Gazette DUN LAOGHAIRE
L A R U T A N E H T S E R O L P X E THE GAZETTE D A O R E H T P U T S U J ’S T A PARADISE TH SPORT Dublin Ladies go fourth
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AUG 31 - SEP 6, 2017
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PILOT INITIATIVE TO INTRODUCE TRAFFIC-CALMING MEASURES
€30k scheme to end ‘rat-run’ along Cross Avenue EMMA NOLAN
‘RAT-RUN’ drivers using Cross Avenue are about to hit a bump in the road, with a €30,000 pilot scheme set to introduce a range of traffic-calming measures. The street is one of a number of areas in the town being targeted in a bid to improve road safety in the area, with seven housing estates also set to get a number of road Full Story on Page 2 safety initiatives.
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DUN LAOGHAIRE | PILOT TRAFFIC-CALMING SCHEME SET FOR AREA
€30k to put brakes on Cross Avenue ‘rat-run’ EMMA NOLAN CROSS Avenue in Dun Laoghaire – a spot notorious for ‘rat-running’ drivers – is set to get a €30,000 investment to tackle traffic issues. The grant is part of a pilot traffic-calming scheme and the council will have to record speeds both before and after implementations of varied traffic-calming initiatives and prepare a report on the effectiveness of the measures. Cross Avenue is receiving €30,000 from the Department of Transport to undertake further traffic counts, a license plate survey to establish if rat-
The end could soon be nigh for Cross Avenue being used by ‘rat-run’ drivers. Picture: Google Maps
running is still occurring, a safety audit, some possible scheme adjustments and an overall report. Speaking on the investment, Minister for Transport Shane Ross said that the consequences of
speeding in built-up areas like Dun Laoghaire can be fatal. He said: “This initiative will examine appropriate ways of providing effective traffic-calming measures which do not overly
rely on the use of ramps. “In many cases, the measures will be associated with new lower speed limits. A new speed limit option of 20kmph was introduced recently following the Jake’s Legacy campaign, which was set up after the tragic death of six-year-old Jake Brennan, who was killed in a road traffic incident in the housing estate where he lived.” The pilot project in Dun Laoghaire also involves implementing measures in seven housing estates in conjunction with the residents of those estates. Avoca Avenue cell, Marley Grange estate,
Balally estate, Beech Park/Clonkeen Drive cell, Ballyogan Avenue, Watsons estate and Hainault Road are the proposed estates to receive certain new measures, including speed alert signs. At present, all of the estates selected have a 50 kmph speed limit – the speed alert signs will be programmed to feed back the vehicle speeds to drivers where they exceed 30 kmph. Minister Ross added: “This measure is part of a swathe of initiatives which I am introducing as part of my campaign to increase road safety and in doing so, save lives.”
FASTNews
Picture: Luke Martin
Having a cracking good time at a lobster festival LOBSTER lovers An Cathaoirleach Cllr Tom Murphy and Peter Roberts, proprietor of Roberts of Dalkey, took a moment to savour some of their favourite seafood at the Dalkey Lobster Festival. Held late last week, the popular event drew together a delicious mix of seafood, live music and plenty of craic for locals and visitors alike, with not a crabby comment to be found about the quality of the event. The whole village got into the spirit of the festival, with a wide range of special offers and local produce providers adding to the buzz by the sea.
Author wants your photos of Stillorgan’s olden days LOCAL author Hugh Oram is looking for help with his second book on Stillorgan, with Hugh asking people across Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown to dig out any old photos of old Stillorgan. Modern Stillorgan has lots of modern buildings and high-tech infrastructure – but Hugh, the author of The Little Book of Stillorgan, is looking for photos of old Stillorgan, showing everything from longdemolished houses and forgotten shops to street scenes, events at schools and churches, building the motorways, old shots from St John of God’s and other local charitable institutions – anything to help show old Stillorgan.. If you can help, you can get in touch with Hugh at hughoram7@gmail.com
Make your dentist smile with an award nomination
Micheal’s ready for Moore hurling tips
FIANNA Fail leader Micheal Martin called to Cuala, Dalkey and Glasthule recently where he was delighted to indulge his passion for sport. He’s pictured congratulating Cuala’s Oisin Gough on the senior hurling team winning the Tommy Moore Cup earlier this year, with their superb 2-19 to 1-10 win over Ballyea making history as Cuala became the first Dublin team to be crowned All-Ireland club hurling champions. Micheal was happy to go over some of the finer points of the historic match, and to heft aloft the Tommy Moore Cup as well.
IF YOU’RE one of the people who don’t dread going to your dentist, why not nominate your dentist or dental team for the Sensodyne Sensitive Dentist of the Year awards if you believe they’ve gone above and beyond normal patient care in treating you? Patients who nominate a regional winning dentist or dental team will receive a gift of €500, while the patient who nominates the overall winner will receive a further €1,000. The deadline for nominations (see www.sensodynesensitivedentist.ie) is midnight on Saturday, September 30, so get your nomination in with plenty of time and you could both have something to smile about! Dublin Gazette Newspapers, Second Floor, Heritage House, Dundrum Office Park, Dublin 14 Tel: 01 - 6010240. Email: sales@dublingazette.com news@dublingazette.com web: www.dublingazette.com twitter: @DublinGazette Visit us on Facebook at DublinGazetteNewspapers
31 August 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 3
PEOPLE | FAMILY OF DUBLINER BATTLING CANCER SEEK HELP TO KEEP TREATING TEEN IN THE US
Help give brave Robyn a fighting chance at life EMMA NOLAN A DUBLIN teenager has reached a significant milestone after starting secondary school while battling serious illness. Brave Robyn Smyth has neuroblastoma and has endured various forms of invasive and aggressive treatments including chemotherapy, surgery, stem-cell transplant and radiotherapy for years, so her starting school this week is a huge achievement. Mum Bernadette said: “It’s a miracle to reach such a huge milestone.” Robyn,who has just turned 13, was diagnosed with stage
four neuroblastoma in 2007 at the age of three; she subsequently went through aggressive treatments and went into remission in 2009. She remained cancer-free until July 2013when a tumourwas found
and more treatments were needed. Robyn cleared most of the disease
and remained stable until April 2015, when a scan showed the disease had progressed again. This left Robyn’s family with no treatment options left in Ireland, and they were given only a 5% chance of survival for Robyn. In order to give Robyn options, and the best chance of saving her life, Robyn’s family decided they had to go abroad for treatment. This has led them to Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital in Michigan, where Robyn is taking part in trial treatment. Bernadette said: “It’s ongoing, we go over all the time. “We’re back on September 25 and we’ve been going since 2015 when we were told there was nothing else they could do for her here.” Robyn’s family receive no state
funding and rely solely on the kindness of others and donations to help her continue her fight. “We really need help,” Bernadette said. “Anybody can do anything at all [to help out].” Now, Robyn has started first year at Clonturk Community College in Whitehall – and while her mum said Robyn was very nervous starting school, she hopes she’ll make new friends there. Donations can be made at robynslife.com, or alternatively at gofundme.com/robynslife
Despite her treatment, Robyn (13) does her best to keep her spirits up
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MONKSTOWN
Volunteers sought for clean-up MONKSTOWN Village Tidy District are seeking volunteers for their autumn clean-up. Taking place on September 16, the group are looking for people to help clean up key areas in the town, including The Crescent, Grosvenor Terrace, Pakenham Road, Carrickbrennan Road, Longford Terrace and Monkstown Road. Those interested in taking part can meet at Monkstown Church of Ireland at 3pm on the day and must bring suitable tool and equipment if they have them, such as brushes, spades, shovels or wheelbarrows. Safe and comfortable clothing must be worn such as gloves and high-vis vests. All ages are welcome and all helpers are invited to refreshments at 5pm.
CHARITY | INITIATIVE
Recycle your batteries for Barretstown’s brilliant work
Have you got a bit of the write stuff that Maeve had?
FANS of the late, great Maeve Binchy have an opportunity to put their writing skills to the test and to win a great prize. To celebrate the launch of Echoes – an inaugural event celebrating the work of Maeve Binchy and other renowned Irish writers – Dalkey Castle & Heritage Centre is inviting the much-loved
writer’s fans to write a letter to a friend about their favourite Maeve Binchy novel or short story. Echoes will take place in Dalkey on September 29 and 30. The winner of the best letter competition will receive a prize comprising a selection of Maeve’s novels, which will be presented to the winner during Echoes, while
the best three letters will also be published on the official Maeve Binchy website. All letters should be a maximum of 500 words and submissions should be sent by email to info@ echoes.ie before September 7. For further information and to book your ticket, see www. echoes.ie.
EUROPEAN Recycling Platform (ERP) Ireland is “powering positivity” at Barretstown in a new three-year initiative, Batteries for Barretstown, aimed at increasing awareness of battery recycling and raising much-needed funds for the children’s charity. The partnership hopes to energise consumers in their approach to battery recycling by providing new branded waste batter y collection points in Lidl stores nationwide, and simultaneously facilitating increased numbers of batteries recycled and raising vital funds for Barretstown’s camps for children and families
affected by serious illness. Batteries can also be recycled free of charge in any retail store selling batteries, in schools, libraries, civic amenity sites or at one of ERP’s free recycling events held across the country. All batteries collected will contribute towards the initiative. ERP will distribute newly-branded little green Batteries for Barretstown recycling boxes across the country to schools, libraries and retail outlets to support the campaign, with the Batteries for Barretstown will also currently featuring in Lidl stores nationwide.
31 August 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 5
BUSINESS | COMMUNITY CONCERNED ABOUT SUPERMARKET’S SCALE
FASTNews
Primary schools urged to enrol in a new EU initiative DUBLIN Rathdown senator and spokesman on EU Affairs Neale Richmond, has urged all primary schools to take part in the Blue Star education programme being run by European Movement Ireland. Senator Richmond said: “This is a great opportunity for entire school communities to learn more about Ireland’s place in Europe and how the EU has helped contribute to a more peaceful and prosperous Europe. “This programme covers a range of topics including historical, geographical, cultural and creative [matters] and the institutions [of the EU]. “This programme fosters an educated and informed understanding of how young people can interact with the EU and other Europeans.” Senator Richmond added: “More than 75% of Irish laws now originate at an EU level. The Blue Star programme aims to foster better knowledge and understanding of the EU and how it affects our lives amongst Irish primary school pupils through classroom projects and interactive activities. “The programme is extremely flexible and goes hand in hand with the existing primary school curriculum. Many of our schools locally have benefitted from welcoming many pupils originally from outside Ireland or whose parents moved over recently, and the Blue Star programme is a brilliant way to highlight and promote this range of cultures. “To sign up for the Blue Star programme, teachers can visit www.bluestarprogramme.ie and complete the simple registration form,” he said.
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Big fuss over Lidl plan for quiet Shankill site EMMA NOLAN PLANS for a new “extensive” Lidl supermarket in Shankill have been criticised by a number of locals who say that the development is “significantly out of scale” for the area. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown planners sought further information from Lidl Ireland about their plans which will see the former Shankill Shopping Centre site redeveloped. Lidl Ireland proposes a redesign of the main retail unit as well as the building of several new standalone units, including a cafe, creche and medical centre on-site. Some 14 submissions were made by local residents seeking changes to elements of the plan put forward by Lidl. Concerns include the over-development of the site, not retaining the character of the original shopping centre, concerns about excessive traffic and a lack of parking for the development itself were cited. One objection said:
Lidl Ireland say they have been mindful of the residential setting of the Shankill Shopping Centre site (above)
“The proposed development is overbearing and significantly out of scale with the existing development on the site and will have a detrimental impact on the overall character of the surrounding area.” Following these objections, Lidl held a public consultation day in April in advance of submitting their plans. However, they failed to make any changes to their submission post the consultation event. Cllr Cormac Devlin (FF) told The Gazette he is hoping that Lidl will “accommodate as many of these concerns as possible and that they make the
necessary changes to their plans”. H e added: “Lidl did this when they sought planning permission for their shop in Glenageary. They took on the concerns then, and I believe they should now do the same for the people of Shankill. “The majority of the local residents that I’ve spoken to are very pleased that this site could be revitalised after many years of effectively being dormant.” The Shankill Shopping
Centre was once home to SuperValu which was sold in 2011 to Superquinn. That deal fell through and the centre was subsequently bought by Bilaro, which lodged a planning application with the council in 2013. Permission was granted for a 15,000sq m centre and work began. The Bilaro group had practically redeveloped the entire site, which saw
the retention of the apex roof and the existing tenants (O’Donnells Pharmacy and Envy Hairdressers), but work stalled and they then sold the site on to Lidl Ireland. A spokesperson for Lidl Ireland confirmed to The Gazette that they have reviewed all of the public observations on file and have been mindful of the residential setting of the site. They said: “Stone cladding is proposed to the Lidl store facade to reflect the surrounding stone walls, thereby relating the proposed development to its surrounding context. The existing mature trees on the site have been integrated into the design, where possible. “The results of the traffic assessment demonstrate that the proposed development will have a minimal impact upon the existing traffic situation. “Further changes have been made in line with the public observations such as improving on-site pedestrian access and signage.”
Listen to their cuppa words of advice about suicide support in this month-long initiative IN THE heart of the city, Rory Cowan – formerly of Mrs Brown’s Boys – joined members of the Liberties community and shared a chat and a cuppa with one of the nation’s best listeners, RTE’s Joe Duffy, ahead of Suicide or Survive’s (SOS) National Tea Break initiative on World Suicide Prevention Day: Sunday, September 10. Encouraging everybody all across the whole city to support the initiative, Rory said: “It was a pleasure to come down and have a cup of tea with the team from Suicide or Survive to help launch their National Tea Break campaign. “The idea of SOS’s National Tea Break campaign is to get the nation talking and raise funds, so that we collectively can make a difference to suicide and mental
health issues in Ireland.” Joe added: “Mental health is something that affects everyone, and as a nation, we need to join together to try and lift the stigma surrounding it. Presenting Liveline on national radio, I know how difficult, but also how helpful, talking about mental health can be.” To take part in the National Tea Break, register and download a pack from www.suicideorsurvive. ie, then all that’s left is to get the community together, pop on the kettle and get chatting. The pack includes everything needed to host a successful tea break. All funds raised will be invested in bringing Suicide or Survives’ unique programmes and services to communities across the nation.
Picture: Marc O’Sullivan
6 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 31 August 2017
Out and About
Joanne Cullen, Dearbhla Lawson, Paddy Lavelle, Philomena Poole and Lorna Kerin
Lorna Kerin, Aoife Dowling and Sandra Roe. Left: Philomena Poole. Pictures: PETER CAVANAGH
Working to improve lives of young people T
HE inaugural meeting of the ‘Children and Young People’s Committee’ (CYPSC) took place in the Samuel Beckett Civic Centre, Ballyogan. This is the first meeting of this new collaborative structure to ensure services planned for the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown area address identified needs and improve outcomes for children and young people.
Joanne Cullen, Kerri Smith, Liz Cullen, Michele Relihan, Marion Brennan and Kevin Webster
Cormac Shaw and Greg Tierney
Dearbhla Lawson, Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council and Greg Tierney, senior manager for Youth Services, Crosscare
Joanne Cullen, Dearbhla Lawson, Philomena Poole and Lorna Kerin
31 August 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 7
Swimming final makes waves A
N Cathaoirleach of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown Cllr Tom Murphy was on hand to launch the 87th Dun Laoghaire Harbour swim. Over 300 athletes braved the cold for the ‘All Ireland Final for Sea Swimmers’. The iconic event is part of the Open Sea Swim Season which opened on May 28 and closes with the Jones Engineering Dublin City Liffey Swim on September 9. Pictures: LUKE MARTIN
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INITIATIVE | STRUCTURE ‘AIMS TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES’ FOR YOUNG CITIZENS
New committee launched to help the county’s kids A NEW interagency structure to improve local services for children and young people in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown was launched last week. The inaugural meeting of the Children and Young People’s Committee (CYPSC) took place in the Samuel Beckett Civic Centre, Ballyogan. CYPSC’s overall purpose is to improve outcomes for children and young people through local and national interagency working. Speaking at the meeting, coordinator Lorna Kerin said: “The engagement of very busy senior managers from a range of sectors in this inaugural meeting demonstrates the clear commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. “I am particularly pleased that the Irish UN Youth Delegate, Paul Dockery, is attending to ensure the voice of young people is heard by senior decision-mak-
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‘CYPSC’s overall purpose is to improve outcomes for children and young people through local and national interagency working’
The committee members at the first CYPSC group meeting Pics: Peter Cavanagh
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ers in the area.” Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown CYPSC includes representatives of all the main statutory, community and voluntary agencies and organisations working locally on behalf of and with children and young people living in the area. Philomena Poole, chief executive of Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, said that the initiative is a great opportunity to “develop a plan that will touch the lives of all children and young people in the county and help them in achieving their full potential”.
FASTNews
On yer bike for Jack and Jill A BIKE trip around beautiful Kilkenny on Wednesday, September 16 will help to raise funds for the Jack and Jill Foundation, with Dubs asked to help add their peddle power to the fundraiser across a 66 or 100km route. Together with their country cousins, anyone taking part will be helping to make a very real difference to seriously ill children and their families. To register (€30), see www.jackandjill.ie.
A free festival of food at Airfield
Lorna Kerin, DLR Children and Young People’s Services Committee; Aoife Dowling, All Island Research Observatory,
Cormac Shaw, Southside Area Partnership
and Sandra Roe, research consultant
and Greg Tierney, Crosscare
THE Airfield Estate Festival of Food is back this September, with Dun Laoghaire’s foodie fans invited to come along and join the fun. Set across 38 acres on September 9 and 10, each day will feature a number of activities for the whole family at the free festival, including free workshops, demonstrations and talks across a variety of topics. For the festival’s full programme of events, see www.airfield.ie.
NCAD students shortlisted for book designing
Plenty of Krauss words were happily heard at the library AUTHOR Nicole Krauss and interviewer Nadine O’Regan held a very interesting conversation at the inaugural interview in the autumn series of DLR Library Voices recently, where contemporary writers are interviewed about and give readings from their work. The American author’s new novel, Forest Dark, is scheduled for publication in September, and she was happy to discuss her themes, working methods and inspirations with Nadine and the very interested audience of fans and readers at the DLR LexIcon library. Picture: Peter Cavanagh
THREE NCAD graduates have been shortlisted for the British Book Design & Production Awards 2017. The awards promote and acknowledge innovative book design and expert craftsmanship, with a particular emphasis given to excellent layout and standards of typography, representing fresh, innovative design. Conor Burke, Conor Foran and Finn Mullen were selected from only six books that made the student category shortlist across Ireland and the UK.
31 August 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 9
CHARITY | GREAT-GRANDMOTHER DELIGHTED WITH ‘WORST-PLANNED’ EPIC CROSS-COUNTRY TRIP
Joan’s 17-day walk to help fundraise for cancer group
EMMA NOLAN
LOCAL great-grandmother Joan Flynn is back home after walking from Dun Laoghaire to Kerry to raise money for cancer awareness. “I walked the whole way – it took 17 days!” Joan told The Gazette. “I was so slow,” she joked, “I’d say there were snails overtaking me!” Joan’s husband was diagnosed with late stage prostate cancer five years ago and, because it wasn’t discovered early, it was inoperable. “My husband and I are separated, but he’s in the last stages of cancer. He was diagnosed five years ago with prostate cancer ,but it was too late – it had travelled into his bones and was inoperable, and now we’ve been told that the chemo isn’t going to
work and he’s in quite a bit of pain. “The Children’s Hospital in Crumlin remains the only hospital with a dedicated cancer ward for children in Ireland. St John’s Ward has been recently refurbished and they need support to continue to maintain their very high standards.” The 70(ish)-year-old’s goal was to raise awareness and funds by doing what she does best: walking. “I just thought, I have to do something,” she said. And so, she did: averaging around 10 miles a day on the 300km journey, Joan – who has ran 20 marathons in her life – set out from her home in Dun Laoghaire on July 23 and reached Killarney 17 days later. Starting from Dun Laoghaire, she walked to Tallaght on the first day.
“My son called me and asked me where I was, and I when I said Tallaght he couldn’t believe it,” she joked. From there, she walked through Jobstown, Saggart, Rathcoole, and along the hard shoulder on the N7 before reaching Naas, Newbridge and the Curragh. From K ildare, she walked to Portlaoise, Roscrea, Neenagh, Moneygall, into Limerick to Patrick’s Well, then on to Rathkeale, hitting Newcastle West, Templeglantine, Abbyfeale, Castle Island, Farranfore and finally into Killarney. “When I say it rained, it just deluged down the last day. The last stretch is really bad because the road is really narrow, and there’s no hard shoulder to walk on and there was a river of mud on each side
of the road. So the last day was quite miserable, but then the sun came out when I got there so I was delighted!” Joan admits that her epic journey was the “worst-planned operation in the history of the world”, adding: “I set off with nowhere to stay, very little money and not really a clear idea of where I was going.” Luckily, Joan’s sister managed to find her places to stay along the way every night, and most places were generous when they found out she was doing the walk for charity. “I met so many fabulous people along the way; I made so many friends,” Joan said. Joan has raised €1,000 so far, but is still accepting donations on her Everyday Hero page; see https:// give.everydayhero.com/ ie/my-big-long-walk-1
Picture: Google Maps
It’s close to 270km as the crow flies from Dun Laoghaire to Killarney - so fair play to Joan for walking much farther
Ready for the off ... Great-grandmother Joan Flynn and her trusty walking shoes, as she prepared to walk to Killarney; right: pal Mike congratulates her as she nears her destination
10 GAZETTE 31 August 2017
Out and About
Steve O Reilly, Conor McGrath and Aran Johnson
Red-hot launch party for Suzanne
James Patrice Butler, Suzanne Jackson and Mark Rogers. Pictures: BRIAN McEVOY
Samantha Gibbons
Lena Morkuniene
S
UZANNE Jackson celebrated the launch of her new SOSU eyeshadow palette Hot Fire at Fire Restaurant at The Mansion House last week. Guests on the night included her husband Dylan O’Connor, parents Damien and Susan, sisters Carla and Katie, Lauren Pope of The Only Way is Essex, James Patrice Butler and Mark Rogers as well as models Michele McGrath, Jodie Wood, Terrie McEvoy, Louise O Reilly and Lena Morkuniene.
Dominique Nugent
Niamh Cullen
AJ Fitsimons and Mark Rogers
Fiona McNamara
31 August 2017 GAZETTE 11
Sinead Murphy
TOWIE star Lauren Pope
GAZETTE
12 GAZETTE 31 August 2017
DUBLINBUSINESS
Free masterclass for businesses on a range of topics BUSINESS membership organisation Guaranteed Irish is holding a free workshop for businesses on best practice in employment law and how to safeguard your business. The workshop, Safeguarding your Business, is being run in partnership with Guaranteed Irish member Peninsula and will take place at the Guaranteed Irish offices at 1 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2 at 8.30am on Tuesday, September 12. The workshop will explore topics including the latest updates in employment law, how to increase staff performance and what the correct procedures for redundancy issues are, and will be delivered by an employment law expert. Speaking in advance of the workshop, Brid O’Connell, chief executive of Guaranteed Irish, said: “Every company, no matter what size it is, will face employment law, HR and health and safety issues at some stage over its lifetime, and how they handle these issues will determine their success as a business. “Our workshop will equip businesses with the tools they need to safeguard against these issues, and it’s not just for Guaranteed Irish members – all businesses are welcome to attend; they simply need to register in advance.” Further information on the free event can be found at Eventbrite.com; just search for ‘Guaranteed Irish Masterclass’.
ENTERPRISE | NEW INCENTIVES INCREASINGLY TEMPTING PEOPLE BACK
Enticing emigrants to return to new chances ALMOST a quarter of a million Irish people are thought to have emigrated since 2008. Those returning home face challenges, but many companies are putting in place enticing incentives to tempt talent back to our shores. Osborne, one of Ireland’s leading recruitment consultancies, is focused on placing returning emigrants in top positions in Ireland across various sectors. H e r e a r e f i ve o f Osborne’s insights into what’s enticing emigrants back home... Innovation – Ireland is demonstrating agility and innovation with top market salaries, pensions, career development opportunities, healthcare cover and competing strongly against its European counterparts. Software Hubs – international conglomerates and new start-up software
Returning emigrants and workers are finding ever more job opportunities to stay in Ireland, suggest Osborne
companies, that deliver gaming, animation, and software development, are making Dublin their home. Freelancing Internationally – it’s estimated that some 40% of workers will be freelance by 2020. Professionals in design, journalism and web development can now freelance internationally from Ire-
land, and this flexibility and freedom is tempting Irish emigrants back to literally work from home. Gaps in the market – there are clear skill gaps in areas such as IT and engineering, so there are strong job opportunities for returning emigrants in these sectors. Accountancy and finance, cyber security and human resources
continue to show signs of a positive incline too. A great place to work – Ireland has some of the best workplaces in Europe, many of which are getting recognised by the Great Places to Work organisation. An increasing number of firms are offering extremely competitive salaries, employee benefits and a focus on
employee career development. To find out more about Osborne, visit w w w. Osborne.ie, see www. facebook.com/osbornerecruitment or follow Osborne on Twitter @ OsborneRecruits and hear what the Osborne team has to say on Linkedin (https://www.linkedin. com/company/1809059)
North Korean missile sends the euro’s worth rocketing to $1.20 NORTH Korean military manoeuvres with missiles have seen the euro’s value rocket to its strongest level in more than two years, in a move which is expected to impact on European and Irish trade, at least temporarily. The pariah state’s latest show of force – firing a ballistic missile right across the northern end of Japan – earlier this week saw the euro rise above $1.20, marking a strong rally for the currency in what some traders described as a vote of confidence in the currency’s stability. The modest gain – some 0.4%, to
$1.2023 – marks the euro’s strongest point since January 2015, with the North Korean missile launch rattling markets, spurring the euro upwards. It has also been reported that next week’s monetary policy review by the ECB is also likely
to have briefly impacted on the euro’s worth. The market jitters prompted by the unexpected missile launch saw nervous global markets shift to new levels, with the dollar hitting a four-month low against the yen, set against the euro’s rise. The geopolitical tensions in the region are likely to have an impact on the leading currencies for some time to come, with Irish business leaders also keeping an eye on any mid-term economic impact arising from any instability connected to North Korea’s decisions.
Let Dublin Gazette Newspapers take you on a tour of the news and events taking place across the city and county this week
GAZETTE
DUBLINLIFE
31 August 2017 GAZETTE 13
BUSTER IS A BRILLIANT LITTLE DOG OUR Dog of the Week looking for their #SpecialSomeone* is Buster, a very cute, six-year-old Terrier crossbreed. Little Buster would love a home which would be nice and quiet for him so he can settle in at a gentle pace. Buster won’t take long to wrap his paws around your heart and you will become firm friends. A game of fetch and a treat will be a great way to build a bond with this character! Buster is a very clean dog and perfectly housetrained too. He enjoys his home comforts, and is a real creature of habit. If you are looking for a fun-loving, sparky little dog to join your quiet home, he could be just for you! If you can be Buster’s #SpecialSomeone*, then please contact Dogs Trust on 01 879 1000. They are based in Finglas, just off Exit 5 on the M50. Map and directions can be found on their website, www.dogstrust.ie. You can also find them on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/ dogstrustirelandonline, or on Twitter @DogsTrust_IE.
Punk Lives!!!
PARANOID VISIONS KEEPS IT REAL P16-17
GAZETTE
14 GAZETTE 31 August 2017
DUBLINLIFE
DIARY
CHARITY: WHACK THE KETTLE ON AS PART OF A NATION-WIDE FUNDRAISING COFFEE MORNING
Brew up, buddies, to help support all our hospices YOU never need an excuse for a cuppa – and Keith Duffy is calling on everyone to whack the kettle on and help support Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning For Hospice on Thursday, September 14. The annual event, supported by Bewleys, invites everyone to have a coffee morning in aid of the country’s hospices, with hopes to raise €2 million to support the incredible
work hospices provide all around the country. From homes to hospitals, colleges to convents, Keith is calling on everyone to brew up and dig deep to help the great cause. You can register at www.hospicecoffeemorning.ie, or call 1890 998 995, to get a coffee morning pack containing Bewley’s coffee, posters and invitations free of charge.
You can also text COFFEE to 50300 and donate €4 (a minimum of €3.25 will go to the cause)to support your local hospice and homecare services, and help to give patients the best quality of life during their illness.
HELP YOUR TAKEAWAY CURRY SOME GLORY LOVE your chipper? Want to help it take a bite at some fame? Now’s your
chance to help sing its praises, thanks to the Just Eat National Takeaway Awards 2017. A tasty angle on nominations is that everyone who votes also has the chance to win free takeaway grub for a year. The Just Eat awards, now in their fourth year, are a way to recognise the quality of food and service consistently delivered by this sector of the food services industry. Voting at eat.ie/takeawayawards2017 is open for all takeaway restaurants in Ireland, with a deadline of September 25,
before an awards night to be held on October 17.
IT’S ULYSSES – BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT THEATRE fans are in for a treat with a special version of James Joyce’s classic, Ulysses, as part of the upcoming Dublin Theatre Festival. Running at The Abbey from October 2-14 as part of the festival, and then on to October 28, Dermot Bolger’s vibrant version of Ulysses has been described as a fun pandemonium of live music, puppets, dancing, clowning, bowler hats
and kazoos, all adding a fresh, fun feel to the quintessentially Dublin story. For tickets, see abbeytheatre.ie.
DROP BY THIS GREAT ABSEILING EVENT T H E M a k e - A -W i s h Foundation are hoping to rope in as much support as possible for an unusual fundraiser tomorrow, (Friday, September 1) when abseilers go down the side of one of the city’s tallest buildings. Head over to the State Street building at Sir John Rogerson Quay, Dublin
2, where the plucky souls will abseil 115 feet down its side at 1.30pm in the Rope For Hope event. O r g a n i s e r s a r e n ’t stringing anyone along – the popular event is a key fundraiser for the charity, and will help it to continue its terrific work with sick children and their families. Watch the abseilers do their thing all day on Friday, from about 10am until 6pm, and drop the organisers a euro or two to help support the great cause. For further information, see https:// makeawish.ie.
Pictured launching Ireland’s Biggest Coffee Morning for Hospice are Eleanor Flew, Our Lady’s Hospice & Care Services; Nuala Drennan; Mark Saunders, Bewleys and Keith Duffy. Picture: Lensmen
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FAMILIES: CLOSING DATE ALMOST HERE FOR FIRST KIDS SPECTACLE WEARER OF THE YEAR AWARDS
Last chance to let the whole world see how cool your kid looks with glasses IRISH international and Connacht rugby player Kieran Marmion has put out a last call for entries for Specsavers’ first ever Kids Spectacle Wearer of the Year awards. The competition looks to celebrate children in Ireland who wear glasses with pride, to help remove any stigma to needing specs. Urging people to enter, competition ambassador Kieran – who needed to wear glasses since he was nine years old – said: “From my own experience, I know children can feel embarrassed when they first put on a pair of frames, worry-
ing about what people might say or think.” Aside from honouring young glasses wearers, the competition will also help to raise vital funds for Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, with Specsavers donating €1 to the charity for every entry received. The winner will receive a trip for two adults and two children to Legoland Windsor, staying for two nights in the Legoland Hotel. Today, Kieran wears contact lenses on the rugby pitch, and glasses when he’s enjoying any downtime.
Nina Mullins McShea and Trysten Bruen help Kieran find the right frames at the launch ofn the awards search. Picture: Dan Sheridan
He said: “I’m delighted to team up with Specsavers as we look to encourage children to wear their glasses with pride.
It’s great to be a part of something that celebrates such a positive message, whilst also raising money for a great chil-
dren’s charity.” The competition is open to children aged four to 15 and Specsavers’ Dublin stores are appealing for last entries. All that is needed is an image of the child in their specs and a brief description of why they are happy to wear them. Peter McGrath, Spescsavers, said: “We are encouraging all those interested to enter the first ever Kids Spectacle Wearer of the Year awards. It’s a fantastic platform for younger children as it recognises that kids should wear their glasses with pride and not be embarrassed when an optician pre-
scribes you with a pair. “In our Specsavers Dublin stores, we have hundreds of child-friendly glasses that they will be more than happy to wear, such as our newly launched Minions range, our JCB range and a Disney collection.” The closing date to enter the competition is midnight on Sunday, September 10, with the finalist to be chosen by a judging panel before the overall winner is announced later in the month. For further information and to enter online, see https:// www.specsavers.ie/kids-swoty
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DUBLINLIFE
N O S ’ T A H W
E D I U G S T N E EV with JAMES HENDICOTT
Electric Picnic
Okay, you need to leave the city for this one (and already have a ticket), but we could hardly leave out Ireland’s essential music festival, could we? The XX, A Tribe Called Quest, Duran Duran, Run the Jewels and Pete Tong star. 5ive are playing, too. September 1-3.
MUSIC
DUBLIN’S ORIGINAL PUNKS POWER ON The fusion of Paranoid Visions with their hero Steve Ignorant from Crass has the Dubliners fired up Steve Ignorant with Paranoid Visions
Ireland v Serbia
A key World Cup qualifier for Martin O’Neill’s side against the side above them on goal difference at the peak of Group D at the Aviva. While second place is likely to produce another player off, a win here will see Ireland in line for an automatic berth in 2018. September 5.
DURAN DURAN
What’s The Story?
Lives in Direct Provision Learn about the many challenges faced by those arriving into Ireland’s asylum-seeking direct provision system, as Christchurch Cathedral hosts a series of speakers including those who have directly experienced the set up. September 4.
The All Ireland Hurling Final
The Dubs might be some way short of hurling glory these days (and for far too long), but a final between Waterford and Galway is enticing if only because it feels like a 2017 changing of the guard. Croker, September 3.
An Introduction to Zero Waste
A little education on how to reduce your impact on the world is always worth exploring, right? Zero waste is a movement towards reducing and ultimately eliminating packaging. Get a taste of its philosophy and methods at Smallchanges, Drumcondra, on September 4.
Clothes Swap at the Dublin Food Co-Op
Get rid of those nice clothes you don’t wear/ fit into/ ever dig from the back of your wardrobe, and trade them in at Dublin’s coolest market venue for something you’ll actually wear outside the house. You’d be mad not to. September 7.
Words on the Street
A literature festival takes to the streets of Dublin, specifically Parnell Square, on which six different venues will host a collection of broadcasters. Rick O’Shea and Katherine Lynch are amongst those involved. September 7
Pet Shop Boys
The London duo fresh from the eighties have sold over 50 million records worldwide for a very simple reason: they’re music is catchy as hell. Expect hits like ‘West End Girls’, ‘It’s A Sin’, and ‘Always On My Mind’ on display on September 6.
New album of the week
LCD soundsystem - American Dream. The disco punks return - having officially quit as a band a few years ago, creating an emotional farewell concert movie - with surprisingly new music ahead of a long since sold out Dublin date.
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JAMES HENDICOTT PARANOID Visions were punks almost before the concept even existed in Ireland. Breaking through in the early 80s, their early gigs were chaotic in nature; often descending into riots at stage front, with the band spat on, demonised and in many cases banned from appearing in venues. “We ended up playing ‘Battle of the Bands’ gigs just for somewhere to play,” guitarist Peter Jones recalls. “We’d be on between these acoustic guitar acts, and there’d be 80 punks there waiting for us to come on stage. All hell would break loose for the four songs we got to play, and then all our fans, who would be most of the audience, would just leave. Usually we’d come second, as they had to admit
we’d had a lot of impact, but didn’t want to give the prize to us after we’d unleashed that kind of chaos. “I vividly remember a complaint going in at one of those competitions saying that we only rehearsed once a week, and shouldn’t be allowed to win. The man who said that is still involved in the Dublin music scene. He was right about the rehearsing to be honest.” There’s plenty of water under the bridge since those days: Paranoid Visions broke up for a decade, reformed, went through an extended campaign of Bono-criticism (including the release of punk parody ‘I Will Wallow’), courted controversy by promoting an album with an image of Brian Cowen’s head aligned in gun sites, and wrote an entire album slamming what they saw as a parochial, Catholic church-led rot in the country. They are, in short, not afraid to go hard against
the political status quo in true punk fashion, with vocalist Declan Dachau famed for both the bluntness of his vocals, and harsh quips in which he espouses staunchly anti-nationalist, inclusive principles. Most recently, Paranoid Visions have been heavily involved with a real hero of theirs, inviting Steve Ignorant of British punks icons Crass into the fold at regular intervals. The unlikely combo has led to shows before thousands, and boisterous records that have exploded on the punk scene. “We put on the Last Summer tour in Dublin, and kind of got along. Steve’s very shy, but very personable,” Jones explains. “He found that when he came over here, there’s none of that tongue-tied stuff, he just got slagged by people like us. He really liked that, really connected with it.
“We played with him again in Manchester and were supposed to play New York, but it got cancelled. We ended up doing the final wrap-up gig in Shepherd’s Bush Empire instead. Afterwards we had this amazing after-show party and really got to know him. Later, we told him we had this song, and we were having problems getting the vocal right; that we basically wanted it to sound like him. And he said ‘I’ll do it’. So he came over and did it, and ended up doing the verse on another one, too. “So there were two tracks, two lots of vocals done in two hours, and that included a tea break, a chat and a play with the dog. Afterwards we went out down the Foggy Dew, and he said ‘this reminds me of the first two Crass albums. There was no time for messing around, we just got in and did it. We got studios cheap in the middle of the night. That’s what I love doing, and that’s where I came
from. I’ve really enjoyed this, if you ever want to do anymore give me a shout.” Paranoid Visions and Steve Ignorant agreed to make an EP, which later became an album, with the label later insisting that live shows were included, too. Things haven’t really looked back. “Initially speaking [the two versions of the band, with or without Steve] were two radically different things,” Jones recalls. “The way he sees it is that there is only one band, that has his name in it when he’s with us, and we change the set list to accommodate him - we don’t have quite as much stuff to choose from. But we have stuff that we only ever do with Steve, and then three or four just random tracks from our stuff that he doesn’t take part in.” The band have played in both forms at some festivals, the double appearances a chance to experi-
ment with the two sides of the band. As well as the addition of Steve Ignorant as a potent vocalist, the reason for Paranoid Visions success today is simple: politics. Jones isn’t afraid to delve into his views, in which he broadly condemns the present-day political class, slams Brexit and Donald Trump, and rallies against selfinvolved nationalism. His band do much the same, delivering a visceral, creative swipe at political convention in the time of populism, and expressing an affection for the developing fringes of hip-hop that are doing the same. Right now, with populism on top, a vocal dissenting voice like Paranoid Visions could hardly be more relevant.
New album ‘Rebellion’ - which does what it says on the tin - is out now.
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DUBLINLIFE Go amblin’ along Antrim’s stunning coast
NORTHERN IRELAND: LEAVE CITY STRESSES BEHIND WITH A LEISURELY BREAK IN FERMANAGH,
From spacious, sandy beaches to dramatic cliffs and crystal-clear waters, there are plenty of relaxing spots and great views to take in along the coast
SHANE DILLON DE S PI T E b e i n g a n Ulsterman hailing from beautiful (if rain-blasted) Donegal, I probably have about as much – or as little – experience of the rest of Ulster as most of our readers. That’s doing Ulster a disservice, particularly her topmost counties, as the northern province is home to some of the island of Ireland’s most stunning scenery and historic sites, with the Causeway Coastal Route along the north Antrim coast seeing travellers and tourists alike threading one spectacular location after another together into a trip to remember. I hit the road a few weeks ago to explore the route for myself, noting that many of the names scattered along the way and about the coast evoke the region’s rugged
The Giant’s Causeway can seem to have more tourists than rocks, but the whole area is breathtaking
past (such as Greysteel, Castlerock, Waterfoot, and Windyhill), as well as more familiar names like, um, Ringsend, or my quirky favourite, Blagh, which some might say at
the thought of heading all the way up to the top of our island – but how wrong they’d be, given the sights that await. Many of these old names sound a bit mythi-
cal, but they suit the ancient spots that they typically adorn, with several of these rugged places proving perfect for Game of Thrones’s well-publicised use as Westeros locations in the hit show. Despite this auspicious link to such a well-known show, the well-signposted Causeway Coastal Route is more than worth the trip in its own right, without the need to detour to any Thrones location. Loosely speaking, it’s an arc that loops up and around the headland from Derry over towards Larne, with the western side sending you on to the delights of Donegal through the nearby gateway town of Letterkenny, while to the east, you’re just a skip away from bustling Belfast. However, city life will be the last thing on your mind as you drift along the relaxing route, which has several gems laid out
along the way to spur you along to the next memorable destination. The journey takes you through well-tended farmland, up and across rolling hills, alongside quiet shores lapped by the Atlantic Ocean, and across flat plains with rising walls of distant blue hills framing the views perfectly, reminding you that, with a little lick of sun, our island can be very beautiful indeed. The landscape here is dotted with pretty towns and villages, such as Castlerock, which has the luck to face onto a long, long golden strand (top), where some of the coast’s many dark cliffs dip their feet into the cool ocean. Further along, past busy Coleraine and back on track along the northern coast near Portrush, the scenery starts to become ever more rugged, with the dramatic silhouette of ruined Dunluce Castle
perched precariously on a crumbling cliff edge hinting that you’re drawing near to the ancient heart of the route – The Giant’s Causeway (left). As Northern Ireland’s sole UNESCO World Heritage site, it’s a place that’s absolutely swarming with visitors, all year round. It’s here that you’ll start to think of all the battleinspired names you’ve passed as you fight hordes of other tourists for a parking space – you may even need to park in nearby Bushmills, home to the famous distillery, and avail of the free shuttle bus up to the causeway. However, the world-
famous site is worth any initial aggravation (but heed the boxout below), as you’ll be happy to tick it off the bucket list once you’ve surveyed its unique columns, and the equally striking hills and ridges which sweep around it. Last but not least, the steady of foot and brave of heart can also step lively across the nearby Carricka-Rede Rope Bridge, just a few kilometres away up the coast, and another tourist magnet. These are just some of the many treasures along the route, but whether you travel east-west, or west-east, just be sure to head north for a terrific trip.
A GIANT TIP TO REMEMBER Visiting The Giant’s Causeway with some friends, we all queued up to pay admission at the visitor centre – only to then see afterwards that you can just walk straight through a wide-open side entrance! (They were absolutely fuming, once they spotted this, echoing many irate complaints online which highlight the same maddening point.) So, if you’re visiting, be aware that you can just walk up and across the centre’s sloped roof, which is covered in grass, and then down the stairs at the other side to access The Giant’s Causeway, free.
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TRAVEL
WHILE FURTHER NORTH, A CAUSEWAY ROUTE DELIGHTS WITH ONE TREASURE AFTER ANOTHER
With its spectacular views, luxurious suites, spa and famous golf course – and of course fishing lessons for kids – Lough Erne Resort truly is a treat for all the family.
Lough Erne, which dominates Co Fermanagh and surrounds Enniskillen, is the perfect getaway for a short break in one of Ireland’s most beautiful, unspoiled settings. Picture: Xxxxx Zzzzzz
ALISON O’HANLON NESTLED between the lower and upper sections of beautiful Lough Erne, the historic island town of Enniskillen is the perfect base to discover the Lakelands of Co Fermanagh. And what a county it is. Stunning scenery, incredibly friendly welcomes and of course, water – water absolutely everywhere. We took the kids up to explore the Erne County for a few days before they headed back to school – and it was an experience none of us will ever forget. Though just a couple of hours up the road from Dublin, Fermanagh feels a world away from the hustle and bustle of Dublin, boasting beautiful ancient forests, grand stately homes, ancient castles, and stunning rural scenery that, when the sun is shining, you could easily mistake for the south of France. Enniskillen itself is a unique spot, sitting on a tiny, milelong island, guarded by the 600-year-old Enniskillen Castle,which itself houses two fascinating museums that even managed to hold the attention of an iPad obsessed six year old and her nine-year-old sister – no easy feat. The recently renovated Fermanagh County Museum explores the county – and castle’s – rich history since it was built by the Maguire chieftains through to the plantation of Ulster, while the castle’s other museum explores the military exploits of the Inniskillings regiments as far back as the 1700s. Just a short drive away from Enniskillen, not far from the splendour of the 18th century Florence Court House, is the magnificent Marble Arch Caves Global Geopark, a miracle of nature beneath the foothills of spectacular Cuilcagh Mountain.
A WELL ERNED BREAK Clockwise from above: Enniskillen Castle, fun at the Fermanagh County Museum, exploring Marble Arch Caves by boat & Devenish Island (x2)
This was probably the highlight of the trip for the little ones, who were intrigued as we were guided through a fascinating natural netherland of rivers, waterfalls, winding passages and lofty chambers. From the wonders of the underworld, we went back to the luxurious surrounds of the five-star Lough Erne resort for a swim in their infinity pool, before heading into town for a wonderful meal at Saddlers Restaurant on Belmore St,where the friendly staff spoiled us with steaks to die for. The following morning we took a quick ferry ride over to Devenish Island, where St Molaise established a monastery in the 6th century. The most important of Lough Erne’s plethora of ancient island church settlements, Devenish Monastic Site is a must for history buffs, while the kids will love exploring the ruins of a 12th century round tower and 15th century priory that dominate the site. Before heading home to Dublin, we stopped in at lovely Enniskillen one more time, where we had a bite to eat at Blakes on the Hollow, which has to be one of Ireland’s friendliest tradional pubs. The hubby said the Guinness was great, while the food was right up there with Saddlers – and that’s some compliment! One thing I can say for sure as we headed home: Enniskillen, rest assured – Isle be back! For further information on Northern Ireland go to www.discovernorthernireland.com
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Seasonal delights LAMB RUMP WITH BLACK PUDDING AND FIG MASH For 6 lamb rumps of 300grms - 400ml red wine 10-12 sprigs of thyme 2 large chopped carrots 2 bay leaves 6 cloves of garlic 1 litre chicken stock 1 large chopped onion Salt and pepper to season Handful of chopped parsley
THIS week the new Woodlock Brasserie at Citywest Hotel is sharing one of its fantastic recipes with us. With a menu that reflects finest seasonal ingredients, it offers innovative cuisine that can be described as artwork on a plate. With a location convenient to Dublin City
Method: Marinate lamb in all ingredients in a deep oven tray for at least one hour. Then cover in tinfoil, place in oven at 150 for 2 to 2 ½ hours until lamb is tender. For plating: Grill two rings of black pudding and place on plate. Mix one fig which has been warmed in oven through mash potato. Place quenelle of mash next to pudding, place sliced rump on top and coat in reduced red wine jus.
centre, the Woodlock Brasserie (above) enjoys stunning views of the Wicklow mountains and beyond. Award winning executive head chef Ciaran Cunningham brings an international creative flare to the menus which explore rare culinary techniques to enhance your experience.
A slice of New York style in Dublin DUBLIN’S newest food market has opened its doors on Wellington Quay. Dollard & Co is a New York-style food hall with a deli-style menu and more formal dining options. Set on the ground floor of the historic Dollard Printworks, the building itself is the oldest steel frame structure in Ireland. Reminiscent of New York’s Dean and Deluca, this new Dublin version has been meticulously restored to create a gorgeous food hall and market filled with the best in Irish and international fare. Stepping in to Dollard & Co from either Wellington Quay or the entrance on East Essex St, visitors will be greeted with displays of seasonal produce, artisan breads, deli treats, meats, freshly caught seafood, a fantastic assortment of local and international cheeses, charcuterie and innovative and take-home meals. At the very heart of Dollard & Co is The Grill. This casual dining centrepiece seats 40 people. Sit around our open plan kitchen, watch the chefs hard at work cooking up a storm. Open till 10pm each night (with a late night pizza hatch which stays open till 4:30am on weekends) Dollard & Co is open for Dubliners to enjoy.
FOOD FOOD&DRINK Be shellfish & treat yourself at Shel’ fest IT’S that time of the year again when there’s an ‘r’ in the month, and The Shelbourne Hotel focuses on all things oyster with their annual Oyster Festival. Running at the hotel from September 1 to 17, the The Shelbourne Oyster Festival will give oyster-lovers of all levels the opportunity to enjoy the country’s finest at their peak of perfection. A six-course oyster tasting menu by Chef Garry Hughes and his team is available in The Saddle Room at The Shelbourne every evening throughout the festival for €69 per person, or with wine pairings for €95, selected by sommelier Nisea Doddy. Along with the more elaborate tasting menus a selection of oysters simply iced and on the half shell will be available. All are Irish oysters from Carlingford, Sligo and Dungarvan, and Galway Natives – served over crushed ice with the traditional accompaniments of shallot vinaigrette and Tabasco. There’s also an interesting choice of hot oyster dishes, ranging from the classic Oysters Rockefeller to the signature Oysters Shelbourne, a half dozen freshly shucked oysters, Liscannor crab meat and lobster glazed with Hollandaise and Gruyère, or smoked oysters with creamed, truffled Lusk leeks. For further details on oyster menus available at The Shelbourne, see Notes to Editors, below. The 2017 Oyster Festival at The Shelbourne runs from September 1st to 17. For more details or to make a booking please call + 353 1 6634500. www.shelbournedining.ie
New healthy treat ticks all the boxes HB Ice Cream has introduced a healthy sweet treat in association with Irish vitamin and protein bar, Fulfil. Available for a limited time only, The HB Happyful Yoghurt offers a tasty combination of natural yoghurt layered with freshly cut fruit, creamy softserved ice cream and topped with pieces of Fulfil’s best-selling flavour, Peanut and Caramel. Now in selected HB Happiness Stations nationwide, the Happyful Yoghurt (RRP €3.50) provides the ultimate solution for snacking on-the-go, ensuring those with a sweet tooth stay fulfilled whatever time of day. For all the latest information on HB, visit www. facebook.com/hbicecream/ or search @HBIreland on Twitter and Instagram. To find out more about the Fulfil range, visit http://fulfilnutrition.com or search @Fulfil_nutrition on Facebook and Instagram.
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STYLE
Too cool 4 school @ Mango EMMA NOLAN Style Editor
BACK to school season is upon us, and you’ll find plenty of inspiration at Mango. September is a time for some new gear to keep the kids going all term long, and the brand have plenty of great looks to help give some lessons in style, whether he or she is in a dress-down day or relaxing at home – after all their homework’s done, of course!
See in-store for all prices
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In the FASTLANE The new smaller, compact Karoq adds to Skoda SUV attack SKODA’S SUV attack is continuing as the company has revealed that the new smaller and compact Karoq model will be available in Ireland from December of this year. The new Skoda Karoq claims to offer exceptional space and functionality for five people. The new technologies features for the Karoq include a digital information display and a new 1.5 TSI petrol engine. With the new Karoq, Skoda is offer two specification levels rather than the usual three. The range will start with the mid-level Ambition and there will be a higher specification Style version. Skoda plans to expand the Karoq range further in 2019 with the launch of the SportLine and luxury Laurin & Klement derivatives. While the new Skoda Karoq will be unveiled to the public at the Frankfurt International Motor Show in September, the first models will arrive at Irish Skoda dealers in early December.
The new Skoda Karoq is the latest compact SUV offer which will be due in Ireland in December of this year
Iceland warms to Mercedes-Benz vans SUPERMARKET chain Iceland has taken delivery of four additional new Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans that have entered their fleet alongside their original purchase of five units last year. All four 314/36 medium wheelbase vans have been converted by Paneltex and are fitted with Alex Original fridges. Other features include high roof, automatic gearbox, reverse camera and PARKTRONIC parking and manoeuvring aid. These latest units will be used for Home Deliveries and will be deployed to new Iceland stores opening up across the country at Gorey, Shannon, Limerick (Watch House Cross) and Cork (Ballincollig). These new store openings will bring the total number of stores Iceland operates across Ireland to 20.
Volvo’s stylish new SUV proves a safe bet Volvo has a new generation XC60 on the market with fresh design changes to the Swedish brand’s best-selling mid-range SUV. MICHAEL MORONEY took the XC60 to the roads where its performance, safety and comfort impressed.
VOLVO aims to build on its enviable safety reputation with the launch of the new XC60 mid-size SUV that brings together new levels of safety coupled with style. Volvo claims this new XC60 is one of the safest cars ever made because of the level of safety technology that’s standard on many of the models. The XC60 does the SUV thing with a level of style and comfort that makes this car less intrusive, more acceptable and now with its new platform, also more comfortable. While the Volvo headline story for the new XC60 is about safety, for me the car excels in terms of driving performance and comfort. On the safety front, the new XC60 Volvo now adds Steer Assist to their ground-breaking City Safety system to every XC60 version. This car is also available with the new Oncoming Lane Mitigation which uses the Steer Assist to help prevent head-on collisions. And now Volvo’s Blind Spot Indication System (BLIS) uses Steer Assist in reducing the risk of lanechanging collisions. Volvo’s City Safety system is fitted to every XC60. This includes automatic emergency braking with pedestrian, cyclist and large animal detection, and the world-first application of SteerAssist. This feature helps to avoid or limit the severity of collisions at low speeds by assisting with the steering in an emergency, such as
The new-look Volvo XC60 comes with subtle styling changes that include new headlights and styling lines
Volvo XC60 D4 2.0 D4
SPECIFICATIONS Engine Engine power 0 – 100km/hr Economy Fuel Tank Capacity CO2 emissions Road Tax Band Main Service Euro NCAP Rating Warranty Entry Price
when swerving to miss an obstacle. For new XC60 buyers the attraction of the car revolves around the optional impressive safety package that’s not offered by the competition. The Volvo Pilot Assist is a good example, which is Volvo’s semi-autonomous drive feature. Volvo Pilot Assist assists
2.0 litre 190hp 8.1 seconds 21km/litre (5.2/100km or 60mpg) 60 litres 136g/km B2 €280 20,000km/12 months 5 star (2009) 3 years (100,000km) €53,950 with the steering (up to 130km/hr) and takes care of the acceleration and braking required to keep the car within lane markings and at the desired cruising speed or distance from any vehicle in front. Pilot Assist is a step towards fully autonomous driving. I drove the new 2.0-litre turbo-diesel version of the
XC60 with an enhanced engine feel that shows little change in actual performance and economy features over the engine used in the previous model. All new version XC60’s come with an eight speed automatic gearbox that allowed ver y smooth acceleration and gave the car a pace that was impressive. This car gives an impressive feeling of being well balanced in every respect, power, performance safety and comfort, a true all-round offer at the higher end of the market. Over a 1,100km test route that brought me on a mix of longer country drives with some city collections, this new XC60 made driving a total pleasure. The standard allwheel-drive system was rarely engaged as summer road conditions were good.
Volvo’s new Sensus infotainment system is also standard. This is operated through a 9” portraitstyle touch screen that’s easy to get used to. The package includes satellite navigation with lifetime annual map updates and Real-Time Traffic Information (RTTI) and an intuitive voice-activation system. It also provides access to the internet and a range of cloud-based apps. The Volvo XC60 is in the luxury end of the mid-size SUV market and it deserves to be. Entry prices start at €53,950 but you’ll soon drift up the specification trail with the range of optional safety features offered on this car. For me, the car is hugely balanced as an impressive and comfortable driving machine that sets new standards in safety. The others will follow.
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Mercedes-Benz offers new eco-friendly bonus MERCEDES-BENZ in Ireland is
GAZETTE
MOTORING
Car technology is a must for Irish drivers
now offering a €2,000 change-
A NEW survey shows that over two thirds (69%) of Irish
over bonus to encourage car
drivers claim that car technology plays an important
owners to switch to new more
role in their purchasing decision, while 44% said that they
eco-friendly models from
would not be comfortable being a passenger in a self-driv-
their Mercedes-Benz range.
ing car. The latest Carzone Motoring Report has examined
The offer applies to owners of
trends in the Irish motoring industry and found that Irish
EU1 to EU4 emissions-stand-
drivers are now placing more emphasis on in-car technol-
ard diesels.
ogy and have become reliant on it to get them from A to B.
The discount, which is
The Carzone Motoring Report is compiled by analysing
offered irrespective of the
data from the 67 million searches carried out on Carzone
make or model the customer
in the first five months of 2017, as well as an in-depth
currently owns, is available
survey of 2,647 Irish motorists and a cross section of car
on orders of new Mercedes-
retailers in Ireland.
Benz diesel cars powered
The report finds that 65% of drivers claim that technol-
with EU6 emission-standard
ogy has made them a better driver and 70% say that tech
engines, as well as new
makes the driving experience all the more enjoyable. When
Mercedes-Benz plug-in
it comes to how we are using tech in the car, it appears
hybrids. The incentive can be
that drivers prefer technology that makes driving easier
combined with government
rather than simply for entertainment purposes. Almost
subsidies applicable to plugin hybrid vehicles.
half of those polled (47%) say they can’t live without their Mercedes-Benz is offering a €2,000 changeover bonus for new car buyers of more eco-friendly models
Owners of diesel cars with
trusty GPS. The survey found that most Irish motorists believe that autonomous driving will happen in their
Certain conditions apply, the vehicle
emissions standards EU1 to EU3 will
purchase of a new car. Owners of diesel
receive additional financial compensation
cars with emissions standards EU4 will
must have been registered in the cus-
that they would embrace the experience of being a
for the disposal of their used vehicle. This
receive the trade-in price agreed with
tomer’s name for at least six months and
passenger in a self-driving car, however, there remain
is determined by an independent body,
the dealership in addition to the €2,000
the new vehicle must be registered before
concerns about lack of control and the threat of the car
which must, in turn, be set against the
changeover bonus.
March 31, 2018.
being hacked.
lifetime. Just over half (56%) of Irish drivers also revealed
GAZETTE
24 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 31 August 2017
DUBLINLIFE
CINEMA
DETROIT: HISTORIC DIVIDE RESONATES SHARPLY IN FILM BASED ON 1967 RIOT
ReelReviews
Disunited states of America in timely tale “IT’S hard to believe that this could happen in America,” laments a radio reporter in a short snippet of archive audio in Kathryn Bigelow’s Detroit (Cert 15A, 142 mins). Recounting true-life events steeped in racial hatred and police brutality, the above quote seems particularly timely. Following the tragedy of the recent events in Charlottesville and a certain world leader’s less-thandamning response to the actions of the ultra-Right, a film that teaches us a lesson in the facts of America’s all too recent history of racial imbalance and injustice is deeply necessary. The above quote refers
MARTIN MACNAMARA
to the violence of the riots in Detroit in the late Sixties, rather than the state’s brutal, prejudiced response. Bigelow crafts a balanced view of the events; she damns the violence itself but targets the institutionalised racism that led to it in the first place. Set in the summer of 1967, the city of Detroit is caught up in a whirlwind of unrest with black protesters calling for civil rights, unrest that
explodes into chaos as the state response becomes more and more unjust. When a report of gunshots at a motel prompt the police department, the state police and the National Guard to send in forces to “investigate”, naturally, they come in guns blazing. A series of tragic events unfold, spurred on by police br utality and vicious interrogation tactics, while a lone security guard (John Boyega) attempts to stop things from boiling over at the scene. The intense, pressurec o o ke r a t m o s p h e r e here makes for an often uncomfortable watch and the sense of forebod-
With Donald Trump’s recent jaw-dropping comments on US neo-Nazis, the ugly, historic tensions at the heart of the film continue to echo in modern-day America
ATOMIC BLONDE
A radiant new series DESPITE a bit too much advertising, Atomic Blonde (Cert 16, 115 mins) turned out to be pretty decent. Charlize Theron shows off some serious acting (and possibly karate) chops as a spy getting caught up in some pretty murky stuff in Cold War-era East Berlin. The end result is a very stylish spy film, with Carlize at the heart of some brutal, terrific action sequences.
A GHOST STORY
Worth getting in a flap
America’s troubled divisions come to the fore in Detroit, with stars John Boyega (above) impressing in the powerful film based on the riot in the eponymous city
ing is often crushing, and unbearable. Bigelow rarely holds back from capturing violence, yet her approach is never sensationalised. Detroit maintains a rich, documentary-like texture, helped on by the occasional punctuation of still archive photography. The director adopts a newsreel-style shaky-cam approach, which is effective in the chaos of the riots and shootouts, but for the film’s more tender moments, like a scene in which a young singer (Algee Smith) performs to an empty, evacuated auditorium, the tactic is often quite jarring, occasionally clumsy. The invasive camera eye allows for complete immersion within the events and evokes the
director’s previous war films, but often denies us identification with the characters. Still, the unifying aesthetic does give the film a consistency throughout – a not-so-simple feat for a film with a 140-minute run time and a huge cast of characters. Indeed, this is an expertly assembled film – terrifically paced, featuring razor-sharp editing in the film’s fast-moving shootout sequences and the excellently placed splicing in of archive footage to add an extra layer of realism. However, while the social aesthetic is deftly crafted, the point at its core is often laboured, particularly in the early stages of the narrative. Detroit could main-
tain its chaotic, traumatic depiction of institutionalised brutality and racism while following a slightly subtler line of delivery. An expository animated sequence that begins the film feels oddly placed and out of step with the rest of the aesthetic. However, given the rate at which people seem to be forgetting the horrors of the past, perhaps this history lesson is a necessary one. This isn’t a perfect film, but in troubled times, it’s a fine response to rising tensions. Perhaps Detroit would benefit from a little more subtlety, but the message is one that clearly needs to be heard loud and clear – perhaps subtlety isn’t the most efficient route at this point in time? Verdict: 7/10
WE’VE seen a lot of evil ghost films recently – so why not go to a thoughtful one instead? A Ghost Story (Cert 12A, 92 mins) sees Casey Affleck star as the titular ghost (above), and yes, that’s what he looks like. Casey returns to quietly haunt his grieving partner after his sudden death, in a film in which nothing very much happens but remains quietly watchable all the same.
THE EMOJI MOVIE (:-/
:-(
)):-(
UNIVERSALLY hailed as one of the worst films of the year (and possibly ever), The Emoji Movie (Cert G, 86 mins) has at least crawled away from its 0% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Ripping off much, much better films, the tale of a ‘Meh’ emoji seeking to change his lot in life has seen particularly savage critic and audience reviews. Sad faces – and gross poop emojis – all round for this awful stinker.
31 August 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 25
GAZETTE
GAMING
Screenshot fans will love tinkering with the in-game camera – an increasingly popular feature of many triple-A titles – repositioning the sun and camera to get the perfect shot
UNCHARTED: THE LOST LEGACY HIT SERIES MAKES A WELCOME RETURN
Tomb raiders find Indian adventure IF IT ain’t broke, don’t fix it. The popular mantra can spring to mind when facing franchise sequels or spin-offs, which usually tend to offer more of the fan-pleasing same rather than taking things in a creative new direction. Still, when that spin-off comes from the juggernaut that’s the PlayStation’s Uncharted series – and comes directly linked to Uncharted 4, still one of the very best benchmarks in console gaming, why ‘fix’ things, indeed? Gamers have been following Uncharted’s fortune-hunting rogue Nathan Drake for many years now, but with developer Naughty Dog saying that Nate’s tale has been satisfactorily concluded, there’s now room for
SHANE DILLON sdillon@dublingazette.com
ancillary globe-trotting, tomb-raiding characters to step into the charming thief’s shoes. So we arrive at Uncharted: The Lost Legacy (PS4, Cert 16,
c. €40), where we meet again sharp-witted, impulsive thief Chloe Frazer, this time teamed up with cool-headed mercenary Nadine Ross, with the pair having to set aside their mutual dislike to team up to find another shiny McGuffin. They’re on the trail of
the Tusk of Ganesh, a relic in a long-lost Indian city – as are a group of bad guys, whose intentions are much worse than ‘just’ being thieving treasure hunters – with the scene set for a game that feels very similar to Uncharted 4, but one that forges its own identity by refining that game’s brilliantly successful formula, rather than reinventing it. Although it’s a direct spin-off – presumably the first of several, given the well-developed characters the long-running series has fleshed out – The Lost Legacy forges its own beats and identity from the off. While several of the game’s mechanics will be instantly familiar, they all combine to create a fun
tale of derring-do adventure, occasional puzzles and stealth, and regular guns-blazing action sections showing that Chloe and Nadine are a very, very capable pair of characters. Their frequent bickering, occasional quips and chit-chat create a pair of believable characters in unbelievable situations, and the unlikely pair soon establish a strong dynamic. It’s also worth pointing out that with strong, believable female leads still in short supply in gaming, Chloe and Nadine are especially welcome to see here. Once again, Naughty Dog have delivered a toptier title, with a game that’s packed to the brim with
graphical bells and whistles, again pushing at the top end of console power. Given that much of the donkey work had been done with the tools it developed for the previous game in the series, that should come as no surprise, so The Lost Legacy may not have quite the same impact and wowfactor that Uncharted 4 so memorably did. Still, given its spectacular settings and a general air of dilapidated beauty – from some shabby slum streets to crumbling, overgrown temple ruins – it’s a game that’s an absolute looker in many parts, with some simply stunning vistas to discover. One thing that bats against the game is its length – it was originally
The Lost Legacy isn’t a very long game, but it’s stuffed to the brim with stunning locations, gorgeous graphics and classic Uncharted gameplay. Screengrabs: Shane Dillon
developed as DLC (downloadable content) before getting spun out into a longer tale, leaving it with a relatively short play time of about 7-8 hours, if you trot through at a brisk pace. However, that’s just
about the only criticism to make, as The Lost Legacy is very much a gamer’s game – its sumptuous graphics, fun gameplay and strong, likeable characters all combine to create a title that’s well worth finding.
26 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE
31 August 2017
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GAZETTE
28 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 31 August 2017
SPORT
FastSport SUPER WALSHE: IRELAND’S women finished the 2017 FIBA Under-16 Women’s European Championship in 10th place after they lost out to Israel 54-66 in the 9-10th classification game in Skopje. In what has been a rollercoaster of a ride for the squad, a third quarter run by Israel saw Ireland on the back foot going into the last and the mountain was just too much to climb for them. A superb display from Katie Walshe saw her bag 21 points in the game, continuing her impressive form in the tournament, but Israel’s Lior Garzon and Daniel Karsh – who finished on 20 and 14 points respectively – had just too much fire power for the Irish. Head Coach Andy Gill said afterwards: “We set ourselves some goals when we began the programme and we’ve definitely achieved higher than we thought. To finish in the top 10 and maintain our seeding, we’ve over-achieved and the girls have performed well.”
ICE HOCKEY: DUBLIN SIDE SEE FOUR PLAYERS CALLED UP FOR IRISH SQUAD
More than just luck for Clovers, who train using roller blades JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com
DUBLIN-based ice hockey team Celtic Clovers have seen four of their star players picked for the Irish national side. The players - who impressed in trials back in June and July - are to appear at an international Development Cup hosted in Andorra. Peter McGivern, Aaron Collins, Conor Fleming and Romans Piskurevs all came through the trial, an achievement for Clovers as they battle on in what they believe to be the only country in the European Union without a year-round ice hockey rink. “Technically we travel to the UK for our games,” Clovers man Derek O’Neill told GazetteSport of the club. “We usually play late on Sunday nights in Belfast. We do a lot of our training on roller blades, which always comes as a shock to players who get involved after moving from playing hockey elsewhere into Ireland. “Our games take place at the same venue as the only professional team on the island, the Belfast Giants, play.
They’re usually late on Sunday night as that’s when we can get the time. It’s important to us as a principle that we’re an ice hockey club, not a roller hockey club, so we compete on ice.” Clovers formed on a temporary, warehouse rink in Castleknock in 2012 - a spot that’s since closed down - but have grown quickly in those five years, even attracting international visitors to the side [Piskurevs, for example, is a Latvianborn naturalised Irishman]. “Clovers play in Strasbourg every year against French and Austrian teams, and very much hold our own against teams that contain ex-pros so it’s at a good level,” O’Neill explains, “but we also have our own development team. That’s becoming more common, a lot of clubs have two teams competing now. “The main aim of the trip out to Andorra is to play at a higher level and get experience. Obviously there are stronger teams all over Europe than Ireland, and nobody wants to be the whipping boys, though the other side of that is you can get better by playing strong opposition. “The teams in Andorra are at a simi-
Some of the Celtic Clovers team
lar level to us, though. We’ll be playing Andorra, Morocco and Portugal.” One aspect that that grates with O’Neill is the link of a proper rink in the south of Ireland. “It’s scandalous that there’s not a rink in Ireland. Ironically, when Ireland was a far poorer place with far less facilities in the 70s and 80s, we did have one,” O’Neill says, citing a refused planning application as an extension to the shop-
ping centre in Liffey Valley as the latest barrier to regular ice hockey in the Republic. “There’s never less than a hundred people at a public skate in Belfast when we go up. It seems obvious the demand would be there in Dublin too. Our games are free to watch in Belfast, so anyone can check us out.” Technically, the team that travels to the Development Cup in Canillo in late September are not
‘Team Ireland’, though they are sanctioned by the Irish Ice Hockey Association. They exist in a kind of administrative gray area, in the shadows, much like the sport itself in the Republic. Development of the national team - as well as the surprising existence of competitive league teams here [albeit facing each other up north] - is reason for optimism when it comes to the future.
Mohan picks nine Dubs for Czech friendlies KARL GRAHAM sport@dublingazette.com
Ireland Under-19 football manager Tom Mohan
NINE Dubliners have been named in Tom Mohan’s Ireland squad for the friendly doubleheader against the Czech Republic in September. Four of the players named still ply their trade in the capital, namely Brian Maher of St Patrick’s Athletic, Aaron Bolger from Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians’ Warren O’Hora and Ryan Graydon. Bournemouth’s Lucan keeper Mark Travers is also in the side,
alongside former St Kevin’s Boys star Dara O’Shea, Tyreke Wilson of Manchester City, Southampton’s Jonathan Afolabi, and former Belvedere FC man Dan McKenna. The team will play the Czechs in the first of the two games – set up as preparation for the UEFA Under-19 Championship qualifiers in October - on Saturday at the RSC, Waterford at 7.45pm, with the second taken place in the same venue at 1.00pm two days later. “They’re good opponents,” Mohan said. “The Czechs are
always physically strong, athletic, good technically, and have played a lot of games at Under-18 level. “I feel this will be a really good test for us ahead of the qualifying games in Waterford. “Waterford is always great to play in - the pitch is always in good condition and the crowd loves their football. It’s also good that we have players from the South East involved in this squad.” Mohan is happy that players in this age group are making progress at club level - both at home and abroad. “We’ve a number of
players out with injuries and have several players involved in at first team level in England and Ireland so they’ll come in after the first game. “It’s been a good couple of months for numerous players. Several have played first team in pre-season and have made their debuts at first team level competitively.” “We had a three-day training camp and a number of homebased trials over the summer to try and look at as many players as we could. We are constantly monitoring the players.”
31 August 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 29
GAZETTE
FASTSport
Kickboxing star looks to kick on after switch O’Donovan hopes to become world number one in her
Dubs hammer Kerry to reach fourth final in a row DUBLIN Ladies’ football team reached another All-Ireland final with a comprehensive hammering of Kerry on Saturday, a fourth consecutive finale that’s likely to see the Jackies face off against arch nemesis Cork. The goal-hungry Dubs hit a scoreline of 5-10 to Kerry’s 0-11 at Semple Stadium to ease into the final, with Sinead Aherne again the key woman as she hit 2-7. It was Dublin’s efficiency in front of the posts compared to that of their opponents - who hit more wides than points - that ultimately did much of the damage. The first goal came midway through the first half, followed by a second just before half time. Aherne grabbed both, the first a clinical finish placed just inside the Kerry post, and the latter a well-taken penalty bashed home when Niamh McEvoy was brought down after breaking through on the Kingdom’s goal. That gave the Dubs a fairly comfortable 2-6 to 0-4 lead going into the break, and license to cut loose in a second half in which Kerry also upped their attacking game - primarily by grabbing their points more efficiently. Dublin had far more cutting edge, though, as the experienced Sinead Finnegan martialled a Jackies’ defence that’s been revamped somewhat for the 2017 season. Nicole Owens effectively put the game to bed a minute after half-time, as a swift attacking maneuver ended with her slotting into the Kerry net. From then on, the Dubs took advantage of their comfortable lead to ring the changes, and Noelle Healy put a gloss on the final scoreline, adding a fourth with twenty minutes to go, and a fifth in the dying seconds as the girls in blue ran riot. The 5-10 to 0-11 final score is a great confidence builder going into another decider. The Dubs have only a single ladies’ All-Ireland title, having lost the final six times. The last four defeats came against Cork, including the past three years on the trot. Heartbreakingly, none of the last three contests saw the Jackies defeated by more than two points. Mayo stand in the way of the Munster ladies ahead of the September finale, and the Rebelettes have had a less inspired season than usual. The Dubs will be giving everything to overcome the disappointment ‘nearlies’ of recent years.
primary sport, after successfull move sees her win National Karate Championships and make Irish squad JAMES HENDICOTT sport@dublingazette.com
TERENURE martial artist Caradh O’Donovan is expanding her horizons, with the champion kickboxer spreading her wings into a dual-sport attack on competitive karate in recent months. O’Donovan is currently ranked number two in the world in her -55kg weight category in primary sport kickboxing, having missed a number of key tournaments over the course of the last six months. She hopes the two further competitions she’s likely to compete in over the coming couple of months might propel
her ahead of Britain’s Shannon Ryan to top the rankings. T hat second place ranking is all the more astonishing, though, when you take into account her new found competitiveness in the world of karate. Explaining the crossover between the sports, O’Donovan told GazetteSport “not every style of kickboxing is similar to karate, but some are. I complete mainly in point fighting, which is a version of the sport where the main aim is to get the first hit in - be the first to score. In some ways karate is quite similar to that, although the different
length of fights is something I have to get used to. “I’ve been lucky, I’ve been doing my karate in Santry, which is where the national coaches are based, and it’s a great place to get good quickly. I started doing it really for fun, and I have a long way to go, but it’s a great place to be. “I’ll never compete in an Olympics in kickboxing, because while it looks likely to be added to the Olympics in the future, it’ll be too late for me. In karate, it’s a long way off but if things are going well I have to think about competing in Tokyo.” Most recently, as a result of her new passion,
Caradh O’Donovan standing on the top podium after coming first in the World Cup in Italy
O’Donovan’s technical training has leant far more towards her karate ambitions. “My strength and conditioning hasn’t really changed,” she tells us. “The technical side of the karate is a bit of a priority as I have far more to learn there. I feel like with the kickboxing, as long as I get some sparring in ahead of competitions I’ll be okay, but I do tailor my training to what’s coming up in terms of competitions at the time. “I think the sport of kickboxing is hugely under-appreciated in Ireland,” O’Donovan continues. “Ireland is in the top three in the world as a team at most competitions, usually behind Russia and Hungary, but we get very little recognition for that. Currently, to compete for Ireland you have to pay to take part, but there are huge numbers of people involved.” O’Donovan, in fact, is well placed to comment in the funding issues around sport in Ireland, having previously worked within the government sports departments connected with the funding of both triathlon and boxing. Having departed to mentor young Irish sportspeople as a profession she found it challenging to train and work civil service hours - she’s less than positive about the funding aspect of sports. “We’re one of the most successful Irish teams in any sport, and it’s well-
known that there’s a difficulty there with funding,” she explains of the kickboxing in particular. “There’s some income for the association, but they can’t afford to support athletes. Last year we hosted the junior worlds, and the year before that the world senior championships were here in Ireland. “I know from my experience that there’s a lot of money wasted, though. It really frustrates me. It’s not even that these organisations don’t have enough funding. They don’t need more money, they just need to be managed better.” It’s fair to say as a fighter in her early 30s who already travels the world to compete, O’Donovan is not really talking about herself, but more about the sports broadly: she will struggle by and compete regardless of money coming in, not even limiting herself to just a single sport in doing so. O’Donovan’s kickboxing, funding issues or not, is undeniably world class, with that world number one spot a realistic possibility in the -55kg weight category for later this year. The karate is new, but a real ‘watch this space’. O’Donovan will be competing in both sports during October - at the kickboxing British Open and the Karate 1 series A in Austria. She will then head for the karate Belgian Open in November.
GAZETTE
30 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 31 August 2017
SPORT
FASTSport
SOCCER: CABINTEELY EXIT FAI CUP AFTER DEFEAT TO AMATEUR SIDE
UCD man touches down for young Leinster side UCD star Nick McCarthy came off the bench to help Leinster to a 25-17 victory over Bath in their second pre-season friendly at Donnybrook. McCarthy scored a late try to seal the win for his side after a stellar second half performance from Ireland star Joey Carberry. Leinster started a string of youngsters including Blackrock man Caelan Doris, whose first involvement was taking down 2017 Lion Taulupe Faletau during the opening stages. Leinster kicked the first score through a lovely cut-out pass from Jamison GibsonPark that put Ross Byrne outside the first defender to eventually force a penalty that Byrne put between the posts in the 25th minute. 15 minutes later, Leinster got their second score of the game when 21-year-old Max Deegan crossed the line on the left-hand side. It all came from good footwork by Conor O’Brien and great positioning by Ed Byrne. It was the final score of the half but the home side got off to a great start in the second half and Dave Kearney crossed the line after beating full-back Darren Atkins to Carbery’s kick upfield. Carbery then converted to give Leinster a 15-0 lead. However, Kearney soon went from hero to villain when his attempted clearance only went as far as Bath centre Ben Tapuai, who took advantage to beat Sean Cronin on the outside and strike back. The visitors didn’t let up there and pulled themselves within three points when a maul was allowed to gain ground and Fotuali’i slipped through to score, with Freddie Burns converting for the extra two points. Leinster responded in excellent fashion, however, and stretched their lead to six through a Carbery penalty. With three minutes remaining, substitute McCarthy looked to have ensured victory for Leinster when the scrum-half touched over and Carbery converted. Bath lost a Matt Banahan offload at the Leinster line but Fotuali’i was alert to pounce on the loose ball and cross the line for his second try.
Cabinteely FC’s League of Ireland side
Cabo dumped out by Bell sport@dublingazette.com
CABINTEELY bowed out of the FAI Cup at the last 16 stage following a 1-0 defeat to Leinster Senior League side Bluebell United on last weekend. It was the club’s first time competing at this stage having been knocked out at the first hurdle in the last two years, but Pat Devlin’s side were outplayed by their amateur opponents on their own patch. Shane Stritch’s goal midway through the first half proved the difference for the Bell, who ran out comfortable winners despite losing former
international Keith Fahey to a second yellow card late on. The game was played in Cabinteely’s home ground of Stradbrook Park as the Red Cow was deemed to be unsuitable by the powers that be, but that proved no obstacle to Andy Noonan’s men as they marched into the last eight. An exciting opening period saw Cabo engineer the game’s first chance as Dean Casey beat his man before clipping a cross from the left wing over goalkeeper Andy McNulty and onto the bar. The rebound fell for Ryan Swan – who was on
BLACKROCK RUGBY Legend Duggan passes away in native county IRISH rugby legend Willie Duggan has died
from a suspected heart attack at the age of 67. The fomer Blackrock College RFC man won 41 caps and retired as captain of his country in 1984. He was inducted into the Guinness Hall of Fame in 2010 and was regarded as one of the world’s top no.8’s. A Kilkenny native, Duggan also represented the British and Irish Lions during their tour of New Zealand in 1977. Upon his retirement, he returned to Kilkenny were he set up a successfull lighting company.
the scoresheet in the first round victory over UCD – but he could only shoot over the top from a tight angle. Bluebell responded through Stritch, who engineered an opportunity for himself in the box before firing a shot across goal from near the endline. Cabo’s Marty Waters was the architect of the game’s next moment of quality as he found space 25-yards out before unleashing a dipping shot that arced just wide of the post. It was a mistake in the Cabinteely defence that presented Stritch with the opportunity to break
the deadlock as defender Sean Fitzpatrick and goalkeeper Mick Kelly dithered over a long ball. With neither taking responsibility for the loose ball, Stritch pounced and kept his cool to slip the ball calmly into the empty net. Bluebell could have doubled their lead going into the break had Tony Griffith’s long-range strike stayed the right side of the post, while Kelly did well to save low from former Inverness forward Dean Ebbe. Cabo had chances of their own to level it before half-time, with Conor Keeley going the
closest when he brought to a close a series of five corners with a header that Bluebell managed to hack off the line. Bohemians loanee Casey had another excellent chance to score for Cabo after the break following good work from Swan, but he again saw his effort from outside the box miss the target as the home fans started to get frustrated. Swan did manage to find the back of the net ten minutes from the end but was called back for offside and, despite Bluebell losing Fahey to a late red card, Cabo couldn’t find a way back.
31 August 2017 DUN LAOGHAIRE GAZETTE 31
GAZETTE
UNIVERSITY GAMES
Swim star narrowly misses out on medal
CLUB NOTICEBOARD SHANKILL
CON O’Callaghan has become the overwhelming favourite to pick up the player of the year award after his performance in Dublin’s win over Tyrone last weekend saw him move from 16/1 to 6/1. The Cuala man got his side off to a great start in the All-Ireland semi-final with a goal in the opening few minutes, before adding two points from play in a 2-17 to 0-11 victory for the Dubs.
OUR juvenile academy for both boys
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FOOTBALL: MINORS FALL SHORT AGAINST DERRY
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KILMACUD CROKES CONGRATULATIONS to the Dublin Sen-
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ior Footballers who beat Tyrone in the
Congratulations to the Dublin senior
All-Ireland semi-final by 2-17 to 0-11.
ladies footballers who beat Kerry by 5-10
Well done to Paul Mannion and Cian
to 0-11, on Saturday in the All-Ireland
O’Sullivan.
semi-final. Well done to Lauren Magee,
Hard luck to the Dublin minor footballers who lost to Derry in their All-Ireland semi-final by 0-14 to 0-17. Liam Flatman was the Crokes representative on the
Molly Lamb and Aoife Kane who were all on the team. Great Tapas night in the club on Friday – watch out for upcoming events.
NAOMH OLAF Daniel Brennan in action for Dublin.
Young Dubs miss out to northern rivals ALL-IRELAND SEMI FINAL Dublin 0-14 Derry 0-17 sport@dublingazette.com
DUBLIN’s minor AllIreland football dream came to a painful end on Sunday when they lost by three points to a Derry side that finished stronger down the home stretch to progress. The young Dubs gave their all and were left to rue a number of missed scoring opportunities in both halves – with the boys in blue also enjoying several goal-scoring chances throughout the game.
The absence of James Madden through injury was keenly felt as his athleticism and goal-scoring threat could have been key on this occasion. Dublin kicked the first point of the game in the first minute from the boot of Ross McGarry but Derry responded with a brace of points from Patrick Quigg. David Lacey levelled matters in the eighth minute, but Dublin were struggling to gain a foothold in the early stages and fell three points behind by the 11th minute. Dublin gradually began
to play with a greater degree of cohesion and successive points by Lacey and the outstanding James Doran reflected their increasing comfort. Derry regained their two-point buffer by the 21st minute but with Doran increasingly influential from centreforward, gaps began to appear down the heart of the Derry defence. Dublin managed to take the lead after Doran’s second point of the half was followed up by Lacey and McGarry to take a narrow 0-8 to 0-7 lead going into break. Dublin dominated the
match upon the restart but should have had more to show for it than the points tallied by Seán Hawkshaw and Doran. Derry took advantage to level with a point from Oisin McWilliams, while Dublin replied through Doran and Lacey. The momentum swung back towards Derry with Lorcan McWilliams and Richie Mullan bringing the sides level once again. With the game still close going into the final stages, it was Derry who managed to finish strongest with scores from McWilliams and substitute Jon Paul Devlin.
AFL8 Naomh Olaf v Kilmacud Crokes.
Dublin premier junior camogie ‘Meet and
Possible league decider is on Wednesday
Greet’ night at Parnells GAA in Coolock.
next at 7:00 pm in Páirc Uí Bhriain [Not
Best of luck to the girls in the final on 10th
Sunday morning as previously thought].
September. If you would like to attend
Come on down and show them your full
the final there will be a bus leaving from
support.
the club.
Well done to the Naomh Olaf ladies foot-
Great honour for Chloe Ní Cheallaigh,
ballers on a very hard fought win by four
captain of the Dublin minor B camogie
points in their championship semi-final
side who drew with Carlow in the cham-
against Crumlin last week to qualify for
pionship on Friday.
the final on 8th September.
Well done to Naomh Olaf’s Finn Murphy
The Naomh Olaf corporate lunch will be
and Luke Murphy, and the Dublin Under-
held on Friday 1st September in Croke
15 hurlers who won the Michael Foley
Park with Marty Morrissey, Oliver Cal-
tournament at the weekend.
lan and other guests. A table of ten costs
Thanks to Uddingston Grammar School
€1000 or individual costs €100. It should
in Glasgow, who were excellent hosts to
prove to be a good day out on All-Ireland
the Naomh Olaf camogie players who
hurling final weekend and there is still
visited Scotland for a camogie/shinty
some availability left. Get more info from
match at the weekend.
naomholafpro@gmail.com.
There was a great winning start by
It was great to see so many young
the Naomh Olaf camogie side in the sen-
Naomh Olaf players coming out to sup-
ior 5 championship v Ballinteer St Johns
port our own Roisin and Chloe at the
last weekend.
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Delightful Dubs make light work of Tyrone Three in a row still on track for the Boys in Blue as Jim Gavin’s side barely need to leave third gear to get past disappointing challenge of Red Hand, as O’Callaghan and McCaffrey put in standout performances DAVE DONNELLY
sport@dublingazette.com
DUBLIN set up yet another All-Ireland senior football final showdown with Mayo after brushing aside Tyrone by 2-17 to 0-11 at Croke Park on Sunday afternoon. Con O’Callaghan and Dean Rock topscored with five points apiece as Dublin dismantled their Ulster opponents to win the semi-final by a 12-point margin. The result, and Mayo’s comprehensive win over Kerry on Saturday, sets up a repeat of last year’s final, which required a replay before the Boys in Blue could get their hands on the trophy. Diarmuid Connolly made his return from a 12-week suspension as a late sub, while Dublin were so comfortable they could afford to
leave Bernard Brogan and Michael Darragh MacAuley riding pine. The Dubs had Tyrone on the backfoot from the first whistle and they struck a decisive blow as early as the fifth minute as O’Callaghan scored a magnificent solo goal. The Cuala clubman sold an outrageous dummy to Tyrone defender Ronan McNamee before showing the poise and confidence to hammer home a shot from 13 yards. It was a devastating early blow for the Red Hand, who had set up to defend and frustrate Dublin’s all-star attacking unit and left them chasing the game from the very beginning. Not that they modified their approach to any significant degree, as Dublin continued to wear down their opponents with nine further points in the first half, including a double from O’Callaghan.
Tyrone did manage five points of their own in reply, including two from frees, but the scoreboard reflected the abiding sense that Dublin were always pulling away. Paul Flynn impressed off the bench with three points while he also saw a good effort on goal saved by Niall Morgan. Kevin McManamon came close to a goal of his own only to see his well-struck effort cannon off the bar, while the rampaging Jack McCaffrey broke through before skewing his shot wastefully wide. Another substitute, O’Gara, did manage to breach the net for the second time with three minutes remaining as he batted the ball home at the end of a tremendous flowing move. The biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Connolly, however, as the St Vincents man replaced O’Callaghan in the final min-
ute of normal time. Connolly didn’t touch the ball during his brief cameo on the pitch but the effect his return, after being disciplined for laying his hands on a linesman in June, was clear for all to see. Tyrone had their own chance in injury time to grab a consolation goal from the spot and put some respectability on the scoreline, but Stephen Cluxton dived to his right to save Peter Harte’s disappointing penalty. “We got an early goal,” a less than delighted Dublin manager Jim Gavin said after the match. “It was an opportunity and we took it. In the second half we had more chances and we weren’t clinical enough.” The Round Towers man added: “We know that the next day that won’t be good enough.”