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€18.5m housing funding freed up KEITH BELLEW
ENVIRONMENT Minister Alan Kelly recently met Dublin City councillors and agreed to release €18.5m extra funding for homeless services after weeks of calls for him to do so. The public representatives said Minister Kelly promised them an extra €18.5m at a meeting late last year following the death of homeless man Jonathan Corrie near Leinster House.
Along with the release of the €18.5m shortfall, Minister Kelly also gave a commitment to fund extra social housing units on sites yet to be identified and turn around as many void units as the council can. Chair of Dublin City Council’s Housing Committee, Cllr Daithi Doolan (SF), welcomed the outcome of the meeting saying councillors are satisfied the Minister has agreed to release the funding. Full Story on Page 6
A portrait of the supermodel: Naomi Campbell worth the wait INTERNATIONAL catwalk queen Naomi Campbell left the media waiting in true diva style before winning everyone over with her soft voice and polite manner. She stunned in a leather-look dress, accessorised with silver,
of course! In town to launch Newbridge Silverware’s Little Blue Box campaign, the new face of the iconic brand said she was fascinated by the company’s heritage and evolution. Picture: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland
2 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 10 September 2015
CROSSINGS San Francisco inspires proposal to lift tourism
Rainbow walks to boost LGBT visits A PROPOSAL for rainbow coloured pedestrian crossings at several key locations in the city to build on the success of the marriage referendum and boost LGBT tourism has been made by Dubliner Dale McDermott with the help of Cllr Noel Rock (FG). Speaking to The Gazette, McDermott said that the areas proposed: George’s Street, outside City Hall and Panti Bar on Capel Street, all have significant meaning to the LGBT community. He added that he got the idea for “rainbow walks” as they are
KEITH BELLEW kbellew@dublingazette.com
known after visiting San Francisco over the summer. “One of the locations we travelled through was the Castro District, that would be the gay area in the city. “When we went there we were absolutely amazed by these rainbow coloured pedestrian crossings, and by the
amount of tourists there viewing them, taking pictures and selfies with them, and I wondered why Dublin couldn’t have them,” he said. He had done some research on these rainbow walks, he said, when he returned to Dublin and found that numerous other cities around the world including, west Hollywood, Tel Aviv, Sydney, and Vancouver had them. “I thought that a really fitting tribute to Ireland being the first country in the world to pass marriage equality by popular vote would be installing
a rainbow walk somewhere in Dublin City Centre. I put together a proposal, picked three locations that I thought were quite relevant to the LGBT community in Ireland and I submitted it. With the help of Cllr Rock, hopefully we can get it through,” he said. He has found the reaction and feedback so far from Dublin City councillors has been really positive. One such councillor is Daithi Doolan (SF) who has contacted the chief executive of Dublin City Council to see if it is a viable project. At the time of writing he was awaiting a response. McDermott said that he would like to see it in place by the time of the 1916 Centenary celebrations next year. “Part of the whole marriage equality debate was that the proclamation wasn’t actually being
An artistic rendering of a rainbow crossing which has been proposed for several key locations in the city and (inset) a rainbow walk in the Castro District of San Francisco
fulfilled correctly. “Where it says in the proclamation that Ireland should cherish all its children equally, that wasn’t occurring at the time. “I feel that if we got this in by then it would be a fitting tribute to the 1916 rising, and a fitting
tribute to the marriage referendum results,” he said. He went on to say that he believes it would also provide a great boost to tourist numbers in the city. “There was a report launched [recently] that said that LGBT tourism
is worth about €843m to the Irish economy every year. That’s €2.4m every day, and I can guarantee that that would surge if these become a really big international tourist attraction, as I saw myself in the Castro district in San Francisco,” he said.
Call for radical action over drugs AISLING KENNEDY
THE Ana Liffey Drugs Project is calling for new and radical initiatives to be implemented to tackle the problem of drug users injecting intravenous drugs on the streets of Dublin city centre. In pictures carried across the national media recently, shocking images show drug-users undressing in public to inject heroin and other drugs into themselves.
Tony Duffin, director of the Ana Liffey Drugs Project, told The Gazette that the issue of people injecting on the streets during the day is a complex situation that needs to be addressed urgently. Duffin said: “It is a very dangerous thing to do, in terms of increasing a person’s risk of overdose, and it also increases the risk of HIV as people are sharing public spaces and
Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Second Floor, Heritage House, Dundrum Office Park, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers
sharing needles, which is very risky behaviour.” He said that most drug addicts do not want to inject publicly, but they have been left with no other option. “Nobody is happy with it including the p e o p l e t h e m s e l ve s . Businesses nearby are unhappy about it and it’s not a nice thing for tourists to see.” Duffin said that he would like to see new initiatives created by the Government, such as opening medicallysuper vised injection centres, or opening emergency treatment and rehabilitation centres. “Yes, it would require
funding, but by opening places such as medically-supervised injection centres, it would save money in the long run. It would mean that people would not have to travel to hospital in ambulances and be admitted to A&E departments. So it would save money elsewhere.” Junior Drugs Minister Aodhan O’Riordan said that he wants to see legislation for such centres introduced as soon as possible. He is hoping to get Cabinet approval soon for a new heads of bill for the Misuse of Drugs Act that would make it possible to use such centres.
10 September 2015 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 3
planning Construction scheduled to start in early 2016 will start mid-year
Missed deadlines set to delay hospital work aisling kennedy
N at io n a l C h i l d r e n ’s Hospital is once again in the spotlight as it has emerged that the agency behind the hospital project missed two deadlines for submitting the planning application for the new site. Work was due to start at the new children’s hospital, set to
be located at St James’s Hospital in Dublin, in early 2016 but it is now envisaged that works will be pushed back to mid-2016. The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) originally had a deadline of June 2015 to file the planning papers but the deadline was missed. The following month, despite
levy: option given to nine local authorities
City council empowered to cut LPT ian begley
Dublin City Council was included in nine local authorities around Ireland that have been given the option to reduce the local property tax (LPT) for homeowners by up to 15% in their areas. Under the current system, councils retain 80% of the money collected from the property tax, with the remaining 20% channelled into a Government-operated equalisation fund. The decision to change the rates must be communicated to the Revenue Commissioners by September 30. Dublin city councillors last year voted for the full 15% cut, despite warnings from chief executive Owen Keegan that the decision could hit homeless services. Cllr Ciaran Cuffe (GP) was the only councillor to agree with Keegan and vote against the reduction. Speaking to The Gazette, Cllr Cuffe said he still didn’t want to reduce the LPT this year, but had to discuss it with his party colleagues before making an official decision. “I know there’s a press-
ing need for investment in housing and other issues within the city so I’ll be listening to all sides before making a decision. “I certainly don’t want to reduce the LPT this year. If anything we need more money in the city to tackle the growing homeless crisis and other issues,” he said. Those who voted to reduce the LPT did so last year as they believed it would not change the level or quality of service the council provides and anticipated a positive impact on the local economy. Minister for Environment Alan Kelly said: “The LPT is designed to become a stable and sustainable source of funding and will enable local authorities to become more self-sufficient in terms of their funding. “While local authority members have full discretion over whether to reduce or increase the local LPT rate, I would ask them to be mindful of certain vital local services that could benefit from that funding such as homelessness services,” he said.
warnings from Health Minister Leo Varadkar not to miss the July deadline, the NPHDB once again missed the second deadline. An Bord Pleanala finally received the planning application for the new children’s hospital on August 10, 2015. According to the timetable for the planning phase of the hospital which was outlined
by project director John Pollock in April, planning was to be lodged by June 2015, a decision on the application was “expected around December”, construction was due to start next January and “completion will be in 2019.” According to recently published tender documents, however, works may not begin until mid-2016 with completions
scheduled for the end of 2019. A spokesperson for the board said: “In a project as complex and significant as this, slight delays in the submission for planning occur in order to ensure the extensive inputs from varied stakeholder groups are appropriately integrated.” The start date will now depend on the outcome of the
planning process. A spokesperson for Minister Varadkar told the Gazette that the most important thing was that the planning application had been lodged and said that this brought the new Children’s Hospital “a big step closer”. He added: “An Bord Pleanala will now consider the application over the coming months.”
4 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 10 September 2015
smart city Residents help council to help them improve their local areas
North city competitors pull out all the stops keith bellew
COMMUNITIES in north central Dublin will soon compete in the citywide City Neighbourhoods Competition 2015 on September 24 at Croke Park after performing strongly in the competition’s local heat.
The winners and participants were presented with certificates by Cllr Larry O’Toole (SF) on behalf of Lord Mayor Criona Ni Dhalaigh (SF) in Parnell’s GAA Club, Coolock. Dublin City Council asked all the citizens, schools, businesses and many previous entrants of
the north central area to participate in the event. The essence of the competition is the local residents and businesses working along with Dublin City Council to improve their area with the motto “helping us to help you” being at the core of the whole event.
“I am delighted to acknowledge the great work that all participants of this competition have done in their local area. It is wonderful to see such pride in our city, with great efforts being put in by our residents, schools and businesses alike” said Cllr O’Toole.
Deputy Terence Flanagan (RI) congratulated the winners of the north central area heat of the local authority’s Neighbourhoods Competition 2015. “Well done to all the winners in the local heat who go on to compete in the citywide City Neighbourhoods Competition
2015 shortly. Many residents groups, schools and other organisations have undertaken hours of hard work to maintain and improve their communities. I really admire those who selflessly donate their spare time to improve the city for all of us,” he said.
The Guinness Storehouse tops World Travel Awards The Guinness Storehouse has been named Europe’s leading tourist attraction in the prestigious World Travel Awards. Hailed as the Oscars of the travel industry and decided by open vote, the award was presented to the Guinness Storehouse last night at the European Gala Ceremony in Forte Village, Sardinia which was attended by hundreds of tourism and hospitality leaders from across the world. Shortlisted alongside some of Europe’s most historic and recognisable attractions including the Acropolis; Buckingham Palace;
La Sagrada Familia, Spain; Ribeira do Porto, Portugal; the Roman Colosseumand the Eiffel Tower it was Ireland’s top tourist spot that won the largest public vote. Speaking at the awards ceremony, Paul Carty, managing director, Guinness Storehouse, said: “Today is a ver y proud day for the Guinness Storehouse team. “We were honoured to have been shortlisted amongst such iconic attractions but to be voted by the public as Europe’s leading tourist attraction goes beyond anything we could have imagined.
Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF): “Behind all of these numbers are countless extremely upsetting cases of families who have no place to call home.”
crisis: Homelessness higher, says Fianna Fail
Coalition housing data contested keith bellew
THE Government has hit out at Fianna Fail following statements it released accusing the Department of the Environment of misleading the country about the numbers on the housing lists in Dublin, saying Fianna Fail’s figures are inaccurate. Fianna Fail obtained Freedom of Information documents which put the overall numbers on housing lists in Dublin at 44,164, 38% higher than the Governments figure. Senator Darragh O’Brien (FF) said there were now 21,015 applicants on the social housing waiting list in Dublin
City, along with 8,871 in Fingal County Council, 8,807 in South Dublin, and 5,471 in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown, a total of 44,164. “Behind all of these numbers are countless extremely upsetting cases of families who have no place to call home. I am inundated on a weekly basis with families contacting me who are desperate for help to find a home. Many are stuck in totally inappropriate emergency accommodation, packed into hotel rooms with young children and no idea where they will go next,” he said. He added that the Government was using data
from 2013, when there were fewer people on these lists, in an attempt to mislead the public. A Department spokesperson said the FF figure was inaccurate as it was based on erroneous data. “The FF method is only a snapshot and does not take account of a full assessment of needs and includes erroneous data for the following reasons: duplications – people who applied to more than one local authority, no needs assessment, changed circumstances of applicants, applicants allocated housing, applicants refusing offers of housing and applicants for one reason or another no longer
requiring a house,” said the spokesperson. They added that the Social Housing Strategy was based on the 2013 assessment carried out by Housing Agency, an independent authority with expertise on housing. These surveys were usually carried out every three years, but will be annual from next year. “The summary was carried out in a robust analytical way that engaged all local authorities who had to contact directly everybody on their housing list - carried out a housing assessment and updated their status and reported on a particular date,” said the spokesperson.
10 September 2015 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 5
service Local activist cites ‘persistent neglect’
Transport on northside in the spotlight keith bellew
LOCAL Dr umcondra activist Donal O’Brolchain expressed his frustration to the Gazette this week at what he perceives is a “persistent and longterm neglect and lack of public investment to enhance public transport in the north city.” This follows media reports that Transport Minister Paschal Donohoe has opted for a Luas link from Cabra to the airport and Swords.
His Department will not comment until the capital plan is announced shortly. No matter which of the six shortlisted options for a nor th Dublin transport solution wins, O’Brolchain says none of them is good enough as they focus too heavily on Fingal and the airport and do not adequately cater for the north city. He favours extending Luas CrossCity through Finglas, Charlestown/ Poppintree, Ballymun, Santry and Drumcon-
dra, with spurs to the airport and Swords, a DART/Suburban Rail at Howth Junction (taking in Coolock, Donaghmede); and a Docklands loop linking the existing Green and Red on-street Luas lines. He said it made far more sense to prioritise the north city because it has the largest population. The 2011 Census showed its population was 306,425 whereas Fingal was 273,991, the south city was 221,186, Dun Laoghaire Rath-
It makes far more sense to prioritise the north city transport wise because it has the largest population, according to a local activist
d ow n w a s 2 0 6 , 2 61 and South Dublin was 265,205. He said there was more rail transport available in the southern part of Dublin’s core economic area than on the northside despite this population difference. “The northside has been discriminated against
again. There’s a complete focus on the airport when the evidence from the National Transport Authority shows it’s not an issue in terms of traffic times and where people are going,” he said. Cllr Larry O’Toole (SF) believes the area should have been considered for a Luas line
years ago, especially given its proximity to the airport. He pointed out that there was the Luas green line in the southeast, the red line in the southwest, a soon-to-be-announced project which will cater for Fingal, but still the north city has not got a Luas line.
events Political Leaders Series Dublin Chamber of Commerce kicked off a new Political Leaders Series of events recently with an address from Tanaiste and Minister for Social Protection Joan Burton at the O’Callaghan Davenport Hotel, Merrion Street. The theme of the Tanaiste’s address was the Labour Party’s position on business policies and also the party’s vision for Dublin. The aim of the Political Leaders Series is to give Dublin businesses an opportunity to hear directly from those who want to lead Ireland after the next General Election. This briefing was the first in a series of seven political leader’s events that will take place over the next two months.
6 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 10 September 2015
don’sdublin
council Cross-party delegation meeting
Fruitful thoughts of a sickly child stoke the fires to create Dracula Abraham “Bram” Stoker was born in 15 Marino Crescent, Fairview, on November 8, 1847, the third of seven children and baptised in the Church of Ireland, Clontarf on December 30. He was a sickly child and did not attend school until he was seven. As such, he spent much time reading and he noted years later “I was naturally thoughtful, and the leisure of long illness gave opportunity for many thoughts which were fruitful according to their kind in later years.” He made a full recovery from his early illness and studied mathematics in Trinity College where he graduated with honours. He was a keen sportsman and was awarded Athlete of the Year, as well as being auditor of the Historical Society and president of the Philosophical Society. Oscar Wilde was a contemporary who Stoker proposed for membership of the Philosophical Society. Years later, after Wilde’s release from Reading Gaol, Stoker visited him in Paris. Coincidently, Wilde had once courted Florence Balcombe who Stoker married in 1878. She was almost the “girl next door” as she lived at 1 Marino Crescent, a few doors from the Stoker household. Stoker was always interested in theatre and became the Dublin Evening Mail’s (co-owned by the great Gothic writer Sheridan Le Fanu) theatre critic, and respected for his incisive reviews. After seeing Henry Irving, the greatest actor his generation, play Hamlet in the Theatre Royal, the two met for dinner in the Shelbourne Hotel. Irving invited him to London to be his business manager, and he and Florence moved in 1878. He acted for Irving until the actor’s death in 1905. He travelled extensively with Irving, met many famous people, and all the time kept writing. He produced a dozen books, countless articles and short stories, but it is Dracula (1897) for which he is best remembered. It has been the source of inspiration for writers and was first filmed in 1922. The sickly boy’s “fruitful thoughts” had certainly been realised.
Don Cameron
www.donsdublin. wordpress.com 15 Marino Crescent, Fairview where author Abraham “Bram” Stoker (inset) was born in 1847
Cllr Paul McAuliffe (FF): “The housing and homeless crisis has got immeasurably worse.”
€18.5m released to help the homeless ian begley and
keith bellew
Environment Minister Alan Kelly recently met Dublin City councillors and agreed to release €18.5m extra funding for homeless services after weeks of calls for him to do so. The public representatives said Minister Kelly promised them an extra €18.5m at a meeting late last year following the death of homeless man Jonathan Corrie near Leinster House. So far the money has not been forthcoming and councillors have been pressing the Minister for a meeting. Apart from the issue of funding, the overall purpose of the meeting was to address the capital’s homeless crisis. It was attended by a cross-party delegation
of the city’s councillors led by lord mayor Criona Ni Dhalaigh (SF), with Dublin City Council chief executive Owen Keegan and the director of the Dublin Region Homeless Executive Cathal Morgan also present. Dublin South-Central councillor and chairman of the council’s housing strategic policy committee, Daithi Doolan (SF), welcomed this commitment to ensure homeless services would be funded to the end of the year. He said: “We agreed on quite a comprehensive agenda and we strived to discuss as much as possible within a limited time frame. We are satisfied that the Minister has agreed to release the funding for homeless services.” Speaking after the
meeting Lord Mayor Ni Dhalaigh said: “I welcome the commitments made by [Alan Kelly] to implement a number of proactive measures, in some key areas that will help address the immediacy of the homeless crisis in Dublin. “While all of these measures represent very positive outcomes in the short to medium term, there remains a lot of work to be done at local level, to guarantee that we create the environment in which we can deliver on these objectives. We will be working very closely with the Minister’s Department to ensure that all the measures necessary are taken, to bring the commitments made by him to fruition,” she said. Commitment
The councillors also
said they had secured a commitment from Minister Kelly to fund the provision of extra social housing units on sites they would identify within the next few weeks, and to turn around as many void units as the council can turn around. There are currently 950 vacant housing units in the city that are in need of refurbishment before they are habitable. The Minister has now agreed to demands from Dublin councillors to immediately invest in bringing these units up to scratch by the end of the year. Fianna Fail leader on Dublin City Council Paul McAuliffe, welcomed this saying it is completely unacceptable that there are nearly a thousand vacant housing units sitting idle
in the city while there are “so many homeless families desperate for somewhere to go”. “Many of these units need very little work to make them suitable homes. While the number is relatively small in terms of the housing that is needed, this measure will at least provide a muchneeded home to nearly a thousand families and individuals by the end of the year,” he said. He went on to say that it was essential that the Minister kept his word on this. “Unfortunately, we have seen all too many promises from Minister Kelly over the past few months that have resulted in nothing, and the housing and homeless crisis has got immeasurably worse,” he said.
10 September 2015 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 7
back to school: big turnout at fair for adult learning opportunities
gardai
Stolen car returned to visiting couple
Get on track for further education
UP TO 250 people from Dublin’s northside recently attended this year’s Northside Partnership Adult Education Fair at the Northside Civic Centre to find out about the adult learning opportunities available to them from 16 different local education providers exhibiting at the fair. Exhibitors at the event included National College of Ireland, Colaiste Dhulaigh College of Further Education, Dublin Business School (DBS), and the Northside Centre for the Unemployed. Karl Brien from DBS, who participated in the event to provide information on Government-funded Springboard courses available from the school,
said there was a high level of interest among attendees at the event. “I’ve been busy talking to a lot of people. A lot of people are interested in doing the IT and digital marketing courses. Through Springboard, people can get a free parttime college place...they can apply online at www. springboardcourses.ie. We also take their details and invite them to our open evenings where they can find out more.” Attending the event this year was Jennifer Staunton from Artane, who was accompanied by her mother, Ellen, who said her daughter was attending the fair in search of a new career direction. “Last year Jennifer did
a one-year course in hairdressing but has been finding it really hard to get an apprenticeship with a hairdressers ever since. We’re here looking for a course that can help her to change direction. “She was always very good with computers and there are jobs in that area so we want to find out about computer science courses. Coming to a fair like this is great because the information on offer is very visible and easy to explore.” The fair is organised by the Northside Partnership’s Education and Career Guidance Service and offers young people and adults the opportunity to explore education opportunities available.
Going for gold: Spotlight on childhood cancer in September tyrese Mc Arthur from Cork Street is pictured at the third annual Light It Up Gold walk for childhood cancer awareness. The Childhood Cancer Foundation launched the campaign with a candlelit walk in Dublin’s city centre on September 5. The launch included a family fun day. St Patrick’s Cathedral lit up gold for the event and will remain throughout September for childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Picture: Angela Halpin
A car stolen from a couple on their first day in Dublin has been recovered. Sebastian Smulders (33) and Lena Weiss (24) decided to visit Ireland on a camping trip, but while in Dublin their car was taken on Sean McDermott Street, along with all their belongings, including their passports, which were stored inside . To their good fortune the car was found in Dublin’s north inner city by a member of the public, close to the spot where it was stolen. The car has since been returned to the couple and gardai are continuing to investigate the incident.
8 Dublin city Gazette 10 September 2015
gazetteGALLERIES
Rick O’Shea and playwright Simon Stephens deep in conversation
theatre: looking ahead to the arrival of a curious incident
P
LAYWRIGHT Simon Stephens was guest of honour at Dubray Books recently, where he was in conversation with Rick O’Shea, and book and theatre lovers. Stephens’s visit and fascinating insight into the creative process came ahead of the highly-anticipated arrival of the award-winning play, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, which comes to the Bord Gais Energy Theatre from October 6 to 10 as part of the Dublin Theatre Festival. The Rick O’Shea Book Club event, held in association with Dubray Books, the Bord Gais Energy Theatre and The National Theatre of Great Britain, was a hit with all.
Members of the Red Rock cast, who promise another strong mix of storylines ahead. Pictures: Brian McEvoy
media: tv3 kick off its autumn scheduling
Station is on the ball at the Aviva
Fiona Clarke and Nada Zareula
Liz O’Shea, Garry Ryland and Sharon O’Neill
Liz Nugent and Louise O’Neill
A
HOST of TV3 stars gathered at the Aviva Stadium recently to help launch the channel’s autumn schedule, with early morning and late night presenters alike rubbing shoulders with their afternoon and evening show colleagues. With TV3 having secured exclusive rights to this year’s Rugby World Cup matches, its rugby pundits were also out in force at the stadium. In addition to securing many hit British and international shows, TV3 was also keen to flag its home-produced shows, with a number of Irish features and documentary series to run with the likes of Red Rock. Several familiar faces from across Irish broadcasting rounded out the collective cast, with chief executive David McRedmond promising a great season of scheduling ahead.
David McRedmond, chief
Laura McGuigan, Natalie Hand and Claire O’Neill. Pictures: Brian McEvoy
executive, TV3 Group
Tv3’s Rugby World Cup team
10 September 2015 dublin city Gazette 9
The breakfast TV presenters were in fine fettle
Brian Ormonde and Pippa O’Connor
Paul Kelly, Lilly Higgins and Anna Nolan
Martin King and Lucy Kennedy
It didn’t take presenter Glenda Gilson long to get Vincent Browne to smile
10 Gazette 10 September 2015
gazetteGALLERY
Darren King, Sam Cassidy and Nathan Hill
Esther Woods, Elaine Galvin and Hazel McMahon at the Miss Ireland 2015 final. Pictures: Brian McEvoy
Lovely girls give it a go to be Miss Ireland 2015
F
ATHER Ted Crilly would have been delighted to see all the lovely girls in attendance at the Miss Ireland 2015 final held in the Crowne Plaza Northwood recently, where young ladies from all across the island of Ireland had gathered, hoping to claim the crown.
Several household names were also in attendance at the glittering finale, which presented judges with the difficult task of selecting an overall winner to go on to Sanya, China, to compete in Miss World in December. Ultimately, Miss Antrim Sacha Livingston claimed the title, with the
Belfast portrait artist impressing judges and fellow contenders alike with her natural poise, charm and personality, as well as her beauty, of course. In addition to the glory of representing Ireland in China, Sacha’s prizes include a full wardrobe of dresses, and make-up and nail care for a year.
Michaela O’Neill and Ryan Andrews
Chanelle O’Dwyer and Elaine Crowley
Emer O’Reilly, Jane Lundon and Mary Lee
Rosalyn Odujete
Kathy Prendeville and Isabelle Collins
10 September 2015 Gazette 11
culture P23
dublinlife Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week
a day in the life: Trevor tosses the 9 to 5 life for a more controlled one
what’son
Biting back at the bedbugs Ian Begley
If you thought your job was bad, then how about trying your luck at exterminating rats and cleaning up after dead bodies for a living? Well, that’s exactly what Dubliner Trevor Hayden does. Working in IT for years, Hayden decided that the typical 9 to 5 office lifestyle wasn’t for him. This week The Gazette caught up with Hayden to see what a typical day for him is like as a pest control manager and crime scene cleaner. “We get a lot of calls from people complaining about rat infestations in their homes. When I’m out on call we set up traps as opposed to poison because if a rat is poisoned you have no control over where it dies and it can begin to smell really badly. “We have also invented a trap that remotely tells us whenever it has caught a rodent at a specific address. Recently, I was at a very nice Georgian house where they had a rat that died underneath their floorboards. Although it smelled very badly I managed to remove it with great effort and clean the area around where it died. I have bit of OCD when it comes to cleaning and I’m very happy when I do a thorough job.” Hayden added that on a typical day people would also call him about other types of pest problems, such as cockroaches, flies and bedbugs (a
comedy comes unhinged: A series of stand-up comedy shows are now taking place every Wednesday and Sunday at the Ha’Penny Bridge Inn, Wellington Quay from 9pm. Unhinged Comedy will see a seasoned line-up of comedians spreading laughter from the stage to the audience and surrounding areas. The show is managed and organised by Connor McDonough-Flynn, a comedian who’s been performing around Ireland and internationally for over five years. Performers will include rising comedian Joe Dowlin who is a regular MC at the Battle of the Axe comedy night in the Ha’Penny Bridge Inn and is also the cofounder of the popular Talla Craic Comedy House, Tallaght. Edinburgh Fringe fest comedian Diane O’Connor will also be there on the night. She has performed all over Ireland and the UK. Ticket are priced from €6 to €8 and can be purchased from www.eventbrite.ie. For more information visit www.conmcflynn.com or see the Unhinged Comedy Club Facebook page.
personal fear of his). “We get a good few calls about bedbugs during the summer months or when people accidentally take them home when they return from their holidays. We deal with them a lot, but the thoughts of bringing one of them home just freaks me out.” His experience in the pest control business eventually led to another field altogether - cleaning up after human remains have been removed from a scene.
Deaths “Now and again I would get a call to clean up the area of a place where someone has died. Most of the jobs we are called out to are unattended deaths. If someone has died and no one has found them for a number of months we then would have to clean whatever has been left behind. “When we’re cleaning a scene we have to be 100% thorough. You could wipe a surface down and it may look clean but it could be full of germs and bacteria so that’s why we have to be extremely careful about not overlooking anything.” Asked if this type of work carries any emotional burdens after he returns home after a long day of work, Hayden said: “The very first job I did played havoc with my mind with all sorts of stuff running through my head while in bed. Now I don’t even think about it.”
feature P24
Gazette
diary P12
Trevor Hayden talks about a typical day as a pest control manager
12 Gazette 10 September 2015
Gazette
dublinlife Kevin finds it in his Hart to come to Dublin on tour
US comedian and actor Kevin Hart will be visiting Irish shores in January 2016 and tickets will go on sale for his international comedy show this week. T he funny man is famous for roles in movies including The Wedding Ringer which took in over $80m (€72m) internationally and Get
Hard where he starred alongside Will Ferrell. He has announced a massive world tour after a hugely successful domestic comedy tour in the US earlier this year. He will be visiting Dublin’s 3Arena on Friday, January 22, 2016 to perform in his international comedy show
What Now? Tour and tickets go on sale on September 10, 2015. Hart’s international comedy tour will see him visiting Ireland, Australia, Belgium, Germany and South Africa for the first time. Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster. ie and for more information on tour dates log
diary
onto www.aikenpromotions.com.
calling all budding young artists Sighttsavers is calling on budding young artists in Dublin to enter the 2015 Junior Painter of the Year Awards. Open to primary school students of all ages, thousands of children are expected to enter the competition this year featuring the new theme, Imagine 2030. A lot can change in 15 years so Sighstavers is inviting primary school students to be inspired and create an artwork that shows how they want the world they live in to look in the year 2030. Student artists have a chance to win appropriately arty prizes not just for themselves but for their classmates too, and substantial cash prizes of €200, €300 and €1,000 for their schools with thanks to the Irish Times. Fifteen regional winners will be selected and will have the opportunity to see their work displayed at a special awards day in February 2016 where three overall national winners will be announced. Submissions for this competition must be completed by November 27. For more information visit www.sightsavers.ie/juniorpainter.
US comedian Kevin Hart, who will be playing to Dublin audiences next January
start talking about mental health A campaign to get people involved in the conversation of suicide was launched recently and people from all around Dublin are invited to take part. Suicide or Sur vive (SOS) is running its annual High Tea and Talk campaign in an attempt to raise aware-
ness about mental health. World Suicide Prevention Day takes place on September 10 and SOS are encouraging people to take time out with a loved one or a friend to have a cup of tea and a chat as this is a great way to get people to talk about any problems they might be experiencing. The campaign is ask-
ing people to host a tea morning with friends, in the workplace, or within a local community group to raise awareness of mental health. To get involved contact Jacqui at SOS on jacqui@suicideorsurvive.ie or call 1890 577 577 and the charity will send an information pack. Alternatively you can donate €4 by texting SOS4 to 50300.
Bride Groom SEPTEMBER 10, 2015
Let The Gazette help make your wedding day extra special and guarantee you have happy memories to share with friends and family in the years to come
ď ´
GAZETTE
10 September 2015 GAZETTE I
WHAT TO WEAR:
Divine gowns and accessories for the Mother of the Bride Page III
THE LOOK:
Top tips from make-up artist Marc Sinclair Page VII
Beauty Wedding
Beautiful in Bloom headpiece by Glitzy Secrets online boutique, www.glitzysecrets.com, a vintage-inspired soft white organza hair flower set upon a trailing floral headpiece encrusted with sparkling Austrian crystals
In search of the perfect dress? From lace to ruffles, we give you a sneak peek at what styles are popular this season SEE PAGE VI
TRULY GIFTED:
Thoughtful presents that will be cherished Page VI
OH HONEY!
Find the perfect place to relax and unwind Page VIII
GAZETTE
II GAZETTE 10 September 2015
Bride Groom
An ideal hidden gem of a venue that’s steeped in history and full of charm KILRONAN Castle located on the shores
and that is to deliver excellence and
of Lough Meelough, Ballyfarnon, Co
a memorable experience for you and
Roscommon is one of Ireland’s hidden
your guests. Kilronan Castle offers an
gems. One of Ireland’s most luxurious
unparalleled Irish castle wedding expe-
castle hotels, Kilronan Castle is the
rience and first class services.
ancestral home of the Tenison family
The castle has 84 superbly appointed
and the legendary Colonel King Tenison.
bedrooms, fully equipped with contem-
It is one of a few Irish castle estates
porary comforts. These rooms fuse
that can trace its history back to royal
modern luxury with a touch of old-style
families. This 200-year-old castle is
glamour.
steeped in history, full of character and
Jillian
The Dungeon Bar is an ideal private
old world charm… the perfect setting
setting for your drinks reception. In the
for your wedding.
summer, your guests will gather on the
Kilronan Castle nestles amongst
| WEDDING STYLE |
patio sipping on pink champagne whilst
acres of woodland, open lawns and path
overlooking the scenic Lough Meelagh
ways leading you to a truly breathtak-
and, alternatively for a winter wed-
ing estate. From intimate to extrava-
ding, the roaring open fires make the
gant, traditional to bespoke their
surroundings comfortable and homely,
expert team offer a comprehensive
the candle lit wine cellar just adds to
service ensuring your wedding will be
the mystical atmosphere.
uniquely yours. Kilronan Castle want
Catering for smaller intimate num-
the planning of your day to be effort-
bers of 150 guests to numbers exceed-
less and most enjoyable. Once you have
ing 350 in our grand ballroom, Kilronan
met with their experienced wedding
Castle is the perfect venue for your
coordinators, they only have one focus,
wedding day celebrations.
Rory
Jillian
Drew, availabe at Bridal Boutique in Fairview
The Dress!
IT’S probably the most special, extravagant not to
She also says that full ball gowns are becoming popular
mention expensive dress you will ever wear, so every
again and who doesn’t want to look like Cinderella on
bride wants to get her wedding dress just right.
her wedding day? Tina says that structured bodices
From bustier to sweetheart, corseted to draped,
there is so much choice right now, you could be a little daunted by the range of dresses available. Tina at the Bridal Boutique in Fairview has picked some of the highlights for next season. She says that lace never goes out of fashion and who can forget Kate Middleton’s stunning wedding dress?
are also popular and that, hold the bouquet, ruffles are popular again. Whatever you choose, make sure that you are comfortable, or as comfortable as you can be, so you can
strut your stuff on the dancefloor when the formalities are over! Have a look at our favourites.
10 September 2015 Gazette III
Mother of the bride After the bride, the second most important person
ferent. How about a glamorous trouser suit or a floor
in the room, is of course, the mother of the bride. As
length frock - it doesn’t have to be the domain of the
such, getting the right outfit is of the utmost impor-
bridesmaid only.
tance. Most Irish mother’s of the bride do tend to
Here at Gazette style we have picked some of our
follow a certain formula and that’s fine as it works.
favourites that will help your mum feel the like special
But there are plenty of mum of bride outfits for that
lady that she is and second most beautiful woman in
mammy who wants to be that little bit quirkier or dif-
the room!
Brown Thomas Paule Ka Cropped Rose Trim Jacket €550 and Pleated Midi Skirt €490
House of Fraser Untold Kitty Outline Edge Fascinator €65
Brown Th omas Ken neth Jay Lane Pearl Drop Earrin gs €100
Co Cov ast V er i Up enna €1 10
House of Fraser Linea Penelope lace dress €195
Brown Thomas Stuart Weitzman Reckless Heeled Sandals €430 Coast Cassia lace dress €150
GAZETTE
IV GAZETTE 10 September 2015
Bride Groom The perfect
Alternative venues IAN BEGLEY
If you’re on the prowl for an alternative wedding venue that is a hundred miles away from the type of wedding your grandparents had, then you will be pleased to know that Ireland has a huge range of unconventional wedding venues on offer. From castles, barns, theatres, sport’s stadiums and the Zoo, there are plenty of unique and eccentric wedding venues to suit all tastes. If your heart is set on a Dublin city wedding, but you’re looking for a large space to celebrate, then Smock Alley Theatre might be the perfect venue for your big day. With exposed brick walls, ornate plasterwork ceiling, and stained glass windows, this venue is certainly a sight to behold. Another great alternative venue is at Mount Druid in Westmeath. The building and its surroundings are made up from a converted barn, an unconsecrated tin chapel, 20 traditional Mongolian yurts, three shep-
herd’s huts, a charmingly cosy gate lodge, a three-bed school master’s house, an 1820s Georgian house, several BBQ areas, a walled garden, a summer house and three lakes. Why not choose to say “I Do” at the zoo? Dublin Zoo is a unique alternative to the traditional wedding venue and provides a magical backdrop for your special day. Haughton House, a restored historical building with magnificent views of the zoo, is available seven days a week for all types of wedding ceremonies including civil ceremonies, civil partnerships and blessings. With weddings at Croke Park, GAA fans can marry their love of the game with the love of their life. Whether you are interested in a large traditional reception, a small intimate celebration or something in between, they can offer you the perfect alternative venue. For information on these wedding venues visit www.alternativewed dings.ie and www.hitched.ie.
| SELECTING THE VENUE |
IAN BEGLEY
FINDING the perfect wedding venue for your big day can be a very challenging and expensive feat, but thanks to a large range of deals on offer, you can rest assured that the picture-perfect wedding of your dreams is just around the corner.
The Bracken Court Hotel The Bracken Court Hotel, Balbriggan is a well-established four-star luxury hotel, exceptional in design and character. From the moment you step onto the red carpet, you will experience a friendly and professional wedding team with a single focus in mind – the success of the most memorable day in your life. The Bracken Court Hotel has a range of wedding packages to suit all tastes and budgets. With warm hospitality and impeccable service, combined with experience and passion for weddings, the hotel aims to ensure that your day will be truly unforgettable. A grand affair, an intimate reception, the style of your wedding is entirely
up to you. Their wedding offers provide an array of packages to choose from, starting from €39.95 per person. The hotel is also hosting their Autumn Wedding Showcase on Sunday, September 27 from 2 to 6pm, with the hotel’s reception suites and civil ceremony room will be dressed for the occasion. Contact events@courtyard.ie to make a personal appointment to view the hotel’s wedding venue and discuss your specific requirements.
The Court Yard Hotel Built on the original site where Arthur Guinness created his brewing empire, Bespoke Wedding Venue in Kildare offers old world charm, beautiful original stone work with contemporary design in a setting that is as picturesque as a pint settling. From its humble beginnings back in 1756, the Court Yard Hotel has become a popular choice with a unique space for weddings and events since opening its doors in 2005. A graceful renovation
The elegant decor of the Glenlo Abbey Hotel in Galway
and rejuvenation of historic buildings, the Court Yard Hotel is unique in character and design with beautiful exposed brick walls, huge windows and vaulted and beamed ceilings. Renowned for their ability to capture the true essence of the day, the Court Yard Hotel believes that each wedding should truly reflect the bride and groom’s own personal style. The Court Yard Hotel has a wide range of choices to offer for your wedding event. Ideal for intimate gatherings, celebrate with up to 100 cherished family and friends in their RiverBank reception room, which has beautiful views of the River Liffey and Leixlip Castle Boat House. The RiverBank room offers its own private terrace for pre-drinks reception and evening party room with an exclusive piano bar. Their packages provide an array of enhancements to choose from, starting from €39.95 per person.
Glenlo Abbey Hotel On October 4, from 2pm to 5pm, brides and grooms are invited to the Glenlo Abbey Hotel’s styl-
ish wedding fair in Galway. Enjoy a selection of afternoon tea delicacies from the hotel’s Afternoon Tea Menu, followed by a fashion show featuring top bridal boutiques and advice on the day. From the moment you drive through the cast iron gates, you will be captivated by the beauty of this enchanting lake side estate overlooking Lough Corrib. Tastefully restored and truly elegant, this country estate is “a hidden gem” in the west of Ireland, a mere five minutes’ drive from Galway City Centre. The wedding team at Glenlo Abbey Hotel will be on hand on the day with, along with a selection of expert wedding suppliers catering for all aspects of your wedding. From the Victorianinspired decor of the graceful French Room to the fairytale setting of the beautiful stone-cut restored abbey, ideal for intimate civil ceremonies, to the elegant surrounds of our Corrib Suite, with its panoramic views over Lough Corrib, one cannot feel but overwhelmed by the beauty and grandeur of this magnificent
10 September 2015 Gazette V
place for saying ‘I do’ property. Glenlo Abbey Hotel is truly a destination wedding venue, attracting couples from all over Ireland and abroad to celebrate their special day. For further details, call +353 91 519669 or visit www.glenloabbeyhotel. ie.
Radisson Blu St Helen’s Hotel The Radisson Blu St Helen’s Hotel in Stillorgan are also opening its doors for a Wedding Open Day on September 27 from 2pm to 6pm. Visitors can tour the historic 18th-century
mansion’s rich and intimate surroundings – ideal for a traditional wedding, civil ceremony or garden blessing celebrations. Each private room will be set up to your liking on your special day, where you will enjoy a complimentary glass of bubbly on arrival, and sample a selection of canape. Elegant architectural details and furnishings perfectly complement the lush, natural garden settings of the hotel, which provide countless backdrops for stunning photographs. The hotel’s wedding package includes: a dedi-
cated wedding consultant from the moment of booking; a red carpet welcome; use of the hotel’s formal gardens for photographs; champagne on arrival for the bride and groom; fresh flowers for all tables; personalised menus; place cards and table plan; deluxe accommodation at a special rate for guests; complimentary car parking for all guests; champagne breakfast in bed for the newlyweds; and deluxe accommodation in a balcony suite for the bride and groom. Three dining suites are available at the hotel and can seat anywhere from
Radisson Blu St Helen’s Hotel is also a beautiful venue
The Court Yard Hotel offers unique spaces to hold
for civil ceremonies
wedding day celebrations
10 to 200 guests. Menus can be customised to the preferences of event planners. With its private bar facilities, dance floor and band space, the Pembroke Suite is the perfect
choice for large, traditional wedding parties. A chic location for a drinks and canapes reception, The Le Panto Suite opens onto a private terrace that overlooks the hotel’s park-like
surroundings and can host up to 70 guests. The Seamount Suite is ideal for intimate, seated dinners for about 50 guests. Its balcony area offers vistas of the gardens, Dublin
Bay and Howth Head. For further enquiries and more information on the Wedding Open Day contact 01 218 6054 or visit www.radissonblu.ie/ sthelenshotel-dublin
GAZETTE
VI GAZETTE 10 September 2015
Bride Groom
| GIFT GUIDE | Kelly
Hop
pen
dotcomgiftshop Japanese dinner plate sunflowers €14.95
pott er’s
bow l €70
Next Copper Triply pans €20-€57
Penneys three-wick tin candle in Cotton Lily €4
Hou M&S Arabella cushion €27
se o f Fra prin ser blu ted e vase leaf €30
Debenham’s Nespresso red Lattissima touch+ €420
Argos Offset bookcase by Foley €276.49
10 September 2015 Gazette VII
| wedding make-up |
Bringing your entire look together aisling kennedy
Wedding make-up is one of the three essential ingredients that bring a bride’s wedding look together along with her hair and, of course, her bridal dress. If a bride doesn’t achieve the perfect look for her wedding day, the memories of her day and indeed the photographs of the day may always be something of a regret in her mind. To prevent that from happening the Gazette spoke to renow ned make-up artist Marc Sinclair from Lancome Elite Make-Up who gave his expert tips on how to
achieve the perfect bridal look. “A bride should always feel confident and as comfortable as she can. You want the bride to look fabulous in the photos and you want her to look back on her photos in 20 years and say ‘Wow, I looked good that day and I felt good that day.’” Sinclair first advises brides to make sure that they look for an experienced make-up artist in the run up to their big day. “It’s all about someone who has experience with regards to photography and photoshoots as well as bridal experience. You want someone who
knows how to bring out the natural beauty of a bride and make her look good in the photos.” Sinclair explains that it is essential for all brides to partake in a make-up trial at least three months in advance of the big day. “All brides should work on that basis of three months in advance, minimum. The reason for this is just in case the bride has any skin conditions, dehydration or redness that a make-up artist could help to clear up. It gives the make-up artist enough time to be able to work on that beforehand but also in case the bride doesn’t like the make-up artist, it then gives her
time to be able to find someone else.” In advance of the wedding, Sinclair advises all brides to step up their skin care regime and says that at least eight weeks in advance of the big day, brides should invest in a good skin care products and treat themselves to facials and drink plenty of water. Sinclair also has a word of warning to any brides thinking of going for a red lip on their big day saying: “It’s a lot of maintenance on the day so unless you don’t mind touching up your make-up all night, I would advise against it. Also brides should remember that red lip-
Make-up artist Marc Sinclair from Lancome Elite Make-Up
stick is not timeless. For me, make-up should be timeless, you should be able to look at it in years to come and it should still look like modern makeup. The red lip is really a
bit of a trend so you might look back in 20 years and think ‘Oh god, why did I do that?’” On the topic of fake lashes, Sinclair says he personally likes the more
natural looking fake lashes and adds: “I think they really accentuate the eyes in photos. I would say definitely go for it, just once it’s nothing too dramatic.”
GAZETTE
VIII GAZETTE 10 September 2015
Bride Groom
Choosing wedding favours that fit your style and your budget PLANNING a wedding obviously takes a lot of thought, and every last detail must be thoroughly threshed out. In the midst of all the planning about venue, dresses, tuxes, honeymoon etc, don’t forget to thank your guests for sharing in your big day with the gift of wedding favours.
| TRAVELLING FOR TWO |
Celebrating your new life together IAN BEGLEY
Wedding favours are a simple and effective way for the bride and groom to show their appreciation to their guests for helping to celebrate their union. When selecting wedding favours, one must always take three things into consideration: budget, the number of guests, and the shelf life of the item. If a large gathering is expected wedding favours can be a huge drain on the budget. As modern weddings are often about adding a personal touch and a sense of originality and personality to the big day, you can kill two birds with one stone by providing homemade personally themed wedding favours. By doing this you can not only reduce the cost, but give your wedding an extra personal touch at the same time.
HONEYMOONS are a once in a lifetime experience and are an unforgettable way to kick start to your life with your new husband or wife. For the extra special occasion there’s no better way of celebrating than by travelling to a dream destination from the wide range of honeymoon packages on offer. With GoHop.ie, you can spend 14 nights in Kerala in five different
resorts from €2,280pp from October to April. Unwind and allow all of your wedding nerves float away in this destination, which boasts postcardperfect beaches, shady coconut groves and lush paddy fields. Spend two nights in the Old Harbour Hotel in Kochi, two nights in the Windermere Estate in Munnar, two nights in Cardamom County in Kerala, two nights in Backwater Ripples in Kumarakom, one night in Lakes and Lagoons in Alappuzha, and five nights in The Leela Kovalam in Kovalam. Highlights on this tour include soaking up in the picturesque port town of Kochi, exploring the tea plantations and pristine valleys of Munnar, gliding along the Kumarakom backwaters and relaxing on the golden beaches of idyllic Kovalam. If you have your heart set on a honeymoon with a difference, look no further than Malta. This hidden gem of the Mediterranean has everything you need to celebrate your love for one another. The islands of Malta and Gozo have such a wide variety of venues for you to choose from when it comes to selecting the perfect locations for your ceremony and reception. What’s more, with romantic and intimate getaways located all over the islands, Malta and Gozo offer the ideal setting for a honeymoon neither of you will ever forget. From farmhouses to five-star resorts, quaint rural churches to lush gardens in the heart of the capital city of Valletta, Malta has something to
San Francisco is a vibrant city and the home of the iconic Golden Gate Bridge
Picture perfect: Kerala
cover all tastes and budgets. If you choose Malta for your honeymoon, you don’t need to spend precious time worrying about the Irish weather. Instead you can relax safe in the knowledge that even in the middle of winter Malta gets an average of five to six hours of sunshine per day. For those who cannot decide between a tropical island or a city honeymoon in the USA, then why not combine the two in a San Francisco and Hawaii honeymoon package from €3,690pp. For 17 nights, this honeymoon combo is the perfect way to celebrate life as newlyweds. You will experience diverse cultures, great dining, some of the best shopping in the US and, of course,
Ideal weather: Malta
sandy beaches, coral reefs and verdant islands. San Francisco’s vibrant city’s attractions include Union Square, home to many of the city’s hotels, the former prison-island of Alcatraz, Golden Gate Park or the seafood restaurants on Fisherman’s Wharf. Hawaii is an ideal destination to travel all year around as the weather is always good. GoHop.ie suggests that you avoid July and August as they can be particularly hot. If you are planning a well-deserved and unique honeymoon, then why not head to the diverse and beautiful country of Singapore. Spend five nights in the Mandarin Orchard Hotel from €1,369pp from February, 2016 with travelmood.ie Singapore is a place
that melds Chinese, Indian, Muslim and Western cultures into an exotic combination and is a great choice for a honeymoon that will inspire jealousy in all your friends. Get great views of the city on the Singapore Flyer, the world’s largest observation wheel, and then learn about its cultural history at the Asian Civilisations Museum. You can make your way to the MacRitchie Nature Trail where you can stroll in the rainforest canopy with the TreeTop Walk, catch a live performance at Esplanade or hike along The Southern Ridges and be rewarded with stunning views. For more information on these honeymoon deals, visit abbey tevael.ie, gohop.ie and travelmood. ie
10 September 2015 Gazette 21
Gazette
dublinlife Prefab housing ‘should only be for short term’
feature
homelessness: Councils to view possible solution
Keith Bellew
MAYORS, chief executives, senior housing staff and heads of local authority strategic policy committees on housing will have a chance to see how modular or prefab housing works when the Dublin Region Homeless Executive gives a demonstration on September 15 at East Wall Road. As many as 250 of these units could be built on 20 vacant sites in Dublin as a shortterm measure to accommodate homeless families currently living in hotels. Prefab components can be placed side-byside, end-to -end, or stacked, allowing a wide variety of configurations and styles in the building layout. The houses can be assembled on-site in a matter of days and could be available to families within the next three to six months. At last count 361 families with 768 dependants were staying in hotels and 195 families with 417 dependants were staying in various other types of homeless accommodation. The demonstration project will be situated on the site for a period of two to four weeks, after which the units will be removed and the site will be returned to its established use.
It is planned that the demonstration area will display a fully fitted modular housing unit from each participating provider and will primarily include two-bedroom units. A spokesperson from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive said the primary objective of the demonstration project was to contribute to the debate on the viability of modular housing, as a temporary form of quality accommodation provision for the increasing numbers of households in emergency homeless accommodation. “The concept of modular housing available on a temporary basis is being considered against the backdrop of ensuring that the longterm housing options for each household can be progressed by the local authority, as housing supply becomes available in line with the Social Housing Strategy 2020. “The key advantages of modular construction methods include factory-assembled components allow for greater accuracy, quality assurance and consistency, the construction and delivery process is speeded up, and site works are minimised to simple foundation systems and the provision of access roads, services
and landscaping,” said the spokesperson. Speaking to The Gazette, chair of the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown housing committee, Cllr John Bailey (FG) believes modular housing to be a far better alternative for families than hotel rooms. He says many families living in hotels are being treated in an undignified manner, being made to use back entrances and being completely segregated from the rest of the guests. He believes this needs to end and he says he is willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen. Cllr Ken Duffy (Lab) chair of the Fingal housing committee said the project was one of high quality housing for a medium term solution, which will “fast-track the plight of those who are living in hotels”. Before Fingal locks into the scheme, he said, they would have to clarify how long families will be living in these units. Following the demonstration, the issue will be discussed at the housing committee and full council meetings before any decision being made. Cllr Cathal King (SF), chair of South Dublin County Council’s housing committee, was less enthusiastic about the proposals.
He said that he would reserve judgement until he had seen the demonstration. He added that should the proposals gain traction and get the goahead it must only be a short-term measure. Families should not be left living in these developments for extended periods of time he said. Cllr Daithi Doolan (SF), chair of Dublin City Council’s housing committee, took a more positive view of the proposal saying families being housed in hotels and B&Bs was unacceptable and put children at serious risk of exploitation and abuse. “That has got to stop. We want a solution, and if the housing comes up to standard and it meets what we need, and meets the peoples’ needs I don’t see it being a big problem as long as it meets international standards and best practice. “We’d hope that there will be a number of sites across the four local authorities, and no more than 10 or so units will be put on each site,” he said. It should only be used as a short-term measure, he said. The units wouild be in areas close to services, and councillors would argue that they should be near public transport, schools and shops, he concluded.
The Dublin Region Homeless Executive will give a demonstration on how modular or prefab housing works
Gazette
22 Gazette 10 September 2015
dublinlife
escape the mayhem: tv3’s lone male xpose presenter, peter o’riordan, on how he unwinds
Family wins over fashion in his time off aisling kennedy
PETER O’Riordan has his hands full at the moment as the only male face on TV3’s weekday entertainment show, Xpose, and with a new baby boy recently added
to the mix, he appreciates his downtime now more than ever. O’Riordan took time out this week to tell The Gazette how he unwinds during his days off. “My family and my house are my sanctu-
ary, to be honest. Myself and my wife, Stephanie, recently moved into a new house so we have the rarity of having a back garden now. “We also have a playground literally out the back of the house on the
banks of the Dodder, too, so that’s brilliant for our little boy, Olivier.” O’Riordan said that in his previous job as assignment editor at TMZ in LA, he would enjoy spending his weekends partying with his wife and living for the weekend.
Weekends “Now, our son is our real enjoyment, and I love going to Imaginosity and the Panda Play Cafe on the weekends with him. That’s what I look forward to – just spending time with my wife and my son no matter what the capacity is. I enjoy that quality time,” he said. O’Riordan does like to treat himself and his wife to the odd childfree night, however, and he said that they are big foodies and enjoy trying out new restaurants around Dublin city centre. “My wife doesn’t eat meat at all; she’s almost
Peter O’Riordan: “Now that we have our son, we practically turn into pumpkins if we stay out later than midnight. Our priorities have changed now that we’re parents.”
vegan, apart from the fact that she eats cheese. She can’t give up the cheese! “It’s fun for us to find new really cool restaurants that have vegetarian options for her. We’ve found some really great places in town, so we love to go out and have a glass of wine and good food.” Top of O’Riordan’s recommendations for restaurants in the city centre are Dylan McGrath’s Fade Street Social and the newly opened Sue-
sey Street in Fitzwilliam Place, run by head chef Lumir Tousek, formerly of L’Ecrivain. “We love Fade Street Social, there’s just a great mixture of food there and it’s delicious. Everyone should check out Suesey Street too, it’s got that real Manhattan low-key, cool vibe feel to it and they have gorgeous vegetarian food and amazing cocktails.” O’Riordan said that the days of staying out partying until 3am are over for
himself and his wife now, and they always ensure they are home around midnight so that they get some sleep. “Now that we have our son, we practically turn into pumpkins if we stay out later than midnight. Our priorities have changed now that we’re parents, but it’s great. It’s lovely to have that time to spend with my family and relax.” Catch Peter O’Riordan on Xpose every week day on TV3.
Drive away to find a debate with Vincent Vincent Browne announced last week that he will allow members of the public who wish to air their views on a debate topic to drive out to the TV3 studios in Ballymount to take part in his panel programme each week night. This new way of bringing panellists onto his show will mean
that politicians will take part in live debates with members of the public. The change in the line-up is not a replacement for The People’s Debate with Vincent Browne, but it is a way of freshening things up in the studio. At the launch of the T V3
autumn schedule last week, Browne said: “We needed to change it and we thought this was a better idea. “That’s an important part of what we’re about in the media – that the agenda shouldn’t be set by a few people who are usually of the same mind.”
10 September 2015 Gazette 23
Gazette
features 10th birthday: family friendly events open to all
A top night on the cultural calendar Keith Bellew
Museums, galleries, libraries, theatres, parks and Government buildings in Dublin will be open to the public on Friday, September 18 as Culture Night celebrates its tenth birthday. A series of free tours, workshops, readings, performances and demonstrations for all the family will be held across the city as part of this year’s celebration, the theme of which is Revolves Around You.
Having grown in Dublin from 40,000 attendees to 145,000 in 10 years, it is now a citywide cultural movement and the programme is a showcase of the capital’s diverse and vibrant arts and creative scene. It will include hundreds of participants from all genres including photographers, illustrators, designers, composers, visual artists, dancers, aerialists, researchers, and script writers, along with conductors, projection mappers, graffiti art-
ists, authors, singers and musicians. This year will see the return of Downstairs Dublin in which the outside basements of Merrion Square’s Georgian mansions come alive with a programme of talks, installations, projections, music and more. Also returning this year are the highly popular guided tours of Aras an Uachtarain. Rediscover the capital with culture night tours by foot, bike or horse and carriage giving Dubliners
a chance to rediscover their hometown and outsiders the chance to discover it. These tours include a U2 Music Tour, a Lost In Fashion History tour and special quarter tours both in English and international languages. The Liffey will be the course for nautical races in native Irish currach boats organised by Oireachtas na Gaeilge as part of a full waterways and language programme. There will also be a performance by the inspirational High Hopes
Explore the hidden history of Temple Bar from its origins to the 1990s
Choir, Ireland’s first choir for homeless people set up by David Brophy, former conductor of the RTE Concert Orchestra in Focus Ireland, Temple Bar. Getting to and from the various events will be a cultural experience itself as Dublin Bus will provide free buses every 20 minutes starting on Bachelor’s Walk, Aston
Quay, Trinity College and Parkgate Street bringing visitors to and from their favourite cultural quarters. These free buses will be fully programmed with on-bus entertainment. Meanwhile, DART will offer 100 free family passes for travel on culture night also. Dublin City Council arts officer Ray Yeates said Dublin City Council
was delighted to be supporting Culture Night. “Culture Night offers something for all ages and every member of the family. To those who haven’t experienced the marvel and surprise before I encourage you to get out and experience Culture Night as it revolves around you.” V i s i t : w w w. c u l turenight.ie/
GAZETTE
24 GAZETTE 10 September 2015
DUBLINLIFE
FEATURES
EU CRISIS: PRESSURE MOUNTING ON IRELAND TO STEP UP ITS HELP FOR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE
Make your voice clear: we must help Syrians AISLING KENNEDY
OVER the past week, pressure has been mounting on the Government and Irish people to make a stand and open our borders to the millions of Syrian refugees who are in desperate need of help. The most significant catalyst of late was the publication of the harrowing images of threeyear-old Aylan Kurdi, the little Syrian boy who was found dead on the shore of a beach near the Turkish resort of Bodrum after he drowned while trying to flee his war-torn country. Pressure has been steadily mounting on Ireland to acknowledge and step in to help the millions of Syrian people who are desperately seeking safety. A o i f e Mu r p hy, a spokesperson for the Migrants Right Centre Ireland (MRCI), told The Gazette that she noticed that people were reaching a level of shock prior to the image of Aylan because nothing had been done yet by the Government, and that there had been no real response to the migrant crisis. She said: “In particular, since Germany stepped up and said that they will take 800,000 people, we suddenly started to ask what are we doing.” Prior to the publication of the image of Aylan, Ireland had originally pledged to take in 600
refugees over two years. Due to increased pressure on the Government, however, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald, spoke on RTE radio last week and gave a figure of 1,800, saying: “If the figure of 150,000 [which is the current number that Europe has agreed to], for example, is put on the table, that will effectively mean a trebling of what we have committed to already. “So if that figure is agreed at a European level, that brings us to a figure of 1,800 people, and clearly then we would have to see what extra initiatives we can make in terms of contributing aid, in terms of the naval search and rescue [ongoing mission].” Following this statement by Minister Fitzgerald, the Department of Public Expenditure and the Office of Public Works announced this week that they were working on a draft report in an effort to establish any available buildings which could be suitable for refugee families. This draft document, which has no clear spending limit, may need to be altered depending on how many people Ireland is asked to accept in an initial EU countryby-country proposal later this week. An initial figure of 5,000 people was given by the Tanaiste, Joan Burton, this week.
Artwork by Islam Gawish showing three-year-old Syrian child Aylan Kurdi, who drowned last week with his five-year-old brother, Galib (both right) and their mother, Rehana, as they attempted to reach the Greek island of Kos from Turkey
She said: “It could be 5,000, it could be more. I wouldn’t like to put an upper limit on it. They will go into accommodation, but they won’t be in the same category as those in direct provision.” The EU continent-wide initiative will be discussed at a meeting of justice and home affairs ministers on September 14, which will be attended by Minister Fitzgerald. While these steps to help Syrian refugees are all steps in the right direction, Murphy said that the MRCI thinks that the Government should be saying Ireland will take thousands of people. She said: “We have
the capacity to take tens of thousands of people – that’s what we could be doing.” Murphy compared the situation in Syria to World War II, and said that this was the greatest refugee crisis since that time. “This is a humanitarian crisis. It is an exceptional moment in history, and we have to do something because we cannot look back on this in 20 years’ time and say: ‘What were we doing?’ “We didn’t do enough during World War II, and we know we could have saved more people. We all know the six million amount of people who perished [then], and we
could have saved some of them. “We turned away refugee boats then, we cannot do the same thing now. We have to learn the lessons of the past.” As it stands currently, there are more than 12.2m Syrians in need of humanitarian assistance, according to UN statistics. It is estimated that 5.6m of these are children, putting an entire generation of children at risk.
Murphy said that the best way Irish people can help is by contacting their local TDs to tell them that we need to take in more refugees. She said: “It is vital that we all contact our local TDs. Right now, that is the most practical thing people can do, along with donating to aid agencies. “The voices that will dominate at the moment are people who think we shouldn’t be letting anyone in, and these people
are very determined. They are the people that will write to the TDs. “We need to make sure that our voices are being heard too, so get on to your TD, tell them that you think we should be the ‘island of a thousand welcomes’ that we like to think we are.” To sign a petition by Uplift, an independent volunteer group, to allow more refugees into Ireland, see https://uplift.ie/ refugee-crisis/.
10 September 2015 Gazette 25
ReelReviews
no escape
An Owen goal for Wilson OWEN Wilson takes a curious misstep into action man territory with No Escape (Cert 15A, 103 mins). Set in an unidentified Asian country, a contractor and his young family find themselves stranded when there’s a violent coup, and – guess what? They can’t escape! Raising eyebrows with critics around the world over its tone, it’s a competent actioner, but worth escaping from.
Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone have some life lessons to learn as they cross paths at college, with an unlikely murder plan leading to some comic irrationality
irrational man: woody’s latest offering is typically entertaining
Allen all, a breezy comedy SWALLOWS are fluttering across the sea on their long migration as an amber hue creeps along the peripheries of the leaves. Just as in the natural world there are certain signs to show that we have completed another revolution of the sun, so too there are signs in the world of cinema. Another year means another Woody Allen film – in this case, Irrational Man – and even if you are not a fan of Allen’s work, you have to admire the poultry-like regularity with which he produces films. And while the news of another Woody Allen release is unlikely to rouse much audience attention (Allen himself has stated in interviews that he has no inclina-
Dave phillips
tion to make great films, saying that he would rather go home and have dinner than spend time working late into the night), it would be a mistake to gloss over his latest offering. Granted, there is a strong shadow of familiarity overhanging the film. Emma Stone is back from last year’s Allen offering – this time, playing Jill, the philosophy undergraduate who is on the fence between maintaining a vanilla relationship with parent-approved fel-
low student Roy (Jamie Blackley), or ditching that in pursuit of a spectacular but inevitably illfated love affair with her self-destructive lecturer, Abe (Joaquin Phoenix). A new and exotic addition to the philosophy department, existentialist Abe is an intellectual peacock who is on the hill, but not quite over it. Abe’s reputation for controversial opinions, heav y drinking and illicit student affairs act as an attractive tail feather for Jill, and also for his more age-appropriate love interest, Rita (Parker Posey). Set mainly amid the leaf y, collegiate surrounds, you might expect this to be another plodding drama from Allen that wryly pon-
ders relationship dilemmas. And you’d be right – but it has a bit more to offer. An act of chance eavesdropping by Abe brings the theoretical moral quandaries that he has mastered dissecting in the classroom into a real flesh and blood scenario, as he focuses his intellectual prowess on how to commit the perfect murder. Had Irrational Man been made 30-odd years ago, no doubt we would have seen Woody Allen step into the lead role – romantic, misanthropic, and hopelessly self-absorbed, Abe is the kind of character that Allen would have had a lot of fun with, but so much of what the film has going for it rests on Joaquin Phoenix’s acting.
Building on the wonderful mumbling and bumbling performance he gave in Inherent Vice, Abe comes across as simultaneously reprehensible and endearing. Parker Posey brings a lot to the story with Rita, the settled chemistry lecturer who throws herself at Abe in an attempt to escape the mundanity of her marriage. All the while, we are never sure just how far Emma Stone’s Jill will go to in pursuit of her wide-eyed fantasy. If you’re looking for riveting twists and turns, then look elsewhere – there are no real surprises once the plot gets going. Comically contrasting narratives from the three main characters gives us
a privileged view of the whole affair, so the fun lies in watching Allen cram the pot full of interesting ingredients, turn up the heat, and wait for the unavoidable mess to be made. And what a mess! What results is the usual Woody Allen fare – every bit as meandering, wordy, and glib as you might expect. But there’s an undeniably captivating and fun performance by Phoenix, and a delightfully macabre undertone that makes the whole thing reminiscent of Roald Dahl’s Tales of the Unexpected. At 79, Allen may be getting long in the tooth, but here is the proof he can still bite.
Verdict: 7/10
the transporter Still vroom to improve
BACK for a reboot without franchise star Jason Statham, The Transporter: Refuelled (Cert 15A, 96 mins) sees Ed Skrein slide into the driving seat as an impossibly talented driver of a pretty indestructible car. With a plot that goes all the way from A to B – something to do with driving fast to save his dad and stop Russians – the reboot is a flash-looking vehicle that soon runs out of steam.
hitman: agent 47 Misses the target
GAMERS’ favourite bald assassin is soon to depart our cinema screens, with his film – Hitman: Agent 47 (Cert 15A, 96 mins) having just missed the mark. As 47, Rupert Friend does a great job, but an inept plot, muddled editing and some shoddy effects turn in a film that’s less believable than a game. When will Hollywood learn? Better luck with your next shot at the big screen, 47!
26 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 10 September 2015
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Gazette
28 gazette 10 September 2015
SPORT Large step up for Wes in league
FastSport
rugby: old wesley looking forward to elevated status after long wait
Smith takes podium place in rockingham:
DUBLINER Aron Smith took a podium finish in the British Touring Car Championship last weekend at Rockingham in round 22 of the British Touring Car Championship. Smith brought his VW Passat CC home in third place behind Ford drive Matt Jackson and Honda’s Gordon Shedden. In race 2 of the meeting, Smith managed to take 11th place after a testing race but he was back on form in race 3 with the Team BMR RCIB Insurance Passat scything through the field to take a fine sixth overall. Smith’s Rockingham results leave him 11th in the points table on a total of 143 points. The series is led by Scotland’s Gordon Shedden on 278 points. Elsewhere, Robin Lyons won the first two rounds of Irish National Autotest Championship in Ballyvourney, Co Cork, triumphing after 12 tests.
nathan kelly sport@dublingazette.com
A RETURN to Division 1B brings big names, big games and big nights for Old Wesley and it starts next Saturday at 2.30pm with a trip to Thomond
Park to take on UL Bohemians. It is the first time the Donnybrook side have reached such heights since the turn of the millennium and clubman Alan Large revealed his and the rest of the first-
team excitement for the coming season. “There’s great excitement around the whole club,” he said. “A lot of the teams in this division we haven’t faced in a long time. This is my 11th year here and there are clubs
JC Greyling has received a call-up to the Namibia World Cup panel
Old Wesley celebrating their league success last spring. Picture: Deryck Vincent
like UL Bohemians and St Mary’s that I’ve never faced at all so it will be a big challenge but one we’re looking forward to.” Indeed, Saturday’s meeting in Limerick will be the first time in 15 years the sides have met before Old Wesley welcome Buccaneers to Dublin 4 in a game that already has an interesting back story, which Large revealed. “Buccaneers are Robbie Henshaw’s club and now we’ve got three of his cousins on our squad so that will add even more to our first home game of the season,” said the out-half. “I’m sure a lot of the family will be there and there’ll be a cracking
atmosphere. The great thing about being in the same league as all these good sides is that we have them home and away this year. If we take the points in Limerick on Saturday then UL will come to Donnybrook later seeking revenge and the same goes for Buccaneers and everyone else.” One man who Old Wesley will be without for quite a while at the start of the season is JC Greyling, who will represent Namibia at this year’s Rugby World Cup which gets under way next week in England. His club mate said it is something they’ve prepared for but couldn’t provide an exact date on when he will pull on a Wesley shirt again. “Even from this time
last year, we would have guessed he’d be a part of the Namibia squad for the world cup and the coaches have prepared for that,” said Large. “He’ll obviously be gone for as long as Namibia stay in it and will then get a break on top of that. Hopefully we can get him back around the end of November or thereabouts.” Finally, the former Large revealed the targets the side have set themselves for their return to this level. “We haven’t set our sights on a particular final position or anything,” he said. “What we tend to do is target blocks of games, and target points from say our first four. Then after that, we assess it again.”
St MacDara’s set to benefit from Bowe’s expertise sport@dublingazette.com
Irish rugby international Tommy Bowe
ST MAC DARA’S Community College in Templeogue has been chosen as the Leinster winner of the Subway stores #TrainwithTommy competition. The lucky ladies will benefit from a training session with Tommy Bowe at St MacDara’s Community College later this year. A nutritionist will also be on hand to provide advice and tips to help with the team’s training and perform-
ance. The team will then share a sub with Bowe, with lunch courtesy of their local Subway store in Applegreen on Knocklyon Road. St Mac Dara’s Community College Girls will also receive €1,000 worth of rugby gear to kick start the rugby season, and they’ll get a team picture with the Ulster winger to remember the day. Hundreds of entries were received for the competition which called on rugby, tag teams and schools to upload a
picture or video of their team and explain in 250 words why they needed a training session with Tommy Bowe. St Mac Dara’s girls claimed the top prize in Leinster for their gutsy entr y daring Tommy Bowe to train with them for a day.
A game “So Tommy, if you’re up for a tough session that you will definitely never forget, give us a shout. Just bring your A game Tommy. You’ll need it.” Sharon Brady, who submit-
ted the entry on behalf of the school commented: “We are absolutely delighted to have won the chance to Train with Tommy! “The girls from St Mac Dara’s Community College have been playing for four years now. “They love the game and love cheering on the men and the women in green. “Most of all they love playing though, rain or sunshine. “We are really excited about Tommy coming to the school.”
10 September 2015 gazette 29
Gazette
St Tiernan’s star in Race Around Ireland Dundrum cycling club produce record-breaking time at the first attempt as they complete 2,150km race in just over three days; Daragh O’Toole tells STEPHEN FINDLATER about it DUNDRUM cycling club St Tiernan’s won the eightperson relay 2,150km Race Around Ireland last week in a record-time of 73 hours and 59 minutes. In doing so, the team of Daragh O’Toole, Orna O’Toole, Kirsty Smith, David Bramley, David Corr, Rodney Joyce, Damien Heffernan and Ciaran Ruane maintained an average speed of over 29km/h. Their performance saw them finish around seven hours before secondplaced Average Josies, an all-female team, and only a couple of hours behind the second team home overall, the four-person Average Joes. Indeed, their average speed of 29.68kmh was the second fastest for an eight-person team ever and the quickest for a mixed team. It is a far cry from the initial conception of
the idea to take part as O’Toole explained to GazetteSport. “We’ve been thinking about doing it for a while and, six months ago, I suggested it to a bunch of club members. Eventually, we got a team together – five from the club and three from Yorkshire. “It was hard to get people – they thought this was all a bit crazy but the more we thought about it, the more we thought this is doable.” Indeed, O’Toole added that “it was a complete step into the unknown” for a club primarily based around road-racing with little experience of endurance challenges of this nature. “All of us are racers; most of us are in our 40s and cycling is huge amongst our demo graphic. Racing, though, is a whole different thing in terms of training and
The St Tiernan’s team and support crew
focus. “This kind of thing is a huge challenge – it’s not just physical, the logistics are huge. To get eight people in a relay around Ireland with all the support crew. Once you roll out of Trim, you don’t stop until you get back.” From that start point in Trim, the race rolls north to the Causeway coast and then around the circumference of Ireland before returning to Trim. To this end, the Tiernan’s crew divided into two sub teams of four with one person on the road at all-times with a follow-car with a driver and a navigator. Their other car had three other racers. They would cycle in 15km spells and then swap over with the other rider being on the road and ready to go to keep up a high pace. Each group did an
eight-hour stint before the other team took over. During the down time, the other team would drive up the road, eat and sleep in preparation for their next spell in the saddle. Those best laid plans, though, were disrupted by the sheer pace of the team.
a different class of people – whatever about doing it in a team, doing it solo you have to be made of iron, it is madness. Some were doing 15 hours on, three hours off!” Despite the hard graft, O’Toole says that the plans are already in place to improve on their per-
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‘At the top of a mountain in Kerry at 2am, a marshall popped out from behind a rock to check our bikes’ Daragh O’Toole
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“As it turned out, we went faster than we thought we would go which meant we slept less than we anticipated. I think I had five hours’ sleep over the course of the whole thing.” And all the while, the team had to adhere to the competition’s rules to conduct the relay without skipping a metre. “There are really strict marshalls who appear at random. Literally, at the top of a mountain in Kerry at 2am, a guy popped out from behind a rock to inspect our bikes and what we were doing. They check for fatigue, putting people off the road if you are too tired to cycle. “We didn’t really have that problem because of having the eight-person team but it does happen to the solo riders. They are
formance for next year. “The longest spin I might have done would be about 230km before – Galway to Dublin in a group. The scale of this was completely new and a real eye-opener. “We learned a lot on the road and it is one of those things you have to do to know how to do it better and we are certainly looking forward to doing it again next year. We hope to put a four-man team in next year; there’s huge interest in the club and, if I asked people to sign up today, we would get three teams. “Real life can get in the way and it is quite expensive with entry fees, paying for the support stuff and taking time off work but it’s well worth it and we’re really chuffed with how well it went.”
FastSport
Rush CC win National Cup thanks to Conway’s role CRICKET’S National Cup came back to Rush last Sunday when they just got the better of a thrilling battle with North West side Drummond at Strabane Park in the final. In the end, it was a man-of-the-match winning knock of 43 from Eoghan Conway that proved to be decisive. Conway and Allan Eastwood with a 73-run stand that helped the Leinster side recover from a precarious 69 for 6 in reply to Drummond’s 171. Drummond skipper Steve Moore opted to bat first on winning the toss and after losing Andy Christie early - bowled by former Irish international Allan Eastwood - a 40-run partnership between Chris Moore (20) and Kyle Morrow (16) got the Roe Valley team back on an even keel. That pair and Richard McDaid were to fall in quick succession however as Lynal Jansen (3-14) led the fightback and Drummond struggled to score once Jansen and Shahid Iqbal (0-23 from 9) turned the screw. To their credit the North West team kept going and a 69-run partnership between skipper Moore (35) and Adam McDaid (34) put them right back in it before Dean Brogan came into the attack as fifth change and ended proceedings very abruptly. Brogan finished with 4-26 as the last six wickets fell for the addition of just 32 runs - Drummond dismissed for 171 - boosted by the concession of 32 extras. Stephen Doheny and overseas man Jansen posted 41 for the first wicket as the southerners began the reply in good style before Neal Stewart and his captain, Moore, again put Drummond in the driving seat. Stewart (3-21) was the pick of the attack numerically but Moore (3-36) claimed the key wickets of Jansen, Iqbal and Sadat Gull to give his side real hope. It was nt to last however, Conway and Eastwood having the final say while Niall Mullen’s 18 not out nursed Rush home with just those two wickets in hand. Drummond, as the winners did in the first innings, contributed to their own plight by sending down 29 wides, which was to prove crucial in the final analysis.
Gazette
30 dublin city gazette 10 September 2015
SPORT
FastSport
soccer: euro hopes take dent as honours even in tallaght
Merrion miss out on top title to Waringstown MERRION cricket club missed out on the Irish Senior Cup title last weekend as Waringstown, pictured, proved too strong for the Dublin 4 club last Saturday at the Lawn, winning by 107 runs. South African professional JP De Villiers proved the trump card for Lee Nelson’s men his new ball burst saw Merrion crumble to 35 for 5 as they chased Waringstown’s imposing total of 276 for 7. The Titans player removed Irish internationals Tyrone Kane and Dom Joyce for single figure totals as well as the highly rated Robin Smith in a fiery opening spell, that reduced the much vaunted Merrion top order to tatters. Phil Eaglestone had skipper Rory Allwright caught behind for two while Gary Kidd’s first delivery saw an injudicious shot from Merrion professional David Rhoda (15) - out stumped by Johnny Bushe after a rush of blood to the head. All credit to Merrion who showed their renowned fighting qualities with a counterattacking sixth wicket stand between Dave Langford-Smith and Michael Lewis. The pair added 93 in 97 balls, with LangfordSmith - a veteran of Ireland’s 2007 World Cup campaign - top scoring with a typically belligerent 70 from 65 balls that featured nine fours and two sixes. The reintroduction of De Villiers saw the stand ended abruptly and, despite a battling unbeaten 52 from Lewis (56 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes), Merrion were dismissed for 169. Kyle McCallan (3-30) claimed the final three wickets - one of which was John Anderson, who batted at number nine due to a hand injury. Earlier, Waringstown had been indebted to a fourth wicket stand of 103 between Greg Thompson and skipper Lee Nelson, who came together at 51 for 3, after three wickets had fallen for just eight runs. James Hall and James McCollum both scored 18 in an opening stand of 43, before falling in successive balls to the impressive Dom Joyce (4-62). Adam Dennison (0) was trapped lbw by Tyrone Kane and suddenly the momentum was with the Leinster side. But Thompson continued to be positive despite the mini collapse and he top scored with 78 from 113 balls (8 fours, 1 six), while Nelson struck four boundaries in an entertaining 44.
Bohemians’ manager Keith Long saw his side draw 1-1 with Shamrock Rovers. Picture: Deryck Vincent
Bohs and Rovers stalemate League of ireland Shamrock Rovers Bohemians sport@dublingazette.com
1 1
A VICTORY over their meanest rivals would have been the perfect gift for Bohemians and their fans on the weekend that marked their 125th anniversary, but Keith Long’s side were forced to settle for a draw from their Tallaght showdown with Shamrock Rovers on Saturday night. A second half equaliser prevented Bohs from taking all three points back across the city and the Liffey after Ismahil Akinade’s first half opener.
Bohs fans weren’t the only ones celebrating a milestone as Damien Duff started for the first time in a Rovers shirt in this third versus fifth clash. Joining Duff was Stephen McPhail who made his first start for the Hoops since June, while Bohs were without suspended duo Roberto Lopes and Derek Prendergast, as well as boss Long who had to watch from the stands. The first real chance of the game involved Duff as his perfect delivery from a free-kick was met by Gareth McCaffrey but his header from six yards
Miele fourball Rathfarnham GC win Dublin semi-final derby rathfarnham GC progressed to the final
final of the Miele Fourball finals having won their regional final earlier this week when they saw off Roganstown. In a tit-for-tat battle, the two clubs shared the first two matches, both winning 1up.But Rathfarnham’s third pairing put the second point on the board for their side and the final pairing of Christine Richardson and Roz Burgess, on the 17th, sealed the deal and progress to the all-Ireland’s at Newlands Golf Club.
was tame and handled easily by Dean Delany. Akinade’s opener came just after 25 minutes and it is a goal the Rovers defence will want to forget as soon as possible. A hopeful ball over the top from Keith Buckley caused more havoc than it should in the Hoops backline and with Barry Murphy rushing out to clear houses, the keeper’s clearance bounced back off the striker and trickled over the line. Rovers struggled to create much after going behind but should have pulled level through Mikey Drennan after Simon Madden whizzed
down the right and whipped in a cross but Drennan headed straight at Delany. Bohs took that 1-0 lead into the second half but it didn’t last long after the restart as McCaffrey equalised on 52 minutes. The striker had just previous ly watched another goalbound effort saved by the impressive Dean Delany, but got his revenge when he intercepted a loose ball from Bohs skipper Dave Mulcahy before charging towards goal and burying his effort home. Rovers dominated possession for the rest of the game without really cre-
ating anything substantial and it was Bohs who went close next when Lorcan Fitzgerald’s freekick from 25 yards shook the side-netting. Drennan then had a chance late on to steal a win as he latched on to a long ball but again Delany won the battle of wits and smothered the chance before the Rovers attacker got his shot off. The result means Rovers have failed to beat Bohs at home since March 2012 and will hurt even more after Bray Wanderers held Cork to a 0-0 draw and Limerick beat St Pat’s 3-1 on the same night.
10 September 2015 DUBLIN CITY gazette 31
Gazette
League leaders
FastGAA
Vincent’s set marker with Senior 1 success naomh Uinsionn claimed the Dublin Sen-
ior 1 league title last week with a 2-7 to 1-4 win over Ballyboden St Enda’s in O’Toole Park, clinching their second win of the season over the big rivals. Mary Cronin produced a player of the match performance, netting a key goal while Aine Fanning weighed in with 1-1 as part of their six-point victory, building nicely for the championship.
football: cork await in all-ireland final
Andrews a leading light in Mayo’s destruction
Noelle Healy shoots, much to the upset of Niamh Marley. Picture: Piaras O’Midheach/Sportsfile
Early Dublin blast is too much for Armagh
lgfa all-ireland semi Dublin 2-16 Armagh 2-5 sport@dublingazette.com
A 1-5 blitz in the opening 12 minutes ultimately proved the difference as Dublin’s flying start, under pinned by Lyndsey Davey’s rebound goal, put Greg McGonigle’s side out of sight. From there, while the Orchard County had flurries of dissent, it was Dublin’s law for the majority of the tie and they never got closer than six points. It was blistering stuff early on, the rapier-like thrusts from Noelle Healy
and Carla Rowe worked perfectly in tandem with the swift hand-passing from the back to create a plethora of openings. Indeed, after Niamh McEvoy had opened the scoring with just 10 seconds on the board, Rower had clattered the post off the back of Hannah Noonan’s delightful pass. Rowe, Healy, McEvoy and Davey all added quick-fire points before skipper Davey latched onto another clever Noonan pass. The Skerries woman’s first up effort was blocked but she had the presence of mind to scoop up the second ball
and net. Armagh belatedly got going and a fortuitous goal got them on the board when Fionnuala McKenna wrestled a high ball to Caroline O’Hanlon who coolly popped home. It was rare respite, though, as Olwen Carey produced a series of big blocks at the back, stymying any momentum. Four more Dublin points ensured they led 1-8 to 1-1 at the interval. The second half progressed with few indentations in that healthy margin in spite of some wayward Dublin shooting – 14 wides by the end.
Armagh did enjoy their best spell early in the second half, running up three points in a row via McKenna’s pair and one from Kelly Mallon. Again, Carey produced a brilliant back-pedalling block from Armagh’s first major goal chance. An Aimee Mackin goal, though, proved mere consolation as Sarah McCaffrey quickly shut down any sort of renaissance with a superb goal with the outside of her right boot. With Amy Connolly tacking on three more points, it was plain sailing.
PADDY Andrews’s 0-5 salvo played a key role for Dublin as they fought back to defeat Mayo in last Saturday’s All-Ireland senior football championship replay, producing a man of the match performance. It sets up a final date with Kerry on September 20 and the St Brigid’s man believes the performance will stand to his side when that day comes. “The big thing earlier on in the year was that we weren’t tested enough but these two games will bring us on,” Andrews said. “You could see the improvement from the drawn game. It’s an All-Ireland semi-final and you have to be at your best. You’re playing the top teams in the country. “In the last 15 minutes, you had to say the team effort was very good and the lads who came off the bench really dragged us over the line. “We were disappointed with the final 10 minutes last week as we felt we had done enough to win the game. In the last six days, the focus from everybody was that we would play for the 75 or 76 minutes. “As for myself, I was very glad to get on the end of a few things. It was great when they went over.” Manager Jim Gavin, though, says that having two such high profile games with Mayo may have given his Kerry counterpart Eamon Fitzmaurice plenty of food for thought. “Yeah, we’ve a bit of catching up to do,” said Gavin. “I know the [Kerry] management team were here for the Leinster final, the league final, our last two games, so they’ve got a good look at us. “But they’re a team full of stars, not only on the starting 15, but on the bench as well. And there’s an expectation they are going to win it backto-back. So it’s all uphill for us. “I think the boys showed great heart, and desire, and character. We knew it was going to be a very difficult game, and it transpired that way. But the boys stuck to the process, and we knew if we did that we’d hopefully keep ourselves in a position to get the result.”
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Dublin’s Amy Connolly celebrates with Phillippa Green after their win over Armagh to reach the All-Ireland final. Picture: Piaras O’Midheach
Subs make big impact
Dublin manager Gregory McGonigle hails the impact of his side’s bench and the developing nature of the side with nine new faces from 2014
Stephen findlater
sport@dublingazette.com
GREGORY McGonigle hailed the influence of the bench as the Dublin ladies Gaelic footballers saw off Armagh 2-16 to 2-5 last Saturday in Parnell Park to reach the All-Ireland senior championship final for the second consecutive year. His side got off to a flying start before Armagh made some inroads in the second half only for Dublin to reply with a salvo of their own to win by a handsome margin. Speaking to GazetteSport after the match, the manager described it as “a decent performance”, saying: “We played well with a lot of solid performances all around the team. “The changes we made in the key areas – like
Sarah McCaffrey coming off the bench to kick 1-1, Olivia Leonard coming in too – was maybe something we didn’t do last year in regard to our subs maybe making an impact. “It’s a big thing we have been championing all year with the subs, saying ‘can you make a difference?’ Thankfully they have.” He also paid tribute to the defensive elements of the side in limiting a potentially dangerous opponent to just, nullifying the Orchard county’s key elements. “Our intensity and work rate were very good as was our discipline. Olwen Carey had a serious performance and is possibly the player of the year at the minute. Amy Connolly did a serious job in the middle of the field. We will be happy with how we performed but maybe we didn’t convert as much as we could have and
gave away some silly possessions.” Carey is only two years out of the minor grade while full-back Muireann Ni Scanaill was in similarly staunch form. Their progression is a particular source of pride for McGonigle who says that they are indicative of where the side is going. “This team might have got some stick when we were in the Leinster championship with where we were with the young girls coming in. I have huge belief in this very young side; it’s still in transition. We have six of the 15 who played in the All-Ireland final last year. “That’s a credit to the club structure in Dublin and we have the benefit of working with them and the Under-21s from the last two years pushing on. For me, it’s about trusting these young girls to step forward.”
He finally paid tribute to the influence of Hannah Noonan, a player who won the 2008 All-Ireland junior championship with London. English by birth, she decided to take a careerbreak to pursue a potential All-Ireland and produced another powerhouse performance around the middle exchanges. “For someone to put a career on hold to come on a whim to play county football! I am just happy one of the girls, when I watched the All-Ireland Sevens, told me she was interested in coming to Ireland. I just said make sure she comes to Dublin! “There’s a great buzz about her and the Dublin girls have taken her in under their wing. It’s not ‘there’s the English girl’. She’s a Dub, the same way as I am from outside Dublin but we’re now true Dubs!”