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September 3 - 9, 2015 Month XX, 2012

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Don’t pay criminals to keep cars safe  keith bellew

Dubliners are being urged not to bend to the will of criminals attempting to extort money from them, and to contact gardai if they are threatened.

This follows reports of criminals in the Crumlin-Kimmage area who are threatening to damage or steal the cars of residents if they do not pay them. There have been reports of incidents where residents were

asked to pay €50 to gangs to keep their cars safe overnight. In one case, a number of Crumlin residents were forced to park their cars at Crumlin Garda Station overnight.

Chair of Dublin City joint policing committee, Cllr Vincent Jackson (Ind), said that while he wouldn’t encourage people to be martyrs or vigilantes, he would urge them not to pay these criminals.

Full Story on Page 2

Let’s talk health: Time to man up about cancer, says Blue September pictured are Micheal Sheridan MCA and Tony Ward, ex-Ireland Rugby international, for the kick-off of the annual Blue September campaign.

Blue September kicked off its campaign by releasing details of its new research into Irish men’s attitudes towards their health. Organised by the Men’s Cancer Alliance (MCA), Blue September is part of an international campaign that seeks to tackle the fact that men are more likely to develop and die of cancer than women and that men are less likely to discuss their personal health concerns with family, friends or their GP. Photograph: Leon Farrell / Photocall Ireland

2 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 3 September 2015

housing: priorities

Call for council to rethink bridge  ian begley

A local councillor for the Pembroke-South Dock area believes that Dublin City Council should reconsider its plans to build a €12m bridge over the River Liffey, and invest the cost in housing instead.

The bridge will be less than 250m from the Samuel Beckett Bridge.

However, it will provide a more direct pedestrian link from the northside to the Grand Canal Docks and will relieve pressure on the Beckett Bridge.

Speaking on these plans Cllr Chris Andrews (SF) said: “Of course infrastructural investment of any kind that enhances Dublin should be welcomed but this is a question of priorities and making the right choices with available resources.

“It doesn’t seem logical to me to build a new bridge over the Liffey in an area which is already reasonably well catered for when

over 3,500 adults and children, including 550 families are now homeless in Dublin and many existing social housing units, particularly those in the south inner city and greater Docklands area are in a dreadful state of repair and are in need of regeneration and refurbishment.

“Figures provided by the Department of the Environment show that approximately 80 new social housing units could be constructed or almost 775 units refurbished for €12 million.

“I’m certain that Dubliners would rather see that money spent on addressing the crippling housing crisis in the capital as opposed to constructing a bridge that would of course be welcome, but surely ranks well down the pecking order when the alternative is providing citizens’ with homes,” he said.

The council had not commented at the time of going to print.

crime Car ‘protection’ racket investigated

An Garda Siochana and local councillors have urged Crumlin-Kimmage residents not to pay extortion money to criminals threatening to damage or steal their cars

Residents urged not to pay extortion crooks Residents of the Crumlin-Kimmage area are being urged not to bend to the will of criminals in the area attempting to extort money from members of the public, and to contact gardai if they are threatened.

This follows reports of criminals threatening to damage or steal the cars of residents unless they pay them.

Figures show there were 157 cars reported stolen in

 keith bellew kbellew@dublingazette.com

the Dublin South Garda Division in the first three months of this year.

Cllr Catherine Ardagh (FF), Crumlin-Kimmage, contacted gardai following reports of several

incidents where residents were asked to pay €50 to gangs to keep their cars safe overnight.

In one case, the residents of one road in Crumlin were forced to park their cars at Crumlin Garda Station overnight for fear of vandalism and theft.

Cllr Ardagh said: “Essentially, we are seeing brazen criminals threaten residents into paying them not to vandalise or steal their cars. It’s happening on a nightly basis in some cases.

“It’s causing great distress among many local residents who are not only afraid to leave their cars outside their own homes, they are now fearful of their own safety.”

She said she was contacted by the family of one resident whose windscreen was smashed outside her home, just days after her wing mirror was pulled off. Her neighbours had also been threatened, with criminals demand-

ing €50 to keep each car safe overnight.

“I have contacted the local gardai and I am assured that the superintendent is taking this very seriously.

“We cannot allow a situation where criminal thugs are threatening ordinary residents on a daily basis. This is the lowest form of pathetic criminality.

“People who work hard to pay for their cars and keep their homes should not be subject to such threats in the very place that they should feel safe,” said Cllr Ardagh.

Chair of Dublin City Council’s joint policing committee Cllr Vincent Jackson (Ind) said that while he would not encourage people to be martyrs or vigilantes, he would urge them not to pay these criminals. Otherwise, he said, they may give the impression that they are easy targets and the criminals may return.

“This is a regular occur-

rence, where you get a few [criminals] in a community, and they think they can hold sway.

“The only reason they build up a belief that they hold sway is when they intimidate and people pay them anything. That gives them ammunition to continue on that ideology.

“I believe nobody should ever part with money under any circumstances,” he said.

He went on to say that An Garda Siochana has a confidential line for those who do not wish to be seen liaising with gardai, and a community relations officer, based in Blanchardstown, who will speak with people who have been intimidated.

A Garda spokesperson said the force “would encourage any person who has been intimidated in any fashion to report the matter immediately to their local Garda station, where the matter will be fully investigated”.

3 September 2015 DUBLIN CITY GAZETTE 3

HOMELESS FAMILIES Cockroaches found in bedroom

‘Shocking’ video leads to calls for hotel inspections  KEITH BELLEW

DEPUT Y Ruth Coppinger (SP) has called for inspections of all hotels being paid public money to accommodate homeless families, after a local family showed her video footage of cockroaches in the room in which they were staying.

She has uploaded the video to her Facebook page in order to highlight the conditions many families are living in. She said that this has led to the contraction of infections in many cases.

“I’m horrified having seen video evidence of cockroaches in the bedroom and shower of a

family in a Dublin hotel receiving taxpayers’ money over a long period.

How much is being paid

by Dublin City Council to ‘hotels’ who ignore complaints about cockroaches?” she said.

She went on to say that she recently held a meeting in her constituency office in Blanchardstown with 10 local homeless families.

“Some are in better conditions than others but all report bedwetting and even soiling by their children due to stress of being homeless.

Infections of impetigo, eczema and lice are widespread in some accommodation cen-

tres. Children’s physical and mental wellbeing and their ability to access an education is clearly unimportant,” she said.

She intends to ask Dublin City Council a number of questions including: how much they have paid to the premises where these cockroaches were recorded; whether they will carry out unannounced inspections.

“I will be assisting homeless families in calling a meeting in Dublin West shortly, followed by further action to demand: no evictions; rent controls now; the release of all Nama hotels, housing and

lands; and public investment to build thousands of council homes,” she said, and asked: “When is this Government going to act on the housing emergency?”

Speaking to The Gazette, chief executive Pat Doyle of the Peter McVerry Trust, pointed out that in 2014 the group trust called for more attention to be paid to the impact that inappropriate accommodation was having on families and children in particular.

“What everyone wants to see is action on rents and action on fast track housing solutions. At the end of the day the first

thing a homeless person needs is a home.”

A spokesperson from the Department of Environment said: “Some €4bn is available to spend in this area. Within this, the combined funding total for the Dublin local authorities comes to over €500m. As part of the delivery under this €500m programme for Dublin, €117m was allocated to the four Dublin local authorities on May 5 in respect of 19 build projects, which will see the development of 566 new units of accommodation.”

A spokesperson from the Dublin Region Homeless Executive

Homeless families have reported bed-wetting and even soiling by their children due to the stress of being homeless. Inset: A local family has reported cockroaches in the room in which they were staying

responded saying: “It is important to clarify that inspections are carried out within emergency accommodation and there is in place a regional ‘facilities management team’ that are tasked with

this important function.

All complaints made in respect of standards are followed up and providers are instructed to rectify concerns where standards fall short of what is expected.”

4 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 3 September 2015

charity

Fundraising event to mark three centuries of helping Dubliners

Annual Lord Mayor’s Ball hits the 300 mark  ian begley

AS PART of the Mansion House 300 celebrations, Lord Mayor Criona Ni Dhalaigh (SF) will host the Lord Mayor’s Charity Ball on October 10 at 7pm at the Mansion House, Dawson Street.

This year’s ball is very special as it marks 300 years since the first ball was held in the Oak Room of the Mansion House.

The Mansion House 300 is a year-long programme of events celebrating the Mansion House being used as the

official residence of the Lord Mayor of Dublin.

The first charity ball was held on December 26, 1715 and the proceeds from it went towards the support of poor boys at the Blue-Coat School in Blackhall Place.

The three charities ben-

efiting from the ball are Cancer Clinical Research Trust (CCRT), Headway and The Rise Foundation.

Speaking about the ball. the Lord Mayor said: “I am delighted to continue the tradition of the Lord Mayor’s Ball and raise money for three

great charities.

“I would like to pay special thanks to our sponsors, Conference and Events Venue at the Mansion House, for their generous sponsorship, which means that all monies raised on the night will go directly to the three charities who all do

such great work throughout the year.”

The evening promises to be a night of fine food, music and fundraising with a hint of the grandeur of years past. Tickets for the ball are priced at €100 and can be purchased at lordmayordublin.ie.

New traffic camera to detect cars breaking red lights  ian begley

Dublin City Council is preparing to activate a new traffic camera to detect motorists breaking red lights.

Last month, the council installed a red-light detection camera at a junction on the Luas red line, which has been the scene of several collisions between cars and trams.

The council now intends installing a camera at the junction of Con Colbert Road and the South Circular Road.

It is also considering using cameras to capture images of motorists using

bus lanes.

The first automated traffic light camera was installed at Benburb Street earlier in August, with gardai saying that the camera had reduced the number of daily incidents of red light running from “high single figures to low single figures”.

Pictures of cars breaking the lights are captured by a system of sensors and cameras. Software changes are required to bring the system on the South Circular Road up to the same standard as the one already in operation, with the council currently reviewing the site.

Deputy Catherine Byrne (FG), George McCullough, chief executive, Glasnevin Trust and Drimnagh woman Violet Balfe examine one of the damaged tombstone. Picture: Colm Mahady/Fennells

goldenbridge: over 100 lend helping hand

Inchicorians help repair cemetery  ian begley ibegley@dublingazette.com

MORE than 100 local Inchicore residents took part in a clean-up to repair some of the damage done to the recently vandalised Goldenbridge Cemetery.

Members of the We Love Inchicore and Keogh Square community groups arrived at the cemetery in their droves to show their support for Glasnevin Trust and to lend a helping hand to repair some of the damage.

The clean-up, which took place on August 29,

was part of a larger project between the Glasnevin Trust and Richmond Barracks, which are working with the Inchicore Development Association and Dublin City Council to involve the Goldenbridge cemetery and its history as part of a co-ordinated local development project.

This includes the reopening of Goldenbridge as a fully operating cemetery for the community, following its premature closure in the 1900s Commenting on the attendance levels at the event, George McCullough, chief executive of

the Glasnevin Trust, said: “I am truly overwhelmed by the response we’ve had to our clean-up day appeal. The people of Inchicore and the surrounding areas have done a fabulous job, and we are very grateful.

“The Glasnevin Trust and Richmond Barracks are currently working together to open these important national historical sites for May 2016.

“The history of Goldenbridge Cemetery has gone untold for more than a hundred years, but from next May the public will have the opportunity

to reacquaint themselves with its vast, rich history,” he said.

Goldenbridge is a 19th century “garden” cemetery. After the passing of the Act of Easement of Burial Bills in 1824, a committee was established to administer the proposed cemetery.

The cemetery was purchased in 1828 and the first burial took place on October 15 of that year.

Goldenbridge Cemetery was the first Catholic cemetery built in Dublin after Catholic Emancipation, and was purchased

by Daniel O’Connell for £600.

3 September 2015 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 5

Bull wall Residents worried about flood defence structure

Bay view to remain, council tells locals  keith bellew kbellew@dublingazette.com

Dublin City Council has sought to reassure Dublin Bay residents who have raised concerns about the large flood defence wall currently under construction which blocks their view of Bull Island, saying the footpaths will be raised.

This follows representations from Deputy Tommy Broughan (Ind) who is representing a number of constituents who have contacted him recently saying that the view of Bull Island, its wetlands and Dublin Bay was being impeded by the new wall structure.

Many senior constituents complained that the bay was now invisible from James Larkin Road as they drive along the coastal area.

Deputy Broughan says: “While I fully accept that appropriate flood defence mechanisms are completely necessary, surely there are less imposing engineering structures that can be used to ensure the coast is protected but that the beauty of Bull Island is unobstructed.

It also appears that some key departments of Dublin City Council have not themselves been consulted about the new metrehigh wall.

“The flood alleviation

and cycleway project was approved by An Bord Pleanala and went through the Part 8 public planning process at Dublin City Council,” he said.

Interim

A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said the project was an interim scheme comprising elements of two projects, the Dollymount promenade and flood protection project (DPFPP) and the north city arterial watermain (NCAM) both of which have planning approval from An Bord Pleanala.

“The scope of works includes the construction of two new sections

of retaining wall and improvements to the existing sea defence wall.

These works include height adjustments to the existing sea wall to ensure a statutory minimum level of flood defence is provided, the 200-year tide level plus an allowance for global warming sea level rise to the end of the century,” said the spokesperson.

They went on to say that the existing road carriageway level alongside St Anne’s Park is lower than the existing Clontarf Road south of Mount Prospect Avenue, so the existing sea wall adjacent to St Anne’s Park will be adjusted by up to 70cm to provide the proposed

Dublin City Council has reassured Dublin Bay residents that their view of Bull Island will not be blocked by the large flood defence wall currently under construction

level of flood protection.

“At the northern end of this section of works, a new seawall is currently being constructed. Once completed, this height of this section of wall will be approximately 85cm above the finished footpath level.

Due to the existing incline on the James Larkin Road at this bend and the fact that the wall has yet to be backfilled and the footpath completed; the current height of the wall appears greater than when the works will be completed,” said the

spokesperson.

To compensate for the wall’s height wall, the existing road pavement levels will also be altered upwards by about 2-4cm which will lessen against the impact of the seawall on the view to some degree.

6 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 3 September 2015

don’sdublin Dublin Castle – part of Irish life since the time of the Vikings It has played a part in Irish life for centuries and Dublin Castle had its origins back in Viking times.

It was originally settled on the high ground close to the Poddle and Liffey rivers and provided an excellent defence.

With the Norman invasion in 1169, however, the old structure was demolished and a more permanent building was erected. King Henry II implemented this phase, which was completed in 1230 and was the beginning of the castle as we know it today.

The Poddle was diverted underground and its water used to fill the moat that surrounded the fortress. Typical of Norman design, there was a tower at each corner and the Record Tower (1228) is the only surviving one.

Over time many other buildings were added, especially in the Georgian period. The Treasury Building in the lower yard, the first purpose-built office space in Dublin, was completed in 1714. In the upper yard, the Bedford Tower, named for the Duke of Bedford who was then Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, was constructed in the 1750s.

And it was from here in July 1907 that one of the most infamous events in the Castle’s history took place when the Irish crown jewels were stolen on the eve of the visit of King Edward VII. They have never been recovered.

As the centre of British power, it was often challenged with it coming under attack during Robert Emmet’s short-lived rising in 1803 and Easter 1916.

British power ceased on the January 16, 1922 when Michael Collins took possession on behalf of the new Irish Free State.

In the upper yard are the State Rooms originally constructed for the Lord Lieutenant’s personal accommodation and entertainment.

Nowadays, these lavishly furnished rooms – St Patrick’s Hall, Throne Room, State Drawing Room and State Corridor – are used for Government engagements including the inauguration of presidents and State visit ceremonies.

Don Cameron

www.donsdublin. wordpress.com

Dublin Castle originated back in Viking times and was originally settled on the high ground close to the Poddle and Liffey rivers

litter IBAL survey measure challenged

Dear old dirty Dublin may not be that dirty  keith bellew

Dublin city centre and Dublin north inner city have both performed badly for the second year in a row in the 2015 Irish Businesses Against Litter (IBAL) survey.

But Dublin Town (previously Dublin Business Improvement District – BID) has countered this saying it has concerns about the methodology IBAL uses for its survey.

Dublin 7 has been designated as a blackspot due to the dirty condition of Brunswick Street, Manor Street, Capel Street, and Church Street.

Meanwhile busy thoroughfares such as O’Connell and Grafton streets have gone from clean to moderately littered, and College Green was strewn with what is known as builders’ litter from nearby Luas works.

It wasn’t all bad, however, as areas such as Stephen’s Green and Thomas Street were reasonably well maintained.

According to the IBAL report: “There was a general slip in cleanliness levels across Dublin, with even very high-profile sites such as Grafton Street, O’Connell Street, Merrion Square and College Green falling from clean to moderately littered or worse. This is unfortunate at a time when tourist numbers are

Conference Centre on Spencer Dock, described in the IBAL survey as strewn with “huge amounts of litter”

at their peak.”

The report concluded that the predominance of moderately littered sites suggested that with a little more effort Dublin City Council could improve the capital’s ranking.

Meanwhile in the north inner city there ratings were mixed.

Although overall the area performed poorly, a number of areas had improved considerably.

One such area was Store Street and Irvine Terrace. But Gardiner

Street was described as “in a shocking state” and Spencer Dock was strewn with “huge amounts of litter”.

On the other hand, Summerhill and Sheriff Street were described as “very good in places and very poor in others.”

Unlike the city centre which slipped in the rankings, the north inner city, while still rating badly, did perform a bit better than last year.

The repor t states: “Another noticeable improvement in an area

which was previously a litter blackspot, but which, if progress continues, will soon be clean to European norms.”

Despite the poor city centre rating, Dublin Town has said that tourism numbers are up and local businesses had not reported any increase in street litter.

“DublinTown is on the record as having concerns about the methodology employed around the IBAL Litter survey.

“Essentially it judges a street as being clean or

unclean based on a single moment in time.

“So for instance if a bag of rubbish is put out for 10 minutes and is opened by seagulls resulting in litter on the street for a few minutes the survey, if conducted on the street at that moment in time, would deem the street as littered.

“However the street might in fact be cleaned two minutes after that and it may not be littered again which would make this inaccurate,” said a spokesperson.

A fun family day in aid of Pieta House A family day complete with free music in aid of Pieta House will be held at the bandstand in St Stephen’s Green on Saturday, September 12. The theme of the event, which is called Trust 2015, is Mental Wellness, Togetherness and Suicide Prevention.

Bands playing on the day

include; Interskalactic, the Bionic Rats, Pia Dunne and the Elusians, The North Strand Kontra Band, Oi Oi Love Sessions and Mr Upfull.

Attendees are advised to bring blankets, flasks of tea or coffee, snacks, and their family and friends.

Organiser Brian Mahon said:

“This is an alcohol-free event and this year will be the third year that the event is on. The event is being held to raise awareness about the issue of mental wellness and suicide prevention and the supports that are available. Musicians, face painters, poets, motivational speakers, [and] volunteers [will] get together to celebrate life and

to raise money for Pieta House who provide a free, therapeutic approach to people who are in suicidal distress and those who engage in self harm.”

For more information on the event, visit www.facebook.com/ events/1467180330261709/ For more information on Pieta House, visit www.pieta.ie

3 September 2015 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 7

rodents Cabra and Phibsboro households urged to avoid poison and use traps

Luas works set rats on the rampage  ian begley

A number of Dublin homes and businesses north of the city have been infested with rats due to the ongoing construction of the Luas CrossCity tracks.

A spokesperson for the Luas Cross City project recently confirmed that a number

of Dublin 2 businesses had complained of rodent issues caused by the construction.

They also mentioned that several north inner city homes in Cabra and Phibsboro had have also been infested by rats.

The spokesperson advised that any home or business affected by rat infestation trig-

protest: supporters from all 26 counties

80,000 out on streets over water  aisling kennedy akennedy@dublingazette.com

Over 80,000 people attended an anti-water charge demonstration in Dublin city last weekend.

The demonstration involved protesters gathering at Heuston and Connolly stations before marching along the quays to join a rally on O’Connell Street.

T h e R i g h t 2 Wa t e r group organised the protest march and buses filled with people from an estimated 26 locations around the country descended on Dublin to make their voices heard.

Among the protesters were the 23 men and women who currently face charges over incidents in Jobstown in Tallaght last November when Tanaiste Joan Burton was forced to remain in her car for more than two hours after leaving a graduation ceremony.

Paul Murphy, AntiAusterity Alliance TD and one of those expected to be charged over the Jobstown protest, claimed that if the Government did not “bow to the inevitable” and abolish water charges the next government would face

immense pressure.

He said: “This is an opportunity for people to show firstly that the anti-water charges movement has not gone away, despite repeated reports of its demise, and to go after the Government now on water.”

Abolish

Sinn Fein deputy leader Mary Lou McDonald urged the Government to use the October Budget to abolish the charges and described Irish Water as “one fiasco after another.”

Meanwhile, in response to the weekend’s protest, a spokesperson for the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government said: “There is utterly no question of a change of plan.

“Irish Water and water charges are here to stay as a means of providing investment and the development of national services fit for the 21st century.”

T he spokesperson acknowledged every citizen’s right to a peaceful protest.

He also argued, however, that the Government had already introduced “certainty and affordability” to the charges.

gered by Luas works could avail of a free pest control service provided by the project.

Speaking to The Gazette, Trevor Hayden of Complete Pest Control said there had been a huge surge of rat activity around the city centre and other parts of north Dublin due to the ground being disturbed during the ongoing

Luas works.

He said: “The rats are trying to get away from the noise and are ending up in people’s businesses and homes.

“With any new construction works that take place, especially in more urban areas, rats seem to be a prevalent problem.

“We advise our clients that

it is always better to make sure your house is secure so that rodents cannot enter.

“In the unfortunate circumstance where they do get into people’s homes then we set down traps as opposed to rat poison.

“If you set poison in your house you have no control of where they die.

“The smell of a dead rat is absolutely horrendous and it stays around for months on end.

“It would be like taking a chicken carcase and hiding it somewhere in your house.

“By using a trap you can secure the rat and know exactly where the dead rodent is going to be,” he said.

8 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 3 September 2015

gazetteGALLERIES

Happy birthday to Sarah Cooney pictured here with her mum, Maeve

Performers Shauna Buckingham, Jonathan Lycett, Stuart Kinsella, Ben Barnes and Morgan Crowley. Pictures: Stephen Fleming

John Flinter

Chris McLoughlin and Robert Degger

Sheila Nolan with Dennis and Deirdre Lynch

3 September 2015 DUBLIN CITY Gazette 9

Band Keywest at the special preview screening of Vacation at Cineworld, Parnell Street, Dublin

Jim Doyle of Dublin City Council Arts Office

John Sansone and Dani Saliani

cineworld: special preview screening of movie, Vacation

I

t was party central at Cineworld in Dublin recently for a special preview screening of Vacation. The film which stars Leslie Mann as well as Chevy Chase and Ed Helms sees Rusty Griswold taking his family on a cross-country excursion to America’s favourite fun park. Having a laugh on the night were Daren Kennedy, model Carl Shabaan, RTE presenter Sinead Kennedy, music group Keywest as well as 98fm’s Claire Leavy. After the screening those in attendance retired to the Woolshed Venue nearby where the fun continued.

Artistic director David Wray, Kelli Ann Masterson , Morgan Crowley and Edel Shannon

merrion square park: Opera in the Open

Pat and Katherine Boylan

Falsettos fly at open air show M

errion Square Park was the venue for a special one-off performance of Orphee et Euridice by Christoph Willibald Gluck to celebrate the move of the French Embassy’s Cultural Service to Merrion Square recently. The event helped launch a season of French Opera in the

Open. “Opera in the Open is one of Dublin’s most popular summertime events. Now in its 16th year, this season marks a special collaboration with the French Embassy with a wonderful selection of French Opera performances,” said Ray Yeates, arts officer, Dublin City Council.

James Byrne and Romy Carroll

Darcy Nolan and Janice McQuillan

James Walsh and Vanessa Regnaud. Pictures: Brian McEvoy Jack Morrissey

Hugo, Samantha and Sebastian Norris enjoying the sunshine

10 Gazette 3 September 2015

gazetteGALLERIES

Claire Moran and Jasmine O’Brien

Well-known faces from the world of entertainment helping Lidl to celebrate its very own Oktoberfest. The celebration, held at Meeting House Square in Dublin, launched the Alpengut range of food in Lidl stores. Guests on the night included UTV news anchor Alison Comyn, Gia Elllis

Harry Cullen

RTE weather anchor Nuala Carey, TV3’s Peter O’Riordan with wife, Stephanie, Siobhan O’Connor and Sonya Mohlich. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Prost! A LIDL CELEBRATION FOR NEW FOOD RANGE

Dublin takes on Oktoberfest Sarah Tomry and RTE’s Nuala Carey

Niamh Devereux, Victoria Stone and Clodagh Daly

Kevin Haverty and Ryan McDonnell

3 September 2015 Gazette 11

world record P15

asdfsdaf musical P27 P16

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



Gazette

diary P12

what’son Console conference:

John Wyer at work in the kitchen. He usually gets up at about 6.30am, cycles 10 minutes to work and is at Forest Avenue by 7am.

a day in the life: owner and head chef at Forest Avenue John Wyer

It boils down to hard work  aisling kennedy

John Wyer, owner and head chef at Forest Avenue in Dublin, is one of the hardest working men in the food industry. Running a restaurant is no easy task and Wyer works 14- and 15-hour days to ensure his restaurant serves the highest quality food to its customers.

He took time out recently to talk to the Gazette about a day in his life.

Wyer explains that he usually gets up at about 6.30am, cycles 10 minutes to work and is at Forest Avenue by 7am.

He said: “I don’t have anything to eat in the morning, I just have a glass of water. My wife, Sandy who runs the restaurant with me, usually arrives at about 10am and she always brings me breakfast.

“She usually picks something up on her way in like scrambled eggs and orange juice and we have our breakfast together.”

Wyer explains that once he gets into the kitchen in the morning he starts making the breads for lunch service and he also starts to prepare stocks for the day by roasting bones.

“The food deliveries start coming in at about 7.30am which I always check, and then the rest of the team will start to arrive at 8am.”

At 11am the front of house staff make coffee’s for everyone and Wyer then heads upstairs to take care of the admin side of things by ringing suppliers, making sure everything has arrived for lunch, and planning the dinner menu for that night.

“That’s my down time, it’s just time I need away from the kitchen where I can focus on creating and organising,” he explains.

Wyer then heads back downstairs to prepare for lunch which begins at 12 o’clock and is usually a very busy service with between 20 to 30 people served daily.

Once lunch is over, Wyer then cycles home for a well-earned break at about 3.30pm.

Despite being a culinary genius, Wyer tends to make himself sandwiches and salads for lunch and he explains that once he finishes eating he has a power nap.

“That’s my new thing now. I set my alarm for 20 minutes and I doze off. That little sleep revitalises me and I’ll take a

nice shower when I wake and I’m very much ready to go again by 4.45pm.”

Wyer then cycles back to the restaurant where he makes sure everything is set up for the evening dinner service and he cooks from 6pm to 10pm.

As the last part of the day, Wyer then calls his local suppliers to order in produce for the next day.

“I’m usually home by about 11.30pm/12am and I’ll have some food, a glass of wine and I’ll sit on the couch and have a chat about the day with my wife. The main thing is that we both unwind after the day so we usually just watch some TV and then head to bed.”

Forest Avenue is on Sussex Road, Dublin 4. For more information log onto www.forestavenuerestaurant.ie

Music and TV star Niall “Bressie” Breslin will share the stage with some of the world’s most influential minds and thought leaders on suicide at Console’s upcoming annual conference.

The Console World Suicide Prevention Day Conference 2015 takes place on Thursday, September 10, at the Aviva Stadium Conference Centre.

The conference is of benefit to anyone working in a caregiving role or with a more general interest in suicide prevention and postvention.

Bressie’s contributions to the national debate on mental health, anxiety, depression and suicide, have helped address the stigma which remains in Ireland today.

He believes that opening up about mental health is the first stage to recovery, and the fruits of that were seen in recent figures released by Console which showed a rise in the number of young men contacting the organisation.

Console offers free counselling services and 24-hour helpline (Freephone 1800 201 890 or text 51444).

12 Gazette 3 September 2015

Gazette

dublinlife Banking on the bible at inquiry It recently emerged that the Oireachtas Banking Inquiry set up to investigate that irresponsible era leading to the economic crash of 2008, has spent €3.5m conducting its business, including €56 for bibles for interviewees to swear on.

Other expenses included €3,938 on tea and coffee, €1,100 on newspapers and €12.70 on copies of the Constitution.

Quite ironic really!

However, if HBO has

shown us anything, it’s that top quality entertainment requires a budget. And have there been moments of top quality entertainment during this inquiry!

Notably when Bertie returned to give a political master class laced with little jibes at Fine Gael.

At one point during his interrogation, in response to Deputy Eoghan Murphy’s (FG) questions about budgetary spending before the 2007 election, he

quipped that he wasn’t worried about not being returned to the office of Taoiseach so spending wasn’t an issue.

bee sure to check out new musical Theatre company WillFredd and children’s cultural centre The Ark have teamed up to create an exciting new musical for audiences ages 6+, their families and friends.

BEES! by Mark Doherty and directed by Sophie Motley will premiere as part of the Family Season

in Dublin Theatre Festival 2015.

The production is a musical filled with fun and songs, dancing and jiving, flying and hiving and absolutely no boring stuff.

You will also learn lots of facts about bees along the way.

For more information and to book tickets for the show, visit www.dublintheatrefestival.com/ Online/BEES or www. dublintheatrefestival. com.

Dublin Theatre Festival 2015 runs from September 24 to 11, with 28 worldclass productions spanning 22 different stages across Dublin city and suburbs. The programme will offer both spectacular, large-scale presentations and intimate performances which will entertain seasoned theatre-goers and first-time audiences alike.

christmas is early at brown thomas As summer draws to a close, Christmas bells are ringing at Brown Thomas which reminds us of the onset of the festive season with the launch of its Christmas Market.

A dedicated space in the Dublin store has been transformed into a winter wonderland filled with Christmas trees, seasonal decorations and festive food.

The themes of this year’s Christmas Market at Brown Thomas include, Ice Palace, Venetian Winter, I Love Candy and Santa’s Journey.

The Christmas Market at Brown Thomas is now open for anyone who wishes to indulge themselves in the festive spirit.

diary

Rachel and Laura Scott at the Christmas Market at Brown Thomas

3 September 2015 Gazette 13

Gazette

14 Gazette 3 September 2015

dublinlife

advice : Competition & Consumer Protection commission sets out questions you need to ask

Thinking of buying a car?

According to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, almost 30% of queries to the helpline relate to buying a car.

To help you make the right decisions, here are a few questions to consider 1. What’s your budget?

Think about what you can afford to spend. If you are a first-time buyer it is easier to estimate as you do not have a tradein.

If you are trading-in, you need to consider the

cost of changing - subtract the value of your trade-in from the price of a new car. Also think about the associated running costs.

2. How are you going to pay for the car?

Saving up for a car is the cheapest option as you do not have to pay interest on a loan.

If taking out a personal loan from your bank or credit union, work out what you will be repaying each month.

You can compare savings accounts and personal loan rates from the

different providers on www.consumerhelp.ie.

A good rule of thumb is if you require finance for more than three years to pay for a car, it may be too expensive for you.

3. Personal Loans v Hire Purchase/Personal Contract Plan (PCP)?

A garage may offer a hire purchase agreement or PCP as a way of paying for your car.

The main difference between a personal loan and a PCP is that with a loan you borrow the money, pay for your car, and own it immediately.

With a PCP, you don’t own the car, you are hiring it for a period of time, typically 3-5 years.

You only own it when you make the final payment.

T his is impor tant because if you were to run into financial difficulty during your PCP, unlike a loan, you cannot sell the car to pay off your debt.

4. Do you know your rights if you buy from a trader compared to a private seller?

If you buy from a dealer you have the option of car finance, a warranty, and you have some protection under consumer law.

For instance, it is an offence for a dealer to sell a car that is not roadworthy or provide you with misleading information about the car such as any repair work needed etc.

If you are dealing with a trader ask if they are part of a trade association, for example the Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI).

This requires them to follow certain business standards.

If you buy from a dealer you have the option of car finance, a warranty, and you have some protection under consumer law

Visit www.consumerhelp.ie for more information on what to look out for before you buy a car, including a car purchase checklist.

If you buy privately, you do not have the same consumer rights because the person selling the car is not acting as a business.

5. Have you checked the condition of the car?

Always check the mileage on the odometer, if it seems low compared

to the condition of the car investigate. You can find out more about car clocking on www.consumerhelp.ie.

6. Have you investigated the car’s history?

You can check the history of the car on websites such as www.cartell. ie, www.motorcheck.ie or www.mywheels.ie for a small fee.

All Society of Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) dealers have access to a car history check service.

Also, make sure you check that the car is not under any existing finance agreement.

Hire Purchase Inform a t i o n L t d ke e p s records of cars subject to hire purchase agreements, so check if they have details of the car on file.

For more advice when buying a car check out www.consumerhelp.ie fergal o’leary Director of Communications and Consumer Help

Sheds’ Strollers take a walk for charity A group of casual walkers called the Sheds’ Strollers will do a special walk for charity next week in aid of St Michael’s House.

The Sheds’ Strollers meet every week in Connolly’s The Sheds pub in Clontarf.

The charity walk, which takes place on September 6, 2015, at 11am, is a historical walk of

Clontarf under the direction of well-known tour guide and historian Pat Liddy of Walking Tours Dublin.

The walk will start at the Alfie Byrne Chair, at the Fairview end of the promenade near Clontarf Dart Station, and it will then proceed along the promenade to Clontarf Village (Vernon Ave-

nue).

Pat Liddy will regale walkers with stories about the many historical points of this ancient part of Dublin city.

To register for the walk, contact Michael Coyne on 0872843448.

Registration is €10 per person with a special family rate of €20 for two people or more.

3 September 2015 Gazette 15

Gazette

features A spookily wise woman visits National Leprechaun Museum The Cailleach, the ancient hag of wisdom in Irish Folklore, is set to return to The National Leprechaun Museum for the season of Samhain.

This Halloween Dubliners are invited to visit the witch in her lair underneath the museum; the original site of the Jervis Street Morgue.

The Cailleach will be available for adult-only visits every Friday and Saturday night after 6.30pm in September and October with under-18

Maura Twomey (59) broke the world record for the oldest Irish person to swim the English Channel

world record: Walkinstown woman swims for niece

Maura crosses Channel and smashes record

 Aisling Kennedy

A Walk instown woman broke the world record for the oldest Irish person to swim the English Channel recently and she did it in aid of the charity, Build4Life Cystic Fibrosis.

Maura Twomey (59), who now lives in Boston, USA decided to swim the Channel after a discussion she had with her sister-inlaw about her nephew who has the condition.

Twomey explained: “My sister-in-law told me about my niece and her son who had cystic fibrosis and how hard it was for them.

“It took longer than it should have for him to be diagnosed and she told me that they were raising money for Build4Life and Cork University Hospital.

That was the moment when I said maybe I could swim the Channel for them if I worked hard enough.”

Twomey then set about getting advice on how she would go about swimming the English Channel as even though she was an avid swimmer since her teens she knew that it would be a massive undertaking.

“I asked a swimming coach I knew in Cork and she gave me a lot of advice on how I should go about training for the swim.”

Twomey began swimming 30-40 km per week, took up yoga classes and completed Crossfit training.

She then attended the Sandycove Island Swim Club camp last July where she completed an intensive course of swims daily

and since then she has continued to increase her endurance and training throughout the year.

On July 10 this year, Twomey entered the water and swam from Samphire Hoe beach in Dover to Petite Blanc Nez on the French coast.

She completed the swim in 16 hours and 23 minutes.

She drank mostly liquid herbs mixed with blackcurrant juice, orange juice and half warm water to counteract the cold water.

She also ate half a banana every so often.

She never stopped swimming once because if she stopped kicking her legs it would not be counted as a full swim.

Twomey explains: “I was very lucky to get sunny conditions for my

swim. The water could’ve been choppy and messy but thank God none of that happened.

“I was so deeply happy when I finished the swim.

I just stood there like a stunned person, I was just dumbstruck that I did it.

Sometimes I think about it and say ‘Did I really do that?’

“I’m proud that I did it and my family were so supportive of me. I wasn’t going out to prove I could do it, I just wanted to do it for the charity and I’m delighted that it all went so well.”

So far Twomey has raised over €27,000 for Build4Life.

If you would like to donate to the Build4Life Cystic Fibrosis charity log onto http://www. mycharity.ie/event/maurasenglishchannelswim

visits from Friday, October 23 to Sunday, November 1 before 6.30pm.

Youngsters who can’t wait until then, can venture into the witch’s lair on Culture Night, Friday, September, 18.

The festival of Samhain, summer’s end, celebrates life, death, and life beyond death. The Cailleach Bhearra is the divine hag of Ireland she appears across the island from the Beara peninsula in Cork to Slieve Gullion in Armagh, the cliffs

of Moher in Clare and Loughcrew in Meath.

According to the Leprechaun Museum: “The Cailleach is the ancient mother of all Ireland. She is referred to often from medieval times, but her presence stretches back to a much earlier time, a time before books and writing. Across the land rocks and cairns, tombs and graves are her seats, her beds and her homes.”

For more information visit: www.leprechaunmuseum.ie/

Gazette

16 Gazette 3 September 2015

dublinlife

magical musical: Love me tender takes to the stage

Shaun’s shook up delivering the King’s hits  Ian Begley

After a 10-year gig as Barry in EastEnders, unforgettable appearances in Ricky Gervais’s Extras and leading roles in a ton of West End shows, Shaun Williamson is back and starring

in Bord Gais Energy T heatre’s upcoming production, Love Me Tender.

The musical, inspired by the music of Elvis Presley, features 25 of his best-loved songs including The Devil in Disguise, Hound Dog,

Blue Suede Shoes and All Shook Up. Williamson plays Jim, a widower and resident of “heartbreak hotel”, who might just have one last chance at love.

Speaking to The Gazette, Williamson said he was very much

looking for ward to coming to Dublin to mark the last week of the show’s tour.

“I’d never worked in a theatre in Dublin before, but I’ve been there quite a few times for a number of TV appearances.

“I think the most important thing to note about the show is that Elvis isn’t even in it. It’s simply a feel good musical based on the songs of the rock-and-roll legend.

“It’s set in the most depressed town ever in midwest America where nobody’s happy. One day a stranger turns up in a leather jacket and a motorbike – an Elvis personality by the name of Chad, and once he turns up a lot of crazy stuff starts happening.

“In total, I’m involved in about eight songs, including a few duets with Chad himself.

Luckily, we’ve got about 10 very fit dancers on stage which means that I don’t have to move about so much.”

This production is a million miles away from his role in EastEnders which, Williamson admits, he doesn’t really miss.

“It’s been 11 years since I’ve been in EastEnders which is crazy and I don’t really miss it because I did it for 10 years.

“I went into drama school very late at the

Actor Shaun Williamson is starring in Bord Gais Energy Theatre’s upcoming production, Love Me Tender. Picture: Johan Persson

age of 27 and once I finished I got a part in the show.

“Once my time came to an end on the show at 40 I hadn’t had much acting experience elsewhere so I was determined to do some work on stage. I have been very lucky since then and have done about 25 shows over the past 11 years.”

Asked if he gets a lot of people still seeing him solely as “Barry” – the same way his character was on Ricky Gervais’s hit sitcom Extras, Williamson said that it

happens regularly but does not affect him.

“Extras was a very funny show. On one level it carried on the stereotype of me being Barry, but to be honest I don’t mind it and never regret doing it.

“It was great fun working with R icky Gervais and Steve Merchant so I owe them a lot.

“EastEnders is a terrific show, but Ricky Gervais and Steve Merchant are comedy legends so to get a chance working with them was really great.”

He says he doesn’t keep in touch with the comedic pair: “Not really. We don’t go out for drinks or anything like that because they’re just so busy. Ricky is a workaholic and hops from one project to another and Steve is now in the West End himself.”

Love me Tender takes place at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre from September 21 to 26 with tickets costing €25 to €50.

See bordgaisenergytheatre.ie for more information.

3 September 2015 Gazette 17

travel P20

asdfsdaf P27 cinema P22

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



Gazette

style P18

Pets extra love for extra lovable Spencer

The Moscow State Circus show has been garnering a huge amount of praise in the UK – and it’s coming to Ireland. Catch it while you can...

families: moscow state circus set to delight with its return to the rds

You’ll go Russian to a show  keith bellew

THE world-renowned Moscow State Circus comes to the RDS with its latest offering from September 4 to 13.

Unlike US-style circuses with animals jumping through flaming hoops to the crack of a whip, the Moscow State Circus is an artistic show performed to a theme or storyline.

The latest show, which is billed as their best, to date, is based on the Russian folklore story of Cvetik-Semicvetik, or “The flower with seven colours”,

by Valentin Petrovich Katayev, where each colour represents a wish.

Speaking to The Gazette, circus director Paul Archer discussed the storyline of the show.

“It’s a brand-new show that we’re bringing to Dublin since we were last in town two years ago.

“The story revolves around a girl who is granted these wishes during the course of the performance and uses these wishes for personal gain and personal desires. She wants the biggest popcorn in the world, for example,” he said.

Other frivolous selfish wishes granted to the girl include a hula-hoop and a gingerbread man. However, she goes on to redeem herself with her final wish.

“Finally, it gets to the end of the show, and she’s got one wish left and she really sees the light and wants to make a sick boy be able to walk again.

“He’s on crutches at the start of the show and he’s hobbling around.

She not only makes him better, but he performs one of the acts to finish the show off,” said Archer.

He added that the show has a good moral behind it, namely, it’s not what you have, but who you are, what you can do, and what you can give to people that counts.

Impressive Archer went on to outline some of the amazing acts to be seen at the show, one of the most impressive of which is Eliza Khachutryan, who performs amazing feats on the highwire.

“We’ve got a high-wire act this year

with a girl doing the whole act in ballerina points, and she does amazing tricks.

“We’ve got the Russian bar, the springboard, the amazing roller skating act, the clowns, the trapeze people and lots of other things; it’s a full twohour live show for the audience and it’s suitable for all ages.

“Because of the training that they have undergone, they are the creme de la creme of circus acts anywhere in the world,” he said, adding that the show has been met with a huge amount of praise so far in the UK. The Moscow State Circus will perform at the RDS for one week from September 4. For further information, see www.moscowstatecircus.com/.

The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Our Dog of the Week is Spencer, a two-year-old pit bull/shar pei cross.

Spencer was in a really bad way when he arrived at Dogs Trust from the pound. He had bad mange and was really malnourished.

We have been doing our very best to feed Spencer an enriched diet to build up his strength, as well as regular medicated baths to help his skin.

Even though he has had a terrible start to life, Spencer is an absolute sweetheart, and we really would love to find him the most loving home.

If you think you could offer Spencer a loving home please contact Dogs Trust on 01-879 1000.

They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50.

Map and directions can be found on their website www.dogstrust.ie.

Gazette

18 Gazette 3 September 2015

OUT&ABOUT 182 Cape coat €

nch €208 Longline belted wool tre

Baby doll dress €63

Cascade multi-chain necklace €100

Green pendant €45

own skirt Faux zip d

irt €104 Suede mini sk

€52

Ladies’ round white watch €35

Rose petal bangle €39

Newbridge Silverwear’s new Floral Collection offers some classic, timeless elegance

Double buckle 60s boots €124

autumn/winter with

Warehouse  mimi murray

Cable jumper €60

ered dress €375

are set to become a huge trend this season.

This sophisticated trend would be perfectly paired with Newbridge Silverware’s timeless Lily Of The Valley Necklace (€60). This silverplated, glass beaded necklace would add an extra touch of class to any uber-elegant outfit.

The full 2015 Newbridge Silverware range can be viewed and purchased in selected stockists nationwide, at the Newbridge Silverware Showrooms, County Kildare, or online at www.newbridgesilverware.com.

For more information, call 045 431 301, and like Newbridge Silverware on Facebook at www. facebook.com/newbridgesilverware for news on upcoming events.

roid Leather emb

FOUR clear trends have emerged for A/W 15 from the world’s biggest designers: glitter and sequins, ladylike tweed, the return of bold colour and Victorian frills.

Be both on trend and have some fun this autumn/winter with Newbridge Silverware’s Floral Collection.

This beautiful, silverplated floral-inspired range includes pendants, bangles, bracelets and earrings.

In particular, the floral pendant with clear stone (€40) and matching floral bangle with clear stone (€45) feature a unique etching design, resembling glitterwhen it catches the late evening sun.

At Paris Fashion Week, ladylike tweed skirt suits sashayed down the catwalk and

Leather pointed boots €97

THE season continues its retrograde path as the Seventies obsession continues its reign.

Working with a strong palette of black and deep navy, punctuated with caramel, ochre and hints of wine, texture is key to Warehouse’s A/W15 collection.

Toni Morden, head of design at Warehouse, says: “The collection was inspired by the streets of New York in the 1970s; from the uptown girls of Madison to the Harlem hustlers.

“The style channels the attitude of the Seventies’ most irreverent music heroines, including Kate Bush, Janis Joplin and Stevie Nicks.”

The clothing range is available in store through to October.

3 September 2015 GAZETTE 19

GAZETTE

STYLE

Nuxe is a knockout!

(L) Rib dress €88; (R) Zip front dress €72

 MIMI MURRAY

I RECENTLY started using the new Splendieuse Serum from Nuxe, and I am loving this product!

It’s from the Radiance Activating Anti Dark Spot Skincare Range, which promises to give even, luminous skin with no dark spots.

Apparently, 100% of women who tested it want to continue using it – and I can see why ... It’s available now, priced €38.

Be on track for the latest in fashion with ‘the GlamTram’

Ribbed lurex polo €52

Stripe dress €47

Unlined leather and suede panel shopper €50

DUBLINTOWN has teamed up with Luas to announce an exciting element to this year’s Dublin Fashion Festival – the Dublin Fashion Festival Luas #GlamTram.

On Friday, September 11, from 1 to 3pm, Luas will host a very glam event as part of the fashion festival. Guests will enjoy an afternoon of free mini makeovers, courtesy of Boots No 7 and Tony and Guy, along with delicious canapes and mocktails, thanks to Mao and TGI Fridays.

In addition to the Dublin Fashion Festival #GlamTram, Luas will be on the lookout for the most fashionably-dressed passengers throughout the week of the festival, with its Style Spotter competition offering lots of prizes.

Cara Moloney, marketing manager of Transport Infrastructure Ireland said: “Luas is delighted to support this year’s Dublin Fashion

Festival, Ireland’s biggest fashion event. Luas is a key part of the city’s infrastructure and will transport festival attendees to the many events in the city centre over the week-long festival.”

Clyde Carroll, director of marketing for DublinTown, and festival director, said: “Each year, the festival gets bigger and more exciting than the last and we are delighted to be celebrating the first ever week-long festival with an exciting activity such as the Luas #GlamTram, proving Dublin’s style stature amidst the ranks of the world’s fashion capitals.”

For the latest festival news, including fashion shows, in-store events and booking information, see Dublin Fashion Festival’s website at www.dff.ie, or follow it on Facebook (at http:// www.facebook.com/ DublinFashionFestival), Twitter (@DublinFashion), or Instagram (@DublinFashion).

GAZETTE

20 GAZETTE 3 September 2015

OUT&ABOUT

TRAVEL

DUBLIN: CASTLEKNOCK HOTEL AND COUNTRY CLUB

Celebrating 10 years of stylish accommodation  JESSICA MAILE

THESE days having a business thrive for 10 years is definitely something worth celebrating and Castleknock Hotel and Country Club invited me to help them do just that.

This oasis just outside of Dublin city ticks all the right boxes for business and for pleasure.

The Castleknock Hotel and Country Club has modern conference rooms, a relaxing spa, spacious rooms, fine dining and, of course, a great place to play a round of golf.

I had the chance to explore the facility’s new state-of-the-art meeting room, The Thinking Factory.

This colourful room is the perfect environment for a team-building session or a bit of brainstorming and is just filled with modern technology.

The Tonic Health and Day Spa was next on the menu and it offers a range of soothing therapies to help you relax. There is even a double room so you and your partner can relax together as you both enjoy your treatment.

Afterwards, a dip in the

The Castleknock Hotel and Country Club is celebrating its 10th anniversary

18m swimming pool and jacuzzi was a must while trying to decide whether to continue relaxation mode in the sauna or steam room.

A s e ve n i n g approached, the Lime Tree Bar spilled its secrets with a hands-on class in the art of making the perfect cocktail and there is many a tasty tipple to be found here.

This is the residents’ bar and can also be used for private receptions.

Finally, it was time to enter the Park Restaurant and enjoy the range of food on offer from this AA Rosette awardwinning restaurant.

The four-course meal was splendid starting with pulled ham terrine, starter of goat’s cheese mousse, main course of trio of duck and a delightful dessert sampler that certainly satisfied my sweet tooth.

After an exhausting day of a deep neck and back massage, swimming and relaxing in the spa, I was happy to retreat to my bedroom and sink into my large, cosy bed.

For more information on the Castleknock Hotel and Countr y Club’s 10th Birthday packages, see w w w. castleknockhotel.com.

Iceland boasts numerous natural wonders and stunning scenery, as well as capital city Reykjavik (pictured)

LAND OF FIRE AND ICE: WOW PROVIDING LOW-COST DIRECT FLIGHTS

Now is the time to explore Iceland’s untamed beauty  IAN BEGLEY ibegley@dublingazette.com

THERE could not be a better time for Irish tourists travelling to Iceland, as direct flights to Reykjavik are now as little as €79 each way.

This June, Icelandic airline WOW started p r ov i d i n g l ow- c o s t direct flights from Dublin to Reykjavik, saving hundreds of euros for those wishing to explore this vast and beautiful country.

Known as the Land of Fire and Ice, there are not many places in the world which have such contrasting dramatic landscapes as Iceland with the city of Reykjavik, as well as numerous

natural wonders and stunning scenery.

From the Blue Lagoon to spouting geysers, glaciers and fjords, it is a mesmerising country just waiting to be explored.

Iceland is one of few places in the world where it is possible to see the amazing Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights - a natural light phenomenon.

The country’s unusual and versatile landscape with its black volcanic beaches, waterfalls, bird cliffs, volcanoes, glaciers and hot springs is sure to excite even the most seasoned tourist.

One of the must-do activities in Iceland is to explore the inside of

a real volcano.

This tour will let you travel down deep inside the dormant Thrihnukagigur volcano through an opening just wide enough for a window cleaner’s pulley lift, to get people in and out.

The Inside the Volcano Iceland day tour from €256pp is a great mix of nature, history and adventure.

It features a hike across the moonscape of the ragged lava field, and great views across Reykjavik, From €59pp you can take a dip in the world’s favourite volcanic spa, the Blue Lagoon, and soak all your stresses away.

The Blue Lagoon

water contains a unique cocktail of natural mineral ingredients which help you relax and unwind while the Blue Lagoon white silica mud gently cleanses and exfoliates your skin.

For €146, you can visit a real-life glacier and experience raw nature in a winter wonderland of ice sculptures, ridges and deep crevasses.

You’ll take off eastwards out of Reykjavik where you’ll see the unforgettable Eyjafjallajokull glacier after about two hours on the road.

You may remember that name because of the 2010 eruption which shut down air travel in all of Europe.

To make the most out of your trip to Iceland, the Northern Lights tour is without a doubt a must-do.

T h i s t o u r, f r o m €49pp, will take you aw ay f r o m t h e c i t y lights so that you can observe the sky without light pollution.

Visit wowair.ie for more information on direct f lights to Iceland.

Irish travel companies Travel Department and Click and Go are also providing holiday package deals to Iceland in some of the country’s top hotels.

For more information, visit www.traveldepartment.ie or www.clickandgo.ie.

3 September 2015 Gazette 21

Base (Terenure) Fresh mozzarella, Italian cherry tomatoes, pecorino romano, prosciutto di parma, fresh basil, drizzled with garlic oil €10.50 for the 9.5”; €14.50 for the 13”

Paulies Pizza at Juniors (Bath Avenue, Ballsbridge) Butternut squash puree, pancetta, parmesan, mozzarella, rocket, black pepper and grated goat’s cheese €15

Gazette

FOOD&DRINK BITESIZEDNEWS

Some of the wonderful wines that Aldi have selected to complement late summer gatherings

Take5

Say ‘oui, oui’ to Aldi’s French wine selection DiFontanes (22 Parliament St, Dublin 2) The Little Italy: Sausage, peppers and onion 20inch €22 (Slices from €3)

 mimi murray

KIDS and adults alike love it. It goes great with an ice cold beer, a glass of vino or a Coke.

There’s no greater comfort food than pizza! No wonder there are so many pizza joints in any city you go to in the world.

This week, The Gazette checked out five of the best pizzas in Dublin. From deep pan (not a favourite of mine) to thin and crispy, we have it covered.

From a classic margherita to more unusual toppings such as pulled pork and bechamel sauce, we’ve seen it all placed on top of a pizza, and here are five of our favourites.

Have we missed anywhere? Let us know on the Gazette Newspaper’s Facebook page, or on Twitter at @DublinGazette.

Next month, we will be unveiling the best fish and chips in the city.

Credo (19 Montague St, Dublin 2) Goat’s cheese, caramelised red onion, black olives, crushed walnuts, tomato sauce, mozzarella, finished with extra virgin olive oil; vegetarian; nuts €15.50 12”

Manifesto (Rathmines) The Manifesto €16

THE Aldi French Wine Sale is now in full swing, bringing customers 13 expertly picked wines that represent the best variety across six of France’s most notable wine producing regions: Alsace, Burgundy, Loire, Bordeaux, Languedoc and the Rhone.

From robust reds to wonderfully crisp whites priced from €6.99, there is a French wine for everyone and suiting deep to shallow pockets.

From the “incredibly clean” Alsace Riesling (€9.49) to the “rich and spicy” Exquisite Collection Crozes-Hermitage (€12.99), the selection is ideal for this time of the year.

Some of the wines selected for Aldi French Wine Sale include the following ...

Alsace Riesling (Alsace) 2014, €9.49: This Riesling (one of Alsace’s “noble” grapes) has aromas dominated by lime.

On the palate, it is incredibly clean and has an edginess to it that reflects the grapes’ acidity. It is delicious on its own or with seafood dishes.

Domaine du Roure de Paulin Pouilly-Fuisse 2014 (Burgundy), €15.99: Made from chardonnay, this wine has subtle acacia flower and vanilla notes, crisp citrusy lemon, quince-spice and stone fruits. It is delicious when served with poultry or rich fish dishes.

Cotes de Beaune Villages (Burgundy), €14.99: Using only the pinot noir grape, this wine is typically light in colour with bright red berry fruits, some subtle meaty-savoury notes, and a hint of spice on the finish. Perfect served with roast lamb.

Chateau de Nety, Beaujolais-Villages (Burgundy), €8.99: Chateau de Nety produces a typically fruity and vivacious style wine. Perfect when served slightly chilled with cold meats, roast chicken or tuna dishes.

Chateau Pindefleurs, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2011 (Bordeaux), €18.99: An extremely elegant wine which, after 12 months spent in French oak, becomes increasingly apparent on the midpalate and helps achieve a long and complex finish. Serve at room temperature with red meats.

Gazette

22 Gazette 3 September 2015

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

ReelReviews

sinister 2

Spookily effective fare BUILDING on the lore of its predecessor, Sinister 2 (Cert 16, 97 mins) takes a fairly standard horror trope – sinister spirit and cohorts terrorise a normal family – and delivers, well, nothing new, really.

However, despite a few curious points (such as a comparatively amiable leading man), Sinister 2 delivers a reasonably entertaining spookfest that could deliver a fine sequel.

hitman: agent 47 Misses the target

BASED on the popular series of computer games, Hitman: Agent 47 (Cert 15A, 96 mins) has just about as much depth as the hit franchise it’s based on, but lacks some of its mischief. Rupert Friend does just fine as everyone’s favourite bald-headed assassin, but the muddled plot, some dodgy CGI and an underwhelming premise just don’t do the source material justice. Sorry, 47.

inside out

Practically perfect Pixar AUDIENCES are still flocking to Inside Out (Cert G, 102 mins), Pixar’s latest charming film for all ages. Following a young girl’s inner emotional life – expressed through some archetypical characters found in everybody’s head, such as Joy, Anger, Sadness – this charming film has some surprising depths, providing real food for thought behind the vibrant visuals.

Director John Erick Dowdle’s action thriller stars Owen Wilson and Lake Bell

action: American tourists fight for their lives during a violent uprising

No escaping the controversy Relentless action m ov i e N o E s c a p e tells the stor y of an American family who move to somewhere in South East Asia, only to become the quarry in a nerve-jangling game of cat and mouse.

Jack (Owen Wilson), Annie (Lake Bell), and their two girls move to start work on a water purification project but their toothy smiles and perennial optimism are dulled momentarily when they become caught up in the midst of a violent coup.

Trapped inside their hotel, and with a crowd baying for their blood, the family must find a way to safety – while the audience faces more of a moral dilemma.

Written and directed

 Dave phillips

by the Dowdle brothers (who brought us some enjoyable found footage horror in Quarantine, and As Above So Below) No Escape brings along a lot of the trappings of the horror genre: the action is violent and visceral, the tension is at times palpable, and the casting is highly questionable.

Bell (who was perfectly cast earlier this year in rom-com Man Up) unfor tunately doesn’t bring much to the meagre role.

It’s hard to fault Bell

in fairness, as Annie’s range of actions – running, jumping, worrying – seem to be interjected at random into the screenplay. Pierce Brosnan also gets thrown into the mix, channelling David Bowie after decades of substance abuse, Brosnan’s Hammond is a repeat visitor to South East Asia whose dodgy underwo r l d c o n n e c t i o n s come in handy when things start to go awry.

And f or a Ta kenstyled thriller, Owen Wilson seems out of place among the incessant violence.

For future reference, Owen Wilson is made for poignantly wandering around colourful Wes Anderson films, hamming it up on the

catwalks of Zoolander, or quietly mourning pets.

And while the character of Jack is a softly-softly kind of guy who just wants the best for his family, it does starts to become farcical once they are all in the thick of it.

“Don’t worry, nobody is going to die” he – Wilson – whispers to Bell at one point towards the end of the movie, when they have both watched, oh, at least 50 or 60 people perish before their very eyes.

Of course, he meant “none of us nice Americans are going to die” – which brings us to the audience’s dilemma.

On one hand, you can watch No Escape as an exciting and brainless action movie with a high body count.

But on the other hand, you can watch No Escape as a film that depicts South East Asia as a hostile and savage place, with every possible stereotype included on screen within the opening 15 minutes: “Welcome to the Third World,” says Jack sardonically when they check into their hotel room and find that none of the appliances works properly, “more like Fourth World” replies Annie.

While it was shot in Thailand, No Escape never explicitly states what country the story is set in, though there are implications that it is set in Cambodia – where the film is currently banned.

Devoid of the contro-

versy surrounding it, No Escape is a competent throwback to action movie days of yore, but it is impossible to separate the film and its place in history.

The problem is that No Escape not only falls short in a moral sense, it is also falls short when set beside the great action movies of the last decade like Taken, The Raid, or Mad Max. Unw i t t i n g l y, N o Escape has prompted a discussion about how race and location should be represented on screen, and aside from 100 minutes of distraction, perhaps that is the best thing it has to offer.

Verdict: 4/10

3 September 2015 GAZETTE 23

GAZETTE

HEALTH Still plenty of running left in the season

Psychological skills have been shown to be as important as physical prowess in sporting achievement

TIPS: WORKING WITH THE MENTAL ASPECTS OF SPORTING SKILL

Training mind as well as the body hones that edge HOW often do we hear spor ting disappointments explained by reference to an athlete’s frame of mind, rather than fitness, ability or talent? “His nerves got to him on the day”; “she didn’t believe she could do it”; “he was psyched out by the competition”.

The discipline of sports psychology has evolved in response to the need for a professional approach to working with the mental and emotional aspects of sporting skill. It provides tips for harnessing the mind’s power mind for optimal performance.

The following are a few of those tips.

Develop confidence with SMART goals

Belief in oneself is crucial to success. Setting and achieving goals builds a foundation of confidence over time.

SMART goals are specif-

ic (for example running three times a week for half an hour each time), measurable (so you can chart your progress), attainable (so that you have a sense of achievement), relevant (so they are meaningful to you) and timed (set within a realistic timeframe).

Recognise and counteract negative thinking

At some point, everyone will in their sporting life experience anxiety, loss of confidence, demoralisation and the feeling of wanting to give up. What singles out the winners is the ability to transform these debilitating feelings into ones that motivate and inspire. Be aware of selfcriticism (“I didn’t train hard enough”), excuses (“I’m tired today”), catastrophising (“I haven’t a hope”) and self-handicapping (“I’m just not as

fit as everyone else”).

These thoughts must be banished as soon as they appear. “Thought stopping” means acknowledging a negative thought and then leaving it behind. When running, this can be reinforced by brushing the thought away just as sweat is brushed off your brow and then visualising it lying behind you on the road or track.

Develop positive self-talk

Once the negative thought has been cast aside, it needs to be replaced with a positive, motivating one, such as “I know I can do it!” or “Here we go!”. These affirm your belief in yourself and your ability to achieve. Phrases need to be convincing – different ones work for different people – and practised regularly so they can be called on to eliminate

Maeve Halpin

self doubt and negativity instantly.

Know how “fired up” you need to be

Being overan xious before an event will detract from performance, but being too relaxed can also be detrimental. Research shows that performance is best at a moderate level of arousal or activation.

Again, this varies from person to person. To raise your arousal level, listen to up-tempo music

or have a high-intensity warm-up to stimulate your hear t rate and blood flow. Alternatively, to calm anxious nerves, listen to calming music and practise slow, deep breathing. Engage in activities that take your mind off the upcoming challenge. Being able to moderate your arousal level as required brings a sense of control and selfreliance.

Psychological skills have been shown to be as important as physical prowess in sporting achievement. Training the mind as well as the body can give you the edge over your competitors on the big day.

IT may be almost over but summer still has some worthwhile events to sign up to. If you have been training consistently through the season, undoubtedly you’re still planning on getting a few more races under your belt. Two of the most recent that I took part in occurred over the same weekend. The Frank Duffy 10-mile road race in Phoenix Park, August 25 was the third event in the Airtricity Dublin Marathon Series. A Sub-70 (one hour and 10 minutes) was my plan for the run. With my Garmin watch fully charged, I checked regularly that I was on target, thus ensuring a sub-seven minute mile. You really don’t want to go off like a rocket and ruin your chances of a personal best, but it is tempting when the gun goes. I’m guilty of it too. So having a Garmin watch (Forerunner 310XT for me, see below) helps you control your pace. It has all I need to help plan, store, and analyse detailed training data. It is also durable and waterproof – great for multisports. The day was humid. Civil Defence volunteers hosed people down en route – how welcome was that! I may have struggled on the last strait but I finished the 10 miles with a PB of 1:06:22. Over 4,000 runners took part so there were lots of personal bests – always good to hear.

Hopefully, there will be many more Frank Duffy 2015 races to come. For all of you aiming for the Dublin half marathon, good luck!

Downpour does little to dampen triathlon spirits A FAVOURITE race on the Triathlon Ireland calendar was the Dublin City Triathlon which took place on August 26. The Olympic distance race consists of a 1.5km swim – 40km bike – 10km run. The Super Sprint distance race includes a 500m swim – 16km bike – 4km run. I’ve completed this a number of times and every year it is superbly organised. The goodie bags, the marshalls, the competitors, the food and after-race atmosphere – incomparable.

Unfortunately the weather was an unmitigated downpour which I guess is perfect weather for a swim but made it difficult for the cycle. No matter. Cold and wet as we were, the ice cream van serving a free soft scoop at finishing line was a welcome surprise because we had earned it! Dublin City Triathlon – see you in 2016!

 Maeve Halpin is a

registered counselling psychologist and editor / co-author of How to be Happy and Healthy, the Seven Natural Elements of Mental Health, published by Ashfield Press

DCT, Phoenix Park — Photo by Europcar

GAZETTE

24 GAZETTE 3 September 2015

OUT&ABOUT

MUSIC

DUBLIN DATE: PROMOTING NEW ALBUM

Well up for a show at The Workman’s Club  KEITH BELLEW

AUGUST Wells will perform live at The Workman’s Club on Sunday, September 13, as part of a tour to promote their first album: A Living and a Dying Game.

This week The Gazette spoke with band member Ken Griffin who first gained notoriety for his role in New York band Rollerskate Skinny.

Although a native Dubliner, Griffin has spent many years in the Big Apple, immersing himself in the music scene there.

He said this latest endeavour had a different sound to that which fans of his previous work will be used to.

“For me it’s like a continual tweaking and trying to get better at what I do. The original band I was with was Rollerskate Skinny and we were very experimental and noise based, with a huge wall of sound kind of thing. This is more intricate and intimate I think,” he said.

There are no drums on the album, he says, so when you listen to it you really have to just surrender yourself to it.

While there are no drums, one very interesting instrument that features on the album is the ominous French horn, played by Louis Schwadron.

“Louis’s a good friend of mine, who’s played with tons of people like Radiohead, Polyphonic Spree, people like that.

“It’s kind of a strange instrument it takes up a lot of room, I call it a landscape instrument.

“We used trumpet and saxophone in places, to try to take advantage of the fact that there’s so many amazing musicians in New York,” he said.

Speaking about the production of the album, Griffin said: “It’s eight songs. We home recorded it last year and mixed it in a big studio in New York, so that kind of gave us room to experiment with different musicians and overdubs and stuff. We recorded the vocals, guitar and piano live.”

The latest single from A Living and a Dying Game, Come On In Out of That Night, will be released on September 4.

For more information on August Wells at The Workman’s visit: theworkmansclub.com

August Wells will perform live at The Workman’s Club on Sunday, September 13

For their latest offering, What Went Down, Foals retreated to the south of France to record in a rural 19th-century mill. Picture: Neil Krug

FOALS: MELANCHOLY ALBUM FOUR DOESN’T DISAPPOINT

Beautiful pops songs add to band’s arsenal  COLM MURRAY

FOR album four, What We n t D ow n , F o a l s teamed up with producer James Ford (Arctic Monkeys, Florence and The Machine, Jessie Ware, Mumford and Sons) and retreated to the south of France to record in a rural 19th-century mill.

The result is a primal, sometimes harrowing album of extremes – touching the depths of madness while creating some of the most beautiful pop songs the band have ever written.

Lyrically, lead singer Yannis Philippakis deals with themes of cultural identity, generational anxiety, cynicism, pessimism and heartbreak; “I wanted to tap into my inner madman and feel like I was channelling some sort of fevered creature.”

Famously provocative, Philippakis is quick-

witted with a razor-sharp tongue.

Every record has been an affirmation of the band’s big time potential and they have only taken steps in the right direction. 2013’s Holy Fire was a fire-breathing monster, but it was mostly defined by the big tunes within – Inhaler and My Number.

Two songs raising the bar to new heights. But as it turns out these are not one trick ponies. What Went Down thinks bigger and hits harder than its predecessors – and the ambience of the studio certainly lends to the finished work.

And it does sound huge. What Went Down is a festival headliners’ album: 10 songs tailored for massive crowds, massive speakers and the kind of magical collective euphoria that sparks when everyone’s tanked up, loved up and covered in mud. Close your eyes

and you can see last summer’s Electric Picnic epic light show.

A monster of a track, What Went Down is a statement of intent and should cement Foals’ position as one of Britain’s most illustrious bands.

What Went Down is the most visceral song from Foals to date – it signals the return of a band who made their name in 2006 playing at house parties, and who, six years later, in 2013, morphed into festival headliners.

Mountain at My Gates follows with a slight shift in gears but no less intensity from vocalist Philippakis. The production qualities really shine through here and neat signature guitar melodies dovetailing nicely into the chorus – a real master in song writing.

There are no bouncy pop hits like My Number to keep things brisk (Night Swimmers comes

closest). Instead it’s all sound and fury – enough to make anyone a bit nostalgic for the old Foals.

Remember the perky riffs? The songs about mathletics? The tennis shorts? Instead, Philippakis exercises his demons on the rough and searing Albatross but just falling short of what could have been the album’s finest moment. Not unexpectedly, Foals go for the big finish with A Knife in the Ocean (nearly seven minutes). The track has a more settled feel. If What Went down is madness then this is acceptance, a track to lose yourself in.

Yet again Foals deliver a sumptuous album of beautifully crafted songs against a backdrop of melancholy and deathly juggernauts.

If they didn’t already have enough songs in their arsenal to top festival bills, they’ve just added 10 more.

3 September 2015 GAZETTE 25

GAZETTE

GAMING

WEEBYTES

These teenagers won $6m playing DOTA2

Evil Geniuses win $6m for killing dragon KILLING a virtual dragon had a very real result for five teenagers recently, who scooped the top prize of $6.63m about €5.9m) at a global esports final.

The Pakistani members of Evil Geniuses defeated China in DOTA 2, a hugely popular (and potentially lucrative) game.

Millions of people watched their every move online as the teams battled it out, with a particularly tough dragon as their ultimate target. The prize fund exceeds the value of contests like the Tour de France.

 SHANE DILLON

THE Chinese Room’s PlayStation 4 exclusive, Everybody’s Gone To The Rapture (EGTTR), was

released recently to international critical acclaim – and a little derision, too.

Set in the mid-1980s in a small English village, birds sing in the trees, the sun shines brightly, flowers nod in the wind – and everybody, every-

where is gone, not just from Yaughton, but from the entire world, it seems.

Criticised by a few detractors as a glorified “walk-em-up”, you wander around deserted Yaughton, exploring its homes and businesses, and seeing signs of abruptly stopped human activity – but nobody is left to tell you what happened.

Well, almost nobody.

As you explore, mysterious darting golden balls and spirals of light occasionally lead you to key places and moments in the village’s recent past, briefly giving glimpses of the missing locals, several of whom you come to know well as you eavesdrop on snatches of their conversation from their final hours.

By hearing and observ-

ing these ordinary people facing increasingly extraordinary events, the game slowly draws the gamer into a world full of all kinds of emotion and reactions as you piece together what happened.

Here, you can see a little of Yaughton’s preserved prettiness, with the village representing one of the best-looking locales in all of gaming.

CREATING MUSIC FOR THE END OF THE WORLD WHILE many games still have pretty derivative soundtracks, there are several highly-lauded composers working in the medium, as is the case with EGTTR’s composer, Jessica Curry.

The Bafta-nominated British composer has an impressive track record, and for this game she faced a challenge of creating a soundtrack that was quintessentially English, yet also eerie and timeless.

As if that wasn’t enough of a chal-

lenge, she had to create a score that could be organically chopped up and blended together, to suit each player’s unpredictable journey around Yaughton and its environs.

Happily, the final work was another striking success for Curry, as she has created a highly pastoral work that blends a classical-sounding score with beautiful choral work.

In fact, her soundtrack created an unexpected controversy – it was

briefly ranked number eight in the British classical artist album charts – no mean feat for “just” a game soundtrack – before the powers that be reclassified her work, significantly altering its positioning.

For those looking to give their ears a treat, the soundtrack is available to buy as a digital download, or on CD, from Amazon and other music providers, and can also be listened to on several social media sites.

Angry Birds staff layoffs ALTHOUGH Rovio has a big budget Angry Birds animated movie coming out in 2016, the developer has just announced significant redundancies.

The developer has announced 260 job losses – some 38% of its remaining workforce – following 110 redundancies just before last Christmas.

Studio boss Pekka Rantala said: “Fundamental changes are needed to ensure Rovio succeeds in its global ambitions to be the leading entertainment company with mobile games at its heart.”

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28 gazette 3 September 2015

SPORT Transition seamless for Shels

FastSport

soccer: north dublin clubs join forces as new wnl campaign nears

home farm old boy ian harte retires:

FORMER Home Farm schoolboy and Republic of Ireland international Ian Harte announced his retirement from professional football last week.

Home Farm was to be Harte’s last club in Ireland before the Drogheda native joined Leeds United for what turned out to be personally a highly successful decade or so at Elland Road.

Nominated in the PFA Team of the Year for the 1999/2000 season, other notable moments of Harte’s time at Leeds were reaching the semifinals of both the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Cup, scoring a number of major goals along the way.

The dead-ball specialist played 63 times for Ireland, scoring 12 goals and was part of the 2002 World Cup squad. The nephew of Ireland team-mate Gary Kelly, he most recently helped Bournemouth reach the Premier League for the first time.

 NATHAN KELLy sport@dublingazette.com

the name and crest of his team may have changed in recent months, but Casey McQuillan’s focus remains the same as ever as another Women’s National League is set to kick off this month.

The amalgamation of Raheny United women’s side and Shelbourne FC’s underage girls into Shelbourne Ladies FC has been a rather smooth one. And now that the WNL is just days away from returning, attention can return action on the pitch rather than off it.

Speaking to GazetteSport in the week leading up to his side’s trip to face Galway in the first ever fixture of the newly formed WNL Shield, the Shelbourne head coach was excited to get under way.

“It was always an exciting time in the week lead-

The entrants for this season’s Women’s National League at the press launch

Shelbourne will aim to have as much success as they had in Raheny colours

ing up to the new season,” he said. “We’ve had a good break and now look forward to kicking off and being competitive again.

In terms of the amalgamation, it’s just something that made perfect sense.

Raheny were one of the biggest senior women’s teams and Shelbourne were one of the biggest underage clubs, so it just made sense to merge that into one.

“Obviously politics can cause some problems in football but the people who arranged this did a fine job. I suppose there had already been an unofficial link with Jamie Finn and Amanda McQuillan making the move last year,” the coach added.

Previewing his side’s trip to Galway for their

first competitive game of the season, McQuillan believes this newly formed Shield which splits the leagues into two regional groups, is a good idea. “As a coach I think your main focus is always the league, and this competition will provide some competitive games right up until the league begins in October,” he said.

“It also gives you the chance to try a couple of things ahead of the season against good opposition, who if you phoned up and asked for a preseason friendly would probably turn it down so as to not give anything away,” he added.

In between that trip to Galway and hosting Castlebar in the Shield, who they will also begin

their season against, Shels will play Peamount in a Dublin Derby in Tolka Park on Sunday, September 13.

That league curtainraiser in Castlebar comes on October 10 and while speaking to us, the Shelbourne manager offered his thought on how he thinks the race for the title will play out this season.

“I think the gap between the top teams and the rest of the league is getting smaller each year,” he said. “I think Wexford, UCD Waves and ourselves would be the bookies’ favourites but Galway have been improving every year, as have Castlebar so it should be competitive, I’m looking forward to a good season.”

Symmons enters European hockey’s Hall of Fame  sport@dublingazette.com

Irish hockey star Nikki Symmons. Picture: Adrian Boehm

DUBLINER Nikki Symmons became the latest addition to the European Hockey Federation Hall of Fame following her immaculate career.

The former Wesley College student and Loreto player was honoured as a record-breaker in Irish hockey, becoming the first player to pass the 200-cap mark and an inspiration for the sport in her country.

Reflecting on an international career that has spanned 13 years and 208 caps – including six

European championships – the Dubliner said: “Every time I put on the Irish shirt gave me great memories, not always good, but the bad also served as good memories to make me who I am today.

“I guess I gave my life to hockey for the love of the sport. There were many sacrifices I had to make and I think I inspired people by the way I went about giving it all I had on the pitch, especially near the end of my career. I was always striving to be the best I could be and to be a role model.”

And the 33-year-old is continu-

ing to help inspire new hockey fans through her work with the International Hockey Federation as a digital co-ordinator, promoting the sport to a whole new generation.

She won her first cap in 2001 against Wales and played all the way up until the 2013 European Championships in Belgium, taking in three Olympic qualification campaigns and three World Cup campaigns.

Since finishing her player, she has been nominated for the SportsAccord Sports Hero award, “an honour bestowed

upon an individual connected to sports who has inspired youths through his/hers achievements, actions or words”.

“I am extremely honoured to be inducted into the EuroHockey Hall of Fame. It is very exciting news for not only myself but my family, friends and Irish hockey.

“While I am still in a transition stage from being an athlete this has given me a huge boost and confidence as I further my career into the business side of sport.”

She becomes one of just five players to have been included in the Hall of Fame.

3 September 2015 gazette 29

Gazette

English blood, All Ireland dreams

Despite precious little Irish heritage to speak of, Hannah Noonan tells JAMES HENDICOTT she is now just a couple of games away from All-Ireland glory with Dublin’s footballers WHEN the Dublin ladies senior football side line up for their All-Ireland semifinal against Armagh on Saturday, September 5, there will be an unlikely face in the midst of the girls in blue.

Now established at Foxrock Cabinteely, Hannah Noonan is not only in her first year playing for an Irish club side, she’s come into the GAA county fray almost entirely through the relatively modest English system, and has no Irish heritage to speak of whatsoever.

In fact, speaking to Noonan in advance of the semi-final, it seems much of her past year has been dedicated to optimising her leftfield footballing career.

Having taken an AllIreland junior title with London in 2008 before arriving at Dublin, Noonan initially came to

GAA in Britain through the family of an Irish player on her rugby team, who suggested the sport might suit her at just 10 years old.

She only relocated to Dublin for a year’s sabbatical from a teaching job back in November, and came to manager Gregory McGonigle’s attention as a result of a seven-a-side tournament early this year, as well as word filtering back from London.

Having featured regularly throughout the campaign, she faces the unusual scenario of playing the coming semi-final knowing it’s likely to be both her first and last.

Unsurprisingly, her determination and focus come across as intense: “We’re confident” Noonan tells GazetteSport. “The girls are working extremely hard, and there’s a good buzz in the camp. We’re

very focused. There’s a lot of work being done by management and the girls, in our own time as well as on the training pitch “Our attitude is that if we can go out there and prepare ourselves the best we possibly can, we’ll get there.

“We’re not really worried about the other team. We’re aware of what Armagh are doing, of certain ways they play, and of their kick outs, but we’re just going to try and go out and put in a performance.

“If we play our best we’ll come out with a win. Our game plan is to go out and hit them as hard as we can from the off.”

It’s the route that’s bought Noonan to this point that showcases her determination, though, and she admits it’s been a leap in quality joining

Hannah Noonan attempts to escape a tackle in the quarter-final victory over Monaghan last week

Dublin, if one she’s able to deal with.

“Moving from London to Dublin is a huge step,” she says of her new role.

“It’s a very professional set up here. I’ve learnt a lot from the girls and the management. I was thrown in the deep end, but the girls have been

“Whether we’re starting or not, the panel is there to make an impact. We might make four or five changes, and they’ll do a job. I don’t think it’s worth even looking at [awaiting finalists] Cork yet.

“We’re 60 minutes away from that final, but Armagh are an out-

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

‘For me, I’ve got one shot and I will be leaving everything on the pitch and Dublin to go all the way’ - Hannah Noonan --------------------------------------------------------

very supportive.

“People check you understand what’s going on. There’s been a lot of advice in terms of nutrition, and recovery between training sessions. It’s tough mentally and physically. But it’s a step I’m so glad I took.”

At this level, though, nothing can be taken for granted, and while the bookies might have Dublin as favourites, the Girls in Blue are counting no chickens.

“Obviously Armagh are a strong outfit,” Noonan says. “We’re not really listening to anything anyone says about us outside the camp. Inside the camp, players are players, and the management let us do our thing. We’ve got a few more training sessions, then we’ll learn the team.”

standing team, and we’ll take each minute as it comes.”

An All-Ireland semi-final is an opportunity and a pressure point for everyone involved: one game away from a shot at glory.

For Noonan, though, this game and the one that could follow are the only ones that matter. Next year is earmarked for travel; it’ll happen now, or not at all.

“I’m fully aware that All-Ireland semi finals don’t come around easily,” she says, “and that some of these girls have been working for years to get to this position.

“It’s not about me, but for me it’s probably going to be a one-year thing.

For me I’ve got one shot.

I’ll be leaving everything on the pitch. I just want to see Dublin go all the way.”

FastSport

O’Donoghue on double as hockey team make history TEMPLEOGUE native Shane O’Donoghue, pictured with Kyle Good, fired home two set piece goals for the Irish men’s hockey team as they made history, winning the bronze medal the EuroHockey Championships.

It was the first time Ireland have won an elite level medal of any description, doing so by beating England 4-2 in London in breathless style last Saturday, finishing third in a competition that featured four of the world’s top five nations.

Previously, Ireland had eliminated world number five side Belgium and France in the group stages before falling 1-0 to number two ranked the Netherlands. The Dutch would later go on to win the final 6-1 against Germany.

Speaking afterwards, coach Craig Fulton’s belief that his team would win was unshakeable before the tie. So much so, he conducted an interview with himself before the 4-2 win over England in London, practising what he would say when, not if, his side got the better of the world number five side.

“Before the game, we were really confident.

I came into the interview room and talked through an interview with myself as if we had won the game. This is how we played and how we won. I said we had scored two out of three corners. Today we scored three!

“It’s just reward for the performances from the guys,” Fulton added. “It’s no flash in the pan.”

In the third place playoff, England led twice but goals from O’Donoghue and Alan Sothern, another Dubliner, made it 2-2 at half-time.

Eugene Magee then rifled into the top corner early in the second half to allow Ireland a glimpse of glory.

On a knife-edge until the final seconds, Ireland survived plenty of drama before O’Donoghue added an extra gloss three seconds from time from the penalty spot when Iain Lewers hauled down Kirk Shimmins for a penalty stroke.

It confirmed the medal and concluded the playing side of things for Ireland’s best ever year.

They now wait on October 25 when they will find out if they qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time since 1908.

Gazette

30 dublin city gazette 3 September 2015

SPORT

FastSport

medal haul: argentina a happy hunting ground for irish team

Ireland’s women qualify for World Sevens Series OVER a fantastic, festival-like weekend of top quality rugby, Ireland Women’s Sevens Team secured qualification to the 2015-16 World Series.

The tournament took place in UCD over the course of last weekend and top quality nations such as Japan, South Africa, Netherlands, Brazil, Hong Kong, Wales and more joined Ireland as two teams looked to secure qualification to the next edition of the World Series.

Ireland began their weekend in Pool C on Saturday and got off to a great start with a 64-0 win over Mexico. Anthony Eddy’s side followed that up with a 50-0 win over Hong Kong before succumbing to South Africa in their final pool game, losing 17-5.

Sunday morning saw Ireland cruise through their quarter-final with a 27-5 win over China.

Their semi-final would see them face off against South Africa in what would be a winner takes all clash in terms of World Series qualification.

Thankfully, it was the Irish girls who secured that spot with a 24-16 win over the Springboks thanks to tries from a couple of tries from skipper Lucy Mulhall as well as Katie Fitzhenry and Alison Miller scoring one each.

Meeting Ireland in the final was Japan, and with both teams having already secured their World Series spot, the pressure was off. Both sides still wanted to win the cup however and Ireland established a 7-0 lead after a scrappy opening 10 minutes. Amee-Leigh Crowe darted over the line for the opening try and Mulhall duly converted.

Japan were piling on the pressure but it was Ireland who scored next and again it was Crowe who sprinted over just two minutes into the second half. The Japanese pressure finally resulted in something when Yoko Suzuki waltzed through for her side’s opening try.

Chiharu Nakamura added a second try for Japan minutes later to set-up a nail biting final few minutes. In that manic few moments there was late drama when Ashleigh Baxter conceded a penalty Okuroda coolly converted to secure the win for her side.

Despite the loss, Ireland can look forward to joining the World Series when the 2015-16 season kicks off in December in Dubai.

Deirdre Faul, far left, and Peter Heffernan is second from the right, were the two Dubliners who travelled to Argentina for the Transplant Games

Dublin pair’s Transplant gold sport@dublingazette.com

DUBLINERS Peter Heffernan, from Skerries, and Deirdre Faul, from Dalkey, were part of the four-person Irish team that went to the 20th edition of the Transplant Games in Argentina, bringing home 13 medals between them.

Heffernan, a keen swimmer, won two gold medals, coming home in the 50m backstroke, 1,000m backstroke and a bronze medal for the 1,000m freestyle event in his 50-59-year-old age category.

Summing up his experience at the games, Hef-

fernan said: “They give me an overwhelming sense of the gift I have received from my donor and their family.

“T he hundreds of athletes who have participated in these games all testify to this sense of gratitude.

“One of the highlights of the week for me was when Erica, who is from Argentina, said that attending these Games has changed her as they have opened her eyes to the importance of organ donation and she will talk to all her family and friends about carrying a donor card. She said that all the athletes were

southern comforts Dublin’s Swans get best of Belast in ARFLI final THE South Dublin Swans, based in Bushy

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

Swans’ goals on the day came from Kevin Brennan with two, and one each for former Dublin GAA star Manus Breathnach, Perrystown based Martin Ryan, Aussie Bryce Fraser and Trinity College researcher Omar Mamad.

inspiring.”

A formidable racquet ball player, Faul retained her champion world title in the squash event, securing a gold medal once again for the fifth time in succession at the biennial games.

Also an accomplished swimmer, she secured a gold medal in the 400m freestyle event as well as a silver medal in the 100 me breaststroke in her 40-49 -year-old age category.

Faul said “it was a heartbreaking summer since my mother passed away at the end of July. But the Games always lift you up meeting friends from other countries and there

is the sheer awesomeness of the event simply looking around seeing my worldwide transplant family living life to the full thanks to the gift of life given to us by donors who have taken the time to consider organ donation and changed someone else’s life forever.”

The team arrived home on Monday evening, bringing with them seven gold, four silver and two bronze medals.

Despite the team’s small size, Ireland was placed 15th on the medals table out of 44 countries at the Games which involved just under 800 organ transplant partici-

pants.

Colin White, team manager and newly elected treasurer of the World Transplant Games Federation, described the Games experience: “The spirit of our team this week has embodied everything that is good in transplant sport, namely friendship, commitment, support and a deep appreciation for the gift of life that is organ donation. I have found this week both humbling and inspiring.

“When you see the dreams that are realised at the Games you begin to realise the awesome power that transplant sport has to change lives.”

3 September 2015 DUBLIN CITY gazette 31

Gazette

synger success

FastGAA

Templeogue club claim Junior C championship Templeogue Synge Street claimed the Dublin Ladies Gaelic Football Association’s Junior C championship title last week in thrilling style, getting the better of Na Fianna on a 4-15 to 4-6 scoreline in Chanel.

The victory crowned a fine run which also saw a semi-final win against Fingallians, adding to six wins in the group phase.

Picture: Peter Hickey/GAAPics.com

Hurling: quarter-final line-up nearly complete

Gavin confident replay will right Dubs’ wrongs

Kilmacud marched through to the quarter-finals with three wins in the group stages

McCormack leads way for Boden in SHC

dublin shc  sport@dublingazette.com

TWO goals from Conor McCormack helped Ballyboden St Enda’s to a 3-14 to 1-16 victory over St Jude’s in Friday night’s senior A hurling championship tie at Parnell Park.

Both clubs had already booked their passage into the quarter-finals so this victory sees Boden end the group stage in top spot. First half goals from McCormack and Conal Keaney had Boden 2-7 to 1-9 to the good at the interval with Danny Sutcliffe grabbing the Jude’s

goal.

Sixteen minutes into the second period, McCormack struck his decisive second goal as Boden ran out winners.

In the opening SHC A tie, Shane Stapleton hit an impressive 3-7 as St Pat’s of Palmerstown came back from 0-12 to 0-3 in arrears at half-time to win 3-12 to 0-17.

Christy Mulligan hit a match-winning goal as O’Toole’s leapfrogged over Craobh Chiarain at the top of Group 1 after their 1-19 to 1-17 victory at O’Toole Park last Saturday evening.

The other duel in

Group 1 saw Na Fianna defeat Brigid’s 2-14 to 1-15 thanks to AJ Murphy’s late goal.

Kilmacud Crokes made it three wins from three this season and, in doing so, secured the place in the quarter-finals of the competition they won last time around.

A 4-24 to 0-13 win over Setanta last Wednesday night, in what was a tighter gam than the scoreline suggests, ensured Ollie Baker’s squad will continue their mission to retain their championship crown this year.

The first 20 minutes of the Parnell Park clash

was extremely close with Crokes just edging ahead on points. Two goals in the final 10 minutes of the half really put gloss to the 0-15 to 0-7 scoreline at the break.

Kilmacud would go in to add two more goals in the second as well as keeping the board ticking with nine points.

Oisin O’Rorke scored 2-10 overall while brother Barry scored 1-5 from play throughout the contest.

The remaining ties in the competition were postponed due to player clashes with the Dublin senior footballers.

JIM Gavin is confident the Dublin senior footballers will come back strong, after Mayo overcame a seven-point deficit in the final 10 minutes to draw at Croke Park last Sunday, August 30.

Despite the comeback and being down to 14 men, the Dubs had a 74th minute chance to put the semi-final to bed, with Stephen Cluxton missing a makeable free with what was almost the last kick of the match.

Gavin feels the big game experience – which has been sorely lacking for Dublin since the championship got under way – will stand to the Boys in Blue in the replay.

“Mayo played well and came at us hard,” Gavin said. “They got a couple of frees and scores. It was an exciting game. Technically there were a lot of errors in it. For our part that game will do us the world of good. We haven’t experienced that intensity all season, it was four weeks since our last game and we will be the better team for it the next day.”

Gavin also commented on Mayo’s comeback, giving the Connacht side credit despite the metropolitan’s disappointing finish.

“Yeah, I think it would have been 10, 12 minutes to go [that Dublin had a seven point lead], with the added time which you factor in for championship games. We were delighted to have been in that position for the last quarter, but Mayo are one of the top teams in the country and they came back well.”

“We were a man down [due to Diarmuid Connolly’s red card]; I thought we rallied hard, showed good composure and took some great scoring opportunities. We had some frees, didn’t take them – that’s the nature of the game, I think we only had one from frees in the end. That’s one area to work on.”

On that last minute miss from Cluxton, Gavin was also magnanimous.

“It is well within his range,” said Gavin. “It’s just one of those things.

He’ll be back. He is a very strong man mentally and if the opportunity arises I am sure he will take it the next day.”

Dublin and Mayo will face off again this Saturday, September 5, with kick off in Croke Park at 5pm.

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GazetteSPORT all of your dublin city sports coverage from page 28-31

transplant games: Dubliners play part in huge success in Argentina, bringing home 13 medals P30

september 3 - 9, 2015

noonan’s all-ireland call: Londoner’s one time deal to land title with Dublin P29

Armagh await Dublin Dublin ladies football manager Greg McGonigle

Dublin ladies football manager Greg McGonigle hoping to use his inside knowledge to get the best of Ulster side in the All-Ireland semi-final  james hendicott

sport@dublingazette.com

DUBLIN WOMEN’s senior manager Greg McGonigle has branded the failure to move the team’s semi-final against Armagh to Croke Park “a missed opportunity,” but is looking forward to the season-defining game nonetheless.

“Parnell Park’s a great stadium, too, but there’s been a massive push on this year when it comes to recognition of women’s sport in general,” he told GazetteSport. “Things like women’s rugby and the development of the WGPA Women’s Gaelic Players’ Association] have been big. I’m not surprised, but it’s a

missed chance.”

McGonigle’s Dubs will face off against Armagh in his second full season in charge, starting a revitalised team based around the county’s target of rejuvenating with a fresh young side. The manager has an interesting inside track, as he did with defeated quarter final opponents Monaghan: the Ulsterman has a notable history inside both counties, and has spent a year coaching in Armagh.

“I would know a lot of the Armagh girls,” he said. “James Daly is a fantastic manager.

They’ve had two promotions in a row in the league. It’ll be about getting our own match ups right, but also about following our own game plan and using calculated risk to put ourselves

in a position to win the game. It’s like a game of poker in a way.

“They have some quality players. Short of kidnapping them, we’re not going to avoid them getting time on the ball. These are two very good footballing teams. We’re at a stage where it’s different to the men with the pulling and the dragging, because a yellow card is a sin bin in the women’s game, and we can’t afford to have players sitting on the bench for 10 minutes.”

McGonigle expects that means the semifinal will be an open and flowing affair.

“We’re expecting an open free-for-all game.

Parnell Park is not the biggest pitch so we’re expecting an up and down game. It’s a very

young team, very fresh, having added the likes of Hannah Noonan and Fiona Hudson.

“We started with eight Under-21s in the quarter-final against Monaghan,” he added.

“It’s a serious age profile going forwards, and there has to be a remit of trying to build a squad capable of winning. We last won the All Ireland in 2010. We’re trying to get a nuclear group of young girls at the bedrock of our squad, like the Galway hurlers. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough.”

Dublin face Armagh in the semi-final of the women’s All Ireland senior championship at Parnell Park, midday on Saturday, September 5. The winners face Cork in the final in late September.