Dun laoghaire 11 2 16

Gazette DUN LAOGHAIRE

INSIDE: We ask politicians why their constituents

should give them a vote in the general election Page 14-15

February 11-17, 2016

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Enterprise week comes to dun laoghaire

Have a date with a difference this year at Dublin Zoo

THE Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown’s enterprise office launched Local Enterprise Week at Dun Laoghaire pier on Monday, February 8. Over 30 innovative events will take place with leading entrepreneurs running workshops and networking events.

Pictured at the launch are, from left to right in the back row, Dearbhla Lawson; Julie Swan, Forgotten China; Siobhan Barry, Mummy Cooks; Councillor Barry Saul, Cathaoirleach of Dun LaoghaireRathdown; Adam Fleetwood, Traxedo; Marie Mullally, DLR personnel; Peter McPartland, Perception Data Consulting; and DLR’s Eibhlin Curley and Aimee O’Brien. In the front row are James McElroy, House my Dog; Jessica Barry, Dave Kenning and Timothy McElroy, owner of House my Dog.

Page 20

Picture: Maxwell Photography

Gallery: Samaritans launch new Always There initiative at the Mansion House Page 12

Valentine’s:

sport Soccer:

Cabinteely sign up series of players for 2016 Page 32

Keep reading, keep recycling – thank you

DLRCC councillors call for apartments u-turn

John Bailey says new

 emma nolan

regulations “lack dignity”

DUN Laoghaire Rathdown County councillors rejected Minister for Environment Alan Kelly’s (Lab) plan to introduce new building regulations for apartments at the council chamber

but Government say no to council standards

meeting on Monday.

Chair of the Strategic Housing Policy committee John Bailey (FG) spoke to the Gazette about the council’s decision to reject the regulations which he says “lack dignity”.

“We want a minimum

of 1,000 square metres for two bedrooms and 1,300 for families - we can’t just shove people into a shoebox. We’ve called on Kelly to repeal that decision.”

A spokesperson from the department of Environment, Community and

Local Government told the Gazette: “The updated apartment guidelines ensure that individual local authorities don’t set unique and unaffordable standards.”

Full Story on Page 6

2 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 11 February 2016

funding | homes ‘a drop in the ocean’ - PBP

Sallynoggin social housing criticised  emma nolan The announcement that €2.6m for the construction of 14 new social houses in Sallynoggin has been welcomed by opposing parties as a measure towards relieving the current homeless crisis in Dun LaoghaireRathdow n, but has been criticised by Cllr Hugh Lewis (PBP) as merely being a “drop in the ocean” in terms of the 6,000 people on the social housing waiting list in the county.

Ten homes are to be constructed in Park Close, Sallynoggin, and four homes are to be constructed at Sallynoggin Park.

A spokesperson from Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council told The Gazette: “Councillors, at the December Council Meeting, approved proposals to construct 10 one-bed units at Park Close, Sallynoggin and four onebed units in a corner site at Sallynoggin Road.

“Dun Laoghaire-Rath-

down County Council are pleased to have now received funding approval for these schemes, with construction expected to commence during 2016.”

Labour Party General Election candidate for Dun Laoghaire, Councillor Carrie Smyth welcomed the announcement.

She said: “I welcome the announcement - this follows the announcement in May 2015 which saw €21.4m for the building of 89 social housing units in the Dun Laoghaire area.”

Of the new units in Sallynoggin, Cllr Smyth said that they will help provide families on the housing waiting list with a good quality home and will be a boost for the construction and trade sectors.

“I commend my colleague Minister Alan Kelly [Environment, Community and local Government] for providing more funding for social housing. Labour in government has made the largest ever investment in

FastNews

Vandalised Blackrock band stand to be refurbished Long awaited refurbishments to the band stand in Blackrock Park have started now that the Blackrock Park master plan has been included in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Capital Programme 2016 – 2018.

The band stand had fallen into a state of disrepair and was vandalised with extensive graffiti.

Cllr Barry Saul (FG) has welcomed the news.

He told The Gazette: “I have been asking for this work to be done for years so it’s great to see it finally starting, and many people in Blackrock have been in touch with me about the state of the bandstand, who will be equally pleased to see an improvement here.”

Cllr Hugh Lewis [PBP] has criticised the Government’s response to the

Albanese set to play piano at the Pavilion this Friday

homeless crisis

Italian composer, Federico Albanese, is taking to the Pavilion Theatre stage on Friday, February 12.

social housing in the history of the state and, if elected, I will continue to make the provision of good quality social housing a priority.”

Cllr Lewis spoke to The Gazette about the situation. While he welcomes any building of social housing, he criticised the current Government’s

lack of commitment to long-term planning of social housing.

Cllr Lewis said: “Any new building of social housing is positive; however, in the current context of over 5,600 separate applications on the social housing list, the Government is refusing to fund a genuine construction pro-

gramme that will go anyway to solve the crisis.

“10 homes are to be welcomed but it is simply drop in the ocean for what is really needed.

“This was acknowledged last month when the council called on central government to declare a national housing emergency.”

LOCAL MATTERS

T o p l a c e a n a d c a ll o u r sales team on 6 0 1 0 2 4 0 or e m a i l s a l e s @ g a z e tt e g ro u p. c o m

Famed for his musical versatility, Albanese will perform arresting piano arrangements, blending classical music, pop and psychedelia.

Starting out his music journey as a young child on piano and clarinet, Albanese grew to take influences from black music, folk, electronic, modern and contemporary classical music.

He will be joined by special guest, Michael Price, an Emmy award winning pianist. Tickets are €23 and available from paviliontheatre.ie.

Over 30 events are planned for this year’s DLR enterprise week Dun Laoghaire Rathdown’s Local Enterprise Week is taking place from March 7-11, for anyone thinking of starting a business, new start-ups and growing SMEs. Over 30 events will take place and have been organised as a response to business surveys carried out for the DLR Local Economic and Community Plan 2016-2021. An Cathaoirleach, Cllr Barry Saul (FG) said: “The business community asked for more opportunities to engage with stakeholders and to develop the county as a hub for small enterprises - the council is committed to creating an enterprise-friendly county for companies and individuals setting up or expanding their businesses and ultimately supporting local jobs.”

Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Second Floor, Heritage House, Dundrum Office Park, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers

11 February 2016 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 3

rescue | rnli launched in small hours as vessel gets into distress

works Concerns at traffic access

Six saved as Force 9 gale batters trawler  emma nolan

DUN Laoghaire Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) rescued six fishermen last Wednesday, February 3, after a 25-metre trawler was disabled off the coast of Dublin.

The volunteer lifeboat crew was requested to launch their all-weather lifeboat at 2.50am following a request by the Irish Coast Guard that the 25 metre trawler, Beam, with six people on board, was in difficulty outside the Kish Bank.

The crew had been fishing for scallops when a rope got caught in the vessel’s propeller.

Under the duty of Coxswain David Branigan, and with six crew members on board, the lifeboat

launched shortly after 3am and made its way to the scene, 12 nautical miles south east of Howth Harbour.

The lifeboat crew were met by difficult weather conditions, including a Force 9 strong gale, and three to four metre-waves in the darkness.

The crew arrived on scene shortly before 4am, where they assessed the situation and checked that the trawler’s crew were safe. With no one in immediate danger, the lifeboat crew started working with the fishermen to set up a tow.

Due to the high winds and poor visibility, numerous attempts were made before a towline was successfully established.

The lifeboat then made

its way towards Howth Harbour in winds gusting up to 50 knots. The towline parted on three occasions along the passage.

Speaking following the call-out, David Branigan, Dun Laoghaire RNLI Duty Coxswain, said: “Our lifeboat crew deserve full credit for their efforts in the early hours of this morning which have seen us spend some eight hours at sea.

“We launched in the darkness and were met by difficult weather. The high winds and rough seas made this call-out particularly challenging, especially when establishing and keeping a tow [line], but we persevered and were able to return the fishermen and their vessel safely to shore.”

 emma nolan

Bagging a great design

Two first-year students at Rathdown Senior School in Glenageary have designed an eco-schoolbag as part of a school initiative to promote sustainable travel to school. Isabelle Byrne and Eile Ni Chianain designed a schoolbag that incorporates a light-weight, pull bag design, complete with adjustable straps, light up wheels for safety and a solar panel front with mobile phone charger connection. They identified schoolbag weight as a potential barrier to walking or cycling to school, and carried out research to examine the actual weight of bags. With the help of Green Schools coordinator, Horst Punzet, they developed a schoolbag prototype, which they have been trialling among class members on a rotation basis over the last number of weeks.

RESIDENTS from Tullyvale in Cabinteely have objected to construction vehicles bound for the Cherrywood development using the residential road that leads to the site.

The planning application proposes that the vehicles access the site at the Luas/Tullyvale/ Gleann Na Ri junction.

Howe ve r, a p p e a l s lodged state that the disturbances caused by traffic congestion, noise levels and the dirt and dust produced will greatly affect the residents over the duration of the build, which will be five years.

Many residents have also expressed concerns that weekend construction time will take place from 7am until 7pm.

4 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 11 February 2016

education | Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art Design and Technology picket

Lecturers brush with strike plan  ian begley

LECTURERS and researchers from the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology (IADT) held a day of strike in protest of what staff say is the detrimental impact of funding cuts in the sector.

The demonstration, which was also held throughout the other 13 Institute of Technology campuses around the country, saw approximately 4,000 staff in total participate.

No classes took place as a result of the picket, which was organised by the Teacher’s Union

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

‘Every day, Institute of Technology lecturers see first-hand the damage that an era of austerity cuts wreaks on the student experience of higher education’

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

TUI president Gerry Quinnt

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of Ireland (TUI) from 7.45am – 8.45pm on February 3. The strike action was supported by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI).

The event follows an overwhelming mandate from members for industrial action after a national ballot in December.

Speaking about their

concerns, TUI president Gerry Quinn said: “Every day, Institute of Technology lecturers see first-hand the damage that an era of austerity cuts wreaks on the student experience of higher education.

“The Institute of Technology sector has been brutalised by an era of anti-educational cutbacks

and the latest figures speak for themselves.

“Funding was cut by 35% (€190m) between 2008 and 2015. Over the same time period, student numbers rose by a staggering (32%) 21,411 [students] while lecturer numbers actually fell by 9.5% (535).

“This has had a direct, detrimental effect on the quality of service to students and the working conditions of academics.

“In the absence of any move towards remedying this unacceptable situation, academic staff in the institutes have been left with no option but to take strike action. We urge the Department of Education and Skills to engage with us on these crisis issues,” said Quinn.

Kevin Donoghue, USI president, said: “Understaffed classes and underfunded Institutes of Technology mean a poorer standard of teaching and, in turn, a poorer standard of learning.

“USI stands in solidarity with TUI in their strike and are hoping for a positive outcome to the action. The rapid rises in student numbers, combined with the cuts in lecturer numbers, as well as the unstable employment contracts for many lecturers, have forced the TUI to take action,” he said.

Responding to their concerns, a spokesperson from the Department of Education said: “The Department has been in regular contact with the TUI and continues to be available to engage with the union.

“It is regrettable that the TUI has decided to engage in this industrial action which will be disruptive for some 80,000 Institute of Technology students.”

Lecturers and researchers from the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology joined their Institute of Technology peers by holding a one day strike recently around the country (above)

11 February 2016 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 5

6 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 11 February 2016

homes | ‘need for an affordable housing supply is recognised’

Councillors reject new regulations  emma nolan

In what has been described as a “very intense” debate, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown county councillors rejected Minister for Environment Alan Kelly’s (Lab) plan to introduce new building regulations for apartments at the council chamber meeting last Monday.

The regulations will introduce a new type of studio apartment with a floor space of 40sq m.

The regulations proposed also prioritising single aspect units, i.e. only having windows on one side of the unit, either north, south, east

or west, to reduce the cost of building stairs and lifts that facilitate dual aspect units.

The council confirmed the councillors’ decision.

A spokesperson told The Gazette: “A report on the Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2015 and the implications for the draft county development plan 2016 - 2022 was presented to the elected members at the council meeting on February 8. During the course of the meeting the councillors declined to note the report.”

Cllr Victor Boyhan (Ind) spoke to T he Gazette about the decision to reject the new

regulations.

He said: “I am against the development of bedsits as a sustainable or appropriate form of housing for social or private accommodation. Bedsits should be totally phased out of social housing stock.

“The Minister [Kelly] now wants to facilitate the building of studio apartments as a solution to deal with the shortage of social and private homes. It’s a crazy decision and one that should not be pursued as a social housing option.”

Former president of the Irish Planning Institute, Mary Hughes, spoke of the regulations when

they were announced last December. She said that while the regulations reduce “local autonomy” and “apartment standards”, the “need for an affordable housing supply is recognised”.

Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett (PBP) said: “When this legislation came before the Dail I strongly objected to it.

It was clear to me that it came on the foot of some really good building regulation changes in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown and other council’s including People Before Profit’s Green Roof’s policy.

“This is nothing more than this government again doffing the cap to

Cllr Victor Boyhan (Ind) says he is against the development of bedsits as a sustainable or appropriate form of housing for social or private accommodation

developers.”

Cllr John Bailey (FG) and chair of the Strategic Housing Policy committee also spoke to The Gazette about the council’s decision to the reject the regulations which he says “lack dignity”.

“We want a minimum of 1,000sq m for two bedrooms and 1,300sq m for families - we can’t

just shove people into a shoebox. We’ve called on Minister Kelly to appeal that decision because we [the council] don’t accept the new regulations.”

A spokesperson from the department of Environment, Community and Local Government told The Gazette: “The updated apartment guidelines ensure that

individual local authorities don’t set unique and unaffordable standards, both in terms of up-front costs of purchase/rent costs and down the road in maintenance charges.”

They also said they are satisfied that the recent apartment standards can be implemented by the planning authorities.

11 February 2016 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 7

election | councillor attacks short registration period

Devlin slams ‘limited time for new voters’  emma nolan GENER AL Election hopeful for Dun Laoghaire, Cllr Cormac Devlin (FF) has slammed An Taoiseach Enda Kenny’s decision to minimise the duration of the election campaign because it “limits registration time for new voters”.

Cllr Devlin said that the short election campaign is “effectively disenfranchising young voters”.

He added: “Enda Kenny’s insistence on minimising the duration of the election campaign has

had the effect of giving young voters only a few days to apply for inclusion on the supplementary register.”

The councillor feels that the Government should have given additional time for people to be included on the supplementary register, given the short campaign time.

“Young people should not be excluded from inclusion on the electoral list just because Fine Gael strategists want to minimise scrutiny of their broken promises and poor performance in govern-

ment by keeping the election period as short as possible.

“This policy will disenfranchise young disabled people, in particular.

These are the very people who have suffered most at the hands of the current Government, and they deserve the same chance to make their voice heard at the ballot box as everyone else.

“Everything possible should be done to facilitate them in registering, but instead they are being blatantly discriminated against,” said Cllr Devlin.

campaign ‘Support our older citizens’  emma nolan

Cllr Cormac Devlin’s (FF) criticism of the short election campaign “effectively disenfranchising young voters” was dismissed by Cllr Maria Bailey (FG), who said younger generations are well informed on current politics

However, fellow election hopeful, Cllr Maria Bailey (FG) strongly criticised Cllr Devlin’s “weak” argument, and said that she is “more interested in solutions than pointscoring”.

She told The Gazette that she feels the younger generations need to be given more credit and

that the “entire nation” knew that the election was imminent.

Cllr Bailey said: “I attended a school debate last week where more than 300 students participated and were well informed on current politics and topical debates.

“I think we would be better placed for politi-

cians to focus on developing the opportunities in the coming years for our student population, and not underestimate how well informed they are.

“We need to make sure there is employment and choice for all and not be trying to score points politically with negativity.”

THE Earn Our Vote Alliance have released an open letter to Dun Laoghaire’s General Election hopefuls, asking them to prove that they will represent the needs of older people, by committing to implement three key policies, if elected.

The alliance collectively represents more than 500,000 people over the age of 65 in Ireland.

The key policies outlined include that the Government will implement the National Positive Ageing Strategy, to provide investment in primary care and care in the community support for older people, and to secure the income of people through an increase in the state pension.

8 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 11 February 2016

Council | range of works agreed in €124m spend for dlr

Three year plan to upgrade area  Emma nolan

Du n L ao gh a i r e Rathdow n County Council have approved a Capital Expenditure Programme of €134m over the three year period 2016 to 2018. Approximately €111m of the total expenditure of €134m will be funded from the council’s own resources, with the balance of €23m coming from non-council resources - mainly grant aid from central Government departments.

In selecting projects for inclusion, the Council has sought to ensure a reasonable balance in capital expenditure between Dun Laoghaire and Dundrum

and to prioritise community and recreational facilities.

The plan will also be reviewed on an annual basis and projects may be added if funding and other opportunities arise.

Speaking on the approval of the programme, An Cathaoirleach Cllr Barry Saul (FG) said: “It is expected that the progression of these schemes will vastly enhance the quality of life of the communities they will serve.”

Some of the projects included in the programme are the completion of phase one of the Samuel Beckett Civic Campus in Ballyogan, and

of phase two of the Marlay Park Courtyard Units, which will upgrade the courtyard for the weekly markets.

Funding was allocated for the Dun Laoghaire Harbour ‘Badeschiff’ project, which will provide an open swimming pool adjacent to the East Pier, and additional expenditure will be allocated to flood alleviation measures across the county.

The Leopardstown Link Road and Roundabout Reconfiguration will be completed, allowing for further development of infrastructure in Sandyford.

Significant expenditure will be allocated to traffic

improvement schemes, with a focus on walking and cycling modes.

A programme of parks improvements at Ballawley, Blackrock and Carysfort Parks will see upgrades to landscaping, ponds and the Blackrock Park band stand.

A number of elected representatives welcomed the plan at the council meeting last Monday.

Cllr Lynsey McGovern (Ind) told The Gazette: “This new council capital spending plan will boost community development, sports, leisure and amenity facilities across the county – it will also boost the construction sector, local jobs and the local economy. It’s simply a great news story.”

McGovern said she was particularly pleased that Fernhill Gardens, Glencullen village plan and the Marlay Park master plan will benefit.

Cllr Neale Richmond (FG) said that the planned projects include “much needed recreational developments such as a running track for Marlay Park, new pool for Stillorgan, new park at Fernhill, new pool for Ballyogan and new library in Stillorgan, as well as big roads projects for Blackglen Road and Bracken Link Road”.

Cllr Melisa Halpin [PBP] welcomed the plan, particularly the funding to make the residential streets to the back of Dun Laoghaire Main Street around Cross Avenue safe for the families that live there, but criticised the allocation of €1.5m to the Dun Laoghaire Harbour floating pool project which she and her party have vocally opposed.

Cllr Carrie Smyth and Cllr Lettie McCarthy (both Lab), both told The Gazette that they are “delighted” with the plan.

Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have approved a three-year Capital Expenditure Programme of €134m to improve local facilities

11 February 2016 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 9

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11 February 2016 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 11

dun laoghaireGazettegallery | “It’s Your Move” initiative

Stephanie with PE teachers Keith Manley and Adam Burke

Stephanie Roche with schoolchildren and members of the Raw Edge Dance Crew. Picture: Margaret Brown

Having a ball in school F

Sophie Short, Rebecca Gannon, Miriam Quinn and Tara Gaw

ootbalLer Stephanie Roche visited the girls from her old school Holy Child in Kiltiernan to take part in the “It’s Your Move” initiative for Operation Transformation.

Stephanie and girls from all years were joined by the Raw Edge Dance Crew for a day of dance designed to get teenage girls interested in exercise.

The event took place at the school and was broadcast on RTE’s Operation Transformation. The girls are head-

ing to Athlone on February 11 for a dance-off competition that will be aired on RTE for upcoming Operation Transformation episodes.

School principal Liam Walsh said: “We were delighted to have Operation Transformation at our school and delighted to have all of our girls taking part. It was a fantastic fun-filled day and all the girls had a great time, and it was great to see Stephanie back in her old school again.”

12 dun laoghaire gazette 11 February 2016

Gazettegallery

| Dublin Samaritans Launch their ‘Always There’

Aidan Carr, Anne-Marie Sheehan and Rachel Wright

Aisling Eyre, Richard Lewis and Bairbre Power

Mary and Jasmine Stott at the launch of Dublin Samaritans “Always There” Pin which is widely available for €5 with all proceeds going Mary, Barry and PJ Lennon

Carrie Crowley and Mary Coughlan

directly to Dublin Samaritans. Pictures: Pearl Phelan

Good things...

ALL NEW SPORTAGE Gowan Dun Laoghaire Kia Glenageary Roundabout, Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, (01) 236 9000 www.gowandunlaoghairekia.ie

11 February 2016 dun laoghaire gazette 13

fundraising Pin, designed by Richard Lewis, at The Mansion House

Amy Buckley and Katie Murphy Pat Delaney, Brendan Gallagher, director of Dublin Samaritans, Mary Delaney and Julie Wrenn and Elaine Sheridan

Gerard Mulligan

Launching a fundraiser pin to support services

Miriam McNally and Pat Dolan

kia.com

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Test drive these new models, or any car in the equally exciting Kia range, at Gowan Dun Laoghaire Kia today!

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Gazette

14 Gazette 11 February 2016

dublinlife

ask the politician | in the build up to the general election the gazette asks Question: The Gazette wants to know why our readers – your constituents – should give you their vote?

Your vote will help me and Fine Gael build on progress made so far  minister for health leo

varadkar (FG)

I’M ASKING for your number one vote on polling day for two reasons.

First of all, because I want the

Government to be re-elected.

Only a fine Gael-led government can secure the recovery, and keep the economy strong, and that’s what’s needed to put money back in your pocket and to raise the revenue that we need to invest in health, education, childcare and infrastructure.

I’m also asking for your vote because I want to continue my work as a TD for Dublin West.

I’ve represented Dublin West as a TD for nine years, and before that as a member of Fingal County Council.

As a Government minister, in

the past five years I’ve helped to secure funding to open St Francis Hospice, to upgrade Connolly Hospital, to build lots of new schools, to invest €2.5m in 30 sports clubs, develop the Royal Canal Greenway and the National Sports Campus, and provide additional Gardai.

I also took the decision to locate a new children’s unit at Connolly Hospital and to relocate the Rotunda Hospital in Blanchardstown.

As Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I oversaw The Gathering and the reduction in VAT for tourism and hos-

pitality, which led to a recovery in tourism and a record year in 2015.

In aviation, the travel tax was abolished, helping Dublin Airport to return to growth. I took the decision to link up the Luas lines, for which the tracks are being laid, introduced the Leap card, the new driver’s licence, and restarted the National Lottery sports grants.

But there’s a lot more that needs to be done. And I can do that, but only with your support, and only if I can be back in the Dail and back around the Cabinet table.

The work goes on, and your vote will help Labour and me to support all  tanaiste joan burton (lab)

THE Labour Party will stand up for workers, families and older people. As Tanaiste and Labour Leader, my focus is on driving economic and social recovery, so that every person benefits from renewed prosperity.

I’m working tirelessly to make Dublin West the best possible place to live, work and raise a family.

Labour’s ambition is for every family to be able to feel recovery in their own lives, through more jobs, new schools, better parks and amenities.

We’ll ensure low- and middleincome workers have more take home pay, by abolishing the universal social charge on the first €72,000 of income.

In the past year, Dublin 15 has seen very impressive jobs growth, with a number of additional jobs announcements at IBM, Alexion, Bristol Myers and Guidewire, involving hundreds of new jobs.

More people are going back to work and the Live Register continues to fall. And, behind every new job is a person or family feeling the benefits of recovery in their own lives.

We can keep up this good

momentum on the jobs front if we have stable, balanced Government, which only Labour can provide.

I have worked extremely hard in Government to ensure major investment in schools for Dublin 15.

That work is paying off – a number of new schools have opened in Dublin 15 and work is under way on several more, including St Mochta’s Clonsilla and Luttrelstown Community College.

The work goes on. There are six major new building projects for schools in Dublin West included in the Government’s capital plan for the next five years.

In terms of healthcare, my focus is on providing more primary care centres for Dublin 15, and continuing investment in Connolly Hospital. There is now a new primary care centre on the Navan Road, and a brand-new centre opened in Blanchardstown last year. Another new centre is planned for Corduff.

Together, we have overcome massive challenges and got Ireland back on its feet. Now we have a great opportunity to build on that progress.

On election day, I’m asking voters in Dublin West to re-elect me to ensure we seize that opportunity.

11 February 2016 Gazette 15

Ask the politicians some prominent politicians what their thoughts are on a top question

A vote for me, and People Before Profit, is a vote for building some people power  Deputy richard boyd

barrett (PBP)

THE centenary of the 1916 Rising, if it is to mean anything, should open up a debate about what sort of country we want.

Have we as a society cherished “all of the children of the nation equally”? Quite clearly that is not the case.

The recent bank enquiry only served to confirm that Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, and the Labour Party protected the interests of

the banks and the elite at the expense of the vast majority of the people. The most vulnerable in our society paid the highest price.

People Before Profit stands for a different kind of politics. At a national level, we have played a leading role in building movements of people power, such as the Right2Water campaign, the successful campaign to [prevent the] sell-off of our forests, campaigns for social housing and the campaign to Repeal the 8th Amendment.

Society People Before Profit believes that as well as getting TDs elected, we have to unite young people and pensioners, workers and unemployed, students, women, the LGBT community, and those with disabilities to create a fair society.

A TD can only be effective when the power of the people

is mobilised around the issues that affect people’s lives.

That is what we have done over the past 15 years or so, nationally and in Dun Laoghaire.

We have been central to campaigns to save the [Dun Laoghaire] baths site, to stop the sale of St Michael’s Hospital, to keep the A&E open on a 24-hour basis, to keep the bus service in Sallynoggin and Killiney, to save our wonderful harbour for the people, and numerous other campaigns.

We have not always been successful in every campaign, but we have made a difference. The people of Dun Laoghaire know that they will get our wholehearted support for any of the issues that affect their life and our town.

Help us build this movement for change by getting involved with us and by electing me on February 26.

I and Fianna Fail want to keep working to create An Ireland for All  party leader micheal martin

(FF)

THIS election is a fundamental choice about the sort of Ireland we, as a people, can create.

Will we move forward together as a country or will we continue to become more unequal and unfair under Fine Gael and Labour?

Fianna Fail is clear where it stands – we need a new Government committed to building “An Ireland for all”, not just a few.

We will work for an Ireland where economic growth is felt across the nation, families can own their own home, streets are safe, hard work is rewarded and society takes care of its young, vulnerable and older people.

We are the only party to have our manifesto independently costed in order to ensure we can fully deliver our policies.

Our plan to build “An Ireland for all” is based on four key priorities – to create decent jobs and support enterprise, to cut family costs

and improve the services they rely on, to tackle crime and develop community services, and to secure home ownership and tackle homelessness.

These are our core priorities to invest in public services and give families a break.

Amongst our specific proposals to achieve this we will increase the state pension by €30 a week, abolish the universal social charge for low- and middle-income earners, build 150,000 new homes by 2021,

increase Garda numbers to 15,000, and abolish Irish Water and scrap water charges.

This election, 100 years on from the foundation of our Republic, gives you a chance to vote for “An Ireland for all” and help to achieve a vibrant, secure future for you and your family.

A new government, with Fianna Fail’s four core priorities at its heart, can deliver that country. I am looking for your support on February 26 to secure “An Ireland for all”.

16 Gazette 11 February 2016

Gazette

dublinlife Have a date with a difference at Dublin Zoo this Valentine’s Day

Dublin Zoo is hosting a romantic Valentine’s experience for 100 couples this February 13 and 14.

Upon entering the zoo, couples will collect a romantic breakfast picnic from Haughton House and then experience the early morning sights and sounds of the zoo.

Throughout the morning the animal care team will host special keeper talks on the courtship, breeding and the exotic romantic rituals of some of the animals.

Couples will also r e c e i ve a r o m a n t i c goody bag and souvenir key ring to keep as a reminder of their special

date.

Tickets are €65 per couple and are available online at Dublinzoo.ie.

Trainspotting takes to the stage at Smock Alley A stage adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting is returning to Smock Alley Theatre this month.

The infamous book and subsequent movie made a huge impact on popular culture.

With the Scottish accents and defining soundtrack, the iconic characters of Renton, Spud, Sick Boy and Begbie take to the Smock Alley stage with a snappy adaptation by Reality:

Check Productions.

Both fans of Trainspotting and first timers are set to enjoy this theatrical experience.

The show runs throughout February and tickets are €12/€15.

Visit key locations of THE rising in A special truck A new bus tour is taking to the streets of Dublin to highlight the city’s landmarks that hold significance to The Rising.

The 1916 Freedom Tour is a unique experiential guided tour with supporting audio visual period footage of key locations of 1916 Dublin in a specially converted 1916-themed truck.

The tour starts and finishes from Merrion Square West near the Oscar Wilde Statue at 10am, 12am, 2pm, and 4pm. Tours are running Wednesday to Sunday, but expanding to seven days in September.

The tour is non-political and non-biased and is intended to give passengers a real snapshot of what it was like to live during the bloody battles that were not only to shape the future of Dublin but the Irish nation and beyond.

Some sights on the hour-long tour include the GPO, Dublin Castle and Parnell Square Memorial. Passengers will also get the chance

diary

Dublin Zoo is hosting a romantic Valentine’s experience for 100 couples

to view authentic period replica weapons and equipment.

Ticket prices vary.

a spectacular evening of Irish music, song and dance

Full Set are taking to the stage in Whelan’s on Wexford Street this Valentine’s Day to launch their third album

Traditional Irish group Full Set are taking to the stage in Whelan’s on Wexford Street this Valentine’s Day to launch their third album, Notes Between the Lines.

The six-piece band have gained recognition over the years for their distinctive and energetic sound and have featured on The Late Late Show and are popular on the European music festival circuit.

The show at Whelan’s promises to be a spec-

tacular evening of Irish music, song and dance with special guests on the night including contemporary Irish music group, Kern.

Tickets are €10 and are available at www.whelanslive.com.

keeping children safe by keeping them connected ISPCC Childline and the Vodafone Ireland Foundation have announced a major five-year partnership that aims to keep children safe by keeping them connected.

The partnership will provide the charity with €2 million in direct funding from the Vodafone Foundation over five years and cover the call costs for the Childline

service for ten years, until 2026.

It will also update Childline’s technologies and service infrastructure and offer additional resources including Vodafone’s Be Strong Online Programme, to support children and parents through some of the issues they face in today’s digital society.

Over the last 10 years, Childline has experienced a 75% increase in children seeking support online.

Through this new partnership the charity will now develop a new total communications infrastructure which aims to improve children’s access to Childline and provide a 24-hour online digital platform.

11 February 2016 Gazette 17

FEATURE A day in the life: actress Jane McGrath on TV3’s Red Rock, and working on her screen play

Getting red-dy for a day on hit show

ACTRESS Jane McGrath has been gracing our screens as Garda Sharon Cleere on TV3’s Red Rock since the show premiered last year. Between filming, working on her own screen play, finding time to simply “breath” and come into her own as a person, McGrath sat down with The Gazette to talk us through a typical day in her life.

McGrath always gets up early to “get a bit of head space before the madness of the day begins” and listens to music on her walk to work and has a bowl of porridge before going into production to get her ‘side’.

“A side,” she says, “is

basically the schedule for the day that outline what scenes we’re going to film”.

Four episodes or a cycle of Red Rock are shot every week with a new director each week.

McGrath says that the scenes are not filmed in chronological order so what she usually does is consult her notes which contain a description of all the scenes and write what comes before and after the scenes she’s about to film so she can “get the emotions for the scene right”.

“Sharon is going through a lot of stuff so I have to know how she’s feeling for each scene.”

It’s time for props, make-up and wardrobe after that where she dons the “lovely blue uniform” and gets mic’d up. “They hide a little microphone under my tie,” she said.

Once on set, McGrath and her screen mates do a rehearsal and line reading with the director before a camera rehearsal so the whole crew can watch the scene on screen before shooting the real thing.

“We might only get two or three takes at the most before we have to move on, so you have to be on the ball and make clear choices.”

Come lunchtime, McGrath says she’s sticking to her New Year’s

resolution of making her own healthy lunches before filming for the rest of the day.

Once home after a long day of filming, McGrath says she has to unwind and “shake Sharon off”.

To do this she watches Friends. “I’m actually addicted to Friends,” she laughs, “It’s the only show I watch on the telly at the moment!” She says that watching Friends when she was younger is initially what inspired her to become an actress and though she hasn’t yet, she would love to do some comedy acting at some point.

Mostly she’ll spend her evenings learning her lines

Jane McGrath stars as Garda Sharon Cleere on TV3’s Red Rock

for the next day before bed but recently McGrath has started writing and is working on a screen play.

“I’m really enjoying writing at the moment – I don’t know exactly what it

is yet, it could be a feature film or a mini-series, we’ll see.”

Has being a soap star changed McGrath’s daily life yet? “Not miraculously,” she says, “but it’s

nice when you’re walking down the street and somebody says: ‘Ah go on Sharon!’”

Red Rock is on every Wednesday and Thursday at 8.30pm on TV3.

Gazette

18 Gazette 11 February 2016

dublinlife

FEATURES

the money doctor: making a financial plan - part 2

Start saving now to get the best long-term return  john lowe Continued from last week

Setting your financial objectives Once you have an idea of how you want things to turn out, you can start to think about what your precise financial objectives are.

Obviously, these are

going to vary according to your age, circumstances and desires. If you are in your first job, you are going to be thinking rather differently from someone who is approaching retirement.

Therefore, you may find it useful to divide your financial objectives into the short-, mediumand long-term. Let me

give you a simple, reallife example ...

Paul is 29. He is a teacher. His short-term financial objectives are to get rid of his creditcard debt (left over from university), start building up some savings and buy a car.

His medium-term objective is to buy a home. His long-term

objective is to earn some extra income with which to boost his pension, since he has decided he wants to retire when he is 55.

Setting and prioritising your financial objectives is hardly rocket science, as you can see.

Checklist to help you decide what you want W hat should your financial objectives be?

Here are some options: - Having an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses.

- Paying off any personal loans, credit-card debt, overdrafts, store cards, hire purchase, leases, other debts or ransom notes (just checking you were paying attention).

- Building up shortterm saving for cars, holidays and so forth.

- Protecting your most valuable asset – your income – in case you are unable to earn money for any reason.

- Protecting yourself (and, if relevant, your partner) with life cover.

- Starting a pension plan.

- Buying a home (probably with the help of a mortgage).

- Saving for major purchases.

- Planning for education fees (if you have children), whether for private school or university.

- Building up your personal investments.

To this, I suppose we could add planning for long-term care, if you’re

The Money Doctor – John Lowe (inset) – continues his article discussing the wisdom, and ways, to work on creating a sound financial plan

worried that your pension and/or the State and/or ungrateful children may not provide for you sufficiently in your very old age.

Five useful financial-planning tips Bear in mind the following principles when deciding what your financial priorities should be: 1. For most people, their greatest asset is their income. Unless you are fortunate enough to receive a windfall, it is almost certainly your income that you will use to achieve your financial objectives. Under the circumstances, you don’t want to risk it and you don’t want to waste it.

There are all sorts of inexpensive insurance policies designed to protect your income.

Incidentally, anyone under retirement age is 20 times more likely to be unable to work for a prolonged period because of sickness than they are to die, which is why I keep droning on about income

protection often being more important than life cover.

2. Personal debt, by which I mean everything from store cards to mortgages, will be the biggest drain on your income.

If you’ve borrowed money (and obviously there are many circumstances under which this makes excellent sense), then you should make it a priority to repay your loans as quickly as possible.

If you have over-indulged, remember the sniper approach – pay off the most expensive debt first and we are talking short-term, high interest debt.

3. It’s vital to have a safety net or emergency fund ( RDF – rainy day fund ) to deal with those little trials, tribulations and extra expenses that life often throws our way.

Also, you want to make as big a return as possible from your investments. As a rule of thumb, between three and six months of

your net annual income should be the target.

4. If you’ve got a good, secure income, it doesn’t actually matter what other assets you possess.

Emotionally, it’s nice to have the security of owning your own home.

Financially, it certainly makes sense.

But, actually, an investment that is just as good and maybe better is a really decent pension plan.

With a good pension plan you can leave work early and, if you live to 100 or more, never have to worry about money again – and you are never too young to start.

5 . K n ow t hy s e l f .

There’s no point in setting financial objectives that you’re going to find impossible to attain. Your financial objectives may involve modest changes to your behaviour, but they shouldn’t require a complete change in your personality!

Email me for more, or see www.independentfinancialadvice.ie.

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

Pets sweet, playful rufio will ruffle your heart strings The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs.

Our Dog of the Week this week is Rufio, a oneyear-old male Greyhound cross.

He is a playful, silly ball of fun, giddiness and affection, and loves company and cuddles especially snuggling on the couch next to people.

Rufio is a very gentle scallywag, but due to his size, he would be best suited to a home with older children.

If you think there is a place in your family for this lovely dog, please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000.

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

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

You can also find them on Facebook www.facebook. com/dogstrustirelandonline or Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.

FOLLOW US TODAY ON OUR SOCIAL NETWORK

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Gazette

11 February 2016 Gazette 19

event: 140 films from the four corners of the globe

Screen legend set to attend Film Festival  Ian Begley

The Audi Dublin International Film Festival (ADIFF) is set to mark its 15th year in the capital, showcasing more than 140 films from the four corners of the globe from February 18 to 28.

The majority of films shown at the film festival (previously sponsored by Jameson) are Irish premieres, and for some of the films shown, the festival represents the only public screening that will take place in Ireland.

The festival is a citywide event that takes place in all of the Dublin City Centre cinemas including Cineworld, The Savoy, Irish Film Institute and the Light House Cinema in Smithfield.

Since its inauguration the festival has prided itself on creating a unique f o r u m o f e xc h a n g e between the public and the filmmaking community through hosting a whole range of events that allow the public to interact with filmmakers in the form of public interviews, panel discussions and Q&A sessions.

This year’s much antic-

ipated gala event will see John Carney’s Sing Street open the 2016 festival on February 18.

Multi-award winning film veteran Angela Lansbury will also be making an appearance at the festival, where she will participate in an unmissable public interview at the Bord Gais Energy Theatre, and will be also presented with the Festival Tribute Award by President Michael D Higgins on Sunday, February 21.

Past recipients of this award have included Gabriel Byrne, Daniel Day Lewis, Consolata Boyle, George Morrison, Paolo Sorrentino and Thierry Fremaux.

“It’s a huge delight to welcome Angela Lansbury to Dublin to discuss her life and career on stage and to accept our festival tribute award, the Volta,” said festival director, Grainne Humphreys.

“A legend whose first films were the classics Gaslight, and The Picture of Dorian Gray, from the chilling The Manchurian Candidate to Disney favourites Bedknobs and

Broomsticks, Beauty and the Beast and Anastasia, Angela Lansbury has created an indelible impression on world cinema.”

Irish director Paddy Breathnach’s stunning drama Viva has been announced to close the festival on Sunday, February 28.

“It is a thrill and a delight to finally be showing Viva to a home audience,” said Irish actor and screenwriter, Mark O’Halloran.

“To have it screen as the closing film makes that all the sweeter.”

The film tells the story of Jesus, a young gay man, who discovers that the only time he is free from life’s struggles is when he is on stage transformed into Viva, his beautiful alter ego that bares her soul on stage.

Season tickets are now available for the festival, offering free entrance into all screenings, exclusive galas and after-show parties during the festival.

For a full line-up of films taking place this year and for more information about the festival, visit www.diff.ie.

Audi Dublin International Film Festival director Grainne Humphreys spoke warmly of legendary actress Angela Lansbury, who will be presented with an award

Gazette

20 Gazette 11 February 2016

OUT&ABOUT yb lower eys F Penn

Penneys Bustier €15

ra €8

The range has certified-organic credentials, helping to care for every skin type and skin concern

€4 pant s

M&S

Be M ine €

4.49

LOVELY

gifts

ST VALENTINE’S Day is just around the corner – but don’t panic: there’s still plenty of time to find a great gift for that special lady in your life (or even just for yourself).

Whether seeking to look your best for the most loved-up day of the year, or simply looking to give something as a thoughtful year-round reminder of your feelings, we have rounded up a range of gifts that are sure to put a smile on her (or your) face. And, if the thought of tucking into some romantic choccies is too much to handle, don’t forget to share!

Russell Hobbs Hand blender €32.99

Loreal Pro Fiber hair care €21.99 NYX Round lipstick €7.49

WITH an army of high-profile celebrity fans including Tamsin Outhwaite, Lisa Eldridge, Angellica Bell, Rosie Fortescue, Katie Piper and Sian Welby – you would be forgiven for presuming Organic Surge Skincare to have a celebrity price tag to go along with it – but not so!

These fans love this brand because it is 100% organic. I have become more and more concerned about what I am putting on my skin, and lately I have considered going completely organic.

That’s why I was so delighted to hear about Organic Surge and really wanted to give the products a whirl.

This new affordable organic skincare range has certified-organic credentials, and provides a comprehensive range of daily and extra care products for every skin type and skin concern.

The extra care product range contains a night cream, day cream, a serum and a beautiful oil that can

be used all day long to brighten up tired skin.

This product was born out of need. The creator’s wife was quite unwell and he wanted her to have purely organic, natural products to put on her skin – Organic Surge Skincare was the result.

The products are not tested on animals and are 100% free of harsh chemicals – no parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate, no artificial fragrances or colourants and no genetically modified ingredients. And the very soul of Organic Surge lies in its charitable donations and hands-on work spanning many years.

Stand out products for me are the Brightening Hot Cloth Cleanser (150ml, €18.99) and the Replenishing Facial Oil (200ml, €7.99).

You can now pick up Organic Surge products at Allcare pharmacies in Dublin, Cork, Kildare and Louth. For additional stockist enquiries, contact Blue Sky Products at 01 461 0645.

eys Flow ery

 mimi murray

Crabtree & Evelyn Body lotion €22

Pen n

Singing the 100% organic praises of the Organic Surge Skincare range of products

Thomas Sabo Rose gold bracelet €179

Weir & Sons Laura Whitmore daisy bracelet €89

no €7.

99

STYLE

Gazette

Arnotts Melinda Maria Jewellery €80

Weir & Sons Alex and Ani bangle €36

M&S Hidden Heart 210g madeira cake Lidl Deluxe dozen roses €See in store Meagher’s Pharmacy Group Gucci Guilty

Arnotts Melinda Maria ‘sassy marquis’ earrings €103

Pandora Silver heart ring €39

Li d lK imo

11 February 2016 Gazette 21

22 Gazette 11 February 2016

Gazette

TRAVEL OUT&ABOUT Riga, the “Paris of the North”, is truly a beautiful, historic city latvia: budget airfares from Ireland make this a very affordable weekend break

 cian guckian

Riga, the “Paris of the North” and home of the very first Christmas tree is world renowned for its stunning architecture, multi-cultural heritage and its many museums.

It is a fantastic city to visit and with budget airfares from Ireland it makes it a very affordable weekend destination. You will be delighted at the ease in which you will be able to explore this compact, historic city.

The Latvian capital is awash with the best hotels, unbelievable restaurants, elegant spas and let’s not forget about the best shopping in the region. Here is why you have to visit this chic and cosmopolitan Baltic city.

Freedom Monument Latvia’s most important symbol of freedom, independence and sovereignty is not to be missed.

Located close to Bastion Hill Park and the Old Town, the Freedom Monument honours the soldiers who lost their lives during the Latvian

House of the Blackheads

War of Independence.

It has been the scene of many official ceremonies since the country’s push for independence in 1990 right up to the present.

Central Market This colourful market which is located in the heart of the Latvian capital is one of the largest in Europe and occupies converted German zeppelin hangars which serve their original function as meat, fish and dairy markets.

When it was constructed in 1930, Riga’s Central Market was one of the most modern marketplaces in Europe. The Zeppelin hangars of Riga’s Central Market have been included in the UNESCO World Heritage Site list.

House of the Blackheads Located in the Old Town, the House of the Blackheads is a major tourist attraction that draws thousands and thousands of visitors each year. It was built in 1334 and it can be found in Town Hall Square in the heart of Riga’s Old Town.

The original building was erected during the first third of the 14th Century for the Brotherhood of Blackheads – a Guild for unmarried German merchants in Riga.

Nativity Cathedral Enjoy a day exploring this neo-Byzantine church on Brivibas bulvaris. Built between 1876 and 1883, it’s the largest Orthodox Cathedral in the Baltics. During Soviet times, the cathedral had different uses as it was turned into a planetarium and a restaurant, at different times.

Visit the famous Art Nouveau District Riga is internationally famous for its beautiful art nouveau quarter that lies a bit away from the Old Town. Head to Alberta Street, raise your eyes upwards and discover Europe’s most beautiful art nouveau buildings.

Riga’s wealth of art nouveau buildings stands out as unparalleled anywhere in the world. Other Art Nouveau gems are situated on nearby streets

including Elizabetes, Dzirnavu and Antonijas.

Taste Riga Black Balsam When in Riga you have to try the famous Riga Balsam, a unique Latvian beverage. Black Balsam is used in traditional medicine, and it is considered to be a good cold remedy and it is used to treat digestive problems. Black Balsam has been made in Riga since the middle of the 18th Century.

Boat trip down the Daugava River If you are looking for better ways of exploring this charming Baltic city, a relaxing boat trip down the Daugava River is highly recommended.

You will find cruise liners and boats of every size imaginable all lined up and docked at the river bank just across from Riga’s famous cobblestoned streets available for exciting river trips.

Get a different perspective of the Latvian capital’s majestic skyline as well as Riga’s iconic and stunning attractions.

You are sure to have a splendid time as it is such a great way of getting the best holiday snaps of Riga’s major landmarks.

Afterwards enjoy a topnotch meal at one of Riga’s stellar restaurants.

A trip to Riga Cathedral Take a tour of Riga Cathedral (Rigas Doms), which is the largest house of worship in the Baltic’s.

Riga Cathedral measures 187x43 metres and the walls are two metres

Riga is renowned for its stunning architecture

thick, and it also home to one of the biggest organs in Europe (6,768 pipes).

Museum of the Occupation of Latvia The Museum of the Occupation of Latvia is a very interesting museum for all to visit. Located in the former US Embassy on Raina bulvaris, visitors will be able to experience what it was like to live in Latvia during the Nazi and the Soviet occupations of the country.

You will also be able to enjoy a guided tour of the museum and explore the intriguing exhibits.

River Daugava it has been around for more than 700 years and through the centuries, it has witnessed some major changes to the Latvian landscape including severe destruction, rulers and numerous wars. Today it is the official residence of the President of Latvia and a museum.

LIDO Recreation centre and restaurant One of Riga’s most popular attractions is the LIDO Recreation Centre and Restaurant on Krasta iela. Built with specially selected 100-year-old Latvian fir trees, it is a

major hit with visitors to the Latvian capital and locals alike and it is where many national festivals are celebrated.

The Centre’s main building is famous for being one of the largest log buildings in Europe as it can hold 1,000 guests.

LIDO offers a super menu choice consisting of local Latvian delicacies as well as worldwide dishes or why not savour a Latvian beer in the Beer Cellar?

The next time you are in Riga, take time out of your busy schedule to experience this magnificent Latvian attraction.

Riga Zoo A trip to Riga isn’t complete without visiting Riga Zoo. Established in 1912, it is the perfect day out for the entire family.

Located in Mezaparks on the Western bank of Kisezers Lake, just a short hop from the city centre it is home to around 4,000 animals and is visited by 300,000 visitors on an annual basis.

Riga Castle Riga Castle which was founded in 1330 is famous for its late classicism architecture. Located on the right bank of the

The striking, noble Freedom Monument

11 February 2016 Gazette 23

Gazette

FOOD&DRINK BITESIZEDNEWS

Cranberry Pistachio Breakfast Squares, made using

The Butcher Grill European

Ranelagh While Picky and friend tucked in to some very well received meat dishes at The Butcher Grill, there are a some classic and interesting dishes to avail of – with `some delicious drinks also helping to wash everything

The Picky Eater

VEGETARIANS be off – The Butcher Grill in Ranelagh is no place for ye. The clue’s in the name, isn’t it?

A big, dirty foodie like me should love a good steak, but of the thousands of times in the thousands of restaurants I’ve eaten in, I rarely order a simple slab of meat.

Now, don’t get me wrong – I am a carnivore of vampiric proportions (the bloodier, the better), but I’m always too greedy to opt for a simple steak when I’m eating out, preferring to indulge in new or excitingly cooked flavours and combinations.

I guess as a chef I’d often cook a nice steak with garlic butter at home, and when dining out I want to test the kitchen’s calibre a little.

I do love beef though, but kind of like mine in a stew or a bourguignon – you know what I’m saying?

Now, with that said, the other week – still in the wake of a turkey and

ham hangover – my satiety centre was telling me it was in the mood for a bovine battering, so for my 37th birthday on a dank Wednesday night I took myself to Ranelagh for a treat.

The Butcher Grill serves the best cuts of meat from a supply of really choice producers, and grill their meet on a wood-smoked grill ... wood-smoked just gets your mouth watering, doesn’t it?

Sitting on the main street at the back end of Ranelagh, opposite Mc Sorley’s, this place is small, cosy and decked out with subway tiles and butchers’ slabs, so there’s the name explained: it does what it says on the tin.

Settled in, we went about ordering from the simple menu of aforementioned cuts of meat, which includes Surf & Turf, Cote de Boeuf for two, Striploin and an Aged Burger.

Starters include oysters, gambas, beef tartare and tuna tostadas – all priced more than €12,

so not cheap. I had the tostadas, which honestly where so good – super soft, fresh pink tuna with a gorgeous zingy avocado salsa in crisp flaky shells ... delicious.

For some reason, my gormless mate thought beef tartare was carpaccio – she was (still) in a new year fluster – and had a face like a slapped bottom when it arrived.

The gracious server spotted this a mile off and whipped it away for another tostada without a thought, and left it off the bill – a classy touch.

We had both ordered hanger steak and it came out a few minutes after the devoured tostadas had been cleared.

Four or five thin-cut rare slices of this most beautifully flavoured cut from the diaphragm proved so tender and tasty.

With perfectly crispy and soft chips, melt-inthe-mouth mash, and tender, vivid broccoli – with a burnt hazelnut butter – this all it go down all the

decent selection of down

The neat yet welcoming exterior of The Butcher Grill

better (as if it needed any help)!

All steaks are heading for the 30 quid mark so, again, they’re not cheap, but fairly priced I would say, considering the quality.

Considering the day that was in it, a banana fritter with caramel ice cream and a solitary birthday candle was scoffed for

Conclusion

dessert, kind of as amazing as it sounds.

You’re heading for 50 quid a head without booze for three courses, so for a casual bite out, The Butcher Grill is a treat, but if you’re in the mood for a steak I doubt you’ll find better round town.  shane rigney Food vlogger

YOU’LL be in for a meat-ty good time at The Butcher Grill (at 92 Main Street, Ranelagh, Dublin 6; tel 01 498 1805). While not the cheapest, you definitely get what you pay for here, with rich flavours and salivating slices making it a must for carnivores.

Vita Coco Coconut Oil

Square up to creating easy, delicious treats VITA Coco Coconut Oil has partnered with Irish food blogger Indy Power, of The Little Green Spoon, to create a delicious, healthy recipe to help kick-start your healthy eating regime this year.

The simple Cranberry Pistachio Breakfast Squares recipe makes 16 mouth-watering squares, using the Vita Coco Coconut Oil. Power said: “I love using Vita Coco coconut oil in all my cooking, for both sweet and savoury dishes. It has so many amazing health benefits and can be used in so many ways – I use it on my hair, skin and nails as well as in my food.

“It’s so easy to cook with because of its lovely subtle taste, which doesn’t over-power other flavours and, because it tolerates high temperatures, it’s the perfect substitute for butter and other oils when baking.”

Ingredients 4 tablespoons of Vita Coco Coconut 3 tablespoons of maple syrup/honey 4 tablespoons of almond butter 1/2 cup of pistachios, deshelled (75g) 1 cup of gluten-free oats (100g) 1/4 cup of desiccated coconut (20g) 1/2 cup of dried cranberries (75g) Pinch of coarse salt

• • • • • • • •

Preparation Preheat the oven to 180C. Roughly chop the pistachios and add them to a baking sheet with the gluten-free oats. Bake them at 180C for about eight minutes until lightly toasted, tossing once in the middle.

While they’re cooking, roughly chop the dried cranberries and then add them to your food processor with the desiccated coconut. Add in the toasted pistachios and oats.

Add the Vita Coco coconut oil, almond butter, maple syrup and salt to a small saucepan on medium heat and whisk until smooth. When the mixture is completely melted, add it to the food processor and blend until you have a crumbly paste.

Press the mixture tightly into a small baking tin lined with parchment paper. Pop it in the fridge for about an hour to set.

Slice into squares and serve.

• • • •

• •

Gazette

24 Gazette 11 February 2016

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

ReelReviews

pride, prejudice and zombies

Fleshes out a classic tale WITH current pop culture’s love of all things undead related, here comes the latest film to stagger and moan behind the zombie bandwagon – Pride and Prejudice and Zombies (Cert 15A, 108mins).

Genteel 19th century ladies and gentlemen are forced to battle social mores – as well as the zombie plague sweeping England. It’s silly stuff, but made with gusto.

dad’s army

Classic comedy capers THE old British sitcom gets a big-screen treatment at last, with Dad’s Army (Cert PG, 100mins) seeing several leading thespians step into the classic characters’ shoes. Toby Jones, Bill Nighy, Michael Gambon, Tom Courtenay and others make it a who’s-who of top talents, and recreate the bumbling Home Defence soldiers. It’s a pity that the film, while affectionate, is as slight as the TV show ...

dirty grandpa A grubby mess

WE’VE said it before and we’ll say it again – Dirty Grandpa (Cert 18, 102mins) is possibly De Niro’s worst ever film – yes, even worse than Rocky And Bullwinkle, and that takes some doing.

Here, he inexplicably teams up with Zac Efron, creating an unlikely on-the-road bromance between a newly widowed man and his uptight grandson. Critically panned, it’s simply dreadful from start to finish ...

Principal leads Martin McCann, Mia Goth and Olwen Fouere form the core of the uneasy alliance at the heart of The Survivalist

the survivalist: irish-made, near future-set film impresses

Provides food for thought DERRY-born writer and director Stephen Fingleton is the creative force behind what might just be one of the most ominous cinematic experiences of the year.

Fingelton’s first feature-length work, the post-apocalyptic thriller, The Survivalist (104 mins), is nominated for a BAFTA weekend and has generated quite a stir since it debuted on the festival circuit last year.

The Survivalist is set in a very different near future. As the opening credits roll, we follow stark red and blue lines and they steadily curve upward in tandem, a graphical representation of oil consumption and global population growth across the decades.

 Dave phillips

Once the fossil fuel resources begin to plummet, the population also surges very quickly downward.

It is the only hint of explanation we get; much like in John Hillcoat’s 2009 genre hallmark, The Road, we are not witness to the catastrophe that reshaped civilisation, but we do see what remains.

Fingleton resituates the traditional postapocalyptic narrative a little closer to home.

There is no hint of the barren wastelands or

crumbling cities traditionally associated with the genre.

Instead, The Survivalist takes place amid dense green fields and close, wet forests.

The Northern accent of our unnamed progagonist (Martin McCann) and a single reference to a character travelling from Monaghan give us a little more sense of location, but those details are superfluous – at its core, The Survivalist is a story that could be unfolding anywhere.

McCann’s character ekes out a solitary existence deep in the woods, in a sparsely furnished and heavily fortified cabin. We are immediately plunged into the gruff and feral realities of survival.

Our man washes,

keeps the fire in the little stove alight, prepares food, and eats – but he is never just doing the task at hand – he is incessantly watching, peering out through window slits, or pacing the outside of the cabin with a shotgun in hand.

C l o s e , u nw ave ring shots and an often uncomfortably graphic visual style helps to capture some of the sense of claustrophobia and crisis that pervades the world of The Survivalist.

This is a film that takes a bulldozer to Maslow’s hierarchical pyramid and displays a vision of humanity stripped down to crude essentials.

When an unknown mother (Olwen Fouere) and daughter (Mia Farrow) seek shelter at the

cabin, McCann’s character is convinced to let them stay on, and it marks the beginnings of a very uneasy alliance that drives the action of the film.

Fingleton’s dialogue tends to mirror the overarching spirit of base pragmatism that underlies everything happening on screen – this is a terse script where things are kept short, sharp, and to the point.

Working on the small farm outside the cabin, tensions between the trio ramp up as the food supply seems to be ever dwindling.

Out of the 100 or so minutes The Survivalist plays out across, it seems difficult to pick out even a single one that is not saturated with a sense of dread and foreboding.

Needless to say, the incessant feeling of doom, coupled with some disturbing themes, means that this film will be bumped down a few places on the ‘must-see in the cinema’ lists for some people, but they would be missing out.

The Survivalist is an education in how to craft an excellent story with few elements, and amid all the tension there are some incredible shots (a scene stalking through the long grass is masterfully captured), as well as being a showcase for three incredible performances.

The Survivalist feels like a real rarity – something very original in its design and in its execution.

Verdict: 7/10

11 February 2016 Gazette 25

GAMING WEEBYTES

Step into Firewatch’s beautiful setting

Sure to be a slow-burner in the charts

Although the island that The Witness is set upon is not especially large, it’s densely packed with beautifully designed zones and areas to explore. The richly detailed island provides one of gaming’s prettiest settings, while away from the puzzles, lingering traces of its former inhabitants provide some food for thought, too.

 shane dillon

WITH 2016 looking like it’ll be a bumper year for gamers, the year is already off to a great start, with critics (and gamers) falling over themselves to praise the recently released The Witness (PS4/PC, Cert 3+), and showing an equally strong interest in Firewatch (PS4, Cert TBC, due out this week; see panel, right).

Both can be described as open world games with very strong, creative art direction, shy-

ing away from strikingly realistic graphics to create settings that are, quite simply, beautiful and original to look at.

But first, The Witness ...

Long in development b y a c cl a i m e d i n d i e d e ve l o p e r J o n a t h a n Blow, The Witness tasks you with exploring an island that’s divided into lots of distinctly different zones, and which is absolutely stuffed full of puzzles to solve – many hundreds of them, in fact.

While most are based on navigating from A

to B though initially very, very simple mazelike grids – thus opening doors, or activating power lines, and so on – their designs soon ramp up into fiendishly headscratching difficulty.

Other puzzles won’t give the player a break as they seek to complete the island’s secrets, unlock more parts of the island to explore, and work out the central mystery at the heart of the deserted island.

With scattered audio relics from the former inhabitants of the island,

there’s a sense of something grand and mysterious having happened before your arrival at the seemingly idyllic island, where birds sing amidst the gloriously colourful trees and flowers, but half-ruined buildings litter the overgrown landscape.

Already a smash commercial and critical hit – and a popular title for those who watch gamers playing online, via sources such as Twitch – The Witness is definitely well worth taking a good look at.

The majority of puzzles in The Witness are maze based. However, while they are initially very simple, the puzzles soon ramp up in difficulty, with some real head-scratchers awaiting around the island ...

ANOTHER title that’s been long in development is Firewatch (PS4/PC/Linux/OS X/MS Windows; Cert TBC), which is scheduled for release this week.

This quirky openworld title, which has a pretty strong narrative bent, eschews realism to create a game with a pretty strong art style, and follows a strong narrative.

Set in the late 1980s, Firewatch follows Henry, a middle-aged volunteer fire lookout starting what looks like it’ll be a somewhat dull job at a national forest park.

Beautiful His initial plodding about the beautifully rendered park starts innocently enough, as he gets a feel for the land, trades barbs and quips over the walkie-talkie with his supervisor, Delilah, and huffs and puffs his way around.

However, things soon take a turn for the worst, as it becomes clear that Henry’s job may not be as safe as he had expected – not least because of a shadowy figure roaming about ...

As with The Witness, Firewatch is another welcome title that fans of great graphics, fresh gameplay and memorable stories are sure to warm to.

26 dun laoghaire Gazette 11 February 2016

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Application forms and full particulars of office for the above posts may be obtained from the Information Desk, County Hall, Marine Road, Dun Laoghaire, Co. Dublin or Human Resources Department Tel: (01) 2054700, Ext. 4217, 4218, 4240, 4246 or from the County Council Office, Dundrum Office Park, Main Street, Dundrum, or by email to hr@dlrcoco.ie.

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Environmental Services Department ANTI-LITTER AND ANTI-GRAFFITI AWARENESS GRANT SCHEME 2016 South Dublin County Council is now accepting applications for funding of projects which qualify as Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Initiatives.

Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Initiatives should seek to promote public awareness and education in relation to litter and/or graffiti. This Grant Scheme has a particular focus on voluntary initiatives by community and environmental groups, and on involving schools and young people in anti-litter and anti-graffiti awareness actions.

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28 gazette 11 February 2016

SPORT

FastSport special Olympics collection day set: SPECIAL Olympics Ireland requires volunteers in the Blanchardstown area to help with a charity collection day on Friday, April 22.

Collection Day is the biggest annual fundraising event in aid of Special Olympics with the funds supporting more than 9,000 athletes in 360 clubs around Ireland.

The money raised will be used to ensure that Special Olympics Ireland can continue to realise its promise of offering people with an intellectual disability the opportunity to participate in sport in their area.

Special Olympics enables them to achieve and win not only in sport but in life too.

Special Olympics Ireland requires volunteers across the day. If you can commit to the full day or even just an hour, please contact Karen Treacy via email to Karen.Treacy@specialolympics.ie.

marathon man: clondalkin man sets new ultra-running target

Conlon would run 100 miles  nathan kelly sport@dublingazette.com

AFTER a colossal 2015, Clondalkin’s own Marathon Man is in preparation for his toughest challenge yet, the Vartry 100 which takes place on March 25.

Mark Conlon covered a lot of miles last year; the former Army Private set himself a challenge of running 20 marathons in 20 weeks in aid of Pieta House.

Not being content with that, the Dubliner completed the challenge in half the time, taking just 10 weeks and completing 10 of the marathons in just five days.

As well as the “10 in five”, Conlon squeezed

in a 100km race in his challenge last year. But his next task in Vartry will see him run 100 miles for the first time.

“I personally think this will be tougher than the 10 in five days,” he told GazetteSport.

“I’ve never done a 100 mile race so, mentally, I won’t have experienced what I’m going to on the day.

“That will be tough but also exciting as I love a challenge. The 100km saw me run 62 miles in one day, so this is a massive step-up.”

The Vartry 100 is an annual event which hosts 100 mile, 50 mile and 50km races. The 100 mile sees runners loop the track 10 times and Conlon expects it

to take almost a full day to complete.

“I reckon I’ll be out there for about 22 to 23 hours,” he said. “They have a tent at the base where you can switch runners and take on food and all those bits if you have to, but I won’t want to stop for too long.”

Preparations are well under way as the Dublin Bay Running Club member is set to take on a 50km race in Kildare on Saturday.

On completing his challenge last year, Conlon became the youngest person in Ireland to hit the 100 marathon mark.

“I’m on 108 now, by the time the 100 mile comes I’ll be on 111,”

Mark Conlon during one of his previous extreme challenges

he said of that achievement. “I’ve the 500 mark on my mind but, for this year, I’ll just be looking to get passed 200.

“After the 100 mile, I’m sure the club and myself will come up with another big challenge.

I ran two marathons in one day last year, so maybe I’ll attempt to do four in one day this year, as I said, I love a challenge.”

As mentioned, all of Conlon’s effor ts are being done to raise funds and awareness for Pieta House, a charity he feels close to having worked overseas.

“Having seen people come back with severe depression, it’s important to know there is someone to talk to, and how much exercise can clear your head; it certainly does for me.

“Last year, when I completed the challenge and showed up at Pieta House with a cheque for €1,000, you could see the joy on their faces. I’m hoping to improve on that this year.”

To s u p p o r t M a r k Conlon’s fundraising for Pieta House, go to http://www.mycharity. ie/event/markconlons100milein24hours.

McGovern’s cricket adventure battles the elements  sport@dublingazette.com

Five Dubliners have been lining out for Muir College in South Africa in the past month

RORY McGovern’s cricket adventure to Muir College, Uitenhage in South Africa has seen the Dubliner battle not just the opposition but also the elements.

McGovern – who goes to school at Gonzaga College and is a YMCA cricket club member – is part of a cohort of 11 transition year cricketers currently in South Africa as part of an arrangement to help develop their skills.

As a result of drought,

McGovern and his team had to “buy water in bulk and wash in the school swimming school”.

Speaking further about the experience, McGovern added: “After training on Thursday we got in the school bus as Mr Du Ploy gave the kitchen staff a lift to the bus terminal and taxi ranks in downtown Uitenhage.

“This drive was very interesting as we got a chance to see some of the extreme poverty and a lot of rundown shops in the town. After this we spent the about an hour trying to get a lizard out of our room to the

shock of the other lads in the hostel.

“Friday morning was an early start for the five of us as we went to the gym at 5am and then hopped on a four-hour bus journey to George, South West District to play York High School the next day.

“We took the Garden route to George which was full of lovely scenery.

“We stopped off half way to look at the Big Tree of Tsitsukama which really wasn’t that big at all.”

In the fixture itself, McGov-

ern was part of the side along with fellow Dubliners Ian Anders and Max Neville for the school’s first team’s first win of the season.

His side bowled York out for 79 and chased it for two wickets with fast opening bowler Neo Pepeta claiming six wickets.

Anders, who studies at Castleknock Community College and Phoenix, top scored with 25 at the top of the innings before Neville, from St Andrew’s College and Pembroke, and McGovern finished the game off with 15 not out each.

11 February 2016 gazette 29

Gazette

No Commercial break for Boden’s warriors Ballyboden St Enda’s Darren O’Reilly says his senior football side has not won as many championship titles as he would have liked ahead of their All-Ireland semi-final with Clonmel  stephen findlater sport@dublingazette.com

IN A CORNER of the Ballyboden St Enda’s bar four pictures sit in a rectangle telling of the club’s incredible success across the codes, the team pictures of the first senior hurling, football, ladies football and camogie sides to win the county title.

Speaking to GazetteSport ahead of Boden’s All-Ireland semi-final against Clonmel Commercials, senior footballer Darren O’Reilly, though, says his side is playing catch-up on the other three in terms of honours.

The hurler won six out of seven Dublin titles between 2007 and 2013; nine Dublin camogie titles and one Lein-

ster crown have been annexed since 1999 while the ladies footballers won nine county titles in succession along with six Leinster and two AllIreland crowns.

“Maybe we were the ones letting the side down, not winning as often!” O’Reilly jokes before adding: “The success around the club is brilliant. Every year, there’s no shortage of trophies in the cabinet.

But, we think, within ourselves, we should have been winning more often and we haven’t won as many senior championships as we would like.”

But, after an epic winter, dethroning St Vincent’s in the Dublin final and a dramatic late win over Portlaoise in Leinster, Boden’s senior footballers are now going

Darren O’Reilly with Michael Darragh Macauley.

all guns blazing for the biggest prize in the club game.

They approach the AllIreland semi-final with a singular focus to their preparation, a far cry from the helter-skelter pre-Christmas schedule in which the side was setting up from week to week. For Clonmel, there has been only one target in mind since the group returned to collective training on New Year’s Day for an intense boxing session.

“It was tough going week to week, more trying to get the body right and focus on the other team rather than training,” O’Reilly says of the distinct change in regime.

“Now, we have had six weeks now getting the fitness in which our game revolves around. We

have also done our video analysis on Clonmel; any team that beats Nemo deserves respect coming out of Munster.

“It’s their first time at this level like us; it’s going to be a great game. They play football like we like to play football – moving the ball quick and deliv-

Conal Keaney, Declan O’Mahony and Daniel Davey still key members of the side.

Andrew Kerin was another star of 2009 and he is still, in his own understated way, playing a key role. Indeed, he was named the Leinster club player of the year for

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

‘People say they don’t see Andy Kerin for the whole game and then he ends up with 1-4!’ - Darren O’Reilly

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

ering the ball long into the full-forward line and try and get scores from there.

“They are a good, young, fit and strong team and we will give them utmost respect.

Andy has done a lot of video analysis on them but we mainly try and focus on ourselves and what we can get right to get through them.”

O’Reilly has an acute awareness of the club’s history. In 2009, just out of minor, he was among the fans for Boden’s last Dublin success and subsequent success.

He recalls the threegame series with Kilmacud Crokes in the semifinal as a stand-out memory before winning the final against St Jude’s.

Half a dozen of that vintage are still around with the likes of

2015 in the past week and O’Reilly is full of praise for the forward.

“I think Kerinsy [Andy Kerin] hit the post three times against Kilmacud!

It really stands out in my mind as a key moment.

Andrew has been absolutely brilliant for us, such a great finisher.

“People say they don’t see him for the whole game and he ends up with 1-4 or 1-5. He’s brilliant with the young guys like Collie Basquel and Sam Moloney, learning off his movement and how to strike a ball. He does everything simple and gets the best effect out of everything he does.”

If he has another marquee day, along with the rest of the Boden warriors, there could be a fresh frame to that pictorial corner of the clubhouse on the Firhouse Road.

FastSport

Deasy earns Lansdowne share of league spoils LANSDOWNE’s man of the match Scott Deasy led the his club to a fine comeback against Garryowen, eventually drawing 16 all in their UBL Division 1A tie last Saturday.

James McInerney got a try and inspired Garryowen to a 10-point lead by half time as it finished 13-3. Deasy, though, ultimately landed a late penalty to earn a share of the spoils after an earlier penalty try had brought his side back in range.

Old Belvedere did not have the same luck with them losing at home to Young Munster.

A second half penalty from Gearoid Lyons closed out the Dublin side with Abriel Griesel combining with Lyons to score all of Munster’s hard earned points at Anglesea Road.

The Cookies held on for their seventh win in eight matched and are level on points with rivals Garryowen in third on 34 points and have a game in hand.

UCD went head to head against Galwegians with 20 unanswered points as the Division 1A leaders gained a 33-15 victory at the Belfield Bowl.

Tries from the in-form full back John Cleary, Ed O’Keeffe and Marc Kelly had Wegians leading 15-13 early in the second half.

But a 72nd minute penalty from full-back Billy Dardis moved UCD back in front before winger Tom Fletcher finished off an intercept effort for a 21-15 score-line.

Centre Conall Doherty completed the rout in the last few minutes for the game’s final seven pointer. This win has Noel McNamara’s side five points clear of Clontarf.

Second half tries from Aaron Dundon and Matt D’Arcy gave Clontarf a narrow 18-14 win over Terenure at Castle Avenue on Friday night.

Terenure took the lead when full-back James O’Donoghue went over for an early try Clontarf out-half Joey Carbery cut the gap to 7-3 in the 17th minute and soon after they got there try when Leinster hooker Dundon blocked a clearance and went for the touchdown. It was a nail biting finish towards the end but Clontarf prevailed to take a grip on second place in the league.

Gazette

30 DUN LAOGHAIRE gazette 11 February 2016

SPORT

FastSport

golf: race for places at Dun Laoghaire for elite event heats up

Monkstown lose power due to Watt solo strike MIKEY Watt’s 39th minute goal saw Lisnagarvey claim a crucial 1-0 win over Monkstown, building a significant seven-point lead at the top of the table after ten rounds of matches in the men’s EY Hockey League.

Indeed, the top two sides produced a high quality match in which the pace never relented.

Paul Gleghorne and Jonny Bell were excellent at the back for Garvey to deny Monkstown’s much vaunted frontline.

The first chance after six minutes came via Peter Caruth who picked up a loose ball and was instantly chopped for a short corner.

Town’s switch was not smooth and a weak shot was easily saved.

Garvey, meanwhile, drove at Monkstown’s defence with Watt, Neal Glassey and Daniel Buser lively but their snap crosses were flashing across the D with nobody on the end. Lee Cole tackled well with Richard Sykes marshalling the defence as it stayed scoreless in the first half.

The decisive moment came in the second half when a loose, bobbled overhead by the Monkstown defence never became airborne and was picked up by the lively Watt.

He played a neat one-two with Timmy Cockram on the 23-metre line before he raced in the right hand channel of the circle and fired a low shot past Dave Fitzgerald.

With both sides enduring sin-binnings, Jonny Bruton’s tantalising cross somehow evaded a glut of players waiting for the tip in while a diagonal ball to Gareth Watkins earned a corner which Sykes dragged on to the cross-bar.

On 52 minutes, Geoff Cole was shown yellow but Monkstown continued to press without creating any clear cut chances as Garvey’s defence remained rock solid.

With 55 minutes gone, Monkstown removed their goalie in favour of an extra outfield player but Garvey’s half court press stifled most attacks and they held on for their eighth win in succession.

It leaves Monkstown in second overall and a significant gap to make up if they are to push for the European spot on offer from the regular season.

They remain well set, though, to reach the Champions Trophy playoffs.

Olivia Mehaffey is among the Irish players vying for a Curtis Cup spot

Curtis Cup battle commences  adam doherty sport@dublingazette.com

WITH four months to go to the Curtis Cup, excitement is building at Dun Laoghaire Golf Club, with player preparation well under way.

The playing season has officially kicked off with two international championships already completed while Ireland’s USbased players have also begun their busy season.

The club will host the elite biennial team event with play alternating between Great Britain and Ireland (GB&I) or the USA. Slieve Russell and

Duke University sensation Leona Maguire, who is also world number one amateur golfer, has her eyes firmly set on making the 2016 Curtis Cup team.

Leona was a member of the 2010 team, with Sister Lisa and Irish companion Danielle McVeigh.

She can also draw on the memory of overcoming the American side in 2012 alongside her other Irish teammate Stephanie Meadow, who turned professional in June 2014.

Maguire has a busy schedule of tournaments which encompass both amateur and professional events this year. The Cur-

mizen 2 malin Glenalbyn club launch third cycling fundraiser kilmacud Crokes launched the third Nissan Mizen 2 Malin 2016 last Friday night with a great turn out of cyclists and club members.

On June 1, the club anticipate over 50 cyclists will take part in the event with the target of raising €100,000 with funds raised going toward Breast Cancer Ireland and Kilmacud Glenalbyn Sports Club Ltd. Picture: Frances Mullin

tis Cup will be one of the trophies on her agenda to win during the year.

Olivia Mehaffey has become a well-known name over the past number of years, with 2015 being a particularly successful year for the Royal County Down golfer.

2013, 2014 and 2015 Irish Girls Champion, 2015 Welsh, Scottish and BMW Daily Telegraph Champion – some of the accolades Mehaffey has worked hard for.

Mehaffey said of the competition to be held in Dun Laoghaire: “Making the Curtis Cup team is my number one goal this

year. I feel like my game is ready for that level and I will keep working hard towards it.”

She made two very high profile teams last year, the Vagliano Trophy and Junior Solheim Cup sides.

“There was a lot of media attention and crowds at both events and I have learned to thrive off of it. It’s amazing to have so much support and see familiar faces in the crowd.

“Everything I have played for up until now has prepared me for the Curtis Cup and I really hope to make the team,” said an excited and determined Mehaffey.

Just like Maguire, Mehaffey has a busy 2016 schedule with her travelling the world from March to May. Other Irish hopefuls include Chloe Ryan (Castletroy) who was named as first reserve on the GB&I Vagliano Trophy team, played at Malone last year.

ILGU High Performance panel members include Skerries star Maria Dunne and Paula Grant (Lisburn) who will be hoping to have an outside chance, depending on if they can get a win between now and the team announcement date on April 28 at 2pm.

11 February 2016 DUN LAOGHAIRE gazette 31

Gazette

Locals to fore as Dublin minors beat Laois  sport@dublingazette.com

C UA L A’ S J e n n i f e r Dunne, Naomh Olaf’s Clara O’Sullivan and Kilmacud Crokes’ Mia Jennings and Muireann O’Gorman were all among the goals as the Dublin minors got their 2016 Leinster championship campaign off to a good start with a 22-point victory over a gallant

Laois side, winning 6-13 to 1-6.

Laois were first on the score board with under a minute gone on the clock with a well taken point from Liz Brophy. This would be the only time throughout the game that the O’Moore County would hold the led.

Points were at a premium due to the swirling wind Dublin compen-

sated for this by scoring a hat trick of first half goals which came courtesy of wing half back O’Gorman, Mia Jennings and O’Sullivan en route to a 3-3 to 1-4 half-time lead.

Dublin worked the ball well as a unit while their finishing was impressive with Ciara McDunphy, O’Sullivan, Rachel Douglas and Jennings

all playing well up front.

Emily Flanagan was also impressive for the blues from wing half back with the Ballyboden St Enda’s player linking up well with her forward line.

Dublin’s second half goals came from Douglas, McDunphy and substitute Dunne (34 min).

Dublin ran up 3-10 with just two points in reply to ease home.

football: two first quarter goals prove vital

Club Noticeboard Cuala WELL done to Cuala’s Michael Fit-

again this year.

zsimons and the Dublin senior

Register your interest early by

footballers on their away win over

emailing Eddie Gough on gough.

Mayo last Saturday in very poor

eddie@gmail.com.

conditions.

The U-14 boys got off to a winning start in Division 2 at the weekend with a 5-13 to 2-6 win over Templeogue Synge St. Congratulations to Cuala’s Jenni-

Well done to Cuala footballers Michael Fitzsimons and Conor Mullally.

T h ey h e l p e d UCD t o v i c t o r y over NUIG in the Sigerson Cup last Wednesday.

fer Dunne on scoring a magnificent

The annual academy sponsored

goal for the Dublin ladies minors in

walk will be taking place on Satur-

their win over Laois in the Lenister

day, March 5 this year.

football championship.

The annual Mick Holden golf classic will be held this year on June 3.

It was a sell-out last year on a

It is the main fundraising event for the academy and is always a great occasion.

More details will be coming soon.

beautiful summer’s da y and we

Member s ar e r eminded that

hope the weather will be equally

their annual subscriptions fell due

kind this year.

on January 1.

This is an important fundraiser for adult hurling and key to driving on to more success in 2016.

We look forward to seeing you all

Payments can be made through the Cuala website.

There is no increase for those who pay before February 28.

Shankill THE tickets for the national club

processes and no annual subscrip-

draw are required to be returned

tion. The cost is only €2 for each

by this weekend.

child. The boys’ U-13 football team

Please get all sold or unsold tickets and money back to Garry Cleary ASAP. Remember, every cent of the St Benildus celebrate their Leinster success. Picture: Steven Dagg

Benildus early blitz lands Leinster title

leinster safc final St Benildus Marist College  sport@dublingazette.com

2-7 1-6

PADDY Flaherty and Joe Rafferty’s early goals laid the base for St Benildus to claim their first ever Leinster College Senior A football championship title as they got the better of Marist College last Saturday by four points.

It helped them build a 2-4 to 0-3 half-time lead and while Marist fought back in the second half, they could not close the gap enough to threaten the Stillorgan outfit.

Rafferty had helped his side get off to a great start when he scored the first point of the tie early on before Marist got back on terms through the impressive Brian Derwin.

But it was the last time his side would be on a level standing as Rafferty powered home a shot in the 11th minute for the game’s opening goal after an attack through the middle unlocked the door.

Four minutes later, Rafferty got on the end of a Callum Pearson free, guiding the ball into the net to set up

an imposing advantage with precious little time gone.

Tom Fox continued the Benildus scoring spree with a couple of points before a Derwin free but a point from Tom Keane eventually left seven points in the difference at the break.

K e a n e t a c ke d o n another free before Marist had their route back into the game when Daniel Reid was felled on the squelchy surface in the 40th minute.

Ryan Gaffey converted the subsequent penalty to close the gap to five points but Benildus

closed out the game well with Rafferty adding another point in the final throes, cancelling out a super effort from Corey Reid.

Defensively, Benildus we r e s u p e r b , l i m i ting Marist to just three points from play throughout the game, allowing them precious few sights of the posts, working the conditions superbly.

It continued the pain for Marist who lost their fourth final at this level.

T he win followed hot on the heels of Benildus’s semi-final win over Scoil Mhuire.

money that we collect goes straight into our club funds.

Our juvenile academy, sponsored

had a good win over Round Tower in Shanganagh Cliffs.

The next match is away to Naomh Olaf at 3pm this Saturday.

The girls’ U-9 team played in a blitz hosted by Naomh Olaf and enjoyed a great morning’s football.

by O’Donnell’s Pharmacy, Shankill,

The men’s adult football team

is back in action every Saturday

training has resumed. New players

morning.

are always welcome; contact Kevin

Contact your team manager for

on 086 8449902.

training details as we are using sev-

For more information, contact

eral venues in order to accommo-

secretary.shankill.dublin@gaa.ie

date all of our various age groups.

or 086 3215087.

If you would like your child to join

Follow us on Facebook and Twit-

the academy, or any of our teams,

ter. Join Shankill GAA Club. Your

just come along any Saturday or

community, your family friendly

contact us at secretary.shankill.

GAA club where you’re not just a

dublin@gaa.ie.

number and everybody knows your

There are no trials, no selection

name.

kilmacud crokes HARD luck to the U-16A footballers

ballers also bested Ballyboden in

who lost to St Vincent’s by a goal on

their grading league.

Saturday.

A great crowd attended the talk

The U-16B footballers drew with

in the club on Thursday on the sub-

Geraldine Morans.

ject of concussion.

The U-15A footballers lost out to

Many thanks to Dr Pat Duggan

Whitehall while the U-15B football

and Rory O’ Carroll for facilitating.

squad beat Clontarf.

The U-14C footballers beat Ballyboden. The U-14A footballers beat Oliver Plunkett’s.

The U-14B footballers had a good win over St Maur’s. The U-13A foot-

Club cycle in June 2016 from Mizen to Malin was formally launched on Friday.

The cycle will raise funds for club development and Breast Cancer Ireland.

GazetteSPORT all of your dun laoghaire sports coverage from page 28-31

february 11-17, 2016

brilliant bennys: Stillorgan school claim Leinster commercial breakdown: O’Reilly plotting downfall of title with pair of early goals laying the foundation P31 Clonmel side in semi P29

Victor Ekanem, left, captaining Cabinteely last season, will be joined by recent additions - Cathal Gillen, top, Sean Hyland, middle, and Michael Kelly, bottom

Cabo ready for new term

Fan favourite Victor Ekanem back on board for second year in the League of Ireland as progressive southside club sign up series of new players

 nathan kelly

sport@dublingazette.com

PREPARATIONS for a second season in League of Ireland football are well underway at Cabinteely with the club confirming their first set of signings for the 2016 campaign, a number of which GazetteSport can exclusively reveal.

At the beginning of the week, Cabo announced that club captain Victor Ekanem had recommitted for the upcoming year in a statement, adding that: “Victor was deservedly awarded Player of the Year last year following a very impressive first season with the club.

“He made the most appearances of any Cabo player, with 27 appearances and one goal to his name, being named Man of the Match count-

less times in the process. He quickly became a fan favourite for his standout displays and was voted Fan’s Player of the Year for 2015 with over 1,500 votes.”

The athletic defender also spoke of his delight at staying at Stradbrook, but also revealed he will miss a lot of the season having ruptured his Achilles tendon against Bohemians in preseason.

“I was really looking forward to this season, especially captaining the club through it,” he said.

“I am aiming to hopefully be back for the last three to four months of the season. I am, though, looking forward to watching and supporting the lads and being a part of the club again this year.”

Prior to confirming Ekanem would be staying on, the club also announced they have re-signed defenders Sean Burke, Karl Byrne, Lloyd Cairns and Edward McDonagh for the upcoming season.

“The four defenders were all members of our squad for the 2015 season and have now put pen to paper and committed to the club for the season ahead,” read a club statement.

On Tuesday, Kevin Knight, Stephen Hanley and midfield duo Aaron Brilly and Michael Brown were all announced as Cabo players for another year having featured in the club’s debut Airtricity campaign.

As of Thursday, GazetteSport can exclusively reveal that four goalkeepers the club have signed up for the 2016 season. Michael Kelly,

Shane Fagan, Cathal Gillen and Sean Hyland will battle it out for the number one jersey.

Kelly has joined from Shamrock Rovers, the other three were at the club last year, but Fagan missed the season due to injury.

Hyland and Gillen are both progressing through the club’s youth system. Both made first-team appearances last season but are also still eligible for the League of Ireland Under-19 squad this year.

The Stradbrook side will play their third preseason friendly this Friday night against St Patrick’s Athletic.

After a 3-3 draw against Bohs and a 2-1 defeat to Longford, Eddie Gormley’s side are seeking a first win of 2016 ahead of the league opener against Athlone on March 4.