressed in a poncho, a shower cap and a knitted scarf to help protect him from the often unpredictable Irish weather.

Greyhound bid for recyclers

Lindt Gold Bunny soft Children’s University

30 puppies at any one time, providing the veterinary care, socialisation and, most importantly, loving care needed to get these puppies on their paws and ultimately into loving homes.

The new puppy wing will also create seven jobs which will include specialist puppy canine carers and veterinary staff.

Construction is currently under way with the facility expected to open in early summer 2014.

Kavanagh finds his feet again THE statue of poet Patrick Kavanagh has been returned to his normal bronzed self after vandals gave the sculpture a painted pair of red shoes last month.

A team of specialists from the Cast Bronze Foundry was needed to remove the paint, however the result was nearly seamless as Kavanagh was repaired to his previous condition with no harm done.

Located at the edge of the Grand Canal on Dublin’s south side since 1991, the statue was created by sculptor John Coll and is owned by Dublin City Council.

But the dodgy paint job isn’t the poet’s only

TO launch the search for Dublin’s recycling champion, Greyhound Recycling has revealed some of the many strange items found in recycling bins.

Among them was a live kitten that was found and adopted by a member of Greyhound staff and mothered by her pet dog, Molly.

A large range of Christmas presents was also found at the recycling depot – staff suspected they were hidden in a bin as a surprise. Unfortunately, they were never claimed. One person accidently threw €4,500 into a bin.

Some other bizarre findings include an urn containing ashes, a wedding dress; engagement ring and complete wedding cake and hundreds of undelivered newspapers.

This list was provided

by Greyhound Recycling to launch a search for Dublin’s Recycling Champion. Over the

coming months, nominated households will have their bins assessed to establish the success of their recycling techniques. The winner receives a prize of €1,000.

WE HAVE OVER 200,000 READERS EACH WEEK*

backstreet boys in town

call 60 10 240

THE most successful boy band in music history gave a pleasant surprise to a few lucky fans at Ireland’s oldest pub on April 1.

US band The Backstreet Boys enjoyed pints and posed for photos with fans at the Brazen Head ahead of their gig later that night at the O2.

Together since 1993, the boys have sold over 130 million records over the past 20 years, despite a few breaks along the way for solo careers.

The boys were also spotted at various bars around Temple Bar in the days leading up to their concert.

Nick Carter jumped on stage at Bad Bob’s to sing a few tunes, much to the delight of onlookers. Bandmate Kevin Richardson later took to Twitter to post a photo of himself pulling one of his first pints of Guinness behind the bar. Hopefully he let it settle first!

Kevin Richardson of The Backstreet Boys tweeted this picture of himself at The Brazen Head

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diary

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14 Gazette 10 April 2014

dublinlife

ESCAPE THE MAYHEM

chaos control: E for Enthusiasm and P for Persistence

‘I can mentally relax and stay positive every day’ - Cullen

Each week the Gazette speaks to Dubliners about how they like to unwind in a bustling, busy city. Former Apprentice host Bill Cullen explains how he finds time to relax FORMER Apprentice host and one-time owner of Renault Ireland Bill Cullen hasn’t let the downfall of his businesses slow him down in the slightest.

I n 2 01 2 , C u l l e n ’s motor-trade business was put into receivership by Ulster Bank along with his five-star

Muckross Park Hotel the following year.

Now at 72 years old, Cullen’s back with the relaunch in the guise of his business Bill Cullen Premier Cars, a Ssangyong dealership on the Naas Road.

Speaking to the Gazette about how he escapes the chaos of

his life, Cullen said: “In terms of escaping the mayhem, I can do that all in my head. In other words, I can mentally relax and mentally stay positive every day.

“In that way I can break away from everything that’s going on around me. You wouldn’t be able to imagine the sort of things I’ve gone through over the past two years with banks and receivers and of all that,” he said. “[Jackie Lavin] and myself believe it’s totally

and utterly unfair the way the banks treated us and we’re trying to sort all that out now in many ways, but that’s another day’s work – we’ll keep at it.

“That’s the kind of mayhem that we had in our lives for the past year and a half, but now that we’ve opened a small business I can focus on that and I’m putting all my experience into it to make it as successful as possible.

“My father was an army man and always

used to say to us ‘have a pep in your step’ and gave us a box on the ear if he saw us moping around with our heads down. “ H e ’d s ay ‘ E f o r Enthusiasm and P for Persistence’, then he’d give us a kick up the arse and say ‘get up and let’s see you walking’.

“Another way that I clear my head and get ready for the day is to get up at 4am in the morning and workout for 30 to 40 minutes in my bathroom. I go hop-

Bill Cullen: “I don’t work for money.”

ping out the door, not tired at all.

“I don’t need an alarm and I don’t even need a clock. I can tell you the time by just looking up

at the sky.

“I don’t work for money. I just like to get the job done right then the money usually follows.”

10 April 2014 Gazette 15

Gazette

FEATURE

SCHOOLS: dAVID gILLICK shows his skills in the kitchen

Eating on the run  stephen findlater sfindlater@dublingazette.com

DAVID Gillick is hoping to use the combination of his success in the athletics arena and Celebrity Masterchef to help inspire school goers to improve the way they eat.

A two-time European indoor 400m runner, the Ballinteer man conducted his new healthy schools initiative at his alma mater St Benildus last week, speaking to students about sport and nutrition.

He followed up by running a cooking demonstration for the students to emulate before picking the best dish with the winner receiving a pair of New Balance trainers.

Gillick has previously run similar initiatives in Pobal Scoil Iosa in Malahide as well as in Loreto, Foxrock while he is an ambassador for the Aviva Health Schools Fitness Challenge.

And he is hoping that his initiative can provide a novel way for students to start to thinking about what they eat and why.

“On the back of working with the Aviva Fitness Challenge, it got me thinking how I can help to influence kids’ eating at a young age,” he said.

“I think it’s a practical way to get across the idea quite clearly about healthy nutrition and teach them how to cook some healthy dishes.”

From his own experience, he says it is something he would have loved as a child growing up. A keen Gaelic footballer with Ballinteer St John’s as well as an international athlete, he admits that he did not have much knowledge

David Gillick shares his culinary tips with students at St Benildus College, Kilmacud.

Picture: Geraldine Woods

about what were the best things to eat to aid his performance.

Similarly, he did not understand the value of certain foods as it was not something that he paid much attention to, saying that meals were confined to either “what was in my lunchbox or what my mum put on my plate at dinner”.

“Home economics is something I didn’t do at school, but over the last number of years in running, I have realised it is a really good life skill to have, giving you a good idea of the value of nutrition and exercise in adult life.

“If I had known of the importance of nutrition at a younger age, I would have jumped on it.”

But he says now there is a growing appetite for this kind of thing, espe-

cially with the popularity of social media food posts on Twitter and Facebook.

“A lot of the Leinster r ugby players tweet about what they’re eating. Kids follow that.

They mightn’t understand why those lads are eating certain things, so that’s why we try and give information about why the top rugby players or soccer players eat particular foods.

“There’s a bigger reaction than I thought there would be from kids taking an interest in what they are eating.

“It is out there in the media a lot but if we can bring it down to practical terms and [we can] show them there is a benefit on a daily basis and [give them] an understanding of what they should be eating.

Educating them is the key thing.”

Gazette

16 Gazette 10 April 2014

dublinlife

business

Q&A: music makers academy, dun laoghaire

A focus on live music hits all the right notes ACTIVE musicians on the Irish music scene, and best of friends professionally and socially, both Christopher Cole and Simon Jordan are Dun Laoghaire locals who share a passion for music and education, and a strong desire to promote the importance and joy of live music performance for students of music.

Beginning his musical career as a guitarist more than a decade ago, Cole also studied music at UCD, where he graduated with first-degree honours in 2011. Jordan, a veteran vocalist/guitarist of 15 years, performed and taught in Spain for many years, and has now returned to his native Ireland as one half of Music Makers Academy.

How long have you been in business?

We have been in business for 18 months.

What makes your busi-

ness successful?

Music Makers Academy offers a unique brand of simplified music training across all genres in guitar,

bass, keyboards, drums, ukulele and singing.

The weekly lessons enable students to experience the fun of “jamming” and playing together in pop and rock bands right from the very start of their courses.

Students play the songs they want in their own bands under the direction of the tutor team in our fullyequipped “jam rooms”, which are kitted out with guitars, basses, drums, keyboards, amps, PAs and mics for the use of students.

What do you offer your clients that differs

from your competitors?

Unlike most other music schools, at Music Makers Academy, the emphasis is on making music together and providing students with the opportunity to play in groups and bands under the guidance of our trained tutor team.

We’ve done away with the stuffy, traditional method of music tuition, and have put the focus on playing contemporary music in a live atmosphere.

At Music Makers Academy, we really believe in the importance of performance as a key factor in a musician’s development.

The emphasis is on encouraging our students to play live in front of an audience – that’s what music is all about!

With this in mind, all students of the school experience the thrill of live performance on a regular basis, ending every term playing in

Managing directors of Music Makers, Simon Jordan and Christopher Cole: “We’ve done away with the stuffy, traditional method of music tuition, and have put the focus on playing contemporary music in a live atmosphere”

some of Dublin’s top theatres and venues – previous venues have included Rua Red Theatre, the Sugar Club and the Mermaid Theatre, with our next concert scheduled for Thursday, May 1 in the local Purty Loft (Dun Laoghaire), which will be open to the public and with free entry for all.

Makers Academy during the recession, we were already prepared for the economic climate .

With this in mind, we aimed to offer students the most we could in terms of tuition, course materials, concerts, school trips and rock camps at the most affordable and economic price.

How has the recession affected your business?

How do you use social media to help your business?

As we set up Music

Music Makers Acad-

emy has a strong following online. We keep our students and the public up to date with events via Facebook and our website, as well as posting pictures, audio clips or videos of songs the students have performed and/or written.

For more about our business, see www.

AcademyMM.com; and music followers can also find out more about us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ musicmakersdublin.

What should I do with €200k?

Q – My mortgage has a balance of €175,000. It is on a current tracker rate of 1.25% (1% margin), but last month my mother’s probate came through, leaving me with just over €200,000 tax-free.

What would you advise – that I pay off the mortgage, or invest this sum? Pat – Kimmage A – While it is very tempting to have your home debt free, the fact is that you could earn greater net interest on a deposit account than paying mortgage interest.

For example, the best demand deposit account currently is 2.3% - net 1.357% after deduction of 41% DIRT tax – or 0.107% greater interest.

However, you might want the cash flow, and therefore it still comes down to your annual budget.

On a 25-year capital and interest term, you are paying circa €679.52 every month – including the capital.

While you would earn €15.60 more interest each month on the deposit than you would be paying the mortgage interest, you still have to pay that capital back monthly.

Paying off the loan entirely eliminates that monthly debt completely. Your cash flow immediately improves.

Does this suit you, or have you something better to do

with the money, if you can afford to continue those payments? For example, would you want to: - Invest in your own start-up business; - Pay off any other debts and keep some cash for your rainy day fund (at least three months’ NET income); - Help any family members in trouble; or - Improve and update your home, or buy an iPad, get a smartphone upgrade, buy a top-end TV, etc.

One thing you do have is time. With tracker rates likely to remain low for the next two years, you do not have to make this decision now.

Email me for further information or to discuss options.  Contact John with your money questions at jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing director of Money Doctor

10 April 2014 Gazette 17

asdfsdaf P27 motors P25

cinema P22

OUT&ABOUT Never be out of the loop on what’s happening in Dublin! Let Out&About be your guide to all that is stylish, cultural and essential across the city and beyond this week

people: warwick davis speaks to the gazette ahead of coming to dublin

Pets

‘Focus on an actor’s talent, not their size’  rob heigh

THE comic con phenomenon has become legendary in recent years, with the San Diego convention being the world’s pre-eminent gathering of all things sci-fi and fantasy-related.

It had more than 130,000 attendees in 2013, and the passes for this year’s event sold out in a frenzied 90-minute scramble.

Now, the acclaimed MCM convention that has run for several years in Britain is reaching the shores of Ireland and Dublin on April 12 and 12, and the RDS convention is set to be visited by a plethora of stars of stage and screen, including Colin Ferguston, Lyndie Greenwood, Ian McNeice, Danny John Jules and Hattie Hayridge, as well as artists, gamers, cos-players and fantasy fans alike.

Chief amongst the attractions is British actor Warwick Davis, who has become a beloved and respected character actor over the course of his acting career, which is now into its third decade.

He made his first screen appearance as Wicket the Ewok in the third of the original Star Wars films, Return of the Jedi, at the tender age of 11, having answered a radio advert that Lucasfilm had run in England looking for short actors.

Production Warwick is currently on tour with his Reduced Height Theatre Company, which exclusively features short actors in a production of the classic farce, See How They Run. Talking to The Gazette, Warwick said the play is playing to packed houses in England and Wales, and the reaction to the show has vindicated his

decision to help bring the company together, based on his recent experience in the acting world.

He said: “The work I’ve been offered in recent years is not about height, but about what I can offer to a production, which prompted me to think about doing a production myself, and using the talent out there amongst the shortist community, who themselves were only ever thought about because of their height – not their talent, or what they could bring to a production.

“I wanted to be able to bring them that platform to be able to show the quality of their performance.

“We’re not making the change overnight, but we are saying that if you have a short actor in a production, it doesn’t have to be a story about prejudice, or their height. With the play, it’s laying the foundations for change.”



Gazette

travel P20

jetz is a peppy pup The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs.

Our Dog of the Week is Jetz, a four-year-old male Saluki cross.

He would love a home where new owners could help him with training (sometimes he gets a bit excited and jumps up) and possibly even another confident dog.

He just loves being the centre of attention and will make a fantastic addition to the right family.

If you think you could give Jetz a loving home, then please contact Dogs Trust at 01 879 1000.

They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50 and would love to show you around. Map and directions can be found on their website www.dogstrust.ie Over the decades, Warwick Davis has carved out an impressive career as a popular character actor, with many memorable roles on television and in cinema

Warwick is coming to Dublin this weekend as a special guest at the first MCM Comic Con here, at which he will be a very popular attendee, to say the least.

Warwick has some major nerd credentials in his CV, having appeared in all eight of the Harry Potter movies – albeit in different roles – as well as in both of the Star Wars trilogies, and on television in Doctor Who, and

with Ricky Gervais and Karl Pilkington, as well as a lead in the timeless fantasy classic, Willow.

He said: “I don’t do that many [conventions], but when I do go, what I find is that people are lining up to meet me, which is quite delightful.

“I’m lucky to have [played] a wide range of characters that have connected with a lot of people.

“It’s nice to get to see

your audience – when you work in films or television, you don’t often get the chance to do that – and comic cons are places you can get to do that.”

Doors open Saturday from 9.30am to 6pm, and on Sunday from 10am until 5pm. Tickets start at €12 for adults, and €8 for 11 to 14-year-olds, while kids under 10 go free.

For further information, see www.mcmcomiccon. com/ireland/.

FOR UP TO DAT E N E W s follow u s :

Gazette

18 Gazette 10 April 2014

OUT&ABOUT

STYLE

Elvery

s Bodylo gic Scu lpt jog p ants €4 5

SPORTYLOOKS

Nike Free Traine

GAZETTE Style recently tested out the new Skechers GoRun3 to see whether they really do exactly what they claim to do.

Designed for speed, the makers claim these shoes give “a barefoot running experience”.

Well, Gazette Style can attest to this – the runners provided much comfort, and our tester could actually go for longer than usual because her feet felt so cushioned.

And the hot pink colour made her want to flash her feet in public for longer, too!

These runners feature an all-new performance-engineered upper, with what Skechers call a Power-prene mesh on the forefoot, that provides support while allowing toes to splay for comfort.

Skechers GOrun 3 and GOrun Ride 3 are now available, priced €85, in Skechers’ retail stores located at Henry Street, and the shopping centres at Liffey Valley, Blanchardstown, The Square and Swords Pavilions.

rs €110

Skechers will do your feet (and style) proud

Elverys Bodylogic Hoodie €34.99

FitnessGets NEON  laura webb

WITH the Samsung 10k Night Run just weeks away here in Dublin, Gazette Style thought it was important for runners to be seen in the dark by wearing some bright fitness gear.

Neon is definitely the colour for fitness enthusiasts this year and, with some runs – such as the Samsung Night Run, and the Darkness into Light initiative – taking place in darkness, the need for bright clothing is a must.

Last month, the Electric Run took place in Dublin, with thousands of people taking to the streets dressed head to toe in neon – a sight not for the faint-eyed! So, here are some neon-coloured (and subtle neon-hued) fitness clothes that will have you standing out from the crowd.

Step up to expert help nk Top €22

Elverys Ta

ort Bra €10

Heatons Azzurri Supp

er rain T s

n ato

He

20

s€

Elverys LED laces €12

TO MAKE sure you get the right shoe, take a trip out to Runners Need, in Dundrum for gait analysis. Our tester, Suzanne Sheehy, said: “The staff asked about any injuries, my running history and my future running goals.

“A video was taken of me running for a short period on a treadmill. Then, a slow-motion detailed analysis was performed by the Runners Need consultant to show my personal biomechanics [a study of the body’s movements].

“It was clear to see that I was an overpronator [where my foot rolls inwards]. From their selection of high-quality running shoes, I was given the ASICS Women’s Gel Super J 33 (€119). I took them out for a run, and they are super lightweight, with a 6mm heel-drop. These runners have rescued me from further injury,” said Suzanne.

Runners Need is located within Snow + Rock, Unit 3.2 – 4.2, Dundrum Town Centre.

Heatons Seamless Vest €15

Skechers GoRun3 trainers

10 April 2014 Gazette 19

Gazette

FOOD&DRINK

The Grafton Lounge Lunch menu

Dawson Street

The Grafton Lounge does a roaring lunch trade with an extensive menu such as salads, gourmet sandwiches and a number of hot meals

The Picky Eater The Grafton Lounge has established itself on the Dublin nightlife scene, and is frequented by many a Dublin celebrity as well as some musical heavy hitters who have used the pub for their after parties in the past.

However, what people may not know is that the pub does a roaring lunch trade with an extensive menu.

There are plenty of salads as well as gourmet sandwiches and a number of hot meals.

T he Spicy Falafel Wrap (€9.95) is packed with taste and is a nice alternative to the old reliable chicken wraps.

The falafel was complemented nicely by r o c ke t , g r i l l e d r e d onions, roast peppers, sweet chilli and coriander mayo all packed neatly in a tasty tortilla wrap.

T his came with a side of red cabbage and salad, and of course a few fries to help fill a

hungry belly.

The crispy fried buffalo wings (€5.95) come with a cucumber and coriander yoghurt and are served with a hot spicy sauce.

These may lead to finger licking!

T he Graf ton Beef shredded sandwich (€11.95) is stuffed full of slow cooked beef served with thyme jus, jalapeno relish, crispy onion and vine tomato, gem lettuce and a bap.

Too much to eat at lunch but ideal if you are ravenous.

We sampled a chocolate butterscotch brownie (€5.95), with white chocolate ice cream and cr ushed hazelnuts. Very light and tasty.

There is also a good range of wines and cocktails on offer if you are so inclined at lunch!

For more information on the Grafton Lounge go to www.thegrafton lounge.ie.

Conclusion

The extensive lunch menu at The Grafton Lounge offers up a nice selection of gourmet sandwiches, salads and hot meals. , The Grafton Lounge is at Royal Hibernian Way, Dawson Street. Tel: 01 679 6260

S e r v i n g 6 t h r i v i n g c o m m u n i t i es of suburban Dublin.

FOR U P T O D A T E N E W s f o l l o w u s : @ D u b l i n G a z ette

Gazette

20 Gazette 10 April 2014

SPRINGgetaways

GREATescapes

Escape to Wexford for some family fun If you’re looking for somewhere to escape to with the kids this Easter, the Maldron Hotel & Leisure Club in Wexford is offering a range of activities and special offers for over the midterm break.

The sunny south east is an ideal destination for families all year round, and the Maldron is hosting kids’ camps throughout Easter weekend, ensuring mum and dad get some well-deserved time off.

The hotel’s spacious family rooms cater for families big and small, and offer interconnecting rooms for larger numbers.

Easter weekend family packages include free easter eggs for children, a family evening meal, access to kids’ clubs and vouchers to go bowling nearby.

Packages from one- to three-night stays are available. All packages include full use of the leisure centre, comprising of a 20m pool, a kiddie’s pool, sauna, steam room and jacuzzi.

For more details of Easter special offers, visit www.maldronhotelwexford.com.

Enjoy Athlone’s stylish waterfront This Easter, a family of two adults and two children can pack themselves off to the stylish waterfront Radisson Blu Hotel, Athlone for a special break.

Enjoy two nights’ family accommodation, a buffet breakfast each morning to set you up for the day ahead and a delicious dinner on the evening of your choice in Element’s Bistro from just €259. Include a family cruise on the Viking Ship on the Shannon from €24 for a family of two adults and two children.

The family can explore the maritime town of Athlone, fit in some exercise in Synergy Health & Leisure Club, bring the family to Athlone Castle or simply relax with something chilled to drink in the Quayside Bar & Lounge or out on the terrace overlooking Athlone Marina.

For more information on the hotel’s latest offers or to book, visit www.radissonblu.ie/hotelathlone or call 090 644 2600.

leisure: Blue Book lists a host of luxury hotel and country houses

A little bit of luxury over the Easter weekend

 natalie burke nburke@gazettegroup.com

If you’re tempted by a last minute springtime getaway this Easter, Ireland’s Blue Book has a host of luxury Easter hotel and country houses to choose from.

Springtime is certainly being celebrated at Ballymaloe House in Co Cork, where an Easter visit can bring the whole family to explore the 400-acre farm and admire the peacocks and the quickly-growing piglets. Take the kids for a

wander along the nature walks or enjoy afternoon tea beside the fire.

On Easter Sunday, Ballymaloe will host an Easter Bunny Hunt and egg painting fun event.

The Easter offer includes a three-night stay, with a five-course dinner each evening, a full Irish breakfast each morning, as well as complimentary afternoon tea and cake and activities for the kids.

Priced from €460.

If chocolate trails aren’t really your thing, perhaps a well-deserved spa break

away to the Ice House in Co Mayo would be your ideal Easter treat.

Enjoy panoramic views of the River Moy while relaxing in the peace and tranquillity of the Ice House spa. For just €159.50 per person sharing, stay two nights in a luxurious room and enjoy dinner on one evening from the hotel’s 2AA Rosette Restaurant Table d’Hote menu and lazy breakfast each morning. The Easter package also includes full use of the thermal suite and a

Take an activity-based spring break away and make the most of the outdoors at Coopershill House in Co Sligo

Enjoy the breathtaking lake views and relax at the

50-minute Chill Spa signature massage.

Further Easter indulgence can also be enjoyed at the Wineport Lodge in Co Westmeath, where the hotel is offering an overnight stay for two from just €103.50 per person sharing. A relaxing stay at the lodge will ensure you chill out completely, whether it’s enjoying the breathtaking lake views in the Bollinger Lounge, or unwinding in the lakeside hot tub.

The Easter package includes a chocolate treat for each of you, use of the hot tub, a four-course evening meal and breakfast delivered to your room.

For the more adventurous, perhaps a round of golf, archery or a clay pigeon shooting session would be the cherry on top of an Easter break away. From €339 per room per night, stay at Mount Juliet Country

Estate in Kilkenny and enjoy dinner, bed and breakfast, and one leisure activity of your choice.

The inclusive dinner includes three courses in either The Lady Helen or Kendal’s restaurant.

If you’ve real energy to burn, an activity-based spring break away could see you making the most of the outdoors at Coopershill House in Co Sligo.

There’s a first time for everything, which is why stand-up paddle boarding is one activity that is suitable for all ages and the perfect way of exploring Sligo waters. After an hour-and-a-half lesson, head back to Coopershill to a roaring fire and afternoon tea. From €279 per person, the Easter package includes the sport lesson, two nights bed and breakfast, one fourcourse evening meal and afternoon tea.

With Easter taking

10 April 2014 Gazette 21

Gazette

CLOSEtoHOME Exciting family package breaks If you don’t fancy travelling too far for a family friendly getaway this Easter, the Gibson Hotel is offering some exciting package breaks including a one night break in the hotel and either a day trip to Dublin Zoo or a Viking Splash tour.

This package includes an overnight stay in a family room for two adults and two children, full Irish breakfast for all and a family pass to Dublin Zoo or a Viking Splash Tour for two adults and two children, all for just €165 inclusive.

If the kids have any energy left after all that monkeying – or splashing – around, you can keep them entertained with the Gibson Hotel’s movie and games room, offering a wide array of activities to ensure the little ones are amused and giving you a chance to relax.

Over the Easter weekend (April 19 -20), you can take part in some delightful family Easter celebrations including the EGGciting Easter egg hunt and face painters from 4-6pm.

For more details, see www.thegibsonhotel.ie.

Got a story? Let us know!

Call our news team on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 2 or email news@gazettegroup.com Wineport Lodge in Co Westmeath

place late this year, a visit to Connemara is just the ticket to enjoy some late spring sunshine. Easter at Cashel House Hotel in Co Galway is the perfect time to relax and enjoy a weekend at a slow pace.

Cashel House has all the elements of a classic country house with authentic surroundings, charming interiors and true Irish hospitality.

T h e E a s t e r p a c kage at Cashel House includes two nights bed and breakfast and one evening meal. Escorted local walks can also be arranged to take you through the scenic hills nearby. Easter packages are available from €179 per person.

Spring break packages mentioned above are subject to availability. For further details and more spring breaks away with Ireland’s Blue Book, visit www.irelands-blue-book. ie.

Enjoy panoramic views of the River Moy at the Ice House in Co Mayo



Gazette

22 Gazette 10 April 2014

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

ReelReviews

Divergent

A dash of deja vu to view IN AN oppressive future world, a young woman with a destiny stands up against the government regime, with help from a hunky male. Yes, The Hunger Gam– whoops, Divergent (Cert 12A, 143 mins) pretty much follows the genre template as “the chosen one” discovers her inner strengths and revolts against the way of things.

With help from a hunky male. Passable fare ...

Kerry provides a backdrop to some of the sharper issues that modern family life, and relationships, can face in Ireland, but it’s a tale international audiences can also take to

noah

Water hit for Crowe DESPITE being banned in several countries (come on – it ain’t that bad), Noah (Cert 12A, 138 mins) is an entertaining reimagining of one of The Bible’s most well-known stories. Noah faces an unstoppable force (Ray WInstone) in a race against time to prepare for The Flood, and the end of all things – almost. While fundamentalists are up in arms about the film, it’s made a splash at cinemas.

The winter soldier Storming the box office

LAST but not least, Captain America’s sequel with The Winter Soldier (Cert 12A, 128 mins) has stormed the box office – with good reason. Even for those who don’t like superhero films, this sequel has delighted audiences, thanks to its top-notch action sequences, as well as its sly critiques of some of the governmental over-reach that many audiences around the world are uneasy about.

run and jump: there’s more to this drama than a first look may suggest

A surprising little Irish film SET amid the undulating hills of Kerry, Run And Jump is a colourful, fresh piece of drama that offers more than it seems to at first glance.

Va n e t i a ( M a x i n e Peake) is a dynamic but overburdened young mother who is forced to maintain stability for her family after a stroke leaves Conor (Edward MacLiam) unable to fulfil his roles as a father and husband.

While we can only catch glimpses of how the family functioned in the past, the “new” Conor is confused, unpredictable, and aggressive – the polar opposite to the reclusive Ted (Will Forte), an American academic who stays with the family to monitor and document Conor’s recovery.

Vanetia is a proactive whirlwind, so caught up

 Dave phillips

in fulfilling the needs of others that she neglects her own, and as the ditch widens between her and Conor, she inevitably begins to develop a deeper relationship with Ted. Wr i t t e n b y Kerr y native Ailbhe Keogan, a n d develo p e d w i t h director Steph Green, the film has a

refreshingly unique and authentic voice.

Ted, as the outsider American upended into Irish culture, functions as a way to serve up some of the more expected comic elements through interactions with the gossiping neighbours and quirky kids; but this is never what drives the story – it is a film focused on relationships rather than location.

Keogan’s characters are fully realised, and it is their idiosyncrasies intersecting that provides the moment u m , while Green is confident and def t-

handed enough to allow things to stew away and develop slowly.

For a film that wears much of its plot line on its sleeve, Run and Jump still manages to be surprising.

While Vanetia is the overt focus of the piece, a lot of space is given to the men around her, and exploring the concept of masculinity remains a constant undercurrent.

Conor, once competent in his role as father and husband, is now displaced through his brain injur y – unwilling to spend time in the house, he sits in the workshop, carving func-

tionless wooden spheres.

His father is an oldschool patriarch, unable to understand Conor’s inability to “be the man of the house”, while struggling himself to function in a world with a rapidly changing value system.

Conor’s son, Lenny (Brendan Morris), is coming of age in a space where his father is practically absent; and Ted is taking steps away from academia to a place where he is forced to be more emotionally vulnerable.

I t ’ s a credit to the film that so many

interesting storylines are given the space to intertwine.

Through clever and competent writing, Run and Jump is a film that crams a lot into its running time.

And, towards the end, it does feel as if it has taken on board too much, as if there are too many “big issues”, and too little space to explore them. But, thankfully, this doesn’t mar the experience.

The soft hills of Kerry provide fertile ground for exploring the natural ups and downs of life, and Run and Jump is a confident, competent, and exciting film that expertly captures them.

Verdict: 8/10

Run and Jump’s characters offer a refreshing take on family life

10 April 2014 GAZETTE 23

BOOKS: IN MY ROOM, BY JIM LUCEY

Theatre

A dry but fascinating look at Irish mental health  BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

IN MY Room tackles the thorny and difficult problem of depression and suicidal ideation by using real case studies.

The book is full of statistical data and information on the state of Ireland’s mental health, and each case study of a patient who attended psychiatrist Jim Lucey’s treatment room is concluded with an apt little poem chosen by the author.

This is a very nice touch, not least because the poems chosen are not only very fitting to each patient, but are also by some of the best poets, past and present.

Lucey deals with Ireland’s perception of depression, which is still a very stigmatised matter, according to the author.

He stresses the importance of dealing with depression in the community like any other illness, and writes on improving the quality of treatment, rather than using the erection of new buildings to measure the success of our mental health service.

To render the whole area of mental health more immediate to the reader, Lucey tells sev-

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

‘Lucey has created a very valuable record of Irish mental health in this book but, like many academics, he falls into the trap of a slight dryness in his writing style’

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

eral different stories of patients made up of an amalgamation of real people he has helped back to recovery.

A cross-section of Irish society is thus represented, each one depicting a different experience of depression with unique complications.

One woman from Cavan, for example, who was depressed after having her last child, was most concerned about keeping her treatment secret when she was referred to Lucey by her GP. She told him that her neighbours and even her friends would never look at her in the same way if

they knew she had gone into therapy.

Another case study – this time, regarding a quantity surveyor – featured someone very resistant to the whole idea of treatment. He refused it, because he was of the mind-set that men must deal with problems themselves.

It transpired that as a child, his father had taken him to the beach and told him to stay put while he went for a swim.

His father never came back, having gone into the sea to die by suicide.

This had seared into the man’s psyche the idea that a man must bear his responsibilities, no matter what, and go it alone.

Lucey could not reach this man, who continued to refuse treatment, and continued to suffer his depression alone and in silence.

Another case focused on a man coping with depression and anxiety together, which is very difficult to treat.

Not only was he concentrating on past disappointments, but he was also anticipating more worry, so he was never fully in the present.

Lucey has created a very valuable record of

GAZETTE

ARTS

Bram Stoker’s Castle Dracula experience has a unique setting

Fangs for a great show  BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

In My Room is available now, priced €16.99, and is published by Gill and MacMillan

Irish mental health in this book but, like many academics, he falls into the trap of a slight dryness in his writing style.

This is a shame, because his subject matter is good, but the reader is often left disconnected when Lucey launches into jargon and vague, all-encompassing theories.

At such times, the reader really has to make an effort to stay focused and to read between the lines of jargon to get to the root of what is being said.

Lucey could do with using more analogies to illustrate these ideas, in order to emotionally reach as well as teach the reader.

That said, In My Room is a very worthy book full of insights into real Irish

The book’s author, psychiatrist Jim Lucey

people, and how they are dealing with depression and their thoughts of suicide today.

It is well worth a read, and his ideas are very sound, based on real research and experience.

Psychiatry is a true calling for Lucey, who is patently excited about

the new territory yet to be explored in this field, and like all good explorers, is willing to share his discoveries with the world.

In My Room, by Jim Lucey, is published by Gill and MacMillan and is available priced €16.99 in all good book shops.

AN EVENING of mystery, magic, fun and fear is lined up each Friday in Clontarf as Bram Stoker’s Castle Dracula comes to life in Ireland’s only graveyard theatre.

The extraordinary theatre comes to life in Westwood, Fairview in Clontarf at 7.30pm each Friday. Audiences (aged 15-plus only) can expect to be treated to the Vampire Show, a comedy magic show, and a tour of Bram Stoker’s Castle Dracula, complete with characters from the world’s most famous Gothic novel.

The unique venue hosts memorabilia from a number of Dracula movies, and reveals the history about the famous Irish writer, including stories, pictures, posters and even Stoker’s death certificate.

To book tickets, email tickets@secretcastleofmagic.com, or call 01 851 2151. You can sink your teeth into a preview of the show at www.SecretCastleOfMagic.com.

24 Gazette 10 April 2014

Gazette

MUSIC OUT&ABOUT FastTunes It’s Gazette Music’s Go selecta! Picking album round-up! the best for Fruit ’14

interview: festival booker dave parle making the right choices

Local boys have made very good recently - The Riptide Movement from Lucan inked their deal with Universal which should see them move into a much bigger pond, and on the back of that deal, they last week released new album, Getting Through. It’s a major step forward for the band in terms of sound and songwriting. The new single that they debuted on The Late Late Show, All Works Out, has a Killers-esque killer chorus, while other tracks like You And I and the title track show a new maturity and determination to capitalise on the potential they have always had.

Blowing up after appearing on another Late Show, this time the David Letterman variety, a couple of weeks ago are Baltimore band Future Islands, whose fourth album, Singles, has just hit the streets. Lead single Seasons (Waiting For You) is a sewn-up staple for the summer already, but the rest of the album is a blend of classic electro-pop with the Northern Soul vocals of singer Samuel T Herring adding a unique layer of class and power to these synth driven songs.

The best recent release by a long distance, however, is Lost In The Dream by The War On Drugs, the third album from the Philadelphia band and a beautiful, immersive experience it is. A spiralling, shifting, driving record, this is something very special indeed, and tracks An Ocean Between The Waves and closer In Reverse are peerless pieces of dream-pop Americana. It will keep fans of Tame Impala and Caribou happy until those two acts return to action, but The War On Drugs have the power to shoot past these two and be the preeminent indie rockers of the generation. They play at the Button Factory on May 29

 ROB heigh rheigh@gazettegroup.com

The heavy duty of picking a festival bill is certainly an onerous one – selecting the right acts to appear on your headline and secondary stages, making sure there is a flow to the vibe that the acts create and enough variety to ensure music heads and casual fans alike will have a memorable experience is an art form in itself.

The honour of doing that job for this year’s Forbidden Fruit festival, which takes place this year on Saturday, May 31 and Sunday, June 1 at the Royal Hospital in Kilmainham, falls to Dave Parle from Tallaght.

Dave started out in the music industry promoting Antics, a weekly indie club night in The Pod on Harcourt Street.

For the last six years he has been a live music booker for Pod, booking multiple gigs and festivals. He is the head booker for The Button Factory in Temple Bar, and Gazette Music caught up with him to talk about how this year’s Forbidden Fruit came together.

What goes into booking a festival like Forbidden Fruit? When does the process begin?

The process never really stops but, generally, we all sit down together and discuss who we’d like to

Some of the acts at this year’s Forbidden Fruit festival: (clockwise) The Flaming Lips, 2ManyDJs, TEED, Public Enemy, Bell X1, Warpaint and, centre, Flying Lotus

see at the festival, what acts we love and which of these we love seeing live. So after that, we put together a target list we work on bringing them to the festival.

Do you have a wish-list of acts that you want to book? Is there a certain criteria that you follow to pick which acts will appear on the bill?

It’s definitely based on a wish list but we do also have to work with what acts are available on that particular weekend. It’s not always possible to get whoever you want as they might be on the other side of the world.

Are there acts you wanted to book but missed out

on, and equally, any acts who you were delighted or surprised when they said yes?

There’s always acts that are missed out on, that’s just the nature of the beast. Sometimes you can be having a tough few days and out of the blue you get some good news on an act you thought wasn’t going to be possible. It’s all very exciting.

What do you think it is about this year’s line-up that distinguishes this year’s festivals from previous years?

This year, we’ve made it more open to people who want to enjoy a good day out. You’re not obliged to go to both days

by any means, which is why each day is quite different to the other in terms of music styles.

The festival is a great way to enjoy a fantastic array of the world’s best acts right in the heart of the city centre so when the day is up, you can go home and be asleep by midnight if you so wish!

How much does your own taste influence what acts you target for booking?

Yes, it definitely influences it. We don’t book anything we don’t believe in ourselves. They’re all performers that if we weren’t working behind the scenes, we’d be out front enjoying the music.

I’m personally so excit-

ed about our line-up this year. Flaming Lips put on one of the best shows in the world. Flying Lotus has been an act I’ve been dying to see live for so long and his 3D show looks incredible. Then there’s Warpaint, Nils Frahm, Totally Enormous Extinct Dinosaurs, Public Enemy … We’re all very excited about our line-up this year.

What would be your own perfect one-day festival line-up?

That’s a tough one! It’d probably involve an LCD Soundsystem reunion and Radiohead.

For more information, log on to www.forbiddenfruit.ie.

10 April 2014 gazette 25

Gazette

MOTORING the irish rover Amy brings the style to Evoque promotion amy huberman was on hand recently

to help launch the inaugural Land Rover Style Award on Friday, May 2 at the Punchestown Irish National Hunt Festival. The most stylish lady on the day will receive the keys to an equally stylish Range Rover Evoque which will be hers to drive for the year. For further information, log on to www.punchestown.com.

SUV lUV: nissan’s new model proves popular

Qashqai heads most-wanted list

 cormac curtis

Anyone who read last week’s Gazette motoring pages will know that the latest Qashqai model went down very we l l i n d e e d i n o u r office.

So it is with no small degree of smug satisfaction that we can announce that the same car range has been announced by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), as the most popular car of choice in Ireland this month.

Despite only coming onto the market at the end of January the brand new Nissan Qashqai is proving once again to be a very popular choice with Irish consumers. To date, Nissan have sold 2,057 new Qashqai’s, accounting for 4.12% of the total car market.

While conventional saloons and hatchbacks still dominate the sales charts, crossovers and SUVs are now taking more space at the top table – 29 per cent of the top 10 best selling cars are now SUVs, with

The Nissan Qashqai is proving very popular with Irish drivers

the Nissan Qashqai, Hyundai ix35 and Kia Sportage leading the way.

Commenting on Nissan Qashqai’s success, James McCarthy, chief executive of Nissan Ireland, said: “We are delighted that the new Nissan Qashqai is once again proving to be one of the most popular cars on the market. The previ-

ous model pioneered a whole new type of car and surpassed all expectations, selling over 20,000 units to Irish customers since it was originally launched in 2007. It was hard to see how this level of success could be maintained with an everincreasing set of competitors following in its footsteps - until we saw the all new model late

last year. “ I n c r e d i b l y, t h e all new 2014 Nissan Qashqai has once again laid down the gauntlet in terms of style, technology, driving excitement and most importantly value for money and we’re very confident that the Nissan Qashqai will remain one of Ireland’s most popular cars for many years to come.”

26 GAZETTE 10 April 2014

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10 April 2014 Gazette 27

soccer P29

gaelic games P27 P31 asdfsdaf

dublinsport Let the Gazette keep you up to date with all the best local sporting action from around the city as we cover all the stories that matter to you and your community



Gazette

coaching P28

FastSport ireland back cancer campaign: The

Metro St Brigid’s athlete Sean MacSeoin celebrates completing the SPAR Great Ireland Run in Phoenix Park last weekend. Picture: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE

athletics: over 10,000 take to the roads in spar-sponsored annual event

Great Irish day out for runners in Phoenix Park JAPHETH Korir of Kenya and Iwona Lewandowska of Poland were convincing winners of the men’s and women’s races at last Sunday’s Spar Great Ireland Run in the Phoenix Park.

In sunny, warm and breezy conditions, Lewandowska dominated the women’s race from gun to tape and ran home in 33 minutes 39 seconds, nine seconds clear of European cross country champion Sophie Duarte of France.

Allesandra Aguilar of Spain was third and local favourite, Fionnuala Britton, was fourth in 33:54.

Two times European Cross Country Champion Britton started as one of the pre-race favourites along with Duarte of France. However there was a surprise in store when Lewandowska made her break with seven kilometres remaining.

Britton crucially allowed the Polish athlete along with Duarte to move away, a gap the Kilcoole AC athlete would never manage to close.

She had the consolidation of winning the national 10k title with 44-yearold Catherina McKiernan, 10 years

after winning the event, finishing a fine second with Dundrum South Dublin athlete Sarah Mulligan third.

In the men’s race, Korir, the world cross-country champion was comfortably in control from 4k onwards and kept Britain’s Andy Vernon at bay.

Korir crossed the line in 29:12 with Vernon seven seconds behind. Michael Shelley of Australia was third in 29:33.

First Irishman was Mark Hanrahan from Leevale in Cork in sixth place in 30:20.

Hanrahan, who had returned from a

recent spell of warm weather training in Australia, won the men’s national title in a time of 30:20 with Mick Clohisey (Raheny Shamrock AC) second in a time of 30:46 and Tomas Fitzpatrick (Tallaght AC) placing third in a time of 30:47.

The elite men’s mile was won by defending champion Paul Robinson of Ireland who finished in four minutes two seconds, two seconds ahead of his compatriot John Travers who was a further two seconds ahead of Britain’s Ross Murray.

Republic of Ireland women’s national team showed their support for Breast Cancer Ireland’s Lace Up For A Cure campaign by wearing pink laces during training in the lead up to their World Cup qualifier against Germany at Tallaght Stadium.

The campaign, which will officially launch later this year, is being spearheaded

by Peamount United defender and former Ireland international Susan Byrne who lost her mother Philomena to breast cancer in April of last year.

There are a limited number of laces available through www.breastcancerireland.com priced at €5 each.

c o n ta c t s Sports Editor: Rob Heigh sfindlater@gazettegroup.com

For more information or to send in news and photos: sport@gazettegroup.com Phone: 01 651 6205

Gazette

28 Gazette 10 April 2014

SPORT

FastSport Ireland to face world champs sri lanka: CLONTARF will play host to cricket’s World T20 champions Sri Lanka on May 6 and 8, adding an extra attraction to the already enticing fixture at Castle Avenue.

Ireland will play the visitors in two 50-over matches with plenty of big names in their initial touring party.

Among them are star batsman Tillakaratne Dilshan along with a healthily stocked spin department including Ajantha Mendis, Rangana Herath and Sachithra Senanayake whilst cricket fans will be excited to see fast-bowler Lasith Malinga.

Ticket sales for the matches have been strong with initial demand outstripping last year’s RSA Insurance ODI Series against Pakistan at the same venue. There are discount tickets for a two-match package, with adults being able to see both games for €35, U-16s €12, and a family package (two adults, two kids) being priced at €89.

coaching: irish institute of sport process identifies candidates

Pursuit sets programme for future  sport@gazettegroup.com

THE Irish Institute o f S p o r t t h i s we e k announced the outcome of the Pursuit of Excellence Programme (PEP) application process with 34 high performance coaches from 20 sports successfully joining the programme.

Gary Keegan, director, Irish Institute of Sport, explained: “This announcement signals our most ambitious investment into high performance coaching.

“Fifty-seven coaches from 21 sports applied to come on the Pursuit of Excellence Programme.

We were delighted with this response and we would like to thank our NGB partners for ensuring that such a high number of talented coaches applied for the programme.”

PEP involves two targeted support programmes for both senior and emerging high performance coaches and got under way in February.

Podium is a three-year coach performance support programme, targeting high performance coaches with an eye on the 2016 Olympic Games.

Horizon is a 15-month programme targeting Ireland’s top high potential performance coaches.

The Podium group includes Irish sporting luminaries like boxing guru Billy Walsh, Davis Cup captain Garr y Cahill and Paralympic swimming medallist Dave Malone.

Malone, from Ballinteer, is now head of swimming at Swim Ireland and says that working

with this group of elite coaches provides a great sounding board to help improve thus far.

“The term ‘pursuit of excellence’ for me is a constant journey of improvement as an elite coach, leading your athletes in their programmes into competition on the world stage and giving them that extra edge.

“This has given me the confidence to try out new ideas and open my way to new ways of learning and impact the programmes for my athletes in a better capacity.

“The highlight was engaging with the coaching community on a wider scale, different levels of sport and working with elite athletes for Olympic and Paralympic level and learning about their experiences.

Eoin Rheinisch is one of the local sportspeople who have been accepted onto the high-performance coaching programme with the Irish Institute of Sport

A lot of them were common; a lot were completely new. It’s been a challenging and rewarding experience.”

On the Horizon program, Salmon Leap kayaker Eoin Rheinisch is on the list along with the likes of fellow Olympian Kenneth Egan and Mo n k s t ow n h o c ke y club head coach Graham Shaw.

All are making the switch from international player to top level coach after glittering

careers with Rheinisch now heading up Canoe Ireland’s junior and Under-23 elite groups.

“The pursuit of excellence has been the same for me as it has been as an athlete, constantly putting yourself in a position of discomfort in order to better yourself,” he said “That means never standing still and always trying to push myself as a coach.

“In the last year, I have improved a huge amount in terms of how

effective I am as a coach.

As a technical coach, I have always been quite strong but in other areas I have fallen down and it has been highlighted to me on this programme.

“The highlights [of the programme] are being mentored by the podium participants, having someone like Billy Walsh - the most successful coach in the country - sharing his experience and his knowledge has been invaluable.”

Ireland bounce back to claim win in Czech Republic  sport@gazettegroup.com

Republic of Ireland Under-18 head coach Paul Doolin hailed his young squad after an impressive 2-0 friendly victory over Czech Republic in Libcice nad Vltauou last week which saw the boys in green bounce back from a 2-0 defeat against the same opposition three days previously.

Goals by Cobh Ramblers striker Ryan Goldsmith and West Bromwich Albion’s Jack Hallahan helped claim the victory.

Ireland’s preparations were hampered by an injury to starting

keeper Peter Burke in the warmup but Harry Doherty stepped in and produced an accomplished display.

The Irish went ahead on 29 minutes when Goldsmith found the net with a brilliant left-footed free-kick.

St Patrick’s Athletic midfielder Jack Bayly came close to extending that lead with a 34th minute effort that flew across the goal-mouth and six minutes later Suchan shot just wide from a free-kick for the Czechs.

Hallahan wrapped up the scoring in the 89th minute when he

produced a clever finish after an excellent Irish move.

“It was a very good performance,” said Doolin. “The goals we conceded on Tuesday weren’t great but I knew it would be tough as we only met the lads on Saturday whereas the Czechs have a full programme and meet four times a month.

“It was a fantastic result and very good to keep a clean sheet.

We scored two fantastic goals from Ryan Goldsmith and Jack Hallahan.

“We came here not knowing much about opposition but we

did very well. The defending was excellent Dylan Barnett, Jamie Mulhall and Sean Heaney all did well – everybody worked very hard and we had to deal with their physicality. They were aggressive and strong.

“It’s a fantastic result. It’s incredible how much access the Czechs have with their Under-18s.

“The Czechs had periods of domination in the first half but we put in a very good display. It’s been a decent week.”

10 April 2014 Gazette 29

Gazette

Longford calling for their football future

FastSport

While many League of Ireland fans travel to Richmond Park or Tallaght Stadium to see their favourite team, several young men from west Dublin are plying their trade at Longford Town Girls Soccernites moves  nathan kelly sport@gazettegroup.com

Last year, two young coaches and a handful of players from Liffey Valley Rangers left the schoolboy club to join Longford Town’s Under-19 team.

Coaches Mark Connors and Derek McDonnell are now at the helm of that side, and four of their long-serving players — Lee Higgins, Dylan Nolan, Craig Fitzgerald and Giordano Cinelli — signed first team contracts with Town a couple of months ago.

GazeteSport began by asking Connors to sum up the first year.

“A mixed bag. There’s been some some frustration, disappointment, but a lot more good times, and then, ultimately, with the boys getting their opportunity with the first team, there’s been excitement.”

Connors’ right-hand man, McDonnell, has been working with him for several seasons now, beginning at Liffey Valley before making the move together last year.

“Overall, I think it’s been a great experience.

In terms of the facilities you play in, the professionalism around the club, you know you’re not at schoolboy level any more,” said McDonnell.

“Like when things that would have been a problem at a schoolboy club aren’t even an issue. Even though some of the results haven’t been great, it’s a great learning curve. It’s not all about results but we’ll learn for next season and push on.”

For the players, the stepup from DDSL to Airtricity was always going to be a big one. Striker Dylan Nolan, who broke into the first-team last season,

said: “It’s great, you’re playing in better grounds and training facilities, it’s brilliant. The standard is good, better than DDSL, which is where we played before.”

Right-midfielder Craig Fitzgerald expressed how he felt when asked to sign a first-team contract.

“When it came up, I didn’t even think about it.

To be given that opportunity to just train with the first team, it’s a different level. The ball comes to you and you haven’t got time to take a touch and another and another, you just have to think quicker so it’s tough but good.”

Talk turned to Liffey Valley, and Fitzgerald said: “I loved that team, it was only five minutes away from home and when I began playing for Liffey Valley, I never thought I’d become a footballer playing at this standard. When

Longford Town coaches Mark Connors and Derek McDonnell with players Lee Higgins, Dylan Nolan, Craig Fitzgerald and Giordano Cinelli

I played for my previous team, you just went down and trained once a week, but when you went to Valley, with the two coaches Mark and Derek, they took it so seriously.”

That Valley side, which ultimately disbanded when the coaches and players left for Longford

me. For me personally, it’s worked out because of how serious they take it, and the way the like to play, so they’ve been very big for me.”

With all four lads having already tasted firstteam action this season, albeit in a friendly, the question was put to the

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‘In terms of the facilities, the professionalism, you know you’re not at schoolboy level any more’ - Derek McDonnell --------------------------------------------------------

last year, can be deemed a big success for the Ballyowen-based club.

Five league titles, a promotion to DDSL Premier, three Kennedy Cup finalist places, 13 league representatives, four players offered trials in England (Fitzgerald tried out at Leeds United), four FAI emerging talent players, and one international through Dylan McKeever, who was with the Under19s last season but has now left Longford.

I put the question to Higgins, who was skipper at Valley for long periods, and has featured on the bench with Nolan for the first team this season, how big these two coaches have been in his footballing career so far, he replied: “They are two quality coaches, they take everything so serious, even at schoolboy level and that was big for

youngsters whether or not they are looking to break into the team this year or are happy to bide their time.

Cinelli’s answer reflected the thoughts of each of the lads: “I’m hoping to play, but I’m not too pushed with trying to get in right now, I’m only 17 so I can’t be expecting to play all the time but I’ll keep working hard and do my best.”

Amazingly, two more Clondalkin lads are also part of set-up at Longford Under-19’s, Keith Tomney and Jay Garvey are part of the backroom staff as fitness coach and kitman.

On that note, it is safe to say that the unique, footballing connection between Clondalkin and Longford is set to continue, and there is a bright future ahead in the game for the six young men I spoke to.

to Fairview for summer

Sport Against Racism Ireland (SARI)’s Girls’ Soccernites programme is moving its location this week and will be running every Friday evening from 5 to 6pm at Fairview Park.

The programme intends to use the game of soccer as a development and leadership training programme for young women from the ages of 13 to 18 years, and to increase equal participation of young women in soccer and sport in general in Ireland.

It involves inclusive participation for young women from different ethnic backgrounds in the inter-related divisions of the programme, which include on the pitch soccer training, a Leadership and Development Programme both on and off the pitch, outdoor and community activities and representing the team in national and international soccer competitions and educational programmes.

For more information on the Girls’ Soccernites, contact Tosin Omiyale on 087 266 1347 or Kerrie Clohessy on 086 265 2175, or e-mail info@sari.ie.

CYM close season with league double CYM’s women’s rugby team brought the curtain down on only their second season in the game by capturing the Paul Cusack Cup, and thus securing the Leinster Division 4 league and cup double.

Having booked their place in the cup final with a very convincing win over Blackrock RFC, the Terenure club saw off Templeogue’s St Mary’s in NUIM Barnhall last Saturday.

Hooker Ciara Flanagan and Brenda Healy scored tries to build a 10-3 lead at half-time before Healy extended the advantage in the second half.

The victory was sealed when woman of the match, prop Rachel Horan, ran from inside her own 10m line to score a well-deserved try, closing out the 20-3 win. “It is fantastic for the team to win the double. We all put in a huge effort this season to work towards this and it is great to achieve it. It was truly a team effort,” said captain Diane McIlhagga.

Gazette

30 dublin city gazette 10 April 2014

SPORT

athletics: national body promoting involvement, activity

FastSport

UCD women claim elite double with IHL final win Women’s Irish Hockey League final UCD Railway Union UCD win 2-1 on penalties  sport@gazettegroup.com

Irish long jump record holder Kelly Proper with Raheny Shamrock athletes at Morton Stadium last week. Picture: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE

1 1

UCD completed Irish hockey’s elite double in dramatic fashion at Havelock Park, prevailing against reigning champions Railway Union on penalties to add the Irish Hockey League title to the Senior Cup crown they won last month.

They were indebted to goalkeeper of the tournament, Tiffaney Ellis, who produced a nimble masterclass in the one-on-one shootout. She played a part in keeping out four of Railway’s five penalties, allowing Nikki Evans and Anna O’Flanagan to net the winning efforts, making it 2-1.

In normal time of a scrappy, error-strewn affair, it ended 1-1. Katie Mullan fired home a brilliant low goal to reflect the students’ first quarter dominance.

Railway awoke after that and piled forward in the second half but were frustrated to see a number of corner chances and a Julia O’Halloran sliding effort go a-begging.

But, after 50 minutes in arrears, they finally levelled on the hour when Emer Lucey’s booming long pass picked out Kate Dillon deep in UCD territory.

Her initial close-range shot was blocked

by Ellis before she thrashed in at the second attempt, setting up extra-time and penalties.

Usually in these instances, Railway – going for a fourth IHL win in five years – prevail having won their semi-final on Saturday in a shoot-out as well as last year’s final against Loreto.

But Ellis made the key interventions to swing it UCD’s way for the first time and add to their Senior Cup crown.

They set up the final with a 3-1 victory over Loreto on Saturday, riding their luck early on before storming to a comfortable win with O’Flanagan shooting home a great double while Nikki Evans closed out the win. Railway saw off Pegasus on penalties after normal time had ended 1-1.

New programme for kids  sport@gazettegroup.com

Young athletes from Raheny Shamrock AC recently attended the launch of the new partnership between Athletics Ireland and Forest Feast which will support the growth of grassroot athletics in Ireland through the major sponsorship of the Little Athletics programme.

Raheny Shamrock’s programme currently runs every Wednesday from 5.30 to 6.30pm, with over 150 children attending each week.

Ten of the young children from the Raheny Shamrock group were in attendance at the launch event held in Morton

Stadium, Santry. The children participated in a number of fun games which tested their physical fitness whilst enhancing their agility, co-ordination and balance.

Irish long jump record holder Kelly Proper, ambassador for the Forest Feast Little Athletics Programme, was on hand to advise and encourage the children throughout the morning’s activities.

Proper said: “The programme is fantastic for young children to be a part of. It encourages them to get active, develop their athletic ability and importantly have fun while doing so. Their involvement will help form a solid foundation

Champions!

DCU win intervarsity honours against UCD dcu claimed the women’s A Intervarsity basketball final beating city rivals UCD in front of a full house in DCU Sports Complex last week.

DCU dominated the game from early on, as Lyndsey Peat, Mimi Clarke and Deirdre Gainey found their feet to set up a winning platform early on, while MVP was top scorer Tessa Solan.

Picture: Ray Lohan / SPORTSFILE

for their future sporting life.”

The programme introduces young children (five to 10 years) to athletics in a fun, engaging and non-competitive environment. It focuses on the use of games to develop fitness whilst enhancing agility, co-ordination and balance - all fundamental to longer term physical athletic development.

Programme The Forest Feast Little Athletics programme is delivered in athletic clubs nationwide by Athletics Ireland’s regional development officers and athletics leaders, adults trained through the Athletic Leader coaching

qualification courses.

Throughout the year there will be four regional Jamborees which will see various clubs coming together for fun challenges and group activities.

Forest Feast field sales manager Christine Whelan said: “We firmly believe that establishing healthy habits at a young age is crucial for later life.

For that reason we’re committed to supporting grassroots sports and are proud to come on board as title sponsor of Little Athletics.

“As part of the Forest Feast Little Athletics programme, children will be encouraged to tumble, run, throw, hop and jump using a whole range of

equipment such as hurdles, medicine balls, foam javelins and hula hoops.

As such, the programme creates a very positive association between fun and fitness for children.”

Speaking at the launch of the Forest Feast Little Athletics programme, John Foley, CEO of Athletics Ireland, said: “The Forest Feast Little Athletics programme is all about participation and making athletics fun for kids and we can work to increase awareness and involvement across the country.”

More information on the Forest Feast Little Athletics programme can be found at www.athleticsireland.ie

10 April 2014 dublin city gazette 31

Gazette

Dublin secure Leinster Under-21 title  sport@gazettegroup.com

DUBLIN produced an efficient performance as they beat Meath 0-15 to 0-10 to claim the Cadbury Leinster U21FC final at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise last week.

The Dublin forwards made the most of their chances to see the metropolitans pick up

the title and with it an All-Ireland semi-final against either Cavan or Donegal.

The Dubs led 0-7 to 0-3 at the interval but that misrepresented the opening half to some degree as the Royals kicked eight wides and dropped a few more short as well as being brilliantly denied from

the penalty spot when Lorcan Molloy pulled off a great save to stop Bobby O’Brien’s effort.

On the restart Dublin began to exert greater influence in the middle third, particularly on the breaking ball with Niall Scully to the fore, and moved 0-11 to 0-4 by the 36th minute and Shane Carthy doing tro-

jan work.

From there to the finish Dublin kept Meath at arm’s length with points from Gavin Burke and Carthy extending the lead to 0-13 to 0-6 while the Dublin defence, with David Byrne particularly influential, ensured that Meath never got in for a lifeline of a goal to the finish.

FastSport

football: late goal seals dramatic victory

Kilmacud and O’Toole’s go joint top of AHL Division 1

Colaiste Iosagain captain Aedini Ni Dhonaill lifts the Tesco HomeGrown Post Primary School Senior A cup

Iosagain crowned All-Ireland champs all-ireland final Colaiste Iosagain Colaiste Dun Iascaigh  sport@gazettegroup.com

2-9 2-5

SUPERSUB Hannah Ni Dhea netted the late goal to seal a dramatic 2-9 to 2-5 victory for Colaiste Íosagain, Stillorgan, in Saturday’s Tesco Homegrown Post Primar y Schools All-Ireland senior A ladies football final at Dr Cullen Park in Carlow.

Ni Dhea goaled in stoppage time after Isolt Ni Riardain’s point in the final minute handed the winners a slender one-point lead against

Colaiste Dun Iascaigh from Cahir, Tipperary.

The Dubliners were full value for the win but they had to work desperately hard for it after falling 0-1 to 1-3 behind within nine minutes.

In landing the national title, they became the first Dublin side to land the national team, closing out an outstanding year.

Indeed, no side from the capital had won the Leinster championship prior to this year but the side, packed with players from Foxrock Cabinteely, Cuala, Kilmacud Crokes, Ballyboden St Enda’s, Naomh Olaf and Ball-

inteer St John’s showed their appetite for the big occasion.

R o i s i n How a r d ’s goal handed Dun Iascaigh the early initiative but Alanah Nic Eoin responded in kind for Colaiste Iosagain in the 14th minute to hand the newly-crowned champions a route back into the game.

At half-time, Iosagain had established a twopoint lead, 1-6 to 1-4, and the scene was set for an incredible second half.

The sides traded early points in the second half before Dun Iascaigh

bagged their second goal of the game in the 37th minute, with Caoimhe Condon on target.

That strike handed the Tipperary side a 2-5 to 1-7 lead but Ni Riardain’s 38th minute point levelled matters again.

R e m a r k a b l y, t h e game remained scoreless from there until the final minute, when Ni Riardain popped over the lead score for Colaiste Iosagain.

And when Ni Dhea pounced from close range in stoppage time, the senior A silverware was heading for the capital for the very first time.

KILMACUD Crokes’ draw with Ballyboden St Enda’s and O’Toole’s win over Ballinteer St John’s has seen the sides move into a share of top spot of AHL Division 1 with St Jude’s after three rounds of action.

With Oisin O’Rorke and Paul Ryan trading scores, Crokes had led Boden 0-10 to 0-9 in front of a large south Dublin crowd. Boden fought back in the second half to build a two point lead but O’Rorke, en route to a tally of six points, scored the last two points of the tie to level matters at 0-14 each.

The two sides will meet again in the group stages of the senior championship.

For O’Toole’s, they were 12-point victors over Ballinteer St John’s with Peadar Carton landing 0-12 while Danny Webster got the goal in the closing 10 minutes. St John’s had kept themselves in touch with Aodan Clabby leading the charge but, having trailed by four points with 10 minutes left, they fell to a 1-19 to 0-10 defeat.

St Jude’s, the only side in the division with a perfect record to date, did not play their game against St Vincent’s switched to Monday, April 14

in Marino by agreement of the two clubs.

Last year’s championship finalists Lucan Sarsfields, meanwhile, got off their first win of the season with a 12-point away win over Na Fianna on Mobhi Road last Saturday.

They cut loose in the second half of the tie, transforming their 1-10 to 0-9 lead into a resounding victory with Johnny McCaffrey and Peter Kelly making telling returns from intercounty duty.

Alan Whyte’s early goal set the tone when he applied the finish following on from some top work by John Bellew, skilfully setting up his team mate.

Joey Boland reeled in that gap but, with the wind in the second half, Kelly landed a monster score while Niall Stagg came off the bench to land another point from a very tight angle.

Lucan were enjoying themselves at this stage and were gifted a second goal when the flight of Chris Crummey’s dropping ball was misread and escaped Adam Flaherty’s clutches.

They went on to win 2-22 to 0-16.

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april 10, 2014

living la vida longford: Former Liffey Valley stars on life at League of Ireland club P29

Council’s school finals a huge success  stephen findlater

sport@gazettegroup.com

FINGAL County Council’s Sports Office hosted an “unprecedented” 1,600 students from 55 schools from around the region on Tuesday in the biggest athletics event run by a local office.

The Fingal Athletics League Finals day brought third to sixth class boys and girls – who had been initially competing in groups in Swords and Blanchardstown – to the Morton Stadium to contest races ranging from 350m to 650m.

Every participant received a medal for participating while they also got a chance to try out the javelin, shot

put, hurdles and sprint sections on the fun field after completing their race.

Speaking about the turnout, Niall McGuirk, Senior Sports Development Officer, Fingal County Council said it was an incredible event and has grown beyond all recognition since it was first introduced eight years ago with eight schools taking part.

“That was an unbelievable, unprecedented turnout. Last year, we had 40 schools; 55 is incredible” he told GazetteSport. “The logistics are tough but the support we had from clubs and, of course, Athletics Ireland,was huge. There were volunteers from Fingal Volunteers Centre,

numerous clubs from around Fingal, a team of over 40 helping out.

“It was a massive undertaking. No other county council in Dublin has run an event like that for kids like we did today. Of course, the sun was shining so that really helped!”

The event was run in partnership with Athletics Ireland and is supported by a number of Fingal’s Athletics Clubs with Balbriggan AC, Lusk AC, Fingallians AC, Clonliffe Harriers AC and Portmarnock AC all contributing to this fantastic event.

“This programme was aimed at creating a fun environment for children to become physically active and to give children of all abilities an opportunity to take part in athletics.

“Obviously, due to the numbers attending, schools are happy with the league and it wouldn’t be such a success without the commitment shown by the teachers and principals who are all helping to develop a strong sporting ethos in their respective schools.

“That represents 50% of the schools in Fingal. It’s not winner takes all, first past the post. Some of those kids may never be athletes or going to an Olympics.

“But they have got to run in an international athletics stadium, the same one Derval O’Rourke will do the 100m hurdles in, and got a medal Joanne Umeh and Heather Murphy in their pocket so I think it was a from Castleknock National School at Morton Stadium this week great day.”