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INSIDE: IT Tallaght students create a Wonderland P3

Soccer: St Joseph’s trio shine for Ireland in international Page 32

Basketball: Meteors claim three titles in Dublin finals Page 30

ALSOINSIDE: GALLERIES ......................8 BUSINESS .....................19 MOTORS ...................... 20 TRAVEL......................... 22 ENTERTAINMENT ......... 24 CLASSIFIEDS ............... 26

March 15, 2012

EDUCATION: Discussing recent decisions on DEIS Schools Page 6

Conference: Branding Dun Laoghaire as a special destination GAZETTE managing director, Mick

McGovern, is pictured alongside An Cathaoirleach, Councillor John Bailey, and Tanaiste, Eamon Gilmore, at the Destination Creation conference that took place last week. Dun Laoghaire is set to welcome cruise ships into its harbour as part of a new branding initiative outlined at the conference. Full Story on Pages 4-5

DLR fails to secure Booterstown site Local land sold to unknown buyer for ¤400,000

I BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

DUN LAOGHAIRE-Rathdown County Council and Dublin County Council have failed in their joint bid to purchase the site adjacent to Booterstown marsh.

The site has instead been sold to an undisclosed buyer

for €400,000.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Dublin County Council’s bid was for €90,000.

County Manager, Owen Keegan, announced that a NAMA representative had returned to both councils to see if they would increase

their original offer and match the €400,000 of the unknown developer. He said the council had refused to match the bid and “expressed our disappointment” at NAMA’s attitude to the sale of such a sensitive site.

Full Story on Page 7

2 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 15 March 2012

LAUNCH: DELISH NEW BOOK

Rozanne’s new recipes CHEF Rozanne Stevens, owner of cookery school, Ish, is launching her new recipe book in Hughes & Hughes bookshop in Dundrum on St Patrick’s Day. Rozanne will launch the book, entitled Delish, and also give a cookery demonstration at the event in Hughes & Hughes.

The book is her first and is a compilation of all of Rozanne’s favourite recipes from around the world.

Stevens is a regular contributor to RTE Radio 1’s Today with Pat Kenny.

Freshest She says she insists on using the freshest produce and utilises themes from around the world for her recipes to give them a Spanish-ish or Italian-ish element.

Rozanne’s cookery demonstration on St Patrick’s Day will be a “Mother’s Day-inspired” event, and kicks off at 4 pm.

LOCAL A host of festive events this week

New spring vigour at your local SuperValu I PAUL HOSFORD

news@gazettegroup.com

WITH summer on the way, SuperValu Church-

town in springing into the new season with vigour.

This weekend, the store will play host to a two-day St Patrick’s Day celebration, with traditional musicians and a festival feel brought to the area.

Weekend Owner Jim Treacy says that the plans for this weekend mark just the beginning of a big couple of months for the shop, which he says is trading well over the last few months.

“This weekend, we’re looking to get people into the mood of the period.

“In the next few months, we’re making a number of improvements to the store, including a lot of improvements to our in-store bakery.

“At the minute, trade is buoyant, and we’re continuing to serve the people of the area and are constantly looking at

Owner of the SuperValu Churchtown, Jim Treacy

how we can improve to better serve our customers,” Jim says.

With that in mind, the store is also looking at an improvement to the deli area.

“We are creating a new and more enticing deli, to improve our customers’ experience.

“The last few months have been good, people are behind the store and behind me personally.

We are striving to give the customers value and service.

“We’ve done that by providing better-than-ever parking, which means that customers can come in, do their shopping and not have to worry about the car.

“It allows the customers to shop at ease.”

Busy Heading into what is traditionally an extremely busy time of year, Jim is confident that his store has everything that it takes to attract customers, some who won’t even

need to come into the store.

“This is traditionally a very busy time of the year, particularly with the improvements that we are bringing about.

“We also recently started doing home deliveries, where customers just have to log on to shop. supervalu.ie and have their shopping delivered to their door.

“That has been a huge success so far, and we hope it will continue,” he says.

www.gazette group.com All of your latest local news, sport, features and pictures are now just a click away

15 March 2012 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 3

EVENT

Tea-ing off for charity in IT Tallaght

A Wonderland of an event for Alzheimers THE Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland will this year again host their annual Tea Day, which is taking place in early May. Members of the public are being encouraged to register to take part in the day, just like a group of ITT students have done.

They have organised an event to take place on Wednesday, March 28, between 11am and 2pm on the ITT Dublin campus.

The group of third year students, Rachel McCloskey, Des Dowling, Ian Hollinshead, Katie Jones, Sinead Keenan. Michaela Grabovski, Jonathan Beatty, Sinead Carroll and Aoife McCrum, are

doing the event as part of an Event Management module, in their Advertising and Marketing Communications course.

They will host an Alice in Wonderland-themed tea party on the college campus, where they’ll be selling tea, coffee, cakes etc to raise funds.

They also plan to create an outside picnic area and a long table inside a gazebo to mimic the film so people can sit and chat during their lunch break.

There will be live graffiti spraying taking place on campus too to create a 16ft long four-foot high fake wall themed to the film.

Two local males will

be spraying and donating some of their own work to be auctioned off on the day.

The college’s dance and DJ society will also be performing on the day.

Peter Mark, The Square, Penny’s, Dundrum, Milano Restaurant, Dundrum, The Bad Ass Restaurant, Temple Bar, Urban Outfitters, Temple Bar, and The O u t d o o r A d ve n t u r e Store in Bray have all donated vouchers and goods to raffle off on the day.

The Easy Learning Centre, Liffey Valley, Woodies DIY, Tallaght and Coffee Perfection of Dunboyne, Co Meath

EXHIBITS

Maritime museum to reopen DUN Laoghaire’s Maritime Museum reopens in April on the east pier in Dun Laoghaire Harbour.

The former Mariners’ Church, which has undergone major renovation work over the last few years, will be the venue.

Anniversary

The IT Tallaght students who are organising this year’s Tea Day in aid of the Irish Alzheimers Society. The students aim to raise vital funds for the cause

have also sponsored the materials on the day to make the running of the event possible.

“For every €25 raised we c a n p r ov i d e a n

extra hour of care in your area; €25 is a very achievable amount to raise, and if we can provide a few extra hours of care for people that

need it, our day will have been a success.” said Aoife McCrum.

For more information see www.alzheimers.ie or www.teaday.ie.

The Maritime Museum of Ireland (MMI) celebrated its 70th anniversary last year. Many varied and interesting exhibits and talks are scheduled for the coming months, including the Titanic Centenary on April 12.

The MMI wishes to encourage members and visitors to take an active part in the museum by hosting lectures, producing newsletters or journals and hosting and supporting commemorations.

The museum will reopen on Tuesday, April 3 at 11am. From then it will be open from Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm.

4 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 15 March 2012

PROJECT: FOUR NEW BUILDINGS FOR DLR

Good news for schools A TOTAL of four new school-building projects are planned for Dun Laoghaire between 2012 and 2016.

Fine Gael Deputy, Mary Mitchell O’Connor confirmed that Dun Laoghaire will become part of an extended major new school-building programme by the Government.

This will include 106 new schools and 65 extensions at primary level, 43 new schools and 49 extensions at second level, and eight new special schools and four extensions at special schools.

Commenting on the announcement, Deputy Mitchell O’Connor said: “I am delighted that four schools in Dun Laoghaire will benefit from extensions to their premises as part of this major schoolbuilding programme.”

The four schools to be extended are the Senior College, Dun Laoghaire; Clonkeen College in Blackrock; Newpark Comprehensive in Blackrock and Scoil Lorcain in Monkstown.

Deputy Mitchell O’Connor said: “The Government is acting now in order to prepare for the huge increase in pupil numbers expected over the next few years.

It’s anticipated that there will be an increase of 45,000 children going to primary school, and 25,000 at second-level between now and 2017.

“A further 60 schools are already under construction and are due to be completed this year. It’s also expected that some additional school projects may be announced, to cater for increased demand in some areas,” she said.

CONFERENCE Speakers share their ideas

Revealing how DLR the ideal location to I BAIRBRE

NI BHRAONAIN news@gazettegroup.com

THIS year will see Dun L a o g h a i r e we l c o m e cruise ships into its harbour as part of a new branding development initiative outlined in the Destination Creation conference that took place last week.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company (DLHC) has drafted plans to build a terminal to accommodate cruise ships, at an estimated price tag of €18m. This coincides with Dublin Port’s recent announcement that it too will become a cruise ship destination, complete with the necessary facilities.

It is thought that the new Dun Laoghaire terminal will be double-sided and be able to moor the largest cruise liners in the world.

A report, conducted by DKM, Arup and Strategic Transport Solutions International, was presented to the Government and other interested parties on behalf of DLHC. The findings told of a significant fall-off in cruise ship visits to Dublin, as the city couldn’t accommodate the large vessels.

Dun Laoghaire claimed to have the potential and ideal geographic location to facilitate the most modern and largest of cruise ships.

The findings of these experts went on to say that Dun Laoghaire could conceivably receive 130 liners a year in five years’ time.

In monetary terms, that would translate into €365million over 30 years, with €112m of this going directly to Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown alone.

As part of a trial, a German cruise ship will dock in the harbour on April 24 with 100 passengers and crew who have a strong affinity for the Irish countryside and Irish culture.

Speaking about the upcoming cruise ship visit, the CEO of Dun Laoghaire Harbour Company, Gerry Dunne, said that they will be visiting Powerscourt and parts of rural Ireland.

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‘A music and dance extravaganza is planned as part of a cultural evening’

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“DLHC, local business associations and DLRCC will put on a cultural display of hospitality to welcome the passengers and crew on their first visit to Ireland,” he said.

A music and dance extravaganza is planned as part of a cultural evening, tailor-made to ensure that the visitors have an Irish experience they won’t forget.

The stopover will be the first of four due this year by liners that would otherwise have stopped in Dublin Port.

A d vo c a t e s o f t h e harbour development plan estimate that the entire project will be bank-rolled by a €10m loan from the European Investment Bank, along with €4m from the state Tourism Infrastructure Fund, €2m from the EU and the rest will come from local councils and others.

At the Destination Creation conference, which took place on March 6 and 7, Dun Laoghaire

Maureen MacKeogh DLRCOCO, Richard Shakespeare, DLRCOCO and Maeve Buckley

was targeted as an ideal location to develop and market as a “brand”.

Speakers from Belfast, Britain, New York and Kilkenny shared their own stories and advice on how best to market a specific location as a unique experience for tourism and natives alike.

Mr Dunne outlined his plans to transform the harbour into a worldclass marine, leisure and tourist destination.

He discussed the public consultation process that had led to the current masterplan’s design.

In December 2010 there was a call for and then a harvesting of ideas relat-

ing to Dun Laoghaire harbour’s improvement.

Armed with this data, a consultation masterplan was drawn up in June, 2011.

Feedback and analysis from public exhibitions was examined and submissions from stakehoders sought to draft a proper masterplan. In October 2011, the final masterplan was adopted.

Mr Dunne said that the main aim of the plan was to maximise the potential of the harbour.

He explained the strategic objectives the plan would put into effect to ensure this potential was released.

He said the first strategic objective was to increase public access to the waterfront area.

Next, he concentrated on protecting and enhancing Dun Laoghaire’s unique heritage and environment.

He claimed the best way to involve locals and visitors alike was to develop more recreation and leisure amenities.

As a result of this activity, he said that it was a major ambition of the DLHC to encourage and secure investment in order to foster growth and create 1,600 new jobs in the future.

Mr Dunne also pointed

15 March 2012 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 5

on business an leisure potential

can become be ‘branded’ Wessel Badenhorst, Economic Development Officer, DLRCOCO welcomes Cllr Niamh Breathneach

Don Nugent, Dundrum Town Centre

from McManus Jewellers

out the need to maintain and develop harbour functions, as well as actively encouraging more harbour integration with Dun Laoghaire and its hinterland.

This was part of his theme of “greater connectivity” which would see local, national and international links strengthened.

Future projects in the harbour include a Diaspora Centre, to be located at Castle Pier. The centre will concentrate on positively exploiting and showcasing the spread of Irish culture worldwide and, in particular, those famous natives to Dun

Laoghaire-Rathdown who are world-renowned, such as Samuel Beckett.

A n Ur b a n B e a c h Project was another target for the development, as was a “Marine Cluster” of businesses specific to the seafront and a “Public Pontoon Park” for the public to enjoy.

Other upcoming events include major international exhibitions, such as from the American Museum of Natural History, Sir Ernest Shackleton , ‘Endurance’ and the number of visitors to these and other attractions is estimated to be 200,000 over the next two years.

Jackie and Bernadette, from Airlfield

Fred Kent, Project for Public Spaces, New York

6 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 15 March 2012

OPINION No Deis schools to lose a teacher in September

Welcome for breakthrough on disadvantaged school posts THE recent announcement

by Education Minister Ruairi Quinn that no Deis 1 or Deis 2 school will lose a teacher next September is very good news indeed.

As a teacher, I have first-hand experience

of the great work taking place every day in schools in disadvantaged areas.

The latest Government announcement means that these schools will retain 235 posts which were under threat because of the

ENTERPRISENEWS Enterprising students compete at local final Meet the entrepreneurs of tomorrow at the County Final of the annual ‘Student Enterprise Awards’, taking place in the Royal Marine Hotel, Dun Laoghaire this Thursday, March 22nd.

Over 80 students from 12 local secondary schools will display 30 projects – ranging from Jewellery Design to Music Management - across Junior, Intermediate and Senior Categories.

“These young entrepreneurs have been running their own student businesses since last September, so our County Final is the culmination of seven months’ hard work on their part,” explained Michael Johnson, CEO of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Enterprise Board, the initiative organisers.

“Judges will be assessing students on innovation, marketing, financial planning, teamwork and personal development and three category winners will represent Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown at the National finals of the Student Enterprise Awards taking place in Croke Park on April 18th. ” he added.

Students are competing for a share of the €2,500 prize-fund with Cllr. John Bailey, Cathaoirleach Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Paddy Beare, Chairman, Dún LaoghaireRathdown County Enterprise Board on hand to announce the category winners and runners-up.

The 12 schools involved in this year’s County Final are Ballinteer Community School, Blackrock College, CBC Monkstown, Cabinteely Community School, Colaiste Iosagain, Dominican College Sion Hill, Loreto Abbey Dalkey, Rathdown School, St. Brendan’s College, St. Killian’s Deutsche Schule, Willow Park and Wesley College.

Full details of the ‘Student Enterprise Awards’ programme can be found on www.studententerprise.ie and www.dlrceb.ie/education

country’s deep financial crisis.

Even at a time when cutbacks are inevitable, it is vital that we continue to invest in education.

In the last week, we have had news from the IDA of huge new investments by multinational companies in new facilities in Ireland.

A low corporation tax rate, and a well-educated work force, are key elements of the decisions by the multinationals companies that invest in Ireland.

Pay Pal, for example, which is adding 1,000 jobs to its Irish operation, needs people with a high level of language and IT skills.

For individuals, education provides a passage out of poverty and we can take pride in the

fact that, over the last eight years, our retention rate to Leaving Certificate has risen from 82% to 88%, now one of the highest rates in the world.

This is a small, but important, victory for schools in our most disadvantaged areas and I congratulate the Labour backbenchers who went to Minister Ruairi Quinn and spelt out to him, in the clearest terms, the potential d a m a g e t h a t wo u l d result from these particular cuts.

In welcoming this particular victory, however, I don’t pretend that the education sector is escaping completely from the cuts.

The Capitation Grant for primar y schools is being cut by 3.5%.

This is the grant that pays for heating, lighting and photocopying, so schools will again be put to the pin of their collars.

But I am most concerned about the upcoming cuts to the guidance service at second-level.

If these cuts kick in from September 2012 onwards, it may mean that guidance councillors will have to spend a good deal of their time teaching exam subjects.

From my own experience in schools the work that the guidance people do in preparing teenagers for their college and career choices is really important.

Moreover, they are trained to provide a listening ear for students going through a difficult

Cllr Michael O’Donovan

patch. This is a cut I intend to work to reverse.

Michael O’Donovan Labour Party councillor

Education - the greatest MY good friend Joe Duffy - yes Live line Joe! reminds me regularly that the greatest gift, after life itself, that my late mother Rebecca gave me was “Education”.

But being married to a teacher for over 30 years, I have learned from Anne, my wife, how our education system has let some people down. Overcrowding, difficult family circumstances, poverty issues and children slipping through the system because of class sizes are all too familiar.

A recent national study of children, entitled Growing Up In Ireland, is the most significant of its kind ever to take place in this country, and it gave us insight into understanding all aspects of children and their development, including education.

The study was commissioned by the previous Government and is being carried out by a consortium of researchers led by the Economic and Social Research Institute and Trinity College, Dublin.

One of the findings of the report outlines that our children are our most important asset, and they must be valued and cherished appropriately.

This Government has placed children’s issues at the heart of policy-making by establishing a dedicated Minister for Children, my colleague Frances Fitzgerald TD. Another aspect of the Growing Up In Ireland study highlighted the impact of parenting on children’s outcomes in educa-

Fine Gael Dublin Mid West Deputy, Derek Keating

tion and it is here that the DEIS Schools play their part.

But the problem with the former Government’s answer was they threw money at everything without assessment or planning.

DEIS (Delivering Equality of Opportunity in Schools) supports various reports for both primary and post-primary schools, which include reduced pupil/teacher ratio in areas of disadvantage, the allocation of Administrative Principals, access to School Meals Programme, access to numerical and literacy programmes, a Home School Liaison service, enhanced library support reading programmes and Language

Support Service.

In DEIS, the reading recovery, which is a school-based intervention programme designed to reduce literacy problems within our education system and is an early intervention programme giving children, who have particular difficulties in reading and writing over one year in primary school, a period of intensive and individual teaching.

I have been very concerned recently following the news that Archbishop Ryan’s National Schools, both senior and junior, may suffer a loss of up to 16 teachers. I met with the teachers in the schools and the Principals and I have spoken directly to the Minister and his Department because of the lack of a DEIS status for Lucan schools.

This Government is committed to education and to children and this is clearly demonstrated by the fact that the Minister this week has announced new schools for Lucan, new extensions to schools in Lucan and I am confident that he will reverse the decision to reduce the teaching staff at the Archbishop Ryan’s Junior and Senior Schools.

I support the DEIS School Policy providing it is focused and flexible.

Derek Keating Fine Gael Dublin Mid West Deputy

15 March 2012 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 7

R1

REPORT 100% adherence to the strictures and safeguards is achieved

Area shows marked improvement in quality of drinking water I BAIRBRE NI BRAONAIN

A REPORT issued this week by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown as an area which has experienced a marked improvement in the quality of drinking water.

The report measures the safety and purity of drinking water in Ireland. This is done by analysing a number of key factors, including microbiological and chemical.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown achieved 100% adherence to the strictures and safeguards required and therefore posed no threat to human health, such as the potential for E.coli or inclusion of animal or human waste in the system.

This percentage is an increase on figures ranging from 99.6% to 99.9% in 2009.

The current report is the EPA’s fourth on drinking water quality since new regulations to ensure consumer

protection were introduced in 2007.

Local authorities are required to notify the EPA of any failure to meet the microbiological and chemical standards or where there is a potential danger to human health.

The EPA is responsible for ensuring that the cause of the failure is investigated and that appropriate action is taken to correct the problem.

The new regulations allow for the EPA to compare how

Ireland measures up to other countries in Europe. As Gerard O’Leary, programme manager, EPA Office of Environmental Enforcement, said: “The EPA’s annual drinking water report provides a snapshot of the quality of Irish drinking water and the outcomes of the enforcement work we do. The report allows us to compare the quality of drinking water in Ireland with other EU member states, and the 2010 report shows that,

COUNCIL: ASHCASTLE TO GO ON OPEN MARKET

DLR misses out on Booterstown site I BAIRBRE NI BHRAONAIN

DUN LAOGHAIRE County Council has failed in its bid to secure the Ashcastle site adjacent to Booterstown Marsh, a nature reserve replete with birds and wildlife.

Speaking to the Dun Laoghaire Gazette, Councillor Victor Boyhan (Ind) said: “I was hugely disappointed with the news, as I had great hopes that we could have acquired the site and extended the nature reserve, but, alas, no.”

The site is next to the reserve, which is a designated Special Protection Area, and is in close proximity to Dublin Bay. Both of these designations mark out the land as the clear preference for both Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Dublin City Council public ownership to ensure its continued protection.

DLRCC has missed out on a site at Booterstown marsh

In a report issued by the county manager, Owen Keegan, it was revealed that there had been a joint bid made in the region of €90,000, by the two Councils in early January.

Keegan went on to say: “We were extremely disappointed when the receiver responded by advising us that a decision had been made to appoint Jones Lang LaSalle to dispose of the site on the open market.”

The next step in the commercialisation of the process came when the city valuer subsequently

submitted a revised bid of €200,000 which was, he said, the highest bid received for the site.

In early March, a representative of NAMA then contacted the city valuer with the news that the sale process had concluded with a bid of €400,000.

The NAMA representative said he would recommend both councils to the board of NAMA if they could match the €400,000 offer.

“We have refused to match the €400,000 bid and expressed our disappointment that NAMA

seem unable to take any account of the broader public interest,” Keegan said.

Cllr Boyhan is not aware of the buyer’s identity to date: “I am unaware as to who has purchased the site; however they can be assured of rigorous scrutiny by me, of any planning proposals they make to Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.”

The site has limited commercial value as its potential for either commercial or active recreational development is constrained by the existing zonings and by its proximity to the Nature Reserve.

“This site is totally unsuitable for building development; it is my intention to seek through the County Development Plan process further restriction on the site in order to protect the Biodiversity of the area,” Cllr.

Boyhan said.

for the first time, large public water supplies in Ireland have improved to show similar compliance levels to similar supplies in England, Wales, and the Netherlands.”

The EPA uses what they call a “risk-based approach” aimed at targeting potential dangers to the public through the dissemination of contaminants in the drinking water supply.

In 2008 a remedial action list was established by the EPA to highlight areas of deficiency

GOT A STORY?

in public water supplies for each district. Since then, 49%, or 166 of the highlighted supplies, have been removed as remedies were applied.

The report, The Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland, A Report for the year 2010 is available on the EPA website at http:// w w w.epa.ie/dow nloads/ pubs/water/drinking/Drinking_web.pdf and contains summary reports for all local authorities.

WE WANT TO KNOW!

Call our NEWS TEAM on 60 10 240 or email news@gazettegroup.com

8 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 15 March 2012

EVENT A diverse range of contemporary crafts on display at

A crafty exhibition UN Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council held an exhibition, called Source at the Concourse, County Hall, in Marine Road recently. The show comprised a diverse range of contemporary craft using a multitude of materials as their source. Exhibiting artists included Denis Brown, Trudy Feighery, Naomi Fry, Jane Groves, Ciara Harrison, Alison Kay, Tara Ni Nuallain, Laura O’Hagan, Grainne Watts and Alex Scott.

According to curator, Angela O’Kelly, the focus of this exhibition was on innovation of design and skilful mastery of a specific craft. Whether it’s Trudy Feighery’s vibrant textiles or Alison Kay’s ceramic pieces, the level of skill and imagination is the signature of this varied exhibition.

The exhibition also stepped out of the norm in terms of mixing traditional and new materials and techniques.

Its variety ensured that there was something appealing for everyone who attended, whether in the areas of calligraphy, ceramics, glass, mixed media or textiles.

D

Chairs, by Alex Scott

Cathaoirleach John Bailey with the Supertones choir. Pictures: Geraldine Woods

Alexander and Rosa Gildea

Cllr Jane Dillon-Byrne

Maureen Kenelly, programme curator

Members of the Supertones

Camille Donegan

15 March 2012 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 9

an exhibition entitled, Source, at the Concourse, County Hall

The Supertones, with conductor Michael Dawson

Michael leads the Supertones through a song

Owen Keegan, county manager

Angela O’Kelly, curator

Ceramic by Alison Kay

Samuel Roberts and Ella Higgins withcouncillor Denis O’Callaghan and Michelle O’Brien, Tara Lewis, Emma O’Halloran, Amanda Feery and Alex Dowling – the laptop group

Cathaoirleach John Bailey

10 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 15 March 2012

EVENT Cheque presentation to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland

Isolde’s €30,000 donation

SPECIAL cheque presentation was held at the Presbyterian Church Hall, Priory Road, Dun Laoghaire, from Isolde McCullagh recently. Isolde presented a cheque for €30,000 to Cystic Fibrosis Ireland. This was a combination from the proceeds of her book of exercises, Never Too Late, and the Fitness League fundraising over the past two years.

The event was attended by over 70 people, teachers and members of the League and friends of Isolde.

To open the proceedings, Prof Risteard Mulcahy, who was a cardiologist in St Vincent’s Hospital, spoke of his interest in researching the causes of heart disease and how important exercise is in its prevention and the significant contribution that Isolde and the League have made to the lives of women in Ireland.

Isolde taught exercise classes for 70 years with the League of Health (now known as the Fitness League).

A

Isolde signs a copy of her book for Pansy Power

Rosie Begley, CF fundraising coordinator, presents Isolde with a bouquet of flowers. Picture: Geraldine Woods

Martin Cahill, CF Fundraising manager; Isolde, Philip Watt, CEO CF Ireland and Prof

Rosie Begley, CF

Risteard Mulcahy

fundraising coordinator

Isolde with her grand-daughter, Hazel, and daughter, Gillian Breda Ennis with Isolde McCullagh

Buckley

15 March 2012 GAZETTE 11

12 GAZETTE 15 March 2012

LOCAL MATTERS SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

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Showing a Lidl love: Pamper mum with wine and chocs this Mother’s Day MOTHER’S DAY is a time for pampering, so whilst you are in the

kitchen whipping up her favourite pancake brunch, let her sit back with her favourite tipple. Lidl has lots of great wines, bubble and liqueurs at incredible value. Opt for the smooth and luxurious Deluxe Irish Cream Liqueur as an extra special treat or, as Mother’s Day is a celebration, pop some pink bubbles such as the popular Freixenet Cava Brut Rosé. For something sweet, you can’t go far wrong than Lidl’s JD Gross Pralines Selection box.

For further information about Lidl and its products, or to locate your nearest store, please log on to www.lidl.ie or visit www.face book.com/lidlireland.

CHARITY: RAISING VITAL FUNDS

Taking part in the Cycle4life THE inaugural D.I.D Electrical Cycle4Life will take place on Saturday May 19, in Dunboyne, Co Meath.

Cycle4Life is a charity that has been set up

by D.I.D Electrical to help raise vital funds for Temple Street Children’s Hospital.

The event will take place over three routes to suit all fitness levels and for all grades of cyclists, from the complete novice all the way up.

Those interested in participating, donating or volunteering to help in the D.I.D Electrical Cycle4Life can log

onto www.cycle4life.ie.

There are training tips and advice available to improve your technique and assist you in reaching your overall goal, whether it’s to cycle 15km or 147km.

Temple Street Children’s hospital continues to rely on external support to assist it in the purchase of vital equipment.

With the money raised by the D.I.D Electrical Cycle4life, Temple Street aims to secure essential equipment that will provide the best possible environment for its young patients and purchase new specialist equipment

and technologies to assist in ongoing vital research.

By participating in the D.I.D Electrical Cycle4Life, those taking part are not only joining a fantastic event, but are also helping to make a real difference to the lives of the most precious patients at their time in need.

Register online now at www.cycle4life.ie or follow on Facebook for updates on upcoming events, useful tips and organised training sessions. There will also have an evening event in the Crowne Plaza that night and tickets are €100.

15 March 2012 GAZETTE 13

14 GAZETTE 15 March 2012

GazettePETS PETS

Brought to you by Miriam Kerins of the DSPCA

THE FACTS: A GROOMING RITUAL MAY REDUCE COSTLY VETERINARY VISITS

Pampering good for pet health HERE are so many wonderful reasons to get a dog. Regular readers of this column will know I’m a gal who’s nuts about her mutts. Those readers will understand my annoyance when, through my job, I often have to deal with pet parents who have gone out and bought a dog in order to “enhance” their own lives. However, they’ve never taken the time or had the desire to enhance their pet’s lives by giving them a regular bath or treating them to a trip to the groomers.

When speaking to these self professed “dog lovers,” I have to ask: Do you enjoy the invigorating feeling of being clean and fresh?

T

Do you visit the hair/ beauty salon?

You do?

Great. Well your pets are no different.

Ok, every pet has his/ her own personality; some love to be brushed and fluffed, some don’t and I will hold my hand up and say one of my dogs, (great aunt Sophie, the 17-year-old, does not like being brushed anymore but she’s an old lady and this is her right; she doesn’t have the patience for it). Let’s just say our Diva Dog is a bit of a challenge these days; however, as her mom I know that regular grooming encompasses many aspects of companion pet care and even though Sophie is no longer as energetic as

When grooming your pet check for areas of bumps, tenderness, scabs or hair loss

she used to be, she is still in need of having a nice warm, gentle bath, getting her nails clipped, her ears cleaned, her anal glands squeezed, etc., And I do believe this regular ritual brings me and my dear old friend closer together…and can reduce costly veterinary visits.

Also, when I’m groom-

ing/petting my dogs, especially Sophie, I check for areas of bumps, tenderness, scabs, hair loss etc., because I do not wish them to run the risk of the following problems: Ear Mites: A parasite that lives out its life cycle inside your pet’s ear canal; causing severe irritation and itchiness. I use a

soft facial tissue around my finger or a cotton bud dipped in cool olive oil and very gently wipe around the inside of my dogs’ ears making sure not to insert too deeply. If the dog has an open wound or the ear is inflamed, it’s straight off to the vet.

Fly strike: Also known as Myasis – a maggot infestation. This is more common in warmer months where flies lay eggs that go on to develop into larvae that eat dead and rotting tissue on your pet. For example, vomit, skin infection, mated hair, diarrhoea, etc., This condition can be fatal if left untreated. Bathe and groom your pet regularly, treat your pet for diarrhoea immediately, and if

your pet becomes ill, keep them indoors away from flies. Always seek veterinary attention.

Anal Sac Impaction: Dogs and cats have anal sacs that can become impacted if not emptied properly. Ideally, anal sacs should empty with your dog’s normal bowel movements. You won’t even notice this, however, if your pet begins to drag his/her behind along the ground, take him/her to your vet. There could be other reasons for this dragging, such as a bothersome growth, matted hair, an irritation or diarrhoea. Only your vet can diagnose.

Minty Fresh Breath: When I’m rubbing my dogs’ faces I always take a

look inside their mouths to check for plaque build-up. If you do this and notice plaque, or bad breath, take your pet to see the vet for a dental check up. When there, ask your vet if he/she can demonstrate the correct technique best suited to your pet and follow the guidelines.

Please do seek your vet’s advice regarding any concerns about your pet and, if you don’t feel like grooming your new best friend yourself, there are plenty of professionals who’d be delighted to provide that service for him/her.

For more information log onto www.dspca.ie or email me at miriam. kerins@dspca.ie

15 March 2012 GAZETTE 15

16 GAZETTE 15 March 2012

GazetteBEAUTY BEAUTY Spoil your mammy at LA Academy LA CREATIVE Academy is offering complimentary eyebrow treatment with every makeover at the academy for all of March.

When you book a make-up application for you and your mother on a Saturday, you receive a complimentary LA Thread Bar treatment for that perfect brow.

Make-up is then applied, as well as a threading treatment and a complimentary hair “touch-up” by one of their top artists LA Creative Academy is located at Chatham Street, just off Grafton St. For further information, call 01 675 1999.

Make your mum into an even bigger star with an A-list beauty treatment I LAURA WEBB

OTHER’S day is approaching, and all we want to do for our mums is to make them feel like the only woman in the world – so why not think about giving mum a makeover, and then treat her to a luscious meal to show off the finished results?

To help out with this, Gazette Beauty takes a look at Hollywood’s newest mum, Natalie Portman, to show readers just how easy it is to achieve this glam, yet subtle look.

At this year’s Oscars, Natalie dazzled the red carpet with her polished

M

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

‘At this year’s Oscars, Natalie dazzled the red carpet with her polished and subtle make-up.

‘Most mums out there – if mine is anything to go by – prefer less is more, and Natalie has this look down to a tee.’

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and subtle make-up.

Most mums out there – if mine is anything to go by – prefer “less is more”, and Natalie has this look down to a tee.

Soft, tumbling curls help to finish this look, and are a great way of making mums feel like a star.

To help achieve this

look, Maybelline New York cosmetics has everything a daughter (or son) needs to help make mum feel a million dollars.

First, use Maybelline’s Dream Satin Liquid foundation (€11.99), which gives skins a dewy glow. This can be applied using either a brush,

sponge or finger tips.

To ensure that skin stays looking fresh and radiant, initially apply only a small amount as an all-over base, and then tap on excess product where more coverage is needed.

Natalie’s brown eyes are brought to life with a mix of soft, glimmering metallic hues; start by blending the two deepest shades of Maybelline’s Eye Studio Coral Drama Quad (€9.99) along your top lid and up into the socket line for definition.

Add a little under your bottom lashes to make them look thicker and fuller, giving a classic smokey-eye effect.

Using a smaller brush, apply the lightest shade of shimmering gold to the inner corners of eyes to reflect light and then softly blend it out, creating a seamless finish where the light gold meets the darker shades.

To add depth and make lashes appear instantly thicker, apply a small amount of Maybelline’s Gel eyeliner in Black (€11.99) along the top lash line.

Once you have the basic line in place, clean off the brush with a tissue and blend the line so it appears smoother.

Finish off with the Colossal Cat Eyes mascara (€11.99) on both top and bottom lashes

for fuller, thicker, fannedout lashes.

Keep mum’s lips natural, like Natalie, so not to divert from her eye make-up. Try Colour Sensational Lip Gloss in Exquisite Pink (€9.29) to give your lips a similarly beautiful and healthylooking sheen.

O n c e m a ke - u p i s complete, get the curling tongs out, or hair straightening ones, to make loose curls. Dress mum in her favourite cocktail dress and she will be ready to turn heads at your restaurant of choice.

Remember, Mother’s Day is this Sunday, March 18. Happy Mother’s Day!

15 March 2012 GAZETTE 17

Edited by Laura Webb

FastBeauty Cholesterol: Did you check your level recently?

Looking Beeautiful: Gifts from Burt’s

APPROXIMATELY 10,000 Irish people die each year from cardiovascular disease (CVD).

High cholesterol is one of the major controllable risk factors for CVD, including heart attack and stroke. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is vital for the body to function as normal. The problem arises when cholesterol sticks to the blood vessels and blocks blood supply to the major organs.

Improving your diet, reducing alcohol consumption, quitting smoking and increasing physical exercise can help reduce cholesterol. Contact your GP or local pharmacy to get your cholesterol checked, and help to have a healthy Mother’s Day this year

BURT’S Bees has put together two great gifts to keep mums refreshed from head-to-toe this Mother’s Day. Say a big thank-you to mums this year with products that will keep mum feeling revitalised and refreshed at home.

The specially-packaged products come in two gift sets. Burt Bee’s Tips to Toes Kits (top, right) is perfect for hardworking hands and feet, with a collection of rich creams and softening butters to keep hands and feet naturally soft and beautiful, with a RRP of €15.95.

Alternatively, Burt’s Bees Head to Toe (above, right) naturally cleanses and nourishes every part of the body. Inside, mothers will find a generous assortment of Burt’s most popular natural

With thanks to the staff at Lucan Village Natalie Portman wowed at this year’s Oscars with her subtle “less-is-more” make-up – a natural look that would be perfect for your mum this Mother’s Day

Pharmacy

skin care products, from their beeswax lip balm to coconut foot cream and everything in between, with a RRP of €16.95.

Burt’s Bees Mother’s Day kits are available from Nourish and selected independent health stores and pharmacies nationwide.

18 GAZETTE 15 March 2012

GazetteMUSIC MUSIC FastTunes with Radio Nova’s Dee Woods IF YOU look up the phrase, “Still Got It”, no doubt you will find a picture of The Rolling Stones nearby.

The band’s music and its members have not only stood the test of time, but they still rock out better than thousands of acts a quarter of their age.

Next month, The Stones celebrate half a century together and, if they needed any proof of their everlasting popularity, then Facebook is it.

Last week a picture of a chuffed Keith Richards holding a piece of paper saying “9,000,000 Stones’ fans” was posted on www.facebook. com/therollingstones (actually it was missing the apostrophe but I guess you don’t have to worry about that when nine million people love you.)

The timeless calibre of songs, like Gimme Shelter and Waiting on a Friend, is some comfort to the unsettling thought that a bunch of lads my dad’s age have more facebook followers than Radio Nova has listeners. If a post goes up on The Rolling Stones’ Facebook page it can get over 50,000 ‘likes’. See what I mean?

Still got it! And that’s only the fans that are on Facebook!

And now this flurry of online adorers begs the question, when will The Stones announce a 50th anniversary tour? And, more importantly how much the tickets will be? (They’d probably have to tour for another 50 years just to satisfy their nine million fans on Facebook). Hey, lads: If the music dates back half a century then the ticket prices should too! A couple of quid should do it.

But a warning to Jagger, Richards and co: psychologists have found the more friends you have on Facebook, the more likely you are to suffer from stress and anxiety. And you guys don’t need any more wrinkles...

Keith Richards and the big news...

Coming home: Kiwanuka’s debut hitting home now SOUL sensation, Michael Kiwanuka, has released his much-anticipated debut album, Home Again.

The North London singer-songwriter, whose magnificent show at the Sugar Club last month sent our reviewer in paroxyms of delight, seals the deal with the ten tracks on offer, a collection of songs that propel you back to the golden age of soul, thanks to brilliant playing and a stellar retro production job

by Paul Butler from The Bees.

REVIEW: HAS BRUCE MADE HIS BEST RECORD OF THE CENTURY?

Springsteen breaks it down to build again I ROB HEIGH

VERY few acts get as far as ten albums, let alone 17. And you would have to imagine that, over the course of 17 records, there would an early learning phase where they learned their craft, followed by a mature middle phase where they played at the top of their game, and it would be topped off by an end-game that saw them going through the motions while the records spun in decreasingly satisfying circles.

You would think that, but then, you wouldn’t be thinking of Bruce Springsteen.

The patron saint of New Jersey has returned this year with his 17th album, and it proves to be, possibly, the most complete summation of everything that makes Bruce Bruce in a single record this century.

I’ve always thought that Springsteen’s albums since Tunnel Of Love in 1987 were almost there, but not quite — there was a feeling that they missed an unidentifiable something that entirely unified all of the songs under one flag, in

Bruce Springsteen has delivered what might be his first completely realised record this century

spite of there being some undeniably great songwriting and playing on those records. Wrecking Ball, however, feels like the first time in a very long time that the muse and the cause have come together to create something special.

Opening with the apparently patriotic We Take Care Of Our Own, Wrecking Ball keeps its intentions just under the surface, until it’s time to let them spill over. Our Own is an angry volley that hides it’s ire and bile just as Born In The

USA did — the message is that wherever the flag is flown, the care and support for every class is most certainly lacking, despite what politicians and business might have to say.

That frustration directs the characters in many of the songs collected on Wrecking Ball — the petty criminal on Easy Money is all romance until he pulls his gun as he rails against “the fat cats who think it’s funny” who brought him low.

The anger turns to spiritual uplift, and the

theme turns at the midpoint on the title track, austensibly about the end of an era as the Giants stadium in New Jersey is demolished, but, equally, a metaphor for hope and resistance in a time of depression and financial hardship — “Come on and take your best shot, let me see what you got.”

T he music brings together the best bombast of previous E Street Band outings while taking in inf luences from the country-folk inflected Seeger Sessions

album, as well as bringing in Irish trad stylings, New Orleans brass, civil war style marches, and even drum-loops and a rap on Rocky Ground.

I would suggest you seek out the E Street Band performances on Jimmy Fallon’s show in the US last week. There’s something elemental and uplifting seeing the band perform together, even without the talismanic presence of Clarence Clemons, the saxophone legend who passed away last year. The last gang in town are back to rock.

15 March 2011 GAZETTE 19

GazetteBUSINESS BUSINESS

Supported by AIB

Interview: Catriona Byrne, The Foot Clinic at Doc Morris, Superquinn SC, Blanch

Happy feet lead to happy customers CATRIONA Byrne has been working in the health service for the past 12 years and she has noticed an increased number of patients, of all ages, presenting with medical complaints which impacts on the condition of their feet. “These medical conditions vary from diabetes, obesity, joint replacement and back problems. In most cases, these patients have been encouraged to exercise more regularly in order to reduce weight and, in turn, help with their medical condition. However, if a patient is also having discomfort in their feet, the exercise plan soon goes out the window!” said Catriona.

In 2010, she completed training in Foot Health Management and Biomechanics, as she felt there was a gap in the health service providing both a chiropody and biomechanical service to patients. The biomechanics of the service includes assessing the patient’s gait / walk and includes recommending an exercise programme and / or orthotics as necessary.

“The patients may present with complaints such as fallen arches, knee or back pain, hammer toes, bunion problems or indeed heel spurs, tendonitis or generalised foot pain. So, while I provide a full chiropody service to patients, my service focuses not only on treatment, but also on preventative measures also.

“I find the business extremely rewarding as clients always comment on how good they are feeling after their appointment!” she said.

Q: What is the best thing about your job?

A: As I am a Foot Care Practitioner, I deal with all aspects of foot pain, generally all patients present with varying foot pain, they all leave feeling much better – there is immense satisfaction in that.

Q: : Have you achieved anything that you once thought

coupled with the State pension, I am scared that

chardstown A – While I am a great advocate of starting a pension as early as you can, I am also an advocate for getting to grips with how the pension system works as early as one can, too. Like a bricklayer laying brick upon brick, but without having to see the bigger picture, most pension investors are happy to make minimum contributions not knowing what the consequences will be. The end game is just so important, as you are now unfortunately experiencing. With only a fund of € 23,000, you can take € 5,750 as a tax free lump sum, and invest € 17,250 into an annuity – essentially a fixed interest rate deposit account guaranteed for life.

You take this interest then as your income for life but when you die, the insurance company keeps the fund.

You are therefore buying a guaranteed income for life – the ideal, of course, is to live as long as possible and outlive the annuity ! Taking a rate of c. 4.5%, this equates to €64.68 per month and, even with the annual State pension, a total of c.€13,000 per annum, you can afford to earn at least another € 5,000 per annum free from income tax.

The lesson is a hard one. There are thresholds on Catriona Byrne, of The Foot Clinic at Doc Morris, Superquinn SC, Blanchardstown

the amount of contributions that can be made to a pension fund based on age, e.g. aged between 40 and 50, you can contribute up to 25% of your net relevant

Q: What was your first job?

A: McDonald’s

Q: When did you start your present job?

A: 2010.

very little by way of a monthly pension and,

How can I maximise my PRSA fund? Joan – Blan-

you could not pull off?

A: I like to set myself achiev-

variety of jobs but my pet hate is filing.

to retire next May. I have been told I will receive

Finding a job at 66 is not easy, but I may have to.

Q: When you were a kid, what did you want to be?

A: It varied every year.

Q: Have you ever done a job you loathed?

A: Not really – have done a

Q – My PRSA has only € 23,000 in it and I am due

I just simply won’t be able to afford to retire.

Q&A

Q: And your first pay cheque?

A: I can’t remember.

RETIREMENT SAVINGS

able goals.

Q: At the moment, what are you looking forward to?

A: My summer holidays.

Q: How many pairs of shoes do you own?

A: Maybe eight or 10

Q: What part of your working day do you ‘delegate’?

A: Again, filing!

Q: What is your guilty music/ TV or movie pleasure?

A: Enjoy a good film.

Q: Where do you enjoy spending money frivolously?

A: Holidays, if possible.

Q: What’s currently on your desk that shouldn’t be?

A: It’s still the filing, unfortu-

Q: What music/pictures/movies do you have on your iPod/ iPad? A: I don’t have iPod or iPad

Q: Describe your dream holiday?

A: A nice beach, good book,

nately.

Q: Is there anything about yourself that you would like to set the record straight on?

A: Not really – I like to think

Q: Who do you follow on Twitter/Facebook?

A: Not a follower of Twitter or

of myself as pretty straight forward.

Q: What was your last tweet/ status update?

A: I don’t Tweet or Facebook.

Q: What sport do you follow?

A: Not a follower of any spe-

Facebook.

cific sport.

I like to chat with friends faceto-face.

Q: What sport can you play?

A: Badminton – not a great

Q: Describe your dream meal?

A: Any meal that I don’t cook.

player but really enjoy playing.

Q: What habits would you like to lose?

A: I can’t think of any offhand.

Q: Who would you like to have dinner with – Enda Kenny or Dame Edna?

A: Preferably Dame Edna – I like a laugh!

good food and excellent company - works perfectly!

Q: What would be your dream job?

A: I like a challenge. Maybe run the county for a while, as I’d like to make some major changes, like restore a bit of equity and accountability to the system and give the county a major kick-start regarding job creation.

earnings in an occupational pension scheme apart from the employer’s contribution. Investing 5% while the employer invests 5% into the fund is substantially short of the recommended and allowable amount that can be invested into such a fund. Remember the three reasons for having a pension 1. Monthly contributions attract tax relief up to certain limits at your marginal rate. The top rate is earmarked to decrease to the 20% rate over the next three years, so make hay while the sun shines.

2. All growth in the fund is tax free. Remember even if you are on the lower rate of tax, it means because you receive 20% tax back, the fund has to drop by over 20% in one year for you to lose money in your investment.

3. On retirement, 25% of the fund up to a maximum of €200,000 can be taken as a tax-free lump sum.

Very best of luck Joan in your retirement.

Contact John with your money questions at

Q: What do you plan to do when you retire?

A: No plans to retire yet. How-

jlowe@moneydoctor.ie or visit his website at

ever, if I won the lotto, maybe I could be persuaded.

director of Money Doctor

SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESS

ADVERTISE WITH THE GAZET TE CALL 60 10 240

www.moneydoctor.ie. John Lowe, Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, is founder and managing

LOCAL

MATTERS

20 GAZETTE 15 March 2012

GazetteMOTORS MOTORS Ford gives the new Kuga a right kicking The new Opel Ampera

Ampera and Volt Share the Honours in Geneva THE Opel Ampera and the Chevrolet Volt were unveiled as the “shock” winners of the 2012 Car of the Year award at the Geneva Motor Show last week.

The news comes as Opel Ireland prepares for delivery of the highly anticipated vehicles, where orders across Europe are currently exceeding expectations, with 7,000 orders placed.

The Opel Ampera / Chevrolet Volt came in as convincing winners with 330 points against the VW Up (281) and Ford Focus (256).

The Opel/Vauxhall CEO, Karl-Friedrich Stracke, and Chevrolet’s president and managing director for Europe, Susan Docherty, were both handed the Car of the Year 2012 award by the President of the COTY judging panel, Hakan Matson.

The Ampera and the Volt emerged as the joint overall winner in a field of seven COTY finalists. The selection criteria applied by the judges were based on attributes such as design, comfort, performance and especially innovative technologies as well as efficiency.

Honour “It is a proud moment for us and an honour to receive this award from Europe’s leading jury of automotive journalists,” said Susan Docherty, president and managing director, Chevrolet Europe.

“Our car demonstrates that electric driving can be fun and reliable without ever compromising the owner’s lifestyle.

“We are extremely pleased that our revolutionary electric vehicle has emerged as the winner in such a tough field of competitors.

“And we are very proud of this accolade,” says Karl-Friedrich Stracke.

“This encourages us further to continue our leadership role in the area of e-mobility.”

The Ampera and the Volt are the first electric vehicles in the market that can go anywhere anytime. A 16 kWh lithium ion battery powers the 111kW/150 hp electric motor.

Depending on the style of driving and road conditions, distance of between 40 and 80 kilometres can be covered in the purely batteryoperated mode, completely free of emissions.

LAST week, the Ford motor company managed to give one of its own models a right kicking!

As part of the company’s 2012 Geneva Motor Show presentation, they revealed the first ever kick-activated automatic boot on their all-new Kuga.

Owners of the car will now be able to open and close the tailgate simply by waving a foot beneath the rear bumper, an especially useful feature for those carrying the weekly shop or other gear to load into the car.

Ford perfected the system with the help of volunteer “kickers”, and, after six months of testing produced the optimum settings.

“This is a perfect example of how we’re evolving existing technology to further improve our customers’ experience with Ford vehicles,” said Dominik Nical, security electronics expert, Ford

of Europe. “The result is a practical and unique solution to a common problem – opening the tailgate when your arms are full. It’s a solution that will really work for customers in their everyday lives.”

The development team spent six months working with Ford’s Human Machine Interface laboratory, using volunteers to test prototype systems fitted to a previous generation Kuga.

Rigorous real-life testing perfected the required kick and ensured there was no interference with other systems.

The hands-free tailgate builds on Ford’s Intelligent Access push-button start. It allows customers, who have their key on their person, to unlock and start their vehicles without having to take it out of their pocket or purse.

Two sensors in the rear bumper detect a

Owners can open the boot by waving a foot

person’s shin and kicking motion. The system safeguards against accidental opening by being programmed to open with leg motions – not when an animal runs under the car or when the vehicle hits a bump on the road.

The system made its debut on Kuga’s sister model, the Ford Escape, in North America, late last year. Ford engi-

neers re-calibrated the system for Europe to ensure it would still work if a tow bar had been fitted - as this is an option frequentlyy chosen by European n Kuga customers.

The automatic hands-free tailgate iss launched as an option n with Keyless Entry on n the all-new Kuga later er this year.

New Fiesta ST gets show debut FORD also used last week’s Geneva Motor Show to unveil the new, production-ready Fiesta ST in advance of the performance hatchback’s launch in Europe in 2013.

Customers have clamoured for a new Fiesta ST since the last model disappeared from European showrooms in 2008.

The all-new model is set to take the car’s performance to a new level, and the numbers tell the story: 180PS 1.6-litre EcoBoost, 240Nm of torque, 0-100km/h in under seven seconds, and top speed of more than 220km/h.

At the same time, the EcoBoost technology delivers a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions compared with the previous

Customers have clamoured for a new Fiesta ST

Fiesta ST. Developed by Ford’s Team RS, the new model delivers significant rideand-handling improvements through the introduction of a specially tuned chassis that sits 15mm lower than the standard Fiesta; Ford’s

enhanced Torque Vectoring Control system, and three Electronic Stability Control modes.

The technologies were put to the test over 5,000 kilometres of driving on Germany’s Nurburgring Nordschleife.

“We believe Ford cus-

tomers will be blown away by the new Fiesta ST, and not only by the exhilarating performance but by the styling and specification, too. This dynamic new hot-hatch is undoubtedly our best Fiesta ST to date,” said Jost Capito, Ford’s director of Global

Performance Vehicles.

T he high-contrast interior features unprecedented levels of equipment and specification to suit the sporting driver, with standard Recaro sports seats appearing in a Fiesta ST for the first time.

It also will be equipped with MyKey, which allows owners to limit performance and ensure activation of safety features for when less-experienced drivers use the vehicle; and SYNC, Ford’s voiceactivated in-car connectivity system.

A new bold and dynamic exterior design drives home the high performance message and features the latest Ford design signatures.

15 March 2012 GAZETTE 21

Edited by Cormac Curtis

RoadSigns Road Signs THE NEW A-CLASS IS UNVEILED AT MOTOR SHOW:

The new Skoda Citigo is set to compete with both VW and SEAT, as they take their first steps in to the small car market in 2012

TRIPLETS: SKODA REVEAL THEIR CONTENDER FOR THE SUBCOMPACT SHOWDOWN

Go, Citigo, go!

HE motoring world is about to launch into a phase of sibling rivalry, as Skoda, VW and SEAT each release their first small cars.

Named the Citigo, the up! and the Mii respectively, these little motors have been affectionately christened “the triplets” by many in the motoring fraternity.

T he international launch of the Skoda Citigo took place in Lisbon this month, and the Gazette was lucky enough to be invited along.

I have to be honest, I am not a petrol-headed, rev-counting purist type of motoring correspondent. There’s no doubt I like a little fire in a car’s belly, but it is the practi-

T

SPECS: SKODA CITIGO (75bhp) Top speed: 171 kph 0 – 100km/hr: 13.2 sec Economy: 4.7 l/100km CO2 emissions: 108g/km Road Tax Band: A (€160) Entry Price: €10,000 est

cal nature of most motors that sticks with me, long after the novelty of a finely tuned sports coupe has worn off.

It’s for this reason that car launches make me nervous.

These events always seem to involve twisty, narrow, mountainous roadways, in countries that are not exactly renowned for their mannerly drivers.

And so it came to

pass, that the launch of the Skoda Citigo, a car that is aimed directly at urban and suburban drivers, involved the type of driving I like to avoid through a narrow, bendy, mountainous route, that eventually brought my driving companion and I to a very picturesque coastal area close to Lisbon, much to our relief.

The danger here was that my first experience in the Citigo was going to be a nervous one and leave me with a bad impression.

Thankfully, this was not to be.

For starters, this small car has more interior room than you would ever expect, certainly more than enough for two substantial men to

travel side-by-side in the front seats more than comfortably.

Next is the finish. The tactile points of this car feel very solid, almost as though they have have been swiped from their saloon stablemates.

Nothing gives you the impression that you are in a small car where economy was the driving force behind the design.

Enthusiasm And, speaking of design, the overall look and available options in the Citigo scream fun and enthusiasm.

My particular favourite was a glossy, white finish with black racing stripes down the middle, finished off with black alloys – a very tasty look

indeed.

In practical terms, the five-door option makes all the sense in the world, it’s a €500 option, but makes the car far more usable without sacrificing any of its visual appeal.

The drive itself was another surprise.

Admittedly, carrying three adults, you need to get the revs up a bit more than usual to get it going up near-vertical mountainous roads, but the point is that this car does get going.

Keeping in mind that it has a modest one-litre engine producing 60 or 75bhp, depending what model you go for, it moves surprisingly well.

There was certainly no problem keeping up on the motorways, and

it was as nimble as anything as we took a few wrong turns navigating the small, cobbled city streets around Lisbon.

It’s refreshing to see car manufacturers putting such serious thought and consideration into their entry-level models.

From the incredibly attractive fuel economy and running costs, to the interior finish and design, cars of this size really are competing for our attention.

Skoda’s fan base in Ireland is certainly increasing, and it will no doubt find the VW Up! very tough competition, but the Citigo put a smile on my face, and having to pick between these two would certainly have me scratching my head.

AMONG the many new cars debuting at the Geneva Motor Show last week, was the new MercedesBenz A-Class.

The German marquee believes that the new model boasts the kind of appeal that will bring them into a new, more youthful market segment when it arrives here next year.

The taller, more upright, design of the present model has been replaced by a lower-slung body that sits 18cm closer to the ground.

Built on the B-Class platform, the new A-Class will come in a range of petrol and turbo-diesel engines, and the one likely to grab the limelight in Ireland is a 1.8-litre diesel, seen as the greenest of them all with CO2 emissions of just 99g/km.

All engines offer an idle-stop system as standard and can be mated to a six-speed manual, or sevenspeed dual-clutch automatic, transmission.

One feature certain to appeal is a facility that allows what might be termed “the i-class generation”, to connect up and use the full functionality of their iPhone Siri voiceactivated units or play their iPad music and apps through the car’s infotainment system.

Electronic elements extend to safety with a collision warning system and adaptive brake assist amongst its standard features.

The new MercedesBenz A-Class

22 GAZETTE 15 March 2012

GazetteTTRAVEL Fast Travel Croatia’s many charms to woo you this Easter IF YOU are thinking of taking a trip this Easter, Croatia could be just the place, with its glistening coastline and a preserved, historic beauty.

Concorde Travel has just launched new special offers to Croatia during the Easter holiday period, with many offers to suit all budgets.

For example, departing on April 1, spend seven nights at the three-star Antuninska Apartments in Dubrovnik Old Town, on a self-catering basis, from €549pp.

Alternatively, depart on April 6 and stay at the two-starplus Hotel Adriatic in Dubrovnik, on a B&B basis, from €530pp; the four-star Grand Park & Villas Hotel in Dubrovnik, on a B&B basis, from €610pp or the beautiful fivestar Rixos Libertas Hotel in Dubrovnik, on a B&B basis, from €800pp.

To book your Croatia break, or for further information, see www.concordetravel.ie or phone 01 775 9300.

Whether taking a trip to luxurious Druids Glen Resort (main), or making Mumm the word for champagne in the Westin (above), spoil your mum this Mother’s Day

Make the most of a special day for mum IF YOU have found yourself caught short for a special Mother’s Day gift this year, there’s always the option to whisk her away for a break – without the kids.

To give you a little inspiration, and to keep you out of the dog-house this weekend, here is a selection of destinations around the country that would be perfect for a break for mum this March 18 ...

The five-star g Hotel, Galway The five-star g Hotel, Galway is offering the perfect indulgence for you and your mum to relax and reconnect.

Discover ESPA at the g’s Pamper Perfection for Two experience and combine your spa experience with luxurious overnight accommodation and full

Irish breakfast.

Your spa journey will start in ESPA at the g’s glorious thermal suite, offering a range of heat and cooling experiences which cleanse the body and soothe aching muscles.

Enjoy a 55-minute spa treatment, selecting from an ESPA-intensive facial, full body massage or body wrap, and experience rituals that will take your mind to a calmer place and nurture your body.

Conclude your spa journey in the rooftop relaxation area overlooking the zen garden with a handmade chocolate and a refreshing smoothie.

It costs from €155 per person sharing, bookable from Sunday to Thursday.

For further details, see www.theghotel.ie or call 091 865 200

Druids Glen Resort, County Wicklow The Mother’s Day package includes gorgeous five-star overnight accommodation in the resort that is nestled between the Irish Sea and Wicklow mountains.

During the day, enjoy a blissful facial in the resort’s popular spa, where you will also receive a special Payot spa gift.

Later on, you can toast your girlie evening with a glass of Prosecco, before a delicious dinner in the Druids Brasserie.

Then, retire for the night and watch a “movie for mum” together in the comfort of your cosy room.

Waking up to a satisfying full Irish breakfast, your mum will feel well and truly spoiled.

The Druids Glen

Mother’s Day package is available Mother’s Day weekend from €170 per person, subject to availability. For further information, call 01 287 0848, or see www.druidsglenresort.com.

The Westin Hotel, Dublin This Mother’s Day, show your mum just how much you love her and appreciate all that she does by marking the date with a special Mumm Champagne Afternoon Tea at the luxurious Atrium Lounge in The Westin Dublin hotel.

The Atrium Lounge is offering a special treat for mums on Mother’s Day. Take time out to catch up together with an afternoon tea, including home-made scones with jam and clotted cream, and a selection of pastries

and other sweet treats, and receive a complimentary glass of chilled Mumm champagne for mum – all for just €24.

For further information and bookings, contact The Atrium Lounge directly on 01 645 1324 and quote “Special Mother’s Day package”.

The Imperial Hotel, Cork Enjoying some self indulgence is a luxury most busy mums rarely get the chance to experience.

Rectify that this Mother’s Day by treating her to an extra-special Indulge Me spa package at the blissful Escape Salon and Spa in the Imperial Hotel, Cork city.

The sensuous package does exactly what it says on the tin and includes an Aveda comforting tea on

arrival, time in the Vitality Suite’s hydrotherapy pool, Brine Grotto and Aroma Grotto, a pure focus facial tailored to suit her skin type, an anti-ageing eye treatment, nurturing hand and arm massage, and soothing scalp massage As an extra-special gift, your mum will also receive an Aveda gift of two travel-sized products so that she can feel fabulous wherever she is.

The Indulge Me spa package costs €149, and you can indulge her even further by turning her visit into an overnight stay with room rates in the charming, four-star city centre hotel from just €89, so she can also pay Patrick Street a visit and shop until she drops.

For further information, see www.flynnho tels.com or call 021 427 4040.

15 March 2012 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 23

Edited by Mimi Murray

FastTravel

Head East or West for some terrific holidays LOOKING for something a little different to the usual sun, sea and sand? Joe Walsh Tours specialist tours are designed to cater for clients who want something unique that they will remember for a lifetime, such as to Taiwan and South Korea.

Spend 15 unforgettable days travelling through areas such as Taipei, Sun Moon Lake, Taichung, Seoul, Daegu, Gyeongju and Busan, visiting such sights as the Paoan Temple, the Shilin Night Market, Taroko National Park, and The

Tunnel of the Nine Turns, all located in Taiwan.

In South Korea, you will visit several memorable sights, including Chogyesa Temple, Cheomseongdae Observatory, Beomosa Temple and Yongdusan Park.

Price includes return flights from Dublin with China Airlines, 14 nights’ B&B, accommodation, 12 evening meals, eight lunches, a luxury airconditioned coach for the duration of the tour, the services of Joe Walsh Tours’ local guides for the duration of the tour, entrances as stated on

the itinerary and an internal flight from Hualien to Taipei.

Depart on July 16 and spend seven nights in Taiwan and seven nights in South Korea, at a cost of €2,929 per person, excluding tax of €295pp.

Alternatively, head Stateside in September to join an American Civil War Battlefield programme.

Highlights include the Capitol Building, Ford’s Theatre, the Lincoln, Jefferson, Vietnam and WWII memorials, US Nav y Museum, New Market Battlefield and

Cruise control to France with Irish Ferries

For those looking for a break from the norm, why not take in the modern sights of Taipei (main), or the Antietam National Battlefield in America (inset)?

Museum, National US Museum Corps Museum, and Antietam National Battlefield, to name just a few.

The price includes direct return flights from Dublin to Washington, 10 nights’ hotel accommodation on a B&B basis in the Hotel Monaco, Alexandria and the Best

Western Historic, Frederick, one welcome dinner, a luxury air-conditioned coach throughout the duration of the trip, entry fees to all historic sites and museums as per itinerary, and the assistance of Captain Donal Buckley, on behalf of Joe Walsh Tours.

This package costs

€1,749pp, plus tax of €265pp.

Tours are subject to minimum of 20 passengers to operate for the Taiwan and South Korea tour, and 40 passengers to operate for the USA tour.

For further information on these tours, or to book, see www.joewalshtours. ie or call 01 241 0800.

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TAKING a trip to France by boat need not be a dull experience, thanks to Irish Ferries.

The Oscar Wilde offers a wide range of onboard facilities, including three restaurants, two lounge bars, two cinemas, mall-style shopping, a cafe, gaming area, hair and beauty salon, Wi-Fi internet access, and much more, operating between Rosslare to Cherbourg and Roscoff.

For further information and reservations, see www. irishferries.com, or call 0818 300 400.

24 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 15 March 2012

GazetteENTERTAINMENT ENTERTAINMENT

GoingOUT THE PAVILION THEATRE 01 231 2929 Showstopper!

THEY’RE making it up as they go along! Luckily, that’s entirely the point, as Showstopper! The Improvised Musical sees an entirely new musical created from scractch in every performance, with the audience helping to create a show on the spot with their suggestions and direction, leading to a unique show to remember. This award-winning production, which has played sell-out shows in London’s West End, is set to delight and entertain at The Pavilion on St Patrick’s Day, at 8pm, with tickets costing €18/16.

MILL THEATRE 01 296 9340 Jack Wise Magic & Comedy MEANWHILE, also being held on St Patrick’s Day, famillies looking for fun in Dundrum will find plenty at the Jack Wise Magic & Comedy show, presented as part of the Paddy Laughs Festival. As the title suggests, Jack will blend magic and laughter to great effect, in a show described as David Blaine mixed with Tommy Cooper, creating great tricks and lots of fun for all the family in the Irish magician’s memorable festival show. Catch the magical performance, at 3pm, with tickets priced at €8/€5.

CIVIC THEATRE 01 885 2622 Carthaginans CONTINUING with The Civic Theatre’s run of strong, memorable drama, Frank McGuinness’ striking play, Carthaginans, runs until St Patrick’s Day, March 17.

Influenced by Bloody Sunday, and delving into certain facets of The Troubles, this production, set in a graveyard, both helps to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Bloody Sunday and provides some thought-provoking entertainment for theatre fans. Catch the show nightly at 8pm, with tickets costing €20/16.

DRAIOCHT 01 885 2622 Coolmine Goes to the Movies DRAIOCHT is getting ready for the upcoming Coolmine Goes to the Movies show, which is set to feature a wonderful night’s entertainment, influenced by all manner of movie magic. The accomplished Coolmine players will take the audience through a delightful tour of Hollywood hits, with everything from Disney to Bond to much, much more to savour in their presentation. Coolmine Goes to the Movies – and so will you – on Friday, March 30 and Saturday, March 31 at 8pm, with tickets priced €16/€14.

With two giant, multi-limbed, bloodthirsty and blind white apes charging in on him, John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) should make like a banana, and split – however, it’s all just one more dramatic event for the Earthman to get through on his bizarre adventures on Mars

Monkeying around This popcorn sci-fi epic feels like too many films you’ve already seen, with nice design but overly familiar setting I KATE CROWLEY

WHILE the entire world and his wife waits for Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter to chop and stake its way to our screens – I know, I know, I was born to review something so gloriously titled – there’s an awful lot of underwhelming films to get through first, which even an undead-slaying, stovepipe-hat wearing president couldn’t make any better. (Sorry, Abe.) Speaking of underwhelming, here’s John Carter! He’s a bit of a Tarzan character, one might say, seen as something of a wild character amongst the locals – appropriately enough, as he’s a much-lesser-known work by Tarzan’s creator, Edgar Rice Burroughs.

Through some not particularly well-executed scene setting, it’s not long before we’re in the late 1800s or so, saddled up with Civil War veteran

FILM OF THE WEEK: John Carter ## (12A) 130 mins Director: Andrew Stanton Starring: Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe, Mark Strong, Bryan Cranston, lots and lots of CG sights

OUR VERDICT: THERE’S too much here that you’ve already seen in a variety of other films. Deadwood, Gladiator, Avatar, Dune – take your pick, and you’ll see all these, and more, in this mash-up of movies. It’s not truly terrible, and would while away a couple of hours ... just don’t expect anything particularly special, or even memorable, and it could be just the ticket for a while...

Carter (Kitsch), who, it turns out, isn’t quite the grizzled, unfeeling and authority-hating maverick that he appears to be.

Anyway, after some slightly dull scene-setting (oh, if only he’d rucked up in Deadwood), it’s not long before Carter finds himself accidentally transported to another planet – as you do – and discovers that it – Mars – is full of life. (I guess good ol’ Edgar didn’t sit too near the front during his 19th-century schoolin’.)

Carter’s just a puny earthling – a grizzled, unfeeling and authority-

hating maverick at odds with the towering, multiarmed locals, who may all appear to be bloodthirsty savages at first sight, but, in fact, have a complex society that a puny but plucky Earthling could help sort out and ...

Hmmm. This doesn’t feel a million miles away from a certain other sci-fi film from a few years ago, but let’s jump back the 36 million or so miles to Mars to continue.

Blessed with superior strength and abilities, due to the planet’s different gravity, it’s not long before Carter’s leppin’ about the

place, helping the locals with their somewhat pressing issue of civil war.

Oh, and their imminent destruction by a superior race. Who will then tackle primitive Earth.

You may think that all of this would be a lot for a grizzled maverick-soldierturned-gold-prospectorturned-intergalactic-leader to sort out, but Carter’s a have-a-go kind of guy, and isn’t about to let mistrustful aliens, bloodthirsty politicians, dragonflyish warships and bloody big beasties get in his way of saving the day, the girl, the planet, our planet, and everything – and then go back to a mundane life on Earth – oh no!

And that’s yer lot.

Of course, there’s a wee bit more to it than just that, with lots and lots of CG-enhanced scenes and characters.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to say that there’s anything new in this film, over which the ghost of Avatar hovers. Oh, and the ghost of Star Wars. And Dune.

And several other films.

Kitsch (left) does his best, but the role doesn’t exactly demand much, bar standing around looking buff, angry, alarmed, or – nope, that’s pretty much it, and the other humans don’t exactly have a lot to work with, either.

To b e f a i r, they’re working with material that’s already weak – there’s a reason why so much Tarzan exists, but Carter’s a virtual unknown, making this a poor, Kitsch film.

15 March 2012 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 25

GazetteGAMING GAMING Bytesandpieces Scaling creative download heights

In Mass Effect 3, Shepard must lead his team to fight back against the Reaper menace to the Galaxy – but Earth comes under attack ...

Making a stand against the Reapers’ menace SHANE DILLON

THE wait is over – the Reapers have finally arrived at Earth, where it seems that it’s very much a case of Game Over for our species.

Or, rather, game on, as Mass Effect 3’s longawaited arrival has been keenly met by gamers, keen to continue the notable franchise with the

final part in the trilogy.

I reported last week on the title’s problems with being stocked at Game, but, this week, we’ll leave any such negativity behind to focus on the game itself.

And what a game.

Although it’s (just about) accessible to complete newcomers to the series, this is a title that very much builds up on all of

the expansive back story already established in the prequels, as well as the established characters, to deliver a title that’s very much more of the same, but ramped up to a much higher standard, and, of course, with an explosive finale.

To recap, the Mass Effect series, and universe, follows humanity’s role in the future as its expansion

Anotherweebyte...

An extra effect from Kinect’s hardware XBOX 360 gamers can avail of their Kinect hardware to get an extra boost to their gameplay, in another sign of how determined Microsoft is to make the most of their hardware to enhance a number of key titles.

So, this means that Kinect users can make the most of a number of Kinect features – principally by making use of audio commands to manage their squad on a number of fronts as they battle the Reapers and their minions.

Seeing as squads play a significant

role in a number of titles, and given the natural immersion that such a feature could add to a game, it seems like a natural addition to the title – one that may not be for every gamer (given the paper-thin walls in my new-build apartment, my flatmate and neighbours would be unlikely to appreciate my intergalactic battling by blathering to myself), but one that will feel like a natural fit for many gamers, keen to get any help they can to help tackle the Reapers’ plans.

into the galaxy puts it in conflict with older, more established civilisations, none of whom are too impressed by our upstart race.

Luckily enough, some plucky humans are just what the galaxy needs, given that an ancient race of sentient machines have reawoken, and are hell-bent on eliminating – or reaping – all sentient life across the galaxy, whose lifeforms would do very nicely to power their alarm clocks, showers and spaceships, thank you.

In Mass Effect 3, the game can either start with a new character, as defined by the player, or, by examining the gamer’s previous saves, can load up their character from the previous game and, based on their playing and choices so far, shape the story from that point on, creating what feels like a unique experience.

Here, the action continues with Shepard and

co trying to unite all the species for a desperate stand against the Reapers (Earth doesn’t fare too well, early on), with a pretty explosive mix of intense action, giving the gamers an awful lot of bang for their buck.

Again, there’ll be lots of player choice along the way, with actions and conversations taken along the journey determining how things play out – and who lives, and who dies.

Of course, there’s an awful lot more than this simple summary to the game – despite the streamlined experience, there’s substantial depth to the title – but, for those looking for an all-out action title, with quieter moments of debate and real choice to make, it’s hard not to be impressed by this stand-out title.

So, for a sweeping scifi opera, with some great action, Mass Effect 3 is a superb conclusion to a strong series.

CONTINUING the XBox 360’s coverage this week – and why not, given such strong content – another “House Party” downloadable title has popped into view, priced 1,200 Microsoft Points.

Running with what I’m terming the popular Apres-Armageddon genre (as seen in several instances, such as cinema’s The Road, television’s The Walking Dead, and any number of recent gaming titles, such as Enslaved), I Am Alive is a notably polished download-only title, featuring a desperate character’s attempts to survive in a post-apocalyptic urban setting.

Despite its lengthy-development period, which led many to doubt it would ever actually emerge from Development Hell, it’s finally been released, and has turned out to be a decent survival-horror title, where, perhaps a little controversially, the player is battling fellow survivors’ lawlessness as much as the ruined city’s dangerous environment.

It’s a good way to round off the 360’s House Party season, which featured some great titles and, as another enjoyable downloadable title, I Am Alive shows that there’s certainly plenty of life in this interesting gaming avenue for the 360.

GAZETTE

26 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 15 March 2012

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PLANNING NOTICE

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DUN LAOGHAIRE RATHDOWN COUNTY COUNCIL

DUN LAOGHAIRE RATHDOWN COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland, intend to apply for permission for development at 19 Roebuck Road, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14.

The development will consist of new security office, security barrier, a green keepers store and all associated site works.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority, County Hall, Dun Laoghaire during its public opening hours.

A submission/observation may be made on payment of €20 within a period of 5 weeks from the date the application is received by the planning authority.

Planning permission is sought for a singlestorey porch (circa 4sqm) with tiled roof to front of existing house at 76 Broadford Lawn, Ballinteer, Dublin 16 for Deirdre Mc Nevin The application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of The Planning Authority during its’ public opening hours and a submission or observation may be made to the Planning Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

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Permission is sought for the provision of two temporary stand alone prefabricated classrooms to the rear of the existing school along with associated site works at Kilternan Church Of Ireland National School, Enniskerry Road, Kilternan, Dublin 18 By Elaine Dunne. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority, County Hall, Dun Laoghaire, during its public opening hours. A submission / observation may be made on payment of €20 within a period of 5 weeks from the date the application is received by the planning authority.

Permisson is sought for Proposed front extension single storey 1.5m deep.

New 2 storey extension to rear with attic conversion and new velux rooflights to rear, new window ground floor to side at 15 Llewellyn Lawn, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 by Anne Roche THE PLANNING APPLICATION MAY BE INSPECTED OR PURCHASED AT A FEE NOT EXCEEDING THE REASONABLE COST OF MAKING A COPYAT THE OFFICES OF THE PLANNING AUTHORITY, COUNTY HALL, DUN LAOGHAIRE , DURING ITS PUBLIC OPENING HOURS. A SUBMISSION / OBSERVATION MAY BE MADE ON PAYMENT OF €20 WITHIN A PERIOD OF 5 WEEKS FROM THE DATE THE APPLICATION IS RECEIVED

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GazetteSPORT

DRIVING HOME Touring car starAaron Smith on coming back to Ireland: Page 29

ROWING: AMBITIOUS DRIVE FOR DUN LAOGHAIRE CLUB IN EPIC CELTIC CHALLENGE RACE

St Michael’s to row their boat all way to Wales sport@gazettegroup.com

Over the coming May bank holiday weekend, 12 men and women from St Michael’s Rowing Club in Dun Laoghaire will take part in a biennial rowing race across the Irish Sea known as the Celtic Challenge.

The race sets off from Arklow, Co Wicklow, with the finishing line in Aberystwyth, Wales.

At 150km, this relay race is billed as the long-

est rowing race in the world, and draws together 27 teams from Wales, Ireland and beyond.

The team is taking on this challenge to raise funds for a clubhouse in Dun Laoghaire, for the first time in the club’s 90 year history.

Not many races start and finish in different countries, a source of pride to the Welsh and Irish oarsmen and women involved. So, too, is the sport of coastal rowing

itself, which differs from the Olympic or Oxford v Cambridge code of rowing in a number of key ways. Seats are fixed, not sliding, and boats are of a more substantial construction to tackle the swell on open seas, which can reach several metres.

St Michael’s take things a step further by using quar ter-ton wooden clinker-built east coast skiffs rather than the modern fibreglass models, used by all other competi-

The east-coast skiff that St Michael’s will be piloting in the Celtic Challenge race in May

tors in 2010. Their solid wood oars are three times heavier than carbon fibre equivalents, requiring strength and a particular technique. In common with other clubs of Dublin and Wicklow, these boats originate from the Hobblers of old; crews of local men who would engage in unlicensed pilotage of

merchant shipping.

Each competing team in the Celtic Challenge consists of three rotating crews of four rowers and is accompanied by a support boat for navigation and for accommodating the resting crews.

Changeover strategy is down to each team, but most opt for a one-hour-

on, two-hours-off format.

Depending on weather conditions, the race may start in Arklow on the afternoon of the Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Crews row through the night, arriving in Aberystwyth the following morning or afternoon.

The squad is actively seeking sponsorship for

the challenge, in a drive to raise funds for a new clubhouse in Dun Laoghaire Harbour. Currently, the club lacks space to store their three wooden boats, space for indoor training and changing facilities. It is hoped that the money raised can be put towards achieving this long-standing goal.

28 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 15 March 2012

GazetteSport Sport

Lisa O’Shea, of GOAL, with Alan Brogan

The Classic Memories rock out at the concert

Fun and games at the post-launch concert

Charity launch Blackrock host Brogan for badge sale D

UBLIN senior footballer and Player of the Year in 2011, Alan Brogan, was on hand last week at Blackrock College to launch the GOAL/Aidlink badge campaign, which has been run by students in Blackrock College for 20 years.

In that time, they have raised over €2 million, which is split evenly between the two charities.

The launch was attended by Senator Darragh O’Brien, Lisa O’Shea of GOAL, and Ann Cleary of Aidlink, and there was a short concert after the launch, where popular covers band, The Classic Memories, entertained the assembled students.

The majority of Transition Year students will be in town selling the badges this week.

The street collection has been a great success in the past, and is sure to continue well into the future.

Jeff Burke, John O’Connor, Tristan Brady, Ryan Kavanagh and Matthew O’Driscoll get into the charity spirit

Alan with Anne Cleary, executive director of aidlink

Alan gets his badges of honour from the Blackrock students

15 March 2012 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 29

in association with

Smith happy to be driving home

FastSport

Motor racing ace, Aaron Smith, is a rising star of the touring car scene, and is relishing the prospect Roche returns to help to of racing in the Bavaria City event this June RATHFARNHAM man, Aaron Smith, has come a long way since his days of karting when he was 14.

The driver was last year crowned Motorsport Ireland’s Young Racing Driver of the Year in 2011.

His journey to the upper eschelons of the sport have taken him to Britain and Italy to compete in drivers’ championships in those countries, to great success.

Last year, Aaron competed in the UK’s AirAsia Renault Clio Cup and he also made his debut in the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship, and, in 2012, Smith is all set to make his mark in the British Touring Car Championship with the Motorbase Performance team.

Aaron will join some of the biggest names in world motorsport at the Bavaria City Racing Dub-

lin when it arrives in the city centre in June this year, and he was looking forward to the experience when he spoke to GazetteSport last week.

“I don’t know the last

tigious and well-known tracks in Europe, and, when driving in the Italian Clio Cup, was able to drive on the hallowed concrete of Monza and Immola, where he regis-

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‘It’s nice to be able to come home and drive in front of an Irish crowd. I think it will open people’s eyes as to how motor sport is thought of here’

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time a touring car driver got the chance to drive in Ireland. I’ve always raced across the sea, and it’s really nice to be able to come home and drive in front of a home crowd.

The event will be a huge success, but I’m delighted more to be coming home to drive before Irish fans of the sport.”

Aaron has cut his teeth at some of the most pres-

tered a number of stage wins.

Returning to Britain for the Clio Cup, he spent 2011 racking up some impressive drives, leading to him claiming the Graduate Cup, for young drivers under the age of 25, and finishing second overall in the championship.

All of that success was part of the masterplan,

Aaron SMith is relishing prospect of returning to Ireland this summer

explained Smith.

“My aim from when I started driving was to take part in the British touring car championship. That was the pinnacle of motor sport to me in Europe. Coming back from Italy, I knew I would be able to do well in the Clio Cup, and I knew that would open the doors to the touring car teams. Everything has come together for this year.”

With his Motor Race Performance team behind him, Smith is looking to shape up for 2012 and the test of the touring cars.

“There are ten races, and it is one of the biggest championships in Europe. It’s really massive - there are about 12 million TV viewers across the continent.

“The MRP team just missed out on winning the overall championship last year, so they have great experience that I can draw on. As well as that, Matt Jackson is my teammate this year, and driving alongside him has been hugely instructional and informative for me. I’m learning so much watching him on the track, and it brings you on in leaps and bounds without realising it.

“It’s just the imparting of experience, really.

I’m on the way over to Britain, to Snetterton in Norfolk, to do some testing there with the team.

We will both be driving our cars, and overlaying the data [from Matt and Aaron’s cars] to see where we can both improve our driving.

“The back-up team is very important - driving is only 10% of the job, and the rest is down to the backroom team.”

The season begins on April 1 at Brand’s Hatch, and Smith is hoping to capitalise on all he has learned in the preceding years.

“It’s a big learning curve, and I’m hoping to hit the ground running, and maybe get a top ten finish this year. I never like setting goals, but I’d like to think I can get some good results.”

As much as he appreciated the challenge of touring cars, however, coming home is something that Smith is more than happy to do.

“I’ve never driven competitively in Ireland.

It’s a shame as I would love to race at home, but the opportunity has never arisen. It’s always been the only choice to fly away from home.

“I’d love to think the Bavaria event can open people’s eyes as to how motor sport is thought of in Ireland. I think you’ll see a massive increase in the number of people who will want to go to the driving school in Mondello after the day, and that is what the scene needs over here.”

launch Irish Cycling Show

DUNDRUM cycling legend, Stephen Roche, will return to his old racing grounds when he will be the guest of honour at the Irish Cycling Show at the RDS on May 19 and 20.

The legendary Dublin cyclist is celebrating the 25th anniversary of his extraordinary 1987 racing season when he won the Giro d’Italia, the Tour de France and the World Road Race Championships.

Roche will open the show on Saturday and will be in attendance during the weekend on the dedicated stand, which will feature various memorabilia from his fabled career.

Among the exhibits on the Stephen Roche stand will be the Battaglin bike with which he won the 1987 World Road Race championships in Villach, Austria, as well as various items of clothing and trophies from a career that spanned 13 years at the very top level of cycling.

Roche, whose 1987 “triple crown” of major wins places him in an exclusive company of two with Belgian Eddy Merckx, is looking forward to an opportunity to remember his famous year with fans in Ireland.

“I’m really excited to be appearing at the Irish Cycling Show,” says Roche, who now lives in Anitbes, France. “It’s high time there was an exhibition of this kind in Ireland and it’ll be great to be able to remember 1987 in the company of friends.”

Roche is still connected to the cycling world through Stephen Roche Cycling Holidays and Training Camps in Mallorca, his cycling vacations firm, which will be featured on his stand.

The Irish Cycling Show will feature exhibitors from every facet of cycling and related industry, including cycle retailers and distributors and there will also be emphasis on general feature attractions to entertain the whole family.

Plans in the pipeline include a test track around the venue, demonstrations, shows and seminars throughout the weekend. Further details on the show’s attractions will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information, log on to www. irishcyclingshow.com

30 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 15 March 2012

GazetteSport Sport FastSport

BASKETBALL: UNDER-14S, 15S AND 16S TAKE TITLES IN FINALS

Monkstown student takes schools’ title CBC MONKSTOWN’S Kevin Dooney ended a six-year wait for his first school’s cross-country title when he got the better of High School, Clonmel’s Sean Tobin in a thrilling tussle.

Both athletes battled fiercely over the fast and undulating course for the 2012 Aviva All-Ireland Schools’ Cross-Country Championships.

Dooney made the break with a lap to go, opening up a gap of 15m over Tobin. Coming up the finishing straight, Tobin challenged Dooney in a thrilling sprint finish to the line.

But the Monkstown student just had enough to hold on to claim his first All-Ireland Schools’ Cross Country title. Commenting after the race, Dooney said: “I have been waiting six years to win my first title, it was a tough race but I found the strength in the end to hold off Sean.”

Clar NicCarthaigh, meanwhile, claimed the senior girls’ race and had the added satisfaction of leading her school, Colaiste Iosagain, to the team title over Dublin rivals, St Dominic’s, Cabra.

Meteors Under-14 side were too strong for Templeogue in their final at the Oblates last weekend

Meteors triple-crowned I sport@gazettegroup.com

METEORS celebrated a superb season with three trophies last week as they took the laurels at U-14, U-15 and U-16 level, and while narrowly missing out on the U-17 and U-18 silverware to their trophy cabinet from the finals weekend at the Oblates.

At U-14 level, spurred on by a solid defensive performance, the result was in no doubt after the third quarter in which Meteors held a commanding 31-18 advantage. Aisling Kindle led all scorers with 16 points and she was backed up

by Beth Doyle-Kelly with

12 points and Rachel Leavy with six.

Laura Hennessy-Feehan and Lizzie McGonnell helped Meteors dominate the boards in the contest and this, combined with good guard play from Alva Lawler and Alison Cleary and an effective fast break on the wings from Roisin McLoughlin and Muireann O’Gorman, meant that Templeogue were constantly on the back foot defensively.

Although Meteors got off to a strong start and led 16-5 after the first quarter, it was their defence that continued to dictate the pace

Potting for charity: Doherty collects Make-A-Wish cheque LEGENDARY snooker star and Make-A-Wish ambassador, Ken Doherty, accepted a cheque on behalf of the foundation for €400 from Radisson Blu St Helen’s hotel in Stillorgan last week.

Last Christmas, the hotel donated €5 from each €100 gift card purchased to the charity.

Presenting the cheque are director of sales, Yvonne McNamara with general manager Neil Lane, who said: “We are proud to be donating to such a worthy cause as the MakeA-Wish Foundation”.

and control the game throughout. An ever-hustling Tarah O’Sullivan and a swarming defensive effort by Lasariona and Billy-Kate Huggard forced Templeogue into a number of costly mistakes.

This great defensive effort was most notably punctuated by a real stand-up defensive performance in the paint

by Jordan Bent, which resulted in a runaway third period, effectively ending any hope that Templeogue had of a comeback, eventually ending 45-26.

The U-15 team played Liffey Celtics in a very

tight and exciting match from start to finish. Lauren Mitchell was top scorer with ten points and Liadain Tobin Snittger and Shauna Fox both greatly contributed to the points with seven points each. This was always going to be a tough game as Liffey Celtics had beaten Meteors by 15 points in the league clash so it made the victory a lot sweeter for Meteors, over-turning the result with a 45-40 win.

The U-16 final was equally exciting, Meteors prevailing 34-33, coming from behind to claim victory against the Cup holders Templeogue.

This was a hard-fought game where defense was key. Both sides showed great skill and determination in the first half with Templeogue eight points ahead going into the final quarter. Meteors, overcoming significant injury to Allison McGrath, and being led on the court

by Aoife Whelan, came back to force overtime.

In extra-time, it was firm defence that won out with Meteors crowned champions.

The brilliant run was not able to carry through to the U-17 and U-18 sides as DCU Mercy had too much in the tank at both levels.

15 March 2012 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 31

in association with

FOOTBALL: LATE RALLY SEES CLON SIDE TAKE POINT a

CLUB NOTICEBOARD CUALA Yes, there was some blood, but

of visits, from O’Donovan Rossa in

mostly it was glory on Saturday’s

Belfast and elsewhere. Watch out

Cuala Fight Night. Many are saying

for details on the website if you

it was the greatest night ever at the

fancy seeing some action.

club and it is hard to argue. From

The main event nex t weekend

the organisation to the music, the

will be the family Ceilidh in the hall

atmosphere to the bravery every-

from 6.30 to 9pm on Saturday night.

thing worked like a dream. Anyone

Admission is only €10 per family and

who saw the entries of Mike Bernie

there is always a great time had by

at first then Emma Schutte and Lor-

kids from six to 66 and beyond.

raine Hayes will live long before they

On the field, the U-15A football-

forget them. Well done to everyone

ers landed a big win over Crokes

involved who took to the ring, who

on Sunday morning, while the B

helped from the club, from Angels

team put 5-14 on the board against

Boxing Club and the sponsors on the

Lucan. The U-14A and B football-

night, Faichney Ringwood Peugeot.

ers are now both sitting joint top of

This really was something special.

their respective divisions, while the

There are no competitive games

C team managed four goals against

next weekend being St Patrick’s Day

Castleknock B in a sprited game at

but the club will be hosting a number

Thomastown.

FOXROCK/CABINTEELY Kilmacud Crokes were in the lead going in to the final stages of the tie, but Towers scored twice to equalise

Crokes allow Towers to sneak AFL draw AFL DIVISION 2 Round Towers Kilmacud Crokes

0-13 1-10

I sport@gazettegroup.com

A LATE show from the Lyons’ brothers saw Round Towers earn their first point of the league season against Stillorgan side, Kilmacud Crokes.

A late rally was needed by the home side to earn the draw but it was the least Towers deserved against a strong Kilmacud side featuring a half-back line of Dubs’ stars Kevin Nolan, Paul Griffin and Cian O’Sullivan, as well as Mark Vaughan.

T here was a welcome return for Darren Magee, lining out for the last quarter for his first appearance since breaking his ankle in August 2010.

Indeed, if they had taken one of a handful of goal chances they would have been coming away with the victory.

Towers trailed by two with just three minutes

remaining and it was Tom Lyons who fed brother, Barrie, out in space on the right and he converted the chance from a tight angle to leave the home side trailing by just a point, 1-10 to 0-12.

And Tom then stood up in injury time to convert a 30-metre free that levelled the tie and saw both sides leave with a point.

It was no more than Towers deserved. With the home side having missed chances, it was the visitors who took control in the final quarter and looked to have done enough to take home all the points.

With just ten minutes remaining they equalised to leave the score 1-8 to 11 points and a few minutes later they were two up, kicking two points from tight angles, before the late surge by Towers levelled the match.

Towers started the match with real conviction and were three points up after 15 min-

utes, but Crokes gradually came into the game and they kicked their first score after 18 minutes and within five minutes they were level.

Manus Smith almost netted for Towers but his low shot hit the post and bounced back into the keeper’s arms. A Cathal Carthy point, after good work from half-back Brian Costello set him up, saw Towers move once again into the lead but Crokes were four ahead within four minutes, scoring 1-2 without reply.

Jason Joyce got free on the inside forward line and tapped over a point. Ian Ward then found himself in space and kicked a great score from 25 metres out, and a Carthy free just before half-time saw the home side trail by a point at the break.

Seconds into the second half Towers hit the post before Jason Joyce equalised four minutes in.

Brian Costello and Derek

Murray worked the ball out of the defence and Costello kicked a score from the left to give Towers the lead. Murray was hugely influential and kicked an excellent score to put Towers two ahead and Joyce kicked another to leave Towers a goal in front.

A Liam Connolly goal opportunity was side-footed wide and this could have pushed given Towers the cushion to allow them win the game. Former Dublin star Vaughan was given a red card with just 15 minutes remaining but Crokes showed excellent character and scored four points without reply to lead by two going into the final minutes.

A cr ucial one-onone Keith Graham save meant Towers were still in it and they showed tremendous character and resilience to see the Lyons brothers earn they least Towers deserved from this game, a point.

WELL done to our U-12As, U-13As,

It was great to see Amy Ring back

U-14As and U-14Bs on their league

in action for the Dubs following a

wins last weekend. All four teams

long break, recovering from a knee

are now top of their tables.

injury.

Congratulations to chairman Pat

Registrations for the new season

Ring who will receive his award as

are now due. Please contact your

Leinster Tesco Club Person of the

mentor for more information.

Year later this week at a special lunch in Croke Park.

The Dublin seniors had another great win over Donegal on Sunday.

Well done to Loreto Foxrock U14Bs, who are through to the Leinster Quarter finals. They join the U-14As who are also through.

NAOMH OLAF OUR junior footballers continued

selected by Italian racing car giant,

their run of good wins by beating St

Ferrari, to join its engine development

Mary’s of Saggart under lights away

team. We wish Ian every success with

last week, 4-5 to 2-6. Opportunis-

this exciting opportunity won against

tic goals by Chrissy Fennell and Jack

very stiff competition.

Lee showed up the main difference between the teams.

Olaf’s AFL3 travelled to the north-

Congratulations to Carol McLaughlin, Sandyford Road, and Jimmy Cronin, Kanturk, on their recent marriage.

side with a very depleted team to take

Lotto: Numbers drawn were 1, 8 and

on Na Fianna in the second round of

23. No jackpot winner. The jackpot next

the league. They were beaten by a very

Sunday will be €1,100. The five €30 win-

strong team, 0-13 to 0-7.

ners were Kay Kelly, Eamon Mc c/o

Congratulations to Olaf’s junior hurling goalkeeper, Ian Whelan, on being

Gary Walsh, Jim Kirrane , Noel O Neill and P Corrigan.

STARS OF ERIN The adult team lost to Ballymum

week’s jackpot is €500; €20 winners

Kickhams.

were Terry Kinane, Wayne Rapple

The U-8s had a good win against St Jude’s and U-10s had a good win against Liffey Gaels. A good effort was put in by all players. The U-12s lost to Castleknock.

and Des Kennedy.

Lotto tickets available in all local shops.

The Step Inn are sponsoring a three-day trip for two to New York.

Stars of Erin Easter Camp 2012 will

The draw will take place on March 30

take place at the pitch from Monday,

in the Step Inn. Music on the night -

April 2, to Thursday, April 5. Anyone

all welcome.

interested, contact David Gill 087 7827144.

Lotto was not won last week. Next

Tickets available from club members and the Step Inn. Tickets cost €3 each or five for €10.

ALL OF YOUR DUN LAOGHAIRE SPORTS COVERAGE FROM PAGE 27-31

MAGNIFICENT METEORS: Local team take three titles at the Oblates P30

MARCH 15, 2012

DRIVING FOR IRELAND: Touring Car star on his return to Dublin P29

I dunlaoghairesport@gazettegroup.com

ST JOSEPH’S Boys celebrated a unique treble last week when Dan Casey, Sean Byrne and Malike Benrouggibbi were all on the scoresheet for the Republic of Ireland U-15 side against Belgium.

The trio were selected for the Irish side for their two matches in Killarney last week having impressed in the past few months at the FAI regional centres.

Casey had lined out for an Irish selection before Christmas in Qatar, when they faced the cream of the ASPIRE academy, but this was a first official international cap for the trio and they relished the outing.

Casey was named captain for the first game, with Byrne also starting, while Benrouggibbi was introduced ten minutes into the second half. Belgium held a 1-0 lead until the final eight minutes before Ireland were awarded a penalty which captain Casey slotted to level at 1-1.

The second game saw Casey and Benrouggibbi start with Byrne starting on the bench. Fifteen minutes in, Benrouggibbi put the Irish 1-0 up with a superb finish

and, 15 minutes later, after causing all sorts of problems for the Belgium defence, he was taken down for a penalty.

As in the first game, Casey coolly netted to make it 2-0 to Ireland at the break. Belgium started the second half sharply and were soon level with two quick goals.

But Sean Byrne was introduced with 20 minutes left and made a big impact, taking on the Belgium right full at every opportunity.

With seconds left in the game, the Irish were awarded a free kick, which Sean Byrne whipped into the top corner to make it 3-2. From the tip-off, however, Belgium went down and made it 3-3 with little time left to respond.

Nonetheless, it was a memorable couple of days for the players. Casey and Byrne have both been with the Sallynoggin club since their U-9 days with Joey’s overseeing their development, which has caught the eye of numerous clubs abroad with Wolves, Sunderland, Leicester, Liverpool, Celtic and Birmingham among those to offer trials.

For Benrouggibbi, he arrived at the club last summer from Lourdes Celtic but has

Dan Casey, Sean Byrne and Malike Benrouggibbi

made a huge impact and has also been scouted by Leicester and Birmingham, showing the high regard in which the trio are held.

Speaking to GazetteSport about their achievements, club coach Graham Kelly said it was “a huge moment for the club” to see their young stars wearing Irish green.

“It’s a huge moment for the club to have three players off the one team to represent Ireland and, in the international week, the four goals were scored by players from Joey’s. We’d definitely hope they can push on. We want them to learn from it and get the experience from playing football at this level.”

GazetteSPORT

Joey’s trio make mark for Ireland