Dun laoghaire 3 3 16 by Dublin Gazette

Gazette DUN LAOGHAIRE

INSIDE: Kurt Russell continues his recent top form

in genre-melding Western, Bone Tomahawk Page 22

Prawn fest : Get set for one shelluva food extravaganza in the seaside village of Howth. Page 13

Gift ideas: Make your Mother’s Day with our great range of presents Pages 18-19

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INSIDE: The big winners and the losers from Election 2016 ...

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March 3 - 9, 2016

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L-R from top left: Shane Ross (Ind), Eoin O Broin (SF), Alan Shatter (FG), Dr James Reilly (FG), Joan Burton (Lab), Lucinda Creighton (Ren), Alex White (Lab), Joan Collins (PBP) and Sean Haughey (FF)

2 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 3 March 2016

people | gesture to commemorate iconic town figure

Seat could honour the late Vera Breslin  emma nolan

The late Vera Breslin (Main picture: Andrew Gerard Ball). The fishmonger’s recent passing has been marked in sadness by the Dun Laoghaire community (left).

A MEMORIAL seat may be erected in honour of the late Vera Breslin – an iconic town figure in Dun Laoghaire who sold fish from her stall at the corner of Convent Road and Lower George’s Street for many years. Breslin (nee Shorthall) died on January 6 this year and is fondly remembered by many Dun Laoghaire locals, who have said that they always saw her at her stall in all weather for as long as they can remember. Her family have lived in Dun Laoghaire for generations. Following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother, and despite the council’s move to abolish street sellers in the town a number of years ago, she managed to fight for her spot and continued selling there for years. Hundreds of locals h ave t a ke n t o t h e Facebook page “You know you’re from Dun Laoghaire when…” to share their memories of Breslin, with some even sharing paintings and poetry of one of the “last real Dublin characters”. One person said: “Since she has passed away, I have always felt that when crossing Convent Road that there is a sense of emptiness, and part of the town has gone too.” Another wrote: “RIP Vera, my next trip home will be missing one shining light. So glad you got to see that we all remem-

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‘Since she has passed away, I have always felt that when crossing Convent Road that there is a sense of emptiness, and part of the town has gone too’ -----------------------------------------

bered you from many corners of the world. You were always a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, and manys [sic] a dinner plate was dressed by the best fish in town!” Two i n d e p e n d e n t councillors, Victor Boyhan and Michael Merrigan, called on the chief executive to have the area examined to assess whether it is suitable for a memorial seat or two to be dedicated to Breslin. The council are currently assessing whether the location will be suitable to install the seats; however, there is a tenyear rule in the council’s memorials committee policy. Cllr Merrigan wants it to be a spot for “conversation, because Vera’s stall was always a place to stop and chat for the locals, who remember Vera with great fondness”. He added: “It wasn’t just a fish stand – it was a news stand, too, as everyone passing would stop to hear the local news from her.”

Mirrors performance provides plenty for jazz fans to reflect on A UNIQUE jazz performance took place in Dun Laoghaire last week. On March 1 and 2, jazz performers took to the stage in the studio at the LexIcon Library with a special performance, entitled Mirrors. Mirrors featured a performance by jazz musicians and choirs with the poetry of WB Yeats, Lewis Carroll and Stevie Smith, along with the music of Kenny Wheeler. Wheeler was a trumpet virtuoso who was inspired by poetry. He died in 2014 and his set was performed by new Irish jazz voice, Lauren Kinsella (above), from Shankill. As part of a tour of Ireland, these concerts were jointly presented by the Improvised Music Company and Jazz on the Terrace, and there was a high degree of engagement between the musicians and two dedicated choirs – the Kilkenny College Chamber Choir, and The Resurgam Choir, conducted by Pete Churchill.

Get On Yer Bike to discover many Dalkey writers’ work THE Dalkey Writers are hosting a stage show on Friday, March 4 at St Begnet’s Church at Dalkey Castle and Heritage Centre. On Yer Bike will feature a compilation of the work of famous local writers such as James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Hugh Leonard, Maeve Binchy, John Millington Synge, Van Morrison, Seamus Heaney, Flann O’Brien, Joseph O’Connor, and more. The performance, with a linking script written by awardwinning playwright Shay Linehan, has a Flann O’Brien-like character who will conjure up characters to play various well-known scenes from the work of the writers listed. The show is part of the Dalkey Writers’ Discover Dalkey’s Literary Gems series, and promises to

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be an “entertaining and enlightening whistle-stop taster through the work of our internationally acclaimed writers, who were all associated with Dublin and Dalkey”. Advance booking is necessary as places are limited. Tickets are €10 and are available from reception at Dalkey Castle, or at dalkeycastle.com.

3 March 2016 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 3

dun laoghaire | body a finalist in acclaimed business search

theatre

Revisiting Catholic Ireland

Award nomination for work to help town

 emma nolan

DUN Laoghaire Town – a branch of the Dun Laoghaire Business Improvement District group – have been selected as a finalist for a major business award for their success in improving Dun Laoghaire town centre over the past two years.. The Association of Town and City Management (ATCM) promotes excellence in town and city management at both a European and wider global level. The ATCM awards recognises the contribution of key stakeholders (such as business communities, local authorities and residents) in improving their main streets, towns and city centres.

Dun Laoghaire Town are finalists in the Diversifying The Business Mix category, following on from the successful improvements made in the town over the past two years with the help of BID, whose efforts as part of their Dun Laoghaire 20:20 vision have succeeded in more than 72 new businesses opening, and a reduction in the number of vacant retail premises on the main street from 45 to 19. The Dun Laoghaire 20:20 vision is a five-year strategy to “revitalise the town centre, by segmenting Georges Street into four distinctive quarters: interiors, retail, business/ residential and cultural/ artisan”. The addition of free

open air WiFi (reaching from The People’s Park to the West Pier) has also contributed to the recognition from ATCM, as 900,000 people used this in 2015. Speaking on the announcement of the award, the chair of BID, Don McManus said: “I am not surprised; there is so much goodwill among the business people, so much energy and enthusiasm going into the development of Dun Laoghaire. “I can only say ‘Thank you’ to everyone who is making it happen, opening new businesses, keeping the older ones going, shopping in the town and realising that it is one wonderful place to visit, to live and to open a business.”

 emma nolan

certainly considering law

CHIEF Justice Susan Denham congratulated Caitriona Duggan, from St Joseph of Cluny Secondary School, Killiney, on taking part in The Bar of Ireland’s transition year programme recently. Caitriona received her certificate of participation as one of 100 students from around Ireland who took part in the programme, which included shadowing a barrister, mock trials, court visits, talks from court gardai and journalists. The programme is designed to encourage students from all backgrounds to consider a career at The Bar, with the Killiney school student echoing her peers in praising the diverse contents covered by the comprehensive programme. Picture: Conor McCabe Photography

THE Pavilion in Dun Laoghaire is hosting Decadent Theatre Company’s production of The Dead School, described as “a titanic clash between the forces of modernism and tradition in 1970s Ireland”. Running from Tuesday, March 15 to Thursday, March 17, it is adapted from Patrick McCabe’s novel of the same name, and tells the story of Raphael Bell – an old-fashioned teacher who has devoted his life to upholding all that is traditional and pure in the Ireland of Eucharist Congresses, and Malachy Dugeon, a firstyear teacher who breaks all the rules. Suitable for over-16s only, tickets are €20 from paviliontheatre.ie.

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funding | 300 new homes could be delivered at strategic development zone

€30.7m housing deal announced for Cherrywood  emma nolan HINES Ireland and Cairn Homes have announced a €30.7m housing deal for Cherrywood. On Friday, February 12, they announced an important step in the plan to accelerate the delivery of homes under the master plan for the Cherry-

wood Strategic Development Zone in South Dublin. Cairn has purchased two lots for €21.5m, with an option to purchase a third lot for €9.2m on receipt of planning permission. Subject to planning approval, this deal will see the provision of more than 300 new homes on a portion of the

Cherrywood site that is being designed in accordance with the vision set out in the site’s master plan. It is hoped the major road network investment proposed in the recent planning applications, which will mark the first phase of development, will commence in the coming months.

This upfront investment, combined with the planning applications for the town centre, will further progress the site master plan and leverage Cherrywood’s unique attributes, including four Luas stops and links to the country’s motorway network at the junction of the N11 and the M50. The chief executive of Cairn

Homes, Michael Stanley, said: “We are delighted to announce the acquisition of this extremely well located site at Cherrywood. “We look forward to bringing our house building skills to one of Dublin’s most important new developments. “The visionary master plan developed by Hines, in con-

junction with Dun LaoghaireRathdown County Council, will offer our future customers many benefits, including three landscaped parks, a wide range of leisure facilities, a retail-led town centre, primary and secondary schools and an unrivalled transport infrastructure, making Cherrywood an exceptional place to live.”

New pub opened at York Road  emma nolan

LAST Wednesday, February 24, saw the opening of a brand-new pub on York Road in Dun Laoghaire. Beer Traders is the latest addition to Irish-run Galway Bay Brewery, who already have four popular pubs in the city centre – Brew Dock, The Black Sheep, Against The Grain and the Beer

Support local business

Market. Galway Bay Brewery are renowned for their own brand of craft beers, including the appropriately named Full Sail IPA, Of Foam and Fury, Buried at Sea Stout, Stormy Port Porter and Bay Ale, which ought to fit right in, in the nautical surrounds of Dun Laoghaire. Their pubs also stock an extensive selection of international craft beers.

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Matters

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard how a burglar was spotted on a petrol station’s CCTV camera footage trying to change a stolen jar of coins next door to the Dalkey house that he and an accomplice had just burgled.

courts | tried to change stolen coins

Burglar caught on camera with loot A BURGLAR was caught on camera trying to change a stolen jar of 50c coins for notes in a petrol station next door to the house he had just broken into. Gerry Wall (22), of The Laurels, Bluebell Avenue, Dublin 12, and an accomplice also stole jewellery worth €4,030 along with the coins valued at €58, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. None of the property was recovered. The court heard several rooms in the house at Hyde Road, Dalkey had been ransacked, and €2,315 of damage was

caused. Wall pleaded guilty to burglary on September 9, 2014. The father of one has nine previous convictions, including theft and handling stolen property. Judge Melanie Greally ordered a probation report but said she was “not making any promises”. She warned Wall: “You appear to be coming to the end of the line in terms of lenient treatment.” She adjourned the case to April 27 next for finalisation. Garda Kevin Carey told Fiona Murphy BL, prosecuting, that the

homeowner returned from work to find his back door window smashed and an open window above the sink. Upstairs, he found drawers had been pulled out and several rooms ransacked. He alerted gardai, who recovered CCTV footage from the service station next door to the house. The footage showed two men climbing over the fence into the back yard of the house, and later coming into the service station and handing over a jar of 50 cent coins to be changed for notes. Gda Carey showed

the CCTV footage to colleagues and within 24 hours Gda Liam Flynn identified the men and said he had spoken to them earlier that day at Bray Courthouse, where they had been wearing the same clothes. Wall was later arrested at his home. Gda Carey agreed with Barry Ward BL, defending, that there had been no confrontation or violence and that the burgled house had been insured. The court will hear a plea in mitigation on Wall’s behalf on the next date.

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election 2016 | lab wiped-out in consituency; ff fails to gain a seat

Green candidate stays positive in the face of defeat

 emma nolan

GREEN Party candidate Cllr Ossian Smyth (inset) spoke to The Gazette early on in the day before he was eliminated on the fourth count. At the time, he said that he knew it was likely he would not get re-elected, but he was remaining positive. He said: “I’ve increased the vote substantially since Ciaran Cuff, the Green Party’s candidate in 2011, ran.” Speaking on the poll toppers, he said: “Maria Bailey [FG] has done really well, so it looks like our area is going to return three Fine Gaelers; [Ceann Comhairle] Sean Barrett [FG] is already in the bag. “She has done an

amazing campaign; you can’t knock it.” On the Left/Right divide in the results, he said: “It’s a strange balance since there could be two Fine Gael [candidates] s elected in the Dublin Rathdown constituency as well.” It was later announced that outgoing TD, Deputy Alan Shatter (FG), lost his seat to the Green Party’s Cllr Catherine Martin. The other two seats went to Cllr Josepha Madigan (FG) and Deputy Shane Ross (Ind).

Although the national slump for FG/Lab was not replicated in Dun Laoghaire, a strong Left/Right divide was evident. Pictures: Geraldine Woods

the results | party holds onto its local support

Dun Laoghaire turns blue as FG win the day  emma nolan

THE Gazette joined the candidates in the Dun Laoghaire constituency

count centre in Loughlinstown last Saturday for a day that saw three of the available seats go to two Fine Gael candidates, and one People Before Profit candidate. The fourth seat went to the current Ceann Comhairle, Sean Barrett (FG). Early in the day, the common feeling at the count was that Dun Laoghaire had bucked the national trend – the resurgence of Fianna Fail – with Fine Gael topping the polls early on with sitting TD, Mary Mitchell O’Connor and Cllr Maria Bailey. Upon her arrival, Deputy Mitchell O’Connor thanked her and Cllr Bailey’s supporters, and said: “I’d really like to thank the people of Blackrock and Foxrock who voted en masse. There was fantastic vote management; we worked as a team and we bucked the trend here, so we’re delighted.” Speaking to The Gazette, she said: “We knew we had a lot of support in the constituency, and Maria and I worked well as a team.” On the constituency returning two female TDs she said: “The last time I was here five years ago, I gave a commitment that I

would do everything for women.” Speaking to The Gazette on her success, Cllr Bailey said: “I’m very overwhelmed; there’s a huge amount of support that worked with me for a long time. “This was a real team effort between Cllrs Marie Baker and John Bailey and myself; we have worked towards this for the last 12 years. This is about hard work on the ground and being in touch with the people, being familiar and understanding what the reality is for people [during] the last couple of years.” In a polarised result, the people of Dun Laoghaire voted for both ends of the political spectrum, which perhaps accurately reflects the divide on the ground in what is largely an affluent part of the county, with a big working class population. The electorate was 92,248 people, and the total poll saw 59,639 votes cast. There were 401 spoiled votes, so the total valid poll was 59,238 votes, with a total of 1,093 votes non-transferable after count seven. Labour’s presence in Dun Laoghaire was completely crushed as the

Left-leaning voters chose a new left-wing party to represent them. Former Labour TD and party leader Eamon Gilmore did not contest for a seat this time around, with a defeated Cllr Carrie Smyth eliminated after the sixth count, as her transfers brought Mitchell O’Connor and Bailey over their quotas. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett (People Before Profit) was a front runner all along, topping the polls and gaining the first seat after the sixth count. Deputy Mitchell O’Connor and Cllr Bailey were deemed elected on the seventh and final count. Speaking to The Gazette early on in the day before he had been declared elected, but was topping the polls, Deputy Boyd Barrett said: “It would appear that I am going to be re-elected and that Labour have collapsed significantly, and that People Before Profit essentially have taken up the Left vote. “I’d like to think that we have taken that vote because we have more consistently campaigned on the issues that affect less well-off people, and people who haven’t ben-

efitted from the so-called recovery.” Fine Gael’s return of two female TDs coincides with the implementation of the gender quota directive ahead of this general election. The party have been commended by various opposing candidates for their vote management, with 36% split evenly between them. Fianna Fail had been expected to gain a seat, but both candidates failed to meet the mark. Cllrs Mary Hanafin and Cormac Devlin were criticised for their inter-party rivalry, as Hanafin joined the race against the party’s wishes and lost out, having received just 6,478 first-preference votes. The Green Party’s Cllr Ossian Smyth was eliminated in the fourth count, but has substantially increased the party’s presence in the constituency since Ciaran Cuff ran there in 2011. Cllr Shane O’Brien on the Sinn Fein ticket was eliminated after the second count, receiving just 5.3% of first-preference votes. Renua’s Frank Cronin and Direct Democracy Ireland’s Raymond Whitehead were excluded after the first count.

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election 2016 | mixed fortunes for new ‘big three’ in dun laoghaire Sinn Fein positive despite setback  emma nolan IT WAS a disappointing day for Sinn Fein in Dun Laoghaire, as candidate Cllr Shane O’Brien was eliminated after the second count, receiving 5.3% of first-preference votes. Speaking to The Gazette, O’Brien said: “We’ve gotten the largest ever vote for Sinn Fein in the constituency, and I think there’s good hope here for the future.” He conceded that Fine Gael did well and agreed that the voting preferences in the constituency were quite polarised. He said: “We’ve seen a realignment of politics in Dun Laoghaire, with the Left and Right [political divide], and I think the next couple of weeks and months will be really interesting to see what type of Dail is formed.” Cllr O’Brien said that it’s “definitely not the end of the road” for him, and he thanked the 3,000 people who gave him their first-preference vote. As a councillor, he said he is looking forward to getting back to work and giving it his full focus.

Making FG congratulations a family affair ... Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor and her son, Stephen; Cllr Maria Bailey and her father, John. Pictures: Geraldine Woods

the results | party bucks national trend with local support

Fine Gael victorious  emma nolan

FINE Gael returned two candidates in Dun Laoghaire last Saturday, with Deputy Mary Mitchell O’Connor being re-elected, and a huge level of support secured for her running mate, Cllr Maria Bailey. After seven counts, Cllr Bailey secured 15,198 votes and Deputy Mitchell O’Connor secured 14,941.

Between them both, they received 36% firstpreference votes. The sixth count saw Cllr Bailey surpass her running mate by 568 votes, transferred from eliminated Labour candidate, Cllr Carrie Smyth. Joined by her son, Stephen, Deputy Mitchell O’Connor spoke to The Gazette on being re-elected. She said: “I’m delighted we got our second candidate [Bailey]

and we bucked the trend actually here, so we’re delighted.” When asked if she had any advice for her new colleague, she said: “Not at all. She’s a great girl; she’ll be a wonderful TD and I’m just delighted that she’s here.” She also said that Bailey is a “fantastic candidate” and that they work really well together. On the constituency returning two female

TDs, she said: “When I was here five years ago I stood up and I made a policy to do my very best for women, and you know what, in my constituency in the local elections, Cllrs Patricia Stewart and Mary Fayne were elected. “I want to thank the Dun Laoghaire constituency, my supporters, my friends and everyone that got me here; it’s been a long journey.

“As a divorced woman, rearing two children by myself, I am very happy to be here and happy that the people of Dun Laoghaire put their trust in me,” she said. Joined by her young children, Cllr Bailey briefly spoke to The Gazette on her success and said she was “stuck for words, but elated”. She said: “I’m very overwhelmed; there’s a huge amount of support

that worked with me for a long time. “This was a real team effort between Cllrs Marie Baker and John Bailey and myself; we have worked towards this for the past 12 years. “This is about hard work on the ground and being in touch with the people, being familiar and understanding what the reality is for people over the past couple of years.”

National mood fails to lift local Fianna Fail hopefuls  emma nolan

WITH Dun Laoghaire bucking the national trend, Fianna Fail candidates Cllrs Cormac Devlin and Mary Hanafin (right) were unsuccessful at the polls, having received 18.8% first-preference votes between them. Devlin was eliminated on the fourth count, with 5,564 votes, and Hanafin was defeated with 10,969 votes on the last count. The two enjoyed a competitive relationship during the campaign – after Devlin won the party’s selection convention by four votes, and Hanafin was subsequently added by party headquarters. Cllr Devlin stated at the time that the twocandidate strategy dramatically reduced Fianna Fail’s hopes of winning a seat in the constituency. Hanafin conceded that they had no vote management strategy, and commended Fine

Gael’s vote management, which secured their two-seat win. Speaking to The Gazette, Cllr Devlin said: “Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like it’s Fianna Fail’s day, but I’m happy to say that across the country it is.” He will still maintain his position as a councillor for a third term. When asked what’s next for him and his supporters, he said: “I think the important thing now is to look at the issues that face the council. “I intend to still have a national focus on the work that I do and hopefully we will be back again to fight another election, whenever that is.” He agreed that the result in Dun Laoghaire was polarised, and said: “The people have spoken. I’m a democrat; I respect their decision. “They were faced with a choice and I think that the message I received on the door was that they don’t want Enda Kenny as

Taoiseach, and most people outside of Dublin voted that way, which is why Fianna Fail have done well nationally. “The talk that Fine Gael are the party of stability is clearly not the case.” Meanwhile, Mary Hanafin said that Fine Gael’s vote management strategy in the constituency had been “impeccable”, while admitting that she and Cllr Devlin hadn’t had one. She conceded defeat, but said there was a “big difference between losing and not winning”, and said that despite her defeat this election was “really worth contesting” and she would have been “disappointed with [herself] if [she] hadn’t done it”. She also said that the votes for her and Devlin “simply were not there”, and congratulated Maria Bailey (FG), a former pupil of hers at Zion Hill, saying: “I’m glad I taught her so well.”

3 March 2016 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 9

election 2016 | deputy richard boyd-barrett on divisions at the polls

‘A class-divide dimension to vote’  emma nolan S PE A K I N G t o T h e Gazette early on in the day before he had been declared elected, but was topping the polls, Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett (PBP) said: “It would appear that I am going to be re-elected and that Labour have collapsed significantly, and that People Before Profit essentially have taken up the Left vote. “I’d like to think that we have taken that vote because we have more consistently campaigned on the issues that affect less well-off people, and people who haven’t ben-

efitted from the so-called recovery.” Deputy Boyd Barrett was the first TD to be elected in the constituency, on the sixth count, and will be returning to the Dail after getting 15,718 votes. He went over the quota of 14,810 votes following transfers from the eliminated Fianna Fail candidate, Cllr Cormac Devlin. Deputy Boyd Barrett said he was surprised that Fine Gael did better in the constituency than most thought they would, somewhat bucking the national trend. He said: “I think that may be to do with the

fact that a big bank of the votes came from Foxrock, which is traditionally [a] Fine Gael [area].” Speaking on the polarised result for Dun Laoghaire, he said: “Clearly, there is a classdivide dimension to this. “ We h a v e d o n e extremely well in the working class areas, but in some of the better-off areas, Fine Gael have certainly held their own – maybe even made some gains – so it does show polarisation.” The deputy told The Gazette that he believed the lack of young people voting in Dun Laoghaire “hampered the Lef t

vote”. He added: “A factor that I think may be in play to a significant degree in Dun Laoghaire is that a lot of young people have left – forced out by emigration or because of the high cost of accommodation, and I think that has benefitted Fine Gael and hampered the growth of a Left vote.” He also said he condemned the “disproportionate cost of housing” in Dun Laoghaire. “It cer tainly gives another good reason for the need for social and affordable housing in the area which is just a huge issue – young people or anybody on a low

Celebrations at the count centre as Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett (PBP) is returned. He was the first deputy to be elected in the Dun Laoghaire constituency.

income are just completely priced out and can’t afford to live in Dun Laoghaire any more. “It is unacceptable that there is this level of social cleansing happening.” He said that the cur-

rent housing crisis is a “big indictment of this and the last government”. Speaking on Fianna Fail’s result, Deputy Boyd Barrett said that there is a “huge move

away from civil war-style politics and from the political establishment. A huge number of people are now looking to the Left, but the new Left landscape hasn’t fully solidified.”

10 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 3 March 2016

DUN LAOGHAIREGazettegallery | after all the canvassing,

Cllr Hugh Lewis and Cllr Melissa Halpin, People Before Profit Alliance

Jane Dillon-Byrne and Frank Green have a hug for Labour councillor Carrie Smyth. Pictures: Geraldine Woods

Councillor Ossian Smyth (GP) with his wife Fiona

Carol Hunt, Independent Alliance, with her son, Oscar

Fine Gaelâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Maria Bailey with her youngest leaflet droppers, nephews Mark Smith, Jamie Smith and Conor Smith

3 March 2016 DUN LAOGHAIRE Gazette 11

Dun Laoghaire general election candidates learn their fate

Frank Cronin, Renua

Mary Hanafin, Fianna Fail

Fiona and Antoinette Murray

Garda Sgt Pat Loftus, Garda John Paul Durkan and Garda Sgt Gerard White

Cllr Lindsey McGovern (Ind) came to support her colleagues with her dad, Gary McGovern

Joy and despair as Dubliners vote

Mary Mitchell Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connor is elected, with her sons, Conor and Steven, and daughter-in-law, Maeve Mitchell

Cllr Shane Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien (SF) with two of his supporters, Kavin Kavanagh

Cllr Cormac Devlin (FF) with his

and Mark Devlin

wife Jennifer

Richard Boyd Barrett (AAA-PBP)

12 Gazette 3 March 2016

Gazettegallery

| Operation Transformation in the phoenix park

Runners Jim Kearns and Jackie Kearns

Ray Darcy with runners at the annual RTE Operation Transformation 5K. Pictures: Brian McEvoy

Leaders Noeleen Lynam and Lucy Dillon

Aoife Hearne

Get physically active in a worthwhile way

Operation Transformation Leader Lucy Dillon with Meela Rodgers and Elly Rodgers

Dr Eddie Murphy, Dr Cira Kelly and Aoife Herane

her daughter Molly

3 March 2016 Gazette 13

asdfsdaf P27 cinema P22

food & drink P21

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

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Pets a loving home for beautiful, brainy Bambi

Max Sisojeus from the Oar House Restaurant who will take part in the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival. Picture: Douglas O’Connor

Prawn Festival: one of Ireland’s largest food extravaganzas

Catch some fantastic food  Ian Begley

The countdown to Howth’s annual Dublin Bay Prawn Festival is now underway, taking place from March 18 to 20. Dublin Bay Prawn Festival, one of Ireland’s largest food festivals, is set in the beautiful seaside fishing village of Howth. With a huge range of restaurants, pubs, cafes and retailers offering a vast array of food, much of it produced on Howth’s doorstep, it’s no wonder Howth has become synonymous with great food. Now entering its sixth year, the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival has built up a huge reputation both at home and overseas, offering not only a fantastic food village but also highlights all

the cultural, historical and adventure activities that make Howth such a distinguished destination. Celebrating the famous Dublin Bay Prawn, Howth’s finest restaurants, bars and cafes will host a variety of amazing food experiences at the Harbour Festival Food Village serving the freshest, most delicious seafood, cooked every way imaginable, including a selection of special Dublin Bay Prawn dishes. The festive atmosphere will continue into the evening as Howth’s bars and restaurants will host a special fixed price festive menu and entertainment for all. And it’s not just the culinary offerings that make the festival so memorable, the Dublin Bay Prawn Festival is also famous for music and entertainment, fireworks, walks, talks and sea-

side antics. The festival has grown to showcase the huge diversity of history, culture and activities that are the fabric of this seaside village. This year, for instance, the festival stage will play host to a variety of musical and theatrical sessions, one such being an event called “And Patrick Came To Howth”, a one-act street theatre. For the young and young at heart, there will be powerboating and water sport demonstrations along the pier, the coast guard and RNLI will be on hand to talk about the very important work they do and the vintage funfair will give the thrill seekers a run for their money. The tented village plays host to various exhibitions including cookery

demos from local and celebrity chefs, fish filleting and net mending master classes from the fishmongers/fishermen; videos and storyboards outlining the history of Howth and its fishing traditions; and of course some shanties and storytelling along the way. Paul Reid, chief executive of Fingal County Council said: “We are delighted to be part of this event, it is not only an opportunity to showcase Howth and all that it has to offer in terms of food, stunning landscape and heritage but also provides us with the opportunity to become a programme partner of St Patrick’s Festival.” For more information visit www. dublinbayprawnfestival.ie, Twitter: @DublinBayPrawnF or follow www.facebook.com/dublinbayprawnfestival.

The Gazette Newspaper has teamed up with Dogs Trust to help find homes for unwanted and abandoned dogs. Our Dog of the Week is is Bambi, a five-yearold, female, German Shepherd cross. She is as beautiful as she is brainy and needs a home with a very, very secure garden as she has previously escaped over fences. Bambi can live with older children but prefers calm, quiet households as she has struggled in very busy homes in the past. She would make a great running pal and excel in training and even agility. If you think you could offer Bambi a loving home, please contact Dogs Trust on 01-879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website www. dogstrust.ie.

Gazette

14 Gazette 3 March 2016

dublinlife

A Lust For Life: 5k/10k Phoenix Park Run

Unlimited benefits of boosting mental fitness

 ian begley ibegley@dublingazette.com

One of the fastest growing running events in Ireland is back for yet another year. The Vhi A Lust For Life 5k/10k Phoenix Park Run is taking place this year on Saturday, March 5. More than 4,000 runners are helping to spread the message to “Run Your Life” and pledged their

support to A Lust For Life and Niall Breslin, who is helping to indorse the event. A Lust For Life are currently preparing participants physically and mentally to either walk or run the course. Speaking about what running means to him, Niall Breslin said: “I am an ex-professional rugby player and Gaelic footballer so any type of run-

ning I did in the past was always fast sprints. “Long distance running is the complete opposite of what fast paced running entails. “It’s about conditioning your muscles to do everything slowly and aerobically. “For me, I always made excuses for not going for a run because I didn’t enjoy it, mainly because I didn’t understand the power of

it. “When I got into running I realised that it was not a physical thing for me at all, but a mental aspect. “W henever I ran, whether it was for an hour or only a half an hour, everything in the world just went out of my head. “All the thoughts about what drive people nuts and all the silly things that don’t really mean anything just gets flushed out of your brain. For me, it’s a form of meditation. “When I realised how powerful running was and how it made me feel I decided I wanted to get better at it,” he said.

President launches new expo LAST Thursday, February 25, President Michael D Higgins officially launched the GreenSchools Expo 2016 at the RDS. Green-Schools is an international environmental management education programme, environmental management system and award scheme that promotes and acknowledges longterm, whole-school action for the environment, and is operating in 58 countries around the world. Last year, 93% of schools in Ireland, the equivalent to 896,442 students and teachers, participated in the programme. The expo showcased exhibits across six themed zones by 23 exemplary Green-Schools. The 23 schools were chosen based on their innovative and inventive approaches to the GreenSchools programme.

Niall Breslin: “When I realised how powerful running was and how it made me feel I decided I wanted to get better at it.”

This year, the chosen charity partner for A Lust For Life is Aware. Aware provides support and information for people who experience depression or bipolar disorder and their concerned

loved ones. Information on Aware’s services and different aspects of depression (including depression in young people and supporting a loved one) is offered through the web-

site Aware.ie If you would like to raise sponsorship for the run/walk you can set up a page on www.justgiving. com or email fundraising@aware.ie for a sponsorship card.

Gazette

3 March 2016 Gazette 15

dublinlife

diary

Rise to the rock challenge Hard Rock, in partnership with ReverbNation, is turning up the volume for its sixthannual global music competition, Hard Rock Rising. On June 1, up-andcoming local ar tists and music acts will have a chance to rise to international stardom by performing in the world’s largest, one-day music showcase taking place at participating Hard Rock Cafes around the world. Musicians who are interested in participating can register online at HardRockR ising. com until March 11, for a chance to win $50,000, a professionally-produced music video, a Fender instruments prize pack and an all-expenses-paid trip to perform at Hard Rock Hotel Ibiza. Jeff Nolan, Hard Rock International’s resident music guru and memorabilia historian said: “Hard Rock Rising 2016 is a one-day, global celebration of local artists. We hope to raise awareness for these incredible, and too-often overlooked acts, while simultaneously providing exposure that helps them breakthrough to the next level of success.”

dedicate a daffodil in aid of cancer charity The Irish Cancer Society will plant the Garden of Hope for the seventh year, returning to the Iveagh Gardens in Dublin this Daffodil Day, on Friday, March 11. The Society together with Dell, its lead par tner on Daffodil Day, appeal for people around the country to dedicate a daffodil with a message of hope for

themselves or someone they love. Last year, 1,117 people in Dublin dedicated a flower in the garden. This year the society will receive dedications from all over Ireland and further afield and will plant its 20,000th message of hope. Funds raised on Daffodil Day by thousands of volunteers across Ireland go directly to fund the work of the Society across support, prevention, research and advocacy. It’s vital that Daffodil Day reaches its ambitious fundraising target of €3.5m in order to continue to provide and expand this service and others. Visit www.cancer.ie/ gardenofhope or CallSave 1850 60 60 60 to dedicate a f lower or make a donation.

Ireland’s largest talent-spotting event on the way The International Literature Festival Dublin, in conjunction with T he Inkwell Group and Writing.ie, is calling on aspiring authors to enter Date With An Agent, Ireland’s largest talent-spotting event.

Aspiring authors Seventy-five aspiring authors will be selected from submissions received in an open call, and will have the chance to pitch their work to five leading literary agents keen to sign new talent. On the day, the 75 preselected writers will have the chance to meet privately with an agent to pitch their work and receive valued professional feedback and advice, as well as participate in the conference. To be in with a chance

of being one of the lucky 75 chosen for a Date With An Agent, writers are asked to submit the first 1,500 words of their work (fiction or non-fiction) in hard copy with a 1,000 word synopsis and 500 word author biography. The closing date for submissions is midnight on Friday, March 18. For further information visit www.ilfdublin. com.

Girl guides put on uniforms to promote guiding T ho u s a nds o f school pupils across the country turned up for class recently wearing their Irish Girl Guide uniforms. School principals gave permission for the girls to wear their Irish Girl Guides’ (IGG) uniforms to mark A-wearness Day – an annual event that gives girls the opportunity to tell their friends about their involvement in Guiding.

Challenges Membership of IGG gives girls from age five to 30 the chance to take part in a wide range of activities and challenges while making new friends, growing in confidence and gaining teamwork, leadership and other essential life-skills This year’s theme is “Connect” and the girls have been taking part in games, activities and ceremonies that have helped them celebrate the meaningful connections that make for better lives. Irish Girl Guides welcomes new members from age five plus and volunteer leaders from age 18 plus. To find out more, see www. irishgirlguides.ie or telephone 01-6683898.

Irish Girl Guides celebrate the meaningful connections that make for better lives

Rod’s ready to pull out all the stops Rod Stewart is adding additional Dublin and Belfast dates to the From Gasoline Alley to Another Country Hits 2016 arena tour that will feature his biggest hits from 1970 to 2016. Demand for Rod Stewart’s live shows are stronger than ever following the recent release of musical legend’s 29th critically acclaimed platinum selling album Another Country in October 2015. The acclaimed performer will play no shortage of chart-topping tracks, including: You Wear It Well, Maggie May, Da Ya Think I’m Sexy, Baby Jane, The First Cut is the Deepest, I Don’t Want To Talk About It, Tonight’s The Night, The Killing of Georgie and Sailing. Commenting, Stewart said: “These are some of my favourite buildings in my favourite cities. I give you fair warning – fasten your seat belts. I’m pulling out all the stops!” Rod Stewart will now play The SSE Arena Belfast on November 14-15 and 3Arena Dublin on November 18-19. Book online www.ticketmaster.ie

16 Gazette 3 March 2016

3 March 2016 Gazette 17

Price is just the beginning

D DOWN PRICES DRILLE ½

125 ½110

36 ½27

105

Mac Allister 600W hammer drill

OF COLOUR ADD A SPLASH

142

129

DeWalt 18V XR combi drill

Makita 18V li-ion combi drill

Includes 1 x 1.3Ah Li-ion battery

Includes 2 x 1.3Ah batteries

114

127

Bosch all-rounder multi tool

Bosch 550W SDS rotary hammer drill

PMF190E

Available in matt or silk €5.60 per litre

182

149

29 ½25

Electric convector heater

2000W Double level

Loft insulation 100mm 8.3 sq.m coverage

E WHEN IT’S GON E! N O IT’S G

Dulux standard coloured emulsion, 2.5L

Pure brilliant white €2.90 per litre Also available in soft sheen or silk

44.98

€28 each. €11.20 per litre Available in matt or soft sheen

18.98

Mira Elite ST pumped electric shower, 9.8kw

White & FKURPH À QLVK

Dulux gloss or undercoat, 2.5L

5 colours available €3.50 per litre

† 199 each

€6 per litre

LESS REFRESH FOR ½

2 € 10

5 € 18

Bord na Mona kiln dried logs

Bord na Mona briquettes

€6 each

€4.50 each

FOR

3 FOR € 24 Chipboard loft panels, pack of 3 L1220 x W325 x D18mm €10 each

129

100

L3000 x W600 x D38mm

Includes insulated trap door

Midnight granite effect laminate worktop

Fabienne full pedestal basin

½ Also available in...

Ebony granite

Valencia satin

Triton T90Z pumped electric shower, 8.5kw

.75

Cooke & Lewis Tonica toilet seat

Suitable for ceiling heights up to 2.8m

FOR

Abru timber complete loft access kit

.85

Dulux matt emulsion, 10L

Dulux Everyday colours, 10L

2kW

Scheppach 254mm sliding mitre saw

2 FOR € 36

ME COSY O H R U O Y P E E K ½

28*

Crown standard coloured emulsion, 5L

Includes 2 batteries ½

45.95

143

134

Fabienne rectangular close coupled toilet

Astracast utility 1 bowl stainless steel sink & drainer

Come on in and unleash the B&Q in you Liffey Valley | Swords | Tallaght | Naas | Galway | Limerick | Cork | Athlone Freephone 1800 818 950 or visit diy.com/diy/ireland for your nearest store. Liffey Valley opening hours Mon-Fri 7am-9pm, Sat 7am-8pm, Sun 10am-7pm. Swords Mon-Tues 8am-8pm Wed-Fri 8am-9pm, Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 10am-7pm. All other stores Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 10am-7pm. Excluded from any other promotion or discount card. *Excludes mid sheen. † Customer quotas apply.

White & FKURPH À QLVK

OUT&ABOUT Weir gilded and Son neckla s Ti S ce €1 ento 99

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18 Gazette 3 March 2016

ur de Gallet Fle Roger & alm 200ml yb Figuier bod Lancome Genifique gift set €73

Crabtree & Evelyn Verbena and lavender body lotion 250ml (Kildare Village and selected pharmacies) €22

Www.magee1866.com Grey tweed bag €500

Pandora Sterling silver mother heart charm €39

T R E S E M M E h ave turned the traditional hair care routine on its head with their new Beauty-Full Volume range, which maximises volume by applying conditioner before shampoo. The experts at Tresemme have created an innovative “reverse system” on their constant quest to help women achieve everyday volume without depending on blowdrys. Tresemme discovered that many volume seekers shy away from using conditioning products, as they can weigh the hair down. The first step – Beauty-Full Volume pre-wash conditioner – contains fibre-polishing actives designed to remain on the hair after the condi-

tioner is washed away, locking in smoothness. Tresemme BeautyFull Volume shampoo follows to gently cleanse hair while removing excess weight left by the intensive conditioner. The result is premium softness, as well as body and bounce for hair that no longer weighs you down. The volume revolution continues with Tresemme Beauty-Full Volume Hair Maximiser and Tresemme BeautyFull Volume Mousse, which contains patented Fleximax Volumiser technology: soft, flexible bonds that move fluidly with the hair, allowing newly-volumised style to stay put all day without falling flat. Tresemme BeautyFull Volume is available from Dunnes Stores and selected pharmacies.

M&S Marc de Champagne truffles 145g €9

 emma nolan

Willow & Clo Cluster ruby earring €179

Turn to Tresemme for a new range to treat your locks

Www.magee1866.com Light purple scarf €45

Tresemme’s new Beauty-Full Volume range

3 March 2016 Gazette 19

Willow & Clo Cluster ruby earring €179

Juv i with Cocoa p o gold and d baja pe g re e n on ndant yx € 95

Gazette

STYLE

Willow & Clo Tiny pyrite drops €50

Butlers Chocolates

Flower box €7

Have you remembered

Mother’s Day?  emma nolan

Aldi Large Mot

her’s Day card

THE day when mums get to kick back and unashamedly indulge in being spoiled by their loved ones is almost upon us. Whether your mum loves a candle and a scarf, chocolates or bling, make sure she opens something she’ll really appreciate this Mother’s Day. Brand-new Irish jewellery boutique,Willow & Clo, in Powerscourt Townhouse Centre, has a beautiful array of intricately designed pieces, such as the drop cluster ruby earrings, and you can’t go wrong with the classic Mother’s Day choice, Pandora; this sparkling love knot

€1.49

Aldi Tea For On

Butlers Chocolates Spring tapered box €5

Crabtree & Evelyn Verbena and lavender body lotion 250ml (Kildare Village and selected pharmacies) €22

e teapot €5.49

set is a timeless gift for any occasion. Of course, beauty and skincare products are always a popular gift choice for mothers, so make sure she’s truly pampered with the Genifique range from Lancome, and the replenishing Fleur de Figuier body balm from Roger and Gallet. And, of course, there’s always the ubiquitous gift of a box of chocolates! That’s where a box of Butlers Chocolate Spring collection come in – an excellent accompaniment to Aldi’s Tea for One teapot for breakfast in bed. Whatever you look for, have fun spoiling your mum – after all, your mammy deserves it!

Lancome Genifique gift set €73

Gazette

20 Gazette 3 March 2016

OUT&ABOUT

fast

TRAVEL NEWS

TRAVEL

overnight stays: luxurious hotels and resorts in ireland

The FMVA Vintage Motors festival takes place on Let your mother become the Lady of the Manor at Mount Juliet Estate, County Kilkenny

March 12 and 13

A St Patrick’s Day with a difference Avoid the crowds this St Patrick’s Day and jet off to Malta for a fabulous seven-day break. Visiting the magical island of Malta this spring-time will allow you to take part in all the outdoor activities that might be too hot to take part in during the summer months. Mercury Direct are offering seven nights from March 10 in the lovely Sunflower Hotel, Qawra, for €284.05pp. Alternatively you can stay at the Windsor Hotel, Silma, for €298.58pp. Both prices include flights, accommodation, taxes and transfers. Budget Travel have seven nights in The Radisson Blu Resort and Spa, Golden Sands for €584pp sharing, flying out on March 15. A cheaper alternative is a seven-night stay in the four-star Kennedy Nova Hotel, Gzira for €376pp sharing. Prices are based on two sharing, room only basis and include transfers. Concorde Travel have deals from €425pp sharing for seven nights in

the three-star St Georges Park & La Vallette Apartments, St Julians, based on one bedroom, four sharing. Alternatively you can stay at the three-star Bayview Hotel, Sliema, (B&B, standard room, two sharing) for €499pp. A St Patrick’s Day parade takes place every year from City Gate in Valletta. The spectacular parade is a must-see for anyone in the area on St Patricks Day. The Dubliner’ pub, Malta’s one and only Irish bar is a great spot to toast St Patrick. Easter activities include life-size statues depicting the stages of the cross on the streets of Valletta on Good Friday. Easter morning you can witness the tradition of children carrying their Easter pastry ‘figolla’ to be blessed by the statue of Jesus Christ. The FMVA Vintage Motors festival also takes place in Mgarr and Gozo March 12 and 13. More information and details of events can be found at www. visitmalta.com.

Say thank you with a Mother’s Day getaway  ian begley Make Mother’s Day extra special this year and say thank you to your mammy by taking her to one of the many lu xurious overnight stays in Ireland’s most sought after hotels and resorts. Trade the hustle and bustle for a tranquil world of serenity with an overnight stay at Fota Island Resort. Slip away and let the unwinding begin as you choose between a relaxing harmony facial or full body massage. Spend the evening savouring a sumptuous meal in Fota restaurant for two before retiring to the bar for a night cap or head straight off to bed and rise bright and early to make the most of the full Irish breakfast served fresh the following morning. T he Mother ’s Day Package at Fota Island

Resort is available until Sunday, March 30, from €358 for two people sharing. To book, call Fota Island Resort on 021 488 3700 or visit www.fotaisland.ie Indulge in pure luxury this Mother’s day at the Shelbourne Hotel. Treat your mother to an overnight stay in the five-star hotel in a room with a view to impress. An unforgettable night with chocolate c o v e r e d s t r a w b e rries waiting for you on arrival. Slip away to relax before dinner in the top class spa and use the facilities such as the sauna or steam room or maybe a swim or quick work out in the state-ofthe-art gymnasium. T he Mother ’s Day package at the Shelbourne is available from €349 per room valid until March 15. To book call The Shelbourne on 01-6634500.

Whisk your mother away this March 15 for a relaxing countryside break at Farnham Estate. Stay in one of their cosy guest rooms where yourself and your mum can spend some quality time together and enjoy afternoon tea by the fire in the drawing room. This package includes the overnight stay, your buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and unlimited access to the spa facilities at Farnham Estate Golf Resort & Spa. To book call 049-4377700 or email info.farnham@ radissonblu.com. Treat your mum to the gift of a well-deserved day out at Dunboyne Castle Hotel & Spa, County Meath. Spend a glorious day relaxing in the hydrotherapy pool and thermal spa along with a gorgeous range of blissful treatments. Begin with a mini facial and scalp massage, followed by a back, neck

and shoulder massage and choose a mini manicure or pedicure to finish. The Mum’s the Word package is available from €89 per person, combine with an overnight stay and breakfast with sumptuous threec o u r s e s e t e ve n i n g meal in the award winning restaurant, The Ivy, from €159 for two people sharing. To purchase a voucher or to book call 01 801 3500 or email sales@dunboynecastlehotel.com. With Ireland’s Blue Book, spoil your precious mother this Mother’s Day and book a night away of luxury and utter pampering for both of you at Marlfield House, County Wexford. This offer, from €153 per person, includes one night bed and full Irish breakfast in one of our luxurious bedrooms, delicious tea

and scones in front of the fire in the drawing room and library as well as our seasonal three-course supper in the Duck Restaurant. Why not treat mum to a special overnight break and let her become the Lady of the Manor at Mount Juliet Estate, County Kilkenny. T his stay includes overnight stay in Mount Juliet House and breakfast the following morning, Champagne Afternoon Tea at your leisure once during the stay, a complimentary late checkout of 2pm and a 15% discount off all Spa Treatments at the Treatment Suites. This offer from €99 per person sharing is valid until March 16. To book, visit www. irelandsbluebook.com or call Mount Juliet on 353 (0) 56 777 3000. To book: www.irelandsbluebook.com

3 March 2016 Gazette 21

San Lorenzo’s

New York-style Italian

South Great George’s Street

Brunch Tacos consist of jerk chicken with avocado salsa, chorizo, red pepper mayo and lettuce

The Picky Eater  Shane Rigney

Food Vlogger

Brunch is big business in Dublin with all the trendy spots vying for a slice of the young and cool’s disposable dosh. Coming out punching with an oft heard “best brunch in town” is San Lorenzo’s on George’s Street. A few mates and I headed in last Saturday for a birthday bite. The kitchen closes at three for lunch but due to the water protest on Dame Street we were a little delayed. Arriving to join the ontimers who had ordered for us at about ten past, the staff seemed to have given up the ghost for the day. I can understand this being in the business, when at the end of a busy shift on a dismally grey and bleak Saturday you don’t want to see another pleading face.

However, the grub was ordered and on the way . After a few reminders, the cocktails arrived and thankfully one hell of a margarita and a few more reminders later, the water glasses arrived. But the place was busy so i can understand the delay. Mellowed out and warming up from the arctic 5km run we had endured in aid of operation transformation a few hours earlier, I was looking forward to some good sustenance. Brunch is one of those celebratory treats that only happens every once in a while for most of us and seriously starving I was dying for one of “the best in town”. This self-proclaimed “brunch of champions” was more “brunch of runner up”, I’m afraid. Because of the aforementioned delays everything had been ordered for the table.

C r a b c a ke s w i t h asparagus and hollandaise had nice crab and lots of it but the crunch on the outside had gone soft, the crab needed more seasoning and the accompanying poached eggs were hard, a mortal mistake at brunch. The Brunch Tacos, which consist of jerk chicken with avocado salsa, chorizo, red pepper mayo and lettuce were not as crispy as i would like. The jerk spice was there but also needed more seasoning and the typical coriander and lime garnishes needed a little bit of something to add that tart savouriness. The Poached Eggs on Avocado Toast were far

fresher and more oozingly moreish and the avocado was tasty with a nice basil pesto drizzled over. Desserts of Nutella Cheesecake and Chocolate Pot were excellent though and the cocktails are super and very reasonable prices of around €10 to 14 per brunch item are fair. To end on a positive I will say I’ve had a few gorgeous dinners in San Lorenzo so clearly the kitchen is up to the job but there are inconsistencies. San Lorenzo’s is a cool New York-style Italian and the atmosphere certainly lives up to the description with good tunes and a buzzing crowd.

Conclusion Despite some inconsistencies in the food quality, San Lorenzo’s (at South Great George’s Street, Dublin 2, tel: +353 (1) 478 9383) is a great, lively weekend hangout with very reasonable prices.

Cocktails are super and very reasonable priced

Gazette

FOOD&DRINK

Gazette

22 Gazette 3 March 2016

OUT&ABOUT

CINEMA

ReelReviews

sinking feeling An impossible heist

(Cert 12A, 120 mins) This docudrama depicts the incredible true story of a daring Coast Guard rescue operation off of Cape Cod during a ferocious storm in the winter of 1952. When an oil tanker splits in half, trapping its crew aboard the sinking vessel, four brave Guardsmen set out to save them.

TRIPLE 9

An impossible heist (Cert 16, 116 mins) Triple 9 is the story of a group of criminals and corrupt cops, blackmailed by the Russian mafia, who try to pull off a dangerous heist so they can escape. While half of them try to take down a rookie cop in a 999, police code for “officer down”, to keep the rest of the force busy, the other half will steal the loot. Opens this weekend February 19.

DEADPOOL

Unconventional anti-hero (Cert R, 108mins) Deadpool is a 2016 American superhero film based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. A former special forces operative turned mercenary is subjected to a rogue experiment that leaves him with accelerated healing powers, adopting the alter ego, Deadpool. Starring Ryan Reynolds.

In the Old West, a sheriff (Kurt Russell), his deputy (Richard Jenkins), a gunslinger (Matthew Fox), and a cowboy (Patrick Wilson) embark on a mission to rescue three people from a savage group of cave dwellers.

Bone Tomahawk: Writer and director S Craig Zahler creates something unique

Soaked to the bone in quality Kurt Russell is enjoying a bit of a revival after several quiet years out of the limelight, and Bone Tomahawk (Cert 18, 132 mins), the genremelding Western that hits screens this week may just be a new highlight in the veteran’s long career. Last seen in Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight at the start of the year, Russell brings along the same grizzled charm and stupendous facial hair to this much less star-studded affair. And while Bone Tomahawk, which was filmed on a shoestring in just three weeks, may lack the budget of some of Russell’s more recent escapades, it comes out none the poorer for it thanks to its rather unique blend of ingredients. Bone Tomahawk

 Dave phillips

looks like an homage to the old West – in the aptly named little town of Bright Hope, lawman Sherriff Hunt (Kurt Russell) seems like the only source of stability amid the buffoons, spittoons, and saloons that make up the staple cinematic frontier. The usual balance of power is upset when an up-to-no-good stranger (David Arquette) enters town, unwittingly bringing some big trouble with him. When the stranger, along with the doctor’s

assistant (Lili Simmons) are abducted in the middle of the night, Sheriff Hunt must form a posse in an attempt to track them down. On the trail with Hunt is the decrepit town backup deputy, Chicory (Richard Jenkins); the stalwart husband of the missing woman, O’Dwyer (Patrick Wilson); and the well-spoken and even better dressed gentleman of dubious moral standing, Brooder (Matthew Fox). It may sound a little like old hat, but sitting snugly just beneath the frontier aesthetics, there are other, very different, levels of film going on – while Bone Tomahawk looks like a Western, it plays out in part like a horror film. Headed toward the

dreaded “Valley of the Starving Men” the group are constantly on the lookout for the nearmythical tribe of cannibals that are rumoured to reside there. As their journey drives them deeper into a hostile desert, the relationship between the motley crew begins to crack. But if you are expecting some traditional horror fare with a Western veneer, then you’re in for a surprise. Or at least, a long wait until the finale. At 132 minutes, Bone Tomahawk is slow going, but every moment is well spent. It is in the long setup and the ponderous desert journey that the film’s most valuable facet is revealed. Superbly written dialogue, nailed by on the

spot actors means that a considerable bulk of Bone Tomahawk plays out almost like an indie comedy. Reminiscent of 2015’s Slow West (which in turn felt similar to the Coen’s 2010 version of True Grit), this is a wildly selfaware West, where whimsical quasi-philosophical conversations are chewed and spluttered out in terse mountain-man terms. Amongst an array of very solid and enjoyable performances, Richard Jenkins in particular is sublime, and his subtler comic interactions with both Russell and Fox make the film worthy of an immediate rewatch. That the whole project is the brainchild of one relatively unknow n polymath makes Bone Tomahawk even more

endearing. S Craig Zahler writes and directs, as well as contributes to a brooding musical score. It is easy to see how the film could have ended up as a much more cut and dry 90-minute actionhorror, but Zahler’s patience pays off and he manages to create something quite special. It goes without saying that Bone Tomahawk won’t be for everybody – wide ranging as they are, horrors, westerns, and indie films do tend to have their unique audiences. But here is an incredibly potent blend, that is wonderfully crafted and a lot of fun to watch. Bone Tomahawk feels like an instant cult-classic.

Verdict: 9/10

3 March 2016 Gazette 23

24 Gazette 3 March 2016

Gazette

HEALTH OUT&ABOUT Successful career path leads to heart of business Weight Watchers: CEO Martina Sinclair on her busy, exciting work

Being three stone overweight, and joining Weight Watchers over twenty-five years ago, was the accidental start of a long, happy, and successful career path, which has recently seen Martina Sinclair appointed CEO of Weight Watchers Ireland. “My experience as a

member was so positive, and I loved the whole Weight Watchers ethos so much, that I applied to be a class leader,” Martina explains. Even as Mar tina’s roles within the organisation developed, she remains a leader and still takes meetings in Dublin City Centre, as well as occasionally

attending other classes. “My role evolved over 25 years, from member to class leader, to trainer where I recruited and trained new and current leaders, to training manager, followed by operations manager, then general manager, and now, in 2016, Weight Watchers Ireland CEO”.

Martina loves being in the heart of the business, and seeing the results Weight Watchers delivers. “I meet people every week in class who know they can trust Weight Watchers to help them make sustainable and healthier food and lifestyle choices, to achieve their weight loss goals, and, as a result, live happier and healthier lives,” she maintains. We i g h t Wa t c h e r s meetings are nationwide, and the business is suppor ted from a head office in Swords, County Dublin.

Successful At the heart of Weight Wa t c h e r s ’ s u c c e s s are the class leaders, themselves successful members, and passionate experts in healthy weight management. You can’t work in the industry without being interested in people, and how they manage their health and fitness goals, Martina Sinclair insists. “I keep an eye on what’s happening in the world of health and weight loss. Maintaining my ow n weight means making smart choices during the week, to enjoy a bit more flexibility at the weekends. “And if I want to lose a few pounds, or reignite my own weight loss motivation, I go to a Weight Watchers class and enjoy the experience of being a member,” she admits. Exercise is an impor-

Martina Sinclair says joinging Weight Watchers over twenty-five years ago, was the accidental start of a long, happy, and successful career

tant part of Martina’s life, and is a cornerstone of the Weight Watchers approach. “I love how it makes me feel, even though I don’t always feel like doing it. “It’s hugely important, not just for maintaining a healthy weight, but for helping to manage stress. “You’ll find me in the gym around 6.30am, so that I can get it done before I’m properly awake!” Martina says she has

absolutely no regrets about the years she spent being overweight, claiming it was part of what brought her to where she is today, and to a role she thoroughly enjoys. “I have always had great support at home, e s p e c i a l l y f r o m my husband, who has been with me literally through thick and thin, or maybe slimmer, fitter, healthier, and happier.” Weight Watchers Ireland is part of a global operation, and recent-

ly introduced its new healthy and holistic approach to managing weight loss, “Smar tPoints”. “Weight Watchers is a fantastic organisation. We’ve been around for over 50 years, always innovating as nutritional science changes, and always learning more about human behaviour! “Right now, it’s a very busy, exciting place to be”, the new CEO of Weight Watchers Ireland says.

3 March 2016 Gazette 25

Gazette

GAMING finance: how free-to-play gaming has also lead to great wealth

How to make a billion: create free games ...

ONCE again, games, tech and business watchers had the same target in their sights recently, with the widely reported news that another games figure has just become a billionaire, joining an elite club of passionate gamers who have been elevated to business leaders. Catchily nicknamed by some as ‘The Billionaire from Belarus’, 39-year-old Viktor Kislyi has just been valued as having a net worth of one billion dollars, thanks to his company, Wargaming.net, which is valued at $1.5bn. As the company’s chief executive, Kislyi has spent about 20 years following his passion for gaming, technology and history, with his early steps on an old computer in the family’s apartment in Minsk leading to him creating a company with his brother that, today, has more than 100 million users. Wargaming has been

 shane dillon sdillon@dublingazette.com

behind a number of niche titles, but latterly has enjoyed significant global success with World of Tanks. This multi-platform title is free to download and play, but has impressive in-built – and entirely optional – revenue streams, with Kislyi’s business model being one of the best examples of how to successfully monetise free content. Indeed, Wargaming is estimated to have had revenue of $590m in 2015 – not bad going for a company with a leading title that’s primarily free, and that many users never spend a penny, cent or a dime on (although

many gamers pay a little here, a little there to buy better equipment, useful supplies, and so on). On paper, World of Tanks may not have sounded like the catchiest of games – players roll out into battlefields in one of a large number of 20th Century tanks (and related vehicles) drawn from all the major powers of the time and then do battle – so, those looking for a royal rumble between Uncle Sam’s tanks and classic Soviet armaments, for example, can do so. With several forces’ vehicles to choose from, and gradually more powerful vehicles, parts and upgrades to unlock through constant usage and play, World of Tanks has created a player progression model that dripfeeds upgrades at a reasonable rate. A problem for many free-to-play titles has been that of progres-

Wargaming chief executive Viktor Kislyi; inset, World of Tanks

sion – make it too hard to advance, and players become frustrated and leave; create too many paywalls, or in-your-face monetisation options, and players get frustrated and leave; create intrusive follow-up player campaigns through email barrages or social media hits etc, and – well, you can guess what happens! Such common mistakes have been among the reasons why several high-profile gaming companies have stumbled and fell, as hit titles have stalled, player numbers plateaued, and revenues shrank or plummeted. Wall Street IPO dar-

lings one month have an awful habit of making quieter headlines with unimpressive quarterly returns, staff layoffs and managerial exits just a bit later on. Howe ve r, K i s l y i ’s impressive long-term success with Wargaming’s strategies and models, and particularly with

World of Tanks, may have finally cracked the problem of creating long-term growth and strong financial returns from free content. With its passionate fan base – and, interestingly, global reach to both historical fans and competitive gamers alike – World of Tanks has smashed its

way into being one of the world’s top multiplayer titles, with decent financials from its subsequent spin-offs. It will be interesting to see what Kislyi, and Wargaming, get up to next, and whether the company’s tanks can lead a charge into bold new gaming fronts ...

A preview of upcoming title, The Division, which has united gamers and critics  shane dillon

GAMERS around the world – more than 6.4 million of them, to be close enough – set a new record recently, when they played a three-day, time limited demo of one of the biggest games of 2016, The Division (PC, PS4, XBO). Finally due out on March 8, The Division has been in development for several years, with critical interest ebbing and flowing as time went on, without any sign of it appearing. Thankfully, The Division’s recent

beta (public test) launch – its second, in fact – saw more than six million gamers around the world eke as much gameplay as they could out of its three-day access period, where a decent section of the game was available to play through. Best described as a third-person action title with extensive role-playing elements, and with an online multiplayer aspect, The Division is set in a largely abandoned lower Manhattan, three weeks after a devastating, and almost completely fatal, plague breaks out during the Black Friday

sales, spread like wildfire thanks to contaminated bank notes. The electricity still works, and ‘stale’ Christmas decorations abound – but Manhattan is a mess, with abandoned cars everywhere in the clogged, snowbound and deserted streets. All kinds of gangs, thugs and dangerous people roam amid chaotic and abandoned quarantine zones, where bodybags are unceremoniously piled in grim piles,

and goods spill out of stripped and looted shops. As a Division agent, players seek to restore order to the

devastated city, undertaking missions to rescue civilians, help survivors, build up a home base, and much, much, much more. Look out for my full review in a few weeks, which I can confirm was very interesting – and fun – indeed. The recent beta presented one of the most detailed, prettiest and authentic game worlds I’ve ever seen (inset), with The Division really nailing what New York looks and feels like.

26 dun laoghaire Gazette 3 March 2016

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28 gazette 3 March 2016

SPORT

FastSport Nguyen wins big in Irish Badminton: DUBLINER Nhat Nguyen won badminton’s Carlton Irish Under-17 championships last weekend as he continues his rise up the ranks. The 15-year-old is Ireland’s number two singles player only behind twotime Olympian Scott Evans, moving ahead of Owen Marron and Joshua Magee while he also sits third in the men’s doubles list. Nguyen did not drop a single game en route to the final which he won comfortably 21-4, 21-8 against fellow Dubliner Mark Gannon. The boys singles was not the only event won by Nguyen as he also claimed the doubles title alongside fellow Dubliner and Badminton Ireland Academy team mate Paul Reynolds. Last month Nhat become the youngest player ever to win the Irish national championship title at just 15.

snooker: o’brien becomes oldest player in world to hit rare mark

Maximum 147 break for Fergal  james hendicott sport@dublingazette.com

SINCE Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay reached the top of Mount Everest in May 1953, approximately 7,000 other climbers have successfully followed them. In approximately the same period - following a world first by Joe Davis in an exhibition match in 1955 - only 41 people have scored snooker’s maximum break of 147 in official, professional competition. At just short of 44 years old, Lucan man Fergal O’Brien became the oldest player to achieve the maximum in competition, and only the second Irishman, clearing the table against Mark Davis

in Essex last week. Coming a week after Chinese player Ding Junhui scored the 117th ever 147 break, O’Brien also hit the papers for his prize money. Shortly after Ronnie O’Sullivan deliberately hit 146 as he didn’t deem the £10,000 reward for a maximum worthy of the score (O’Sullivan already has 13 perfect breaks), O’Brien took home just £500 his effort. Still, O’Brien remains pragmatic, focusing instead on putting away a rare chance. “You might play 1,000 frames without getting a good chance for a maximum,” he told GazetteSport. “Chances don’t come along very often. I don’t think I’ve got very close in tournament play before. Perhaps seven

or eight reds into a potential maximum break. You have it at the back of your mind, but you don’t give it that much thought until an opportunity comes up.” O’Brien does have a number of unofficial 147s - scored in exhibition matches or on unratified tables with slightly larger pockets. More than 40, in fact, but he admits that in snooker circles, you can be asked about first of all having a 147, and secondly having one in tournament play. The latter is a marker, something not yet achieved by a number of the world’s top ten, with players at the level of Joe Perry, Mark Allen and Martin Gould yet to pull off the feat.

Lucan’s Fergal O’Brien hopes fine achievement will aid the rest of his season

“I wasn’t too nervous,” O’Brien told us. “Calm enough. I think if it had been a difficult finish it might have been different, but I landed well on the blue and fairly perfectly on the pink and black. The black to yellow was a tough shot. It’s great to have ticked that box, though.” And O’Sullivan’s now infamous 146? “He could have given it to charity, if he didn’t need it,” O’Brien said. “But these things are so rare. Maybe he should have done it for the crowd. But I see his point about it being worth more than than that, even if the days of €147,000 reward in the

World Championships are long gone. “Obviously I’d prefer to have scored my 147 in the World Championship and walked away with the money, but getting one doesn’t mean you won’t get another!” Despite his antics, O’Brien is back in Dublin putting everything into preparing for the World Championships qualifying tournament, where he’d need to win three games to reach the Crucible. He’s currently ranked number 34 in the world. The Dub has had a run of incredible bad luck at the sport’s biggest event, having missed out by ten frames to nine on a pink,

black and respotted black since he last made the finals in 2010. “There are no easy matches, and there’s a lot at stake not matter who you play,” he explains. “It’s three games of best of 19, and there are no easy matches. When you get a bit older, the big thing is concentration.” “I guess the advantage of going into a world championship after a break is that so many people arrive after a succession of tournaments burnt out. “I think I’m probably due one after being so close over recent years, but it doesn’t really work like that.”

Alex oust St Gerard’s to claim Senior Cup thriller  sport@dublingazette.com

Alexandra College celebrate their Leinster schools senior cup success

ALEXANDRA College won a breathless Leinster Schoolgirls hockey Senior Cup final 4-2, seeing off reigning champions St Gerard’s to claim the title for the third time in the last five years. Indeed, they are now the most successful school in the competition’s history, winning the title for a 13th time in its 99 year history. It was a final of real colour and excitement, played out in front of close to 2,000 supporters at Grange Road with the balcony, flagpoles and much of the fenc-

ing adorned with the bunting and banners of the respective teams. For Alex, it was the league and cup double but they were pushed all the way. It was level at half-time as Eva Moroney breached the Milltown school’s defences for the first time in 10 games, cancelling out Isy Delamar’s thunderous opening goal. But two goals in quick succession after the break were the making and breaking of the tie as Katherine Egan provided a similar amount of power to Delamar for 2-1. Habika O’Connor then

turned in the third. The reigning champions from Bray were back in the mix with four minutes to go when Sadhbh McCarthy redircted a Lena Tice shot into the top corner. But O’Connor and Sophie Roopnarinesingh responded in brilliant fashion, exchanging passes direct from the tip off. The latter finished off the move to restore a crucial two-goal advantage to get over the line and confirm their place in next month’s Kate Russell All-Ireland championships. Alex now join Limerick’s Cres-

cent College, Galway’s Salerno and Loreto, Kilkenny in the AllIrelands with Ulster’s champions to be confirmed. The northern representative will be either Sullivan Upper or Methody who meet in the Ulster final on March 2. Earlier on, St Columba’s won the Senior 1 title. Hollie Canning opened the scoring in the first half before a double from Kitty Morris and one from Sophia Cole in the second half saw them beat Santa Sabina. Newparkwere Minor 1winners thanks to a 3-1 win in a shoot-out against Our Lady’s, Terenure.

3 March 2016 gazette 29

Gazette

Optimism abounds at LOI league launch GazetteSport caught up with St Pat’s Ger O’Brien, Shamrock Rovers’ Pat Fenlon and Shelbourne’s Kevin Doherty at the Aviva Stadium ahead of the new League of Ireland season  aaron gallagher sport@dublingazette.com

THE 2016 League of Ireland campaign gets underway this Friday with both divisions offering intricate narratives on top of the thrilling prospects of champions, promotions, European adventures as well as harrowing relegation battles. L a s t s e a s o n s aw Stephen Kenny’s Dundalk retain their Premier Division title with relative ease to add to their FAI Cup and Leinster Senior Cup wins in a season that saw the Lilywhites reign home four domestic titles from five. Challengers this term will come in the shape of a Cork City side that have played second fiddle to Dundalk over the last two seasons – finishing runners-up in both 2014 and

2015 – as well as Dublin hopefuls Shamrock Rovers and St Patrick’s Athletic. St Pats endured an up and down 2015 campaign which saw a disappointing fourth place league finish compensated by their EA Sports Cup title as well as confirmation of their spot in the first round of this summer’s Europa League qualifiers. Many suggested the Saints would challenge Dundalk for the Premier Division title last season but, in spite of a nine-game winning streak from June 5 until August, they could not get within reach of the eventual champions. Ahead of the season, captain Ger O’Brien stressed the importance of competing consistently with the league’s top clubs. “You are always think-

ing at the start of the season that there are three teams that can realistically win the title – I think we were one of them last year and we fell short”, he said speaking at the 2016 SSE Airtricity League. “This is the time for everyone to be as optimistic as possible before a ball is kicked. As soon as that whistle goes on the first night, the pressure starts from then until the end of October. “But we’re really looking forward to it; we have a lot of new players and I think there’s a lot of excitement in the group that we can push on and have a competitive season.” Also looking to improve on last season’s successful league campaign will be Shamrock Rovers. Now entering his third season in charge of the Hoops,

Ger O’Brien, left, St Patrick’s Athletic, and Conor Powell, Longford Town, at the launch of the 2016 SSE Airtricity League. Picture: David Maher/Sportsfile

manager Pat Fenlon will be looking to follow through on his intentions to leave a legacy at Rovers and bring home some silverware. His side finished in third place last season, providing the only regular challenger to Dundalk and Cork City in the top

A former Shels favourite as a player, Doherty said that both his managerial staff and players were a year wiser and more experienced to challenge heavyweights UCD and favourites Limerick FC. “I feel we weren’t quite ready for promotion last year; we had a very young

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

‘This is the time for everyone to be as optimistic as possible before a first ball is kicked’ - Ger O’Brien, St Pat’s --------------------------------------------------------

two spots. However, they still finished 13 points off the champions. “We slowly improved last year, we moved one place higher but we’ve got to keep challenging and competing for trophies because that’s what the club is about.” His side experienced the opportunity of a lifetime during pre-season when they competed in the Sait Nagjee Trophy held in India, where they beat least of all 1860 Munich as well as Argentina’s Under-23s before bowing out at the semifinals. Closer to home and down a division, Shelbourne will be looking to regain their place in the Premier Division as they once again vie to gain promotion under Kevin Doherty.

side”, he said. “I think we have improved in the last year. We’ve brought in Dylan and Cian Kavanagh, Jamie Doyle from UCD, and Robert O’Reilly who was at Drogheda United in the Premier Division. “We’ve brought a lot of experience in with Aidan Collins who was very good in the First Division last year, in my opinion he is one of the best centre backs in the league, so hopefully that bit of experience will add to the youth and talent of the other lads which will make the difference. “We’ve learned from things we did well, things we didn’t do so well and hopefully that will make the difference. We’re looking to improve on last year and if we can do that it would be great.”

FastSport

Anticipation bubbling up for the 2016 campaign ALTHOUGH a whistle won’t be blown nor a ball kicked until this Friday night, the 2016 Airtricity League season is bubbling up nicely for the new campaign. Arriving at the Aviva Stadium, sunshine beamed through the grand stunning venue’s countless glass frames. Ian Madigan was out on the pitch, practicing drop-goals alongside a couple of coaches from the Irish rugby team ahead of last weekend’s game to England. The combination of the weather and Madigan’s accuracy gave you a sense of optimism ahead of the new League of Ireland campaign. Con Murphy was MC for the day and kicked off proceedings by introducing a video of moments from last season to whet the appetite, it worked. It was then time for a number of speakers including the FAI’s Director of Communications Fran Gavin and Ronan Brady, Head of Digital and Marketing at SSE Airtricity. Much of the speeches were as you could imagine but one key note came from Gavin who announced an increase in prize money. “I am delighted to announce that we will be increasing the prize fund for the SSE Airtricity League Premier and First Divisions by 50% this season,” he said. “The prize money will rise from €315,500 to €475,500 for the League. In addition, we have the prize fund for the FAI Cup, the EA Sports Cup and UEFA Fair Play, which means our clubs will be competing for a total prize fund of €596.500.” Following that, Martin O’Neill took the stage for a brief Q&A with Murphy, who praised the league’s managers, and offered hope to Richie Towell and Chris Forrester on their chances of a senior international call-up in the future. Dundalk’s Stephen Kenny and Limerick’s Martin Russell, managers of the two favourites for both leagues then took part in their own Q&A, followed by Wexford Youths boss Shane Keegan and Derry’s new head-coach Kenny Sheils. As the speeches ended, opposing managers, players and officials were allowed chat amongst themselves and the media. There was a feeling of friendliness in the suite, although that may be long forgotten come 7.45pm this Friday night.

Gazette

30 DUN LAOGHAIRE gazette 3 March 2016

SPORT

FastSport

soccer: belfield side start campaign with tough limerick tie

UCD’s new signings Brian Shortall, Jason Byrne and Cathal Brady

Denny lands spectacular 400m national victory SINEAD Denny, pictured, was the Dundrum South Dublin AC star athlete at this year’s AAI national indoor championships in Athlone as she clinched the gold medal in the 400m with a spectacular personal best time of 53.57. The recent bad weather had hindered preparations for this year’s competiton, making this performance all the more remarkable, all things considered, one worthy of all those hard winter training sessions and some tough trekking around the hills at Ticknock. Denny was in determined mood as she blasted out of the blocks, leaving the opposition trailing in her wake, maintaining a blistering pace all the way to the finish line. This year’s youngest 400m finalist, Mollie O’Reilly, recorded a personal best in the heats on Saturday of 56.49 and notched up a gear on this time again in the final to finish fifth with another best of 56.32. In the women’s high jump, the DSD club was again in pole position as it eventually became a three-way jump off for the medals. Grainne Moggan won silver (1.70m) and Grace O’Rourke bronze also with an amazing 1.70 metres leap. The club has made huge strides in this event, and has previously bagged numerous medals in the blue-riband Dublin juvenile championships. Jerome Caprice was well in contention in the 3,000m walk final, claiming bronze against top class opposition. Other outstanding performances over the weekend came courtesy of Rick Nally in the 1,500m; Aengus Meldon in the 800m and Rachel Dunne in the 100m hurdles.

Favourites first for UCD

nathan kelly

sport@dublingazette.com

THE 2015 season was a wonderfully strange one for Collie O’Neill and UCD. Disappointment of missing out on a promotional playoff by six points will be probably be put on the back-burner in years to come as stories of the club’s journey in European football takes centre-stage. Having qualified for the Europa League through UEFA’s Fair Play Award, UCD were drawn to face F91 Dudelange of Luxembourg in a first round qualifier. The Students beat Dudelange won the

first-leg 1-0 and qualified on away goals after a 2-1 defeat away. They then faced Slovan Bratislava in the next round, a much tougher opponent and lost 1-0 away before a 5-1 defeat at Belfield a week later, ruling out a glamour tie in the third qualifying round. Asked if he thinks his side’s rather unexpected European exploits hampered their promotional push, O’Neill was sure of his answer at the SSE Airtricity 2016 season launch at the Aviva Stadium last week. “No I don’t think so anyway because we won

senior cup semi Monkstown power into national hockey final monkstown produced a breathtaking

performance to sweep aside Glenanne 6-2 in the Irish Senior Cup to reach the March 20 final showdown with Lisnagarvey. Town raced into a 4-0 half-time lead thanks to two goals from Geoff Cole, one from older brother Stephen and another from Gareth Watkins. Karl Smith, pictured celebrating, added the fifth while Jonny Bruton closed out the win.

five games out of five after the European campaign,” he said. “But I think what killed us last year was having a lack of a bigger squad and picking up suspensions at the wrong time which meant we missed a few players for some of the vital games, particularly towards the end.” The Students have seen a number of ins and outs come through Belfield in the off-season, with the additions of experienced striker Jason Byrne, Brian Shortall, Cathal Brady and Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters, and O’Neill seems pleased with how his side look going into the season.

“Preseason has gone good, so far so good anyway,” said the young manager. “Jason has settled in well, so has Cathal Brady and Brian and we signed Kieran last week as well so some really good additions to the squad this year. “As long as there are no serious injuries after the Collingwood Cup, it’ll have been a really good preseason.” Up first for O’Neill’s side is a trip to Market Fields to take on former college boss Martin Russell’s Limerick side this Saturday, who are heavy favourites for the First Division title, and the cur-

rent manager is happy to admitted his side are second favourites for more than one reason. “They absolutely are the favourites,” O’Neill said of Limerick. “They are a full-time team who have made some fantastic signings. The crowd that they have at Market Fields too, you can’t argue with them being the favourites. “I said last year that Wexford were the favourites and if we got a play-off spot we would be doing well. This year again I’m saying Limerick are the favourites but I do think we can go a little bit closer than we did last year.”

3 March 2016 DUN LAOGHAIRE gazette 31

Gazette

boost run

O’Carroll launches new guerilla running event

Club Noticeboard Cuala

dublin footballer, Rory O’Carroll, launched the Adidas and Life Style Sports Boost Run which will take place on Friday, March 4 in Dun Laoghaire. The two-time All-Star will take part in the 5km and 10km event alongside Olympic champion, Katie Taylor and Irish 100m hurdler, Sarah Lavin where they will take 120 lucky winners through a guided guerilla style run through the scenic surroundings of Dun Laoghaire.

football: healthy start to league for kilmacud

CONGRATULATIONS to Martha Byrne

teams won away from home with

and the rest of the Dublin ladies

the As getting the better of Lucan

football team on their win over Cork

Sarsfields 2-10 to 0-11 while the Bs

on Sunday.

beat St Vincent’s by 2-12 to 2-5.

The Cuala footballers star ted

Hard luck to Cuala’s Sinead Mur-

their 2016 league campaign off with

phy and Hannah O’Dea and the rest

three wins from four matches.

of the Dublin minor camogie team

Our first team lost 0-10 to 1-13 to a

who lost to Tipperary in a closely

strong Lucan Sarsfields side; ours

fought battle 1-4 to 1-10.

seconds beat Thomas Davis 3-10 to

Well done to Cuala’s Brian O’Ruaric

2-11 in AFL5, the thirds beat Stars

and Mathew Kiernan on winning the

of Erin 1-16 to 0-8 and Kevin Dowl-

higher education freshers Division

ing got his managerial career with

2 cup with Trinity College last week.

the fourths off to a great start by

Great performance by the senior

beating Croi Ro Naofa 3-9 to 1-6 in

ladies footballers against Temple-

AFL10.

ogue in their first match of 2016.

Well done to Michael Fitzsimons

A rusty first half led to a thrilling

and the Conor Mullally on beating

second half but it wasn’t enough to

Monaghan with the Dublin senior

catch Templeogue in the end.

footballers on Saturday night.

Well done to the Shane O’Brien

Good luck to Darragh Spillane and

led TCD hurlers who won the 2016

Con O’Callaghan who take on Meath

Ryan Cup on Saturday and, also, to

on Wednesday night with the Dublin

Cuala’s Brian O’Ruaric and Mathew

U-21 footballers

Kiernan who won the higher educa-

The minor hurlers got their season off to a winning start. Both

tion freshers Division 2 cup with Trinity College last week.

Shankill

Kilmacud Crokes picked off a good win over Na Fianna last weekend

Pearson goal powers Crokes AFL1 victory

afl division one Kilmacud Crokes 2-11 Na Fianna 2-7  sport@dublingazette.com

K ILMACUD Crokes came out on top in a heavyweight clash with Na Fianna in Silver Park in their first AFL Division 1 game of the new campaign, winning out 2-11 to 2-7. Crokes had a flying first half, dominating the middle exchanges while Ross McGowan caused overlaps with surging runs from centre back. They went in 1-9 to 0-2 at the break with Cian O’Connor providing the

opening goal. Na Fianna came out fighting in the second half as Conor McHugh got a goal and a string of points, along with a Gus Farrell major. But a Callum Pearson goal stemmed the tide and Crokes claimed the victory with four points to spare. Na Fianna will be looking to bounce back against a Cuala side they ran riot against last time out. Crokes take on St Brigid’s in Russell Park, who will be buoyant after their win away to Maur’s in Rush. Elsewhere, Cuala

welcomed back Lucan Sarsfields to Division 1 with the visitors to Hyde Road coming out on top 1-13 to 0-10 in a strong opening gambit. Tommy Brennan and Luke Keating kept the scoreboard ticking over in a tit for tat first half that ended 0-5 a-piece. In the second half, Lucan came out the sharper and tagged on four points in quick succession and held Cuala at arm’s length until a mix-up at the back for Cuala allowed Ror y Kelly tap home the coup de grâce into an empty net to ensure a winning

start to Lucan’s campaign. Cuala next travel to Mobhi Road looking to avenge a big loss last year, while Lucan have home advantage against Ballymun in the 12th Lock. Elsewhere, Ballyboden St Enda’s continued their build-up to the AllIreland senior club football championship final with a comfortable 2-16 to 0-11 victory over near neighbours St Jude’s. Ballinteer St John’s started their AFL2 campaign with a win, too, beating Parnell’s in Artane 3-13 to 1-11.

OUR juvenile academy, sponsored by

clubs Bray Emmett’s who hosted the

O’Donnell’s Pharmacy, Shankill, is back

girls and Cuala who hosted the boys’

in action every Saturday morning.

U-8 teams for a blitz.

Because of the inclement weather,

All team’s fixtures will be available

we are using several venues in order

during the week. The men’s adult foot-

to accommodate all of our various age

ball team lost to Ballinteer St John’s.

groups so contact your team man-

As the team is free of fixtures for the

ager for training details. If you would

next few weeks, there will be a series

like your child to join the academy, just

of friendly games arranged. New play-

come along any Saturday or contact

ers always welcome, contact Kevin on

us at secretary.shankill.dublin@gaa.

086 8449902.

ie or call 086 4010438.

There are no trials, no selection

ter. Join Shankill GAA Club. Your com-

processes and no annual subscription.

munity, your family friendly GAA club

The cost is only €2 for each child.

where you’re not just a number and

Many thanks to our neighbouring

everybody knows your name.

Kilmacud Crokes OUR AFL1 senior team got their league

their league campaign off to a good

campaign off to a good start with a

start with a win over Lucan on Sat-

win over Na Fianna. The AFL4 and AFL8

urday.

teams also had wins over Trinity Gaels

A big crowd attended the John Leonard (Dub Star) talk on Thursday

and St Joseph’s. The U-16 Division 1 hurlers also got

in the club.



Got a story? we want to know!

Call our sport team on 60 10 240 and SELECT OPTION 3

or email sport@dublingazette.com

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

winning start: Kilmacud Crokes get their AFL1 season up and running with Na Fianna victory P31

march 3-9, 2016

Pushing it to the maximum: Fergal O’Brien hits 147 as he builds up to Crucible bid P29

Cabinteely made a dramatic impact on the League of Ireland in their debut season

Cabo laying future base Eddie Gormley says second and season at Stradbrook likely to see the club push on with a greater lead-in to the League of Ireland First Division  nathan kelly

sport@dublingazette.com

CABINTEELY FC’s first season in League of Ireland football probably, as a whole, finished as many would have expected. Last place in the First Division it was, but an embarrassment it was not. An opening day win over eventual champions Wexford Youths, some excellent crowds at Stradbrook and many a genius marketing campaign online saw Cabo as one of the most spoken about teams in League of Ireland football in 2015. Eddie Gormley’s side will welcome Athlone Town to Stradbrook this Friday night as they look to kick-off their second season in the

Airtricity League the same way they did their first. GazetteSport caught up with Gormley at the launch of the league last week in the Aviva Stadium about his hopes for the new season. “Obviously everybody wants to win the league,” he started. “That’s every club’s hope at the start of the season but the reality is you’ve got to look at where you are and where you’ve come from. “At this stage, it’s about trying to push on as a club. Will we win the league? Hopefully, but possibly not, it’s about developing young talent within our club from around the area and giving them a pathway to start their career. I’m optimistic going forward.” Like all clubs in the off-season, Cabint-

eely have been busy on the transfer-front. “At this stage we’ve resigned over a dozen of the squad from last season and then signed another dozen or so from other places,” said Gormley. “I’m happy with the squad going into the season and I think what will be key for us is that we’ve more time to prepare than we did this time last year. “We probably started a week or so before everybody else and that’s because, and I told the players this, we need to do a bit more work than everybody else. “But the lads have reacted really well to preseason, it hasn’t gone too badly. We’ve competed with some Premier Division teams and,

at the end of the day, all we can do is go out and try improve on last year.” One man Gormley and Cabo will have to do without in the long-term is Victor Ekanem. Announced as the new club captain recently, the centre-half has become a hugely popular figure with the Stradbrook faithful but picked up an injury in pre-season and will be out for a number of months. “It’s awful for Victor,” said his manager. “He ruptured his Achilles and all we can do is give him the time and support he needs. “It’s a horrible time to get injured as a player, but look, we have to get over it and hope whoever plays in his place can stand up and perform.”